A Commentary on 1 Peter 1-3, Exposition of chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 16
Verse 17.
And if you call him Father, which without respect of person judgeth according to every mans worke, passe the time of your dwelling here in feare.
HItherto of the first reason. The second reason to inforce the exhortation in the 13. verse, is here taken from the consideration of Gods judgement: The time must certainly come, that we must appeare before the Tribunall of God, & receive reward or punishment according to our works, and therefore it stands us upon with all care and feare to carry our selves so reservedly and holily, as in that day we may have comfort and reward.
In the words two things may be noted. 1. The proposition of the reason. 2. The inference or the conclusion of it; or, here is the doctrine and the use of it. The proposition of the doctrine is, He whom we call Father, or call upon as a Father, shall without respect of persons judge every man according to his works. The inference or use is, therefore wee should passe the time of our dwelling here in feare. In the proposition concerning the last judgment, observe; 1. who shall be the Judge, viz. God the Father, whom we call upon. 2. How will he judge, viz. without respect of persons. 3. Whom hee will judge, viz. every man. 4. For what they shall be judged, viz. according to their works.
In the setting downe of the first point, both matter and manner are to be observed: The matter is, that the same God and Father who is called upon by us, is the judge of the world: The manner o… expressing it, is conditionally, if you call him Father. The words in the originall be both waies read: Some reade, if you call him Father, and the meaning is not of prayer, but of profession, if you professe God to be your Father. Some reade it, if you call on the Father, that is, if in prayer you goe unto God the Father with your requests: so the Kings Translators reade it, and so I think it is most agreeable to the intent of the Apostle in this place.
If you call on the Father.]
Many things may be noted from these words with their coherence.
1. That the heart of man is not able to beare the contemp…ation of the last judgement; nor can we with comfort any way be fitted for it, …ill we know, and by practice and experience doe find that God is our Father.
Vse.The Use is, 1. for information: The reason why many are so troubled with the thought of the judgement to come, is the defect of assurance of Gods love as a Father: these fears shew weaknesse of faith, and if they raign constantly, shew there is no assurance at all. 2 It should teach us by all means to labour about assurance, that we might with boldnesse and confidence goe unto God, and cry Abba Father.
2. That he that is the Father of the Elect, will be the Judge of the world. Though it be hard for a pittifull man to be strict in punishing, yet with God his mercy and justice doe not fight one against another.
Vse.The Use is to warne wicked men to take heed how they apply the promises and prerogatives of the godly to themselves: for God will certainely judge them according to their estate.
3. Constant prayer is a great meanes of comfort against the feare of judgement in this life, and against the hurt of it in the last day, Luke 21.34.
The Use is,Vse. to shew us how wee may remedy the feare of death and judgements: much prayer and calling on the Name of God will exceedingly availe.
4. That to call on God as a Father, will not serve turne, unlesse our practice answer our prayers, unlesse we passe the time of our sojourning in feare: it is not any pattering our of words will serve the turne, nor praying for customes sake; it must be such a prayer as makes us afraid to sin before such a Father … such a Judge.
5. Wh…n he saith, if we call, it imports, that many professe God to be their Father, who yet doe not shew it to be so by daily and constant calling upon his name. It is a great question, whether many that professe God and his truth, doe indeed conscionably pray unto him; which should awaken us, and make us settle close to the practice of daily prayer.
6. It is a lawfull prayer that is directed to one of the persons of the Trinity in the outward forme of words: I meane, that though we should name onelyonly the Father, and not mention the Son, or holy Ghost, yet the prayer were lawfull, so as
1. We doe not exclude the other persons in our judgements and affections.
2. That we desire upon the present occasion to compell our hearts to a more speciall meditation of the glory of one of the persons, as the occasion of the matter requireth.
But the maine and principall doctrine is, that God, as he is our Father,Doct. shall be our Judge.
If any aske, How then is Christ commonly said to be our Judge? Act. 17.30.Quest.
