1. There is in Fear a doubtfulness and uncertainty of the Event; 1and this is a Torment, when a Man is wrecked in Suspense and Doubt what to expect,2 whether or no the Vengeance of God will not fall heavy upon him, whether or no he be not Fuel on which this consuming Fire will for ever prey. Now this is not that Fear to which the Apostle in this Text exhorts us to serve God withal; no, to Serve God with Reverence and godly Fear, is not to serve him with a doubtful, anxious and solicitous Fear of what the Event may prove; nay, such a Fear as this is, is inconsistent with actual Assurance, and those who are perplexed with it cannot say we have a Kingdom, nor cannot fear their God as a consuming Fire. There may be a genuine, awful Fear of God as a consuming Fire, where there is not the least doubt remaining concerning our final State, where the Soul is fully assured that God will be to him not a Fire to consume him, but a Sun to cherish him for ever. I will give you one ⟨p. 244⟩or two remarkable Scriptures to this purpose.3 In Heb. 4.1. Let us fear, says the Apostle, lest a Promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Here the Apostle quickens them to the exercise of Holiness, from the fear of falling short of Heaven; yea, though they had assurance by Gods Promise of it; lest a Promise being left us of entering into his Rest, yet you should fall short of it. And so the Apostle triumphs in his Assurance,4 in 2 Cor. 5.1. We know that we have an House eternal in the Heavens; and yet in Verse 11. he quickens himself to the discharge of his Ministerial Office, from the Fear of Gods Wrath, Knowing the Terrors of the Lord we persuade Men. Though he was assured of Glory, yet he quickens himself to the discharge of his Ministerial Function, by the Fear of Gods Wrath. So that it is evident there may be a Fear of Gods Wrath exciting unto Duty, where yet there is a full Assurance beyond all doubting and hesitation of escaping Wrath. So that this is not that Fear that the Apostle excites them that have assurance unto.
1. There is in Fear a doubtfulness and uncertainiy of the Event; 1and this is a Torment, when a Man is wrackt in Suspense and Doubt what to expect,2 whether or no the Vengeance of God will not fall heavy upon him, whether or no he be not Fuel on which this consuming Fire will for ever prey. Now this is not that Fear to which the Apostle in this Text exhorts us to serve God withal; no, to Serve God with Reverence and godly Fear, is not to serve him with a doubtful, anxious and solicitous Fear of what the Event may prove; nay, such a Fear as this is, is inconsistent with actual Assurance, and those who are perplexed with it cannot say we have a Kingdom, nor cannot fear their God as a consuming Fire. There may be a genuine, awful Fear of God as a consuming Fire, where there is not the least doubt remaining concerning our final State, where the Soul is fully assured that God will be to him not a Fire to consume him, but a Sun to cherish him for ever. I will give you one ⟨p. 244⟩or two remarkable Scriptures to this purpose.3 In Heb. 4.1. Let us fear, says the Apostle, lest a Promise being left us of entring into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Here the Apostle quickens them to the exercise of Holiness, from the fear of falling short of Heaven; yea, though they had assurance by Gods Promise of it; lest a Promise being left us of entring into his Rest, yet you should fall short of it. And so the Apostle triumphs in his Assurance,4 in 2 Cor. 5.1. We know that we have an House eternal in the Heavens; and yet in Verse 11. he quickens himself to the discharge of his Ministerial Office, from the Fear of Gods Wrath, Knowing the Terrors of the Lord we persuade Men. Though he was assured of Glory, yet he quickens himself to the discharge of his Ministeral Function, by the Fear of Gods Wrath. So that it is evident there may be a Fear of Gods Wrath exciting unto Duty, where yet there is a full Assurance beyond all doubting and hesitation of escaping Wrath. So that this is not that Fear that the Apostle excites them that have assurance unto.
- 1Three things in Fear.
- 21. A doubtfulness of the Event.
- 3Heb. 4.1.
- 42 Cor. 5.1.
