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in another world, hath laid up for those that fear him.

3. Another encouragement for those that have this grace of fear is this: this grace can make that man that, in many other things, is not capable of serving God, serve him better than those that have all without it. Poor Christian man, thou hast scarcely been able to do any thing for God all thy days, but only to fear the Lord. Thou art no preacher, and so canst not do him service that way; thou art no rich man, and so canst not do him service with outward substance; thou art no wise man, and so canst not do any thing that way: but here is thy mercy, thou fearest God. Though thou canst not preach, thou canst fear God; though thou hast no bread to feed, nor fleece to clothe the poor, thou canst fear God. Oh, how blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, because this duty of fearing of God is an act of the mind, and may be done by the man that is destitute of all things but that holy and blessed mind!

Blessed, therefore, is that man, for God hath not laid the comfort of his people in the doing external duties, nor the salvation of their souls, but in believing, loving, and fearing God. Neither hath he laid these things in actions done in their health, nor in the due management of their most excellent parts, but in the receiving of Christ, and fear of God; the which, Christian, thou mayst do, and do acceptably, even though thou shouldst lie bed-ridden all thy days; thou mayst also be sick and believe, be sick and love, be sick and fear God, and so be a blessed man.

And here the poor Christian hath something to answer those that reproach him for his ignoble pedi

gree, and shortness of the glory of the wisdom of the world. True, may that man say, I was taken out of the dunghill, I was born in a base and low estate; but I fear God. I have no worldly greatness, nor excellency of natural parts; but I fear God.

When Obadiah met with Elijah, he gave him no worldly and fantastical compliment, nor did he glory in his promotion by Ahab, the king of Israel; but gravely, and after a gracious manner, said, "I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth," 1 Kings xviii. 12. Also, when the mariners inquired of Jonah, saying, "What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou ?" this was the answer he gave them, "I am an Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land," Jonah i. 8, 9.

Indeed, this answer is the highest and most noble in the world, nor are there any, save a few, that in truth can thus express themselves, though other answers they have enough. Most can say, I have wisdom, or might, or riches, or friends, or health, or the like; these are common, and are greatly boasted in by most: but he is the man that feareth God, and he that can say, when they say to him, What art thou? "I thy servant fear the Lord;" he is the man of many, he is to be honoured of men; though this, namely, that he feareth the Lord, is all that he hath in this world. He hath the thing, the honour, the life, and glory which are lasting; his blessedness will abide when other men's will be buried in the dust, in shame, and contempt.

Hypocrites! my last word is to you. The hypocrite is one that would appear to be that in men's

eyes that he is nothing of in God's. Thou hypocrite! thou wouldst be esteemed to be one that loves and that fears God, but does not, I have this to say to thee; thy condition is damnable, because thou art an hypocrite, and seekest to deceive both God and man with guises, masks, shows, pretences, and thy formal, carnal, feigned subjection to the outside of statutes, laws, and commandments; but within thou art full of rottenness and all excess.

Hypocrite! thou mayst, by thy cunning shifts, be veiled and hid from men; but thou art naked before the eyes of God; and he knoweth that his fear is not in thy heart.

Hypocrite! be admonished that there is no obedience accepted of God where the heart is destitute of this grace of fear. Keeping the commandments is but one part of the duty of man, and Paul did that, even while he was an hypocrite. To "fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man," Eccles. xii. 13. But to fear God" the hypocrite cannot as an hypocrite do, and therefore, as such, cannot escape the damnation of hell.

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Hypocrite! thou must fear God first, even before thou dost offer to meddle with the commandments, that is, as to the keeping of them. Indeed, thou shouldst read therein that thou mayst learn to fear the Lord; but yet, to "fear God" goes before the command to keep his commandments; and if thou dost not fear God first, thou transgresseth instead of keeping the commandments.

Hypocrite! this word, "Fear God," is that which the hypocrite quite forgets, although it is that which sanctifies the whole duty of man; for this is that, and nothing without it, that can make a man sincere in his obedience. The hypocrite looks for applause

abroad, and forgets that he is condemned at home; and both these he does because he wanteth the fear of God.

Hypocrite! be admonished that none of the privileges that are spoken of in the former part of the book belong to thee, because thou art an hypocrite; and if thou hope, thy hope shall be cut off; and if thou lean upon thy house, both thou and it shall fall into hell-fire. Triumph then; thy triumph is but for a while. Joy then; but "the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment," Job xx. 5.

Perhaps thou wilt not let go now what, as an hypocrite, thou hast got. "What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?" Job xxvii. 8.

Hypocrite! thou shouldst have chosen the fear of God, as thou hast chosen a profession without it; but thou hast cast off fear, because thou art an hypocrite; and because thou art such, thou shalt have the same measure that thou metest. God will cast thee off, because thou art an hypocrite. God hath prepared a fear for thee, because thou didst not choose the fear of God; and that fear shall come upon thee like desolation, and like an armed man, and shall swallow thee up, thou and all that thou art.

Hypocrite! read this text and tremble: "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings ?" Isa. xxxiii. 14.

Hypocrite! thou art not under the fatherly protection of God, because thou art an hypocrite, and wantest his fear in thine heart. The eyes of the Lord are upon those that fear him, to deliver them; but the fearless man is left to the snare and

wiles of the devil, to be caught therein and overcome, because he is destitute of the fear of God.

Hypocrite! thou art like to have no other reward of God for thy labour, than that which the goats shall have; the hypocrite shall not stand in God's sight. The gain of thy religion thou spendest as thou gettest it; thou wilt not have one farthing overplus at death and judgment.

Hypocrite! God hath not intrusted thee with the least drachm of his saving grace, nor will he, because thou art an hypocrite. And as for what thou hast, thou hast stolen it, even every man of you from his neighbour; still pilfering out of their profession, even as Judas did out of the bag. Thou camest like a thief into thy profession, and like a thief thou shalt

go out of the same. Jesus Christ hath not counted thee faithful to commit to thee any of his jewels to keep, because thou fearest him not. He hath given his banner to those that fear him, that it may be displayed because of the truth.

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Hypocrite! thou art not true to God, nor man, nor thine own soul, because thou art an hypocrite. How should the Lord put any trust in thee? Why should the saints look for any good from thee? Should God give thee his word, thou wilt sell it; should men commit their souls to thee, thou wilt destroy them, by making merchandize of them for thy own hypocritical designs. Yea, if the sun waxes hot, thou wilt throw all away, and not endure the heat, because thou art an hypocrite.

THE END.

London: Printed by W. CLOWES and SONS, Duke Street, Lambeth.

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