I answer, that the last judgement being a work ad extra, is common to all the three Persons, and is so attributed in Scripture, but in different respe…ts:Answ. for the authority of the last judgement is in the whole Trinity, but the execution of it is in the Sonne. This doctrine must needs be comfortable to the godly: who would feare the tryall when his owne Father is Judge, yea and law-giver, and hath before promised infinite mercy, and is an everlasting Father, … compassion never failes, (for so is God to us,) and hath given pledge, and seales, and earnest of assurance, that it shall goe well?
Thus of the person, who shall judge: The manner followeth.
Without respect of persons.]
The…e are … downe many admirable praises of the justice of these last Assises; whereof this is one, that here shall be no respect of persons. It pleaseth God in so great mysteries as this is, not to set downe all at once, but to distill some few memorable things, and those severally. both to excise diligence in the study of the Scriptures, and to imply the disability of our na… comprehend much at once of such dreadfull things.
Not to respect persons in judgement hath divers things in it: It is to judge without …: …t is to judge without care how the judged takes it: it is to judge without respect of their strength, or disgrace: it is to take no reward, … accept the persons of great men for their greatnesse, or riches sake: it is to be led with no colours, or vain pretences: it is to judge according to truth, and not according to opinion, or the common voice: and t…us much and much more is imported in this justice of the Lord at that day.
The Use is,Vse.
1. For humiliation and terror to wicked men: This should wonderfully pierce them …o hear how they must speed at that day: their judgement shall not be to amend them, but to confound them: the same God that hath dealt with other men in justice, will judge them also: and this may increase the terror, that there will be no taking of rewards, nor can riches availe in the day of wrath, Iob 36.18, 19. unlesse it be to increase their judgement, Iam. 5.1, 3.
2. For instruction: it may teach divers things.
1. To chase out all evill conceits, and secret boilings of the heart against God, Iob. 34.19.
2. To humble our selves now in the dayes of our flesh, and make our peace with God before this day come, Deut. 10.17. Iob 34.19, 32, 33.
3. To imitate this praise in God, not to know men after the flesh, or to judge of things according to outward appearance, or the opinion of the world, especially not to give titles to men, Iob 32.21. and especially Judges, and such as rule others should looke to this, 2 Chron. 19.7. Col. 3.25.
4. To long to see that day: every body delights to be at the Assises; and we see how men are pleased, and that wonderfully, when Princes doe justice upon great persons; we gladly hearken after it, and continually talke of it: how then should we long to see this last and greatest judgement, the like to which never was in the world scarce any glimpse of it?
3. It may serve for singular consolation to all the godly, especially it may incourage the poore, and all inferiors to doe their duties, since here they shall be assured of acceptation, and the oppressed shall here be righted, Act. 10.34. Col. 3.11. Eph. 6.9. Rom. 2.11.
Of the last jud…ement, and the certainty of it.Iudgeth.] The manner of propounding the time is to be obserued. There is a threefold judgement. 1. The first judgement was that executed upon Angels, and men fallen in the beginning of the world. 2. There is also a middle judgement, even that by which God in this life judgeth the righteous, and the wicked every day. 3. Now there is also the last judgement to be performed in the end of the world, and that is here meant; yet the Apostle well expresseth it in the present tense, to note,
1. The speedinesse of it, he will come to judgement wonderfull quickly either by particular or generall judgement, Phil. 4. Iam. 5.
2. The suddennesse of the judgement, he many times comes on a wonderfull sudden, Iob 36.33. and at the last he will come as a theefe in the …ight, 1 Thes. 5.2.
3. But principally it noteth the certainty of it: it is as sure, as if it were now a doing: certainty I say, in freedome both from inconstancy and impediments.
There are many things may assure us of the certainty of the last judgment.
1. The constant doctrine of it before the Law, Iud. 15. under the …aw by David, Psal. 50. Solomon, Eccles. 11.9. Dan. 7. Mal. 4. and many more: after the Law by Christ, Mat. 24. Paul, 2 Thes. 1. Peter, 2 Pet. 3. Iohn Rev. 2….
2. The types of it, which are so many pledges, doe certainly though fearfully foretell it: such as were those dreadfull executions done upon wicked men in all ages; as the drowning of the world: the burning of the Cities, Sodome. &c. the opening of the earth to swallow Corah, Dathan, and Abiram: the destruction of Ierusalem, &c. yea he spared not the very Angels, Iud. 6.2 Pet. 2.4. These stupendious works are monuments of a strange judgement to come.
