Augustine of Hippo

Let the nations hear, let the nations believe: let the nations blossom, let the bride adorned in the blood of the martyrs be born unto the Lord. And how many have approached from her? How many members have adhered and now adhere to the head and believe? These were baptized, others will be baptized, and others will come after us. Then, I say, at the end of the age, stones will join the foundation, living stones, holy stones, so that at the end the whole building may be constructed from that Church; indeed, from this very Church, which now sings a new song, while the house is being built. For thus the Psalm itself says: "When the house was being built after the captivity." And what? "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth." What a great house! But when does it sing the new song? When it is being built. When is it dedicated? At the end of the age. Its foundation has already been dedicated because it ascended to heaven and does not die. When we too shall have risen, that we may never die, then we shall be dedicated.