The use of this Doctrine.

Having proceeded thus far about this Doct∣rine of the fear of God: I now come to make some Use and Application of the whole: and my first use shall be a use of Examina∣tion.

Is this fear of God such an excellent thing? Is it attended with so many blessed privi∣ledges then this should put us, ever soul of us, upon a diligent examination of our selves, to wit whether this grace be in us or no, for if it be, then thou art one of these blessed ones to whom belong these glorious privi∣ledges, for thou hast an intrest in every of them; but if it shall appear that this grace is not in thee, then thy state is fearfully mi∣serable as hath partly been manifest already, and will further be seen in what comes af∣ter.

Now the better to help thee to consider, and not to miss in finding out what thou art, in thy self examination, I will speak to this.

• 1. In general.
• 2. In particular.

1. In general.

1. No man brings this grace into the world Page  160 with him. Every one by nature is destitute of it, for naturally none fear God, there is NO fear of God, none of this grace of fear before their eyes, they do not so much as know what it is, for this fear flows, as was shewed before, from a new heart, faith, repentance, and the like, of which new heart faith and Repen∣tance, if thou beest void, thou art also void of this godly fear. Men must have a mighty change of heart and life, or else they are stran∣gers to this fear of God, alas how ignorant are the most of this? yea, and some are not afraid to say they are not changed nor desire so to be: can these fear God? can these be pos∣sessed with this grace of fear? No, Because they have no changes therefore they fear not God, Psal. 36.1. Rom. 3.18. Psal. 55.19.

Wherefore sinner consider, whoever thou art, that art destitute of this fear of God, thou art void of all other graces, for this fear▪ as also I have shewed, floweth from the whole stock of grace where it is. There is not one of the graces of the Spirit, but this fear is in the bowels of it; yea as I may say, this fear is the flower and beauty of every grace, neither is there any thing, let it look as much like grace as it will, that will be counted so indeed, if the fruit thereof be not this. fear of God; wherefore I say again, consider well of of this matter, for as thou shall be found with Page  161 reference to this grace, so shall thy judg∣ment be. I have but briefly treated of this grace, yet have indeavoured, with words as fit as I could, to display it in its colours be∣fore thy face, first by shewing you what this fear of God is, then what it flows from, as also what doth flow from it: To which, as was said before, I have added several privi∣ledges that are annexed to this fear, that by all, if it may be, thou mayest see it, if thou hast it, and thy self without it, if thou hast it not. Wherefore I refer thee thither a∣gain for information in this thing; Or if thou art loth to give the Book a second reading but wilt go on to the end now thou art gotten hither: Then secondly and particularly I conclude with these several propositions con∣cerning those that fear not God.

1. That man that is proud, and of an high and lofty mind, fears not God. This is plain from the Exhortation. Be not high minded but fear, Rom. 11.20. Here you see that an high mind and the fear of God, are set in di∣rect opposition, the one to the other: and there is in them, closely concluded by the Apostle, that where indeed the one is, there cannot be the other; where there is an high mind, there is not the fear of God: and where there is the fear of God, the mind is not high but lowly. Can a man at the same time be ap∣proved Page  162 man, and fear God too? why then is it said God beholdeth every one that is proud and abases him, and again he beholds the proud afar off?

He therefore that is proud of his person, of his Riches, of his Office, of his Parts, and the like, feareth not God. It is also manifest further, for God resisteth the proud, which he would not do, if he feared him, but in that he sets him at such a distance from him, in that he testifies that he will abase him and re∣sist him, it is evident that he is not the man that hath this grace of fear; for that man, as I have shewed you, is the man of Gods delight, the object of his pleasure, Psal. 138.6. Jam. 4.6. 1 Pet. 5.5. Mal. 4.1.

2. The covetous man feareth not God. This also is plain from the word, because it setteth covetousness, and the fear of God in direct opposition. Men that fear God, are said to hate covetousness Exod. 18.21. Besides, the covetous man is called an Idolater, and is said to have no part in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. And again, The wicked boasteth him∣self of his hearts desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhoreth, Ezek. 33.31. Ephes. 5.4, 5. Psal. 10.3.

Hearken to this you that hunt the world to take it, you that care not how you get, so you get the world. Also you that make even reli∣gion Page  163 your stalking-horse to get the world. You fear not God. And what will you do, whose hearts go after your covetousness? you who are led by covetousness up and down, as it were by the Nose; sometimes to swear, to lie, to couzen, and cheat and defraud, when you can get the advantage to do it. You are far, very far from the fear of God. Ye adulterers, and adulteresses, for so the covetous are called, Know ye not that the friendship of this world is the enmity with God: whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world is the enemy of God. James 4. ver. 4.

