Harmfulness of Fear

T. Spurgeon.

Isaiah 7:4

And say to him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands…

There is a legend which is in itself instructive concerning the time of plague in a certain Eastern city, to the effect that 20,000 people having died therein, a traveller entering the gates spoke to the plague as it was leaving, and said, "I understand that you have slain 20,000 people within these walls." "No," said the plague, "I have slain but 10,000; the rest have died of fear." It is an instructive story.

(T. Spurgeon.)