The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

Another sure badge of this true fear is, that it will make one depart from evil, it will not make him only confess & say, indeed it is naught, and it is my fault and my nature, and I would I could leave it, but it will work a separation betwixt sin and the soul, so that it will depart from evil, what danger so ever seem to ensue upon it, and he will not be allured by any reward to commit sin. In what measure the fear of God hath seasoned the hart, in the same measure it will work this departing from sin: as we see it plainly proved by the example of the three children. The case stood thus with them, that either they must bow to the filthy idol which was before them, or burn in that flaming furnace, which was prepared for him that would not; either they must purchase and procure the wrath of God, or suffer the wrath & displeasure of Nebuchadnezzar, but having the fear of God within them, it gave them courage and boldness, that they feared not Nebuchadnezzar's threatening and power, but stood resolute for the cause of God, and showed the King plainly that they would not dishonour God, to please him, or for his anger; if god would they knew that he could deliver them, if he would not yet this they let him know, that they would not incur Gods anger, and danger of everlasting death, for fear of any bodily death. But on the contrary side, so far as any man hath not the fear of God, but fears man more then God, then they will upon every occasion run to evil, as if one be in some fault, that he thinks he shall be punished for it, then he will help himself by lying, and thinks that he hath made a very ⟨p. 25⟩good shift, if he can escape by that means, this is now to make man a god, and god an Idol, when one will seek to make the face of man mild and gentle, by making gods face angry & frowning. So those that when they be in distress and in some need by poverty, will venture to help themselves by breaking gods sabbath, & taking time from his worship to labour for their own gain: this is plain, that they fear the fear of the wicked, and do not make God their dread, for if they did, it is most sure, they would depart from evil. So he that feareth god, no hope of promotion or outward benefit can make him consent to wickedness;

Another sure badge of this true feare is, that it will make one depart from euill, it will not make him onely confesse & say, indeede it is naught, and it is my fault and my nature, and I would I could leaue it, but it will worke a seperation beetwixt sinne and the soule, so that it will depart from euill, what danger so euer seeme to ensue vpon it, and he will not be alured by any reward to commit sinne. In what measure the feare of God hath seasoned the hart, in the same measure it will worke this departing from sinne: as we see it plainely proued by the example of the three children. The case stoode thus with them, that either they must bow to the filthie idoll which was before them, or burne in that flaming fornace, which was prepared for him that would not; either they must purchase and procure the wrath of God, or suffer the wrath & displeasure of Nabuchadnezer, but hauing the feare of God within them, it gaue them courage and boldnesse, that they feared not Nabuchadnezers threatning and power, but stoode resolute for the cause of God, and shewed the King plainely that they would not dishonor God, to please him, or for his anger; if god would they knew that he could deliuer them, if he would not yet this they let him know, that they would not incurre Gods anger, and danger of euerlasting death, for feare of any bodily death. But on the contrary side, so farre as any man hath not the feare of God, but feares man more then God, then they will vpon euery occasion runne to euill, as if one be in some fault, that he thinkes he shall be punished for it, then he will help himselfe by lying, and thinkes that he hath made a very