3. The exact fulfilling of the signs, so many of them as belong to times past, and present, which were given as fore-runners of that judgement: such as were … Christs, warres, the apostacie of the Church, the detection and falling of Antichrist, &c.
4. From the need of it: for in this world the godly are oppressed and not righted, and the wicked flourish and are not punished many times: therefore of necessity there must be a time wherein all these things must be set in order.
1. Let every man repent, Act. 17.30. Here is no trifling:Vse. it will certainly be, and therefore repent, or perish.
2. Judge nothing before the time: let us not judge one another, but leave all judgement to God, 1 Cor. 4.4.
3. Let us not be impatient, or fret at the prosperity of the wicked, or be discouraged at the afflictions of the righteous: for there shall come a time wherein the godly shall have full reward and honor, and wicked men everlasting shame and paine.
Every man.]
The whole world must come to judgement, good and bad: wee must all appeare before the Tribunall seat of Iesus Christ, Doct.2 Cor. 5.10. not onelyonly all the godly, but all the wicked of all sorts, which will appeare by a distribution.
1. The Pagans shall come to judgement, such as have sinned without the law, Rom 2.What s…rts of wicked men shall s…eed …ll at the last d…y.
2. The Iewes that crucified Christ, or still doe deny him to be come in the flesh, Rom 2.
3. Papists, 2 Thes. 2.
4. Atheists, that mock at his comming, 2 Pet. 3.3.
In the true Church.
1. Grosse offenders, Mal. 3.7. Rev. 21. & 22.
2. Civill honest men, Mat. 5.19.
3. Rich and mighty men of the world: God will not accept the person of Princes, Iob 34.19. Iam. 5.1, 3.
4. Hypocrites, Mat. 23. Psal. 5….16.
5. The unmercifull, Mat. 25. Iam. 2.13.
6. Apostates, Heb. 10.27. 2 Pet. 2.
7. All that trouble the godly, 2 Thes. 1. Gal. 5.1….
8. Inordinate censurers, Rom. 2.1, 2.3. Iam. 3.1.
9. All unruly persons that will not be ordered according to Gods ordinances, Mat. 25. goates.
10. All that use scant measures, wicked balances, and false weights, Mat. ….10, 11.
Yea, as I said before, all the godly must be judged: we must all appeare.
It is said, the godly shall not be judged,Ob…ect. Solut. Vse. Iob. 3.18. & 6.54.
They shall not be judged with the judgement of condemnation.
The Use. Therefore every man should stir up his heart to a carefull examination of himselfe, and make his account, and provide for his answer at that day: and the rather should wee attend hereunto, because the most men are after an unspeakable manner forgetfull of their latter end, and suffer themselves to be drowned in the cares of life, as if there were no time of cha…ging or reckoning.
The fourth and last point is the cause of the judgement, imported in these words, according to their works.
According to their works.]
It shall be t… every man at that day according to his works:Doct. if his works be evill, he shall be damned: if his works be good, he shall be saved, 2 Cor. 5.1…. Rom. 2. For the better understanding of this doctrine divers questions and objections are to be resolved.
It seemes then faith shall not be inquired after?1 Quest. Answ.
It shall, yea and that chiefly, as appeares in the 7. verse of this Chapter, and in many other Scriptures, which avouch, we are saved by faith: yea and works are mentioned to this end, because by them Christ shall evidently prove to the world the faith of his Elect: hee will th…n shew their faith by their works: yea faith is comprehended under the word works, as being indeed the noblest of all works, and that which most shineth in the life of a Christian: it is the chiefe obedience required in the Gospell, and the just live by their faith.
2 Ob…ect.But how can works be looked upon in the Elect, seeing they are not acknowledged as having merit in them? Can they be saved by their works?
Sol.Works shall be inquired after in the godly, not as meritorious causes of their salvation: for the merit of heaven is onelyonly in Christs works, which onelyonly are perfect. But works shall be examined and judged.
