The Freeness of the Grace and Love of God, Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
NEHEM. 5.15.
The latter clauſe of the Verſe.
But ſo did not I, becauſe of the fear of God.
IN this Chapter, there are three things moſt conſiderable.
Firſt, The voice or cry, at the beginning of the Chapter; And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives, againſt their Brethren the Jews. And then,
Secondly, You have made known to you, what Nehemiah did in this caſe, in the 6, and 7, verſes, And I was very angry when I heard their cry, and theſe words, then I conſulted with my ſelf, and I rebuked the Nobles, and the Rulers, &c.
Thirdly, You hear more of Nehemiahs acting at the 14, and 15 verſes, Moreover from that time that I was appointed to be their Governour in the Land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the King, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the Governour: For the former Governours that had been before me, were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beſide forty ſhekels of ſilver, yea even their ſervants bare rule over the people: But ſo did not I, becauſe I feared God, becauſe of the fear of God.
From hence then obſerve this Truth or Doctrine.
Doct. That thoſe that truly fear God will not do as others do.
The true fear of God will keep men from doing thoſe things that other men will do; yea, though an action be to a mans advantage, yet they that fear God will not do it, if it be evil; and ſo it was with Nehemiah. But ſo did not I, becauſe of the fear of God. For the opening of this we ſhall,
Firſt, Inquire what it is to fear God; and we ſhall,
Secondly, Shew you that a man that truly fears God, will do as Nehemiah did, neither can he do as others do.
Thirdly, We ſhall ſhew you, what there is in this fear of God, that doth lay ſuch a ballance upon mens hearts, that they cannot do as others do.
Fourthly, We ſhall anſwer this Queſtion, whether a man that fears God, may not ſometimes do as others do.
Fifthly, I ſhall ſhew you the Iſſue and Conſequence of this Truth.
And then I ſhall make ſome Application.
Firſt, If you ask what this fear of God is, I anſwer in the general. That it is a paſſion of the ſoul whereby a man doth flee from eminent evil. But now further, if you ask me what the fear of God is. I ſay that it is twofold.
A ſervile fear, And
A ſilial fear.
A ſervile fear, whereby a man fears God upon the account of Hell, or Judgement, or becauſe of the wrath of God.
But now a fear of God, not only becauſe of his Judgements, but becauſe of diſpleaſing of him, becauſe of his love, becauſe we would not offend; This is a ſilial fear, to fear him becauſe we would not do contrary to his commands; and thus did Abraham, when he would have offered up his ſon Iſaac: For ſaith God, Gen. 22.12. By this I know thou feareſt God, becauſe he obeyed his command, and was afraid to do contrary.
Secondly, This fear of God, this filial fear, is not only becauſe of his love, but of his love in conjunction with his greatneſs alſo: The greater a man is, the more we fear him, and the nearer he is in relation to us, the more we reverence him. Yet further, as the love of God in conjunction with his greatneſs, calls for our fear; So alſo.
Thirdly, The word and works of God call for our fear; For the word of the Lord is mighty, and his works are wonderful; For it is ſaid of God, That he is fearful in praiſes, working wonders. Thus if you ask me what this filial fear is, I ſay it is a fear whereby we fear him, becauſe of his love, becauſe of his greatneſs, and becauſe of his word and works. That is the firſt.
Secondly, A man that truly fears God, cannot do as others can do; for in the Text we find that Nehemiah had an opportunity in his hand, to make himſelf, to raiſe himſelf, to make himſelf rich, as to outward things: But you ſee what he ſaith, But ſo did not I, as others did, becauſe I feared God; where the true fear of God is planted in a mans heart, he cannot, he will not do, as other men can and will do: I ſhall cleer this to you by inſtancing in ſome particulars.
