A30211:674
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.
I come now to a use of encouragement to those that are blessed with this grace of fear. The last text that was mentioned, saith, Happy is the man that feareth alway, (and so doth many more.) Happy already, because blessed with this grace, and happy for time to come, because this grace shall abide, and continue till the soul that hath it is brought unto the mansion house of glory. I will put my fear in their ⟨p. 219⟩heart, and they shall not depart from me. Therefore, as here is saith, Happy IS he, so it saith also, It SHALL go well with him, that is, in time to come. It SHALL go well with them that fear the Lord, Eccles. 8.12. Had God given thee all the world, yet cursed hadst thou been, if he had not given thee the fear of the Lord: for the fashion of this world is a fading thing, but he that feareth the Lord shall abide for ever and ever.
This therefore is the first thing that I would propound for thy encouragement (thou man that fearest the Lord.)
This grace will dwell in thy heart, for it is a new covenant grace and will abide with thee forever. It is sent to thee from God, not only to join thy heart unto him; but to keep thee from final apostasy; I will put my fear in their heart, and they shall not depart from me, (Jer. 32.) That thou mayest never forsake God, is his design, and therefore to keep thee from that wicked thing, he hath put his fear in thy heart.
This grace will dwell in thy heart, for it is a new covenant grace and will abide with thee forever. It is sent to thee from God, not only to joyn thy heart unto him; but to keep thee from final apostacy; I will put my fear in their heart, and they shall not depart from me, (