1. As the witnesses in that Assise, that give in evidence concerning their calling and faith.
2. As the conditions of Gods promises, concerning reward in heaven, not for their merit, but of Gods free grace, that will so crowne them.
Observe, that the Scripture no where saith, for their works, but according to their works.
3 Quest.But how can the works of men be numbred, they are so infinite?
…The books shall then be opened: viz. first the booke of Gods remembrance: in which are fast graven the deeds of all men, Rev. 20. Mal. 3.16. Secondly, the consciences of all men shall be extended to an exact view of all the works of their life past.
4 Quest.By what law shall mens works be examined, seeing the Pagans have not the Scriptures to guide them, and the faithfull have not fulfilled the morall law in their owne persons?
Answ.The infidels shall be judged by the law of nature, Rom. 2. the wicked in the Church by the morall law, and the godly by the Go…p…ll.
5 Quest.Shall not wicked men be judged for their originall sin, but onelyonly for their evill works?
Answ.By works may be meant, 1. both the worke of our fall in Adam, as well as … worke. 2. This phrase, according to workes, doth include all workes, and yet not exclude the respect of other things besides workes, a… faith in the godly, and originall sinne in the wicked. 3. Workes are but the …ruits of corruption of nature, and so syn…dochically it is comprehended under them.
6 Quest.But shall no man be then judged for other mens workes, as well as for their owne? may not children be iudged for their fathers sinnes, or one man iudged for the evill done by another, as the Pharises for the blood of Abel and Zachar…as?
Answ.God as an absolute Monarch, and iust governor may with temporall punishments chastise the posterity of wicked Parents, and to warn the world …; but hee cannot iudge them to eternall damnation further then they be guilty of their fathers sinnes, either by consent, assistance, or … the Pharises be sent to hell for Abels bloud, onelyonly to farre as they were not warned by that example to avoid bloud. To con…, no man shall suffer for anothers workes, further then he is some way … of it.
7 Quest.But how can infants be iudged according to their works?
An…sw.We understand not clearly how the proceedings shall be with infants: it is evident, that corruption of nature can make even infants children of …. Psal. 51. and the covenant of God with the faithfull doth … even their seed also. Besides, the Spirit of God doth supply externall works, by internall sanctification in the elect infants.
But how shall poore men doe that are not able to doe good works?8 Quest.
It is an error to think that there are no good works but giving of almes:Answ. For the obedience to Gods law in any commandement is a good worke; works of piety to God are good works, and so are the works of a particular calling. It is a good worke to provide for a mans family; and so to deale iustly with men is a good worke. Besides, there are many works of mercy, which the poorest Christian may doe, hee may pray for others, or reprove, or comfort, or instruct, &c.
The Uses may be collected out of the severall Scriptures, where this doctrine is taught, as,Vses.
1. In Iob 7.2. We should long for that day, seeing it is the day of paying wages.
2. Iob 34.11, 14, 15, 19, 20, to 25. It should terrifie the mightiest sinners, seeing God will not spare, but without respect of persons iudge every mans works: and if a temporall iudgment so affright all sorts, as is reported Ezech. 7.27. how much more should this last iudgement?
3. Psal. 62. ult. We should daily think of this day of reckoning, and not suffer any doubt against it: For it will certainly be so.
4. Prov. 24.12. Two things are inferred: 1. That wee should not faint in the day of adversity. 2. That without trifling we should doe good, and shew mercy when we have occasion.
5. The Prophet Ieremy useth this doctrine as a meanes to stirre up their hearts to a more awefull feare, and admiration, and adoration of that God, whose eyes behold the waies of all men, and whose iustice will reward according to their works.
6. Our Saviour Christ useth it to excite the care of saving our soules, and to work in us a contempt of life and this world, and to deny our selves, and take up our crosse and follow him, Mat. 16.27.
