(2dly.) Our love unto God is a love of
duty, the love of a child. His love descends upon us in bounty
and fruitfulness; “Amor Dei causat
bonitatem in rebus, sed amor noster causatur ab ea.” our
love ascends unto him in duty and thankfulness. He adds to us by his love;
we nothing to him by ours. Our goodness extends not unto him. Though our
love be fixed on him “Dilectio quæ est
appetitivæ virtutis actus, etiam in statum viæ tendit in Deum primo et
immediate.” — Thom.
22, q. 27, a 4. immediately, yet no fruit of our love
reacheth him immediately; though he requires our love, he is not benefited
by it, Job xxxv.
5–8, Rom. xi.
35, Job xxii.
2, 3. It is indeed made up of these four things:— 1.
Rest; 2. Delight; 3. Reverence; 4.
Obedience. By these do we hold communion with the
Father in his love. Hence God calls that love which is due to him as a
father, “honour,” Mal. i. 6, “If I be a father, where is
mine honour?” It is a deserved act of duty.