February 9

"Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear."—1 Peter 1. 17.

HAVING in the foregoing exercise noticed the nature of the Christian's life, let us now consider

THE MANNER IN WHICH IT SHOULD BE SPENT. "In fear." We must bear in mind that there is a fear that is censurable, and a fear that is commendable. We are not to fear man, neither are we to fear so as to distrust God. But we must pass the time of our sojourning here—

In the fear of reverence. When we contrast the Divine Majesty with our meanness, there is enough to call forth, not a dread, but a holy fear of God. Saints in every age have been characterized by this filial fear. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;" and we are to "perfect holiness in the fear of God." It is an implanted principle: "I will put my fear in their hearts," says God. It is a governing and restraining principle; "So did not I," says Nehemiah, "because of the fear of God." It is connected with joy, and prosperity of soul: thus it is said of the primitive believers, they "were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied." We must pass the time of our sojourning here—

In the fear of caution. For the way in which the Christian pilgrim is travelling is beset with snares and temptations. This caution is necessary in reference to our sinful and corrupt natures, and all our spiritual adversaries.

In the fear of anxiety. I mean a deep concern and solicitude as to the safety of our state. The Christian does not fear that he shall perish in the way everlasting, but sometimes doubts whether he is in it or not. He does not fear that God will not complete his work of grace; but the matter of his anxiety is, whether that work has been begun in him. Reader, how do you regard this world? Are you a stranger, or a settler?—a denizen of the world, or a citizen of heaven? "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."