John Trapp on Proverbs 28:14

Verſ. 14. Bleſſed is the man that feareth alwayes] That is in the fear of the Lord all day long, chap. 23.17. Duo ſunt timores Dei, ſervilis & amicalis, ſaith Bede. There is a two-fold fear of God, Servile and Filial, perfect love caſts out the former, breeds and feeds the latter. By this fear of the Lord it is that men depart from evil, that they ſhake off ſecurity, that they abound in Gods work, that they may abide in his love, that they ſet a jealous eye upon their own hearts, and ſuſpect a Snake under every Flower, a ſnare in every Creature, and doe therefore feed with fear, and rejoyce in fear, paſſe the whole time of their ſojourning herein fear, yea work out their whole ſalvation with fear and trembling. O the bleſſedneſſe of ſuch!

But he that hardneth his heart] As a perfect ſtranger to Gods holy fear (the contrite heart ever trembles at Gods Word, Iſa. 57.17.) Why haſt thou hardened our hearts from thy fear, (Iſa. 63.17.) which (as Fire doth Iron) mollifies the hardeſt heart, and makes it malleable. Fear is a fruit of repentance, (2 Cor. 7.11. yea what fear) which intenerates the heart, and makes it capable of Divine impreſſions, as Joſiah. On the other ſide, the Jews feared not God becauſe of a rebellious heart, Jer. 5.22, 23.

Shall fall into miſchief] Manifold miſchief, ruine without remedy, chap. 29.1. The inceſtuous perſon, though delivered up to Satan, repented and recovered: but he that is delivered up to an hard heart, to a dead and dedolent diſpoſition, is in a manner deſperate and deplored; he heaps up wrath againſt the day of wrath, Rom. 2. This made a reverent man once ſay; If I muſt bee put to my choyce, I had rather be in Hell with a ſenſible heart, than on earth with a reprobate mind. A hard heart is, in ſome reſpect, worſe than Hell: ſith one of the greateſt ſins is farre greater in evil, than any of the greateſt puniſhments, as one hath well obſerved.