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I. THE REASONS WHICH RENDER A GREAT FEAR OF GOD, IN RELIGIOUS SERVICES, NECESSARY AND BECOMING.

1. The mysteriousness and un-searchableness of God, and of all those things which employ our mind in worship.

2. The infinite fulness of peculiar glory, which resides in the Divine Being.

3. His Majesty, as the Creator, Law-giver, and Judge of mankind.

4. The sublime majesty which appears in the character and procedure of God in the work of redemption.

(1) Its first projection in the sovereign counsels of God.

(2) The terrible events that have come to pass in subserviency to this work, and, as it were, to make room for its glory.

(3) How shall we think or speak of that unspeakable majesty, which beams forth from the Son of God, when we contemplate Him as descending into our low nature, and accomplishing the mysterious purchase of salvation!

(4) The awful majesty which attends the Spirit's work in applying redemption to the souls of the elect.

II. THE QUALITY OF THIS HOLY FEAR.

1. Our fear of God, in solemn approaches to Him, is not worthy to be called "great" fear until it begins almost to overwhelm the strength both of soul and body.

2. Those who fear God greatly are brought to a pressing sense of their need of shelter and support by a fresh and powerful application of Christ to their souls.

3. This great fear makes the soul exceedingly deliberate, cautious, and diligent in preparation for the more solemn seasons of communion with God.

4. This fear gives such an impulse to the soul as makes it break through all reluctance in the exercises of self-denial and the mortification of sin.

5. Where God is greatly feared there will be much regard to His sacred institutions, even in their minutest circumstances.

6. There will also be much coolness and indifference as to those outward circumstances in religious duties which engage the chief attention of carnal minds.

7. This great fear of God raises the soul above the cowardly fear of man, or of outward sufferings in the cause of Christ.

8. The greatness of this fear of God is manifested by an undaunted adherence to the people of God in the most hazardous times.

9. This great fear keeps a man at an awful distance from the pollutions of the world. Unhallowed pleasure, unjust gains, profane witticisms, are no better, in such a man's eyes, than a cup of sweetened poison.

10. The great degree of this holy fear is manifested by the vehement transports of joy, gratitude, and triumph which accompany a refreshing sense of the love of Christ.Application: —

1. To those who are concerned and troubled in spirit, for their being destitute of the true fear of God.

(1) Beware of stifling your convictions, or suffering them to be blown out by others.

(2) Beware of resting in convictions, or of thinking yourselves safe, merely because you see the misery of your state.

(3) Use your utmost endeavour to put yourselves in the hands of Christ, unreservedly, that He may powerfully draw you to Himself, and bring you to the true fear of God.

(4) Do not conclude that your state is good till you find in yourselves a holy light, and a holy propensity of soul, leading you out to desire and to delight in the fear of God for its own sake (Nehemiah 1:11).

2. To those who know experimentally what it is to fear God and to fear Him greatly.

(1) Glorify the distinguishing mercy of God. You might have been hardened, as others are.

(2) Beware of resting in your attainments and frames. These are precious effects of grace; but they are not your righteousness before God.

(3) Beware of losing what you have attained. "Hold fast that which thou hast," etc.

(4) Press forward, after a higher perfection in the service of God. They who think themselves perfect are not, yet sincere.

(5) Strive for the conversion of others. Seek earnestly that the power and majesty of God may be more gloriously visible in His sanctuary and in the lives of professed Christians.

(John Love, D.D.)

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KJV: God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

WEB: a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?