Firſt, He that fears God, cannot do as others do in the matter of his choice; you know how it was with the Damſel, the daughter of Herodias, Mat. 14.7, 8. when ſhe had danced before Herod, He was ſo delighted with her, that he gave her this priviledge, to chooſe what ſhe would, to the half of his Kingdom, and ſhe asked the Head of John the Baptiſt. She was bad, and her choice was bad; not having the fear of God in her heart. But when Fſther had her choice, ſhe choſe the contrary, for ſhe choſe the freedom of John the Baptiſt, in the freedom of the Jews: ſhe acted not as the other did, becauſe of the fear of God; They that fear the Lord cannot do as others do. I may inſtance in Moſes alſo, he would not do as others; for ſaith he, I will chooſe rather to ſuffer Afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, Heb. 11.25. And why did he thus? but only becauſe of the fear of God.
Secondly, As they that fear God, will not do as others do in the matter of their choice; ſo neither will they do as others do in the matter of worſhip: for what ſaith Joſhua, As for me and my houſhold, we will ſerve the Lord; Joſh. 24.15. Do you what you pleaſe. Therefore fear the Lord, and ſerve him in ſincerity and truth, and put away the Gods which your Father ſerved, or the gods of Amorites, in whoſe land ye dwell; but as for me and my houſehold, we will ſerve the Lord. As for me I will worſhip God, worſhip you whom you will; thus you ſee what they will do that fear the Lord.
Thirdly, Will you inſtance in the matter of your callings, for a man really is what he is in his calling, in his trade; or will you inſtance in the divine calling, you know what the Apoſtle Paul ſaith; Some ſaith he, Preach Chriſt out of envy, and ſome out of good will, ſome to get a livelihood by it, to make a trade of it, to get riches, and honours, and eſtates; but ſo did not I, becauſe of the fear of God; no great advantages will make a man that fears God, to do as others do; he ſaith alwaies, others do ſo and ſo, but ſo will not I, becauſe I fear the Lord.
Fourthly, A man that fears God cannot do as others can do, in the matter wherein he is intruſted. You know how it was with the Spyes, Caleb brought a good report of the Land of Canaan, becauſe he feared God; but ſo did not the others.
Fifthly, They that fear the Lord cannot do as others do, in the matter of Afflictions. A man that fears the Lord, can love God in adverſitie, and fear him in proſperity. It is ſaid of King Ahaz, that he ſinned more and more, becauſe of his afflictions: but Jehoſophat did not ſo, when he was under great afflictions, and troubles, for he ſought to the Lord, and laboured after faith, and ſtrength from him, that ſo he might be eſtabliſhed: but ſo doth not the wicked man, becauſe he feareth not God.
Sixthly, As there is a great difference between a good man, and a wicked man, or between one that fears the Lord, and one that doth not in the matter of afflictions: So there is a difference alſo in the matter of their refreſhment, in their eating, and drinking, and recreation. Job. 1.5. And it was ſo, when the dayes of their feaſting were gone about, that Job ſent and ſanctified them. Job ſanctified them, and ſo cannot a wicked man do; but a man that fears the Lord can do this. And,
Laſtly, A man that truly fears the Lord, cannot do as others do, in the matter of right and propriety: they that fear not God, will take advantage upon others, in the matter of their right and propriety. You may ſee what Abraham did; Lot would not let Abraham have his right, though it was his right; yet Abraham becauſe he feared God, and for peace ſake, gives up his right; but thoſe that fear not the Lord cannot do ſo. Thus you ſee, that thoſe that truly fear God cannot, will not do as others do, in the matter of his choice, of his worſhip, of his calling, of his afflictions, of his refreſhments, or of his right and propriety. And that is the ſecond general. But.
Thirdly, What is there in this fear of God, that ſhould ballance the ſoul, and cauſe it not to do as others do? Why,
Firſt, By the fear of God a man is inabled to depart from evil, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, There are two ſeeds in the world, the ſeed of the woman, and the ſeed of the ſerpent: now theſe two ſeeds rule in the whole world; in ſome the ſeed of the woman rules, and in ſome the ſeed of the ſerpent: now they that are of the ſeed of the woman can fear the Lord, but they that are of the ſeed of the ſerpent cannot fear the Lord; and therefore no wonder that they that fear the Lord cannot, will not do as others do; why, it is becauſe they are of another ſeed, they are of the ſeed of the woman.
