Of Domestical Duties, Treatise 1 · Section 5
§. 5. Of the feare of God mouing vsus to doe ſeruice to men.
Hauing briefly declared the nature, obiect, extent, and vſe of feare, I returne to the point in hand, viz. to ſhew 1. how it is here laid downe as a motiue to ſtirre vp men to performe the dutie here required: for by this clauſe, in the feare of the Lord, the Apoſtle implieth that
It is the feare of God which moueth men conſcionably to ſubmit Doct.themſelues one to another. This made d2. Sam. 23. 3.Dauid ſo well to rule the people of God: and eGen. 42. 18.Ioſeph to deale ſo well with his brethren: yea, fIſa. 11. 2, 3.this is noted to be the cauſe of the righteous regiment of Chriſt himſelfe. Well did that good King Iehoſaphat know this, and therefore when he appointed Iudges ouer his people, as a motiue to ſtirre them vp to execute the iudgements of the Lord aright, he ſaith vntounto them, Let the feare of the Lord be vponupon you. So alſo S. Peter, 2 Chron. 19. 7.to moue ſubiects to honour their King, prefixeth this exhortation, Feare God.1 Pet. 2. 17.
By feare of man, may one be brought to ſubmit himſelfe Obiect.to another: as a magiſtrate may be moued to deale iuſtly and mildly with his people through feare of inſurrections and rebellions: ſubiects may by ſeuere lawes and tyrannie be brought to ſubmit themſelues: and ſo other inferiours alſo by threats, by hard vſage, and other by-reſpects.
1. Though feare of man be a motiue, yet it followeth Anſw.not, that therefore feare of God ſhould be no motiue: it may be another motiue, and a better motiue.
2. The ſubmiſſion which is performed through feare of Difference betwixt doing a thing for feare of God and feare of man.man is a forced and a ſlauiſh ſubmiſſion, nothing acceptable to God: but that which is performed through a true filiall feare of God, is a free, willing, ready, cheerefull, conſcionable ſubmiſſion: ſuch a ſubmiſſion as will ſtirre vsus vp to doe the beſt good we can thereby vntounto them, to whom we ſubmit our ſelues, and ſo is more acceptable to God, by reaſon of the cauſe thereof, and more profitable vntounto man, by reaſon of the effect and fruit thereof.
For a true feare of God maketh vsus more reſpect what Reaſon. The power of a feare of God.God requireth and commandeth, than what our corrupt heart deſireth and ſuggeſteth: It ſubdueth our vnruly paſſions, and bringeth them within compaſſe of dutie: It maketh vsus deny our ſelues and our owne deſires: and though through the corruption of our nature and inborne pride we be loth to ſubmit, yet will Gods feare bring downe that proud minde, and make vsus humble and gentle. It will keepe thoſe who are in authoritie from tyranny, crueltie, and ouer-much ſeueritie: and it will keepe thoſe who are vnderunder ſubiection from diſſimulation, deceit, and priuie conſpiracies.
Behold how neceſſarie it is, that a true feare of the Lord Vſe. The neceſſitie of a feare of God.be planted in mens hearts, in the hearts of Kings and all Gouernours, in the hearts of ſubiects and all people, whether ſuperiours or inferiours. Where no feare of God is, there will be no good ſubmiſſion vntounto man. Abraham Gen. 20. 11.thought that the men of Gerar would hauehave no reſpect to him or his wife, nor make conſcience of common honeſtie, nor abſtaine from innocent bloud, becauſe he ſaw no feare of God in that place: and the Apoſtle hauing reckoned vp Rom. 3. 11, &c.many notorious effects of mans naturall corruption, concludeth all with this, as the cauſe of all, There is no feare of God before their eyes. Wherefore let Magiſtrates, Parents, Maſters, and all in authoritie, hauehave eſpeciall care that their ſubiects, children, ſeruants, and all vnderunder them may be taught and brought to feare the Lord. I dare auouch it, that ſuch inferiours which are taught to feare God, will doe better ſeruiee to their ſuperiours, than ſuch as feare their ſuperiours only as men, and feare not God. Let Miniſters eſpecially vrge and preſſe vponupon the conſciences of men a feare of God. Let all inferiours pray that the feare of the Lord may be planted in the hearts of their ſuperiours, that ſo they may liue a quiet and peaceable life in all godlineſſe and honeſtie vnderunder them. Happie is that kingdome where Magiſtrates and ſubiects feare the Lord. Happie is that Church where Miniſters and people feare the Lord. Happie is that family where husband and wife, parents and children, maſter and ſeruants feare the Lord. In ſuch a Kingdome, Church, and family, will eueryevery one, to the mutuall good one of another, ſubmit themſelues one to another. But if ſuch as feare not God ſubmit themſelues, whether they be ſuperiours or inferiours, it is for their owne ends and aduantages, and not for their good to whom they ſubmit themſelues.