An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 65
SERM. LXV.
Of the natural and ſinfull fear of Death: How to diſcern between them; and from whence the ſinfulneſs of that fear proceedeth.
2 CO…. 1. 8.
So that we deſpaired even of life.
THis laſt aggravating particular in the deſcription of Paul's trouble in Aſia, hath been explained, and in ſome meaſure enlarged. The ſumme whereof was, That grace even in a Paul, doth not wholly remove the natural fear of death. Grace doth regulate and direct Nature, but not extinguiſh it. Stoiciſm and Chriſtianity differ as much as Heaven and Earth. Not to fear, not to grieve about due objects in a due manner, is a ſinne, not a vertue. But though grace doth not extirpate this natural fear of death, yet it ſubdueth and conquereth the ſinfull fear of death. Our natural fear doth quickly become immoderate, and ſo offenſive unto God. Therefore the proper work of grace is to mortifie this, that it may not be over-fearing, that this fear may not prove a temptation to ſinne.
Our work therefore in the next place, is to direct a Chriſtian in the diſcerning between a Natural fear, and a Sinfull fear, that he may know what is of There is a natural fear of death in all, but in ſome more, in ſome leſſe.meer nature and what is of corrupt nature. Only it is good to take notice of this:
1. That a natural fear of death may be in ſome more, and in ſome leſſe, from the very conſtitution and temperament of their body. Some are very fearfull by their very natural complexion, and to ſuch death is more dreadfull than to others, who are of a more bold and ſtout conſtitution: Even as ſome are more prone to anger than others; ſo ſome are more prone to fear than others; and this being a natural paſſion, they cannot conquer it, no more than grace can change the temperament of the body. OnelyOnly to the godly, ſuch a natural fear is ſanctified: They go out of themſelves, they depend much upon God. And therefore ſome who have been aſſaulted exceedingly with fears in the times of perſecution, ſuſpecting their own ſelves, that they ſhould prove perfidious to Chriſt, and Apoſtates, have found unexpected courage and boldneſs, becauſe they have gone out of themſelves, and truſted in God only. Theſe Lambs have proved Lions. Hence the Scripture, antidotes and comfortable promiſes againſt this fear, Iſa. 53. 4. Say to them that are of a fearfull heart, Be ſtrong, feare not. Yea we have a precious promiſe to the godly, that under Chriſts government and protection over them, Ier. 23. 4. They ſhall fear no more, nor be diſmayed. If then the godly find himſelf of a fearfull diſpoſition, that it is a natural paſſion tyrannizing over him, let him pray for the ſanctification of it, that God would turn it to his good; and many times ſuch are preſerved from thoſe wounds of conſcience, and thoſe ſad falls, which thoſe that are more preſumptuous and ſelf-confident do fall into. As there is thus a natural paſſion of fear about death in ſome more than in others, ſo alſo ſometimes (by Gods permiſſion) the children of God have been aſſaulted by it as a peculiar temptation, and that improved by Satan. So that whereas there are ſeveral kindes of temptations, whereby the Devil doth moleſt and diſquiet the godly, ſometimes by blaſphemous thoughts, ſometimes by fear of committing that unpardonable ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt, &c. So ſometimes it is by a daily and conſtant fear of death, ſuch a perſwaſion of death doth fall upon them, and that accompanied with much diſtracting fear and tembling, that it takes away the comfortable enjoyment of all thoſe mercies God beſtoweth upon them. This hath been the caſe of many of the children of God, and the Devils deſigne is by theſe unprofitable and needleſſe feares, to keep them from that ſervice, which otherwiſe they might do for God. For as Timber too moiſt, and not well dried, will deceive the builder, and not ſupport the houſe, as it is expected: ſo neither can a Chriſtian, amazed with ſuch dividing fears, do God that ſervice in his place, as he ought to do. Theſe are like wormes in the wood, that at laſt eat up the heart of it. Such therefore that are buffeted with theſe temptations, they have no other wayes to take, but to flie unto God: He is the Jehovah, who can give power and ſtrength to them, as was done to Daniel, in his great amazement, and unto the Scripture, as a directive Rule, from whence he may wiſely obſerve many remedies againſt ſuch prepoſterous feares. Let him alſo poſſeſſe his ſoul with this as an undoubted principle, That the Lord bindeth him in this chain (as it were) to prevent other ſinnes that he may boldly venture upon; and that theſe feares con…inually annoying, are a meanes to keepe off ſome great ſinnes or others. They are like barking curres, that keepe off thieves, when they heare ſuch a noiſe within.
