Classic Audiobook Collection - A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan ~ Full Audiobook [religion]

Starting point is 00:00:00 Section 1 of A Treatise of the Fear of God A treatise of the Fear of God, showing what it is and how distinguished from that which is not so. Also whence it comes, who has it, what are the effects and what the privileges of those that have it in their hearts? London, printed for Inn Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks Market, 1679. Advertisement by the editor,

Starting point is 00:00:26 The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom and a Fountain of Life, the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates, upon a principle so vastly important all the subtle malignity of Satan has been directed, if possible to mislead the very elect, while the ungodly and impenitent fall under his devices. To the mind enlightened by divine truth, the difference between a filial fear of offending God and the dread of punishment is very plain. Still, by the devil's sophistry, some of the most pious Christians have been puzzled and bewildered. Bunyan was not ignorant of Satan's devices, and he has roused the energies of his powerful mind,

Starting point is 00:01:05 guided by divine truth to render this important doctrine so clear and easy to be understood that the believer may not err. This rare volume, first published in 1679, soon became so scarce that Chandler, Wilson, Whitfield, and others omitted it from their editions of Bunyan's works. At length it appeared in the more complete collection by Ryland and Mason about 1780, since then it has been reprinted, somewhat modernized by the Tract Society from an original copy discovered by that ardent lover of Bunyan, the Reverend Joseph Belcher. Of this edition, 4,000 copies have been printed.

Starting point is 00:01:42 The great line of distinction that Bunyan draws is between that terror and dread of God as the infinitely holy one before whom all sin must incur the intensity of punishment, and the love of God as the father of mercies and fountain of blessedness, in the gift of his son, and a sense of adoption into the same. to his family, by the influences of which the soul fears to offend him. This fear is purely evangelical, for if the slightest dependence is placed upon any supposed good works of our own, the filial fear of God is swallowed up in dread and terror, for salvation depends upon the perfection of holiness, without which none can enter heaven, and which can only be found in Christ.

Starting point is 00:02:20 Mr. Mason on reading this treatise thus expressed his feelings. When the fear of the Lord is a permanent principle, in wrought in the soul by the divine spirit, it is an undoubted token of election to life eternal, for the most precious promises are made to God's fears, even the blessings of the everlasting covenant. Such are sure to be protected from every enemy, to be guided by unerring counsel, and what will crown all to the beloved of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, till by Almighty and effectual grace he will be translated to those mansions of glory and blessedness prepared for him, where he will sing the praises of his covenant God while eternity endures. May this be the blessed experience of all those who prayerfully read this important treatise.

Starting point is 00:03:05 A treatise on the fear of God. Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord, Psalm 128 verse 1, Fear God, Revelation 14 verse 7. This exhortation is not only found here in the text, but is in several other places of the scripture pressed, and that with much vehemency upon the children. of men, as in Ecclesiastes 12 verse 13, 1 Peter 1, verse 17, etc. I shall not trouble you with a long preamble or forespeech to the matter, nor shall I hear so much as meddle with the context, but shall immediately fall upon the words themselves, and briefly treat of the fear of God.

Starting point is 00:03:41 The text, you see, presenteth us with matter of greatest moment, to wit with God and with the fear of him. First, they present us with God, the true and living God, maker of the worlds, and upholding and upholder of all things by the word of his power, that incomprehensible majesty, in comparison of whom all nations are less than the drop of a bucket, and than the small dust of the balance. This is he that fills heaven and earth, and is everywhere present with the children of men, beholding the evil and the good, for he hath set his eyes upon all their ways, so that, considering that by the text we have presented to our souls the Lord God and Maker

Starting point is 00:04:19 of us all, who also will be either our saviour or judge, We are in reason and duty bound to give the more earnest heed to the things that shall be spoken, and be the more careful to receive them and put them in practice, for, as I said, as they present us with the mighty God, so they exhort us to the highest duty towards him, to it to fear him. I call it the highest duty, because it is, as I may call it, not only a duty in itself, but as it were the salt that seasoneth every duty, for there is no duty performed by us that can by any means be accepted of God, if it be not seasoned. with godly fear, wherefore the Apostle saith, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God

Starting point is 00:04:58 acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. Of this fear I say, I would discourse at this time, but because this word fear is variously taken in the scripture, and because it may be profitable to us to see it in its variety, I shall therefore choose this method for the managing of my discourse, even to show you the nature of the word in its several, especially of the chiefest acceptations. First then, by this word fear, we are to understand even God himself, who is the object of our fear. Second, by this word fear, we are to understand the word of God, the rule and director of our fear. Now to speak to this word fear as it is thus taken.

Starting point is 00:05:35 This word fear is taken for God himself. First, of this word fear as it respecteth God himself who is the object of our fear. By this word fear, as I said, we are to understand God himself who is the object of our fear. For the divine majesty goeth often under this very name himself. This name Jacob called him by, when he and Laban chid together on Mount Gilead. After that, Jacob had made his escape to his father's house. Except, said he, the god of my father, the god of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac had been with me.

Starting point is 00:06:07 Surely thou had sent me away now empty. So again, a little after, when Jacob and Laban agreed to make a covenant of peace, each with other, though Laban, after the jumbling way of the heathen by his oath, puts the true God and the false together, yet Jacob swore by the war by the covenant, the fear of his father Isaac, Genesis 31, verses 42 and 53. By the fear, that is, by the God of his father Isaac. And indeed, God may well be called the fear of his people, not only because they have, by his grace, made him the object of their fear,

Starting point is 00:06:37 but because of the dread and terrible majesty that is in him. He is a mighty God, a great and terrible, and with God is terrible majesty. Daniel 7 verse 28, chapter 10, verse 17, Nehemiah 1 verse 5, chapter 4 verse 14, chapter 9 verse 32, Job 37 verse 22. Who knows the power of his anger? The mountains quake at him, the hills melt and the earth is burnt at his presence, yea, the world and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation, who can abide in the fierceness of his anger?

Starting point is 00:07:10 His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him, Neum 1 v. 5 and 6. His people know him and have his dread upon them, by virtue whereof there is begot and maintained in them that godly awe and reverence of His Majesty, which is agreeable to their profession of him. Let him be your fear and let him be your dread. Set His Majesty before the eyes of your souls, and let His Excellency make you afraid with godly fear, Isaiah 8 verse 13.

Starting point is 00:07:38 There are these things that make God to be the fear of his people. First, His presence is dreadful, and that, not only his presence in common, but his special, yea, his most comfortable and joyous presence. When God comes to bring a sole news of mercy and salvation, even that visit, that presence of God is fearful. When Jacob went from Bersheba towards Haran, he met with God in the way by a dream, in the which he apprehended a ladder set upon the earth, whose top reached to heaven. Now in this dream, from the top of this ladder, he saw the Lord, and heard him speak unto him, not threateningly, not as having his fury come up in

Starting point is 00:08:16 into his face, but, in the most sweet and gracious manner, saluting him with promise of goodness after promise of goodness, to the number of eight or nine, as will appear, if you read the place. Yet, I say, when he awoke, all the grace that discovered itself in this heavenly vision to him could not keep him from dread and fear of God's majesty. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep and said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. And he was afraid and said, how dreadful is this place? This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of the gate of the place.

Starting point is 00:08:45 and this is the gate of heaven. Genesis 28, verse 10 to 17. At another time to it, when Jacob had that memorable visit from God, in which he gave him power as a prince to prevail with him, yea, and gave him a name that by his remembering it, he might call God's favor the better to his mind, yet even then and there such dread of the majesty of God was upon him that he went away wondering that his life was preserved,

Starting point is 00:09:10 Genesis 32 verse 30. man crumbles to dust at the presence of God, yea, though he shows himself to us in his robes of salvation. We have read how dreadful and how terrible even the presence of angels have been unto men, and that when they have brought them good tidings from heaven, Judges 13, verse 22, Matthew 28, verse 4, Mark 16, verses 5 and 6. Now, if angels which are but creatures are, through the glory that God has put upon them, so fearful and terrible in their appearances to men, how much more dreadful and terrible must God himself be to us who are but dust and ashes. When Daniel had the vision of his salvation sent him from heaven, for so it was. O Daniel, said the messenger, a man greatly beloved,

Starting point is 00:09:54 yet behold, the dread and terror of the person speaking fell with that weight upon this good man's soul that he could not stand nor bear up under it. He stood trembling and cries out, O my lord, by the vision, my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength, for how can the servant of this, my lord, talk with this, my lord, for, as for me, straight away, there remained no strength in me, Daniel 10, verses 16 and 17. See you hear if the presence of God is not a dreadful and a fearful thing, yea, his most gracious and merciful appearances, how much more then, when he showeth himself to us as one that disliketh our ways,

Starting point is 00:10:33 as one that is offended with us for our sins? And there are three things that, in an eminent manner, make his presence dreadful to us. One, the first is God's own greatness and majesty. The discovery of this, or of himself thus, even as no poor mortals are able to conceive of him, is altogether unsupportable. The man dies to whom he thus discovers himself.

Starting point is 00:10:55 And when I saw him, says John, I fell at his feet as dead. Revelation 1 verse 17. It was this, therefore, that Job would have avoided in the day that he would have approached unto him. Let not thy dread, says, he make me afraid, then call thou and I will answer, or let me speak, and answer thou me. Job 13, verses 21 and 22.

Starting point is 00:11:17 But why doth Job, after this manner thus speak to God? Why, it was from a sense that he had of the dreadful majesty of God, even the great and dreadful God that keepeth covenant with his people. The presence of a king is dreadful to the subject, yea, though he carries it never so condescendingly. If then there be so much glory and dread in the presence of the king, what fear and Dread must there be, think you, in the presence of the eternal God? 2.

Starting point is 00:11:43 When God giveth his presence to his people, that his presence causeth them to appear to themselves more what they are than at other times, by all other light, they can see. O my lord, said Daniel, by the vision, my sorrows are turned upon me. And why was that, but because of the glory of that vision, he saw his own vileness more than at other times. So again, I was left alone, says he, and saw this great vision, and what follows? Why, there remained no strength in me, for my comeliness was turned into corruption, and I retained no strength. Daniel 10 v. 8 and 16. By the presence of God, when we have it indeed, even our best things,

Starting point is 00:12:21 our comeliness, our sanctity and righteousness, all do immediately turn to corruption and polluted rags. The brightness of his glory dims them as the clear light at the shining sun puts out the glory of the fire or candle, and covers them with the shadow of death. See also the truth of this, in that vision of the prophet Isaiah. Woe is me, said he, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. Why, what is the matter? How came the prophet by this sight?

Starting point is 00:12:52 Why, says he, mine eyes have seen the king, the lord of hosts, Isaiah 6 verse 5. But do you think that this outcry was caused by unbelief? No, nor yet begotten by slavish fear. This was to him the vision of his saviour, with whom also he had communion before, verses two to five. It was the glory of that God with whom he had now to do, that turned, as was noted before of Daniel, his comeliness in him into corruption, and that gave him yet greater sense of the disproportion that was betwixt his God and him, and so a greater sight of his defiled and polluted nature. Three, and to this the revelation of God's goodness, and it must needs make his

Starting point is 00:13:31 presence dreadful to us, for when a poor, defiled creature shall see that this great God hath, notwithstanding his greatness, goodness in his heart, and mercy to bestow upon him. This makes his presence yet the more dreadful. They shall fear the Lord and his goodness, Josea 3 verse 5. The goodness, as well as the greatness of God, doth beget in the heart of his elect, an awful reverence of his majesty. Fear ye not me, saith the Lord, will ye not tremble at my presence? And then, to engage us in our soul to the duty, he adds,

Starting point is 00:14:01 one of his wonderful mercies to the world for a motive. Fear ye not me? Why, who are thou? He answers, even I, which have set or placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree that it cannot pass it, and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail, though they roar, yet can they not pass over it. Jeremiah 5, verse 22. Also, in Job and God present with him, making manifest the goodness of his great heart to him, What doth he say? How doth he behave himself in his presence? I have heard of thee, says he, by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee, wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.

Starting point is 00:14:43 Job 42 v. 5 and 6. And what mean the tremblings, the tears, those breakings and shakings of heart that attend the people of God, when in an eminent manner they receive the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sins at his mouth, but that the dread of the majesty of God is in their sight mixed therewith. God must appear like himself, speak to the soul like himself, nor can the sinner, when under these glorious discoveries of his Lord and Savior, keep out the beams of his majesty from the eyes of his understanding. I will cleanse them, saith he, from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me,

Starting point is 00:15:17 and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. And what then? They shall fear and tremble for all the goodness, and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it, Jeremiah 33 versus 8 and 9. Alas, there is a company of poor, light, frothy professors in the world that carry

Starting point is 00:15:36 it under that which they call the presence of God, more like to antics than sober, sensible Christians, yea more like to a fool of a play than those that have the presence of God. They would not carry it so in the presence of a king, nor yet of the lord of their land, were they

Starting point is 00:15:52 about receivers of mercy at his hand. They carry it even in their most eminent seasons, as if the sense and sight of God and his blessed grace to their souls in Christ, had a tendency in them to make men wanton, but indeed it is the most humbling and heartbreaking sight in the world. It is fearful. Objection, but would you not have us rejoice at the sight and sense of the forgiveness of our sins? Answer, yes, but yet I would have you, and indeed you shall, when God shall tell you that your sins are pardoned indeed, rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2 verse 11, for then you have solid and, and

Starting point is 00:16:28 godly joy, a joyful heart and wet eyes, in this will stand very well together, and it will be so more or less, for if God shall come to you indeed, and visit you with the forgiveness of sins, that visit removeth the guilt, but increaseth the sense of thy filth, and the sense of this that God hath forgiven a filthy sinner will make thee both rejoice and tremble. O the blessed confusion that will then cover thy face, whilst thou, even thou, so vile a wretch, shall stand before God to receive at his hand thy pardon, and so the first-fruits of thy eternal salvation. That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of

Starting point is 00:17:06 thy shame, thy filth, when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God, Ezekiel 16, verse 63. But, second, as the presence so the name of God is dreadful and fearful, wherefore his name doth rightly go under the same title. that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, the Lord thy God, Deuteron Me 28 verse 58. The name of God, what is that, but that by which he is distinguished and known from all others? Names are to distinguish by, so man is distinguished from beasts and angels from men, so heaven from earth and darkness from light, especially when by the name the nature of the thing is signified and expressed,

Starting point is 00:17:47 and so it was in their original, for their names express the nature of the things so named. And therefore it is that the name of God is the object of our fear, because by his name his nature is expressed. Holy and reverend is his name, Psalm 111, verse 9. And again he proclaims the name of the Lord. The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, Exodus 34 v. 6 and 7. Also his name, I am, Yah, Dehova, with several others, what is by them intended, but his nature, as his power, wisdom, eternity, goodness and omnipotency, etc, might be expressed and declared. The name of God is therefore the object of a Christian's fear.

Starting point is 00:18:39 David prayed to God that he would unite his heart to fear his name, Psalm 86 verse 11. Indeed, the name of God is a fearful name and should always be reverenced by his people. yea his name is to be feared for ever and ever, and that not only in his church and among his saints, but even in the world and among the heathen. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord and all kings thy glory, Psalm 102 verse 15. God tells us that his name is dreadful, and that he is pleased to see men be afraid before his name. Yea, one reason why he executeth so many judgments upon men as he doth, is that others might see and fear his name. So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west and his glory from the rising of the sun.

Starting point is 00:19:21 Isaiah 59, verse 19, Malachi 2, verse 5. The name of a king is a name of fear. And I am a great king, saith the Lord of hosts, Malachi 1 verse 14. The name of master is a name of fear. And if I be a master, where is my fear, saith the Lord, verse 6. Yea, rightly, to fear the Lord is a sign of a gracious heart. And again, to you that fear my name, saith he, shall thee, shall thee say, son of righteousness arrives with healing in his wings, Malachi 4 verse 2.

Starting point is 00:19:50 Yea, when Christ comes to judge the world, he will give reward to his servants, the prophets, and to his saints, and to them that fear his name small and great. Revelation 11 verse 18. Now I say, since the name of God is that by which his nature is expressed, and since he naturally is so glorious and incomprehensible, his name must needs be the object of our fear, and we ought always to have a reverent awe of God upon our hearts at what time soever we think of, or hear his name, but most of all, when we ourselves do take his holy and fearful name into our mouths, especially in a religious manner that is in preaching,

Starting point is 00:20:26 praying, or holy conference. I do not, by thus saying intend, as if it was lawful to make mention of his name in light and vain discourses, for we ought always to speak of it with reverence and godly fear, but I speak it to put Christians in mind that they should not in religious duties show lightness of mind or be vain in their words, when yet they are making mention of the name of the Lord, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. To Timothy 2 verse 19. Make mention then of the name of the Lord at all times, with great dread of His Majesty upon our hearts, and in great soberness and truth.

Starting point is 00:21:02 To do otherwise is to profane the name of the Lord and to take his name in vain, and the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Yea, God saith that He will cut off the man that dotheth his name in vain. Ye, God saith that he will cut off the man that dothet, so jealous is he of the honour due unto his name. Exodus 20 verse 7, Leviticus 20 verse 3. This therefore showeth you the dreadful state of those that lightly, vainly, lyingly, and profanely make use of the name, this fearful name of God, either by their blasphemous cursing and oaths, or by their fraudulent dealing with their neighbour. For some men have no way to prevail with their neighbour, to bow under a cheat, but by calling falsely upon the name of the Lord

Starting point is 00:21:38 to be witness that the wickedness is good and honest. But how, how much the way to be the way to these men will escape when they shall be judged, devouring fire and everlasting burnings for their profaning and blaspheming the name of the Lord becomes them the times to consider of. Jeremiah 14, verses 14 and 15, Ezekiel 20 verse 39, Exodus 20 verse 7. But third, as the presence and name of God are dreadful and fearful in the church, so is his worship and service. I say his worship or the works of service to which we are by him enjoined while we are in this world, and dreadful and fearful things. This David conceiveth when he saith, but as for me, I will come

Starting point is 00:22:17 into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy temple. Psalm 5 verse 7, and again saith he, serve the Lord with fear. To praise God is a part of his worship. But, says Moses, who is a god like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15 verse 11. To rejoice before him is a part of his worship, but David, bids us rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2 verse 11. Yea, the whole of our service to God, and every part thereof, ought to be done by us with reverence and godly fear, and therefore let us, as Paul saith again, cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Starting point is 00:22:58 2 Corinthians 7 verse 1, Hebrews 12. 1. That which makes the worship of God so fearful a thing is, for that it is the worship of God, All manner of service carries more or less dread and fear along with it, according as the quality or condition of the person is, to whom the worship and service is done. This is seen in the service of subjects to their princes, the service of servants to their lords, and the service of children to their parents. Divine worship, then, being due to God, for it is now of divine worship we speak, and this God so great and dreadful in himself and name, his worship must therefore be a fearful thing.

Starting point is 00:23:35 2. Besides, this glorious majesty is himself present to betoken his worshippers in their worshipping him. When two or three of you are gathered together in my name, I am there, that is gathered together to worship him. I am there, says he, and so again he is said to walk in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, Revelation 1 verse 13, that is in the churches, and that with a countenance like the sun, with a head and hair as white as snow, and with eyes like a flame of fire. This puts dread and fear into his service, and therefore his servants should serve him with fear.

Starting point is 00:24:10 3. Above all things, God is jealous of his worship and service. In all the ten words, he telleth us not anything of his being a jealous God, but in the second, which respecteth his worship, Exodus 20. Look to yourselves, therefore, both as to the matter and manner of your worship. For I the Lord thy God, says he, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children. This therefore doth also put dread and fear into the worship and service of God. 4. The judgments that sometimes God has executed upon men for their want of godly fear, while they have been in his worship and service put fear and dread upon his holy appointments. First, Nadab and Abaihu were burned to death with fire from heaven because they attempted

Starting point is 00:24:55 to offer false fire upon God's altar, and the reason rendered why they were so served was because God will be sanctified in them that come nigh him. Leviticus 1 verses 1 to 3. To sanctify his name is to let him be thy dread and thy fear, and to do nothing in his worship but what is well-pleasing to him. But because these men had not grace to do this, therefore they died before the Lord. Second, Eli's sons, for want of this fear, when they ministered in the holy worship of God, were both slain in one day by the sword of

Starting point is 00:25:25 the uncircumcised Philistines. See 1 Samuel 2. Third, Uza was smitten and died before the Lord, for but an unadvised touching of the Ark, when the men forsook it, one chronicles 13, verses 9 and 10. Fourth, Ananias and Zafara, his wife, for telling a lie in the church, when they were before God, were both stricken dead upon the place before them all, because they wanted the fear and dread of God's majesty, name, and service, when they came before him, Acts 5. This therefore should teach us to conclude that, next to God's nature and name, his soul,

Starting point is 00:26:00 service, his institute at worship is the most dreadful thing under heaven. His name is upon his ordinances, his eye is upon the worshippers and his wrath and judgment upon those that worship not in his fear. For this cause some of those at Corinth were by God himself cut off, and to others he has given the back and will again be with them no more. One Corinthians 11, verses 27 to 32. This also rebuketh three sorts of people. Three sorts of people rebuked, one, such as regard not to worship God at all. Be sure they have no reverie of his service, nor fear of His Majesty before their eyes. Sinner, thou dost not come before the Lord to worship him, thou dost not bow before the High God, thou neither worshipest him in thy closet nor in the

Starting point is 00:26:46 congregation of saints. The fury of the Lord and his indignation must in short time be poured out upon thee, and upon the families that call not upon his name. Psalm 79 verse 6, Jeremiah 10 verse 25. 2. This rebukes such as counted enough to present their body in the place where God is worshipped, not minding with what heart or with what spirit they come thither. Some come into the worship of God to sleep there, some come thither to meet with their chapmen, and to get into the wicked fellowship of their vain companions. Some come thither to feed their lustful and adulterous eyes with the flattering beauty of their fellow sinners. Oh, what a sad account will these worshippers give when they shall count for all this and be damned for it, because they come not to worship the

Starting point is 00:27:29 Lord with that fear of his name, that became them to come in, when they presented themselves before him. 3. This also rebukes those that care not. So they worship, how they worship? How, where, or after what manner they worship God? Those, I mean, whose fear towards God is taught by the precept of men. They are hypocrites.

Starting point is 00:27:50 They worship also is vain, and they stink in the nostrils of God. wherefore the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth And with their lips to honour me But have removed their heart far from me And their fear toward me Is taught by the precept of men

Starting point is 00:28:05 Therefore, behold, I will proceed To do a marvellous work among this people Even a marvellous work and a wonder For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Isaiah 29 Verse 13 and 14 Matthew 15

Starting point is 00:28:19 Verse 7 to 9 Mark 7 verses 6 and 7 thus I conclude this first thing, namely that God is called our dread and fear. End of Section 1. Section 2 of A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan, this Librevox recording is in the public domain. Of this word fear as it is taken for the word of God. I shall now come to the second thing to it, to the rule and director of our fear. Second, but again this word fear is sometimes to be taken for the word,

Starting point is 00:28:58 the written word of God, for that also is and ought to be the rule and director of our fear. So David calls it in the 19th Psalm, The fear of the Lord, saith he, is clean, enduring forever. The fear of the Lord, that is the word of the Lord, the written word, for that which he calleth in this place the fear of the Lord, even in the same place, he calleth the law, statutes, commandments, and judgments of God. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple, the statute, of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes, the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the judgments of the Lord are true and

Starting point is 00:29:38 righteous altogether. All these words have respect to the same thing to it, to the word of God, jointly designing the glory of it, among which phrases, as you see, this is one, the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. This written word is therefore the object of a Christian's fear. this is that also which David intended when he said Come ye children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord Psalm 34 verse 11 I will teach you the fear that is I will teach you

Starting point is 00:30:06 the commandments statutes and judgments of the Lord even as Moses commanded the children of Israel thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up Deuteron me 6 verses 4 to 6 that also in the eleventh of Isaiah intends the same when the father saith of the son that he shall be of

Starting point is 00:30:31 quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, that he may judge and smite the earth with the rod of his mouth. This rod in the text is none other but the fear, the word of the Lord, for he wants to be of a quick understanding that he might smite, that is executed according to the will of his father upon and among the children of men. Now this, as I said, is called the fear of the Lord because it is called the rule and director of our fear, for we know not how to fear the Lord in a saving way without its guidance and direction. As it is said of the priest that was sent back from the captivity to Sumeria to teach the people to fear the Lord, so it is said concerning the written word, it is given to us and left among us that we may read therein

Starting point is 00:31:13 all the days of our life and learn to fear the Lord. Deuteronomy 6 verses 1 to 3, verse 24, chapter 10 verse 12 chapter 17 verse 19 and here it is that trembling at the word of god is even by god himself not only taken notice of but counted as laudable and praiseworthy as is evident in the case of josiah two chronicles 34 verses 26 and 27 such also are the approved of god let them be condemned by whomsoever hear the word of the lord ye that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my name's sake said let the lord Lord be glorified, but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Isaiah 66, verse 5.

Starting point is 00:31:56 Further, such shall be looked to, by God himself cared for, and watched over, that no distress, temptation, or affliction may overcome them and destroy them. To this man will I look, saith God, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word. It is the same in substance with that in the same prophet in Chapter 57, for thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Starting point is 00:32:32 Yea, the way to escape dangers foretold is to hearken to, understand, and fear the word of God. He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses, and they were secured, but he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field, and they were destroyed in the hail, Exodus 9, verses 20 to 25. If at any time these sins of a nation or church are discovered and bewailed, it is by them that know and tremble at the word of God. When Ezra heard of the wickedness of his brethren and had a desire to humble himself before God for the same, who were they that would assist him in that matter, but they that trembled at the word of God? Then, saith he, were assembled unto me,

Starting point is 00:33:16 everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the transgression of those that had been carried away, Ezra 9 verse 4. They are such also that tremble at the word that are best able to give counsel in the matters of God, for their judgment best suiteth with his mind and will. Now therefore, said he, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these strange wives, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law. In verse three. Now something of the dread and terror of the word lieeth in these things. First, as I have already hinted, from the author of them, they are the words of God.

Starting point is 00:33:56 Therefore you have Moses and the prophets. When they came to deliver their errand, their message to the people, still saying, hear the word of the Lord, thus saith the Lord and the like. So when Ezekiel was sent to the House of Israel in their state of religion, thus he was bid to say unto them, thus saith the Lord God. thus saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 2 verse 4 and 3 verse 11. This is the honour and majesty then that God

Starting point is 00:34:22 hath put upon his written word, and thus he hath done even of purpose, that we might make them the rule and directory of our fear, and that we might stand in awe of and tremble at them. When Habakkuk heard the word of the Lord, his belly trembled and rottenness entered into his bones. I trembled in myself, said he, that I might rest in the day of trouble.

Starting point is 00:34:42 Habakkuk 3 verse 16 The word of a king is As the roaring of a lion Where the word of a king is, there is power What is it then When God, the great God, shall roar out of Zion And utter his voice from Jerusalem Whose voice shakes not only the earth

Starting point is 00:35:00 But also heaven, How doth Holy David set it forth The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is full of majesty, etc. Psalm 29 Second, it is a word that is fearful and may well be called the fear of the Lord because of the subject matter of it, to it the state of sinners in another world, for that is it, unto which the whole Bible bendeth itself,

Starting point is 00:35:22 either more immediately or more immediately. All its doctrines, counsels, encouragements, threatenings, and judgments have a look one way or another upon us with respect to the next world, which will be our last state because it will be to us a state eternal. This word, this law, these judgments, are they that we shall be disposed of, by. The word that I have spoken, says Christ, it shall judge you, and so consequently dispose of you in the last day. John 12, verse 48. Now, if we consider that our next date must be eternal, either eternal glory or eternal fire, and that this eternal glory or this eternal fire must be our portion according as the words of God, revealed in the Holy Scriptures, shall determine, who will not but

Starting point is 00:36:06 conclude that, therefore, the words of God are they at which we should tremble, and they by which we should have our fear of God directed and guided, for by them we are taught how to please him in everything. Third, it is to be called a fearful word because of the truth and faithfulness of it. The scriptures cannot be broken. Here they are called the scriptures of truth, the true sayings of God and also the fear of the Lord, for that every jot and tital thereof is forever settled in heaven, and stand more steadfast than doth the world. Heaven and earth saith Christ shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24 verse 35.

Starting point is 00:36:45 Those therefore that are favoured by the word of God, those are favoured indeed, and that with the favour that no man can turn away, but those that by the word of the scriptures are condemned, those can no man justify and set quit in the sight of God. Therefore, what is bound by the text is bound, and what is released by the text is released. Also the bond and release is unalterable. Daniel 10 verse 21, Revelation 19 verse 9. 24 verse 35, Psalm 119, verse 89, John 10 verse 35. This therefore calleth upon God's people to stand more in fear of the Word of God than of all the terrors of the world. They wanteth, even in the hearts of

Starting point is 00:37:24 God's people, a greater reverence to the Word of God than to this day appeareth among us, and this, let me say, that want of reverence of the Word is the ground of all this orders that are in the heart, life, conversation, and in Christian communion. Besides, the want of reverence in the word, layeth men open to the fearful this pleasure of God. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed, but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. Proverbs 13 verse 13. All transgression begineth at wandering from the word of God, but on the other side, David saith concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Starting point is 00:38:05 Psalm 17 verse 4. Therefore Solomon saith, My son, attend to my word. incline thine ear unto my sayings, let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thine heart, for they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4 verses 20 to 22.

