The Fear of God Is His Gift

And finally the prophet Jeremiah, speaking in the person of God, clearly testifies that even the fear of God, by which we can hold fast to him, is poured into us by the Lord. He says: “And I will give them one heart and one way, so that they may fear me all their days, and that it may be well with them and with their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, and will not stop doing them good; and I will put my fear in their hearts, so that they may not turn away from me.” Ezekiel also says: “And I will give them one heart, and will put a new spirit deep within them; and I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and will give them a heart of flesh, so that they may walk in my commandments, and keep my judgments and do them, and that they may be my people, and I may be their God.” [a]