Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 18
1 JOHN 4.18.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love caſteth out fear, becauſe fear hath torment: he that feareth, is not made perfect in love.
VErſe 17. he …roved, that ſuch as love one another, may have boldneſſe in the day of judgement, this he proved;
1. From the likeneſſe to God v. 17.
2. He proves it from the contrariety that is betwixt fear and love, There is no fear in love, which he proves by an effect of love, perfect love caſteth out fear, and therefore perfect love and fear cannot ſtand together, this he proves by a double argument … fear.
1. Fear hath …ments, therefore love, a peaceable grace, caſts out fear.
2. Becauſe he that feareth is not perfect in love, therefore he that is perfect in love fears not.
In this 18. verſe, 1. Obſerve the eſtate of a ſoul troubled with fear, and that is a ſtate of torment.
2. The unſound and uncomfortable condition of ſuch a ſoul, he is not perfect in love.
3. The remedy of this eſtate, perfect love caſts out fear.
4. The exemption of perfect love from all fear, or the comfortable condition of a ſoul ſo healed by love, There is no fear in love.
Doct. A fearfull conſcience lies in torment.
Fear hath torment, and he ſpeaks of the fear of death, but ſpecially of judgement; where that fear is, there is torment, the word tranſlated torment, foreign, is elſewhere ſo tranſlated, Mat. 25. ult. The torment here ſpoken of, is ſuch a kinde of torments as hell is, not for meaſure, but for kind. For the handling of this, we may ſee what the Scripture ſpeaks of this torment in the ſeverall deſcriptions and metaphors.
Firſt, This torment is ſometimes called pricking of conſcience, Acts 2.37. they were pricked at their hearts with fear and ſhame for ſin, though but a little before they ſcoft at the Apoſtle, v. 13. yet now they were ſtruck with ſuch torments, as they knew not what to doe.
Secondly, Its called a wounding of the ſpirit, Prov. 18.14. which wounding is a larger gaſh then pricking, and ſo implyes more anguiſh, fear and ſhame.
Thirdly, It is compared to the ſting of a Scorpion, Rev. 9.5. the Jeſuites doe ſo ſting men with torments of hell and horrour of conſcience, and God gave them not power to heal themſelves again; hence they thought every thing little enough to ſatisfie their conſcience, and ſo they ſuck out their eſtates in building Hoſpitalls, and beſtowing on their Cloyſters.
Fourthly, The wrath of God in the ſoul is compared to venomed arrows, Job 6.4.
Fifthly, This torment is called the rending of the heart, Joel 2.13. Rend your hearts and not your garments, the heart and thoughts are ſo rent and diſtracted, that one thing will not hang by another.
David calls this, melting of ſpirit, Pſal. 119.28. as if the heart were like wax, and Gods wrath like burning fire, therefore a man in this caſe is in a bitter eſtate, Job 13.26. Thou writeſt bitter things againſt me, Iſa. 38.15 I ſhall goe mourning in the bitterneſſe of my ſoul, for this the ſoul is troubled, Pſal. 77. and ſorely vexed, Pſal. 6.3.
Why doth a ſoul lying in fear, lye in torment?
Reaſ. 1. Conſider this fear in the effects of it, this fear ſometimes brings men into trembling of body, ſo that all the ſpirits flie inward.
2. If it continue, it leads oft times to inward Conſumptions of body, or burning Agues, Hab. 3.16. Pſal. 30.4, 5.
3. Sometimes it cauſeth terrible dreams, which doe amaze and affright us, Job 13.14.
4. It cauſeth wearineſſe of life, ſo that a ſoule long exerciſed with this kind of fear, cryes out in bitterneſſe, and heartily wiſheth for death, Job 7.15. My ſoul chooſeth ſtrangling rather then life, if he might have his choyce he would rather chooſe ſtrangling then life; there are worſe effects then thoſe proceeding from this fear, when Satan ſets on withall againſt us.
1. Sometimes Satan ſo follows us with fears and horrours, that though a man be o… a large meaſure of patience, yet he is able to bear no longer, but breaks out in impatience, Curſed be the day that ever I was born, Job 3.1, 2, 3. and this is a ſinfull effect.
2. It breeds in ſome a flying from the preſence of … that they dare not read or pray, they are afraid the earth ſhould ſwallow … up, and God ſuddenly conſume them; ſo Cain when he was purſued wit… …orror of conſcience, he fled from the preſence of God, from Adams family, from the Church.
