A Golden Chain

Object. 5. Prov. 28. Blessed is the man that feareth always. Phil. 2. Work your salvation with fear and trembling. Ans. There is threefold fear, one of nature, the second of grace, the third of distrust. Fear of nature is that whereby the nature of man is troubled with any thing that is hurtful unto it, and therefore avoideth it. Fear of grace, is that excellent gift which is called the beginning of wisdom, and it is a certain awe or reverence unto God, in whose presence we do whatsoever we do. Fear of distrust is, when men tremble at the judgements of God for their sins, because they have no hope of mercy. Of these ⟨p. 879⟩three, the first was good by creation, & therefore it was in our Saviour Christ, but since the fall it is defective. The third is a vice called slavish fear. And the second is that which is commanded in these and the like places of Scripture; the intent whereof is to make us circumspect and fearful, least we should offend God by any sin, our own weakness considered, and the imminent judgements of God. And this kind of fear, as all the first, may stand with certainty of faith. Rom. 11. Thou standest by faith, be not high minded but fear. Psa. 2. Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in trembling.

Obiect. 5. Prov. 28. Blessed is the man that feareth alwaies. Phil. 2. Worke your saluation with feare and trembling. Ans. There is threefold feare, one of nature, the second of grace, the third of distrust. Feare of nature is that wherby the nature of man is troubled with any thing that is hurtfull vnto it, and therefore auoideth it. Feare of grace, is that excellent gift which is called the beginning of wisdome, and it is a certaine awe or reuerence vnto God, in whose presence we doe whatsoeuer wee doe. Feare of distrust is, when men tremble at the iudgements of God for their sinnes, because they haue no hope of mercie. Of these ⟨p. 879⟩