Revelations of Divine Love by of Norwich Julian
CHAPTER XXXV
633 words | Chapter 42
"I desired to learn assuredly as to a certain creature that I loved....
It is more worship to God to behold Him in _all_ than in any special
thing"
And when God Almighty had shewed so plenteously and joyfully of His
Goodness, I desired to learn assuredly as to a certain creature that
I loved, if it should continue in good living, which I hoped by the
grace of God was begun. And in this desire for a _singular_ Shewing,
it seemed that I hindered myself: for I was not taught in this time.
And then was I answered in my reason, as it were by a friendly
intervenor[1]: _Take it_ GENERALLY, _and behold the graciousness of the
Lord God as He sheweth to thee: for it is more worship to God to behold
Him in all than in any special thing_. And therewith I learned that
it is more worship to God to know all-thing in general, than to take
pleasure in any special thing. And if I should do wisely according to
this teaching, I should not only be glad for nothing in special, but
I should not be greatly distressed for no manner of thing[2]: for ALL
_shall be well_. For the fulness of joy is to behold God in _all_: for
by the same blessed Might, Wisdom, and Love, that He made all-thing, to
the same end our good Lord leadeth it continually, and thereto Himself
shall bring it; and when it is time we shall see it. And the ground
of this was shewed in the First [Revelation], and more openly in the
Third, where it saith: _I saw God in a point_.
All that our Lord doeth is rightful, and that which He suffereth[3] is
worshipful: and in these two is comprehended good and ill: for all that
is good our Lord doeth, and that which is evil our Lord suffereth. I
say not that any evil is worshipful, but I say the sufferance of our
Lord God is worshipful: whereby His Goodness shall be known, without
end, in His marvellous meekness and mildness, by the working of mercy
and grace.
_Rightfulness_ is that thing that is so good that [it] may not be
better than it is. For God Himself is very Rightfulness, and all His
works are done rightfully as they are ordained from without beginning
by His high Might, His high Wisdom, His high Goodness. And right as He
ordained unto the best, right so He worketh continually, and leadeth
it to the same end; and He is ever full-pleased with Himself and with
all His works. And the beholding of this blissful accord is full
sweet to the soul that seeth by grace. All the souls that shall be
saved in Heaven without end be made rightful in the sight of God, and
by His own goodness: in which rightfulness we are endlessly kept, and
marvellously, above all creatures.
And _Mercy_ is a working that cometh of the goodness of God, and it
shall last in working all along, as sin is suffered to pursue rightful
souls. And when sin hath no longer leave to pursue, then shall the
working of mercy cease, and then shall all be brought to rightfulness
and therein stand without end.
And by His sufferance we fall; and in His blissful Love with His Might
and His Wisdom we are kept; and by mercy and grace we are raised to
manifold more joys.
Thus in Rightfulness and Mercy He willeth to be known and loved, now
and without end. And the soul that wisely beholdeth it in grace, it is
well pleased with both, and endlessly enjoyeth.
[1] "A friendful mene" = intermediary (person or thing), medium:
compare chaps. xix., lv.
[2] See xxxvi. 74.
[3] _i.e._ alloweth.
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