Gospel Fear, Title page – To the reader
Gospel-Fear: OR The Heart Trembling at the Word of God, evidenceth a Blessed Frame of Spirit.
Delivered in several Sermons from Isa. 66.2. and 2. Kings 22.14.
By JEREMIAH BURROUGHES.
His Mercy is on them that fear him, from Generation, to Generation, Luk. 1.50.
—Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling, Phil. 2.12.
LONDON. Printed by J. D. For B. Aylmer at the three Pigeons in Cornhil. 1674.
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader.
THese following Sermons are the Labours of that Prince of Preachers, Mr. Jer. Chrysost. in his learned Oration compiled upon the death Philogonius Melanchton saith of …omeranus he was the Grammarian of himself, that he was the Logician of Justus Ionius, that he was the Orator; but of Luther, he was omnia in omnibus, all in all Adam in vit. Luth. p 170. the Application is easie. Heb. 6.10. Isa. 62.6. Ezek. 36.37.Burroughs, who is now a shining Sun in that upper World; but they that are taken out of this Valley of Baca, and carried up by Troops of glorious Angels into the highest Heaven, stand in no need of the praises of Men, having the fruition of the Eternal God; and therefore I shall wheel about to these choice Sermons that are here presented to thine eyes. In the three first, thou wilt find this great and glorious Truth (viz. That a heart trembling at God's Word, is very precious in God's eyes) clearly opened, fully proved, and sweetly and faithfully improved. So as that by a blessing from on high, it may contribute greatly to the Internal and Eternal welfare of thy precious and immortal Soul. Concerning the Word premise this with me, viz. That in these six following acceptations the Word is taken in the blessed Scriptures, 1. By the Word is sometimes meant the whole Scriptures old and New Testament. 2. By the Word is meant our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Spirit Life and Soul of the Word, Joh. 1.3. By the Word is sometimes meant the commands of the Word, Heb. 1.4. By the Word is sometimes meant the threatnings of God. 5. By the Word is sometimes meant the precious Promises Psal. 119.49. Remember the Word unto thy Servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. God is not unrighteous to forget, yet we must as his Remembrancers put his Promises in suit. 6. By the Word is sometimes meant those Holy Prophecies which are scattered up and down in the Scriptures, Jude 14. The word thus considered occasioned one Baldusgar a famous Minister in Germany to say, veniat, veniat verbum Domini & submittemus illi sexcenta, si nobis essent colla. Let the Word of the Lord come, let it come (saith he) we will submit to it if we had many hundred Necks to put under it. The Design of the worthy Author in this little piece, is to win and work the Reader, to submit to the Word, to be guided by the Word, to prize the Word, to lay up the Word, and to live out the Word in a conve…sation becoming the Gospel. The Jewish Rabbins were wont to say, that upon every letter of the Law there hangs Mountains of profitable matter. I am sure in the following discourse thou wilt find even Mountains of Heavenly matter, hanging upon all the main particulars that this blessed Author offers to thy serious consideration in this smal Treatise. Here you have Homers Iliads in a Nutshell, much choice matter in a little Room. It is said of Caesar, major fuit cura Caesari libellorum quam purpurae. He had greater care of his Books, than of his Royal Robes; for swimming through the waters to escape his Enemies, he carried his Books in his hand above the Waters, but lost his Robes. But what are Caesars Books to God's Books, or to this little Book that is now put into thy hand. Surely the Word of the Lord is very sweet to all those gracious Souls who make Conscience of trembling at it.Psal. 19.10. Ps. 119.103. Job 23.12. Cant. 2.3. Sacrae Scripturae tua sunt Sanctae delitiae meae, August. Dolphins they say love Musick so do gracious Souls love the Musick of the Word Luther said he could not live in Paradise if he might, without the Word, (at cum Verbo etiam in inferno facile est vivere) but with the Word he could live in Hell it self. The Philosopher gave thanks that he was born in the time of true Philosophy; ah how happy are we that are born in such a time wherein the Lord doth effundere Spiritum, pour forth his Spirit, not by drops, as in the time of the Law; but showers down of his Gifts and Graces; as was most evident in the Author of this following Piece, not only the Day-Star, but the Sun of Righteousness was risen upon that people that had once the happiness to sit under the Authors Ministry: neither is it a small part of this Worlds happiness that they are blest with his most excellent Labours to this very day. One cannot say of any Divine thing that 'tis his own properly, till in his heart; I can say of a Bird, or of this, or that, 'tis my own when in my hand; but I cannot say God is mine, till in my heart, or that Christ is mine till in my heart, or that the Spirit is mine till in my heart, or that Grace is mine till in my heart, or that the Word is mine till in my heart. I have kept thy Word in my heart, Psal. 119.11.that I may not sin against Thee, saith David: and therefore, Reader, it highly concerns thee to get that Word into thy heart, that is here presented to thine eye; ah Christians your hearts are never in so good a Frame, so safe a Frame, so sweet a Frame, so happy a Frame, so Gospel a Frame, as when they are in a trembling Frame, and therefore make this little Piece your delightful Companion till your hearts are brought into such a blessed Frame, &c.
