The Happiness of Perpetual Fear of God

Happy is the man that feareth alway.—The happiness of fearing always consists in sincere confession and forsaking of sin, which produces a wholesome dread of transgression for the future, having felt its sting.

What fear must men maintain perpetually? A fear of Elohim for His own sake, and a fear of all things in reference to Him. We must cultivate filial, reverential fear—never slavish fear, which mingles hatred with dread. Filial fear mingles love with reverence. We must maintain jealous vigilance over ourselves and exercise caution in all our steps.

This holy fear applies to ourselves: keep a jealous eye upon your principles, hearts, tongues, and senses. It applies to our lusts and corruptions—fear sin above all things, particularly those transgressions by which you have been formerly led astray. These forsaken lovers will solicit you again if you grow careless. Fear small sins, though they appear insignificant to human judgment, many prove most dangerous. Guard your graces as precious gifts requiring constant stirring; they hazard decay. Maintain fear in worship and service of Elohim, approaching Him always with reverence. Protect your spiritual attainments, which remain in jeopardy of loss.

This duty requires the qualification of "alway"—habitual, constant vigilance. This fear must season all our actions and accompany us in every time, circumstance, place, and company. We face enemies within our walls; temptations perpetually present themselves while sin dwells in us. Snares lurk everywhere—in lawful enjoyments, at home, in the field, waking and at table. Many concealed ditches line our way. This fear prevents sin, advances holiness, and preserves us in Elohim's way.