Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BT768 .O9 1654

C,Xi1. What Feare is ufefull topromote Obedience. 298 (Tuch a Feare as hathbeen decribed) isone principle of the Obedience of the Saints in their walking with God, and fuch,as they ought to cherifh, as being a meanes appointedofGod for that end and purpofe; is anArgument ofnogreat value here with us. Neither furely will theConclufon intended be more evidently educed,frorn the tenderneffe ofthe heartofjafiah under the preachingofthe Law,mentioned in the fecund place, and therefore I thall not need to call it intoExamination. But it is added farther Se&. 14. p.314. Theprefent Rate and frame of the ß: 61. hearts andfoules ofthe Saints duly con(dered, which are made up as well offifh andcorruption, as ofSpirit andGrace, theformer having needofbridles for re- f16 aint, as well as the latter offpurres for guickning, evident zt is that Argu- ments or motives drawne from feare of punifhment,are as necefary andproper for them in refpethof theone, 0s incitements from Love, in refpefá of the other. A whip or theHorfe (faies Solomon) a bridle for the rye, and a rodfor the Footer backer The flefh even in the rvifefi ofmen, is afoole, and would be unruly without a rod ever and a nonfbaken over it; nor fhould God have made f chgracious, bountifull andefeUuallprovifion,for the Perfèverance ofthe Saints, as now he hath done, had henot ingaged as well the paffion ofFearewithin them, as ofLove to be their guardian keeper. 'rig true perfect love eafleth oat Feare, but who a= mong.fí the Saints themfelves canfay either that his heart is eleane,orhis Love perfect ?Perfetl Love caflethoutflefh,os well as Feare, yea true Loveuntillflefb be call out peelervethfeare,for its Affifiant and fellow helper; 'theflefh wouldfoone retakeLove, a wanton and intice herunto folly, did not fearediffolve the inchant- ment and protetl her Chaflity. Of this laft Divifionofthe 34.Seclion, there are twq parts; The flrft Con- firmativeof what was fpoken before, concerning the ufefullneflè ofthe Feare of Hell& punifhment for the furthering of the saints Obedience. The other Hefponfatorytowharis urged tothe contrary from i John 4. i8. Perfe/ILove caileth out Feare: For the firfl,it is granted, that thereare thole two contrary principlesofFAA andSpirit, Corruption and Grace,in the hearts of all,even eventhe belt and molt eminent Saints', whilfi they continue herebelow. But that thefc two, Ihould be principles a&ing themfelves in their Obedience, the one moved, incited, and flirted up by Love, the other from the Feare whereofwe are (peaking, is a Flefhly, Darke , Anti-evangelieall conceit; That the principle in Believers which the Scripture calls FAA , &Corruption, needs incitement toObedience, or is tobe incited there unto, as is affirmed, is no leffe corrupt than what was before mentioned. Looke whatfoever In- fluence Fiefb or Corruption bath into any ofour Obedience, fo far that Obe- dience is vitiated, corrupted, rendered uncleane and unacceptable before God; The Flefh is to be crucified, Elaine, delrayed not flirted up, and provo- ked toObedience, being indeed Difobediencein the Abftra& ? enmity to God. You may as well perfwade darkenefe tofbine,asthe Flefb toOi y; It is not a foole (as that Allulon befpeakes it from Prov. 26.3.) that would everarid a- non be unruly,werenota rod fhaken over him; but it is folly itfelfe, that is not tobe cur'd,but kill'd, not flirted up, but mortifyed. How that is tobe done, bath been formerly at large declared: It is by the Spiritsbringing the Crofe and power ofthe death ofChrift into the heart ofthe firmer, andnot by any confìderationofHell, and punifhment, that we can take upon our felves (which never did,nor never will fortify any finne, tothe end ofthe world) that this worke is to be wrought. Secondly, that which is added ofGod's bountifull provifion for the Per- feverance ofthe Saints by ingaging the paffion ofFeare, as well as Love,is of nobetterá frame, or Conftitution than that which went 'before. That our gracious

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