A30211:119
A treatise of the fear of God showing what it is, and how distinguished…A treatise of the fear of God shewing what it is, and how distinguished…
A treatise of the fear of God showing what it is, and how distinguished from that what is not so : also whence it comes, who has it, what are the effects, and what the privileges of those that have it in their hearts / by John Bunyan.A treatise of the fear of God shewing what it is, and how distinguished from that what is not so : also whence it comes, who has it, what are the effects, and what the priviledges of those that have it in their hearts / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for N. Ponder, 1679
Of several sorts of fear of God in the heart of the Children of men.
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.
This ungodly fear, is that also which Samuel perceived at the peoples apprehension of their sin, to begin to get hold of their hearts; wherefore he, as Moses before him, quickly forbids their entertaining of it. Fear not, said he, ye have done all this wickedness, yet turned aside from following the Lord. For to turn them aside from following of him, was the natural tendency of this fear. But fear not, said he, that is, with that fear that ⟨p. 41⟩tendeth to turn you aside. Now I say, the matter that this fear worketh upon (as in Adam, and the Israelites mentioned before) was their sin. You have sinned, says he, that's true, yet turn not aside, yet fear not with that fear that would make you so do, 1 Sam. 12.20. Note by the way sinner, that when the greatness of thy sins, being apprehended by thee, shall work in thee that fear of God, as shall incline thy heart to fly from him, thou art possessed with a fear of God that is ungodly, yea so ungodly, that not any of thy sins for heinousness way be compared therewith (as might be made manifest in many particulars) but Samuel having rebuked this fear, presently sets before the people another, to wit the true fear of God; fear the Lord, says he, serve him with all your hearts (ver. 24.) And he giveth them this encouragement so to do, for the Lord will not forsake his people.
This ungodly fear, is that also which Samuel perceived at the peoples apprehension of their sin, to begin to get hold of their hearts; wherefore he, as Moses before him, quickly forbids their entertaining of it. Fear not, said he, ye have done all this wickedness, yet turned aside from following the Lord. For to turn them aside from following of him, was the natural tendency of this fear. But fear not, said he, that is, with that fear that ⟨p. 41⟩tendeth to turn you aside. Now I say, the matter that this fear worketh upon (as in Adam, and the Israelites mentioned before) was their sin. You have sinned, saies he, that's true, yet turn not aside, yet fear not with that fear that would make you so do, 1 Sam. 12.20. Note by the way sinner, that when the greatness of thy sins, being apprehended by thee, shall work in thee that fear of God, as shall incline thy heart to fly from him, thou art possessed with a fear of God that is ungodly, yea so ungodly, that not any of thy sins for hainousness way be compared therewith (as might be made manifest in many particulars) but Samuel having rebuked this fear, presently sets before the people another, to wit the true fear of God; fear the Lord, saies he, serve him with all your hearts (ver. 24.) And he giveth them this incouragement so to do, for the Lord will not forsake his people.