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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/30083-8.txt b/30083-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1946cf9 --- /dev/null +++ b/30083-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2770 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of Madam Guyon, by P. L. Upham + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Letters of Madam Guyon + +Author: P. L. Upham + +Release Date: September 25, 2009 [EBook #30083] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF MADAM GUYON *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +LETTERS + +OF + +MADAM GUYON. + + + BEING SELECTIONS OF HER RELIGIOUS THOUGHTS AND + EXPERIENCES, TRANSLATED AND RE-ARRANGED + FROM HER PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE + + + + +By P. L. UPHAM. + + + + "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth + alone; but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit." + + + + +BOSTON: + +HENRY HOYT, No. 9 CORNHILL. + + + + +Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858, by HENRY HOYT, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of +Massachusetts. + + + + +PREFACE. + +Madam Guyon's correspondence was very extensive, occupying five printed +volumes. Her style of writing is somewhat diffuse. In giving +religious advice to many persons, there would necessarily be frequent +repetitions. It has, therefore, occurred to the writer, that a +selection and re-arrangement of thoughts, such as is found in this +little volume, would be more acceptable and useful, than a literal and +full translation of her letters. This selection necessarily involved +much re-writing and condensing. Great care, however, has been taken to +reach her true sentiments, and to give a just relation of her religious +experience. + +In the interesting preface to her letters, published in 1767, the +writer remarks: "Next to the Holy Scriptures, we do not believe there +has been given to the world, any writings, so valuable as Madam +Guyon's; and of all these precious treasures, her letters are the most +rare. All who have received the unction of the Holy One, whereby they +know the truth, are agreed upon her divine writings." + +If the writer may be permitted to add her humble testimony, having +enjoyed the privilege of reading her writings in the original for +several years, she would say, there are no writings, excepting the +Sacred Oracles, from which she has received so much spiritual benefit. +It is on this account, she has endeavored, with divine assistance, to +portray to others, Madam Guyon's deep religious feelings. May the same +spirit of devotion to her Lord and Master which she possessed, rest +upon the heart of the reader. + +Happy are they in whose hearts burns the flame of divine love. + +P. L. UPHAM. + +Brunswick, Me., April, 1858. + + + + +SKETCH OF HER LIFE. + +Jeannie Marie Mothe, the maiden name of Madam Guyon, was born at +Montargis, in France, April 13, 1648. She was married to M. J. Guyon, +in 1664, and became the mother of four children. In July, 1676, she +was separated from her husband by death. Madam Guyon was one of that +number, who, in advance of the common standard of piety, are called to +be _Reformers_; and on this account, she suffered great persecutions. +She was several times imprisoned. At one time eight months; and +subsequently four years in one of the towers of the celebrated Bastile. +After her release from prison, she was banished for the remainder of +her days to Blois, on the river Loire. At the time of her release from +the Bastile, she was fifty-four years of age. Her sufferings from the +cold, damp walls of the prison, in winter, and the confined air in +summer, with other privations and hardships, greatly impaired her +constitution, and rendered her a sufferer to the close of her days. +She died June 9, 1717, aged sixty-nine years. + +During her imprisonment, she wrote her Autobiography, which has been +translated into English. Another work of hers, "The Torrents," has +recently been translated, very happily, by Mr. Ford. Also two essays, +"Method of Prayer," and "Concise View of the Way of God," by J. W. +Metcalf. It is not known by the writer, that her other works have been +translated, with the exception of some of her poems by William Cowper; +and "The Life and Experience of Madam Guyon," in two volumes, written +by my husband. + +P. L. U. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + 1. REIGN OF CHRIST IN THE HEART + 2. TURN AWAY FROM SELF TO CHRIST + 3. STATE OF ASSURANCE + 4. HUMILITY THE EFFECT OF LOVE + 5. DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS + 6. JOY IN PERSECUTIONS + 7. LIBERTY IN CHRIST + 8. MELANCHOLY AVOIDED + 9. GOD'S CARE OF THE SOUL + 10. POWER OF THE ADVERSARY + 11. UNCTION OF GRACE + 12. SPIRITUAL ONENESS + 13. VICISSITUDES IN EXPERIENCE + 14. PATIENCE WITH THE FAULTS OF OTHERS + 15. HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE MOVEMENTS OF GOD + 16. STATE OF SIMPLICITY + 17. QUENCHING THE SPIRIT + 18. SUFFERING CRUCIFIXION AND REDUCTIONS OF SELF + 19. REPROVE IN LOVE + 20. SILENT OPERATION OF GRACE + 21. LIMIT NOT YOUR SPHERE + 22. SECRET OF DIVINE OPERATIONS + 23. NO UNION WITH SELFISH SOULS + 24. NEVER YIELD TO DISCOURAGEMENT + 25. WEAKNESSES. IMPERFECTIONS + 26. STATE OF ADVANCEMENT + 27. GREATNESS OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY + 28. ASSISTANCE RENDERED + 29. SIMPLICITY AND POWER OF THE WORD + 30. FORGETFULNESS OF SELF + 31. DIVERSITY OF MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION + 32. COMFORT IN AFFLICTION + 33. BEARING FRUIT IN UNION WITH CHRIST + 34. DESOLATE STATE + 35. SELF-ABANDONMENT + 36. NO DEPENDENCE ON INSTRUMENTS + 37. CHILD OF GOD, SOON TO DIE + 38. UNION OF SOULS IN GOD + 39. SECRET OPERATIONS OF GRACE + 40. TO A YOUNG FRIEND + 41. FINAL LETTER TO HER SPIRITUAL GUIDE + 42. GLORY OF GOD, THE ONE DESIRE + 43. SPIRITUAL UNION AND AID + 44. LIVE IN THE PRESENT + 45. HOW TO ADMINISTER REPROOF + 46. BEARING THE STATES OF CHRIST + 47. IMPERFECTIONS NO HINDRANCE + 48. DEATH, RESURRECTION + 49. GRACE DEEPLY INTERIOR + 50. SELF-RENUNCIATION + 51. UNEXPECTED FAULTS + 52. APOSTOLIC STATE + 53. PAINFUL EXPERIENCE + 54. ECSTASY OF THE MIND AND HEART + 55. A VIEW OF SELF + 56. STATE OF A SOUL IN UNION WITH GOD + 57. STATE OF REST IN GOD + 58. GREAT HUMILIATIONS + 59. REPOSE OF THE SOUL IN GOD + 60. POWER OF CASTING OUT DEVILS + 61. STATE OF A SOUL RE-UNITED TO GOD + 62. CONCISE VIEW OF THE INTERIOR WAY + + + SELECTIONS FROM HER POETRY. + + 63. A LITTLE BIRD I AM + 64. GOD EVERYWHERE + + + + +LETTERS OF MADAM GUYON. + + +REIGN OF CHRIST IN THE HEART. + +I have read your letter, my dear brother, with great pleasure. It is +my highest happiness to see the reign of Jesus Christ extending itself +in the hearts of God's people. An external religion has too much +usurped the place of the religion of the heart. The ancient +saints--Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Enoch, Job--lived interiorly with God. +The reign of Christ on earth is nothing more nor less than the +subjection of the whole soul to himself. Alas! the world are opposed +to this reign. Many pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in +Heaven," but they are unwilling to be crucified to the world, and to +their sinful lusts. God designs to bring his children, naturally +rebellious, through the desert of crucifixions--through the temptations +in the wilderness, into the promised land. But how many rebel, and +choose rather to be bond-slaves in Egypt, than suffer the reductions of +their sensual appetite. + +Since Jesus Christ appeared on earth, there is a general belief that +the kingdoms of this world will ultimately be subject to his dominion. +But we may ask, who hastens his coming, by now yielding up his own +heart to his entire control? + +Our Lord imposed no rigorous ceremonies on his disciples. He taught +them to enter into the closet; to retire within the heart; to speak but +few words; to open their hearts, to receive the descent of the Holy +Spirit. + +The holy Sabbath has not only an external, but a deeply spiritual +meaning. It symbolises the rest of the holy soul, in union with God. +Oh! that all Christians might know the coming of Jesus Christ in the +soul! Might live in God, and God in them! + +God alone knows how much I love you. + + + + +TURN FROM SELF TO CHRIST + +You are not forgotten, my dear E. God has engraven you on my heart. +If you have not consented to the thoughts that have crossed your mind, +do not be afflicted on account of them. The examination and dwelling +upon these thoughts, brings them again to life. Be on your guard +against everything that entangles you in self. God is a Father who +bears with the innocent faults of his children, and wipes away the +stains they have contracted. The greatest wrong you can do to God is +to doubt his love. He regards the simplicity and purity of the +intention. It is right to cherish great self-distrust, to realise your +weakness and helplessness; but do not stop here. Confide as much more +in God, as you hope less from yourself. + +Do not afflict yourself, because you do not at all times realise a +_sensible_ confidence in God, and other consoling, happy states. Walk +by faith, and not by sight, or positive perception of the good you +crave. Let us, my dear E., be closely united, and walk together; not +according to the way we might choose, but according to the way God +chooses for us. + +I love you tenderly. + + + + +ASSURANCE. + +Notwithstanding all that is said to me, my dear M., in opposition to my +state, I cannot have one doubt of its reality. There is within me an +inward testimony to the truth; so deep, that all the world could not +shake it. It is the work of God upon my heart, and partakes of his own +immutability. It seems to me that all the difficulties of theologians +concerning this state, arise from viewing it, not in the light of +divine truth and power, but in the light of the creature. It is true, +the creature, in itself, is only weakness and sin; but when it pleases +God to new-create the soul, and make it one with himself, it is then +transformed into the likeness of Christ. + +Who will dare limit the power of God? Who will say that God, whose +love is infinite as it is free, cannot give such proofs of love as he +pleases, to his creatures? Has he not the right to love me as he does? +Yes, he loves me, and his love is _infinite_. I do not doubt it. And +he loves you, too, dear M., in the same manner. This is eternal love +manifested,--the heart of God drawn out,--_expressed_ towards his +creature. + +In this state, we understand the mutual secrets of the Lover and the +beloved. Who will so deny the truth of the Lord, as to question this? +When I hold my beloved in my arms, in vain does one assert, "It is not +so,--I am deceived." I smile inwardly and say, "_My beloved is mine +and I am his!_" "If we receive the witness of men, how much greater is +the witness of God?" + + + + +HUMILITY THE EFFECT OF LOVE. + +I assure you, you are very dear to me. I rejoice very much in the +progress of your soul. When I speak of progress, it is in descending, +not in mounting. As when we charge a vessel, the more ballast we put +in, the lower it sinks, so the more love we have in the soul, the lower +we are abased in self. The side of the scales which is elevated, is +empty; so the soul is elated only when it is void of love. "Love is +our weight," says St. Augustine. Let us so charge ourselves with the +weight of love, as to bring down self to its just level. Let its +depths be manifested by our readiness to bear the cross, the +humiliations, the sufferings, which are necessary to the purification +of the soul. Our humiliation is our exaltation. "Whosoever is least +among you shall be the greatest," says our Lord. + +I love you, my dear child, in the love of the Divine Master, who so +abased himself by love! Oh! what a weight is love, since it caused so +astonishing a fall, from heaven to earth,--from God to man! There is a +beautiful passage in the Imitation of Christ, "Love to be unknown." +Let us die to all but God. + + + + +DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS. + +God communicates himself to pure souls, and blesses, through them, +other souls, who are in a state of receptivity. All these little +rills, which water others, little compared with the fountain from which +they flow, have no determinate choice of their own, but are governed by +the will of their Lord and Master. The nature of God is communicative. +God would cease to be God if he should cease to communicate himself, by +love, to the pure soul. As the air rushes to a vacuum, so God fills +the soul emptied of self. + +The seven blessed spirits around the throne, are those angels who +approach nearest to God, and to whom he communicates himself the most +abundantly. St. John, perhaps, was better prepared than any of the +apostles to receive the Word, incarnate, dwelling in the soul. + +On the bosom of Jesus,--in close affinity with him,--John learned the +heights and depths of divine love. It was on this account our Lord +said to his mother, "seeing the disciple stand by whom he loved, Woman +behold thy Son." He knew the loving heart of John would give her a +place in his own home. + +God communicates himself to us in proportion as we are prepared to +receive him. And in proportion as he diffuses himself in us, we are +transformed in him, and bear his image. O, the astonishing depths of +God's love! giving _himself_ to souls disappropriated of self, becoming +their end, and their final principle, their fulness, and their all. + + + + +JOY IN PERSECUTIONS. + +I am very grateful to you, my dear sir, for your sympathy in my +apparent ills. God has not permitted that I should consider them +otherwise than blessings. I trust what appears to destroy the truth +will, in the end, establish it. Those who maintain the inward reign of +the Holy Spirit will yet suffer many persecutions. There is nothing of +any value but the love of God, and the accomplishment of his will. +This is pure and substantial happiness. This joy no man taketh from us. + +It is my only desire to abandon myself into the hands of God, without +scruples, without fears, without any agitating thoughts. + +Since I am there, O Lord, how can I be otherwise than happy? When +divine Love has enfranchised the soul, what power can fetter it? How +small the world appears to a heart that God fills with himself! I love +thee, my Lord, not only with a sovereign love, but it seems to me I +love thee alone, and all creatures only for thy sake. Thou art so much +the soul of my soul, and the life of my life, that I have no other life +than thine. Let all the world forsake me; my Lord, my Lover lives, and +I live in him. This is the deep abyss where I hide myself in these +many persecutions. O, abandonment! blessed abandonment! Happy the +soul who lives no more in itself, but in God. What can separate my +soul from God? Surely, none can pluck me from my Father's hands. All +is well, when the soul is in union with him. + + + + +LIBERTY IN CHRIST. + +"If the Son make ye free, ye shall be free indeed." When the man of +sin is destroyed, and the new man established in the soul, it finds +itself in perfect liberty. As a bird let loose from its cage, the soul +goes forth, unfettered, to dwell in the immensity of God. The natural +selfish life restricts the soul at every point; and even God, the great +_I am_, is unseen, or deprived of his glory. + +When Paul asked, "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" he +added, "I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord." That is, when by +the grace of God, the new man is established in my soul, I shall be +delivered. And, subsequently, when deliverance came, he cried out in +transport, "I live, and yet not I. Christ liveth in me!" He was now +no more occupied of himself, but let Jesus Christ live and act in him; +he was animated by him, as the body is of the soul. If another soul +animated our body, the body would obey this new soul; it would become +the moving-spring of its operations. Thus Jesus Christ becomes the +life of the new man. And what can be more free, more enlarged, than +the soul of Jesus? His nature is divine, eternal, boundless. Alas! to +what a narrow point does self reduce us! Who that looks at the freedom +and expansion of the soul, as it puts on the new man, Christ Jesus, +will not crush the reptile self to the dust, that the life of God may +again, as in its first creation, animate the soul? + +This liberty is as the eagles' wings, of which the prophet speaks, +which carries the soul on high. The dove that lighted on Jesus, was an +emblem, not only of innocence, but of freedom,--of liberty of spirit to +soar and dwell in God. May it please God to give you an experience of +this liberty. Quit self, and you will find the freedom and enlargement +of the All in All. + + + + +MELANCHOLY AVOIDED. + +I assure you, my dear M., I sympathize deeply in your sufferings; but I +entreat you, give no place to despondency. This is a dangerous +temptation,--a refined, not a gross temptation of the adversary. +Melancholy contracts and withers the heart, and renders it unfit to +receive the impressions of grace. It magnifies and gives a false +coloring to objects, and thus renders your burdens too heavy to bear. +Your ill-health and the little consolation you have from friends, help +to nourish this state. God's designs, regarding you, and his methods +of bringing about these designs, are infinitely wise. + +There are two methods of serving little children. One is, to give them +all they want for present pleasure. Another is, to deny them present +pleasure for greater good. God is a wise Father, and chooses the best +way to conduct his children. + +A sad exterior is more sure to repel than attract to piety. It is +necessary to serve God, with a certain joyousness of spirit, with a +freedom and openness, which renders it manifest that his yoke is easy; +that it is neither a burden nor inconvenience. + +If you would please God, be useful to others, and happy yourself, you +must renounce this melancholy disposition. It is better to divert your +mind with innocent recreations, than to nourish melancholy. When I was +a little child, a nephew of my father's, a very godly man, who ended +his days by martyrdom, said to me, "It is better to cherish a desire to +please God, than a fear of displeasing him." Let the desire to please +God, and honor him, by an exterior all sweet, all humble, all cordial +and cheerful, arouse and animate your spirit: For this I pray. Ever +yours. + + + + +GOD'S CARE OF THE SOUL COMMITTED TO HIM. + +O, that you could realize, my dear friend, how much God loves you. As +a painter draws upon his canvas what image pleases him, so God is now +preparing your soul, by these inward crucifixions, to draw upon it his +own likeness, He cherishes you as the mother her only son. He would +have you yield readily to his will, even as the branches of the tree +are moved by the light breath of the wind. In proportion to your +abandonment to God, he will take care of you. When you yield readily +to his will, you will be less embarrassed to discern the movements of +God. You will follow them naturally, and be led, as it were, by the +providencies of God. God will gently arrest you if you mistake. God +has the same right to incline and move the heart as to possess it. +When the soul is perfectly yielding, it loses all its own consistency, +so to speak, in order to take any moment the shape that God gives it; +as water takes all the form of the vases in which it is put, and also +all the colors. Let there be no longer any resistance in your mind, +and your heart will soon mingle in the ocean of love; you will float +easily, and be at rest. + + + + +POWER OF THE ADVERSARY. + +I am deeply afflicted that so many, at the present day, and even some +good persons, allow themselves to be openly seduced by the Evil One. +Has not our Lord warned us against "false prophets, and the lying +wonders of the _last days_?" All true prophets have spoken in the name +of the Lord--"_Thus saith the Lord._" Nothing gives the enemy greater +advantage than the love of extraordinary manifestations. I believe +these external movements are a device of the evil one, to draw away +souls from the Word of God, and from the interior tranquil way of faith. + +The tendency of all communications from God, is to make the soul die to +self. An eminent saint remarks, that she had often experienced +illuminations from the angel of darkness, more pleasing, more enticing, +than those that came from God. Those delusory manifestations, however, +leave the soul in a disturbed state, while those that come from God +humble, tranquilise and establish the soul in Him. The most dangerous +seductions are those, which assume the garb of religion and have the +semblance of truth. + +Elias appeared alone among four hundred prophets of Baal. These +prophets were much agitated, attracting great attention, "crying +aloud," etc. + +When Elias was told by the angel, that he would see the Lord in Mount +Horeb, he _hid himself_ in a cave. He saw a great trembling of the +earth. God was not there. There came a great whirlwind. God was not +there. Then there came a little zephyr. _God was in the still small +voice_. + +The only true and safe revelation, is the internal revelation of the +Lord Jesus Christ in the soul. "My sheep hear my voice." This +involves no disturbance of our freedom, of the natural operations of +the mind; but produces a beautiful harmonious action of all the powers +of the soul. I beseech you, my friend, in the name of the Lord, to +separate yourself from all these delusions of the adversary. + + + + +UNCTION OF GRACE. + +Friday morning, the 15th, I suffered very much, on account of _the +individual_, whom you know. It seemed to me, that God wished that _the +all of self_ in him should be destroyed. I perceived, that although +the troths be uttered, proceeded from the inward work of the spirit +upon his heart, his reasoning faculty operated so powerfully, without +his perceiving it, that the effect of these truths was in some degree +lost. Souls are won more by the unction of grace--by the weapons of +love--than by the power of argument. + +Are not the truths you utter, my friend, too much elaborated by the +intellect, and polished by the imagination? Their effect seems to be +lost, for want of simplicity and directness. They fall pleasantly on +the ear, as a lovely song, but do not reach and move the heart. There +is a lack of unction. Are you not always laboring for something new +and original, thus exhibiting your own powers of mind, rather than the +simple truth? + +Receive this suggestion, and light will be given you upon it. Do I +speak too plainly? To speak the truth, and the truth only, is all I +desire. I have this morning prayed, rather to be taken out of the +world, than to disguise the truth. I have proclaimed it, in its +purity, in the great Congregation, and it will be seen that Thou, O +Lord, hast distilled it in my heart; or rather, O Sovereign Truth, that +Thou art there thyself, to manifest thyself plainly, and that Thou dost +make use of weak things to confound the strong. God is truth and love. +In Him yours. + + + + +SPIRITUAL ONENESS. + +My union with you, my dear child, is steadily increasing. I bear you +in my heart with a deep and absorbing interest, and seem anxious to +communicate to you the abundant grace poured into my own soul. How +close, how dear is the union of souls, made one in Christ! Our Savior +beautifully expressed it, when he said, "Whosoever shall do the will of +my Father, the same is my mother, sister and brother." There is no +union more pure, more strong, than the union of souls in Christ! In +this manner, pure as delightful, the saints in Heaven possess each +other in God;--a union which does not interrupt the possession of God, +although it is distinct from God. + +Let your soul have within it, a continual _Yes_. When the heart is in +union with God, there is no _Nay_,--it is _Yes, be it so_, which +reverberates through the soul. This _Yes_, this suppleness, renders +the heart agreeable to the heart of the Spouse. It was thus with Mary, +the mother of our Lord, when the angel messenger came to her, she +replied, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to +thy word." It was thus with the child-like soul of Samuel, when he +said, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." It was thus with our +divine Lord, "Lo, I come to do thy will." + +Yours in the fellowship of the Saints. + + + + +VICISSITUDES IN EXPERIENCE. + +As the outgoings of life proceed from the living man, while we live in +ourselves, we have a strong will and eager desires, and many +fluctuating states. But in proportion as our will passes into the will +of God, the desires which are the offspring of the will, are +subjugated, and the soul is reduced to unity in God. + +As the soul advances in the life of God, its natural or selfish +movements decrease; and it depends less on mere emotional exercises, +and there is really less _variation_ of the emotions. + +Rest assured, it is the same God who causes the scarcity and the +abundance, the rain and the fair weather. The high and low states, the +peaceful and the state of warfare, are each good in their season. +These vicissitudes form and mature the interior, as the different +seasons compose the year. Each change in your inward experience, or +external condition, is a new test, by which to try your faith and love; +and will be a help towards perfecting your soul, if you receive it with +love and submission. + +Leave yourself therefore in the hands of Love. Love is always the +same, although it causes you often to change your position. He who +prefers one state to another, who loves abundance more than scarcity, +when God orders otherwise, loves the gifts of God more than God himself. + +God loves you; let this thought equalise all states. Let him do with +us as with the waves of the sea, and whether he takes us to his bosom, +or casts us upon the sand, that is, leaves us to our own barrenness, +all is well. + +For myself, I am pleased with all the Lord orders for me. I hold +myself ready to suffer, not only imprisonment but death; perils +everywhere--perils on the land--perils on the sea--among false +brethren; all is good in Him, to whom I am united forever. + + + + +PATIENCE WITH THE FAULTS OF OTHERS. + +I love you very much, my dear M. If my love could be of any avail, it +would console you, for I feel a greater tenderness and sympathy for +you, than I am able to express. I am more certain than ever, that God +designs you for himself. Live exteriorly with N., as being entirely +reconciled. Make not too much account of his coldness, his passionate +temper, his contempt. It is not by these you are to regulate your +conduct, but by a motive more elevated--God and his glory. Let your +heart endure his bitterness, for the love of Him, who preferred grief +to pleasure. At the same time, do no violence to your own sacred +feelings, to accommodate yourself to him, in order to give him a +pleasure he cannot appreciate. Regard your present condition, as a +means God has given you, to manifest your love to himself, by a +willingness to sacrifice yourself. Reject not this cross, shall I not +rather say _crown_, and let all be accomplished between God and your +soul, in such a quiet manner, that the struggle with your own feelings +will not be perceived. + +While you are bearing this daily cross--this real crucifixion--I am +certain God will sustain you, from the fulness of his love. All is +alike good, when God is with us. I love you tenderly. God loves you; +let this make amends for all. In Him devotedly yours. + + + + +HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE MOVEMENTS OF GOD. + +You enquire, how one who desires to follow the movements of God's +spirit, may distinguish these movements, from the natural operations of +the mind. There is not, at all times, a positive certainty regarding +divine movements. If it were so, we should become infallible as the +angels; that is, if we were as pure in our intentions. We must walk +with God, in entire abandonment and uncertainty, at the risk of +sometimes making mistakes, which in the infancy of experience is +unavoidable. He who wishes for a particular inspiration, or direction +in common matters, which his own reason and judgment can determine, is +liable to deception. + +A pure soul acts in simplicity, and without certainty, being persuaded +that what is good comes from God, and what is not good from self. The +greater the simplicity,--the more separate from the mingling of +self-activity--the purer are these operations; because the soul in this +state is only a simple instrument, that the Word, which is in her, +moves, so that it is the Word which speaks and not herself. This +manner of speaking, relates to matters of importance, and not to the +minute concerns of every-day life. The divine Word, _in all +exigencies_, is found in the soul, that is wholly consecrated to +Christ. "When they bring you before magistrates and kings, etc., it +shall be given you in _that hour_ what ye shall speak." This method of +divine leading--by the hour and by the moment--leaves the soul always +free and unencumbered, and ready for the slightest breath of the Lord. +This breath, in the pure soul, is as the gentle zephyr, and not as the +whirlwind, which shakes the earth. Do not then expect to have +anticipated movements, or movements beforehand from God. I have an +experience of many years, that God often makes known his will, only in +the time of action. + +If a pure soul, wholly sacrificed to God, should undertake something +contrary to the will of God, it would feel a slight repugnance, and +desist at once. If one does not feel this repugnance, let the act be +performed in simplicity. A mother who holds her child by a +leading-string, loosens it, that it may walk; but if about to make a +mis-step, she draws the string. The repugnance which a holy soul feels +to do a thing, is as when the mother draws the leading-string. + + + + +STATE OF SIMPLICITY. + +I experienced recently, a marked perception of your state, as one in +which God took delight, and upon which he had infinite designs, +regarding himself and his glory. I saw clearly the state to which God +desired to bring you--the means to be used, and the obstacles in the +way--the mutual sympathy and confidence he required between us--and the +openness and freedom of communication necessary for our mutual benefit, +and that we should not hesitate to speak freely of each other's faults. + +The peculiarity you remark in my experience, needs some explanation. +You say I do not seem to be wounded, nor blame myself when reproved for +a fault. To which I reply simply, there is no more of self remaining +in me to be wounded. This indifferent state you notice in me, arises +from the state of innocency and infancy in which I find myself. Our +Lord holds me so far removed from myself, or from my natural state, +that it is impossible for me to take a painful view of myself. When a +fault is committed by me, it leaves no traces on the soul; it is as +something external, which is easily removed. Do not infer that I am +blind to my faults. The light of truth is so subtle and penetrating, +that it discovers the slightest fault. Souls which are in the natural +life, have real faults, as a paper written over with ink is strongly +marked, therefore they see and feel them. But souls, transformed into +God, have faults, as a writing traced on sand when the wind is high, +the wind defacing it as soon as it is traced. This is the economy of +divine wisdom, relating to souls in union and harmony with God. Oh! +the greatness and simplicity of the way of Truth! How unlike the +world's apprehension of it! + + + + +QUENCHING THE SPIRIT. + +Desiring to follow closely the divine leading, I expressed to you the +other day, some sentiments you were not able to receive. I perceived +at once, that on account of your resistance, I could say no more. From +this experience, although painful as regards yourself, I learnt the +extreme delicacy of the spirit that seeks to aid others; and the +strength of man's freedom to oppose this operation. I realized, also, +my inability to act of myself; for, as soon as the spirit in me was +silent, I had nothing to say. I had, however, the extreme satisfaction +of knowing, that this good spirit alone conducted me; and that I would +not, in the least degree, add, nor diminish from its operations. + +It was from a knowledge, gained by experience, of the extreme delicacy +and purity of this divine spirit, that I remarked to you, the other +day, that if you did not receive the instructions I then imparted, I +should have nothing farther to communicate to you. O, how pure and how +unlike the impetuous operation of man's spirit, is this operation of +God! + + + + +SUFFER THE CRUCIFIXIONS AND REDUCTIONS OF SELF. + +All the graces of the Christian, spring from the death of self. Let +us, then, bear patiently the afflictions, which reduce this overflowing +life. There is a suffering in connection with confusions and +uncertainties, very trying to bear. Unbounded patience is necessary, +to bear not only with ourselves, but with others, whose various tempers +and dispositions are not congenial with our own. "Offences,"--wounds +of spirit will occur while we live in the flesh. These offences must +be borne in silence, and thus subjugated and controlled by the spirit +of grace. By a law of our nature, we feel, more or less, the influence +of the spheres in which we move. + +While we honor, we think, the true cross, the affliction that comes +from God, let us remember, that these instruments, so disagreeable, are +the true cross that providence daily furnishes us. + +Do not sully the cross and mar its operations, by your murmurs and +reflections. Let us welcome any trials, that teach us what we are, and +lead us to renounce ourselves and find our all in God. + +Jesus Christ says, "He who renounces not all that he hath, cannot be my +disciple." Of all possessions, that of ourselves is the most dangerous. + +Please present my cordial regards to your brother. I sympathize deeply +in his misfortunes. I use this expression, in conformity to common +usage, but it does not express the sentiments of my heart. I am +convinced that the loss of wealth, worldly honor, persecutions, are the +best instruments to unite us to Jesus Christ. All evils, or apparent +evils, are great blessings when they unite us to our All in All. I +pray God, to sustain him. His sufferings only increase my sympathy and +love for him in our Lord. My health is still feeble, but all is well +in the depths of my heart. God is there. + + + + +REPROVE IN LOVE. + +It is important to use great care and sweetness in reproving others. +Reprove only when alone with the person, and take not your own time, +but the moment of God. As we are not free from faults ourselves, we +must not expect too much from others. Be yourself very humble and +child-like, and this character will act sympathetically on others. +Jesus Christ was full of sweetness and charity. How patiently did he +bear with his imperfect disciples, even with Judas, without anger, +without bitterness, and even without coldness. + +How lowly was Jesus! He "did not break the bruised reed." He imparts +to his little ones no tyrannic power. They use no violence in dealing +with souls, but say with John, "Behold the _Lamb of God_, who taketh +away the sins of the world." Our Lord, "rejoiced in spirit," in an +unusual manner, such as we find nowhere else in Scripture, when he +said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou +hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto +_babes_." How happy are we in the presence of a little child; how much +at ease! It imposes on us no burden of restraint, of fear, of +management! It is in this childlike disposition of meekness, of +sweetness, of innocency, that we should seek to benefit others. + +In the love of Jesus, yours. + + + + +SILENT OPERATION OF GRACE. + +I perceive, by your letter, you are in doubt about the grace which +passes interiorly from heart to heart. We notice an illustration of +this in the woman who touched our Lord, when he said: "I perceive that +virtue is gone out of me." In a similar manner, without words, one +heart may communicate grace to another heart, as God imparts grace to +the soul. But if the soul is not in a state to receive it, the grace +of the interior is not communicated, as is expressed in another +passage; "If they are not children of peace, your peace will return to +you again." This illustrates, according to my view, pure interior +communications of the grace of God, from heart to heart, which the soul +relishes in silence, and which silence is often more efficacious than a +multitude of words. + +At our last interviews I had an inclination for silence, but finding in +you an aversion to silent communion, I entered into conversation, but +without any interior correspondence on my part, and, evidently, without +any benefit to you. God would teach you, my dear child, there is a +silence of the soul through which he operates, filling it with the +unction of grace, to be diffused on other hearts who are in a state of +receptivity, often more efficacious than words to replenish the soul. + +We find this still harmonious action in nature. The sun, the moon, and +stars, shine in silence. The voice of God is heard in the silence of +the soul. The operation of grace is in silence, as it comes from God, +and may it not reach and pass from soul to soul without the noise of +words? O, that all Christians knew what if means to _keep silence_ +before the Lord! + + + + +LIMIT NOT YOUR SPHERE. + +Let me urge you, my child, to enlarge your heart; or, rather, suffer it +to become enlarged by grace. This contraction shuts you up in +yourself, and hinders an agreeable openness which we should ever +maintain, even towards those who have no particular affinity with +ourselves. An open, frank exterior wins confidence. Let it not +appear, that you have so much relish for yourself, as not to think of +others. What seems to us a virtue is sometimes regarded by God as a +fault; and which we shall so perceive, when we have clearer light. + +You seem to mark out for yourself a certain sphere, and if you go +beyond it, you think you do yourself an injury. Thus, while you have +an apparent movement, you are only describing a circle, whose centre +and circumference is self. I entreat you, pass beyond the narrow +bounds of self;--suffer yourself to be led out of self into the will +and way of God. Thus you will be much more happy and useful. If I +loved you less, I should be less severe. + +Let God be the sovereign Master over our hearts, and instruct, and +reprove, and operate in us, by himself, or through others, as pleases +him. + +Adieu. God bless you, my child. + + + + +SECRET OF DIVINE OPERATIONS UPON THE SOUL. + +Do not suppose, Dear Sir, that you are to be purified by great trials +and extraordinary events. All is accomplished in you by the suppleness +of your will,--by the state of infancy. It must be so on account of +the pride of your natural reason. God conducts the soul in a way +opposed to human philosophy. Hence the necessity of being reduced to +the state of infancy, and to the subjection of the will. What we call +the _death_ of the _will_, is the passage of our will into the will of +God. This change implies not only a change in externals, but the +inward subjection of the desires and sentiments of the heart. Here +most persons, who commence the religious life, stop short. They cannot +submit to the interior crucifixion, which lays prostrate the whole of +the natural carnal life, and consequently there follows a mingling of +the spirit of the flesh with grace, and it is this which produces such +monsters in the religious world. Do we not read in Scripture, that in +consequence of the alliance of the sons of God with the daughters of +men, giants were born, who so filled the earth with wickedness, they +drew down a deluge of wrath upon the world? It is from this abominable +alliance of the flesh with the spirit, that all those who appear in the +world, as "mighty men, men of renown," are produced and sustained. One +may be full of the natural life, while apparently dead to the external +things of the world. Thus they are dead to inferior things, and alive +in the most essential points--dead in name, but not in reality. + +By an authority as gentle as efficacious, God accomplishes his will in +us, when we have surrendered our souls to him. The consent we give to +his operations, and our relish of them, is sweet and sustaining, in +proportion to the perfection of our abandonment. God