3. This fear ſometimes brings deſtruction, when the ſoule is ſo wearied with ſence of horrours, with cares and watchings, that the brain growes frenzy, ſo that you can be able to doe them no good, till God puts in his help, Pſal. 88.15, 16. This was Hemans caſe, through the terrours of God, he was diſtracted, yet when God healed his ſpirit, he grows one of the wiſeſt men upon the earth, except Solomon.
4. Sometimes upon this fear follows deſpaire, the ſoul is perſwaded it ſhall never ſee the light of Gods countenance again, but that its utterly caſt off, Pſal. 3.6, 7. Pſal. 77. but this was but for a time; but ſometimes this deſpair is finall, as Judas his was.
5. From hence followes ſometimes ſelfe-murther, as in Judas, Mat. 27.
Reaſ. 2. From the properties of this fear, its incomprehenſible, when Job would expreſſe it, he could not tell how to ſet it forth, but O that my afflictions were laid in the ballance, Job 6.2, 3. Lam. 1.12, 13. Is there any ſorrow like my ſorrow?
2. Its inſupportable, A wounded spirit who can bear? Prov. 18.14. the ſtouteſt heart is not able to ſtand under it.
3. Its immoveable, nothing in the world is able to remove it; no balm can cure the conſcience but the bloud of Chriſt.
Reaſ. 3. From the cauſes of this fear, which are two.
1. The ſence of Gods wrath here, and the expectation of greater hereafter, Pſal. 90.11. Who knows the power of thy wrath?
2. A terrible expectation of violent fire, to conſume Gods adverſaries, Heb. 10.27.
Reaſ. 4. Conſider the ſubject of all this fear and torment, and that is the conſcience and heart of man, the judgement and will; the will that before was moſt tough and obſtinate, of all the faculties, theſe torments make, it ſoft, and tender, therefore its ſaid, Joſiahs heart melted at the hearing of the Law, 2 Chron. 34.17. Job 23.16. the heart is made raw and tender, that look at raw fleſh would be againſt the fire, ſo the tender raw conſcience is anguiſhed with this fire of Gods wrath, according to that old ſaying, He that would goe to heaven muſt ſayl by hell gates.
Ʋſe 1. To ſtir up all ſuch who have any of their friends thus exerciſed, to pity and compaſſionate them; Is it nothing to you that paſſe by, that Gods hand lies ſo ſore on him? to him that is afflicted, pity ſhould be ſhewn by his friends; but they forſake the fear of the Almighty, Job 6.14. Even as ſome Sea-men at their firſt voyage, they can pity thoſe that are Sea ſick and toſt, but afterward they grow ſenceleſſe: ſo when Chriſtians firſt lanch out themſelves into this troubleſome condition, they could have pityed others in the like caſe; but through cuſtome men forſake the fear of the Almighty: for though commonly theſe fears be ſafe, yet they may end in deſpair, and therefore pity ſhould be ſhewed them, Job never cryed out for help in the loſſe of his children or eſtate, but when Gods hand touched his ſoul, then he called upon all that feared God to pity him; and indeed God is very ſenſible of all ſuch as compaſſionate them; why, if ever God ſend them comfort he will reſtore comfort likewiſe to their mourners, Iſa. 57.78. for thoſe torments are not alwayes ſafe, except you finde then mixt with ſome ſpark of faith and love, but however, God looks, that if he be angry, we ſhould fear.
Ʋſe. 2. From thoſe that are thus afflicted, learn to be ſenſible of your eſtate, and doe not think this eſtate deſperate, for this torment may be healed, and therefore let labour in this caſe to ſeek out for healing: is a man in torment, and wi… … live and die? what in torment, and not ſeek out for help?
Queſt. How ſhall help my ſelfe in this caſe?
Anſw. 1. God would hereby have you know ſomething, which you never conſidered before, know therefore, and ſee that is an evill thing and bitter, that thou haſt forſaken the Lord thy God, we have gone on obſtinately and caſt aſide Gods yoak, therefore thy own wickedneſſe ſhall corrrect thee; therefore know, and ſee and learn by it, to ſee the danger of ſin, and if thou begin to be tendable, there is hope this torment will end well; know that it is an evill to provoke God to ſuch fierce anger, for as you have preſt God, Amos 2.13. ſo he will preſſe you.
