and there beginneth the Motherhood of Grace; the third is Motherhood of working,— and therein is a forthspreading by the same Grace, of length and breadth and height and of deepness without end. And all is one Love.
CHAPTER LX
"The Kind, loving, Mother"
BUT now behoveth to say a little more of this forthspreading, as I understand in the meaning of our Lord: how that we be brought again by the Motherhood of Mercy and Grace into our Nature's place, where that we were made by the Motherhood of NatureLove: which Kindly-love, it never leaveth us.
Our Kind Mother, our Gracious Mother,[1] for that He would all wholly become our Mother in all things. He took the Ground of His Works full low and full mildly in the Maiden's womb. (And that He shewed in the First [Shewing] where He brought that meek Maid afore the eye of mine understanding in the simple stature as she was when she conceived.) That is to say: our high God is sovereign Wisdom of all: in this low place He arrayed and dight Him full ready in our poor flesh. Himself to do the service and the office of Motherhood in all things.
The Mother's service is nearest, readiest, and surest: [nearest, for it is most of nature; readiest, for it is most of love; and surest [2]] for it is most of truth. This office none might, nor could, nor ever should do to the