Starting point is 00:38:24 Now, if indeed thou wouldst reverence the word of the Lord and make it thy rule and director in all things, believe that the word is the fear of the Lord, the word that standeth fast forever, without and against which God will do nothing, either in saving or damning of the souls of sinners. But to conclude this, one, know that those who have no due regard to the word of the Lord, and that make it not their dread and their fear, but the rule of their life is the lust of their flesh,

Starting point is 00:38:52 the desire of their eyes and the pride of life, are sorely rebuked by this doctrine and are counter the fools of the world, for lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them, Jeremiah 8.9. that there are such a people is evident not only by their irregular lives but by the manifold testimony of the word. As for the word of the Lord, said they to Jeremiah, that thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee, but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, Jeremiah 44 verse 16. Was this only the temper of wicked men then? Is not the same spirit of rebellion amongst us in our days? Doubtless there is, for their

Starting point is 00:39:34 is no new thing, the thing that hath been, it is that which shall be, and that which is done is that which shall be done, and there is no new thing under the sun, Ecclesiastes 1 verse 9. Therefore, as it was then, so it is with many in this day. As for the word of the Lord, it is nothing at all to them, their lusts and whatsoever proceedeth out of their own mouths, that they will do, that they will follow. Now, such will certainly perish in their own rebellion, for the This is as the sin of witchcraft. It was the sin of Cora and his company,

Starting point is 00:40:08 and that which brought upon them such heavy judgments. Yea, and they are made a sign that thou shouldst not do as they, for they perished, because they rejected the word, the fear of the Lord, from among the congregation of the Lord, and they became a sign. The word which thou despisest still abidest to denounce its woe and judgment upon thee, and unless God will save such with a breath of his word, and it is hard trusting to that, they must never see his face with comfort.

Starting point is 00:40:35 1 Samuel 15, verses 22 and 23, Numbers 26, verses 9 and 10. 2. Are the words of God called by the name of the fear of the Lord? Are they so dreadful in their receipt and sentence? Then this rebukes them that esteem the words and things of men more than the words of God, as those do who are drawn from their respect of and obedience to the word of God

Starting point is 00:40:58 by the pleasures or threats of men. Some there be, who verily will acknowledge the authority of the word, yet will not stoop their souls thereto. Such, whatever they think of themselves, are judged by Christ to be ashamed of the word, wherefore their state is damnable as the other. Whosoever, saith he, shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of the Father, with the Holy Angels. Mark 8 verse 38 3. And if these things be so, what will become of those that mock at and professedly contem

Starting point is 00:41:34 the words of God, making them as a thing ridiculous and not to be regarded? Shall they prosper that do such things? From the promises it is concluded that their judgment now of a long time slumbereth not, and when it comes it will devour them without remedy. 2 Chronicles 36 verse 15. If God, I say, hath put that reverence upon his word, as to quote, at the fear of the Lord, what will become of them that do what they can to overthrow its authority by denying it to be his word and by raising cavils against its authority.

Starting point is 00:42:07 Such stumble indeed at the word being appointed thereunto, but it shall judge them in the last day, one Peter 2 verse 8, John 12 verse 48. But thus much for this. End of Section 2. Section 3 of A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan. Librovoc's recording is in the public domain. Of several sorts of fear of God in the heart of the children of men. Having thus spoken of the object and rule of our fear, I should come now to speak of fear as it is a grace of the spirit of God in the hearts of his people, but before I do that,

Starting point is 00:42:48 I shall show you that there are diverse sorts of fear besides. For man being a reasonable creature, and having even by nature a certain knowledge of God, hath also naturally something of the kind of fear of God at all times, which, although it be not that which is intended in the text, yet ought to be spoken to, that that which is not right may be distinguished from that that is. There is, I say, several sorts or kinds of fear in the hearts of the sons of men. I mean, besides that fear of God that is intended in the text, and that accompanies eternal life. I shall here make mention of three of them. First, there is a fear of God that flows even from the light of nature.

Starting point is 00:43:27 Second, there is a fear of God that flows from some of his dispensations to men, which yet is neither universal nor saving. Third, there is a fear of God in the heart of some men that is good and godly, but doth not forever abide so. To speak a little to all these, before I come to speak of fear as it is a grace of God in the hearts of his children, and first, to the first to it, that there is a fear of God that flows even from the light of nature. A people may be said to do things in a fear of God when they act one towards another in things

Starting point is 00:44:00 reasonable and honest betwixt man and man, not doing that to others they would not have done to themselves. This is that fear of God which Abraham thought the Philistines had destroyed in themselves. When he said of his wife to Abimelech, she is my sister. For when Abimelech asked Abraham, why he said of his wife, she is my sister, he replied, saying, I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place and they will slay me for my wife's sake, Genesis 20 verse 11. I thought verily that in this place men had stifled and choked that light of nature that is in them, at least so far forth as not to suffer it to put them

Starting point is 00:44:36 in fear when their lusts were powerful in them to accomplish their ends on the object that was present before them. But this I will pass by and come to the second thing, namely, second, to show that there is a fear of God that flows from some of his dispensations to men which yet is neither universal nor saving. This fear, when opposed to that which is saving, may be called an ungodly fear of God. I shall describe it by these several particulars that follow. First, there is a fear of God that causeth a continual grudging, discontent, and heart-risings against God under the hand of God, and that is when the dread of God in His coming upon men to deal with them for their sins is apprehended by them, and yet by this dispensation they

Starting point is 00:45:18 have no change of heart to submit to God thereunder. The sinners under this dispensation cannot shake God out of their mind, nor yet graciously tremble before him, but through the unsanctified frame that they now are in, they are afraid with ungodly fear, and so in their minds let fly against him. This fear oftentimes took hold of the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness in their journey to the promised land.

Starting point is 00:45:42 Still they feared that God in this place would destroy them, but not with that fear that made them willing to submit, for their sins to the judgment which they fear, but with that fear. that made them let fly against God. This fear showed itself in them, even at the beginning of their voyage, and was rebuked by Moses at the Red Sea,

Starting point is 00:46:00 but it was not there, nor yet at any other place so subdued, but that it would rise again in them at times to the dishonour of God, and the anew making of them guilty of sin before him, Exodus 14 versus 11 to 13, numbers 14 versus 1 to 9. This fear is that which God said

Starting point is 00:46:18 he would send before them in the day of Joshua, even a fear that should possess the inhabitants, of the land to it a fear that should arise for that faintness of heart, that they should be swallowed up of it, at their apprehending of Joshua in his approaches towards them to destroy them. I will send my fear before thee, and I will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. Exodus 23 verse 27. This day, says God, will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the

Starting point is 00:46:48 nations that are under the holy heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of the Deuteronomy 2 verse 25, chapter 11 verse 25. Now this fear is also, as you see here, called anguish and in another place and hornet, for it and the soul that falls upon it to greet each other as boys and bees do. The hornet puts men in fear, not so as to bring the heart into a sweet compliance with his terror, but so as to stir up the spirit into acts of opposition and resistance, yet with all they flee before it. I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, etc. Exodus 23, verse 28.

Starting point is 00:47:28 Now this fear, whether it be ruled by misapprehending of the judgments of God, as in the Israelites, or otherwise as in the Canaanites, yet ungodliness is the effect thereof, and therefore I call it an ungodly fear of God, for it stirreth up murmurings, discontents, and heart-risings against God, while he, with his dispensations, is dealing with them. Second, there is a fear of God that driveeth a man away from God. I speak not now of the atheist, nor of the pleasurable sinner, nor yet of these and that fear that I spoke of just now.

Starting point is 00:48:01 I speak now of such who, through a sense of sin and of God's justice, fly from him of a slavish, ungodly fear. This ungodly fear was that which possessed Adam's heart in the day that he did eat of the tree, concerning which the Lord had said unto him, in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. For then he was possessed with such a fear of God, as made him to seek to hide himself from his presence. I heard, said he, thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself, Genesis 3 verse 10. Minded, he had a fear of God, but it was not godly. It was not that he made him afterwards submit himself unto him, for that would have kept him

Starting point is 00:48:41 from not departing from him or else have brought him to him again, with bound, broken, and contrite spirit, but this fear, as the rest of his sin, managed his departing from his God and pursued him to provoke him, still so to do. By it, he kept himself from God, by it his whole man was carried away from him. I call it ungodly fear, because it begat in him ungodly apprehensions of his maker, because it confined Adam's conscience to the sense of justice only, and consequently to despair. The same fear also possessed the children of Israel when they heard the law delivered to them on Mount Sinai, as is evident, for it made them that they could neither abide his presence nor hear his word. It drove them back from the mountain.

Starting point is 00:49:24 It made them, saith the apostle, to the Hebrews, that they could not endure that which was commanded. Hebrews 12 verse 20. Wherefore this fear Moses rebukes, and forbids their giving way thereto. Fear not, said he, but had that fear been godly, he would have encouraged it, and not forbid and rebuke it as he did. Fear not, said he, for God is come to prove you. They thought otherwise, God, saith he, is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces. Therefore that fear that already had taken possession of them was not the fear of God, but a fear that was of Satan, of their own misjudging hearts, and so a fear that was ungodly.

Starting point is 00:50:02 Exodus 20 verses 18 to 20. Mark you, here is a fear and a fear, a fear forbidden, and a fear commended, a fear forbidden because it engendered their hearts to bondage and to ungodly thoughts of God and of His word, it made them that they could not desire to hear God speak to them any more, verses 19 to 21. Many also at this day are possessed with this ungodly fear, and you may know them by this, they cannot abide conviction for sin, and if at any time the word of the law by the preaching of the word comes near them, they will not abide that preacher, nor such kind of sermons anymore. they are, as they deem best at ease when furtherest off of God, and of the power of his word. The word preached brings God nearer to them than they desire he should come, because whenever

Starting point is 00:50:47 God comes near their sins by Him are manifest, and so is the judgment too that to them is due. Now these not having faith in the mercy of God through Christ, nor that grace that tendest to bring them to Him, they cannot but think of God amiss, and they are so thinking of Him makes them say unto him, depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways, Job 21 verse 14, wherefore their wrong thoughts of God beget in them this ungodly fear, and again this ungodly fear doth maintain in them the continuance of these wrong and unworthy thoughts of God, and therefore, through that devilish service wherewith they strengthen one another, the sinner, without a miracle of grace prevents him, is drowned in destruction and perdition.

Starting point is 00:51:30 It was this ungodly fear of God that carried Cain from the presence of God, into the land of Nod, and that put him there upon any carnal worldly business, if perhaps he might, by so doing, stifle convictions of the majesty and justice of God against sin, and so live the rest of his vain life in the more sinful security and fleshly ease. This ungodly fear is that also which Samuel perceived at the people's apprehension of their sin, to begin to get hold of their hearts, wherefore he, as Moses before him, quickly forbids their entertaining of it, fear not, said he, He have done all this wickedness, yet turn not aside from following the Lord, for to turn them aside from following of them was the natural tendency of this fear.

Starting point is 00:52:13 But fear not, said he, that is, with that fear that tendeth to turn you aside. Now I say the matter that this fear worketh upon, as in Adam the Israelites mentioned before, was their sin. You have sinned, says he, that is true, yet turn not aside, yet fear not with that fear that would make you so do one Samuel 12 verse 20 note by the way sinner that when the greatness of thy sins being apprehended by thee shall work in thee that fear of God as shall incline thy heart to fly from him thou art possessed with a fear of God that is ungodly yea so ungodly that not any of thy sins for heinousness may be compared therewith as might be made manifest in many particulars

Starting point is 00:52:55 but Samuel having rebuked this fear presently sets before the people another to it the true fear of God. Fear the Lord, says he, serve him with all your heart, verse 24, and he giveth them this encouragement so to do, for the Lord will not forsake his people. This ungodly fear is that which you read of in Isaiah too, and in many other places, and God's people should shun it, as they would shun the devil, because its natural tendency as to ford the destruction of the soul in which it has taken possession. Third, there is a fear of God which, although it hath not in it, that power as to make men flee from God's presence, yet it is ungodly because, even while they are in the outward way of God's ordinances, their hearts are by it quite discouraged from attempting to

Starting point is 00:53:37 exercise themselves in the power of religion. Of this sort are they which dare not cast off the hearing, reading, and discourse of the word as others, no, nor the assembly of God's children for the exercise of other religious duties, for their conscience is convinced this is the way and worship of God. But yet their heart, as I said, by this ungodly fear is kept from a powerful gracious falling in with God. This fear takes away their heart from all holy and godly prayer in private, and from all holy and godly zeal for his name in public. And there may be professors whose hearts are possessed with this ungodly fear of God, and they are intended by the slothful one. He was a servant, a servant among the servants of God, and had gifts and abilities given him

Starting point is 00:54:20 therewith to serve Christ, as well as his fellows, yea, and was commanded to, as well as the rest, to occupy till his master came. But what does he? Why, he takes his talent, the gift that he was to lay out for his master's profit, and puts it in a napkin, digs a hole in the earth, and hides his lord's money, and lies in a lazy manner at two elbow all his days, not out of, but in his lord's vineyard, for he came among the servants also at last, by which it is manifest that he had not cast off his profession, but was slothful and negligent while he was in it. But what was it that made him thus slothful. What was it that took away his heart while he was in the way, and that discouraged him from falling in with the power and holy practice of religion, according to the talent he received?

Starting point is 00:55:06 Why, it was this, he gave way to an ungodly fear of God, and that took away his heart from the power of religious duties. Lord, said he, behold, here is thy pound which I have kept, laid up in a napkin, for I feared thee. Why, man, doth the fear of God make a man idle and slothful? No, no. That is, if it be right and godly. This fear was therefore evil fear. It was that ungodly fear of God, which I have here been speaking of, for I feared thee, or as Matthew Hathet, for I was afraid, afraid of what, of Christ, that he was an hard man, reaping where he sowed not, and gathering where he had not straught. This, his fear being ungodly, made him apprehend of Christ contrary to the goodness of his nature, and so took away his heart from all endeavours to be doing

Starting point is 00:55:54 of that which was pleasing in his sight, Luke 19 verse 20, Matthew 25, versus 24 and 25. And thus do all those that retain the name and show of religion, but are neglectors as to the power and godly practice of it. These will live like dogs and swine in the house. They pray not, they watch not their hearts, they pull not their hands out of their bosoms to work. They do not strive against their lusts, nor will they ever resist unto blood, striving against sin. They cannot take up their cross or improve what they have to. to God's glory. Let all men, therefore, take heed of this ungodly fear and shun it as they shun the devil, for it will make them afraid where no fear is. It will tell them that there is a

Starting point is 00:56:34 lion in the street, the unlikeliest place in the world for such a beast to be in. It will put a vizade upon the face of God, most dreadful and fearful to behold, and then quite discourage the soul as to his service. So it served thee slothful servant, and so it will serve thee, poor sinner, if thou entertainest it, and give us way there too. But, for Fourth, this ungodly fear of God shows itself also in this. It will not suffer the soul that is governed thereby to trust only to Christ for justification of life, but will bend the powers of the soul to trust partly to the works of the law. Many of the Jews were in the time of Christ and his apostles,

Starting point is 00:57:10 possessed with this ungodly fear of God, for they were not as the former to it, as the slothful servant, to receive a talent and hide it in the earth in a napkin. But they were an industrious people. They followed after the lure of righteousness, they had a zeal of God, and of the religion of their fathers, but how then did they come to miscarry? Why, their fear of God was ungodly, it would not suffer them wholly to trust to the righteousness of faith, which is the imputed righteousness of Christ. They followed after the lure of righteousness, but attained not to the law of righteousness. Wherefore, because they sought it

Starting point is 00:57:44 not by faith, but, as it were, by the works of the law. But what was it that made them join their works of the law with Christ but their unbelief, whose foundation was ignorance and fear. They were afraid to venture all in one bottom. They thought two strings to one bow would be best, and thus betwixt two stools they came to the ground, and hence to fear and doubt are put together as being the cause one of another, yea, they are put oft-times the one for the other, thus ungodly fear for unbelief. Be not afraid, only believe, and therefore he that is overruled and carried away with this fear, is coupled with the unbeliever that is thrust out from the holy city among the dogs. But the fearful and unbelievers and murderers are without. Revelation 21

Starting point is 00:58:28 verse 8, the fearful and unbelieving. You see, are put together, for indeed fear, that is this ungodly fear, is the ground of unbelief, or, if you will, unbelief is the ground of fear, this fear. But I stand not upon nice distinctions. This ungodly fear hath a great hand in keeping of the soul from trusting only to Christ's righteousness for justification of life. Fifth, this ungodly fear of God is that which will put men upon adding to the revealed will of God, their own inventions, and their own performances of them, as a means to pacify the anger of God. For the truth is, where this ungodly fear reigneth, there is no end of law and duty. When those that you read of in the book of kings were destroyed by the lions because they

Starting point is 00:59:10 had set up idolatry in the land of Israel, they sent for a priest from Babylon that might teach them the manner of the god of the land. But behold, when they knew it, being taught it by the priest, yet their fear would not suffer them to be content with that worship only. They feared the Lord, saith the text, and served their own gods. And again, so these nations feared the Lord and served their graven images, to King 17. It was this fear also that put the Pharisees upon inventing so many traditions as of the washing of cups, of beds, and tables and basins, with abundance of such other like gear. None knows that. the many dangers that an ungodly fear of God will drive a man into Mark 7. How has it racked

Starting point is 00:59:51 and tortured the papists for hundreds of years together? For what else is the cause of this ungodly fear, at least in the most simple and harmless of them, of their penances, as creeping to the cross, going barefoot on pilgrimage, whipping themselves, wearing of sackcloth, saying so many paternosters, so many Ave Maria's, making so many confessions to the priest, giving so much money for pardons and abundance of other the like, but this ungodly fear of God. For could they be brought to believe this doctrine that Christ was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification, and to apply it by faith with godly boldness to their own souls, this fear would vanish, and so consequently all those things with which they so needlessly

Starting point is 01:00:31 and unprofitably afflicted themselves, offend God and grieve his people? therefore, gentle reader, although my text doth bid that, indeed, thou shouldst fear God, yet it includeeth not, nor accepteth of any fear, no, not of any or every fear of God, for there is, as you see, a fear of God that is ungodly, and that is to be shunned as their sin, wherefore thy wisdom and thy care should be to see and prove thy fear to be godly, which shall be the next thing that I shall take in hand. Third, the third thing that I am to speak to is that there is a fear of God in the heart of some men that is good and godly, but yet doth not forever abide so. Or you may take it thus, there is a

Starting point is 01:01:14 fear of God that is godly but for a time. In my speaking to and opening of this to you, I shall observe this method. First, I shall show you what this fear is. Second, I shall show you by whom or what this fear is wrought in the heart. Third, I shall show you what this fear doth in the soul, and fourth I shall show you when this fear is to have an end. First, for the first, this fear is an effect of sound awakenings by the word of wrath, which begetteth in the soul ascends of its right to eternal damnation. For this fear is not in every sinner. He that is blinded by the devil, and that is not able to see that his state is damnable,

Starting point is 01:01:51 he hath not this fear in his heart, but he that is under the powerful workings of the word of wrath, as God's elect are at first conversion, He hath this godly fear in his heart, that is, he fears that that damnation will come upon him, which by the justice of God is due unto him, because he hath broken his holy law. This is the fear that made the 3,000 cry out, men and brethren, what shall we do? And that made the jailer cry out, and that with great trembling of soul, serves, what must I do to be saved? Acts 2 verse 16.

Starting point is 01:02:23 The method of God is to kill and make alive, to smite and then heal. when the commandment came to Paul, sin revived, and he died, and that law which was ordained to life he found to be unto death, that is, it passed a sentence of death upon him for his sins, and slew his conscience with that sentence. Therefore, from that time that he heard that word, why persecuteest thou me, which is all one, as if he had said, why dost thou commit murder? He lay under the sentence of condemnation by the law, and under this fear of that sentence in his conscience. He lay, I say, under it, until that Ananias came to him to comfort him, and to preach unto him the forgiveness of sin, Acts nine. The fear, therefore, that now I call godly, it is that fear which is properly called

Starting point is 01:03:06 the fear of eternal damnation for sin, and this fear at first awakening is good and godly, because it ariseth in the soul from a true sense of its very state. Its state by nature is damnable, because it is sinful, and because he is not one that as yet believeth in Christ for remission of sins. He that believeth not shall be damned. He that believeth not is condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on him. Mark 16, verse 16, John 3, verses 18, and 36. The witch, when the sinner at first begins to see, he justly fears it. I say, he fears it justly and therefore godly, because by this fear he subscribes to the

Starting point is 01:03:43 sentence that is gone out against him for sin. Second, by whom or by what is this fear wrought in the heart? To this I shall answer in brief. wrought in the heart by the spirit of God, working there at first as a spirit of bondage on purpose to put us in fear. This Paul insinuates, saying, ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear. Romans 8 verse 15. He doth not say, ye have not received the spirit of bondage, for that they had received, and that to put them in fear, which was at their first conversion, as by the instances made manifest of before is manifest. All that he says is that they had not

Starting point is 01:04:21 received it again, that is after the spirit, as a spirit of adoption is come, for then, as a spirit of bondage, it cometh no more. It is then the spirit of God, even the Holy Ghost, that convinces us of sin, and so of our damnable state because of sin, John 16, verses 8 and 9, for it cannot be that the spirit of God should convince us of sin, but it must also show us our state to be damnable because of it, especially if it so convinces us before we believe, and that is the intent of our Lord in that place of sin, and so of their damnable state by sin, because they believe not on me. Therefore the spirit of God, when he worketh in the heart as a spirit of bondage, he doth it by working in us by the law, for by the law is the knowledge of sin, Romans 3 verse 20,

Starting point is 01:05:06 and he, in this his working is properly called a spirit of bondage. One, because by the law he shows us that indeed we are in bondage to the law, the devil, and death and damnation. for this is our proper state by nature, though we see it not until the spirit of God shall come to reveal this our state of bondage, unto our own senses by revealing to us our sins by the law. 2. He is called, in this his working, the spirit of bondage, because he here also holds us, to it in this sight and sense of our bondage state, so long as his meat we should be so held, which to some of the saints is a longer and to some a shorter time. Paul was held in it three days and three nights, but the jailer and the three thousand,

Starting point is 01:05:48 so far as can be gathered, not above an hour. But some in these later times are so held for days and months, if not years. But I say let the time be longer or shorter. It is the spirit of God that holdeth him under this yoke, and it is good that a man should be in his time held under it, as is that saying of the lamentation, it is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth, Lamentations 3 verse 27.

Starting point is 01:06:12 that is, at his first awakening, so long as it seems good to this Holy Spirit to work in this manner by the law. Now, as I said, the sinner is at first, by the Spirit of God, held in this bondage, that is, hath such a discovery of his sin and of his damnation for sin made to him, and also is held so fast under the sense thereof, that it is not in the power of any man, nor yet of the very angels in heaven, to release him or set him free, until the Holy Spirit changeth his ministration, and comes in the sweet and peace, Tidings of salvation by Christ in the Gospel to his poor, dejected and afflicted conscience. Third, I now come to show you what this fear doth in the soul. Now, although this godly fear

Starting point is 01:06:54 is not to last always with us, as I shall further show you anon, yet it greatly differs from that which is wholly ungodly of itself, both because of the author and also of the effects of it. Of the author I have told you before, I now shall tell you what it doth. One, this fear makes a man judge himself for sin and to fall down before God with a broken mind under this judgment, the which is pleasing to God because the sinner, by so doing, justifies God in his saying and clears him in his judgment. Psalm 51 v. 1 to 4. 2. As this fear makes a man judge himself and cast himself down at God's foot, so it makes him condole and bewail his misery before him, which is also well-pleasing in his sight. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself,

Starting point is 01:07:40 saying thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock, unaccustomed to the yoke, etc. Jeremiah 31, verse 18 and 19. 3. This fear makes a man lie at God's foot and puts his mouth in the dust. If so be there may be hope. This also is well-pleasing to God because now is the sinner as nothing, and in his own eyes less than nothing, as to any guru desert. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath now this yoke upon him. He puteth his mouth in the dust.

Starting point is 01:08:11 If so be, there may be hope. Lamentations 3, verses 28 and 29. 4. This fear puts a man upon crying to God for mercy, and that in most humble manner, Now he sensibly cries, now he dejectedly cries, Now he feels and cries, now he smarts and cries out. God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18 verse 13.

Starting point is 01:08:33 5. This fear makes a man that he cannot accept of that for support and succour, which others that are destitute thereof will take up and be contented with. This man must be washed by God himself and cleansed from his sin by God himself. Psalm 51 6. Therefore this fear goes not away until the spirit of God doth change his ministration as to this particular in leaving off to work now by the law as afore and coming to the soul with the sweet word of promise of life and salvation by Jesus Christ.

Starting point is 01:09:04 Thus far this fear is godly, that is until Christ by the spirit in the gospel is revealed and made over unto us and no longer. Thus far, this fear is godly, and the reason why it is godly is because the groundwork of it is good. I told you before what this fear is, namely it is the fear of damnation. Now, the ground for this fear is good, as is manifest by these particulars. One, the soul feareth damnation, and that rightly because it is in its sins. Two, the soul feareth damnation rightly because it hath not faith in Christ, but is at present under the law. Three, the soul feareth damnation rightly now, because by sin, the law, and for want of faith, the wrath of God abideth on it. But now, although thus far this fear of God is good and godly,

Starting point is 01:09:48 yet after Christ by the Spirit in the Word of the Gospel is revealed to us, and we made to accept of him as so revealed and offered to us by a true and living faith, this fear to it of damnation is no longer good but ungodly, nor doth the Spirit of God ever work it in us again. Now we do not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, that is to say, to fear damnation, but we have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, father, father. But I would not be mistaken when I say that this fear is no longer godly. I do not mean with reference to the essence and habit of it, for I believe it is the same in the seed which shall afterwards grow up to a higher degree, and into a more sweet and gospel current and manner of working, but I mean reference to this act of fearing damnation.

Starting point is 01:10:32 I say, it shall never by the Spirit be managed to that work, it shall never bring forth that fruit more. And my reasons are, end of Section 3. Section 4 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan, this Librevox recording is in the public domain. Reasons why the Spirit of God cannot work this ungodly fear. One, because that the soul, by closing through the promise by the spirit with Jesus Christ is removed off of that foundation upon which it stood when it justly feared damnation. It hath received now forgiveness of sin. It is now no more under the law, but in Jesus Christ by faith. There is therefore now no condemnation to it. Acts 26 verse 18, Romans 6 verse 14, chapter 8 verse 1. The groundwork therefore being now taken away, the spirit worketh that fear no more.

Starting point is 01:11:30 2. He cannot, after he hath come to the soul as a spirit of adoption, come again as a spirit of bondage to put the soul into his first fear, to it a fear of eternal damnation, because he cannot say and unsay, do and undo. As a spirit of adoption, he told me that my sins were forgiven me, that I was included in the covenant of grace, that God was my father through Christ, that I was under the promise of salvation, and that this calling and gift of God to me is permanent and without repentance. And do you think that, after he hath told me this, and sealed up the truth of it to my precious soul, that he will come to me and tell me that I am yet in my sins under the curse of the law and the eternal wrath of God? No, no, the word of the gospel is not, yea, yea, nay, nay, it is only yea and amen, it is so, as God is true. 2 Corinthians 1 verses 17 to 20. 3. The state, therefore, of the sinner being changed, and that too by the spirits changing his dispensation, leaving off to be now as a spirit of bondage to put us in fear,

Starting point is 01:12:33 and coming to our heart as the spirit of adoption to make us cry, Father, he cannot go back to his first work again. For if so, then he must gratify, yea, and also ratify that profane and popish doctrine, forgiven today, unforgiven to-morrow, a child of God today, a child of hell tomorrow, but what saith the scriptures? Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly framed together

Starting point is 01:13:09 groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are builted together for an habitation of God through the Spirit, Ephesians 2 verses 19 to 22. Objection, but this is contrary to my experience. Why, Christian, what is thy experience? Why, I was at first, as you have said, possessed with a fear of damnation, and so under the power of the spirit of bondage. Well said, and how was it then? Why, after some time of continuance in these fears, I had the spirit of adoption sent to me, to seal up to my soul the forgiveness of sins, and so he did, and was also helped by the same spirit, as you have said, to call God Father, Father.

Starting point is 01:13:50 Well said, and what after that? Why, after that, I fell into as great fears as ever I was in before. answer all this may be granted and yet nevertheless what i have said will abide a truth for i have not said that after the spirit of adoption is come a christian shall not again be in his great fears for he may have worse than he had at first but i say that after the spirit of adoption is come the spirit of bondage as such is sent of god no more to put us into those fears for mark for we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear let the word be true whatever thy experience is Dost thou not understand me? After the Spirit of God has told me and also helped me to believe it, that the Lord, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven mine iniquities, he tells me no more that they are not forgiven. After the Spirit of God has helped me by Christ to call God my father, he tells me no more that the devil is my father. After he hath told me that I am not under the law but under grace, he tells me no more that

Starting point is 01:14:50 I am not under grace but under the law, and bound over by it for my sins to the wrath and judgment. of God, but this is the fear that the spirit, as a spirit of bondage, worketh in the soul at first. Question, can you give me further reason yet to convict me of the truth of what you say? Answer, yes. One, because, as the spirit cannot give himself the lie, so he cannot overthrow his own order of working, nor yet contradict the testimony that his servants by his inspiration hath given of his order of working with them. But he must do the first if he sayeth to us, and that after we have received his own testimony that we are under grace, that yet we are under sin, the law and wrath. And he must do the second, if, after he hath gone through the first work on us

Starting point is 01:15:36 as a spirit of bondage, to the second as a spirit of adoption, he should overthrow as a spirit of bondage again, what before he had built as a spirit of adoption. And the third must therefore needs follow, that is, he overthroth the testimony of his servants, for they have said that now we receive the spirit of bondage again to fear no more. more, that is, after that we are by the Holy Ghost, enabled to call God Father, Father. 2. This is evident also because the covenant in which now the soul is interested abideth and is everlasting, not upon the supposition of my obedience, but upon the unchangeable purpose of God and the efficacy of the obedience of Christ, whose blood also hath confirmed it. It is

Starting point is 01:16:16 ordered in all things, and sure, said David, and this said he is my salvation, to Samuel 23 verse 5. The covenant then is everlasting in itself, being established upon so good a foundation, and therefore standeth in itself everlastingly bent for the good of them that are involved in it. Here the tenor of the covenant, and gods attesting of the truth thereof. This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord. I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a god, and they shall be to me a people, and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying,

Starting point is 01:16:52 Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest, for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities, I will remember no more. Hebrews 8, verses 10 to 12. Now if God will do thus unto those that he had comprised in his everlasting covenant of grace,

Starting point is 01:17:10 then he will remember their sins no more that is unto condemnation, for so it is that he doth forget them. Then cannot the Holy Ghost, who also is one with the Father and the Father and the Son come to us again, even after we are possessed with these glorious fruits of this covenant, as a spirit of bondage, to put us in fear of damnation. 3.

