Good And Bad Fear

Ibi timuerunt ubi non fuit timor... Sed qui Deum non invocant, et illud impietati suae addunt, ut timeant non timenda, illic enim trepidarunt, ubi non erat timor, saxa, metalla, robora, ignem, aquam, aethera, reges mortuos atque morituros, vel caetera religionum superstitiosa commenta venerantes: et hoc ipse impio inanium metu, contemptuque necessarii timoris ex comparatione condemnandi: cum non tam oblivisci timorem Dei impium sit, quam impietate praecellat, timori ejus metum inanium praetulisse. Docuit autem Dominus, solum in nobis metum eorum quae vere timenda sunt oportere esse, cum dicit: Nolite timere eos qui possunt corpus occidere, animam autem non possunt occidere. Timete autem magis eum, qui potest et animam et corpus perdere in gehenna. Impius ergo timor est, cum quae non timenda sunt timentur, et quae timenda sunt non timentur. Et plerumque nos tamquam pro debita officii religione pie adulari regibus existimamus, quia in corpus nostrum sit his aliquid potestatis: quibus nihil ultra de nobis licet, quam latroni, quam febri, quam incendio, quam naufragio, quam ruinae. His enim casibus corporum pro summa potestate desaeviunt: et propter brevem dolorem libertatem Ecclesiae, spei nostrae fiduciam, confessionem Dei addicimus, punitorem perditoremque in igne judicii et corporis et animae nostrae Deum non timentes, et aeternis divinae ultionis poenis momentanae atque abolenda supplica praeferentes; dum placere nos ipsis, et in eorum gratia permanere famulatu impio gloriamur. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum LII Source: Migne PL 9.332b-333a

They feared where there was no fear... 1 But they who do not call on God, even add that to their impiety, in their fearing what should not be feared, by which they were fearful, where there was no fear, of stone, metal, wood, fire, water, air, dead kings and those who are going to die, or they are in awe at some other fiction of religous superstition, and by this impious fear of empty things and contempt for the needful fear, by this comparison, they are condemned, for it is not so impious to forget the fear of God that it is not exceeded by that which has fear of empty things. The Lord taught that we should fear only that which is truly needful to fear, when He said: 'Do not fear those who kill the body and cannot kill the soul. Fear more him who is able to put the soul and body into hell.' 2 Impious, then, is the fear which fears what should not be feared, and does not fear what should be feared. But we, for the most part, as if by some obligation of religion, incline to adulate rulers, because they have power against our bodies, beyond which nothing is allowed them, just like a thief and sickness and fire and shipwreck and ruin. For with these matters of the body they rage from the height of power, and we because of brief suffering sacrifice the liberty of the Church, the confidence of our faith, and the confession of God, fearing not the punisher and traitor in the fire of judgement, nor the God of our body and soul, but preferring to the punishments of eternal divine justice relief from momentary tortures, while we please them, and in their favour remain, glorying in impious service. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 52 1 Ps 52.62 2 Mt 10.28