Comfortable Words for Christ's Lovers

7/29/2019 Comfortable Words for Christ's Lovers

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UBRARVUNIVERSITY OFCALIFORNIASAN DIEGO ^

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Social Sciences & Humanities LibraryUniversity of California, San Diego

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. SAN DIEGO

3 1822 02462 0460

COMFORTABLE WORDSFOR CHRIST'S LOVERS


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COMFORTABLE WORDSFOR CHRIST'S LOVERS

BEING THE VISIONS AND VOICESVOUCHSAFED TO

I LADY JULIANRECLUSE AT NORWICH IN 1373TRANSCRIBED AND EDITEDFROM THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED MANUSCRIPT

(Brit. Mus. Addit. 37,790)BY THE

REV. DUNDAS HARFORD, M.A.Vicar of Emmanuel, West End, Hampstead

LONDON : H. R, ALLENSON, LIMITEDRACQUET COURT, FLEET STREET, E.C.


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N.B.From the opposite table it will be readilypossible to refer to the parallel passages in MissGrace Warrack's Edition (b^sed on the Sloanemanuscripts^ sometimes in the notes referred to as"B") or in Father Tyrrell's (based on the Parismanuscript; referred to as " P.")


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CONTENTSFAGS

SloaneMSS. INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR . 7and Paris MS, BIBLIOGRAPHY .... 14Chap, i, 2' Introduction by the Copyist . 16

,, 2* Chapter I. Her Three Desires 17,,3 ,, II. Sickness and LastRites ... 22,, 3*, 4 ,, III. Vision OP THECrownop Thorns . 27,,5 IV. The Littleness ofTHE KOSMOS . 30

7, 8* V. Six Things Seen . 35)i 8*, g* VI. Of Brotherly Love 38,, 9*, 8* VII. Three Methods opTHE Revelations , 43 10-13 )> VIII. The Power of thePassion . . 46,, 14, 15 ,, IX. Ups and Downs opWeal and Woe . 52,, 16-19" ,, X. "The FellowshipOP His Suffer-ings" ... 57 19-21 XL On Choosing onlyJesus ... 63


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Lady Julian's TeachingsSloane MSS.and Paris MS. pagb

Chap. 22, 23CHAPTEEXII. Three Heavens . 68, 24-28 XIII. The Passion, andTHE Problem of

Sin . . . 71t 29. 30 ,, XIV. Of CONTENTMKNT INTHE Atonement . 78. 31-33 > XV. All Things Well . 82> 34-37" >> XVI. The UniversalityOF Sin... 85 37*- 39 > XVII. The Scottrge andSalve of Sin . 88, 40 XVIII. Choose Pain ratherTHAN Sin . . 93, 41-43 ,, XIX. Concerning Prayer 96, 64, 65 XX. Sure and CertainHope . . .104,66 XXI. Reaction and Night-mare . . . 110, 67, 68 ,, XXII. The Soul Christ'sHomeliest Home . 114 69-73" ,, XXIII. She Defies theDevil and Sin . 118 73*. 72* ,, XXIV. Love the AntidoteTO Impatience . 124. 74. 73 ), XXV. Fear God: FearNOUGHT Else . 128

Glossary . .1336


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INTRODUCTIONI. The Manuscript

i. A certain romantic interest attachesto the MS. from which this version istaken. It seems to have been seen byFrancis Blomefield before the middle ofthe eighteenth century, and describedin his " History of Norfolk," vol. iv.p. 81. By a curious mistake he givesthe date in the introduction (see belowp. 16) as " Mccccxlij," for " Mccccxiij,"thus giving the Lady Julian's age at thattime as 100, instead of 71. This errorhas misled all later writers upon LadyJulian. The MS. was then lost to publicnotice till 1909, when it was boughtby the British Museum at LordAmherst's sale.

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Lady Julian's Teachingsii. Comparison with the Paris and

Sloane MSS. (see Bibliography, page 14)shows the recovered version to be verymuch shorter than the type of textrepresented by them. In the opinion ofthe present Editor it is what mightbe called the " first edition " of theRevelations, and the longer form isthe outcome of the twenty years' sub-sequent meditation, thought and experi-ence, referred to in the 51st and in thelast chapters of the later version. Ithas been suggested that it was ab-breviated from them : it is here main-tained that they were expanded from it.

II. The Author1. Of external or historical evidence

for Lady Julian's life we have none thatcan be relied on. All that we knowof her is drawn from her writings.

ii. From the internal evidence welearn that she was born about 1342

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Introductionthat she was a recluse, or anchoress, ina cell attacaed to the church of St Julian,Norwich ; ttiat in the year 1373, duringa serious sickness, from which she wasnot expected to recover, she had vouch-safed to her a series of visions, or revela-tions, which were afterwards writtendown and made public ; and that shewas still living in 1413.

iii. It is a fascinating personalitywhich is here revealed ; full of deep andrich feeling : marked by singular fresh-ness and naivete : strongly original andindividual : sympathetic and brimmingover with love : bold, even to rashness,in thought and expression, while pro-fessing loyal submission to Holy Church :candid about her own defects : humbleas to her powers and attainments : fullof humanity, while caught up to wonder-ful closeness to the Divine. Lady Juliandeserves to rank high amongst the greatmystics of the world.

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Lady Julian's TeachingsIII. The Visions

Lady Julian gives two distinct accountsof the manner of the revelations, both ofwhich deserve careful study.

i. In the first, twice set down,** shedescribes three ways in which the teach-ing was showed to her : (1) " By bodilysight," as to which she says, "I havesaid as I saw, as truly as I can " : (2)" By words formed in mine understand-ing." She adds, "as for the wordsformed, I have said them right as ourLord showed me them" : (3) " By ghostlysight. But the ghostly sight ... I maynever fully tell it." If an explanationmay be hazarded tentatively, she appearsto mean somewhat thus :(1 ) She seemedto see visions with the outward eye : (2)She seemed to receive in her quickened

Chap, vii., page 43, and chap, xxiii., page122. (In the other Editions chaps, ix. and Ixxii. orbcxiii.)

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Introductionreasoning faculties verbal messages, dis-tinctly formed in her mind : (3) By-spiritual intuition, or the " innerLight," she saw fresh Divine truths,she touched reality, she was "oned toGod."

ii. In the second,* " twenty yearsafter the time of the showing," shecandidly owns to a process of " develop-ment," by which the original revelationswere enlarged to the dimensions shownin the longer (and later) versions. Shetells of three stages in the revelations :(1) " The beginning of teaching that Iunderstood therein in the same time "(2) " The inward teaching that I haveunderstood therein since " ; (3) " Allthe whole revelation from the beginningto the end, which our Lord God . . .bringeth oftentimes to the light of mineunderstanding. And these three be so

* Not in the Amherst MS., but in the otherMSS., chap. li.

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Lady Julian's Teachingsoned, as to my understanding, that Icannot nor may dispart themy *

iii. The Amherst MS., here for thefirst time printed, would seem to theEditor to represent more nearly thefirst freshness of the original " sub-liminal uprush " ; the other versions,especially chapters xliv. to Ixiii., and Ixxv.to Ixxxviii., to have in them far largerelements of subsequent study and medita-tion. Each of the two types has thus acharacter and value of its own.

iv. No attempt is here made to sum-marise the mystical teachings of LadyJulian. They will bring their ownmessage to those who " desire to beChrist's lovers." There are " hard say-ings " among them, mingled with " wordsof eternal life." The wise will knowhow rightly to divide them. LadyJulian will be best understood by thosedescribed by the copyist of Sloane MS.

^ The italics are ours.12


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Introduction3705, " whose hearts, Hke hers, doflame in ye Love of our DearestJesu."

IV. The present EditionThe Editor has tried to give the

original wording, wherever it would notbe positively misleading to the modernreader. He has modernised the spelling.For the punctuation, and the divisioninto paragraphs, he is alone responsible,as there are few stops, and no breaks,in the MS. He owes more than he cansay to Miss Grace Warrack's beautifuledition of the longer version, which hehopes that all readers will try to readalongside of it. He has received kindhelp from Miss Evelyn Underhill, MrsGraham Wilmot Brooke, Sir JamesMurray, Mr J. A. Herbert, ProfessorW. W. Skeat, and others, and Miss GraceWarrack herself has given generousencouragement.

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IntroductionHe is profoundly conscious of thecomplex difficulties of the task he has

rashly ventured upon, and would begrateful for any corrections of mis-takes on the part of more competentscholars.

Figures in the text refer reader to the glossaryat end, page 183.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LADYJULIANI. MSS. i. Brit. Mus.

(1) Addit. MS., 37,790. [Mid-FifteenthCentury.]

(2) Sloane, 2499. [Late Seventeenth Cen-tury.]

(3) Sloane, 3705. [Mid-Eighteenth Cen-tury.]

ii. Paris: Bibliotheque Nationale. Fondsanglais, 40. [Sixteenth Century.]

II. Printed editions, i. From the Paris MS.(1) Dom Serenus de Cressy, 1670.

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Bibliography of Lady Julian(2) Dom Serenus de Cressy, 1670 : Editedby G. H. Parker, 1843.(3) Ditto : Edited by Father Tyrrell.

