The New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem.

9

I have received a privilege: original: "privilegie," referring to a special spiritual right or immunity granted by God from my Lord, and that wonderful virtue and power is given to me, so that whatever happens to me—as soon as it comes upon me and touches me, whether it be sickness or health, poverty or riches, honor or dishonor, life or death—it shall all be turned to my best, however ruinous it might otherwise be. For your faithful servant and handmaid may think on this, and be completely at rest regarding it, and worry about nothing else in the world except how they might serve You according to Your will, so faithfully revealed to them in Your word, and henceforth set themselves at peace. Oh! what a privilege this is! What a release from a thousand useless worries is found here! What a glorious tranquility! Oh! Lord, what is the matter with me? Since there is such great gain in Your service, why am I still so slow in it?

The Lord. Continue in sighing: original: "suchten," implying a prayerful, deep longing or earnest desire for greater zeal, and consider well these things I say to you; reflect upon them, and so you shall awaken more and more in my service.

Now the third benefit that you shall enjoy from this is that you [shall] sincerely practice true godliness: original: "Godtsaligheyt," referring to a life lived in accordance with God's will—