384 Chap. 28. An Expofition uponn,,'the Book of Jo B. Verf. 28: The tree (faith Chrif) is known byitsfruits, andwhere this tree of a holy We grows, will be known by the fruites or effcas of is ; fuch as there, Fir ft, The fear of the Lord to clean(Pfal. 19. 9.) 'ris clean, Ertl, fubjettively, or in it felt ; Fear is a pure chriflal orient grace there's no fpot in ir. Secondly, 'tis cleaneffe&ively,'ds a deader. Fear is afcouring, purifying grace. Let us cleanfe our felves (faith the ApofRle, 2 Cor. 7, i.) from all filrbinefs of flefb and fpirit, perfecting bolinefs in thefear of the Lard,Thefe two go ííi11 together ; Fear the Lord and depart fromevil (Pro. 3. ry. ) Yea, the fear of the Lord es a Fountain oflife to depart from the fnares ofdeath (Pro. 14.27,) He manes it either of fin, which is a fpiritual death, or of damnation which is an everlafling death. Again (Pro. 8. r3.) The fear of tie Lord is to depart from evil. The very (formalio ratioor) definition of holy tear, conftls in our averfation from that which is unholy. Once more (Pro. t 6. 6.) By thefear of the Lord men depart from evil. They depart from evil by the helpof chis good fear ; firf}, fo as not to doe what is forbidden ; fecondly, fo as not to feel wha is threatned. When jofeph perceived his brethren fufpicious that he would dealrigoroufly with them,he ufes noother argument toquiet their mindesand affure their hearts againfi that fear, but only this, 1 fear God (Gen. 42, as.) As if he had Paid, ye need not fear that I will doe you any wrong , or give you anyhard meafure, while the fear of God forbids me. Abraham reafons on the other hand (gen. 20. it.) furely thefear ofthe Loriis not in this place, and they millflay me for my wives fake. Nothing can flop their hands from any wickednefs which they have a mind to -( but the want of power and opportunity)whohave not the fear of God be- fore their eyes. The Prophet refolves all the Apoflacy of the Yews fronrGod and his law into the abfence of this fear (Jer. g. 24.) This peoplebath a revolting and a rebellious beast, they are revolt- ed andgone why fo ? neitherfay they in theirheart (poffibly they Paid and profeffed it with their lips) let stsfear the"Lord our god. Fear is the bankwhich keeps the blackand dead Sea of fin from over -flowing. 'Tis the Golden bridle which checks our head - flrong lutls,when they wouldeither run us out of the flraighr way of life, or run us into the broad=way ofdeath and def},ut}ion. We may (hut up this withDavids conclufon _ (Tfal.36,z.) The trail°
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