(Kegan Paul.) 1902.ii. From Sloane MS., 2499.

(1) In " Mediaeval Library of Mysticaland Ascetical Works," Edition byRev. P. H. Collins (Th. Richardson),1877.

(2) Miss Grace Warrack. (Methuen.)1901.

(3) "Revelations de 1'Amour de Dieu.Traduites par un Benedictin deFarnborough." (Librairie H. Oudin.Paris, 1909.)

(4) "All Shall be Well." Selections fromthe Writings of the Lady Julian ofNorwich, a.d. 1373. (Mowbray.)

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INTRODUCTION, BY THECOPYISTHere is a vision, showed by the good-ness of God to a devout woman, and hername is Julian, that is recluse at Nor-wich, and yet is on life, anno domini,Mccccxiij. In the which vision are fullmany comfortable words, and greatlystirring to all that desire to be Christ'slovers.

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COMFORTABLE WORDSFOR CHRIST'S LOVERSCHAPTER I

HER THREE DESIRESI DESIRED three graces by the gift ofGod.The first was, to have mind (2) of

Christ's Passion.The second was, bodily sickness.The third was, to have of God's gift

three wounds.As for the first, it came to my mind

with devotion. Methought I had greatfeeUng in the Passion of Christ ; but yetI desired to have more by the grace ofGod. Methought I would have beenat that time with Mary Magdalene,

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Lady Julianas Teachingsand with others that were Christ's lovers,that I might have seen bodily the Passionof our Lord, that He suffered for methat I might have suffered with Him,as others did that loved Him.

Notwithstanding that I believedfirmly* all the pains of Christ, as HolyChurch shows and teaches; and all thepaintings of crucifixes that are made,by the grace of God, after the teachingof Holy Church, to the likeness ofChrist's Passion, as far forth as man'swit may reach; and notwithstandingall this true belief, I desired a bodilysight, wherein I might have more know-ing of the bodily pains of our Lord andSaviour, and of the compassion of OurLady, and of all His true lovers thatwere believing His pains, that time andsince. For I would have been one ofthem, and have suffered with them.

Other sight or showing of God I never MS. sadlye.

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Her Three Desiresdesired, till the soul were departed (6)from the body; for I trust* truly thatI should be safe ; and this was mymeaning. For I wished because of thatshowing to have afterwards the moretrue mind (2) in the Passion of Christ.As for the second [desire], there came

into my mind with contrition, freelywithout any seeking, a wilful (8) desireto have of God's gift a bodily sickness.And I would that this bodily sicknessmight have been so hard as unto death,so that I might in the sickness receiveall my rites'' of Holy Church, thinkingmyself that I should die, and that allthat saw me might think the same.For I wished to have no comfort of anyfleshly or earthly life. In this sicknessI desired to have all manner of pains,bodily and ghostly, that I should haveif I should die : all the terrors andtempests of fiends, and all manner of

* MS. trayste. '' MS. ryghtynges.19


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Lady Julian's Teachingstheir pains, save of the out-passing ofthe soul. For I hoped that it might beto me a speed (is) when I should die,for I desired soon to be with my God.

These two desiresof the Passion, andof the sicknessI desired with a con-dition ; for methought that it passedthe common course of prayers ; andtherefore I said : " Lord, Thou knowestwhat I would. If it be Thy will that Ihave it, grant it me. And if it be notThy will, good Lord, be not displeased,for I will nought but as Thou wilt."This sickness desired I in my thoughtthat I might have it when I were thirtyyears old.As for the third [desire], I heard

a man tell of Holy Church of the storyof Saint Cecilia. In the which showing Iunderstood that she had three woundswith a sword in the neck, with the whichshe pined to her death. By the stining(i) of this I conceived a mighty desire,

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Her Three Desirespra3dng our Lord God that He wouldgrant me three wounds in my life time :that is to say, the wound of contrition,the wound of compassion, and the woundof wilful (8) longing towards God.Right as I asked the other two with acondition, so I asked the third withoutany condition. These two desires before-said passed from my mind. And thethird dwelled continually.

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CHAPTER IISICKNESS AND LAST RITES

And when I was thirty winters old anda half, God sent me a bodily sickness,in the which I lay three days and threenights. And on the fourth night Ireceived all my rites of Holy Church,and thought not to have lived till day.And after this I (lO) languored forthtwo days and two nights. And on thethird night I thought ofttimes to havepassed [away] ; and so thought theythat were about me. But in this Iwas right sorry, and loth to die ; but notfor anything that was in earth thatmeliked (ii) to live for, nor for any-thing that I was afraid for ; for I trustedin God. But it was because I would

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Sickness and Last Riteshave lived to have loved God better andlonger time, that I might by the graceof that living have the more knowingand loving of God in the bliss of heaven.For methought all the time that I shouldhave lived here, so little and so shortin the regard of endless bliss.

I thought thus : " Good Lord, maymy living be no longer to Thy worship ? "And I was answered in my reason, andby the feelings of my pains, that I shoulddie. And I assented fully, with all thewill of my heart, to be at God's will.Thus I endured till day ; and by

then was my body dead from the midstdownward, as to my feeling. Then wasI stirred (i) to be set upright, leaningwith clothes to my head, for to havethe more freedom of my heart to be atGod's will and thinking on Him whilemy life should last.And they that were with me sent forthe parson my curate to be at mine

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Lady Julian's Teachingsending. He came, and a child withhim ; and brought a cross. And bythen I had set mine eyes, and might (13)not speak. The parson set the crossbefore my face, and said, "Daughter, Ihave brought thee the image of thySaviour. Look thereupon, and comfortthee therewith in reverence of Him thatdied for thee and me."Methought then that I was well,*

for mine eyes were set upward intoheaven, whither I trusted for to come.But, nevertheless, I assented to set mineeyes on the face of the crucifix, if Imight, for to endure longer till the timeof mine ending. For methought Imight longer endure to look straightforward** than upright.

After this my sight began to fail, andit was all dark about me in the chamber,and murky, as it had been night, save

' i.e. that it was well with me as I was." if,S.,evynforthe.

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Sickness and Last Ritesthat in the image of the cross there helda common Hght ; * and I wist neverhow all that was beside the cross wasugly to me, as if it had been muchoccupied with fiends.

After this the upper part of my bodybegan to die, as to my feeling. Myhands fell down on either side ; and alsofor lack of power'' my head settleddown on one side. The most pain thatI felt was shortness of breath and failingof life. Then thought I truly to havebeen at the point of death.And in this suddenly all my pain was

away from me, and I was as whole,and especially in the upper part of mybody, as ever I was before or after. Imarvelled at this change, for methoughtit was a secret** working of God, and

* Probably she means, *' the daylight seemedto linger," or, possibly, " there held" may be MiddleEnglish for " there poured." The other MSS. read," I beheld." " MS. " unpowere."

" MS. alle. > MS. prive.25


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Lady Julian's Teachingsnot of nature.* And yet by the feelingof this ease I trusted never the morethat I should live. And the feeling ofthis ease was not full ease to me, formethought I had Hefer have been de-livered of this world, for my heart wasset thereon.^

MS. kynde. " MS. wilfulle thereto.

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CHAPTER IIIVISION OF THE CROWN OF THORNSAnd suddenly came into my mind thatI should desire the second wound,* ofour Lord's gift and of His grace: thatHe would fulfil my body with mind (2)and feeling of His blessed Passion, as Ihad before prayed. For I would thatHis pains were my pains, with compas-sion, and afterward longing towardsGod.** Thus methought that I mightwith His grace have His wounds thatI had before desired.But in this I desired never any bodily

sight, nor any manner of showing ofGod, but such compassion as methought

' i.e. " compassion," or fellow-feeling, p. 21.^ i.e. the " third wound."

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Lady Julian's Teachingsa kind (14) soul might have with ourLord Jesus, that would for love becomemortal* man. With Him I desired tosuffer, living in mortal body, as Godwould give me grace.And in this suddenly I saw the redblood trickle down from under the

Garland, all hot, freshly, plentifully andlively, right as methought that it wasin that time that the Garland of Thornswas thrust on His blessed head. Right so,both God and man, He suffered for me.

I conceived truly and mightily that itwas Himself that showed it me withoutany mean ; ^ and then I said, " Bene-dicite Domine." This I said reverentlyin my meaning with a mighty voice.And full greatly I was astonished forwonder and marvel that I had, that Hewould be so homely with a sinful creature,living in this wretched flesh.

MS. dedly ; and so elsewhere.** Or intermediary.

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Vision of the Crown of ThornsThus I took it for that time that ourLord Jesus, of His courteous love,

would show me comfort before the timeof my temptation, for methought itmight be well* that I should, by thesufferance of God, and with His keeping,be tempted of fiends before I died.With this sight of His blessed Passion,with the Godhead that I saw in mineunderstanding, I saw that this wasstrength enough for meyea, for allcreatures living that should be safeagainst all the fiends of hell, and againstall ghostly (9) enemies.

* Perhaps for " well be."

