Some more words of wisdom from Thomas Watson (The Great Gain of Godliness, BofT 2008).
To profess religion when the times favour it is no great matter. Almost all will court the Gospel Queen when she is hung with jewels. But to own the ways of God when they are derided and maligned, to love a persecuted truth, this evidences a vital principle of goodness. (p6)
Superstitious fear ...a hare crossing the path is by some more dreaded than a harlot lying in a bed. (p12)
'Fear is the worst prophet in times of doubt' (Statius). He who is timorous will be teacherous. (p12)
God is so great that the Christian is afraid of displeasing him, and so good that he is afraid of losing him. (p13)
Love is as the sails to make swift the soul's motion, and fear as the ballast to keep it steady in religion: love will grow wanton unless it be poised with fear. (p14)
When the soul looks either to God's holiness, or its own sinfulness, it fears, but it is a fear mixed with faith in Christ's merits; the soul trembles, yet trusts. (p14)
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