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There is one thing above all others that the children of God do seek after: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after,” says that king and prophet in Psalm 27:4. Mary also, in Luke 10:2, chooses that one thing necessary, while all others trouble themselves about many things; and the Apostle Paul says, “I determined to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified”, this was the principal thing he desired to know, and which the angels pry in to search—even Christ, and his cross. And upon the other part again, there is only one thing which the Lord requires of his children, and that is set down in 1 Samuel 12:24, “Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things the Lord hath done for you.” This one thing, I grant, contains many things, yet all tends to this—to have the fear of God. And Samuel there, like a priest and a prophet, urges this duty greatly upon them. First, he says, “Fear not: albeit you have done all this wickedness, yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; and turn you not aside: for then you should go after vain things, which cannot profit.” That is, if you fear the Lord, and serve him, you need not to fear his wrath; yea, notwithstanding all the wickedness that you have committed against him, you need not to fear, if you will turn to the Lord, and serve him with your whole heart. And was there not great cause of fear then, that even in time of the wheat harvest there should be thunder and rain? And yet he says to them, “Fear not, for if you will yet turn to the Lord, notwithstanding all the wickedness that you have committed, yet you have no cause to fear.” And the reason he gives for it is, “For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.” As if he said, this is an evidence to you that you are the people of God, if you fear him, and turn to him with your whole heart. If you have the fear of his name, and worship him, as he has commanded you, and reverence his majesty, then you need not to fear his justice, but may trust in his mercy. The second motive whereby he endeavors to stir them up to this is this: “Moreover,” says he, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray for you.” So if they would fear the Lord, and turn to him with their whole heart, then he promises to pray for them: and, indeed, this is a special and exceeding great favor, to be partakers of the prayers of the faithful. The third motive is, “Considering how great things the Lord hath done for you;” and, indeed, this was a matter of rich meditation to move them to fear the Lord. And then he tells them, to conclude with, “If you will not fear the Lord, but will do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king.” Surely, beloved, if you will set to and fear the Lord; I speak not of thankfulness now, as some do still, but of the fear of God; for that is sure, they who fear the Lord will be thankful to him, but they who fear him not, they can never be thankful; therefore I exhort you to fear the Lord, and turn to him with your whole heart: then you need not to fear his judgments. Because, if you turn to the Lord, and serve him with your whole heart, then you are his people; and if you be his people, that is sure, he will not destroy you. Albeit indeed he may take the fan into his hand, and purge the chaff from the wheat, yet he will not destroy the wheat; ay, I will assure you he may as soon destroy himself as he can destroy you, if you be his people. And then strive to fear God, and so be in the number of his people; and then you shall be partakers of the prayers of his people, which indeed is a great benefit. And indeed, you are very ungrateful, if so be that you will not consider what the Lord has done for you; and if you say you consider what the Lord has done for you, and yet fear him not, nor turn to him with your whole heart, then there is great folly in you. And indeed, this is the best way for you to safe both religion and policy, king and country, that all perish not. But wicked men who fear not God, they bring destruction both upon themselves and others; they lose their part in the prayers of God’s people, and never consider what he has done for them: and if they look not to second causes, they shall be forced to say that their destruction is from above. And therefore let us strive to have this fear of God in our hearts, and beseech him who has the giving of it to bestow it upon us, through Jesus Christ.