3. The riotous eaters of flesh have not the fear of God. For this is done without fear, Jud. 12. Gluttony is a sin little taken notice of, and as little repented of by those that use it, but yet it is odious in the sight of God, and the practise of it a demonstration of the want of his fear in the heart: yea, so odious is it that God forbids that his people should so much as company with such. Be not saith he, among wine bibers, among rioters eaters of flesh, Prov. 23.20. And he further tels us, that they that are such, are spots, and ble∣mishes to those that keep them company, for indeed they fear not God. 2 Pet. 2.13. Rom. 13.13. 1 Pet. 4.4.

Alas! some men, are as if they were for nought else born, but to eat, and to drink Page  164 and pamper their carcasses with the dainties of this world, quite forgeting why God sent them hither: but such, as is said, fear not God, and so consequently, are of the number of them upon whom the day of Judgment will come at unawars, Luk. 21.34.

4. The lyer is one that fears not God. This also is evident from the plain Text, Thou hast lied (saith the Lord) and hast not remembred me, nor laid it to thy heart, have not I held my peace even of old, saith the Lord, and thou fearest me not? Isa. 57.11. What lie this was, is not material, 'twas a lie, or a course of lying, that is here rebuked, and the person, or persons, in this practice, as is said, were such as feared not God: a course of lying, and the fear of God cannot stand together.

This sin of lying is a common sin, and it walketh in the world in several guises. There is the profane scoffing lier, there is the cunning artificial lier, there is the hypocritical reli∣gious lier, with lyers of other ranks, and de∣grees. But none of them all have the fear of God, nor shall any of them, they not repen∣ting, escape the damnation of Hell. All ly∣ers shall have their part in the lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone, Revel. 21.8. Hea∣ven and the new Jerusalem are not a place for such. And there shall in no wise enter into it, any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever Page  165 worketh abomination, or maketh a lye, ver. 27. Therefore another Scripture saies, That all liers are without. For without are dogs and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolators and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Chap. 22.15. But this should not be their sentence, judgment, and condemnation, if they that are lyers were such as had in them this blessed fear of God.

5. They fear not God who cry unto him for help in the time of their calamity, and when they are delivered, they return to ther former rebel∣lion. This Moses in a spirit of Prophecy as∣serteth at the time of the mighty judgment of the Hail. Pharoah then desired him to pray to God that he would take away that judgment from him. Well, so I will, saies Moses. But as for thee, and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God, Exod. 9.30. As who should say, I know that so soon as this judgment is removed, you will to your old rebellion again. And what greater demonstration can be given that such a man feareth not God, then to cry to God to be delivered from affliction to prosperity, and to spend that prosperity in rebellion against him? This is crying for mercies that they may be spent, or that we may have something to spend upon our lusts, and in the service of Satan. Jam. 4.1, 2, 3.

Page  166 Of these God compalins in the 16 of Eze∣kiel and in the second of Hosea. Thou hast, saith God, taken of thy fair Jewels of my Gold, and of my Silver which I had given thee, and madest to thy self images, &c. (Ezek. 16.17.)

This was for want of the fear of God. Many of this kind there be now in the World both of men, and women, and Children; Art not thou that readest this Book, of this num∣ber? Hast thou not cried for health when sick, for wealth when poor, when lame for strength, when in prison for liberty, and then spent all that thou gottest by thy prayer, in the service of Satan, and to gratify thy lusts? look to it sinner, these things are signes that with thy heart thou fearest not God.

6. They fear not God, that way-lay his peo∣ple and seek to overthrow them, or to turn them besides the right path, as they are journying from hence to their eternal rest. This is evident from the plain Text. I Remember saith God what Amalek did unto thee by the way when ye were come forth out of Aegypt, how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint, and weary, and he feared not God, Deut. 25.17, 18.

Many such Amalekites there be now in the world that have set themselves against the feeble of the flock, against the feeble of the Page  167 flock especially, still smiting them, some by power, some with the tongue, some in their lives and estates, some in their names and re∣putations, by scandal, slanders and reproach but the reason of this their ungodly practise is this, They fear not God. For did they fear HIM, they would be afraid to so much as think, much more of attempting to afflict and destroy, and calumniate the Children of God: but such there have been, such there are, and such there will be in the world, for all men fear not God.

7. They fear not God, who see his hand upon backsliders for their sins, and yet themselves will be backsliders also. I saw saith God, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel com∣mitted adultery, I had put her away, and gi∣ven her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous Sister Judah FEARED NOT, but went and played the harlot also, Jer. 3.8. Chap. 2. verse 19.

