Chapter 83

2 min

"Life, Love, and Light"

I had, in part, touching, sight, and feeling in three properties of God, in which the strength and effect of all the Revelation standeth: and they were seen in every Shewing, and most properly in the Twelfth, where it saith oftentimes: [It is I.] The properties are these: Life, Love, and Light. In life is marvellous homeliness, and in love is gentle courtesy, and in light is endless Nature-hood. These properties were in one Goodness: unto which Goodness my Reason would be oned, and cleave to it with all its might.

I partly touched, saw, and felt three qualities of God. The strength and effect of the whole Revelation rest in these qualities. They appeared in every showing, and most clearly in the Twelfth, where God often says: [It is I.] The qualities are these: Life, Love, and Light. In life there is a wonderful sense of being at home. In love there is gentle courtesy, and in light there is an eternal, natural kinship. These qualities were united in one Goodness. My reason longed to be united with that Goodness and cling to it with all its strength.

Cf. chs. lxxxv. and lxxxvi. These words, like Life, Light, and Love, may represent the Trinity of Might ("the Father willeth"), Wisdom ("the Son worketh"), and Love ("the Holy Ghost confirmeth"): one Goodness. Or they may represent the Trinity, as it is sometimes described, as Might, Wisdom, Goodness: one Love. But here the thought seems to center on Light as the expression of Being. Being is understood as Kyndhede (relationships and correspondences of nature). The Triune Divine Light corresponds in human beings to Reason, Faith, and Charity. Charity keeps people in Faith and Hope while they are here. It leads them from and through and into the Eternal Divine Love.

I beheld with reverent dread, and highly marvelling in the sight and in the feeling of the sweet accord, that our Reason is in God; understanding that it is the highest gift that we have received; and it is grounded in nature.

I looked on with reverent awe, marveling deeply as I saw and felt the sweet harmony of our reason being in God. I understood that reason is the highest gift we have received and that it is rooted in nature.

Our faith is a light by nature coming of our endless Day, that is our Father, God. In which light our Mother, Christ, and our good Lord, the Holy Ghost, leadeth us in this passing life. This light is measured discreetly, needfully standing to us in the night. The light is cause of our life; the night is cause of our pain and of all our woe: in which we earn meed and thanks of God. For we, with mercy and grace, steadfastly know and believe our light, going therein wisely and mightily.

Our faith is a light that comes naturally from our endless Day, God our Father. In this light, Christ our Mother and the Holy Spirit, our good Lord, lead us through this passing life. This light is wisely measured to meet our needs in the night. The light is the source of our life. The night is the source of our pain and all our sorrow. In this night, we earn reward and thanks from God. For, with mercy and grace, we steadfastly know and believe in our light, and walk in it wisely and mightily.

And at the end of woe, suddenly our eyes shall be opened, and in clearness of light our sight shall be full: which light is God, our Maker and Holy Ghost, in Christ Jesus our Saviour.

And when suffering ends, our eyes will suddenly be opened. In the clear light, we will see fully. That light is God, our Maker and Holy Ghost, in Christ Jesus our Saviour.

Thus I saw and understood that our faith is our light in our night: which light is God, our endless Day.

So I saw and understood that our faith is our light in the night. That light is God, our endless day.