A30211:404
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
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.
Now I know it, NOW, now thou hast offered up thine only Isaac, thine All, at the bidding of thy God. Now I know it. The fear of God is not presently discerned in the heart and life of a man. Abraham had long before this, done many a holy duty, and showed much willingness of heart to observe and do the Will of God; yet you find not, as I remember, that he had this testimony from Heaven that he feared God till now: but now he has it, now he has it from Heaven. Now I know that thou fearest God. Many duties may be done (though I do not say that Abraham did them) without the fear of God; but when a man shall not stick at, or withhold his darling from ⟨p. 125⟩God, when called upon by God to offer in up unto him, that declareth, yea, and gives conviction to Angels, that NOW he feareth God.
Now I know it, NOW, now thou hast offered up thine only Isaac, thine All, at the bidding of thy God. Now I know it. The fear of God is not presently discerned in the heart and life of a man. Abraham had long before this, done many a holy duty, and shewed much willingness of heart to observe and do the Will of God; yet you find not, as I remember, that he had this testimony from Heaven that he feared God till now: but now he has it, now he has it from Heaven. Now I know that thou fearest God. Many duties may be done (though I do not say that Abraham did them) without the fear of God; but when a man shall not stick at, or withhold his darling from ⟨p. 125⟩God, when called upon by God to offer in up unto him, that declareth, yea, and gives conviction to Angels, that NOW he feareth God.
Tenthly. There floweth from this godly fear, humility of mind. This is evident, because, when the Apostle cautions the Romans against the venom of Spiritual Pride, he directs them to the exercise of this blessed grace of fear as its antidote. Be not high minded, saith he, but fear, Rom. 11.20. Pride, Spiritual Pride, which is here set forth by the word, high minded, is a sin of a very high and damnable nature, it was the sin of the fallen Angels, and is that which causeth men to fall into the same condemnation, Left being puffed up with Pride, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil. Pride, I say, it damns a Professor with the damnation of Devils, with the damnation of Hell, and therefore it is a deadly, deadly sin. Now against this deadly sin, is set the Grace of humility, that comely garment, for so the Apostle calls it saying, be clothed with humility. But the question is now, how we should attain to, and live in the exercise of this Blessed and comely grace? to which the Apostle answers, FEAR: be afraid with godly fear; and thence will flow humility. Be not high minded but fear. That is fear, or be continually