the language of The Old teftament, the fame as believing in the Lord according to the language of the New. And as that was the diftinguishing mark of the children of God under the former difpenfation; fo is this under the Gospel. As many as received the Meffiah, to them gave he power, right, or privilege, to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name-for we are all the children of God by faith in Chrift Jefus *. The 'fear of the Lord is highly spoken of in the Old Testament, as faith is in the New. It is faid to be the beginning of wisdom +. No perfon can ever be wife in the things of God, or take one true ftep in the way to Heaven till he poffefs this fear. And with equal truth we may fay of faith, that it is the beginning of wisdom. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be faved, faith the Scripture, -but without faith it is impoffible to please God, impoffible to be wife unto falvation . Fear God and keep his commandments," for this is the whole duty faith Solomon, * John is 12. Gal. iii, 26. Acts xvi. 31. Heb. xi. 6. B 2 + Pfalm iii. 10. Mark xvi. 16, "" of of man *" Keeping God's command ments is the certain effect or confequence of fearing him; therefore they are very properly joined together: for where the fear of God is in the heart, it will produce obedience in the life. And the fame may be faid refpecting faith. "What fhall we do," faid the jews of old, "that we might work the works of God? Jefus answered and faid unto "them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath fent +. Faith then working by love, is the whole of a Chriftian; for the just hall live by faith‡. By means of his faith, he shall live a life of juflification through the righteousness of Chrift; which is unto all and upon all them who believe a life of peace and joy, as the refult of his being brought into a state of acceptance with God-a life of communion and fellowShip with God; for through faith he hath accefs by one fpirit unto the Father §-a life of holy obedience to the word of God; which is a lamp unto his feet, and a light unto his * Ecclefiaftes xii. 13. + John vi. 28, 29. paths paths: for "All scripture is given by inspira, tion of God, and is profitable for doctrine, "for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto "all good works *." And this will lead to, and terminate in an eternal life of glory and bleffednefs in the kingdom of God. Grace fhall reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jefus Christ our Lord; for whom God juftifieth, them he alfo glorifieth +. And as fear is a grace much commended in the Scriptures, fo likewife is truft for it is written Bleffed is that man who maketh the Lord his truft ." And equally bleffed is the man who believeth in him. "I am the refurrection and the life;" faith the Lord," he that believeth in me, though he "were dead, yet hall he live: and whofo"ever liveth and believeth in me fhall never die §." Hence it is very evident who are the perfons who have a right to, and an intereft * Pfalm cxix. 105. 2. Tim. iii. 16, 17. + Rom. v. 21. viii. 30. + Pfalm xl. 4 in in the bleffing contained in the text-They are true believers, who fear the Lord and truft in him. But do not all men fear the Lord and truft in him? Verily no-for this is not the work of the flesh, but the fruit of divine grace in the foul. It is the Lord Jehovah, who, by his fpirit, breaks up the barren foil of the human heart, with the gofpel plow-fows the feed of eternal life there; waters it with the dew of heavenly doctrine, and caufeth it to yield the pleafing fruit of holy fear and trust. Thus his promifes of grace and mercy to his church are accomplished;-fuch as "I will make an everlafting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear into their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." And I will take the ftony heart out of the flesh, and I will give them an heart of flesh: that they may walk in my ftatutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them; and "they shall be my people, and I will be their "God.' But thefe promiles are not ful * Jer. xxxii. 40. Ezek. xi, 19, 20. filled 1 filled in all men; for the word of truth de clares that all men have not faith *-that the carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not fubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be; fo that they who are in the flesh cannot please God that wide is the gate, and broad is the way which leadeth to deftruc tion, and many there be who go in thereat t And if we take a ftrict and an impartial furvey of the world in general, we shall be conftrained to affent to the voice of Scripture. The fear and truft spoken of in the text is filial-not fervile. It is the unwillingness of a dutiful child, to offend his heavenly father; and a firm confidence in his paternal goodness. But the wicked are firangers to this there is no fuch fear of God before their eyes §-fear him as an angry judge, they may-they muft: it is confonant to our fallen nature. But this fear will never produce filial affections-will never influence the heart of a finner to love God, and delight in his ways. Adam feared, and attempted to run from God; * 2 Thef. iii. 2. + Mat. vii. 13. + Rom. viii. 7, 8. § Rom. iii. 18. instead |