LET us consider, therefore, the felicity of that heavenly habitation, in so far as it is possible to consider it; for to speak the truth, no words of man are sufficient to comprehend it.
Of that city is written in a certain place, thus: that grief, and sorrow and crying shall flee away.* What can be happier than that life where there is no fear of poverty — no weakness of disease; where none can be hurt, none can be angry; where none can envy, none can be impure; where none can be tormented with the desire of honour, or the ambition of power? No fear there of the Devil; no snares there of evil spirits; no terror there of hell; no death there, either of soul or body, but a life blessed in the gift of immortality. No discord there for ever, but all things in harmony — all things in agreement: because there will be one concord of all saints — one peace, and one joy. Tranquil are all things there, and quiet.*
* See Revelation 21:3-4: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away”.
* Tranquil and quiet, yet not disengaged from the struggles and sorrows of those they have left behind: as Bede says in this same sermon, “a vast and mighty crowd of parents, brothers, and children, secure now of their own safety, anxious yet for our salvation, longs that we may come to their sight and embrace”. Bede (who is drawing on Hebrews 12:1-2) assumes that, like spectators in an athletics stadium, they can see us and are emotionally invested in all that we do. See Run for Glory.
Précis
Bede went on to recall to his listeners the character of their heavenly homeland: how there was no grief or pain there, how it was free from temptation and falling alike, and how all was tranquillity there thanks to unbroken concord of mind and heart, and the absence of ambition and lust for power. (54 / 60 words)
Bede went on to recall to his listeners the character of their heavenly homeland: how there was no grief or pain there, how it was free from temptation and falling alike, and how all was tranquillity there thanks to unbroken concord of mind and heart, and the absence of ambition and lust for power.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, just, must, since, unless, whereas, whether.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Away. None. Receive.
2 Gift. Spirit. Strange.
3 Faithful. Hell. There.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Fear. 2 Speak. 3 Afford. 4 Meet. 5 Honour. 6 Rise. 7 Power. 8 Maintain. 9 Can.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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