The Institution of Christian Religion

But that which John saith, that fear is not in charity, but perfect charity casteth out fear,¹ because fear containeth punishment, disagreeth not with this that we say. For the wicked fear not God in this respect that they dread to incur his displeasure, if they might do it without punishment: but because they know him to be armed with power to revenge: therefore they shake for fear at the hearing of his wrath. And also they so fear his wrath, because they think that it hangeth over them, for that they look every moment when it shall fall upon their heads. As for the faithful: they (as is above said) both fear his displeasure more than punishment and are not troubled with fear of punishment as if it did hang over their necks, but they are made the more ware not to procure it. So saith the Apostle, when he speaketh to the faithful: Be ye not deceived:² for this cometh the wrath of God upon the children of unbelief.³ He threateneth not that Gods wrath will come upon them, but putteth them in mind to think upon this, that the wrath of God is prepared for such wicked doings as he had recited, that they themselves should not be willing also to prove it. Albeit it seldom happeneth that the reprobate be awakened with only and bare threatenings, but rather being already gross and unsensibly dull with their own hardness, so oft as God thundereth from heaven they harden themselves to obstinacy, but when they are ones stricken with his hand, then whether they will or no, they be enforced to fear. ⟨p. 120⟩This fear they commonly call a servile fear: and in comparison se• it for contrary to free natured & willing fear which becometh children. Some other do subtly thrust in a middle kind, because that same servile and constrained affection sometime to subdueth mens minds, that they come willingly to the fear of God.

But that which Iohn sayth, that feare is not in charitie, but perfect charitie casteth out feare,¹