A classic work of English mysticism, Julian of Norwich's "Revelations of Divine Love" is an account of sixteen divine visions and her meditations on them. In this classic work, she puts forth her ideas of God as a lover or divine love. Julian's revelations, experienced while suffering from a serious illness, may be dismissed as simple hallucinations or could be regarded as true divine visions from God. Regardless of what one might believe, "Revelations of Divine Love" is an important historical work of Christian theology.

The Sufi thinker 'Abd al-Karim al-Jili (d. 1408) is best-known for his treatment of the idea of the Perfect Human, yet his masterpiece, al-Insan al-kamil (The Perfect Human), is in fact a wide-ranging compendium of Sufi metaphysical thought in the Ibn 'Arabian tradition. One of the major topics treated in that work is sacred history, the story of God's revelation of the truth to humanity through His prophets and scriptures. Fitzroy Morrissey provides here the first in-depth study of this important section of al-Jili's major work and the key ideas contained within it. Through a translation and analysis of the key passages on the Qur'an, Torah, Psalms and Gospel, it shows how al-Jili's view of sacred history is conditioned by his Ibn 'Arabian Sufi metaphysics, whereby the phenomenal world is viewed as a manifestation of God, and the prophets and scriptures as special places where the divine attributes appear more completely. It also looks at how this idea influences al-Jili's understanding of the hierarchy of prophets, scriptures and religions. The book argues that, contrary to common assumptions, al-Jili's Sufi metaphysical view of sacred history is in keeping with the common medieval Muslim view of sacred history, whereby the Qur'an is viewed as the best of scriptures, Muhammad as the best of prophets, and Islam as the best religion. The book therefore not only gives an insight into a key text within medieval Sufi thought, but also has ramifications for our understanding of medieval Sufi views on the relationship between Islam and other religions.

Two weeks before Christmas in 1992, author Barbara Jean Judd had a frightening, yet deeply amazing experience. While praying for guidance to make it through a particularly difficult time in her life, she fell asleep and had a near-death experience. She traveled in a dark tunnel and saw a light ahead. When she woke, her life was changed forever.

"Find the Diamond Light in You" shares Barbara Jean's dramatic story and reveals how prophetic revelations and out-of-body experiences indicate there is a God and a good Spirit in us all. After her experience, Barbara Jean began to make the connections between how certain symbols, people, and events in her life were all spiritual in nature.

In addition, she shares how she developed her gift of spiritual writing and began to explore premonitions, insights, and dreams. More and more, she realized that God was showing her important revelations as well as pointing her to the path she needed to take in her life. From her great-grandmother's passing to her vision of the Antichrist, Barbara Jean knew the Lord had blessed her with a remarkable ability to "see" His will.

"Find the Diamond Light in You" encourages a deeper connection with your inner thoughts and feelings, and shows how one woman discovered God's plan for her life.

MEN WHO HAVE WALKED WITH GOD BEING THE STORY OF MYSTICISM THROUGH THE AGES TOLD IN THE BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE SEERS AND SAINTS WITH EXCERPTS FROM THEIR WRITINGS AND SAYINGS B Y Sheldon Cheney New York Alfred A. Knopf 1948 THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK, PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF, INC. Copyright 1943 by Sheldon Cheney. All rights rc emd. No fart of this book may be reproduced in any form unthout permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce not more than three illustrations in a review to bo printed in a magazine or newspaper. Manufactured in the United States of America Published simultaneously in Canada by The Bpmm Press PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 20, 1045 REPRINTED FOUR TIMES SIXTH PRINTING, MAY 1948 Contents Preface viii I The Golden Age and the Mystic Poet LAO-TSE 1 II The BUDDHA, the Great Light, and the Bliss of NIRVANA 38 III The Age of Reason in Greece PYTHAGORAS and PLATO 86 IV The Tardy Flowering of Greek Mysticism PLOTINUS 118 V Christian Mysticism, from the Founders to SAINT BERNARD 143 VI The Medieval Flowering ECKHART and the Friends of GOD 176 VII FRA ANGELICO, the Saintly Painter and Tool of GOD 212 VIII JACOB BOEHME, the Shoemaker-Illuminate of the Reformation 238 IX BROTHER LAWRENCE, the Lay Monk Who Attained Unclouded Vision 285 X A Mystic in the Age of Enlightened Scepticism WILLIAM BLAKE 309 Afterword 378 A Descriptive Reading List, with Acknowledgments 385 Index 395 List of Illustrations FOLLOWING PAGE Lao-Tse on a Water Buffalo. Chinese, Sung 10 Sage in Contemplation. In the style of Ma Yuan 20 Sage in Contemplation under a Pine Tree. By Ma Yuan 84 An Arahat Entering into Nirvana. By Lin Ting-Kuei 80 Socrates102 Christ Appearing to the Apostles. By William Blake 146 Saint Paul By El Greco 154 Augustine Recording His Vision of the City of God 160 Saint Bernard. By El Greco 170 Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata, School of Giotto 178 Meeting of Saint Francis and Saint Dominic, By Fra Angelico 182 The Garden of Paradise. School of Cologne, about 1400 204 The Annunciation. By Fra Angelico 216 Portrait of Fra Angelico. By Carlo Dolci The Naming of Saint John. By Fra Angelico 222 The Visitation, By Fra Angelico The Annunciation. By Fra Angelico 226 The Annunciation. By Fra Angelico Coronation of the Virgin. By Fra Angelico 232 The Nativity, By Fra Angelico j The Flight into Egypt. By Fra Angelico 286 vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FOLLOWING PAGE Glad Day. By William Blake 250 When the Morning Stars Sang Together. By William Blake 318 Then a Spirit Passed before My Face. By William Blake 326 338 356 362 Saint Paul Preaching at Athens. By William Blake Satan Rousing the Rebel Angels. By William Blake The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun. By William Blake Satan Smiting Job with Boils. By William Blake Then Went Satan Forth from the Presence of the Lord. By William Blake The Ancient of Days Laying out the Circle of the Earth. By William Blake Blake Dethroning Urizen. By William Blake The Angel of the Revelation. By William Blake 374 THE author and the publisher wish to record their thanks to the De partment of Education and Museum Extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and to the Photograph Library, School of the Fine Arts, Yale University, for providing certain of the illustrations of Fra Angeli co s paintings and to Miss Elizabeth Mongan of the Print Department of the NationalGallery, Washington, for exceptional aid in assembling the photographs of William Blakes drawings and prints. Our indebted ness to museum directors and to photographers is more directly re corded in the captions under individual illustrations. vii gjr PBEPACE JlN THE final analysis there is only one subject of permanent interest, the soul. It is a truth easily forgotten in the press of prac tical undertakings...

The Macarian writings are among the most important and influential works of the early Christian ascetic and mystical tradition. This book offers an introduction to the work of Macarius-Symeon (commonly referred to as Pseudo-Macarius), outlining the lineaments of his teaching and the historical context of his works. The book goes on to examine and re-evaluate the complex question of his relationship with the Messalian tendency and to explore the nature of his theological and spiritual legacy in the later Christian tradition. In so doing the book also offers substantial treatments of the work of Mark the Monk, Diadochus of Photice, Abba Isaiah, and Maximus Confessor. It stands therefore not only as an exploration of the teaching and legacy of Macarius-Symeon but also as a chapter in the history of the Christian spiritual tradition.