Whatchat Feare is which Love cafleh out. -i job. 418. C. XII. 4:6z. gratious Father hath made fuller, larger, and more certaine provifion for our Perfeverancethan any can beaffordedby theengaging of ourpaJons,bycon- fiderationofpunithwent or reward, I hope, bath been fnfficiently demonflra- ted; And ifMr Goodwin intendno more by his Love, and Feare ofGod, than the ingagingof thofe naturallpaffìonsin us, by the confederations intimated, I fhall not be Rivall withhim in his Perfwafion; The Love we intend is a Fruit of the spirit ofGod in us, and the Fearecontended about, ofthe spiritofBon- dage : which though it be not preffed on us as our duty, yet wehope that bountiful] provifion is madefor our Perfeverance, as (hall effectually fupport and preferve us to the end: Bleffed behis name , hisSaints have many better Guardians and keepers, thena bondage frameof Spirit,upon the account of the wrath to come, from whence they are delivered by Chrift; Theyare in his ownhand, and in the handofhis Sonne, and are kept through Faith by his power to salvation. If this be the endofMr Goodwin's Preaching the threatnings of Godat any time, viz, that the naturall paon ofFeare, being ftirred up with the apprehenfionsofHell, the Flefh that is in Man, maybe incited toobedi- ence, I hope hehath not many confenting with him in the fame intend- ment. Thirdly, To an Objeelion framed from r loh: 4.18. That perfeC. Love calls outfeare, he tells us; Firft, That it may befo, but whole Love ss perfaI. Second- ly, That Love cherifbeth Feare, untill the Flefli bequite call out. Thirdly That the Flefh wouldmake Love wanton, and intice it tofolly, didnot Fearedifolve the inchantment: But, Firtt,Though Love be notperfeti' to all degrees of PerfeEtion here yet it may have,yea it bathin the Saints the perfeetion ofLiprightneflè and Sinceri- ty, which is all that is here intended, and all that is required toit, for the ca- lling out ofthat Tormenting Feare of which the Apoftle fpeaks. Feare (faith le) bath torment: And ifour Love cannot amount to that perfe&ion, as to cart it out, it beingonly tobe cati out thereby, it is impoffìble we fhoul d ever befreed fromTorment all our daies,or be fill'dwith joy & Confolation in be- lieving; which would fruftrate the glorious defigne of God , whichhe hath fworne himfelfewilling topurftre, Heb: 6. r 3..and the great Endof the death ofChrift, which he hath perfeWtlyaccomplithed, Heb: 2.15. Secondly, It is true; there is aFeare, that Love cheritheth; the Feare that God hath promifed in the Covenant ofGrace,to preferve in our hearts all our daies; But to fay, it cheritheth the Fearewe fpeake of, and which the Ho- ly Ghoft in this place intendeth, is expreffely to make the Holy. Ghott a lyar, . and to contradi& him tohis face. Thirdly; What Love in us, is that, that the Flefh canor may intiee to folly? Are the fruits of the Spirit ofGod, Graces of his own working and creating in us, offuch a Temper and Cònítitution,as that they maybe inticed to unclean- nefè and folly? And is it pofìible that fuch a thought (hould enter into, the heart ofa man, profefíingthe Dc&rineoftheGofpell ? that inke (Mould chine paper, with fuch filth cafe upon the Spirit and Grace of God ? The Feare of Hell ere-whilewas fuited to theufeof the Flefh, but now(it teems) it ferves to keep theLove ofGod it felfe inorder, that otherwife would wax wanton, flefhly, and foolifb. FoolifbLove, that will attempt to cart out this tormenting Feare, not being able to preferve it felfe from folly, without its afíìttance. Sett: i 5. is fpent in an Anfwer endeavoured to an Obje&ion, placed in the beginningofit, in thefe words. Ifit be farther demanded, But doth itnot argue fervility in men, tobe drawn by the Iron cordofthe FeareofHell, to doe what is their duty to doe ? Or doth a- Q cl 2 ny 299
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