Chap. 28. An Expofition opon theBook of o B. Verf. 28. 377 pute tremble before the Lord. Yea every law and command of God bears not only an impreffion of his bolinefs and purity,.but of his Authority and foveraignty ; who would not fear that word which comes out from the King of Kings, theKing of Nations ? Thirdly, This holy fear workes alto in the heart of believers at the word of promife, which though it be full of and drop down fweetneff, like the bony-combe, which faith is continually fuck- ing for the refrefhingof the foul, yet fear is not a ftranger to ir, nor idle about it. Hence the Apoffle grounds his exhortation (2Cor. 7.t.) Havingthefe promifes, let u, clianfe ourfelverfrom all filtbinefs of flefh and /pmt, perfecting holinsfs in tbe fear of God. Hecloth not fay, having theft promifes let us per es holi- nefs in the faith or love of the Lord (though that be true) but in thefear ofthe Lord. M the Lord is fearful in praifei (Exod. 15. it.) that is, he ought to be praifed with a reverential fear whenhe bath performed the promifes ; fo he is to be believed with a reverential fear as he gives us promifes. Thus fear adìs in . reference to the word in this threefold conlideration. The threat ningsare fo-terrible, the commands are foholy, the promifes are. fo fweer, that each of them alone, much more all of them toge- cher, may juffly expect and futably draw out this Divine fear. And thus to fear the Lord and his word, or the Lord in his word, is our wifdom. Now that fear of the Lord which workes kindly at the voice ofhis word, efpecially of his tbreatnings, doth theft three things in ns. Fitt, It roufeth and awakenstcarelefs and fecure (inners; it opens their eyes and makes them lookabout them , to view that black cloud of judgement, whether peìfenal or national that hangs over their heads, and lowres dreadfully upon them. When the Lord acquainted Noah with !his purpofe of fending a deluge of wster upon the world ; it is laid (Heb.tt . 7.) Hewn moved with fear. That holy man had a deep fenfeof that threatning, and was exceedingly affeóed with Secondly, This fear which is our wifdom, puts us upon eat quiry, what to doe that we may efcape the wrath threatned. Carnal fear never made any man a good Coanfeller, but fpiriitteal fear may , and it caufeth every man , who bath it, to ask! good C C eonnT
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=