Starting point is 01:17:30 The Spirit of God, after it has come to me as a spirit of adoption, can come to me no more as a spirit of bondage to put me in fear, that is, with my first fears, because by that faith that he, even he himself, hath wrought in me, to believe and call God Father Father, I am united to Christ and stand no more upon my own own. legs, in mine own sins or performances, but in his glorious righteousness before him, and before his father, but he will not cast away a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, nor will he that the spirit of God should come as a spirit of bondage to put him into a grounded fear of damnation that standeth complete before God in the righteousness

Starting point is 01:18:08 of Christ, for that is an apparent contradiction. Question, but may it not come again as a spirit of bondage to put me into my first fears for my good. Answer, the text saith the contrary, for we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, nor is God to put it for want of wisdom, to say and unsay, do and undo, or else he cannot do good. When we are sons, and have received the adoption of children, he doth not use to send the spirit after that, to tell us we are slaves and ears of damnation, also that we are without Christ, without the promise, without grace, and without God in the world, and yet this he must do, if it comes to us, after we have received him as a spirit of adoption, and put us as a spirit of bondage in fear as

Starting point is 01:18:52 as before. End of Section 4. Section 5 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan. This Librovoc's recording is in the public domain. This ungodly fear wrought by the spirit of the devil. Question, but by what spirit is it then that I am brought again into fears, even into the fears of damnation, and so into bondage? Answer, by the spirit of the devil, who always... labors to frustrate the faith and hope and comfort of the godly. Question, how doth that appear?

Starting point is 01:19:28 Answer, one, by the groundlessness of such fears. Two, by the unseasonableness of them. Three, by the effects of them. One, by the groundlessness of such fears. The ground is removed, for a grounded fear of damnation as this. I am yet in my sins in a state of nature under the law without faith and so under the wrath of God. This, I say, is the ground of the fear of damnation.

Starting point is 01:19:50 the true ground to fear it, but now a man that we are talking of is one that hath the ground of this fear taken away by the testimony and seal of the spirit of adoption. He is called, justified, and has, for the truth of this his condition, received the evidence of the spirit of adoption, and hath been thereby enabled to call God, Father, Father. Now he that hath received this has the ground of the fear of damnation taken from him, therefore his fear, I say, being without ground is false and so no work of the spirit of God. 2. By the unseasonableness of them. This spirit always comes too late. It comes after the spirit of adoption has come. Satan is always for being too soon or too late. If he would have men believe

Starting point is 01:20:34 they are children, he would have them believe it while they are slaves, slaves to him and their lusts. If he would have them believe they are slaves, it is when they are sons and have received the spirit of adoption, and the testimony by that of their sonship before. and this evil is rooted even in his nature. He is a liar and the father of it, and his lies are not known to saints more than in this, that he labors always to contradict the work and order of the spirit of truth, John 8. 3. It also appears by the effects of such fears, for there is a great deal of difference betwixt the natural effects of these fears which are wrought indeed by the spirit of bondage, and those which are wrought by the spirit of the devil afterwards. the one to it the fears that are wrought by the spirit of bondage causeth us to confess the truth to it that we are Christless, graceless, faithless, and so at present. That is, while he is so working in a sinful and damnable case, but the other to it the spirit of the devil when he comes,

Starting point is 01:21:32 which is after the spirit of adoption has come, he causeth us to make a lie. That is, to say, we are Christless, graceless, and faithless. Now this, I say, is holy, and in all part of it, a lie and he is the father of it. Besides, the direct tendency of the fear that the spirit of God as a spirit of bondage worketh in the soul is to cause us to come repenting home to God by Jesus Christ, but these latter fears tend directly to make a man, he having first denied the work of God, as he will, if he falleth in with them to run quite away from God, and from his grace to him in Christ, as will evidently appear, if thou give us but a plain and honest answer to these questions following.

Starting point is 01:22:13 of Section 5 Section 6 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan This Librevalch's recording is in the public domain This fear driveth a man from God Question 1 Do not these fears make thee question Whether there ever was a work of grace wrought in thy soul Answer, yes verily, that they do

Starting point is 01:22:40 Question 2, do not these fears make the question Whether ever thy first fears were wrought by the Holy Spirit of God Answer, yes, verily, that they do. Question three, do not these fears make thee question whether ever thou hast had, indeed, any true comfort from the word and spirit of God? Answer, yes, verily, that they do. Question four, dost thou not find intermixed with these fears, plain assertions, that thy first comforts were either from thy fancy or from the devil, and a fruit of his delusions?

Starting point is 01:23:11 Answer, yes, verily, that I do. Question five, do not these fears weaken thy fear? heart in prayer? Answer, yes, that they do. Question six, do not these fears keep thee back from laying hold of the promise of salvation by Jesus Christ? Answer, yes, for I think if I were deceived before, if I were comforted by a spirit of delusion before, why may it not be so again? So I am afraid to take hold of the promise. Question seven, do not these fears tend to the hardening of thy heart and to the making of thee desperate? Answer, yes, verily, that they do. Question, Question eight, do not these fears hinder thee from profiting in hearing or reading of the word?

Starting point is 01:23:52 Answer, yes, verily, for still whatever I hear or read, I think nothing that is good belongs to me. Question nine, do not these fears tend to the stirring up of blasphemies in thy heart against God? Answer, yes, to the almost distracting of me. Question ten, do not these fears make thee sometimes think that it is in vain for thee to wait upon the Lord any longer? answer, yes verily, and I have many times almost come to this conclusion that I will read, pray, here, company with God's people, or the like, no longer. Well, poor Christian, I am glad that thou has so plainly answered me, but, pray thee, look back upon thy answer, how much of God dost thou think is in these things,

Starting point is 01:24:35 how much of his spirit and the grace of his word, just none at all, for it cannot be that these things can be the true and natural effects of the workings of the spirit, of God? No, not as a spirit of bondage. These are not his doings. Dost thou not see the very poor of the devil in them, yea, in every one of thy ten confessions. Is there not palpably high wickedness in every one of the effects of this fear? I conclude then, as I began, that the fear that the spirit of God as a spirit of bondage worketh is good and godly, not only because of the author, but also because of the ground and effects. But yet it can last no longer as such, the aforesaid conclusion, until the spirit as the spirit of adoption comes, because that then

Starting point is 01:25:21 the soul is manifestly taken out of the state and condition into which it has brought itself by nature and sin, and is put into Christ, and so by him into a state of life and blessedness by grace. Therefore, if first fears come again into thy soul, after that spirit of adoption hath been with thee, no, they come not from the spirit of God, but apparently from the spirit of the devil, for they are a lie in themselves, and their effects are sinful and devilish. Objection, but I had also such wickedness as those in my heart at my first awakening, and therefore by your argument, neither should that be but from the devil. Answer, so far forth as such wickedness was in thy heart,

Starting point is 01:26:01 so far did the devil in thine own heart seek to drive thee to despair, and drown thee there. But thou hast forgot the question, the question is not whether, then, thou was troubled with such iniquities, But whether thy fears of damnation at that time were not just and good, because grounded upon thy present condition, which was, for that thou wast out of Christ, in thy sins, and under the curse of the law, and whether now since the spirit of adoption has come unto thee, and hath thee, and hath done that for thee, as hath been mentioned, I say, whether thou oughtest for anything whatsoever to give way to the same fear, for the same ground of damnation. It is evident thou oughtest not, because the ground, the cause, is removed.

Starting point is 01:26:43 objection but since i was sealed to the day of redemption have not i therefore caused to fear as before may not therefore the spirit of bondage be sent again to put me in fear as at first sin was the first cause and i have sinned now answer no by no means for we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear that is god hath not given at us for god hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind to timothy one verse seven if therefore our first fears come upon us again, after that we have received at the Lord's hands the spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind. It is to be refused, though we have grievously sinned against our God. This is manifest from 1 Samuel 12, verse 20. Fear not he have done all this wickedness. That is, not with that fear which would have made them fly from God, as concluding they were not now his people, and the reason is because sin cannot dissolve the covenant into which the sons of God by his grace are taken. If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments, if they break

Starting point is 01:27:47 my statutes and keep not my commandments, then will I visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Psalm 89 v. 30 to 33. Now if sin doth not dissolve the covenant, if sin doth not cast me out of this covenant, which is made personally with the son of God, and into the hands of which by the grace of God I am put, then ought I not, though I have sinned, to fear with my first fears. Sin, after that, the spirit of adoption is come, cannot dissolve the relation of father and son, of father and child.

Starting point is 01:28:25 And this the church did rightly assert, and that when her heart was under great hardness, and when she had the guilt of earing from his ways, saith she, doubtless thou art our father, Isaiah 63, verses 16 and 17, doubtless thou art, though this be our case, and though Israel should not acknowledge us for such. That sin dissolveth not the relation of father and son is further evident. When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law,

Starting point is 01:28:56 that we might receive the adoption of sons, and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba, or father, father. Now, Mark, wherefore thou art no more a servant, that is no more under the law of death and damnation, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ, Galatians 4, 4 to 7. Suppose a child doth grievously transgress against and offend his father, is the relation between them therefore dissolved? Again, suppose the father should scourge and chasten the son for such offence, is the relation between them therefore dissolved.

Starting point is 01:29:32 yea suppose the child should now, through ignorance, cry and say, This man is now no more my father. Is he therefore now no more his father? Doth not everybody see the folly of such arguings. Why, of the same nature, is that doctrine that saith, that after we have received the spirit of adoption, that the spirit of bondages sent to us again to put us in fear of eternal damnation? Know then that thy sin after thou hast received the spirit of adoption to cry unto God,

Starting point is 01:30:01 father father is counter the transgression of a child, not of a slave, and that all it happeneth to thee for that transgression is but the chastisement of a father, and what son is he whom the father chastenseth not? It is worth your observation that the Holy Spirit checks those who, under their chastisements for sin, forget to call God their father. He have, said Paul, forgotten the exultation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. Yea, observe yet further that God's chastising of his children for their sin is a sign of grace and love, and not of his wrath, and thy damnation, therefore, now there is no ground for the aforesaid

Starting point is 01:30:44 fear, for whom the Lord loveth he chastenedeth, and scourgeteth every son whom he receiveth, Hebrews 12. Now, if God would not have those that have received the spirit of the son, however, he chastises them, to forget the relation that, by the adjudgeant, that by the adolph, he adolphus, he chastises them, that by the adoption of sons they stand into God. If he checks them that do forget when his rod is upon their backs for sin, then it is evident that those fears that thou hast under the colour of the coming again of the spirit, as a spirit of bondage, to put thee in fear of eternal damnation is nothing else but Satan disguised,

Starting point is 01:31:16 the better to play his pranks upon thee. I will yet give you two or three instances more wherein it will be manifest that whatever happeneth to thee, I mean as a chastisement for sin, after the spirit of adoption is come, come, thou oughtest to hold fast by faith, the relation of father and son. The people spoken of by Moses are said to have lightly esteemed the rock of their salvation, which rock is Jesus Christ, and that is a grievous sin indeed, and yet saith he is not God thy father that hath brought thee, and then puts them upon considering the days of old, Deuteronomy 32 verse 6.

Starting point is 01:31:49 They, the prophet Jeremiah, had played the harlot with many lovers, and done evil things as they could, and as another scripture hathed gone whoring, from under their God, yet God calls to them by their prophet, saying, wilt thou not, from this time, cry unto me? My father, thou art the guide of my youth, Jeremiah 3, verse 4. Remember also that eminent text made mention of in 1 Samuel 12 verse 20, Fear not ye have done all this wickedness,

Starting point is 01:32:17 and labour to maintain faith in thy soul of thy being a child, it being true that thou hast received the spirit of adoption before, and so that thou oughtest not to fall under thy full, fears, because the ground is taken away of thy eternal damnation. Now let not any, from what have been said, take courage to live loose lives under a supposition that once in Christ, and ever in Christ, and the covenant cannot be broken, nor the relation of father and child dissolved, for they that do so it is evident, have not known what it is to receive the spirit of adoption. It is the spirit of the devil in his own hue that

Starting point is 01:32:53 suggesteth this unto them, and that prevaileth with them to do so. Shall we do evil that good may come? Shall we sin that grace may abound? Or shall we be base in life, because God, by grace, hath secured us from wrath to come? God forbid. These conclusions betoken one void of the fear of God indeed, and of the spirit of adoption, too. For what son is he, that because the father cannot break the relation, nor suffer sin to do it, that is betwixt the father and him, that will therefore say I will live altogether after my own lusts,

Starting point is 01:33:25 I will labour to be a continual grief to my father. End of Section 6. Section 7 of A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan. This Librevovon's recording is in the public domain. Considerations to prevent such temptations. Yet lest the devil, for some are not ignorant of his devices, should get an advantage against some of the sons to draw them away from the filial fear of their father.

Starting point is 01:33:55 Let me here, to prevent such temptations, present such with these following considerations. First, though God cannot, will not dissolve the relation which the spirit of adoption hath made betwixt the father and the son for any sins that such do commit, yet he can and often doth take away from them the comfort of their adoption, not suffering children while sinning to have the sweet and comfortable sense thereof on their hearts. He can tell how to let snares be round about them, and sudden fear trouble them. He can tell how to send darkness that they may not see, and to let abundance of waters

Starting point is 01:34:29 cover them, Job 22 v. 10 and 11. Second, God can tell how to hide his face from them, and so to afflict them with that dispensation that it shall not be in the power of all the world to comfort them. When he hith his face, who then can behold him, Job 23 v. 8 and 9, chapter 34 verse 29. Third, God can tell how to make thee again to possess the sins that he long since hath pardoned, and that in such wise that things shall be bitter to thy soul. Thou writeest bitter things against me, says Job, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. By this also, he once made David groan and pray against it, as an insupportable affliction, Job 13, verse 26, Psalm 25, verse 7.

Starting point is 01:35:15 Fourth, God can lay thee in the dungeon in chains and roll a stone upon thee. He can make thy feet fast in the stocks, and make thee a gazing stock to men and angels. Lamentations 3 v. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. God can tell how to cause to cease the sweet operations and blessed influences of his grace in thy soul, and to make those gospel showers that formerly thou hast enjoyed, to become now to thee nothing but powder and dust. Psalm 51, Deuteronomy 28 verse 24. 6th, God can tell how to fight against thee with the sword of his mouth, and to make thee a for his arrows, and this is a dispensation most dreadful. Revelation 2 verse 16, Job 6 verse 4.

Starting point is 01:36:00 Psalm 38 v. 2 to 5. 7th. God can tell how so to bow thee down with guilt and distress, that thou shalt in no wise be able to lift up thy head. Psalm 40 verse 12. 8th. God can tell how to break thy bones, and to make thee by reason of that to live in continual anguish of spirit. Yea, he can send a fire into thy bones that shall burn,

Starting point is 01:36:23 and none shall quench it. Psalm 51 verse 8, Lamentations 3 verse 4, chapter 1 verse 13, Psalm 102 verse 3, Job 30 verse 30. 9th, God can tell how to lay thee aside and make no use of thee as to any work for him in thy generation. He can throw thee aside as a broken vessel, Psalm 31 12, Ezekiel 44 verses 10 to 13. 10th, God can tell how to kill thee and to take thee away from the earth for thy sins, 1 Corinthians 11, verses 29 to 32. 11th, God can tell how to plague thee in thy death with great plagues and of long continuance, Psalm 78 verse 45, Deuteronomy 28. 12. What can I say? God can tell how to let Satan loose upon thee, when thou liest

Starting point is 01:37:11 dying. He can license him then to assault thee with great temptations. He can tell how to make thee possess the guilt of all thy unkindness towards him, and that, when thou, as I said, art going out of the world, he can cause that thy life shall be in continual doubt before thee, and not suffer thee to take any comfort day or night. Yea, he can drive thee even to a madness with his chastisements for thy folly, and yet all shall be done by him to thee as a father chastiseth his son. Deuteronomy 28 verses 65 to 67. Thirteenth, further, God can tell how to tumble thee from off thy deathbed in a cloud.

Starting point is 01:37:46 He can let thee die in the dark. When thou art dying, thou shalt not know. know whether thou art going, to it whether to heaven or to hell. Yea, he can tell how to let thee seem to come short of life, both in thine own eyes and also in the eyes of them that behold thee. Let us therefore fear, says the apostle, though not with slavish yet, with filial fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest,

Starting point is 01:38:10 any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4 verse 1. Now all this and much more can God do to his as a father by his rod and fatherly rebukes. are who know about those that are under them what terrors, fears, distresses and amazements God can bring his people into. He can put them into a furnace, a fire, and no tongue can tell what,

Starting point is 01:38:32 so unsearchable and fearful are his fatherly chastisements, and yet never give them the spirit of bondage again to fear. Therefore, if thou art a son, take heed of sin, lest all these things overtake thee and come upon thee. Objection, but I have sinned, and I am under this high and mighty hand of God, answer, then thou knowest what I say is true, but yet take heed of hearkening unto such temptations as would make thee believe thou art out of Christ, under the law and in a state

Starting point is 01:39:00 of damnation, and take heed also that thou dost not conclude that the author of these fears is the spirit of God, come to thee again as a spirit of bondage, to put thee into such fears, lest unawares to thyself, thou dost defy the devil, dishonour thy father, overthrow good doctrine, and bring thyself into a double temptation. Objection, but if God deals thus with a man, how can he otherwise think, but that he is a reprobate, a graceless, Christless, and faithless one? Answer, nay, but why dost thou tempt the Lord thy God? Why dost thou sin and provoke the eyes of his glory? Why doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Lamentations 3 verse 39. He doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children

Starting point is 01:39:42 of men, but if thou sinest, though God should save thy soul, as he will if thou art an adopted son of Yet he will make thee known that sin is sin and his rod that will chastise thee with, if need be, shall be made of scorpions, read the whole book of the lamentations, read Job's and David's complaints, yea, read what happened to his son, his well-beloved, and that, when he did but stand in the room of sinners, being in himself altogether innocent, and then consider, O thou sinning child of God, if there is any injustice in God, yea, if it be not necessary that thou shouldst be chastised for thy sin. But then I say, when the hand of God is upon thee,

Starting point is 01:40:20 How grievous soever it be, take heed and beware, That thou give not way to thy first fears, Lest, as I said before, thou addest to thine afflictions, And to help thee here, let me give you a few instances of the carriages of some of the saints under some of the most heavy afflictions that they have met with for sin. Carriages of some of the saints under heavy afflictions for sin. End of Section 7.

Starting point is 01:40:48 Section 8 of a treatise of the fear of God, by John Bunyan, this Librevonk's recording is in the public domain. Carriages of some of these saints under heavy afflictions for sin. First, Job was in great affliction, and that, as he confessed for sin, inasmuch that he said God had set him for his mark to shoot at, and that he ran upon him like a giant, that he took him by the neck and shook him to pieces, and counted him for his enemy, that he hid his face from him, and that he could not tell where to find him. yet he counted not all this as a sign of a damnable state but as a trial and chastisement,

Starting point is 01:41:26 and said, when he was in the hottest of the battle, when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. And again, when he was pressed upon by the tempter to think God would kill him, he answers with greatest confidence, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Job 7 verse 20, chapter 13, verse 15, chapter 14, verses 12 and 16, chapter 19, verse 11, chapter 23, v. 8 to 10. Second, David complained that God had broken his bones, that he had set his face against his sins, and had taken from him the joy of his salvation.

Starting point is 01:41:58 Yet even at this time he saith, O God, thou God of my salvation, Psalm 51, verse 8, 9, 12, and 14. Third, Heeman complained that his soul was full of troubles, that God had laid him in the lowest pit, that he had put his acquaintance far from him, and was casting off his soul, and had hid his face from him, that he was afflicted from his youth up and ready to die with trouble. He saith, moreover, that the fierce wrath of God went over him, that his terrors had cut him off, yea, that by reason of them he was distracted, and yet even before he maketh any of these complaints, he takes fast hold of God as his, saying, O Lord God of my salvation, Psalm 88. Fourth, the church in the lamentations complains that the Lord had afflicted her for her transgressions, and that in the day of his

Starting point is 01:42:45 fierce anger, also that he had trodden underfoot her mighty men, and that he had called the heathen against her. She says that he had covered her with a cloud of his anger, that he was an enemy, that he had hung a chain upon her. She adds, moreover, that he had shut out her prayer, broken her teeth with gravel stones, and covered her with ashes, and, in conclusion, that he had utterly rejected her. But what doth she do under all this trial? Doth she give up her faith and hope, and turn to that fear that begot the first bondage? No, the Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him. Yay, she adds, O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul, thou hast redeemed my life. Lamentations 1, verse 5, chapter 2, 1, 2 and 5, chapter 3, 7, 8 and 16,

Starting point is 01:43:35 chapter 5 verse 22, chapter 3, 24, 31 and 58. These things show that God's people, even after they have received the spirit of adoption have fell foully into sin and have been bitterly chastised for it, and also that when the rod was most smart upon them, they made great conscience of giving way to their first fears, wherewith they were made afraid by the spirit, as it wrought as a spirit of bondage, for indeed there is no such thing as the coming of the spirit of bondage to put us in fear the second time, as such that is, after he has come as the spirit of adoption to the soul. I conclude then that that fear, that is wrought by the spirit of bondage is good and godly because the ground for it is sound. And I also conclude that he comes to the soul as a spirit of bondage but once,

Starting point is 01:44:20 and that once is before he comes as a spirit of adoption, and if therefore the same fear doth again take hold of thy hearts, that is, if after thou hast received the spirit of adoption, thou fearest again the damnation of thy soul, that thou art out of Christ and under the law, that fear is bad and of the devil, and ought by no means to be admitted by thee. End of Section 8.

Starting point is 01:44:41 Section 9 of A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan. This Librevolk's recording is in the public domain. How the devil worketh these fears? First question. But since, it is, as you say, how doth the devil after the spirit of adoption is come, work the child of God into those fears of being out of Christ, not forgiven, and so an air of damnation again? Answer, 1.

Starting point is 01:45:12 By giving the lie, and by prevailing with us, to give it too, to the work of grace. wrought in our hearts and to the testimony of the Holy Spirit of adoption. Or two, by abusing of our ignorance of the everlasting love of God to His in Christ and the duration of the covenant of grace. Or three, by abusing some scripture that seems to look that way but doth not. Or four, by abusing our senses and reason. Or five, by strengthening of our belief. Or six, by overshadowing of our judgment with horrid darkness.

Starting point is 01:45:44 Or seven, by giving of us counterfeit wreath. representations of God. Or eight, by stirring up and setting in a rage, our inward corruptions. Or nine, by pouring into our hearts, abundance of horrid blasphemies. Or ten, by putting of wrong constructions on the rod and chastising hand of God. Or eleven, by charging upon us that our ill behaviours under the rod and chastising hand of God is a sign that we indeed have no grace, but our downright, graceless reprobates. By these things and other like it. Satan, I say, Satan bringeth the child of God. not only to the borders, but even into the bowels of the fears of damnation,

Starting point is 01:46:22 after it hath received a blessed testimony of eternal life, and that by the Holy Spirit of adoption. End of Section 9. Section 10 of A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan, this Librevon's recording is in the public domain. The people of God should fear his rod. Question. But would you not have the people of God stand in fear of his rod and be afraid of his

Starting point is 01:46:52 judgments? Answer, yes, and the more they are rightly afraid of them, the less and the seldomer will they come under them, for it is want of fear that brings us into sin, and it is sin that brings us into these afflictions. But I would not have them fear with the fear of slaves, for that will add no strength against sin, but I would have them fear with the reverential fear of sons, and that is the way to depart from evil. Question, how is that? Answer, why, having before received the spirit of adoption, still to believe that, he is our father, and so to fear with the fear of children, not as slaves fear a tyrant. I would therefore have them to look upon his rod, rebukes, chidings, and chastisements,

Starting point is 01:47:32 and also upon the wrath wherewith he doth inflict to be but the dispensations of their father. This believed maintains, or at least helps to maintain in the heart, a sun-like bowing under the rod. It also maintains, in the soul, a sun-like confession of sin, and a justifying of God, and all the rebukes that he grieveth us with. It also engages us to come to him, to claim and lay hold of former mercies, to expect more, and to hope a good end shall be made of all God's present dispensations towards us. Micah 7 verse 9, Lamentations 1 verse 18, Psalm 77 verses 10 to 12, Lamentations 3 versus 31 to 34.

Starting point is 01:48:11 Now God would have us thus fear his rod, because he is resolved to chastise us therewith. If so be, we sin against him, as I have already showed, for although God's, bowels turn within him, even while he is threatening his people. Yet if we sin, he will lay on the rod so hard as to make us cry, woe unto us that we have sinned. Lamentations 5 verse 16, and therefore, as I said, we should be afraid of his judgments, yet only as a fool is provided as of the rod, wrath, and judgment of a father. End of Section 10. Section 11 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan. This Librevon's recording is in the public domain. five considerations to move to childlike fear question but have you yet any considerations to move us to fear god with childlike fear answer i will in this place give you five one consider that god thinks meat to have it so and he is wiser in heart than thou

Starting point is 01:49:12 he knows best how to secure his people from sin and to that end hath given them law and commandments to read that they may learn to fear him as a father job thirty seven verse twenty four ecclesiastes three verse fourteen Deuteronomy 17 versus 18 and 19. 2. Consider he is mighty in power. If he touch but with a fatherly touch, man nor angel cannot bear it. Yea, Christ makes use of that argument. He hath power to cast into hell fear him. Luke 12 versus 4 and 5. 3. Consider that he is everywhere.

Starting point is 01:49:47 Thou canst not be out of his sight or presence, nor out of the reach of his hand. Fear ye not me, saith the Lord, Can any hide himself in secret places That I shall not see him, saith the Lord? Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 5, verse 22, chapter 23, verse 24. 4. Consider that he is holy and cannot look with liking upon the sins of his own people.

Starting point is 01:50:11 Therefore, says Peter, be as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation because it is written be ye holy for i am holy and if ye call on the father who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear five consider that he is good and has been good to thee good in that he hath singled thee out from others and save thee from their death and hill though thou perhaps was worst in thy life than those that he left when he laid hold on thee oh this should engage you thy heart to fear the Lord all the days of thy life. They shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days, Hosea 3 verse 5, and now for the present I have done with that fear, I mean as to its first workings to it, to put me in fear of damnation, and shall come in the next place, to treat

Starting point is 01:51:07 of the grace of fear more immediately intended in the text. End of Section 11. Section 12 of A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan, this Librevox recording is in the public domain, of the grace of fear more immediately intended in the text. I shall now speak to this fear, which I call a lasting godly fear, first by way of explication, by which I shall show first how by the scripture it is described, second, I shall show you what this fear flows from, and then third I shall also show you what doth flow from it. How this fear is described by the scripture. First, for the first of the first of the first, of these to it how by the scripture this fear is described, and that, first, more generally,

Starting point is 01:52:00 second, more particularly. First, more generally. One, it is called a grace that is a sweet and blessed work of the spirit of grace, as he is given to the elect by God. Hence the apostle says, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, Hebrews 12, verse 28. For as that fear that brings bondage is wrought in the soul by the spirit as a spirit of bondage, So this fear, which is a fear that we have while we are in the liberty of sons,

Starting point is 01:52:29 is wrought by him as he manifesteth to us our liberty. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. That is, where he is a spirit of adoption, setting the soul free from that bondage under which it was held by the same spirit, while he wrought as a spirit of bondage. Hence, as he is called a spirit working bondage to fear, so he as the spirit of the son, and of adoption, is called the spirit of the fear of the Lord.

Starting point is 01:52:53 Isaiah 11 verse 2 Because it is that spirit of grace That is the author, animator And maintainer of our filial fear Or of that fear that is sonlike That subjecteth the elect unto God His word and ways Unto him his word and ways as a father

Starting point is 01:53:09 Two, this fear is called also the fear of God Not as that which is ungodly is Nor yet as that may be Which is wrought by the spirit as a spirit of bondage But by way of eminency To it as a dispensation of the grace of the gospel and as a fruit of eternal love. I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me. Jeremiah 32, verse 38 to 41. 3. This fear of God is called God's treasure, for it is one of

Starting point is 01:53:37 his choice jewels. It is one of the rarities of heaven. The fear of God is his treasure. Isaiah 33 verse 6, and it may well go under such a title for as treasure, so the fear of the Lord is not found in every corner. It is said all men have not faith, because that also is more precious than gold. The same is said about this fear. There is no fear of God before their eyes, that is, the greatest part of men, are utterly destitute of this godly jewel, this treasure, the fear of the Lord. Poor vagrants, when they come straggling to a Lord's house, may perhaps obtain some scraps and fragments. They may also obtain old shoes and some sorry cast-off rags, but they get not any of his jewels, they may not touch his choiceless treasure, that is kept for the children, and those that shall

Starting point is 01:54:26 be his heirs. We may say the same also of this blessed grace of fear, which is called here God's treasure. It is only bestowed upon the elect, the heirs and children of the promise. All others are destitute of it, and so continue to death and judgment. 4. This grace of fear is that which make of men excel and go beyond all men in the account of God. it is that which beautifies a man and prefers him above all other. Hast thou, says God to Satan, considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and assures evil. Job 1 verse 8, chapter 2 verse 3.

