[Pere Nouet was born at Mans in 1605. He entered the Society of Jesus at the early age of twenty. He is chiefly known for his ascetic works, which are still read and studied with great profit His beautiful meditations have been translated into the English language.
He died in Paris in the year 1680, aged seventy-five.]
There is nothing so bold, nothing more secure, than the fear of God.
He who fears God, fears naught else; and he who has a dread of displeasing Him, or a fear of forfeiting His love, does not shrink from suffering — cares not if he lose all, provided he be in a state of grace.
It is said that love banishes fear; but it is the baneful fear of man, or that servile and imperfect fear which dreads the shame of sin more than the sin that brings the shame.
I say more than this. There are times when it is necessary to fortify the fear of sin by the fear of hell, in order to strengthen us in the love of God; as when we are assailed by some violent temptation, which is not so easy to overcome if we are not well grounded in the fear of God.
Let us, then, henceforth combine fear with love. These are the two supports of the soul which attach us to God, like unto His mercy and justice which go hand in hand together. Do not let us sever the one from the other, if we wish to walk on the road to heaven without swerving from the paths of perfection.
Let us often say with humility that prayer of the Church: " Make us, O Lord, keep always before our eyes the love and fear of Your holy Name."
If a depraved mind be not shaken and humbled by the fear of God, it will never amend its habitual sins.
