Treatise on the Love of God

THE MOTIVES WE HAVE OF HOLY LOVE.

S. Bonaventure, Father Louis of Granada, Father Louis de Ponte, Father Diego di Stella, have sufficiently discoursed upon this subject. I will only sum up those points on which I have touched in this treatise.

The divine goodness considered in itself is not only the first motive of all, but also the greatest, the most noble and most mighty. For it is that which ravishes the Blessed, and crowns their felicity. How can one have a heart, and yet not love so infinite a goodness? This subject is treated to some extent in chapters i. and ii. of Book II., and from chapter viii. to the and of Book III., and in chapter ix. of Book X.

The second motive is that of God's natural Providence towards us, of creation and preservation, as we say in chapter iii. of Book II.

The third motive is that of God's supernatural Providence over us, and of the Redemption he has prepared for us, as is explained in chapters iv., v., vi., vii., of Book II.

The fourth motive is to consider how God brings to effect this Providence and Redemption, giving every one all the graces and assistances required for salvation; which we handle in Book II., from chapter viii., and in Book III., from the beginning to chapter vi.

The fifth motive is the eternal glory which the Divine goodness has provided for us, which is the crown of God's benefits towards us: of which we have said something from chapter ix. to the end of Book III.