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| Of True Love, by Which We Arrive at the Knowledge of the Trinity. God is to Be Sought, Not Outwardly, by Seeking to Do Wonderful Things with the Angels, But Inwardly, by Imitating the Piety of Good Angels.
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Chapter 7.—Of True
Love, by Which We Arrive at the Knowledge of the Trinity. God is to
Be Sought, Not Outwardly, by Seeking to Do Wonderful Things with
the Angels, But Inwardly, by Imitating the Piety of Good
Angels.
10. No other thing, then, is
chiefly to be regarded in this inquiry, which we make concerning
the Trinity and concerning knowing God, except what is true love,
nay, rather what is love. For that is to be called love which is
true, otherwise it is desire; and so those who desire are said
improperly to love, just as they who love are said improperly to
desire. But this is true love, that cleaving to the truth we may
live righteously, and so may despise all mortal things in
comparison with the love of men, whereby we wish them to live
righteously. For so we should be prepared also to die profitably
for our brethren, as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us by His
example. For as there are two commandments on which hang all the
Law and the prophets, love of God and love of our neighbor;677
not without
cause the Scripture mostly puts one for both: whether it be of God
only, as is that text, “For we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God;”678
and again, “But if any man love
God, the same is known of Him;”679
and that, “Because the love of
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given
unto us;”680
and many
other passages; because he who loves God must both needs do what
God has commanded, and loves Him just in such proportion as he does
so; therefore he must needs also love his neighbor, because God has
commanded it: or whether it be that Scripture only mentions the
love of our neighbor, as in that text, “Bear ye one another’s
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ;”681
and again, “For all the law is
fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself;”682
and in the
Gospel, “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to
you, do ye even so to them; for this is the Law and the
prophets.”683
And many
other passages occur in the sacred writings, in which only the love
of our neighbor seems to be commanded for perfection, while the
love of God is passed over in silence; whereas the Law and the
prophets hang on both precepts. But this, too, is because he who
loves his neighbor must needs also love above all else love itself.
But “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in
God.”684
Therefore he
must needs above all else love God.
11. Wherefore they who seek God
through those Powers which rule over the world, or parts of the
world, are removed and cast away far from Him; not by intervals of
space, but by difference of affections: for they endeavor to find a
path outwardly, and forsake their own inward things, within which
is God. Therefore, even although they may either have heard some
holy heavenly Power, or in some way or another may have thought of
it, yet they rather covet its deeds at which human weakness
marvels, but do not imitate the piety by which divine rest is
acquired. For they prefer, through pride, to be able to do that
which an angel does, more than, through devotion, to be that which
an angel is. For no holy being rejoices in his own power, but in
His from whom he has the power which he fitly can have; and he
knows it to be more a mark of power to be united to the Omnipotent
by a pious will, than to be able, by his own power and will, to do
what they may tremble at who are not able to do such things.
Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, in doing such things, in
order that He might teach better things to those who marvelled at
them, and might turn those who were intent and in doubt about
unusual temporal things to eternal and inner things, says, “Come
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you.” And He does not say, Learn of me,
because I raise those who have been dead four days;
but He says, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”
For humility, which is most solid, is more powerful and safer than
pride, that is most inflated. And so He goes on to say, “And ye
shall find rest unto your souls,”685
for “Love686
is not puffed up;”687
and “God
is Love;”688
and “such
as be faithful in love shall rest in689
Him,”690
| 690 Wisdom 3.9" id="iv.i.x.viii-p17.1" parsed="|Wis|3|9|0|0" osisRef="Bible:Wis.3.9">Wisd. iii. 9 | called back from the din which is
without to silent joys. Behold, “God is Love:” why do we go
forth and run to the heights of the heavens and the lowest parts of
the earth, seeking Him who is within us, if we wish to be with
Him?E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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