A Golden Chain

The third abuse is, that they make imperfect contrition or attrition arising of the fear of hell, to be good and profitable: and to it they apply the saying of the Prophet, The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. But servile fear of it self is the fruit of the law, which is the ministry of death and condemnation: and consequently it is the way to eternal destruction, if God leave men to themselves: and if it turn to the good of any, it is only by accident: ⟨p. 1010⟩because God in mercy makes it to be an occasion going before, of grace to be given: otherwise remorse of conscience for sin is no beginning of repentance, or the restrainment of any sin: but rather is and that properly the beginning of unspeakable horrors of conscience, and everlasting death, unless God show mercy. And yet this fear of punishment, if it be tempered and delayed with other graces and gifts of God in holy men; it is not unprofitable: in whom there is not only a sorrow for punishment, but also and that much more for the offence. And such a kind of fear, or, sorrow is commanded, Malac. 1.6. If I be a father, where is my fear? if I be a lord, where is my fear? And Chrysostom saith, that the fear of hell in the heart of a just man, is a strong man armed against thieves and robbers, to drive them from the house. And Ambrose saith, that Martyrs in the time of their sufferings, confirmed themselves against the cruelty of persecutors by setting the fear of hell before their eyes.

The third abuse is, that they make imperfect contrition or att•ition arising of the feare of hell, to be good and profitable: and to it they applie the saying of the Prophet, The feare of God is the beginning of wisdome. But seruile feare of it selfe is the fruit of the law, which is the ministerie of death and condemnation: and consequently it is the way to eternall destruction, if God leaue men to themselues: and if it turne to the good of any, it is onely by accident: ⟨p. 1010⟩because God in mercie makes it to be an occasion going before, of grace to be giuen: otherwise remorse of conscience for sinne is no beginning of repentance, or the restrainment of any sinne: but rather is and that properly the beginning of vnspeakable horrours of conscience, and euerlasting death, vnlesse God shew mercie. And yet this feare of punishment, if it be tempered and delaied with other graces and gifts of God in holy men; it is not vnprofitable: in whome there is not onely a sorrow for punishment, but also and that much more for the offence. And such a kind of feare, or, sorrow is commanded,