Judah saw that her Sister was put away, and delivered by God into the hand of Sal∣manezer who carried her away beyond Baby∣lon, and yet, though she saw it, she went and plaied the harlot also. A signe of great hard∣ness of heart, and of the want of the fear of God, indeed. For his fear, had it been in her heart, it would have taught her to have trembled at the judgment that was executed Page  168 upon her Sister, and not to have gone and play∣ed the harlot also: And not to have done it while her Sisters judgment was in sight and memory. But what is it, that an heart that is destitute of the fear of God will not do? No sin comes amiss to such: yea they will sin, they will do that themselves, for the doing of which they believe some are in Hell Fire, and all because they fear not God.

But pray observe, if those that take not warning when they see the hand of God upon backsliders, are said to have none of the fear of God, have they it, think you, that lay stumbling blocks in the way of Gods people, and use devices to cause them to backslide, yea rejoyce when they can do this mischief to any? And yet many of this sort there are in the world, that even rejoyce when they see a professor fall into sin and go back from his profession, as if they had found some ex∣cellent thing.

8. They fear not God who can look upon a Land as wallowing in sin, and yet are not hum∣bled at the sight thereof. Have ye, said God by the Prophet to the Jews, forgot the wickedness of your Fathers, and the wickedness of the Kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their Wives, which they have committed in the Land of Ju∣dah, and streets of Jerusalem? They are not hum∣bled to this day, neither have they FEARED, Page  169 nor walked in my Law, Jer. 44.8, 9, 10.

Here is a Land full of wickedness, and none to bewail it, for they wanted the fear of God, and love to walk in his Law. But how say you, if they that are not humbled at their own and others wickedness are said not to fear, or have the fear of God what shall we think, or say of such, that receive, that nour∣ish and rejoyce in such wickedness? do they fear God? yea, what shall we say of such, that are the inventors and promoters of wickedness as of oaths beastly talke, or the like? Do they, do you think, fear God?

Once again, what shall we say of such, that cannot be content to be wicked themselves, and to invent, and rejoyce in other mens wickedness, but must hate, reproach, vilify and abuse those that they cannot perswade to be wicked? Do they fear God?

9. They that take more heed to their own dreams, than to the word of God, fear not God. This also is plain from the word; for in the multitude of dreams, there is also divers vani∣ties, but fear thou God, that is take heed unto his word, Eccle. 5.7. Isa. 8.20.

Here the fearing of God is opposed to our overmuch heeding dreams: and there is im∣plied, that it is for want of the fear of God that men so much heed those things.

What will they say to this that give more heed to a suggestion that ariseth from their foolish hearts or that is cast in thither by the Devil, then they do to the holy word of God? These are filthy dreamers.

Also what shall we say to those that are more confident of the mercy of God to their soul, because he hath blessed them with outward things, than they are afraid of his wrath and condemnation, thought the whole of the word of God doth fully verify the same? These are filthy dreamers indeed.

A dream is either real, or so by way of semblance, and so some men dream sleeping, and some waking (Isa. 29.7.) And as those that a man dreams sleeping are caused, either by God, Satan, Business, Flesh, or the like, so are they that a man dreams waking, to pass by those that we have in our sleep.

Men when bodily awake, may have dreams, that is, visions from Heaven; such are all they that have a tendency to discover to the sinner his state, or the state of the Church according to the word.

But those that are from Satan, business, and the flesh are such, (especially the first and last to wit, from Satan and the flesh) as tend to imbolden men to hope for good in a way dis∣agreeing with the word of God. These Jude calls filthy dreams such whose principles were Page  171 their dreams, and they led them to defile the flesh, that is, by fornication and unclean∣ness, To despise dominion, that the reins might be laid upon the neck of their lusts, To speak evil of dignities, of those that God had set over them, for their governing in all the Law and Testament of Christ, these dreamt that to live like brutes, to be greedy of gain, and to take away for it, as Cain and Balaam, did by their wiles, the lives of the owners thereof, would go for good Coin in the best of tryals. These also Peter speaks of in 2 Epist. 2 Chap And he makes their dreams that Jude calls so their principle and errors in life and doctrine; you may read of them in that whole Chapter where they are called cur∣sed Children, and so by consequence such as fear not God.

10. They fear not God, who are Sorcerers, Adulterers, false swearers, AND that oppress the hireling of his wages.

It is a custom with some men to keep back by fraud from the hireling, that which by covenant they agreed to pay for their la∣bor, pinching, I say and pareing from them their due that of right belongs to them, to the making of them cry in the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth (Jam. 5.4.) These fear not God; they are reckoned among the worst Page  172 of men, and in their day of account God himself will bear witness against them.

