There are two kinds of fear: filial fear, and slavish fear. The first the Christian should nourish and encourage; the latter, he should resist and overcome.
The first, or filial fear, arises from his love to God and his character. It is fed and kept alive by the word of God and prayer, and by the fulfillment of all the word enjoins. It is a fear to offend God, out of love and regard to the character of God, and from a respect to right, as God has revealed the rules of right in his word. This fear makes the heart humble, contrite and lowly.
Slavish fear has torment. It is fed by timidity and distrustfulness. It undermines the foundations of faith in the soul. It is Satan's most potent means of weakening and injuring the saint. It hinders his progress, and diminishes his strength. It intimidates the weak, and terrifies the inexperienced. Satan is its author.
Filial fear is consistent with peace, love and joy, and is necessary to their existence, permanently in the heart. This fear is a friend and associate of calmness, submission and inward happiness; while slavish fear is an enemy, a sworn enemy, to each and all of these. It dissipates everything like calmness and peace.
Slavish fear arises (in the Christian's breast) from a want of faith; and often it almost distracts the poor142saint; and were he to give a reason for his alarms, he would find them quite insufficient.
Slavish and filial fear are opposite in their causes, and effects; in their beginnings and endings. They are opposite in tendencies and results. Let us carefully nourish the one, and exclude the other.