Lastly, this discovers how few there are who do truly know God: for no man knoweth God, but he that loveth ⟨p. 70⟩him; and how can a man choose but love him, being the sovereign good, if he knew him? Seeing the nature of God is to enamour men with the love of her goodness; and whosoever loveth any thing more then God, 1is not worthy of God: and such is every one, who settles the love and rest of his heart upon any thing besides God. If therefore thou dost believe that God is Almighty, why dost thou fear Devils and enemies, and not confidently trust in God, and crave his help in all troubles & dangers? If thou believest that God is infinite, how darest thou provoke him to anger? If thou believest that God is simple, with what heart canst thou dissemble ⟨p. 71⟩and play the hypocrite? If thou believest that God is the Sovereign good, why is not thy heart more settled upon him, then on all Worldly goods? If thou dost indeed believe, that God is a just Judge, how darest thou live so securely in sin without repentance? If thou dost truly believe that God is most wise, why dost not thou refer the events of crosses and disgraces unto him, who knoweth how to turn all things to the best unto them that love him? 2If thou art persuaded that God is true, why dost thou doubt of his promises? And if thou believest that God is beauty and *Perfection it self, why dost not thou make him alone ⟨p. 72⟩the chief end of all thine affections and desires? for, if thou lovest beauty, he is most fair. If thou desirest riches, he is most wealthy: if thou seekest Wisdom, he is most wise. Whatsoever excellency thou hast seen in any creature, it is nothing but a sparkle of that which is in infinite *perfection in GOD: and when in Heaven we shall have an Immediate communion with God, we shall have them all perfectly in him, communicated unto us. Briefly, in all goodness he is all in all. *Love that one good God: and thou shalt love him, in whom all the good of goodness consisteth. He that would therefore attain to the saving knowledge of God, must learn to ⟨p. 73⟩know him by love. 6For God is love, and athe knowledge of the love of God passeth all knowledge. For all knowledge besides to know bhow to love God, and to serve him only: is nothing, upon Solomons credit, but vanity of vanities, and vexation of spirit.
Lastly, this discouers how few there are who doe truely know God: for no man knoweth God, but hee that loueth ⟨p. 70⟩him; and how can a man choose but loue him, being the soueraigne good, if hee knew him? Seeing the nature of God is to enamour men with the loue of her goodnesse; and whosoeuer loueth any thing more then God, 1is not worthy of God: and such is euery one, who setles the loue and rest of his heart vpon any thing besides God. If therefore thou dost beleeue that God is Almighty, why dost thou feare Diuels and enemies, and not confidently trust in God, and craue his helpe in all troubles & dangers? If thou beleeuest that God is infinite, how darest thou prouoke him to anger? If thou beleeuest that God is simple, with what heart canst thou dissemble ⟨p. 71⟩and play the hypocrite? If thou beleeuest that God is the Soueraigne good, why is not thy heart more setled vpon him, then on all Worldly goods? If thou dost indeede beleeue, that God is a iust Iudge, how darest thou liue so securely in sinne without repentance? If thou dost truely beleeue that God is most wise, why dost not thou referre the euents of crosses and disgraces vnto him, vvho knoweth how to turne all things to the best vnto them that loue him? 2If thou art perswaded that God is true, why dost thou doubt of his promises? And if thou beleeuest that God is beautie and *Perfection it selfe, why dost not thou make him alone ⟨p. 72⟩the chiefe end of all thine affections and desires? for, if thou louest beautie, hee is most faire. If thou desirest riches, hee is most wealthy: if thou seekest Wisedome, hee is most wise. Whatsoeuer excellencie thou hast seene in any creature, it is nothing but a sparkle of that which is in infinite *perfection in GOD: and when in Heauen wee shall haue an Immediate communion vvith God, wee shall haue them all perfectly in him, communicated vnto vs. Briefely, in all goodnesse he is all in all. *Loue that one good God: and thou shalt loue him, in whom all the good of goodnesse consisteth. He that would therfore attaine to the sauing knowledge of God, must learne to
- 11 Joh. 2.15.1 Ioh. 2.15.
- 2Rom. 8.28.
- *Site habeam solum san• ruat arduus aether, Tellus rupta suo dissilia• que loco.Si te habeam solum san• ruat arduus aether, Tellus rupta suo dissilia• que loco.
- *Creata omnia perfecti▪ sunt in Deo, quā in seipsis· Dionis. de divin. cap. 5.Creata omnia perfecti▪ sunt in Deo, quā in seipsis· Dionis. de diuin. cap. 5.
- *Ama unum illud bonum in quo omne bonū & sufficit. Ansel. in prosol. cap. 25.Ama vnum illud bonum in quo omne bonū & sufficit. Ansel. in prosol. cap. 25.
- 61 Joh. 4.8.1 Ioh. 4.8.
- aEphe. 3.19
- bKemp. de-Imit. Chri. cap. 1.
