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And the angels are not the only members of the rational and
intellectual creation whom we call blessed. For who will take upon him
to deny that those first men in Paradise were blessed previously to
sin, although they were uncertain how long their blessedness was to
last, and whether it would be eternal (and eternal it would have been
had they not sinned), who, I say, will do so, seeing that even now
we not unbecomingly call those blessed whom we see leading a righteous
and holy life, in hope of immortality, who have no harrowing remorse
of conscience, but obtain readily divine remission of the sins of their
present infirmity? These, though they are certain that they shall be
rewarded if they persevere, are not certain that they will persevere.
For what man can know that he will persevere to the end in the exercise
and increase of grace, unless he has been certified by some revelation
from Him who, in His just and secret judgment, while He deceives
none, informs few regarding this matter? Accordingly, so far as
present comfort goes, the first man in Paradise was more blessed than
any just man in this insecure state; but as regards the hope of future
good, every man who not merely supposes, but certainly knows that he
shall eternally enjoy the most high God in the company of angels, and
beyond the reach of ill, this man, no matter what bodily torments
afflict him, is more blessed than was he who, even in that great
felicity of Paradise, was uncertain of his fate.
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