Piety, then, is said to perfect the attitude of man to God and to things of God
by giving the appearance of friendship to his relationship to his Maker. Fear
of the Lord, on the other hand, inclines him rather to look upon God in the
character of a judge. Piety sanctifies the feeling of love and the other hallows
the feeling of fear. In the life of the soul, there is room and need for both.
Indeed, it may be said, not unjustly, that together they produce in the soul that
instinct of reverence that is begotten of both.
by giving the appearance of friendship to his relationship to his Maker. Fear
of the Lord, on the other hand, inclines him rather to look upon God in the
character of a judge. Piety sanctifies the feeling of love and the other hallows
the feeling of fear. In the life of the soul, there is room and need for both.
Indeed, it may be said, not unjustly, that together they produce in the soul that
instinct of reverence that is begotten of both.
Love that knows no reverence is not love at all, but passion. Fear that cannot
climb to revere the object of our fear is altogether inhuman.
From the opposite standpoint, it can hardly be questioned that the chief
obstacles that interfere with our perfect service of God are the two
characteristics of hardness and independence.
We do not respond to His appeals. Passion and ever-flowing love leave us
cold because our hearts are so hardened by the interests and the cares of our
daily life and the deep respect that we owe to the Master of life too often
becomes irritation at the way His commands cut across our pleasures. We
object to the manner that, through His ministers, we are told to do something
that altogether revolts us—not because it is something very great but because
of its very pettiness. We are often inclined to think that He treats us as though
we are children. Fear of restraint is a natural instinct in men and animals.
