The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

A discourse of the seare of God.

THE XXVI. CHAPTER.

THe holy feare of God expelleth out of man impious worldly feare, and is the guard of those goodes which cannot be expres∣sed, not so much as by imaginatiō: But to haue this feare is a spe∣ciall gift, & not graunted to all. He that feareth nor, sheweth that he hath nothing to loose. The feare of God guideth and gouuerneth man, and causeth him to find grace with his diuine maiesty, by which whē he hath receaued this feare, he conserueth it, and hauing lost it, doth recouer it. All reasonable creatures that haue forgotten themselues in foule disor∣ders, had neuer fallen therinto, if they had this gift of God, which is proper vnto the sainctes. And the more one is replenished with grace, the more is he humble and fearfull. Now albeit this vertue is least esteemed of men, yet is it not therfore lesse then others: for a man that in regard of his enormous offences committed against

God, is worthy of death, cannot haue any assurance wherwith to shew himselfe in his diuine presence. Happy then is he who acknowledgeth that to dwel in the world, is to be in a prison, and that there one daily offendeth God. A man should alwayes feare that pride conduct him not into hell. Thou oughtest to haue feare of thy selfe and thy like, and to carry thy selfe respectiuely and warily: for a man that liueth in the middest of his ennemies, cannot be in perfect assurance. Our flesh is our ennemy, which with the deuill is continually aduerse to our soule. A man should more feare to be surmonted and ouercome by his owne ma∣lice, then by any other thing: for it is impossible for a man to ascend to the glory of God, or there to perseuer without a holy feare. Not to haue it, is a signe of perdition. This feare causeth one to obey with hu∣mility, and to stoope euē to the earth vnder the yoke of holy obedience, and he that hath the greater feare, is the more deuout in prayer, and he that hath the grace to pray hath obtayned no litle grace of God. The worckes of men appeare they neuer so great, ought not to be iudged by humane iudgement, but according to the diuine will and institu∣tion. Therfore ought we (my Brethren in IESVS CHRIST) euer to liue in feare.