Chapter 16. On the Glory of Paradise, Being an Extension of the Last Meditation

§ 1.—Shewing how meditation upon the happiness of eternal glory will encourage us to undergo every labour in order to obtain it.

1.—One of the chief objects to which our eyes should be ever directed in this vale of tears, is the happiness of eternal glory, for this consideration of itself would suffice to encourage us to undergo every suffering in order to obtain it. When God promised the Land of Promise to the Patriarch Abraham, he commanded him to walk over it and around it, saying, Gen, xix. “Arise and pace over this land both in its breadth and its length, and examine it on all sides, because I am about to bestow it upon thee.” Arise then now my soul and mount on high, casting aside all earthly cares and business, and on the wings of the spirit fly to that noble land of promise and examine attentively the length of its eternity, the breadth of its felicity and the greatness of its riches with all its other perfections. 2.—It is written of the Queen of Saba that hearing HI Kings,x. - of the fame of Solomon, she came to the

City of Jerusalem to behold the grandeur and wonderful things spoken of that king. And since the fame of that heavenly Jerusalem and of that great king who rules over it is not less, ascend thou now in spirit to that noble city to contemplate the wisdom of that sovereign king, and the beauty of that temple, and the service of that table, and the rank of those who wait at it, the liveries of the servants and all the policy and glory of that noble city. Because if thou but knowest how to admire all these things, perhaps thy spirit will be raised above itself, and thou wilt know that not the least particle of all this glory has been denied to thee. But to attain this, the special light of God is necessary, as the apostle signifies when he says, ‘‘I bow my knees unto the

Ephes. iii. God of Glory and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he will give'you the spirit of wisdom, and enlighten the eyes of your hearts that ye may know how great is the hope of your calling and the richness of that inheritance and glory which he has prepared for the saints.”

3.—And although in this glory there are many things to contemplate, thou mayst now more particularly consider these five principal ones, on which we have before touched, namely, the pre-eminent excellency of the place, the delightful companionship to be found there, the vision of God, the glory of the body, and the eternal duration of all these blessings.

§ 2.—On the beauty and excellence of the seat of Glory.

4.—Consider first-the beauty of the place, thus described in figure by St. John in the Apocalypse, in these words, ‘‘ There Apoc. xxi. and xxii. came one of the seven angels and spoke with me saying; come and I will shew thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb. And he took me up in spirit to a great and high mountain; and he shewed me the holy City of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, and the light thereof was like to a precious stone. And it had a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and in the gates twelve Angels, and names written thereon. And the founda- _ tions of the wall of the City were adorned with all manner of precious stones, and the twelve gates thereof are twelve precious stones, one to each; and the square of the City was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty is the temple thereof and the Lamb. And the City hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God hath enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof. And moreover the angel shewed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the Throne of God and of the Lamb: and in the midst of the square thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no curse any more, but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads, and they shall reign for ever and ever.” s

5.—See here, brother, the beauty of this City painted in black and white, not that thou art to think that all these things are substantially there, according to the letter, but thou art to understand that other excellent and spiritual things are there, figured by this description. 6.—The scite of this City is in the highest heavens, and its length and breadth are incalculable. For if each star be as great as we have said, how immense must be that heaven of heavens which embraces them all? There is nothing so great in this world as to afford a basis for comparison. For, as one of the saints remarks, from Cadiz to the extreme points of the Indies, in fair weather, a ship will make the passage in a few days, but in the region of the heavens the journey to the smallest star which appears but a speck would last for many years. .7.—Then as to its buildings, no tongue can describe them. For if this outward world is so beautiful to the eye of man, how will that appear which is reserved for the eyes of the immortal? And if we find the hand of man able to perfect such works of beauty as to claim the admiration of all who look upon them, what must those be, wrought by the hand of God in his royal house and holy palace, that seat of repose prepared for the glory of his elect? ‘ How lovely are thy

Paaim Jxxxtil. tabernacles Oh Lord of Hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord.”

8.—The grandeur of a city depends chiefly upon the character of its inhabitants, we look for rank, for population and for harmony amongst its citizens. On these points who is able to describe the excellency of this City? All the dwellers therein are gentle, there are none of mean quality for they are all the children of God. Such concord reigns, that there is but one heart and soul amongst them, and such universal peace that the City bears the name of Jerusalem, that is to say, the vision of peace. And wouldst thou know the extent of the population of this City, St. John informs us in the Apocalypse, where he says, he “Saw in spirit so great Apoc. vli. 9. a multitude of the blessed, that no man could count them, of all nations and people and tongues, who stood before the Throne of God and of the Lamb, clothed in white garments and bearing triumphal palms in their hands singing canticles of praise to God.” This accords with what is mentioned by the Prophet Daniel relative to this sacred band, Daniel vii. 10. where he says ‘‘Thousands of thousands ministered to Him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before Him.”’

