Chapter XI. The consideration of God continued

I suspect you are a little vexed at my again asking, What is God? The question has already been asked so often, and you are doubtful whether the answer will ever be found. Dear Eugenius, Father in God, what I say is this — He alone is God who never can be sought in vain, not even when He cannot be found. Your experience may teach you this ; or, if not, believe one who has had the experience ; I do not mean myself, but the saint who says, ' Thou art good, O Lord, to them that hope in Thee, to the soul that seeketh Thee.'¹ What, then, is God? As regards the universe, He is the final end ; in respect of election, He is salvation ; as regards Himself, He is self-knowledge. What is God ? He is almighty will moved by loving-kindness, virtue, eternal light, incommunicable reason, highest blessedness ; He is the creator of minds to enjoy Himself ; He endows them with life to perceive Him, disposes them to long for Him, enlarges them to receive Him, justifies them to be worthy of Him, fires them with zeal, fertilizes them that they may bear fruit, guides them into sweet reasonableness, moulds them to loving-kindness, regulates them for wisdom, strengthens them for virtue, visits them for consolation, illuminates them for know ledge, preserves them for immortality, fills them for happiness, is about their path for safety.