Introduction -
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.
... omnipotent and everything depends on his will (_exemplum_:
Antiochus
against Jerusalem); 3. Omniscience of God. 3) Third...