9.—And do not think because the numbers are so great, they are therefore unruly, for numbers are not the cause of confusion, but rather of greater order and harmony. For he who with such marvellous skill has regulated the movements of the heavens and the courses of the stars, giving to each its name, has marshall’d that innumerable army of the blessed with such wondrous dexterity, that each one has his appointed place and share of glory proportioned to his deserts. Thus is there a place for virgins, another for confessors, another for the holy martyrs, one for the patriarchs and prophets, another for the apostles and evangelists, and so on for all the rest. And after the same manner that mankind is divided and stationed, are the angels separated into three hierarchies, subdivided into nine choirs, raised above all of whom is the Throne of the most serene Queen of Angels forming a choir herself as no one is equal or like unto her. And lastly there, over all presides the most holy humanity of Christ seated on high at the right hand of the majesty of God.

10.—Pass then, Oh christian soul through these choirs, traverse these squares and streets, admire the order that reigns amongst the inhabitants, the beauty of this City and the noble rank of the dwellers therein. Salute each by name and crave the assistance of his prayers. Salute also that delightful country, aud like a pilgrim about to visit it, though on some distant day, covet it with the eyes of thy heart saying ; hail sweet home, land of promise, port of refuge, asylum of safety, house of happiness, everlasting kingdom, paradise of pleasure, garden of never fading flowers, field teeming with — every good, crown of the just and object of all our wishes ! Hail, our mother, our hope for whom we sigh, for whom we groan and for whom we strive, since none can receive their crown in thee who have not strived faithfully for thee.

§ 3.—On the second joy of the sowl, derived from the companionship of the Saints.

11.—Who after these joys, can express the excess of delights in which he will revel in the company of this happy society? For there in its perfection is the bond of charity making all things in common. That prayer of our Saviour, | where he says, ‘‘ Father I pray thee that they may be one

John xvii. thing in thee with me for love, as we alse are one,” is there granted in all its perfection; for there are we more closely united together, than are the members of the same body, for all participate in one spirit which gives to all one being and one happy life. But tell me, how is it that the members of the body have such affinity and such love for - each other? Because they are all parts of the same form, that is of the same soul, which gives to all, one being and one life. If then the spirit of man possesses the virtue of uniting so closely the different members in their different natural duties, how much more potent is the spirit of God, by means of which, as the common soul of all, the elect draw the breath of life, to create a closer and more perfect union amongst them, as the object is higher, the virtue more excellent and the being given more noble?

12.—Tell me then now, if unity and love have the power of making all things in common, both for good and for evil, as we see in the members of the same body and in the love of mothers for their offspring who rejoice in their welfare as in their own, what will be the delight of each of the elect in the glory of all the rest, since each will love all others as he loves himself? For, according to St Gregory, the inheritance of all in heaven belongs to each, and that of each belongs to all; because each derives from the joys of the others as much delight as if he possessed them all himself. What then is the consequence, except that as the number of the blessed is infinite so the joys of each will be infinite? Except, that as each will enjoy the blessings of all the rest, what he claimed not in his own right, he will possess in right of the rest? They are in a spiritual sense the seven sons of Job, amongst Job i. whom there was such close love and fellowship, that each in turn one day every week entertained all the others, hence each enjoyed not only his own, but equally that of all the others as his own: thus was that of each common to all, and that of all to each. Love and brotherhood wrought this in this holy fraternity. How much larger is the brotherhood of the elect? How much greater the number of the Luke xix. brethren? How much greater the wealth and riches to be enjoyed? According to this, what sort of banquet will be there prepared for us by the Seraphim the most exalted of all the Spirits of God and the closest allied to him, when they disclose to our eyes the magnificence of their state, the brightness of their contemplations and the burning fervour of their love? What sort of banquet the Cherubim amongst whom are locked up the treasures of the wisdom of God? What the Thrones and Dominations and all the other orders of happy spirits? What will it be to revel in the sight of the glorious army of martyrs, clad in white garments with palms in their hands and bearing the glorious insignia of their triumphs? What will it be to behold assembled together those eleven thousand virgins and those ten thousand martyrs followers of the glory and the cross of Christ with the innumerable multitude of others? What a pleasure will it not be to see that glorious deacon bearing in his hands his gridiron, shewing brighter than the flames in which he was burnt when he defied the power of tyrants, and wearied his executioners with his indomitable patience ? What to see that most beautiful virgin St. Catherine crowned with roses and lilies, after conquering the wheel and its spikes with the arms of faith and hope? What to see those seven noble youths with their holy dauntless mother despising death and tortures for the love of

Mac. viii. the law of God? What collar of gold and precious stones so beautiful as the neck of the glorious Baptist who preferred to lose his head rather than connive at the

Mat, 11. 14, adulterous king? What robe of purple so magnificent as the body of St. Bartholomew flayed for the sake of Christ? What will the body of St. Stephen bruised with

Acta vill, stones appear but a splendid dress spangled with rubies and emeralds? And you, glorious princes of the Christian Church, how will ye shine, one with a sword the other with the glorious standard of Christ, with which ye were crowned? What will it be to share in all these glories as if they were our own? Oh glorious feast! Oh royal banquet! Oh table worthy of God and of his elect! Away then worldlings to your filthy carnal banquets to burst yourselves with your gluttony and excesses. A banquet like this where such delicacies are served up is fit for God himself.

