Love And Law

Ut autem sub certa diffinitione, quid sit caritas possit apertius et efficacius comprehendi, audiamus qualiter eam diffiniat aut describit Apostolus. Ipse enim Timotheum scribens, Finis, inquit, praecepti est caritas de corde puro, et conscientia bona, et fide non ficta. Praeceptum lex dicitur, cujus praeceptis vita hominum informatur. Est autem lex positiva: lex, scilicet, Moysi et Principum terrae. De quae Paulus apostolus dicit: Lex justo non est posita, sed injustis. Et est alia Lex, quam Psalmista postulat dicens: Legem pone mihi, Domine, viam justificationum tuarum. Ista lex spiritualis est, illa carnalis. Istius professor coram Principibus et inter gladios nihil timet, illa injustos et maleficos terret; illa injustis posita est, quibus praecipit ne occidant, haec justis non est posita, quia lex principum nihil in hominibus justis invenit puniendum. Audi quid dicat Apostolus: Vis non timere potestatem? Bonum fac, et habebis laudem ex illa. Et adjungit: Si malum feceris, time. Ab hoc equidem timore justum eximit caritas de puro corde. Ideoque ipsa finis legis illius est, quae timorem incutit: unde et ipsa mortis est finis: legis autem, quae justo posita est, caritas etiam finis est, quum sit operum bonorum consummatio et malorum abolitio, et sic finis est utriusque legis, illius scilicet legis malorum quam abolet, et alterius quam implet. Petrus Blenensis, De Caritate Dei Et Promixi, Cap. II  Source:  Migne PL 207.897c-898a

That by a certain definition, we might be able to openly and easily understand what love is, let us hear how the Apostle defines or describes it. Writing to Timothy he says, 'The end of commandment is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a faith that is not false.' 1 The law speaks command, by which commands the life of men is shaped. And this is positive law, the law of Moses and in the beginning of the world. Concerning which Paul the Apostle says, 'The law is not given for the righteous man but for the unrighteous.' 2 And there is another law, which the Psalmist asks for, saying, 'Place in me the law of the way of your righteousness.' 3 This is the spiritual law, and the former is carnal. He who professes the latter fears nothing before rulers and amid swords, the former terrifies the unjust and the evildoer, that which is given for the unrighteous, by which he is commanded not to kill, but which is not given for the righteous, because the law of the beginning finds nothing to punish in the righteous man. Hear what the Apostle says: 'You do not wish to fear the one in power? Do good, and you shall have praise from it.' 4 And he adds: 'If you do evil, fear.' 5 Love from a pure heart removes the righteous man from this fear. Therefore it is the end of that law which instils fear, and so it is the death of it, but love is the end of the law which is given for the righteous, which is the consummation of good works and expulsion of evil; and so it is the end of both laws, abolishing the law which concerns itself with evils, and fulfilling the other law. Peter of Blois, On Love Of God and One's Neighbour, Chap 2 1 1 Tim 1.5 2 1 Tim 1.9 3 Ps 118.33 4 Rom 13.3 5 Rom 13.4