| 08. "In all this I was greatly stirred in charity to my fellow-Christians that they might see and know the same that I saw" | ||||
AND as long as I saw this sight of the plenteous bleeding of the Head I might never cease from these words: Benedicite Domine! | ||||
In which Showing I understood six things: The first is, the tokens of the blessed Passion and the plenteous shedding of His precious blood. The second is, the Maiden that is His dearworthy Mother. The third is, the blissful Godhead that ever was, is, and ever shall be: Almighty, All-Wisdom, All-Love. The fourth is, all-thing that He has made. For well I wish that heaven and earth and all that is made is great and large, fair and good; but the cause why it showed so little to my sight was for that I saw it in the presence of Him that is the Maker of all things: for to a soul that sees the Maker of all, all that is made seems full little. The fifth is: He that made all things for love, by the same love keeps them, and shall keep them without end. The sixth is, that God is all that is good, as to my sight, and the goodness that each thing has, it is He. | ||||
And all these our Lord showed me in the first Sight, with time and space to behold it. And the bodily sight stinted, but the spiritual sight dwelled in my understanding, and I abode with reverent dread, joying in that I saw. And I desired, as I durst, to see more, if it were His will, or else [to see for] longer time the same. | ||||
In all this I was greatly stirred in charity to my fellow-Christians, that they might see and know the same that I saw: for I would it were comfort to them. For all this Sight was showed [with] general [regard]. Then said I to them that were about me: It is to-day Doomsday with me. And this I said for that I thought to have died. (For that day that a man dies, he is judged as shall be without end, as to my understanding.) This I said for that I would they might love God the better, for to make them to have in mind that this life is short, as they might see in example. For in all this time I thought to have died; and that was marvel to me, and troublous partly: for I thought this Vision was showed for them that should live. And that which l say of me, I say in the person of all my fellow-Christians: for I am taught in the Spiritual Showing of our Lord God that He means so. And therefore I pray you all for God's sake, and counsel you for your own profit, that ye leave the beholding of a poor creature that it was showed to, and mightily, wisely, and meekly behold God that of His courteous love and endless goodness would show it generally, in comfort of us all. For it is God's will that ye take it with great joy and pleasance, as if Jesus had showed it to you all. | ||||