Now the affections may be considered either in regard of good or evil: in regard of good, and that either present which breedeth joy; or future, and to come, whence flows desire: for desire is of some good, not present, but to come. Secondly, I say, the affections may be considered in regard of evil, and that likewise either as present, which breeds sorrow, or to come whence flows abomination, or an affection, by which we fly and shun this evil. Again, if a man apprehends the good which is to come, as possible, though hard to be obtained, this breedeth hope. And so if the evil be apprehended as future, and hard to be shunned, it worketh fear. And this was Pauls fear, he apprehended affliction, as coming, and hard to be avoided; the Judge as terrible, and that there was no way to escape, and therefore he trembled. He was in a great perplexity and fear, after that the Lord had shown unto him a glimpse of his dreadful power. Whence we may see, That nothing will so much deject a sinner, as when he sees the fearful power of God. When 1there is a crevice opened unto him, whereby he who is a sinner sees into the holiness and the purity of God, and the vileness of his own nature, hence he fears; and therefore it was that Adam feared, when he heard but the voice of God in 2the Garden: and the Israelites could not endure the presence of God, because that it was terrible ⟨p. 181⟩unto them. For they conceived as the Scripture speaketh, That no man could see God and live: that is, see him according to the excellent greatness of his power, and majesty, but it would utterly overwhelm them, so that there should no longer life remain in them; whence was their fear.
Now the affections may bee considered either in regard of good or evill: in regard of good, and that either present which breedeth joy; or future, and to come, whence flowes desire: for desire is of some good, not present, but to come. Secondly, I say, the affections may bee considered in regard of evill, and that likewise either as present, which breeds sorrow, or to come whence flowes abomination, or an affection, by which wee flye and shunne this evill. Againe, if a man apprehends the good which is to come, as possible, though hard to be obtained, this breedeth hope. And so if the evill be apprehended as future, and hard to be shunned, it worketh feare. And this was Pauls feare, he apprehended affliction, as comming, and hard to be avoided; the Iudge as terrible, and that there was no way to escape, and therefore hee trembled. He was in a great perplexity and feare, after that the Lord had showne unto him a glimpse of his dreadfull power. Whence wee may see, That nothing will so much deject a sinner, as when hee sees the fearefull power of God. When 1there is a crevis opened unto him, whereby hee who is a sinner sees into the holinesse and the purity of God, and the vilenesse of his owne nature, hence hee feares; and therefore it was that Adam feared, when he heard but the voyce of God in 2the Garden: and the Israelites could not indure the presence of God, because that it was terrible ⟨p. 181⟩unto them. For they conceived as the Scripture speaketh, That no man could see God and live: that is, see him according to the excellent greatnesse of his power, and majesty, but it would utterly overwhelme them, so that there should no longer life remaine in them; whence was their feare.
- 1Observation.
- 2Gen. 3. 10.
