Neither hath
he laid these things in actions done in their health, nor in the due
management of their most excellent parts, but in the receiving of
Christ, and fear of God; the which, good Christian, thou mayest do,
and do acceptably, even though thou shouldst lie bedrid all thy
days; thou mayest also be sick and believe, be sick and love, be
sick and fear God, and so be a blessed man.
And here the poor Christian hath something to answer them that
reproach him for his ignoble pedigree, and shortness of the glory of
the wisdom of the world. True, may that man say, I was taken out of
the dunghill, I was born in a base and low estate; but I fear God. I
have no worldly greatness, nor excellency of natural parts, but I
fear God.
When Obadiah met with Elijah, he gave him no worldly and fantastical
compliment, nor did he glory in his promotion by Ahab the king of
Israel, but gravely and after a gracious manner said, "I thy servant
fear the Lord from my youth." Also, when the mariners inquired of
Jonah, saying, "What is thine occupation, and whence comest thou;
what is thy country, and of what people art thou?" this was the
answer he gave them: "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of
heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
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