Chapter 35.—The Fulfillment and End of Scripture is the Love of God and Our Neighbor.

39.  Of all, then, that has been said since we entered upon the discussion about things, this is the sum:  that we should clearly understand that the fulfillment and the end of the Law, and of all Holy Scripture, is the love of an object which is to be enjoyed, and the love of an object which can enjoy that other in fellowship with ourselves.  For there is no need of a command that each man should love himself.  The whole temporal dispensation for our salvation, therefore, was framed by the providence of God that we might know this truth and be able to act upon it; and we ought to use that dispensation, not with such love and delight as if it were a good to rest in, but with a transient feeling rather, such as we have towards the road, or carriages, or other things that are merely means.  Perhaps some other comparison can be found that will more suitably express the idea that we are to love the things by which we are borne only for the sake of that towards which we are borne.

CAPUT XXXV. Scripturae plenitudo, finisque, amor Dei et proximi.

39. Omnium igitur quae dicta sunt, ex quo de rebus tractamus, haec summa est, ut intelligatur Legis et omnium divinarum Scripturarum plenitudo et finis esse dilectio (Rom. XIII, 10; et I Tim. I, 5) rei qua fruendum est, et rei quae nobiscum ea re frui potest; quia ut se quisque diligat, praecepto non opus est. Hoc ergo ut nossemus atque possemus, facta est tota pro salute nostra per divinam providentiam dispensatio temporalis, qua debemus uti, non quasi mansoria quadam dilectione atque delectatione, sed transitoria potius, tanquam viae, tanquam vehiculorum, vel aliorum quorumlibet instrumentorum, aut si quid congruentius dici potest; ut ea quibus ferimur, propter illud ad quod ferimur, diligamus.