Here is, 1. The benefit of a holy caution. It sounds strangely, but it
is very true: Happy is the man that feareth always. Most people think
that those are happy who never fear; but there is a fear which is so
far from having torment in it that it has in it the greatest
satisfaction. Happy is the man who always keeps up in his mind a holy
awe and reverence of God, his glory, goodness, and government, who is
always afraid of offending God and incurring his displeasure, who keeps
conscience tender and has a dread of the appearance of evil, who is
always jealous of himself, distrustful of his own sufficiency, and
lives in expectation of troubles and changes, so that, whenever they
come, they are no surprise to him. He who keeps up such a fear as this
will live a life of faith and watchfulness, and therefore happy is he,
blessed and holy. 2. The danger of a sinful presumption: He that
hardens his heart, that mocks at fear, and sets God and his judgments
at defiance, and receives not the impressions of his word or rod, shall
fall into mischief; his presumption will be his ruin, and whatever sin
(which is the greatest mischief) he falls into it is owing to the
hardness of his heart.