Secondly, As they that fear the Lord are of another ſeed, ſo they are alſo of another Principle, and therefore they cannot do as others do. Principles are the ſprings of all actions, and every man acts according to his principle, according to the principle that is in him. Now he that fears the Lord, differs from another man in his principles, and ſo he doth alſo in his actions, and in his ends.
Thirdly, Look into his ends, and you ſhall ſee how they differ from other mens; ends are the ſeeds of actions; and if ſo, a man that fears the Lord, his ends differ from other mens; and then no wonder that he cannot, will not do as others do. Again,
Fourthly, As he differs in his ends, ſo alſo in his conſcience; every man is according as his conſcience is: Take a man that fears the Lord, and he is tender of his conſcience, but others that have their conſciences burnt and ſeared, are not ſo, and if ſo, then no wonder that he that fears the Lord cannot, will not do as others do.
Fifthly, As he that fears the Lord differs in the the matter of his conſcience, ſo he differs alſo in the matter of his reſtraints. A wicked man abſtains it may be from one evil, to commit another, but he that fears the Lord, abſtains from all evil, becauſe of the fear of God, which the other doth not. A wicked man is bad in good company, and a good man is good in bad company, yea he is the ſame in all company; therefore he that fears the Lord cannot, will not do as others do. But,
Fourthly, Is it poſſible for a man that fears the Lord, to do ſometimes as others do?
Yes he may: For the Apoſtle ſpeaks plainly concerning the ſame, Rom. 12.1. Mark what he ſaith; I beſeech you brethren by the mercies of God, That ye be not conformable to this preſent world, &c. But now obſerve this; That it is one thing what a man doth in a ſudden paſſion, and another thing what he doth in his ſerious conſideration: For take a man that fears the Lord, and in his ſudden paſſion he ſhall deny Chriſt as well as another; but in the way of ſerious conſideration he ſhall never do it. And further take notice, that it is one thing what a man doth in a particular action, and another thing what he doth in his common practice, for you may find in Scripture, that Gods people have ſometimes run away from God as to a particular Action, but yet in their conſtant courſe they feared the Lord, and therefore thoſe that fear the Lord do not do as others do, becauſe if they turn aſide, they repent of their ſo doing, and turn to God again: So I ſay there is ſtill a difference between them that fear the Lord, & thoſe that do not. But
Fifthly, Suppoſe a man do truly fear the Lord, what is the Iſſue and conſequence thereof? why the Iſſue will be this: If you fear the Lord, God will deal well with you, he will deal well with you in a ſpecial manner: he will make a difference between you & another in his diſpenſations. Pſal. 1. Bleſſed is the man that walketh not in the counſel of the ungodly, nor ſtandeth in the way of Sinners, nor ſetteth in the heat of the ſcornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night; he ſhall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in his ſeaſon, his leaſe alſo ſhall not wither, but whatſoever he doth ſhall proſper; the ungodly are not ſo, but are like unto the chaff, which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly ſhall not ſtand in Judgement, nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous; But the way of the ungodly ſhall periſh. Thus you ſee how Gods diſpenſations ſhall be to them that fear him: it ſhall go well with them, but not ſo to the wicked: It is ſaid that thoſe that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another. And it is ſaid in Iſa. 8.11, 12. For the Lord ſpake thus to me with a ſtrong hand, and Inſtructed me, not to walk in the way of this people, &c. Pſal. 112.6, 7, 8. You may find there that there will be a great difference one day, between them that fear the Lord, and they that do not: Surely he ſhall not be moved for ever, the Righteous ſhall be in everlaſting remembrance. He ſhall not be afraid of evil Tydings, his heart is fixed truſting in the Lord: his heart is eſtabliſhed, he ſhall not be afraid, untill he ſee his deſire upon his enemies, he hath diſperſed, he hath given to the poor, his Righteouſneſs indureth for ever, his horn ſhall be exalted with honour: The wicked ſhall ſee it and be grieved, he ſhall gnaſh his teeth and melt away, the deſire of the wicked ſhall periſh, yea God will do great things for them that fear him: he will put his law into their Hearts, that thereby they may keep his Commandments. He will do greatly for them, for his eye ſhall be upon them. The eye of the Lord is upon the righteous, and his ear is open to their cry. He is ready to anſwer thoſe that fear him upon all accounts. Read what the Pſalmiſt ſaith, Pſal. 31.19. O how great is thy goodneſs, which thou haſt laid up for them that fear thee, that thou haſt wrought for them that truſt in thee, before the Sons of Men.
