Differencia inter amatores Dei et eorum premiis

Differencia inter amatores Dei et eorum premiis

The fire of eternal love does not touch the human soul that has not first completely abandoned all the vanity of the world, constantly striving to focus on heavenly things, and without interruption desiring divine love, and loving every creature in an orderly way. If we love anything, we love it for God's sake, preferring God in it rather than the thing itself, and thus we don't enjoy it but God, in whom we rejoice without end. Indeed, the wicked enjoy this world and place the end of their delight in it, and they constantly crave only those things that pertain to the joy of the world. And how could anyone act more foolishly, more miserably, or more damnably than to cling to something transient and fallible for their own sake? The Trinity alone is to be loved for its own sake. Let us place our entire mind in Him, and let us strive to direct all our thoughts toward that end, so that He may be glorified in us without end. We love ourselves and others only because we love her alone. But the sinner lies when he says he loves God and yet does not fear serving sin. Everyone who loves God is free and does not serve sin; instead, they dedicate themselves to the service of justice and persist in it steadfastly. When we love earthly things and comforts for their own sake, we certainly do not love God. In fact, we will be judged not as those who serve God, but as those who hate Him, if we take pleasure in created things, because we neglect our Creator and do not care to seek or desire what is eternal. Indeed, it is very harmful to the soul and a sign of eternal destruction when a person completely gives themselves over to the world and follows various desires of the flesh and errors as if they were free to do so. Indeed, while the wretched person lives delightfully, he is being destroyed, and while he thinks he is overflowing with pleasures, he rushes toward an unending and infernal punishment. No one should presume too much about themselves, nor should they elevate themselves through arrogance. When they are despised or when insults are thrown at them, they shouldn't defend themselves or respond to evil words with evil. Instead, they should calmly endure both praise and blame. In this way, we will rejoice with Christ forever if we love Christ even in this life, constantly and fervently. The love of which transforms us into its likeness, rooted and stable in our hearts; and it pours into us another glory, a divine joy that truly delights our minds with the love of burning desire. For love is a fire that ignites souls, making them radiant and fervent, and it purifies them from all the filth of sin. The fire that burns in the chosen ones inspires them to always look upward in their minds and to hold onto the thought of death without ceasing. Therefore, let us consider that while we can still sin, we should flee from the pleasures of the world and willingly endure its hardships. A troubled mind, when it rejoices, perishes, and like a sweet poison, it kills itself while seeking joy in created things. Let us strive to avoid the contagion of that which is harmful by looking inward at the inner feasts that are arranged for those who ardently love in the heights. Therefore, let us be strengthened through Christ, singing in the harmony of love, and let us delight in the sweetest devotion, while the wicked sleep in horrendous darkness and are full of crimes as they descend to punishment. Indeed, it seems that a mortal man is captivated by such divine love, which in his innermost being he does not feel except for a heavenly consolation, and as if through an organ, he ascends to contemplate the lofty desire that illuminates. Whoever turns what is inflicted by others into sorrow for glory, so that now in some way they may be seen as having an impassible soul, will not be able to be disturbed by the fear of death, nor will they ever stumble from tranquility into intemperance. In a steady love and in a continuous thought of Jesus, one quickly recognizes their shortcomings, and by correcting them, avoids the same mistakes in the future; thus, they continually practice justice until they are led to God and sit with the heavenly ones in eternal rest. Therefore, a person is clear in conscience and steadfast in all good ways, who is never affected by worldly sadness or delighted by empty glory. Those who are stubborn in unclean deeds do not recognize the love of Christ, because they are consumed by carnal desires and do not offer the devotion owed to God due to the burden of their wealth, which weighs them down to the earth. They are not destined for the delights of paradise to be enjoyed, because they persist in their own perversions until death, and therefore their misery will not be alleviated, nor will the pain of damnation be erased, because they willingly pursue pleasures and goods, and for the sake of deceptive love they have recklessly lost the love of the eternal Lover. Therefore, in eternal punishments, they will truly regret what they have sinned, yet they will never be cleansed from their offenses, but will be burned with unending fires without a comforter.