Theſe things premiſed, Let us now conſider, When, and wherein the fear of When the fear of death is ſinfull. 1 When it becomes a ſnare.death doth manifeſt it ſelf to be ſinfull. And
Firſt, When it becometh a ſnare to a man, ſo that by it, he either commits ſome ſinne, or omits ſome duty. When the fear of death hath this influence upon thee, then know it exceedeth its limits. Thou feareſt men more than God, thou feareſt death more than hell and damnation, Prov. 29. 25. The fear of a man bringeth a ſnare. When it bringeth a ſnare upon thee, conſcience ſaith, Doe not this; the Word of God ſaith, Doe not this; but fear of death ſaith, Doe this, then this becometh very ſad in the iſſue; as you ſee it was in Peter, fear made him deny his Maſter. So in Abraham, and Iſaac, though ſo great examples of holineſſe, yet fear of death put them upon lying and diſſimulation. Now to ſinne for fear of death, is a moſt abſurd and irrational fear; to fear the leſſe, and not to fear the greater. Thou doeſt not fear to be damned, yet thou feareſt to die. How fully doth our Saviour convince us of the folly of this fear? Luk. 12. 4, 5. I ſay to you my friends. Though the Diſciples had this comfortable title and encouraging relation upon them (what could be greater than to be Chriſts friend? Will Chriſt forſake his friend in adverſity? Shall any have cauſe to ſay to Chriſt, as Abſolom to Huſhai, Is this thy kindneſs to thy friend?) Yet how ready are they to fear men and death immoderately? Therefore he exhorteth them, Not to be afraid of men, who can kill the body, and after that have no more than they can do; but I will forewarne you whom you ſhall fear. They need premonitions about it; the object whereof is, God who hath power to caſt into hell, which he redoubleth, yea I ſay to you, fear him. So that by this place we ſee, that it is a moſt and unreaſonable fear, to venture the damnation of our ſouls for fear of death: Yet how often hath this been done? but ſometimes it hath proved ſo diſmall, as in Spira, and others, that the guilt of ſinne, and the terrors of Gods wrath falling upon their conſcience, have ſo greatly overwhelmed them, that the fear of death hath been quite put out by a greater fear. They have deſired death, yea they have haſtened to it, by offering violence to themſelves. As the fear of death is thus ſinfull when it putteth thee upon ſinne: ſo when it maketh thee omit any duty that God requireth; thou dareſt not confeſs God and his truth in the midſt of a perverſe generation; thou dareſt not be valiant for the truth, nor plead for righteouſneſs, this fear is exceſſive. Love to God, love to his glory ſhould caſt out the fear of death. Obſerve then thy ſelf in dangers or temptations, how thou findeſt thy fear to put thee upon ſinfull compliances or omiſſions, and preſently, as Jehoſhaphat in the midſt of a battel being in great danger, cried out unto God for help, ſo do thou to be delivered from this ſinfull fear, that is a deadly enemy encompaſſing thee about.