13.—Mount up still further on high above all the choirs of angels and there thou wilt find another phase of glory peculiar in itself which marvellously fills all that royal court with joy and inebriates with its wondrous sweetness the City of God. Lift up thy eyes, and behold the Queen of Mercy

_clad in the brightness of beauty, at whose glory angels stand amazed and men are filled with pride. She is the Queen of Apoc. xii. Heaven, crowned with stars, clothed with the beams of the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, the “blessed amongst women.” See the delight of beholding face to face this our Queen and Mother, not on bended knees hanging over the crib, not weighed down with fear and trembling Luke iil. at the prophecies of holy Simeon, not in tears searching everywhere for her lost child, but in contented peace and security seated on the right hand of her Son without fear of ever again losing that treasure. No longer will it be nccessary in the dead silence of the night to fly with the child into Matt, ii. John xix. the Land of Egypt to avoid the schemes of Herod. No more will she see herself at the foot of the cross with the drops of blood trickling down upon her head and carrying away on her veil a perpetual memorial of her sorrow. No more will she bear the grief of that sorrowful exchange when the disciple was given to her for a guardian and the servant for a master. Never again will come from her lips those words of sorrow said to have been uttered by her amidst streams of tears under that bloody tree. ‘‘ Would to God I IT Kings, xviii. ¡might die for thee, Absalom my son, my son Absalom!” All this has ended now, and she who of all pure creatures in this world bore the most afflictions will behold herself exalted above all created beings, rejoicing for ever in the possession of infinite goodness and exclaiming: “I have Cant. iv. found him whom my soul loveth; I have held him and will never let him go.”’

14.—And if this be such excessive delight, what will it be to behold the most sacred humanity of Christ, and the glory and beauty of that body which was so disfigured upon the cross? It will be truly a matter of sweet pleasure to men, says St. Bernard, to see the Creator of men a man. Hyery relative considers himself specially honoured if one of his blood be made a Cardinal or Pope: how much higher the honour to see our Lord who is of our own flesh and blood, seated on the right hand of the Father as King of heaven and of earth? How proud will men be amongst the angels when they see the Lord of all and the Creator of all, is not an angel but a man?

• Tf men esteem the honour done to their head as done to them in consequence of their intimate union with it, how great will be their pride there when the union between the head and mem- .

‘bers is so close? What else will it be, but that all will rejoice in the glory of their Lord as their own? This joy will be so great that no words suffice sufficiently to paint it. Who then amongst us will be so happy as to enjoy this sovereign good!

Cant. viti1. “Who will give thee to me for my brother, sucking the breasts of my mother, that I may find thee without and kiss thee with the lips of devotion and embrace thee with the arms of love!” Oh my most sweet Lord, when shall that day be? When shall I see thee face to face? When shall I be filled with thy beauty? When shall I see that face on which the angels love to gaze?

§ 4.—On the third joy of the soul, from the clear vision of God. —

15.—How great then beyond all will be the delight of the — soul to see clearly the face of the Almighty, in the vision of © which consists the essential glory of the saints? All those things,of which we have hitherto spoken are truly great attributes of glory, but they sink into insignificance when compared to this. Itis said of Issachar that ‘‘ He saw rest that

Gen, xliz. 15. it was good; and the land that it was excellent; and he bowed his shoulder to carry, and became a servant under tribute.” The rest and the glory of the saints is good, but the land which gives this rest is most excellent in a pre-eminent degree, for it is the countenance and beauty of God from the vision of which proceed both their rest and their glory. This is the only thing that suffices to give complete repose to our souls, because though the sweetness and loveliness of creatures can give delight to the human heart, they cannot satisfy it. Since then all these good things afford so much delight, what must be the delight from the possession of that Infinite Good, the sum and perfection of every other good? And if the sight of creatures only be so ravishing, what will it be to see that face, that light, and beauty in which every beauty shines? What to see that divine essence so admirable, so simple, so communicable, and in it, to behold in one view the mystery of the most Blessed Trinity; the glory of the Father, the wisdom of the Son and goodness and love of the Holy Ghost?

