Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

Answ. 1. Herein is implied, an holy fear of God; Hence in Eph. 6.5. Servants are bid to be obedient to their Masters with fear and trembling; And in Col. 3.22. Servants are bid to be obedient to their Masters, fearing God. That which in one place is expressed by fear and trembling, is in the other place called fearing God. Thus also, 2 Cor. 7.1. Perfect holiness in the fear of God. There the Apostle doth exhort the Corinthians unto the same duty, which here he exhorteth the Philippians unto: To perfect holiness in the fear of God, and to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling, are the same thing. I say, an holy fear of God, namely, lest he should be dishonoured, as the Lord speaketh by the Prophet Malachi, If I he a Lord, where is my fear? and if I be a Father, where is my honour? Mal. 1.6 This is indeed the true fear of God, when a man is afraid lest Gods name should any way suffer dishonour by him; and when a man is afraid of losing Gods favour, and dreads the displeasure of God as the greatest evil. This is necessarily implied here in working out Salvation, because Salvation stands in the favour of God. Therefore it is three times expressed in Psalm 80. Cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved, vers. 3.2, 19. So then Salvation consists in the shinings of ⟨p. 235⟩the face of God, that is to say, in his favour. And to be cast out of his favour, implieth everlasting destruction. It is said concerning Reprobates, that they shall be punished from the presence of the Lord with everlasting destruction, 2 Thes. 1.9. So that to be excluded Gods gracious presence, doth infer everlasting destruction; therefore to work out Salvation with fear, doth imply an holy fear of losing the favour of God.