A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 136. Of serving God with an holy fear.

THe second special property of our service to God is a 1.1 Godly fear; The word in the original signifieth a good or religious circumspection, which moves men cantiously, or warily, to enterprise what they do; in that respect its translated fear.

The word here translated godly fear, is compounded of a verb that signifieth b 1.2 to take, and an adverb that signifieth c 1.3 well, so as according to the notation of the word, it implieth, d 1.4 well to take, or apprehend a thing. Thence followeth a wary circumspection, and a godly fear. They who are circumspect, and wary about the things which concern Gods worship, are expressed under this word, which our Eng∣lish translate e 1.5 devout, Luk. 2. 25.

It is a grace in man that hath relation and respect to God; in which respect this Epithite godly is here applied to it, thus, godly fear. This kind of word is seven times used in the new Testament, as Luk. 2. 25. Act. 2. 5. and 8. 2. In these three places its translated, devout; Heb. 5. 7. and 11. 7. and here. In all these places it importeth a godly fear; onely once I find it used to set out a natural fear, viz. Act. 23. 10.

By this speciall property of our service to God, the Apostle evidently demonstra∣teth, that An holy fear is a speciall means of well ordering the service we do to God. The grounds whereof may be,

• 1. That goodnesse and kindnesse which in God is mixed with greatnesse, and Majesty, and power, and justice. He is truly that which the Heathen unduly stiled their Iupiter, Optimus Maximus. In like manner doth God proclaim his own name, Exod. 34. 6. and his Son sets him forth, Matth. 11. 25. and 6. 9. Now as his great∣nesse requires fear, Ier. 10. 7. Mal. 1. 6. So his goodnesse requires, that it be a f 1.6 good and godly fear.
• 2. That alteration of our nature which is wrought by the powerful work of Gods Spirit. True it is, that the flesh remaineth in all, while they remain in this flesh (Rom. 7. 23, 24. Gal. 5. 17.) In this respect God gives to his, even to the best of his, a Spirit of fear. Note 2 Cor. 5. 11. Act. 5. 11.

But with this flesh, there is also the Spirit in such as are regenerate. This san∣ctifying Spirit makes that fear in them to be a good and godly fear: such a fear was Noahs, Heb. 11. 7. For the Spirit works love in the Souls of men, Gal. 5. 22. 2 Tim. 1. 7. Now love mixed with fear, makes it to be g 1.7 a godly fear.

• 1. This may inform us in the condition of regenerate persons. Its a kind of* 1.8 middle condition betwixt mans entire estate, wherein God at first created man, and that corrupt estate, whereinto man fell. In his entire estate he needed nothing but love; in his corrupt estate, nothing works on him but a servile, slavish fear; such a fear as Adam had in the garden, Gen. 3. 8, 10. and Gain, Gen. 4. 13. and Pharaoh, Exod. 12. 31. such a fear casts out love, 1 Joh. 4. 18. But the regenerate estate is mixed of both, and that by reason of that double principle which is in man, flesh and spirit, fear arising from the flesh, love from the spirit. But by this mixture of love, servile fear is made a godly fear; which is ever accompanied with love, and therefore in sacred Scripture oft joyned together, as Deut. 10. 12. Of this kind of fear, see My Domestical Duties. Treat. §. 4.
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• 2. This demonstrates unto us th•…•… •…•…xcremes whereunto most are given: some in the defect; some in the exc•…•…sse. The defect is of such as have no fear at all, such* 1.9 commonly are the most impudent and audacious sinners; like unbroken and un∣brideled horses, which run headlong to their own, and their riders destruction. These will be held from no sin, that they have power, and opportunity to commit. Note Gen. 20. 11. Rom. 3. 18.

The excesse of such fear is nothing but wrath and vengeance. This is a plain servile, slavish fear; which is so far from being accompanied with love, as by per∣fect love its cast out, 1 Ioh. 4. 18. Its joyned with hatred. It hath two violent ef∣fects,

• 1. It oft casts men into strange extacies, as Dan. 5. 6. and makes them despair, Gen. 4. 3 Its a plain diabolicall fear, Iam. 2. 19.
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  2. It puts strange desires into mens heads: and makes them wish there were no death, no judgement, no hell, no Judge, no God.

  The godly fear here mentioned is as a vertue in the mean betwixt these two ex∣tremes.

• 3. Upon the foresaid ground let us be exhorted to possesse our souls with this* 1.10 godly fear, when we draw near to God to worship and serve him. Such an exhorta∣tion Christ giveth about patience, Luk. 21. 19. This will be a speciall meanes to make thee serve God acceptably. For godly fear ariseth from faith, as I have shewed in My Domestical Duties Treat. 1. §. 4.
• 4. Direction how to get this godly fear.* 1.11
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    1. Acquaint thy self with God, as Eliphaz adviseth, Iob 22. 21. and be well in∣structed in his divine properties and excellencies, as in his supream soveraignty, &c. Of which see The Churches Conquest, on Exod. 17. 11. §. 43.

    Ignorance of the excellency of a thing makes it to be disesteemed. But true knowledg thereof workes an high esteem, and due respect, 2. Chron. 28. 9. Hereby God wronght in Iob a godly fear, Iob 42. 2, 3.

  • 2. Get all the evidences that thou canst of Gods Fatherly respect to thee. Call to mind his offers of grace revealed in his word. Observe his gracious dealing with thee how long he hath born with thee: wherein he hath dealt better with thee then with many others. Well observe what fruits of his sanctifying Spirit are wrought in thee: These give evidence that God is our Father, and will make us thereupon desirous to please him.
  • 3. Set this God allwaies before thee, and remember that the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evill and the good, as Prov. 15. 3. This also will work a godly fear. For it will make thee to do all things as in his presence. Note Gen. 39. 9.
  • 4. Be well informed in the horrible nature of sin; how contrary it is to God, and that in his chiefest excellency which is his purity and holiness. Nothing more contrary to another, not darknesse to light, nor death to life. Nothing makes a creature so loathsome in Gods sight as sin. Sin only incenseth Gods wrath. Sin causeth all judgements. Sin makes the Devill so terrible as he is. Sin puts a sting into death. Sin excludes from heaven, and implungeth into hel. Were this tho∣rowly known, it would make us more fearfull of committing sin, then of pulling Vengeance on our heads, which fear is the true godly fear.
  • 5. Daely weigh thine own weaknesse and disability to stand of thy self, and withall thine own proaness to wander out of the right way. In regard of our own weaknesse, we are as little Children ready to stumble at every stone, and slip at eve∣ry smooth slippery place. In regard of our proaness to wander, we are as sheep, so saith the Psalmist, Psal. 119. 176. A due consideration hereof will work in us this godly fear. Note Rom. 11. 20.
  • 6. Take due notice of Sathans subtilty, and sedulity; In regard of his subtilty, he is resembled to an old Serpent, Rev. 12. 9. and 20. 2▪ In regard of his sedulity he is resembled to a roaring Lyon, walking about, seeking whom he may devoure, 1 Pet. 5. 8. Withall take notice of the deceitfullnesse of sin, Heb. 3. 13. together with the many temptations whereunto we are subject. These cannot but work a fear, yea and a godly fear, least we should be overtaken▪

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• f 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.8

  1. Information.
• * 1.9

  2. Demonstra∣tion.
• * 1.10

  3. Exhortation.
• * 1.11

  4. Direction.