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37. But how is that future diminished or consumed which as yet is
not? Or how doth the past, which is no longer, increase, unless in
the mind which enacteth this there are three things done? For it both
expects, and considers, and remembers, that that which it expecteth,
through that which it considereth, may pass into that which it
remembereth. Who, therefore, denieth that future things as yet are
not? But yet there is already in the mind the expectation of things
future. And who denies that past things are now no longer? But,
however, there is still in the mind the memory of things past. And
who denies that time present wants space, because it passeth away in a
moment? But yet our consideration endureth, through which that which
may be present may proceed to become absent. Future time, which is
not, is not therefore long; but a "long future" is "a long
expectation of the future." Nor is time past, which is now no
longer, long; but a long past is "a long memory of the past."
38. I am about to repeat a psalm that I know. Before I begin,
my attention is extended to the whole; but when I have begun, as much
of it as becomes past by my saying it is extended in my memory; and the
life of this action of mine is divided between my memory, on account of
what I have repeated, and my expectation, on account of what I am
about to repeat; yet my consideration is present with me, through
which that which was future may be carried over so that it may become
past. Which the more it is done and repeated, by so much
(expectation being shortened) the memory is enlarged, until the whole
expectation be exhausted, when that whole action being ended shall have
passed into memory. And what takes place in the entire psalm, takes
place also in each individual part of it, and in each individual
syllable: this holds in the longer action, of which that psalm is
perchance a portion; the same holds in the whole life of man, of which
all the actions of man are parts; the same holds in the whole age of
the sons of men, of which all the lives of men are parts.
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