Thirdly, There is a fear of reverence,—a reverential fear of God. This is that which most commonly is intended by the name of the “fear of God,” both in the Old Testament and the New. And it is not an especial duty, suited unto some seasons and occasions, but that which concerns us in our whole course, in all our ways and actings. Sometimes it is taken subjectively, for the internal reverential frame of our hearts in all wherein we have to do with God; and sometimes
204 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV.
objectively, for the worship of God itself. So is the nature of it expressed, Deut. xxviii. 58, “Observe the words of this law, that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LorpD THY Gop.” The glorious and dreadful majesty of God is the object of it and motive-unto it, which gives it the nature of reverence. And the way whereby it is exercised and expressed isa due observation of the worship of God according to the law. But neither is this that which is peculiarly intended, as not being more incumbent on us in one season than another, on one account than another,
Fourthly, There is a fear of circwmspection, care, and diligence, with respect unto the due use of the means, that we may attain the end proposed unto us. This some would confound with a fear of diffidence, dread, and terror, with respect unto the uncertainty of the end; but it is quite of another nature. And as that is every- where condemned in us, so this is no less frequently commended unto us: Rom. xi. 20, “Be not high-minded, but fear.” Phil. ii. 12, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” 1 Pet. 1. 17, “Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” Prov. xxviii. 14, “Happy is the man that feareth alway;” that is, with this fear of watchfulness, diligence, and spiritual care. But as to the other it is affirmed, that “ God hath not given us the spirit of fear,” 2 Tim. i. 7, or of bondage, through diffidence and uncertainty of the event of our obedience. Now, the acting of the soul in and about the use of means is ascribed unto fear, when the mind is in- fluenced by a due apprehension of the threatenings and severity of God against sin, they being the way whereby we are delivered from being obnoxious unto them. Thus Noah, when God had de- nounced his judgments against the old world, although they were not yet seen, did not appear in any preparation made for them, yet believing that they would be inflicted accordingly, evruCnde/e, “being moved with fear, he prepared an ark,’ Heb. xi. 7. Apprehending the severity of God, believing his threatenings, his mind was influ- enced into that fear which put him with diligence on the use of those means whereby he and his family might be saved and preserved.
It will, from these considerations, be plainly evidenced what that fear is which is here enjoined and prescribed unto us. An instance and example of God’s severity against unbelievers is laid down and proposed unto our consideration by the apostle in his preceding discourse. In this example of God’s dealing with them of old, he declares also that there is included a commination of dealing with all others in the same manner, who shall fall into the same sin of unbelief with them. None may flatter themselves with vain hopes of any privilege or exemption in this matter. Unbelievers shall never enter into the rest of God. This he further confirms in these
VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 205
two verses, though his present exhortation be an immediate infer- ence from what went before: “ Wherefore let us fear.” - How must we do this? with what kind of fear? Not with a fear of diffidence, of doubting, of wavering, of uncertainty as to the event of our obe- dience. This indeed may, this doth, befall many, but it is enjoined unto none; it is a fruit of unbelief, and so cannot be our duty.
Neither can it be that which was intimated in the second place under the first head, namely, a dread and dismayedness of mind upon a prospect of difficulties, oppositions, and dangers in the way. This is the sluggard’s fear, who cries, “ There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.” To expel and cast out this fear, as that which weakens and disheartens men in their profession, is one of the espe- cial designs of the apostle in this epistle. Nor is it that general fear of reverence which ought to accompany us, in all wherein we have to do with God. For this is not particularly influenced by threatenings and the severity of God, seeing we are bound always so to “fear the LorD and his goodness;” nor is this fear required of us, as was said, more at one season than another. It remains, there- fore, that the fear here intended is mixed of the first and the last of those before mentioned. And so two things are included in it:— First, An awful apprehension of the holiness and greatness of God, with his severity against sin, balancing the soul against temptation. Secondly, A careful diligence in the use of means, to avoid the evil threatened unto unbelief and disobedience. And the right stating of these things being of great moment in our practice, it must be further cleared in the ensuing observations. As,—