A30211:570
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.
5. Another motive is, This is the way to be wise indeed. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil. It doth not say a wise man hath the grace of fear, but a wise man feareth, that is purreth this grace into exercise. There is no greater sign of wisdom then to grow in this blessed grace. Is it not a sign of wisdom to depart from sins, which are the snares of Death and Hell? Is it not a sign of wisdom for a man, yet more and more to endeavour to interest himself in the love and protection of God? Is it not a high point of wisdom for a man to be always doing of that which lays him under the conduct of Angels? surely this ⟨p. 186⟩is wisdom. And if it be a blessing to have this fear, is it not wisdom to increase in it? doubtless it is the highest point of wisdom, as I have showed before, therefore grow therein.
5. Another motive is, This is the way to be wise indeed. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil. It doth not say a wise man hath the grace of fear, but a wise man feareth, that is pureth this grace into exercise. There is no greater signe of wisdom then to grow in this blessed grace. Is it not a signe of wisdom to depart from sins, which are the snares of Death and Hell? Is it not a signe of wisdom for a man, yet more and more to indeavour to intrest himself in the love and protection of God? Is it not a high point of wisdom for a man to be alwaies doing of that which laies him under the conduct of Angels? surely this ⟨p. 186⟩is wisdom. And if it be a blessing to have this fear, is it not wisdom to increase in it? doubtless it is the highest point of wisdom, as I have shewed before, therefore grow therein.
6. Another motive may be this. It is seemly for Saints to fear, and increase in this fear of God.