Behold, my dear friends, lay this to heart, that the Lord will not hear those who do not fear him now (John 9:31); and how precious the fear of the Lord is to him that will choose it; for nothing is to be compared to her. The fear of the Lord is honor, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing. The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and giveth joy, and gladness and a long life. Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and he shall find favor in the day of his death. The love of God is honorable. Those to whom wisdom showeth her face, love her through seeing her, and in the knowledge of her benefits. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; and the fear of the Lord is true religion. The knowledge of religion shall keep the heart, and justify it; it shall give joy and gladness. The godfearing shall prosper in the day of life, and at his end he shall be blessed. To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom. The fear of God is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord: but unto the sinner wisdom is a curse. The fear of the Lord driveth out sin; for he that is without fear cannot be justified. Sir. 1:11. Be not faithless; for into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter, nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin. John 20:27; Wis. 1:4.
My beloved friends, lay it to heart, how great a difference there is between those who fear the Lord, and them that do not fear him. Mal. 3:18. Search well the Scriptures, that you will not be like the cities concerning which Christ says in the gospel, that because they did not lay to heart his mighty works, which were done in their presence, it should be more tolerable for those of Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of judgment, than for them. Matthew 11:20. Therefore dear friends, the Lord does yet even now show such mighty works through us before your eyes; let it strengthen you, as Paul says that many of the brethren waxed confident in the Lord by his bonds, and were much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philip. 1:14. My dear friends, consider well, when the Lord did his mighty works, he did not do them for the sake of a single individual, as we read in John, when he raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:42), but that the people should see his mighty deeds, and believe in him, though only some believed in him, and some were offended at him, and said: Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Thus it is also at the present day with those who do not believe; for though they well see how strong and mighty the Lord is with us, yet they are offended at it, and say that we do this from stubbornness. And when we say that the righteous must suffer persecution, they say that we are persecuted for anabaptism. Thus it is to them a cause of offense; but those who believe God well know that we must suffer for righteousness sake; these, I hope, it will strengthen, and to us, be a trial unto our eternal salvation, through the grace of God. 1 Pet. 2:6,8; Matthew 5:10.
My dear friends, lay to heart how great glory is promised to those who fear the Lord with the whole heart, and what great anguish shall come upon every soul of man that has not obeyed the gospel; these shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9. Therefore become obedient to the truth, and be transformed in your mind, that you may prove what is that acceptable and perfect will of God. 1 Pet. 1:22; Rom. 12:2. Meditate day and night in the law of the Lord, and do not suffer yourselves to be prevented from praying without ceasing, as the Scriptures teach us in many places; He that asketh receiveth: to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Ps. 1:2; 1 Thess. 5:17; Matt. 7:8. Hence, my dear friends, have your hearts transformed, and the Lord will give you even before you ask him; for blessed are those who are of a good will. Luke 2:14. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6.