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CHAPTER IVTHE LITTLENESS OF THE KOSMOS

And this same time that I saw thisbodily sight, our Lord showed me aghostly (9) sight of His homely loving.I saw that He is to us all-thing that isgood and comfortable to our help. Heis our clothing: for love wraps us andwinds us, embraces us* and all betakesus,^ and hangs about us for tenderlove, that He may never leave us. Andso in this sight I saw truly that He isall-thing that is good, as to mine under-standing.And in this He showed me a little

thing, the quantity of a hazel-nut, lying' MS. halses us. MS. alle be teches us= lays hold of us.

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The Littleness of the Kosmosin the palm of my hand ; and, to myunderstanding, it was as round as anyball. I looked thereupon, and thought," What may this be ? "And I was answered generally thus ;

" It is all that is made."I marvelled how it might last, for

methought it might fall suddenly tonought for littleness. And I wasanswered in mine understanding : "Itlasts, and ever shall, for God loves it."And so hath all-thing its being throughthe love of God.

In this little thing I saw three parts :The first is that God made it.The second is that He loves it.The third is that God keeps it.But what is that to me ? Truly [thatHe is] the Maker, the Lover, the Keeper ;

for till I am substantially oned to Him,I may never have love, rest nor trueblissthat is to say, that I be so fastenedto Him that there be right nought that

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Lady Julian's Teachingsis made betwixt my God and me. Andwho shall do this deed ? Truly HeHimself by His mercy and His grace,for He has made me thereto, and bliss-fully restored me.

In this God brought Our Lady to mineunderstanding. I saw her spiritually *in bodily likeness a simple maiden and ameek, young of age, in the stature thatshe was when she conceived. Also Godshowed me in part the wisdom and thetruth of her soul ; wherein I understood[the] reverent beholding in which shebeheld her God that is her Maker,marvelling with great reverence that Hewould be bom of her that was a simplecreature of His making. And thiswisdom of truth, knowing the greatnessof her Maker, and the littleness ofherself that is made, made her for to saymeekly to the Angel Gabriel, " Lo, mehere, God's handmaiden ! "

* MS. gastelye.82


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The Littleness of the KosmosIn this sight I saw truly that she ismore than all that God made beneath

her in worthiness and in fulness. Forabove her is nothing that is made butthe blessed manhood of Christ.

This little thing that is made, that isbeneath our Lady Saint Mary, Godshowed it unto me as little as it hadbeen a hazel-nut. Methought it mighthave fallen for littleness.

In this blessed revelation God showedme three noughts, of which noughts thisis the first that was showed meof thisneeds each man and woman to haveknowing that desires to live contem-platively^that it pleases him to [countas] nought* all -thing that is made,for to have the love of God that isunmade.For this is the cause why they thatare occupied wilfully in^ earthly bust-

MS. " that hym lyke to nought"'' i.e. set their hearts on.

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Lady Julianas Teachingsness, and evermore seek worldly weal,are not here of His in* heart and insoul, for they love and seek here restin this thing that is so little, whereinis no rest, and know not God, that isAlmighty, All-wise, and All-good, forHe is true rest.God willeth to be known, and it

pleases Him that we rest in Him. For allthat is beneath Him suffices not to us.And this is the cause why no soul isrested, till it be noughted ^ of all that ismade. When he is noughted ^ for loveto have Him that is all that is good,then is he able to receive ghostly rest.

^ B.Si p. MSS. " in ease of." i.e. emptied, or stripped.

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CHAPTER VSIX THINGS SEEN

And in that time that our Lord showedthis that I have now said in ghostlysight, I saw the bodily sight lastingof the plenteous bleeding of thehead. And as long as I saw thatsight I said oftentimes, BenediciteDominus.

In this first showing of our Lord Isaw six things in mine understanding.The first is the tokens of His blissful

Passion, and the plenteous sheddingof His precious blood.The second is the Maiden that is His

dearworthy Mother.The third is the blissful Godhead,

that ever was, and is, and ever shall85


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Lady Julian's Teachingsbe, All-Mighty, All-Wisdom, and All-Love.The fourth is all-thing that He has

made. It is great* and fair and largeand good. But the cause why it showedso little to my sight was because I sawit in the presence of Him that is itsMaker. For to a soul that sees theMaker of all - thing, all that is madeseemed full little.The fifth is that He has made all-thing

that is made for love, and through thesame love it is kept, and ever shall bewithout end, as it is before said.The sixth is that God is all-thing that

is good, and the goodness that all-thinghas is He.And all this our Lord showed me in

the first sight, and gave me space andtime to behold it. And the bodilysight ceased ^ ; and the ghostly sightdwelt in mine understanding ; and I

MS. mykille. " MS. stynted.36


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Six Things Seenabode with reverent dread, joying inthat I saw, and desiring, as far as Idiu'st, to see more if it were His will,or [to see] the same for longer time.

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CHAPTER VIOF BROTHERLY LOVE

All that I say of myself I mean [also] inthe person of all mine even-Christians *for I am taught in the ghostly showingof our Lord that He means so.And therefore I pray you all for God'ssake, and counsel you for your own profit,that ye leave the beholding of thewretched, worldly, sinful creature thatit was showed unto, and that ye mightily,wisely, lovingly and meekly beholdGod, that of His courteous love, and ofHis endless goodness, would show gener-ally * this vision, to comfort us all.And ye that hear and see this teaching' i.e. " fellow-Christians," and so elsewhere.^ i.e. '' to all alike," and so elsewhere.

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Of Brotherly Lovethat is from Jesus Christ to edificationof your soul, it is God's will and mydesire that ye take it with as great joyand liking (17) as if Jesus had showed itto you, as He did to me.

Because of* the showing I am notgood, but [only] if I love God the better.And so may, and so should, each mando that sees it and hears it with goodwill and true meaning. And so is mydesire that it should be to every man thesame profit that I desired to myself,and thereto was stirred (i) of God in thefirst time when I saw it for the profitof many others. For truly it was notshowed unto me for that God loves mebetter than the least soul that is in grace.For I am sure there are full many thatnever had showing nor sight but of thecommon teaching of Holy Church, thatlove God better than I. For if I looksingularly (16) to myself, I am right

MS. for.


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Lady Julian's Teachingsnought ; but in general I am in onenessof charity with all mine even-Christians ;for in this oneness of charity standsthe life of all mankind that shall besafe.For God is all that is good, and God

has made all that is made, and God lovesall that He has made. And if any manor woman depart (6) his love from anyof his even-Christians, he loves rightnought, for he loves not all. And soat that time he is not safe, for he is notin peace.And he that generally (16) loves his

even-Christians, he loves all that is.For in mankind that shall be safe iscomprehended all that is, all that ismade, and the Maker of all. For inman is God ; and so in man is all. Andhe that thus generally loves all his even-Christians, he loves all. And he thatloves thus, he is safe. And thus will Ilove, and thus I love ; and thus I am

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Of Brotherly Lovesafe ; for I mean in * the person of myeven-Christians.And the more I love of this loving

while I am here, the more I am like to thebliss that I shall have in heaven withoutendthat is, God, that of His endlesslove would become our Brother, andsuffer for us. And I am sure that hethat beholds it thus, he shall be trulytaught and mightily comforted, if heneeds comfort.But God forbid that ye should say,or take it so, that I am a teacher, forI mean not sono, I meant never so.For I am a woman unlearned,^ feebleand frail ; but I know well this that Isay I have it of the showing of Him thatis Sovereign Teacher. But truly charitystirs me to tell you it. For I would Godwere known, and my even-Christianssped (18), as I would be myself, to themore hating of sin and loving of God.

* or, have in mind. ^ MS, leued.41


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Lady Julian's TeachingsBut, because I am a woman, should I

therefore leave [it alone], that I shouldnot tell you the goodness of God, sinceI saw in the same time that it is His willthat it be known ? And that shall yewell see in the same matter that followsafter, if it be well and truly taken.Then shall ye soon forget me that ama wretch, and do* so that I let (21) younot, and behold Jesus that is Teacherof all.

I speak of them that shall be safe,for in this time God showed me noneother ; but in all things I believe asHoly Church teaches. For in all thingsthis blessed showing of our Lord I beheldit as one in God's sight. And I under-stood nothing therein that astonishes ^me, nor lets (21) me of the true teachingof Holy Church.

MS. dose. '' MS. stonez.

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CHAPTER VIITHREE METHODS OF THE

REVELATIONSAll this blessed teaching of our LordGod was showed to me in three parts *that is, by bodily sight, and by wordformed in mine understanding, and byghostly sight. But the ghostly sightI may not, and can not, show it untoyou as openly and as fully as I would.But I trust in our Lord God Almightythat He shall of His goodness, and foryour love, make you to take it moreghostly and more sweetly than I canor may tell it you. And so may it be,for we are all one in love.

qf. p. 122.48


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Lady Julian's TeachingsAnd in all this I was much stirred (i)

in charity to mine even-Christians, thatthey might all see and know the samethat I saw, for I would that it werecomfort to them all, as it is to me. Forthis sight was showed in general, andnothing in special.

