Revelations of Divine Love — Julian of Norwich
heavenly guest, was the City of Norwich. The time when she lived, and particularly, when these celestial Revelations were afforded her, she her self in the beginning of the book informes us, was in the year of grace MCCCLXXIII. that is, about three years before the death of the famous conquerour, King Edward the Third: at which time she her self was about thirty years of age. And to conclude, in the last chapter of the book she signifies, that more than fifteen years after these Revelations had been shewed her, how for resolution of a certain doubt of hers touching the meaning of one of them, our Lord himself was pleased to answer her internally in ghostly understanding. As for the manner of these Revelations, it was the same of which we read innumerable examples, both among ancient and modern saints. The objects of some of them were represented to the imagination, and perhaps also to the outward sight ; sometimes they were represented in sleep, but most frequently when she was awake. But those which were more pure, intime and withall more certain, were wrought by a divine illapse into the spiritual part of the soul, the mind and understanding, which the devil cannot counterfeit, nor the patient comprehend, though withal it excluded all doubt or suspicion of illusion. But the principal thing which I desire to recommend to the reader's consideration, is the preceding occasion, and subsequent effects of tbese divine xxii
-O
A eros
A i E i i
TO THE~READER,
favours bestowed by Almighty God on his humble devout handmaid, She was far from expecting, or desiring such unusual supernatural gifts, Matters stood thus with her: she thought her self too much unmortified in her affection to creatures, and too unsensible of our Lords love to her. Therefore to cure the former, she requested a sickness in extremity, even to death, in her own and others conceit; a sickness full of bitter pain and anguish, depriving her of all outward refreshments, and of all inward comforts also, which might affect the sensual portion of the soul, And for a remedy to the latter, she begged of our Lord, that he would imprint in her soul, by what way he thought best, a deep and vigorous conception, and resentment of those most violent torments, which he in his infinite love suffered for her on the cross, to the end she might be even forced to return to him a suitable affection. Yet in making these requests, she expressed a perfect resignation (as to the manner) to his heavenly will. The only graces that she did, and might, and so may we, desire absolutely, without any condition, were a true spiritual hatred and contempt of her self, and of all worldly, or sensual contentments ; a perfect sorrow and compunction for sins past; and a cordial love, and reverential fear of Almighty God. These were the gifts she desired: and as for the means of procuring these graces, she proposed the xxiii
PX.
ee a eee eee
TO THE READER
best to her seeming: yet so, as being assured that God knew what was best for her, she left them to his Divine pleasure. It was, no doubt, by Divine inspiration, that she at first made such petitions, both for the substance and manner, and therefore God granted them as she desired ; yea, in a manner more extraordinary than she durst pretend to, as the reader may observe. And how wonderful the effects of them were, the whole contexture of her discourses upon each Revelation will excellently demonstrate. And now, since she her self professes, that the lights and torches which God was pleased to give her, were intended not for her self alone, but for the universality of God’s true servants, for whose benefit also she wrote them, the devout reader will, I hope, think himself obliged not to content himself with a fruitless admiring, but will, after her example, aspire to a like affectuous, operative contemplation of the meer nothingness of creatures, of the inconceivable ugliness of sin, of the infinite tenderness and indefectibility of God’s love to his elect, and of the omnipotency of Divine grace working in them ; to which grace alone all good in us is to be ascribed.
XXiV
SANTA
SHAAN ANON
XVI REVELATIONS OF LOVE
Here beginneth the First Chapter
heavenly guest, was the City of Norwich. The time when she lived, and particularly, when these celestial Revelations were afforded her, she her self in the beginning of the book informes us, was in the year of grace MCCCLXXIII. that is, about three years before the death of the famous conquerour, King Edward the Third: at which time she her self was about thirty years of age. And to conclude, in the last chapter of the book she signifies, that more than fifteen years after these Revelations had been showed her, how for resolution of a certain doubt of hers touching the meaning of one of them, our Lord himself was pleased to answer her internally in ghostly understanding. As for the manner of these Revelations, it was the same of which we read innumerable examples, both among ancient and modern saints. The objects of some of them were represented to the imagination, and perhaps also to the outward sight ; sometimes they were represented in sleep, but most frequently when she was awake. But those which were more pure, intime and withall more certain, were wrought by a divine illapse into the spiritual part of the soul, the mind and understanding, which the devil cannot counterfeit, nor the patient comprehend, though withal it excluded all doubt or suspicion of illusion. But the principal thing which I desire to recommend to the reader's consideration, is the preceding occasion, and subsequent effects of tbese divine xxii
-O
A eros
A i E i i
TO THE~READER,
favours bestowed by Almighty God on his humble devout handmaid, She was far from expecting, or desiring such unusual supernatural gifts, Matters stood thus with her: she thought her self too much unmortified in her affection to creatures, and too unsensible of our Lords love to her. Therefore to cure the former, she requested a sickness in extremity, even to death, in her own and others conceit; a sickness full of bitter pain and anguish, depriving her of all outward refreshments, and of all inward comforts also, which might affect the sensual portion of the soul, And for a remedy to the latter, she begged of our Lord, that he would imprint in her soul, by what way he thought best, a deep and vigorous conception, and resentment of those most violent torments, which he in his infinite love suffered for her on the cross, to the end she might be even forced to return to him a suitable affection. Yet in making these requests, she expressed a perfect resignation (as to the manner) to his heavenly will. The only graces that she did, and might, and so may we, desire absolutely, without any condition, were a true spiritual hatred and contempt of her self, and of all worldly, or sensual contentments ; a perfect sorrow and compunction for sins past; and a cordial love, and reverential fear of Almighty God. These were the gifts she desired: and as for the means of procuring these graces, she proposed the xxiii
PX.
ee a eee eee
TO THE READER
best to her seeming: yet so, as being assured that God knew what was best for her, she left them to his Divine pleasure. It was, no doubt, by Divine inspiration, that she at first made such petitions, both for the substance and manner, and therefore God granted them as she desired ; yea, in a manner more extraordinary than she durst pretend to, as the reader may observe. And how wonderful the effects of them were, the whole contexture of her discourses upon each Revelation will excellently demonstrate. And now, since she her self professes, that the lights and torches which God was pleased to give her, were intended not for her self alone, but for the universality of God’s true servants, for whose benefit also she wrote them, the devout reader will, I hope, think himself obliged not to content himself with a fruitless admiring, but will, after her example, aspire to a like affectuous, operative contemplation of the meer nothingness of creatures, of the inconceivable ugliness of sin, of the infinite tenderness and indefectibility of God’s love to his elect, and of the omnipotency of Divine grace working in them ; to which grace alone all good in us is to be ascribed.
XXiV
SANTA
SHAAN ANON
XVI REVELATIONS OF LOVE
Here begins the First Chapter
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