Chapter 68

This was a delectable Sight and a restful Shewing, that it is so without end. The beholding of this while we are here is full pleasing to God and full great profit to us; and the soul that thus beholdeth, it maketh it like to Him that is beheld, and oneth it in rest and peace by His grace. And this was a singular joy and bliss to me that I saw Him sitting: for the [quiet] secureness of sitting sheweth endless dwelling.

This was a delightful sight and a comforting revelation: it is so without end. Contemplating this while we are here is very pleasing to God and greatly benefits us. It makes the soul that contemplates him like him, and by his grace unites the soul with him in rest and peace. It was a special joy and blessing to me that I saw him sitting. For the [quiet] security of sitting shows that he remains forever.

And He gave me to know soothfastly that it was He that shewed me all afore. And when I had beheld this with heedfulness, then shewed our good Lord words¹ full meekly without voice and without opening of lips, right as He had [afore] done, and said full sweetly: Wit it now well that it was no raving that thou sawest to-day: but take it and believe it, and keep thee therein, and comfort thee therewith, and trust thou thereto: and thou shalt not be overcome.

And he made me know for certain that he had shown me everything before. When I had considered this carefully, our good Lord spoke words¹ very gently, without a voice or moving his lips. He did this just as he had before, and said very sweetly: Know now for certain that what you saw today was no delusion. Accept it and believe it, hold fast to it, take comfort in it, and trust in it. And you will not be overcome.

These Last Words were said for believing and true sureness that it is our Lord Jesus that shewed me all. And right as in the first word that our good Lord shewed, signifying His blissful Passion,—Herewith is the devil overcome,—right so He said in the last word, with full true secureness, meaning us all: Thou shalt not be overcome. And all this teaching in this true comfort, it is general, to all mine even-Christians, as it is aforesaid: and so is God's will.

These last words were spoken so that I would believe and be truly certain that our Lord Jesus showed me everything. In the first words our good Lord showed me, he spoke of his blessed Passion: With this, the devil is overcome. Just as he said this, he spoke the last words with complete certainty, meaning them for us all: You shall not be overcome. As I have said, this whole teaching and its true comfort are for all my fellow Christians. This is God’s will.

And this word: Thou shalt not be overcome, was said full clearly² and full mightily, for assuredness and comfort against all tribulations that may come. He said not: Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shall not be travailed, thou shah not be afflicted; but He said: Thou shalt not be overcome. God willeth that we take heed to these words, and that we be ever strong in sure trust, in weal and woe. For He loveth and enjoyeth us, and so willeth He that we love and enjoy Him and mightily trust in Him; and all shall be well.

The words You shall not be overcome were spoken very clearly² and powerfully. They give us assurance and comfort against all the troubles that may come. He did not say: You shall not be tossed by storms, you shall not suffer hardship, you shall not be afflicted. Instead, he said: You shall not be overcome. God wants us to pay attention to these words and always to trust him with unwavering confidence, in good times and bad. For he loves us and delights in us. So he wants us to love and delight in him and trust him deeply. And all shall be well.

And soon after, all was close and I saw no more.

And soon after, everything was hidden, and I saw no more.