18. Of her caution and prudence concerning the revelation of the state of the departed

Very cautious and circumspect was this virgin speaking of the state of the de parted, although very often she was not unaware of the secrets of God. Which from the following > example will appear from her words as a warning for the inexperienced, whom visions of the dead ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM often deceive. After the death then of William Duke and Count of Holland and Zeeland, under whom this virgin flourished and long lay sick, a certain popular rumour was noised and came to the ears of the Countess Margaret, wife of the Duke now dead, that this virgin had said that he was already saved. She had also heard that this virgin had been dead for three days and had come to life again. The noble and venerable lady then sent one of her servants to her, to inquire into the truth of this affair. Being questioned there fore on each point by the messenger sent, she thus replied to the one : " If I had been dead three days the people of Schiedam would long since have buried me." But to the other, as she deemed the question absurd, she replied after a fashion saying : " If he were already in eternal life then the Lord would be doing me a wrong, who, held down for seventeen years by most grievous maladies, have not left my bed or touched the ground. Wherefore I beg that you do not sin by occasion of me." And thus the messenger who came un certain returned thence more uncertain. However, of several departed religious ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM she sometimes gave certain information, that they were saved and brought into the joy of their Lord. But of the last days and the coming of Antichrist she used to say that she herself would see neither of these.