Chapter 63

Here may we see that we have verily of Nature to hate sin, and we have verily of Grace to hate sin. For Nature is all good and fair in itself, and Grace was sent out to save Nature and destroy sin, and bring again fair nature to the blessed point from whence it came: that is God; with more nobleness and worship by the virtuous working of Grace. For it shall be seen afore God by all His Holy in joy without end that Nature hath been assayed in the fire of tribulation and therein hath been found no flaw, no fault.¹ Thus are Nature and Grace of one accord: for Grace is God, as Nature is God: He is two in manner of working and one in love; and neither of these worketh without other: they be not disparted.

Here we can see that we truly hate sin both by Nature and by Grace. For Nature is entirely good and beautiful in itself. Grace was sent to save Nature, destroy sin, and bring beautiful Nature back to its blessed source, God. Through the virtuous work of Grace, Nature returns with greater nobility and honor. For all his holy ones will see before God, in endless joy, that Nature has been tested in the fire of suffering and found to have no flaw or fault.¹ Thus Nature and Grace are in harmony. For Grace is God, just as Nature is God. He works in two ways but is one in love. Neither Nature nor Grace works without the other. They are not separate.

And when we by Mercy of God and with His help accord us to Nature and Grace, we shall see verily that sin is in sooth viler and more painful than hell, without likeness: for it is contrary to our fair nature. For as verily as sin is unclean, so verily is it unnatural,² and thus an horrible thing to see for the loved³ soul that would be all fair and shining in the sight of God, as Nature and Grace teacheth.

When, by God’s mercy and with his help, we bring ourselves into harmony with Nature and Grace, we will truly see that sin is beyond comparison more vile and more painful than hell. For sin is contrary to our beautiful nature. Just as surely as sin is unclean, it is unnatural.² So it is a horrible sight for the loved³ soul. That soul wants to be entirely beautiful and shining in God’s sight, as Nature and Grace teach.

Yet be we not adread of this, save inasmuch as dread may speed us: but meekly make we our moan to our dearworthy Mother, and He shall besprinkle us in His precious blood and make our soul full soft and full mild, and heal us full fair by process of time, right as it is most worship to Him and joy to us without end. And of this sweet fair working He shall never cease nor stint till all His dearworthy children be born and forthbrought. (And that shewed He where He shewed [me] understanding of the ghostly Thirst, that is the love-longing that shall last till Doomsday.)

Yet let us not be afraid of this, except insofar as fear may help us. Instead, let us humbly bring our sorrow to our beloved Mother. He will sprinkle us with his precious blood and make our souls very gentle and mild. In time, he will heal us beautifully, just as brings him the greatest honor and us endless joy. He will never stop or cease this sweet, beautiful work until all his beloved children are born and brought forth. (He showed this when he gave me an understanding of the spiritual Thirst, the longing of love that will last until Doomsday.)

Thus in [our] Very Mother, Jesus, our life is grounded, in the foreseeing Wisdom of Himself from without beginning, with the high Might of the Father, the high sovereign Goodness of the Holy Ghost. And in the taking of our nature He quickened us; in His blessed dying upon the Cross He bare us to endless life; and from that time, and now, and evermore unto Doomsday, He feedeth us and furthereth us: even as that high sovereign Kindness of Motherhood, and as Kindly need of Childhood asketh.

Thus our life is grounded in Jesus, our true Mother, in his own wisdom, which has foreseen everything from eternity. It is grounded in the great power of the Father and the supreme goodness of the Holy Spirit. When he took on our human nature, he gave us life. In his blessed death on the Cross, he gave birth to us for eternal life. From that time until Judgment Day, he feeds us and helps us grow. He does this as the supreme, natural tenderness of motherhood and the natural needs of childhood require.

Fair and sweet is our Heavenly Mother in the sight of our souls; precious and lovely are the Gracious Children in the sight of our Heavenly Mother, with mildness and meekness, and all the fair virtues that belong to children in Nature. For of nature the Child despaireth not of the Mother's love, of nature the Child presumeth not of itself, of nature the Child loveth the Mother and each one of the other [children]. These are the fair virtues, with all other that be like, wherewith our Heavenly Mother is served and pleased.

Our Heavenly Mother is beautiful and sweet in the sight of our souls. Her gracious children are precious and lovely in her sight. They have gentleness, humility, and all the beautiful virtues that children have by nature. By nature, a child never loses hope in a mother's love. By nature, a child does not rely too much on itself. By nature, a child loves its mother and each of the other children. With these beautiful virtues and all others like them, we serve and please our Heavenly Mother.

And I understood none higher stature in this life than Childhood, in feebleness and failing of might and of wit, unto the time that our Gracious Mother hath brought us up to our Father's Bliss.⁴ And then shall it verily be known to us His meaning in those sweet words where He saith: All shall be well: and thou shalt see, thyself, that all manner of things shall be well. And then shall the Bliss of our Mother, in Christ, be new to begin in the Joys of our God: which new beginning shall last without end, new beginning.

And I understood that in this life we can reach no higher state than childhood. We remain weak, lacking strength and understanding, until our gracious Mother has raised us to our Father's bliss.⁴ Then we shall truly know what he means by those sweet words: All shall be well, and you shall see for yourself that all manner of things shall be well. Then the bliss of our Mother, in Christ, shall begin anew in the joys of our God. This new beginning shall last without end, forever beginning anew.

Thus I understood that all His blessed children which be come out of Him by Nature shall be brought again into Him by Grace.

So I understood that all his blessed children, who come from him by nature, will be brought back to him by grace.