Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/121



Right fear is  a certain  anxiety  of  heart  which  restrains  a man from  an  unlawful  use  of  his  members,  exterior  senses, and interior  affections,  in  order  that  the  soul  may  not,  either wholly  or  in  part,  be  so  separated  from  God,  or  seek  pleasure in  any  creature,  as  to  cool  the  fervour  of  the  spirit.

I. When  I consider  thy boundless majesty  and  greatness, O fearful  and  terrible Lord, before  whom  tremble all the  spirits  of  heaven,  earth, and hell,  I sink  down,  utterly confused at  my  monstrous  unworthiness, into  the  depths of my  own  nothingness,  fearing exceedingly  to  offend  thee, and to  be  separated  from  thy divine grace,  which  has  happened to  many  others,  because they  walked  not  uprightly in  thy  sight.

2. Therefore  when  I think only that  I may  offend  thee by venial  and  mortal  sins,  I shudder  and  tremble  in  every limb, mostly  because  I confess myself  to  be  utterly  weak and helpless,  and  able  to  do nothing  at  all  without  thy special grace.

3. I confess,  too,  O Lord, that this  fear,  notwithstanding, is  very  useful  and  necessary for  me; and  I therefore earnestly beg  it  of  thee,  and entreat thee  to  increase  it  in me,  and  imprint  it  on  my  soul, while I say  with  the  Psalmist, “Pierce  thou  my  flesh with thy  fear,  for  I am  afraid of thy  judgments.”

All the  divine  excellences  and  perfections,  considered