There is a virtuous fear, which is the effect of faith; and there is a vicious fear, which is the product of doubt. The former leads to hope, as relying on God, in whom we believe; the latter inclines to despair, as not relying on God, in whom we do not believe. Persons of the one character fear to lose God; persons of the other character fear to find Him.
He has but one great fear that fears to do wrong.
Fear is the preface to love; and if it be in thy soul, my brother, let it lead thee to the place where there shall dawn upon thy heart that great and Divine vision of a face all full of mercy, of a heart all full of love, of a Christ that hath died for thee, of a Father that bends down to bless thee:—and then cast thyself down there and say, "I trembled because I hated. Thou hast loved me, and I am overcome. I love, and am glad. Father, Thy side is my home. Thou art the portion of my heart and my joy forever."
FEELING.
"Verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." My friend, that is worth more than all the feeling you can have in a life-time.
Tears never yet saved a soul. Hell is full of weepers weeping over lost opportunities, perhaps over the rejection of an offered Saviour. Your Bible does not say "Weep, and be saved." It says, "Believe, and be saved." Faith is better than feeling.
