There is not, in my Opinion, a more pleasing and triumphant
Consideration in Religion than this of the perpetual
Progress which the Soul makes towards the Perfection
of its Nature, without ever arriving at a Period in
it. To look upon the Soul as going on from Strength
to Strength, to consider that she is to shine for
ever with new Accessions of Glory, and brighten to
all Eternity; that she will be still adding Virtue
to Virtue, and Knowledge to Knowledge; carries in it
something wonderfully agreeable to that Ambition which
is natural to the Mind of Man. Nay, it must be
a Prospect pleasing to God himself, to see his Creation
for ever beautifying in his Eyes, and drawing nearer
to him, by greater Degrees of Resemblance.
Methinks this single Consideration, of the Progress
of a finite Spirit to Perfection, will be sufficient
to extinguish all Envy in inferior Natures, and all
Contempt in superior. That Cherubim which now
appears as a God to a human Soul, knows very well
that the Period will come about in Eternity, when
the human Soul shall be as perfect as he himself now
is: Nay, when she shall look down upon that Degree
of Perfection, as much as she now falls short of it.
It is true the higher Nature still advances, and by
that means preserves his Distance and Superiority in
the Scale of Being; but he knows how high soever the
Station is of which he stands possessed at present,
the inferior Nature will at length mount up to it,
and shine forth in the same Degree of Glory.
With what Astonishment and Veneration may we look
into our own Souls, where there are such hidden Stores
of Virtue and Knowledge, such inexhausted Sources
of Perfection? We know not yet what we shall be,
nor will it ever enter into the Heart of Man to conceive
the Glory that will be always in Reserve for him.
The Soul considered with its Creator, is like one
of those Mathematical Lines that may draw nearer to
another for all Eternity without a Possibility of
touching it: [2] And can there be a Thought so
transporting, as to consider ourselves in these perpetual
Approaches to him, who is not only the Standard of
Perfection but of Happiness!
L.
[Footnote 1: “,and provide”]
[Footnote 2: The Asymptotes of the Hyperbola.]
* * * *
*
No. 112. Monday, July 9, 1711.
Addison.
[Greek (transliterated):
Athanatous men
pr_ota theous, nom_o h_os diakeitai
Tima
