The Souls Porter to Cast Out Sin, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. The proper diſtinguiſhable ſymptomes of the feare of God. And firſt of thoſe abſolute ſignes that diſcover the eſſentiall ingredients that conſtitute the genuine feare of God.
THeſe ſignes are many. Give me leave to preſent the Reader with the picture in great, of him who feares God; and yet I ſhall bee compelled, through the variety and fulneſſe of this ſubject, to doe as they that draw Mappes of the world, who ſet downe a line for a river, and a ſpot for a whole countrey.
1. They that feare God, have a high reverend, awfull, reſpective eſtimation both of God, and of his Ordinances.
That thou mayeſt feare this glorious and fearful Name, Deut. 28.58. GODS Name.THE LORD THY GOD, ſayth Moſes. That is for reverence toward the name of God.
With feare you received Titus; that is, with reſpect and reverence,2 Cor. 7.15. Gods Miniſters. (ſayth Saint Paul) There is reverence toward the Miniſters of God.
When Iacob awaked out of his ſleepe, Gen. 28.16.17. The place of Gods worſhip.in the place where God ſpake to him in a dreame; he ſaid, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it: and hee was afrayd, and ſayd, How dreadfull is this place! this is no other but the houſe of God, and the gate of heaven. That is for reverence in the place, wherein God ſhall be pleaſed to manifeſt himſelfe to us: and more ſpecially the Church, the congregation of the Saints.
He that feares God, will not be raſh to utter any thing afore God, becauſe he ſees, and acknowledges ſuch a vaſt diſtance between God and him; God being in heaven, and hee on the earth: as Salomon ſayth in his booke of his Retractations, Hee that feares God, Eccleſ. 5.2.feares afore God, tis Salomons expreſsion, Eccleſ. 8.13.13.that is, in the preſence of God, which is moſt manifeſt, and conſtant in his holy Temple. The Lord is in his holy Temple, Pſal. 11.4.ſayth David; though his Throne bee in heaven, the temple is his houſe, his court,Pſal. 84.1.24. as David ſtiles it. This was Davids feare;Pſal. 5.7. I will come (ſayth hee) into thy houſe, and in thy feare will I worſhip toward thy holy Temple. This was the feare of Levi, ſaith God of him,Mal. 2.5. He was afraid afore my Name, that is, he was reverent in my worſhip. And therefore theſe two are joyned together in St. Iohn, Feare God, Rev. 14.7.and glorifie and worſhip him. To glorifie God in a reverent worſhipping of him, is to feare God. It is the ſong of the Saints in heaven, Who ſhall not feare thee, Rev. 15.4.O Lord, and glorifie thy Name: For all Nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee.
Summe up all, it amounts to this, He that feares God, reverences the name of God, hohours the meſſengers of God, hee behaves himſelfe reverently in the place of Gods worſhip: in the parts of Gods worſhip, in prayer, in preaching, in hearing; in adminiſtring and participating the holy Sacrament. On the other ſide, hee that can blaſphemouſly, toſſe and teare the awfull name of God, by helliſh ſwearing, and divelliſh curſing; hee that can take the ſacred name of God into his mouth, when there is little or no thought of it in his heart:Eſa. 29.13. hee that diſeſteemes, undervalues, deſpiſes, ſcornes, mocks the meſſengers of God; hee that puts no difference betweene Gods houſe & his owne;1 Cor. 11.22. between the ſacramentall Bread and Wine, cōſecrated to configure ſuch myſteries,1 Cor. 11.29. & common bread & wine; he that can willingly ſleep or otherwiſe regardleſly, oſcitantly demeane himſelfe in the ſervice of his God; he hath no feare of God afore his eyes.
2. Hee that feares God, will thirſt to bee fully acquainted with the whole will of God, that ſo through ignorance, or miſtake, hee may neither neglect what God commands, nor doe what hee forbids, nor miſdoe, nor over-doe any thing. This is called proving, or ſearching what is the good and acceptable will of God,Rom. 12.2. what hee accepts, what hee miſlikes. It was King Davids prayer,Pſa. 86.11. Teach mee thy way, O Lord: unite my heart to feare thy name. He manifeſts his deſire to feare God, by deſiring that GOD would teach him his way. This he requeſts more than once in one Pſalme;Pſal. 119.12 26.33. teach mee thy ſtatutes: teach mee the way of thy ſtatutes. As that ſonne that feares his father, will punctually inquire into his fathers diſpoſition and wil, what he likes, what diſpleaſes him. But he that takes no care to build up himſelf in the knowledge of the will of God, but contents himſelfe with ignorance; nay, it may bee, winks againſt the light, the beames whereof would otherwiſe dart into, and irradiate up on his ſoule: on purpoſe that hee might ſin more freely, without check of conſcience,Gravis mile conſ ientiae lux eſt… en. Epiſt. 123. which being enlightened; would doe its office in accuſing: That man doth not feare God. Of this ſtampe were thoſe, whereof Iob ſpeakes,Iob. 21.14 that ſayd unto God, We deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes: and that ſay to the Seers, See not, and to the Prophets,Iſa. 30.10. Propheſie not unto us right things, ſpeake ſmooth things. As if they ſhold ſay, Doe you looke for thankes of us for preaching freely and frequently? wee would you wold preach leſſe, you would give us better content. There is (ſayth David) no feare of God afore the wicked mans eyes. Pſal. 36.1.2.How doth that appeare? By this: He flatters himſelf, and hee deſires to be flattered. Hee would not willingly know the plain truth: he loves to drinke in troubled waters, that hee might not ſee his own deformitie, nor underſtand his dutie.
