Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…

It was fear that prevailed with Origen to yield so far as he did in offering incense to the Idol, the consideration of which fact brake his heart to pieces. It was nothing but fear that made David play the fool, and act so dishonourably as he did, I Sam. 21. 12. Fear is a snare in which Satan hath caught as many souls as in any other of his stratagems and toils whatsoever. It were easy to give instances, so many and so sad, as would enlarge this head even to tediousness, but I choose rather to come to the particulars wherein ⟨p. 54⟩the danger of this snare of the Devil consists. And,

It was fear that prevailed with Origen to yield so far as he did in offering incense to the Idol, the consideration of which fact brake his heart to pieces. It was nothing but fear that made David play the fool, and act so dishonourably as he did, I Sam. 21. 12. Fear is a snare in which Satan hath caught as many souls as in any other of his stratagems and toyls whatsoever. It were easy to give instances, so many and so sad, as would inlarge this head even to tediousness, but I chuse rather to come to the particulars wherein ⟨p. 54⟩the danger of this snare of the Devil consists. And,

1. Herein lies the ensnaring danger of sinful fear, that it drives men out of their proper station, out of their place and duty, beside which there is none to be found but what is Satan's ground. The subtle enemy of our salvation is aware that we are out of Gun shot, beyond his reach, whilst we abide with God in the way of our duty, that the Lord is with us, whilst we are with him, and there is no attempting our ruin under the wings of his protection. If ever therefore he meaneth to do any thing upon us, he must get us off that ground, and from under those wings, and there is nothing like fear to do this; then we are as the birds that are wandering from their nests,