Yea further if you truly fear the Lord, The eye of God ſhall be upon you for good; unto him will I look that trembleth, unto him will I look that feareth ſaith the Lord.
Again, if you truly fear the Lord, the Lord will delight in you,
Yea God will be a God unto you, God will be a ſtrong Tower to you, and he will ſanctify all unto you: and to ſay no more, They that fear the Lord ſhall want no good thing: O what a bleſſed thing is it then, to fear the Lord; for from him God will with-hold no good thing: and thus you ſee the Iſſue of this fearing of God; Conſider it, conſider I ſay the conſequence and Iſſue of it, and let it be ſo many motives to ſtir you up more and more to fear the Lord.
So much ſhall ſerve for the Doctrinal part: Now then by way of Application,
Here we may ſee what a ſad excuſe that will be which many make, That ſay they do but as others do, but Alas this is an excuſe fit for the lips of thoſe only, who fear not God at all. But
Secondly, If this Doctrine be true, then here you may ſee who thoſe are that fear God in truth; there are many pretenders to it; but we find here, that thoſe that truly fear the Lord cannot, will not do as others do: They will not do as others do in the matter of their choice, in the matter of their worſhip, nor of their calling, nor in what they are intruſted with, nor in their refreſhments, nor in their Afflictions, nor in their right and propriety, and if it be ſo, how few are there that fear the Lord in Truth. They that truly fear God ſay always as Nehemiah, But ſo did not I becauſe of the fear of God. There are many that lie quiet under ſins of Omiſſion, and under ſins of Commiſſion too, but ſo will not I becauſe of the fear of God: Do others ſin, and do others act contrary to the will of God, yet let us not do ſo, but let us ſay with Nehemiah, But ſo will not I becauſe of the fear of God. O therefore let me deſire all to fear the Lord, And for you that do fear the Lord, be you comforted, for comfort belongs to you; Everlaſting mercy belongs to you who fear the Lord; Jer. 31.3. I have loved you with an Everlaſting love.
But it may be ſome will ſay, I am afraid I do not fear the Lord, and ſo this comfort doth not belong to me; why conſider
Firſt, Do you make conſcience of what you do, doth your conſcience accuſe you or not for what you do, do you find conſcience accuſe, or excuſe?
Secondly, Have you not ſinned in the dark, when none could accuſe but God only, and do you Act, and walk, and live, and labour, as if you were in the preſence and ſight of God? if you do thus, then you do fear the Lord, And then it ſhall be well with you, Eccleſ. 8.12. Again
Thirdly, Do you run, and ſpeak one to another, if ſo, then this is to fear the Lord, for it is ſaid that they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another, Mal. 3.16. And
Fourthly, Do you truly deſire to fear the Lord, then look into Nehemiah, and obſerve his ſpirit well and do accordingly: And to ſay no more,
Have you had advantages to make you rich in this world, and would you not take them, becauſe of the fear of God, then certainly you have received free grace, and you have the Spirit of God, for this is a true ſign, that you have true grace in your hearts; and that you are one of them that truly fear the Lord: and therefore be you comforted, for comfort belongs unto you, everlaſting mercy belongs unto you.