7. The Apostle Paul, Rom. 2.7. useth this doctrine,
1. To fright and terrifie three sorts of men, viz.
1. Hypocrites, ver. 1, 2, 3.
2. Impenitent hard-hearted sinners, ver. 4, 5.
3. Contentious and froward adversaries of well-doing, ver. 8.
2. To incourage the godly in all well-doing, ver. 9, 10.
8. In the 2 Cor. 5.10. it serveth to inforce,
1. Walking by faith, ver. 7.
2. Care to be accepted of God, ver. 9.
3. Desire to be absent from the flesh, and present with the Lord, ver. 8.
4. Diligence in Ministers with all power to perswade with their hearers, ver. 11.
9. In the Eph. 6.8, 9. it is used,
1. To comfort servants.
2. To warne masters, ver. 9. So it is also Col. 3.24, 26.
10. In Rev. 22.11, 12. it is used to upbraid the pertinacie of wicked men in sin, and to incourage the godly in all perseverance in well-doing.
11. Lastly, you see, how the Apostle make a use of it: viz. that we should passe the time of our sojourning here in feare. And thus of the doctrine of the second reason.
Pa…e the time of your sojourning here in feare.
These word containe the inference, or use of the former doctrine: viz. it should imprint in us such a sense of our mortality, as should stir up in us a daily care, and feare in the spending of our time we are to live in the world. These words a…firme f…ure things.
1. That we are but sojourners.
2. That we have but a time to sojourne.
3. That this time passeth.
4. That therefore we ought to spend the time in feare.
Sojourners.] This word may be taken either literally, or mystically: if it be taken literally, it must be referred to the provinciall Jews: so it may import two things.
1. That Gods children in this life may be so driven from their native abodes, that they may be compelled to live in strange places.
2. That though the Lord suffer the Jewish Nation to be under a so…e dispersion for the time; yet the time will come when they shall be gathered home together in great glory, though now they are but sojourners.
But it is rather to be taken mystically, and so it is to be referred to all the Elect, who in respect of their absence from their heavenly Canaan, are but soiourners at best in this world, Heb. 11. Psal. 39.
There may be some difference put betweene a home-dweller, a stranger, and a soiourner. The dweller is perpetually resident, and is at home. The stranger staies but for a short time, and is from home. Now the soiourner differs from them both; for he hath some setled abode, but it is not at home as the dwellers is: nor is it for so short a time as the strangers is.
Now if in this strict sense we should stand upon the words, then in this world dwellers are no men, strangers are wicked men, and soiourners are godly men. But it is evident, that this word sojourner is taken promiscuously for any abode, that is from home: for Luke 24.18. it is taken for a stranger in the strictest sense; and Act. 7.19. it is taken for a sojourner in the strictest sense.
We are sojourners as the Israelites were in …. Many … from thence.But usually it is a word that notes the condition of the godly, absent from their heavenly happinesse; and imports an allusion to the childrenof Israel, living in Aegypt, absent from Canaan: and so our Aegypt is the world, our Canaan is heaven, our soiourning is our entertainment in this world.
The world is like Aegypt, and our entertainment like the children of Israel in Aegypt: For 1. Pharaoh the Devill doth with all cruelties oppresse the g…dly. 2. As Aegypt was full of enchaunters, so is the world. 3. As Aegypt abounded with superstitions, so doth the world with ign… rance, and all sorts of vaine observations: …ut the similitude will more appeare in the use.
Vse.The consideration of this, that the godly are in this world, as Israel soiourning in Aegypt, may afford both matter of Instruction and matter of Consolation.
For Instruction it should teach us divers duties.
1. Not to seeke unto our selves great things in this world, Ier. 46.
2. To study to be quiet, and meddle with the world no more then wee must needs.
3. To please our selves or rest in no prosperity, but to expect alterati…, never trusting the favour of the Aegyptians, the men or this world. For th…y, will change.
4. To have recourse to the promises of a better life, and live by faith, and wait for the time of our changing.
5. Live separate from the conversation of worldly men, as Israel did in Goshen.
6. Endure much with patience, and commit all to God.
Secondly, this similitude imports divers consolations.
1. Christ our Ioseph, whom our fathers sold into Aegypt, hath provided for us before we came into the world.
2. God hath promised to go down with us, and to soiourn with us there, Gen, 45.4.
3. Ever the more we are oppressed, the more we may grow; the godly lose nothing by their troubles, Exod. 1.8.
4. God is I am still, ever the same, howsoever the world use us, Exo. 3.14.
5. God can give us favour in the sight of the Aegyptians, when and as often as he will, Exod. 3.22.
6. God hath promised, covenanted, yea sworne that he will bring us home, and take us to himself, & be our God; he will surely bring us up againe.
