CHAPTER XXI

IS this what we call the age of the age or the ages of the ages?⁴³⁴³   Saeculum saeculi, saecula saeculorum: translated in our Bibles and Prayer-books, world without end. For just as the age of time⁴⁴⁴⁴   Saeculum temporum, an age made up of times. In the Bible the whole course of this world, which goes on in time, is represented as destined to come to an end in the consummation of all things, which is often spoken of as the end of the age, consummatio saeculi (Matt. xiii. 40; xxiv. 3): the age then to be brought to a close is here thought of as an age embracing the various times which will have elapsed from the creation to the last day; for, according to St Augustine, time and the world were created together; the world was created not in tempore but cum tempere. In the Apocalypse (x. 6) an angel is represented as proclaiming that there shall be time no longer. The saeculum which now is, is contrasted with the saeculum, the world or age to come in such passages as Matt. xii. 32; Mark x. 30; Luke xviii. 30. comprehendeth all things that are in time, so Thine eternity comprehendeth the very ages of times themselves. And it is indeed rightly 37called an age, because it is one and indivisible; but also ages, because of the boundless immensity thereof. And although Thou art so great, O Lord, that all things are full of Thee and are in Thee; yet Thou art such, without being in space, so that in Thee there is neither middle nor half nor any other part.