Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

This holy Fear is not a mere judicial Impression, that restrains from Sin, for the dreadful Punishment that follows; for that servile affection, though it may stop a Temptation, and hinder the Eruption of a Lust into the gross act, yet it does not renew the Nature, and make us Holy and Heavenly. There may be a respective dislike of Sin with a direct affection to it. Besides, a mere servile Fear is repugnant to Nature, and will be expelled if possible. Therefore, that we may be in the fear of the Lord all the day long, we must regard him in his endearing Attributes, his Love, his Goodness and Compassion, his rewarding Mercy; and this will produce a filial Fear of Reverence and Caution, lest we should offend so gracious a God. As the natural Life is preserved by grateful Food, not by Aloes and Wormwood which are useful Medicines; so the Spiritual Life is maintained by the comfortable Apprehensions of God, as the Rewarder of our Fidelity in all our Trials.

This holy Fear is not a meer judicial Impression, that restrains from Sin, for the dreadful Punishment that follows; for that servile affection, though it may stop a Temptation, and hinder the Eruption of a Lust into the gross act, yet it does not renew the Nature, and make us Holy and Heavenly. There may be a respective dislike of Sin with a direct affection to it. Besides, a meer servile Fear is repugnant to Nature, and will be expell'd if possible. Therefore, that we may be in the fear of the Lord all the day long, we must regard him in his endearing Attributes, his Love, his Goodness and Compassion, his rewarding Mercy; and this will produce a filial Fear of Reverence and Caution, lest we should offend so gracious a God. As the natural Life is preserved by grateful Food, not by Aloes and Wormwood which are useful Medicines; so the Spiritual Life is maintained by the comfortable Apprehensions of God, as the Rewarder of our Fidelity in all our Trials.

2. Strip Sin of its Disguises, wash off its flattering Colours, that you may see its native Ugliness. Joseph's reply to the Tempter, How shall I do this great wickedness? Illusion and Concupiscence are the Inducements to Sin: When a Lust represents the Temptation as very alluring, and hinders the Reflection of the mind, upon the intrinsic and consequential Evil of Sin, 'tis like the putting Poison into the Glass: but when it has so far corrupted the mind, that