Starting point is 01:55:06 Mind it, there is none like him, none alike him, in the earth. I suppose he means either that Job was the only most perfect and upright man in those parts, or else he was the man that abounded in the fear of the Lord. None like him to fear the Lord. He only excelled others with respect to his reverencing of God, bowing before him and sincerely complying with his will, and therefore is counted the excellent man. It is not the knowledge of the will of God,

Starting point is 01:55:34 but our sincere complying therewith that proveth that we fear the Lord, and it is our so doing that puteth upon us the note of excelling. Hereby appears our perfection, herein is manifest our uprightness. A perfect and an upright man is one that feareth God, and that because he assueth evil. Therefore this grace of fear is that,

Starting point is 01:55:56 without which no part or peace of service which we do to God can be accepted of him. It is, as I may call it, the salt of the covenant, which seasoneth the heart, and therefore must not be lacking there. It is also that which salteth or seasoneth all our doings, and therefore must not be lacking in any of them,

Starting point is 01:56:15 Leviticus 2 verse 13 5. I take this grace of fear to be that which softeneth and mollifieth the heart, and that makes it stand in awe both of the mercies and judgments of God. This is that that retaineth in the heart that due dread and reverence of the heavenly majesty that his meat should be both in and kept in the heart of poor sinners. Wherefore, when David described this fear in the exercise of it, he calls it an awe of God, stand in awe.

Starting point is 01:56:45 saith he and sin not. And again, my heart standeth in awe of thy word, and again, let all the earth fear the Lord. What is that, or how is that? Why? Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Psalm 4, Psalm 119, verse 1161, Psalm 33 verse 8. This is that, therefore, that is, as I said before, so excellent a thing in the eyes of God, to wit a grace of the spirit, the fear of God, his treasure, the soul to the covenant, that which makes men excel all others, for it is that which maketh the sinner to stand in awe of God, which posture is the most comely thing in us throughout all ages. But second, and more particularly, one, this grace is called the beginning of knowledge, because by the first gracious discovery of God to the soul, this grace is begot, and again because

Starting point is 01:57:37 the first time that the soul doth apprehend God in Christ to be good unto it, this grace is animated by the which the soul is put into an holy awe of God, which causeth it with reverence and due attention to hearken to him and tremble before him. Proverbs 1 verse 7. It is also by virtue of this fear that the soul doth inquire yet more after the blessed knowledge of God. This is the more evident because where this fear of God is wanting, or where the discovery of God is not attended with it, the heart still abides, rebellious, obstinate, and unwilling to know more,

Starting point is 01:58:09 that it might comply therewith, nay, for want of it. Such sinners say rather as for God, let him depart from us, and for the Almighty we desire not the knowledge of his ways. 2. This fear is called the beginning of wisdom, because then, and not till then, a man begins to be truly spiritually wise. What wisdom is there where the fear of God is not? Job 28, verse 28, Psalm 111 verse 10. Therefore, the fools are described thus. For that they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1 verse 29

Starting point is 01:58:43 The word of God is the fountain of knowledge into which a man will not with godly reverence look until he is endured with the fear of the Lord Therefore it is rightly called the beginning of knowledge But fools despise wisdom and instruction Proverbs 1 verse 7 It is therefore this fear of the Lord That makes a man wise for his soul, for life

Starting point is 01:59:03 And for another world It is this that teacheth him How he should do to escape those spiritual and eternal ruins that the fool is overtaken with and swallowed up of forever. A man void of this fear of God, wherever he is wise or in whatever he excels, yet about the matters of his soul there is none more foolish than himself. For through the want of the fear of the Lord, he leaves the best things at sixes and sevens, and only pursueth with all his heart those that will leave him in the snare when he dies.

Starting point is 01:59:35 Three, this fear of the Lord is to hate evil, to hate sin and vanity, sin and vanity. They are the sweet morsels of the fool, and such which the carnal appetite of the flesh runs after, and it is only the virtue that is in the fear of the Lord that maketh the sinner have an antipathy against it. Job 20 verse 12. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil, Proverbs 16 verse 6, that is men shun, separate themselves from, and assure it in its appearances. Wherefore it is plain that those that love evil are not possessed with the fear of God. There is a generation that will pursue evil, that will take it in, nourish it, lay it up in their hearts, hide it, and plead for it, and rejoice to do it.

Starting point is 02:00:19 These cannot have in them the fear of the Lord, for that is to hate it, and to make men depart from it. Where the fear of God and sin is, it will be with the soul as it was with Israel when Omri and Tibney strove to reign among them both at once. One of them must be put to death, they cannot live together. See One King Sixteen. sin must down, for the fear of the Lord begetteth in the soul a hatred against it, and abhorrence of it, therefore sin must die, that is, as to the affections and lusts of it,

Starting point is 02:00:50 for, as Solomon says in another case, where no wood is, the fire goeth out. So we may say, where there is a hatred of sin, and where men depart from it, there it looseth much of its power, waxeth feeble, and decayeth. Therefore Solomon saith again, fear the Lord, and depart from evil, Proverbs 3 verse 7 As who should say Fear the Lord and it will follow that you shall depart from evil Departing from evil is a natural consequence

Starting point is 02:01:17 A proper effect of the fear of the Lord where it is By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil That is in their judgment, will, mind and affections Not that by the fear of the Lord Sin is annihilated or has lost its being in the soul There still will those Canaanites be But they are hated, loathed, abominated fought against, prayed against, watched against, striven against, and mortified by the soul,

Starting point is 02:01:43 Romans 7. 4. This fear is called a fountain of life. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 14 verse 27. It is a fountain or spring which so continually supplyeth the soul with variety of considerations of sin, of God, of death, and life eternal, as to keep the soul in continual exercise of virtue and in holy contemplation. It is a fountain of life, every operation thereof,

Starting point is 02:02:10 every act and exercise thereof, hath a true and natural tendency to spiritual and eternal felicity. Wherefore the wise man saith in another place the fear of the Lord tendeth to life, and he that hath it shall abide satisfied, he shall not be visited with evil. Proverbs 19 verse 23, it tendeth to life even as of nature. Everything hath a tendency to that which is most natural to itself, the fire to burn, the water to wet, the stone to fall, the sun to shine, sin to defile, etc. Thus I say, the fear of the Lord tendeth to life. The nature of it is to put the soul upon fearing of God, of closing with Christ, and of walking humbly before him. It is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death. What are the snares of death but sin,

Starting point is 02:02:57 the wiles of the devil, etc? From which the fear of God hath a natural tendency to deliver thee and to keep thee in the way that tendeth to life. 5. This fear of the Lord, it is called the instruction of wisdom, Proverbs 15 verse 33. You heard before that it is the beginning of wisdom, but here you find it called the instruction of wisdom, for indeed it is not only that which makes a man begin to be wise, but to improve and make advantage of all those helps and means to life which God has afforded to that end. That is both to his own and his neighbor's salvation also. It is the instruction of wisdom.

Starting point is 02:03:34 It will make a man capable to use all his natural parts, all his natural wisdom to God's glory and his own good. There lieth even in many natural things, that into which, if we were instructed, would yield us a great deal of help to the understanding of spiritual matters. For in wisdom has God made all the world. Nor is there anything that God has made,

Starting point is 02:03:56 whether in heaven above or on earth beneath, but there is couched some spiritual mystery in it, the which men matter no more than they do the ground they tread on, or than the stones that are under their feet, and all because they have not this fear of the Lord. For had they that, that would teach them to think even from that knowledge of God, that hath by the fear of him put into their hearts, that he being so great and so good, there must needs be abundance of wisdom in the things he hath made. That fear would also endeavour to find out what that wisdom is, yea, and give to the soul the instruction of it.

Starting point is 02:04:35 In that it is called the instruction of wisdom, it intimates to us that its tendency is to keep all even and in good order in the soul. When Job perceived that his friends did not deal with him in an even spirit and orderly manner, he said that they forsook the fear of the Almighty, Job 6 verse 14. For this fear keeps a man even in his words and judgment of things.

Starting point is 02:04:58 It may be compared to the ballast of the ship and to the poise of the balance of the scales. It keeps all even and also makes us steer our course right with respect to the things that pertain to God and man. What this fear of God flows from? Second, I come now to the second thing to it to show you what this fear of God flows from. First, this fear, this grace of fear,

Starting point is 02:05:21 this sun-like fear of God, it flows from the distinguishing love of God to his elect. I will be their God, saith he, and I will put my fear in their hearts. none other obtain it but those that are enclosed and bound up in that bundle. Therefore they in the same place are said to be those that are wrapped up in the eternal or everlasting covenant of God, and so designed to be the people that should be blessed with this fear. I will make an everlasting covenant with them, saith God, that I will not turn away from them to do them good,

Starting point is 02:05:52 but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me. Jeremiah 32 verses 38 to 40. This covenant declares unto men that God hath in his heart distinguishing love for some of the children of men, for he saith he will be their God, that he will not leave them, nor yet suffer them to depart, to wit finally from him. Into these men's hearts, he doth put his fear this blessed grace and this rare and effectual sign of his love and of their eternal salvation. Second, this fear flows from a new heart. This fear is not in men by nature, the fear of devils they may have, as also an ungodly fear of God, but this fear is not in anywhere but where there dwelleth a new heart, another fruit and effect of this everlasting covenant,

Starting point is 02:06:40 and of this distinguishing love of God. A new heart also will I give them, a new heart, what a one is that? Why, the same prophet saith in another place, a heart to fear me, a circumcised one, a sanctified one. Jeremiah 32 verse 39, Ezekiel 11 verse 19, chapter 36, verse 26. So then, until a man receive a heart from God, a heart from heaven, a new heart, he has not this fear of God in him. New wine must not be put into old bottles, lest the one to which the bottles mar the wine, or the wine the bottles, but new wine must have new bottles. And then both shall be preserved. Matthew 9 verse 17. This fear of God must not be,

Starting point is 02:07:22 cannot be found in old hearts. Old hearts are not bottles out of which this fear of God proceeds, but it is from an honest and good heart, from a new one, from such an one that is also an effect of the everlasting covenant and love of God to men. I will give them one heart, to fear me. There must in all actions be heart, and without heart no action is good, nor can there be faith, love or fear from every kind of heart. These must flow from such and one whose nature is to produce and bring forth such fruit. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? So from a corrupt heart they cannot proceed such fruit as the fear of God,

Starting point is 02:08:00 as to believe in God and love God. Luke 6 verses 43 to 45. The heart naturally is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. How then, should there flow from such an one the fear of God? It cannot be. He, therefore, that hath not received at the hands of God, a new heart cannot fear the Lord. Third, this fear of God flows from an impression, a sound impression that the word of God

Starting point is 02:08:25 maketh on our souls, for without an impress of the word there is no fear of God. Hence it is said that God gave to Israel good laws, statutes and judgments, that they might learn them, and in learning them, learn to fear the Lord their God. Therefore, say if God in another place, gather the people together, men and women and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, fear the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 6 verses 1 and 2, chapter 31 verse 12. For as a man drinketh good doctrine into his soul, so he feareth God. If he drinks it in much, he feareth him greatly. If he drinketh it in but little, he feareth him but little. If he drinketh it not in at all,

Starting point is 02:09:10 he feareth him not at all. This therefore teacheth us how to judge who feareth the Lord. They are those that learn and that stand in awe of the word. Those that that have, by the Holy Word of God, the very form of itself, engraven upon the face of their souls, they fear God. Romans 6 verse 17. But, on the contrary, those that do not love good doctrine, that give not place to the wholesome truths of the God of heaven, revealed in his testament, to take place in their souls, but rather despise it, and the true possesses of it, they fear not God, for, as I said before, this fear of God, it flows from a sound impression that the Word of God maketh upon the soul, and therefore, fourthly,

Starting point is 02:09:50 This godly fear floweth from faith, for where the word maketh a sound impression on the soul, by that impression is faith begotten, whence also this fear doth follow. Therefore, right hearing of the word is called the hearing of faith, Galatians 3 verse 2. Hence it is said again, by faith Noah, being warned of God, of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11 verse 7 The word, the warning that he had from God of things not seen as yet

Starting point is 02:10:26 wrought through faith therein That fear of God in his heart that made him prepare against unseen dangers And that he might be an inheritor of unseen happiness Where therefore there is not faith in the word of God There can be none of this fear And where the word doth not make sound impression on the soul There can be none of this faith So that as vices hang together and have the word

Starting point is 02:10:49 links of a chain, dependence, one upon another. Even so the graces of the spirit also are the fruits of one another, and have such dependence on each other, that the one cannot be without the other. No faith, no fear of God, devil's faith, devil's fear, saints' fear. Fifth, this godly fear also floweth from sound repentance for and from sin. Godly sorrow worketh repentance, and godly repentance, produceeth this fear. for behold, says Paul, this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear.

Starting point is 02:11:30 2 Corinthians 7 v. 10 and 11. Repentance is the effect of sorrow, and sorrow is the effect of smart, and smart the effect of faith. Now, therefore, fear must needs be an effect of, and flow from repentance. Sinner, do not deceive thyself, if thou art a stranger to say, sound repentance, which standeth in sorrow and shame before God, for sin, as also in turning from it, thou hast no fear of God, I mean none of this godly fear. For that is the fruit of and floweth from sound repentance. Sixth, this godly fear also flows from a sense of the love and kindness of God

Starting point is 02:12:08 to the soul, where there is no sense of hope of the kindness and mercy of God by Jesus Christ, There can be none of this fear, but rather wrath and despair which produces that fear That is either devilish, or else that, which is only wrought in us by the spirit, as a spirit of bondage. But these we do not discourse of now, wherefore the godly fear that I now treat of, it floweth from some sense or hope of mercy from God by Jesus Christ. If thou, Lord, says David, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared. Psalm 130 verses 3 and 4

Starting point is 02:12:45 There is mercy with thee This the soul hath sense of and hope in And therefore feareth God Indeed nothing can lay a stronger obligation upon the heart To fear God than sense of or hope in mercy Jeremiah 33 verses 8 and 9 This begetteth true tenderness of heart True godly softness of spirit

Starting point is 02:13:05 This truly endeareth the affections of God And in this true tenderness softness and endearedness of affection to God, lieeth the very essence of this fear of the Lord, as is manifest by the fruit of this fear, when we shall come to speak of it. Seventh, this fear of God flows from a due consideration of the judgments of God that are to be executed in the world, yea, upon professors too. Yea, further God's people themselves, I mean as to themselves, have such a consideration of his judgments towards them as to produce this godly fear.

Starting point is 02:13:38 When God's judgments are in the earth, they affect the fear of his name in the hearts of his own people. My flesh tremblet for fear of thee, and I am, said David, afraid of thy judgments. Psalm 119, verse 120. When God smote Uzah, David was afraid of God that day. One chronicles 13, verse 12. Indeed, many regard not the works of the Lord, nor take notice of the operation of his hands, and such cannot fear the Lord, but others observe and regard and wisely consider of his doings and of the judgments that he executeth, and that he makes them fear the Lord. This God himself suggesteth as a means to make us fear him. Hence he commands the false prophet to be stoned, that all Israel might hear and fear.

Starting point is 02:14:23 Hence also he commanded that the rebellious son should be stoned, that all Israel might hear and fear. A false witness was also to have the same judgment of God executed upon him, that all Israel might hear and fear. The man also that did ought presumptuously was to die that all Israel might hear and fear. Deuteronomy 13 verse 11, chapter 21 verse 21, chapter 17 verse 13, chapter 19 verse 20. There is a natural tendency in judgments as judgments to beget a fear of God in the heart of man, as man, but when the observation of the judgment of God is made by him that hath a principle of true grace in his soul, that observation being made, I say, by a gracious heart, produces a fear of God in the soul of its own nature, to it a gracious or godly fear of God.

Starting point is 02:15:11 Eighth, this godly fear also flows from a godly remembrance of our former distresses when we were distressed with our first fears, for though our first fears were begotten in us by the spirits working as a spirit of bondage, and so are not always to be entertained as such, yet even that fear leaveth in us and upon our spirits, that sense and relish of our first awakenings and dread, as also occasioneth and produceeth this godly fear. Take heed, says God, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thine life, but teach them thy sons and thy sons' sons. But what were the things that their eyes had seen, that would so damnify them should they

Starting point is 02:15:56 be forgotten? The answer is, the things which they saw at Horeb, to which the fire, the smoke, the darkness, the earthquake, their first awakenings by the law, by which they were brought into a bondage fear. Yea, they were to remember this especially. Especially, saith he, the day that thou stood before the Lord thy God in horrib. When the Lord said unto me, gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, Deuteronomy four verses nine to eleven.

Starting point is 02:16:28 The remembrance of what we saw felt, feared, and trembled, under the same. sense of, when our first fears were upon us, is that which will produce in our hearts this filial godly fear. Ninth, this godly fear flows from our receiving of an answer of prayer when we supplicated for mercy at the hand of God. See the proof for this? If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence blasting mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatsoever plague, whatsoever

Starting point is 02:17:02 the sickness there be. What prayer and supplication, soever, be made by any man or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands towards this house, then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest, for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men, that they may fear thee all the days of their life, that they may fear thee all the days of their life that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. 1 Kings 8, verses 37 to 40. 10th, this grace of fear also flows from a blessed conviction of the all-seeing eye of God,

Starting point is 02:17:46 that is, from a belief that he certainly knoweth the heart, and seeth every one of the turnings and returnings thereof. This is intimated in the text last mentioned, whose heart thou knowest, that they may fear thee, to it so many of them as be or shall, be convinced of this. Indeed, without this conviction this godly fear cannot be in us. The want of this conviction made the Pharisees such hypocrites. Ye are they, said Christ, which justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts. Luke 16 verse 15. The Pharisees, I say, were not aware of this. Therefore, they so much preferred themselves before those that by far were

Starting point is 02:18:23 better than themselves, and it is for want of this conviction that men go on in such secret sins as they do, so much without fear either of God or his judgments. 11th, this grace of fear also flows from a sense of the impartial judgment of God upon men according to their works. This also is manifest from the text mentioned above, and give unto every man according to his works or ways that they may fear thee, etc. This is also manifest by that of Peter, and if he call on the father who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, past the time of your sojourning here in fear.

Starting point is 02:19:03 1. Peter 1.1.1.17. He that hath godly conviction of this fear of God will fear before him, by which fear their hearts are poised, and works directed with trembling according to the will of God. Thus you see what a weighty and great grace this grace of the holy fear of God is, and how all the graces of the Holy Ghost yield mutually their help and strength to the nourishment and life of it, and also how it flows from them all, and hath a dependence upon every one of them, for its due working in the heart of him that hath it, and thus much to show you from whence it flows, and now I shall come to the third thing to wit to show you what flows from this godly fear. What flows from this godly fear? Third, having showed you what godly fear flows from, I come now, I say, to show you what precedeth or flows from this godly fear of God, where it is seated in the heart of man. And first there flows from this godly fear a godly reverence of God.

Starting point is 02:19:58 He is great, said David, and greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints. God, as I have already showed you, is the proper object of godly fear. It is his person and majesty that this fear always causeth the eye of the soul to be upon. Behold, saith David, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Psalm 123 verse 2. Nothing aureth the soul that feareth God, so much as doth the glorious majesty of God.

Starting point is 02:20:31 His person is above all things feared by them. I fear God, said Joseph, Genesis 42 verse 18. That is more than any other. I stand in awe of him. He is my dread. He is my fear. I do all mine actions as in his presence, as in his sight. I reverence his holy and glorious majesty, doing all things, as with fear and trembling before him.

Starting point is 02:20:51 This fear makes them have also a very great reverence for his word, for that also I told you was the rule of their fear. Princes, said David, persecuted me without cause, but my heart standeth in awe in fear of thy word. This grace of fear, therefore, from it flows reverence of the words of God. Of all laws that man feareth the word, and no law that is not agreeing therewith Psalm 119 verse 116. There flows from this godly fear, tenderness of God's glory. This fear, I say, will cause a man to afflict his soul when he seeth, that by professors dishonor is brought to the name of God and to his word. Who would not fear thee, said Jeremiah, O king of nations, for to thee doth it appertain.

Starting point is 02:21:36 He speaks it as being affected with that dishonour that by the body of the Jews was continually brought to his name, his word and ways. He also speaks it of a hearty wish, that they once would be otherwise minded. The same saying, in effect, hath also John in the Revelation, Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, said he, And glorify thy name, Revelation 15 verse 4. Clearly concluding that godly fear produces a godly tenderness of God's glory in the world, for that appertaineth unto him.

Starting point is 02:22:07 That is, it is due unto him, it is a debt which we owe unto him. Give unto the Lord, said David, the glory due unto his name. Now, if there be begotten in the heart of the godly, by this grace of fear a godly tenderness of the glory of God, then it follows of consequence that, where they that have this fear of God do see his glory diminished by the wickedness of the children of men, there they are grieved and deeply distressed. Rivers of waters, said David, run down mine eyes because they keep not thy law.

Starting point is 02:22:38 Psalm 119, verse 136. Let me give you for this, these following instances. How was David provoked when, Goliath defied the God of Israel 1 Samuel 17 v. 23 to 29, 45 and 46. Also, when others reproached God, he tells us that,

Starting point is 02:22:57 that reproach was even as a sword in his bones, Psalm 42 verse 10. How was Hezekiah afflicted when Rabshaka railed upon his God? Isaiah 37. David also, for the love that he had to the glory of God's word, ran the hazard and reproach of all of the mighty people.

Starting point is 02:23:14 Psalm 119 versus 151. Psalm 89, verse 50. How tender of the glory of God was Eli, Daniel, and the three children in their day. Eli died with fear and trembling of heart when he heard that the Ark of God was taken 1 Samuel 4 verses 14 to 18. Daniel ran the danger of the lion's mouths for the tender love that he had to the word and worship of God, Daniel 6 verses 10 to 16. The three children ran the hazard of a burning fiery furnace,

Starting point is 02:23:44 rather than they would dare to dishonor the way of their God, Daniel 3, verses 13, 16, and 20. This therefore is one of the fruits of this godly fear, to wit a reverence of his name and tenderness of his glory. Second, there flows from this godly fear watchfulness. As it is said of Solomon's servants, they watched about his bed because of fear in the night. So it may be said of them that have this godly fear, it makes them a watchful people. It makes them watch their hearts and take heed to keep them with all diligence. lest they should by one or another of its flights, lead them to do that which in itself is wicked.

Starting point is 02:24:20 Proverbs 4 verse 23, Hebrews 12, verse 15. It makes them watch, lest some temptation from hill should enter into their hearts to the destroying of them. 1 Peter 5 verse 8. It makes them watch their mouths and keep them also, at sometimes, as with a bit and bridle, that they offend not with their tongue, knowing that the tongue is apt, being an evil member, soon to catch the fire of hell, to the defiling of the whole body. James 3 v. 2 to 7.

Starting point is 02:24:48 It makes them watch over their ways, look well to their goings, and to make straight steps for their feet. Psalm 39 verse 1, Hebrews 12, verse 13. Thus this godly fear puts the soul upon its watch, lest from the heart within, or from the devil without, or from the world or some other temptation, something should surprise and overtake the child of God to defile him,

Starting point is 02:25:09 or to cause him to defile the ways of God, and so offend the saints, open the mouths of men and cause the enemy to speak reproachfully of religion. Third, there flows from this fear a holy provocation to a reverential converse with saints in their religious and godly assemblies for their further progress in the faith and way of holiness. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another. Spake, that is, of God and his holy and glorious name, kingdom and works, for their mutual edification. A book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord,

Starting point is 02:25:42 and that thought upon his name Malachi 3 verse 16. The fear of the Lord in the heart provoketh to this in all its acts, not only of necessity but of nature. It is the natural effect of this godly fear to exercise the church in the contemplation of God, together and apart. All fear, good and bad, hath a natural propenseness in it to incline the heart to contemplate upon the object of fear, and though a man should labour to take off his thoughts from the object of his fear,

Starting point is 02:26:08 whether that object was men, hell, devils, etc., yet do what he could the next time his fear had any act in it, it would return again to its object. So it is with godly fear that will make a man speak of and think upon the name of God reverentially. Psalm 89 verse 7, yea, and exercise himself in the holy thoughts of him in such sort that his soul shall be sanctified and seasoned with such meditations. Indeed, holy thoughts of God, such as you see this fear doth exercise the heart with all, prepare the heart to and for God. this fear therefore it is that David prayed for for the people when he said O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of

Starting point is 02:26:48 the thoughts of the heart of thy people and prepare their heart unto thee. One Chronicles 29 verse 18. Fourth, there flows from this fear of God great reverence of His majesty in and under the use and enjoyment of God's holy ordinances. His ordinances are his courts and palaces, his walks and places, where he giveth his presence to those that wait upon him in them, in the fear of his name. And this is the meaning of that of the apostle, then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of God, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied. Acts 9,

Starting point is 02:27:23 verse 31. And walking, that word intendeth their use of the ordinances of God, they walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. This, in Old Testament language, is called treading God's courts and walking in his paths. This saith the text they did hear in the fear of God, that is, in a great reverence of that God whose ordinances they were. You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19 verse 30, chapter 26 verse 2. It is one thing to be conversant in God's ordinances and another to be conversant in them with a due reverence of the majesty and name of that God whose ordinances they are. It is common for men to do the first, but none can do the last without this fear.

Starting point is 02:28:07 In thy fear, said David, will I worship? Psalm 5 verse 7. It is this fear of God, therefore, from whence doth flow that great reverence that his saints have in them of His majesty, in and under the use and enjoyment of God's holy ordinances, and consequently that makes our service in the performance of them acceptable to God through Christ, Hebrews 12. For God expects that we serve him with fear and trembling, and it is odious among men, for a man in the presence, or about the service of his prince, to behave himself lightly,

Starting point is 02:28:37 and without due reverence of that majesty, in whose presence and about whose business he is. And if so, how can their service to God have anything like acceptation from the hand of God, that is done, not in, but without the fear of God? This service must need be an abomination to him, and these servers must come off with rebuke. Fifth, there flows from this godly fear of God, self-denial, that is, a holy observant. staining from those things that are either unlawful or inexpedient, according to that of Nehemiah. The former governors that had been before me were chargeable under the people, that had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver, yea, even their servants bear rule

Starting point is 02:29:17 over the people, but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Nehemiah 5 verse 15. Here was not self-denial. He would not do as they did that went before him, neither himself, nor should his servants. But what was it that put him upon these acts of self-denial? The answer is the fear of God, but so did not I because of the fear of God. Now, whether the fear of God in this place be meant his word or the grace of fear in his heart may perhaps be a scruple to some, but in my judgment the text must have respect to the latter, to it to the grace of fear, for without that being indeed in the heart the word will not produce that good self-denial in us, that here you find this good man

Starting point is 02:29:59 to live in the daily exercise of, the fear of God, therefore, that was the cause of his self-denial, was this grace of fear in his heart. This made him to be, as was said before, tender of the honour of God and of the salvation of his brother, yea, so tender that, rather than he would give an occasion to the weak to stumble or be offended, he would even deny himself of that which others never stick to do. Paul also, through the sanctifying operations of this fear of God in his heart, did deny himself even of lawful things for the prophet and commodity of his brother. I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend, that is, if his eating of it would make his brother to offend.

Starting point is 02:30:40 On Corinthians 8 verse 13. Men that have not this fear of God in them will not, cannot deny themselves, of love to God, and the good of the weak, who are subject to stumble at indifferent things, but where this grace of fear is, there follows self-denial. There men are tender of offending, and count that it far better becomes their profession to be of a self-denying, condescending conversation and temper than to stand sturdly to their own liberty in things inexpedient, whoever is offended thereat. This grace of fear, therefore, is a very excellent thing because it yieldeth such excellent fruit as this.

Starting point is 02:31:14 For this self-denial of how little esteem soever it be with some, yet the want of it, if the words of Christ be true as they are, takes quite away from even a professor the very name of a disciple. Matthew 10 verse 37 and 38 Luke 14 26 27 and 33

Starting point is 02:31:30 They says Nehemiah Lorded it over the brethren But so did not I They took bread and wine And 40 shekels of silver of them But so did not I Yea even their servants

Starting point is 02:31:42 bear rule over the people But so did not I Because of the fear of God Sixth There flows from this Godly fear of God Singleness of Heart Colossians 3 verse 22

Starting point is 02:31:52 Singleness of Heart Both to God and man, singleness of heart, that is it, which in another place is called sincerity and godly simplicity, and it is this when a man doth a thing simply for the sake of him or of the law that commands it, without respect to this by-end, or that desire of praise or of vain-glory from others. I say when our obedience to God is done by us, simply or alone for God's sake, for his word's sake, without any regard to this or that by end or reserve, not with eye service as men pleases, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. A man is more subject to nothing than to swerve from

Starting point is 02:32:28 singleness of heart in his service to God and obedience to his will. How doth the Lord charge the children of Israel, and all their obedience, and that for seventy years together, with the want of singleness of heart towards him? When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those 70 years. Did ye it all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? Zechara seven v. Five and six. They wanted this singleness of heart in their fasting, and in their eating, in their mourning, and in their drinking. They had double hearts in what they did. They did not, as the apostle bids, whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Starting point is 02:33:11 and the reason of their want of this thing was they wanted this fear of God, for that, as the apostle here saith, effecteth singleness of heart to God, and makes a man, as John said of Gaeus, do faithfully whatsoever he doth. 3 John 5. And the reason is, as hath been already urged, for that grace of fear of God retaineth and keepeth upon the heart, a reverent and awful sense of the dread majesty and all-seeing eye of God, also a due consideration of the day of a count before him.

