Chapter 85

Remembrance of God, Contemplation of the Perfections of God, Zeal for God, Fear of God

God’s grace turns the attention of the mind and heart toward God and keeps it on Him. Since the mind cannot stand without action, being turned toward God, it thinks about God. From this comes remembrance of God—the constant companion of a grace-filled state... Remembrance of God is never idle, but necessarily leads to contemplation of the perfections of God and the works of God: goodness, justice, creation, providence, redemption, judgment and recompense. All this taken together is the peace of God, or the spiritual realm. One who burns with zeal dwells unceasing in this realm. Such is the nature of zeal. From this conversely—dwelling in this realm sustains and nourishes zeal. Do you wish to preserve zeal? Maintain all the described disposition... In parts—this is spiritual firewood. Always have such firewood at hand and as soon as you notice that the fire of zeal grows weak, take some log from your spiritual firewood and renew the spiritual fire. And all will go well. From the totality of such spiritual movements flows fear of God, reverent standing before God in the heart. This is the guardian and protector of a grace-filled state. (8, 25)