Secondly, Thy fear about death is ſinfull, when it is immoderate and diſquieting 2. When it is immoderate and diſquieting.of thee, ſo that thou doeſt not walk with a cheerfull quiet and calm ſpirit. So that although it may not put thee upon any ſinfull or unlawfull enterprize, yet if it fill thee with anxieties, with trepidations, ſo that it depriveth thee of that Evangelical joy and peace; in this exceſs it is a ſinne. All that are truly godly, Being juſtified by faith they are to have peace in their hearts; yea they are to rejoyce alwayes in the Lord; but the inordinate fear of death cauſeth this Sunne to be in an eclipſe: and as men ſubject to ſwooning fits, or convulſions, cannot go with that courage and confidence up and down, as thoſe who are freed from ſuch diſtempers; Thus alſo the ſlaviſh and immoderate fear of death putteth millſtones about our neck, is a continual Ephialtes upon the ſoul, filleth the ſpirit with heavineſs, whereby that Evangelical life and Goſpel-converſation that we are called unto, is ſeldome or never exerciſed. Obſerve then thy ſelf, doth ſuch fears of death make thy ſoul full of tumults and diſtractions? Doth it oppoſe any Evangelical grace, or retard the Spirit of Adoption upon thy ſoul? Then humble thy ſelf, know thou ſinneſt againſt God, and pray for the mortification of it; and this thou art to do, though it doth not make thee put out thy hand to any evil way; though it doth not make thee omit any known duty. For as worldly and diſtruſtfull cares, though lodging only in the heart, are greatly diſpleaſing to God, though we do not thereby fall into covetous and unjuſt wayes, yet the very cares and diſtractions of the heart are forbidden, as appeareth by that reproof given to Martha, by our Saviour himſelf, Luke 10. 41. Martha, Martha, thou art troubled about many things, but one thing is needfull. Thus it is alſo in fears, though thou art not inſtigated thereby to unlawfull wayes to preſerve thy ſelf, yet the diſtractions and diviſions of thy heart are offenſive to God. Therefore as the Apoſtle ſaith, Phil. 4. 6. Be carefull in nothing, but let your requeſts be made known to God. Let prayer rebuke all ſtorms and tempeſts of ſinfull cares, ſo in nothing be fearfull, no not about death it ſelf, but commit thy ſelf by prayer to God, to whom the iſſues of life and death do belong
Thirdly, This fear of death is ſinfull, when it excludeth better and more profitable, and ſeaſonable fear. The Scripture doth frequently command a fear 3. When it excludeth much profitable and ſeaſonable fearof God, and the ſerving of him with godly trembling, Pſal. 2. 11. Yea the whole work of grace is expreſſed in this, That God will put his fear in our hearts, Jer. 32. 40. If then this fear of God did more prevail and rule in our hearts, we ſhould not fear diſeaſes and death ſo much as we do: The fear of God would put a due moderation upon all the powers of the ſoul: This would regulate the fear of all other things, ſo that we dare not fear otherwayes than God hath commanded, then this natural fear is compatible with gracious fear. For as our love to the creatures muſt be animated and regulated by our love to God, ſo that we are never to love any thing, that thereby our love to God may be abated or diminiſhed: Thus it muſt be in fear, we are never to dread any thing further than it is conſiſtent with the fear of God; therefore it may fall out ſometimes, that the fear of God may juſtly put us upon the fear of death, as when we walk negligently, coldly and formally; when we do not make up our daily accounts with God; when we do not make our daily peace with God, with renewed repentance and faith. If we live in this manner, then we have good cauſe to fear death, becauſe we are unprovided for it, it ſeizeth on us before we are prepared; and the fear of God may juſtly put us into this fear of death. For we know how great, holy and juſt God is, how dreadfull his appearance will be at the day of judgement; and all that we can do, it muſt be done before death; then the night is come, and none can work. To repent, to bewail our unprofitableneſs, our neglect of the ſeaſons of grace in hell, will then be as unprofitable, as Eſau's teares when he had loſt his birth-right. There is therefore a juſt and holy fear about death, leſt it ſhould take us not doing the work of God; leſt it ſhould come ſo unexpectedly, that we be forced to cry out with him, Inducias uſque ad mane! O ſpare me till to morrow! Let one live another day to make peace with God, and the fear of God will put us upon this fear, as the Apoſtle ſaid, 2 Cor. 5. 11. Knowing the terrour of the Lord, we perſwade men. Thus it is here, Knowing the terrour of the Lord, that he is greater than our hearts, that if they condemn us, then God will much more; This will put a fear of death upon us, becauſe that is nothing but the preſenting of our ſouls in his preſence. We read Judg. 6. 23. and in many other places, when God made any glorious apparition, the perſons who beheld it were ſo amazed and ſtricken with the ſenſe of their imbecillty, that they thought they ſhould die preſently; and ſhall not the thoughts about death, that it's the diſlodging of the ſoul and bringing it immediately before God, ſtrike much terrour into us? This holy and reverential fear about death is laudable, and is the fruit of the fear of God; but when this fear of death maketh thee fear God the leſs, or hindereth thee in the ſervice of him, then caſt this Hagar out of doors.