Starting point is 02:33:39 It likewise maketh his service sweet and her. pleasing, and fortifies the soul against all discouragements. By this means, I say, the soul in its service to God or man, is not so soon captivated as where there is not this fear, but through and by it, its service is accepted, being single, sincere, simple, and faithful, when others with what they do are cast into hell for their hypocrisy, for they mix not what they do with godly fear. Singleness of heart in the service of God is of such absolute necessity, that without it, as I have hinted, nothing can be accepted, because, where that is wanting, they wanteth love to God, and to that which is true holiness indeed.

Starting point is 02:34:18 It was this singleness of heart that made Nathaniel so honourable in the eyes of Jesus Christ. Behold, said he, an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile, John 1 verse 47. And it was the want of it that made him so much abhor the Pharisees. They wanted sincerity, simplicity, and godly sincerity in their souls, and so became an abhorre. in his esteem. Now I say this golden grace, singleness of heart, it flows from this godly fear of God. Seventh, there flows from this godly fear of God, compassion and bowels to those of the saints that are in necessity and distress. This is manifest in good Obadiah. It is said of him that he took an hundred of the Lord's prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water,

Starting point is 02:35:04 in the days when Jezebel, that tyrant sought their lives to destroy them. One king's 18, verse three and four. But what was it that moved so upon his heart as to cause him to do this thing? Why, it was this blessed grace of the fear of God. Now Obadiah saith the text feared the Lord greatly, for it was so when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord that Obediah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. This was charity to the distressed, even to the distressed for the Lord's sake. Had not Obediah served the Lord, yea, had he not greatly feared him, he would not have been able to do this thing, especially as the case then stood with him, and also with the church at that time. For then, Jezebel sought to slay all that indeed feared the Lord, yea, and the persecution prevailed so much at that time that even Elijah himself thought she had killed all but him.

Starting point is 02:35:56 But now, even now, the fear of God in this good man's heart, put forth itself into acts of mercy, though attended with so imminent danger. See here, therefore, that the fear of God will put forth itself in the heart where God hath put it, even to show kindness and to have compassion upon the distressed servants of God, even under Jezebel's nose. For Obedire dwelt in Ahab's house, and Jezebel was Ahab's wife, and a horrible persecutor, as was said before. Yet Obedire will show mercy to the poor because he feared God. Yea, he will venture her displeasure, his place, and neck, and all, but he will be merciful to his brethren in distress. Cornelius also, being a man possessed with this fear of God, became a very free-hearted and open-handed man to the poor. He feared God and gave much alms to the people. Indeed, this fear, this godly fear

Starting point is 02:36:42 of God, it is a universal grace. It will stir up the soul and to all good duties. It is a fruitful grace. From it, where it is, floweth abundance of excellent virtues, nor without it can there be anything good or done well that is done. But, eighth, there flows from this fear of God, hearty, fervent and constant prayer. This also is seen in Cornelius that devout man. He feared God, and what then? Why, he gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always. Acts 10 v. 1 and 2. Did I say that hearty, fervent and constant prayer flowed from this fear of God? I will add that, if the whole duty and the continuation of it be not managed with this fear of God, it profiteth nothing at all. It is said of our Lord Jesus Christ himself. He was heard in that he feared.

Starting point is 02:37:29 He prayed, then, because he feared, because he feared God, and therefore was his prayer accepted of him even because he feared. He was heard in that he feared, Hebrews 5 verse 7. This godly fear is so essential to right prayer, and right prayer is such an inseparable effect and fruit of this fear, that you must have both or none. He that prayeth not, feareth not God, yea, he that prayeth not fervently and frequently feareth him not. And so he that feareth him not cannot pray, for if prayer be the effect of this,

Starting point is 02:37:59 fear of God, then without this fear, prayer, fervent prayer, ceaseth. How can they pray or make conscience of the duty that fear not God? O prayerless man, thou fearest not God. Thou wouldst not live so like a swine or a dog in the world as thou dost, if thou fearest the Lord. Ninth, there floweth from this fear of God a readiness or willingness at God's call to give up our best enjoyments to his disposal. This is evident in Abraham, who at God's call without delay rose early in the morning to offer up his only and well-beloved Isaac, a booned offering in the place where God should appoint him.

Starting point is 02:38:34 It was a rare thing that Abraham did, and had he not had this rare grace, this fear of God, he would not, he could not have done to God's liking so wonderful a thing. It is true the Holy Ghost also makes this service of Abraham to be the fruit of his faith. By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Hebrews 11, James 2. I, and without doubt, love unto God in Abraham was not wanting in this his service, nor was this grace of fear, nay, in the story where it is recorded. There it is chiefly accounted for the fruit of his godly fear, and that by an angel from heaven. And the angel called out of heaven and said

Starting point is 02:39:14 Abraham, Abraham, and he said, lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Genesis 22, verses 11 and 12. Now I know it. Now, now thou hast offered up thine only Isaac, thine all, at the bidding of thy God. Now I know it. The fear of God is not presently discerned in the heart and life of a man. Abraham had long before this done many a holy duty and showed much willingness of heart

Starting point is 02:39:46 to observe and do the will of God. Yet you will not find, as I remember, that he had this testimony from heaven that he feared God till now. But now he has it. now he has it from heaven. Now I know that thou fearest God. Many duties may be done, though I do not say that Abraham did them, without the fear of God, but when a man shall not stick at or withhold his darling from God, when called upon by God to offer it up unto him, that declares yea, and gives conviction to

Starting point is 02:40:14 angels, that now he feareth God. Tenth, there floweth from this godly fear, humility of mind. This is evident, because when the apostle cautions the Romans against the venerent, of spiritual pride. He directs them to the exercise of this blessed grace of fear as its antidote. Be not high-minded, saith he but fear. Romans 11 verse 20. Pride, spiritual pride, which is here set forth by the word high-minded, is a sin of a very high and damnable nature. It was the sin of the fallen angels, and is that which causeth men to fall into the same condemnation. Lest being lifted up with pride, he falls into the condemnation of the devil. Pride, I say, it dams a professor with

Starting point is 02:40:55 the damnation of devils, with the damnation of hill, and therefore it is a deadly, deadly sin. Now against this deadly sin is set the grace of humility, that comely garment, for so the apostle calls it, saying, be clothed with humility. But the question is now, how should we attain to and live in the exercise of this blessed and comely grace? To which the apostle answers, fear, be afraid with godly fear, and thence will follow humility. Be not high-minded but fear, that is fear or be continually afraid and jealous of yourselves and of your own naughty hearts. Also fear, lest at some time or other the devil your adversary should have advantage of you. Fear, lest by forgetting what you are by nature, you also forget the need that you have of

Starting point is 02:41:39 continual pardon, support and supplies from the spirit of grace, and so grow proud of your own abilities or of what you have received of God, and fall into the condemnation of the devil. fear and that will make you little in your own eyes keep you humble put you upon crying to God for protection and upon lying at his foot for mercy that will also make you have low thoughts of your own parts your own doings and cause you to prefer your brother before yourself and so you will walk in humiliation and be continually under the teachings of God and under his conduct in your way the humble God will teach the meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way From this grace of fear then flows this excellent and comely thing humility.

Starting point is 02:42:22 Yea, it also is maintained by this fear. Fear takes off a man from trusting to himself. It puts a man upon trying of all things. It puts a man upon desiring counsel and help from heaven. It makes a man ready and willing to hear instruction, and makes a man walk lowly, softly, and so securely in the way. 11th. There flows from this grace of fear, hope in the mercy of God.

Starting point is 02:42:45 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in them that hope in His mercy. Psalm 147 verse 11. The latter part of the text is an explanation of the former, as if the psalmist had said, They be the men that fear that fear even they that hope in his mercy, for true fear produce of hope in God's mercy. And it is further manifest thus. Fear, true fear of God, inclineth the heart to a serious inquiry after that way of salvation, which God himself has prescribed.

Starting point is 02:43:13 Now the way that God hath appointed by the which the sinner is to obtain the salvation of his soul is his mercy as so and so set forth in the word, and godly fear hath special regard to the word. To this way, therefore, the sinner with this godly fear submits his soul, rolls himself upon it, and so is delivered from that death into which others, for want of this fear of God, do headlong fall. It is, as I also hinted before, the nature of godly fear to be very much putting the soul upon the inquiry, which is and which is not the thing approved of God, accordingly to embrace it or shun it. Now, I say, this fear, having put the soul upon a strict and serious inquiry after the way of salvation, at last it finds it to be by the mercy of God in Christ, therefore this fear

Starting point is 02:43:58 puteth the soul upon hoping also in him for eternal life and blessedness, by which hope he doth not only secure his soul, but becomes a portion of God's delight. The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him, in them that hope in his mercy. Besides, this godly fear carryeth in it, self-evidence that the state of the sinner is happy, because possessed with this happy grace. Therefore, as John saith, we know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren, one John three verse 14. So here the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in them that hope in his mercy. If I fear God, and if my fearing of him is a thing in which he taketh such pleasure, then may I boldly venture to roll myself

Starting point is 02:44:40 for eternal life into the bosom of his mercy, which is Christ. This fear also produceseth hope. If therefore, poor sinner, thou knowest thyself to be one that is possessed with this fear of God, suffer thyself to be persuaded, therefore, to hope in the mercy of God for salvation, for the Lord takes pleasure in thee, and it delights him to see the hope in his mercy. 12. There floweth from this godly fear of God an honest and conscientious use of all those means which God hath ordained, that we should be conversant in for our attention.

Starting point is 02:45:10 salvation. Faith and hope in God's mercy is that which secureth our justification and hope, and, as you have heard, they do flow from this fear. But now, besides faith and hope, there is a course of life in those things, in which God hath ordained us to have our conversation, without which there is no eternal life. He have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. And again, without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Not that faith and hope are deficient, if they be right, but they are both of them counterfeit, when not attended with a reverent use of all the means, upon the reverent use of which the soul is put by this grace of fear. Wherefore, beloved, says Paul,

Starting point is 02:45:51 as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now, much more in mine absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, Romans 6 verse 22, Hebrews 12, verse 14, Philippians 2 verse 11. There is a faith and hope of mercy that may deceive a man, though the faith of God's elect and the hope that purifies the heart never will, because they are alone and not attended with those companions that accompany salvation, Hebrews 6 verses 3 to 8. But now this godly fear carries in its bowels, not only a moving of the soul to faith and hope in God's mercy,

Starting point is 02:46:25 but an earnest provocation to the holy and reverent use of all the means that God has ordained for a man to have his conversation in order to his eternal salvation. Work out your salvation with fear. Not that work is meritorious or such that can purchase eternal life, for eternal life is obtained by hope in God's mercy, but this hope, if it be right, is attended with this godly fear, which fear puteth the soul upon a diligent use of all those means that may tend to the strengthening of hope, and so to the making of us holy in all manner of conversation, that we may be meat to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Starting point is 02:47:02 For hope purifieth the heart, if fear of God shall be its companion, and so maketh a man a vessel of mercy prepared unto glory. Paul bids Timothy to fly pride, covetousness, doting about questions and the like, and to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay whole on eternal life,

Starting point is 02:47:22 one Timothy six. So Peter bids that we add to our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge, temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, charity. adding, for if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor

Starting point is 02:47:42 unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. For so an entrance shall we ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1 v. 5 to 11. The sum of all which is that which was before mentioned to it to work out. our own salvation with fear and trembling, for none of these things can be conscientiously done, but by and with the help of this blessed grace of fear.

Starting point is 02:48:15 Thirteenth, there flows from this fear, this godly fear, a great delight in the holy commands of God, that is a delight to be conformable unto them. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. Psalm 112 verse 1. This confirmeth that which was said before to it, that this fear provoketh to a holy and reverent use of the means, for that cannot be, when there is not an holy, yea, a great delight in the commandments, wherefore this fear maketh thee sinner to abhor that which is sin, because that is contrary to the object of his delight. A man cannot delight himself at the same time in things

Starting point is 02:48:52 directly opposite one to another, as sin and the holy commandment is. Therefore Christ saith of the servant, he cannot love God and mammon. He cannot serve God and mammon. If he cleaves to the one he must hate and despise the other. They cannot at the same time be service to both, because that themselves are at enmity one with the other. So is sin and the commandment. Therefore, if a man delighteth himself in the commandment, he hateth that which is opposite, which is sin. How much more, when he greatly delighteth in the commandment? Now, this holy fear of God, it taketh the heart and affections from sin, and seteth them upon the holy commandment. Therefore such a man is rightly esteemed blessed, for no profession makes a man blessed, but that which is accompanied with an alienation

Starting point is 02:49:37 of the heart from sin, nor doth anything do that when this holy fear is wanting. It is from this fear, then, that love to and delight in the holy commandment floweth, and so by that the sinner is kept from those falls and dangers of miscarrying that other professors are so subject to. It greatly delights in the commandment. Fourteenth, lastly, there floweth from this fear of God enlargement of heart. Then thou shalt see and flow together, and thine heart shall fear and be enlarged, Isaiah 60 verse 5. Thine heart shall fear and be enlarged.

Starting point is 02:50:12 Enlarged to Godward, enlarged to his ways, enlarged to his holy people, enlarged in love after the salvation of others. Indeed, when this fear of God is wanting, though the profession be never so famous, the heart is shut up and straightened, and nothing is done in that princely free spirit which is called the spirit of the fear of the Lord. in verse 12, Isaiah 11, verse 2. But with grudging legally, with desire of vain glory, this enlargedness of heart is wanting, for that flows from this fear of the Lord. Thus I have showed you both what this fear of God is, what it flows from, and also what doth flow from it. I come now to show you some of the privileges of them that thus do fear the Lord. End of Section 12

Starting point is 02:50:57 Section 13 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan This Librevon's recording is in the public domain Of the privileges of them that thus do fear the Lord Having thus briefly handled in particular thus far this fear of God I shall now show you certain of the excellent privileges of them that fear the Lord Not that they are not privileges that have been already mentioned For what greater privileges than to have this fear producing in the soul such excellent things so necessary for us for good, both with reference to this world and to that

Starting point is 02:51:35 which is to come. But because those fourteen above named do rather flow from this grace of fear where it is than from a promise to the person that hath it, therefore I have chosen rather to discourse of them as the fruits and effects of fear than otherwise. Now besides all these, there is entailed by promise to the man that hath this fear many other blessed privileges, the which I shall now, in a brief way, lay open unto you. First privilege, then. That man that feareth the Lord has a grant and a license to trust in the Lord, with an affirmation that he is their help and their shield.

Starting point is 02:52:09 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord, he is their help and their shield. Psalm 115 verse 11. Now what a privilege is this, an exhortation in general to sinners, as sinners to trust in him, is a privilege great and glorious. but for a man to be singled out from his neighbours, for a man to be spoken to from heaven, as it were by name, and to be told that God hath given him a license, a special and peculiar grant to trust in him, this is abundantly more, and yet this is the grant that God hath given that man. He hath, I say, a license to do it, a license indicted by the Holy Ghost, and left upon record for those to be born that shall fear the Lord to trust in him. And not only so, but as the text affirmeth, he is their help and their shield. Their help under all their weaknesses and infirmities, and a shield to defend them against all the assaults of the devil and this world. So then the man that feareth the Lord is licensed to make the Lord his stay and God of his salvation,

Starting point is 02:53:10 the succour and deliverer of his soul. He will defend him because his fear is in his heart. O ye servants of the Lord, ye that fear him, live in the comfort of this, boldly make use of it when you are in straits and put your trust under the shadow of his wings, for indeed he would have you do so, because you do fear the Lord. Second privilege, God hath also proclaimed concerning the man that feareth the Lord, that he will also be his teacher and guide in the way that he shall choose, and hath moreover promised concerning such that their souls shall dwell at ease. What man is he that feareth the Lord, says David, him shall I teach in the way that he shall choose, Psalm 25 verse 12.

Starting point is 02:53:54 Now to be taught of God, what like it? Yea, what like to be taught in the way that thou shalt choose. Thou hast chosen the way of life, God's way, but perhaps thy ignorance about it is so great, and those that tempt thee to turn aside so many and so subtle, that they seem to outwith thee and confound thee with their guile. Well, but the Lord whom thou fearest will not leave thee to thy ignorance, nor yet to thine enemy's power or subtlety, but will take it upon himself to be thy teacher and thy guide, and that in the way that thou hast chosen.

Starting point is 02:54:27 Here then, and behold thy privilege, O thou that fearest the Lord, and whoever wanders, turns aside and swerveth from the way of salvation, whoever is benighted and lost in the midst of darkness, thou shalt find the way to the heaven and the glory that thou hast chosen. Further, he doth not only say that he will teach them the way, for that must of necessity be supplied, but he says also that he will teach such in it. Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. This argueth, that, as thou shalt know, so the way shall be made by the communion that thou shalt have with God therein, sweet and pleasant to thee. For this text promiseth unto the man that feareth the Lord, the presence, company, and discovery of the mind of God,

Starting point is 02:55:12 while he is going in the way that he hath chosen. It is said of the good scribe that he is instructed unto as well as into the way of the kingdom of God. Matthew 13 verse 52. Instructed unto, that is, he hath the heart and mind of God still discovered to him in the way that he hath chosen, even all the way from this world to that which is to come, even until he shall come to the very gate and door of heaven. What the disciples said was the effect of the presence of Christ, to it, that their hearts did burn within them while he talked to them by the way, shall be also fulfilled in thee. He will meet with thee in the way, talk with thee in the way, he will teach thee in the way that thou shalt choose. Luke 24 verse 32. Third privilege, dost thou fear the Lord? He will open his secret

Starting point is 02:55:57 unto thee, even that which he hath hid and keeps close from all the world, to wit the secret of his covenant and of thy concern therein. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant. Psalm 25 verse 14. This then further confirmeth what was said but just above, his secret shall be with them, and his covenant shall be showed unto them, his secret to it, that which hath been kept hid from ages and generations, that which he manifesteth only to the saints, or holy ones, that is, his Christ, for he it is that is hid in God, and that no man can know but he to whom the father shall reveal him, Matthew 11, verse 27. But, oh, what is there wrapped up in this Christ, this secret of God?

Starting point is 02:56:45 why all treasures of life, of heaven and happiness. In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily. Colossians too. This also is that hidden one that is so full of grace to save sinners and so full of truth and faithfulness to keep promise and covenant with them, that their eyes must needs convey, even by every glance they make upon his person, officers and relation,

Starting point is 02:57:11 such affecting ravishments to the heart, that it would please them to say, see him, even to be killed with that sight. This secret of the Lord shall be, nay, is, with them that fear him, for he dwelleth in their heart by faith, and he will show them his covenant, that is the covenant that is confirmed of God in Christ, that everlasting and eternal covenant, and show him too that he himself is wrapped up therein, as in a bundle of life with the Lord is God. These are the thoughts, purposes, and promises of God to them that fear him. Fourth privilege

Starting point is 02:57:45 Dost thou fear the Lord His eye is always over thee for good To keep thee from all evil Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him Upon them that hope in his mercy To deliver their soul from death And to keep them alive in famine Psalm 33 verses 18 and 19

Starting point is 02:58:04 His eye is upon them That is to watch over them for good He that keepeth Israel Neither slumbers nor sleeps His eyes are upon them and he will keep them as a shepherd doth his sheep, that is, from those wolves that seek to devour them, and to swallow them up in death. His eyes are upon them, for they are the object of his delight, the rarities of the world, in whom saith he is all my delight. His eye is upon them, as I said before,

Starting point is 02:58:29 to teach them, to teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalm 32 verse 8, 2 Chronicles 7 verses 15 and 16. have the Lord therefore is upon them, not to take advantage of them, to destroy them for their sins, but to guide, to help, and deliver them from death. From that death that would feed upon their souls, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Take death here for death spiritual and death eternal, and the famine here, not for that that is for want of bread and water, but for that which comes on many,

Starting point is 02:59:07 for want of the word of the Lord. Revelation 20 verse 14 Amos 8 verses 11 and 12 And then the sense is this The man that feareth the Lord Shall neither die spiritually nor eternally For God will keep him with his eye From all those things

Starting point is 02:59:23 That would in such a manner kill him Again should there be a famine of the word Should there want both the word And them that preach it in the place that thou dost dwell Yet bread shall be given thee And thy water shall be sure Thou shalt not die of the famine Because thou fearest God

Starting point is 02:59:38 I say that man shall not. Behold he shall not because he feareth God, and this the next head doth yet more fully manifest. Fifth privilege. Dost thou fear God? Fear him for this advantage more and more. O fear the Lord ye his saints, for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord that fear him shall not want any good thing. Psalm 34 v. 9 and 10. not anything that God sees good for them shall those men want that fear the Lord if health will do them good if sickness will do them good

Starting point is 03:00:15 if riches will do them good if poverty will do them good if life will do them good if death will do them good then they shall not want them neither shall any of these come nigh them if they will not do them good the lions the wicked people of the world

Starting point is 03:00:29 that fear not God are not made sharers in this great privilege all things fall out to them contrary because they fear not God In the midst of their sufficiency They are in want of that good That God puts into the worst things That a man that feareth God

Starting point is 03:00:42 Doth meet with in the world Sixth privilege Dost thou fear God He hath given charge of the armies of heaven To look after, take charge of To camp about and to deliver thee The angel of the Lord Encampeth round about them that fear him

Starting point is 03:00:58 And delivereth them Psalm 34 verse 7 This also is a privilege Entailed to them that in all generations fear the Lord The angels, the heavenly creatures, have it in commission to take the charge of them that fear the Lord. One of them is able to slay of men in one night, one hundred and eighty-five thousand. These are they that camped about Elisha like horses of fire and chariots of fire, when the enemy came to destroy him.

Starting point is 03:01:23 They also helped Hezekiah against the band of the enemy, because he feared God. Two kings six, verse 17, Isaiah 37, verse 36, Jeremiah 26, verse 19. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them, that is, lest the enemy should set upon them on any side, but let him come where he will, behind or before, on this side or that, the angel of the Lord is there to defend them. The angel, it may be spoken in the singular number, perhaps, to show that everyone that feareth God hath his angel to attend on him and serve him. When the church in the Acts was told that Peter stood at the door and knocked, at first they countered the messenger mad, but when she did constantly,

Starting point is 03:02:03 firm it, they said, it is his angel. Acts 12, verses 13 to 15. So Christ saith of the children that came unto him, their angels behold the face of my father which is in heaven. Their angels, that is, those of them that feared God, had each of them his angel, who had a charge from God to keep them in their way. We little think of this, yet, this is the privilege of them that fear the Lord. Yea, if need be, they shall all come down to help them and to deliver them, rather than, contrary to the mind of their God they should by any be abused. Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Hebrews 1 verse 14. Question. But how do they deliver them? For so says the text, the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear

Starting point is 03:02:49 him and delivereth him. Answer, the way that they take to deliver them that fear the Lord is sometimes by smiting of their enemies with blindness that they might not find them. And so they served the enemies of lot. Genesis 19, verses 10 and 11, sometimes by smiting of them with deadly fear, and so they served those that lay siege against Samaria, to King 7 verse 6, and sometimes by smiting of them, even with death itself, and thus they served Herod, after he had attempted to kill the apostle James, and also sought to vex certain others of the church, Acts 12. These angels, that are servants to them that fear the Lord, are them that will, if God doth bid them, revenge the quarrel of his servants upon the stoutest monarch on earth this therefore is a glorious privilege of the men that fear the lord alas they are some of them so mean that they are counted not worth taking notice of by the high ones of the world but their bettors do respect them

Starting point is 03:03:46 the angels of god count not themselves too good to attend on them and camp about them to deliver them this then is the man that hath his angel to wait upon him even he that feareth god seventh privilege Dost thou fear the Lord? Salvation is nigh unto thee. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 85 verse 9. This is another privilege for them that fear the Lord. I told you before that the angel of the Lord did encamp about them, but now he saitheth, his salvation is also nigh them. The witch, although it doth not altogether exclude the conduct of angels, but include them, yet it looketh further. Surely his salvation, his saving, pardoning grace. is nigh them that fear him, that is, to save them out of the hand of their spiritual enemies. The devil and sin and death do always wait even to devour them that fear the Lord, but to deliver them from these, his salvation doth attend them. So then, if Satan tempts, here is their salvation nigh. If sin by breaking forth beguiles them, here is God's salvation nigh them. Yea, if death itself shall suddenly seize upon them, why, here is their God's salvation nigh them.

Starting point is 03:04:58 I have seen that great men's little children must go no whither without their nurses be at hand. If they go abroad, their nurses must go with them. If they go to meals, their nurses must go with them. If they go to bed, their nurses must go with them. Yea, and if they fall asleep, their nurses must stand by them. O my brethren, those little ones that fear the Lord, they are the children of the highest, therefore they shall not walk alone. Be at their spiritual meats alone, go to their sick-beds, or to their graves alone.

Starting point is 03:05:28 of their God is nigh them, to deliver them from the evil. This is then the glory that dwelleth in the land of them that fear the Lord. Eighth privilege. Dost thou fear the Lord? Harken yet again. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children. Psalm 103 verse 17.

Starting point is 03:05:49 This still confirms what was last asserted, that his salvation is nigh unto them. His salvation, that is, pardoning mercy. that is nigh them. But mind it that he says it is nigh them, but mind it there he says it is nigh them, but here it is upon them. His mercy is upon them, it covereth them all over. It encompasses them about as with a shield. Therefore they are said in another place to be clothed with salvation and covered with the robe of righteousness. The mercy of the Lord is upon them, that is, as I said, to shelter and defend them. The mercy, the pardoning, preserving mercy, the mercy of the Lord is

Starting point is 03:06:28 upon them. Who is he then that can condemn them? Romans 8. But there is yet more behind. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them. It was designed for them before the world was, and shall be upon them when the world itself is ended. From everlasting to everlasting, it is on them that fear him. This from everlasting to everlasting is that by which in another place the eternity of God himself is declared. From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 90 verse 2. The meaning then may be this, that, so long as God hath his being, so long shall the man that feareth him find mercy at his hand. According to that of Moses, the eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms, and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee, and shall say destroy them. Deuteronmi 33 verse 27.

Starting point is 03:07:21 Child of God, thou that fearest God, here is mercy nigh thee, mercy enough, everlasting mercy upon thee. This is long-lived mercy. It will live longer than thy sin. It will live longer than temptation. It will live longer than thy sorrows. It will live longer than thy persecutors. It is mercy from everlasting to contrive thy salvation, and mercy too everlasting, to weather it out with all thy adversaries.

Starting point is 03:07:47 Now what can hell and death do to him that hath this mercy of God upon him, and this hath the man that feareth the Lord? Take that other blessed word, and, O, thou must be thou must. man that fearest the Lord, hang it like a chain of gold about thy neck. As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him. Psalm 103, verse 11, if mercy as big, as high, and as good as heaven itself will be a privilege, the man that feareth God shall have a privilege. Ninth privilege. Dost thou fear God? Like as a father pittieth his children, so the Lord pittieth them that fear him. Psalm 103, verse.

Starting point is 03:08:28 13. The Lord pitieth them that fear him, that is condoleth and is affected, feeleth and sympathiseth with them in all their afflictions. It is a great matter for a poor man to be in this manner in the affections of the great and mighty, but for a poor sinner to be thus in the heart and affections of God, and they that fear him are so, this is astonishing to consider. In his love and in his pity, in his love and in his pity. In all their affliction he was afflicted. and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bare them and carried them all the days of old.

Starting point is 03:09:07 Isaiah 63 verse 9, I say, in that he is said to pity them, it is as much as to say he condoleth, feeleth, and sympathiseth with them in all their afflictions and temptations. So that this is the happiness of him that feareth God. He has a God to pity him, and to be touched with all his miseries.

Starting point is 03:09:26 It is said in judges his soul, soul was grieved for the misery of Israel, Judges 10, verse 16, and in the Hebrews, he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and can succour them that are tempted. Chapter 4, 15, Chapter 2, verses 17, and 18. But further, let us take notice of the comparison, as a father pittieth his children, so the Lord pittieth them that fear him. Here is not only pity, but the pity of a relation of a father. It is said, in another place, can a woman, a mother, forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb. Yea, they may, yet will not I forget thee.

Starting point is 03:10:06 The pity of neighbours and acquaintance helpeth in times of distress, but the pity of a father and a mother is pity with an over and above. The Lord, says James, is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. Pharaoh called Joseph his tender father, because he provided for him against the famine, but how tender a father is God, how full of bowels, how full of pity, James 5 verse 11, Genesis 41 verse 43. It is said that when Ephraim was afflicted, God's bowels were troubled for him, and turned within him towards him.

