Augustine of Hippo, on 1John 4:17

“In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world.”

“Some man has begun to believe in a day of judgment: if he has begun to believe, he has also begun to fear. But because he fears as yet, because he hath not yet boldness in the day of judgment, not yet is charity in that man made perfect. But for all that, is one to despair? In whom thou seest the beginning, why despairest thou of the end? What beginning do I see? That very fear. Hear the Scripture: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Well then, he has begun to fear the day of judgment: by fearing let him correct himself, let him watch against his enemies, i.e. his sins; let him begin to come to life again inwardly, and to mortify his members which are upon the earth.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.