"How great will be that felicity, where there will be no evil, where no good will be withheld, where there will be leisure for the praises of God, who will be all in all! What other occupation could there be, in a state where there will be no inactivity of idleness, and yet no toil necessitated by want? I can think of none. And this is the picture suggested to my mind by the sacred canticle, when I read or hear the words, 'Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they will praise you for ever and ever!'" (p. 1087)

"The reward of virtue will be God himself, who gave the virtue, together with the promise of himself, the best and greatest of all possible promises. For what did he mean when he said, in the words of the prophet, 'I shall be their God, and they will be my people'? Did he not mean, 'I shall be the source of their satisfaction; I shall be everything that men can honourably desire: life, health, food, wealth, glory, honour, peace and every blessing'? For that is also the correct interpretation of the Apostle's words, 'so that God may be all in all'. He will be the goal of all our longings; and we shall see him for ever; we shall love him without satiety; we shall praise him without wearying. This will be the duty, the delight, the activity of all, shared by all who share the life of eternity" (p. 1088)

Augustine. Concerning the City of God Against the Pagans, translated by Henry Bettenson. London: Penguin Books, first published 1467, this translation 1972 with introduction by David Knowles, reissued with new introduction 1984, reissued with new introduction, notes, and chronology by G. R. Evans 2003.