A Just Conception of God: The Foundation of Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.—A just conception of God: There are two things which sincere religion can never fail of attaining: one is the greatest ingredient—nay, the very foundation of all happiness in this world; the other is the happiness and immortality which await us in the world to come. The latter we enjoy now through faith and hope; but the former is present with us, the certain consequence and necessary attendant upon a mind truly virtuous and religious. I mean the ease and satisfaction of mind which flow from a due sense of God and religion, and the uprightness of our desires and intentions to serve Him.

A just conception of God, of His excellencies and perfections, is the true foundation of religion. Fear is not a voluntary passion. We fear any being in proportion to the power and will which we conceive that being to have either to hurt or to protect us. The fear of a tyrant and the fear of a father are very different passions; but he that knows not the difference between a tyrant and a father will never distinguish these passions. A right and due fear of God presupposes a right and due conception of God. If men misconceive concerning God—either as to His holiness and purity, or to His justice and mercy—their fear of Him will not produce wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is not an abject, slavish fear; since God is no tyrant. Religious fear is clean. It is to hate evil. It is a fountain of life. In it is strong confidence. The fear of God signifies that frame and affection of soul which is the consequence of a just notion and conception of the Deity.