does not arrest +the soul with violence. He adjusts all things in such a manner, that +we follow him happily, even across dangerous precipices. So good is +this Divine Master, so well does he understand the methods of +conducting the soul, that it runs after him, and makes haste to walk in +the path he orders. + +Suppleness of soul is, therefore, of vital consequence to its progress. +It is the work of God to effect this. Happy are the souls, who yield +to his discipline. God renders the soul, in the commencement, supple +to follow illuminated reason; afterwards to follow the way of faith. +He then conducts the soul by unknown steps, causing it to enter into +the wisdom of Jesus Christ which is so different from all its former +experience, that without the testimony of divine filiation, which +remains in the soul in a manner hidden, and the ease and liberty the +soul finds in this unknown way, it would consider itself as being +separated continually from God, being left, as it were, to act of +itself. Human wisdom being here lost, and the powers of the soul +controlled by the wisdom of Jesus Christ, born in the soul, it +increases in its proportions, even unto the stature of a perfect man in +Christ Jesus. + +The soul, having now passed into God, is in its proper place, and will +be happy, provided it remains fixed and separate from its former manner +of acting. + +Reason may at times oppose with all its strength, and cause some fears, +some hesitations; but, being fixed in God, it is impossible for the +soul to change its course; and, after the experience of many useless +sufferings, having their origin in self, it suffers itself to be drawn +in the current of love. There is now no more of violence to nature. +The soul is in its natural state. The ease and naturalness of this +state causes, at times, some fear, some anxiety. It is as much the +nature of man, originally, and in his new creation in the likeness of +Christ, to be in God, and to be there in perfect enlargement, +simplicity, and innocence, as it is the nature of water to flow in its +channel. When man is as he should be, his state is one of infinite +ease and without limitations, because he is created sovereign, or +master of himself, and cannot be subjected by anything created, +although he is subjected to God, if that may be called subjection, +which brings the soul into affinity with God, and makes it partaker of +his nature. + +Be therefore persuaded, that God uses no violence in dealing with the +soul. This commotion in the soul, arises from the resistance of man's +will to divine operations. When the soul is disenfranchised of all +that is opposed to the will of God; when it is not arrested either by +desires or repugnancies, it runs without stopping or weariness in the +way. This is what is called death,--death to self; but the soul was +never so much alive; it now lives the true life, the life of God. + +When the soul becomes one with God by the loss of its own will and +life, it has purposes, and it is important to follow them; but they are +purposes in God, and have in them nothing of self. All that has +rapport to self is no more, and God is all. Being passed into God, the +soul is changed and transformed in him. This is what the mystics call +_Resurrection_. But the word used in this way, does not bear its usual +signification. To resuscitate is to revive the former life. But in +this case, the will, or natural life is consumed, and gives place to +the will or life of God. Thus the Holy Spirit operates effectively in +the soul, transforming it into the likeness of the Son of God. + +Now the soul participates in the qualities of God, one of which +qualities, is that of communicating itself to other souls. Or rather, +it is as a stream, which, being lost in a large river, follows the +course of the river, communicating itself where the river communicates, +watering where it waters, drawing into itself all the smaller rivers, +which are destined alike to lose themselves in the great ocean of Love. +These streams have no independent life, but proceed from, and flow back +into their origin. Here is the consummation of souls in oneness, as +Jesus Christ has expressed it,--"_One in us_." + +There is divine reality in this truth. Blessed are those who +comprehend it! How many walk side by side along these rivers, and yet +never mingle their waters! And many there are, also, who haste with +eagerness, to precipitate themselves into this divine stream, and flow +together, as the souls of the celestial ones, in the fulness of divine +love. + +This is not a chimera of the fancy; it is the wonderful economy of +divinity. It is the end and object of the creation of the soul--the +end and compass of all the efforts of God, regarding his creatures. +Here is consummated all the glory, God derives from their existence. +All beside are only the means approaching this final end, this glorious +termination, and absorption of the soul in Deity. Here is the light +which ravishes the soul. A light which does not precede, but follows +the soul in its progress; unfolding more and more, as a man in a dark +cavern, discovers the concealed places, only when he has remained in it +for some time. + +This is the pure Theology in which God instructs the angels and the +saints. It is the Theology of Experience, that God teaches only to his +children, who having abandoned their own wisdom, he has himself become +their wisdom and their life. This is the law of wisdom, my friend, for +us,--the way of the Lord in us. In him we are one. + + + + +NO UNION WITH SELFISH SOULS. + +There are some souls which cause me great suffering. These are selfish +souls, full of compromises, speculations and human arrangements, and +desiring others to accommodate themselves to their humors and +inclinations. I find myself unable to administer in the least degree +to their self-love; and when I would be a little complaisant, a Master, +more powerful than myself, restrains me. I cannot give such persons +any other place in my heart, than God gives them. I cannot adapt +myself to their superficial state, neither respond to their professions +of friendship; these are very repulsive to my feelings. + +The love which dwells in my heart, is not a natural love, but arises +from a depth which rejects, what is not in correspondence with it, or +rather what is not in unison with the heart of God. I cannot be with a +child without caressing it, nor with a child-like soul without a tender +attachment. I do not regard the exterior, but the state of the soul; +its affinity and oneness with God. The only perfect union, is the +union of souls in God; such as exists in heaven, and on earth after the +resurrection, life takes effect in the soul. + + + + +NEVER YIELD TO DISCOURAGEMENT. + +Do not be disheartened, my friend, on account of your slow progress. A +long martyrdom is sometimes necessary, in order to purify our souls +from the concealed faults of self-love--faults interwoven in our +nature, and strengthened by long indulgence. As you cannot control at +once the agitations of nature, arm yourself with patience, to +accomplish the task little by little; not in the way of direct effort, +but rather by ceasing from effort, remaining quiet, permitting neither +gestures nor words to betray your feelings. + +Could we enter into the highest state of grace, as we enter into a +room, it might be easily accomplished. But alas! the door is straight, +and there are many deaths to pass; in a word, death to self. It is +this long martyrdom, or dying of the old man of sin, which causes all +the pains of the interior life. It is rare to find persons, who are +willing to die entirely to self, and therefore few reach the highest +state of grace. + +Have good courage. It is a great work to draw a large ship from her +moorings, but when she is in the waters, how easily she rolls! What +happiness, when by perseverance, you have triumphed over nature, to +find yourself in the abundant waters of grace! I pray God to put his +own hand to the work. He will. + +In Him, devotedly yours. + + + + +WEAKNESS AND IMPERFECTION. + +I reciprocate your friendship, madam, with all my heart. Our divine +Master knows how happy I am to serve you in any possible way. Oh! +madam, it is better to be feeble, when God leaves us in our weakness, +than to have a strength which is our own. I once thought, that the +pure soul was free from all faults, but I now see otherwise. God +clothes his children with frailties, that they may be humble in their +own eyes, and be concealed from the eyes of the world. The Tabernacle +was covered with the skins of the beasts, while the Temple of Herod was +ornamented with gold. Let us not afflict ourselves on account of our +littleness and infirmities, since God so orders it, but become as +little children. When a little child falls, it cannot raise itself, +but lets another do for it all that it needs. + +It does not depend on ourselves to make the presence of God more or +less sensible. Let the desire for a lively sense of this presence, be +crucified to the will of God. Take what is given you. Be as the +little child, who eats and sleeps and grows. God gives you the best +nourishment, although not always the sweetest to the taste. Adieu! my +heart sympathises with you. + + + + +ADVANCEMENT. + +During the process of the soul's purification and advancement, it loses +sight not only of itself, but of all things else; except God; and even +of the distinct apprehension of our Lord, in his humanity. That is, +there are no longer distinct, bounded views and perceptions of Christ, +the soul becoming identical with Christ. This is necessary in order to +draw the soul into oneness with God. Let all go in the divine order. +When the soul has returned to its end and origin, and is lost in God, +it finds all it lost, without going out from God. + +When the soul is yet in itself, it draws all things to itself, and sees +God and all creatures in itself. But when the soul is in oneness with +God, it carries all creatures with it in God, and sees nothing separate +from God. Seeing all in God, it sees all things in the true light, as +with the eye of God. This is what David calls, "Seeing light in thy +light." + +May God give you understanding of what I say, and docility and +acquiescence in the truths, which he causes to penetrate your soul. I +make no reserves, but express freely all my thoughts. The least +reserve for self, is as a strong breath against a mirror, it obstructs +the view of God. My soul, it seems to me, is clear and transparent, +reflecting only what the Master presents; and the execution of his will +renders the soul always increasingly pure and transparent. May God be +all in all to you. + + + + + +GREATNESS OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY. + +Do not measure yourself by others, who may not be led as you are. God +chooses to enrich some souls with brilliant gifts, but he has chosen +you, stripped of all, in the depths of spiritual poverty. This is the +perfect self-renouncement, without which, one cannot be the disciple of +the Lord Jesus. All other states, however elevated they may be, are +inferior to this pure, naked state of the soul. It is a state, which +despoils the lover of all he possesses in favor of his Beloved. It is +a state in which the soul is shielded from all inroads of the enemy; +who can reach only what remains of self in the creature, and not what +is enclosed in God. + +God has chosen you for himself alone. You are the sanctuary, which is +open only to the high priest, in which is contained the ark of the +covenant--the essential, will of God--the sacred place, encompassed by +the clouds, where the glory of God appears. Oh! blessed poverty of +spirit, in which state the soul is enriched with the best gifts a God +can bestow! + +Measure not your advancement by relation to the road passed over, but +by rapport to the end. There yet remains a great road to pass over, +since God himself is the way. + +The more fully you enter into his designs, the more I love you. + + + + +ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY ONE SOUL TO ANOTHER. + +The interest I feel in your spiritual welfare, my dear F., is very +great--so deeply absorbing, that I slept but little during the past +night, presenting you in prayer before our Lord. I have an inward +conviction, that God is enriching your heart by my humble +instrumentality; thus, while he elevates you on one side, he debases +you on the other, by communicating his grace through so unworthy a +channel as myself. The Spirit has revealed to me your state, when I +have received no intelligence from you. God has thus ordered it, for +his own glory; and when many years hence, this method of God's +operations will be better known--the assistance rendered by one soul to +another, without the mediation of the body--the use he has made of this +feeble instrument to communicate to you his grace, will serve to +substantiate this divine truth and heavenly mode of operation. + +There is therefore for you, a means of interior advancement, which no +distance of place can interrupt. It will be only from lack of +correspondence on your part, that it will be diverted. God desires it, +at least for a time, until your soul is entirely in union with himself. +This method of communication is only a superior fountain discharging +itself into another; or, as two rivers bearing each other to the same +sea. + +Receive then this poor heart in the fulness of Christ's love, and +believe me, no one can be more fully united to you than I am. + + + + +SIMPLICITY AND POWER OF THE WORD. + +You enquire, my friend, why I do not use obscure terms and +extraordinary expressions, in explaining the Scriptures. My Lord +teaches me, that while there are no writings so profound as the +Gospels, there are none so simple. And further, that simplicity of +soul gives simplicity of expression. When we speak of a state beyond +our experience, we do so with difficulty, and have recourse to learning +to aid us, and use forced expressions. + +In the natural, simple expressions of Scripture, there are deep +sentiments, adapted to the wants of each soul--to those less and more +advanced. + +The word of God enters the centre of the soul; it has a penetrating +quality; an operative efficiency. No words of man can produce the same +effect; at least, none but such as come from souls, who are pure +channels of the word of God. It is the good pleasure of our Lord, to +express and reproduce himself upon the self-abandoned soul. Who does +not admire the profound mystery of the creation of the world, where God +produced all things by his word? When God created man, he formed him +of the dust of the earth--the lowest form of matter--made of dust, that +he might not rob God of his glory! But man thus created, received _the +spirit_--the breath of the Word. This dust of the earth became the +living breath of God. When Jesus Christ is formed in the soul, he +imparts not only a clear understanding of the word, but is himself the +Word, reproduced in the soul. Those only in whom Christ dwells, +fulfill the word, or have the word accomplished in them. Such only are +able fully to interpret the word. It is not learning which best +explains the truths of God, but the reproduction of these truths in the +life---the experience of them. + + + + +FORGETFULNESS OF SELF. + +I cannot compliment you, dear sir, and I am persuaded, that you will +expect from me, only the simplicity of the Christian. This simplicity +leads me to say, only what our Lord gives me. You need more of this +simplicity. The frequent self-returns you make, dwelling so much on +your unworthiness, although it may have the appearance of humility, is +only a refined self-love. True simplicity regards God alone; it has +its eye fixed upon him, and is not drawn towards self; and it is as +pleased to say humble as great things. + +All our uneasy feelings and reflections, arise from self-love, whatever +appearance of piety they may assume. The lack of simplicity inflicts +many wounds. Go where we will, if we remain in ourselves, we shall +carry everywhere our sins and our distresses. If we would live in +peace, we must lose sight of self, and rest in the infinite and +unchangeable God. These self-returns have a tendency to establish the +soul more and more in itself, and hinder it from running into its great +original. But it is to this, God is calling you. You withhold from +God the only thing he desires--_the possession of your heart_. The +time is short; wherefore spend it in the compass and surroundings of +self? The single eye sees only God. You act as a person who being +called before a king, instead of regarding the king and his benefits, +is occupied only with his own dress and appearance. God wishes to +disarrange you--to destroy self; and you wish to preserve what he would +destroy. Be more afraid of self than of the evil one. It is the +spirit of Satan to exalt self above God, and this spirit is fostered by +these continual returns you make upon your own doings and misdoings, +which leaves no place in your mind for the occupation of God. + + + + +DIVERSITY OF MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION. + +Although there are impenetrable mysteries in God's dealings with souls, +in order to promote their sanctification, it is true that each soul, +aside from the ordinary means, common to all, has a specific training, +and this method of the divine order can alone accomplish the work. The +means that sanctifies another may not sanctify you. You, my friend, +will not be led by great crosses and severe sufferings, but in the way +of helpless infancy. The child-like, yielding soul is necessary for +you; therefore God has chosen a child, myself, to be your helper. +Forget yourself as the man to whom many eyes are turned, and become the +little, helpless one, who cannot take care of itself, but lets another +care for it. The pride, presumption and vanity, of the natural man, +must give place to the littleness and simplicity of the child. Says +our Saviour, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye +cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." O, when shall we learn that +it is littleness, and not greatness, that God requires of his child! + +God has given me a maternal yearning for your soul. I sympathize +deeply in your wants and burdens. Be assured, the eyes of the God of +Love are upon you. I entreat you, yield to the influences which are in +operation to restore your soul to God. I can offer no apology for my +letter; for in all things, I obey my Lord. + + + + +COMFORT IN AFFLICTION. + +I assure you, Dear Sir, I sympathize deeply in your afflictions. With +all my heart I present you before our Lord. I have prayed, and still +pray, that if you are called to participate in the sufferings of Jesus +Christ, you may partake also of his patience and submission. You will +find the Lord at all times near your heart, when you seek him by a +simple and sincere desire to do and suffer his will. He will be your +support and consolation in this time of trouble, if you go to him, not +with fear and agitation of spirit, but with calm, confiding love. + +Jesus said to the blind man, whose eyes he anointed with clay, "Go wash +in the waters of Siloam"--waters soft and tranquil. O, that you might +experience the abiding peace which Christ gives. O, that you might +become reduced to the simplicity of the little child! It is the child +who approaches the nearest to Jesus Christ. It is the child whom he +takes in his arms and carries in his bosom. O, how lovely, how +attractive, is child-like simplicity! May the sufferings you are now +experiencing, render you, child-like and submissive to all the will of +your Father. My ill health forbids my writing more fully. God loves +you, and you are very dear to me in him. Amen. Jesus, help. + + + + +BEARING FRUIT IN UNION WITH CHRIST. + +God has united my soul to yours in the oneness of his own nature, and +when all the obstructions on your part are removed, you will realize +this same divine union. "We have many masters, as said St. Paul, but +only _one Father in Christ_." This Father unites himself to us by the +impartation of his own nature, and from this communication, of himself +to the soul, proceeds our spiritual paternity; or the power by which we +communicate to others what we receive from him. We are not always +sensible how this power, or aid we render others, is imparted. In some +individuals it is more manifest than in others. It always adapts +itself to the subject who receives it. All the gifts and graces of the +spirit are either more sensible and apparent, or more spiritual and +inward, according to the power of receptivity in the individual. + +It seems to me that when I am with you, there is only a simple, +imperceptible transmission from my soul to yours. You do not perceive +any marked results, and they are not great, because you are not in a +state to receive much, and often interrupt me by speaking, which causes +in me a vacillation of grace. If we were together some considerable +time without distraction, you would perceive more marked results. It +is the desire of God that there should be, between us, perfect +interchange of thoughts, of hearts, of souls;--a flux and reflux, such +as there will be when souls are new-created in Christ Jesus. At +present, my soul in rotation to yours, is as a river which enters into +the sea, to draw and invite the smaller river to lose itself also in +the sea. + +This truth,--the fruitfulness of souls who are in God, whereby they +communicate grace,--however much it is rejected, is, nevertheless, a +truth. This flux and reflux of communication, like the ebbing and +flowing of the great ocean-current, is the secret of the heavenly +hierarchy, and makes a communication from superior orders to +inferior,--and of equality, between angels of the same order. + +During all eternity, the communication of God the Father, and the Son, +to angels and saints, and their reciprocal communication to each other, +will be a well-spring of blessedness. The design of God, in the +creation of men, has been to associate to himself living beings, to +whom he could communicate himself. He could create nothing greater +than likenesses of himself. All the splendor of angels and saints, is +but light reflected from God. + +God could not see himself reflected in saints, without their +participating of these two qualities, fruitfulness and reciprocal +communication. In this life all perfection consists, in that which +makes the consummation of this same perfection in heaven, No one can be +perfect, if he is not perfect _as_ the Father in heaven is perfect; +that is, partaking of his nature. + +Jesus Christ is the Father of souls; his generation, or the souls that +are begotten of him, are eternal in their nature as he is. The figure, +"giving us his flesh to eat," is the nourishment he gives the soul in +communication with himself; or himself reproduced, or begotten in us. +The eternal Word is the essential, undying life of the soul. + + + + +DESOLATE STATE. + +Believe me, dear madam, I take a deep interest in your spiritual +welfare, and I earnestly hope your confidence in God will not fail, on +account of your present desolate state. As the winter plunges still +deeper the roots of the trees in the earth, so the wintry state of the +soul plunges it deeper in humiliation. Remember the confidence of Job, +"Although he slay me, I will trust in him." Although stripped of all +consolation, and left in the desolation of nothingness, you may yet +rejoice in God--out of, and separate from, self. Let the earth be +stripped of her foliage; let neither flowers nor fruit appear; yet _God +is_, therefore you may be happy. The mother loves to sacrifice herself +for her child, and finds her life in what affords it happiness; thus +die to self, in relation to God. + +When your weaknesses rise up before you, when you would weep over some +error in judgment, or some unguarded expression, do as the little +child, who having fallen into the mud, carries its hands to its mother, +who cheerfully wipes them, and consoles him after the fall. Can you +not believe God loves you, as much as you love the little one enfolded +in your arms? Does he not say, "A mother may forget, yet I will never +forget thee!" + +The discovery of your weakness and emptiness, is an evidence of God's +love; and while it is ground for humiliation, it is also of +thanksgiving. When it pleases God to fill this void with his grace, it +is cause of thankfulness; but if we realized at all times this +fullness, we should be in danger of appropriating the grace of God to +ourselves. Thus, our times of desolation are necessary, and we should +accept them joyfully, as a portion of the bread our father gives us. + +Yours in tender sympathy. + + + + +SELF-ABANDONMENT. + +The death of self is not accomplished at once. It is for some time a +living death. Its opposite, spiritual life, is represented by +Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones. First, the bones were rejoined; +afterwards covered with sinews; then the flesh appeared; and finally, +the spirit of the Lord animated them. When the soul begins to incline +towards God, it finds many obstructions; but in proportion as we yield +to the will of God, these obstructions are removed. The following +simile will help to illustrate my idea. The rivers empty themselves +into the sea; before they lose themselves there. Wave by wave +following its course, seems to urge onward the river, to lose itself in +the sea. God imparts to the soul some waves of pure love, to urge on +the soul to himself; but as the river does not lose itself in the sea, +until its own waters are exhausted, so the soul reaches God, and loses +itself in God, only when the means of supply from self are at an end. +As the waves, which are precipitated into the sea, roll many times +before they are lost in the sea, so the soul undergoes many changes, +before it is received into God. + +The results of self-crucifixion are happy, because God then becomes all +to the soul. We lose self, and substitute God in its place. We take +away the finite, and receive the Infinite. This is blessed. + + + + +NO DEPENDENCE ON INSTRUMENTS. + +What shall I say regarding the state in which you find yourself, in +relation to me? I have no movement either to promote our re-union, or +hinder it. Let God direct. Are you leaning upon him, or upon the +creature? If on the creature, it is a bruised reed, which will fail +you. God sometimes makes use of instruments, whom he finds it +necessary afterwards to reject. If he designs to remove me from you, +can I have any wish to retain you? God forbid. He may design this +separation, to make you die to any confidence in the creature. He may +no longer design to use me for your benefit. I might have mingled my +own impurity, with his pure light flowing through me. If God permit me +to err, it is on account of my pride. I have never given you any +assurance of my infallibility. What am I but an erring creature? +Leave me, leave me, and unite yourself only to God, who will never +mislead you. Means are good, only in the order of God. They injure +us, if we rest in them. If God remove me from you, acquiesce in his +will, with a devotion worthy of a child of God. Be humble, and +courageous enough to own your fault, in leaning on an arm of flesh. +Men of the world may be obstinate, but the child of God should be +supple. Whatever separation there may be between us, believe me, you +will always be dear to me in our dear Lord. I hope, when you are lost +in him, you will find this little drop of water, (myself) in the same +great ocean of love. + + + + +CHILD OF GOD SOON TO DIE. + +I have had a presentiment that you would not survive this illness. I +lose in you the most faithful, and the only friend on whom I could +rely, in the persecutions which threaten me. I feel my loss, but +rejoice in your happiness, I could envy you. Death only lends a +helping hand to rend away the veil, which hides infinite beauties. Our +Lord has strongly cemented our souls. May the benediction of the +divine Master rest upon you. Go, blessed soul, and receive the +recompense prepared for all those, who are wholly the Lord's. Go, we +separate in the name of the Lord; I cannot say a last adieu, for we +shall be forever united in him. I hope, in the goodness of God, to be +present with you in heart and spirit, at the time of your departure, +and to receive with you, the divine Master who is waiting for you. Be +my ambassador in the courts above, and say to him I love him. + + + + +UNION OF SOULS IN GOD. + +The assurance you give me of the union of your soul with mine, is a +great consolation. It is a union to which my heart fully responds, not +in a way of emotional transport, but in the depths of peace; there is +nothing of nature in it. It is a union in Jesus Christ. We are one in +a sense of our lost condition, and one in self-abandonment. Oh! +blessed oneness with Christ, where all evils perish; and there remains +only the casualties inseparable from the state of humanity. How +wonderful is this operation--the sacred mingling of a poor creature +with its God, where all the evils of our fallen nature, are removed +from the depths of the soul, and the soul, in its elemental being is +lost in its original! There all the little ones are united in +Him,--these little drops of water reassembled in the divine ocean! How +swiftly do the streams embrace each other, and flow into one channel, +when the obstructions are removed! When souls become pure in Jesus +Christ, they flow into one another with the same rapidity. Purity of +soul consists in an entire separation from self, and re-union with God. +The soul _can_ return to self; it has the power, and therefore is not +infallible. + +Our union, my dear friend, is independent of the relish or disrelish of +all created things and events. You could not be separated from me +without being separated from God; for it seems to me, that I am one +with him, and inseparable, and you are the same; and thus, we are one +in Him, and one with each other. + +Ever yours, in the heart of Jesus. + + + + +SECRET OPERATIONS OF GRACE. + +My heart has been tenderly united to you, during all my bodily +sufferings. In proportion as the outward man has been reduced, God +seems to be more the life of my soul. Although the operations of God +upon your soul may be less marked than formerly, they are no less real. +There is a secret fire in your heart, which burns continually, although +imperceptibly. This keen and continual operation enfeebles you, +because it consumes so rapidly the more sensible and marked operations +of the soul. This is, I apprehend, your ordinary state; with +occasionally the unction of the oil of grace poured upon the concealed +fire, to give you a sweet and clear manifestation of the loving +presence of God. + +You bear two marked results of the divine presence--interior +recollection, and a continual _amen_ in your heart; a true and just +response to all God's dealings with your soul. + +I realise a very close union with you. This union is not in the +emotions, and not in the will of man, but in the will of God. It is a +union, from which I could no more separate myself, than from God; it is +a fulfillment of the prayer of our Lord, "that they may be one, as we +are one." It is a union which death cannot interrupt, but will +substantiate more and more fully in God. + +Ever yours, in our Lord. + + + + +TO A YOUNG FRIEND. + +You are very dear to me, my child. Do not think I have forgotten you. +God alone can render you happy. Give yourself wholly to him, never +more to take yourself back. Love him with all your heart. Retire +often within the closet of your heart to commune with God. Do not pray +to him in a constrained and formal manner, but all simple and natural. +God loves better the affectionate language of the heart, than, the cold +and discursive thoughts of the intellect. The prayer of love softens +the heart. + +Do not shrink from your ordinary duties. We are often more united to +God, in our daily avocations, than in retirement. The reason is, our +good Father holds us more closely, when we are most exposed to +temptations. Endeavor to maintain, at all times, harmony and oneness +with God. You have only to abandon yourself wholly to divine love, and +perform all the duties that devolve upon you. Do not be restive, and +thus mar God's beautiful design and operation upon your soul. Place in +his bosom of rest, all your inquietudes, and allow him to carry you, as +a little child is borne by its mother. This little one has only to +regard, lovingly, the smiles of its tender mother. + +God will give you a wise discernment as to food and drink, and all the +pleasures of life. He calls us to a temperate life, but not to a life +too austere. We should avoid the _too much_ and the _too little_ in +eating and drinking. + +I pray our divine Lord, to enlighten, strengthen and comfort your heart. + + + + +LETTER TO HER SPIRITUAL GUIDE. + +The state in which I find myself, my Father, takes away from me +entirely, the liberty to address you any longer as my Spiritual Guide. +I realize so great a detachment from all things, that there remains in +me only a triumphant, dominant love, which acknowledges no master but +Love. It is my experience, that the closer the union of the soul with +God, the more it is separated from all dependence on the creature. I +find also, that the secret operations of divine love upon the soul, +cannot be expressed. These operations do not consist in sweet and +flattering expressions, neither in consolations, in the ordinary way, +but in the discovery of mysterious truths; truths, which give so +profound a knowledge of God, that the soul can find no language to give +expression to these views. + +To speak, and to act, is the same thing with God. "He spake, and it +was done." When the divine Word operates in the soul, without any +obstruction, the soul becomes what this Word wills it should become. +When Mary Magdalene was made whole, it was no more Mary Magdalene, but +Jesus Christ, who lived in her. St. Paul says, "I live, yet not I, +Christ liveth in me." In the same manner, the Word is incorporated +into my soul. + +Some time since, there was given me a view of the States of Mary, the +mother of our Lord. I was alone in my chamber, and my soul was +completely filled with divine love. The divine Word seemed to say +within me, "I will show thee the chief work of my hands,--a perfect +nothing in itself,--the heart of Mary." In this manner was conveyed to +me, the inexpressible love of God for men--his operation in pure souls. +It was shown me, that her silence and acquiescence in the will of God; +her entire self-crucifixion and hidden life were worthy of imitation; +and that this same love which had operated so powerfully upon this +soul, emptied of self, desired to draw other souls also to her states, +and to make an effusion of the same grace and love in them, as in her. +O divine love! how great are thy wonders, how marvellous thy operations +on human hearts! My soul is lost in the depths of thy secret wonders! +Silence, silence--only silence! + +I write to you, my Father, for the last time, to bid you a final adieu. +I can no longer listen to any other teachings, than this divine Word of +eternal Truth, which is spoken in the depths of my heart. But however +far separated from you, in the relation of Director, you are very near +and dear in the affections of my heart; in that pure love, which is +alone the operation of our Lord Jesus Christ. + + + + +GLORY OF GOD THE ONE DESIRE. + +What have we to desire in heaven and on earth, only the glory of God? +But it is necessary to desire the glory of God as he desires it. He +who has absolute power over the heart of man, has a plan of operations; +he does all things in their time; he waits until the hour is come. In +coming into the world, our Lord could have converted the world at once, +and destroyed all its vices; but the economy of his wisdom did not so +direct. When I hear our Lord say, "_Mine hour is not yet come_," and +wishing neither to advance nor retard, for a moment, the hour that his +Father had appointed, I am plunged into my nothingness. We are only +instruments in his hands, which he may lay aside, or use according to +his good pleasure. We should be so dead to self, as to be indifferent, +whether he makes use of us or not. + +Remain, therefore, my dear friend, in the hand of God. Let him +accomplish in you, and by you, all his good pleasure, whether to cast +down, or build up. God knows how much I love you. + + + + +SPIRITUAL UNION AND AID. + +Spiritual union, is a state of the soul very clear in my perception, +although I may not be able to give you a definite impression of this +state. In order to benefit you, it became necessary for me to enter +into your state, to have an experimental knowledge, an endurance and +suffering of the same state. By this experience I have been brought +into closer relation to God, partaking more fully of the Christ-like +nature by being rendered capable of bearing the infirmities of others. +And I have had, also, a clearer idea of that quality of God, whereby he +multiplies holy souls, by the communication of himself. In this +experience, the soul appears to be in God, and God in her, as first +cause, drawing and penetrating the soul nearest to himself, and by +penetration, in this soul, drawing, through her instrumentality, many +other Souls. + +Although, by these powerful rays the soul itself may seem to penetrate +and draw other souls, yet it is God who draws them by his efficiency; +and he communicates this efficiency, most powerfully, to those in +closest contact with himself. So pure and transparent is this soul, +that there seems to be no space between the first Mover and the souls +moved by the agent or instrumentality. There is a difference between +the ray and the body of the sun, although it is difficult to separate +the ray from the sun. It is the divine ray, which is transmitted +through this soul, as the natural ray through the medium of the +atmosphere. These same rays, transmitted through many souls, and from +soul to soul, unite them in one common centre, and thus the bond of +filiation is complete in God. I may not express myself so as to be +understood. May your light supply, what is wanting in clearness of +expression. + + + + +LIVE IN THE PRESENT. + +Do not expect, my dear E., that the will of God will be made apparent +to you in any extraordinary way. The most remarkable events occur +naturally. It was by an order of the Emperor, that Joseph, being of +the house and lineage of David, went to be taxed at Bethlehem, where +the holy child Jesus was born. The fountain of water was near to +Hagar, when she laid down the child to die with thirst. Behold God, my +friend, in the present arrangement of his providence for you, and +submit wisely to passing events. He sees the end from the beginning, +and plans wisely for his children. O, how good to submit our limited +view to his far sight, reaching through time and eternity! + +Remember, the present moment comes to you, as the moment of God. Use +it for his glory, and every succeeding moment. Thus the present +becomes the eternal moment, for which we must render account to God. +May God be All in All to us in every passing moment, now and forever. + + + + +HOW TO ADMINISTER REPROOF. + +A single word, spoken in the spirit of Christ, with humility and +sweetness, will have more weight, in correcting others, than many words +uttered in our own spirit. The reason is this: when passion mingles +with correction, although the truth may be spoken, Jesus Christ does +not coöperate with us. Therefore, the person is not corrected by what +we say, but, being opposed to the manner of correction, is more +confirmed in the evil. In proportion as Jesus Christ speaks by us, +without us, or without the minglings of self, his word is efficacious, +and turns the heart of the person to whom we speak, to receive what we +say. I know there are some who resist, knowingly, _his_ word, but our +passionate zeal does not correct them. + +It is important to wait the moment of God to collect others. We may +see real faults, but the person may not be in a state to profit by +being told their faults. It is not wise to give more than one can +receive. This is what I call _preceding_ the _light_,--the light +shines so far in advance of the person, that it does not benefit him. +Our Lord said to his apostles, "I have many things to say to you, but +you cannot bear them now." + +The prophet says, the Lord carries his children in his arms, as a +nurse. A nurse could wish that the child could walk alone, but she +waits in patience the time. Let us do the same, and never discourage +the weak. Let us not destroy the good grain with the