On Desire
LXXXVIII. On Desire
1. God consists in the desire pertaining to virtuous (lit. “good”) love,
an honourable and worthy desire,
and one that is apt to be the greatest.
2. Man desires God because He is good
and because He fulfils in man that reason
which preserves <him> from sin.
3. To desire that which is most dear
increases man’s love
and causes him great delight.
4. Desire that is accompanied by languor
brings on <both> sadness and torment,
as well as the wasting of one’s body.
5. It is worthier to conceive desire for God
<even> if, accordingly, languor pervades one’s entire body,
than <it is> to live everlastingly in the absence of death.
6. That desire
which brings on very great languor serves <well>
in paying honour to God.
7. Nobody ought to desire anything greatly
since he may grow tired thereof,
for <such a thing> cannot provide fulfilment.
8. One cannot tire of virtue
for the reason that one induces it to desire the good
and to increase <one’s> love.
9. He who desires <the> vices
converts desire into disgust
and knows not desire’s law.
10. He who desires to commit evil
rather than to serve and honour God
knows not what is worthy of desire.