Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

4. Fear and reverence of God in himself, and in his actions, is a duty incumbent on us from this Doctrine. Jer. 10.7. Who would not fear thee, O King of Nations! The ingratitude of the World is taxed, in not reverencing God as a great King, who had given so many marks of his Royal Government among them. The Prophet wonders, there was no fear of so great a King in the World; Since among all the wise men of the Nations, and among all their Kings, there is none like unto this; No more reverence of him, since none ruled so wisely, nor any ruled so graciously. The dominion of God is one of the first sparks, that gives fire to Religion and Worship, considered with the goodness of this Sovereign. Psal. 22.27.28. All the Nations shall worship before thee, for the Kingdom is the Lord's, and he is Governor among the Nations. Epicurus, who thought God careless of humane affairs, leaving th•• at hap-hazard to the conduct of mens wisdom, and mutability of fortune, yet acknowledged, that God ought to be worshipped by man for the excellency of his nature, and greatness of his Majesty. How should we reverence that God, that hath a Throne encompassed with such Glorious Creatures as Angels, whose faces we are not able to behold though shadowed in assumed bodies! How should we fear the Lord of Hosts, that hath so many Armies at his command in the Heavens above, and in the Earth below, whom he can dispose to the exact obedience of his will; how should men be afraid to censure any of his actions, to sit judge of their Judge, and call him to an account to their Bar; How should such an earth-worm, a mean animal as man, be afraid to speak irreverently of so great a King among his pots and Strumpets! Not to fear him, not to reverence him, is to pull his Throne from under him, and make him of a lower Authority than our selves, or any creature that we reverence more.

4. Fear and reverence of God in himself, and in his actions, is a duty incumbent on us from this Doctrine. Jer. 10.7. Who would not fear thee, O King of Nations! The ingratitude of the World is taxt, in not reverencing God as a great King, who had given so many marks of his Royal Government among them. The Prophet wonders, there was no fear of so great a King in the World; Since among all the wise men of the Nations, and among all their Kings, there is none like unto this; No more reverence of him, since none ruled so wisely, nor any ruled so graciously. The dominion of God is one of the first sparks, that gives fire to Religion and Worship, consider'd with the goodness of this Soveraign.