Of all that I saw, this was the mostcomfort to me, that our Lord is so homelyand so courteous. And this most filledme with liking (17) and security insoul.Then said I to the folk that were with

me : " It is to-day Doomsday with me."And this I said because I thought tohave died. For that day that a man orwoman dies is he judged * as he shall bewithout end.

This I said because I would theyloved God more, and set the less priceby the vanity of the world, for to make

MS. demed.

5. 4.4


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Methods of the Revelationsthem to have mind (2) that this hfe isshort, as they might see in ensampleby me. For in all this time I thoughtto have died.

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CHAPTER VIIITHE POWER OF THE PASSION

And after this I saw with bodily sightthe face of the crucifix that hung beforeme, in which I beheld continually a partof His Passiondespite, spitting andsowling* of His body, and buffetingof His blessed face, and many languorsand pains, more than I can tell, and oftchanging of colour, and all His blessedface at one time covered with^ dryblood. This I saw bodily and heavilyand darkly. And I desired more bodilylight, to have seen more clearly. AndI was answered in my reason that if Godwould show me more. He should, butI needed no light but Him.

* i.e. dragging about. ^ MS. closede in.46


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The Power of the PassionAnd after this I saw God in a point,

that is, in mine understanding. Bywhich sight I saw that He is in all-thing.I beheld with advisement,* thinking andknowing in that sight that He does allthat is done.

I marvelled in this sight with a softdread ; and thought, " What is sin ? "For I saw truly that God doth all-thing,be it never so little. And nothing isdone by hap nor by chance ^ ; but [by]the endless foresight of the wisdomof God. Wherefore it behoved me ofnecessity to grant that all-thing that isdone is well done. And I was sure thatGod does nothing.^ [It] was not showedme what sin is nakedly by itself, as I shalltell afterward.And after this I saw, beholding, the

body plenteously bleeding, hot and' MS. vysement. '' MS. eventure. probably " no sin," as B. Sf P. MSS. There is

a footnote in the MS., showing some confusion inthe meaning.

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Lady Julian's Teachingsfreshly and lively, right as I saw beforein the head. And this was showed me inthe seams * of scourging. And this cameso plenteously to my sight that methoughtif it had been so in reality ^ for that time,it would have made the bed all on blood,and have passed over the side.God has made waters plenteously in

earth to our service and to our bodilyease, for tender love that He has to us.But yet it pleases Him better that wetake fully His blessed blood to wash uswith from sin. For there is nothing*that is made that it pleases Him so wellto give us, for it is so plenteous, and ofour nature.And after this, ere God showed me

any wounds,' He suffered me to beholdlonger both all that I had seen, and allthat was therein. And then, without

' i.e. scars. *" MS. kynde.' MS. on about. * MS. no lykoure. MS. kynde. ' MSS. B.


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The Power of the Passionvoice and without opening of lips,was formed in my soul this word*' Herewith is the fiend overcome."This word said our Lord, meaning[thereby] His Passion, as He showedme before.

In this our Lord brought to my mindand showed me a part of the fiend'smalice, and the whole of his weakness *and for that He showed me that HisPassion is the overcoming of the fiend.God showed me that he has now the samemalice that he had before the Incarna-tion. And however** sore 'he travails,and however'' continually, [yet] he seesthat all chosen souls escape him worship-fully (12) ; and that is all his sorrow.For all that God suffers him to do turnsus to joy, and him to pain and to shame.And he has as much sorrow when Godgives him leave to work, as when heworks not ; and that is because he may

MS. " fully his unmyght." " MS. "als.D 49


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Lady Julian's Teachingsnever do as ill as he would ; for hismight is all locked in God's hand. AlsoI saw our Lord scorn his malice, andset him at nought*; and He will thatwe do the same.For this sight I laughed mightily, and

that made them to laugh that were aboutme. And their laughing was pleasing tome. I thought I would mine even-Christians had seen as I saw ; then shouldthey all have laughed with me. But Isaw not Christ laugh. Nevertheless, Heis pleased that we laugh in comfortingof us, and are joying in God that the fiendis overcome.And after this I fell into seriousness,''

and said : "I see, I see three thingsgame, scorn, and earnest.

" I see game, that the fiend is overcome.** And I see scorn, that God scorns him,and he shall be scorned.

' MS. nought him.^ MS. in to a sadde hete.

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The Power of the Passion" And I see earnest, that he is overcomeby the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and by His Death that was done fullearnestly and with sad (4) travail."

After this our Lord said : "I thankthee for thy service, and for thy travail,and especially in thy youth."

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CHAPTER IXUPS AND DOWNS OF WEAL AND WOEGod showed me three degrees of bUssthat each soul shall have in heaven, thatwilfully (8) has served God in any degreehere in earth.The first is the worshipful (12) thanking

of our Lord God that he shall receive,when he is delivered from pain. Thisthanks is so high and so worshipful (12)that it seems to him to fill him,* thoughthere were no more bliss. For methoughtthat all the pain and travail that mightbe suffered of all living men might nothave deserved the thanks that a manshall have that wilfully (8) has servedGod.

' MS. hym thynke it fylles hym.52


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Weal and WoeThe second is, that all the blessed

creatures that are in heaven shall seethat worshipful (12) thanking of ourLord God ; and He makes his serviceknown to all that are in heaven.The third is, that as new and as pleas-

ing as it is received at that time, rightso shall it last without end.

I saw that goodly and sweetly was thissaid and showed to me, that the age ofevery man shall be known in heaven, and[he shall be] rewarded for his wilful (8)service and for his time ; and especiallythe age of them that wilfully (8) andfreely offer their youth to God is pass-ingly (19) rewarded and wonderfullythanked.And after this our Lord showed me a

sovereign ghostly (9) liking (17) in my soul.In this liking I was fulfilled with ever-lasting sureness, mightily fastened with-out any dread. This feeling was soglad to me, and so goodly, that I was in

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Lady Julian's Teachingspeace, in ease, and in rest, so that therewas nothing in earth that should havegrieved me.

This lasted but a while, and I wasturned and left to myself in heavinessand weariness of myself, and irksomenessof my life, that scarcely I could havepatience to live. There was none ease,nor any comfort to my feeling, but hope,faith, and charity. And these I had intruth, but full little in feeling. Andanon after* God gave me again thecomfort and the rest in soul, liking (17)and sureness so blissful and so mightythat no dread, no sorrow, no pain bodilyor ghostly that might be suffered,should have distressed me. And thenthe pain showed again to my feeling,and then the joy, and then the liking (n)and now the one, and now the other,divers times, I suppose about twentytimes.

' i.e. after a while.54


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Weal and WoeAnd in the time of joy I might have

said with Paul, " Nothing shall depart (6)me from the charity of Christ."And in pain I might have said with

Saint Peter, " Lord, save me, I perish."This vision was showed me to teachme, as I understand,* that it is needful

to every man to feel on this wisesometime to be in comfort, and some time tofail and be left to himself. God willthat we know that He keeps us everalike secure in weal and in woe, andloves us as much in woe as in weal.And some time for the profit of his soula man is left to himself, although^sin is not the cause ; for in this time Isinned not wherefore I should be leftto myself ; and also I deserved not tohave this blissful feeling. But freelyGod gives weal when He pleases, andsuffers [us to be] in woe sometimes

' MS. atte my undyrstandynge.^ MS. and to whethere=aiid nevertheless.

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Lady Julian's Teachingsand both is of love, for it is God's willthat we hold us in comfort with all ourmight ; for bliss is lasting without end, *and pain is passing, and shall be broughtto nought. Therefore it is not God'swill that we follow the feelings of painin sorrowing and in mourning, for theybut suddenly pass over ; and hold us inendless liking (17), that is, God Almighty,our Lover and Keeper.

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CHAPTER X"THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS

SUFFERINGS "After this Christ showed me a part ofHis Passion, near His dying. I saw thatsweet face, as it were, dry and bloodlesswith pale dying; then more dead pale,languoring ; and then turned more deadinto blue ; and then more blue as theflesh turned more deeply dead. Forall the pains that Christ suffered in Hisbody showed to me in the blessed face,as far forth as I saw it, and especiallyin the lips. There I saw these fourcolours, those that I saw beforehandfresh and ruddy, lively and pleasing tomy sight. This was a heavy change,to see this deep dying.

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Lady Julian's TeachingsAnd also the nostrils* changed, anddried to my sight. This long pining

seemed to me as if He had been a sevennight dying,'' always suffering pain.And methought the drying of Christ'sflesh was the most pain of His Passion,and the last.And in this dryness was brought tomy mind this word that Christ said :

" I thirst." For I saw in Christ a doublethirst ; one bodily, the other ghostly.This word was showed to me for thebodily thirst ; and for the ghostly thirstwas showed to me as I shall say after-ward.And for the bodily thirst I under-

stood that [which] the body had throughfailing of moisture. For the blessedflesh and bones were left alone withoutblood and moisture. The blessed bodydried all one** long time, with wring-

JUS. nese. " MS. dede. MS. of. " Possibly^ alone.

