The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart (1901)/Chapter 52
CHAPTER LII
THE PILGRIM BEHOLDS THE GLORY OF GOD
And behold, the Lord of Hosts sat on His throne on high, and there was splendour around Him from one end of the heavens to the other, and under His feet there was a gleaming as of crystals, emeralds, and sapphires, and His throne was of jasper, and around Him there was a beautiful rainbow. Thousands of thousands and ten times a thousand times a hundred thousand angels stood around Him, singing together: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord of the hosts! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory."
2. Then twenty-four elders fell on their knees before the throne, laid down their crowns at the feet of Him who lives in all eternity, and sang with a loud voice: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for according to Thy will do they abide, and have they been created."
3. I saw also before the throne another great host whom none could count; in it were men of all nations, and races, countries, and tongues; and as the angels carried upward those of God's saints who had died on the earth, the number ever increased, and the sound ever became louder. They exclaimed: "Amen, blessing and glory, wisdom, gratitude, and honour, power and strength to our God in all eternity! Amen."
4. Now did I behold splendour, light, magnificence, and unspeakable glory, hear sounds and notes that are inexpressible, witness things that were joyful and more wondrous than our eyes, ears, and heart can conceive.
5. Terrified by the sight of these so glorious heavenly things, I also fell down before the throne of divine majesty, ashamed of my sinfulness, and of being a man of tainted lips, and I exclaimed: "Lord, Lord, Lord, Thou who art a strong God, compassionate, merciful, long-suffering, and plentiful in mercy and justice! He who grants mercy to thousands, and forgives unrighteousness, trespasses and sin. O Lord! have mercy on me the sinner also, for the sake of Jesus Christ."