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And it was the want of it that made him so much abhor the Pharisees. They wanted sincerity, simplicity, and godly sincerity in their souls, and so became an abhorrence in his esteem. Now, I say this golden grace, singleness of heart, flows from this godly fear of God.

7. There flows from this godly fear of God, compassion and bowels to those of the saints that are in necessity and distress. This is manifest in good Obadiah. It is said of him, that he "took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water," 1 Kings xviii. 4; and this was in the days when Jezebel, that tyrant, sought their lives to destroy them. But what was it that moved so upon his heart as to cause him to do this thing? why, it was this blessed grace of the fear of God. "Now Obadiah," saith the text, "feared the Lord greatly for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water." This was charity to the distressed, even to the distressed for the Lord's sake.

Had not Obadiah feared the Lord, yea, had he not greatly feared him, he would not have been able to do this thing, especially as the case then stood with him, and also with the church at that time; for then Jezebel sought to slay all that indeed feared the Lord; yea, and the persecution prevailed so much at that time, that even Elijah himself thought that she had killed all but him. But now, even now, the fear of God in this good man's heart, put forth itself into acts of mercy though attended with so imminent danger.

See here, therefore, that the fear of God will put forth itself in the heart where God hath put it, to show kindness, and to have compassion upon the distressed servants of God, in the very neighbourhood of Jezebel's court; for Obadiah dwelt in Ahab's house, and Jezebel was Ahab's wife, and an horrible persecutor, as was said before: yet Obadiah would show mercy to the poor, because he feared God, yea, he would venture her displeasure, his place, and neck, and all, but he will be merciful to his brethren in distress.

Cornelius, also, being a man possessed with this fear of God, became a very free-hearted and open-handed man to the poor. He feared God, and gave much alms to the people. Indeed this fear, this godly fear of God, is an universal grace; it will stir up the soul unto all good duties. It is a fruitful grace, from it ever floweth abundance of excellent virtues, nor without it can there be any thing good, or done well that is done.

fear of God, hearty, This also is seen in He" feared God;"

8. There flows from this fervent, and constant prayer. Cornelius, that devout man. and what then? why, he " gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway," Acts x. 2.

Did I say that hearty, fervent, and constant prayer, flowed from this fear of God? I will add, that if the whole duty, and the continuation of it, be not managed with this fear of God, it profiteth nothing at all. It is said of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, "He was heard in that he feared," Heb. v. 7. He prayed, then, because he feared, because he feared God, and therefore was his prayer accepted of him, even because he feared.

This godly fear is so essential to right prayer, and

right prayer is such an inseparable effect and fruit of this fear, that thou must have both or none; he that prayeth not, feareth not God; yet he that prayeth not fervently and frequently, feareth him not; and so he that feareth him not, cannot pray; for if prayer be the effect of this fear of God, then without this fear, prayer, fervent prayer, ceaseth. How can those pray, or make conscience of the duty, that fear not God? O prayerless man, thou fearest not God! Thou wouldest not live so long like a swine or a dog in the world as thou dost, if thou fearedst the Lord.

9. There floweth from this fear of God a readiness and willingness, at God's call, to give up our best enjoyments to his disposal. This is evident in Abraham, who, at God's call, without delay, rose early in the morning to offer up his only and wellbeloved Isaac a burnt offering, in the place where God should appoint him.

It was a rare thing that Abraham did; and had he not had this rare grace, this fear of God, he would not, he could not, have done to God's liking so wonderful a thing. It is true, the Holy Ghost also makes this service of Abraham to be the fruit of his faith; "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son," Heb. xi. 17. Aye, and without doubt, love unto God, in Abraham, was not wanting in this his service, nor was this grace of fear; nay, in the history where it is recorded, it is chiefly accounted for as the fruit of his godly fear, and that by an angel from heaven. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I

know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me," Gen. xxii. 11, 12.

Now I know it; now thou hast offered up thine only Isaac, thine all, at the bidding of thy God. Now I know it. The fear of God is not presently discerned in the heart and life of a man. Abraham had long before this done many a holy duty, and showed much willingness of heart to observe and do the will of God; yet you find not, as I remember, that he had this testimony from heaven that he feared God till now: but now he has it, now he has it from heaven. "Now I know that thou fearest God." Many duties may be done (though I do not say that Abraham did them) without the fear of God; but when a man shall not stick at, or withhold his darling from God, when called upon by God to offer it up unto him, that declareth, yea, and gives conviction to angels, that now he feareth God.

10. There floweth from this godly fear, humility of mind. This is evident, because, when the apostle cautions the Romans against the venom of spiritual pride, he directs them to the exercise of this blessed grace of fear as its antidote. "Be not highminded," saith he, "but fear," Rom. xi. 20. Pride, spiritual pride, which is here set forth by the word "highminded," is a sin of a very high and damnable nature; it was the sin of the fallen angels, and is that which causeth men to fall into the same condemnation; "Lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil," 1 Tim. iii. 6. Pride, I say, condemns a professor with the damnation of devils, with the damnation of hell, and therefore it is a deadly, deadly sin. Now, against this deadly sin is set the grace of humility, that comely garment,

for so the apostle calls it, saying, "Be clothed with humility," 1 Pet. v. 5. But the question is now, How we should attain to, and live in the exercise of this blessed and comely grace? to which the apostle answers, Fear: be afraid with godly fear; and thence will flow humility. "Be not highminded, but fear;" that is, fear, or be continually afraid and jealous of yourselves, and of your own naughty hearts; also fear lest, at some time or other, the devil, your adversary, should get advantage of you. Fear, lest, by forgetting what you are by nature, you also forget the need that you have of continual pardon, support, and supplies from the Spirit of grace, and so grow proud of your own abilities, or of what you have received of God, and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Fear, and that will make you little in your own eyes, keep you humble, put you upon crying to God for protection, and upon lying at his footstool for mercy; that will also make you have low thoughts of your own parts, your own doings, and cause you to prefer your brother before yourself, and so you will walk in humiliation, and be continually under the teachings of God, and under his conduct in your way. God will teach the humble. "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way," Psa. xxv. 9.

From this grace of fear, then, flows this excellent and comely thing humility; yea, it also is maintained by this fear. Fear takes off a man from trusting to himself; it puts a man upon trying of all things; it puts a man upon desiring counsel and help from heaven; it makes a man ready and willing to hear instruction, and makes a man walk lowly, softly, and so securely in the way.

11. There flows from this

grace of fear,

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