FOOTNOTES:
[104] Abſit enim vt timore pereat amor, ſi caſtus eſt timor. S. Aug. in Pſal. 119. tom. 8.
[105] Eſt ira conſummationis, & eſt ira cōſumptionis, (nam omnis Vindicta Dei, Ira dicitur) ſed aliquando ad hoc vindicat Deus, vt perficiat: aliquando ad hoc vindicat, vt damnet. Idem in Pſal. 58 to. 8. ſ. 599.
[106] ——Qui glutine Deo conglutinatur, id eſt charitate ... terribilius & horribilius ipsâ Gehenna iudicat, in re leuiſſima vultū omnipotentis scientèr offendere. S. Bern. de Tripl. Coharen. Vincul.
[107] 1 Pet, 3. 7. Vir itaq, nominatus eſt, quòd maior in eo Vis eſt quàm in fœmina, & hinc Virtus nomen accepit. Item Mulier à mollicie eſt dicta ... velut Mollier. Lact. de Opſ. Dei. cap. 12.
[108] 1 Sam. 18. 21. & 25. 41.
[109] 2 Sam. 6. 16, 20.
[110] 1 King. 21. 7. 2 King. 9. 22, 30.
[111] 1 Pet. 3. 6.
[112] Eſth. 1. 12.
[113] Eſth. 8. 5.
[114] Optima fœmina rarior eſt Phœnice. Malarum fœminarū tam copioſa ſunt examina &c. S. Ier. epiſt.
[115] Eccleſ. 7. 28. Prou. 3. 10.
[116] Laus tantò maior deferri ſolet, quantò eſt bonum rarius quod exigit Laudem. S. Aug. lib. 1. de Ciuit. Dei. cap. 28. tom. 5.
Then I muſt tell you, that euery Feare is not commendable. Not that Feare which is Hypocriticall, for this is Superſtition, when men feare the Feare of Idolaters[117]. Not that feare which is Worldly, for this is wicked ſelfe-Loue, when men feare Men[118], Loſſe of Goods, Fire and faggot, more than God the Onely Soueraigne Commander of the Soule, the Only Dreadfull Threatner of euerlaſting Burnings. Nor that feare which is Seruile[119] or adulterate[120], for this is no Vertue (proues Pariſ.) when men feare the Euill of Puniſhment only; not the Euill of Sinne, as an Adultereſſe feares the Comming home of her Huſband; but feares not the Committing of Adultery. Nor is that feare commendable, which is Diſtruſtfull or Immoderate like Ruben (as Gerſon[121] alludes) growen great, and lying with Bilhah, for this is Infidelitie when men tie Gods Grace to preſent deliuerance out of danger, without a Beleeuing and waiting Spirit for his Mercie, Eſai. 28. 16.
But the Feare for which a Woman ſhall be praiſed, is informed by Wiſdome, inſtructed by Vnderſtanding, directed by Counſell, ſtrengthned by Might, gouerned by Knowledge, adorned with Pietie, as Saint Ambroſe collects out of the eleuenth of Eſay[122]. It is a Faithfull feare truſting in God[123], and making Him her Feare, Eſai. 8. 13. and her Hope too in the Day of Euill, not without this feruent Prayer vnto Him then: Be not thou a Terrour vnto me, Ier. 17. 17. A chaſt and Cleane Feare[124], Cleanſing from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and Spirit.[125] A Reuerent and Godly Fear[126], Preparing the heart, Humbling the Soule in Gods ſight[127], Trembling at his Word[128], not Diſobeying it, Eſchewing[129] euill, Working righteouſneſſe and Giuing much almes[130]. A Bleſſed Feare it is[131], Bleſſing them that haue it, Bleſſing the Lord that giues it, Praiſing Him and ſaying: That his Mercy endureth for euer[132].