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" Fellowship of His Sufferings "ing of the nails, and heaviness * ofthe head, and weight of the body, witha blowing of wind from without thatdried more and pined Him with cold,more than my heart can think. Andall other such pains I saw that all is toolittle that I can tell or say, for it maynot be told ; but each soul, after thesaying of Saint Paul, should feel in himthat in Christ Jesus [Phil. ii. 5.^]

This showing of Christ's pains filledme full of pains, for I knew well Hesuffered not but once, but as He wouldshow it me, and fill me with mind [of it],as I had desired before.My mother, that stood amongst othersand beheld me, lifted up her hand beforemy face to lock (b) mine eyes, for shethought I had been dead ; or else I haddied. And this increased much my

* MS. paysyngre." Wyclif : " and fele ye this thing in you : which

also in crist ihesus." " or close.59


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Lady Julian's Teachingssorrow, for notwithstanding all my pains,I would not have been letted (21) for lovethat I had in Him ; and nevertheless * inall this time of Christ's presence I feltno pain but for Christ's pains. Then Ithought I knew fully for what pain itwas that I asked ; for methought that mypains passed any bodily death. I thought" Is any pain in hell like this pain ? "And I was answered in my reason

that despair is more, for that is ghostlypain. But bodily pain [there] is nonemore than this. How might my painbe more than to see Him that is all mylife, all my bliss, and all my joy, suffer ?Here felt I truly that I loved Christ

so much above myself, that methoughtit had been a great ease to me to havedied bodily.Herein I saw in part the compassion

of our Lady Saint Mary. For Christand she were so oned in love that the

* MS. and to whethere.60


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" Fellowship of His Sufferings "greatness of her love was the cause ofthe muchness* of her pain, for so muchas she loved Him more than all others,her pain passed all others. And so allHis disciples and all His true loverssuffered pains more than their own bodilydying. For I am sure by mine ownfeeling that the least of them loved Himmore than they did themselves.Here I saw a great oneing betwixt

Christ and us ; for when He was in pain,we were in pain ; and all creatures thatmight suffer pain, suffered with Him.And they that knew Him not, this wastheir painthat all creatures, the sunand the moon, withdrew their serviceand so were they all left in sorrow forthe time.And thus they that loved Him suffered

pain for love, and they that loved Himnot suffered pain for failing of comfortof all creatures.

* MS. mykille hede.61


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Lady Julianas TeachingsIn this time [that] I would have lookedupon the Cross, I was secure and safe.

Therefore I would not assent to putmy soul in peril; for beside the Crosswas no sureness, but ugliness of fiends.Then had I a proffer in my reason asif it had been friendly. I said to me,*" Look up to heaven to His Father ! "Then saw I well, with the faith that

I felt, that there was nothing betwixtthe Cross and heaven that might havedistressed me. And either it behovedme to look up, or else to answer. Ianswered and said : " Nay, I may not,for Thou art mine Heaven."

This I said because I would not. ForI had liefer have been in that pain tillDoomsday than have come to Heavenotherwise than by Him. For I knewwell He that bought me so sore shouldunbind me when He would.

' Probably in error for " as if it had been friendlysaid to me," a* in the other editions.

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CHAPTER XION CHOOSING ONLY JESUS

Thus chose I Jesus for my Heaven,Whom I saw only in pain at that time.I Uked no other Heaven than Jesus,Who shall be my bliss when I am there.And this has ever been a comfort to me,that I chose Jesus to my Heaven, in alltime of passion and of sorrow. Andthat has been a learning to me, thatI should evermore do so, and chooseonly Him to my Heaven in weal andin woe.And thus saw I my Lord Jesus languor

a long time ; for the oneing of the God-head for love gave strength to the man-hood to suffer more than all men might.I mean not only nwre pain only than all

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Lady Julian's Teachingsmen might suffer ; but only that Hesuffered more pain than all men thatever were from the first beginning to theLast Day. No tongue may tell, norheart fully think, the pains that ourSaviour suffered for us, having regardto the worthiness of the highest wor-shipful King, and to His shamefuldespiting and painful death. For Hethat was highest and worthiest wasmost fully noughted, most wittinglydespised.But the love that made Him to suffer

all this, it passes as far all His pains,as Heaven is above earth. For thepains were a deed done in a time by theworking of love ; but love was withoutbeginning, and is, and ever shall bewithout any end.And suddenly, as I beheld in the

same Cross, He changed into blissfulcheer. The changing of His cheerchanged mine ; and I was as glad and

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On Choosing only Jesusmerry as it was possible. Then broughtour Lord merrily to my mind : " Whatis any point of thy pain or of thy grief ? "And I was full merry.

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CHAPTER XnTHREE HEAVENS

Then said our Lord, asking : " Artthou well content,* that I suffered forthee ? " " Yea, good Lord," quoth I :" Gramercy,^ good Lord : blessed mayestThou be ! " " If thou be content,"quoth our Lord, " I am content. It isa joy and a bliss and an endless liking (17)to me that ever I suffered Passion forthee. For if I might suffer more, Iwould suffer."

In this feeling mine understandingwas lifted up into Heaven ; and thereI saw three Heavens ; at which sightI greatly marvelled.

* MS. payde, and ao throughout the ohapter.* i.$. "grand merci," many thanki.

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Three HeavensI thought I saw three Heavens ; and

all through* the blessed Manhood ofChrist. And none is more, none is lessnone is higher, none is lower ; but even-like in bliss.

For the first Heaven, Christ showedme His Father ; but in no bodily likeness,but in His property and in His liking.**The working of the Father is thisthatHe gives meed (22) to His Son JesusChrist. This gift and this meed (22)is so blissful to Jesus, that the Fathermight have given no meed that mighthave pleased Him better.

For the first Heaven, that is thebliss" of the Father, showed to me as aHeaven ; and it was full blissful. ForHe is made full of bliss ^ with all the deedsthat He has done about our salvation.Wherefore we are not only His through

' MS. of: perhaps == due to." ? condition. The other MSS. read, " working." MS, bljrs8ynge. " MS. fully blyisede.

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Lady Julianas Teachingsbu3dng, but also by the courteous giftof His Father. We are His bliss : weare His meed (22) : we are His worship(12) : we are His crown.

This that I say is so great bliss toJesus that He sets at nought His travailand His hard Passion, and cruel andshameful death. And in these words," If I might suffer more, I would suffermore,"I saw truly that if He mightdie as often as for every man once thatshall be safe, as He did once for all,love should never let Him have resttill He had done it. And when He haddone it. He would set it at nought forlove. For all [seems to] Him * but littlein regard of His love.And that showed He me well soberly ''

(20) saying this word,"If I mightsuffer more." He said not,

" If it

' MS. "alle thynge hym " : probably in error for"^alle thynkyth hym."

* B.Sf P. read, *' sweetly."68


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Three Heavenswere needful to suffer more"; but," If I might suffer more." For thoughit be not needful, if* He might suffermore, more He would.

This death and this work about oursalvation was [ordained] as well as Hemight ordain it. It was done as worship-fully (12) as Christ might do it. And inthis I saw a full bliss in Christ ; but thisbliss should not have been done fully,if it might any better have been donethan it was done.And in these three words" It is a

joy and a bliss and an endless liking (17)to Me " were showed to me threeHeavens, as thus :For the joy, I understood the pleas-

ance of the Father ; for the bliss, theworship (12) of the Son; and for theendless liking (17), the Holy Ghost. TheFather is pleased : the Son is worshippedthe Holy Ghost is satisfied.*' Jesus wills

MS. ''and." " MS. lykes.69


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Lady Julian's Teachingsthat we take heed to this bliss, thatis in the blessed Trinity of our salvation,and that we find as much satisfactionifi * His grace, while we are here. Andthis was showed me in this word," Artthou well content ? " *> By the otherword that Christ said," If thou becontent, I am content," He showed methe understanding as if He had said," It is joy and liking (17) enough tome; and I ask nought else for mytravail, but that I might content thee."Plenteously and fully was this showedto me. Think also wisely of the great-ness of this word" That ever I sufferedPassion for thee "for in that wordwas a high knowing of love, and ofliking (17) that He had in our salvation.

* MS. lyke als mekylle with. *' MS. payed.

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CHAPTER XIIITHE PASSION, AND THE PROBLEM

OF SINFull merrily and gladly our Lord lookedinto His side, and beheld, and said thisword," Lo, how I loved thee ! " asif He had said," My child, if thoucannot look into My Godhead, see herehow I let open My side, and My heartbe cloven in two, and let out blood andwater, all that was therein. And thispleases Me, and so will I that it do thee."This showed our Lord to me to makeus glad and merry.And with the same cheer and mirthHe looked down on the right side, and

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The Passion, and Problem of Sinme nothing in special but our Lady SaintMary. And her He showed me in threetimes. The first was as she conceivedthe second was as she were in her sorrowsunder the Cross ; and the third was asshe is now in hking (17), worship (12),and joy.And after this our Lord showed Him-

self to me more glorified as to my sightthan I saw Him before. And in this Iwas taught that each soul contemplativeto which is given to look [for] and seekGod, shall see her, and pass unto God bycontemplation. And after this teach-inghomely, courteous, and blissful,and very lifeofttimes our Lord Jesussaid to me : " I it am that is highest.I it am that thou loves. I it am thatthou likes. I it am that thou serves.I it am that thou longs for. I it am thatthou desires. I it am that thou means.I it am that is all. I it am that HolyChurch preaches thee and teaches thee.