Fourthly, The fear of death is ſinfull, when it doth proceed from a ſinfull cauſe. 4. When it proceeds from a ſinfull cauſe, as from 1. An inordinate love of life.If the fountain be bitter, then the ſtream is bitter. Now there are theſe ſinfull cauſes of the fear of death.
1. When it proceedeth from an inordinate love of life. An exceſſive love of life doth alwayes beget an immoderate fear of death. So that we may judge of the ſinfulneſs of fear by the ſinfulneſs of love: If thy heart be not mortified and crucified to the world, if thy heart be not looſned and weaned from earthly comforts; and this maketh thee afraid to die, this is ſinfull. It is a fundamental qualification required in every Diſciple of Chriſt; he cannot be Chriſts, unleſs he be above the love of all things, Matth. 10. 37. He that loveth father, or mother, or life it ſelf, more than me, cannot be my Diſoiple. Why then art thou ſo afraid to die? Is it becauſe thy heart is ſo dearly engaged in ſuch relations, to ſuch creatures? Be humbled for this, and reform.
A ſecond ſinfull cauſe which floweth from the former, is, The want of love 2. The want of love to God.to God, and to Chriſt. Thy deſire is not with Paul, To be with Christ; thou doeſt not judge this beſt of all. Not to be willing to die upon this account, muſt alſo be very ſinfull. Do we not pray for the Kingdome of God? Are we not to look for, and haſten the coming of Chriſt? Are we not to be as pilgrims and ſtrangers in this world? Now if theſe things were real upon thee, though thou couldſt not avoid a natural fear, yet thou wouldſt greatly ſubdue a ſinfull fear.
3. There is a ſinfull cauſe of the fear of death, When we produce thoſe actions, 3. A ſinfull life.and live ſuch a life, which will juſtly make death terrible. Thou complaineſt, I am afraid to die, I dare not think of death, and why? Thou doeſt put ſtings into death, thou increaſeſt the guilt of thy conſcienne, by living without repentance and reformation; and then it is no wonder if ſuch a ſinfull cauſe make a ſinfull effect. Sinne leſs, keep thy conſcience clear, and then thou wilt fear death leſs.
The laſt ſinfull cauſe of the ſinfull fear of death, is, Want of faith in Chriſt, and this even the godly are ſubject to, though they live holily and unblameably, 4. Want of faith in Chriſt.though they have kept a good conſcience towards God and men, yet they have ſometimes uncomfortable fears about death, becauſe they do not look upon Chriſt, they conſider not that Chriſt hath conquered death. So that now every Chriſtian may with Paul triumph, Death is ſwallowed up in victory, O death, where is thy ſting? 1 Cor. 15. 54, 55. but want of faith depriveth of this holy comfort and boldneſs. See then if thy want of faith maketh thee fear death; and conſider that if ſo, this is very injurious to Chriſt, as if ſtill death were not ſubdued, as if death had conquered Chriſt, and not Chriſt death. Faith will make thee ſee a lovelineſs and another nature in death, than what it had at firſt.