Starting point is 03:10:38 Oh, that the man that feareth the Lord did but believe the pity and bowels that are in the heart of God and his father towards him, Jeremiah 31, verses 18 to 20. Tenth privilege. Doth thou fear God? He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him. He also will hear their cry and save them. Psalm 154 verse 19 Almost all those places

Starting point is 03:11:01 That make mention of the men that fear God To insinuate as if they were still under affliction Or in danger by reason of an enemy But I say Here is still their privilege Their God is their father and pities them He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him Where now is the man that feareth the Lord

Starting point is 03:11:20 Let him hearken to this What sayest thou poor soul Will this content thee The Lord will fulfil thy desires. It is intimated of Adonijah that David his father did let him have his head and his will in all things. His father, says the text, had not displeased him at any time in so much as saying, Why hast thou done so? One Kings one verse six. But here is more, here is a promise to grant thee the whole desire of thy heart, according to the prayer of holy David. The Lord grant thee

Starting point is 03:11:50 according to thine own heart and fulfil all thy counsel, and again the Lord fulfil all thy petitions Psalm 20. O thou that feareth the Lord, what is thy desire? All my desire, says David, is all my salvation to Samuel 23 verse 5. So sayest thou, all my salvation is all my desire. Well, the desire of thy soul is granted thee, yea, God himself hath engaged himself, even to fulfil this thy desire. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him. He also will hear their cry and will save them. O this desire when it cometh, what a tree of life will it be to thee? Thou desirest to be rid of thy present trouble, the Lord shall rid thee out of trouble. Thou desirest to be delivered from temptation, the Lord shall deliver thee out of temptation.

Starting point is 03:12:36 Thou desirest to be delivered from thy body of death, and the Lord shall change this thy vile body, that it may be like to his glorious body. Thou desirest to be in the presence of God, and among the angels in heaven. This thy desire also shall be fulfilled, and thou shall be made. equal to the angels. Exodus 6 verse 6, 2 Peter 2 verse 9, Philippians 3 versus 20 and 21. Luke 16 verse 22, chapter 20 verse 35 and 36. Oh, but it is long first. Well, learn first to live upon thy portion in the promise of it, and that will make thy expectation of it sweet. God will fulfill thy desires. God will do it, though it tarry long. Wait for it because it will surely come,

Starting point is 03:13:21 it will not tarry. 11th privilege. Dost thou fear God? The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him. Psalm 147 verse 11. They that fear God are among his chief delights. He delights in his son, he delights in his works, and takes pleasure in them that fear him.

Starting point is 03:13:39 As a man takes pleasure in his wife, in his children, in his gold, in his jewels, so the man that fears the Lord is the object of his delight. He takes pleasure in their prosperity and therefore sendeth them health from the same. sanctuary and makes them drink of the river of his pleasures. Psalm 35 verse 27. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. Psalm 36 verse 8. That or those that we take pleasure in,

Starting point is 03:14:08 that or those we love to beautify and adorn with many ornaments. We count no cost too much to be bestowed on those in whom we place our delight, and whom we make the object of our pleasure. and even thus it is with God. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people, and what followeth, He will beautify the meek with salvation, Psalm 149 verse 4. Those in whom we delight we take pleasure in their actions,

Starting point is 03:14:34 yea we teach them and give them such rules and laws to walk by, as may yet make them that we love more pleasurable in our eyes. Therefore, they that fear God, since they are the object of his pleasure, are taught to know how to please him in everything, on Thessalonians 4 verse 1. And hence it is said that he is ravished with their looks, that he delighteth in their cry, and that he is pleased with their walking. Canticles 4 verse 9, Proverbs 15 verse 8, chapter 11 verse 20.

Starting point is 03:15:03 Those in whom we delight and take pleasure, many things we will bear and put up that they do, though they be not according to our minds. A man will suffer that in and put up that at, the hand of the child or wife of his pleasure, that he will not pass by or put up his, in another. They are my jewels, says God, even them that fear me, and I will spare them, in all their comings short of my will, even as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3, verses 16, and 17. Oh, how happy is the man that feareth God, his good thoughts, his good attempts to serve him, and his good life pleases him, because he

Starting point is 03:15:39 feareth God. You know how pleasing in our eyes the actions of our children are, when we know that they do what they do even of a reverent fear and awe of us, yea, though that which they do amounts but to little, we take it well at their hands and are pleased therewith. The woman that cast in her two mites into the treasury cast in not much, for they both did but make one farthing. Yet how doth the Lord Jesus trumpet her? He had pleasure in her and in her action.

Starting point is 03:16:10 Mark 12, verses 41 to 44. this therefore that the Lord takeeth pleasure in them that fear him is another of their great privileges 12th privilege doth thou fear God the least dram of that fear giveth the privilege to be blessed with the biggest saint he will bless them that fear the Lord small and great Psalm 115 verse 13 this word small may be taken three ways one for those that are small in esteem for those that are but little accounted of. Judges 6 verse 15 1 Samuel 18 verse 23 Are thou small or little in this sense?

Starting point is 03:16:47 Yet if thou fearest God, thou art sure to be blessed. He will bless them that fear him small and great, Be thou never so small in the world's eyes. In thine own eyes, in the saint's eyes, as sometimes one saint is little in another saint's eyes, yet thou, because thou fearest God, art put among the blessed. 2. By small sometimes is meant those,

Starting point is 03:17:08 that are about small of stature or young in years, little children that are easily passed by and looked over as those that sang Hosanna in the temple were when the Pharisees deridingly said of them to Christ, hearest thou what these say, Matthew 21 verse 16. Well, but Christ would not despise them, of them that feared God, but preferred them by the scripture testimony

Starting point is 03:17:29 far before those that did contemned them. Little children, how small soever, and although of never so small esteem with men, shall also if they fear the Lord be blessed with the greatest saints, he will bless them that fear him small and great. Three, by small, may sometimes be meant those that are small in grace or gifts. These are said to be the least in the church that is under this consideration, and so are by it least esteemed, Matthew 25, verse 45.

Starting point is 03:17:57 Thus also is that of Christ to be understood, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, he did it not to me. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 4 Are thou in thine own thoughts or in the thoughts of others Of these last small ones, small in grace, small in gifts, small in esteem upon this account? Yet if thou fearest God, if thou fearest God indeed, thou art certainly blessed with the best of saints. The least star stands as fixed as the biggest of them all in heaven. He will bless them that fear him small and great.

Starting point is 03:18:29 He will bless them, that is, with the same blessing of eternal life. for the different degrees of grace in saints doth not make the blessing as to its nature differ. It is the same heaven, the same life, the same glory, and the same eternity of felicity, that they are in the text promised to be blessed with. That is observable which I mentioned before, where Christ at the day of judgment, particularly mentioneth and owneth the least. Inasmuch as he did it not to the least of these, the least then was there in his kingdom and in his glory as well as the biggest of all.

Starting point is 03:19:02 He will bless them that fear him small and great. The small are named first in the text, and are so the first in rank. It may be to show that, though they may be slighted and little set by in the world, yet they are much set by in the eyes of the Lord. Are great saints only to have the kingdom and the glory everlasting? Are great saints only to have the kingdom and the glory everlasting? Are great works only to be rewarded? Works that are done by virtue of great grace and the abundance of the gifts of the Holy Ghost?

Starting point is 03:19:31 no whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple verily i say unto you he shall in no wise lose his a disciple's reward mark here is but a little gift a cup of cold water and that given to a little saint but both taken special notice of by our lord jesus christ matthew ten verse forty two he will give reward to his servants the prophets and to his saints and to them that fear his name small and great. Revelation 11 verse 18. The small therefore among them that fear God are blessed with the great as the great, with the same salvation, the same glory, and the same eternal life, and they shall have, even as the great ones also shall,

Starting point is 03:20:15 as much as they can carry, as much as their hearts, souls, bodies, and capacities can hold. Thirteenth privilege, dost thou fear God, why the Holy Ghost hath on purpose indicted for thee, a whole sum to sing concerning thyself, so that thou mayest, even as thou art in thy calling, bed, journey, or whenever, sing out thine own blessed and happy condition to thine own comfort, and the comfort of thy fellows.

Starting point is 03:20:41 The psalm is called the 128th Psalm, I will set it before thee, both as it is in the reading and in the singing Psalms. Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways, for thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands. Happy shall thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house, thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

Starting point is 03:21:11 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion, and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children and peace upon Israel. As it is sung, Blessed art thou that fearest God and walkest in his way. for of thy labour thou shalt eat happy art thou i say like fruitful vines on thy house side so doth thy wife spring out thy children stand like olive plants thy table round about thus art thou blest that fearest god and he shall let thee see the promised jerusalem and her felicity thou shalt thy children's children see to thy great joy's increase and likewise grace on israel prosperity and peace And now I have done with the privileges when I have removed one objection. Objection, but the scripture says perfect love casteth out fear, and therefore it seems that saints,

Starting point is 03:22:07 after that a spirit of adoption has come, should not fear, but to their duty, as another scripture saith without it, 1 John 4, verse 18, Luke 1, verse 74 and 75. Answer, fear, as I have showed you, may be taken several ways. One, it may be taken for the fear of devils, two, it may be taken for the fear of devils, Two, it may be taken for the fear of reprobates. Three, it may be taken for the fear that is wrought in the godly by the spirit as a spirit of bondage. Or four, it may be taken for the fear that I have been but now discoursing of. Now, the fear that perfect love casts out cannot be that sun-like, gracious fear of God

Starting point is 03:22:42 that I have in this last place been treating of, because that fear that love casts out has torment, but so has not the sun-like fear. Therefore the fear that love casts out is either that fear that is like the fear of devils and reprobates, or that fear that is begot in the heart by the spirit of God as a spirit of bondage, or both. For indeed all these kinds of fear have torment, and therefore may be cast out, and are so by the spirit of adoption which is called the spirit of faith and love, when he comes with power into the soul, so that without this fear we should serve him. But to argue from these texts that we ought not to fear God,

Starting point is 03:23:19 or to mix fear with our worship of him is as much as to say that by the spirit of adoption we are made very rogues. For not to fear God is by the scripture applied to such. Luke 23 verse 40, but for what I have affirmed, the scripture doth plentifully confirm, saying, happy is the man that feareth always, and again, it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him. Fear, therefore, the spirit of the fear of the Lord is a grace that greatly beautifies a Christian, his words and all his ways.

Starting point is 03:23:50 Wherefore now, let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. To Chronicles 19 verse 7. I come now to make some use and application of this doctrine. End of Section 13. Section 14 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan.

Starting point is 03:24:20 This Librevalch's recording is in the public domain. the use of this doctrine having proceeded thus far about this doctrine of the fear of god i now come to make some use and application of the whole and my use first of examination first use shall be a use of examination is this fear of god such an excellent thing is it attended with so many blessed privileges then this should put us every soul of us upon a diligent examination of ourselves to wit whether this grace be in us or not for, if it be, then thou art one of these blessed ones, to whom belong these glorious privileges, for thou hast an interest in every of them. But if it shall appear that this grace is not in thee, then thy state is fearfully miserable, as hath partly been manifest already, and will further be seen in what comes after. Now the better to help thee to consider, and not to miss in finding out what thou art in thy self-examination, I will speak to this, first in general, second in

Starting point is 03:25:22 particular. First in general, no man brings this grace into the world with him, everyone by nature is destitute of it, for naturally none fear God. There is no fear of God, none of this grace of fear before their eyes. They do not so much as know what it is. For this fear flows, as was showed before, from a new heart, faith, repentance and the like, of which new heart faith and repentance if thou be void thou art also void of this godly fear men must have a mighty change of heart and life or else they are strangers to this fear of god alas how ignorant are the most of this yea and some are not afraid to say they are not changed nor desire so to be can these fear god can they be be possessed with this grace of fear no because they have no changes therefore they fear not god

Starting point is 03:26:12 Psalm 55 verse 19, Psalm 36 verse 1, Romans 3 verse 18. Wherefore sinner, consider, whoever thou art that art destitute of this fear of God, thou art void of all other graces. For this fear, as also I have showed, floweth from the whole stock of grace where it is. There is not one of the graces of the spirit, but this fear is in the bowels of it. Yea, as I may say, this fear is the flower and beauty of every grace. neither is there anything let it look as much like grace as it will that will be counted so indeed, if the fruit thereof be not this fear of God.

Starting point is 03:26:49 Wherefore I say again, consider well of this matter, for, as thou shalt be found with reference to this grace, so shall thy judgment be. I have but briefly treated of this grace, yet have endeavoured with words as fit as I could, to display it in its colours before thy face, first by showing you what this fear of God is, then what it flows from, as also what doth flow from it, to which, as was said before, I have added several privileges that are annexed to this fear, that by all, if it may be, thou mayest see it if thou hast it, and thyself without it, if thou hast it not. Wherefore I refer thee thither again for information in this thing,

Starting point is 03:27:30 or if thou art loath to give the book a second reading, but wilt go on to the end now, thou art gotten hither, then, secondly and particularly, I conclude with these several propositions concerning those that fear not God. One, that man that is proud, and of a high and lofty mind, fears not God. This is plain from the exotation, be not high-minded but fear, Romans 11 verse 20. Here you see that a high mind and the fear of God are set in direct opposition the one to the other, and there is in them closely concluded by the apostle, that where indeed the one, is there cannot be the other. Where there is a high mind there is not the fear of God, and where

Starting point is 03:28:11 there is the fear of God, the mind is not high but lowly. Can a man at the same time be a proud man and fear God too? Why then, is it said, God beholdeth everyone that is proud and abases him, and again he beholds the proud afar off. He, therefore, that is proud in his person, of his riches, of his office, of his parts, and the like, feareth not God. It is also manate to fessed further, for God resisteth the proud, which he would not do if he feared him. But, in that he sets him at such a distance from him, in that he testifies that he will abase him and resist him, it is evident that he is not the man that hath this grace of fear, for that man, as I have showed you, is the man of God's delight, the object of his pleasure. Psalm 138, verse

Starting point is 03:28:57 6, James 4, 6, 1 Peter 5, 5, Malachi 4 verse 1. 2. 2. The covetous man feareth not God, This also is plain from the word because it seteth covetousness and the fear of God in direct opposition. Men that fear God are said to hate covetousness. Exodus 18, verse 21. Besides, the covetous man is called an idolater and is said to have no part in the kingdom of Christ and of God. And again, the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhoreth. Ezekiel 33 verse 31, Ephesians 5 verse 5, Psalm 10 verse 3. hearken to this you that hunt the world to take it you that care not how you get it so you get the world also you that make even religion your stalking horse to get the world you fear not god

Starting point is 03:29:48 and what will you do whose hearts go after your covetousness you who are led by covetousness up and down as it were by the nose sometimes to swear to lie to cozen and cheat and to fraud when you can get the advantage to do it you are far very far from the fear of God. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, for so the covetous are called, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4 verse 4. 3. The riotous eaters of flesh have not the fear of God, for this is done without fear, Jude 12. Gluttony is a sin that'll taken notice of and is little repented of by those that use it, but yet it is odious in the sight of God, the practice of it, a demonstration of the want of his fear in the heart. Yea, so odious is it that God forbids that his people should so much as company with such.

Starting point is 03:30:45 Be not, saith he, among wine-bibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh, Proverbs 23 verse 20. But he further tells us that they that are such are spots and blemishes to those that keep them company, for indeed they fear not God. 2 Peter 2 verse 13 Romans 13 verse 13 1 Peter 4 verse 4 Alas some men are as if they were for noughtils born but to eat and to drink To pamper their carcasses with the dainties of this world Quite forgetting why God sent them hither But such as is said fear not God and so consequently

Starting point is 03:31:19 Of the number of them upon whom the day of judgment will come at unawares Luke 21 verse 34 4 The liar is one that fears not God This also is evident from the plain text. Thou hast the Lord, and has not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart. Have not I held my peace even of old, saith the Lord, and thou fearest me not? Isaiah 57 verse 11.

Starting point is 03:31:43 What lie this was is not material. It was a lie or a cause of lying that is here rebuked, and the person or persons in this practice, as is said, were such as feared not God. A cause of lying and the fear of God cannot stand together. This sin of lying is a common sin, and it walketh in the world in several guises. There is the profane scoffing liar. There is the cunning artificial liar. There is the hypocritical religious liar, with liars of other ranks and degrees.

Starting point is 03:32:13 But none of them all have the fear of God, nor shall any of them, they not repenting, escape the damnation of hill. All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Revelation 21 verse 8 Heaven and the New Jerusalem are not a place for such and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth

Starting point is 03:32:34 neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie Verse 27 Therefore another scripture says that all liars are without For without are dogs and sorcerers and whormongers and murderers and idolaters And whosoever loveth and maketh a lie Revelation 22 verse 15

Starting point is 03:32:51 But this should not be their sentence, judgment and condemnation if they that are liars were such as had in them this blessed fear of God. Five, they fear not God who cry unto him for help in the time of their calamity, and when they are delivered, they return to their former rebellion. This, Moses, in a spirit of prophecy, asserteth at the time of the mighty judgment of the hail. Pharaoh then desired him to pray to God, that he would take away that judgment from him. Well, so I will, said Moses, but as for thee and thy servants, I know that you will not fear the Lord God, Exodus 9 verse 30. As who should say, I know that so soon as this judgment is removed, you will to your old

Starting point is 03:33:35 rebellion again, and what greater demonstration can be given that such a man feareth not God, then to cry to God to be delivered from affliction to prosperity, and to spend that prosperity in rebellion against him. This is crying for mercies that they may be spent, or that we may have something to spend upon our lusts, and in the service of Satan, John 4, verses 1 to 3. Of these, God complains in the 16th of Ezekiel, and in the second of Hosea, thou hast saith God, taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and made us to thyself images, etc. Ezekiel 16, verse 17. This was for want of the fear of God. Many of this kind there be now in the world, both of men and

Starting point is 03:34:21 women and children. Art not thou that readest this book of this number? Has thou not cried for health when sick, for wealth when poor, when lame with strength, when in prison for liberty, and then spent all that thou gotest by thy prayer in the service of Satan, and to gratify thy lusts? Look to it, sinner, these things are signs that with thy heart thou fearest not God. Six, they fear not God, that way lay his people, and seek to overthrow them, or to turn them besides the right path, as they are journeying from hence to their eternal rest. This is evident from the plain text. Remember, saith God what Amalek did unto thee by the way when thou wert come forth out of Egypt, how he met thee by the way and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that

Starting point is 03:35:07 were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary, and he feared not God, Deuteronomy 25 verses 17 and 18. Many such Amalekites there be now in the world that set themselves against the feeble of the flock, against the feeble of the flock especially, still smiting them, some by power, some with the tongue, some in their lives and estates, some in their names and reputations, by scandals, slanders, and reproach, but the reason of this, their ungodly practice is this, they fear not God. For did they fear him, they would be afraid to so much as think, much more of attempting to afflict and destroy and calumniate the children of God, but such there have been, such there are, and such there will be in the world, for all men fear not God.

Starting point is 03:35:54 Seven, they fear not God, who see his hand upon backsliders for their sins, and yet themselves will be backsliders also. I saw, saith God, when, for all the causes were by backsliding, Israel committed adultery. I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. Jeremiah 3 verse 8, chapter two verse 19 judah saw that her sister was put away and delivered by god into the hands of shalmaniza who carried her away beyond babylon and yet though she saw it she went and played the harlot also a sign of great hardness of heart and of the want of the fear of god indeed for this fear had it been in her heart it would have taught her to have trembled at the judgment that was executed upon her sister

Starting point is 03:36:42 and not to have gone and played the harlot also and not to have done it while her sister's judgment was in sight and memory. But what is it that a heart that is destitute of the fear of God will not do? No sin comes amiss to such, yea, they will sin, they will do that themselves, for the doing of which they believe some are in hellfire, and all because they fear not God. But pray observe, if those that take not warning when they see the hand of God upon backsliders are said to have none of the fear of God, have they yet think you that lay stumbling blocks in the way of God's people and use devices to cause them to backslide. Yea, rejoice when they can do this mischief to any.

Starting point is 03:37:23 And yet many of this sort there are in the world that even rejoice when they see a professor fall into sin and go back from his profession as if they had found some excellent thing. Eight, they fear not God, who can look upon a land as wallowing in sin and yet are not humbled in the sight thereof. Have ye, said God by the prophet to the Jews, forgotten the wickedness of your fathers and the wickedness of the the kings of Judah and the wickedness of their wives which they have committed in the land of Judah

Starting point is 03:37:50 and in the streets of Jerusalem. They are not humbled to this day, neither have they feared nor walked in my law, Jeremiah 44 verses 9 and 10. Here is a land full of wickedness and none to bewhal it, for they wanted the fear of God and love to walk in his law. But how, say you, if they that are not humbled at their own and others' wickedness are said not of fear, or have the fear of God, What shall we think or say of such that receive, that nourish and rejoice in such wickedness? Do they fear God? Yea, what shall we say of such that are the inventors and promoters of wickedness, as of oaths, beastly talk, and the like?

Starting point is 03:38:31 Do they, do you think, fear God? Once again, what shall we say of such that cannot be content to be wicked themselves, and to invent and rejoice in other men's wickedness, but must hate, reproach, vilify and abuse those that they cannot persuade to be wicked, do they fear God? Nine, they that take more heed to their own dreams than to the word of God, fear not God. This also is plain from the word, for in the multitude of dreams, there are also diverse vanities, but fear thou God, that is, take heed unto his word, Ecclesiastes 5 verse 7, Isaiah 8, verse 20.

Starting point is 03:39:06 Here, the fearing of God is opposed to our overmuch-heeding dreams, and there is implied that it is for the want of the fearing of God, that men so much heed those things. What will they say to this that give more heed to a suggestion that ariseeth from their foolish hearts, or that is cast in thither by the devil, than they do to the holy word of God? These are filthy dreamers. Also, what shall we say to those who are more confident of the mercy of God to their soul, because he hath blessed them with outward things, than they are afraid of his wrath and condemnation, though the whole of the word of God doth fully verify the same?

Starting point is 03:39:41 These are filthy dreamers indeed. A dream is either real or so by way of semblance, and so some men dream sleeping and some waking, Isaiah 29 verse 7. And as those that a man dreams sleeping are caused either by God, Satan, business, flesh or the like, so are they that a man dreams waking to pass by those that we have in our sleep. Men, when bodily awake, may have dreams, that is visions from heaven. Such are all they that have a tendency, to discover to the sinner his state or the state of the church according to the word, but those that are from Satan, business and the flesh, are such, especially the first and last, to it from Satan and the flesh, as tend to embolden men to hope for good, in a way disagreeing with the word of God. These Jude calls filthy dreamers, such whose principles were their dreams, and they led them to defile the flesh that is by fornication and uncleanness, to despise

Starting point is 03:40:39 dominion, that the reins might be laid upon the neck of their lusts, to speak evil of dignities, of those that God had set over them, for their governing in all the law and testament of Christ, these dreamt that to live like brutes, to be greedy of gain and to take away for it, as Cain and Balaam did by their wiles, the lives of the owners thereof would go for good coin in the best of trials. These also Peter speaks of to Peter too, and he makes their dreams that Jude calls so their principle and errors in life and doctrine, you may read of them in that whole chapter, where they are called cursed children, and so by consequence such as fear not God.

Starting point is 03:41:20 10. They fear not God, who are sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, and that oppress the hiling of his wages. It is a custom with some men to keep back by fraud from the hiling that which by covenant they agreed to pay for their labour. Pinching, I say, and parring from them, they do that of right belongs to them, to the making of them cry in the ears of the Lord of sub-ear-ear-four. These fear not God, they are reckoned among the worst of men, and in their day of account God himself will bear witness against them. And I, saith God, will come near to you in judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless,

Starting point is 03:42:03 and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord Malachi 3 verse 5. 11. They fear not God, who instead of pitying of, rail at God's people in their affliction, temptations and persecutions, and rather rejoice and skip for joy, than sympathize with them in their sorrow.

Starting point is 03:42:23 Thus did David's enemies, thus did Israel's enemies, and thus did the thief. He railed at Christ when he hanged upon the cross, and was for that, even by his fellow, accounted for one that feared not God. Luke 23 verse 40, Psalm 35 versus 1, 22 to 26. Read Obadiah 10 to 15, Jeremiah 48 verses 2 to 6. This is a common thing among the children of men, even to rejoice at the hurt of them that fear God, and it ariseth even of an inward hatred to godliness. They hate you,

Starting point is 03:42:56 saith Christ, because they hated me. Therefore Christ takes what is done to his, in this, as done unto himself, and so to holiness of life. But this falls hard upon such as despise at and rejoice to see God's people in their griefs, and that take the advantage as Doggachimated to augment the griefs and afflictions of God's people to Samuel 16 v. 5 and 6. These fear not God, they do this of enmity, and their sin is such as will hardly be blotted out, 1 Kings 2 v. 8 and 9. 12.

Starting point is 03:43:29 They fear not God who are strangers to the effects of fear. If I be a master, where is my fear? That is, show me that I am so by your fear of me, in the effects of your fear of me. You offer polluted bread upon mine altar. This is not a sign that you fear me. Ye offer the blind for sacrifices. Where is my fear? Ye offer the lame and the sick.

Starting point is 03:43:51 These are not the effects of the fear of God, Malachi 1 versus 6 to 8. Sinner, it is one thing to say I fear God and another to fear him indeed. Therefore, as James says, show me thy faith. by thy works, so here God calls for a testimony of thy fear by the effects of fear. I have already showed you several effects of fear. If thou art a stranger to them, thou art a stranger to this grace of fear. Therefore, to conclude this, it is not a feigned profession that will do. Nothing is good here but what is sordered with this fear of God.

Starting point is 03:44:24 And they that fear him are men of truth, men of singleness of heart, perfect, upright, humble, holy men, wherefore reader examine and again I say examine, and lay the word and thy heart together, before that thou concludeest that thou fearest God. What, fear God, and in a state of nature, fear God without a change of heart and life? What, fear God, and be proud and covetous, a wine-bibber, and a riotous eater of flesh? How fear God and a liar, and one that cries for mercies to spend them upon thy lusts? This would be strange. True, thou mayest fear as devils do, but what will that profit?

Starting point is 03:45:01 Thou mayest by thy fear be driven away from God, from his worship, people, and ways, but what will that avail? It may be thou mayest so fear at present as to be a little stopped in thy sinful course. Perhaps thou hast got a knock from the word of God, and are at present a little dazzled and hindered from being in thy former and full career after sin. But what of that? If by thee fear that thou hast, thy heart is not united to God, and to the love of his son, word and people, thy fear is nothing worth.

Starting point is 03:45:31 Many men also are forced to fear God as underlings are forced to fear those that are by force above them. If thou only thus fearest God, it is but a false fear. It flows not from love to God. This fear brings not willing subjection, which indeed brings the effect of right fear, but being overmastered like and hypocrite. Thou subjected thyself by feigned obedience, being forced, I say, by mere dread to do it. Psalm 66 verse 3.

Starting point is 03:45:58 It is said of David that the fame of him went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations, one chronicles 14 verse 17. But what? Did they now love David? Did they now choose him to be their king? No verily, they, many of them, rather hated him, and when they could make resistance against him.

Starting point is 03:46:19 They did even as thou dost, feared but did not love, feared but did not choose his government, that ruled over them. It is also said of Jehoshaphat, when God had subdued before him Amon, Moab, and Mount Sia, that the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of these countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. To Chronicles 20 verse 29. But I say was this fear that is called now the fear of God, anything else but the dread of the greatness of the king. No verily, nor did that dread bring them into a willing subjection to and liking of his laws and

Starting point is 03:46:54 government. It only made them like slaves and underlings stand in fear of his executing the vengeance of God upon them. Therefore still, notwithstanding this fear, they were rebels to him in their hearts, and when occasion and advantage offered themselves, they showed it by rising in rebellion against Israel. This fear therefore provoked but feigned and forced obedience, a right emblem of the obedience of such who being still enemies in their minds to God, are forced by virtue of present conviction to yield a little, even of fear to God, to his word and to his ordinances. Reader, whoever thou art, think of this. It is thy concern, therefore do it, and examine and examine again,

Starting point is 03:47:32 and look diligently to thy heart in thine examination, that it beguile thee not about this thy so great concern, as indeed the fear of God is. One thing more, before I leave thee, let me warn thee of, take heed of deferring to fear the Lord. Some men, when they have had conviction upon their heart, that the fear of God is not in them, have, through the overpowering of their corruptions yet deferred and put off the fear of God from them, as it is said of them in Jeremiah, this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart.

Starting point is 03:48:04 They are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, let us now fear the Lord, Jeremiah 5, verses 23 and 24. They saw that the judgments of God attended them because they did not yet fear God, but that conviction would not prevail with them to say, Let us now fear the Lord. They were for deferring to fear him still. They were for putting off his fear from them longer. Sinner, hast thou deferred to fear the Lord?

Starting point is 03:48:30 Is thy heart still so stubborn as not to say yet? Let us fear the Lord. O, the Lord hath taken notice of this thy rebellion and is preparing some dreadful judgment for thee. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation? as this verse 29 sinner why shouldst thou pull vengeance down upon thee why shouldst thou pull vengeance down from heaven upon thee look up perhaps thou hast already been pulling this great while to pull it down upon thee o pull no longer why shouldst thou be thine own executioner fall down upon thy knees man and up with thy heart and thy hands to the god that dwells in the heavens cry yea cry aloud lord unite mine heart to fear thy name and do not harden mine heart from thy fear. Thus holy men have cried before thee, and by crying have prevented judgment.

Starting point is 03:49:24 End of Section 14. Section 15 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan. This Librevox recording is in the public domain, a few things that may provoke thee to fear the Lord. Before I leave this use, let me give thee a few things that, if God will, may provoke thee to fear the Lord. One, the man that feareth not God, carrieth at worst towards him than the beast, the brute beast doth carry it towards that man. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, yea, and upon every fowl of the air, and upon all that moveth upon the earth and upon all the fishes of the sea, Genesis 9 verse 2. Mark, all my creatures shall fear you and dread you, says God. None of them shall be so hardy as to cast off all reverence of you.