tares. Who does +not admire "the long suffering patience of God?" And I may add to St. +Paul's words, all unworthy as I am, and of those who admire it, how few +imitate it! If those to whom God has given so much grace, have so many +faults themselves, with how much patience should they bear with those +who are less favored. + + + + +BEARING THE STATES OF CHRIST. + +During my late severe illness, a strong impression rested on my mind, +that I was called to participate in the last sufferings of Jesus +Christ. The language of my heart was, I am ready, O, Father, to suffer +all thy will! In thus yielding my heart, as Abraham when called to +sacrifice his beloved Isaac, I realized a new bond of alliance with +Christ, and these words, "I will betroth thee unto me forever," was the +voice of the Bridegroom to my soul. + +When Paul said, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus," he did +not refer to any external marks in the flesh, but to bearing the states +of Jesus Christ. In David are expressed all the states of Christ, with +the difference only there is between the type and the original. Job +was an eminent instance of being reduced to nothingness, and also of +exaltation by the favor of God. Those who pass through the furnace, +and suffer with Christ, are prepared to wear the white robe, which +adorns the bride, the Lamb's wife. Their souls become the +dwelling-place of the Most High. + +Are not those beautiful subterranean palaces, which we read of in +fable, and which are reached after crossing deep caverns, and so hidden +that none can find them, only those to whom the secret is revealed, +representative of the interior palace of the soul, where the Lord +inhabits. "The king's daughter is all glorious within." + + + + +OUR IMPERFECTIONS SHOULD NOT HINDER OUR LABORS FOR OTHERS. + +Although I am so weak and unworthy in myself, God uses me for the good +of others. The many defects of our temperament, should not hinder our +labors in behalf of others. These faults have nothing to do with the +grace, which operates effectively on the souls for whom we labor. God +reveals himself, through the fathers and mothers in Israel, and thus +increases confidence in them; while, at the same time, their weaknesses +forbid placing too much dependence on them. + +Although our Lord acquaints us with his designs regarding others, and +the aid we may render them, yet this should not give us the least +desire to aid them, only in the order of his providence. Neither +should we be arrested in his work, although the souls we aid repulse +the effort. God will make good the results in due time. It implies +great death to self, never to put our hand selfishly to the work of the +Lord, as it does, also, never to go a step out of the path in which he +leads us. When we mingle self, we retard, rather than advance, his +work. Nature is so corrupt that it deeply infests spiritual things, +and so subtle as to conceal itself under all artifices. + +I do not know why I have written you thus. God knows, and that is +sufficient. + + + + +DEATH, RESURRECTION. + +This is no time to be disheartened. When the sinful lusts rebel, leave +them to their disorderly cravings. Let them cry, as a child from whom +we take away a dangerous yet pleasing toy. Strengthen yourself for +crosses and humiliations. You will soon be made alive in Jesus Christ. + +The extraordinary peace you have tasted, is the commencement of the +resurrection-life. This peace is not invariable, because the new life +is given little by little, yet, I assure you, it will soon fill your +whole soul. As God has rapidly advanced inward death, and caused you +to run, with a giant step, in the way of self-crucifixion, and this, +notwithstanding all the oppositions of the carnal man, he will also +thus rapidly advance the resurrection. + +The loss, of all things of the earthly life, which follows the +resuscitated life, will be deep and extended. The death and burial +which precede the resurrection, cannot compare with that total loss, +which follows the resuscitated life. This is something different, and +in a new state. You will arise from the sepulchre, as the Spouse of +the Beloved. + +All is consumed in myself, not in the ordinary way, but in a total +loss; so that there remains nothing which can be named or known. It +seems to me, the death of self is carried almost to infinity, it makes +so many unknown steps. Since this morning, this unworthy creature +experiences a still greater reduction of self than ever before. Die, +live; lose yourself, and find yourself again; then you will have +experience of this state. + + + + +GRACE DEEPLY INTERIOR. + +While you perceive nothing sensible, or apparent, in your religious +state, there is, at the same time, evidence to others of a hidden +spring of life within your soul. God does not give you the sweet rain +which, falling, clothes all the surface of the soul with verdure, but +he gives you the deep well-spring, by which means you live and +flourish, and produce, not herbs and flowers, which are born and die in +the same day, but substantial fruits, ripening for eternity. David +said, the life of man upon the earth is as grass, which groweth up in +the morning, and withers in the evening. This refers to the natural +life, but it is also true of the selfish life of man. It flourishes in +the morning of the spiritual life, but no sooner does the sun of +righteousness arise in his warmth, than this life withers and is cut +down. The righteous are as a tree planted by the rivers of water, +whose leaf is always green. This is because the roots are well watered +by the deep-flowing current. + +God never ceases to operate in your heart. The calm, resigned state of +your soul is proof of this. + +Take good care of your health. Do not labor beyond your strength. God +will abundantly reward you for your labors of love in behalf of others. +These are labors he never fails to recompense. I pray God, my dear F., +to preserve you for his work. I have many things to say, but I +forbear. Your time is precious. + + + + +SELF-RENUNCIATION. + +God designs you, my friend, for himself, but he will lead you by a way, +entirely opposed to what you have marked out. He does this in order to +destroy your self-love. This is accomplished only by the overthrow of +all your purposes, preconceived views, natural reason and sagacity. +Self-love has many hiding-places. God alone can search them out. You +seek the honor that cometh from man, and love to occupy a high +position. God wishes to reduce you to littleness, and poverty of +spirit. Believe me, dear sir, you will grow in grace, not by knowledge +acquired from books; not from reasonings upon divine truths, but by an +efflux from God. This efflux will reach and fill your soul, in +proportion as you are emptied of self. You are so much occupied of +yourself in speaking, reading and writing, that you give no place to +God. Make room, and God will come in. + +You speak of your many cares. If you will give yourself wholly to God, +these cares will be greatly diminished. God will think for you, and +arrange by his Providence, what you cannot effect by long years of +planning. In the name of God, I entreat you to renounce your own +wisdom, your self-leadings, and yield up yourself to God. Let Him +become your wisdom. You Will then find the place of rest, you so much +need. + +May you read this letter, with dependence on the Spirit, which has +dictated it, and without regard to the instrument, and your heart will +testify to the truth of what I have written. Take courage, and be +persuaded that if God destroys the natural life, it is only to give you +himself. Endeavor to be nothing, that God may be all. When void, God +himself fills the space. + + + + +UNEXPECTED FAULTS. + +Yesterday, after I left the parlor, I uttered some words hastily, and +suffered very much in consequence; a suffering not like the pangs of +penitence I formerly experienced, but more subtle and interior; and the +soul was more acquiescent. Whether it was the words I uttered too +precipitately, or the reflections that followed, which caused this +suffering, I could not determine. A part of myself seemed to be thrown +out of God, as we see the ocean reject certain things, which it +receives again more deeply into its bosom. Thus I seemed to myself to +be rejected, and without any power to make the least movement to +return, and without even a regret that I was rejected. I was willing +to remain where God placed me, until the moment he received me again to +himself. If I should afflict myself on account of this experience, +which was new and unexpected, I believe it would be wrong, and sully +still more the soul. The depths of my soul remain unchanged--fixed in +God. He removes the impurity, that has exteriorly sullied it, and +holds the soul still his own. + + + + +APOSTOLIC STATE. + +I have read your letter, my dear F., with great pleasure. The true +Apostolic state is to become all things to all men; that is, to impart +to each one spiritually, according to his necessities. Only those who +are reduced to littleness and simplicity, have this power of +communicating grace. They have also the ability to sympathise deeply +in the states of others; of bearing in some measure their burdens, and +are sometimes in great heaviness on their account. This communication +of grace and aid, is not necessarily restricted to the personal +presence of the individual. We may be "absent in body, yet present in +spirit," after the manner of God's operations; and as the angelic +powers communicate to us. It is only by the enlightening of God's +Spirit, that we realise the state of those to whom we are spiritually +united. + +Unity of souls is experienced, not only with those in the body, who +have affinity with ourselves, but also with those out of the body. I +realise with the holy prophet David, a correspondence and unity, which +renders our souls one in God. You will experience this unity with the +saints more fully, when all perception of self is taken away. St. Paul +says, "_Ye are come_ to an innumerable company of _angels_--to the +_spirits of just men made perfect_." David was in the Old Testament, +what Paul was in the New. They were both deeply interior Christians. +The Apostles, after having received the Holy Ghost, spake all +languages. This has also a spiritual meaning. They communicated +grace, according to the necessities of each one. This is speaking the +word--the efficacious word, which replenishes the soul. This +nourishing, life-giving word is represented by the manna, and the +reality is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is himself the bread of +life in the soul. Amen, Jesus! + + + + +PAINFUL EXPERIENCE. + +To-day my health is better, and I find myself able to reply to your +letter. Let the view of yourself that God gives you, be accepted, +whether it relates to your fallen condition in general, or to +particular faults; but add nothing to this view by your own +reflections. These continual reflex acts of the mind, do not help you; +they do not remove the faults. I am not surprised, that you find in +yourself so many evils; evils which render you almost insupportable to +yourself. When God accomplishes the work of purification, he removes +all that is opposed to the divine inflowing life. + +These evils of your nature, which are now apparent, and which were +deeply concealed, are perceived by you, only because they are passing +out from their hiding-places. All persons do not have so deep a +knowledge of themselves; therefore do not suffer so much, because all +are not destined to so profound a death and burial while in the body. +Be silent, and drink the bitter cup. These humiliations will endure +until your state is in some degree perfected; after which they will +become more and more slight, and only at intervals, until the death and +burial is consummated. + + + + +ECSTACY OF THE MIND, AND THE WILL OR HEART.--THE DIFFERENCE. + +The intellectual part of man can be in some degree united to God; but +the soul loses itself in God, only by the loss of the will and by love. +This loss of the will is the true ecstasy, which is a permanent state, +and is effected without any violence to nature. When love is the +controlling exercise, the will follows, and the soul is reduced to +unity; as in the natural exercise of love, the stronger the love, the +greater the submission of the soul to the object beloved. Sacred love +does not bind parts, but draws it fully, until it is absorbed wholly in +this divine oneness. + +The mind may tend towards its divine object, with ardor, but the will +not concurring, causes dissonance and swooning, or impetuous +transports. I call this momentary ecstasy; it cannot long endure +without separating the soul from the body. + +The difference between these two states is, as that of water, retained +in the air by a machine, and of a river, running naturally into the +sea, as ordered by the grand Architect of the universe. Love, which +carries the will in its train, changes the whole man; this is the +divine, the true ecstasy. This is what is called transformation, and +loss of the soul in God. It is certain, however, that the creature +always remains a being distinct from God. + + + + +A VIEW OF SELF. + +The activity of the natural selfish life, is the greatest obstacle to +your progress. Allow of nothing which gives sustenance to this life. +Be on your guard against applause. Applaud not yourself when you have +done well. Admit no reflections in regard to the good you have +accomplished, so that all that nourishes self-complacency may die. + +Possess your soul in peace as much as possible; not by effort, but by +ceasing from effort; by letting go everything that troubles you. Be +quiet, that you may settle, as we leave water to settle when agitated. +When you discover your errors and sins, do not stop, under whatever +good pretext, to remedy them. Rather abandon yourself at once to God, +that he may destroy, in you, all that its displeasing to him. I assure +you, you are not capable of yourself, to correct the least fault. Your +only remedy is abandonment to God, and remaining quiet in his hands. +If you discovered the depth of inward corruption in your heart, your +courage would fail! On this account, God conceals from us, in part, +the view of our sins, and discovers them to us, only as he destroys +them. + +Rest assured, God loves you. He will take care of you. Have faith in +his love and mercy. You will see farther by and by. When you are in +trouble, do not fail to write me. Have good courage, and all will be +well. You are very dear to me in our Lord. + + + + +STATE OF A SOUL IN UNION WITH GOD. + +Although, in the latter part of my life, I do not perceive those marked +states of abandonment and submission, neither of interior sorrows, such +as I formerly experienced, this does not prove that these distinct +states no longer exist; but the soul having become more fully +established in God, it makes less account of them, or is less affected +by external impressions. As pure flowing water leaves no trace where +it passes, so these _distinct_ states leave no durable impression. The +soul seems to have lost its own qualities of resistance and aversion, +and runs, without ceasing into its Original. It is on this account I +cannot write so fully of my states of mind as formerly. My soul, in +its depths, rests in God. "My peace, says Christ, _I give unto you_." + +I pray for the church; I mourn at times that God is so little known and +loved; but these feelings are transient, and the soul is ready to take +any impression that God gives it. While it seems to have no consistency +of its own, so to speak, it adapts itself to the state of others with +wonderful facility. Sometimes even relating amusing stories, to +children, and to those who cannot be entertained in any other way. + +The soul, in this state of union with God, is sometimes permitted to +foretell things to come, which appear very obscure to man, but which +are, nevertheless, infallibly true, because proceeding from God. The +knowledge of the event, and its full explanation, will come in the +fulness of time. The soul is ready for anything; ready for nothing. All +that is true comes from God; what is not true, from the creature. The +soul does not seek to justify itself, nor produce humiliation, but +passes on, disregarding self, and absorbed in God. + + + + +STATE OF REST IN GOD. + +If I do not reply to you, Dear Sir, as soon as you might expect, it is +because I hold myself in reserve, until I have a movement to write, and +not from any want of regard to you. Relative to the distinct, +voluntary acts of resignation, renouncement, it would be difficult, in +my present state, to make such acts, because such acts would seem to +imply something of self-appropriation still remaining; whereas, I have +given to my Sovereign, all that I am; and as far as I know, I have +nothing more to give him. My soul is at rest in his will. + +It is the same in regard to prayer, or petitions. The soul having a +very simple method of prayer, all other prayer seems foreign to it. +When it would make a request, and as soon as the soul knows distinctly +what it demands, there is something which goes before to accomplish it, +without the utterance of words. When the soul utters words, or makes +petitions, if the spirit accompanying approves, the prayer is made with +ease. If the spirit do not coöperate, the words are uttered with +difficulty, or not at all. God takes the place of self in the soul, +and there prays for things agreeable to his will. This is a state of +the soul, in which it has no desire to originate prayer, but loves to +be silent in the presence of God. This is an experience more +satisfactory than I am able to express. O, that all the earth knew +what it means to keep silence before the Lord! + + + + +GREAT HUMILIATIONS. + +I have a clear discernment of your state. It seems to me, I see it in +some measure as God sees it; that is, in the pure light of truth,--the +reasons why you suffer, and the blessed results of these sufferings. I +have known that the period of discipline would be long, and very long, +because you suffer not only on your own account, but also for the +benefit of others. God destines you to accomplish great things for his +glory, and exterior humiliations in your case not being suited to his +designs, he makes use of concealed humiliations, known only to yourself +and God. I will repeat to you the words addressed by our Lord to St. +Paul. "My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in +weakness." + +It will be in companionship with humiliations, that you will be saved +from falling into sin and error, and be prepared to be come a vessel +fit for the Master's use. You will experience from time to time, a +return of these humiliating states, and when you may think they have +entirely passed away, they will suddenly revive. But the greater your +humiliation, the more God will use you to perform his most excellent +works. In this state of entire self-reduction and humiliation, your +words will be clothed with power. + +"I am come," says our Lord, "to bring fire on the earth." O martyr of +Pure Love,--_a sacrifice_ for the good of others, what if the fires be +already kindled in your bosom, shrink not! If you were less to God, he +might spare you. + +Do not hesitate to speak to me of your sufferings, because it appears +to you useless. It is not so. If you speak of them in simplicity, +your heart will be relieved, and strengthened. I know how to +sympathise with you. God bless you. + + + + +REPOSE OF THE SOUL IS GOD. + +Having given up myself wholly to God, and loving Him far better than +myself, how can I find any opposition to his good pleasure? How can I +do otherwise than yield to one I love better than myself? How can a +soul withdraw from the dominion of a Sovereign, that it loves with the +whole heart? "What can separate us from the love of God, in Christ +Jesus?" Although, while we remain in this life, there is a possibility +of sinning, and of separation from God, and it is true, that the soul +remains in oneness with Him, only by the continuance of his mercy, and +that if he should leave it, it would immediately fall into sin, yet I +cannot have the least fear, that my God will leave me, or that I shall +ever separate myself in any degree from his love. + +The creature can take no glory to itself, to whatever state it may +arrive. O that you might comprehend what I cannot express--the sense I +have of the goodness of God, to keep what is his own! How jealous, how +watchful he is over the soul! God seems so truly all things to me, +that I seem to see nothing, to love nothing, relish nothing, only what +he causes me to see, love and relish in himself. I am only capable of +loving and submitting to him, so much is he my life. I believe God +blindfold, without questioning or reasoning. _God is_; this is +sufficient. How immense is the freedom of the soul in him! O may you +not doubt, that when all of self is taken away from the creature, there +remains only God. O God, can I have any self-interest, or appropriate +aught as mine? In what can I take it? How strange the thought! how far +removed from the possession of God! I am lost. God is. + + + + +POWER OF CASTING OUT EVIL SPIRITS. + +Although for many years, profound truths have been revealed to me, and +God has manifested his power through me, in an extraordinary manner, my +state has invariably been one of infancy, simplicity and candor. God's +grace has rendered me equally willing to lie concealed, or to execute +his will more publicly. During seven years, without my knowing how it +was accomplished, as soon as I have approached some persons, possessed +by demons, the evil spirits have departed. I have realised simply a +desire to relieve them, and this desire, or prayer, has been answered +in a way unknown to myself. Of myself, I have no goodness nor power at +all. I have only the capacity of a child--of letting myself be used by +God, as pleases Him. My life appears natural. I am encompassed with +infirmities. My health is greatly impaired. My infirmities are a +balance-wheel, a counterpoise to exaltation. Yet life is ever flowing, +without any thought of the means of sustaining it, as we live in the +air, without thinking of the air we breathe. + + + + +STATE OF A SOUL RE-UNITED TO GOD. + +In reply to your enquiry, my dear children, concerning my state, I +would say, that exteriorly, I am open, simple, childlike. My interior +resembles a drop of water, mingling and lost in the ocean, and no more +discerning itself,--the sea not only surrounding, but absorbing it. In +this divine immensity, the soul discerns and enjoys all objects in God. +All is darkness and obscurity in respect to itself; all is light on the +part of God. Thus, _God is all_ to me. This has been my state more +than thirty years, although in latter years I have realized greater +depths in these experiences. Think of the bottomless sea; what is +thrown therein, continues sinking, without ever reaching the end. Thus +divine love is the weight of the soul, that sinks it deeper and deeper +in God. "God is Love, and he who dwells in love, dwells in God, and +God in him." O immensity! + +Jesus Christ, the embodiment of truth and love, has explained the +Scriptures by fulfilling them. So when the soul has passed into God, +the Word is fulfilled in the soul, as it was in Christ. O Love! thou +art thyself the pure, naked, simple truth, which is expressed, not by +me, but by thyself, through me. Amen. + + + + +CONCISE VIEW OF THE INTERIOR WAY. + +_The soul seeks God in faith not by the reasonings of the mind and +labored efforts, but by the drawings of love; to which inclinations God +responds, and instructs the soul, which co-operates actively. God then +puts the soul in a passive state, where he accomplishes all, causing +great progress, first by way of enjoyment, then by privation, and +finally by pure Love._ + +What do we understand by the Interior way? It is to seek the kingdom +of God within us. Luke 17, 21. We find this kingdom only where God +has placed it, _within the soul_. It becomes necessary, then, to +withdraw the eyes of the soul from external landmarks and observations, +which man, in the pride of reason, has located around it, and rest the +eye in faith, on the Word of the Lord,--"_Seek and ye shall find_." +This seeking, involves an interior activity of the soul; a desire, a +determination, and searching after what is hidden. + +When the soul has thus earnestly sought the kingdom of God within, this +kingdom is developed little by little. Interior recollection becomes +less difficult, and the presence of God more perceptible and agreeable. +Formerly it was supposed, that the presence of God was only the thought +of God, and that it was necessary to force the mind--to concentrate the +thoughts with violence to find God. This is true in some sense, but, +as the soul cannot long endure this tension, and as the kingdom of God +is not found in the external vestments of the soul, but in its depths, +this labor is of little avail. So little progress is made, the soul +becomes discouraged, and the evil one, who fears nothing so much as the +reign of God in the soul, makes an effort to draw the soul to +externalities. + +In order to accomplish this object, he takes two methods, either by +excessive labors, persuading the soul that this is the way to find God, +and thus choking the internal process of the interior life, or, by this +tension of the mind, of which I have spoken. Neither of these methods +open in the soul, the interior way. + +You reply, how, then, is this life accomplished? I answer, God, seeing +the heart of him who seeks him within, draws near to him, and teaches +him a just moderation in all things; and, by this retrenchment of all +excess in externals, the soul begins to perceive the peaceful kingdom. +It realizes within itself a guide, who provides for its necessities, +according to divine laws, who takes away the burdens that sin imposes; +a guide who does not foster corrupt nature, nor forbid innocent +pleasures. + +When the soul begins to perceive this kingdom, and that the King +himself is manifested in some degree, it thus communes, (and we may +call this the second step), O, my Beloved, I have sought thee with all +the strength of my heart, in the place where thou hast taught me to +seek thee, and I have there found thee! Days and nights have I passed +in seeking thee. All the desires of my heart go after thee. But now I +have found thee. I pray thee to reign as Sovereign, to establish thine +empire in my soul. I will do thy will alone. I will resign to thee +all the right I have to myself; all that thou, by thy goodness, hast +given to me. + +At this stage of progress, the soul ceases from self. Its work is to +regard, lovingly, the operation of God, without a desire either to +advance it, or place any obstacle in the way of its progress. The soul +has been active, in the first stage, to destroy, with all its power, +that which might hinder the kingdom of God within; and this was a great +effort; for habit had rendered interior recollection very difficult, +and the powers of the soul did not easily reunite themselves in one +centre. + +Now the soul seeks no longer to combat the obstacles, which hindered +its return within, but lets God combat and act in the soul. Saying, it +is time O, Lord, that thou shouldst take possession of thy kingdom! Do +so, I pray thee, exclusively. I desire, on my part, only to observe +thine operation. + +This commencement of the reign of God, and of the passive way, is very +highly relished by the soul. The soul passes days, and even years, +separated from creature enjoyments without weariness. It advances very +much more by this way, in little time, than by all the efforts of many +years. It is not without faults and imperfections, but divine love +diminishes them little by little, or does not permit the soul to become +disturbed by them, lest it become discouraged and its love hindered. +This state is called passive love. The soul sees no cause to fear; it +supposes that all the work is done, and that it has only to pass into +eternity, and to enjoy this good Sovereign, who already gives himself +to the soul in so much fulness. + +But in the onward progress of the soul, it becomes no longer doubtful, +whether the soul is to remain in the passive enjoyment of God and his +communications. The soul begins to feel a drawing, to let God not only +be all things in the soul, but there to reign separate from the soul's +enjoyment of his gifts. The soul now experiences what is called, by +the author of the Imitation of Christ, _the exile of the heart_. It +hears a voice in the depth of the soul, or, rather, has an impression, +that God reigns there alone. This exile is at first very painful, for +it is important to notice, that, from the commencement of seeking God +in the depth of the soul to the possession of him, there are many +trials, temptations, sorrows. _Every successive state is marked by a +purifying process_. Persons often mistake, and take the first +purification for the last. When God reigns alone in the soul, separate +from the action of self, and self is destroyed, it is beyond any +previous state. + +When the soul has ceased from its own selfish operations, and the man +of sin is exterminated, its defects become more apparent, because God +wishes it to comprehend what it is by itself, and what it would be +without him. The soul is thus afflicted, believing it has lost the +virtues, acquired with so much care, and seems to have faults that it +had not before perceived. It says, with the spouse in the Canticles, +"I have washed my feet, how shall I sully them?" You do not perceive, +O, soul beloved, that you do not sully them in going to "open to the +spouse," and that if you contract some slight impurity, he will remove +it so perfectly, that you will become more beautiful. In the mean +time, it is not the desire of the spouse to become beautiful in her own +eyes, but to see only the beauty of her Lover. When the soul is +faithful in this state, and really desires to die to itself, she is +pleased only with the beauty of her Beloved, and says his beauty shall +be my beauty. But it is necessary to advance beyond this, for, after +being despoiled of her beauty, it would be a selfishness much greater +to appropriate to herself, the beauty of her Beloved. His beauty must +remain untarnished, unappropriated by her; she must leave him all, and +remain in her nothing, for the nothing is her proper place. This is +Perfect Love, which regards God alone. + + + + +SELECTIONS FROM HER POETRY. + + +A LITTLE BIRD I AM. + + "A little bird I am, + Shut from the fields of air; + And in my cage I sit and sing + To Him who placed me there; + Well pleased a prisoner to be, + _Because, my God, it pleases thee_. + + "Nought have I else to do; + I sing the whole day long; + And He, whom most I love to please, + Doth listen to my song; + He caught and bound my wandering wing, + But still he bends to hear me sing. + + "Thou hast an ear to hear; + A heart to love and bless; + And, though my notes were e'er so rude, + Thou wouldst not hear the less; + Because though knowest as they fall, + That Love, sweet Love, inspires them all. + + "My cage confines me round, + Abroad I cannot fly; + But, though my wing is closely bound, + My heart's at liberty. + My prison walls cannot control + The flight, the freedom of the soul. + + "Oh! it is good to soar, + These bolts and bars above, + To Him whose purpose I adore, + Whose Providence I love; + And in thy mighty will to find + The joy, the freedom of the mind." + + + + +GOD EVERYWHERE, TO THE SOUL THAT LOVES HIM. + + "Oh! Thou by long experience tried, + Near whom no grief can long abide; + My Lord! how full of sweet content, + _I pass my years of banishment_. + + "All scenes alike engaging prove, + To souls impressed with sacred love; + Where'er they dwell, they dwell in Thee, + In Heaven, in earth, or on the sea. + + "To me remains nor place nor time, + My country is in every clime, + I can be calm and free from care + On any shore, since God is there. + + "While place we seek, or place we shun, + The soul finds happiness in none; + But with a God to guide our way, + 'Tis equal joy to go or stay. + + "Could I be cast where Thou art not, + That were indeed a dreadful lot; + But regions none remote I call, + Secure of finding God in all. + + "My country, Lord, art Thou alone; + No other can I claim or own; + The point where all my wishes meet, + My law, my love; life's only sweet. + + "I love my God, but with no love of mine, + For I have none to give; + I love thee, Lord; but all the love is thine, + _For by thy life I live_. + I am as nothing, and rejoice to be + Emptied, and lost, and swallowed up in thee. + + "Thou, Lord, alone, art all thy children need, + And there is none beside; + From thee the streams of blessedness proceed; + In thee the bless'd abide. + Fountain of life, and all-abounding grace, + Our source, our centre, and our dwelling-place." + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of Madam Guyon, by P. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/30083-8.zip b/30083-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e0744d --- /dev/null +++ b/30083-8.zip diff --git a/30083-h.zip b/30083-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdc788d --- /dev/null +++ b/30083-h.zip diff --git a/30083-h/30083-h.htm b/30083-h/30083-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2389654 --- /dev/null +++ b/30083-h/30083-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3814 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Letters of Madame Guyon, by P. L. Upham +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of Madam Guyon, by P. L. Upham + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Letters of Madam Guyon + +Author: P. L. Upham + +Release Date: September 25, 2009 [EBook #30083] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF MADAM GUYON *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +LETTERS +</H2> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OF +</H3> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +MADAM GUYON. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +BEING SELECTIONS OF HER RELIGIOUS THOUGHTS AND<BR> +EXPERIENCES, TRANSLATED AND RE-ARRANGED<BR> +FROM HER PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE<BR> +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +By P. L. UPHAM. +</H3> + +<BR><BR> + +<P STYLE="margin-left: 20%"> +"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth<BR> +alone; but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit."<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BOSTON: +<BR> +HENRY HOYT, No. 9 CORNHILL. +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858, by HENRY HOYT, +<BR> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of +Massachusetts. +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE. +</H3> + +<P> +Madam Guyon's correspondence was very extensive, occupying five printed +volumes. Her style of writing is somewhat diffuse. In giving +religious advice to many persons, there would necessarily be frequent +repetitions. It has, therefore, occurred to the writer, that a +selection and re-arrangement of thoughts, such as is found in this +little volume, would be more acceptable and useful, than a literal and +full translation of her letters. This selection necessarily involved +much re-writing and condensing. Great care, however, has been taken to +reach her true sentiments, and to give a just relation of her religious +experience. +</P> + +<P> +In the interesting preface to her letters, published in 1767, the +writer remarks: "Next to the Holy Scriptures, we do not believe there +has been given to the world, any writings, so valuable as Madam +Guyon's; and of all these precious treasures, her letters are the most +rare. All who have received the unction of the Holy One, whereby they +know the truth, are agreed upon her divine writings." +</P> + +<P> +If the writer may be permitted to add her humble testimony, having +enjoyed the privilege of reading her writings in the original for +several years, she would say, there are no writings, excepting the +Sacred Oracles, from which she has received so much spiritual benefit. +It is on this account, she has endeavored, with divine assistance, to +portray to others, Madam Guyon's deep religious feelings. May the same +spirit of devotion to her Lord and Master which she possessed, rest +upon the heart of the reader. +</P> + +<P> +Happy are they in whose hearts burns the flame of divine love. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +P. L. UPHAM. +<BR> +Brunswick, Me., April, 1858. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SKETCH OF HER LIFE. +</H3> + +<P> +Jeannie Marie Mothe, the maiden name of Madam Guyon, was born at +Montargis, in France, April 13, 1648. She was married to M. J. Guyon, +in 1664, and became the mother of four children. In July, 1676, she +was separated from her husband by death. Madam Guyon was one of that +number, who, in advance of the common standard of piety, are called to +be <I>Reformers</I>; and on this account, she suffered great persecutions. +She was several times imprisoned. At one time eight months; and +subsequently four years in one of the towers of the celebrated Bastile. +After her release from prison, she was banished for the remainder of +her days to Blois, on the river Loire. At the time of her release from +the Bastile, she was fifty-four years of age. Her sufferings from the +cold, damp walls of the prison, in winter, and the confined air in +summer, with other privations and hardships, greatly impaired her +constitution, and rendered her a sufferer to the close of her days. +She died June 9, 1717, aged sixty-nine years. +</P> + +<P> +During her imprisonment, she wrote her Autobiography, which has been +translated into English. Another work of hers, "The Torrents," has +recently been translated, very happily, by Mr. Ford. Also two essays, +"Method of Prayer," and "Concise View of the Way of God," by J. W. +Metcalf. It is not known by the writer, that her other works have been +translated, with the exception of some of her poems by William Cowper; +and "The Life and Experience of Madam Guyon," in two volumes, written +by my husband. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +P. L. U. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS. +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="10%">1. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="90%"> +<A HREF="#chap01">REIGN OF CHRIST IN THE HEART</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">2. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">TURN AWAY FROM SELF TO CHRIST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">3. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">STATE OF ASSURANCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">4. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">HUMILITY THE EFFECT OF LOVE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">5. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">6. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">JOY IN PERSECUTIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">7. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">LIBERTY IN CHRIST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">8. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">MELANCHOLY AVOIDED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">9. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">GOD'S CARE OF THE SOUL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">10. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">POWER OF THE ADVERSARY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">11. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">UNCTION OF GRACE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">12. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">SPIRITUAL ONENESS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">13. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">VICISSITUDES IN EXPERIENCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">14. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">PATIENCE WITH THE FAULTS OF OTHERS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">15. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE MOVEMENTS OF GOD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">16. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">STATE OF SIMPLICITY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">17. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">QUENCHING THE SPIRIT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">18. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">SUFFERING CRUCIFIXION AND REDUCTIONS OF SELF</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">19. