Chapter XI. What God is to His Elect

Perhaps I shall only provoke thee to impatience if I still continue to inquire what is God ? both because thou hast heard me asking that question so often already, and also because thou despairest of hearing it answered satisfactorily. But allow me tell thee, Holy Father, that God and God alone can never besought in vain ; not even then is He sought in vain when we are unable to find Him. Thine own experience shall furnish thee with evidence of this ; but if not, believe one who can speak from experience — I do not mean myself, but the Prophet Jeremias, who says, " The Lord is good to them that hope in Him, to the soul that seeketh Him " (Jerem., Lament, iii. 25). What then is God ? With regard to the universe, He is its ultimate end ; with regard to His elect, He is their salvation ; but as to what He is to Himself, He alone knows that.

What is God ? Omnipotent Will, Benevolent Power, Eternal Light, Immutable Reason, Sovereign Beatitude, He Who creates finite minds to participate in His bliss, Who quickens their sensibility so that they may feel Him, Who attracts their wills so that they may desire Him, Who expands their hearts so that they may have room to contain Him, Who justifies them so that they may merit Him, Who inflames them with zeal for His glory, Who fertilises them to make them bear fruit. Who directs them in the paths of equity, Who forms them to benevolence, Who causes them to walk in the ways of wisdom, Who strengthens them in virtue, visits them in consolation, enlightens them with the knowledge of truth, preserves them unto everlasting life, fills them with happiness, surrounds them with peace and security.