Wesley Corpus

On Eternity "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." Psalm 90:2 1. I would fain speak of that awful subject, -- eternity. But how can we grasp it in our thought It is so vast, that the narrow mind of man is utterly unable to comprehend it. But does it not bear some affinity to another incomprehensible thing, -- immensity May not space, though an unsubstantial thing, be compared with another unsubstantial thing, -- duration But what is immensity It is boundless space. And what is eternity It is boundless duration. 2. Eternity has generally been considered as divisible into two parts; which have been termed eternity a parte ante, and eternity a parte post, -- that is, in plain English, that eternity which is past, and that eternity which is to come. And does there not seem to be an intimation of this distinction in the text "Thou art God from everlasting:" -- Here is an expression of that eternity which is past: "To everlasting:" -- Here is an expression of that eternity which is to come. Perhaps, indeed, some may think it is not strictly proper to say, there is an eternity that is past. But the meaning is easily understood: We mean thereby duration which had no beginning; as by eternity to come, we mean that duration which will have no end. 3. It is God alone who (to use the exalted language of Scripture) "inhabiteth eternity," in both these senses. The great Creator alone (not any of his creatures) is "from everlasting to everlasting:" His duration alone, as it had no beginning, so it cannot have any end. On this consideration it is, that one speaks thus, in addressing Immanuel, God with us: -- Hail, God the Son, with glory crown'd Ere time began to be; Throned with thy Sire through half the round Of wide eternity! And again: -- Hail, God the Son, with glory crown'd Ere time shall cease to be; Throned with the Father through the round Of whole eternity!