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">REPROVE IN LOVE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">20. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">SILENT OPERATION OF GRACE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">21. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">LIMIT NOT YOUR SPHERE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">22. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">SECRET OF DIVINE OPERATIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">23. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">NO UNION WITH SELFISH SOULS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">24. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">NEVER YIELD TO DISCOURAGEMENT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">25. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">WEAKNESSES. IMPERFECTIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">26. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap26">STATE OF ADVANCEMENT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">27. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap27">GREATNESS OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">28. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap28">ASSISTANCE RENDERED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">29. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap29">SIMPLICITY AND POWER OF THE WORD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">30. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap30">FORGETFULNESS OF SELF</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">31. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap31">DIVERSITY OF MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">32. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap32">COMFORT IN AFFLICTION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">33. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap33">BEARING FRUIT IN UNION WITH CHRIST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">34. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap34">DESOLATE STATE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">35. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap35">SELF-ABANDONMENT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">36. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap36">NO DEPENDENCE ON INSTRUMENTS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">37. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap37">CHILD OF GOD, SOON TO DIE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">38. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap38">UNION OF SOULS IN GOD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">39. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap39">SECRET OPERATIONS OF GRACE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">40. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap40">TO A YOUNG FRIEND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">41. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap41">FINAL LETTER TO HER SPIRITUAL GUIDE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">42. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap42">GLORY OF GOD, THE ONE DESIRE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">43. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap43">SPIRITUAL UNION AND AID</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">44. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap44">LIVE IN THE PRESENT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">45. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap45">HOW TO ADMINISTER REPROOF</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">46. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap46">BEARING THE STATES OF CHRIST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">47. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap47">IMPERFECTIONS NO HINDRANCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">48. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap48">DEATH, RESURRECTION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">49. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap49">GRACE DEEPLY INTERIOR</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">50. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap50">SELF-RENUNCIATION</A></TD> +</TR> + + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">51. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap51">UNEXPECTED FAULTS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">52. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap52">APOSTOLIC STATE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">53. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap53">PAINFUL EXPERIENCE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">54. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap54">ECSTASY OF THE MIND AND HEART</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">55. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap55">A VIEW OF SELF</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">56. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap56">STATE OF A SOUL IN UNION WITH GOD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">57. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap57">STATE OF REST IN GOD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">58. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap58">GREAT HUMILIATIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">59. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap59">REPOSE OF THE SOUL IN GOD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">60. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap60">POWER OF CASTING OUT DEVILS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">61. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap61">STATE OF A SOUL RE-UNITED TO GOD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">62. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap62">CONCISE VIEW OF THE INTERIOR WAY</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SELECTIONS FROM HER POETRY. +</H3> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="10%">63. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="90%"> +<A HREF="#chap63">A LITTLE BIRD I AM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">64. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap64">GOD EVERYWHERE</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +LETTERS OF MADAM GUYON. +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +REIGN OF CHRIST IN THE HEART. +</H3> + +<P> +I have read your letter, my dear brother, with great pleasure. It is +my highest happiness to see the reign of Jesus Christ extending itself +in the hearts of God's people. An external religion has too much +usurped the place of the religion of the heart. The ancient +saints—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Enoch, Job—lived interiorly with God. +The reign of Christ on earth is nothing more nor less than the +subjection of the whole soul to himself. Alas! the world are opposed +to this reign. Many pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in +Heaven," but they are unwilling to be crucified to the world, and to +their sinful lusts. God designs to bring his children, naturally +rebellious, through the desert of crucifixions—through the temptations +in the wilderness, into the promised land. But how many rebel, and +choose rather to be bond-slaves in Egypt, than suffer the reductions of +their sensual appetite. +</P> + +<P> +Since Jesus Christ appeared on earth, there is a general belief that +the kingdoms of this world will ultimately be subject to his dominion. +But we may ask, who hastens his coming, by now yielding up his own +heart to his entire control? +</P> + +<P> +Our Lord imposed no rigorous ceremonies on his disciples. He taught +them to enter into the closet; to retire within the heart; to speak but +few words; to open their hearts, to receive the descent of the Holy +Spirit. +</P> + +<P> +The holy Sabbath has not only an external, but a deeply spiritual +meaning. It symbolises the rest of the holy soul, in union with God. +Oh! that all Christians might know the coming of Jesus Christ in the +soul! Might live in God, and God in them! +</P> + +<P> +God alone knows how much I love you. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TURN FROM SELF TO CHRIST +</H3> + +<P> +You are not forgotten, my dear E. God has engraven you on my heart. +If you have not consented to the thoughts that have crossed your mind, +do not be afflicted on account of them. The examination and dwelling +upon these thoughts, brings them again to life. Be on your guard +against everything that entangles you in self. God is a Father who +bears with the innocent faults of his children, and wipes away the +stains they have contracted. The greatest wrong you can do to God is +to doubt his love. He regards the simplicity and purity of the +intention. It is right to cherish great self-distrust, to realise your +weakness and helplessness; but do not stop here. Confide as much more +in God, as you hope less from yourself. +</P> + +<P> +Do not afflict yourself, because you do not at all times realise a +<I>sensible</I> confidence in God, and other consoling, happy states. Walk +by faith, and not by sight, or positive perception of the good you +crave. Let us, my dear E., be closely united, and walk together; not +according to the way we might choose, but according to the way God +chooses for us. +</P> + +<P> +I love you tenderly. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ASSURANCE. +</H3> + +<P> +Notwithstanding all that is said to me, my dear M., in opposition to my +state, I cannot have one doubt of its reality. There is within me an +inward testimony to the truth; so deep, that all the world could not +shake it. It is the work of God upon my heart, and partakes of his own +immutability. It seems to me that all the difficulties of theologians +concerning this state, arise from viewing it, not in the light of +divine truth and power, but in the light of the creature. It is true, +the creature, in itself, is only weakness and sin; but when it pleases +God to new-create the soul, and make it one with himself, it is then +transformed into the likeness of Christ. +</P> + +<P> +Who will dare limit the power of God? Who will say that God, whose +love is infinite as it is free, cannot give such proofs of love as he +pleases, to his creatures? Has he not the right to love me as he does? +Yes, he loves me, and his love is <I>infinite</I>. I do not doubt it. And +he loves you, too, dear M., in the same manner. This is eternal love +manifested,—the heart of God drawn out,—<I>expressed</I> towards his +creature. +</P> + +<P> +In this state, we understand the mutual secrets of the Lover and the +beloved. Who will so deny the truth of the Lord, as to question this? +When I hold my beloved in my arms, in vain does one assert, "It is not +so,—I am deceived." I smile inwardly and say, "<I>My beloved is mine +and I am his!</I>" "If we receive the witness of men, how much greater is +the witness of God?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HUMILITY THE EFFECT OF LOVE. +</H3> + +<P> +I assure you, you are very dear to me. I rejoice very much in the +progress of your soul. When I speak of progress, it is in descending, +not in mounting. As when we charge a vessel, the more ballast we put +in, the lower it sinks, so the more love we have in the soul, the lower +we are abased in self. The side of the scales which is elevated, is +empty; so the soul is elated only when it is void of love. "Love is +our weight," says St. Augustine. Let us so charge ourselves with the +weight of love, as to bring down self to its just level. Let its +depths be manifested by our readiness to bear the cross, the +humiliations, the sufferings, which are necessary to the purification +of the soul. Our humiliation is our exaltation. "Whosoever is least +among you shall be the greatest," says our Lord. +</P> + +<P> +I love you, my dear child, in the love of the Divine Master, who so +abased himself by love! Oh! what a weight is love, since it caused so +astonishing a fall, from heaven to earth,—from God to man! There is a +beautiful passage in the Imitation of Christ, "Love to be unknown." +Let us die to all but God. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS. +</H3> + +<P> +God communicates himself to pure souls, and blesses, through them, +other souls, who are in a state of receptivity. All these little +rills, which water others, little compared with the fountain from which +they flow, have no determinate choice of their own, but are governed by +the will of their Lord and Master. The nature of God is communicative. +God would cease to be God if he should cease to communicate himself, by +love, to the pure soul. As the air rushes to a vacuum, so God fills +the soul emptied of self. +</P> + +<P> +The seven blessed spirits around the throne, are those angels who +approach nearest to God, and to whom he communicates himself the most +abundantly. St. John, perhaps, was better prepared than any of the +apostles to receive the Word, incarnate, dwelling in the soul. +</P> + +<P> +On the bosom of Jesus,—in close affinity with him,—John learned the +heights and depths of divine love. It was on this account our Lord +said to his mother, "seeing the disciple stand by whom he loved, Woman +behold thy Son." He knew the loving heart of John would give her a +place in his own home. +</P> + +<P> +God communicates himself to us in proportion as we are prepared to +receive him. And in proportion as he diffuses himself in us, we are +transformed in him, and bear his image. O, the astonishing depths of +God's love! giving <I>himself</I> to souls disappropriated of self, becoming +their end, and their final principle, their fulness, and their all. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +JOY IN PERSECUTIONS. +</H3> + +<P> +I am very grateful to you, my dear sir, for your sympathy in my +apparent ills. God has not permitted that I should consider them +otherwise than blessings. I trust what appears to destroy the truth +will, in the end, establish it. Those who maintain the inward reign of +the Holy Spirit will yet suffer many persecutions. There is nothing of +any value but the love of God, and the accomplishment of his will. +This is pure and substantial happiness. This joy no man taketh from us. +</P> + +<P> +It is my only desire to abandon myself into the hands of God, without +scruples, without fears, without any agitating thoughts. +</P> + +<P> +Since I am there, O Lord, how can I be otherwise than happy? When +divine Love has enfranchised the soul, what power can fetter it? How +small the world appears to a heart that God fills with himself! I love +thee, my Lord, not only with a sovereign love, but it seems to me I +love thee alone, and all creatures only for thy sake. Thou art so much +the soul of my soul, and the life of my life, that I have no other life +than thine. Let all the world forsake me; my Lord, my Lover lives, and +I live in him. This is the deep abyss where I hide myself in these +many persecutions. O, abandonment! blessed abandonment! Happy the +soul who lives no more in itself, but in God. What can separate my +soul from God? Surely, none can pluck me from my Father's hands. All +is well, when the soul is in union with him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LIBERTY IN CHRIST. +</H3> + +<P> +"If the Son make ye free, ye shall be free indeed." When the man of +sin is destroyed, and the new man established in the soul, it finds +itself in perfect liberty. As a bird let loose from its cage, the soul +goes forth, unfettered, to dwell in the immensity of God. The natural +selfish life restricts the soul at every point; and even God, the great +<I>I am</I>, is unseen, or deprived of his glory. +</P> + +<P> +When Paul asked, "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" he +added, "I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord." That is, when by +the grace of God, the new man is established in my soul, I shall be +delivered. And, subsequently, when deliverance came, he cried out in +transport, "I live, and yet not I. Christ liveth in me!" He was now +no more occupied of himself, but let Jesus Christ live and act in him; +he was animated by him, as the body is of the soul. If another soul +animated our body, the body would obey this new soul; it would become +the moving-spring of its operations. Thus Jesus Christ becomes the +life of the new man. And what can be more free, more enlarged, than +the soul of Jesus? His nature is divine, eternal, boundless. Alas! to +what a narrow point does self reduce us! Who that looks at the freedom +and expansion of the soul, as it puts on the new man, Christ Jesus, +will not crush the reptile self to the dust, that the life of God may +again, as in its first creation, animate the soul? +</P> + +<P> +This liberty is as the eagles' wings, of which the prophet speaks, +which carries the soul on high. The dove that lighted on Jesus, was an +emblem, not only of innocence, but of freedom,—of liberty of spirit to +soar and dwell in God. May it please God to give you an experience of +this liberty. Quit self, and you will find the freedom and enlargement +of the All in All. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MELANCHOLY AVOIDED. +</H3> + +<P> +I assure you, my dear M., I sympathize deeply in your sufferings; but I +entreat you, give no place to despondency. This is a dangerous +temptation,—a refined, not a gross temptation of the adversary. +Melancholy contracts and withers the heart, and renders it unfit to +receive the impressions of grace. It magnifies and gives a false +coloring to objects, and thus renders your burdens too heavy to bear. +Your ill-health and the little consolation you have from friends, help +to nourish this state. God's designs, regarding you, and his methods +of bringing about these designs, are infinitely wise. +</P> + +<P> +There are two methods of serving little children. One is, to give them +all they want for present pleasure. Another is, to deny them present +pleasure for greater good. God is a wise Father, and chooses the best +way to conduct his children. +</P> + +<P> +A sad exterior is more sure to repel than attract to piety. It is +necessary to serve God, with a certain joyousness of spirit, with a +freedom and openness, which renders it manifest that his yoke is easy; +that it is neither a burden nor inconvenience. +</P> + +<P> +If you would please God, be useful to others, and happy yourself, you +must renounce this melancholy disposition. It is better to divert your +mind with innocent recreations, than to nourish melancholy. When I was +a little child, a nephew of my father's, a very godly man, who ended +his days by martyrdom, said to me, "It is better to cherish a desire to +please God, than a fear of displeasing him." Let the desire to please +God, and honor him, by an exterior all sweet, all humble, all cordial +and cheerful, arouse and animate your spirit: For this I pray. Ever +yours. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GOD'S CARE OF THE SOUL COMMITTED TO HIM. +</H3> + +<P> +O, that you could realize, my dear friend, how much God loves you. As +a painter draws upon his canvas what image pleases him, so God is now +preparing your soul, by these inward crucifixions, to draw upon it his +own likeness, He cherishes you as the mother her only son. He would +have you yield readily to his will, even as the branches of the tree +are moved by the light breath of the wind. In proportion to your +abandonment to God, he will take care of you. When you yield readily +to his will, you will be less embarrassed to discern the movements of +God. You will follow them naturally, and be led, as it were, by the +providencies of God. God will gently arrest you if you mistake. God +has the same right to incline and move the heart as to possess it. +When the soul is perfectly yielding, it loses all its own consistency, +so to speak, in order to take any moment the shape that God gives it; +as water takes all the form of the vases in which it is put, and also +all the colors. Let there be no longer any resistance in your mind, +and your heart will soon mingle in the ocean of love; you will float +easily, and be at rest. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +POWER OF THE ADVERSARY. +</H3> + +<P> +I am deeply afflicted that so many, at the present day, and even some +good persons, allow themselves to be openly seduced by the Evil One. +Has not our Lord warned us against "false prophets, and the lying +wonders of the <I>last days</I>?" All true prophets have spoken in the name +of the Lord—"<I>Thus saith the Lord.</I>" Nothing gives the enemy greater +advantage than the love of extraordinary manifestations. I believe +these external movements are a device of the evil one, to draw away +souls from the Word of God, and from the interior tranquil way of faith. +</P> + +<P> +The tendency of all communications from God, is to make the soul die to +self. An eminent saint remarks, that she had often experienced +illuminations from the angel of darkness, more pleasing, more enticing, +than those that came from God. Those delusory manifestations, however, +leave the soul in a disturbed state, while those that come from God +humble, tranquilise and establish the soul in Him. The most dangerous +seductions are those, which assume the garb of religion and have the +semblance of truth. +</P> + +<P> +Elias appeared alone among four hundred prophets of Baal. These +prophets were much agitated, attracting great attention, "crying +aloud," etc. +</P> + +<P> +When Elias was told by the angel, that he would see the Lord in Mount +Horeb, he <I>hid himself</I> in a cave. He saw a great trembling of the +earth. God was not there. There came a great whirlwind. God was not +there. Then there came a little zephyr. <I>God was in the still small +voice</I>. +</P> + +<P> +The only true and safe revelation, is the internal revelation of the +Lord Jesus Christ in the soul. "My sheep hear my voice." This +involves no disturbance of our freedom, of the natural operations of +the mind; but produces a beautiful harmonious action of all the powers +of the soul. I beseech you, my friend, in the name of the Lord, to +separate yourself from all these delusions of the adversary. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +UNCTION OF GRACE. +</H3> + +<P> +Friday morning, the 15th, I suffered very much, on account of <I>the +individual</I>, whom you know. It seemed to me, that God wished that <I>the +all of self</I> in him should be destroyed. I perceived, that although +the troths be uttered, proceeded from the inward work of the spirit +upon his heart, his reasoning faculty operated so powerfully, without +his perceiving it, that the effect of these truths was in some degree +lost. Souls are won more by the unction of grace—by the weapons of +love—than by the power of argument. +</P> + +<P> +Are not the truths you utter, my friend, too much elaborated by the +intellect, and polished by the imagination? Their effect seems to be +lost, for want of simplicity and directness. They fall pleasantly on +the ear, as a lovely song, but do not reach and move the heart. There +is a lack of unction. Are you not always laboring for something new +and original, thus exhibiting your own powers of mind, rather than the +simple truth? +</P> + +<P> +Receive this suggestion, and light will be given you upon it. Do I +speak too plainly? To speak the truth, and the truth only, is all I +desire. I have this morning prayed, rather to be taken out of the +world, than to disguise the truth. I have proclaimed it, in its +purity, in the great Congregation, and it will be seen that Thou, O +Lord, hast distilled it in my heart; or rather, O Sovereign Truth, that +Thou art there thyself, to manifest thyself plainly, and that Thou dost +make use of weak things to confound the strong. God is truth and love. +In Him yours. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SPIRITUAL ONENESS. +</H3> + +<P> +My union with you, my dear child, is steadily increasing. I bear you +in my heart with a deep and absorbing interest, and seem anxious to +communicate to you the abundant grace poured into my own soul. How +close, how dear is the union of souls, made one in Christ! Our Savior +beautifully expressed it, when he said, "Whosoever shall do the will of +my Father, the same is my mother, sister and brother." There is no +union more pure, more strong, than the union of souls in Christ! In +this manner, pure as delightful, the saints in Heaven possess each +other in God;—a union which does not interrupt the possession of God, +although it is distinct from God. +</P> + +<P> +Let your soul have within it, a continual <I>Yes</I>. When the heart is in +union with God, there is no <I>Nay</I>,—it is <I>Yes, be it so</I>, which +reverberates through the soul. This <I>Yes</I>, this suppleness, renders +the heart agreeable to the heart of the Spouse. It was thus with Mary, +the mother of our Lord, when the angel messenger came to her, she +replied, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to +thy word." It was thus with the child-like soul of Samuel, when he +said, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." It was thus with our +divine Lord, "Lo, I come to do thy will." +</P> + +<P> +Yours in the fellowship of the Saints. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VICISSITUDES IN EXPERIENCE. +</H3> + +<P> +As the outgoings of life proceed from the living man, while we live in +ourselves, we have a strong will and eager desires, and many +fluctuating states. But in proportion as our will passes into the will +of God, the desires which are the offspring of the will, are +subjugated, and the soul is reduced to unity in God. +</P> + +<P> +As the soul advances in the life of God, its natural or selfish +movements decrease; and it depends less on mere emotional exercises, +and there is really less <I>variation</I> of the emotions. +</P> + +<P> +Rest assured, it is the same God who causes the scarcity and the +abundance, the rain and the fair weather. The high and low states, the +peaceful and the state of warfare, are each good in their season. +These vicissitudes form and mature the interior, as the different +seasons compose the year. Each change in your inward experience, or +external condition, is a new test, by which to try your faith and love; +and will be a help towards perfecting your soul, if you receive it with +love and submission. +</P> + +<P> +Leave yourself therefore in the hands of Love. Love is always the +same, although it causes you often to change your position. He who +prefers one state to another, who loves abundance more than scarcity, +when God orders otherwise, loves the gifts of God more than God himself. +</P> + +<P> +God loves you; let this thought equalise all states. Let him do with +us as with the waves of the sea, and whether he takes us to his bosom, +or casts us upon the sand, that is, leaves us to our own barrenness, +all is well. +</P> + +<P> +For myself, I am pleased with all the Lord orders for me. I hold +myself ready to suffer, not only imprisonment but death; perils +everywhere—perils on the land—perils on the sea—among false +brethren; all is good in Him, to whom I am united forever. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PATIENCE WITH THE FAULTS OF OTHERS. +</H3> + +<P> +I love you very much, my dear M. If my love could be of any avail, it +would console you, for I feel a greater tenderness and sympathy for +you, than I am able to express. I am more certain than ever, that God +designs you for himself. Live exteriorly with N., as being entirely +reconciled. Make not too much account of his coldness, his passionate +temper, his contempt. It is not by these you are to regulate your +conduct, but by a motive more elevated—God and his glory. Let your +heart endure his bitterness, for the love of Him, who preferred grief +to pleasure. At the same time, do no violence to your own sacred +feelings, to accommodate yourself to him, in order to give him a +pleasure he cannot appreciate. Regard your present condition, as a +means God has given you, to manifest your love to himself, by a +willingness to sacrifice yourself. Reject not this cross, shall I not +rather say <I>crown</I>, and let all be accomplished between God and your +soul, in such a quiet manner, that the struggle with your own feelings +will not be perceived. +</P> + +<P> +While you are bearing this daily cross—this real crucifixion—I am +certain God will sustain you, from the fulness of his love. All is +alike good, when God is with us. I love you tenderly. God loves you; +let this make amends for all. In Him devotedly yours. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE MOVEMENTS OF GOD. +</H3> + +<P> +You enquire, how one who desires to follow the movements of God's +spirit, may distinguish these movements, from the natural operations of +the mind. There is not, at all times, a positive certainty regarding +divine movements. If it were so, we should become infallible as the +angels; that is, if we were as pure in our intentions. We must walk +with God, in entire abandonment and uncertainty, at the risk of +sometimes making mistakes, which in the infancy of experience is +unavoidable. He who wishes for a particular inspiration, or direction +in common matters, which his own reason and judgment can determine, is +liable to deception. +</P> + +<P> +A pure soul acts in simplicity, and without certainty, being persuaded +that what is good comes from God, and what is not good from self. The +greater the simplicity,—the more separate from the mingling of +self-activity—the purer are these operations; because the soul in this +state is only a simple instrument, that the Word, which is in her, +moves, so that it is the Word which speaks and not herself. This +manner of speaking, relates to matters of importance, and not to the +minute concerns of every-day life. The divine Word, <I>in all +exigencies</I>, is found in the soul, that is wholly consecrated to +Christ. "When they bring you before magistrates and kings, etc., it +shall be given you in <I>that hour</I> what ye shall speak." This method of +divine leading—by the hour and by the moment—leaves the soul always +free and unencumbered, and ready for the slightest breath of the Lord. +This breath, in the pure soul, is as the gentle zephyr, and not as the +whirlwind, which shakes the earth. Do not then expect to have +anticipated movements, or movements beforehand from God. I have an +experience of many years, that God often makes known his will, only in +the time of action. +</P> + +<P> +If a pure soul, wholly sacrificed to God, should undertake something +contrary to the will of God, it would feel a slight repugnance, and +desist at once. If one does not feel this repugnance, let the act be +performed in simplicity. A mother who holds her child by a +leading-string, loosens it, that it may walk; but if about to make a +mis-step, she draws the string. The repugnance which a holy soul feels +to do a thing, is as when the mother draws the leading-string. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +STATE OF SIMPLICITY. +</H3> + +<P> +I experienced recently, a marked perception of your state, as one in +which God took delight, and upon which he had infinite designs, +regarding himself and his glory. I saw clearly the state to which God +desired to bring you—the means to be used, and the obstacles in the +way—the mutual sympathy and confidence he required between us—and the +openness and freedom of communication necessary for our mutual benefit, +and that we should not hesitate to speak freely of each other's faults. +</P> + +<P> +The peculiarity you remark in my experience, needs some explanation. +You say I do not seem to be wounded, nor blame myself when reproved for +a fault. To which I reply simply, there is no more of self remaining +in me to be wounded. This indifferent state you notice in me, arises +from the state of innocency and infancy in which I find myself. Our +Lord holds me so far removed from myself, or from my natural state, +that it is impossible for me to take a painful view of myself. When a +fault is committed by me, it leaves no traces on the soul; it is as +something external, which is easily removed. Do not infer that I am +blind to my faults. The light of truth is so subtle and penetrating, +that it discovers the slightest fault. Souls which are in the natural +life, have real faults, as a paper written over with ink is strongly +marked, therefore they see and feel them. But souls, transformed into +God, have faults, as a writing traced on sand when the wind is high, +the wind defacing it as soon as it is traced. This is the economy of +divine wisdom, relating to souls in union and harmony with God. Oh! +the greatness and simplicity of the way of Truth! How unlike the +world's apprehension of it! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +QUENCHING THE SPIRIT. +</H3> + +<P> +Desiring to follow closely the divine leading, I expressed to you the +other day, some sentiments you were not able to receive. I perceived +at once, that on account of your resistance, I could say no more. From +this experience, although painful as regards yourself, I learnt the +extreme delicacy of the spirit that seeks to aid others; and the +strength of man's freedom to oppose this operation. I realized, also, +my inability to act of myself; for, as soon as the spirit in me was +silent, I had nothing to say. I had, however, the extreme satisfaction +of knowing, that this good spirit alone conducted me; and that I would +not, in the least degree, add, nor diminish from its operations. +</P> + +<P> +It was from a knowledge, gained by experience, of the extreme delicacy +and purity of this divine spirit, that I remarked to you, the other +day, that if you did not receive the instructions I then imparted, I +should have nothing farther to communicate to you. O, how pure and how +unlike the impetuous operation of man's spirit, is this operation of +God! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SUFFER THE CRUCIFIXIONS AND REDUCTIONS OF SELF. +</H3> + +<P> +All the graces of the Christian, spring from the death of self. Let +us, then, bear patiently the afflictions, which reduce this overflowing +life. There is a suffering in connection with confusions and +uncertainties, very trying to bear. Unbounded patience is necessary, +to bear not only with ourselves, but with others, whose various tempers +and dispositions are not congenial with our own. "Offences,"—wounds +of spirit will occur while we live in the flesh. These offences must +be borne in silence, and thus subjugated and controlled by the spirit +of grace. By a law of our nature, we feel, more or less, the influence +of the spheres in which we move. +</P> + +<P> +While we honor, we think, the true cross, the affliction that comes +from God, let us remember, that these instruments, so disagreeable, are +the true cross that providence daily furnishes us. +</P> + +<P> +Do not sully the cross and mar its operations, by your murmurs and +reflections. Let us welcome any trials, that teach us what we are, and +lead us to renounce ourselves and find our all in God. +</P> + +<P> +Jesus Christ says, "He who renounces not all that he hath, cannot be my +disciple." Of all possessions, that of ourselves is the most dangerous. +</P> + +<P> +Please present my cordial regards to your brother. I sympathize deeply +in his misfortunes. I use this expression, in conformity to common +usage, but it does not express the sentiments of my heart. I am +convinced that the loss of wealth, worldly honor, persecutions, are the +best instruments to unite us to Jesus Christ. All evils, or apparent +evils, are great blessings when they unite us to our All in All. I +pray God, to sustain him. His sufferings only increase my sympathy and +love for him in our Lord. My health is still feeble, but all is well +in the depths of my heart. God is there. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +REPROVE IN LOVE. +</H3> + +<P> +It is important to use great care and sweetness in reproving others. +Reprove only when alone with the person, and take not your own time, +but the moment of God. As we are not free from faults ourselves, we +must not expect too much from others. Be yourself very humble and +child-like, and this character will act sympathetically on others. +Jesus Christ was full of sweetness and charity. How patiently did he +bear with his imperfect disciples, even with Judas, without anger, +without bitterness, and even without coldness. +</P> + +<P> +How lowly was Jesus! He "did not break the bruised reed." He imparts +to his little ones no tyrannic power. They use no violence in dealing +with souls, but say with John, "Behold the <I>Lamb of God</I>, who taketh +away the sins of the world." Our Lord, "rejoiced in spirit," in an +unusual manner, such as we find nowhere else in Scripture, when he +said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou +hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto +<I>babes</I>." How happy are we in the presence of a little child; how much +at ease! It imposes on us no burden of restraint, of fear, of +management! It is in this childlike disposition of meekness, of +sweetness, of innocency, that we should seek to benefit others. +</P> + +<P> +In the love of Jesus, yours. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SILENT OPERATION OF GRACE. +</H3> + +<P> +I perceive, by your letter, you are in doubt about the grace which +passes interiorly from heart to heart. We notice an illustration of +this in the woman who touched our Lord, when he said: "I perceive that +virtue is gone out of me." In a similar manner, without words, one +heart may communicate grace to another heart, as God imparts grace to +the soul. But if the soul is not in a state to receive it, the grace +of the interior is not communicated, as is expressed in another +passage; "If they are not children of peace, your peace will return to +you again." This illustrates, according to my view, pure interior +communications of the grace of God, from heart to heart, which the soul +relishes in silence, and which silence is often more efficacious than a +multitude of words. +</P> + +<P> +At our last interviews I had an inclination for silence, but finding in +you an aversion to silent communion, I entered into conversation, but +without any interior correspondence on my part, and, evidently, without +any benefit to you. God would teach you, my dear child, there is a +silence of the soul through which he operates, filling it with the +unction of grace, to be diffused on other hearts who are in a state of +receptivity, often more efficacious than words to replenish the soul. +</P> + +<P> +We find this still harmonious action in nature. The sun, the moon, and +stars, shine in silence. The voice of God is heard in the silence of +the soul. The operation of grace is in silence, as it comes from God, +and may it not reach and pass from soul to soul without the noise of +words? O, that all Christians knew what if means to <I>keep silence</I> +before the Lord! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LIMIT NOT YOUR SPHERE. +</H3> + +<P> +Let me urge you, my child, to enlarge your heart; or, rather, suffer it +to become enlarged by grace. This contraction shuts you up in +yourself, and hinders an agreeable openness which we should ever +maintain, even towards those who have no particular affinity with +ourselves. An open, frank exterior wins confidence. Let it not +appear, that you have so much relish for yourself, as not to think of +others. What seems to us a virtue is sometimes regarded by God as a +fault; and which we shall so perceive, when we have clearer light. +</P> + +<P> +You seem to mark out for yourself a certain sphere, and if you go +beyond it, you think you do yourself an injury. Thus, while you have +an apparent movement, you are only describing a circle, whose centre +and circumference is self. I entreat you, pass beyond the narrow +bounds of self;—suffer yourself to be led out of self into the will +and way of God. Thus you will be much more happy and useful. If I +loved you less, I should be less severe. +</P> + +<P> +Let God be the sovereign Master over our hearts, and instruct, and +reprove, and operate in us, by himself, or through others, as pleases +him. +</P> + +<P> +Adieu. God bless you, my child. