And this is the understanding of this word:--That it shall be done for me, meaneth that it shall be done for the general Man: that is to say, all that shall be saved. It shall be worshipful and marvellous and plenteous, and God Himself shall do it; and this shall be the highest joy that may be, to behold the deed that God Himself shall do, and man shall do right nought but sin. Then signifieth our Lord God thus, as if He said: _Behold and see! Here hast thou matter of meekness, here hast thou matter of love, here hast thou matter to make nought of[3] thyself, here hast thou matter to enjoy in me;--and, for my love, enjoy [thou] in me: for of all things, therewith mightest thou please me most_. And as long as we are in this life, what time that we by our folly turn us to the beholding of the reproved, tenderly our Lord God toucheth us and blissfully calleth us, saying in our soul: _Let be all thy love, my dearworthy child: turn thee to me--I am enough to thee--and enjoy in thy Saviour and in thy salvation_. And that this is our Lord's working in us, I am sure the soul that hath understanding[4] therein by grace shall see it and feel it. And though it be so that this deed be truly taken for the general Man, yet it excludeth not the special. For what our good Lord will do by His poor creatures, it is now unknown to me. But this deed and that other aforesaid, they are not both one but two sundry. This deed shall be done sooner (and that [time] shall be as we come to Heaven), and to whom our Lord giveth it, it may be known here in part. But that Great Deed aforesaid shall neither be known in Heaven nor earth till it is done. And moreover He gave special understanding and teaching of working of miracles, as thus:--_It is known that I have done miracles here afore, many and diverse, high and marvellous, worshipful and great. And so as I have done, I do now continually, and shall do in coming of time_. It is known that afore miracles come sorrow and anguish and tribulation[5]; and that is for that we should know our own feebleness and our mischiefs that we are fallen in by sin, to meeken us and make us to dread God and cry for help and grace. Miracles come after that, and they come of the high Might, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, shewing His virtue and the joys of Heaven so far at it may be in this passing life: and that to strengthen our faith and to increase our hope, in charity. Wherefore it pleaseth Him to be known and worshipped in miracles. Then signifieth He thus: He willeth that we be not borne over low for sorrow and tempests that fall to us: for it hath ever so been afore miracle-coming. [1] "lettyn his goodnes werkyng." [2] "wilfully." [3] "to nowten." [4] "is a perceyvid" (S. de Cressy, "pearced"; Collins, "pierced";) = has perception. [5] See v., xlviii., lix., lxi. CHAPTER XXXVII