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Lady Julian's TeachingsI it am that showed Me before* tothee."

These words I declare not but for eachman after the grace that God gives him,in understanding and loving [to] receivethem in our Lord's meaning.And after, our Lord brought to mymind the longing that I had to Himbefore ; and I saw that nothing letted (21)me but sin. And so I beheld generallyin us all. And methought if sin had notbeen, we should all have been clean andlike to our Lord, as He made us. Andthus in my folly before this time oftI wondered why by the great, foreseeingwisdom of Gk>d sin was not letted (21).For then methought that all should havebeen well.

This stirring (1) was much to forsakeand mourning and sorrow I made for it,without reason or discretion, of fullgreat pride. And nevertheless Jesus

* MS. are, Le. ere.74


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The Passion, and Problem of Sinin this vision informed me of all thatme needed. I say not that me needsno more teaching ; for our Lord with theshowing has left me to Holy Church.And I am hungry and thirsty and needyand sinful ; and freely and willingly sub-mit me to the teaching of Holy Church,with all mine even-Christians, to theend of my life.He answered by this word, and said

" Sin is behovely." * In this word " sin "our Lord brought to my mind gener-ally all that is not goodthe shamefuldespite and the utter noughting that Hebare for us in this life and in His dying ;and all the pains and passions of all Hiscreatures, ghostly and bodily (for we areall in part noughted, and we should

It is difficult to render satisfactorily thisphrase. Miss Warrack reads, " It behoved thatthere should be sin."Compare Luke xxiv. 26, "Behoved it not the

Christ to suffer ? " In Lady Julian's mind sin andsuffering seem closely bound up.

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Lady Julianas Teachingsbe noughted following our Master Jesus,till we be fully purged : that is to say,till we be fully noughted of our ownmortal flesh, and of all our inward affec-tions, which are not good ) ; and the be-holding of this, with all the pains thatever were, and ever shall be.And this was showed me in a touch

and readily passed over into comfort.For our good Lord God would notthat the soul were afeared by* thisugly sight.But I saw not sin ; for I believe

it has no manner of substance, norpart of being ; nor it might not beknown but by the pains that it iscause of.And this pain, it is something, as tomy sight, for a time ; for it purges us,

and makes us to know ourselves, andask mercy. For the Passion of ourLord is comfort to us against all this

MS. aFerdede of.76


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The Passion, and Problem of Sinand so is His blessed will to all thatshall be safe.He comforts readily and sweetly by

His words, and says : " But all shallbe well, and all manner of things shallbe well." These words were showedwell tenderly, showing no more* ofblame to me, nor to any that shall besaved. Then were it a great unkind-ness** of me to blame or to wonder atGod for my sins, since He blames not mefor sin.Thus I saw how Christ has compassion

of us for the cause of sin ; and rightas I was before with the Passion ofChrist fulfilled with pain and compassion,so in this I was in part filled with com-passion of all my even-Christians. Andthen saw I that each kind compassionthat man has for his even-Christians withcharity, it is Christ in him." * B. Sf P., " manner,''

^ i.e. a very unnatural thing. ? natural.77


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CHAPTER XIVOF CONTENTMENT IN THEATONEMENT

But in this ye shall study, beholdinggenerally,' drearily and with mourn-ing, saying thus to our Lord in mymeaning with full great dread : " Ah,good Lord, how might all be well, forthe great harm that is come by sin tothy creatures ? " And I desired, as Idurst, to have some more open declar-ing, wherewith I might be eased in this.And to this oiu* blessed Lord answered

full meekly and with full lovely cheer,and showed me that Adam's sin was themost harm that ever was done, or evershall to the world's end. And also He

* *.. considering the matter ftt Urge.78


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Contentment in the Atonementshowed me that this is openly knownin all Holy Church on earth. Further-more He taught me that I should be-hold the glorious Atonement*; for thisatonement-making is more pleasing tothe blessed Godhead, and more worship-ful to man's salvation, without com-parison, than ever was the sin of Adamharmful.Then means (7) our blessed Lord thus

in this teaching, that we should takeheed to this : " For since I have madewell the greatest harm, it is My will thatthou know thereby that I shall makewell all that is less."He gave me understanding of two

parts :(1) The first part is our Saviour and

our salvation. This blessed part isopen and clear and fair and light andplenteous. For all mankind that is ofgood will, or that shall be, is compre-

* MS. aaethe.79


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Lady Julian's Teachingshended in this part. Hereto are webidden of God, and drawn and coun-selled and taught inwardly by the HolyGhost, and outwardly by Holy Churchby the same grace.

In this will our Lord that we beoccupied, enjoying in Him, for He enjoysin us. And the more plenteously thatwe take of this, with reverence andmeekness, the more we deserve thanksfrom Him, and the more speed (18) toourselves. And thus may we say, en-joying ; " Our part is our Lord."

(2) The other part is shut off* fromus, and hiddenthat is to say, all thatis beside our salvation. For this is ourLord's privy counsels ; and it belongsto the Royal Lordship of God for tohave His privy counsels in peace ; andit belongs to His servants, for obedienceand for reverence, not to wish to knowHis counsels.

' MS. spared.80


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Contentment in the AtonementOur Lord has pity and compassion ofus, for that some creatures make them-

selves so busy therein [i.e. about God'scounsels]. And I am sure if we knewhow much we should please Him, andease ourselves, for to believe it, we would.The Saints in Heaven will to knownothing but what our Lord will showthem ; and also their charity and theirdesire is ruled after the will of our Lord.And thus ought we to will, and not*to be like to Him. And then shall wenothing will nor desire but the will ofour Lord, as He does ; for we are allone in God's meaning. And here wasI taught that we shall only enjoy in ourblessed Saviour Jesus, and trust in Himfor all things.

MS. ne.

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CHAPTER XVALL THINGS WELL

And thus our good Lord answered to allthe questions and doubts that I mightmake, saying full comfortably on thiswise : "I will make all things wellI shall make all things well : I maymake all things well ; and I can make allthings well. And thou shalt see thyselfthat all things shall be well."

"SVhere He says. He may, I understandfor the Father. And where He says.He can, I understand for the Son. Andwhere He says, " I will,'' I understandfor the Holy Ghost. And where Hesays, " I shall,'' I understand for theunity of the blessed Trinity, threePersons in a truth. And where He says,

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All Things Well" Thou Shalt see thyself,'' I understandthe oneing of all mankind that shall besafe into the blessed Trinity.And in these five words God wills

[that we] be closed in rest and in peace.And thus has the ghostly thirst of Christan end. For this is the ghostly thirstthe love-longing. And that lasts, andever shall, till we see that Sight atDoomsday. For we that shall be safe,and shall be Christ's joy and His bliss,are yet here, and shall be unto that Day.Therefore this is the thirstthe failingof His bliss, that He has us not in Himas wholly as He shall then have.

All this was showed me in the showingof compassion ; for that shall cease atDoomsday. Thus He hath ruth andcompassion of us, and He has longingto have us. But His wisdom and Hislove suffers not the end to come tillthe best time.And in these same five words before-

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Lady Julianas Teachingssaid : " I may make all things well,'*I understand a mighty comfort of allthe works of our Lord that are for tocome. For right as the blessed Trinitymade all things of nought, right so thesame blessed Trinity shall make wellall that is not well. It is God's will thatwe have great regard to all the deedsthat He has done, for He wills that weknow thereby all that He shall do. Andthat showed He me in this word that Hesaid, " And thou shalt see thyself thatall manner of things shall be well."

This I understand in two manners :one, I am well content* that I knowit not : another, I am glad and merry,for I shall know it. It is God's willthat we know that all shall be well ingeneral ; but it is not God's will that weshould know it now, but as it belongs tous for the time. And that is the teachingof Holy Church.

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CHAPTER XVITHE UNIVERSALITY OF SIN

God showed me full great pleasance thatHe has in all men and women thatmightily and meekly and worshipfullyreceive* the preaching and the teach-ing of Holy Church. For He is HolyChurch. For He is the Ground : He isthe Substance : He is the TeachingHe is the Teacher : He is the EndHe is the Midst,** for which eachtrue soul travails. And He is knownand shall be known to each soul to whomthe Holy Ghost declares it. And I amsure that all those that feel thus shallspeed (18), for they seek God.

MS. take. " ? meed. MS. mjMea.' MS, wharefor*.

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Lady Julian's TeachingsAll this that I have now said, andmore that I shall say after, is comforting

against'"sin. For first, when I saw that[God] does all that is done, I saw not sin.And then saw I that all is well. Butwhen God showed me sin, then said He,"All shall be well." And when GodAlmighty had showed me plenteouslyand fully of His goodness, I desired ofa certain person that I loved, How itshould be with her. And in this desireI letted (21) myself, for I was not taughtin this time.And then was I answered in my reason,

as it were by a friendly man : " Takeit generally ; and behold the courtesyof thy Lord God as He shows it to thee ;for it is more worship (12) to God tobehold Him in all, than in any specialthing."

