A20559:117
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
we must then confess and see our own wants, and entreat God to supply the same, to put his fear in our harts, especially since he hath promised this to all his elect; and in his covenant hath said, that he will put his fear in their harts that they may fear him. And he hath bestowed it also upon others of his children; as on David, for he saith that he did fear and tremble before the judgements of God: and if we ask it God according to his own covenant, and according to his former dealing with other of his children, will ⟨p. 23⟩bestow it upon us.
wee must then confesse and see our owne wants, and intreate God to supply the same, to put his feare in our harts, especially since hee hath promised this to all his elect; and in his couenant hath said, that he will put his feare in their harts that they may feare him. And he hath bestowed it also vpon others of his children; as on Dauid, for hee saith that he did feare and tremble before the iudgements of God: and if we aske it God according to his owne couenant, and according to his former dealing with other of his children, will ⟨p. 23⟩bestow it vpon vs.
The last means to obtain this holy fear of God, is often to think and meditate upon Gods fearful judgements, which he hath executed upon sinners, for this will breed in our harts a sense & awe of his Majesty: as to think that God did not spare the Angels, being more excellent creatures, and far exceeding us in glory and strength, but when they forsook their place that their creator had set them in, & rebelled against him, he cast them into hell, into extreme & miserable torments; & keeps them fast linked and tied in chains of darkness, for a wonderful great addition of pain, for all their sins at the last day. So upon the old world, when they forsook God, and the law of God, and grew to be earthly minded, and to set their harts altogether on the world, not regarding God nor religion. In this general apostasy and departing from God, he sent a general flood, which did overwhelm and drown them all, so that they could not escape his hand of justice. So on Sodom and Gomorrah, when they grew filthy & profane, and were full of idleness, and abusing the good benefits of God, he rained fire & brimstone from heaven upon them, and devoured them all. And in all times, what city, or particular person, or country did grow sinful & stubborn against him, he grew terrible and showed himself terrible, by his fearful vengeance and plagues upon them. Thus the often meditation and diligent pondering on Gods threatenings and curses, and the most certain & fearful execution of them upon impenitent persons, will soften our harts, & draw them more & more to stand in fear of this great God. And if we will thus deny our selves, and our fleshly reason, and pray unto God for his fear, and labour to kindle his fear in our harts, by calling to remembrance his fearfulness, and just, and terrible vengeance upon those that have not feared him: this will at length bring our profane harts, to some dread and reverence of Gods holy Majesty.