The Felicity of the Life to Come, Part 4
Of the Permanence of the world to come.
IT rests now, that we speake somewhat concerning the time and space, howe long the heavenly dwelling place, the company, and the pleasures foresaid shal indure. To augment our joy and felicitie it is to be vnderstood that, that celestiall dwelling, that blessed societie, and those inestimable pleasures shall never take an end: but shall indure eternally, without any limitation of time: For it is called a blessed immortalitie, and an everlasting life. So that ten thousand years, or thousand millions of years, hath not so great a proportion with the length thereof, as a moment of time hath, with thousande millions of yeares: For so much, as no prolixitie of time, can approch in any wise to the bounds or end thereof: For the life everlasting, is without bounds or end whatsoeuer. I suppose, that if any Prince or potent man vponupon earth, which liues welthelie and well, could be certified that he shuld continue in that estate, and should liue and not see death vntounto the end of the worlde: I suppose (I say) that albeit the pleasures and prosperitie of this life be mixed with innumerable sorrows & griefs: Nevertheles, he should rejoyce therein exceedingly, and count himself happy aboue al other men. How much more then ought wee to rejoyce, which shall dwell in that celestiall kingdome, accompanied with the saints, with the holy Angels, and with the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost? And shall injoye all the pleasures aboue rehearsed, and more nor the wit of man is able to devise, and shall liue and continue in that estate without diminishing, intermission, or alteration thereof for ever and ever? O felicitie aboue all felicities! the hope whereof, causes the faithfull to suffer great things, makes their extreame pains to appear but gentle & small, and makes the heart to spring for joy with the very remembrance thereof. O sweete Iesus Christ, when shall we be made partakers of that promised felicitie? When shall we see the glory which thou hast with thy Father? Doubtles, even at thy comming againe, Lord, and at thy appearing in the cloudes: Come then, sweet Saviour, for we look and long for thy comming, and deliverance. Thy litle members are grievouslie afflicted, they sigh and sob daily vnderunder thy crosse, and werieth of the yoke and burden of sinne: Thine enemies rejoyce and persecutes thy litle flock, they hauehave taken a liberty, they delight in wickednes, and followes the lusts and affections of their own hearts: because they esteeme the day of thy comming to be farre off, they attend it not, but esteems thee slowe & slack, like vntounto themselues. Thou beholdest these thinges, O Lord, Make hast therefore, and put end to the troubles of thy servants, and to the rage and insolencie of Sathan, and of all his supposts, that we may dwell with thee in thy holy montaine, lauding and praising thee, thy Father, and the holy spirit, in eternall vnitie, with all kinde of heavenly praise, for ever and ever, world without end, Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Alexander Hume, The Felicity of the Life to Come (1594)