Chapter 14

After this our good Lord said: I thank thee for thy travail, and especially for thy youth.

After this, our good Lord said: I thank you for your suffering, and especially for your youth.

And in this [Shewing] mine understanding was lifted up into Heaven where I saw our Lord as a lord in his own house, which hath called all his dear worthy servants and friends to a stately¹ feast. Then I saw the Lord take no place in His own house, but I saw Him royally reign in His house, fulfilling it with joy and mirth, Himself endlessly to gladden and to solace His dearworthy friends, full homely and full courteously, with marvellous melody of endless love, in His own fair blessed Countenance. Which glorious Countenance of the Godhead fulfilleth the Heavens with joy and bliss.²

In this [Showing], my understanding was lifted up to Heaven. There I saw our Lord as a lord in his own house, who had called all his beloved and worthy servants and friends to a magnificent¹ feast. Then I saw that the Lord took no place for himself in his own house. But I saw him reign there like a king, filling the house with joy and delight. He himself endlessly brought gladness and comfort to his beloved friends, with great warmth and courtesy. His own beautiful, blessed face shone with the marvelous melody of endless love. This glorious face of the Godhead fills the Heavens with joy and bliss.²

God shewed three degrees of bliss that every soul shall have in Heaven that willingly hath served God in any degree in earth. The first is the worshipful thanks of our Lord God that he shall receive when he is delivered of pain. This thanking is so high and so worshipful that the soul thinketh it filleth him though there were no more. For methought that all the pain and travail that might be suffered by all living men might not deserve the worshipful thanks that one man shall have that willingly hath served God. The second is that all the blessed creatures that are in Heaven shall see that worshipful thanking, and He maketh his service known to all that are in Heaven. And here this example was shewed:—A king, if he thank his servants, it is a great worship to them, and if he maketh it known to all the realm, then is the worship greatly increased.—The third is, that as new and as gladdening as it is received in that time, right so shall it last without end.

God showed me three degrees of bliss that every soul will have in Heaven if it has willingly served God in any way on earth. The first is the honorable thanks our Lord God will give the soul when it is freed from pain. His thanks are so great and so full of honor that the soul feels fulfilled, even if there were nothing more. For it seemed to me that all the pain and labor all living people might suffer could not earn the honorable thanks one person will receive for willingly serving God. The second is that all the blessed creatures in Heaven will see this honorable thanks. God will make that person’s service known to everyone in Heaven. And this example was shown to me: If a king thanks his servants, it is a great honor to them. If he makes his thanks known throughout the realm, their honor is greatly increased. The third is that this bliss will remain forever as fresh and joyful as when it is first received.

And I saw that homely and sweetly was this shewed, and that the age of every man shall be [made] known in Heaven, and [he] shall be rewarded for his willing service and for his time. And specially the age of them that willingly and freely offer their youth unto God, passingly is rewarded and wonderfully is thanked.

I saw that this was revealed in a familiar and gentle way. I saw that every person’s age will be made known in heaven. Each person will be rewarded for their willing service and for their time. Those who willingly and freely offer their youth to God will be especially richly rewarded and wonderfully thanked.

For I saw that whene'er what time a man or woman is truly turned to God,—for one day's service and for his endless will he shall have all these three decrees of bliss. And the more the loving soul seeth this courtesy of God, the liefer he³ is to serve him all the days of his life.

For I saw that whenever a man or woman truly turns to God, that person will receive all three degrees of bliss, for one day of service and for an everlasting desire to serve him. And the more a loving soul sees this kindness from God, the more eager he³ is to serve him all his life.