The Government of the Thoughts, Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII. Of Fear.
FEAR is a pensive and anxious Expectation, of some danger approaching, either Imminent, or a Supposition of appearing so. We are timerous at any Malevolency, which is real, or apparent; and many times at that which proves not so. Fear is opposite to Fortitude, as one extream of Participation; and as it allayeth too much Presumption by its limitation, it becomes beneficial; but when it exceeds its Extent, it grows Pernicious. Vertue is absent, when Fortitude is not present: And he can never express his Duty towards God well, or demonstrate his Justice to the World, who acts contrary; for Satan is vigilant in his diabolical Operations upon the Timerous, offering to his View continual Objects of imposterous and vain Fears; like Hunters Suels to chase the fearful Deer from the safe ways: So Satan driving through Pusilanimity and Timidity, that he maketh them Evil for fear of Men, whom the fear of God cannot make Good.
2. TO omit many acceptations of the Word: I shall only handle some few; First, there is a natural Fear, and that of two sorts, in respect of the Object: First, Concerning the avoidance of Sin, for the love of him who knew no Sin. It happen'd so with Adam in his state of Innocency, who having heard the Threatning, feared to Sin, signalizing he would not be guilty of offending his Creator, whom he loved above all: But however Adam in the Temptation lost this Fear, and so Sinned, yet in the rectitude of his Mind, he reassumed it. Secondly, In relation to the avoidance of Sorrow in apprehension of God's Anger against Sin commited. In this Christ Feared, Matt. 26.38. Heb. 5.7. He that knew no Sin.
3. THE nearest to this, is the filial fear of the Regenerate, who tho through Infirmity they frequently Sin, and fear to displease God by any Offence; as Solomon declares, Prov. 8.13. The fear of the Lord is to hate Evil. This is the beginning of Wisdom, and it is principally demonstrated in four things: First, That we place God ever before our Eyes, moving as always in his Presence. Secondly, That we acknowledg him as the Omniscient Witness and supream Judge of all our Thoughts, Words and Actions. Thirdly, That we fear not the Creatures, as we do the Creator. Fourthly, That we ever perform that which is just and acceptable to him; tho no Mortal Eye can testifie against us, or the World may be offended; yet let us follow those Patterns of Goodness, as Joseph, Daniel, and many other Servants of the Most High.
4. THERE is a fear of Infidelity in them that love the Sin, but fear the Punishment. This is that servile Fear which the Wicked affect; which tho perhaps it may restrain them from sinful external Acts, yet it is not predominant over any constant Duty: For no sooner their dread is vanished, but they turn with as great eagerness in pursuit of their sinful Game, as the Dog to his Vomit, or the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire. This fear is not consonant to God's Children, because a guilty Conscience ever attends it, as incredulity and expectation of God's just Judgments on their Sins, without hoping and trusting in Christ's Merits. A Christian Fortitude dissipates Fears, which made the Psalmist animate himself, Psalm 49.5. Wherefore should I fear in the days of Evil? And Psal. 23.4. I will fear no Evil, for thou art with me. Again, Psalm 27.1. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my Life, of whom shall I be afraid?
5. THE Wicked fear where no fear is: They fear not God for love of him, but for Self-ends and fear of Punishment; as the Grecians Worshiped their false Gods; and the Commonalty the great Lords▪ Which is a Symptome of a base and impious Mind, prohibited to them that are adopted Heirs of the Heavenly Jerusalem, to whom the Wise Man speaks, Prov. 3.25, 26. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the Desolation of the Wicked when it cometh; for the Lord shall be thy Confidence, and shall keep thy Foot from being taken. And Isaiah, encourages us in Chap. 4.1.10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee: Be not dismay'd, for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, and I will help thee. And in the 43 Chap. ver. 1. Fear not, for I have Redeemed thee.
6. ALL which Precepts are to be apprehended of servile fear, which is to despond of God's Mercy, rendring Men Desperate, not provident to avoid Danger, nor importunate to flie to God for help. The first is evident in Jehoram's Message, Behold, said that Prophaner, beheld, this evil is of the Lord, what should I wait for the Lord any longer? 2 Kings. 6.33. And in that precipitate Counsel, Job 2.9. Curse God and die. The second Effect we read in Jacob, who being in danger of his Life, instantly Prayed, and sent Presents to appease his revengeful Brother. Not to be afraid of God's Judgments on Sin, is carnal Security, and stupid Carelesness of Seared Consciences, 1 Tim. 4.2. Not to fear imminent Dangers, demonstrates an improvident Mind. And not to fear God's dreadful Presence, must needs be imputed to sinful Mortals as an ignorance of the Deity, and a Man's own self.
7. BUT to be a timorous Antemon, who was possessed with so large a stock of Fear, that he durst not stir abroad; but kept Two Servants at home to guard his Head, with a Brass-Shield; is not only an impious but ridiculous Fear. To stand in awe of Men, more than God, is the fear of Hypocrites: To fear without Confidence in God, for the diversion of evil (as Belshazzar, when seeing the Hand-writing upon the Wall, his Knees trembled, and the joints of his Loins were loosed; or as Saul at Endor) is such a Fear, as God Challenges no share in it. This Fear is a perpetual torment to the wicked, and can by no means quiet the voice of their Conscience: It is an Imperious Mischief, an Anticipiation of Evil, not yet come, an Inducement to a Man's unhappiness, not only with present evils, but with future, which, were Fear banished, they could not molest him; Semblant to that Fear of Enevitable death, which forceth men continually to die, for fear of Dying once.
8. BUT to fear God with a filial Fear, proceeding of Love to him, as in Christian verity, the fountain of Wisdom and true Happiness: And with such a Fear, God is well pleased; he will deliver them, and fulfill their desire; he will learn them the way of Righteousness: They shall enjoy all that is good, and when they seem to lack, they shall be supplied most; it shall be Health, and Strength to 'em, Prov. 3.8. They shall have Understanding, Blessings Temporal and Eternal, and be Animated to perform Acts of Goodness, and deal Uprightly with all Men: Examples of which we have in Obadiah, 1 Kings 18.3, 12, 13. and Joseph, Gen. 42.10.
9. THIS Fear brings more advantage to the Possessor, than great Riches to the Wicked: It is the Souls Angel-Guardian, Innocencies Keeper; it is Securities Antidote, the Minds Centinel to awaken it, and give the Alarm against the assaults of the Subtile Enemy. This armeth a Man, with a true and unfailing Confidence: 'Tis indeed the sum of what God requires of us, Deut. 10.12. And what the Preachers Doctrin, informs us of, even, the whole Duty of Man. Eccles. 12.14. Of this only is that saying true, The Mother of the Fearful, never weeps much; because such are truly Blessed.
10. NOW by reason, we are but Men, even frail Mortals, not yet perfect in Love, and so liable to many Fears, and subject to many Sins, Failings and Hazards, and thereby exposed to many dangerous and servile Fears: Which by the stupendious and tender Mercy of the Almighty, may convert it in the Issue to our Happiness; but if we are so prone to Sin, even under so much Fear, what would we be if we were secure from all? Therefore I have thought it necessary to lay down some Rules for the Governing of our Thoughts in Fears; which I shall shew in the next Chapter.