as [6331]Ficinus adviseth us, "get us solar eyes, spectacles as they that
look on the sun: to see this divine beauty, lay aside all material objects,
all sense, and then thou shalt see him as he is." Thou covetous wretch, as
[6332]Austin expostulates, "why dost thou stand gaping on this dross,
muck-hills, filthy excrements? behold a far fairer object, God himself woos
thee; behold him, enjoy him, he is sick for love." Cant. v. he invites thee
to his sight, to come into his fair garden, to eat and drink with him, to
be merry with him, to enjoy his presence for ever. [6333]Wisdom cries out
in the streets besides the gates, in the top of high places, before the
city, at the entry of the door, and bids them give ear to her instruction,
which is better than gold or precious stones; no pleasures can be compared
to it: leave all then and follow her, _vos exhortor o amici et obsecro._
In. [6334]Ficinus's words, "I exhort and beseech you, that you would
embrace and follow this divine love with all your hearts and abilities, by
all offices and endeavours make this so loving God propitious unto you."
For whom alone, saith [6335]Plotinus, "we must forsake the kingdoms and
empires of the whole earth, sea, land, and air, if we desire to be
engrafted into him, leave all and follow him."

Now, forasmuch as this love of God is a habit infused of God, as [6336]
Thomas holds, _l. 2. quaest. 23._ "by which a man is inclined to love God
above all, and his neighbour as himself," we must pray to God that he will
open our eyes, make clear our hearts, that we may be capable of his
glorious rays, and perform those duties that he requires of us, Deut. vi.
and Josh. xxiii. "to love God above all, and our neighbour as ourself, to
keep his commandments." "In this we know," saith John, c. v. 2, "we love
the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments." "This is
the love of God, that we keep his commandments; he that loveth not, knoweth
not God, for God is love," cap. iv. 8, "and he that dwelleth in love,
dwelleth in God, and God in him;" for love pre-supposeth knowledge, faith,
hope, and unites us to God himself, as [6337]Leon Hebreus delivereth unto
us, and is accompanied with the fear of God, humility, meekness, patience,
all those virtues, and charity itself. For if we love God, we shall love
our neighbour, and perform the duties which are required at our hands, to
which we are exhorted, 1 Cor. xv. 4, 5; Ephes. iv.; Colos. iii.; Rom.