A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom [25]
heaven which is called Coelum Empyreum, the fiery
heaven, so called, not from its being of fire, but from its immeasurably
transparent brightness, which is immovable and unchangeable in its nature;
and this is the glorious court in which the heavenly hosts dwell, where the
morning star with the rest praises Me, and all the children of God rejoice.
There stand, encompassed with inconceivable light, the everlasting thrones,
from which the evil spirits were hurled, in which the elect are seated. See
how the delightful city shines with beaten gold, how it glitters with costly
jewels, inlaid with precious stones, transparent as crystal, reflecting red
roses, white lilies, and all living flowers. Now, look on the beautiful
heavenly fields themselves. Lo! here all delights of summer, here sunny
meads of May, here the very valley of bliss, here the glad moments are seen
flitting from joy to joy; here harps and viols, here singing, and leaping,
and dancing, hand in hand for ever! here the gratification of every desire,
here pleasure without pain in everlasting security! Now, look how the
countless multitude drink to their hearts' desire at the living fountains of
gushing water; look how they feast their eyes on the pure, clear mirror of
the revealed Divinity, in which all things are made plain and evident to
them. Steal a little nearer, and mark how the sweet queen of the celestial
kingdom, whom thou lovest with so much ardour, soars aloft in dignity and
joy over the whole celestial host, reclining tenderly on her beloved,
encircled with rose-flowers and lilies of the valley. See how her ravishing
beauty fills with delight and wonder all the heavenly choirs. Oh, now behold
what will rejoice thy heart and soul, and see how the mother of compassion
has turned her compassionate eyes towards thee and all sinners, and how
powerfully she appeals to her beloved Son, and intercedes with Him. Now,
turn round with the eyes of thy pure understanding, and behold also how the
high seraphim and the love-abounding souls of the seraphic choirs blaze up
perpetually in Me; how the bright company of the cherubim have a bright
infusion and effusion of My eternal inconceivable light, how the high
thrones and hosts, the lordships, powers, and dominations, regularly fulfill
My beautiful and eternal order in the universality of nature. Mark, too, how
the third host of angelic spirits executes My high messages and decrees in
the particular parts of the world; and see, how lovingly, how joyfully, and
variously the multitude is marshalled, and what a beautiful sight it is!
Turn next thy glance and see how My chosen disciples and best beloved
friends sit in repose and honour upon their awful judgment-seats, how the
martyrs glitter in their rose-coloured garments, the confessors shine in
their vernal beauty, how refulgent the virgins appear in their angelic
purity, how all the heavenly host overflows with divine sweetness! Oh, what
a company! Oh, what a joyous band! Blessed, thrice blessed is he who was
born to dwell where they dwell! Lo, to this very fatherland I shall carry
home from misery and tribulation, arrayed in all the richness of her rich
morning gift, My beloved bride in My arms. I shall adorn her interiorly with
the beautiful garment of the eternal light of that glory which will exalt
her above all her natural powers. She will be clothed exteriorly with the
glorified body, which is seven times brighter than the sun's light, swift,
subtle, and to suffering, impassive; then I shall put on her the crown of
delight, and on the crown a golden garland.
The Servant.--Gentle Lord, what is the morning gift, and what the crown
and golden garland?
Eternal Wisdom.--The morning gift is a clear vision of that which here
below thou dost merely believe in, an actual comprehending of that which now
thou hopest for, and a heartfelt pleasant enjoyment of that which on earth
thou lovest. As to the beautiful crown, it is essential reward, but the
blooming garland is accidental reward.
The Servant.--Lord,
heaven, so called, not from its being of fire, but from its immeasurably
transparent brightness, which is immovable and unchangeable in its nature;
and this is the glorious court in which the heavenly hosts dwell, where the
morning star with the rest praises Me, and all the children of God rejoice.
There stand, encompassed with inconceivable light, the everlasting thrones,
from which the evil spirits were hurled, in which the elect are seated. See
how the delightful city shines with beaten gold, how it glitters with costly
jewels, inlaid with precious stones, transparent as crystal, reflecting red
roses, white lilies, and all living flowers. Now, look on the beautiful
heavenly fields themselves. Lo! here all delights of summer, here sunny
meads of May, here the very valley of bliss, here the glad moments are seen
flitting from joy to joy; here harps and viols, here singing, and leaping,
and dancing, hand in hand for ever! here the gratification of every desire,
here pleasure without pain in everlasting security! Now, look how the
countless multitude drink to their hearts' desire at the living fountains of
gushing water; look how they feast their eyes on the pure, clear mirror of
the revealed Divinity, in which all things are made plain and evident to
them. Steal a little nearer, and mark how the sweet queen of the celestial
kingdom, whom thou lovest with so much ardour, soars aloft in dignity and
joy over the whole celestial host, reclining tenderly on her beloved,
encircled with rose-flowers and lilies of the valley. See how her ravishing
beauty fills with delight and wonder all the heavenly choirs. Oh, now behold
what will rejoice thy heart and soul, and see how the mother of compassion
has turned her compassionate eyes towards thee and all sinners, and how
powerfully she appeals to her beloved Son, and intercedes with Him. Now,
turn round with the eyes of thy pure understanding, and behold also how the
high seraphim and the love-abounding souls of the seraphic choirs blaze up
perpetually in Me; how the bright company of the cherubim have a bright
infusion and effusion of My eternal inconceivable light, how the high
thrones and hosts, the lordships, powers, and dominations, regularly fulfill
My beautiful and eternal order in the universality of nature. Mark, too, how
the third host of angelic spirits executes My high messages and decrees in
the particular parts of the world; and see, how lovingly, how joyfully, and
variously the multitude is marshalled, and what a beautiful sight it is!
Turn next thy glance and see how My chosen disciples and best beloved
friends sit in repose and honour upon their awful judgment-seats, how the
martyrs glitter in their rose-coloured garments, the confessors shine in
their vernal beauty, how refulgent the virgins appear in their angelic
purity, how all the heavenly host overflows with divine sweetness! Oh, what
a company! Oh, what a joyous band! Blessed, thrice blessed is he who was
born to dwell where they dwell! Lo, to this very fatherland I shall carry
home from misery and tribulation, arrayed in all the richness of her rich
morning gift, My beloved bride in My arms. I shall adorn her interiorly with
the beautiful garment of the eternal light of that glory which will exalt
her above all her natural powers. She will be clothed exteriorly with the
glorified body, which is seven times brighter than the sun's light, swift,
subtle, and to suffering, impassive; then I shall put on her the crown of
delight, and on the crown a golden garland.
The Servant.--Gentle Lord, what is the morning gift, and what the crown
and golden garland?
Eternal Wisdom.--The morning gift is a clear vision of that which here
below thou dost merely believe in, an actual comprehending of that which now
thou hopest for, and a heartfelt pleasant enjoyment of that which on earth
thou lovest. As to the beautiful crown, it is essential reward, but the
blooming garland is accidental reward.
The Servant.--Lord,