The New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem

A 7

...hearts have been awakened: "verwackert," meaning stirred or roused from spiritual sleep to your love and service; and I find that it now wearies my senses to occupy them with anything else than you, my Lord, who are my comfort, and with your words, which are my life. Oh! that I might always keep this mind, and might not only hear your word, but also keep it in a good and fine heart: an allusion to the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:15, that I might bring forth proper fruits from it to your honor: what shall your handmaid: "Dienareſſe," a feminine form of servant say more? than that she humbles herself before you, always contemplating your wholesome words, and reflecting on her own wretchedness: "snoodtheyt," the soul’s recognition of its own insignificance compared to God and your excellence.

THE LORD. It pleases me well, my friend: "Vriendinne," a term often used in the Song of Solomon for the Bride, representing the soul in mystical literature, that I find you concerned about this; I shall give you my Spirit, the Comforter: "Trooster," a traditional title for the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), who shall bring to your mind all that I have taught you, and shall lead you into all truth, and shall strengthen you in all faint-heartedness, and against all that might terrify you: for he shall remain with you always.

MARY. From whence does this come to me, my Lord, that you speak thus kindly to my heart? behold your handmaid: "dienst-maeght," echoing the Virgin Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel in Luke 1:38; let it be done to me according to your word. And yet, Lord Jesus, although