The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 169
The Glory and Delights of Paradise
Jesus answered: 'Hearken, and I will tell you of what manner is paradise, and how the holy and the faithful shall abide there without end, for this is one of the greatest blessings of paradise, seeing that everything, however great, if it have an end, becometh small, yea nought.
'Paradise is the home where God storeth his delights, which are so great that the ground which is trodden by the feet of the holy and blessed ones is so precious that one drachm of it is more precious than a thousand worlds.
'These delights were seen by our father, David, prophet of God, for God showed them unto him, seeing he caused him to behold the glories of paradise; whereupon, when he returned to himself, he closed his eyes with both his hands, and weeping said: "Look not any more upon this world, O mine eyes, for all is vain, and there is no good!"
'Of these delights said Isaiah the prophet: "The eyes of man have not seen, his ears have not heard, nor hath the human heart conceived, that which God hath prepared for them that love him." Know ye wherefore they have not seen, heard, conceived such delights? It is because while they live here below they are not worthy to behold such things. Wherefore, albeit our father David truly saw them, I tell you that he saw them not with human eyes, for God took his soul unto himself, and thus, united with God, he saw them with light divine. As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, seeing that the delights of paradise are infinite and man is finite, man cannot contain them; even as a little earthen jar cannot contain the sea.
'Behold, then how beautiful is the world in summer-time, when all things bear fruit! The very peasant, intoxicated with gladness by reason of the harvest that is come, maketh the valleys and mountains resound with his singing, for that he loveth his labours supremely. Now lift up even so your heart to paradise, where all things are fruitful with fruits proportionate to him who hath cultivated it.
'As God liveth, this is sufficient for the knowledge of paradise, forasmuch as God hath created paradise for the home of his own delights. Now think ye that immeasurable goodness would not have things immeasurably good? Or that immeasurable beauty would not have things immeasurably beautiful? Beware, for ye err greatly if ye think he have them not.'
Jesus answered: 'Listen, and I will tell you what paradise is like and how the holy and faithful will remain there without end. This is one of the greatest blessings of paradise, for anything, however great, becomes small—indeed, nothing—if it comes to an end.'
'Paradise is the home in which God stores his delights. They are so great that the ground trodden by the feet of the holy and blessed is so precious that one drachm of it is worth more than a thousand worlds.'
'Our father David, the prophet of God, saw these delights when God showed him the glories of paradise. When he returned to himself, he covered his eyes with both hands and wept, saying: "Look upon this world no longer, O my eyes, for everything in it is vain and there is no true good!"'
'Of these delights the prophet Isaiah said: "No human eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." Do you know why they have neither seen, heard, nor conceived such delights? It is because, while they live here below, they are not worthy to behold such things. So although our father David truly saw them, I tell you he did not see them with human eyes: God took his soul to himself, and thus, united with God, David saw them by divine light. As God lives, in whose presence my soul stands, since the delights of paradise are infinite and man is finite, man cannot contain them — just as a little clay jar cannot contain the sea.'
'Consider how beautiful the world is in summer, when everything bears fruit. Even the peasant, overcome with joy at the harvest, makes the valleys and mountains echo with his singing because he greatly loves the fruit of his labor. In the same way, lift your heart to paradise, where everything bears fruit suited to the one who cultivated it.'
'As God lives, this is enough to give you some knowledge of paradise, for God created paradise as the home of his own delights. Do you think immeasurable goodness would not possess things immeasurably good, or immeasurable beauty things immeasurably beautiful? Beware, for you are greatly mistaken if you think otherwise.'
Jesus answered: 'Hearken, and I will tell you of what manner is paradise, and how the holy and the faithful shall abide there without end, for this is one of the greatest blessings of paradise, seeing that everything, however great, if it have an end, becometh small, yea nought.
'Paradise is the home where God storeth his delights, which are so great that the ground which is trodden by the feet of the holy and blessed ones is so precious that one drachm of it is more precious than a thousand worlds.
'These delights were seen by our father, David, prophet of God, for God showed them unto him, seeing he caused him to behold the glories of paradise; whereupon, when he returned to himself, he closed his eyes with both his hands, and weeping said: "Look not any more upon this world, O mine eyes, for all is vain, and there is no good!"
'Of these delights said Isaiah the prophet: "The eyes of man have not seen, his ears have not heard, nor hath the human heart conceived, that which God hath prepared for them that love him." Know ye wherefore they have not seen, heard, conceived such delights? It is because while they live here below they are not worthy to behold such things. Wherefore, albeit our father David truly saw them, I tell you that he saw them not with human eyes, for God took his soul unto himself, and thus, united with God, he saw them with light divine. As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, seeing that the delights of paradise are infinite and man is finite, man cannot contain them; even as a little earthen jar cannot contain the sea.
'Behold, then how beautiful is the world in summer-time, when all things bear fruit! The very peasant, intoxicated with gladness by reason of the harvest that is come, maketh the valleys and mountains resound with his singing, for that he loveth his labours supremely. Now lift up even so your heart to paradise, where all things are fruitful with fruits proportionate to him who hath cultivated it.
'As God liveth, this is sufficient for the knowledge of paradise, forasmuch as God hath created paradise for the home of his own delights. Now think ye that immeasurable goodness would not have things immeasurably good? Or that immeasurable beauty would not have things immeasurably beautiful? Beware, for ye err greatly if ye think he have them not.'