3. This respect to the eye of God inclines them to perform and do whatsoever pleaseth him, and is commanded by him : Hence, fear- ing God, and workijig righteousness, are connected and linked
A PRACTICAL TREATISK OV FEAR. ^5
together, Acts x. 35. If we truly fear God, we dare not but do tlie thino's he commands ; and if his fear be exalted in our hearts to an high degree, it will enable us to obey him in duties accom- panied with deepest self-denial, Gen. xxii. 12. "Now I know thou " fearest God, seeing thou hast not with-held thy son, thine only " son from me."
4. This fear engageth, and in some degree enableth the soul, in which it is, to shun and avoid whatsoever is displeasing to God, and forbidden by him ; in this Job discovered himself a true fearer of God, he would not touch what God had forbidden, and therefore was honoured with this excellent character, " He was one that feared " God, and eschewed evil,'' Job i. 3.
And thus of the several kinds of fear.
Shewing the various uses of Fear, both natural, sinful, and reli- gious, in the government of the world hy Providence.
JUaVING taken a brief view of the several kinds and sorts of fear that are found among men, our next work will be to open the uses of them in the government of this world : for one way or other they all subserve the most wise and holy purposes of God therein. And we will first enquire into.
I. Tlw use of natural fear.
Which if we well consider, it >vill be found exceeding necessary and useful to make man a governable creature by law ; and conse- quently the order, comfort, and tranquillity of the world necessarily depend upon it. How immorigerous and intractable would the corruptions of man's nature make him, uncapable of any moral re- straint from the most flagitious and barbarous crimes, had not God planted such a passion as this in his nature, which, like a * bridle, curbs in the corrupt propensions thereof. If fear did not clap its manacles and fetters upon the wild and boisterous lusts of men, they would certainly bear down all milder motives, and break loose from all ingenious bands of restraint ; the world would inevi- tably be filled with disorders, tumults, rapines, thefts, murders, and all manner of uncleanness and unrighteousness, nee hospes ab hospite
* Fear is like a bridle by which the horse is governed : if this passion of fear is re- moved, all other restraints will be broken down. Lavat. on Prov. xxix. 25.
254 A PRACTICAL TREATISE OF FEAR.
futus^ i. e. the lodger is not safe from the person enterUiinin^ him ; * men would become like the fishes of the sea, as the pro- phet complains, Habak. i. 14. where the greater swallow up a multitude of the smaller fry alive at one gulp ; propriety could not be maintained in the ^vorld, no man's person could be safe or inviolate; power and opportunity to do mischief would measure out to men their lot and inheritance, and consequently all societies must disband and break up. We say, and the observation is sure, He that fears not his ozv?i, may easily he master of anotlier mans life. It is the law and fear of punishment that keeps the world in order : men are afraid to do e\dl, because they are afraid to suffer it ; they see the law hath inseparably linked j3enal and moral evils together ; if they will presume upon the one, they must necessarily pull the other upon them too ; and this keeps them in some order and decorum : there would be no order or security without law ; but if laws had not annexed penalties to enforce them, and give them their sanction, as good there were no laws ; they would have no more power to restrain the corruptions of men's hearts, than the new cords or green withs had to bind Samson. And yet, if the severest penalties in the world were annexed to, or appointed by the law, they could signify nothing to the ends of government without fear. This is that tender, sensible power or passion on which threatenings work, and so brings men under moral govern- ment and restraint, Rom. xiii. 3, 4. " Magistrates are a terror to " evil works ; wilt thou not then be afraid of the power ? But if " thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the " sword in vain."" And by this means a world of evils is restrained and prevented in the world.
It was the custom and policy of the Persians, (I cannot say laud- able) at the death of their kings, to give every man liberty for the space of five days to do what he would ; and such mischiefs were done every-where by the unbridled lusts of men in those days, that it made the people long and pray for the instalment of their next king : it exceedingly endeared government to them. Blessed be God for law and government, for curbing by this means the imaging lusts of the hearts of men, and procuring rest and comfort for us in the world this way.
2. The use of sinful Jear.
This is formally evil and sinful in its own nature, as well as the
* An intelligent creature, as a creature, has a Superior, to whose jM-ovidence and disposal it is subjected ; and as it is intelligent, it is capable of moral government, by •which it may be directed to good, and restrained from evil ; and such a law is abso- lutely necessary to it, that it may live suitably to its nature. Suarez of laws, book 1. c. 3.
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fruit of sin, and offspring of sinful nature ; yet the Lord knows how to over-rule in his providential government of the world to his own wise and holy purposes. And he doth so,