2. Confeſſe thy ſins to God, lay open thy wayes, and ſet them in order before him, and by this means you will finde an unmeaſurableneſſe of eaſe, Pſal. 32. to 6. he that confeſſeth his ſins ſhall finde mercy, Prov. 28.13. And with this confeſſion adde prayer for pardon and healing of thy ſins, and God ordinarily will heal ſuch, Hoſ. 14.3, 4, 5. Job. 33.27, 28.
3. Uſe the Ordinances, the Word, the Sacraments, Chriſtian Communion; theſe are of ſpeciall uſe to quiet the afflicted conſcience, Iſa. 57.19. I create the fruit of the lips, peace, God by the lips of his Miniſters, ſecretly drops ſweet balm: and ſo in the Sacrament, behold the bloud of the New Teſtament ſhed for thee, for ſuch ſouls eſpecially, is Chriſts bloud, and for Chriſtian Communion, read Job 16.5. The movings of my lips ſhould have aſſwaged your griefe; he would have ſpoke words which ſhould have been as balm or oyl to a Chriſtian ſoul.
4. Bow your hearts to wait on God patiently, as he hath waited on you; the ſoul is ready ſoon to wax weary, and to ſay, Wherefore ſhould I wait on the Lord any longer? Iſa. 50.10. Tarry but a while, and he that ſhall come, will come, and will not delay.
5. Prize the leaſt expreſſion of Gods mercy to thy ſoul, praiſe him for dealing thus with thee, that he would take ſuch pains with thee.
Firſt, Bleſſe him that thou art yet on this ſide hell, crying for mercy, its a greater bleſſing then all the Devills or damned have.
Secondly, Its another fruit of Gods love to thee, that he hath applyed a fit medicine to the frame of thy ſpirit, Jer. 2.17. Thou drinkeſt but of the cup thou breweſt thy ſelfe; that God ſhould thus hedge thee in with his hands, and break thy heart, and lay it on ſo; ſure, this is ſuch a mercy, as we cannot be ſenſible of.
Thirdly, Another fruit of Gods love is, that hereby he cuts you off, not onelyonly from the wildneſſe and looſeneſſe of thy heart, but from taking further day with him: we are ready to put off repentance from time to time, to the cool of the day, and the evening of our age: but when God imbitters our ſoules with this torment of conſcience, then we ſhould ſtand out no longer, but the ſoule longs and cryes for mercy, this night before the morning; then they could wiſh no greater bleſſing then Gods favour, Pſal. 4.5, 6.
… ſuch … in … is not … to brook the … and … …roken th… …
… out; take
… us … what an … back … with … fell … part of … found … from … and …udg… … is not … full … not…rious … there … …ound hearted. …
… is a double … …he day of judgement, of ….
… When a man i… afraid of … men; … ever ſo right and … men, … …9. … of …en bringeth a f…r … …eſe are …ſound; … a … no…, though … in the midſt of the ſhadow of death, …
…, which is unbeliefe for faith … Eph. …. We have acceſſe with confidence … therefore which … fear in unbeliefe, Rev. 2….8. …elievers together: that … that believe… not Gods … or goo… … fearfull heart.
… this fear, it drives us from God; men …oſſeſt with …, …hall cry to the Mountains to cover them from the …, Rev …. ult. So when … ſinned, he hid …elfe from the preſen…e of the Lord.
3. From the …bject of this …, which is an expectation of ſome evill terrible to him: If therefore the creature look at God as terrible, and to be feared, its a ſigne they are not ſound in love; for they that love Chriſt, love his appearing, the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, be like a … heart, for … look on Chriſt as comfortable, and his …eſence … joyfull and good for th….
4. From the adjunct of fear, …r brings torment … with it, … a kind of torment in the ſoule, but love brings … and joy; and …; therefore this properly argues, that where fear … heart is not found.
… How … paſſe then, that ſome that are of loving spirits, are full of fears and terrours, as Jo… ….4. So Heman and Paul compla…, 2 Cor. 7.5. that … without and terrours within: if ſuch glorious Saints may be fea…ſt, will you ſay they were unfound.
Anſw. There may be found ſuch fears even in Gods Saints that have … perience of his love …, and the world experience of their love: … conſider what kind … it is, the fears differ much from … of unfound hearts.