Starting point is 03:50:19 But what a shame is this to man, that God should subject all his creatures to him, and he should refuse to stoop his heart to God. The beast, the bird, the fish, and all have a fear and dread of man, yea, God has put it in their hearts to fear man, and yet man is void of fear and dread, I mean of godly fear of him, that thus lovingly hath put all things under him. Sinner, art thou not ashamed that a silly cow, a sheep, yea, a swine should better observe the lure of his creation, than thou dost the lure of thy God. Two, consider he that will not fear God, God will make him fear him whether he will or no, that is, he that doth not, will not now so fear him as willingly to bow before him and put his neck into his yoke. God will make him fear him when he comes to take vengeance on him. then he will surround him with terror and with fear on every side fear within and fear without fear shall be in the way even in the way that thou goest when thou art going out of this world and that will be dreadful fear ecclesiastes twelve verse five i will bring their fears upon them saith the lord isaiah sixty six verse four three he that fears not god now the lord shall laugh at his fears then sinner god will be even with all them that choose not to have his fear in their hearts, for as he calls and they hear not, so they shall cry, yea howl then, and he will laugh at their fears. I will laugh, saith he, at their destruction.

Starting point is 03:51:50 I will mock when their fear cometh, when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they come upon me, but I will not answer. They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me, for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. 1, verses 27 to 29, Sinner, thou thinkest to escape the fear, but what wilt thou do with the pit? Thou thinkest to escape the pit,

Starting point is 03:52:17 but what wilt thou do with the snare? The snare, say you, what is that? I answer, it is even the work of thine own hands. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. He is snared by the transgression of his lips. Psalm 9 verse 16, Proverbs 12, verse 13. Sinner, what wilt thou do, and thou comest into this snare, that is into the guilt and terror that thy sins will snaffle thee with, when they, like a cord,

Starting point is 03:52:42 are fastened about thy soul. This snare will bring thee back again to the pit which is hell, and then how wilt thou do to be rid of thy fear? The fear, pit, and the snare shall come upon thee, because thou fear is not God. Sinner, are thou one of them that hast cast off fear? Poor man, what wilt thou do when these three things beset thee? whether wilt thou fly for help and where wilt thou leave thy glory if thou flyest from the fear there is the pit

Starting point is 03:53:11 if thou flyest from the pit there is the snare end of section 15 section 16 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan this Librevalk's recording is in the public domain use second an exhortation to fear God second youth my next word shall be an exhortation to fear God I mean an exhortation to saints, O fear the Lord, ye his saints, for there is no want to them that fear him. Not but that every saint doth fear God, but as the apostles saith in another case, I beseech you, do it more and more.

Starting point is 03:53:54 The fear of the Lord, as I have showed you, is a grace of the new covenant, as other saving graces are, and so is capable of being stronger or weaker as other graces are. Wherefore I beseech you, fear him more and more. It is said of Obadiah that he feared the Lord greatly. Every saint fears the Lord, but every saint does not greatly fear him. Oh, there are but few Obadiahs in the world, I mean among these saints on earth. See the whole relation of him. One King's 18.

Starting point is 03:54:23 As Paul said of Timothy, I have none like-minded. So it may be said of some concerning the fear of the Lord, they have scarce a fellow. So it was with Job. There is none like him in the earth, one that feareth God, etc. Job 1 verse 8. There was even none in Job's day that feared God like him. No, there was not one like him in all the oath, but doubtless, there were more in the world that feared God. But this fearing of him greatly, that is the thing that saints should do, and that was the thing that Job did do, and in that he did outstrip his fellows. It is also said of Hananiah that he was a faithful man and feared God above many. Nehemiah 7 verse 2. He also had God, as to the exercise of and growth in this world. grace, the start of many of his brethren. He feared God above many. Now then, seeing this grace admits of degrees, and is in some stronger and in some weaker, let us be all awakened as to other

Starting point is 03:55:19 graces, so to this grace also, that like as you abound in everything, in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also. I will labor to enforce this exhortation upon you by several motives. First, let God's distinguishing love to you, be a motive to you to fear him greatly. He hath put his fear in thy heart, and hath not given that blessing to thy neighbor, perhaps not to thy husband, thy wife, thy child, or thy parent. Oh, what an obligation should this consideration lay upon thy heart greatly to fear the Lord? Remember also, as I have showed in the first part of this book, that this fear of the Lord is his treasure, a choice jewel given only to favorites, and to those

Starting point is 03:56:03 that are greatly beloved. Great gifts naturally tend to oblige, and will do so I trust with thee, when thou shalt ingeniously considerate. It is a sign of a very bad nature when the contrary shows itself. Could God have done more for thee than to have put his fear in thy heart? It is better than to have given thee a place even in heaven without it. Yea, had he given thee all faith, all knowledge, and the tongue of men and angels, and a place in heaven to boot, they had all been short of this gift. of the fear of God in thy heart. Therefore love it, nourish it, exercise it, use all means to cause it to increase and grow in

Starting point is 03:56:40 thy heart, that it may appear it is set by at thy hand, poor sinner. Second, another motive to stir thee up, to grow in this grace of the fear of God, may be the privileges that it lays thee under. What or where wilt thou find in the Bible so many privileges so affectionately entailed to any grace as to this of the fear of God? God speaks of this grace and of the privileges that belong into it, as if, to speak with reverence, he knew not how to have done blessing of the man that hath it. It seems to me, as if this grace of fear is the darling grace, the grace that God sets his heart upon at the highest rate.

Starting point is 03:57:16 As it were, he embraces the hugs and lays the man in his bosom, that hath and grows strong in this grace of the fear of God. See again the many privileges in which the man is interested, that hath this grace in his heart, and see also that there is, and see also that there is a man, There are but few of them, wherever mentioned, but have entailed to them the pronunciation of a blessing, or else that man is spoken of by way of admiration. Third, another motive may be this. The man that groweth in this grace of the fear of the Lord will escape those evils that others will fall into. Where this grace is, it keepeth the soul from final apostasy.

Starting point is 03:57:51 I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Jeremiah 32 verse 40. But yet, if there be not an increase in this grace, grace much evil may attend and be committed notwithstanding. There is a child that is healthy, and hath its limbs and can go, but it is careless. Now the evil of carelessness doth disadvantage at much, carelessness in the cause of stumblings, of fallings, of knocks, and that it falls into the dirt, yea, that sometimes it is burnt, or almost drowned. And thus it is, even with God's people that fear him, because they add not to their fear,

Starting point is 03:58:27 a care of growing more in the fear of God. Therefore they reap damage. whereas, were they more in this fear, it would keep them better, deliver them more, and preserve them from the snares of death. Fourth, another motive may be this, to grow in this grace of the fear of God, is the way to be kept always in a conscientious performance of Christian duties. An increase in this grace, I say, keeps every grace in exercise and the keeping of our graces in their due exercise

Starting point is 03:58:53 produceeth a conscientious performance of duties. Thou hast a watch, perhaps, in thy pocket, but thy hand will not as yet be kept in any good order, but does always give the lie as to the hour of the day. Well, but what is the way to remedy this but to look well to the spring, and the wheels within? For, if they indeed go right, so will the hand do also. This is thy case in spiritual things. Thou art a gracious man and the fear of God is in thee, but yet for all that one cannot well tell by thy life or time of day it is. thou give us no true and constant sign that thou art indeed a Christian.

Starting point is 03:59:31 Why, the reason is, thou dost not look well to this grace of the fear of God. Thou dost not grow and increase in that, but sufferest thy heart to grow careless and hard, and so thy life remiss and worldly. Job's growing great in the fear of God made him a shoo evil. Job 1 and Chapter 2 verse 3. 5th. Another motive is this is the way to be wise indeed. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil.

Starting point is 03:59:59 It doth not say a wise man hath the grace of fear, but a wise man feareth, that is, putteth this grace into exercise. There is no greater sign of wisdom than to grow in this blessed grace. Is it not a sign of wisdom to depart from sins, which are the snares of death and hell? Is it not a sign of wisdom from man, yet more and more to endeavour to interest himself in the love and protection of God?

Starting point is 04:00:23 Is it not a high point of wisdom for a man to be all, always doing that which lays him under the conduct of angels. Surely this is wisdom, and if it be a blessing to have this fear, is it not wisdom to increase in it? Doubtless, it is the highest point of wisdom, as I have showed before, therefore grow therein. Sixth, another motive may be this. It is seemly for saints to fear and increase in this fear of God. He is thy creator. Is it not seemly for creatures to fear and reverence their creator? He is thy king, is it not seemly for subjects to fear and reverence their king. He is thy father. Is it not seemly for children to reverence and fear their father? Yea, and to do it more and more.

Starting point is 04:01:06 Seventh, another motive may be, it is honourable to grow in this grace of fear. When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel. Joseir 13 verse 1. Truly to fear, and to abound in this fear is a sign of a very princely spirit, and the reason is, when I greatly fear my God, I am above the fear of all others, nor can anything in this world, be it never so terrible and dreadful, move me at all to fear them, and hence it is that Christ counsels us to fear. And I say unto you, my friends, saith he, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more they can do. Aye, but this is a high pitch, how should we come by such princely spirits? Well, I will forewarn you whom you shall fear, and by fearing of him arrive at this pitch.

Starting point is 04:01:51 fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hill yea i say unto you fear him look twelve verses four and five indeed this true fear of god sets a man above all the world and therefore it saith again neither fear ye their fear but sanctify the lord god in your hearts and let him be your fear and let him be your dread isaiah eight verses twelve and thirteen your great ranting swaggering roosters that are ignorant of the nature of the fear of the fear of God, counted a poor, sneaking, pitiful, cowardly spirit in men to fear and tremble before the Lord, but whoso looks back to jails and gibbets, to the sword and burning stake shall see that there, in them, has been the most mighty and invincible spirit that has been in the world. Yea, see if God doth not count that the growth of his people in this grace of fear is that which makes them honourable, when he positively excludeth those from a dwelling place in his house that do not honour them that fear him. Psalm 15 verse 4. And he saith moreover a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised. If the world and godless men will not honour these, they shall be

Starting point is 04:03:01 honoured some way else. Such saith he that honour me I will honour, and they shall be honoured in heaven in the churches and among the angels. Eighth, another motive to grow in this fear of God may be, this fear and the increase of it qualifies a man to be put in trust with heavenly and spiritual things, yea, and with earthly things too. One, for heavenly and spiritual things. My covenant, saith God, was with Levi of life and peace, and I gave them to him, for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name, Malachi 2 verse 5. Behold, what a gift, what a mercy, what a blessing this Levi is entrusted with,

Starting point is 04:03:39 to wit with God's everlasting covenant, and with the life and peace that is wrapped up in this covenant. But why is it given to him? The answer is, for the fear wherewith he feared me and was afraid before my name. And the reason is good for this fear of God teaches a man to put a due estimation upon every gift of God bestowed upon us. Also it teaches us to make use of the same with reverence of his name and respect to his glory in most godly wise, all which becomes him that is entrusted with any spiritual gift. The gift here was given to Levi to minister to his brethren doctrinally thereof, for he saith God shall teach Jacob my statutes and Israel my law.

Starting point is 04:04:18 See also Exodus 18 verse 21 and Nehemiah 7 verse 2, with many other places that might be named, and you will find that men fearing God and hating covetousness, that men that fear God above others are entrusted by God, yea, and by his church too, with the trust and ministration of spiritual things before any other in the world. Two, for earthly things. This fear of God qualifies a man to be put in trust with them,

Starting point is 04:04:43 rather than with another. Therefore, God made Joseph, Lord of all Egypt. Obediah, steward of Aham's house. Daniel, Mordecai, and the three children were set over the province of Babylon, and this by the wonderful working hand of God, because he had to dispose of earthly things now, not only in a common way, but for the good of his people in special. True, when there is no special matter or thing to be done by God in a nation for his people, then who will, that is, whether they have grace or no, may have the descent. disposal of those things, but if God has anything in special to bestow upon his people of this world's goods, then he will entrust it in the hands of men fearing God.

Starting point is 04:05:22 Joseph must now be made Lord of Egypt, because Israel must be kept from starving. Obadiah must now be made steward of Ahab's house, because the Lord's prophets must be hid from and fed, in despite of the rage and bloody mind of Jezebel. Daniel, with his companions and Mordecai also, they were all exalted to earthly and temporal dignity, that they might in that state, they being men that abounded in the fear of God, be serviceable to their brethren in their straits and difficulties. Genesis 42, verse 18, chapter 41, verse 39. One King's 18, verse 3, Esther 6, 10, Daniel 2, verse 48, chapter 3 verse 30, chapter 5,

Starting point is 04:06:00 verse 29, chapter 6 versus 1 to 3. 9th, another motive to grow in this grace of fear is, where the fear of God in the heart of any is not growing. there no grace thrives, nor duty done as it should. There no grace thrives, neither faith, hope, love, nor any grace. It is evident from that general exhortation, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Corinthians 7 verse 1. Perfecting holiness, what is that?

Starting point is 04:06:27 But as James says of patience, let every grace have its perfect work, that he may be perfect and entire lacking nothing, James 1 verse 4. But this cannot be done but in the fear of God. yea, in the exercise of that grace, and so consequently in the growth of it, for there is no grace but grows by being exercised. If then you would be perfect in holiness, if you would have every grace that God has put into your souls, grow and flourish into perfection, lay them, as I may say, a soak in this grace of fear, and do all in the exercise of it, for a little done in the fear of the Lord is better than the revenues of the wicked, and again the Lord will not suffer the

Starting point is 04:07:03 soul of the righteous, the soul that liveth in the fear of the Lord to famish, but he casteth away the abundance of the wicked. Bring abundance to God, and if it be not seasoned with godly fear, it shall not be acceptable to him, but loathsome and abominable in his sight, for it doth not flow from the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Therefore, where there is not a growth in this fear, there is no duty done so acceptably. This flows from that which goes before, for if grace rather decays than grows, where this grace of fear is not in the growth and and increase thereof, then duties in their glory and acceptableness decay likewise. Tenth, another motive to stir thee out to grow in the increase of this grace of fear is,

Starting point is 04:07:43 It is a grace, do but abound therein, and that will give thee great boldness, both with God and men. Job was a man, a nun such in his day, for one that feared God, and who so bold with God as Job, who so bold with God and who so bold with men as he. How bold was he with God when he wishes for nothing more than he might come even to his seat, and concludes that if he could come at him, he would approach even as a prince unto him, and as such would order his cause before him. Job 23 v. 3 to 7, chapter 31, versus 35 to 37. Also, before his friends, how bold was he?

Starting point is 04:08:20 For ever as they laid to his charge that he was an hypocrite, he repels them with the testimony of a good conscience, which good conscience he got and kept and maintained by increasing in the fear of God. Yea, his conscience was kept so good by this grace of fear. for it was by that that he eschewed evil, that it was common with him to appeal to God when accused, and also to put himself for his clearing and most bitter curses and imprecations. Job 13, verses 3 to 9, verse 18, chapter 19, verses 23, 24 and 31. This fear of God is it that keeps the conscience clean and tender,

Starting point is 04:08:54 and so free from much of that defilement that even a good man may be afflicted with, for want of his growth in this fear of God. Yea, let me add, if a man can with a good, conscience say that he desires to fear the name of God, it will add boldness to his soul in his approaches into the presence of God. O Lord, said Nehemiah, I beseech thee, Let now thy name be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and servants who desire to fear thy name. Nehemiah 1 verse 11. He pleaded his desire of fearing the name of God, as an argument with God to grant him his request, and the reason was because God had promised before to bless

Starting point is 04:09:30 them that fear him, both small and great. Psalm 115 verse 13. 11th, another motive to stir you up, to fear, to grow in this fear is, by it, thou mayest have thy labours blessed, to the saving of the souls of others. It is said of Levi, of whom mention was made before, that he feared God and was afraid before his name, that he saved others from their sins. The law of truth was in his mouth, and he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn away many from iniquity. Malachi Tuva. six, the fear of God that dwelt in his heart, showed its growth in the sanctifying of the Lord by his life and words, and the Lord also blessed this his growth herein by blessing his labours to the saving of his neighbours. Wouldst thou save thy husband, thy wife, thy children, etc., then be

Starting point is 04:10:17 greatly in the fear of God. This Peter teaches, wives, saith he, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the conversation of their wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 1 Peter 3 verses 1 and 2. So then, if wives and children, yea, if husbands, wives, children, servants, etc, did but better observe this general rule of Peter, to it of letting their whole conversation be coupled with fear, they might be made instruments in God's hand of much more good than they are. But the misery is, the fear of God is wanting in actions, and that is the cause that so little good is done by those that profess. It is not. It is

Starting point is 04:10:57 not a conversation that is coupled with a profession, for a great profession may be attended with a life that is not good, but scandalous, but it is a conversation coupled with the fear of God, that is, with the impressions of the fear of God upon it, that is convincing and that ministereth the awakenings of God to the conscience, in order to saving the unbeliever. Oh, they are a sweet couple to it, a Christian conversation coupled with fear. The want of this fear of God is that that has been a stumbling block to the blind oftentimes, alas the world will not be convinced by your talk, by your notions, and by the great profession that you make, if they see not, therewith mixed, the lively impressions of the fear of God,

Starting point is 04:11:37 but will, as I said, rather stumble and fall, even at your conversation and at your profession itself. Wherefore, to prevent this mischief that is of stumbling of souls while you make your profession of God, by a conversation not becoming your profession, God bids you fear him, implying that a good conversation, coupled with fear, delivers the blind world for you. those falls that otherwise they cannot be delivered from. Thou shalt not curse the death, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God, I am the Lord.

Starting point is 04:12:07 Leviticus 19 verse 14. But shall fear thy God, that is the remedy that will prevent their stumbling at you, at what else soever they stumble. Wherefore Paul says to Timothy, take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine, continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and then that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4 verse 16 12 Another motive to fear and to grow in this fear of God

Starting point is 04:12:31 is this is the way to engage God To deliver thee from many outward dangers Whoever falls therein Psalm 34 verse 7 This is proved from that of the story of the Hebrew midwives The midwives says Moses feared God And did not drown the men children As the king had commanded

Starting point is 04:12:47 But save them alive And what follows Therefore God dealt well with the midwives And it came to pass Because the midwives feared God that he made them houses, Exodus 1. That is, he sheltered them, and caused them to be hid from the rage and fury of the king, and that, perhaps, in some of the houses of the Egyptians themselves,

Starting point is 04:13:05 for why might not the midwives be there hid as well as was Moses, even in the king's court? And how many times are they that fear God said to be delivered both by God and his holy angels, as also I have already showed? Thirteenth, another motive to fear and to grow in this fear of God is, this is the way to be delivered from errors and damnable opinions. There are some that perish in their righteousness, that is an error. There be some that perish in their wickedness, and that is an error also. Some again prolong their lives by their wickedness, and others are righteous overmuch,

Starting point is 04:13:38 and also some are overwise, and all these are snares and pits and holes. But then, saith thou, how shall I escape? Indeed, that is the question, and the Holy Ghost resolves that thus, He that feareth God, shall come forth of them all. Ecclesiastes 7 verse 18 14th Another motive to fear And to grow in this fear of God

Starting point is 04:13:59 Is such as have leave Be they never so dark in their souls To come boldly to Jesus Christ And to trust in him for life They told you before That they that fear God Have in the general a license to trust in him But now I tell you

Starting point is 04:14:13 And that in particular That they and they especially may do it And that though in the dark You that sit in darkness and have no light. If this grace of fear be alive in your hearts you have this boldness. Who is among you that feareth the Lord? Mark that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light. Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his guard. Isaiah 50 verse 10. It is no small advantage you know when men have to deal in difficult matters,

Starting point is 04:14:43 to have a patent or license to deal. Now, to trust in the Lord is a difficult thing, yet the best and most gainful of all. But then some will say, since it is so difficult, how may we do without danger? Why the text gives a license, a patent to them that trust in his name, that have his fear in their hearts, let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God. Fifteenth, another motive to fear and grow in this grace of fear is, God will own and acknowledge such to be his, whoever he rejecteth. Yea, he will distinguish and separate them from all others in the day of his terrible judgments. He will do with them as he did by those, that side for the abominations that were done in the land, command the man that hath his inkhorn by his side to set

Starting point is 04:15:26 a mark upon their forrets, that they might not fall in the judgment with others. Ezekiel nine, so God said plainly of them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name, that they should be writ in his book. A book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name, and they shall be mine, saith the Lord. of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3, verse 16 and 17. Mark, he both acknowledges them for his, and also promises to spare them, as a man would spare his own son, yea, and moreover, will wrap them up as his chief jewels with himself in the bundle of life.

Starting point is 04:16:05 Thus much for the motives. End of Section 16 Section 17 of a treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan. This Librevalch's recording is in the public domain. How to grow in this fear of God. Having given you these motives to the duty of growing in this fear of God, before I leave this use, I will, in a few words, show you how you may grow in this fear of God.

Starting point is 04:16:34 First then, if thou woulds grow in this fear of God, learn a right to distinguish of fear in general. I mean, learn to distinguish between that fear that is godly and that which in itself is indeed ungodly fear of God, and know them well the one from the other, less the one, the fear that in itself indeed is ungodly, get the place, even the upper hand of that, which truly is godly fear. And remember the ungodly fear of God, is by God himself, counted an enemy to him, and hurtful to his people, and is therefore most plentifully forbidden in the word.

Starting point is 04:17:04 Genesis 3, verse 15, chapter 26 verse 24, chapter 46 verse 3, Exodus 14 verse 13, chapter 20 verse 20, numbers 14 verse 9 chapter 21 verse 34 Isaiah 41 versus 10 and 14 chapter 43 verse 1 chapter 44 verse 4 chapter 54 verse 4 Jeremiah 30 verse 10 Daniel 10 versus 12 and 19 Joel 2 verse 21 Haggai 2 verse 5 Zechari 8 verse 13 second if thou wouldst grow in this godly fear learn rightly to distinguish it from that fear in particular that is godly but for a time even from that fear that is wrought by the spirit as a spirit of bondage. I say learn to distinguish this from that, and also perfectly to know the bounds that God hath set to that fear that is wrought by the spirit as a spirit of bondage, lest, instead of growing in the fear that is able to abide with thy soul forever, thou be overrun

Starting point is 04:17:58 again with that first fear, which is to abide with thee, but till the spirit of adoption come, and that thou mayest not only distinguish them one from the other, but also keep each in its due place and bounds, consider in general of what hath already been said upon this head, and in particular that the first fear is no more wrought by the Holy Spirit, but by the devil, to distress thee, and make thee to live not like a son but a slave. And for thy better help in this matter, know that God himself hath set bounds to this fear, and has concluded that after the spirit of adoption has come, that other fear is wrought in thy heart by him no more. Romans 8 verse 15 to Timothy 1 verse 7. Again, before I leave this,

Starting point is 04:18:38 Let me tell thee that, if thou dost not well bestir thee in this matter, this bondage fear to wit, that which is like it, though not wrought in thee by the Holy Ghost, will by the management and subtlety of the devil, the author of it, haunt, disturb, and make thee live uncomfortably, and that while thou art an heir of God and his kingdom. This is that fear that the apostle speaks of, that makes men all their lifetime subject to bondage, Hebrews 2 verses 14 and 15. for though Christ will deliver thee indeed at last, thou having embraced him by faith, yet thy life will be full of trouble, and death, though Jesus hath abolished it, will be always

Starting point is 04:19:15 a living bugbear to thee in all thy ways and thoughts, to break thy peace, and make thee to draw thy loins heavily after him. Third, wouldst thou grow in this godly fear, then, as thou shouldst learn to distinguish of fears, so thou shouldst make conscience of which to entertain and cherish. If God would have his fear, and it is called his fear by way of eminence, that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not. Exodus 20 verse 20, Jeremiah 32 verse 40. I say if God would have his fear be with thee, then thou should make conscience of this

Starting point is 04:19:45 and not so lightly give way to slavish fear as is common for Christians to do. There is utterly a fault among Christians about this thing, that is, they make not that conscience of resisting of slavish fear as they ought. They rather cherish and entertain it, and so weaken themselves, and that fear they ought to strengthen. And this is the reason that we so often lie grappling under the black and amazing thoughts that are engendered in our hearts by unbelief,

Starting point is 04:20:10 for this fear nourisheth unbelief, that is now it doth to it, if we give way to it after the spirit of adoption is come, and readily closeth with all the fiery darts of the wicked. But Christians are ready to do with this fear, as the horse does, when the tines of the fork are set against its side, even lean to it until it entereth into his belly. We lean naturally to this fear, I mean, after God has done. done good to our souls, it is hard striving against it because it has even our sense and feeling of its side. But I say, if thou wouldst be a growing Christian, growing, I say, in the fear that is godly, in the fear that is always so, then make conscience of striving against the other, and against

Starting point is 04:20:49 all these things that would bring thee back to it. Wherefore should I fear, said David, in the day of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about, Psalm 49 verse five. What? Not fear in the day of evil? What? Not when the iniquity of thy heels compasseth thee about? No, not then, saith he, that is, not with that fear that would bring him again into bondage to the law, for he had received the spirit of adoption before. Indeed, if ever a Christian has ground to give way to slavish fear, it is at these two times to it, in the day of evil, and when the iniquity of his heels compasseth him about. But you see, David would not then, no, not then, give way there too, nor did he see reason why he should. Wherefore should I, said he, I, wherefore indeed, since now thou art become a son of God through Christ, and hast received the spirit of his son into thy heart, crying Father, father, father. Fourth, wouldst thou grow in this grace of godly fear, then grow in the knowledge of the new covenant, for that is indeed the gaudel of our reins and the strength of our souls? Here what Zacharias saith, God, he says, hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

Starting point is 04:21:58 as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began. But what was it? What was it that he spake? Why, that he would grant unto us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, without this slavish bondage fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life? But upon what is this princely, fearless service of God grounded? Why, upon the holy covenant of God, upon the oath that he swore unto Abraham,

Starting point is 04:22:26 Luke 1, verse 69 to 70. Now in this covenant is wrapped up all thy salvation. In it is contained all thy desire, and I'm sure that, then it containeth the complete salvation of thy soul. I say, since this covenant is confirmed by promise, by oath and by the blood of the Son of God, and that on purpose that thou mightest serve thy God without slavish fear, then the knowledge and faith of this covenant is of absolute necessity to bring us into this liberty and out of our slavish terrors, and so consequently,

Starting point is 04:22:56 to cause us to grow in that sun-like godly fear, which became even the son of God himself, and becomes all his disciples to live in the growth and exercise of. Fifth, wouldst thou grow in this godly fear, then labor even always to keep thine evidences for heaven and of thy salvation alive upon thy heart, for he that looseth his evidences for heaven will hardly keep slavish fear out of his heart, but he that hath thee wisdom and grace to keep them alive, and apparent to himself, he will grow in this godly fear. See how David words it, From the end of the earth, saith he,

Starting point is 04:23:31 Will I cry unto thee? When my heart is overwhelmed, Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me And a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows. Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

Starting point is 04:23:49 Psalm 61 versus 2 to 5. Mark a little, David doth by these words in the first place suggest that sometimes to his thinking he was as far off of his God as the ends of the earth are asunder, and that at such times he was subject to be overwhelmed, afraid, and second, the way that he took at such times to help himself was to cry to God, to lead him again to Jesus Christ, lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for indeed without faith in him, and the renewing of that faith, there can be no evidence for heaven made to appear unto the soul. This, therefore, he prays for first, then he puts that faith into exercise,

Starting point is 04:24:24 and that with respect to the time that was past, and also of the time that was to come. For the time past, says he, thou hast been a shelter to me, and a strong tower from the enemy, and for the time to come, he said, I will abide in thy tabernacle, that is, in thy Christ by faith, and in thy way of worship, by love, forever. And observe it, he makes the believing remembrance of his first evidences for heaven the ground of this, his cry and faith, for thou, says he, O God, has given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. thou hast made me meet to be a partaker of the mercy of thy chosen, and hast put me under the blessing of goodness wherewith thou hast blessed those that fear thee. Thus you see how David in

Starting point is 04:25:04 his distresses musters up his prayers, faith, and evidences for eternal life, that he might deliver himself from being overwhelmed, that is with slavish fear, and that he might deliver himself from being overwhelmed, that is with slavish fear, and that he might also abound in that sun-like fear of his fellow brethren, that is not only comely with respect to our profession, but profitable to our souls. Sixth, wouldst thou grow in this fear of God, then set before thine eyes the being and majesty of God, for that both begetteth, maintaineth, and increaseth this fear.

Starting point is 04:25:36 And hence it is called the fear of God, that is an holy and awful dread and reverence of His majesty, for the fear of God is to stand in awe of him, but how can that be done if we do not set him before us? And again, if we would fear him more, we must abide more in the sense and faith of his glorious majesty. Hence this fear and God's name is so often put together as Fear God, fear the Lord, fear thy God, do this in the fear of the Lord, and thou shalt fear

Starting point is 04:26:01 thy God, I am the Lord. For these words I am the Lord thy God and the like are on purpose put in not only to show us whom we should fear, but also to beget, maintain, and increase in us, that fear that is due from us to that glorious and fearful name, the Lord our God. Deuteronomy 25 verse 58. 7th. Wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then keep always close to you. to thy conscience the authority of the word, fear the commandment as the commandment of a God,

Starting point is 04:26:27 both mighty and glorious, and as the commandment of a father, both loving and pitiful. Let this commandment, I say, be always with thine eye, with thine ear, and with thine heart, for then thou wilt be taught not only to fear, but to abound in the fear of the Lord. Every grace is nourished by the word, and without it there is no thrift in the soul. Proverbs 13 verse 13 2.2 Deuteronry 6 verses 1 and 2 8th

Starting point is 04:26:54 Wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear Then be much in the faith of the promise Of the promise that maketh over to thy soul In interest in God by Christ And of all good things The promise naturally tendeth to increase in us The fear of the Lord Because this fear it grows by goodness and mercy

Starting point is 04:27:10 They shall fear the Lord and his goodness Now this goodness and mercy of God It is wrapped up in and made over to us by promise, for God gave it to Abraham by promise, therefore the faith and hope of the promise causeth this fear to grow in the soul. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7 verse 1. Perfecting holiness in the fear of God, therefore that fear by the promise must needs grow mighty, for by, with, and in it you see holiness is perfected.

