366 . Clap. 33. a j Ex 7,6.tion the Bskof J o. of the Lord that it mìfdom) He detti c{iow this eiogium or high commendation upon fear in general ; 'but reftraines it to the fear of the Lord, or to holy fear. Some fear is bale and ignoble, 'tis folly, tnadneis, 'tie torment and vexation: But the tear of the Lord that is wifdom : and is will not be unprofitable a little to open that, and to (hew that there is a fear, yea feveral forts of fearwnichare unworthy of a wife man, much more of this excel- lent (file or title, to be called wifdom, Fluff, There is a meet natural fear, which at belt is pur a par- En, and moflly it proves a perturbation ; if good things bepre- rent, they cafife 1oy,and if abfent,forrow ; evii,es prefenr,caufeth form«, as abîent, fear ; this is not tbewifdom here fpoken of ; Natural fear is nothing elfe bat a trouble ofmind ariJng from the appreherfon offameapproaching evil, or impendent danger; This is un(epatable companion of mans nature ever fince man finned, man cannot (hake it cff and I may fay of ir, though it be not al- wayes finfuí, yer, as things Rand now with us, it is xlwayes an effr_oh of fin,as ficknefs is ; tobe lick is not a (in,but it is an effe& offin ; to be à(hamed of doing evil is not a fin, but it is an effe& of fin ; to be forrowful is not a lin, bur furrow is an efiecl of n; fo there isa natural fear which is not a fin, but yet it is an effeet of fin ; a tnherefore Chrif himïelf when he took upon him our narure,and was cloathed with our fe(h, he was not exempted from natural fear, but as ir degenerates into and ismingled with finful fear. Man who is himfelf degenerate, feldom fares na- rurally wihout fearing finfully (finmingles'with our holy aeti- ons,much moreand more eafily with our natural pailions) But CñriAnew nofin, though he knew fear ; when he was retired in the Garden at prayer, the text faith (?IIar1Lt4,33, 34, ) Ile be. g,an to be fo re arnaz : °d, and to be very heavy, andfaith unto them that is, tohis three Dilcipies ) my foul is exceeding fa, rowfulun- (o death. Thi Natural fear, with fuch like unpleafant affections, tChriR fubmited to take up, when he took fíe(h, being trade like unto us in all ahings, yet without fin. And if Chrifl who was fo holy that he knew no fin then much more may we and the babe+. of Sai,v-s, who are yet fiafttl, fall under the furprifals of this fear VFtnen 'ocobs melhengers retu -aed wish a report of his brother E(a'sr march toward hirn ,rvicá font bundled men, the next faith (ÇCea, 32, 7,) Then 7,acabyrargreatly afraid and aflrefjred. And again
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=