The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 57
Gods Justice Feare in Man a punishment for sinne.
FEare is a time…ous apprehension of an evill to come, being nothing else but the betraying of the succours which reason offereth, and is two-fold: Godly and wicked: Godly, fearing to displease God. Wicked, fearing the punishment of God more then God in sinning. Feare ag…in in the Godly is before AfflictionsWisd. 17. 11. come, and when they are come then their fear is p…st. Feare in the wicked is not before afflictions come, but when they are come, then they feare too much: For impietie triumphe…h in prosp…ritie, and trembleth in adversitie, but Pietie trembleth in prosperitie, and triumpheth in adversitie.
There are five kinds of Feare:
1. Naturall: Which is one of the affections of the Soul created by God, with which Adam was endowed in the state of Innocencie.
2. Carnall: The object whereof is flesh, or at the least, that which flesh mayMatth. 14. 26. Isai. 24. 13. 2 King. 17. 32. Ier. 3…. 16. 1 Ioh. 4. 18. R…v. …1. 18. do: as, Feare not them that are able to kill, &c.
3. Ser…ile: The object whereof is the Judgement of God onelyonly, and this is proper to the wicked, who feare Gods plagues only.
4. Filliall: That is proper to the Sons of God; they doe not only feare hisJer. …6. 18. Mar… 5. …. Act. 9. 31. Judgements, but love and feare him for his merciemercy.
5. Diabolicall: The devils know there is a God, therefore they feare and tremble, having received the sentence of condemnation.Iude 6.
True feare breeds in us a marvellous humilitie, as we saw in Iacob, who was much afraid of his brother Esau, and therefore coming towards him, bowedGen. 33. 3. himselfe seven times unto him.
It is very credulous: This again we see in Iacob, for when one told him that his brother came against him so well furnished, he feared greatly, yet disputed not long in the matter.Gen. 32.
True feare causeth diligence, this also we see in Iacobs Example, who was marvellous studious to salute his brother: disposing wisely of that he had, to prevent his brothers fury.
Feare hath painfulnesse: (saith St John) There is no feare in love: for perfect love casteth out feare: He then that feareth is not perfect in love.1 Iohn 4. 18.
Feare in the Godly.
was afraid of
Adam The voice of God: Abraham of Abimelech the king.Isai. 7. 1. A. Gen. 20. 11. D. 1. Sam. 21. …2. D. 2 Sam. 3. 39. J Gē. 34. 30. Sam…el Saul 1 Sam. 16. 2. Job 3. …5.Gen. 3. Chap. 1…. Exod. 34. …. …th …8. 1 Sam. 18. Dan. 7. 15. 1. Sam. 4. 1 Ki. 17. 2 King. 1. 2 K…g. 16. & 19. Judg 6 & 13. M… 16. Job 3. 25. Gen. 31. 2 Kin. 9. Matt. 2. Io…. …9. Hab. … 16. Exod. 2. Gen. 18. Act. …7. Matth. 14. 13.
Aaron Moses, seeing his face to shine: Boaz of Ruth uncovering him.
David Saul pursuing him: Daniel of visions shewed him.
Eli The Philistine: Elijah of Iezebel and Ahaziah the King.
Elisha Iehorams Messenger: Hezekiah of king Ashur.
Gideon An Angel; so was Manoah, Magdalene, and other.
Iob Things that befell him: Iacob of Esau his brother.
Jeh…shapha… The Ammonites: Ioseph of king Herod and Archelau….
Ioseph The Jewes: therefore came by night to beg Christs bodie.
Habakkuk The voice of God: Moses of Pharaoh, therefore fled.
Sarah The Lord, having laughed: therefore she denyed.
Paul Shipwrack: Peter of the circumcised. Herod, hearing Iohn was beheaded. The Apostles of other often-times feared.
Ʋse. Reade Luk. 24. 37. Mat. 17. 6. Mar. 10. …4 Luk. 9. 45. Ioh. 6. 19. Act. Psal. …1. 14. Psal. 34. 4.…26. Esth 3. 15. Exod. 14. 10. & 20. 18. Deut. 5. 5. Numb 14. 1. Iosh. 7. 5. Ier. 42. 11. Act. 12. 10. Gen. 42. 28. & 43. 18. Iudg 7. 3. &c. Psa. 119. 19. Heb. 5. …. Syr. 2… 18. Exo. 34▪ 30. Syr. …. 12. Mat. 14. 26, 30. Act. 9. 6. Iob 22. 10. Isai. 13. 8.
Feare in the wicked.
Abimelech was …raid of Abraham, Gen. 21. Ieroboam was afraid of The people.1 King▪ 1…. 2 Sam. 3. Ier. 50. Gen. 4. Dan. 4. Dan. 4. 1 Sam. 25. 1 King. 1. 1 Sam. 18. 1 Sa. 28. Ch. …7. 11.
Adonijah was …raid of Salomon, 1 Ki. 1. Ishbosheth was afraid of Abner.
Ahaz was …raid of King Aram, … Kin. 16. …. of Babel was afraid of Gods Word.
Belshazz. was …raid of A hand-writing, Dan. 5. …ain was afraid ofAl that fear'd him.
Felix was …raid of Pauls preaching, Act …4. Nebuchad. was afraid of His dreame.
the Gaoler was …raid of the earth quaking, Act 16 Nabal was afraid of Davids words.
Gaal was …raid of The shadow of a mountaine, 1 Captain was afraid of Elijah.
Haman was …raid of Mordecai, Esth. 4. (Judg. 6. S…ul was afraid of David.
Herod was …raid of Christs Nativitie, Mat. 2. the witch was afraid of Saul.
Reade Iosh. 5. 1. Chap. 10. 2. 1 Sam. 4. Nehem. 6. 16. 2 King. 10. Ier. 9. …. Ionah Prov. 29. 25.1. 5. Matth. 14 5. Mark 6. 20. Matth. 27. 54. Matth. 28. 4. Luke 4. 36. Chap. 7 16. Act. 16. 36. Chap. 5. 5. ler. 10. 2. Ioh. 9. 2.
There is no peace to the ungodly, saith the Lord.Isai. 48. 22. Prov. 10. 24. Iob 15. 21, …4. Prov. 28. 1. Ec…l…s 22. 18. Psal. 53. 5.
That which the wicked feareth shall come upon him, saith Salomon▪
A sound of feare is in the wickeds eares (saith Iob;) and they fly, when no man purseth them (s…ith the wise men▪) and they are as reeds set on high, that cannot abide the winde (saith the sonne of Syrach,) their hearts being fearefull with foolish imaginations, so that they cannot endure any feare, being afraid (as David Pr…. 1…. 11. Ʋse. Psal 112. 7. Ʋse. Prov. 1. 3…. Matt. 10. 28.saith) where no feare is.
Use.
Sanctifie the Lord, and let him be your feare, and he shall be your Sanctuary: Consider…i. 8. 1…. …sh. 2. 9. D…. 2. 25. 1 Io…. 4. 18. Psal. …. 6. Psal. 27. 3. it is the Lord that smiteth his enemies, giving courage to his: Be then resolved of his presence and providence; and be sure to keep a good Conscience