"The dearworthy blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as verily as it is most
precious, so verily it it most plenteous"
And after this I saw, beholding, the body plenteously bleeding in
seeming of[1] the Scourging, as thus:--The fair skin was broken full
deep into the tender flesh with sharp smiting all about the sweet body.
So plenteously the hot blood ran out that there was neither seen skin
nor wound, but as it were all blood. And when it came where it should
have fallen down, then it vanished. Notwithstanding, the bleeding
continued awhile: till it might be seen and considered.[2] And this was
so plenteous, to my sight, that methought if it had been so in kind[3]
and in substance at that time, it should have made the bed all one
blood, and have passed over about.
And then came to my mind that God hath made waters plenteous in earth
to our service and to our bodily ease for tender love that He hath to
us, but yet liketh Him better that we take full homely His blessed
blood to wash us of sin: for there is no water[4] that is made that
He liketh so well to give us. For it is most plenteous as it is most
precious: and that by the virtue of His blessed Godhead; and it is
[of] our Kind, and all-blissfully belongeth to us by the virtue of His
precious love.
The dearworthy blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as verily as it is most
precious, so verily it is most plenteous. Behold and see! The precious
plenty of His dearworthy blood descended down into Hell and burst her
bands and delivered all that were there which belonged to the Court of
Heaven. The precious plenty of His dearworthy blood overfloweth all
Earth, and is ready to wash all creatures of sin, which be of goodwill,
have been, and shall be. The precious plenty of His dearworthy blood
ascended up into Heaven to the blessed body of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and there is in Him, bleeding and praying for us to the Father,--and
is, and shall be as long as it needeth;--and ever shall be as long
as it needeth. And evermore it floweth in all Heavens enjoying the
salvation of all mankind, that are there, and shall be--fulfilling the
number[5] that faileth.
[1] _i.e._ as it were from.
[2] "sene with avisement," so, p. 26.--"I beheld with avisement."
[3] _i.e._ Nature, reality.
[4] MS. "licor."
[5] The appointed number of heavenly citizens.
_THE FIFTH REVELATION_