je on happiness

as i am preparing for st. mark's saturday afternoon service, i came across the following selection from one of jonathan edwards's miscellanies on the subject of happiness. it has nothing whatsoever to do with the lessons for this week, which all deal with belief, justification, and the righteousness of christ. it does, however, compel me to reflect on the communion believers have with god through christ.

"How soon do earthly lovers come to an end of their discoveries of each other's beauty; how soon do they see all that is to be seen! Are they united as near as 'tis possible, and have communion as intimate as possible? how soon do they come to the most endearing expressions of love that 'tis possible to give, so that no new ways can be invented, given or received. And how happy is that love, in which there is an eternal progress in all these things; wherein new beauties are continually discovered, and more and more loveliness, and in which we shall forever increase in beauty ourselves; where we shall be made capable of finding out and giving, and shall receive, more and more endearing expressions of love forever: our union will become more close, and communion more intimate."

--Miscellany 198