On the Precept of Charity

R. To the second. "As someone is induced to the observance of the precepts of the law through hope of rewards, so also he is induced to the observance of the law through fear of punishments, which is servile fear...." S. Th. 2. 2. q. 22, a. 2. Therefore by the very threatening of punishments the necessity of servile fear is clear. Ecclus. 1:27, 28; Luke 12:5. But there is also another fear, filial, which "follows from love," S. Th. l. c. ad 2, and which is fear of offending God, and consequently still more induces us to observing God's law, since fear of this sort "exhibits reverence to God, and is a certain principle of all those things which are observed in reverence of God." S. Th. l. c. Hence the necessity of this filial fear also is clear. Sinners, says the Council of Trent, s. 6, C. 6, are disposed to justice "while... being usefully shaken by fear of divine justice, they turn to consider the mercy of God and are raised into hope, trusting that God will be propitious to them on account of Christ, and they begin to love him as the fountain of all justice," and for this reason they are moved to penance by hatred and detestation of sins.