And I, saith God, will come near to you to Judgment, and I will be a swift witness against false swearers, and against the adulterers, and against those that oppress the hireling of his wa∣ges, the Widdow, and the Fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and FEAR not me saith the Lord.

11. They fear not God, who instead of pittying of, rail at Gods people in their affliction, temp∣tations and persecutions, and rather rejoyce and skip for joy, then sympathize with them in their sorrow. Thus did Davids enemies, thus did Israels enemies, and thus did the Thief, he railed at Christ when he hanged upon the Cross, and was for that, even by his fellow, accounted for one that feared not God, Luk. 23.40. Psal. 35.1, 22, 23, 24, 25 26. Read Obadi∣ah 10.11, 12 13, 14, 15. Jer. 48.2, 7.

This is a common thing among the Chil∣dren of men, even to rejoyce at the hurt of them that fear God, and it ariseth even of an inward hatred to Godliness. They hate you, saies Christ, because they hated me. Therefore Christ takes what is done to his, in this, as done unto himself, and so to holiness of life.

But this falls hard upon such as despise at, and rejoyce to see Gods people in their griefs, Page  173 and that take the advantage, as dogged Shi∣mei did, to augment the griefs and afflictions of Gods people, 2 Sam. 16.5, 6, 7, 8.

These fear not God, they do this of enmity, and their sin is such as will hardly be blotted out, 1 King. 2.8, 9.

12. They fear not God, who are strangers to the effects of fear. If I be a Master where is my fear? That is, shew that I am so by your fear of me in the effects of your fear of me. You offer polluted Bread upon mine Altar. This is not a sign that you fear me, ye offer the blinde for Sacrifices, where is my fear? ye offer the lame and the sick these are not effects of the fear of God, Mal. 1.6, 7, 8.

Sinner, it is on thing to say, I fear God, and another to fear him indeed. Therefore as James saies, shew me thy faith by thy works, so here God calls for a testimony of thy fear by the effects of fear. I have already shewed you several effects of fear, if thou art a stranger to them, thou art a stranger to this grace of fear. Therefore, to conclude this, It is not a feigned profession that will do; nothing is good here, but what is salted with this fear of God, and they that fear him are men of truth, men of fingleness of heart, perfect, upright, humble, holy men; wherefore reader examine, and again I say examine, and lay the word and thy heart Page  174 together before that thou concludest that thou fearest God.

What! fear God, and in a state of nature? fear God without a change of heart and life? what! fear God and be proud, and covetous, a wine bibber, and a riotous eater of flesh! how? fear God and a lyer, and one that cries for mercies to spend them upon thy lusts; this would be strange.

True, thou mayest fear as devils do, but what will that profit? Thou mayest by thy fear, be driven away from God, from his worship, people, and waies, but what will that avail? It may be thou mayest so fear at present, as to be a little stopped in thy sin∣full course: perhaps thou hast got a knock from the word of God, and art at present a little dazled and hindred from being in thy former and full carrier after sin; but what of that? If by the fear that thou hast, thy heart is not united to God and to the love of his Son, Word, and People, thy fear is nothing worth.

Many men also are forced to fear God, as underlings are forced to fear those that are by force above them.

If thou only thus fearest God, 'tis but a false fear; it flows not from love to God: this fear brings not willing subjection, which in∣deed brings the effect of right fear: but be∣ing Page  175 over mastred, like an hypocrite, thou sub∣jectest thy self, (Psal. 18.44.) by feigned obe∣dience being forced, I say, by meer dread to do it, Psal. 66.3.

It is said of David. That the same of him went out into all Lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all Nations, 1 Chron. 14.17. But what did they now love David? did they now chuse him to be their King? no verily; they, many of them rather hated him, and when they could, made resistance against him. They did, even as thou dost: feared, but did not love: feared, but did not chuse his government that ruled over them.

It is also said of Jehosaphat, when God had subdued before him Amon, Moab and Mount Seir. That the fear of God was upon all the king∣doms of the Countries, when they heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel, (2 Ch. 20.29.) But, I say, was this fear, that is cal∣led now the fear of God, any thing else, but a dread of the greatness and power of the King? no verily, nor did that dread bring them into a willing subjection to, and likeing of his laws and government, it only made them like slaves and underlings, stand in fear of his executing the vengeance of God upon them.

Therefore still, notwithstanding this fear, they were rebels to him in their hearts, and Page  176 when occasion and advantage offered them∣selves, they shewed it by rising in rebellion against Israel.

