Lift up therefore thy face to heaven. Behold I, and all my saints with me, who in this world have had a great conflict, do now rejoice, are comforted now, are now secure, are now at rest, and for all eternity shall abide with me in the kingdom of my Father.
Chap. XLVIII.
Of the day of eternity,
and of the miseries of this life.
1. O Most happy mansion of the city above! O most bright day of eternity, which knows no night, but is always enlightened by the Sovereign Truth; a day always joyful, always secure, and never changing its state for the contrary!
Oh! that this day would shine upon us, and all these temporal things would come to an end!
It shines indeed upon the saints, resplendant with everlasting brightness; but to us pilgrims upon earth it is seen only as afar off, and through a glass.
2. The citizens of heaven know how joyful that day is; but the banished children of Eve lament that this our day is bitter and tedious.
The days of this life are short and evil, full of sorrows and miseries: where man is defiled with many sins, is ensnared with many passions, attacked with many fears, disquieted with many cares, distracted with many curiosities, entangled with many vanities, encompassed with many errors, broken with many labours, troubled with temptations, weakened with delights, tormented with want.
3. Oh! when will there be an end of these evils? When shall I be set at liberty from the wretched slavery of sin?
When, O Lord, shall I be so happy as to think of thee alone? When shall I to the full rejoice in thee?