(2.) Love to God is necessary to confirm and strengthen this resolu- tion in us, for that overcometh all terrors : Eom. viii. 37, ' Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us ; ' and Cant. viii. 6, 7, ' Love is strong as death ; jealousy is cruel as the grave ; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame ; many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it : if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.' There is an unconquerable force in love ; it is a fire that cannot be quenched. When Christ hath us by the heart, it is much more than when he hath us by the head. They that make a religion of their opinions, and have a faith that never went deeper than their brains and fancies, are soon discouraged ; but when Christ ' dwelleth in the heart by faith,' Eph. iii. 17, tliere he resideth as in his strong citadel and castle. A Christian, because he loveth Christ, will own him, and his ways and truth, though they be never so much despised in the world. A superficial bare assent to the gospel may let Christ go, but a faith working by love will not.
(3.) The fear of God, or a deep awe and reverence of him, when we are more afraid to offend God than to suffer from man. The apostle, when he biddeth us to be ready to make profession, 1 Peter iii. 5, bids
VeR. 46.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 493
lis do it ' with meekness and fear.' Mgekncss res])ects men ; fear, a care to approve ourselves to God. The fear of men is checked by the fear *of God : Isa. viii. 12, 13, ' Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid: sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread ;' Luke xii. 4, 5, ' Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do : but I. will forewarn you whom you shall fear ; fear him which, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell.' A holy impression of God's excellency and greatness left upon the heart is this fear that carrieth the cause clearly for God ; and as one nail driveth out another, the fear of men banisheth the fear of God out of our hearts. We are obliged to none so as to God, who hath the power of eternal life and eternal death. What is a prison to hdl, a little vainglory to eternal glory, the creature to God ?
(4.) A deep sense of the other v^'orld. When w^e translate the scene from earth to heaven, from this world to the next, and consider who is scorned there, received there, or rejected there, the temptation is lessened. The apostle show^eth that a spirit of faith is at the bottom of confession with the mouth : 2 Cor, iv. 13, ' We, having the same spirit of faith, believe, and therefore speak.' He that believeth another world, and hopeth for it, w^ill never be cowardly and bashful, but will confidently confess Christ, and own him both in w^orship and conversation. A spirit of faith cannot be suppressed, but will break out and show itself, and not be ashamed of Christ, his truth and ways.
Well, then, Christians should be ashamed of that spirit of fear, bashfulness, and inconfidence which keeps us from confessing Christ and owning his ways. Kings are more formidable by their place and power than the rest of the w^orld ; but alas ! we give place to the meanest men, and the smallest opposition maketh us give out : 2 Tim. i. 7, ' We have not the spirit of fear, but the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.' The Christian spirit is a sober spirit, that valueth all things according to their weight ; but not a dastardly spirit : a spirit of love and power, that owneth Christ with meekness, and a due respect to earthly tribunals ; and yet with courage, as looking higher, to the throne of God.
2. We must not be ashamed to own the testimonies and ways of God before any sort of men in the w-orld. The apostle telleth us, Kom. i. 16, ' I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.' The gospel is such a pure, sure rule, and offereth us such glorious hopes, that we should be ready to profess it without being ashamed of it. So he bids Timothy, 2 Tim. i, 8, ' Be not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, nor of me his prisoner; ' neither of the profession, nor of our companions in the profession, when they are under the greatest dis- grace. So again, 1 Peter iv. 16, 'If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God in this behalf;' it is matter of thanksgiving, not of shame. David is an instance ; when Michal scoffed at him, ' I wull yet be more vile,' 2 Sam. vi. 22. It is an honour to be dishonoured for Christ. The primitive Christians, wdien the lieathens reproached them, Art thou not ashamed to believe in him that was crucified? the answer was, I am ashamed to believe in