DEAN’s
Illustrated Farthing Books.
THE
TWO KINDS OF FEAR.
LONDON: DEAN & SON,
11, Ludgate Hill. 44
THE TWO KINDS OF FEAR.
What keeps back some wicked people from many evil things they would wishto do? They are afraid of being punished.
What keeps good children, the children of God, from doing what they know{3}is sinful? They are afraid of sin.
There is a great difference, my dear children, between these two kindsof fear—the fear of punishment, and the fear of sin. The first willonly keep a child from some sins, at some times; and if he often escapesbeing found out, he will lose it almost altogether. But the fear of sinitself, because God forbids it, will keep a child from any sin, and willbe felt more powerfully as he grows up in grace.
I will tell you a little story on this subject, which happened a goodmany years ago, and may help you to understand what I mean.
Robert Wright was the son of a rich gentleman. He was a clever boy,quick at his lessons, had been well taught, and knew well what was rightand wrong; but he had not learned to love and fear God. One morning, hismother said, “Robert, to-morrow will be the first Sunday of the month.Here is a shilling for you to put into the missionary box.” Robert putit into his pocket, and often looked at it through the day and felt if{4}it were safe. On his way home to dinner, he passed a
shop where a variety of tarts and cakes were in the window. He stoppedto look, and then thought how he would like to have some. He felt if hehad a penny to buy one tart. No; but there was the shilling, and the{5}thought came into his mind, how much that would buy! “But would it beright to use it? No; and if papa found it out, I should be severelypunished?” He was just going to turn away, when he thought again, “Whybe afraid of being punished? How can papa and mamma ever know?” Hestayed and looked a little longer, then ran into the shop, filled hispockets with good things, gave the shilling, and went away.
I cannot say that he had much pleasure in eating them, after all; forhis conscience told him that he had done a great sin; and next day, whenhe saw the missionary-box, he felt unhappy.
The same evening, when it was dark and cold, another little boy left hishome. It was no nice cheerful home, like Robert’s, with warm fires, andbright lights. It was one small room, and in the grate only a fewcinders. On a bed of straw in a corner his mother lay very ill. As hewent out, he said, “Mother, try to sleep; I will not be late comingback.” He worked in a factory not far off, and it