This fear therefore provoked but feigned, and forced obedience, a right emblem of the obedience of such, who being still enemies in their minds to God, are forced by vertue of present conviction to yield a little, even of fear to God, to his word, and to his ordi∣nances. Reader, whoever thou art, think of this, it is thy concern, therefore do it and examine, and examine again, and look diligent∣ly to thy heart in thine examination, that it beguile thee not about this thy so great con∣cern, as indeed the fear of God is.

One thing more, before I leave thee, let me warn thee of. Take heed of deferring to fear the Lord. Some men, when they have had conviction upon their heart that the fear of God is not in them, have through the o∣verpowring of their corruptions, yet deferred and put off the fear of God from them, as it is said of them in Jeremiah. This people have a revolting and a rebellious heart, they are re∣volted and gone; neither said they in their heart let us now fear the Lord, Jer. 5.22, 23, 24.

They saw that the Judgments of God at∣tended them because they did not yet fear God, but that conviction would not prevail with them to say, let us now fear the Lord. Page  177 They were for deferring to fear him still; they were for puting off his fear from them longer. Sinner, hast thou deferred to fear the Lord? is thy heart still so stubborn as not to say yet, let us fear the Lord? Oh the Lord hath taken notice of this thy rebellion, and is preparing some dreadful Judgment for thee. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, shall not my soul be avenged of such a Nation as this? ver. 29.

Sinner why shouldest thou pull vengeance down upon thee? why shouldest thou pull vengeance down from Heaven upon thee? Look up, perhaps thou hast already been pulling this great while, to pull it down upon thee. Oh, pull no longer; why shouldest thou be thine own Executioner? Fall down upon thy knees man, and up with thy heart and thy hands to the God that dwels in the Heavens; cry, yea cry aloud, Lord unite mine heart to fear thy name, and do not harden mine heart from thy fear. Thus holy men have cryed be∣fore thee, and by crying have prevented Judgment.

Before I leave this use let me give thee a few things, that if God will, may provoke thee to fear the Lod.

1. The man that feareth not God, carrieth it worse toward him, then the beast, the bruit beast, doth carry it towards that man.

Page  178 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every Beast of the earth, yea and upon every Fowl of the air, and upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the Fishes in the Sea, Gen. 9.2.

Mark, All my creatures shall fear you, and dread you, saies God. None of them shall be so hardy as to cast off all reverence of you.

But what a shame is this to man, That God should subject all his creatures to him, and he should refuse to stoop his heart to God? The Beast, the Bird, the Fish, and all, have a fear and dread of man, yea God has put it in their hearts to fear a man, and yet man is void of fear and dread, I mean of godly fear of him, that thus lovingly hath put all things under him.

Sinner art thou not ashamed that a silly Cow, a Sheep, yea a Swine, should better observe the Law of his creation, then thou dost the Law of thy God?

2. Consider, He that will not fear God, God will make him fear him whether he will or no. That is, He that doth not, will not now so fear him, as willingly to bow before him, and put his neck into his yoak, God will make him fear him when he comes to take ven∣geance on him. Then he will surround him with terror, and with fear on every side, fear Page  179 within, and fear without, fear shall be in the way, even in the way that thou goest when thou art going out of this World: and that will be dreadful fear, Eccles. 12.5. I will bring their fears upon them saith the Lord. Isa. 66.4.

3. He that fears not God now, the Lord shall laugh at his fears then. Sinner, God will be even with all them that chuse not to have his fear in their hearts: For as he calls and they hear not now, so they shall cry, yea howl then, and he will laugh at their fears. I will laugh, saith he, at their destruction I will mock when their fear cometh, when your fear cometh as disolation, and your distruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh up∣on you, then shall you call upon me, but I will not answer: you shall seek me early, but you shall not find me, for that you hated knowledge, and did not chuse the FEAR of the Lord, Prov. 1.26, 27, 28, 29.

Sinner! thou thinkest to escape the fear: but what wilt thou do with the pitt? Thou thinkest to escape the pit; but what wilt thou do with the Snare. The Snare, say you, what is that I answer it is even the work of thine own hands. The wicked is snared in the works of his own hands, he is snared by the words of his lips Psal. 9.16. Chap. 12.13.

Page  180 Sinner, what wilt thou do when thou comest into this snare; that is into the guilt and terror that thy sins will snaffle thee with, when they like a cord are fastned about thy soul? This snare will bring thee back again to the pit which is Hell, and then how wilt thou do to be rid of thy fear. The fear, pit and the snare shall come upon thee, because thou fear∣est not God.

Sinner, art thou one of them that hast cast off fear? poor man, what wilt thou do when these three things beset thee? whither wilt thou fly for help? And where wilt thou leave thy glory? If thou fliest from the fear, theres the pit, if thou fliest from the pit there's the snare.