Firſt, The fears of the godly ſpring not ſo … from the expectation of death and hell, as from ſome inwa… trouble for want of Gods favour, Pſal. 80.3, 4. Turn us again … thy … to ſhine, and we ſhall be ſaved, its for want of the …, that they ſo grieve, otherwiſe we read not of the fears … judgement: now here is a great difference, … of love mixt with … fears, … its the love of God, they … the contrary, … is not ſo much affected for the way … for the ſence … and judgement, and expectation …
Secondly, to the … there is … ma… … ſupport … thought within …e … heart, he hath no … wrath … mixt with … but ſuſ… … for …
Thirdly, …here … the effect … from God, as … from … other means … …treſſe ſometimes … ſometimes he …, as run to an … ſcience falls to … But the fear of … uſe … right me … his … came … exceedingly; What … he to Wiches, … …laters? No, … himſelfe to ſeek the Lord, … him for help, 2 Chron. 20.3. So … ſeem very … will throw themſelves into his armes they run to the horns of … theſe if they … …eriſh, will the …: and indeed the heart … found in love then when it … and it argues the … cleave to him, when we ſee …
Obj. May we not find many … defie death and judge… … no more afraid of hell, then if it were a …le.
Anſw. True, there are ſuch …terous ſpirits the… …either … man, are not afraid of hell, and ye… … from any … differs from the boldneſſe of Chriſtians. For, …
Firſt, Its without root.
Secondly, Without fruit; whereas the true … Chriſtians proceeds from faith in Chriſt, Eph. 3.12. Rom. 5.1, 2, 3. … from ſearedneſſe and benummedneſſe of conſcience … ſuch neither fear God nor … whereas the boldneſſe … them reverence God, and fear ſin the more.
Thirdly, Their fearle…neſſe is fruitleſſe, th…y are not more fruitfull by it, but more licentious, and ſuch men ordinarily at death are deſperately licentious, then halter or dagger, or any thing to rid them out of the horrour of conſcience.
Ʋſe …. May teach all them that will be poſſeſt with a ſpirit of boldneſſe and confidence, let them maintain ſound hearted live to their brethren, and indeed there is no … that befalls Gods ſervants, …ut it proceeds either from bemudding themſelves with the world, or elſe for want of love to their brethren: As a wi… when her husband hath been long abroad, and her heart hath gone after her lovers, his coming is the leſſe welcome, ſhe could … his comming defer'd: ſo when we have let our hearts run looſe from God, and our brethren, why, then our hearts grow full of doubts and fears, gladly could we deſire that God would defer his coming, and reſpite us a little, that we might recover our ſelves before we go hence, and be no more ſeen; therefore as you will finde your hearts comfortable and unmoveable at death, and judgement, when the Mountain quake, and the Seas roar; would you then be chearfull? grow up in love to God, acquaint your ſelves with him, let your deſires be toward … him, and withall joyn the love of your brethren, or elſe his coming will be uncomfortable: Even as children, when their Parents have been abroad, and they have fallen out, and fought, and hurt one another, … their Fathers coming, which otherwiſe would have been … if you fall out with your brethren, and ſtain their good names and wrong them, you ſtill finde your hearts afraid of Gods coming, and would gladly have God to defer it a while. It's a direction therefore to all the ſons of men, how to be prepared for death and judgement; it is not building Hoſpitals, that will fit you for it, but this is the beſt way, love God, and love your brethren, and you cannot dye uncomfortably: No man dies more fearfully then a contentious or covetous man; a wrangling contentious man never dies with peace and comfort; if therefore thou findeſt an heart afraid of death and judgement; if thou wouldſt help this, labour to cleanſe out all enmity, and want of love.
Ʋſe 2. Of conſolation to ſuch as finde their hearts fearful and uncomfortable, and yet find their hearts ſound in love to God and their brethren; why, conſider if there be not an evill root of bitterneſſe in you; and if thou findeſt thy heart free from envy; and wrath, and hatred, then conſider what good offices thou doſt; labour not only to be ſincere, but to … up to fruitfulneſs: and if God give you to ſee that your fear is rather for want of his favour, then for hell and wrath, this is not the fear of hypocrites, Iſa. 33.14. but proceds from want of experience.
