A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…

Doct. 3. True hearted love to God, casteth out all fear of evil from the hand of God.

Doct. 3. True hearted love to God, casteth out all feare of evill from the hand of God.

So that though at first the conscience of a young Christian be fearful of the wrath of God and judgement, yet as love grows, so fear is casting out; Perfect love casts out fear; he means not without imperfection; For we know but in part, and love but in part, but he speaks of love without hypocrisy and dissimulation; True-hearted love fears no evil from the hand of God. Now this love casts out fear: Not as soon as ever it comes into the soul, but by little and little, as a man that goes to cleanse a pit, he cannot do it presently, but he is casting it out till it be all cleansed: Fear is a deep pit, compared to the sinking into deep mire; now love comes to cast out this fear, but it's not done the first hour, but by little and little it will get rid of all fear: it doth not cast out the fear of God, for the more we love him, the more we fear him; but it casts out all tormenting fear, it casts out the fear of the day of judgement, and so consequently of Gods wrath, 2 Thes. 3.5. He prays that the Lord would direct their hearts into the love of God; Why, what is the fruit of that? And into the patient waiting for of Christ; when a mans heart is once directed to the love of God, he is prepared to wait for the coming of Jesus Christ. Jude vers. 21. Keep your selves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. So much love as you keep in your hearts towards God, so much expectation you keep in your hearts against the day of his appearing; the like may be said of keeping our hearts in love to our brethren, Jam. 2.13. Mercy rejoiceth against judgement.

So that though at first the conscience of a young Christian be fearful of the wrath of God and judgement, yet as love grows, so feare is casting out; Perfect love casts out feare; he means not without imperfection; For we know but in part, and love but in part, but he speaks of love without hypocrisie and dissimulation; True-hearted love fears no evill from the hand of God. Now this love casts out feare: Not as soon as ever it comes into the soule, but by little and little, as a man that goes to cleanse a pit, he cannot do it presently, but he is casting it out till it be all cleansed: Fear is a deep pit, compared to the sinking into deep mire; now love comes to cast out this fear, but it's not done the first hour, but by little and little it will get rid of all fear: it doth not cast out the fear of God, for the more we love him, the more we fear him; but it casts out all tormenting fear, it casts out the fear of the day of judgement, and so consequently of Gods wrath,