forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
SERMON III.
"Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his
heart shall fall into mischief." Prov. xxviii. 14.
The great purpose of revealed religion is to afford man a clear representation of his dependence on the Supreme Being, by teaching him to consider God as his Creator and Governour, his Father and his Judge. Those, to whom providence has granted the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, have no need to perplex themselves with difficult speculations, to deduce their duty from remote principles, or to enforce it by doubtful motives. The Bible tells us, in plain and authoritative terms, that there is a way to life, and a way to death; that there are acts which God will reward, and acts that he will punish. That with soberness, righteousness, and godliness, God will be pleased; and that with intemperance, iniquity, and impiety, God will be offended; and that, of those who are careful to please him, the reward will be such as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, and of those who, having offended him, die without repentance, the punishment will be inconceivably severe, and dreadful.
In consequence of this general doctrine, the whole system of moral religious duty is expressed, in the language of Scripture, by the "fear of God." A good man is characterised, as a man that feareth God; and the fear of the Lord is said to be the beginning of wisdom; and the text affirms, that happy is the man that feareth always.
On the distinction of this fear, into servile and filial, or
