Introduction
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Division (see above) 1) First part: five types of fear: 1. “Natural fear” (common to all animals; it is neither good nor bad because it doesn’t come from free will); 2. “Human fear” (a negative one, typical of those who fear more for their body than for their soul); 3. “Wordly fear” (a negative one, typical of those who fear for their temporal goods; exemplum: Pontius Pilate condemns Jesus for fear of losing power); 4. “Servile and mercenary fear”, i.e. fear of punishment; 5. “Filial or reverential fear” (a postive one), i.e. fear of God because he is just, benevolent and worthy of reverence. 2) Second part: human beings fear God for three reasons: 1. Justice of God: God leaves nothing unpunished. Appeal to Italy and Venice to do penance. Inevitability of divine justice (reference to Valerius Maximus); 2. Power of God: if we fear temporal powers - explicit reference to the Venetian Signoria - we must fear God all the more, because God is omnipotent and everything depends on his will (exemplum: Antiochus against Jerusalem); 3. Omniscience of God. 3) Third part: three causes lead men to fear God: 1. The incitment of the Scriptures; 2. The creation: everything created fears and obeys God; 3. The multiplication of goods (reserved for those who fear God).
Conclusion Invitation to fear God.