Chapter LXV
"The Charity of God makes in us such a unity that, when it is truly seen, no man can part himself from other"
AND thus I understood that what man or woman with firm will chooses God in this life, for love, he may be sure that he is loved without end: which endless love works in him that grace. For He wills that we be as assured in hope of the bliss of heaven while we are here, as we shall be in sureness while we are there. And ever the more pleasure and joy that we take in this sureness, with reverence and meekness, the better pleases Him, as it was shewed. This reverence that I mean is a holy courteous fear of our Lord, to which meekness is united: and that is, that a creature sees the Lord marvellous great, and itself marvellous little. For these virtues are had endlessly by the loved of God, and this may now be seen and felt in measure through the gracious presence of our Lord when it is seen: which presence in all things is most desired, for it works marvellous assuredness in true faith, and sure hope, by greatness of charity, in fear that is sweet and delectable.
It is God's will that I see myself as much bound to Him in love as if He had done for me all that He has done; and thus should every soul think inwardly of its Lover. That is to say, the Charity of God makes in us such a unity that, when it is truly seen, no man can part himself from other. And thus ought our soul to think that God has done for it all that He has done.
And this shews He to make us to love Him and nothing fear but Him. For it is His will that we perceive that all the might of our Enemy is taken into our Friend's hand; and for that the soul that knoweth assuredly this, he shall not fear but Him that he loves. All other fear he sets among passions and bodily sickness and imaginations. And for that though we be in so much pain, woe, and distress that it seems to us we can think of right nothing but of that which we are in, or of that which we feel, yet as soon as we may, pass we lightly over, and set we it at nothing. And why? For that God wills we know Him; and if we
know Him and love Him and reverently fear Him, we shall have peace, and be in great rest, and it shall be great pleasure to us, all that He does. And this shewed our Lord in these words: What should it then grieve you to suffer awhile, since it is my Will and my worship? Now have I told you of Fifteen Revelations, as God vouchsafed to minister them to my mind, renewed by lightings and touchings, I hope of the same Spirit that shewed them all.
Of which Fifteen Shewings the First began early in the morn, about the hour of four; and they lasted, shewing by process fair and steadily, each following other, till it was nine of the day, overpassed.