John Calvin (1509 - 1564)
“Our happiness lies in having the image of God restored and formed anew in us, which was defaced by sin.”
“Our happiness lies in having the image of God restored and formed anew in us, which was defaced by sin.”
“In the first place, let us consider that our happiness consists in our cleaving to God, and that, on the other hand, there is nothing more miserable than to be alienated from him. He declares, accordingly, that we are blessed through Christ alone, inasmuch as he is the bond of our connection with God, and, on the other hand, that, apart from him, we are most miserable, because we are shut out from God.”
“The kingdom of God among men is nothing else than a restoration to a happy
life; or, in other words, it is true and everlasting happiness. When John says,
that the kingdom of God is at hand, his meaning is, that men, who were
alienated from the righteousness of God, and banished from the kingdom of
heaven, must be again gathered to God, and live under his guidance. This is
accomplished by a free adoption and the forgiveness of sins, by which he
reconciles to himself those who were unworthy. In a word, the kingdom of heaven
is nothing else than “newness of life,” (Romans 6:4) by which God restores us
to the hope of a blessed immortality. Having rescued us from the bondage of sin
and death, he claims us as his own; that, even while our pilgrimage on earth
continues, we may enjoy the heavenly life by faith: for he “hath blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,” (Ephesians 1:3)
Though we are like dead men, yet we know that our life is secure; for it “is
hid with Christ in God,” (Colossians 3:3.)”
Thomas Boston (1676 –1732)
“Man naturally desires to be happy, being conscious to himself that he is not self-sufficient. He forever has a desire of something outside of himself, to make him happy; and the soul being, by its natural make and constitution, capable of enjoying God, and nothing else being commensurable to its desires, it can never have true and solid rest until it rests in the enjoyment of God. This desire of happiness the rational creature can never lay aside, no, not even in hell.
“Man naturally desires to be happy, being conscious to himself that he is not self-sufficient. He forever has a desire of something outside of himself, to make him happy; and the soul being, by its natural make and constitution, capable of enjoying God, and nothing else being commensurable to its desires, it can never have true and solid rest until it rests in the enjoyment of God. This desire of happiness the rational creature can never lay aside, no, not even in hell.
Now,
while the wicked are on earth, they seek their satisfaction in the
creature. And when one thing fails, they go to another– thus they spend
their time in the world, deceiving their own souls with vain hopes.
But,
in the next world, all comfort in the creatures failing, and the
shadows which they are now pursuing having all vanished in a moment,
they shall be totally and finally separated from [the comfortable presence of*] God, and see they have
thus lost Him.
So
the doors of earth and heaven both are shut against them at once. This
will create them unspeakable anguish, while they shall live under an
eternal gnawing hunger after happiness, which they certainly know shall
never be in the least measure satisfied, all doors being closed on them.
Who
then can imagine how this separation from [the comfortable presence of*] God shall cut the damned to
the heart! How they will roar and rage under it! How it will sting and
gnaw them through the ages of eternity!”
*Note: square bracket insertions by Carl in line with the biblical teaching of Westminster Larger Catechism Q29:-
Q 29: What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?
Answer: The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell fire forever.(1)
(1): 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Mark 9:43-44, Mark 9:48, Luke 16:24
