ppiness which the heart of man cannot conceive.

If a great king should speak kindly to a poor peasant, smile upon
him, and even show him a real affection, a happiness which he never
experienced before would take possession of his heart. A thrill of
joy would run through every fibre of his frame. He would be a new
man, and live a new life, simply because a great one of this world
had smiled upon him and condescended to love him.

This is a faint reflection of that undying thrill of joy, of that
unspeakable happiness which the loving smile of God will produce upon
the soul. For, in the Beatific Vision, she sees clearly that, in
spite of her littleness and insignificance, which she never saw as
she now does--in spite, too, of the sins and imperfections which had
stained her beauty while in the flesh, the great and thrice-holy God
loves her infinitely more tenderly and sincerely than either father
or mother, or any other creature ever did. Not only does she see the
intense love of God beaming upon her now, but she sees, moreover,
that He loved her from eternity, when she existed as yet only in the
divine mind. Yes, she sees herself lying in the bosom of the Eternal,
with His mysterious love brooding over her, and giving her existence
in the fulness of time. This is truly and emphatically, for her, a
Beatific Vision. It is vain for us to endeavor to fathom the
exquisite happiness which this vision of God's love produces in the
soul. For, if the mere smile of a king has the power of infusing joy
into the heart of a poor and insignificant person, what shall we say
of the smile of God, who is the King of kings? What shall we say of
this affectionate, paternal embrace? What shall we say of the joy,
the happiness that flow into the soul, when He presses her to his
bosom, gives her the kiss of peace, and calls her his own beloved
child? What shall we say of her exceeding happiness, when He makes
her a partaker of his divine nature, and unites her to himself more
intimately than two creatures ever could be united in this world?

These are all secrets of heaven. They are simply unspeakable, because
they are beyond our present powers of comprehension. Eye hath not
seen them, ear hath not heard them, nor hath it entered into the
heart of man to conceive them. We shall, therefore, make no further
attempt to express what no human tongue can utter. But we may say
that, as a pure and mutual love produces the greatest happiness we
know