Ʋſe 3. It is a ground of much comfort to thoſe that are either fearleſſe of death and judgement, or ſound in love; if thou findeſt thy fearleſneſſe ariſe from longing after God, and making thee more fruitful. Why, its an evidence, that thou art ſound-hearted in love: And again, if thou findeſt a loving heart, why, thou haſt a juſt ground of fearleſſe boldneſſe; ſoundneſſe of love and boldneſſe goe hand in hand: And how ſhould we labour for that grace that will help us againſt all fears and doubts?
Wee have formerly heard of the torment of feare, and the hypocriſie of fear.
Now the third thing is the remedy of this feare, But perfect love caſteth out feare.
Doct. 3. True hearted love to God, caſteth out all feare of evill from the hand of God.
So that though at firſt the conſcience of a young Chriſtian be fearful of the wrath of God and judgement, yet as love grows, ſo feare is caſting out; Perfect love caſts out feare; he means not without imperfection; For we know but in part, and love but in part, but he ſpeaks of love without hypocriſie and diſſimulation; True-hearted love fears no evill from the hand of God. Now this love caſts out feare: Not as ſoon as ever it comes into the ſoule, but by little and little, as a man that goes to cleanſe a pit, he cannot do it preſently, but he is caſting it out till it be all cleanſed: Fear is a deep pit, compared to the ſinking into deep mire; now love comes to caſt out this fear, but it's not done the firſt hour, but by little and little it will get rid of all fear: it doth not caſt out the fear of God, for the more we love him, the more we fear him; but it caſts out all tormenting fear, it caſts out the fear of the day of judgement, and ſo conſequently of Gods wrath, 2 Theſ. 3.5. He prays that the Lord would direct their hearts into the love of God; Why, what is the fruit of that? And into the patient waiting for of Chriſt; when a mans heart is once directed to the love of God, he is prepared to wait for the coming of Jeſus Chriſt. Jude verſ. 21. Keep your ſelves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt unto eternall life. So much love as you keep in your hearts towards God, ſo much expectation you keep in your hearts againſt the day of his appearing; the like may be ſaid of keeping our hearts in love to our brethren, Jam. 2.13. Mercy rejoyceth againſt judgement.
Reaſ. 1. From the proper nature and effect of love, Love thinks no evill, 1 Cor. 13.5. This is the work of love in the heart, it bows the heart to take all in good part that God doth againſt it; ſo that though we find much diſquiet and anguiſh, and torment, yet love makes the ſoul take all in good part, ſo that it thinks no evill of God: For particulars.
1 The ſoul thinks thus; though I feel much ſmart and anguiſh, yet I cannot but think it well, that God ſhould apply ſuch coraſives to my wrankled feſtered wounds.
2 The ſoul takes it well, that God ſhews him all the danger before times of ſickneſſe or death, that he ſhews him this out of Hell, and awakes him before he comes there: it's a great mercy that I have yet time of mercy, that Hell hath not ſwallowed me up, but that he hath given me ſo fair a warning to prevent it.
3 A loving ſoule takes Gods dealing in this kind in very good part, as being a notable preſervative againſt many ſinful diſtempers he ſhould have fallen into; by theſe anguiſhes, he drives me from the world, and putting off GOD for after-times: this makes us ſeek God ſpeedily, there is no man, when grace knocks at his heart, that quite rejects the motion, but defers it; but theſe tormenting fears are like hooks in a fiſhes belly, they draw us to God preſently.
4 The ſoule takes it in good part, in that by theſe fears of conſcience, he is brought better to attend on Sermons, to be converſant in the Scripture more, to like good company better; This though it quite caſts not out tormenting feare; yet it makes all to be taken in good part, for that the ſoule hereby grows more meek and lowly, and by this means he begins to find reſt to his ſoule; When a man begins to take Chriſts yoke and beare it patiently, and learn of him to be meek and lowly, he finds reſt to his ſoul, then he is not in torment.
2 Effect of true hearted love, it ſtirres up a man to ſeek him whom I … ſoul loveth, and the very ſeeking prepares the heart to reſt; for ſuch a ſoule, when he hath found Chriſt, will not let him go, till he be poſſeſſed of his love, Cant. 3.4. Whereas the ſoul that wants love runs away from God, as Adam, and Cain, & Saul fled from God in their diſtreſſe: but love is in the midſt of all theſe tormenting feares, gathers up the ſoul, that it runs not to muſick nor mirth, or any evill means to quiet it, but provokes the heart to ſeek God by all good means, and ſo caſts out fear.