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SECRET OF DIVINE OPERATIONS UPON THE SOUL. +</H3> + +<P> +Do not suppose, Dear Sir, that you are to be purified by great trials +and extraordinary events. All is accomplished in you by the suppleness +of your will,—by the state of infancy. It must be so on account of +the pride of your natural reason. God conducts the soul in a way +opposed to human philosophy. Hence the necessity of being reduced to +the state of infancy, and to the subjection of the will. What we call +the <I>death</I> of the <I>will</I>, is the passage of our will into the will of +God. This change implies not only a change in externals, but the +inward subjection of the desires and sentiments of the heart. Here +most persons, who commence the religious life, stop short. They cannot +submit to the interior crucifixion, which lays prostrate the whole of +the natural carnal life, and consequently there follows a mingling of +the spirit of the flesh with grace, and it is this which produces such +monsters in the religious world. Do we not read in Scripture, that in +consequence of the alliance of the sons of God with the daughters of +men, giants were born, who so filled the earth with wickedness, they +drew down a deluge of wrath upon the world? It is from this abominable +alliance of the flesh with the spirit, that all those who appear in the +world, as "mighty men, men of renown," are produced and sustained. One +may be full of the natural life, while apparently dead to the external +things of the world. Thus they are dead to inferior things, and alive +in the most essential points—dead in name, but not in reality. +</P> + +<P> +By an authority as gentle as efficacious, God accomplishes his will in +us, when we have surrendered our souls to him. The consent we give to +his operations, and our relish of them, is sweet and sustaining, in +proportion to the perfection of our abandonment. God does not arrest +the soul with violence. He adjusts all things in such a manner, that +we follow him happily, even across dangerous precipices. So good is +this Divine Master, so well does he understand the methods of +conducting the soul, that it runs after him, and makes haste to walk in +the path he orders. +</P> + +<P> +Suppleness of soul is, therefore, of vital consequence to its progress. +It is the work of God to effect this. Happy are the souls, who yield +to his discipline. God renders the soul, in the commencement, supple +to follow illuminated reason; afterwards to follow the way of faith. +He then conducts the soul by unknown steps, causing it to enter into +the wisdom of Jesus Christ which is so different from all its former +experience, that without the testimony of divine filiation, which +remains in the soul in a manner hidden, and the ease and liberty the +soul finds in this unknown way, it would consider itself as being +separated continually from God, being left, as it were, to act of +itself. Human wisdom being here lost, and the powers of the soul +controlled by the wisdom of Jesus Christ, born in the soul, it +increases in its proportions, even unto the stature of a perfect man in +Christ Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +The soul, having now passed into God, is in its proper place, and will +be happy, provided it remains fixed and separate from its former manner +of acting. +</P> + +<P> +Reason may at times oppose with all its strength, and cause some fears, +some hesitations; but, being fixed in God, it is impossible for the +soul to change its course; and, after the experience of many useless +sufferings, having their origin in self, it suffers itself to be drawn +in the current of love. There is now no more of violence to nature. +The soul is in its natural state. The ease and naturalness of this +state causes, at times, some fear, some anxiety. It is as much the +nature of man, originally, and in his new creation in the likeness of +Christ, to be in God, and to be there in perfect enlargement, +simplicity, and innocence, as it is the nature of water to flow in its +channel. When man is as he should be, his state is one of infinite +ease and without limitations, because he is created sovereign, or +master of himself, and cannot be subjected by anything created, +although he is subjected to God, if that may be called subjection, +which brings the soul into affinity with God, and makes it partaker of +his nature. +</P> + +<P> +Be therefore persuaded, that God uses no violence in dealing with the +soul. This commotion in the soul, arises from the resistance of man's +will to divine operations. When the soul is disenfranchised of all +that is opposed to the will of God; when it is not arrested either by +desires or repugnancies, it runs without stopping or weariness in the +way. This is what is called death,—death to self; but the soul was +never so much alive; it now lives the true life, the life of God. +</P> + +<P> +When the soul becomes one with God by the loss of its own will and +life, it has purposes, and it is important to follow them; but they are +purposes in God, and have in them nothing of self. All that has +rapport to self is no more, and God is all. Being passed into God, the +soul is changed and transformed in him. This is what the mystics call +<I>Resurrection</I>. But the word used in this way, does not bear its usual +signification. To resuscitate is to revive the former life. But in +this case, the will, or natural life is consumed, and gives place to +the will or life of God. Thus the Holy Spirit operates effectively in +the soul, transforming it into the likeness of the Son of God. +</P> + +<P> +Now the soul participates in the qualities of God, one of which +qualities, is that of communicating itself to other souls. Or rather, +it is as a stream, which, being lost in a large river, follows the +course of the river, communicating itself where the river communicates, +watering where it waters, drawing into itself all the smaller rivers, +which are destined alike to lose themselves in the great ocean of Love. +These streams have no independent life, but proceed from, and flow back +into their origin. Here is the consummation of souls in oneness, as +Jesus Christ has expressed it,—"<I>One in us</I>." +</P> + +<P> +There is divine reality in this truth. Blessed are those who +comprehend it! How many walk side by side along these rivers, and yet +never mingle their waters! And many there are, also, who haste with +eagerness, to precipitate themselves into this divine stream, and flow +together, as the souls of the celestial ones, in the fulness of divine +love. +</P> + +<P> +This is not a chimera of the fancy; it is the wonderful economy of +divinity. It is the end and object of the creation of the soul—the +end and compass of all the efforts of God, regarding his creatures. +Here is consummated all the glory, God derives from their existence. +All beside are only the means approaching this final end, this glorious +termination, and absorption of the soul in Deity. Here is the light +which ravishes the soul. A light which does not precede, but follows +the soul in its progress; unfolding more and more, as a man in a dark +cavern, discovers the concealed places, only when he has remained in it +for some time. +</P> + +<P> +This is the pure Theology in which God instructs the angels and the +saints. It is the Theology of Experience, that God teaches only to his +children, who having abandoned their own wisdom, he has himself become +their wisdom and their life. This is the law of wisdom, my friend, for +us,—the way of the Lord in us. In him we are one. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NO UNION WITH SELFISH SOULS. +</H3> + +<P> +There are some souls which cause me great suffering. These are selfish +souls, full of compromises, speculations and human arrangements, and +desiring others to accommodate themselves to their humors and +inclinations. I find myself unable to administer in the least degree +to their self-love; and when I would be a little complaisant, a Master, +more powerful than myself, restrains me. I cannot give such persons +any other place in my heart, than God gives them. I cannot adapt +myself to their superficial state, neither respond to their professions +of friendship; these are very repulsive to my feelings. +</P> + +<P> +The love which dwells in my heart, is not a natural love, but arises +from a depth which rejects, what is not in correspondence with it, or +rather what is not in unison with the heart of God. I cannot be with a +child without caressing it, nor with a child-like soul without a tender +attachment. I do not regard the exterior, but the state of the soul; +its affinity and oneness with God. The only perfect union, is the +union of souls in God; such as exists in heaven, and on earth after the +resurrection, life takes effect in the soul. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NEVER YIELD TO DISCOURAGEMENT. +</H3> + +<P> +Do not be disheartened, my friend, on account of your slow progress. A +long martyrdom is sometimes necessary, in order to purify our souls +from the concealed faults of self-love—faults interwoven in our +nature, and strengthened by long indulgence. As you cannot control at +once the agitations of nature, arm yourself with patience, to +accomplish the task little by little; not in the way of direct effort, +but rather by ceasing from effort, remaining quiet, permitting neither +gestures nor words to betray your feelings. +</P> + +<P> +Could we enter into the highest state of grace, as we enter into a +room, it might be easily accomplished. But alas! the door is straight, +and there are many deaths to pass; in a word, death to self. It is +this long martyrdom, or dying of the old man of sin, which causes all +the pains of the interior life. It is rare to find persons, who are +willing to die entirely to self, and therefore few reach the highest +state of grace. +</P> + +<P> +Have good courage. It is a great work to draw a large ship from her +moorings, but when she is in the waters, how easily she rolls! What +happiness, when by perseverance, you have triumphed over nature, to +find yourself in the abundant waters of grace! I pray God to put his +own hand to the work. He will. +</P> + +<P> +In Him, devotedly yours. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WEAKNESS AND IMPERFECTION. +</H3> + +<P> +I reciprocate your friendship, madam, with all my heart. Our divine +Master knows how happy I am to serve you in any possible way. Oh! +madam, it is better to be feeble, when God leaves us in our weakness, +than to have a strength which is our own. I once thought, that the +pure soul was free from all faults, but I now see otherwise. God +clothes his children with frailties, that they may be humble in their +own eyes, and be concealed from the eyes of the world. The Tabernacle +was covered with the skins of the beasts, while the Temple of Herod was +ornamented with gold. Let us not afflict ourselves on account of our +littleness and infirmities, since God so orders it, but become as +little children. When a little child falls, it cannot raise itself, +but lets another do for it all that it needs. +</P> + +<P> +It does not depend on ourselves to make the presence of God more or +less sensible. Let the desire for a lively sense of this presence, be +crucified to the will of God. Take what is given you. Be as the +little child, who eats and sleeps and grows. God gives you the best +nourishment, although not always the sweetest to the taste. Adieu! my +heart sympathises with you. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ADVANCEMENT. +</H3> + +<P> +During the process of the soul's purification and advancement, it loses +sight not only of itself, but of all things else; except God; and even +of the distinct apprehension of our Lord, in his humanity. That is, +there are no longer distinct, bounded views and perceptions of Christ, +the soul becoming identical with Christ. This is necessary in order to +draw the soul into oneness with God. Let all go in the divine order. +When the soul has returned to its end and origin, and is lost in God, +it finds all it lost, without going out from God. +</P> + +<P> +When the soul is yet in itself, it draws all things to itself, and sees +God and all creatures in itself. But when the soul is in oneness with +God, it carries all creatures with it in God, and sees nothing separate +from God. Seeing all in God, it sees all things in the true light, as +with the eye of God. This is what David calls, "Seeing light in thy +light." +</P> + +<P> +May God give you understanding of what I say, and docility and +acquiescence in the truths, which he causes to penetrate your soul. I +make no reserves, but express freely all my thoughts. The least +reserve for self, is as a strong breath against a mirror, it obstructs +the view of God. My soul, it seems to me, is clear and transparent, +reflecting only what the Master presents; and the execution of his will +renders the soul always increasingly pure and transparent. May God be +all in all to you. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GREATNESS OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY. +</H3> + +<P> +Do not measure yourself by others, who may not be led as you are. God +chooses to enrich some souls with brilliant gifts, but he has chosen +you, stripped of all, in the depths of spiritual poverty. This is the +perfect self-renouncement, without which, one cannot be the disciple of +the Lord Jesus. All other states, however elevated they may be, are +inferior to this pure, naked state of the soul. It is a state, which +despoils the lover of all he possesses in favor of his Beloved. It is +a state in which the soul is shielded from all inroads of the enemy; +who can reach only what remains of self in the creature, and not what +is enclosed in God. +</P> + +<P> +God has chosen you for himself alone. You are the sanctuary, which is +open only to the high priest, in which is contained the ark of the +covenant—the essential, will of God—the sacred place, encompassed by +the clouds, where the glory of God appears. Oh! blessed poverty of +spirit, in which state the soul is enriched with the best gifts a God +can bestow! +</P> + +<P> +Measure not your advancement by relation to the road passed over, but +by rapport to the end. There yet remains a great road to pass over, +since God himself is the way. +</P> + +<P> +The more fully you enter into his designs, the more I love you. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap28"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY ONE SOUL TO ANOTHER. +</H3> + +<P> +The interest I feel in your spiritual welfare, my dear F., is very +great—so deeply absorbing, that I slept but little during the past +night, presenting you in prayer before our Lord. I have an inward +conviction, that God is enriching your heart by my humble +instrumentality; thus, while he elevates you on one side, he debases +you on the other, by communicating his grace through so unworthy a +channel as myself. The Spirit has revealed to me your state, when I +have received no intelligence from you. God has thus ordered it, for +his own glory; and when many years hence, this method of God's +operations will be better known—the assistance rendered by one soul to +another, without the mediation of the body—the use he has made of this +feeble instrument to communicate to you his grace, will serve to +substantiate this divine truth and heavenly mode of operation. +</P> + +<P> +There is therefore for you, a means of interior advancement, which no +distance of place can interrupt. It will be only from lack of +correspondence on your part, that it will be diverted. God desires it, +at least for a time, until your soul is entirely in union with himself. +This method of communication is only a superior fountain discharging +itself into another; or, as two rivers bearing each other to the same +sea. +</P> + +<P> +Receive then this poor heart in the fulness of Christ's love, and +believe me, no one can be more fully united to you than I am. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap29"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SIMPLICITY AND POWER OF THE WORD. +</H3> + +<P> +You enquire, my friend, why I do not use obscure terms and +extraordinary expressions, in explaining the Scriptures. My Lord +teaches me, that while there are no writings so profound as the +Gospels, there are none so simple. And further, that simplicity of +soul gives simplicity of expression. When we speak of a state beyond +our experience, we do so with difficulty, and have recourse to learning +to aid us, and use forced expressions. +</P> + +<P> +In the natural, simple expressions of Scripture, there are deep +sentiments, adapted to the wants of each soul—to those less and more +advanced. +</P> + +<P> +The word of God enters the centre of the soul; it has a penetrating +quality; an operative efficiency. No words of man can produce the same +effect; at least, none but such as come from souls, who are pure +channels of the word of God. It is the good pleasure of our Lord, to +express and reproduce himself upon the self-abandoned soul. Who does +not admire the profound mystery of the creation of the world, where God +produced all things by his word? When God created man, he formed him +of the dust of the earth—the lowest form of matter—made of dust, that +he might not rob God of his glory! But man thus created, received <I>the +spirit</I>—the breath of the Word. This dust of the earth became the +living breath of God. When Jesus Christ is formed in the soul, he +imparts not only a clear understanding of the word, but is himself the +Word, reproduced in the soul. Those only in whom Christ dwells, +fulfill the word, or have the word accomplished in them. Such only are +able fully to interpret the word. It is not learning which best +explains the truths of God, but the reproduction of these truths in the +life—-the experience of them. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap30"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +FORGETFULNESS OF SELF. +</H3> + +<P> +I cannot compliment you, dear sir, and I am persuaded, that you will +expect from me, only the simplicity of the Christian. This simplicity +leads me to say, only what our Lord gives me. You need more of this +simplicity. The frequent self-returns you make, dwelling so much on +your unworthiness, although it may have the appearance of humility, is +only a refined self-love. True simplicity regards God alone; it has +its eye fixed upon him, and is not drawn towards self; and it is as +pleased to say humble as great things. +</P> + +<P> +All our uneasy feelings and reflections, arise from self-love, whatever +appearance of piety they may assume. The lack of simplicity inflicts +many wounds. Go where we will, if we remain in ourselves, we shall +carry everywhere our sins and our distresses. If we would live in +peace, we must lose sight of self, and rest in the infinite and +unchangeable God. These self-returns have a tendency to establish the +soul more and more in itself, and hinder it from running into its great +original. But it is to this, God is calling you. You withhold from +God the only thing he desires—<I>the possession of your heart</I>. The +time is short; wherefore spend it in the compass and surroundings of +self? The single eye sees only God. You act as a person who being +called before a king, instead of regarding the king and his benefits, +is occupied only with his own dress and appearance. God wishes to +disarrange you—to destroy self; and you wish to preserve what he would +destroy. Be more afraid of self than of the evil one. It is the +spirit of Satan to exalt self above God, and this spirit is fostered by +these continual returns you make upon your own doings and misdoings, +which leaves no place in your mind for the occupation of God. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap31"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DIVERSITY OF MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION. +</H3> + +<P> +Although there are impenetrable mysteries in God's dealings with souls, +in order to promote their sanctification, it is true that each soul, +aside from the ordinary means, common to all, has a specific training, +and this method of the divine order can alone accomplish the work. The +means that sanctifies another may not sanctify you. You, my friend, +will not be led by great crosses and severe sufferings, but in the way +of helpless infancy. The child-like, yielding soul is necessary for +you; therefore God has chosen a child, myself, to be your helper. +Forget yourself as the man to whom many eyes are turned, and become the +little, helpless one, who cannot take care of itself, but lets another +care for it. The pride, presumption and vanity, of the natural man, +must give place to the littleness and simplicity of the child. Says +our Saviour, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye +cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." O, when shall we learn that +it is littleness, and not greatness, that God requires of his child! +</P> + +<P> +God has given me a maternal yearning for your soul. I sympathize +deeply in your wants and burdens. Be assured, the eyes of the God of +Love are upon you. I entreat you, yield to the influences which are in +operation to restore your soul to God. I can offer no apology for my +letter; for in all things, I obey my Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap32"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +COMFORT IN AFFLICTION. +</H3> + +<P> +I assure you, Dear Sir, I sympathize deeply in your afflictions. With +all my heart I present you before our Lord. I have prayed, and still +pray, that if you are called to participate in the sufferings of Jesus +Christ, you may partake also of his patience and submission. You will +find the Lord at all times near your heart, when you seek him by a +simple and sincere desire to do and suffer his will. He will be your +support and consolation in this time of trouble, if you go to him, not +with fear and agitation of spirit, but with calm, confiding love. +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said to the blind man, whose eyes he anointed with clay, "Go wash +in the waters of Siloam"—waters soft and tranquil. O, that you might +experience the abiding peace which Christ gives. O, that you might +become reduced to the simplicity of the little child! It is the child +who approaches the nearest to Jesus Christ. It is the child whom he +takes in his arms and carries in his bosom. O, how lovely, how +attractive, is child-like simplicity! May the sufferings you are now +experiencing, render you, child-like and submissive to all the will of +your Father. My ill health forbids my writing more fully. God loves +you, and you are very dear to me in him. Amen. Jesus, help. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap33"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BEARING FRUIT IN UNION WITH CHRIST. +</H3> + +<P> +God has united my soul to yours in the oneness of his own nature, and +when all the obstructions on your part are removed, you will realize +this same divine union. "We have many masters, as said St. Paul, but +only <I>one Father in Christ</I>." This Father unites himself to us by the +impartation of his own nature, and from this communication, of himself +to the soul, proceeds our spiritual paternity; or the power by which we +communicate to others what we receive from him. We are not always +sensible how this power, or aid we render others, is imparted. In some +individuals it is more manifest than in others. It always adapts +itself to the subject who receives it. All the gifts and graces of the +spirit are either more sensible and apparent, or more spiritual and +inward, according to the power of receptivity in the individual. +</P> + +<P> +It seems to me that when I am with you, there is only a simple, +imperceptible transmission from my soul to yours. You do not perceive +any marked results, and they are not great, because you are not in a +state to receive much, and often interrupt me by speaking, which causes +in me a vacillation of grace. If we were together some considerable +time without distraction, you would perceive more marked results. It +is the desire of God that there should be, between us, perfect +interchange of thoughts, of hearts, of souls;—a flux and reflux, such +as there will be when souls are new-created in Christ Jesus. At +present, my soul in rotation to yours, is as a river which enters into +the sea, to draw and invite the smaller river to lose itself also in +the sea. +</P> + +<P> +This truth,—the fruitfulness of souls who are in God, whereby they +communicate grace,—however much it is rejected, is, nevertheless, a +truth. This flux and reflux of communication, like the ebbing and +flowing of the great ocean-current, is the secret of the heavenly +hierarchy, and makes a communication from superior orders to +inferior,—and of equality, between angels of the same order. +</P> + +<P> +During all eternity, the communication of God the Father, and the Son, +to angels and saints, and their reciprocal communication to each other, +will be a well-spring of blessedness. The design of God, in the +creation of men, has been to associate to himself living beings, to +whom he could communicate himself. He could create nothing greater +than likenesses of himself. All the splendor of angels and saints, is +but light reflected from God. +</P> + +<P> +God could not see himself reflected in saints, without their +participating of these two qualities, fruitfulness and reciprocal +communication. In this life all perfection consists, in that which +makes the consummation of this same perfection in heaven, No one can be +perfect, if he is not perfect <I>as</I> the Father in heaven is perfect; +that is, partaking of his nature. +</P> + +<P> +Jesus Christ is the Father of souls; his generation, or the souls that +are begotten of him, are eternal in their nature as he is. The figure, +"giving us his flesh to eat," is the nourishment he gives the soul in +communication with himself; or himself reproduced, or begotten in us. +The eternal Word is the essential, undying life of the soul. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap34"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DESOLATE STATE. +</H3> + +<P> +Believe me, dear madam, I take a deep interest in your spiritual +welfare, and I earnestly hope your confidence in God will not fail, on +account of your present desolate state. As the winter plunges still +deeper the roots of the trees in the earth, so the wintry state of the +soul plunges it deeper in humiliation. Remember the confidence of Job, +"Although he slay me, I will trust in him." Although stripped of all +consolation, and left in the desolation of nothingness, you may yet +rejoice in God—out of, and separate from, self. Let the earth be +stripped of her foliage; let neither flowers nor fruit appear; yet <I>God +is</I>, therefore you may be happy. The mother loves to sacrifice herself +for her child, and finds her life in what affords it happiness; thus +die to self, in relation to God. +</P> + +<P> +When your weaknesses rise up before you, when you would weep over some +error in judgment, or some unguarded expression, do as the little +child, who having fallen into the mud, carries its hands to its mother, +who cheerfully wipes them, and consoles him after the fall. Can you +not believe God loves you, as much as you love the little one enfolded +in your arms? Does he not say, "A mother may forget, yet I will never +forget thee!" +</P> + +<P> +The discovery of your weakness and emptiness, is an evidence of God's +love; and while it is ground for humiliation, it is also of +thanksgiving. When it pleases God to fill this void with his grace, it +is cause of thankfulness; but if we realized at all times this +fullness, we should be in danger of appropriating the grace of God to +ourselves. Thus, our times of desolation are necessary, and we should +accept them joyfully, as a portion of the bread our father gives us. +</P> + +<P> +Yours in tender sympathy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap35"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SELF-ABANDONMENT. +</H3> + +<P> +The death of self is not accomplished at once. It is for some time a +living death. Its opposite, spiritual life, is represented by +Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones. First, the bones were rejoined; +afterwards covered with sinews; then the flesh appeared; and finally, +the spirit of the Lord animated them. When the soul begins to incline +towards God, it finds many obstructions; but in proportion as we yield +to the will of God, these obstructions are removed. The following +simile will help to illustrate my idea. The rivers empty themselves +into the sea; before they lose themselves there. Wave by wave +following its course, seems to urge onward the river, to lose itself in +the sea. God imparts to the soul some waves of pure love, to urge on +the soul to himself; but as the river does not lose itself in the sea, +until its own waters are exhausted, so the soul reaches God, and loses +itself in God, only when the means of supply from self are at an end. +As the waves, which are precipitated into the sea, roll many times +before they are lost in the sea, so the soul undergoes many changes, +before it is received into God. +</P> + +<P> +The results of self-crucifixion are happy, because God then becomes all +to the soul. We lose self, and substitute God in its place. We take +away the finite, and receive the Infinite. This is blessed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap36"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NO DEPENDENCE ON INSTRUMENTS. +</H3> + +<P> +What shall I say regarding the state in which you find yourself, in +relation to me? I have no movement either to promote our re-union, or +hinder it. Let God direct. Are you leaning upon him, or upon the +creature? If on the creature, it is a bruised reed, which will fail +you. God sometimes makes use of instruments, whom he finds it +necessary afterwards to reject. If he designs to remove me from you, +can I have any wish to retain you? God forbid. He may design this +separation, to make you die to any confidence in the creature. He may +no longer design to use me for your benefit. I might have mingled my +own impurity, with his pure light flowing through me. If God permit me +to err, it is on account of my pride. I have never given you any +assurance of my infallibility. What am I but an erring creature? +Leave me, leave me, and unite yourself only to God, who will never +mislead you. Means are good, only in the order of God. They injure +us, if we rest in them. If God remove me from you, acquiesce in his +will, with a devotion worthy of a child of God. Be humble, and +courageous enough to own your fault, in leaning on an arm of flesh. +Men of the world may be obstinate, but the child of God should be +supple. Whatever separation there may be between us, believe me, you +will always be dear to me in our dear Lord. I hope, when you are lost +in him, you will find this little drop of water, (myself) in the same +great ocean of love. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap37"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHILD OF GOD SOON TO DIE. +</H3> + +<P> +I have had a presentiment that you would not survive this illness. I +lose in you the most faithful, and the only friend on whom I could +rely, in the persecutions which threaten me. I feel my loss, but +rejoice in your happiness, I could envy you. Death only lends a +helping hand to rend away the veil, which hides infinite beauties. Our +Lord has strongly cemented our souls. May the benediction of the +divine Master rest upon you. Go, blessed soul, and receive the +recompense prepared for all those, who are wholly the Lord's. Go, we +separate in the name of the Lord; I cannot say a last adieu, for we +shall be forever united in him. I hope, in the goodness of God, to be +present with you in heart and spirit, at the time of your departure, +and to receive with you, the divine Master who is waiting for you. Be +my ambassador in the courts above, and say to him I love him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap38"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +UNION OF SOULS IN GOD. +</H3> + +<P> +The assurance you give me of the union of your soul with mine, is a +great consolation. It is a union to which my heart fully responds, not +in a way of emotional transport, but in the depths of peace; there is +nothing of nature in it. It is a union in Jesus Christ. We are one in +a sense of our lost condition, and one in self-abandonment. Oh! +blessed oneness with Christ, where all evils perish; and there remains +only the casualties inseparable from the state of humanity. How +wonderful is this operation—the sacred mingling of a poor creature +with its God, where all the evils of our fallen nature, are removed +from the depths of the soul, and the soul, in its elemental being is +lost in its original! There all the little ones are united in +Him,—these little drops of water reassembled in the divine ocean! How +swiftly do the streams embrace each other, and flow into one channel, +when the obstructions are removed! When souls become pure in Jesus +Christ, they flow into one another with the same rapidity. Purity of +soul consists in an entire separation from self, and re-union with God. +The soul <I>can</I> return to self; it has the power, and therefore is not +infallible. +</P> + +<P> +Our union, my dear friend, is independent of the relish or disrelish of +all created things and events. You could not be separated from me +without being separated from God; for it seems to me, that I am one +with him, and inseparable, and you are the same; and thus, we are one +in Him, and one with each other. +</P> + +<P> +Ever yours, in the heart of Jesus. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap39"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SECRET OPERATIONS OF GRACE. +</H3> + +<P> +My heart has been tenderly united to you, during all my bodily +sufferings. In proportion as the outward man has been reduced, God +seems to be more the life of my soul. Although the operations of God +upon your soul may be less marked than formerly, they are no less real. +There is a secret fire in your heart, which burns continually, although +imperceptibly. This keen and continual operation enfeebles you, +because it consumes so rapidly the more sensible and marked operations +of the soul. This is, I apprehend, your ordinary state; with +occasionally the unction of the oil of grace poured upon the concealed +fire, to give you a sweet and clear manifestation of the loving +presence of God. +</P> + +<P> +You bear two marked results of the divine presence—interior +recollection, and a continual <I>amen</I> in your heart; a true and just +response to all God's dealings with your soul. +</P> + +<P> +I realise a very close union with you. This union is not in the +emotions, and not in the will of man, but in the will of God. It is a +union, from which I could no more separate myself, than from God; it is +a fulfillment of the prayer of our Lord, "that they may be one, as we +are one." It is a union which death cannot interrupt, but will +substantiate more and more fully in God. +</P> + +<P> +Ever yours, in our Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap40"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TO A YOUNG FRIEND. +</H3> + +<P> +You are very dear to me, my child. Do not think I have forgotten you. +God alone can render you happy. Give yourself wholly to him, never +more to take yourself back. Love him with all your heart. Retire +often within the closet of your heart to commune with God. Do not pray +to him in a constrained and formal manner, but all simple and natural. +God loves better the affectionate language of the heart, than, the cold +and discursive thoughts of the intellect. The prayer of love softens +the heart. +</P> + +<P> +Do not shrink from your ordinary duties. We are often more united to +God, in our daily avocations, than in retirement. The reason is, our +good Father holds us more closely, when we are most exposed to +temptations. Endeavor to maintain, at all times, harmony and oneness +with God. You have only to abandon yourself wholly to divine love, and +perform all the duties that devolve upon you. Do not be restive, and +thus mar God's beautiful design and operation upon your soul. Place in +his bosom of rest, all your inquietudes, and allow him to carry you, as +a little child is borne by its mother. This little one has only to +regard, lovingly, the smiles of its tender mother. +</P> + +<P> +God will give you a wise discernment as to food and drink, and all the +pleasures of life. He calls us to a temperate life, but not to a life +too austere. We should avoid the <I>too much</I> and the <I>too little</I> in +eating and drinking. +</P> + +<P> +I pray our divine Lord, to enlighten, strengthen and comfort your heart. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap41"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LETTER TO HER SPIRITUAL GUIDE. +</H3> + +<P> +The state in which I find myself, my Father, takes away from me +entirely, the liberty to address you any longer as my Spiritual Guide. +I realize so great a detachment from all things, that there remains in +me only a triumphant, dominant love, which acknowledges no master but +Love. It is my experience, that the closer the union of the soul with +God, the more it is separated from all dependence on the creature. I +find also, that the secret operations of divine love upon the soul, +cannot be expressed. These operations do not consist in sweet and +flattering expressions, neither in consolations, in the ordinary way, +but in the discovery of mysterious truths; truths, which give so +profound a knowledge of God, that the soul can find no language to give +expression to these views. +</P> + +<P> +To speak, and to act, is the same thing with God. "He spake, and it +was done." When the divine Word operates in the soul, without any +obstruction, the soul becomes what this Word wills it should become. +When Mary Magdalene was made whole, it was no more Mary Magdalene, but +Jesus Christ, who lived in her. St. Paul says, "I live, yet not I, +Christ liveth in me." In the same manner, the Word is incorporated +into my soul. +</P> + +<P> +Some time since, there was given me a view of the States of Mary, the +mother of our Lord. I was alone in my chamber, and my soul was +completely filled with divine love. The divine Word seemed to say +within me, "I will show thee the chief work of my hands,—a perfect +nothing in itself,—the heart of Mary." In this manner was conveyed to +me, the inexpressible love of God for men—his operation in pure souls. +It was shown me, that her silence and acquiescence in the will of God; +her entire self-crucifixion and hidden life were worthy of imitation; +and that this same love which had operated so powerfully upon this +soul, emptied of self, desired to draw other souls also to her states, +and to make an effusion of the same grace and love in them, as in her. +O divine love! how great are thy wonders, how marvellous thy operations +on human hearts! My soul is lost in the depths of thy secret wonders! +Silence, silence—only silence! +</P> + +<P> +I write to you, my Father, for the last time, to bid you a final adieu. +I can no longer listen to any other teachings, than this divine Word of +eternal Truth, which is spoken in the depths of my heart. But however +far separated from you, in the relation of Director, you are very near +and dear in the affections of my heart; in that pure love, which is +alone the operation of our Lord Jesus Christ. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap42"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GLORY OF GOD THE ONE DESIRE. +</H3> + +<P> +What have we to desire in heaven and on earth, only the glory of God? +But it is necessary to desire the glory of God as he desires it. He +who has absolute power over the heart of man, has a plan of operations; +he does all things in their time; he waits until the hour is come. In +coming into the world, our Lord could have converted the world at once, +and destroyed all its vices; but the economy of his wisdom did not so +direct. When I hear our Lord say, "<I>Mine hour is not yet come</I>," and +wishing neither to advance nor retard, for a moment, the hour that his +Father had appointed, I am plunged into my nothingness. We are only +instruments in his hands, which he may lay aside, or use according to +his good pleasure. We should be so dead to self, as to be indifferent, +whether he makes use of us or not. +</P> + +<P> +Remain, therefore, my dear friend, in the hand of God. Let him +accomplish in you, and by you, all his good pleasure, whether to cast +down, or build up. God knows how much I love you. