Chapter 75

I saw that God can do all that we need. And these three that I shall speak of we need: love, longing, pity. Pity in love keepeth us in the time of our need; and longing in the same love draweth us up into Heaven. For the Thirst of God is to have the general Man unto Him: in which thirst He hath drawn His Holy that be now in bliss; and getting His lively members, ever He draweth and drinketh, and yet He thirsteth and longeth.

I saw that God can do all that we need. And we need these three things that I will speak of: love, longing, and pity. Pity in love sustains us in our time of need. And longing in that same love draws us up into Heaven. For God thirsts to draw all humanity to him. In this thirst he has drawn his holy ones who are now in bliss. As he gathers his living members, he continually draws them to him and drinks. Yet he still thirsts and longs.

I saw three manners of longing in God, and all to one end; of which we have the same in us, and by the same virtue and for the same end.

I saw three kinds of longing in God, all directed toward one purpose. We have these same longings in us, through the same power and for the same purpose.

The first is, that He longeth to teach us to know Him and love Him evermore, as it is convenient and speedful to us. The second is, that He longeth to have us up to His Bliss, as souls are when they are taken out of pain into Heaven. The third is to fulfill us in bliss; and that shall be on the Last Day, fulfilled ever to last. For I saw, as it is known in our Faith, that the pain and the sorrow shall be ended to all that shall be saved. And not only we shall receive the same bliss that souls afore have had in heaven, but also we shall receive a new [bliss], which plenteously shall be flowing out of God into us and shall fulfill us; and these be the goods which He hath ordained to give us from without beginning. These goods are treasured and hid in Himself; for unto that time [no] Creature is mighty nor worthy to receive them.

The first is that he longs to teach us to know and love him more and more, as is fitting and beneficial for us. The second is that he longs to bring us into his bliss, as souls enter it when they are taken from pain into heaven. The third is to fill us with bliss. That will happen on the Last Day, and the bliss will last forever. For I saw, as our faith teaches, that pain and sorrow will end for all who will be saved. We will receive the same bliss that souls have already known in heaven. But we will also receive a new [bliss]. It will flow abundantly from God into us and fill us. These are the good things he has intended to give us from before the beginning. They are treasured and hidden within him. For until that time, [no] creature is able or worthy to receive them.

In this [fulfilling] we shall see verily the cause of all things that He hath done; and evermore we shall see the cause of all things that He hath suffered.¹ And the bliss and the fulfilling shall be so deep and so high that, for wonder and marvel, all creatures shall have to God so great reverent dread, overpassing that which hath been seen and felt before, that the pillars of heaven shall tremble and quake. But this manner of trembling and dread shall have no pain; but it belongeth to the worthy might of God thus to be beholden by His creatures, in great dread trembling and quaking for meekness of joy, marvelling at the greatness of God the Maker and at the littleness of all that is made. For the beholding of this maketh the creature marvellously meek and mild.

In this [fulfillment], we shall truly see the reason for all that he has done. And forever we shall see the reason for all that he has allowed to happen.¹ The bliss and fulfillment will be so deep and so high that all creatures will be filled with wonder and amazement. They will feel such great reverent awe of God that the pillars of heaven will tremble and shake. This awe will be greater than any seen or felt before. But this trembling and awe will bring no pain. It is fitting for creatures to behold God’s majestic power in this way. They will tremble and shake with great awe and humble joy. They will marvel at the greatness of God the Maker and the smallness of all that is made. For seeing this makes the creature wonderfully humble and gentle.

Wherefore God willeth—and also it belongeth to us, both in nature and grace—that we wit and know of this, desiring this sight and this working; for it leadeth us in right way, and keepeth us in true life, and oneth us to God. And as good as God is, so great He is; and as much as it belongeth to His goodness to be loved, so much it belongeth to His greatness to be dreaded. For this reverent dread is the fair courtesy that is in Heaven afore God's face. And as much as He shall then be known and loved overpassing that He is now, in so much He shall be dreaded overpassing that He is now. Wherefore it behoveth needs to be that all Heaven and earth shall tremble and quake when the pillars shall tremble and quake.

Therefore, God wills that we recognize and understand this, and desire this vision and this work. It is also right for us to do so, both by nature and by grace. For this vision and work lead us on the right path, keep us in true life, and unite us with God. God is as great as he is good. And just as his goodness deserves our love, so his greatness deserves our reverent fear. For this reverent fear is the gracious courtesy shown in heaven before God. In heaven, he will be known and loved far more than he is now. And to the same degree, he will be feared far more than he is now. Therefore, all heaven and earth must tremble and quake when the pillars tremble and quake.