A30211:405
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.
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 ⟨p. 126⟩afraid and jealous of your selves, and of your own naughty hearts, also fear least at some time or other the Devil your adversary should have advantage of you. FEAR, lest by forgetting what you are by nature; you also forget the need that you have of continual pardon, support, and supplies from the Spirit of Grace, and so grow proud of your own abilities or of what you have received of God, and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. FEAR, and that will make you little in your own eyes, keep you humble, put you upon crying to God for protection, and upon lying at his foot for mercy; that will also make you have low thoughts of your own parts, your own doings, and cause you to prefer your Brother before your self, and so you will walk in humiliation, and be continually under the teachings of God, and under his conduct in your way. The humble God will teach. The meek will he guide in judgment, the meek will he teach his way.
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,