Love of God The love of God is not something that arises in a person unconsciously and indiscriminately: it cannot be set in

Love of God
The love of God is not something that arises in a person unconsciously and indiscriminately: it cannot be set in motion in someone merely by a knowledge of the Scriptures, nor can someone compel himself to love God. It is possible, however, that, out of the reading of Scrip- ture and knowledge of it, the mind can receive a deep sense of reverence before the recollec- tion of God’s greatness: such a person may be in awe of God as a son or a servant is in awe, and he may be awakened to virtue’s enticement and to a fervent desire for what is good.
But if someone should suppose, or claim or teach that he can [by one mean or another] cause the love of God to become engraved in his soul, that person does not know what he is saying. Not even from the commandment which Christ gave concerning love126 can someone love God, for fear, not love, comes from the Law.
Until a person receives the Spirit of revelations, and his soul is united to the wisdom which transcends the world, and until he perceives within himself God’s exalted attributes, that per- son cannot approach the glorious saviour [of genuine love of God]. A man who has not drunk wine will not become inebriated by words describing wine; similarly, the person who has not been accounted worthy to receive in his soul knowledge of the sublime things of God cannot become inebriated with his love (from Part II.18).