3. Hee that feares God, hath a ſoft, melting, yeelding, pliable heart to all good impreſſions. I am afrayd of God. ſayth Iob… for he maketh my heart ſoft. Iob. 23.1… 6 Iſa… 48.4. Ier. 3 3.But hee that hath a brow of braſſe, a whoores fore-head, an iron ſinew, an adamantine heart, a perverſe thwart, croſſe will, that neither threats nor promiſes; neither mercies nor judgements, can diſſolve, or mollifie: that man owns not the feare of God. Therefore it is, that the feare of God, and hardneſſe of heart are oppoſed one to another, by Salomon. Bleſſed is he that feareth alwayes, Prov. 28.14.but he that hardens his heart, ſhall fall into miſchiefe. Our hearts are hardened from thy feare, ſayth the Prophet, Eſa. 63.17.
4. Hee that feares God, will tremble at Gods comminations in his word. This is poverty, and contriteneſſe of ſpirit to tremble at Gods word, Iſa. 66.2.as it is in the Prophet. When I heard (ſayth Habakkuk) my belly trembled, my lips quivered, Hab. 3.16.… rottenneſſe entred into my bones. When Micha propheſied of the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, King Hezekiah feared the Lord, Ier. 26.18.19.and beſought him to avert the evill. When Baruch read the booke of Gods threatnings in the eares of the Princes, the text ſayth,Ier. 36.15.16. they were afrayd both one and other.
But hee that hearing the words of this Book of GOD,Deut. 29.19. 1 Theſ. 5.3 Amos 6.3. bleſſeth himſelfe in his heart, and promiſes himſelfe peace and ſafety, and puts from him the evill day: Hee that thinkes pulpit threats to be but Bug-beares, and Scarcrowes to affright children with, and is no more mooved with them, than the ſeat hee ſits on: That man hath no feare of God afore his eyes.
5. He that truly feares God, is in love with the feare of God, hee rejoyces in it, hee cheriſhes it; he wiſheth the increaſe of it. The Saints deſire to feare thy name, Nehem. 1.11.ſayth Nehemiah. Thy ſervant is devoted to thy feare, Pſal. 119.38.ſayth the ſweet ſinger of Iſrael. But he that reſolves to lead a merry life, to take nothing to heart, to ſing care away, and to ſtop the mouth of conſcience when it chideth; hee knowes not experimentally, what the feare of GOD meanes.
6. Hee that feares God, when he conceiveth he hath provoked God to anger, he never ceaſeth praying, intreating the prayers of others, interpoſing the merits of Chriſt between every word of his prayer, his heart is in unconſtant reſt, till his peace be made with God, till he finde God reconciled to him. Thus did David lively expreſſe his feare of God. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies, Pſal. 51.1.28▪6.11.12.blot out all my tranſgreſsions, waſh me throughly from my iniquitie, and cleanſe me from my ſinne. Caſt me not from thy preſence. Make mee to heare the voyſe of ioy, that the bones that thou haſt broken may reioyce. Reſtore to me the ioy of thy ſalvation. How long wilt thou hide thy face? Pſal. 89.46.49.for ever? And ſhall thy wrath burne like fire? Lord, where are thy former loving kindneſſes?
But he, that, becauſe ſentence againſt ſinne is not ſpeedily executed,Eccleſ. 8.11, 12. ſets his heart to do evill, and thinkes that God hath forgotten; and ſo runnes on the ſcore, and never thinks of agreeing with his maker, and making up the breach; hee is a ſtranger to the feare of God.
