And now [was] my understanding led again into the first [sight]; both
keeping in mind. Then saith this courteous Lord in his meaning: _Lo,
lo, my loved Servant, what harm and distress he hath taken in my
service for my love,--yea, and for his goodwill. Is it not fitting that
I award him [for] his affright and his dread, his hurt and his maim
and all his woe? And not only this, but falleth it not to me to give
a gift that [shall] be better to him, and more worshipful, than his
own wholeness should have been?--or else methinketh I should do him no
grace._
And in this an inward spiritual Shewing of the Lord's meaning descended
into my soul: in which I saw that it behoveth needs to be, by virtue of
His great [Goodness] and His own worship, that His dearworthy Servant,
which He loved so much, should be verily and blissfully rewarded, above
that he should have been if he had not fallen. Yea, and so far forth,
that his falling and his woe, that he hath taken thereby, shall be
turned into high and overpassing worship and endless bliss.
And at this point the shewing of the example vanished, and our good
Lord led forth mine understanding in sight and in shewing of the
Revelation to the end. But notwithstanding all this forth-leading, the
marvelling over the example went never from me: for methought it was
given me for an answer to my desire, and yet could I not take therein
full understanding to mine ease at that time. For in the Servant that
was shewed for Adam, as I shall tell, I saw many diverse properties
that might in no manner of way be assigned[4] to single Adam. And
thus in that time I stood for much part in unknowing: for the full
understanding of this marvellous example was not given me in that time.
In which mighty example three properties of the Revelation be yet
greatly hid; and notwithstanding this [further forthleading], I saw and
understood that every Shewing is full of secret things [left hid].
And therefore me behoveth now to tell three properties in which I
am somewhat eased. The first is the beginning of teaching that I
understood therein, in the same time; the second is the inward teaching
that I have understood therein afterward; the third, all the whole
Revelation from the beginning to the end (that is to say of this Book)
which our Lord God of His goodness bringeth oftentimes freely to the
sight of mine understanding. And these three are so oned, as to my
understanding, that I cannot, nor may, dispart them. And by these
three, as one, I have teaching whereby I ought to believe and trust in
our Lord God, that of the same goodness of which He shewed it, and for
the same end, right so, of the same goodness and for the same end He
shall declare it to us when it is His will.
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