MOTIVES FOR LOVING GOD
St Bonaventure, Fr Louis de Granada, Fr Louis du Pont, Fr Diego de Stella have sufficiently dealt with this subject. I shall satisfy myself with noting only the points on which I have touched in this Treatise.
Divine Goodness considered in itself is not only the first motive of all but also the greatest, most noble and the strongest. For it is this goodness that enchants the Blessed in heaven and fill their happiness. How can we have a heart and yet not love such an infinite goodness! This subject is dealt with to some extent in chapters 1 and 2 of Book Two and from chapter 8 of Book Three till the end and in chapter 9 of Book Ten.
The second motive is the supernatural providence of God towards us, of creation and preservation as we explain in chapter 3 of Book Two.
The third motive is the supernatural providence of God towards us and the redemption that he has prepared for us. It is explained in chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Book Two.
The fourth motive is to meditate on how God works out this providence and redemption, offering to each one all the graces and assistances required for salvation. We deal with it from Chapter 8 in Book Two and from the beginning till chapter 6 of Book Three.
The fifth motive is the eternal glory which divine goodÂness offers us. It is the fullness of the blessings of God towards us. It is treated to some extent from chapter 9 till the end of Book Three.