Obj. Dan. 5.5.6. Acts 24.24, 25. James 2.19.But may not Reprobates and Devils tremble at the Word? did not Belshazzar tremble at the hand-writing? did not Felix tremble at the Word Preached by Paul? and is it not said that the Devils believe and tremble?
Answ. Wicked Men and Devils may tremble at the Judgments denounced in the Word, but they tremble not at the offence committed against the Holy Commandements of God, as sincere Christians do; Ezra 10.3. Shecaniah said, we have trespassed against our God, let us make a Covenant with our God according to the Counsel of my Lord, and of those that tremble at the Commandements of God. The Commandements discovering their sin, they tremble who before were hardened in their practice of Marrying with the Canaanites; but we hear nothing, we find nothing of this in Belshazzar, or Felix, or the Devils. But—
Secondly, I answer, the wicked tremble, but never mend their ways. Pharaoh trembles, but never mends. Saul trembles, but never mends. Belshazzar trembles,Actr 9 4.5, 6. Acts 16.29, 30 but never mends. Felix trembles but never mends, and Devils tremble but never mend. But Paul trembles and crys out, Lord what wilt thou have me to do? And the Jaylor trembles and cries out; Sirs what must I do to be saved? But—
Thirdly the trembling of the wicked drives them further and further off from God, and off from Duty; as you see in Saul, who under his tremblings runs to a Witch; but gracious tremblings draw the Soul nearer and nearer to God, as you see in Jehosaphat who feared and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judah. 2 Chron. 23.3.2.The Saints under all their holy tremblings they follow after God, as the people followed after Saul's tremblings.1. Sam. 13.7. But—
Fourthly, the Godly tremble and mourn and tremble; their trembling hearts are broken hearts, and their broken hearts are trembling hearts,Isa. 66.2. Jer. 9.1, 2. Psal. 119.136. they look upon sin and tremble, and they look upon sin and mourn, Jer. 25.13.17. But if ye will not hear it, my Soul shall weep in secret places for your Pride, and mine eyes shall weep sore and run down with Tears, &c. The wicked tremble, but under all their tremblings their hearts are as dry and hard as Rocks, yea, harder than the very Rocks, Jer. 5.3. They made their Faces harder than a Rock, Ezek. 3.7, 8, 9. Jer. 7.26.they have refused to return. Pharaoh trembled but yet was hardened, the Devils tremble but yet are hardened. If one Penitent tear could purchase Heaven, Hell could not afford that one tear. Repenting tears are precious, they are, saith Gregory, the fat of the Sacrifice; and as Basil saith, the Medicine of the Soul; and as Bernard, the Wine of Angels. But these are only to be found among those choice Souls who make Conscience of trembling at God's Word, and who enjoy that choice tenderness of heart that is in this little Treatise drawn to the Life. Verily we cannot meet on this side Hell with a worse temper of Spirit than that which inclines a sinner to drop counterfeit tears, and to despise the forbearance of God, and to kick against the Bowels of his Goodness; as that prophane Arian did,Rom. 2.4. who was executed at Harwich concerning whom Mr. Greenham acquainteth us with this strange and prodigious Narration.Rom. 2.4. Mr. Greenham in his Treatise intituled a sweet comfort for an afflicted Conscience on Prov. 18.14. This Hellish Heretick saith he, (for so were the denier of Christ's Divinity accounted of in those days, what ever thoughts men have of them now) a little before he was executed, afforded a few whorish tears, asking whether be might be saved by Christ or no? when one told him that if he truly repented he should surely not perish; he breaks out into this speech, nay, if your Christ be so easie to be intreated indeed as you say, then I defie him and care not for him: O horrible Blasphemy, and desperate wickedness! for a Man to draw himself back from Repentance, by that very Cord of Love whereby he should have been drawn to it. But —
Fifthly, and Lastly, The hearts of wicked Men and Devils only tremble upon the account of punishment, and the judgment to come.Acts 24.25. Mat. 8.28, 29. As a Malefactor trembleth before the Judge, and under the sense of his doom; but a Child of God trembles under the sense of God's goodness and kindness to him, Hosea 3.7. And shall fear the Lord and his goodness, or as some sense it, they shall fear the Lord because of his goodness. The Hebrew is they shall fear to the Lord pavebunt ad Dominum, that is, trembling they shall make haste to him (as frighted Doves do to their Columbaries, see Hosea 11.11. God loves at once familiari… and fear.) Look as holy tremblings and gladness are consistent tog… ther, Psal. 2.11. and as a holy fear and joy are consistent together, as you see in those good Women who went from Christ's Sepulchre with fear and great joy, Mat. 28.8. a (strange composition of two contrary passions, but frequently found in the best hearts) so a holy love and trembling are consistent together. A Child whose heart is full of love to his Father, when he looks upon him as offended or grieved, he trembles; like that poor Woman Mark 5.33. who fearing that she had offended Christ in her approaching to him, came trembling, but yet with a heart full of love to Christ. So here when a Child of God fixes one eye upon the Holiness and Justice of God, he trembles: and when at the same time he fixes his other eye upon the Patience, the Goodness, the Graciousness and Readiness of God to forgive as a Father, he loves and joys; but now all the tremblings of the wicked are from apprehensions of Wrath to come, and from a hansel of Hell in their Consciences on this side Hell. These five things I thought to hint at, that the Reader may be the better able to grapple with the same Objection, when he meets with it in this little piece.