3 Love of God makes us afraid of all ſin, and conſcionable to obey in all things: All that love God, hate ſin; love maketh us hate ſin, and affects us with a deſire to keep Gods Commandements, and to be doing good, John 14.23. Now both theſe lead to tranquility, Pſalm. 79.10, 11. There is a double ground of comfort to thoſe that begin to hate evill, out of love to God.
Firſt, The Lord preſerveth ſuch a ſoul.
Secondly, Light is ſown for ſuch, which in time will ſprout up to manifeſt comfort; therefore Pſalm. 79.12. he ſaith, Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous. Love likewiſe provokes us to be fruitful in goodneſſe; and if we be ſo, Chriſt promiſeth that he will manifeſt his favour and familiarity to ſuch, John 14.23.
Reaſ. From the object of love, which is alwayes ſome good; and if the ſoule love good, God will be good to it, Pſal. 79.1. Truly God is good to Iſrael. In the midſt of many fears and doubts, and griefs, in the midſt of all, like the Sunne through a cloud, he breaks out, yet God is good to Iſrael: Now when a man in the midſt of evill, can looke at God as good, this makes way to quiet all, as he expreſſeth, verſ. 24, 25.28, 29. When the heart conceives of God as good, it ſcatters all doubts und fears wherewith the ſoule is poſſeſt, that though his heart and fleſh faile, yet God is his portion for ever.
Ʋſe 1. Of direction to them that have to deale with troubled ſpirits, where they may apply comfort; a man comes and complains bitterly of the burthen of his ſoule: Why, as yet there is no ſure ground of applying of comfort, but when you can diſcern any fruit of love in their expreſſions, if you finde them taking all in good part, and bleſſing God, that by this meanes he is pleaſed to break them off from their owne ſinful wayes, and draw them cloſer to himſelf, then you may ſafely apply comfort; but otherwiſe, if you ſee men murmuring againſt Gods hand, why truly that feare hath torment, and that ſoul is not ſound-hearted: This is true love, to love God when he is angry, and to take it in good part, that God ſhould deal frowardly and crabbedly with a froward and …ooked heart.
Ʋſe 2. For them that find their hearts overwhelmed with fears & doubts, and yet are unwilling to come to his frame of ſpirit, that think they have not lived ſo badly as ſome have done; convince them they have deſerved more then this, that ſo they may take all in good part … then if they be poſſeſt of Gods love in this and apprehend …, there is way … …mfort and peace.
Ʋſe 3. For you that finde diſturbance and anguiſh of ſoule; it may be a ground of conſolation and direction to you; … heart pricked with the torment of ſin, conſider how thou findeſt thy … to God; doth thy ſoul ſay to God in … deepeſt anguiſhes, as …. Thy… art juſt in all that is come upon us, thou haſt done righteouſly, but we have done fooliſhly? Doſt thou take it in good part, and bleſſe God that in very faitfulneſſe to thy ſoul he hath afflicted thee? If thou … thy ſelf to God, and putteſt thy mouth in the duſt, willing to be turned any way, ſo that he will ſet thee in a good way: Why, then there is a ſpirit of love in thee, which in time will caſt out all fear, there are now … of light and joy ſown, which ere long will ſprout forth to thy endleſſe comfort.
Ʋſe 4. May teach them whoſe conſciences are tormented, what courſe to take for comfort.
1 Look at Gods good providence to thee, in trying thee, and proving thee, that he may do thee good in the latter end.
2 As you have cauſe to take all in good part, ſo learn to ſeek him carefully: Again, take heed of ſin, and be doing what good you may, ſtrive to be more fruitful in good ſervices to God, and offices of love to your brethren, and certainly this unfeigned love will lead to peace.
Ʋſe 5. Hence ſee the eſtrangement of wicked men from the wayes of peace, Rom. 3.17. The way of peace they have not known.
1 They cannot think that torment and fear ſhould be the way of peace if they ſee a man in this caſe.
2 They would put off ſuch fears with … company; but if they ſee ſuch a man ſeeking God earneſtly praying and hearing the World carefully, they cannot think this is the way of peace; will you bleſſe God and dye when he is ready to ſwallow you up? The way of peace they have not known, ſalvation is far from them, Pſal. 118.155.