A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

Now the means of attaining unto this fear of God are divers. First, to consider and meditate of Gods nature and attributes, as of his omniscience, whereby he seeth all things, even the secret corners of our hearts; of his omnipotency, whereby he is able to reward us if we fear him, or punish us if we neglect him; of his Justice, whereby he impartially judgeth all men without respect of persons; of his truth, which never faileth in his promises or threatenings: But especially of his mercy and goodness towards us in Christ, which will inflame our hearts with his love, and out of this love cause us to fear his displeasure as the greatest evil; according to that of the Psalmist, There is mercy or forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. The second means, is the consideration of Gods Judgements ¹executed on the wicked, which are so many instructions unto us, to fear God and avoid his displeasure, that we be not partakers with them in their punishments. So the Psalmist saith, that the righteous seeing the destruction of the wicked, should fear God, and deride their folly; and the Apostle ²telleth us, that the former examples of Gods Judgements were written for ³our learning, that they might admonish us to take warning by their harms, lest we fall into the same evils. The third means, is the diligent reading and hearing of the Scriptures, which are called, The fear of God,