Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v8

376 Chap. 28. An Expojition apgn the nook of JO B. . Vetf. 28. together did put forth their firergth, even to the turnoff. How glorious was fear that day, whenu bare away the Garland from thole two renowned graces, and was not only one of the three, butthe firff of the three,acd the only one of the threewhich God was pleated to take notice of by name ; Now I know that Thou fearefl me,And though the All-fufficiency and £aichfulnels of God call for our faith, and his goodnefs condefcendeth to our love ; yet the Greatnefs, Majeffy, and holinefs of God doe rather in- vite our kart, as being that affe&ion which ismoil futable in a creature toward the Creator. O CJ od (faith David. Pfal,68.3 5) thou art terrible (or much to betrayed) out of thyholy places, And again (Pfál. 8cy. , 7.) god is greatly totefeared in the affem- bly of his Saints; and why ?Becaufe there his Holinefs doth greatly appear. And as we have malt reafon to fear God where moa of his holinefs appeares, fo they who are molt holy, cannot but fear himmoll. More diflin&ly , This fear of the Lord may be confidered three wayes. Firt+, In reference unto the word of God, (Ifa,66. 2.) To him will I look, that is ofan humble and contritefpirit, and that trem- bles at my word. When the heart is once in a trembling frame at the word of God, it will quickly come to a fctled frame at the work of God; and becaufe there is to little trembling at the word of God, there is but little fetling to the work of God,Mofl hear- ers trembleand move no more at the word, then the Testes they fit on, or the (lanes they fiend upon ; and fo inffead of being (as the Apofile exhorts, (t Corr 5. 58.) Vnmoveable in the wirko f the Lord, they are not stall moved ro ir. Holy fear bath a refpe& to the word,as ie falls under a threefold confideration. Fir(f, As it is a word of threatning; and fo the word carries (as it were) a command of fear; whenGod like a Lyon roares inhis threatnings againff tanners, theywho amongmen are as the beafis of the field, have alwayes caufe to and often cannot chufe but tremble ; when the Lord fpeakes blood and wrath, and hell, and flames of fire,how caa(inners but be over-awed ? yea as they are admonifhed (Pfal, q, 1) Sto nd in aweandfro not. Yet this fear is Ifirred not only at the voice of threarnings, but Secondly, Of Commands, which are fo holy and pure that the report of them may loon make thofe who are h ölyeft and molt pure

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