Yhe Dew of Heaven hath richly fallen among many,Judg 6.37, 38.39, 40. and yet like Gideons Fleece, they are dry when all the Regions about them are wet; and is it not so with many in these days, who sit under Gospel-droppings, & who have the labours, of many famous men put every day into their hands? and yet how are their Souls like the Mountains of Gilboa, 2. Sam. 1.21.upon which there fell neither De… nor Rain? this is and this must be for a Lamentation. If the Books of the Law chance to fall upon the Ground, the Jews custom is presently to proclaim a Fast; ah Friends, what cause have we to Fast and Mourn, when we see the Word preached, Printed, offerred, to fall upon the ground, and to be trampled upon as it is this day by Atheists, Papists, Socinians, and other vain Persons &c.? The Jews have a Law which enjoins them to take up any Paper which they see lying on the Ground; and the reason is, lest happily the Word of God be written in the Paper and ignorantly trodden under foot; though Christians ought to be free from such superstitious curiosities, yet they ought to be very careful that the least tittle of the Word, the least Truth revealed in the Word, be not trodden under foot either by themselves or others; considering its excellency and usefulness as a Guide, a Light to lead us through the Wilderness of this World to the Heavenly Canaan, Pro. 6.22. When thou goest it shall lead thee, when thou sleepest it shall keep thee, when thou awakest it shall talk with thee. That is (according to the gloss of the Rabbinical Interpreters) when thou goest it shall lead thee, viz. in thy passage through this World, when thou sleepest it shall keep thee, viz. when thou lyest down in the Grave, and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee, viz. when thou art awakened at the glorious Resurrection; but that I may not make the porch too large, I shall hasten to a Close. There are three sorts of persons above all others that I would seriously recommend this Treatise to.
First, those that do tremble at the Word, and those that have soft and tender hearts; for these will find choice comforts, special encouragements, and singular supports to cheer and bear up their hearts in their greatest Trials, inward or outward, or in the worst of times.
Secondly, Those that are bold sinners, secure sinners, stupid sinners, insensible sinners; for these will find variety of Arguments, to awaken them, to startle them, to soften them, and to work them into a trembling Frame, and a tender Frame, with singular directions and Counsel how to obtain those spiritual Frames which are infinitely more worth than all those Crowns and Kingdoms that Men are this day contending for in Blood.
Thirdly, Those that are under many fears, and doubts, and disputes in their own hearts, whether they do tremble at this Word or no, and whether they have a tender Heart or no; for I dare venture to say that such persons will find in this Treatise, those blessed Truths that will (by a blessing from on high) scatter their fears, resolve their doubts, and put a happy issue to all their disputes.
Reader, when thou hast once seriously read over this little Treatise, I can't but judge, that thou wilt readily conclude with me viz. That the two special points here handled, viz. our tremblings at God's Word, & a tender heart are, 1. Two great & weighty points. 2. Two very noble and necessary points, which all should labour to know and understand, who would be blessed here and, happy hereafter. 3. Two seasonable and suitable points to the days and times wherein we live, which abound with all sorts of sins, and which are attended with the sorest of spiritual Judgments, such as blindness, hardness, insensibleness. 4. Two important points, that have singular other points wrapt up in the Womb of them, and that are dependent upon them. 5. Two points that are not every day handled in the Pulpit, nor sent unto the Press.
Reader, the importunity of a worthy Friend, hath prevailed with me to give thee the trouble of reading this Epistle. And now I shall conclude with a few words of Counsel. 1. Let him that casts his eye upon this Book, not borrow it but buy it. 2. Seriously read it. 3. Highly prize it. 4. Earnestly pray over it. 5. Endeavour to have his heart and life made conformable to the matter contained in it. 6. To lay it up among his choicest Treasure; and 7. When he is in the Mount, to remember him who unfeignedly and earnestly desires that this little piece may be highly blest to the Writer, Reader, and Hearer; and so I shall take leave and rest,
Thy real Friend and Souls Servant, Thomas Brooks.