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap43"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SPIRITUAL UNION AND AID. +</H3> + +<P> +Spiritual union, is a state of the soul very clear in my perception, +although I may not be able to give you a definite impression of this +state. In order to benefit you, it became necessary for me to enter +into your state, to have an experimental knowledge, an endurance and +suffering of the same state. By this experience I have been brought +into closer relation to God, partaking more fully of the Christ-like +nature by being rendered capable of bearing the infirmities of others. +And I have had, also, a clearer idea of that quality of God, whereby he +multiplies holy souls, by the communication of himself. In this +experience, the soul appears to be in God, and God in her, as first +cause, drawing and penetrating the soul nearest to himself, and by +penetration, in this soul, drawing, through her instrumentality, many +other Souls. +</P> + +<P> +Although, by these powerful rays the soul itself may seem to penetrate +and draw other souls, yet it is God who draws them by his efficiency; +and he communicates this efficiency, most powerfully, to those in +closest contact with himself. So pure and transparent is this soul, +that there seems to be no space between the first Mover and the souls +moved by the agent or instrumentality. There is a difference between +the ray and the body of the sun, although it is difficult to separate +the ray from the sun. It is the divine ray, which is transmitted +through this soul, as the natural ray through the medium of the +atmosphere. These same rays, transmitted through many souls, and from +soul to soul, unite them in one common centre, and thus the bond of +filiation is complete in God. I may not express myself so as to be +understood. May your light supply, what is wanting in clearness of +expression. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap44"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LIVE IN THE PRESENT. +</H3> + +<P> +Do not expect, my dear E., that the will of God will be made apparent +to you in any extraordinary way. The most remarkable events occur +naturally. It was by an order of the Emperor, that Joseph, being of +the house and lineage of David, went to be taxed at Bethlehem, where +the holy child Jesus was born. The fountain of water was near to +Hagar, when she laid down the child to die with thirst. Behold God, my +friend, in the present arrangement of his providence for you, and +submit wisely to passing events. He sees the end from the beginning, +and plans wisely for his children. O, how good to submit our limited +view to his far sight, reaching through time and eternity! +</P> + +<P> +Remember, the present moment comes to you, as the moment of God. Use +it for his glory, and every succeeding moment. Thus the present +becomes the eternal moment, for which we must render account to God. +May God be All in All to us in every passing moment, now and forever. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap45"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HOW TO ADMINISTER REPROOF. +</H3> + +<P> +A single word, spoken in the spirit of Christ, with humility and +sweetness, will have more weight, in correcting others, than many words +uttered in our own spirit. The reason is this: when passion mingles +with correction, although the truth may be spoken, Jesus Christ does +not coöperate with us. Therefore, the person is not corrected by what +we say, but, being opposed to the manner of correction, is more +confirmed in the evil. In proportion as Jesus Christ speaks by us, +without us, or without the minglings of self, his word is efficacious, +and turns the heart of the person to whom we speak, to receive what we +say. I know there are some who resist, knowingly, <I>his</I> word, but our +passionate zeal does not correct them. +</P> + +<P> +It is important to wait the moment of God to collect others. We may +see real faults, but the person may not be in a state to profit by +being told their faults. It is not wise to give more than one can +receive. This is what I call <I>preceding</I> the <I>light</I>,—the light +shines so far in advance of the person, that it does not benefit him. +Our Lord said to his apostles, "I have many things to say to you, but +you cannot bear them now." +</P> + +<P> +The prophet says, the Lord carries his children in his arms, as a +nurse. A nurse could wish that the child could walk alone, but she +waits in patience the time. Let us do the same, and never discourage +the weak. Let us not destroy the good grain with the tares. Who does +not admire "the long suffering patience of God?" And I may add to St. +Paul's words, all unworthy as I am, and of those who admire it, how few +imitate it! If those to whom God has given so much grace, have so many +faults themselves, with how much patience should they bear with those +who are less favored. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap46"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BEARING THE STATES OF CHRIST. +</H3> + +<P> +During my late severe illness, a strong impression rested on my mind, +that I was called to participate in the last sufferings of Jesus +Christ. The language of my heart was, I am ready, O, Father, to suffer +all thy will! In thus yielding my heart, as Abraham when called to +sacrifice his beloved Isaac, I realized a new bond of alliance with +Christ, and these words, "I will betroth thee unto me forever," was the +voice of the Bridegroom to my soul. +</P> + +<P> +When Paul said, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus," he did +not refer to any external marks in the flesh, but to bearing the states +of Jesus Christ. In David are expressed all the states of Christ, with +the difference only there is between the type and the original. Job +was an eminent instance of being reduced to nothingness, and also of +exaltation by the favor of God. Those who pass through the furnace, +and suffer with Christ, are prepared to wear the white robe, which +adorns the bride, the Lamb's wife. Their souls become the +dwelling-place of the Most High. +</P> + +<P> +Are not those beautiful subterranean palaces, which we read of in +fable, and which are reached after crossing deep caverns, and so hidden +that none can find them, only those to whom the secret is revealed, +representative of the interior palace of the soul, where the Lord +inhabits. "The king's daughter is all glorious within." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap47"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OUR IMPERFECTIONS SHOULD NOT HINDER OUR LABORS FOR OTHERS. +</H3> + +<P> +Although I am so weak and unworthy in myself, God uses me for the good +of others. The many defects of our temperament, should not hinder our +labors in behalf of others. These faults have nothing to do with the +grace, which operates effectively on the souls for whom we labor. God +reveals himself, through the fathers and mothers in Israel, and thus +increases confidence in them; while, at the same time, their weaknesses +forbid placing too much dependence on them. +</P> + +<P> +Although our Lord acquaints us with his designs regarding others, and +the aid we may render them, yet this should not give us the least +desire to aid them, only in the order of his providence. Neither +should we be arrested in his work, although the souls we aid repulse +the effort. God will make good the results in due time. It implies +great death to self, never to put our hand selfishly to the work of the +Lord, as it does, also, never to go a step out of the path in which he +leads us. When we mingle self, we retard, rather than advance, his +work. Nature is so corrupt that it deeply infests spiritual things, +and so subtle as to conceal itself under all artifices. +</P> + +<P> +I do not know why I have written you thus. God knows, and that is +sufficient. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap48"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DEATH, RESURRECTION. +</H3> + +<P> +This is no time to be disheartened. When the sinful lusts rebel, leave +them to their disorderly cravings. Let them cry, as a child from whom +we take away a dangerous yet pleasing toy. Strengthen yourself for +crosses and humiliations. You will soon be made alive in Jesus Christ. +</P> + +<P> +The extraordinary peace you have tasted, is the commencement of the +resurrection-life. This peace is not invariable, because the new life +is given little by little, yet, I assure you, it will soon fill your +whole soul. As God has rapidly advanced inward death, and caused you +to run, with a giant step, in the way of self-crucifixion, and this, +notwithstanding all the oppositions of the carnal man, he will also +thus rapidly advance the resurrection. +</P> + +<P> +The loss, of all things of the earthly life, which follows the +resuscitated life, will be deep and extended. The death and burial +which precede the resurrection, cannot compare with that total loss, +which follows the resuscitated life. This is something different, and +in a new state. You will arise from the sepulchre, as the Spouse of +the Beloved. +</P> + +<P> +All is consumed in myself, not in the ordinary way, but in a total +loss; so that there remains nothing which can be named or known. It +seems to me, the death of self is carried almost to infinity, it makes +so many unknown steps. Since this morning, this unworthy creature +experiences a still greater reduction of self than ever before. Die, +live; lose yourself, and find yourself again; then you will have +experience of this state. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap49"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GRACE DEEPLY INTERIOR. +</H3> + +<P> +While you perceive nothing sensible, or apparent, in your religious +state, there is, at the same time, evidence to others of a hidden +spring of life within your soul. God does not give you the sweet rain +which, falling, clothes all the surface of the soul with verdure, but +he gives you the deep well-spring, by which means you live and +flourish, and produce, not herbs and flowers, which are born and die in +the same day, but substantial fruits, ripening for eternity. David +said, the life of man upon the earth is as grass, which groweth up in +the morning, and withers in the evening. This refers to the natural +life, but it is also true of the selfish life of man. It flourishes in +the morning of the spiritual life, but no sooner does the sun of +righteousness arise in his warmth, than this life withers and is cut +down. The righteous are as a tree planted by the rivers of water, +whose leaf is always green. This is because the roots are well watered +by the deep-flowing current. +</P> + +<P> +God never ceases to operate in your heart. The calm, resigned state of +your soul is proof of this. +</P> + +<P> +Take good care of your health. Do not labor beyond your strength. God +will abundantly reward you for your labors of love in behalf of others. +These are labors he never fails to recompense. I pray God, my dear F., +to preserve you for his work. I have many things to say, but I +forbear. Your time is precious. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap50"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SELF-RENUNCIATION. +</H3> + +<P> +God designs you, my friend, for himself, but he will lead you by a way, +entirely opposed to what you have marked out. He does this in order to +destroy your self-love. This is accomplished only by the overthrow of +all your purposes, preconceived views, natural reason and sagacity. +Self-love has many hiding-places. God alone can search them out. You +seek the honor that cometh from man, and love to occupy a high +position. God wishes to reduce you to littleness, and poverty of +spirit. Believe me, dear sir, you will grow in grace, not by knowledge +acquired from books; not from reasonings upon divine truths, but by an +efflux from God. This efflux will reach and fill your soul, in +proportion as you are emptied of self. You are so much occupied of +yourself in speaking, reading and writing, that you give no place to +God. Make room, and God will come in. +</P> + +<P> +You speak of your many cares. If you will give yourself wholly to God, +these cares will be greatly diminished. God will think for you, and +arrange by his Providence, what you cannot effect by long years of +planning. In the name of God, I entreat you to renounce your own +wisdom, your self-leadings, and yield up yourself to God. Let Him +become your wisdom. You Will then find the place of rest, you so much +need. +</P> + +<P> +May you read this letter, with dependence on the Spirit, which has +dictated it, and without regard to the instrument, and your heart will +testify to the truth of what I have written. Take courage, and be +persuaded that if God destroys the natural life, it is only to give you +himself. Endeavor to be nothing, that God may be all. When void, God +himself fills the space. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap51"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +UNEXPECTED FAULTS. +</H3> + +<P> +Yesterday, after I left the parlor, I uttered some words hastily, and +suffered very much in consequence; a suffering not like the pangs of +penitence I formerly experienced, but more subtle and interior; and the +soul was more acquiescent. Whether it was the words I uttered too +precipitately, or the reflections that followed, which caused this +suffering, I could not determine. A part of myself seemed to be thrown +out of God, as we see the ocean reject certain things, which it +receives again more deeply into its bosom. Thus I seemed to myself to +be rejected, and without any power to make the least movement to +return, and without even a regret that I was rejected. I was willing +to remain where God placed me, until the moment he received me again to +himself. If I should afflict myself on account of this experience, +which was new and unexpected, I believe it would be wrong, and sully +still more the soul. The depths of my soul remain unchanged—fixed in +God. He removes the impurity, that has exteriorly sullied it, and +holds the soul still his own. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap52"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +APOSTOLIC STATE. +</H3> + +<P> +I have read your letter, my dear F., with great pleasure. The true +Apostolic state is to become all things to all men; that is, to impart +to each one spiritually, according to his necessities. Only those who +are reduced to littleness and simplicity, have this power of +communicating grace. They have also the ability to sympathise deeply +in the states of others; of bearing in some measure their burdens, and +are sometimes in great heaviness on their account. This communication +of grace and aid, is not necessarily restricted to the personal +presence of the individual. We may be "absent in body, yet present in +spirit," after the manner of God's operations; and as the angelic +powers communicate to us. It is only by the enlightening of God's +Spirit, that we realise the state of those to whom we are spiritually +united. +</P> + +<P> +Unity of souls is experienced, not only with those in the body, who +have affinity with ourselves, but also with those out of the body. I +realise with the holy prophet David, a correspondence and unity, which +renders our souls one in God. You will experience this unity with the +saints more fully, when all perception of self is taken away. St. Paul +says, "<I>Ye are come</I> to an innumerable company of <I>angels</I>—to the +<I>spirits of just men made perfect</I>." David was in the Old Testament, +what Paul was in the New. They were both deeply interior Christians. +The Apostles, after having received the Holy Ghost, spake all +languages. This has also a spiritual meaning. They communicated +grace, according to the necessities of each one. This is speaking the +word—the efficacious word, which replenishes the soul. This +nourishing, life-giving word is represented by the manna, and the +reality is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is himself the bread of +life in the soul. Amen, Jesus! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap53"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PAINFUL EXPERIENCE. +</H3> + +<P> +To-day my health is better, and I find myself able to reply to your +letter. Let the view of yourself that God gives you, be accepted, +whether it relates to your fallen condition in general, or to +particular faults; but add nothing to this view by your own +reflections. These continual reflex acts of the mind, do not help you; +they do not remove the faults. I am not surprised, that you find in +yourself so many evils; evils which render you almost insupportable to +yourself. When God accomplishes the work of purification, he removes +all that is opposed to the divine inflowing life. +</P> + +<P> +These evils of your nature, which are now apparent, and which were +deeply concealed, are perceived by you, only because they are passing +out from their hiding-places. All persons do not have so deep a +knowledge of themselves; therefore do not suffer so much, because all +are not destined to so profound a death and burial while in the body. +Be silent, and drink the bitter cup. These humiliations will endure +until your state is in some degree perfected; after which they will +become more and more slight, and only at intervals, until the death and +burial is consummated. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap54"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ECSTACY OF THE MIND, AND THE WILL OR HEART.—THE DIFFERENCE. +</H3> + +<P> +The intellectual part of man can be in some degree united to God; but +the soul loses itself in God, only by the loss of the will and by love. +This loss of the will is the true ecstasy, which is a permanent state, +and is effected without any violence to nature. When love is the +controlling exercise, the will follows, and the soul is reduced to +unity; as in the natural exercise of love, the stronger the love, the +greater the submission of the soul to the object beloved. Sacred love +does not bind parts, but draws it fully, until it is absorbed wholly in +this divine oneness. +</P> + +<P> +The mind may tend towards its divine object, with ardor, but the will +not concurring, causes dissonance and swooning, or impetuous +transports. I call this momentary ecstasy; it cannot long endure +without separating the soul from the body. +</P> + +<P> +The difference between these two states is, as that of water, retained +in the air by a machine, and of a river, running naturally into the +sea, as ordered by the grand Architect of the universe. Love, which +carries the will in its train, changes the whole man; this is the +divine, the true ecstasy. This is what is called transformation, and +loss of the soul in God. It is certain, however, that the creature +always remains a being distinct from God. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap55"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A VIEW OF SELF. +</H3> + +<P> +The activity of the natural selfish life, is the greatest obstacle to +your progress. Allow of nothing which gives sustenance to this life. +Be on your guard against applause. Applaud not yourself when you have +done well. Admit no reflections in regard to the good you have +accomplished, so that all that nourishes self-complacency may die. +</P> + +<P> +Possess your soul in peace as much as possible; not by effort, but by +ceasing from effort; by letting go everything that troubles you. Be +quiet, that you may settle, as we leave water to settle when agitated. +When you discover your errors and sins, do not stop, under whatever +good pretext, to remedy them. Rather abandon yourself at once to God, +that he may destroy, in you, all that its displeasing to him. I assure +you, you are not capable of yourself, to correct the least fault. Your +only remedy is abandonment to God, and remaining quiet in his hands. +If you discovered the depth of inward corruption in your heart, your +courage would fail! On this account, God conceals from us, in part, +the view of our sins, and discovers them to us, only as he destroys +them. +</P> + +<P> +Rest assured, God loves you. He will take care of you. Have faith in +his love and mercy. You will see farther by and by. When you are in +trouble, do not fail to write me. Have good courage, and all will be +well. You are very dear to me in our Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap56"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +STATE OF A SOUL IN UNION WITH GOD. +</H3> + +<P> +Although, in the latter part of my life, I do not perceive those marked +states of abandonment and submission, neither of interior sorrows, such +as I formerly experienced, this does not prove that these distinct +states no longer exist; but the soul having become more fully +established in God, it makes less account of them, or is less affected +by external impressions. As pure flowing water leaves no trace where +it passes, so these <I>distinct</I> states leave no durable impression. The +soul seems to have lost its own qualities of resistance and aversion, +and runs, without ceasing into its Original. It is on this account I +cannot write so fully of my states of mind as formerly. My soul, in +its depths, rests in God. "My peace, says Christ, <I>I give unto you</I>." +</P> + +<P> +I pray for the church; I mourn at times that God is so little known and +loved; but these feelings are transient, and the soul is ready to take +any impression that God gives it. While it seems to have no consistency +of its own, so to speak, it adapts itself to the state of others with +wonderful facility. Sometimes even relating amusing stories, to +children, and to those who cannot be entertained in any other way. +</P> + +<P> +The soul, in this state of union with God, is sometimes permitted to +foretell things to come, which appear very obscure to man, but which +are, nevertheless, infallibly true, because proceeding from God. The +knowledge of the event, and its full explanation, will come in the +fulness of time. The soul is ready for anything; ready for nothing. All +that is true comes from God; what is not true, from the creature. The +soul does not seek to justify itself, nor produce humiliation, but +passes on, disregarding self, and absorbed in God. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap57"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +STATE OF REST IN GOD. +</H3> + +<P> +If I do not reply to you, Dear Sir, as soon as you might expect, it is +because I hold myself in reserve, until I have a movement to write, and +not from any want of regard to you. Relative to the distinct, +voluntary acts of resignation, renouncement, it would be difficult, in +my present state, to make such acts, because such acts would seem to +imply something of self-appropriation still remaining; whereas, I have +given to my Sovereign, all that I am; and as far as I know, I have +nothing more to give him. My soul is at rest in his will. +</P> + +<P> +It is the same in regard to prayer, or petitions. The soul having a +very simple method of prayer, all other prayer seems foreign to it. +When it would make a request, and as soon as the soul knows distinctly +what it demands, there is something which goes before to accomplish it, +without the utterance of words. When the soul utters words, or makes +petitions, if the spirit accompanying approves, the prayer is made with +ease. If the spirit do not coöperate, the words are uttered with +difficulty, or not at all. God takes the place of self in the soul, +and there prays for things agreeable to his will. This is a state of +the soul, in which it has no desire to originate prayer, but loves to +be silent in the presence of God. This is an experience more +satisfactory than I am able to express. O, that all the earth knew +what it means to keep silence before the Lord! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap58"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GREAT HUMILIATIONS. +</H3> + +<P> +I have a clear discernment of your state. It seems to me, I see it in +some measure as God sees it; that is, in the pure light of truth,—the +reasons why you suffer, and the blessed results of these sufferings. I +have known that the period of discipline would be long, and very long, +because you suffer not only on your own account, but also for the +benefit of others. God destines you to accomplish great things for his +glory, and exterior humiliations in your case not being suited to his +designs, he makes use of concealed humiliations, known only to yourself +and God. I will repeat to you the words addressed by our Lord to St. +Paul. "My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in +weakness." +</P> + +<P> +It will be in companionship with humiliations, that you will be saved +from falling into sin and error, and be prepared to be come a vessel +fit for the Master's use. You will experience from time to time, a +return of these humiliating states, and when you may think they have +entirely passed away, they will suddenly revive. But the greater your +humiliation, the more God will use you to perform his most excellent +works. In this state of entire self-reduction and humiliation, your +words will be clothed with power. +</P> + +<P> +"I am come," says our Lord, "to bring fire on the earth." O martyr of +Pure Love,—<I>a sacrifice</I> for the good of others, what if the fires be +already kindled in your bosom, shrink not! If you were less to God, he +might spare you. +</P> + +<P> +Do not hesitate to speak to me of your sufferings, because it appears +to you useless. It is not so. If you speak of them in simplicity, +your heart will be relieved, and strengthened. I know how to +sympathise with you. God bless you. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap59"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +REPOSE OF THE SOUL IS GOD. +</H3> + +<P> +Having given up myself wholly to God, and loving Him far better than +myself, how can I find any opposition to his good pleasure? How can I +do otherwise than yield to one I love better than myself? How can a +soul withdraw from the dominion of a Sovereign, that it loves with the +whole heart? "What can separate us from the love of God, in Christ +Jesus?" Although, while we remain in this life, there is a possibility +of sinning, and of separation from God, and it is true, that the soul +remains in oneness with Him, only by the continuance of his mercy, and +that if he should leave it, it would immediately fall into sin, yet I +cannot have the least fear, that my God will leave me, or that I shall +ever separate myself in any degree from his love. +</P> + +<P> +The creature can take no glory to itself, to whatever state it may +arrive. O that you might comprehend what I cannot express—the sense I +have of the goodness of God, to keep what is his own! How jealous, how +watchful he is over the soul! God seems so truly all things to me, +that I seem to see nothing, to love nothing, relish nothing, only what +he causes me to see, love and relish in himself. I am only capable of +loving and submitting to him, so much is he my life. I believe God +blindfold, without questioning or reasoning. <I>God is</I>; this is +sufficient. How immense is the freedom of the soul in him! O may you +not doubt, that when all of self is taken away from the creature, there +remains only God. O God, can I have any self-interest, or appropriate +aught as mine? In what can I take it? How strange the thought! how far +removed from the possession of God! I am lost. God is. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap60"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +POWER OF CASTING OUT EVIL SPIRITS. +</H3> + +<P> +Although for many years, profound truths have been revealed to me, and +God has manifested his power through me, in an extraordinary manner, my +state has invariably been one of infancy, simplicity and candor. God's +grace has rendered me equally willing to lie concealed, or to execute +his will more publicly. During seven years, without my knowing how it +was accomplished, as soon as I have approached some persons, possessed +by demons, the evil spirits have departed. I have realised simply a +desire to relieve them, and this desire, or prayer, has been answered +in a way unknown to myself. Of myself, I have no goodness nor power at +all. I have only the capacity of a child—of letting myself be used by +God, as pleases Him. My life appears natural. I am encompassed with +infirmities. My health is greatly impaired. My infirmities are a +balance-wheel, a counterpoise to exaltation. Yet life is ever flowing, +without any thought of the means of sustaining it, as we live in the +air, without thinking of the air we breathe. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap61"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +STATE OF A SOUL RE-UNITED TO GOD. +</H3> + +<P> +In reply to your enquiry, my dear children, concerning my state, I +would say, that exteriorly, I am open, simple, childlike. My interior +resembles a drop of water, mingling and lost in the ocean, and no more +discerning itself,—the sea not only surrounding, but absorbing it. In +this divine immensity, the soul discerns and enjoys all objects in God. +All is darkness and obscurity in respect to itself; all is light on the +part of God. Thus, <I>God is all</I> to me. This has been my state more +than thirty years, although in latter years I have realized greater +depths in these experiences. Think of the bottomless sea; what is +thrown therein, continues sinking, without ever reaching the end. Thus +divine love is the weight of the soul, that sinks it deeper and deeper +in God. "God is Love, and he who dwells in love, dwells in God, and +God in him." O immensity! +</P> + +<P> +Jesus Christ, the embodiment of truth and love, has explained the +Scriptures by fulfilling them. So when the soul has passed into God, +the Word is fulfilled in the soul, as it was in Christ. O Love! thou +art thyself the pure, naked, simple truth, which is expressed, not by +me, but by thyself, through me. Amen. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap62"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CONCISE VIEW OF THE INTERIOR WAY. +</H3> + +<P> +<I>The soul seeks God in faith not by the reasonings of the mind and +labored efforts, but by the drawings of love; to which inclinations God +responds, and instructs the soul, which co-operates actively. God then +puts the soul in a passive state, where he accomplishes all, causing +great progress, first by way of enjoyment, then by privation, and +finally by pure Love.</I> +</P> + +<P> +What do we understand by the Interior way? It is to seek the kingdom +of God within us. Luke 17, 21. We find this kingdom only where God +has placed it, <I>within the soul</I>. It becomes necessary, then, to +withdraw the eyes of the soul from external landmarks and observations, +which man, in the pride of reason, has located around it, and rest the +eye in faith, on the Word of the Lord,—"<I>Seek and ye shall find</I>." +This seeking, involves an interior activity of the soul; a desire, a +determination, and searching after what is hidden. +</P> + +<P> +When the soul has thus earnestly sought the kingdom of God within, this +kingdom is developed little by little. Interior recollection becomes +less difficult, and the presence of God more perceptible and agreeable. +Formerly it was supposed, that the presence of God was only the thought +of God, and that it was necessary to force the mind—to concentrate the +thoughts with violence to find God. This is true in some sense, but, +as the soul cannot long endure this tension, and as the kingdom of God +is not found in the external vestments of the soul, but in its depths, +this labor is of little avail. So little progress is made, the soul +becomes discouraged, and the evil one, who fears nothing so much as the +reign of God in the soul, makes an effort to draw the soul to +externalities. +</P> + +<P> +In order to accomplish this object, he takes two methods, either by +excessive labors, persuading the soul that this is the way to find God, +and thus choking the internal process of the interior life, or, by this +tension of the mind, of which I have spoken. Neither of these methods +open in the soul, the interior way. +</P> + +<P> +You reply, how, then, is this life accomplished? I answer, God, seeing +the heart of him who seeks him within, draws near to him, and teaches +him a just moderation in all things; and, by this retrenchment of all +excess in externals, the soul begins to perceive the peaceful kingdom. +It realizes within itself a guide, who provides for its necessities, +according to divine laws, who takes away the burdens that sin imposes; +a guide who does not foster corrupt nature, nor forbid innocent +pleasures. +</P> + +<P> +When the soul begins to perceive this kingdom, and that the King +himself is manifested in some degree, it thus communes, (and we may +call this the second step), O, my Beloved, I have sought thee with all +the strength of my heart, in the place where thou hast taught me to +seek thee, and I have there found thee! Days and nights have I passed +in seeking thee. All the desires of my heart go after thee. But now I +have found thee. I pray thee to reign as Sovereign, to establish thine +empire in my soul. I will do thy will alone. I will resign to thee +all the right I have to myself; all that thou, by thy goodness, hast +given to me. +</P> + +<P> +At this stage of progress, the soul ceases from self. Its work is to +regard, lovingly, the operation of God, without a desire either to +advance it, or place any obstacle in the way of its progress. The soul +has been active, in the first stage, to destroy, with all its power, +that which might hinder the kingdom of God within; and this was a great +effort; for habit had rendered interior recollection very difficult, +and the powers of the soul did not easily reunite themselves in one +centre. +</P> + +<P> +Now the soul seeks no longer to combat the obstacles, which hindered +its return within, but lets God combat and act in the soul. Saying, it +is time O, Lord, that thou shouldst take possession of thy kingdom! Do +so, I pray thee, exclusively. I desire, on my part, only to observe +thine operation. +</P> + +<P> +This commencement of the reign of God, and of the passive way, is very +highly relished by the soul. The soul passes days, and even years, +separated from creature enjoyments without weariness. It advances very +much more by this way, in little time, than by all the efforts of many +years. It is not without faults and imperfections, but divine love +diminishes them little by little, or does not permit the soul to become +disturbed by them, lest it become discouraged and its love hindered. +This state is called passive love. The soul sees no cause to fear; it +supposes that all the work is done, and that it has only to pass into +eternity, and to enjoy this good Sovereign, who already gives himself +to the soul in so much fulness. +</P> + +<P> +But in the onward progress of the soul, it becomes no longer doubtful, +whether the soul is to remain in the passive enjoyment of God and his +communications. The soul begins to feel a drawing, to let God not only +be all things in the soul, but there to reign separate from the soul's +enjoyment of his gifts. The soul now experiences what is called, by +the author of the Imitation of Christ, <I>the exile of the heart</I>. It +hears a voice in the depth of the soul, or, rather, has an impression, +that God reigns there alone. This exile is at first very painful, for +it is important to notice, that, from the commencement of seeking God +in the depth of the soul to the possession of him, there are many +trials, temptations, sorrows. <I>Every successive state is marked by a +purifying process</I>. Persons often mistake, and take the first +purification for the last. When God reigns alone in the soul, separate +from the action of self, and self is destroyed, it is beyond any +previous state. +</P> + +<P> +When the soul has ceased from its own selfish operations, and the man +of sin is exterminated, its defects become more apparent, because God +wishes it to comprehend what it is by itself, and what it would be +without him. The soul is thus afflicted, believing it has lost the +virtues, acquired with so much care, and seems to have faults that it +had not before perceived. It says, with the spouse in the Canticles, +"I have washed my feet, how shall I sully them?" You do not perceive, +O, soul beloved, that you do not sully them in going to "open to the +spouse," and that if you contract some slight impurity, he will remove +it so perfectly, that you will become more beautiful. In the mean +time, it is not the desire of the spouse to become beautiful in her own +eyes, but to see only the beauty of her Lover. When the soul is +faithful in this state, and really desires to die to itself, she is +pleased only with the beauty of her Beloved, and says his beauty shall +be my beauty. But it is necessary to advance beyond this, for, after +being despoiled of her beauty, it would be a selfishness much greater +to appropriate to herself, the beauty of her Beloved. His beauty must +remain untarnished, unappropriated by her; she must leave him all, and +remain in her nothing, for the nothing is her proper place. This is +Perfect Love, which regards God alone. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap63"></A> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +SELECTIONS FROM HER POETRY. +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A LITTLE BIRD I AM. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"A little bird I am,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Shut from the fields of air;</SPAN><BR> +And in my cage I sit and sing<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">To Him who placed me there;</SPAN><BR> +Well pleased a prisoner to be,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em"><I>Because, my God, it pleases thee</I>.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Nought have I else to do;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">I sing the whole day long;</SPAN><BR> +And He, whom most I love to please,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Doth listen to my song;</SPAN><BR> +He caught and bound my wandering wing,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">But still he bends to hear me sing.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Thou hast an ear to hear;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">A heart to love and bless;</SPAN><BR> +And, though my notes were e'er so rude,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Thou wouldst not hear the less;</SPAN><BR> +Because though knowest as they fall,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">That Love, sweet Love, inspires them all.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"My cage confines me round,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Abroad I cannot fly;</SPAN><BR> +But, though my wing is closely bound,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">My heart's at liberty.</SPAN><BR> +My prison walls cannot control<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The flight, the freedom of the soul.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Oh! it is good to soar,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">These bolts and bars above,</SPAN><BR> +To Him whose purpose I adore,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Whose Providence I love;</SPAN><BR> +And in thy mighty will to find<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The joy, the freedom of the mind."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap64"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GOD EVERYWHERE, TO THE SOUL THAT LOVES HIM. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"Oh! Thou by long experience tried,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Near whom no grief can long abide;</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">My Lord! how full of sweet content,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em"><I>I pass my years of banishment</I>.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"All scenes alike engaging prove,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">To souls impressed with sacred love;</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Where'er they dwell, they dwell in Thee,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">In Heaven, in earth, or on the sea.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"To me remains nor place nor time,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">My country is in every clime,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">I can be calm and free from care</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">On any shore, since God is there.