A30211:41
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.
God tells us that his name is dreadful, and that he is pleased to see men be afraid before his name. Yea one reason why he executeth so many judgments upon men as he doth, is that others might see, and fear his name. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the West, and his glory from the rising of the Sun. See Mal. 4.2. Rev. 11.18. Mal. 1.4. chap. 2.5. Isa. 59.18, 19.
The name of a King, is a name of fear: And I am a great King, saith the Lord of Hosts. The name of Master is a name of fear: And if I be a Master, where is my fear, saith the Lord? Yea rightly to fear the Lord, is a sign of a gracious heart. And again, To them that fear my name, saith he, shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; yea when Christ comes to Judge the world. He will give reward to his Servants the Prophets, and to his Saints, and to them that fear his name, small and great.
Now I say, Since the name of God, is that by which his nature is expressed, and since ⟨p. 15⟩he naturally is so glorious and incomprehensible, his name must needs be the object of our fear, and we ought always to have a reverent awe of God upon our hearts at what time soever we think of, or hear his name; but most of all, when we our selves do take his holy and fearful name into our mouths, especially in a religious manner, that is, in preaching, praying, or holy conference. I do not by thus saying intend, as if it was lawful to make mention of his name in light and vain discourses; for we ought always to speak of it with reverence and godly fear, but I speak it to put Christians in mind that they should not in religious duties, show lightness of mind, or be vain in their words when yet they are making mention of the name of the Lord, And let every one that nameth the name of our Lord Jesus Christ depart from iniquity,