On the Nativity. 277 . keep it off. But, as Alexander faid of his . _ fierce and fl:ately horfe, .~a/em. ifli equmtt perdunt, dum, eo per imperitiam uti uejcitmt! What a brave horfe is loft for want offkili to n1aqag~ hin1! fo n1ay we fay of fear, that they who would difcharge it., do lofe an ufeful paffion, not knowing how to or– der it. Fear, doubtlefs, is an excellent in– firuntent, both of reafon and of religion. And as all our paffions, fo efp~cially fear, are as winds, which although they fame– times drive us upon rocks, yet, rightly inl– ·proved, n1ay fwell_pur fails, and carry us on to the - haven where we would. be. Hence we n1ay find it fo frequently con1- , n1anded in fcripture, and fo profitat)ly prac– .tifed by \vife and holy perfons. The quef– tion then is, \Vhat kind of fear and trem– bling is enjoined here in the text? And, firfl:, as for the object, certainly the wrath and difpleafure of God is the 1nofl: proper and fuitable object of our fear: it is this that we ought to look on as the greatell: evil, and to Jhun with the greatefi care• .l\.nd this fear, if rightly feared in our fouls, will n1akc us very watchful againfl: the. fmallefr fins, and n1ake us heartily forry for the offences of others. But though the fear of God's difpleafure be n1ore excellent and A a ufeful,
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