09. "If I look only to myself, I am truly nothing" (The First Revelation - Of His precious crowning with thorns; and therewith ...) (Revelations of Divine Love) (Julian of Norwich)

BECAUSE of the Showing I am not good but if I love God the better: and in as much as ye love God the better, it is more to you than to me. I say not this to them that be wise, for they wish it well; but I say it to you that be simple, for ease and comfort: for we are all one in comfort. For truly it was not showed me that God loved me better than the least soul that is in grace; for I am certain that there are many that never had Showing nor sight but of the common teaching of Holy Church, that love God better than I. For if I look singularly to myself, I am truly nothing; but in [the] general [Body] I am, I hope, in oneness of charity with all my fellow-Christians.

For in this oneness stands the life of all mankind that shall be saved. For God is all that is good, as to my sight, and God has made all that is made, and God loves all that He has made: and he that loves generally all his fellow-Christians for God, he loves all that is. For in mankind that shall be saved is comprehended all: that is to say, all that is made and the Maker of all. For in man is God, and God is in all. And I hope by the grace of God he that beholds it thus shall be truly taught and mightily comforted, if he needs comfort.

I speak of them that shall be saved, for in this time God showed me none other. But in all things I believe as Holy Church believes, preaches, and teaches. For the Faith of Holy Church, the which I had beforehand understood and, as I hope, by the grace of God earnestly kept in use and custom, stood continually in my sight: [I] willing and meaning never to receive anything that might be contrary thereunto. And with this intent I beheld the Showing with all my diligence: for in all this blessed Showing I beheld it as one in God's meaning.

All this was showed by three [ways]: that is to say, by bodily sight, and by word formed in my understanding, and by spiritual sight. But the spiritual sight I cannot nor may not show it as openly nor as fully as I would. But I trust in our Lord God Almighty that He shall of His goodness, and for your love, make you to take it more spiritually and more sweetly than I can or may tell it.