4. That men may be driven to this external service by a principle of fear. There is a two fold fear mentioned in the word of God, one proceeds from the Spirit of Adoption, the other from a spirit of bondage: the former of these is a filial fear, and properly belongs to the Children of God; and is so essential to new obedience, that all Religion i• ⟨p. 483⟩frequently called by it; and it is proper to that love we owe to God, in as much as he is infinitely above us, and the genuine love of an inferior to a superior, involves a fear in it, viz. a reverential respect, which makes us keep our distance, and to be very cautious of doing ought that may displease, thus Jacob called God the fear of his father Isaac, Gen 31.53. The other fear ariseth from a servile Spirit, under which all men, in their natural state, are in bondage: and though the Children of men do generally suppress it, yet God, when he pleaseth, toucheth the Conscience, and awakens it, and then terrors seize it, and the man is horribly afraid of the wrath of God. And because, in this conviction, he is made to know that his sins have exposed him to this wrath, and assured him that if he live in them, they will bring him to destruction, it rouseth him up, and sets him on doing duty, and abstaining from sin: but he doth not do this, because he loveth obedience, and hate•• sin, but because his Conscience terrifieth him, & he dareth do no otherwise, and how many such instances are in Scripture? Hence that remark, Psal 78 34.
4. That men may be driven to this external service by a principle of fear. There is a two fold fear mentioned in the word of God, one proceeds from the Spirit of Adoption, the other from a spirit of bondage: the former of these is a filial fear, and properly belongs to the Children of God; and is so essential to new obedience, that all Religion i• ⟨p. 483⟩frequently called by it; and it is proper to that love we owe to God, in as much as he is infinitely above us, and the genuine love of an inferiour to a superiour, involves a fear in it, viz. a reverential respect, which makes us keep our distance, and to be very cautious of doing ought that may displease, thus Jacob called God the fear of his father Isaac, Gen 31.53. The other fear ariseth from a servile Spirit, under which all men, in their natural state, are in bondage: and though the Children of men do generally suppress it, yet God, when he pleaseth, toucheth the Conscience, and awakens it, and then terrours sieze it, and the man is horribly afraid of the wrath of God. And because, in this conviction, he is made to know that his sins have exposed him to this wrath, and assured him that if he live in them, they will bring him to destruction, it rouseth him up, and sets him on doing duty, and abstaining from sin: but he doth not do this, because he loveth obedience, and hate•• sin, but because his Conscience terrifieth him, & he dareth do no otherwise, and how many such instances are in Scripture? Hence that remark, Psal 78 34.
