There is very abundant reason why we should fear
him —
[The circumstance of our being his creatures, formed by him for the promotion of his glory, should of itself induce us to regard him chiefly, him continually, him exclusively : and the circumstance of his having redeemed us by the blood of his dear Son, should constrain us irresistibly to live altogether for him. But the consideration urged in our text is that which we are more particularly called to notice.
God can destroy the body, as well as ma?ig. He commis- sioned worms to execute his vengeance on a prince that robbed him of his glory h. And on many of his own peculiar people also has he inflicted punishment, visiting them with sickness and death for their transgressions against him1. In this respect then, to say the least, he is on a par with men, and is as much to be feared as they. But he can also tvoand the soul, which man can never touch. The saints of old, instead of being grieved at " the spoiling of their goods, took it joyfully." Paul and Silas, when their backs were torn with scourges, and their feet fastened in the stocks, so far from having their spirits hurt, were filled with unutterable joy, and " sang praises to God at midnight." And every saint is privileged to " take pleasure in afflictions," and to " glory in tribulations ;" so little is it in the power of man to hurt his soul. But what distress cannot God inflict ? Look at Judas : look at many also at this day, who, like him, " choose strangling rather than life." Whence arise the numerous suicides that we hear of continually ? God lets loose his wrath upon the souls of men on account of their ini- quities ; and then they are so miserable that they cannot endure to live. The saints themselves, too, are sometimes made to experience his frowns : and then how inexpressible is their anguish! " A wounded spirit who can bear?" Here then God shews his superiority over man, even in this life. But God's power extends also to the future world: he can cast the soul into hell ; and can raise up the body also, and re-unite it to the soul, and make them monuments of his everlasting ven- geance. Oh! " who knoweth the power of his anger?" Who can tell us what it is to lie down in the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone, and to spend an eternity in that place, "where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched?" Read a faint description of their state, drawn by the hand of an angelk; and you will then see that "it is indeed a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Now judge 'whom you ought to fear1. Now see why our
e " After he hath killed." h Acts xii. 23. * 1 Cor. xi. 30. k Rev. xiv. 10, 11. > Jer. x. 6, 7.