Starting point is 04:27:41 9th, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear? Then remember the judgments of God that have or shall certainly overtake those professors that have either been downright hypocrites or else unwatchful Christians. For both these sorts partake of the judgments of God, the one to wit the true Christian for his unwatchfulness, for his correction, the other to wit the hypocrite, for his hypocrisy to his destruction. This is a way to make thee stand in awe and to make the tremble and grow in the grace of fear before thy God.

Starting point is 04:28:13 Judgments. You may say, what judgments? Answer. Time will fail me here to tell thee of the judgments that sometimes overtake God's people, and that always certainly overtake the hypocrite for his transgressions. For those that attend God's people, I would have the look back to the place in this book, where they are particularly touched on. And for those that attend the hypocrite in general, they are these,

Starting point is 04:28:35 one, blindness of heart in this world, to the death of their hope at the day of their death, 3, and the damnation of their souls at the Day of Judgment, Matthew 23, verses 15 to 19, Job 8, verse 13, chapter 11, verse 20, chapter 18, verse 14, chapter 20, 4 to 7, Matthew 23, verse 33, chapter 24 verse 51, Luke 20 verse 47. The godly consideration of these things tend to make men grow in the fear of God. 10th, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then study the excellencies of the grace of fear, and what profit it yieldeth to them that have it, and labor to get thy heart into the love both of the exercise of the grace itself and also of the fruit that it yieldeth.

Starting point is 04:29:16 For a man hardly grows in the increase of any grace until his heart is united to it, and until it is made lovely in his eyes. Psalm 119, verse 119 and 120. Now the excellencies of this grace of fear have also been discoursed of in this book before, where by reading, thou shalt find the fruit it bears and the promises that are annexed to it, which, because they are many, I refer thee also thither for thy instruction. 11th, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then remember what a world of privileges do belong to them that fear the Lord, as also I have hinted, namely, that such shall not be heard, shall want no good thing, shall be guarded by angels, and have a special license,

Starting point is 04:29:55 though in never so dreadful a plight, to trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon their God. 12th. Wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then be much in prayer to God for abundance of the increase thereof. To fear God is that which is according to his will, and if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. Pray therefore that God will unite thy heart to fear his name. This is the way to grow in the grace of fear. Lastly, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then devote thyself to it. Psalm 119 verse 38. Devote myself to it, you will say, how is that? I answer. Why, give thyself to it, addict thyself to it. Solace thyself

Starting point is 04:30:32 in the contemplation of God and of a reverence of his name and word and worship. then wilt thou fear and grow in this grace of fear end of section seventeen section eighteen of a treatise of the fear of god by john bunyan this librovon's recording is in the public domain what things they are that have a tendency in them to hinder the growth of the fear of god in our hearts and that i may yet be helpful to thee reader i shall now give thee caution of those things that will if way be given to them hinder thy growth in this fear of god the which because they are very hurtful to the people of god i would have thee warned by them and they are these which follow first if thou wouldst grow in this grace of fear take heed of a hard heart for that will hinder thy growth in this grace why hast thou hardened our heart from thy fear was a bitter complaint of the church heretofore For it is not only the judgment that in itself is dreadful and sore to God's people, but that which greatly hindroth the growth of this grace in the soul, Isaiah 63 verse 17. A hard heart is but barren ground for any grace to grow in, especially for the grace of fear. There is but little of this fear where the heart is indeed hard.

Starting point is 04:31:51 Neither will there ever be much therein. Now, if thou wouldst be kept from a hard heart, one, take heed of the beginnings of sin. Take heed, I say, of that, though it should be never so small. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. There is more in a little sin to harden than in a great deal of grace to soften. David's look upon Bathsheba was, one would think, but a small matter, yet that beginning of sin contracted such hardness of heart in him that it carried him almost beyond all fear of God.

Starting point is 04:32:21 It did carry him to commit lewdness with her, murder upon the body of Eurya, and to abundance of wicked dissimulation, which are things I say that have. direct tendency to quench and destroy all fear of God in the soul. 2. If thou hast sinned, lie not down without repentance. For the want of repentance after one has sinned makes the heart yet harder and harder. Indeed, a hard heart is impenitent, and impenitence also makes the heart harder and harder, so that if impenitence be added to hardness of heart, or to the beginning of sin which makes it so, it will quickly be, with that soul, as it is said of the House of Israel,

Starting point is 04:32:57 it will have a horse for it, it will hardly be brought to shame. Jeremiah 3 verse 3. 3, if thou wouldst be rid of a hard heart, that great enemy to the growth of the grace of fear, be much with Christ upon the cross in thy meditations, for that is an excellent remedy against hardness of heart. A right sight of him, as he hanged there for thy sins, will dissolve thy heart into tears, and make it soft and tender. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced and mourn. Zechariah 12 verse 10. Now a soft, a tender, and a broken heart is a fit place for the grace of fear to thrive in. But second, if thou wouldst have the grace of fear to grow in thy soul, take heed also of a prayerless heart, for that is not a place for this grace of fear to grow in. Hence he that restraineth prayer is said to cast off fear.

Starting point is 04:33:49 Thou castest off fear, said one of his friends to Job, but how must he do that? Why, the next words show, Thou restrainest prayer before God. Job 15 verse 4. Seas thou a professor that prayeth not? That man thrusters the fear of God away from him. Seest thou a man that prays but little. That man feareth God but little. For it is the praying soul, the man that is mighty in praying,

Starting point is 04:34:12 that has a heart for the fear of God to grow in. Take heed, therefore, of a prayerless heart if you would grow in this grace of the fear of God. Prayer is as the pitcher that fetcheth water from the brook, therewith to water the herbs. break the pitcher and it will fetch no water, and for want of water the garden withers. Third, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then take heed of a light and wanton heart, for neither is such a heart good ground for the fear of God to grow in. Wherefore it is said of Israel, she feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Starting point is 04:34:44 She was given to wantonness and to be light and vain, and so her fear of God decayed, Jeremiah 3 verse 8. Had Joseph been as wanton as his mistress, he had been as void of the first, fear of God as she, but he was of a sober, tender, godly, considerate spirit, therefore he grew in the fear of God. Fourth, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then take heed of a covetous heart, for neither is that which is such an one. Good ground for this grace of fear to grow in. Therefore this covetousness and the fear of God are as enemies, set the one in opposition to the other, the one that feareth God and hateeth covetousness. Exodus 18 verse 21, and the reason

Starting point is 04:35:22 why covetousness is such an obstruction to the growth of this grace of fear is because covetousness casteth those things out of the heart which alone can nourish this fear. It casteth out the word and love of God, without which no grace can grow in the soul. How then should the fear of God grow in a covetous heart? Ezekiel 33 verses 30 to 32, 1 John 2 verse 15. Fifth, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then take heed of an unbelieving heart, for an unbelieving heart is not good ground for this grace of fear to grow in. An unbelieving heart is called an evil heart because from it flows all the wickedness that is committed in the world, Hebrews 3 verse 12. Now it is faith or a believing heart that nourisheth this fear of God and not the other. And

Starting point is 04:36:08 the reason is, for that faith brings God, heaven and hell to the soul and makes it duly consider of them all, Hebrews 11 verse 7. This is therefore the means of fear and that which will make it grow in the soul, but unbelief is a bane there too. Sixth, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear? Then take heed of a forgetful heart. Such a heart is not a heart where the grace of fear will flourish. When I remember, I am afraid, etc. Therefore take heed of forgetfulness.

Starting point is 04:36:38 Do not forget, but remember God and his kindness, patience and mercy, to those that neither yet have grace nor special favour from him, and that will beget and nourish his fear in thy heart. But forgetfulness of this, or of any other, of his judgments is a great wound and weakening to this fear. Job 21, verse 6, when a man well remembers that God's judgments are so great a deep and mystery, as indeed they are, that remembrance puts a man upon such considerations of God and of his judgments as to make him fear. Therefore, said Job, I am afraid of him. See the place, Job 23, verse 15. Therefore, am I troubled at his presence when I consider,

Starting point is 04:37:15 I am afraid of him, when I remember and consider of the wonderful depths of his judgments towards man. 7th. What'st thou grow in this grace of fear, then take heed of a murmuring and repining heart, for that is not a heart for this grace of fear to grow in. As for instance, when men murmur and repine at God's hand at his dispensations and at the judgments that overtake them, in their persons, estates, families, or relations, that their murmuring tendeth to destroy fear, for a murmuring spirit is such in one as seems to correct God and to find fault with his dispensations.

Starting point is 04:37:49 and where there is that, the heart is far from fear. A murmuring spirit either comes from that wisdom that pretends to understand that there is a failure in the nature and execution of things, or from an envy and spite at the execution of them. Now, if murmurings arise from this pretended wisdom of the flesh, then instead of fearing of God, his actions are judged to be either rigid or ridiculous, which yet are done in judgment, truth and righteousness, so that a murmuring heart cannot be a good one for the fear of God to grow, in. Alas, the heart, where that grows, must be a soft one, as you have it in Job 23 verse 15 and and 16, and a heart that will stoop and be silent at the most abstruse of all his judgments.

Starting point is 04:38:30 I was dumb because thou didst it. The heart in which this fear of God doth flourish is such that it bows and is mute, if it can but espy the hand, wisdom, justice or holiness of God, in this or the other of his dispensations, and so stirs up the soul to fear before him. But if this murmuring ariseeth from envy and spite, that looketh so like to the spirit of the devil That nothing need be said to give conviction of the horrible wickedness of it. 8th, Wots thou grow in this grace of fear, then take heed of a high and captious spirit, for that is not good ground for the fear of God to grow in. A meek and quiet spirit is the best, and there the fear of God will flourish most.

Starting point is 04:39:12 Therefore Peter puts meekness and fear together, as being most suited in their nature and tendency one to another, one Peter three verse 15. Meekness of spirit is like that heart that hath depth of earth in it, in which things may take root and grow, but a high-and-capture spirit is like to the stony ground where there is not depth of earth, and consequently where this grace of fear cannot grow, therefore take heed of this kind of spirit,

Starting point is 04:39:37 if thou wouldst that the fear of God should grow in thy soul. Ninth, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear, then take heed of an envious heart, for that is not a good heart for the fear of God to grow in. Let not thine heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long, Proverbs 23 verse 17. To envy any as a sign of a bad spirit, and that man takes upon him, as I have already hinted, to be a controller and a judge, yea, and a malicious executioner too,

Starting point is 04:40:05 and that of that fury that ariseth from his own lusts and revengeful spirit, upon perhaps the man that is more righteous than himself. But suppose he is a sinner that is. is the object of thine envy, why the text sets that envy in direct opposition to the fear of God. Envy not sinners, but be thou in the fear of God. These two, therefore, to which envy to sinners and fearing of God are opposites. Thou canst not fear God and envy sinners too, and the reason is, because he that envieth a sinner hath forgotten himself that he is as bad. And how can he then fear God? He that envy sinners rejects his duty of blessing, them that curse, and praying for them,

Starting point is 04:40:46 that despitefully use us, and how can he that hath rejected this fear God? He that envieth sinners, therefore, cannot be of a good spirit, nor can the fear of God grow in his heart. Tenth. Lastly, wouldst thou grow in this grace of fear? Then take heed of hardening thy heart at any time against convictions to particular duties as to prayer, alms, self-denial or the like. Take heed also of hardening thy heart, when thou art under any judgment of God,

Starting point is 04:41:16 as sickness, losses, crosses, or the like. I bid you before to beware of a hard heart, but now I bid you beware of hardening your soft ones, for to harden the heart is to make it worse than it is, harder, more desperate, and bold against God, than at the present it is. Now I say, if thou wouldst grow in this grace of fear, take heed of hardening thy heart, and especially of hardening it against convictions to good, for those convictions are sent of God, like seasonable showers of rain, to keep the tillage of thy heart in good, order, that the grace of fear may grow therein, but this stifling of convictions makes the heart as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. Therefore happy is he that receiveth conviction,

Starting point is 04:41:57 for so he doth keep in the fear of God, and that fear thereby nourished in his soul, but cursed is he that doth likewise. Happy is the man that feareth always, but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 28 verse 14. End of Section 18 Section 19 of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan This Librevon's recording is in the public domain Use third of encouragement Use third I come now to a use of encouragement

Starting point is 04:42:35 To those that are blessed with this grace of fear The last text that was mentioned saith Happy is the man that feareth always And so doth many more Happy already because blessed with this grace and happy for time to come, because this grace shall abide, and continue till the soul that hathet is brought unto the mansion-house of glory. I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Therefore, as here it saith, happy as he, so it saith also, it shall go well with him,

Starting point is 04:43:06 that is, in time to come. It shall go well with them that fear God, Ecclesiasties 8 verse 12. First, had God given thee all the world, yet cursed hadst thou been, if he had not given thee the fear of the Lord, for the fashion of this world is a fading thing, but he that feareth the Lord shall abide forever and ever. This therefore is the first thing that I would propound for thy encouragement, thou man that fears the Lord. This grace will dwell in thy heart, for it is a new covenant grace, and will abide with thee forever. It is sent to thee from God, not only to join thy heart unto him, but to keep thee from final apostasy. I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Jeremiah 32, verse 40.

Starting point is 04:43:47 that thou mayst never forsake god is his design and therefore to keep thee from that wicked thing he hath put his fear in thy heart many are the temptations difficulties snares traps trials and troubles that the people of god pass through in the world but how shall they be kept how shall they be delivered and escape why the answer is the fear of god will keep them he that feareth god shall come forth of them all is it not therefore a wonderful mercy to be blessed with this grace of fear that that thou by it mayest be kept from final, which is damnable apostasy. Bless God, therefore, thou blessed man, that thou hast this grace of fear in thy soul. There are five things in this grace of fear that have a direct tendency in them to keep thee from final apostasy. One, it is seated in the heart, and the heart is, as I may call it, the main fort in the mystical world, man.

Starting point is 04:44:40 It is not placed in the head as knowledge is, nor in the mouth as utterances, but in the heart the seat of all. I will put my fear in their hearts If a king will keep a town Secure to himself Let him be sure to man sufficiently The main fort thereof If he have twenty thousand men

Starting point is 04:44:57 Well armed Yet if they lie scattered here and there The town may be taken for all that But if the main fort be well manned Then the town is more secure What if a man had all the parts Ye, all the arts of men and angels That will not keep the heart to God

Starting point is 04:45:12 But when the heart This principal fort is possessed with the fear of God, then he is safe, but not else. 2. As the heart in general, so the will in special, that chief and great faculty of the soul is the principle that is acted by this fear. The will, which way that goeth all goes, if it be to heaven or hill. Now the will, I say, is the main faculty that is governed by this fear that doth possess the soul, therefore all is like to go well with it. This Samuel insinuates, where he saith if he will fear the Lord. Fearing of God is a voluntary act of the will, and that

Starting point is 04:45:49 being so, the soul is kept from rebellion against the commandment, because by the will, where this fear of God is placed, and which it governeth, is laid all the rest of the powers of the soul, 1 Samuel 12 verse 14. In this will, then, is this fear of God placed, that this grace may the better be able to govern the soul, and so by consequence the whole man, for, as I said before, look what way the will goes, look what way the will goes, look what the will does. Thither goes, and that does the whole man, Psalm 110 verse 3. Man, when his will is alienate from God, is reckoned rebellious throughout, and that not without ground, for the will is the principal faculty of the soul as to obedience, and therefore

Starting point is 04:46:32 things done without the will are as if they were not done at all. The spirit is willing, if ye be willing, she hath done what she could, and the like, by these and such-like sayings the goodness of the heart and action is judged as to the subjective part thereof now this fear that we have been speaking of is placed in the soul and so consequently in the will that the man may thereby the better be kept from final and damnable apostasy three this fear as i may say even above every other grace is god's well-wisher and hence it is called as i also have showed you his fear as he also says in the text mentioned above i will put my fear in their hearts. These words, his and my, they are intimate and familiar expressions, bespeaking not only great favour to man but a very great trust put in him. As who should say, this fear is my special friend, it will subject and bow the soul, and these several faculties thereof to my pleasure. It is my great favourite, and subdueeth sinners to my pleasure.

Starting point is 04:47:32 You shall rarely find faith or repentance or parts, go under such familiar characters as this blessed fear of the Lord doth. Of all the counsellors and mighties that David had, Hushai only was called the king's friend, to Samuel 15 verse 37, chapter 16, verse 16. So of all the graces of the spirit, this of the fear of God, goes mostly, if not always, by the title of my fear, God's fear, his fear, etc. I told you before if the king will keep a town, the main fort therein must be sufficiently manned, and now I will add that if he have not to govern those men, some trusty and special friend, such as Hushai was to David, he may find it lost, when it should stand him in greatest stead. If a soul should be possessed with all things possible,

Starting point is 04:48:17 yet if this fear of God be wanting, all other things will give place in time of rebellion, and the soul shall be found in and under the conduct of hell, when it should stand up for God and his truth in the world. This fear of God, it is God's special friend, and therefore it has given unto it the chief seat of the heart, the will, that the whole man, man may now be, and also be kept hereafter, in the subjection and obedience of the gospel. For four, this grace of fear is the softest and most tender of God's honour of any other grace. It is that tender, sensible, and trembling grace that keepeth the soul upon its continual watch. To keep a good watch is, you know, a wonderful safety to a place that is in continual danger

Starting point is 04:49:00 because of the enemy. Why, this is the grace that setteth the watch, and that keepeth the watchmen awake, canticles three verses seven and eight. A man cannot watch as he should if he be destitute of fear. Let him be confident and he sleeps. He unadvisedly lets into the garrison those that should not come there. Israel's fault when they came to Canaan was that they made a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, to which the Ghibeonites, without asking counsel of God.

Starting point is 04:49:27 But would they have done so, think you, if at the same time the fear of God had had its full play in the soul in the army? No, they at that time forgot to fear. The grace of fear had not at that time its full stroke and sway among them. Five, this grace of fear is that, which, as I may so say, first affects the hearts of saints with judgments after we have sinned, and so is a beginning grace to bring again that to rights, that by sin is put out of frame. Oh, it is a precious grace of God.

Starting point is 04:49:57 I know what I say in this matter, and also where I had been long ago, through the power of my lusts and the wiles of the devil had it not been for the fear of God. Second. But secondly, another encouragement for those that are blessed with this blessed grace of fear is this. This fear fails not to do this work for the soul if therein truth, be it never so small in measure. A little of this leaven leaveneth the whole lump. True, a little will not do, or help thee soul to do those worthy exploits in the heart or life

Starting point is 04:50:28 as well as a bigger measure thereof, nor indeed can a little. of any grace do that which a bigger measure will, but a little will preserve the soul from final apostasy, and deliver it into the arms of the Son of God at the final judgment. Wherefore, when he saith, I will put my fear in their hearts, he says not, I will put so much of it there, such a quantity or such a degree, but I will put my fear there. I speak not this in the least attempt the godly man to be content with the least degree of the fear of God in his heart. True men should be glad that God hath put even the least degree of this grace into their souls, but they should not be content therewith. They should earnestly covet more, pray for more,

Starting point is 04:51:09 and use all lawful, that is, all the means of God's appointing, that they may get more. There are, as I have said already, several degrees of this grace of fear, and our wisdom is to grow in it, as in all the other graces of the spirit. The reasons why I have showed you, and also the way to grow therein, but the least measure thereof will do as I said, that is, keep the soul from final apostasy. There are, as I have showed you, those that greatly fear the Lord, that fear exceedingly, and that fear him above many of their brethren, but the small in this grace are saved, as well as those that are great therein. He will bless, or save them that fear him both small and great. This fear of the Lord is the pulse of the soul, and as some pulses beat stronger, some weaker,

Starting point is 04:51:54 so is this grace of fear in the soul. They that beat best are a sign of best life, but they that beat worst show that life is barely present. As long as the pulse beats we count not that the man is dead, though weak, and this fear, where it is, preserves to everlasting life. Pulses there are also that are intermitting to it, such as have their times for a little, a little time to stop and beat again. true these are dangerous pulses but yet two a sign of life this fear of god also is sometimes like

Starting point is 04:52:27 this intermitting pulse there are times when it forbairs to work and then it works again david had an intimidating pulse peter had an intimidating pulse as also many other of the saints of god i call that an intimating pulse with reference to the fear we speak of when there is some obstruction by the workings of corruptions in the soul i say some obstruction from and hindrance of the continual motion of this fear of God, yet none of these, though they are various and some of them signs of weakness, are signs of death but life. I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me. Question, but you may say, how shall I know that I fear God? Answer, if I should say that desires, true sincere desires to fear him, is fear itself,

Starting point is 04:53:12 I should not say amiss, Nehemiah 1 verse 11, for although a desire to be or do so-and-so, makes not a man to be in temporal or natural things which he desires to be, for a sick or poor or in prison man may desire to be well, to be rich or to be at liberty, and yet be as they are, sick, poor, or in prison. Yet in spirituals a man's desire to be good, to believe, to love, to hope, and fear God, doth flow from the nature of grace itself. As I said before that in temporals a man could not probably be said to be what he was not, yet a man, even in naturals or temporals, shows his love to be.

Starting point is 04:53:48 that thing that he desires, whether it be health, riches, or liberty, and in spirituals, desires of, from love to this or that grace of God, sincere desires of it flow from the root of the grace itself, thy servants who desire to fear thy name. Nehemiah bore himself before God upon this, that he desired to fear his name. And hence again it is said concerning desires, true desires, the desire of man is his kindness, Proverbs 19 verse 22, for a man chose his heart, his love, his affections, his delights in his desires, and since the grace of the fear of God is a grace so pleasant in the sight of God, and so sanctifying a nature in the soul where it is, a true, sincere desire to be blessed without grace must needs flow from some being of this grace in the soul already.

Starting point is 04:54:35 True desires are lower than higher acts of grace, but God will not overlook desires. But now they desire a better country, that is, and heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city. Mark, they desire a country, and they shall have a city. At this low place to it sincere desires God will meet the soul and will tell him that he hath accepted of his desires, that his desires are his kindness and flow from grace itself. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him. Therefore desires are not rejected of God, but they would if they did not flow from a principle of grace already in the soul.

Starting point is 04:55:12 Therefore desires, sincere desires to fear God, flow from grace already in the soul. Therefore, since thou fearest God, and it is evident by thy desires that thou dost so do, thou art happy now in this thy fear, and shall be happy, forever hereafter, in the enjoyment of that which God in another world hath laid up for them that fear him. Third, another encouragement for those that have this grace of fear is this. This grace can make that man that in many other things is not capable of serving of God, serve him better than those that have all without it. Christian man, thou hast scarce been able to do anything for God all thy days, but only to fear the

Starting point is 04:55:53 Lord. Thou art no preacher, and so canst not do him service that way. Thou art no rich man, and so canst not do him service withoutwith substance. Thou art no wise man, and so can's not do anything that way. But here is thy mercy, thou fearest God. Though thou canst not preach, thou canst fear God, though thou hast no bread to feed the belly, nor fleece to clothe the back of the poor, thou canst fear God, or how blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, because this duty of fearing of God is an act of the mind, and may be done by the man that is destitute of all things, but that holy and blessed mind. Blessed, therefore, is that man, for God hath not laid the comfort of his people in the doing of external duties, nor the salvation of their souls,

Starting point is 04:56:38 but in believing, loving, and fearing God. Neither hath he laid these things in actions done in their health, nor in the due management of their most excellent parts, but in the receiving of Christ and fear of God. The which, good Christian, thou mayest do and do acceptably, even though thou shouldst lie bed-rid all thy days, thou mayest also be sick and believe, be sick and love, be sick and fear God, and so be a blessed man. And here the poor Christian hath something to answer them that reproach him for his ignoble pedigree and shortness of the glory of the wisdom of the world. True, may that man say, I was taken out of the dunghill, I was born in a base and lower state, but I fear God. I have no worldly greatness, nor excellency of natural parts, but I fear God.

Starting point is 04:57:23 When Obadiah met Elijah, he gave him no worldly and fantastical compliment, nor did he glory in his promotion by Aham, the king of Israel, but gravely, and after a gracious manner, said, I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth. Also, when the mariners inquired of Jonah, saying, What is thine occupation, and whence comest thou? What is thy country, and of what people art thou? This was the answer he gave them. I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of Heaven, which hath made thee sea and the dry land.

Starting point is 04:57:52 Jonah 1 verses 8 and 9. Indeed, this answer is the highest and most noble in the world. Nor are there any, save a few, that in truth can thus express themselves, though other answers they had enough. Most can say, I have wisdom or might, or riches, or friends, or health, or the like. These are common and are greatly boasted in by the most, But he is the man that feareth God, and he that can say, When they say to him, what art thou?

Starting point is 04:58:18 I thy servant fear the Lord. He is the man of many, he is to be honoured of men. Though this to it that he feareth the Lord is all that he hath in the world. He hath the thing, the honour, the life and glory that is lasting. His blessedness will abide when all men's but his is buried in the dust, in shame and contempt. End of Section 19. Section 20 of A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan. This Librevox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 04:58:54 A word to hypocrites. Hypocrats, my last word is to you. The hypocrite is one that would appear to be that in men's eyes that is nothing of in gods. Thou hypocrite. Thou wouldst be esteemed to be one that loves and that fears God, but does not. I have this to say to thee, thy condition is damnable because thou art a hypocrite, and seekest to deceive both God and man with guises, wizards, masks, shows pretenses, and thy formal, carnal feigned subjection to the outside of statutes,

Starting point is 04:59:25 laws and commandments, but within thou art full of rottenness and all excess. Hypocrite, thou mayest by thy cunning shifts be veiled and hid from men, but thou art naked before the eyes of God, and he knoweth that his fear is not in thy heart. Luke 16 verse 15. Hippocrite be admonished that there is not obedience accepted of God, where the heart is destitute of this grace of fear. Keeping of the commandments is but one part of the duty of man, and Paul did that even while he was a hypocrite, Philippians 3, to fear God and keep his commandments. This is the whole duty of man, Ecclesiastes 12 verse 13. This fear God.

Starting point is 05:00:06 The hypocrite, as a hypocrite, cannot do, and therefore as such, cannot escape the damnation of hell. Hippocrite, thou must fear God first, even before thou dost offer to meddle with the commandments, that is, as to the keeping of them. Indeed, thou shouldst read therein that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord, but yet fear God goes before the command to keep his commandments, and if thou dost not fear God first, thou transgressest instead of keeping the commandments. Hippocrat, this word fear God is that which the hypocrite quite forgets, although it is that which sanctifies the whole duty of man. For this is that, and nothing without it, that can make amen sincere in his obedience. The hypocrite looks for applause abroad and forgets that he is condemned at home,

Starting point is 05:00:50 and both these he does because he wanteth the fear of God. Hypocrite, be admonished that none of the privileges that are spoken of in the former part of the book belongs to thee, because thou art a hypocrite, and if thou hope, thy hope shall be cut off, and if thou lean upon thy house both thou and it shall fall into hill fire. Triumph then, thy triumph is but for a while. Joy then, but the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment. Job 8 verses 13 and 15, chapter 20 verses 4 to 6. Perhaps thou wilt not let go now, what, as a hypocrite thou hast got?

Starting point is 05:01:28 But what is the hope of the hypocrite when God taketh away his soul? Job 27 verse 8. Hippocrite Thou shouldst have chosen the fear of God As thou hast chosen a profession without it But thou hast cast off fear Because thou art a hypocrite And because thou art such

Starting point is 05:01:44 Thou shalt have the same measure that thou meetest God will cast thee off Because thou art a hypocrite God hath prepared a fear for thee Because thou did not choose the fear of God And that fear shall come upon thee Like desolation and like an armed man And shall swallow thee up

Starting point is 05:02:00 Thou and all that thou art Proverbs 1 verse 26 Hippocrite, read this text and tremble. The sinners in Zion are afraid. Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire. Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Isaiah 33 verses 13 and 14.

Starting point is 05:02:23 Hypocrite. Thou art not under the fatherly protection of God because thou art a hypocrite and wantest his fear in thine heart. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him to deliver them, But the fearless man or hypocrite is left to the snares and wiles of the devil to be caught therein and overcome because he is destitute of the fear of God. Hypocrite, thou art like to have no other reward of God for thy labour than that which the goats shall have. The hypocrite, because he is a hypocrite, shall not stand in God's sight. The gain of thy religion thou spendest as thou gettest it.

Starting point is 05:02:58 Thou wilt not have one farthing over plus a death and judgment. Hippocrite God hath not entrusted thee with the least dram of his saving grace, nor will he because thou art a hypocrite, and as for what thou hast, thou hast stolen it. Even every man of you from his neighbour, still pilfering out of their profession, even as Judas did out of the bag. Thou comest like a thief into thy profession, and like a thief thou shalt go out of the same. Jesus Christ hath not counted thee faithful to commit to thee any of his jewels to keep, because thou fearest him not. He hath given his banner to them that fear him, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Psalm 60 verse 4. Hypocrite, thou art not true to God nor man, nor thine own soul,

Starting point is 05:03:44 because thou art a hypocrite. How should the Lord put any trust in thee? Why should the saints look for any good from thee? Should God give thee his word, thou wilt sell it? Should men commit their souls to thee, thou wilt destroy them by making merchandise of them, for the saints, for the saints, thy own hypocritical designs. Yea, if the sun waxes hot, thou wilt throw all away and not endure the heat, because thou art a hypocrite. End of Section 20.

Starting point is 05:04:12 End of a treatise of the fear of God by John Bunyan.

Classic Audiobook Collection - A Treatise of the Fear of God by John Bunyan ~ Full Audiobook [religion]

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.