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 [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."

Pere Nouet, S.J.

Meditations, vol. vii.

If a  depraved  mind  be  not  shaken  and  humbled  by  the fear of  God,  it  will  never  amend  its  habitual  sins.

St. Gregory.

Hom. iv. on the  Gospels.