7. Hee that feares God, doth at all times, and in all places, ſet himſelfe as in the preſence of God. As David ſet God alwayes afore his eyes.Pſal. 16.8. Pſal. 139.2.4 7.8.9. Thou knoweſt ſayth hee) my thoughts afarre off; there is not a word of my tongue, but thou knoweſt it altogether. Whither ſhall I flye from thy preſence? Feare quickens the memory: Nothing more dwelles in our thoughts than that perſon or thing that wee moſt love or feare. He that fears God alwayes, ſees him who is inviſible. He conceives that God is alwayes preſent;Heb. 11.29 foreign. Sic ſemper deum preſentem intelligit, ac ſi in ſua eſſentra viderat. Ber. form. bon. vit.. Acts 10.33 Pſal. 10.4. as if he ſaw his very eſſence. He ſayes, eſpecially in ſolemne conventions, and actions, as Cornelius did. Wee are all preſent afore God. But hee in whoſe thoughts God is nonreſident, hee is as farre from the feare of God, as the thought of God.
8. Hee that feares God hath a quicke eye to diſcerne when God is diſpleaſed, and he is grieved at heart when Gods honour is im peached either by himſelfe, or others. Hee grieves for his owne ſinnes, and Ephraim bemoaned himſelfe. After I was inſtructed, Ier. 31.18, 19.I ſmote upon my thigh. I was aſhamed, yea even confounded. And as David cried out in the bitterneſſe of his heart, Againſt thee, againſt thee onelyonly have I ſinned. Pſal. 51.4.Hee had ſinned againſt Vriah, againſt Bathſheba, againſt Iſrael: but he is moſt ſenſible of his offending of God.
Againe, he that feares God, grieves when others are injurious to Gods glory.Pſal. 119.136. & verſ. 53. Rivers of waters (ſayth David) runne down mine eyes, becauſe men keep not thy lawes. Horror hath taken hold upon mee, becauſe the wicked have forſaken thy lawes. Hee that feares God, will tremble to heare another ly, and ſweare, and curſe, and provoke God. But he that is neither moved with his owne, nor with other mens ſins; but makes the one his pride, and the other his mirth, how can the feare of God dwell in that man?
9. Hee that feares God will bee carefull for the future, to avoyd whatſoever may prove offenſive to God. And therefore David puts theſe together, Stand in awe, Pſal. 4.4.and ſinne not And therefore he ſaith, That the feare of God is cleane, Pſal. 19.9.becauſe it keeps mens hearts and hands cleane. The feare of the Lord is to hate evill: Pro. 8.13. Pro. 16.6.and by the feare of the Lord men depart from evill, ſayth Salomon. He that feares God, feares ſin. Tis part of the deſcription of a good man in Eccleſiaſtes, Eccleſ. 9.2.that hee feares an oath: And ſo I may ſay of other ſins. Nay, hee feares ſinne, when time, place, and opportunity do wooe him to it. As Ieſeph would not yeeld to his miſtreſſes luſt, though there was no feare of diſcovery: All his argument was, How can I doe this great wickednes, Gen. 39.9.and ſin againſt God? But hee that paſſe not how much God bee diſpleaſed, ſo hee may pleaſe, humour, and ſatisfie his owne luſt, his heart is not poſſeſſ with the feare of God.
10. Hee that feares GOD will ſtudy in all things to pleaſe God; Hee will obey God conſcionably and conſtantly. And therefore to feare God, and to keepe his commandements,Eccleſ. 12.13. are put together by the wiſe man. Tis ſayd of the Centurion, that hee feared God; Acts. 10.2 Pſal. 2.11.and it is added; he was a devout man, he gave almes; hee prayed. Serve the Lord with feare, ſayth David. He that ſerves God, feares him; and he that feares him, will ſerve him: they cannot bee diſjoyned.
If thou makeſt no conſcience of diligent ſerving of God, both in thy general and particular calling; and of ſerving him in that manner, that he deſires to bee ſerved in, never ſay that thou feareſt God.
Laſtly, he that feares God, will not willingly wrong his neighbour, neither in word or deed. Doe this (ſayth Ioſeph to his brethren) and live: Gen 42.18for I feare God, that is, I will keepe my promiſe with you, if you performe the condition, for I feare God, and therefore dare bee no promiſe-breaker. The Hebrew mid-wives would not kil the male-children at the Kings command, becauſe, ſayth the text,Exod. 1.17. they feared God. And the law of God runnes thus; Thou ſhalt not curſe the deafe, Leuit. 19 14.nor put a ſtumbling blocke afore the blinde, but thou ſhalt feare God. As if GOD ſhould ſay, If thou feare me, thou wilt not offer injury to thy neighbour; No, not though thou couldeſt eſcape unknowne; thou wilt not curſe him that cannot heare thee, nor offend him that cannot ſee thee to call thee to account for it. My predeceſſors (ſayth Nehemiah) oppreſt the people Nehem. 5.15.ſo do not I, becauſe I feare God.
But he that makes no ſcruple of prejudicing, and injuring ſuperiour, equall, inferiour, any that may fall with in his reach, he may call himſelfe a ſervant of God, and a Chriſtian; but as yet the feare of God hath no place in his heart.
Theſe are more ſimple, and abſolute ſignes of the feare of God conſiderable in it ſelfe.