Disputation II: On Devotion

The FIRST act of Religion is Devotion, by which the will devotes itself, prompt, to the divine services; whence also it takes its name; it is taken, however, not rarely for that taste which results from attention during meditation, or prayer; yet properly it is promptitude, and the universal will to carry out whatever pleases God; whence it is clear that it does not pertain to the Intellect, although it presupposes its act, as I shall indicate below; at times, however, before every consideration of the mind the will is anticipated by a sweet and savory affection, by which it is gently stirred toward mental Prayers; and this affection, poured in by the Holy Spirit, can deservedly be called the grace of Devotion, or the seed of the virtue: In this matter almost no logical difficulty occurs; for with Devotion there is rare agreement of syllogisms, or arguments; wherefore all that is to be said here I shall dispatch with a single question.