Vol 01 - Chapter 04 - Of the love of God.

Chapter 04 - Of the love of God
1. HE that desires to become the temple and habitation of GOD, must first divest himself of the love of the world, and then exercise himself in the love of God. For no man can receive the one, without quitting the other; or be filled with the Spirit of GOD, before he be evacuated of the spirit of the world. Now as the loadstone, by a touch, draweth iron to it; so God first touches, with his Divine love, the soul which he draws and unites to himself.
2. And this Divine love is so. extensive, that, like the sun, it shines upon all; yea, it shines more universally than the sun itself; displaying itself equally upon all men. So that it is not the fault of GOD, (who is pure light and pure love) but of men, if they do not perceive or enjoy it. For when the Spirit of God approaches men with the highest love, and most ardent affection, he generally finds their hearts full of the love of the world, and all uncleanness; being crowded with covetousness, pride, lust, hatred, and evil thoughts; which force him to retire, and withdraw his graces from them. For the soul is indeed touched and drawn down by the magnetism of earth; or rather of hell. Whence it appears, that seeing God is ready, like the sun in the firmament, to communicate the rays of his light freely to every soul, it is not his fault, but theirs, if they are not enlightened by it. Seeing therefore we know these things, let us keep ourselves from the love of the world, and turn to the living God; watching diligently unto prayer. Let us labor earnestly for the love of God in CHRIST, by which we are united to him. Let us knock at the door of his holy wounds, and from thence expect salvation. And if we do this, no doubt God will open to us, and give us admission into-that high state of love, in which we shall be refreshed with all the treasures of God. And who can doubt, but that the God of mercy, the fountain of happiness, will fill the heart of man with more substantial joys, than any which this perishing world can afford.
3. And whosoever loves God shall be loved by all the saints and holy angels. If I love GOD, I am thereby entitled to the love of all the inhabitants of the city of God; a love that far surpasses the highest degree of affection. And as all the heavenly host have the highest love for GOD, and rejoice more in his honor than in their own happiness, (if we could consider them abstracted from each other,) so is their joy proportionably great, at every step of our conversion; and their happiness enhanced by every advance we make in the love of God. Now one sign of Divine love is this, that we use the creatures with fear and humility. For he that is endued with a habit of Divine love, whether he eat or drink, or whatever he does else, like a dutiful son, he does every thing with reverence and fear; having his eye constantly fixed upon the glory of his heavenly Father. From this fear of God flow the many deep sighs and passionate groans of the devout soul; which by gentle degrees mount him from earth to heaven. For he discovers so many corruptions in himself, obstructing the light, and quenching the flames of the Holy Spirit that he is forced to cry out, When shall I be redeemed front the earth, to follow my beloved whithersoever he goes!
4. And truly these sighs and groans must be frequently mounting up to the mercy seat of God; that by the assistance of the Divine grace, we may bear up, and not faint under the manifold miseries of this wretched state. This did all the holy men of old time, when they labored under the sense of spiritual infirmities. They raised their broken spirits unto GOD, by devout sighs, penitential tears, and humble acknowledgments of their misery; which turned back into their own bosoms, with a large increase of grace and spiritual strength. He that seeks him alone, in the integrity of his heart, shall surely find him, and be admitted to all the blessings and happiness that are to be found in the presence of God. He that seeks God in truth, finds GOD, and all things that are God's. And whosoever seeks for nothing else, and looks for nothing else but God only, unto him does God manifest himself, and confer upon him all that is laid up in him; that the same may, in a sense, as properly be said to belong to man as to God.
5. By this means the essence, the flame, the root, and spring of love are preserved pure and unshaken. And by love we rest in GOD, and rejoice in all his dispensations. So that if it should please God to sink such a man to the lowest hell, he would riot open his mouth, but rest satisfied with the will of GOD, in which only he finds happiness. In this love, true peace is to be found, when in GOD, and for God's sake, we love every thing; crosses and tribulations not excepted. True love unites us to GOD, and to all the world. And the happiness of such a state is inexpressibly great.
6. " If any man love me," says CHRIST, " he will keep my sayings," John 14:23. Not only those which he hears in the outward and visible temple, but those also which are heard in the true temple of the soul; without which, the outward hearing availeth little. And this in ward voice of God you can not, hear, unless the love of God be in thee.
7. "The most certain token of the love of GOD," says St. Gregory the Great, " is, that we receive all the adversities that God shall think fit to lay upon us, without any impatience in thought, word, or actions. If we do this, without doubt we truly love God; if not, it is certain that. we love him not sincerely, but prefer ourselves and our own things before him; though nothing can be properly said to be a man's own, but sin; every thing else is God's." Take heed therefore that you prefer not even the gifts of God before himself, whom if you love purely and above all things, then you shall hear him speak peace to thy soul; according to that saying of our Lord, "' He that loves me, to him will I manifest myself," John 14:21. And this manifestation is made by the opening of the understanding, the illumination of the heart by the Spirit of knowledge, of understanding, of fortitude, and of fear; and especially by the purifying and enlightening of the inward eyes to see and know Jesus CHRIST.