(19.) The Commandment of Love Shall Be Perfectly Fulfilled in the Life to Come.

And in this prayer, unless we choose to be contentious, there is placed before our view a mirror of sufficient brightness in which to behold the life of the righteous, who live by faith, and finish their course, although they are not without sin. Therefore they say, “Forgive us,” because they have not yet arrived at the end of their course. Hence the apostle says, “Not as if I had already attained, either were already perfect. . .Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.”54    Phil. iii. 12–15. In other words, let us, as many as are running perfectly, be thus resolved, that, being not yet perfected, we pursue our course to perfection along the way by which we have thus far run perfectly, in order that “when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part may be done away;”55    1 Cor. xiii. 10. that is, may cease to be but in part any longer, but become whole and complete. For to faith and hope shall succeed at once the very substance itself, no longer to be believed in and hoped for, but to be seen and grasped. Love, however, which is the greatest among the three, is not to be superseded, but increased and fulfilled,—contemplating in full vision what it used to see by faith, and acquiring in actual fruition what it once only embraced in hope. Then in all this plenitude of charity will be fulfilled the commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”56    Mente. The Septuagint, however, like the Hebrew, has δυναμεως. A.V. “thy might.” Comp Deut. vi. 5 with Matt. xxii. 37. For while there remains any remnant of the lust of the flesh, to be kept in check by the rein of continence, God is by no means loved with all one’s soul. For the flesh does not lust without the soul; although it is the flesh which is said to lust, because the soul lusts carnally. In that perfect state the just man shall live absolutely without any sin, since there will be in his members no law warring against the law of his mind,57    Rom. vii. 23. but wholly will he love God, with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind58    Matt. xxii. 37. which is the first and chief commandment. For why should not such perfection be enjoined on man, although in this life nobody may attain to it? For we do not rightly run if we do not know whither we are to run. But how could it be known, unless it were pointed out in precepts?59    See above in Augustin’s De Spiritu et Littera, 64. Let us therefore “so run that we may obtain.”60    1 Cor. ix. 23. For all who run rightly will obtain,—not as in the contest of the theatre, where all indeed run, but only one wins the prize.61    1 Cor. ix. 24. Let us run, believing, hoping, longing; let us run, subjugating the body, cheerfully and heartily doing alms,—in giving kindnesses and forgiving injuries, praying that our strength may be helped as we run; and let us so listen to the commandments which urge us to perfection, as not to neglect running towards the fulness of love.

19. In qua oratione, si contentiosi esse nolumus, satis nobis propositum speculum est, ubi inspiciatur vita justorum, qui ex fide vivunt, et perfecte currunt, quamvis sine peccato non sint. Unde dicunt, Dimitte nobis; quia nondum quo curritur pervenerunt. Hinc dicit Apostolus: Non quia jam acceperim, aut jam perfectus sim: fratres, ego me non arbitror apprehendisse; unum autem, quae retro oblitus, in ea quae ante sunt extentus, secundum intentionem sequor ad palmam supernae vocationis Dei in Christo Jesu. Quotquot ergo perfecti, hoc sapiamus (Philipp. III, 12-15); id est, quotquot perfecte currimus, hoc sapiamus, quod nondum perfecti sumus, ut illic perficiamur, quod perfecte adhuc currimus: ut cum venerit quod perfectum est, quod ex parte est destruatur; id est, non jam ex parte sit, sed ex toto; quia fidei et spei jam res ipsa, non quae credatur, et speretur, sed quae videatur teneaturque succedet: charitas autem, quae in his tribus major est, non auferetur (I Cor. XIII, 10, 13); sed augebitur et implebitur , contemplata quo credebat, et quod sperabat indepta. In qua plenitudine 0301 charitatis praeceptum illud implebitur, Diliges Dominum Deum tuum ex toto corde tuo, et ex tota anima tua, et ex tota mente tua (Deut. VI, 5). Nam cum est adhuc aliquid carnalis concupiscentiae, quod vel continendo frenetur, non omni modo ex tota anima diligitur Deus. Non enim caro sine anima concupiscit, quamvis caro concupiscere dicatur, quia carnaliter anima concupiscit. Tunc erit justus sine ullo omnino peccato, quando nulla lex erit in membris ejus repugnans legi mentis ejus (Rom. VII, 23), sed prorsus toto corde, tota anima, tota mente diliget Deum, quod est primum summumque praeceptum (Matth. XXII, 37, 38). Cur ergo non praeciperetur homini ista perfectio, quamvis eam in hac vita nemo habeat? Non enim recte curritur, si quo currendum est nesciatur. Quomodo autem sciretur, si nullis praeceptis ostenderetur? Sic ergo curramus, ut comprehendamus. Omnes enim qui recte currunt, comprehendent: non sicut in agone theatrico, omnes quidem currunt, sed unus accipit palmam (I Cor. IX, 24). Curramus credendo, sperando, desiderando; curramus corpus castigando, et eleemosynas in bonis dandis malisque ignoscendis, hilariter et ex corde faciendo, et currentium vires ut adjuventur orando; et sic audiamus praecepta perfectionis, ne currere negligamus ad plenitudinem charitatis.