3. The third reason, because of the profit of standing in awe of the word.
[1.] It fortifieth us, and preserveth us in such temptations as arise from the fear of man. Where there is a reverence and awefulness of God's word, the greater awe overcometh the less. In such a temptation a man may miscarry two ways — by distrust of God, and disobedience to him. The one is the cause of the other. Now that we may not dis- trust him, it is good to set fear against fear, God against the creature : Jer. i. 8, ' Be not afraid of their face, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord His powerful protection should encourage us against their wrathful disposition : Isa. li. 12, 13, ' Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man, that shall be as grass, and forgettest the Lord thy maker ? ' The immortal and almighty God is able to bear us out. A due sense of the power of the Almighty checketh the fear of men. Or by disobed- ience we dishonour him : certainly a gracious heart feareth more to offend God than to fall into any temporal inconvenience : Isa. viii. 12, 13, ' Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid ; but sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear and dread ;' 1 Peter iii. 14, 15, 'But if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terror ; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.' But let him be your fear and your dread. Be afraid to offend so holy a majesty. The countenance of princes is very awful unto men, but the fear of God's wrath should overcome the fear of man's displeasure, even of the greatest : Heb. xi. 27, ' He feared not the wrath of the king, because he saw him that was invisible.'
[2.] It maketh a man sincere. When a man standeth in awe of the word, he obeyeth in presence and absence, Phil. ii. 12, and avoideth secret as well as open sins, Gen. xxxix. 9, sins of thought as well as in deed — heart-sins, which the laws of men cannot take hold of; but the fear of God is instead of all laws, 2 Cor. i. 12. Conscience is to them more than shame of men. Something without keepeth back wicked
VeR. 161.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 175
men ; but something within, the godly. Abner's question was not good, ' How shall I hold up my face to thy brother Joab ? ' 2 Sam. ii. 22. He should have said, How shall I hold up my face to the Lord thy God ? Though an upright man might do wickedly, uncontrolled of man, and nobody seeth him or punisheth him, yet reverence of God and his word restraineth him.
[3.] It maketh a man punctual and exact when afraid to do anything contrary to God's revealed will. It is universal, and it is powerful. It is universal; the soul that maketh conscience of the word is more thorough in obedience : there will be failings, but, for the main, his heart is sound with God ; and lesser failings are retracted by repent- ance, Ps. cxli. 1, 2. And powerful : ' Stand in awe, and sin not,' Ps. iv. 4 ; this will cause us to stop in an evil course, on the remembrance of our duty ; as David's heart smote him when he cut off the lap of Saul's garment. Some think the text then verified, ' My heart standeth in awe of thy word. ; ' a commandment was in his way.
Use 1. To show us what frame of spirit they are under who despise the word.
1. All do so who deliberately and voluntarily prefer their own will before the will of God : 2 Sam. xii. 9, ' Wherefore hast thou sinned in despising the commandment ? ' They obey their own inclination, whatever the word saith to the contrary. Despising the command- ment is the root of all sin, as formality of wilful sin. Oh ! that men did regard this as they ought ! considering that to despise command- ments is to despise the Lord himself, and what it is for poor worms to despise the God of heaven and earth. Nay, that God that is our judge, he hath power to cast both body and soul into hell-fire— the God whom we are bound by so many ties to obey.
2. When swayed by delight and profit against the course of our duty. Esau sold his birthright to keep him alive, yet despised it, Gen. xxix. 31, and Heb. xii. 16.
3. The case is more aggravated when we cast a precept behind our backs for a light pleasure or small profit ; the greater is our contempt to break with God for a little trifle ; sell the righteous for a pair of shoes.
Use 2. To press us to get this blessed frame of heart, to stand in awe of the word.
1. It is a great curb in actual temptations: Gen. xxxix. 9, 'How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God ? '