Chapter XV.
Of the four degrees of love, and of the blessed state of the
heavenly fatherland
Nevertheless, since we are carnal and are born of the lust of the flesh, it must
be that our desire and our love shall have its beginning in the flesh. But
rightly guided by the grace of God through these degrees, it will have its
consummation in the spirit: for that was not first which is spiritual but that
which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual (I Cor. 15:46). And we
must bear the image of the earthy first, before we can bear the image of the
heavenly. At first, man loves himself for his own sake. That is the flesh, which
can appreciate nothing beyond itself. Next, he perceives that he cannot exist by
himself, and so begins by faith to seek after God, and to love Him as something
necessary to his own welfare. That is the second degree, to love God, not for
God's sake, but selfishly. But when he has learned to worship God and to seek
Him aright, meditating on God, reading God's Word, praying and obeying His
commandments, he comes gradually to know what God is, and finds Him altogether
lovely. So, having tasted and seen how gracious the Lord is (Ps. 34:8), he
advances to the third degree, when he loves God, not merely as his benefactor
but as God. Surely he must remain long in this state; and I know not whether it
would be possible to make further progress in this life to that fourth degree
and perfect condition wherein man loves himself solely for God's sake. Let any
who have attained so far bear record; I confess it seems beyond my powers.
Doubtless it will be reached when the good and faithful servant shall have
entered into the joy of his Lord (Matt. 25:21), and been satisfied with the
plenteousness of God's house (Ps. 36:8). For then in wondrous wise he will
forget himself and as if delivered from self, he will grow wholly God's. Joined
unto the Lord, he will then be one spirit with Him (I Cor. 6:17). This was what
the prophet meant, I think, when he said: ' I will go forth in the strength of
the Lord God: and will make mention of Thy righteousness only' (Ps. 71:16).
Surely he knew that when he should go forth in the spiritual strength of the
Lord, he would have been freed from the infirmities of the flesh, and would have
nothing carnal to think of, but would be wholly filled in his spirit with the
righteousness of the Lord.
In that day the members of Christ can say of themselves what St. Paul testified
concerning their Head: 'Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet
now henceforth know we Him no more' (II Cor. 5:16). None shall thereafter know
himself after the flesh; for 'flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God'
(I Cor. 15:50). Not that there will be no true substance of the flesh, but all
carnal needs will be taken away, and the love of the flesh will be swallowed up
in the love of the spirit, so that our weak human affections will be made
divinely strong. Then the net of charity which as it is drawn through the great
and wide sea doth not cease to gather every kind of fish, will be drawn to the
shore; and the bad will be cast away, while only the good will be kept (Matt.
13:48). In this life the net of all-including love gathers every kind of fish
into its wide folds, becoming all things to all men, sharing adversity or
prosperity, rejoicing with them that do rejoice, and weeping with them that weep
(Rom. 12:15). But when the net is drawn to shore, whatever causes pain will be
rejected, like the bad fish, while only what is pleasant and joyous will be
kept. Do you not recall how St. Paul said: 'Who is weak and I am not weak? Who
is offended and I burn not?' And yet weakness and offense were far from him. So
too he bewailed many which had sinned already and had not repented, though he
was neither the sinner nor the penitent. But there is a city made glad by the
rivers of the flood of grace (Ps. 46:4), and whose gates the Lord loveth more
than all the dwellings of Jacob (Ps. 87:2). In it is no place for lamentation
over those condemned to everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels
(Matt. 25:41). In these earthly dwellings, though men may rejoice, yet they have
still other battles to fight, other mortal perils to undergo. But in the
heavenly Fatherland no sorrow nor sadness can enter: as it is written, 'The
habitation of all rejoicing ones is in Thee' (Ps. 87:7, Vulg.); and again,
'Everlasting joy shall be unto them' (Isa. 61:7). Nor could they recall things
piteous, for then they will make mention of God's righteousness only.
Accordingly, there will be no need for the exercise of compassion, for no misery
will be there to inspire pity.
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