I assented, and therewith I learnedthat it is more worship (12) to God toknow ill things in general than to like

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The Universality of Sinin * any thing in special. And if Ishould do wisely, after this teaching,I should not be glad for anything inspecial, nor distressed for any mannerof thing ; for " all shall be well."God brought to my mind that I should

sin. And for liking (17) that I had inbeholding Him, I attended not readilyto that showing. And our Lord fullcourteously abode till I would attend.And then our Lord brought to mind,with my sins, the sin of all mine even-Christians in general, and nothing inspecial.

* t.. take pleasure in.

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CHAPTER XVIITHE SCOURGE AND SALVE OF SIN

Although* our Lord showed me thatI should sin, by me alone I understoodall. In this I conceived a soft dread.And to this our Lord answered me thus :" I keep thee full surely." This wordwas said to me with more love and sure-ness of ghostly keeping than I can ormay tell. For, as it was before showedme, " That I should sin,'* right so wasthe comfort showed to mesureness ofkeeping for all mine even-Christians.What may make me more to love mineeven-Christians than to see in God thatHe loves all that shall be safe, as itwere all one ^ soul ?

MS. Iff alia. " MS. .98


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The Scourge and Salve of SinAnd in each soul that shall be safeis a goodly will that never assented to

sin, nor ever shall. For as there isan animal * will in the lower nature ^that may will no good ; so there is agoodly will in the higher nature


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Lady Julian's Teachingsand it is to them no shame that theyhave sinned. No more is it in the blissof Heaven, for there the tokening * ofsin is turned into worship (12). Rightso our Lord God showed me them inensample of all others that shall comethither.

Sin is the sharpest scourge that anychosen soul may be beaten with ; whichscourge altogether beats ^ man andwoman, and altogether breaks" them,and noughts them in their own sight,so far forth that they think they are notworthy but as it were to sink into hell.But when contrition takes him by thetouching of the Holy Ghost, then turnshe bitterness into hope of God's mercy.And then begin his wounds to heal, andthe soul to quicken, turned into the lifeof Holy Church. The Holy Ghost leads

* i.e. that which betokens sin." MS. it alle forbettes.* MS. alle for brekea.

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The Scourge and Salve of Sinhim to confession, willingly to show hissins, nakedly and truly, with greatsorrow and great shame that he has sodefiled* the fair image of God. Thenhe takes penance for each sin, enjoinedby his doomsman^ that is grounded inHoly Church, by the teaching of theHoly Ghost.By this medicine it behoves every

sinful soul to be healed ; and especiallyof sins that are mortal in themselves.*Though he be healed, his wounds areseen before God, not as wounds but asworships (12). And so, contrary wise,as he is punished here with sorrow andwith penance, he shall be rewarded inHeaven by the courteous love of our LordGod Almighty, Who will that none thatcomes there lose his travail.That meed (22) that we shall receivethere shall not be little ; but it shall be* MS. dvfowled. ** i.e. hia coDfeasor.

* MS. dedely in the slfe.91


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Lady Julian's Teachingshigh, glorious and worshipful (12). Andso shall all shame turn into worship (12)and into more joy. And I am sure bymine own feeling that the more eachkind soul sees this in the kind andcourteous love of God, the more lothis he for to sin.

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CHAPTER XVinCHOOSE PAIN RATHER THAN SIN

But if thou be stirred (i) to say or tothink : " Since this is true, then were itgood for to sin, for to have the moremeed,"*beware of this stirring (i),and despise it, for it is of the enemy.For whatever soul wilfully takes thisstirring,^ he may never be safe, tillhe be amended [of it], as of mortalsin. For if there were laid before meall the pain that is in hell and purgatory,and in earth death and other [pains];and sin ;I had liefer choose all thatpain than sin. For sin is so vile, and somuch for to hate, that it may be likened

Of. Rom. vi. 1.^ i.e. willingly welcomes this temptation.

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Lady Julianas Teachingsto no pain that is not sin. For all isgood but sin ; and nothing is wicked butsin.

Sin is neither deed nor liking.* Butwhen a soul wilfully (8) chooses sin, whichis pain, as before ^ his God, at the endhe has right nought.That pain I think is the hardest hell

for he has not his God. In all pains asoul may have God, except in sin. Andas mighty, and as wise as God is to saveman, [even] as willing He is.

For Christ Himself is the ground ofall the laws of Christian men. And Hehas taught us to do good against evil.Here may we see that He is Himselfthis charity, and does to us as Heteaches us to do. For He will that webe like to Him in oneness of endlesslove, to ourselves and to our even-

' Sir James Murray sends this explanation " i.e.neither what one does nor what one would like todo."

^ ? rather than.94


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Choose Pain rather than SinChristians. No more than His love isbroken to us for our sin, no more willHe that our love be broken to ourselvesnor to our even-Christians ; but [thatwe] nakedly* hate sin, and endlesslylove the soul, as God loves it. For thisword that God said is an endless comfortthat keeps us full surely.

' i.e. fiimplf.

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CHAPTER XIXCONCERNING PRAYER

After this our Lord showed me con-cerning Prayer.* I saw two conditions[needful] in them that pray, accordingto that ^ I have felt in myself.One is, they will not pray for anything

that may be, but that thing that is God'swill and His worship (12).Another is, that they set them mightily

and continually to beseech that thingthat is His will and His worship (12).And that is as I have understood by

the teaching of Holy Church, for in thisour Lord taught me the same, to haveof God's gift faith, hope and charity,and keep us therein to our lives' end.

MS. foure prayers. " MS. After that.06


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Concerning PrayerAnd in this we say Pater noster, Ave,and Crede, with devotion as God willgive it.And thus we pray for all our even-

Christians, and for all manner of menthat God wills.* For we would thatall manner of men and women were inthe same virtue and grace that we oughtto desire for ourselves. But yet in allthis ofttimes our trust is not full ; forwe are not sure that God Almighty hearsus, as we think because of our unworthi-ness, and because we feel right nought.For we are as barren and as dry oft-times after our prayers as we were before ;and thus in our feeling our folly is causeof our weaknessfor thus have I feltin myself.And all this brought our Lord suddenly

to my mind, and mightily and livelyand comforting me against this mannerof weakness in prayers, and said :

* MS. God es wille es.G 97


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Lady Julian's Teachings" I am the ground of thy beseeching." First, it is My will that thou have it." And then I make thee to will it." And then I make thee to beseech it." And if thou beseech it, how should it

then be that thou should not have thybeseeching ? "And thus in the first reason, with the

three that follow after, our Lord showeda mighty comfort. And the first, whereHe says : "If thou beseech," there Heshows full great pleasance,* and endlessmeed (22) that He will give us for ourbeseeching.And in the fourth reason, where He

says : " How should it then be thatthou should not have thy beseeching ? "there He shows a sober ^ undertakingfor we trust not as mightily as weshould do.Thus will our Lord that we both pray

and trust ; for the cause of the reasons i.e. kindness. '' i.e. quiet, firm.

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Concerning Prayerbeforesaid is to make us mighty againstweakness in our prayers. For it is God'swill that we pray, and thereto He stirsus in these words beforesaid. For Hewill that we be sure to have our prayers,for prayer pleases God. Prayer pleasesman with * himself, and makes him sober(20) and meek that beforehand was instrife and travail.

Prayer ones the soul to God. Forthough the soul be ever like God innature^ and in substance, it is oft un-like in condition through sin on man'spart. Then makes prayer the soul likeunto God, when the soul will as Godwill. And then is it like to God in con-dition, as it is in nature.^And thus He teaches us to pray, and

mightily to trust that we shall havewhat we pray for. For all-thing that isdone should be done though we neverprayed it. But the love of God is so

' ? within. '' MS. kynde.99


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Lady Julian's Teachingsgreat that He holds us partners of Hisgood deed. And therefore He stirs usto pray for what it pleases Him to dofor us.* For whatever prayer or goodwill we have of His gift, He will rewardus and give us endless meed.And this was showed me in this word :" If thou beseech it." In this word Godshowed me so great pleasance and sogreat liking (17) as if He were muchbeholden to us for each good deed thatwe do (although it is He that does it),and for that we beseech [Him] busily to dothat thing that pleases Him. As if Hesaid : " How might thou please Me morethan to beseech [Me] busily, wisely andwilfully (17) to do that thing that Iwill do ? "And thus prayer makes accord betwixt

God and man's soul. For at what timeman's soul is homely with God, he needsnot to pray, but behold reverently what

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Concerning PrayerHe says. For in all this time that thiswas showed me, I was not stirred topray, but to have always this well inmy mind for comfortthat when wesee God we have what we desire, and thenwe need not to pray : but when we seenot God, then do we need to pray, becauseof failing, and for attuning'^ ourselvesto Jesus. For when a soul is tempted,troubled and left to itself by unrest,then is it time to pray, and to makehimself simple and buxom to God. Unlesshe be buxom (23), no manner of prayermakes God supple to him, for He is everalike in love.But in the time that man is in sin, he

is so unmighty, so unwise, and so un-loving, that he cannot love God or him-self. The most mischief that he has isblindness ; for he sees not all this.Then the whole love of God Almighty,that ever is one, gives him sight to him-

' MS. habelynge.101


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Lady Julian's Teachingsself. And then thinks he that Godwere wrath with him for his sin. Andthen is he stirred to contrition, and by-confession and other good deeds to slakethe wrath of God, until the time hefind rest in soul, and softness in con-science. And then he thinks that Godhas forgiven his sins. And it is true.And then is God, in the sight of the

soul, turned to behold the soul, as if ithad been in pain or in prison, sayingthus : "I am glad that thou art cometo rest ; for I have ever loved thee,and now love Thee, and thou Me."And thus with prayers, as I have before

said, and with other good works, thatare customable by the teaching of HolyChurch, is the soul oned to God.