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"While place we seek, or place we shun,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The soul finds happiness in none;</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">But with a God to guide our way,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">'Tis equal joy to go or stay.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"Could I be cast where Thou art not,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">That were indeed a dreadful lot;</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">But regions none remote I call,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Secure of finding God in all.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"My country, Lord, art Thou alone;</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">No other can I claim or own;</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The point where all my wishes meet,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">My law, my love; life's only sweet.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"I love my God, but with no love of mine,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">For I have none to give;</SPAN><BR> +I love thee, Lord; but all the love is thine,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em"><I>For by thy life I live</I>.</SPAN><BR> +I am as nothing, and rejoice to be<BR> +Emptied, and lost, and swallowed up in thee.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Thou, Lord, alone, art all thy children need,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And there is none beside;</SPAN><BR> +From thee the streams of blessedness proceed;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">In thee the bless'd abide.</SPAN><BR> +Fountain of life, and all-abounding grace,<BR> +Our source, our centre, and our dwelling-place."<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of Madam Guyon, by P. 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L. Upham + +Release Date: September 25, 2009 [EBook #30083] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF MADAM GUYON *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +LETTERS + +OF + +MADAM GUYON. + + + BEING SELECTIONS OF HER RELIGIOUS THOUGHTS AND + EXPERIENCES, TRANSLATED AND RE-ARRANGED + FROM HER PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE + + + + +By P. L. UPHAM. + + + + "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth + alone; but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit." + + + + +BOSTON: + +HENRY HOYT, No. 9 CORNHILL. + + + + +Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858, by HENRY HOYT, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of +Massachusetts. + + + + +PREFACE. + +Madam Guyon's correspondence was very extensive, occupying five printed +volumes. Her style of writing is somewhat diffuse. In giving +religious advice to many persons, there would necessarily be frequent +repetitions. It has, therefore, occurred to the writer, that a +selection and re-arrangement of thoughts, such as is found in this +little volume, would be more acceptable and useful, than a literal and +full translation of her letters. This selection necessarily involved +much re-writing and condensing. Great care, however, has been taken to +reach her true sentiments, and to give a just relation of her religious +experience. + +In the interesting preface to her letters, published in 1767, the +writer remarks: "Next to the Holy Scriptures, we do not believe there +has been given to the world, any writings, so valuable as Madam +Guyon's; and of all these precious treasures, her letters are the most +rare. All who have received the unction of the Holy One, whereby they +know the truth, are agreed upon her divine writings." + +If the writer may be permitted to add her humble testimony, having +enjoyed the privilege of reading her writings in the original for +several years, she would say, there are no writings, excepting the +Sacred Oracles, from which she has received so much spiritual benefit. +It is on this account, she has endeavored, with divine assistance, to +portray to others, Madam Guyon's deep religious feelings. May the same +spirit of devotion to her Lord and Master which she possessed, rest +upon the heart of the reader. + +Happy are they in whose hearts burns the flame of divine love. + +P. L. UPHAM. + +Brunswick, Me., April, 1858. + + + + +SKETCH OF HER LIFE. + +Jeannie Marie Mothe, the maiden name of Madam Guyon, was born at +Montargis, in France, April 13, 1648. She was married to M. J. Guyon, +in 1664, and became the mother of four children. In July, 1676, she +was separated from her husband by death. Madam Guyon was one of that +number, who, in advance of the common standard of piety, are called to +be _Reformers_; and on this account, she suffered great persecutions. +She was several times imprisoned. At one time eight months; and +subsequently four years in one of the towers of the celebrated Bastile. +After her release from prison, she was banished for the remainder of +her days to Blois, on the river Loire. At the time of her release from +the Bastile, she was fifty-four years of age. Her sufferings from the +cold, damp walls of the prison, in winter, and the confined air in +summer, with other privations and hardships, greatly impaired her +constitution, and rendered her a sufferer to the close of her days. +She died June 9, 1717, aged sixty-nine years. + +During her imprisonment, she wrote her Autobiography, which has been +translated into English. Another work of hers, "The Torrents," has +recently been translated, very happily, by Mr. Ford. Also two essays, +"Method of Prayer," and "Concise View of the Way of God," by J. W. +Metcalf. It is not known by the writer, that her other works have been +translated, with the exception of some of her poems by William Cowper; +and "The Life and Experience of Madam Guyon," in two volumes, written +by my husband. + +P. L. U. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + 1. REIGN OF CHRIST IN THE HEART + 2. TURN AWAY FROM SELF TO CHRIST + 3. STATE OF ASSURANCE + 4. HUMILITY THE EFFECT OF LOVE + 5. DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS + 6. JOY IN PERSECUTIONS + 7. LIBERTY IN CHRIST + 8. MELANCHOLY AVOIDED + 9. GOD'S CARE OF THE SOUL + 10. POWER OF THE ADVERSARY + 11. UNCTION OF GRACE + 12. SPIRITUAL ONENESS + 13. VICISSITUDES IN EXPERIENCE + 14. PATIENCE WITH THE FAULTS OF OTHERS + 15. HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE MOVEMENTS OF GOD + 16. STATE OF SIMPLICITY + 17. QUENCHING THE SPIRIT + 18. SUFFERING CRUCIFIXION AND REDUCTIONS OF SELF + 19. REPROVE IN LOVE + 20. SILENT OPERATION OF GRACE + 21. LIMIT NOT YOUR SPHERE + 22. SECRET OF DIVINE OPERATIONS + 23. NO UNION WITH SELFISH SOULS + 24. NEVER YIELD TO DISCOURAGEMENT + 25. WEAKNESSES. IMPERFECTIONS + 26. STATE OF ADVANCEMENT + 27. GREATNESS OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY + 28. ASSISTANCE RENDERED + 29. SIMPLICITY AND POWER OF THE WORD + 30. FORGETFULNESS OF SELF + 31. DIVERSITY OF MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION + 32. COMFORT IN AFFLICTION + 33. BEARING FRUIT IN UNION WITH CHRIST + 34. DESOLATE STATE + 35. SELF-ABANDONMENT + 36. NO DEPENDENCE ON INSTRUMENTS + 37. CHILD OF GOD, SOON TO DIE + 38. UNION OF SOULS IN GOD + 39. SECRET OPERATIONS OF GRACE + 40. TO A YOUNG FRIEND + 41. FINAL LETTER TO HER SPIRITUAL GUIDE + 42. GLORY OF GOD, THE ONE DESIRE + 43. SPIRITUAL UNION AND AID + 44. LIVE IN THE PRESENT + 45. HOW TO ADMINISTER REPROOF + 46. BEARING THE STATES OF CHRIST + 47. IMPERFECTIONS NO HINDRANCE + 48. DEATH, RESURRECTION + 49. GRACE DEEPLY INTERIOR + 50. SELF-RENUNCIATION + 51. UNEXPECTED FAULTS + 52. APOSTOLIC STATE + 53. PAINFUL EXPERIENCE + 54. ECSTASY OF THE MIND AND HEART + 55. A VIEW OF SELF + 56. STATE OF A SOUL IN UNION WITH GOD + 57. STATE OF REST IN GOD + 58. GREAT HUMILIATIONS + 59. REPOSE OF THE SOUL IN GOD + 60. POWER OF CASTING OUT DEVILS + 61. STATE OF A SOUL RE-UNITED TO GOD + 62. CONCISE VIEW OF THE INTERIOR WAY + + + SELECTIONS FROM HER POETRY. + + 63. A LITTLE BIRD I AM + 64. GOD EVERYWHERE + + + + +LETTERS OF MADAM GUYON. + + +REIGN OF CHRIST IN THE HEART. + +I have read your letter, my dear brother, with great pleasure. It is +my highest happiness to see the reign of Jesus Christ extending itself +in the hearts of God's people. An external religion has too much +usurped the place of the religion of the heart. The ancient +saints--Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Enoch, Job--lived interiorly with God. +The reign of Christ on earth is nothing more nor less than the +subjection of the whole soul to himself. Alas! the world are opposed +to this reign. Many pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in +Heaven," but they are unwilling to be crucified to the world, and to +their sinful lusts. God designs to bring his children, naturally +rebellious, through the desert of crucifixions--through the temptations +in the wilderness, into the promised land. But how many rebel, and +choose rather to be bond-slaves in Egypt, than suffer the reductions of +their sensual appetite. + +Since Jesus Christ appeared on earth, there is a general belief that +the kingdoms of this world will ultimately be subject to his dominion. +But we may ask, who hastens his coming, by now yielding up his own +heart to his entire control? + +Our Lord imposed no rigorous ceremonies on his disciples. He taught +them to enter into the closet; to retire within the heart; to speak but +few words; to open their hearts, to receive the descent of the Holy +Spirit. + +The holy Sabbath has not only an external, but a deeply spiritual +meaning. It symbolises the rest of the holy soul, in union with God. +Oh! that all Christians might know the coming of Jesus Christ in the +soul! Might live in God, and God in them! + +God alone knows how much I love you. + + + + +TURN FROM SELF TO CHRIST + +You are not forgotten, my dear E. God has engraven you on my heart. +If you have not consented to the thoughts that have crossed your mind, +do not be afflicted on account of them. The examination and dwelling +upon these thoughts, brings them again to life. Be on your guard +against everything that entangles you in self. God is a Father who +bears with the innocent faults of his children, and wipes away the +stains they have contracted. The greatest wrong you can do to God is +to doubt his love. He regards the simplicity and purity of the +intention. It is right to cherish great self-distrust, to realise your +weakness and helplessness; but do not stop here. Confide as much more +in God, as you hope less from yourself. + +Do not afflict yourself, because you do not at all times realise a +_sensible_ confidence in God, and other consoling, happy states. Walk +by faith, and not by sight, or positive perception of the good you +crave. Let us, my dear E., be closely united, and walk together; not +according to the way we might choose, but according to the way God +chooses for us. + +I love you tenderly. + + + + +ASSURANCE. + +Notwithstanding all that is said to me, my dear M., in opposition to my +state, I cannot have one doubt of its reality. There is within me an +inward testimony to the truth; so deep, that all the world could not +shake it. It is the work of God upon my heart, and partakes of his own +immutability. It seems to me that all the difficulties of theologians +concerning this state, arise from viewing it, not in the light of +divine truth and power, but in the light of the creature. It is true, +the creature, in itself, is only weakness and sin; but when it pleases +God to new-create the soul, and make it one with himself, it is then +transformed into the likeness of Christ. + +Who will dare limit the power of God? Who will say that God, whose +love is infinite as it is free, cannot give such proofs of love as he +pleases, to his creatures? Has he not the right to love me as he does? +Yes, he loves me, and his love is _infinite_. I do not doubt it. And +he loves you, too, dear M., in the same manner. This is eternal love +manifested,--the heart of God drawn out,--_expressed_ towards his +creature. + +In this state, we understand the mutual secrets of the Lover and the +beloved. Who will so deny the truth of the Lord, as to question this? +When I hold my beloved in my arms, in vain does one assert, "It is not +so,--I am deceived." I smile inwardly and say, "_My beloved is mine +and I am his!_" "If we receive the witness of men, how much greater is +the witness of God?" + + + + +HUMILITY THE EFFECT OF LOVE. + +I assure you, you are very dear to me. I rejoice very much in the +progress of your soul. When I speak of progress, it is in descending, +not in mounting. As when we charge a vessel, the more ballast we put +in, the lower it sinks, so the more love we have in the soul, the lower +we are abased in self. The side of the scales which is elevated, is +empty; so the soul is elated only when it is void of love. "Love is +our weight," says St. Augustine. Let us so charge ourselves with the +weight of love, as to bring down self to its just level. Let its +depths be manifested by our readiness to bear the cross, the +humiliations, the sufferings, which are necessary to the purification +of the soul. Our humiliation is our exaltation. "Whosoever is least +among you shall be the greatest," says our Lord. + +I love you, my dear child, in the love of the Divine Master, who so +abased himself by love! Oh! what a weight is love, since it caused so +astonishing a fall, from heaven to earth,--from God to man! There is a +beautiful passage in the Imitation of Christ, "Love to be unknown." +Let us die to all but God. + + + + +DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS. + +God communicates himself to pure souls, and blesses, through them, +other souls, who are in a state of receptivity. All these little +rills, which water others, little compared with the fountain from which +they flow, have no determinate choice of their own, but are governed by +the will of their Lord and Master. The nature of God is communicative. +God would cease to be God if he should cease to communicate himself, by +love, to the pure soul. As the air rushes to a vacuum, so God fills +the soul emptied of self. + +The seven blessed spirits around the throne, are those angels who +approach nearest to God, and to whom he communicates himself the most +abundantly. St. John, perhaps, was better prepared than any of the +apostles to receive the Word, incarnate, dwelling in the soul. + +On the bosom of Jesus,--in close affinity with him,--John learned the +heights and depths of divine love. It was on this account our Lord +said to his mother, "seeing the disciple stand by whom he loved, Woman +behold thy Son." He knew the loving heart of John would give her a +place in his own home. + +God communicates himself to us in proportion as we are prepared to +receive him. And in proportion as he diffuses himself in us, we are +transformed in him, and bear his image. O, the astonishing depths of +God's love! giving _himself_ to souls disappropriated of self, becoming +their end, and their final principle, their fulness, and their all. + + + + +JOY IN PERSECUTIONS. + +I am very grateful to you, my dear sir, for your sympathy in my +apparent ills. God has not permitted that I should consider them +otherwise than blessings. I trust what appears to destroy the truth +will, in the end, establish it. Those who maintain the inward reign of +the Holy Spirit will yet suffer many persecutions. There is nothing of +any value but the love of God, and the accomplishment of his will. +This is pure and substantial happiness. This joy no man taketh from us. + +It is my only desire to abandon myself into the hands of God, without +scruples, without fears, without any agitating thoughts. + +Since I am there, O Lord, how can I be otherwise than happy? When +divine Love has enfranchised the soul, what power can fetter it? How +small the world appears to a heart that God fills with himself! I love +thee, my Lord, not only with a sovereign love, but it seems to me I +love thee alone, and all creatures only for thy sake. Thou art so much +the soul of my soul, and the life of my life, that I have no other life +than thine. Let all the world forsake me; my Lord, my Lover lives, and +I live in him. This is the deep abyss where I hide myself in these +many persecutions. O, abandonment! blessed abandonment! Happy the +soul who lives no more in itself, but in God. What can separate my +soul from God? Surely, none can pluck me from my Father's hands. All +is well, when the soul is in union with him. + + + + +LIBERTY IN CHRIST. + +"If the Son make ye free, ye shall be free indeed." When the man of +sin is destroyed, and the new man established in the soul, it finds +itself in perfect liberty. As a bird let loose from its cage, the soul +goes forth, unfettered, to dwell in the immensity of God. The natural +selfish life restricts the soul at every point; and even God, the great +_I am_, is unseen, or deprived of his glory. + +When Paul asked, "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" he +added, "I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord." That is, when by +the grace of God, the new man is established in my soul, I shall be +delivered. And, subsequently, when deliverance came, he cried out in +transport, "I live, and yet not I. Christ liveth in me!" He was now +no more occupied of himself, but let Jesus Christ live and act in him; +he was animated by him, as the body is of the soul. If another soul +animated our body, the body would obey this new soul; it would become +the moving-spring of its operations. Thus Jesus Christ becomes the +life of the new man. And what can be more free, more enlarged, than +the soul of Jesus? His nature is divine, eternal, boundless. Alas! to +what a narrow point does self reduce us! Who that looks at the freedom +and expansion of the soul, as it puts on the new man, Christ Jesus, +will not crush the reptile self to the dust, that the life of God may +again, as in its first creation, animate the soul? + +This liberty is as the eagles' wings, of which the prophet speaks, +which carries the soul on high. The dove that lighted on Jesus, was an +emblem, not only of innocence, but of freedom,--of liberty of spirit to +soar and dwell in God. May it please God to give you an experience of +this liberty. Quit self, and you will find the freedom and enlargement +of the All in All. + + + + +MELANCHOLY AVOIDED. + +I assure you, my dear M., I sympathize deeply in your sufferings; but I +entreat you, give no place to despondency. This is a dangerous +temptation,--a refined, not a gross temptation of the adversary. +Melancholy contracts and withers the heart, and renders it unfit to +receive the impressions of grace. It magnifies and gives a false +coloring to objects, and thus renders your burdens too heavy to bear. +Your ill-health and the little consolation you have from friends, help +to nourish this state. God's designs, regarding you, and his methods +of bringing about these designs, are infinitely wise. + +There are two methods of serving little children. One is, to give them +all they want for present pleasure. Another is, to deny them present +pleasure for greater good. God is a wise Father, and chooses the best +way to conduct his children. + +A sad exterior is more sure to repel than attract to piety. It is +necessary to serve God, with a certain joyousness of spirit, with a +freedom and openness, which renders it manifest that his yoke is easy; +that it is neither a burden nor inconvenience. + +If you would please God, be useful to others, and happy yourself, you +must renounce this melancholy disposition. It is better to divert your +mind with innocent recreations, than to nourish melancholy. When I was +a little child, a nephew of my father's, a very godly man, who ended +his days by martyrdom, said to me, "It is better to cherish a desire to +please God, than a fear of displeasing him." Let the desire to please +God, and honor him, by an exterior all sweet, all humble, all cordial +and cheerful, arouse and animate your spirit: For this I pray. Ever +yours. + + + + +GOD'S CARE OF THE SOUL COMMITTED TO HIM. + +O, that you could realize, my dear friend, how much God loves you. As +a painter draws upon his canvas what image pleases him, so God is now +preparing your soul, by these inward crucifixions, to draw upon it his +own likeness, He cherishes you as the mother her only son. He would +have you yield readily to his will, even as the branches of the tree +are moved by the light breath of the wind. In proportion to your +abandonment to God, he will take care of you. When you yield readily +to his will, you will be less embarrassed to discern the movements of +God. You will follow them naturally, and be led, as it were, by the +providencies of God. God will gently arrest you if you mistake. God +has the same right to incline and move the heart as to possess it. +When the soul is perfectly yielding, it loses all its own consistency, +so to speak, in order to take any moment the shape that God gives it; +as water takes all the form of the vases in which it is put, and also +all the colors. Let there be no longer any resistance in your mind, +and your heart will soon mingle in the ocean of love; you will float +easily, and be at rest. + + + + +POWER OF THE ADVERSARY. + +I am deeply afflicted that so many, at the present day, and even some +good persons, allow themselves to be openly seduced by the Evil One. +Has not our Lord warned us against "false prophets, and the lying +wonders of the _last days_?" All true prophets have spoken in the name +of the Lord--"_Thus saith the Lord._" Nothing gives the enemy greater +advantage than the love of extraordinary manifestations. I believe +these external movements are a device of the evil one, to draw away +souls from the Word of God, and from the interior tranquil way of faith. + +The tendency of all communications from God, is to make the soul die to +self. An eminent saint remarks, that she had often experienced +illuminations from the angel of darkness, more pleasing, more enticing, +than those that came from God. Those delusory manifestations, however, +leave the soul in a disturbed state, while those that come from God +humble, tranquilise and establish the soul in Him. The most dangerous +seductions are those, which assume the garb of religion and have the +semblance of truth. + +Elias appeared alone among four hundred prophets of Baal. These +prophets were much agitated, attracting great attention, "crying +aloud," etc. + +When Elias was told by the angel, that he would see the Lord in Mount +Horeb, he _hid himself_ in a cave. He saw a great trembling of the +earth. God was not there. There came a great whirlwind. God was not +there. Then there came a little zephyr. _God was in the still small +voice_. + +The only true and safe revelation, is the internal revelation of the +Lord Jesus Christ in the soul. "My sheep hear my voice." This +involves no disturbance of our freedom, of the natural operations of +the mind; but produces a beautiful harmonious action of all the powers +of the soul. I beseech you, my friend, in the name of the Lord, to +separate yourself from all these delusions of the adversary. + + + + +UNCTION OF GRACE. + +Friday morning, the 15th, I suffered very much, on account of _the +individual_, whom you know. It seemed to me, that God wished that _the +all of self_ in him should be destroyed. I perceived, that although +the troths be uttered, proceeded from the inward work of the spirit +upon his heart, his reasoning faculty operated so powerfully, without +his perceiving it, that the effect of these truths was in some degree +lost. Souls are won more by the unction of grace--by the weapons of +love--than by the power of argument. + +Are not the truths you utter, my friend, too much elaborated by the +intellect, and polished by the imagination? Their effect seems to be +lost, for want of simplicity and directness. They fall pleasantly on +the ear, as a lovely song, but do not reach and move the heart. There +is a lack of unction. Are you not always laboring for something new +and original, thus exhibiting your own powers of mind, rather than the +simple truth? + +Receive this suggestion, and light will be given you upon it. Do I +speak too plainly? To speak the truth, and the truth only, is all I +desire. I have this morning prayed, rather to be taken out of the +world, than to disguise the truth. I have proclaimed it, in its +purity, in the great Congregation, and it will be seen that Thou, O +Lord, hast distilled it in my heart; or rather, O Sovereign Truth, that +Thou art there thyself, to manifest thyself plainly, and that Thou dost +make use of weak things to confound the strong. God is truth and love. +In Him yours. + + + + +SPIRITUAL ONENESS. + +My union with you, my dear child, is steadily increasing. I bear you +in my heart with a deep and absorbing interest, and seem anxious to +communicate to you the abundant grace poured into my own soul. How +close, how dear is the union of souls, made one in Christ! Our Savior +beautifully expressed it, when he said, "Whosoever shall do the will of +my Father, the same is my mother, sister and brother." There is no +union more pure, more strong, than the union of souls in Christ! In +this manner, pure as delightful, the saints in Heaven possess each +other in God;--a union which does not interrupt the possession of God, +although it is distinct from God. + +Let your soul have within it, a continual _Yes_. When the heart is in +union with God, there is no _Nay_,--it is _Yes, be it so_, which +reverberates through the soul. This _Yes_, this suppleness, renders +the heart agreeable to the heart of the Spouse. It was thus with Mary, +the mother of our Lord, when the angel messenger came to her, she +replied, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to +thy word." It was thus with the child-like soul of Samuel, when he +said, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." It was thus with our +divine Lord, "Lo, I come to do thy will." + +Yours in the fellowship of the Saints. + + + + +VICISSITUDES IN EXPERIENCE. + +As the outgoings of life proceed from the living man, while we live in +ourselves, we have a strong will and eager desires, and many +fluctuating states. But in proportion as our will passes into the will +of God, the desires which are the offspring of the will, are +subjugated, and the soul is reduced to unity in God. + +As the soul advances in the life of God, its natural or selfish +movements decrease; and it depends less on mere emotional exercises, +and there is really less _variation_ of the emotions. + +Rest assured, it is the same God who causes the scarcity and the +abundance, the rain and the fair weather. The high and low states, the +peaceful and the state of warfare, are each good in their season. +These vicissitudes form and mature the interior, as the different +seasons compose the year. Each change in your inward experience, or +external condition, is a new test, by which to try your faith and love; +and will be a help towards perfecting your soul, if you receive it with +love and submission. + +Leave yourself therefore in the hands of Love. Love is always the +same, although it causes you often to change your position. He who +prefers one state to another, who loves abundance more than scarcity, +when God orders otherwise, loves the gifts of God more than God himself. + +God loves you; let this thought equalise all states. Let him do with +us as with the waves of the sea, and whether he takes us to his bosom, +or casts us upon the sand, that is, leaves us to our own barrenness, +all is well. + +For myself, I am pleased with all the Lord orders for me. I hold +myself ready to suffer, not only imprisonment but death; perils +everywhere--perils on the land--perils on the sea--among false +brethren; all is good in Him, to whom I am united forever. + + + + +PATIENCE WITH THE FAULTS OF OTHERS. + +I love you very much, my dear M. If my love could be of any avail, it +would console you, for I feel a greater tenderness and sympathy for +you, than I am able to express. I am more certain than ever, that God +designs you for himself. Live exteriorly with N., as being entirely +reconciled. Make not too much account of his coldness, his passionate +temper, his contempt. It is not by these you are to regulate your +conduct, but by a motive more elevated--God and his glory. Let your +heart endure his bitterness, for the love of Him, who preferred grief +to pleasure. At the same time, do no violence to your own sacred +feelings, to accommodate yourself to him, in order to give him a +pleasure he cannot appreciate. Regard your present condition, as a +means God has given you, to manifest your love to himself, by a +willingness to sacrifice yourself. Reject not this cross, shall I not +rather say _crown_, and let all be accomplished between God and your +soul, in such a quiet manner, that the struggle with your own feelings +will not be perceived. + +While you are bearing this daily cross--this real crucifixion--I am +certain God will sustain you, from the fulness of his love. All is +alike good, when God is with us. I love you tenderly. God loves you; +let this make amends for all. In Him devotedly yours. + + + + +HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE MOVEMENTS OF GOD. + +You enquire, how one who desires to follow the movements of God's +spirit, may distinguish these movements, from the natural operations of +the mind. There is not, at all times, a positive certainty regarding +divine movements. If it were so, we should become infallible as the +angels; that is, if we were as pure in our intentions. We must walk +with God, in entire abandonment and uncertainty, at the risk of +sometimes making mistakes, which in the infancy of experience is +unavoidable. He who wishes for a particular inspiration, or direction +in common matters, which his own reason and judgment can determine, is +liable to deception. + +A pure soul acts in simplicity, and without certainty, being persuaded +that what is good comes from God, and what is not good from self. The +greater the simplicity,--the more separate from the mingling of +self-activity--the purer are these operations; because the soul in this +state is only a simple instrument, that the Word, which is in her, +moves, so that it is the Word which speaks and not herself. This +manner of speaking, relates to matters of importance, and not to the +minute concerns of every-day life. The divine Word, _in all +exigencies_, is found in the soul, that is wholly consecrated to +Christ. "When they bring you before magistrates and kings, etc., it +shall be given you in _that hour_ what ye shall speak." This method of +divine leading--by the hour and by the moment--leaves the soul always +free and unencumbered, and ready for the slightest breath of the Lord. +This breath, in the pure soul, is as the gentle zephyr, and not as the +whirlwind, which shakes the earth. Do not then expect to have +anticipated movements, or movements beforehand from God. I have an +experience of many years, that God often makes known his will, only in +the time of action. + +If a pure soul, wholly sacrificed to God, should undertake something +contrary to the will of God, it would feel a slight repugnance, and +desist at once. If one does not feel this repugnance, let the act be +performed in simplicity. A mother who holds her child by a +leading-string, loosens it, that it may walk; but if about to make a +mis-step, she draws the string. The repugnance which a holy soul feels +to do a thing, is as when the mother draws the leading-string. + + + + +STATE OF SIMPLICITY. + +I experienced recently, a marked perception of your state, as one in +which God took delight, and upon which he had infinite designs, +regarding himself and his glory. I saw clearly the state to which God +desired to bring you--the means to be used, and the obstacles in the +way--the mutual sympathy and confidence he required between us--and the +openness and freedom of communication necessary for our mutual benefit, +and that we should not hesitate to speak freely of each other's faults. + +The peculiarity you remark in my experience, needs some explanation. +You say I do not seem to be wounded, nor blame myself when reproved for +a fault. To which I reply simply, there is no more of self remaining +in me to be wounded. This indifferent state you notice in me, arises +from the state of innocency and infancy in which I find myself. Our +Lord holds me so far removed from myself, or from my natural state, +that it is impossible for me to take a painful view of myself. When a +fault is committed by me, it leaves no traces on the soul; it is as +something external, which is easily removed. Do not infer that I am +blind to my faults. The light of truth is so subtle and penetrating, +that it discovers the slightest fault. Souls which are in the natural +life, have real faults, as a paper written over with ink is strongly +marked, therefore they see and feel them. But souls, transformed into +God, have faults, as a writing traced on sand when the wind is high, +the wind defacing it as soon as it is traced. This is the economy of +divine wisdom, relating to souls in union and harmony with God. Oh! +the greatness and simplicity of the way of Truth! How unlike the +world's apprehension of it! + + + + +QUENCHING THE SPIRIT. + +Desiring to follow closely the divine leading, I expressed to you the +other day, some sentiments you were not able to receive. I perceived +at once, that on account of your resistance, I could say no more. From +this experience, although painful as regards yourself, I learnt the +extreme delicacy of the spirit that seeks to aid others; and the +strength of man's freedom to oppose this operation. I realized, also, +my inability to act of myself; for, as soon as the spirit in me was +silent, I had nothing to say. I had, however, the extreme satisfaction +of knowing, that this good spirit alone conducted me; and that I would +not, in the least degree, add, nor diminish from its operations. + +It was from a knowledge, gained by experience, of the extreme delicacy +and purity of this divine spirit, that I remarked to you, the other +day, that if you did not receive the instructions I then imparted, I +should have nothing farther to communicate to you. O, how pure and how +unlike the impetuous operation of man's spirit, is this operation of +God! + + + + +SUFFER THE CRUCIFIXIONS AND REDUCTIONS OF SELF. + +All the graces of the Christian, spring from the death of self. Let +us, then, bear patiently the afflictions, which reduce this overflowing +life. There is a suffering in connection with confusions and +uncertainties, very trying to bear. Unbounded patience is necessary, +to bear not only with ourselves, but with others, whose various tempers +and dispositions are not congenial with our own. "Offences,"--wounds +of spirit will occur while we live in the flesh. These offences must +be borne in silence, and thus subjugated and controlled by the spirit +of grace. By a law of our nature, we feel, more or less, the influence +of the spheres in which we move. + +While we honor, we think, the true cross, the affliction that comes +from God, let us remember, that these instruments, so disagreeable, are +the true cross that providence daily furnishes us. + +Do not sully the cross and mar its operations, by your murmurs and +reflections. Let us welcome any trials, that teach us what we are, and +lead us to renounce ourselves and find our all in God. + +Jesus Christ says, "He who renounces not all that he hath, cannot be my +disciple." Of all possessions, that of ourselves is the most dangerous. + +Please present my cordial regards to your brother. I sympathize deeply +in his misfortunes. I use this expression, in conformity to common +usage, but it does not express the sentiments of my heart. I am +convinced that the loss of wealth, worldly honor, persecutions, are the +best instruments to unite us to Jesus Christ. All evils, or apparent +evils, are great blessings when they unite us to our All in All. I +pray God, to sustain him. His sufferings only increase my sympathy and +love for him in our Lord. My health is still feeble, but all is well +in the depths of my heart. God is there. + + + + +REPROVE IN LOVE. + +It is important to use great care and sweetness in reproving others. +Reprove only when alone with the person, and take not your own time, +but the moment of God. As we are not free from faults ourselves, we +must not expect too much from others. Be yourself very humble and +child-like, and this character will act sympathetically on others. +Jesus Christ was full of sweetness and charity. How patiently did he +bear with his imperfect disciples, even with Judas, without anger, +without bitterness, and even without coldness. + +How lowly was Jesus! He "did not break the bruised reed." He imparts +to his little ones no tyrannic power. They use no violence in dealing +with souls, but say with John, "Behold the _Lamb of God_, who taketh +away the sins of the world." Our Lord, "rejoiced in spirit," in an +unusual manner, such as we find nowhere else in Scripture, when he +said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou +hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto +_babes_." How happy are we in the presence of a little child; how much +at ease! It imposes on us no burden of restraint, of fear, of +management! It is in this childlike disposition of meekness, of +sweetness, of innocency, that we should seek to benefit others. + +In the love of Jesus, yours. + + + + +SILENT OPERATION OF GRACE. + +I perceive, by your letter, you are in doubt about the grace which +passes interiorly from heart to heart. We notice an illustration of +this in the woman who touched our Lord, when he said: "I perceive that +virtue is gone out of me." In a similar manner, without words, one +heart may communicate grace to another heart, as God imparts grace to +the soul. But if the soul is not in a state to receive it, the grace +of the interior is not communicated, as is expressed in another +passage; "If they are not children of peace, your peace will return to +you again." This illustrates, according to my view, pure interior +communications of the grace of God, from heart to heart, which the soul +relishes in silence, and which silence is often more efficacious than a +multitude of words. + +At our last interviews I had an inclination for silence, but finding in +you an aversion to silent communion, I entered into conversation, but +without any interior correspondence on my part, and, evidently, without +any benefit to you. God would teach you, my dear child, there is a +silence of the soul through which he operates, filling it with the +unction of grace, to be diffused on other hearts who are in a state of +receptivity, often more efficacious than words to replenish the soul. + +We find this still harmonious action in nature. The sun, the moon, and +stars, shine in silence. The voice of God is heard in the silence of +the soul. The operation of grace is in silence, as it comes from God, +and may it not reach and pass from soul to soul without the noise of +words? O, that all Christians knew what if means to _keep silence_ +before the Lord! + + + + +LIMIT NOT YOUR SPHERE. + +Let me urge you, my child, to enlarge your heart; or, rather, suffer it +to become enlarged by grace. This contraction shuts you up in +yourself, and hinders an agreeable openness which we should ever +maintain, even towards those who have no particular affinity with +ourselves. An open, frank exterior wins confidence. Let it not +appear, that you have so much relish for yourself, as not to think of +others. What seems to us a virtue is sometimes regarded by God as a +fault; and which we shall so perceive, when we have clearer light. + +You seem to mark out for yourself a certain sphere, and if you go +beyond it, you think you do yourself an injury. Thus, while you have +an apparent movement, you are only describing a circle, whose centre +and circumference is self. I entreat you, pass beyond the narrow +bounds of self;--suffer yourself to be led out of self into the will +and way of God. Thus you will be much more happy and useful. If I +loved you less, I should be less severe. + +Let God be the sovereign Master over our hearts, and instruct, and +reprove, and operate in us, by himself, or through others, as pleases +him. + +Adieu. God bless you, my child. + + + + +SECRET OF DIVINE OPERATIONS UPON THE SOUL. + +Do not suppose, Dear Sir, that you are to be purified by great trials +and extraordinary events. All