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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. |