7. God hath given us Moses and Aaron, even his two witnesses daily to comfort us with the glad tidings of his Gospell, even the good newes of our departure hence.
8. The very time is appointed, and at the very self-same time without faile we shall depart out of Aegypt, Exod. 12.
9. God can and doth work many wonders for the proofe of the love of his people, and his power to subdue the mightiest adversaries.
10. Our part we have in this world is the best part of the world; wee dwell in Goshen in comparison of the servile estate of the rest of the Aegyptians: we are free from many a misery lights upon them. And if Goshen bee so good, what is Paradise? If there be some comfort sometimes on earth, oh how doth milke and hony flow in heaven?
11. In all our distresses our cries are heard to heaven, and God pities us with wonderfull compassion. Exod. 2.23. & 3.7.
OnelyOnly this is our misery in this world, that many times if the very godly enjoy not the ministry of Moses and Aaron, they grow very secure, and are much infected with the manners of the world: And againe, if they have them, and they tell the world Gods message, if any trouble follow, they are too often ready to murmure, as if they had much hurt by the ministry of Gods servants.
Thus of the first point, namely that we are sojourners: The second followes. namely that there is a time of our sojourning here.
Time] Duration, or the continuance of a thing is either infinite, or finite. The one is the continuance of God: the other of the creatures.Iob 10.5. …he measure of the one is eternity absolutely considered: the measure of the other is time.
Time may be considered in the meanes of it: either the meanes of effecting, or appointing,Gen. 1.14. which is the decree of God with all the meanes of execution of it: or else the meanes of declaring or numbring, which is the course of the Sun, and Moone: Psal. 31.our continuance on earth is not disposed by the course of the heavens, but by the decree and providence of God.Gal. 4.2.
By time here is meant that space of continuance on earth,Acts 17.26. which God in his counsell hath set us, and is numbred by the motion of the Sun or Moone. Iob 24.1.This time we may number as it is past, but know it not as it is to come,A…s 1.7. it being ordinarily hidden from the sonnes of men.
Neither may we reckon of the time of man upon earth, as we doe of the continuance of heaven and earth:Iob 14.1. for the time of man is wonderfull short in comparison of many other creatures.1 Cor. 7.29.
This time also once set is unchangeable, we cannot passe it, Iob 14.5.
The maine doctrine is,Doct. that God hath unchangeably set us a time for our continuance here, knowne unto him, though unknowne unto us.
The Uses may be divers.
1. It may comfort us against the inconveniences of our sojourning;Vse. our time is set, we shall not alwayes be from home, we shall short…y be gathered to our fathers, and the afflictions of this present condition are not worthy the joy and glory we shall enjoy for ever, Rom. 8.18.
2. This should the rather make us willing to have little to doe with this world, but use it as if we used it not, 1 Cor. 7.29.
3. This should order us to a care of our preparation for death, and lessen in us the feare of dangers and adversaries, and make us resolve never to use ill meanes to save, or prolong, or shorten our lives; say with David, My times are in Gods hands, Psal. 31. and with Christ, I will worke to day, and to morrow, and the third day I shall, &c.
The third thing is, that this time passeth; it runneth out; it is continually going away: and therefore the use should be,
1. To doe good while we have time. Gal. 6.10.
2. To redeeme the time past ill spent by providing, by forecast for the more fruitfull employment of the time to come: The more of this time past that hath been spent on sin, or the world, the more resolute we should be to be conscionable in the strict use of the time that yet we are to remaine in the flesh, 1 Pet. 4.2, 3. Col. 4.5.
3. Especially we should be carefull, that we discerne and use the opportunities of grace, the accepted times, the dayes of our salvation, they may passe, and never returne againe, 2 Cor. 6.1. Mat. 16.3.
4. Since the godly are sojourners here but for a time, and this time passeth too; let us entertaine them as the Princes of God, and make all possible use of their fellowship in the best things: for they will be gone, they will not abide with us long.
