He that feareth is not made
perfect in love.
The text tells us how to get one of the greatest blessings; a
blessing which all long for, but all do not find; and that is a
happy death. All wish to die happily; even bad men. Like Balaam
when he was committing a great sin, they can say, 'Let me die the
death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.' But
meanwhile, like Balaam, they find it too hard to live the life of
the righteous, which is the only way to die the death of the
righteous. But something within them (if false preachers will but
leave them alone) tells them that they will not succeed. Reason and
common sense tell them so: for how can a man expect to get to a
place without travelling the road which leads to it? And the Spirit
of God, the Spirit of truth and right, tells them that they will not
succeed: for how can a man win happiness, save by doing right?
Every one shall 'receive the things done in his body, according to
that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.' So says Scripture;
and so say men's own hearts, by the inspiration of God's Holy
Spirit. And therefore such men's fear of death continues. And why?
The text tells us the secret. As long as we do not love God, we
shall be tormented with fear of death. And as long as we do not
love our neighbour, we shall not love God.
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