HERE BEGINNETH THE TWO AND TWENTIETH CHAPTER
Of the wonderful love that Christ had to man in person of all
sinners truly turned and called to the grace of
contemplation.
SWEET was that love betwixt our Lord and Mary. Much love had she to Him. Much
more had He to her. For whoso would utterly behold all the behaviour that was
betwixt Him and her, not as a trifler may tell, but as the story of the gospel
will witness--the which on nowise may be false--he should find that she was so
heartily set for to love Him, that nothing beneath Him might comfort her, nor
yet hold her heart from Him. This is she, that same Mary, that when she sought
Him at the sepulchre with weeping cheer would not be comforted of angels. For
when they spake unto her so sweetly and so lovely and said, "Weep
not, Mary; for why, our Lord whom thou seekest is risen, and thou shalt have
Him, and see Him live full fair amongst His disciples in Galilee as He hight,"
she would not cease for them. For why? Her thought that whoso sought verily the
King of Angels, them list not cease for angels.
And what more? Surely whoso will look verily
in the story of the gospel, he shall find many wonderful points of perfect love
written of her to our ensample, and as even according to the work of this
writing, as if they had been set and written therefore; and surely so were
they, take whoso take may. And if a man list for to see in the gospel written
the wonderful and the special love that our Lord had to her, in person of all
accustomed sinners truly turned and called to the grace of contemplation, he
shall find that our Lord might not suffer any man or woman--yea, not
her own sister--speak a word against her, but if He answered for her Himself.
Yea, and what more? He blamed Symon Leprous in his own house, for that he
thought against her. This was great love: this was passing love.