Letter XXIV. To M. Favre

The thought of eternity.

My Brother, — I finish this year with the satisfaction of being able to present you the wish I make you for the following.

They pass then away, these temporal years, my brother; their months melt into weeks, weeks into days, days into hours, and hours into moments, which last are all we possess: and these we only possess as they perish and make up our perishable life. This life, however must on this account be more dear to us, since being full of misery, we cannot have auy more solid consolation therein than that of being assured that it gradually disappears to make room for that holy eternity which is prepared for us in the abundance of God's mercy. To this eternity our soul aspires incessantly by the continual thoughts its very nature suggests to it, though it cannot have hope for eternity except by other and higher thoughts which the author of nature bestows upon it.

Truly, my brother, I never think of eternity without much sweetness; for, say I, how could my soul extend its thought to this infinity unless it has some kind of proportion with it? Certainly, a faculty which attains an object must have some sort of correspondence with it. But when 1 find that my desirei runs after my thought upon this same eternity, my joy takes an unparalleled increase, for I know that we never desire, with a true desire, anything which is not possible. My desire then assures me that I can have eternity: what remains for me but to hope that I shall have it? And this is given to me by the knowledge of the infinite goodness of him who would not have created a soul capable of thinking of and tending towards eternity, unless he has intended to give the means of attaining it. Thus, my brother, we shall find ourselves at the foot of the crucifix, which is the ladder by which from these temporal years we pass to the eternal years.

I wish then about your dear soul that this next year may be followed by many others, and that all-may be usefully employed for the conquest of eternity. Live long, holily, and happily amongst your own here below during these perishable moments, to live again eternally in that unchangeable felicity for which we pant. See how my heart pours itself out before yours, and expresses itself according to that confidence which is given it by the affection which makes me yours, &c.