In feare] This word expresseth how we should spend the time of our sojourning, viz. with all carefulnesse, and due respect. But that wee may reach the meaning of this feare, we must know that there is a worldly feare, a servile feare, and a godly feare. There is also a vaine feare, as in the melancholy, of thing… that are not.
The worldly feare is about things of the world, as reproaches, losses, dangers, adversaries, &c. this is a wicked feare, and the godly are commanded not to feare the feare of the wicked. Esay 8.
A servile feare is chiefly in spirituall things, called the spirit of bondage: such was the immoderate feare of the law, or justice of God; such is also that feare of tra…sgression, where G…d hath given no law.
The god…y feare i… …ither restrained unto our respects of God only, and so it is a part of his inward worship: or el…e it is that feare, which is required all parts of holy life, and so it i… taken here.
It may not be denied but that this feare may be referred in part to wicked men: the Apostle warning them to be af…aid, lest this day come upon them before they have repen…ed of their sinne…, and so they fall into Gods eternall wrath. Wick…d men have go…d cause to …eare: for the threatnings of God are against them: the wrath of God hangs over their heads; sinne lyeth at the doore; their owne conscie…ce will witnesse against them; the devill is ready to dev…ure them; death may fall … upon them, and then they must beare the open and eternall shame and confusion of all th…ir workes: but I will restra…e the di…course to the godly feare.
Of a conversat…n with ….The f…are then here required, is that reverence, humility, lowlinesse, tendernesse, modesty, and carefulnesse, that sh…uld in all our wayes. Thus we should feare the presence of God, Psal. 16. the name of God, Deut. 28▪ 58. the Ministers of God, 2 Cor. 7 5. the displeasure of God, Psal. 90.11. Thus we should shew feare, when wee spea…e of the mysteries of godlinesse, 1 Pet. 3.16. thu… we should be affraid to offend the godly, 1 Cor. 10. or be infected by the wicked; or that others should ruine themselves, when we might help them, Iud. 23. we should feare to provoke wicked men: we should feare lest we neglect the precious promises off…ed unto us, Heb. 4.1. we should be jealous of others, fearing lest they should fall f…ō the simplicity in Christ Jesus, 2 Cor. 11.3. wee should feare the corruption of our owne nature, and make conscience of the least evill, 2 Cor. 7.11. wee should live in feare, lest the day of Christ should come upon us before we be prepared; we should also shew this feare in all our service of God, Psal. 2.11. In these and many other waies we should shew our feare in our conversation. The wives also should fear their husbands, Eph. 5.33. and servants their masters, 1 Pet. 2.18.
To have our conversation in feare excludes carnall mirth, and jollity, and carelesnesse in our waies, and unreverentnesse in our carriage towards God or amongst men.
This feare was eminent in Paul, 1 Cor. 2.3. and this is required, 2 Cor. 7.1.
The Use may be,Vse.
1. For great reproofe,
1. Of the universall fearelesnesse that abides in all sorts of men, never regarding the terror of the Lord, nor thinking upon this fearefull judgement of Christ. How doe men cast off feare, and dare restraine prayer, and all holy duties, and plunge themselves into all sorts of sins with all stupidity and carelesnesse▪
2. Of the great neglect of this vertue even in the godly; there is not that awfull, humble, reverent, respective carriage that should be; the hearts and faces of men are every where wanting in this feare: oh this conversation with feare, where is it to be found almost? Where is this feare in the people towards their Ministers? in the wife to her husband? in the servants to their masters?
2. For instruction: Let us from hence be informed in this duty, and for hereafter never have our hearts and carriages polluted, perfecting our holinesse in fear, and abstaining from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit, shewing in all places a feare to offend God, or dally with sin; in all things mistrusting the corruption of our nature, 2 Cor. 7.1. Phil. 2. Rom. 11.20.
3. Such as have attained unto this feare, should be wonderfull thankfull to God, and carefull to preserve so excellent a grace: it wins them a wonderfull deale of respect both from God and men, 2 Cor. 7.15. 1 Pet. 3.2. Psal. 90.11. Besi…es▪ of all other these are likely to hold out, Ier. 32.40. and are sure to find comfort in the day of Christ.
And thus of the second reason.