344 Chap. 28. An Expofltion upon the Book of J o is, Verf. 22. Secondly, Becaufe he is the giver of it ; it ishe alone that workes this fear, and puts it into the heartsof his people. For as true laying faith is a faith of theoperationofGod' (Col. 2.t 2.) fo alto is true Gofpe! fear. And as there is :a kind of faith which is but ahumane faith,a faith received by tradition,or'wrought by the example and perfwafion of man ; fo there is a fear which is not the fear of the operation of God, it is a fear wrought either by humane compulfion, by the laws and commodes of men, or at bell by the appearancesand revelation of the wrath of God a- gainft finners,not by the operation of the Spirit of God inturning the heart from fin. But this holy fear is called the fear of the Lord, becaufe the Lord workesit, as he promifeth to doe in the Covenant of grace ; ! will put my fear Onto their hearts, and they pall never depart fromme (Jer. 32. 40.) Slavith fear makes us run fromGod, holy fear keepes us clofe to God ; that fear which comes fromGod will not fuffer us to depart fromGod. Holy fear is the fear of the Lord, both as he is the objet of it, and as he is the Author ofit. The fear of the Lord that is wifdom; The fear of the Lord is not wifdom formally, for fowifdom is one thing, and fear is another : but the fear of the Lord is wifdom vertually, or as fome fpeak, it the way to wifdom,or a meanes leading to it. But what kindof wifdom is this fear ? he lothnot mean, fìrff; the wifdom of Philofophers, nor fecondly, the wifdom of the Politicians and Princes of this world ; for ufually the fear of the Lord is a lb-anger to, or very feldom found among them. Their great deign is to be fearedas if they were Gods, who ate haft acquainted with the fear of God. So then fpiritual wifdom, holy wifdom, thewtfdom of Saints, wifdom to falvation , only that wifdom which lookes to and provides for an Eternal Interell, is the fear of the Lord; And unto man befail, Behold, thefear of the Lord that is ,wif dom.. Again, Fear is not to be taken hereexclufively, as if is were folitary and alone, without the focicryof other graces. This fear cannot goe alone ; where anyone grace ir,thereare all graces in the feed,and matter of them: for though all doe not aEc
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=