Chapter 80

By three things man standeth in this life; by which three God is worshipped, and we be speeded,¹ kept and saved.

People are sustained in this life by three things. Through these three things, God is worshipped, and we are helped,¹ kept safe, and saved.

The first is, use of man's Reason natural; the second is, common teaching of Holy Church; the third is, inward gracious working of the Holy Ghost. And these three be all of one God: God is the ground of our natural reason; and God, the teaching of Holy Church; and God is the Holy Ghost. And all be sundry gifts to which He willeth that we have great regard, and attend us thereto. For these work in us continually all together; and these be great things. Of which great things He willeth that we have knowing here as it were in an A.B.C., that is to say, that we have a little knowing; whereof we shall have fulness in Heaven. And that is for to speed us.

The first is the use of our natural reason. The second is the common teaching of Holy Church. The third is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit within us. And all three come from one God. God is the foundation of our natural reason. God is the teaching of Holy Church, and God is the Holy Spirit. All three are distinct gifts that he wants us to value highly and pay attention to. For all three work in us together continually, and they are great things. He wants us to know these great things here as if we were learning our ABCs. That is, he wants us to have a little knowledge, which will be complete in Heaven. And this is to help us on our way.

We know in our Faith that God alone took our nature, and none but He; and furthermore that Christ alone did all the works that belong to our salvation, and none but He; and right so He alone doeth now the last end: that is to say, He dwelleth here with us, and ruleth us and governeth us in this living, and bringeth us to His bliss. And this shall He do as long as any soul is in earth that shall come to heaven,—and so far forth that if there were no such soul but one, He should be withal alone till He had brought him up to His bliss. I believe and understand the ministration of angels, as clerks tell us: but it was not shewed me. For Himself is nearest and meekest, highest and lowest, and doeth all. And not only all that we need, but also He doeth all that is worshipful, to our joy in heaven.

We know through our faith that God alone took on our human nature, and no one else did. We also know that Christ alone did all the works that belong to our salvation, and no one else did. In the same way, he alone now completes that work. He lives here with us, rules and guides us in this life, and brings us to his bliss. He will do this as long as any soul on earth is destined for heaven. Even if there were only one such soul, he alone would stay with that soul until he brought it to his bliss. I believe in and understand the service of angels, as scholars tell us about it, but it was not shown to me. For he himself is nearest and humblest, highest and lowest, and does all things. He does not only all that we need. He also does all that is worthy of praise, for our joy in heaven.

And where I say that He abideth sorrowfully and moaning, it meaneth all the true feeling that we have in our self, in contrition and compassion, and all sorrowing and moaning that we are not oned with our Lord. And all such that is speedful, it is Christ in us. And though some of us feel it seldom, it passeth never from Christ till what time He hath brought us out of all our woe. For love suffereth never to be without pity. And what time that we fall into sin and leave the mind of Him and the keeping of our own soul, then keepeth Christ alone all the charge; and thus standeth He sorrowfully and moaning.

When I say that he remains sorrowful and grieving, I mean all that we truly feel within ourselves. This includes our remorse and compassion, and all our sorrow and grief that we are not united with our Lord. And all such feeling that is helpful is Christ in us. Though some of us seldom feel it, it never leaves Christ until he has brought us out of all our suffering. For love is never without compassion. And when we fall into sin and forget him and the care of our own souls, Christ alone bears the whole responsibility. And so he remains sorrowful and grieving.

Then belongeth it to us for reverence and kindness to turn us hastily to our Lord and leave Him not alone. He is here alone with us all: that is to say, only for us He is here. And what time I am strange to Him by sin, despair or sloth, then I let my Lord stand alone, in as much as it is in me. And thus it fareth with us all which be sinners. But though it be so that we do thus oftentimes, His Goodness suffereth us never to be alone, but lastingly He is with us, and tenderly He excuseth us, and ever shieldeth us from blame in His sight.

So, out of reverence and kindness, we should turn quickly to our Lord and not leave him alone. He is here alone with us all. That is to say, he is here only for us. When I become distant from him through sin, despair, or laziness, I leave my Lord standing alone, as far as I am able. The same is true of all of us who are sinners. But though we often do this, his goodness never allows us to be alone. He is always with us, tenderly excusing us and always shielding us from blame in his sight.