Pure Cause of Virtue

"For virtue is nought else but an ordained and a measured affection, plainly directed unto God for Himself. For why? He in Himself is the pure cause of all virtues: insomuch, that if any man be stirred to any one virtue by any other cause mingled with Him, yea, although that He be the chief, yet that virtue is then imperfect."

The above is from an English book called The Cloud of Unknowing. It is an anonymous work written in the fourteenth century. The main point of the book is that one should focus his or her affections upon God himself and not on his gifts or on various issues that tickle one's intellect or imagination. It is definitely a work that people should read today, but I'm afraid that it is a little inaccessible to the average evangelical today, seeing that it is so old.

This quotation is especially good I think. It counters a common idea that one often comes across when talking with people about the subject of belief in God. People often say something to the effect of, "I am a pretty decent person. I try to be a nice neighbor and not litter, and sometimes I give some money to charity. So what use is there for me to love some God? Isn't my own behavior honorable enough? Why do I have to love this great being?"

The message that this quotation has for us is that God is in himself Pure and Perfect Virtue. That is not to say that he is not personal, of course. He is Pure Virtue and personal. But if he is Pure Virtue and the cause of all virtue, then if one loves virtue perfectly, then he will love God. If there is a complete desire for moral perfection according to God's standard, he or she will be a lover of God. If the person does not love Pure Virtue, there must be a part of God's moral standard that he or she has not submitted himself or herself to.

Now the last part of this quotation I don't know that I agree with. It says that if you are moved to virtue for any other cause than for the love of God, then that work is imperfect. But I would think that if I do something nice for my wife for the love of God and for the love of my wife,the goodness of the action would not be lessened because I enjoyed seeing my wife's enjoyment. I would agree with the statement if the writer meant that it is not virtuous for a crook and a cheat to stop stealing and cheating mainly so that people will be friends with him. (This example reminds me of Simon the sorcerer offering money to Peter to be given the Holy Spirit.) But I don't know that I would say that the crook and cheat should have no self interest. Didn't Augustine say "it is the decided opinion of all who use their minds that everyone desires to be happy"? Is it possible to do something right without any thought for the enjoyment that goodness brings? I don't think so. Surely the love of God should be the chief cause far above all other causes.