Perfect love casteth out fear

Where love reigns in the heart, fear cannot keep its throne. As light dispels darkness, so the love of God in the soul dispels the slavish dread of God. The child does not fear the father whose love it knows; it runs to him.

If thou dost fear God with a tormenting fear, examine thy love. Is Christ precious to thee? Does the gospel sound sweet in thine ear? Then thy love is real; cherish it, feed it, and the fear will dwindle as the love grows. There is a holy fear — the reverence of a child — that abides with the soul that loves most. But the fear of the slave, the fear that torments, is incompatible with love.

Think much of God's love to thee; think little of thy love to God. The first will warm thy heart; the second will only chill it. He has loved thee with an everlasting love — that is the foundation; build thy peace upon it.