Chapter 30

He gave me understanding of two parts [of truth]. The one part is our Saviour and our salvation. This blessed part is open and clear and fair and light, and plenteous,—for all mankind that is of good will, and shall be, is comprehended in this part. Hereto are we bounden of God, and drawn and counselled and taught inwardly by the Holy Ghost and outwardly by Holy Church in the same grace. In this willeth our Lord that we be occupied, joying in Him; for He enjoyeth in us. The more plenteously that we take of this, with reverence and meekness, the more thanks we earn of Him and the more speed¹ to ourselves, thus—may we say—enjoying our part of our Lord. The other [part] is hid and shut up from us: that is to say, all that is beside our salvation. For it is our Lord's privy counsel, and it belongeth to the royal lordship of God to have His privy counsel in peace, and it belongeth to His servant, for obedience and reverence, not to learn² wholly His counsel. Our Lord hath pity and compassion on us for that some creatures make themselves so busy therein; and I am sure if we knew how much we should please Him and ease ourselves by leaving it, we would. The saints that be in Heaven, they will to know nothing but that which our Lord willeth to shew them: and also their charity and their desire is ruled after the will of our Lord: and thus ought we to will, like to them. Then shall we nothing will nor desire but the will of our Lord, as they do: for we are all one in God's seeing.

He gave me understanding of two parts [of truth]. One part is our Savior and our salvation. This blessed part is open, clear, beautiful, full of light, and abundant. For it includes all people of good will, both those who exist now and those who will exist. God binds us to this part. In the same grace, the Holy Ghost draws, counsels, and teaches us inwardly, and Holy Church does so outwardly. Our Lord wants us to be occupied with this part, rejoicing in him, for he delights in us. The more abundantly we receive from this part, with reverence and humility, the more thanks we earn from him. We also gain more benefit¹ for ourselves. In this way, we may say, we enjoy our part of our Lord. The other [part] is hidden and closed to us. This means everything that lies outside our salvation. For it is our Lord’s private counsel. As God is our royal lord, it belongs to him to keep his private counsel undisturbed. And as his servants, we should not seek to know² his counsel fully, out of obedience and reverence. Our Lord has pity and compassion on us because some people busy themselves so much with his private counsel. I am sure that if we knew how much we would please him and ease ourselves by leaving it alone, we would do so. The saints in Heaven want to know only what our Lord wishes to show them. Their love and desire are also governed by our Lord’s will. We ought to want the same, as they do. Then we will want and desire nothing but our Lord’s will, as the saints do. For we are all one in God’s sight.

And here was I learned that we shall trust and rejoice only in our Saviour, blessed Jesus, for all thing.

And here I was taught that in all things we should trust and rejoice only in our Saviour, blessed Jesus.