Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133 .D76 C551 1608 v.1

1.54 Obiethms (1.ainFt the affurance ()four elettionanfvered. fGods loue and faucur, the more wee loue eIelfion,may the furerwe areo roell ad to-- --him againe; and the more we loue hiin,themore fearefull we gether. are todifpleafe him : the more wee fee ourpronenefi'e to fin, the more wee feare left wee (hould fall into it; and the more we fufpe6ì our felues,the more earneflly we implore the affi- fiance ofGods fpirit, wherebywee are inabled to withfland temptations. And therefore Dauid ioyncth thefe together, ri: i. t, t r. Pfa1.2. t /. Serge the Lordin feare,and reioyce rn trem6lm; no- ting thereby that Gods children feare, yea, euen tremble hi regard ofth.eirowne infirmities and corruptions,andyet at the fame time they reioyceand are filledwith confolation, in refpeóofthatfull affurance which they haue ofGods loue and fauour, and their ele&ion and faluation. And as he ioy- neth them inprecept, foalto in his ovinepra&ife,Pfal. S.I. I Pfsl.ç 7. will (faithhe) come into thine h,ufein themultitude.ofthy mer- cie; and in thy feare will Iworfhip towards thy bolie temple: fo that at the fame time; when as hee was :incouràged by the confederation ofGodsgreat mercie,to goe-boldlyandwith a liuely faith veto the throne of grace; hewas alto touched with a godlie feare in regardof his vnworthineffe and im- perfe6Iions; not that he doubted lei+heMouldnot beaccep. tedofGod, but left in Nvorfhipping ofGod hee Mould be- wray hiscorruption,and not doe itin that manner and Inca- fùre whichGodrequireth. fj.Seîl.S. But againa thisit maybe obie&ed thatIohnfaith,'.Epiff. bbieFiion. 4.18.7 here i.r nofeare in lotte, butperfea /cuecar out feare, 1. Ici,n 4.18. c7.c.I anfwere, that there is a twofold fearementioned in the .ganrivere. Scriptures; the firf+ is a feruile feare proceedingfrom incre- dulitie,wherby m6 feareGodas a feuere Iudge,who is ready to infli9.:. on them thofe iuft punifhments which by their fens theyhaue deferued, which feare is expelledwhen as wee are affuredofGods loue and loue him againe.Thc other is a fon- likcfeare,which is a fluke offaith,whcrebywedo notfeare God as an enemie.or an angrie Iudgc, but as a gratiousFa- ther,whofe difple.afiire wewould by nomeanes incurre; not that wee fearehis wrath and vengeance, as though it were readie to fall vpon vs,but becaufe wee wouldnot-thus abide :his mercy and goodne!fe towards vs,nor doany thingwhich night

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