LET us consider, therefore, the felicity of that heavenly habitation, in so far as it is possible to consider it; for to speak the truth, no words of man are sufficient to comprehend it.
Of that city is written in a certain place, thus: that grief, and sorrow and crying shall flee away.* What can be happier than that life where there is no fear of poverty — no weakness of disease; where none can be hurt, none can be angry; where none can envy, none can be impure; where none can be tormented with the desire of honour, or the ambition of power? No fear there of the Devil; no snares there of evil spirits; no terror there of hell; no death there, either of soul or body, but a life blessed in the gift of immortality. No discord there for ever, but all things in harmony — all things in agreement: because there will be one concord of all saints — one peace, and one joy. Tranquil are all things there, and quiet.*
* See Revelation 21:3-4: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away”.
* Tranquil and quiet, yet not disengaged from the struggles and sorrows of those they have left behind: as Bede says in this same sermon, “a vast and mighty crowd of parents, brothers, and children, secure now of their own safety, anxious yet for our salvation, longs that we may come to their sight and embrace”. Bede (who is drawing on Hebrews 12:1-2) assumes that, like spectators in an athletics stadium, they can see us and are emotionally invested in all that we do. See Run for Glory.