Traherne: the present glory

Saturday, November 16, 2013
    Feast of Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Philanthropist, Reformer of the Church, 1093
    Commemoration of Edmund Rich of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1240
Meditation:
    I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
    —John 15:11 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There are Christians that place and desire all their happiness in another life, and there is another sort of Christians that desire happiness in this [life]. The one can defer their enjoyment of Wisdom till the World to come, and dispense with the increase and perfection of knowledge for a little time: the other are instant and impatient of delay, and would fain see that happiness here, which they shall enjoy hereafter. Not the vain happiness of this world, falsely called happiness, truly vain: but the real joy and glory of the blessed, which consisteth in the enjoyment of the whole world in communion with God; not this only, but the invisible and eternal, which they earnestly covet to enjoy immediately: for which reason they daily pray Thy kingdom come, and travail towards it by learning Wisdom as fast as they can... [God] offereth it now, now they are commanded to have their conversation in Heaven, now they may be full of joy and full of glory.
    ... Thomas Traherne (1637?-1674), Centuries of Meditations, edited and published by Bertram Dobell, in London, 1908, p. 245-246 (see the book)
    See also John 15:11; Matt. 6:10; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 18:29-30; Rom. 15:14; Col. 1:27; Jas. 1:17-18
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your presence brings glory. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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