16.—There shall we see God, and God will see us, and we shall see all things in God. St. Fulgentius says, “As he who holds a looking-glass before him, sees the glass and himself in the glass, and sees everything else that is before the glass, so when we have that unspotted mirror of the Divine Majesty before us, we shall see him, and we shall see ourselves in him, and moreover everything out of him, according to the greater or less knowledge which we had of him.” There will the appetite of the understanding be satisfied and will crave to know no more since it will be filled with the fulness of all the knowledge it can contain. There will the will be filled with content in the love of that universal good in which is all that is good and beyond which there is nothing worthy of ' enjoyment. There will our love be set at rest and the heart filled to overflowing with exquisite pleasure, leaving it nothing further to long for. There will receive their full reward those three virtues with which God here desires to be honoured, viz. faith, hope and charity; to faith will be granted the vision of God, to hope the possession, and to imperfect charity, charity in all perfection. There will they see, love, delight, and praise, there will they be filled without satiety, hungry without want. There will be ever sung that canticle as anew which St. John heard sung in the Apocalypse, he Apoc, xy. calls it as it were anew for though always the same, as\being a common hymn of praise, belonging to one common glory enjoyed by all, still will it be always new to the taste and new in its sweetness, for it will retain for ever the same melody it had when first it was chanted. The joy of the Saints never grows grey and never fades, in the same way as their bodies never grow old; since he who created the heavens to endure to the end of so many ages will make the flower of his glory ever green and never suffer it to wither.

§ 5.—On the fourth joy of the soul, from the glory of the body.

17.—What we have just described is essentially the glory of the soul. But that just Judge and generous Father is not content to glorify only the souls, but in honour of them will also glorify their bodies and make room for them in his royal palace. Oh lover of men! Oh thou who honourest the good! What canst thou see in this corruptible flesh, with all its animal passions to make room for it in the sanctuary of heaven? That flesh fitted only to be tied up in the stall, how shall it find a place amongst the angels in heaven? Consign, Oh Lord, dust to dust, itis not fitting that earth should be placed above heaven. 18.—But he who said to Abraham; ‘ Behold I will bless Ismael and increase and multiply him exceedingly though he Gen. xvii. be the son of a slave, for the love I have for thee,” desires to confer this favour on the bodies of the saints, from regard to the relationship they bore to their souls. God also desires that that which helped to bear the burthen should partake of the reward; and that as the soul, for conforming in this life to the will of God is admitted hereafter to partake of the glory of God, so the body which in opposition to its natural inclinations conformed itself to the will of the soul, shall hereafter also share in her glory. Thus will the just be glorified both in body and soul, and according to the prophet, ayi will possess the land in twofold goodness, viz. by the glory of the soul and of the body.

19.—What next shall I say of the glory of the senses, each of which shall there enjoy its peculiar delight and its special glory? The eyes brilliant and shining brighter than

_ the sun shall look on those royal palaces and glorified bodies, those beautiful plains and numberless objects worthy of admiration. ‘The ears shall be charmed with such sweet music that one voice alone would suffice to lull the hearts of a whole world. The sense of smelling shall be regaled with the sweetest perfumes, not such passing fragrance as emanates here on earth, but abundant as the other glories of heaven. So also shall the taste be gratified with incredible and exquisite savours, not for the maintenance of life but for the fuller perfection and completion of every glory. What then will be the feelings of the souls of the blessed, when in reward of their mortification and guard over the senses for so short a time, they shall find themselves flooded in that abyss of glory without any bound or termination to their abundance of delights? Oh happy labours! Oh well rewarded toils! Oh one only thing not to be talked about, but to be felt, to be loved and to be sought, at the cost of a thousand lives had we them to bestow for it!

§ 6.—On the fifth joy, which consists in the eternity of the happiness of glory. 20.—Let us now consider the extent of the duration of this great happiness: which alone should suffice to make us lift wp our voices and call upon every trouble to rain upon us, to enable us to shew our gratitude for such immense rewards awaiting us, which will endure for more thousands of years than there are stars in the firmament: more hundreds of thousands of years than drops of water have ever fallen upon | the earth; which will last in fine as long as God shall be God, Psalm exlv. 10. for ever and ever, as it is written; “The Lord shall reign for ever.” And again, “Thy kingdom is a | Psalm exliv.13.. kingdom of all ages; and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” 21.—Then, Oh Father of mercies, and God of all conso-: lation! I beseech thee, Oh Lord, through the bowels of thy compassion, that 1 may not be deprived of this sovereign good. Oh Lord my God who hast thought fit to create me. after thy own image and likeness and make me capable of enjoying thee, satisfy this breast which thou hast given’ me since it was created for thee. May my portion, Oh my God, o GUE be in the land of the living; give me not, Oh Lord, either rest or riches in this world, save everything for me there. J wish not to remain with the sons of Reuben Numbers xxxii- in the land of Galaad and to lose the right to the Land of Promise. ‘‘ One thing only have I begged of Reales ie the Lord and that I will always seek that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life.”