An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

What it is to fear God, was showed largely at the 28th Chapter of this Book and the last Verse,¹ therefore I shall not stay upon it hear: Only remember the word signifieth, a gracious, a child-like fear, not a servile slavish fear. There are two words, by which the fear of God is expressed in the Latin tongue, which we may express thus, to fear God, or, to be afraid of God. Good men fear God, but wicked men are afraid of God. Now though the words are often used promiscuously, and to fear, is sometimes taken in the worser, sometimes in the better sense, yet, here we are to take it in the best sense, Therefore do men fear him, that is, they ought to stand in awe and not sin against him, they should submit to, not dispute his dealings. The fear of God, in the general notion of it, is nothing else, but Piety and Religion, or the whole worship of God. To say a man is godly or religious, is all one as to say, he is a man fearing God. Now, whereas usually a general rule is urged to lead in a general practise, here a general practise is urged as leading to a general rule. Men do therefore fear him.

What it is to fear God, was shewed largely at the 28th Chapter of this Book and the last Verse,¹ therefore I shall not stay upon it hear: Only remember the word signifieth, a gracious, a child-like fear, not a servile flavish fear. There are two words, by which the fear of God is expressed in the Latine tongue, which we may expresse thus, to fear God, or, to be afraid of God. Good men fear God, but wicked men are afraid of God. Now though the words are often used promiscuously, and to fear, is sometimes taken in the worser, sometimes in the better sence, yet, here we are to take it in the best sence, Therefore do men fear him, that is, they ought to stand in awe and not sin against him, they should submit to, not dispute his dealings. The fear of God, in the general notion of it, is nothing else, but Piety and Religion, or the whole worship of God. To say a man is godly or religious, is all one as to say, he is a man fearing God. Now, whereas usually a general rule is urged to lead in a general practise, here a general practise is urged as leading to a general rule. Men do therefore fear him.

1. 1Deum vereri, Deum timere. Proprieveretur Deum pius, timet superstitiosus. Tamen hanc differentiam interpretes non observant; nam passim timere usurpant pro vereri. Drus.