Revelations of Divine Love — Julian of Norwich

Anp then our good Lord opened my ghostly eye, and shewed me my soul in the midst of my heart : I saw the soul so large as it were an endless world, and also as it were a blessed kingdom. And by the conditions that I saw therein, I understood that it is a worshipful city. In mids of that city our Lord Jesu very God and very man, a fair person and of large stature, highest Bishop, most solemne King, worshipful Lord. And I saw him clothed solemnly in worship; he sitteth in the soul, even right in peace and rest. And he ruleth and giveth [guideth] heaven and earth, and all that is. The man-hood with the God-head sitteth in rest: the God-head ruleth and giveth without any instrument or business, And the soul is all occupied with the blessed Godhead ; that is, sovereign might, sovereign wisdom, and sovereign goodness. The place that Jesu taketh in our soul he shall never remove without end, as to my sight: for in us is his homliest home, and his endless dwelling. And in this he sheweth the liking that he hath of the making of mans soul; for 182

——— VA

THE SIXTY-€IGHTH CHAPTER,

| as well as the Father might make a creature, and | as well as the Son might make a creature, so well would the Holy Ghost that mans soul were made, | and so it was done. And therefore the blessedful | Trinity enjoyeth without end in the making of maus | soul: for he saw without beginning, what should | like him without end. All thing that he hath made i sheweth his Lordship, as understanding was given | in the same time by example of a creature, that is led to see great nobleness, and kingdoms longing to a Lord. And when it had seen all the nobleness beneath, then marvelling, it was stirred to seek up above to that high place where the Lord dwelleth ; knowing by reason that his dwelling is in the worthiest place. And thus I understand truly that our soul may never have rest in things that is beneath it self. And when it cometh above all creatures into it self, yet may it not abide in the beholding of it self; but all the beholding is blessedfully set in God; that is, the Maker dwelling therein; for in mans soul is his very dwelling. And the highest light and the brightest shining of the city is the glorious love of our Lord God, as to my sight. And what may make us more enjoy in God, than to see in him that he enjoyeth in us highest of all his works? For I saw in the same shewing that if the blessed Trinity might have made mans soul any better, any fairer, any nobler than it was made, he 183

/ a E

THE SIXTEENTH REVELATION.

should not have been full pleased with making of mans soul: but for he made mans soul as fair, as good, as precious, as he might make it a creature, therefore the blessed Trinity is full pleased without end in the making of mans soul. And he will that our hearts be mightily raised above the deepness of the earth and all vain sorrowes, and enjoy in him. This was a delectable sight, and a restful shewing that is without end: and the bebolding of this whiles we are here, it is full pleasant to God, and full great speed to us. And the soul that thus beholdeth, it maketh him like to him that is beholden, and oned in rest and in peace by his grace. And this was a singular joy and bliss to me that I saw him sitting: for the truth of sitting shewed endless dwelling. And he gave me knowing truly that it was he that shewed me all before: and when I had beholden all this with advisement; then shewed our good Lords words full meekly, without voice, and without opening of lips, right as he had done afore, and said full sweetly; ‘Wait it nom well, it was no raving that thou samest to day : but take it and believe it, and keep thee therein, and comfort thee therenith, and trust thereto, and thou shalt not be overcome. These last words were said for learning of full true sikerness that it is our Lord Jesu that shewed me all. And right as in the first word, that our good Lord shewed, meaning his blessed passion, ‘herewith is 184

— E

Te aes cts

ar ttti aps oid EAR IER

THE SIXTY-NINTH CHAPTER