[Note.There is a great gap here inour manuscript, as compared with theSloane and Paris manuscripts. All thatis contained in their chapters xliv. to Ixiii.

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Concerning Prayeris omitted, and the manuscript proceedswithout any sign of a break havingoccurred. These chapters seem to bereflexions of the writer during the fifteenor twenty years that followed theRevelations. See Introduction, p. 10.]

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CHAPTER XX"SURE AND CERTAIN HOPE"

Before this time I had oft great longing,and desired of God's gift to be deliveredout of this world and of this life, for Ishould be with my God in bliss, whereI hope surely through His mercy to bewithout end. For ofttimes I beheldthe woe that is here, and the weal andthe blessed being. There. And if therehad been no pain in earth but theabsence of our Lord God, methoughtsometime it were more than I mightbear.And this made me to mourn and

busily (24) long. Then God said to me,for patience and for sufferance, thus" Suddenly thou shalt be taken from all

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"Sure and Certain Hope"thy pain, from all thy distress, and fromall thy woe. And thou shalt come upabove ; and thou shalt have Me for thymeed ; and thou shalt be fulfilled withjoy and bliss ; and thou shalt never haveany manner of pain, any manner ofsickness, any manner of misliking,*any wanting of will, but ever joy andbliss without end. What should it thengrieve thee to suffer a while, since it ismy will and my worship ? "Also in this reason, " Suddenly thoushalt be taken," I saw how Godrewards man of the patience that hehas in abiding of God's will in his time,and that man lengthens his patience overthe time of his living, not knowing thetime of his passing away.^ This isa great profit, for if a man knew histime, he should not have patience overthat time.

* dissatisfaction.^ for unknawynge of his time of passynge.

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Lady Julian's TeachingsAlso God will, while the soul is in the

body, that it seem to itself that it isever at the point to be taken ; for allthis life, in this languor that we havehere, is but a point. And when we aretaken suddenly out of pain into bliss,it shall be nought. And therefore saidour Lord, " What should it then grievethee to suffer awhile, since it is my willand my worship ? " (12)

It is God's will that we take Hisbehests and His eomfortings as largelyand as mightily as we may take them.And also He will that we take our abidingand our distress as lightly as we maytake them, and set them at nought.For the lightlyer we take them, the lessprice we set by them for love,* theless pain shall we have in the feeling ofthem, and the more thanks we shallhave for them.

In this blessed revelation I was truly' i.e. for love's sake.

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"Sure and Certain Hope**taught that what man or woman wil-fully (8) chooses God in his life, he maybe sure that he is chosen. Keep thistruly ; for verily it is God's will that webe as secure in trust of the bliss inHeaven, whiles we are here, as we shouldbe in security when we are there. Andever the more liking (17) and the joythat we take in this security, withreverence and meekness, the better isHe pleased.*For I am sure that if there had beennone but I that should be safe, Godwould have done all that He has donefor me ; and so should each soul thinkin knowing of his Lover ; forgetting,if he might, all [other] creatures, andthinking that God has done for him allthat He has done. And this, methinks,should stir a soul to love and like Him,and nought dread but Him.For it is His will that we know that

* likes hym.107


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Lady Julian's Teachingsall the might of our enemy is locked*in our Friend's hand. And thereforea soul that knows surely this, shallnought dread but Him that he loves, andset all other dreads among passions andbodily sicknesses and imaginations.And therefore, if a man be in so muchpain, so much woe, and so much distress,that he thinks that he can think of rightnought but that that he is in, or that hefeels,as soon as he may, [let him]pass lightly over, and set it at nought.And why ? because God will be known.For if we knew Him and loved Him,we should have patience and be in greatrest, and we should be satisfied withall ^ that He does.And this showed our Lord me in these

words that He said, " What should itthen grieve thee to suffer awhile, sinceit is My will and My worship ? " Andhere was an end of all that our Lord

MS. loken. ^ it should be lykjmge to us.108


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"Sure and Certain Hope"showed me that day. [See fuller noteof the time and order of the Revelationsat close of chapter Ixv. in the othereditions.]

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CHAPTER XXIREACTION AND NIGHTMARE

And after this soon I fell to myself, andinto my bodily sickness, understandingthat I should live ; and as a wretch Iheavied and mourned for the bodilypains that I felt, and thought it greatirksomeness that I should longer live.And I was as barren and dry as if I hadnever had but little comfort before,through falling into * my pains, andfailing of ghostly feeling.Then came a Religious person to me,

and asked me how I fared. And I saidthat I had raved that day. And helaughed loud and heartily.''And I said : " The Cross that stood MS. for fallynge to. " MS. entirely.

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Reaction, and Nightmareat my bed's foot, it bled fast." Andwith this word the person that I spoke towaxed all sad (4) and marvelling. Andanon I was sore ashamed for my reck-lessness, and I thought thus : " Thisman takes it sadly (4), the least wordthat I might say, though I say * nomore thereto." And when I saw thathe took it so sadly, and with so greatreverence, I waxed right greatly ashamed,and would have been shriven. But Icould tell it no priest ; for I thought," How should a priest believe me ?I believed not our Lord God." This Ibelieved truly for the time that I sawHim ; and so was then my will andmy meaning ever to do without end.But as a fool I let it pass from my mind.Lo, wretch that I am ! this was a greatsin and a great unkindness, that forfolly of feeling of a little bodily pain,I so unwisely left for a time the comfort

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Lady Julianas Teachingsof all this blessed showing of our LordGod.Here may ye see what I am of myself.

But herein would not - our courteousLord leave me. And I lay still tillnight, trusting in His mercy. And thenI began to sleep. And in my sleep atthe beginning methought the fiend sethim at my throat, and would havestrangled me ; but he might not.Then I woke out of my sleep, and

scarcely had I my life. The personsthat were with me beheld me, and wetmy temples. And my heart began to[take] comfort.And anon a little smoke came in at

the door, with a great heat and a foulstench.* I said, " Benedicite dominus.Is all on fire that is here ? " And Ithought it had been a bodily fire thatshould have burned us to death. Iasked them that were with me if they

MS. styuke.112


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Reaction, and Nightmarefelt any stench. They said, " Nay,they felt none." I said, " Blessed beGod I " For then knew I well it wasthe fiend was come to tempest me.And anon I took that that our Lord

had showed me on the same day with allthe faith of Holy Church, for I holdit as both one ; and I fled thereto as tomy comfort. And all-soon all vanishedaway, and I was brought to great restand peace, without sickness of bodyor dread of conscience.

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CHAPTER XXIITHE SOUL CHRIST'S HOMELIEST HOMEBut then I remained awake ; and thenour Lord opened my spiritual eyes, andshowed me my soul in the midst of myheart. I saw my soul so large as it werea kingdom ; and by the conditions thatI saw therein, methought it was a wor-shipful City.

In the midst of this City sits our LordJesus, very God and very man ; a fairPerson, and of large stature ; worshipful,highest Lord. And I saw Him cladsolemnly in worships (12). He sits in thesoul, even-right in peace and rest. AndHe rules and guards * Heaven andearth, and all that is. The manhood

* MS. zemez.114


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The Soul Christ's Homewith the Godhead sits in rest. And theGodhead rules and guards * without anyinstrument or busyness.And my soul [I saw] blissfully occupied

by the Godhead, that is Sovereign Might,Sovereign Wisdom, Sovereign Goodness.The place that Jesus takes in our soul.He shall never remove it without endfor in us is His homeliest home, and mostliking to Him to dwell in.

This was a delectable sight, and arestful ; for it is so in truth without end.And the beholding of this whiles we arehere is full pleasing to God, and fullgreat speed (18) to us. And the soulthat thus beholds it makes it[self] liketo Him that is beheld, and ones [it] inrest and in peace. And this was asingular joy and a bliss to me, that I sawHim sit ; for the beholding of thissitting showed to me the sureness of Hisendless [in]dwelling.

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Lady Julian's TeachingsAnd I knew truly that it was He thatshowed me all before. And when I had

beheld this full advisedly,* then ourLord showed me words full meekly,without voice and without opening oflips, as He had done before, and saidful

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Comfortable Words for Christ's Lovers