Chap. XVIII - Of Charity to our GOD

Summary

Of Charity towards GOD. It Sanctifieth Repentance, makes it a Vertue, and turns it to a Part of our true Felicity. Our Love to all other Objects is to begin and End in GOD. Our Love of GOD hath an Excellency in it that makes it worthy to be desired by his Eternal Majesty. He is the only Supreme and Perfect friend. By Loving we enjoy him.

REPENTANCE without Love is so far from seating us in the Felicity of Heaven, that it is one of the Ingredients of the Torments in Hell, a natural Effect of Sin, and a great Part of the Misery of Devils. Love is a genuine Affection of the Soul, and so powerfully Sweet, when it is Satisfied and pleased, that it communicates the Relish of its own of Delightfulness to every Thing near it, and Transformes the most Virulent Affections into Smooth, Healing, Perfective Pleasures. Insomuch that in Heaven our Sorrow for Sin shall perhaps be infinite, yet the malignity of it so perfectly corrected, that tho we continue Eternally Just, in rendring our Sins that grief which is their due, it shall not discompose our peace, nor corrode our Delights, but increase our Repose in the Beauty of our souls, and make our Joys more full of Extasie, by those Melting, Lively, Bleeding, Resentments, which our Love will occasion in the very Grief, wherewith it perfects our Felicity. For as the falling out of Lovers is the Renewing of Love, so is the Mercy and Kindness of the one, even of him that was injured; and the calm and secure Indignation wherewith the other hates himself, for being guilty of so vile a miscarriage, the very Grace and Beauty of the Reconciliation; it is a great means of their mutual Endearment and Tenderness ever after: the Compassion of him that is Innocent, and the humble grief of the Guilty making the Joy of their future Correspondence more Deep and Serious, more Vigorous and Enflaming, more lasting.