examined in this Vision. Then saw I soothly that me behoved, of need, to assent, with great reverence enjoying in God.
THE FOURTH REVELATION
CHAPTER XII
"The dearworthy blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as verily as it is most precious, so verily it is 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 plen-