But it may be ſome will ſay: Suppoſe I do not fear the Lord, what ſhall I do that I may fear the Lord, fear him as I ſhould do, fear him more and more.
For anſwer, If you would fear the Lord in truth. Then
Firſt, Be humbled for want of this fear: That man is not far from grace, who is humbled for the want of grace; a man will never be humbled for unbelief; unleſs he be humbled for the want of it.
Secondly, Go to God and beg of him to fulfil his promiſe, God hath ſaid, I will put my fear into their hearts; Now go to God I ſay and beg, and deſire him that he would make good this promiſe to you.
Thirdly, If you would fear God in truth, then obſerve what that is, that is neereſt, and deareſt to you, and give that up to God. You know Abraham offered up Iſaac, his only Son, and ſaith God, By this I know thou feareſt me. And further
Fourthly, If you would fear the Lord in Truth, then worſhip God, according to his own appointment, take heed of mingling of Gods worſhip with any of mans Inventions, for he that doth ſo feareth not God, nor worſhippeth him according to his own appointment. And then
Fifthly, If you would fear the Lord in Truth, then take heed of ſinning when you have an opportunity, Again
Sixthly, If you would fear God more, than love the Lord more, labour to ſtrengthen your love to God. Again
Seventhly, If you would have your fear ſtrengthned more, and more, then ſtudy much the free grace of God, in giving out his mercy to one, more than to another, Two in a field, the one taken and the other left, Two walking together, the one taken, and the other left, If you would ſtrengthen your fear, ſtudy much the free grace of God.
Eightly, If you would fear the Lord in Truth, Live much in, and ſtudy much upon, dependance wholly upon God, it is our great duty to depend upon God.
If a man be upon a high Tower, and another holds him from falling by the hand only, he will certainly be very fearful of offending him that holds him ſo: why we are thus in the hand of God, and our dependance is upon him for every thing, how fearful ought we then to be of offending this God, O ſtudy your dependance upon God more and more; and
Again, Uſe the world as uſing it not: deal with men as in the preſence of God, and when you are dealing with men, be ſure to deal with God before all the men of the world.
Again, Let your eye be very much upon the Severity and Juſtice of God, upon his ſeverity and Juſtice, conſider Gods ſevereneſs to Adam in eating the forbidden fruit, and his ſevereneſs to Moſes for a word, that for one word God would not let him enter into the promiſed land, and conſider his ſeverity to David for numbring the people. Yea
Again conſider, That God cannot only deſtroy the body, but ſoul and body too. Therefore O man fear him that can deſtroy both body and ſoul when he will in Hell fire.
Thus now if you would have your fear ſtrengthened, then ſtudy theſe things, conſider and meditate upon theſe things. But yet a little further
If you would ſtrengthen your fear of God more and more, then labour after more Communion with him now, in this world while you are here, we uſe to ſay Too much familiarity breeds contempt, but here it is not ſo, for by familiarity and communion with God, we ſhall have more ſweetneſs, and more delight in his wayes, more ſtrength in his ſervice, more comfort in our afflictions: If you would therefore have theſe advantages, then labour to walk more cloſe with God, and to have more communion with him; labour therefore I ſay to have more communion with God, if you would fear him more and more: The greater a perſon is here on Earth (as I told you before) the more we fear him, and the nearer he is in relation to us, the more we reverence him.
My Friends, would you obtain everlaſting mercy, would you have everlaſting mercy belong to you, then labour to fear the Lord in truth yet more and more, and I beſeech you to think of this Truth, meditate upon it, think of it upon all occaſions, and ſay, do others ſlubber over duties, ſo will not I, becauſe I fear the Lord; do others walk injuriouſly, ſo will not I, becauſe I fear the Lord; do others do contrary to the will of God, but ſo will not I, becauſe I fear the Lord: Let this truth go up and down with you, and it will keep you in your dealing both with God and man: Remember the Charecter of one that fears the Lord, He is one that cannot, will not do as others do, for ſo ſaith the Text: But ſo did not I, becauſe of the fear of God.