The Greatness of God's Love (Scougal)

As we consider the nature of true spirituality and its branches, let us consider that love and affection where our souls are united to God, so as to see how great a truth it is. Love is the most powerful affection by which all the parts of the soul (mind, heart, spirit) are determined and from which full happiness flows. The measure of the soul is found by the object of its love. The one who loves small and worthless objects will eventually become what it loves. Well placed affections therefore are a great advantage to the soul in conforming it to a great love. We can see how this happens where people who love each other will begin to resemble each other; their voice and mannerisms will begin to match, so inward beauty and virtue will be resembled in us when they become the object of our love. This is why anything less than perfection, however good, is not sufficient as an object for these holy affections. The only true way to improve our souls is by fixing our love and passion on God’s perfections, setting them before us, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” 2 Cor. 3:18 (ESV).

The one who with sincere devotion raises his eyes toward that uncreated beauty and goodness, with affections fixed there, is of a better disposition than the rest of the world and is ready to ignore all sinful distractions and lesser realities. Love is the most excellent of realities we can master, and it is just foolish to squander it recklessly. Indeed the only thing we can call our own, which cannot be taken from us by force, is our love. Love is something we give freely from our heart with a will that is joyfully obedient. In giving our love away, we give ourselves away. Just as the value of a gift comes from the heart of the giver, not the object, but the intent of the one who loves and gives as it were all one had for the happiness of the beloved. So with confidence one can say , “that divine love that God gives himself is the happiness and perfection of his nature.” While this may be difficult to comprehend, certainly we know that love is the best gift we can give to God and it is wasted if we give to another that which is due him. When our affections for God are misplaced it will often be expressed by coming to the surface --- The way, for example, we flatter and praise others is just borrowed language that was meant for God. Words truly crafted and fit only for God, because all praise and obedience is due him, reflect the unfulfilled affection given to another. The chains and cords of true love that bind us to this pure affection are infinitely more glorious than liberty itself. This slavery to God is nobler than all the empires of the world. a paraphrase for modern readers by Pastor Baucum