Conjugial Love

...and pleasures? Therefore, when a person is admitted into heaven, they are also admitted into the full enjoyment of all these satisfactions and pleasures, both in terms of mental perception and bodily sensation. Of course, heavenly happiness—which is also eternal happiness—consists solely in being admitted into heaven, and that depends purely on divine mercy and favor."

When they had finished, the SECOND COMPANY from the north, according to the level of wisdom they possessed, next declared their views as follows: "Heavenly joy and eternal happiness consist solely in enjoying the company of angels and holding sweet conversations with them. In this state, one’s face original: "countenance" is kept continually bright with joy, while smiles of mirth and pleasure, arising from cheerful and entertaining conversation, continually enliven the faces of everyone present. What else could constitute heavenly joys but the endless variety of such pleasures for all eternity?"

The THIRD COMPANY, the first group of wise individuals from the western quarter, next declared their views according to the ideas that sprang from their desires original: "affections": "In what else," they said, "do heavenly joy and eternal happiness consist but in feasting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? At their tables, there will be an abundance of rich and delicate food along with the finest and most excellent wines. These feasts will be followed by games and the dancing of young men and women to the tunes of various musical instruments, enlivened by the most melodious singing of sweet songs. The evening will conclude with theatrical performances original: "dramatic exhibitions", followed again by feasting, and so on for eternity."

When they had ended, the FOURTH COMPANY, the second group from the western quarter, declared their views as follows: "We have considered many ideas regarding heavenly joy and eternal happiness," they said. "We have examined a variety of joys and compared them with one another, and have at length concluded that heavenly joys are the joys of paradise. For what is heaven but a paradise stretching from east to west and from south to north? In it are trees laden with fruit and all kinds of beautiful flowers. In the center is the magnificent tree of life, around which the blessed will take their seats and eat fruits most delicious to the taste, while being adorned with garlands of the sweetest-smelling flowers. In this paradise, there will be a perpetual spring, so that the fruits and flowers will be renewed every day in infinite variety. Through their continual growth and freshness, combined with the spring-like original: "vernal" temperature of the air, the souls of the blessed will be prepared daily to receive and taste new joys. This will continue until they are restored to the prime of their youth original: "flower of their age", and finally to the original state in which Adam and his wife were created. Thus, they will recover their paradise, which has been transplanted from earth to hea—"