Revelations of Divine Love — Julian of Norwich

He gave understanding of éwo parties, that one party is our Saviour and our salvation. This blessed part is open, clear, fair, and light, and plenteous ; for all mankind that is of good will, and that shall be, is comprehended in this part. Hereto we be bound of God, and drawn and counselled, and learned inwardly by the Holy Ghost, and outward by Holy Church in the same grace. In this will our Lord that we be occupied and joying in him, for he joyeth in us: and the more plenteously that we take of this with reverence and meekness, the more thank we deserve of him, and the more speed to our self. And thus may we see and enjoy our part in our Lord. That other is hid and sparred from us; that is to say, all that is besides our salvation ; for that is our Lord's privy counsel, and it longeth to the royal lordship of God to have his privy counsels in peace. And it longeth to his servants for obedience and reverence not to will to know his counsels. Our Lord hath pity and compassion on us, for that some creatures make them so busie therein; and I am sure if we wist how greatly we should please him, and ease ourself to leave it, we would The saints

-æ

THE THIRTEENTH REVELATION.

in heaven they will nothing wit'but what our Lord wil shew them; and also their charity and their desire is ruled after the will of our Lord : and thus ought we, that our will be like to them ; then shall we nothing will, ne desire but the will of our Lord, like as they do; for we be all one in Gods meaning. And here I was learned, that I should only enjoy in our blessed Saviour Jesu, and trust in him for all thing.

The Thirty-first Chapter

Anp thus our good Lord answered to all the questions and doubts that I might make, saying full comfortably: “I may make all thing well; and I can make all thing well; and I shall make all thing well; and I will make all thing well; and thou shalt see thyself that all manner of thing shall be well.’ There he saith, * 7 may,’ I understand for the Father ; and there he saith, ‘/ can,’ I understand for the Son; and there he saith, ‘/ will; I understand for the Holy Ghost; and there he saith ‘J shall, 1 understand the unity of the blessed Trinity; three persons and one truth : and there he saith, ‘ Thou shalt see thyself, I understand the coming of all mankind that shall be saved into the blessedful Trinity. And in these five words, € iod will that we 74

$ «t ü 8

THE THIRTY-FIRST CHAPTER, be enclosed in rest, and peace. And thus shall the ghostly thirst of Christ have an end ; for this is the ghostly thirst of Christ, the love-longing that lasteth and ever shall, till we see that sight at dooms-day ; for we that shall be safe, and shall be Christ's joy and his bliss, been yet here; and some be to come, and so shall some be into that day. Therefore this is his thirst, and love-longing of us all together here in him to our endless bliss, as to my sight; for we be not now fully as whole in him as we shall be then ; for we know in our faith, and also it was shewed in all, that Christ Jesu was both God and man: and aneynst the Godhead he is himself highest bliss, and was fro without beginning, and shall be without end: which very endless bliss may never be highed nor lowed in itself, And this was plenteously seen in every shewing, and namely in the xiith. where he saith, J & am that is highest.’ And as aneynst Christs manhood; it is known in our faith, and also shewed that he through the vertue of the Godhead, for love to bring us to his bliss, suffered pains and passion, and died. And these be the works of Christs manhood, wherein he enjoyeth. And that shewed he in the ixth where he saith, ‘Ji is a Joy, a bliss, and endless liking to me, that ever I suffered passion Jor thee? And this is the bliss of Christs works: and thus he alt aa} uu hec NY Wiehe LAL TON meaneth; there he saith in the same shewing, ‘ We be his bliss, we be his meed, we be his worship, we be his crown. For as aneynst that Christ is our head, he is glorified and unpassible : and as aneynst |