point out in his Epistle to the Romans, where he says, " We have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear, but we have received the spirit of adoption of sons of God." The spirit of bondage is that which creates fear, the spirit of adoption is that of love; fear makes us slaves, love makes us as children. The Jews, who acted only through fear of punishment, were slaves; the Christians, who love, are the true children.
The new law, imprinted on the heart by the Holy Spirit, regulates the interior feelings; whilst the laws engraven on stone can only regulate exterior actions.
Fear is not capable of changing the interior feeling; it can only act outwardly, and thus forces the will to do what it would not do, or even what it might do. So that exteriorly it submits to force, interiorly, it resists. If deeds and words conform to the law, the heart is opposed to it. If the mouth and hands obey, the will is disobedient.
This is the reproach that God makes to the Jews when He says through His prophet, "This people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
The two usual methods adopted to govern mankind are fear and hope. This is why the old law does not solely make use of threats to ensure obedience, but it adds to them promises; but these promises were for temporal welfare, for sensual and gross men who sought for fleeting prosperity.
Thus we read in the 23d chapter of Exodus that Moses, in order to induce them to observe the law he was about to promulgate, promises them every kind of prosperity — health, long life, a numerous progeny, abundance of everything necessary, and protection from enemies, so that they may enjoy in peace and quiet all these blessings.
Now, on the contrary, the Son of God begins by preaching penance, and speaks only of the kingdom of heaven and to make us understand that His wish was that Chris-
