Again, as this clause (In the fear of the Lord) declares the manner of submission, it shows, that:
No submission is to be performed unto man, but that which may stand with the fear of God. Whereby we show that we have respect to God, and labour above all to approve ourselves to him. Thus David is commanded to rule in the fear of God:1 and other Magistrates to perform their duty in the fear of the Lord: 2 which Nehemiah that good Governor was careful to do. 3 So also subjects are to obey in the fear of the Lord, which the Apostle implies by prefixing this precept, “Feare God,” before that, “Honor the King;” 4 as if he had said, so honor the King, as in and thereby you may manifest your fear of God: let not this latter cross the former. Servants likewise are commanded to be obedient unto their Masters with this proviso, fearing the Lord. Such phrases as these, “For the Lord’s sake”, “As unto the Lord”, 5 “In the Lord”, “As servants of Christ”, 6 with the like, being annexed to the duties of inferiors, do imply as much.
Great reason there is that all service should be limited with the fear of God: for God is the highest Lord to whom all service primarily and principally is due: whatsoever service is due to any man, high or low, is due in and for the Lord. The Lord hath set superiours in the places of eminency, wherein they bear the image of God. The Lord also hath set inferiours in their places, and commended them as his charge to the government of those who are over them. He that obeys not those who are over him in the fear of God, shows no respect of God’s image: and he who governs not those who are under him in the fear of God, shows no respect of Gods charge.
Besides, God is that great Judge to whom all of all sorts, superiors and inferiors are to give an account of their service. Though by our service we have never so well approved ourselves to men, yet if we have not therein had respect unto God, and approved ourselves to him, with what face may we appear before his dreadful judgement seat? Can the favor of those whom we have pleased in this world, protect and shelter us from the fury of God’s displeasure?
Behold the folly of such Governours as wholly apply themselves to the fancy of their people, yea though it be against the Lord and his word. This was Adam’s folly, who at his wife’s motion did eat of the forbidden fruit. 7 This was Aaron’s folly, who to please the people, erected an idol.8 And this was Saul’s folly, who against God’s express prohibition suffered his people to take some of the spoil of the Amalekites.9 The like may be said of Joash, who listened to his princes to set up Idols:10 and of Pilate, who to please the people, against his conscience, delivered Christ to be crucified.11 The fearful issue of this their submission, not seasoned with a fear of God, but contrary thereunto, may be a warning to all superiors, to take heed how they seek to please them that are under them, more than God who is above them. The issue of Adam’s, Aaron’s, Saul’s, and Joash, his base submission, is noted by the Holy Ghost in their several histories. Of Pilate it is recorded, that being brought into extreme necessity,12 he laid violent hands upon himself.
Neither is it to be accounted folly only in superiors to submit themselves to their inferiors against the Lord, but also in inferiors to their superiors: for thereby they show that they fear man more than God, which Christ expressly forbids his friends to do.13 The captains which went to fetch Elijah,14 obeyed their king therein; but what got they thereby? Was the king able to save them from the fire which God sent down from heaven upon them? The women reproved for offering incense to the Queen of Heaven,15 did it not without their husbands, yet were they not excused thereby. The children and others in the family submitted themselves to Dathan and Abiram in standing in the door of their tents at defiance against Moses;16 but because it was not in the Lord, but against him, they were not exempted from the judgement. Wherefore let all of all sorts set the fear of God as a mark before them to aim at in all their actions. Let superiors neither do anything to give content to their inferiors:17 nor suffer any thing to be done for their sakes by their inferiors, which cannot stand with the fear of God. And let inferiors nor do, nor forbeare to do at the will of their superious anything swerving from the fear of God:18 but every one submit themselves one to another in the fear of God.
2 Sam. 23. 3 ↩︎
2 Chro. 19 9 ↩︎
Neh. 5. 15 ↩︎
1 Pet. 2. 17 ↩︎
Coloss. 3. 22 ↩︎
1 Pet. 2. 13 ↩︎
Gen. 3. 6 ↩︎
Exod. 32. 1 ↩︎
1 Sam. 15. 21 ↩︎
2 Chro. 24 7 ↩︎
Mark 15. 15 ↩︎
Euscb. hist. Eccl. lib 2. cap. 7 ↩︎
Luke 12. 4, 5 ↩︎
2 King. 1. 9 ↩︎
Jer. 44. 19 ↩︎
Numb. 16. 32 ↩︎
Numb. 11. 29, 1 Sam. 24. 8. & 26. 9 ↩︎
Gen. 39. 10, 1 Sam. 22. 17, Act. 4. 19 ↩︎
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