New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-17
NATURAL FEAR AND SPIRITUAL FEAR.

NATURAL FEAR AND SPIRITUAL FEAR.
The Eep S. Seleard at he Jerusalem Church (Stoedn
bOrgtanh
The Rev. S. S. Seward, pastor of the New
Jerusalem Church CSwedepborgan). III Thirty fifth st.,
between Park aud Lexngton-aves, preached yesterday
morning the IL uence OF natural and spiritual fear IN
practical religious life Mr.. Stewards text was Matthew
K 49, "And fear them which kill the body, but
not able to kill the sou bu. rather fear Him which lie
able to destroy both soul and body IN hell"
The literal teaching OF the text said the preacher is
that we should not death OF the material body
rather the eternal death Of the SOUL Natural death
inevitable the fear Of II Is useless and childish Ex-
cept to the unregenerae 1t @ welcome change.
There kind Of death to be feared, and that is
eternal spiritual DEATH To fear this is to fear some
thing that may be avoided the fear be useful. We
should dismiss from minds all dread and anxiety re-
gardng natural DEATH such dread tends to distract
our attention from the real thing to be avoided and TO x
It upon mere incident, In itself OF no consequence
But although there Is but one kind Of death TO be
feared there are two kinds OF fear entertained regard
ing It, One fear prohibited by the spiritual sense OF
the text: the other is commanded. There is natural
fear and there spiritual fear They are as different
as the natural and spiritual worlds are different The
spiritual world world OF causes The natural world
is world Of effects Natural fear IL fear. not Of the
thing itself but the result which produces while
a spiritual fear ia fear OF the thing or
cause Itself; not Of the effect. The Ignorant and
superstious are by abject fear weakened in ordinary
health upon the approach OF pesence and Its ravages
are more destructive when 1t threatens an intell
gent community whose spiritual fear awe 10 causes,
and to the necessity Of and whose hearts as
rational and Wise pbyecians are courageous enough
study and 10 grapple with them IN tpe iater
case the calamity 10 in q great measure sverteu.
Natural fear which 10 forbidden IN the spiritual sense
text refers what will happen III consequence OF
sim instead Of being directed against the sin ITSELF
II is useless. The fear OF hell cannot save from
hell The fear Of what 10 helsh and damnaple
is spiritual fear II Is OF use and Is com.
manded. Dwelling upon the fear OF the consequence OF
ger 1t is the selfish low, cowsrdy fear by which evil
spirits governed 10 internal abodes ~ dweiis upon
the tormens Of hell rather than the hesh principle u
I'll IL thinks only OF the punishment and regards tho
Lord only as the judge who inncts IT, until thus comes
into false OF the Divine Being. looking upon Him
as vlndctive and cruel severe IN execution and delight
ing Ia the punishment Of the guilty.
Spiritual fear Of the causes rather than the encctsB
that exalted and unselsb which does not primarily
regard the death Of the SOUL but the sin or evil
the angels In heaven lest by any lapse OF their own
they injury to those around them II arouses no
BILE courage and helpfuDess. The man VINO IL innu-
enced by does not look at the consequences TO him
self, but to others. He refrains from fraud MURDER
adultery theft fasewitness and coveousness not on
account himself but Of wrong 10 others and
as sius against God. The cultivation OF genuine and
spiritual fear of sin itself instead OF Its consequences
commanded, and II makes men spiritual and unselfish
II iusls the love OF others which Is the lie Oh heaven
terna oathng OF sin OF the selfish loves that lead TO
The OF murder does not consist In the punsnment
but In the murderous intent. The sin OF theft does not
consist imprisonment but IN the love OF appropratng
that which is anothers. 80 10 general; stu does not
consist getting found out but in the selfish affection
that leads 10 H. Hence what need Ia to look 10 the
itself aud " Its penalty the cause, aud not the
effect.