is accomplished in you by the suppleness +of your will,--by the state of infancy. It must be so on account of +the pride of your natural reason. God conducts the soul in a way +opposed to human philosophy. Hence the necessity of being reduced to +the state of infancy, and to the subjection of the will. What we call +the _death_ of the _will_, is the passage of our will into the will of +God. This change implies not only a change in externals, but the +inward subjection of the desires and sentiments of the heart. Here +most persons, who commence the religious life, stop short. They cannot +submit to the interior crucifixion, which lays prostrate the whole of +the natural carnal life, and consequently there follows a mingling of +the spirit of the flesh with grace, and it is this which produces such +monsters in the religious world. Do we not read in Scripture, that in +consequence of the alliance of the sons of God with the daughters of +men, giants were born, who so filled the earth with wickedness, they +drew down a deluge of wrath upon the world? It is from this abominable +alliance of the flesh with the spirit, that all those who appear in the +world, as "mighty men, men of renown," are produced and sustained. One +may be full of the natural life, while apparently dead to the external +things of the world. Thus they are dead to inferior things, and alive +in the most essential points--dead in name, but not in reality. + +By an authority as gentle as efficacious, God accomplishes his will in +us, when we have surrendered our souls to him. The consent we give to +his operations, and our relish of them, is sweet and sustaining, in +proportion to the perfection of our abandonment. God does not arrest +the soul with violence. He adjusts all things in such a manner, that +we follow him happily, even across dangerous precipices. So good is +this Divine Master, so well does he understand the methods of +conducting the soul, that it runs after him, and makes haste to walk in +the path he orders. + +Suppleness of soul is, therefore, of vital consequence to its progress. +It is the work of God to effect this. Happy are the souls, who yield +to his discipline. God renders the soul, in the commencement, supple +to follow illuminated reason; afterwards to follow the way of faith. +He then conducts the soul by unknown steps, causing it to enter into +the wisdom of Jesus Christ which is so different from all its former +experience, that without the testimony of divine filiation, which +remains in the soul in a manner hidden, and the ease and liberty the +soul finds in this unknown way, it would consider itself as being +separated continually from God, being left, as it were, to act of +itself. Human wisdom being here lost, and the powers of the soul +controlled by the wisdom of Jesus Christ, born in the soul, it +increases in its proportions, even unto the stature of a perfect man in +Christ Jesus. + +The soul, having now passed into God, is in its proper place, and will +be happy, provided it remains fixed and separate from its former manner +of acting. + +Reason may at times oppose with all its strength, and cause some fears, +some hesitations; but, being fixed in God, it is impossible for the +soul to change its course; and, after the experience of many useless +sufferings, having their origin in self, it suffers itself to be drawn +in the current of love. There is now no more of violence to nature. +The soul is in its natural state. The ease and naturalness of this +state causes, at times, some fear, some anxiety. It is as much the +nature of man, originally, and in his new creation in the likeness of +Christ, to be in God, and to be there in perfect enlargement, +simplicity, and innocence, as it is the nature of water to flow in its +channel. When man is as he should be, his state is one of infinite +ease and without limitations, because he is created sovereign, or +master of himself, and cannot be subjected by anything created, +although he is subjected to God, if that may be called subjection, +which brings the soul into affinity with God, and makes it partaker of +his nature. + +Be therefore persuaded, that God uses no violence in dealing with the +soul. This commotion in the soul, arises from the resistance of man's +will to divine operations. When the soul is disenfranchised of all +that is opposed to the will of God; when it is not arrested either by +desires or repugnancies, it runs without stopping or weariness in the +way. This is what is called death,--death to self; but the soul was +never so much alive; it now lives the true life, the life of God. + +When the soul becomes one with God by the loss of its own will and +life, it has purposes, and it is important to follow them; but they are +purposes in God, and have in them nothing of self. All that has +rapport to self is no more, and God is all. Being passed into God, the +soul is changed and transformed in him. This is what the mystics call +_Resurrection_. But the word used in this way, does not bear its usual +signification. To resuscitate is to revive the former life. But in +this case, the will, or natural life is consumed, and gives place to +the will or life of God. Thus the Holy Spirit operates effectively in +the soul, transforming it into the likeness of the Son of God. + +Now the soul participates in the qualities of God, one of which +qualities, is that of communicating itself to other souls. Or rather, +it is as a stream, which, being lost in a large river, follows the +course of the river, communicating itself where the river communicates, +watering where it waters, drawing into itself all the smaller rivers, +which are destined alike to lose themselves in the great ocean of Love. +These streams have no independent life, but proceed from, and flow back +into their origin. Here is the consummation of souls in oneness, as +Jesus Christ has expressed it,--"_One in us_." + +There is divine reality in this truth. Blessed are those who +comprehend it! How many walk side by side along these rivers, and yet +never mingle their waters! And many there are, also, who haste with +eagerness, to precipitate themselves into this divine stream, and flow +together, as the souls of the celestial ones, in the fulness of divine +love. + +This is not a chimera of the fancy; it is the wonderful economy of +divinity. It is the end and object of the creation of the soul--the +end and compass of all the efforts of God, regarding his creatures. +Here is consummated all the glory, God derives from their existence. +All beside are only the means approaching this final end, this glorious +termination, and absorption of the soul in Deity. Here is the light +which ravishes the soul. A light which does not precede, but follows +the soul in its progress; unfolding more and more, as a man in a dark +cavern, discovers the concealed places, only when he has remained in it +for some time. + +This is the pure Theology in which God instructs the angels and the +saints. It is the Theology of Experience, that God teaches only to his +children, who having abandoned their own wisdom, he has himself become +their wisdom and their life. This is the law of wisdom, my friend, for +us,--the way of the Lord in us. In him we are one. + + + + +NO UNION WITH SELFISH SOULS. + +There are some souls which cause me great suffering. These are selfish +souls, full of compromises, speculations and human arrangements, and +desiring others to accommodate themselves to their humors and +inclinations. I find myself unable to administer in the least degree +to their self-love; and when I would be a little complaisant, a Master, +more powerful than myself, restrains me. I cannot give such persons +any other place in my heart, than God gives them. I cannot adapt +myself to their superficial state, neither respond to their professions +of friendship; these are very repulsive to my feelings. + +The love which dwells in my heart, is not a natural love, but arises +from a depth which rejects, what is not in correspondence with it, or +rather what is not in unison with the heart of God. I cannot be with a +child without caressing it, nor with a child-like soul without a tender +attachment. I do not regard the exterior, but the state of the soul; +its affinity and oneness with God. The only perfect union, is the +union of souls in God; such as exists in heaven, and on earth after the +resurrection, life takes effect in the soul. + + + + +NEVER YIELD TO DISCOURAGEMENT. + +Do not be disheartened, my friend, on account of your slow progress. A +long martyrdom is sometimes necessary, in order to purify our souls +from the concealed faults of self-love--faults interwoven in our +nature, and strengthened by long indulgence. As you cannot control at +once the agitations of nature, arm yourself with patience, to +accomplish the task little by little; not in the way of direct effort, +but rather by ceasing from effort, remaining quiet, permitting neither +gestures nor words to betray your feelings. + +Could we enter into the highest state of grace, as we enter into a +room, it might be easily accomplished. But alas! the door is straight, +and there are many deaths to pass; in a word, death to self. It is +this long martyrdom, or dying of the old man of sin, which causes all +the pains of the interior life. It is rare to find persons, who are +willing to die entirely to self, and therefore few reach the highest +state of grace. + +Have good courage. It is a great work to draw a large ship from her +moorings, but when she is in the waters, how easily she rolls! What +happiness, when by perseverance, you have triumphed over nature, to +find yourself in the abundant waters of grace! I pray God to put his +own hand to the work. He will. + +In Him, devotedly yours. + + + + +WEAKNESS AND IMPERFECTION. + +I reciprocate your friendship, madam, with all my heart. Our divine +Master knows how happy I am to serve you in any possible way. Oh! +madam, it is better to be feeble, when God leaves us in our weakness, +than to have a strength which is our own. I once thought, that the +pure soul was free from all faults, but I now see otherwise. God +clothes his children with frailties, that they may be humble in their +own eyes, and be concealed from the eyes of the world. The Tabernacle +was covered with the skins of the beasts, while the Temple of Herod was +ornamented with gold. Let us not afflict ourselves on account of our +littleness and infirmities, since God so orders it, but become as +little children. When a little child falls, it cannot raise itself, +but lets another do for it all that it needs. + +It does not depend on ourselves to make the presence of God more or +less sensible. Let the desire for a lively sense of this presence, be +crucified to the will of God. Take what is given you. Be as the +little child, who eats and sleeps and grows. God gives you the best +nourishment, although not always the sweetest to the taste. Adieu! my +heart sympathises with you. + + + + +ADVANCEMENT. + +During the process of the soul's purification and advancement, it loses +sight not only of itself, but of all things else; except God; and even +of the distinct apprehension of our Lord, in his humanity. That is, +there are no longer distinct, bounded views and perceptions of Christ, +the soul becoming identical with Christ. This is necessary in order to +draw the soul into oneness with God. Let all go in the divine order. +When the soul has returned to its end and origin, and is lost in God, +it finds all it lost, without going out from God. + +When the soul is yet in itself, it draws all things to itself, and sees +God and all creatures in itself. But when the soul is in oneness with +God, it carries all creatures with it in God, and sees nothing separate +from God. Seeing all in God, it sees all things in the true light, as +with the eye of God. This is what David calls, "Seeing light in thy +light." + +May God give you understanding of what I say, and docility and +acquiescence in the truths, which he causes to penetrate your soul. I +make no reserves, but express freely all my thoughts. The least +reserve for self, is as a strong breath against a mirror, it obstructs +the view of God. My soul, it seems to me, is clear and transparent, +reflecting only what the Master presents; and the execution of his will +renders the soul always increasingly pure and transparent. May God be +all in all to you. + + + + + +GREATNESS OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY. + +Do not measure yourself by others, who may not be led as you are. God +chooses to enrich some souls with brilliant gifts, but he has chosen +you, stripped of all, in the depths of spiritual poverty. This is the +perfect self-renouncement, without which, one cannot be the disciple of +the Lord Jesus. All other states, however elevated they may be, are +inferior to this pure, naked state of the soul. It is a state, which +despoils the lover of all he possesses in favor of his Beloved. It is +a state in which the soul is shielded from all inroads of the enemy; +who can reach only what remains of self in the creature, and not what +is enclosed in God. + +God has chosen you for himself alone. You are the sanctuary, which is +open only to the high priest, in which is contained the ark of the +covenant--the essential, will of God--the sacred place, encompassed by +the clouds, where the glory of God appears. Oh! blessed poverty of +spirit, in which state the soul is enriched with the best gifts a God +can bestow! + +Measure not your advancement by relation to the road passed over, but +by rapport to the end. There yet remains a great road to pass over, +since God himself is the way. + +The more fully you enter into his designs, the more I love you. + + + + +ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY ONE SOUL TO ANOTHER. + +The interest I feel in your spiritual welfare, my dear F., is very +great--so deeply absorbing, that I slept but little during the past +night, presenting you in prayer before our Lord. I have an inward +conviction, that God is enriching your heart by my humble +instrumentality; thus, while he elevates you on one side, he debases +you on the other, by communicating his grace through so unworthy a +channel as myself. The Spirit has revealed to me your state, when I +have received no intelligence from you. God has thus ordered it, for +his own glory; and when many years hence, this method of God's +operations will be better known--the assistance rendered by one soul to +another, without the mediation of the body--the use he has made of this +feeble instrument to communicate to you his grace, will serve to +substantiate this divine truth and heavenly mode of operation. + +There is therefore for you, a means of interior advancement, which no +distance of place can interrupt. It will be only from lack of +correspondence on your part, that it will be diverted. God desires it, +at least for a time, until your soul is entirely in union with himself. +This method of communication is only a superior fountain discharging +itself into another; or, as two rivers bearing each other to the same +sea. + +Receive then this poor heart in the fulness of Christ's love, and +believe me, no one can be more fully united to you than I am. + + + + +SIMPLICITY AND POWER OF THE WORD. + +You enquire, my friend, why I do not use obscure terms and +extraordinary expressions, in explaining the Scriptures. My Lord +teaches me, that while there are no writings so profound as the +Gospels, there are none so simple. And further, that simplicity of +soul gives simplicity of expression. When we speak of a state beyond +our experience, we do so with difficulty, and have recourse to learning +to aid us, and use forced expressions. + +In the natural, simple expressions of Scripture, there are deep +sentiments, adapted to the wants of each soul--to those less and more +advanced. + +The word of God enters the centre of the soul; it has a penetrating +quality; an operative efficiency. No words of man can produce the same +effect; at least, none but such as come from souls, who are pure +channels of the word of God. It is the good pleasure of our Lord, to +express and reproduce himself upon the self-abandoned soul. Who does +not admire the profound mystery of the creation of the world, where God +produced all things by his word? When God created man, he formed him +of the dust of the earth--the lowest form of matter--made of dust, that +he might not rob God of his glory! But man thus created, received _the +spirit_--the breath of the Word. This dust of the earth became the +living breath of God. When Jesus Christ is formed in the soul, he +imparts not only a clear understanding of the word, but is himself the +Word, reproduced in the soul. Those only in whom Christ dwells, +fulfill the word, or have the word accomplished in them. Such only are +able fully to interpret the word. It is not learning which best +explains the truths of God, but the reproduction of these truths in the +life---the experience of them. + + + + +FORGETFULNESS OF SELF. + +I cannot compliment you, dear sir, and I am persuaded, that you will +expect from me, only the simplicity of the Christian. This simplicity +leads me to say, only what our Lord gives me. You need more of this +simplicity. The frequent self-returns you make, dwelling so much on +your unworthiness, although it may have the appearance of humility, is +only a refined self-love. True simplicity regards God alone; it has +its eye fixed upon him, and is not drawn towards self; and it is as +pleased to say humble as great things. + +All our uneasy feelings and reflections, arise from self-love, whatever +appearance of piety they may assume. The lack of simplicity inflicts +many wounds. Go where we will, if we remain in ourselves, we shall +carry everywhere our sins and our distresses. If we would live in +peace, we must lose sight of self, and rest in the infinite and +unchangeable God. These self-returns have a tendency to establish the +soul more and more in itself, and hinder it from running into its great +original. But it is to this, God is calling you. You withhold from +God the only thing he desires--_the possession of your heart_. The +time is short; wherefore spend it in the compass and surroundings of +self? The single eye sees only God. You act as a person who being +called before a king, instead of regarding the king and his benefits, +is occupied only with his own dress and appearance. God wishes to +disarrange you--to destroy self; and you wish to preserve what he would +destroy. Be more afraid of self than of the evil one. It is the +spirit of Satan to exalt self above God, and this spirit is fostered by +these continual returns you make upon your own doings and misdoings, +which leaves no place in your mind for the occupation of God. + + + + +DIVERSITY OF MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION. + +Although there are impenetrable mysteries in God's dealings with souls, +in order to promote their sanctification, it is true that each soul, +aside from the ordinary means, common to all, has a specific training, +and this method of the divine order can alone accomplish the work. The +means that sanctifies another may not sanctify you. You, my friend, +will not be led by great crosses and severe sufferings, but in the way +of helpless infancy. The child-like, yielding soul is necessary for +you; therefore God has chosen a child, myself, to be your helper. +Forget yourself as the man to whom many eyes are turned, and become the +little, helpless one, who cannot take care of itself, but lets another +care for it. The pride, presumption and vanity, of the natural man, +must give place to the littleness and simplicity of the child. Says +our Saviour, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye +cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." O, when shall we learn that +it is littleness, and not greatness, that God requires of his child! + +God has given me a maternal yearning for your soul. I sympathize +deeply in your wants and burdens. Be assured, the eyes of the God of +Love are upon you. I entreat you, yield to the influences which are in +operation to restore your soul to God. I can offer no apology for my +letter; for in all things, I obey my Lord. + + + + +COMFORT IN AFFLICTION. + +I assure you, Dear Sir, I sympathize deeply in your afflictions. With +all my heart I present you before our Lord. I have prayed, and still +pray, that if you are called to participate in the sufferings of Jesus +Christ, you may partake also of his patience and submission. You will +find the Lord at all times near your heart, when you seek him by a +simple and sincere desire to do and suffer his will. He will be your +support and consolation in this time of trouble, if you go to him, not +with fear and agitation of spirit, but with calm, confiding love. + +Jesus said to the blind man, whose eyes he anointed with clay, "Go wash +in the waters of Siloam"--waters soft and tranquil. O, that you might +experience the abiding peace which Christ gives. O, that you might +become reduced to the simplicity of the little child! It is the child +who approaches the nearest to Jesus Christ. It is the child whom he +takes in his arms and carries in his bosom. O, how lovely, how +attractive, is child-like simplicity! May the sufferings you are now +experiencing, render you, child-like and submissive to all the will of +your Father. My ill health forbids my writing more fully. God loves +you, and you are very dear to me in him. Amen. Jesus, help. + + + + +BEARING FRUIT IN UNION WITH CHRIST. + +God has united my soul to yours in the oneness of his own nature, and +when all the obstructions on your part are removed, you will realize +this same divine union. "We have many masters, as said St. Paul, but +only _one Father in Christ_." This Father unites himself to us by the +impartation of his own nature, and from this communication, of himself +to the soul, proceeds our spiritual paternity; or the power by which we +communicate to others what we receive from him. We are not always +sensible how this power, or aid we render others, is imparted. In some +individuals it is more manifest than in others. It always adapts +itself to the subject who receives it. All the gifts and graces of the +spirit are either more sensible and apparent, or more spiritual and +inward, according to the power of receptivity in the individual. + +It seems to me that when I am with you, there is only a simple, +imperceptible transmission from my soul to yours. You do not perceive +any marked results, and they are not great, because you are not in a +state to receive much, and often interrupt me by speaking, which causes +in me a vacillation of grace. If we were together some considerable +time without distraction, you would perceive more marked results. It +is the desire of God that there should be, between us, perfect +interchange of thoughts, of hearts, of souls;--a flux and reflux, such +as there will be when souls are new-created in Christ Jesus. At +present, my soul in rotation to yours, is as a river which enters into +the sea, to draw and invite the smaller river to lose itself also in +the sea. + +This truth,--the fruitfulness of souls who are in God, whereby they +communicate grace,--however much it is rejected, is, nevertheless, a +truth. This flux and reflux of communication, like the ebbing and +flowing of the great ocean-current, is the secret of the heavenly +hierarchy, and makes a communication from superior orders to +inferior,--and of equality, between angels of the same order. + +During all eternity, the communication of God the Father, and the Son, +to angels and saints, and their reciprocal communication to each other, +will be a well-spring of blessedness. The design of God, in the +creation of men, has been to associate to himself living beings, to +whom he could communicate himself. He could create nothing greater +than likenesses of himself. All the splendor of angels and saints, is +but light reflected from God. + +God could not see himself reflected in saints, without their +participating of these two qualities, fruitfulness and reciprocal +communication. In this life all perfection consists, in that which +makes the consummation of this same perfection in heaven, No one can be +perfect, if he is not perfect _as_ the Father in heaven is perfect; +that is, partaking of his nature. + +Jesus Christ is the Father of souls; his generation, or the souls that +are begotten of him, are eternal in their nature as he is. The figure, +"giving us his flesh to eat," is the nourishment he gives the soul in +communication with himself; or himself reproduced, or begotten in us. +The eternal Word is the essential, undying life of the soul. + + + + +DESOLATE STATE. + +Believe me, dear madam, I take a deep interest in your spiritual +welfare, and I earnestly hope your confidence in God will not fail, on +account of your present desolate state. As the winter plunges still +deeper the roots of the trees in the earth, so the wintry state of the +soul plunges it deeper in humiliation. Remember the confidence of Job, +"Although he slay me, I will trust in him." Although stripped of all +consolation, and left in the desolation of nothingness, you may yet +rejoice in God--out of, and separate from, self. Let the earth be +stripped of her foliage; let neither flowers nor fruit appear; yet _God +is_, therefore you may be happy. The mother loves to sacrifice herself +for her child, and finds her life in what affords it happiness; thus +die to self, in relation to God. + +When your weaknesses rise up before you, when you would weep over some +error in judgment, or some unguarded expression, do as the little +child, who having fallen into the mud, carries its hands to its mother, +who cheerfully wipes them, and consoles him after the fall. Can you +not believe God loves you, as much as you love the little one enfolded +in your arms? Does he not say, "A mother may forget, yet I will never +forget thee!" + +The discovery of your weakness and emptiness, is an evidence of God's +love; and while it is ground for humiliation, it is also of +thanksgiving. When it pleases God to fill this void with his grace, it +is cause of thankfulness; but if we realized at all times this +fullness, we should be in danger of appropriating the grace of God to +ourselves. Thus, our times of desolation are necessary, and we should +accept them joyfully, as a portion of the bread our father gives us. + +Yours in tender sympathy. + + + + +SELF-ABANDONMENT. + +The death of self is not accomplished at once. It is for some time a +living death. Its opposite, spiritual life, is represented by +Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones. First, the bones were rejoined; +afterwards covered with sinews; then the flesh appeared; and finally, +the spirit of the Lord animated them. When the soul begins to incline +towards God, it finds many obstructions; but in proportion as we yield +to the will of God, these obstructions are removed. The following +simile will help to illustrate my idea. The rivers empty themselves +into the sea; before they lose themselves there. Wave by wave +following its course, seems to urge onward the river, to lose itself in +the sea. God imparts to the soul some waves of pure love, to urge on +the soul to himself; but as the river does not lose itself in the sea, +until its own waters are exhausted, so the soul reaches God, and loses +itself in God, only when the means of supply from self are at an end. +As the waves, which are precipitated into the sea, roll many times +before they are lost in the sea, so the soul undergoes many changes, +before it is received into God. + +The results of self-crucifixion are happy, because God then becomes all +to the soul. We lose self, and substitute God in its place. We take +away the finite, and receive the Infinite. This is blessed. + + + + +NO DEPENDENCE ON INSTRUMENTS. + +What shall I say regarding the state in which you find yourself, in +relation to me? I have no movement either to promote our re-union, or +hinder it. Let God direct. Are you leaning upon him, or upon the +creature? If on the creature, it is a bruised reed, which will fail +you. God sometimes makes use of instruments, whom he finds it +necessary afterwards to reject. If he designs to remove me from you, +can I have any wish to retain you? God forbid. He may design this +separation, to make you die to any confidence in the creature. He may +no longer design to use me for your benefit. I might have mingled my +own impurity, with his pure light flowing through me. If God permit me +to err, it is on account of my pride. I have never given you any +assurance of my infallibility. What am I but an erring creature? +Leave me, leave me, and unite yourself only to God, who will never +mislead you. Means are good, only in the order of God. They injure +us, if we rest in them. If God remove me from you, acquiesce in his +will, with a devotion worthy of a child of God. Be humble, and +courageous enough to own your fault, in leaning on an arm of flesh. +Men of the world may be obstinate, but the child of God should be +supple. Whatever separation there may be between us, believe me, you +will always be dear to me in our dear Lord. I hope, when you are lost +in him, you will find this little drop of water, (myself) in the same +great ocean of love. + + + + +CHILD OF GOD SOON TO DIE. + +I have had a presentiment that you would not survive this illness. I +lose in you the most faithful, and the only friend on whom I could +rely, in the persecutions which threaten me. I feel my loss, but +rejoice in your happiness, I could envy you. Death only lends a +helping hand to rend away the veil, which hides infinite beauties. Our +Lord has strongly cemented our souls. May the benediction of the +divine Master rest upon you. Go, blessed soul, and receive the +recompense prepared for all those, who are wholly the Lord's. Go, we +separate in the name of the Lord; I cannot say a last adieu, for we +shall be forever united in him. I hope, in the goodness of God, to be +present with you in heart and spirit, at the time of your departure, +and to receive with you, the divine Master who is waiting for you. Be +my ambassador in the courts above, and say to him I love him. + + + + +UNION OF SOULS IN GOD. + +The assurance you give me of the union of your soul with mine, is a +great consolation. It is a union to which my heart fully responds, not +in a way of emotional transport, but in the depths of peace; there is +nothing of nature in it. It is a union in Jesus Christ. We are one in +a sense of our lost condition, and one in self-abandonment. Oh! +blessed oneness with Christ, where all evils perish; and there remains +only the casualties inseparable from the state of humanity. How +wonderful is this operation--the sacred mingling of a poor creature +with its God, where all the evils of our fallen nature, are removed +from the depths of the soul, and the soul, in its elemental being is +lost in its original! There all the little ones are united in +Him,--these little drops of water reassembled in the divine ocean! How +swiftly do the streams embrace each other, and flow into one channel, +when the obstructions are removed! When souls become pure in Jesus +Christ, they flow into one another with the same rapidity. Purity of +soul consists in an entire separation from self, and re-union with God. +The soul _can_ return to self; it has the power, and therefore is not +infallible. + +Our union, my dear friend, is independent of the relish or disrelish of +all created things and events. You could not be separated from me +without being separated from God; for it seems to me, that I am one +with him, and inseparable, and you are the same; and thus, we are one +in Him, and one with each other. + +Ever yours, in the heart of Jesus. + + + + +SECRET OPERATIONS OF GRACE. + +My heart has been tenderly united to you, during all my bodily +sufferings. In proportion as the outward man has been reduced, God +seems to be more the life of my soul. Although the operations of God +upon your soul may be less marked than formerly, they are no less real. +There is a secret fire in your heart, which burns continually, although +imperceptibly. This keen and continual operation enfeebles you, +because it consumes so rapidly the more sensible and marked operations +of the soul. This is, I apprehend, your ordinary state; with +occasionally the unction of the oil of grace poured upon the concealed +fire, to give you a sweet and clear manifestation of the loving +presence of God. + +You bear two marked results of the divine presence--interior +recollection, and a continual _amen_ in your heart; a true and just +response to all God's dealings with your soul. + +I realise a very close union with you. This union is not in the +emotions, and not in the will of man, but in the will of God. It is a +union, from which I could no more separate myself, than from God; it is +a fulfillment of the prayer of our Lord, "that they may be one, as we +are one." It is a union which death cannot interrupt, but will +substantiate more and more fully in God. + +Ever yours, in our Lord. + + + + +TO A YOUNG FRIEND. + +You are very dear to me, my child. Do not think I have forgotten you. +God alone can render you happy. Give yourself wholly to him, never +more to take yourself back. Love him with all your heart. Retire +often within the closet of your heart to commune with God. Do not pray +to him in a constrained and formal manner, but all simple and natural. +God loves better the affectionate language of the heart, than, the cold +and discursive thoughts of the intellect. The prayer of love softens +the heart. + +Do not shrink from your ordinary duties. We are often more united to +God, in our daily avocations, than in retirement. The reason is, our +good Father holds us more closely, when we are most exposed to +temptations. Endeavor to maintain, at all times, harmony and oneness +with God. You have only to abandon yourself wholly to divine love, and +perform all the duties that devolve upon you. Do not be restive, and +thus mar God's beautiful design and operation upon your soul. Place in +his bosom of rest, all your inquietudes, and allow him to carry you, as +a little child is borne by its mother. This little one has only to +regard, lovingly, the smiles of its tender mother. + +God will give you a wise discernment as to food and drink, and all the +pleasures of life. He calls us to a temperate life, but not to a life +too austere. We should avoid the _too much_ and the _too little_ in +eating and drinking. + +I pray our divine Lord, to enlighten, strengthen and comfort your heart. + + + + +LETTER TO HER SPIRITUAL GUIDE. + +The state in which I find myself, my Father, takes away from me +entirely, the liberty to address you any longer as my Spiritual Guide. +I realize so great a detachment from all things, that there remains in +me only a triumphant, dominant love, which acknowledges no master but +Love. It is my experience, that the closer the union of the soul with +God, the more it is separated from all dependence on the creature. I +find also, that the secret operations of divine love upon the soul, +cannot be expressed. These operations do not consist in sweet and +flattering expressions, neither in consolations, in the ordinary way, +but in the discovery of mysterious truths; truths, which give so +profound a knowledge of God, that the soul can find no language to give +expression to these views. + +To speak, and to act, is the same thing with God. "He spake, and it +was done." When the divine Word operates in the soul, without any +obstruction, the soul becomes what this Word wills it should become. +When Mary Magdalene was made whole, it was no more Mary Magdalene, but +Jesus Christ, who lived in her. St. Paul says, "I live, yet not I, +Christ liveth in me." In the same manner, the Word is incorporated +into my soul. + +Some time since, there was given me a view of the States of Mary, the +mother of our Lord. I was alone in my chamber, and my soul was +completely filled with divine love. The divine Word seemed to say +within me, "I will show thee the chief work of my hands,--a perfect +nothing in itself,--the heart of Mary." In this manner was conveyed to +me, the inexpressible love of God for men--his operation in pure souls. +It was shown me, that her silence and acquiescence in the will of God; +her entire self-crucifixion and hidden life were worthy of imitation; +and that this same love which had operated so powerfully upon this +soul, emptied of self, desired to draw other souls also to her states, +and to make an effusion of the same grace and love in them, as in her. +O divine love! how great are thy wonders, how marvellous thy operations +on human hearts! My soul is lost in the depths of thy secret wonders! +Silence, silence--only silence! + +I write to you, my Father, for the last time, to bid you a final adieu. +I can no longer listen to any other teachings, than this divine Word of +eternal Truth, which is spoken in the depths of my heart. But however +far separated from you, in the relation of Director, you are very near +and dear in the affections of my heart; in that pure love, which is +alone the operation of our Lord Jesus Christ. + + + + +GLORY OF GOD THE ONE DESIRE. + +What have we to desire in heaven and on earth, only the glory of God? +But it is necessary to desire the glory of God as he desires it. He +who has absolute power over the heart of man, has a plan of operations; +he does all things in their time; he waits until the hour is come. In +coming into the world, our Lord could have converted the world at once, +and destroyed all its vices; but the economy of his wisdom did not so +direct. When I hear our Lord say, "_Mine hour is not yet come_," and +wishing neither to advance nor retard, for a moment, the hour that his +Father had appointed, I am plunged into my nothingness. We are only +instruments in his hands, which he may lay aside, or use according to +his good pleasure. We should be so dead to self, as to be indifferent, +whether he makes use of us or not. + +Remain, therefore, my dear friend, in the hand of God. Let him +accomplish in you, and by you, all his good pleasure, whether to cast +down, or build up. God knows how much I love you. + + + + +SPIRITUAL UNION AND AID. + +Spiritual union, is a state of the soul very clear in my perception, +although I may not be able to give you a definite impression of this +state. In order to benefit you, it became necessary for me to enter +into your state, to have an experimental knowledge, an endurance and +suffering of the same state. By this experience I have been brought +into closer relation to God, partaking more fully of the Christ-like +nature by being rendered capable of bearing the infirmities of others. +And I have had, also, a clearer idea of that quality of God, whereby he +multiplies holy souls, by the communication of himself. In this +experience, the soul appears to be in God, and God in her, as first +cause, drawing and penetrating the soul nearest to himself, and by +penetration, in this soul, drawing, through her instrumentality, many +other Souls. + +Although, by these powerful rays the soul itself may seem to penetrate +and draw other souls, yet it is God who draws them by his efficiency; +and he communicates this efficiency, most powerfully, to those in +closest contact with himself. So pure and transparent is this soul, +that there seems to be no space between the first Mover and the souls +moved by the agent or instrumentality. There is a difference between +the ray and the body of the sun, although it is difficult to separate +the ray from the sun. It is the divine ray, which is transmitted +through this soul, as the natural ray through the medium of the +atmosphere. These same rays, transmitted through many souls, and from +soul to soul, unite them in one common centre, and thus the bond of +filiation is complete in God. I may not express myself so as to be +understood. May your light supply, what is wanting in clearness of +expression. + + + + +LIVE IN THE PRESENT. + +Do not expect, my dear E., that the will of God will be made apparent +to you in any extraordinary way. The most remarkable events occur +naturally. It was by an order of the Emperor, that Joseph, being of +the house and lineage of David, went to be taxed at Bethlehem, where +the holy child Jesus was born. The fountain of water was near to +Hagar, when she laid down the child to die with thirst. Behold God, my +friend, in the present arrangement of his providence for you, and +submit wisely to passing events. He sees the end from the beginning, +and plans wisely for his children. O, how good to submit our limited +view to his far sight, reaching through time and eternity! + +Remember, the present moment comes to you, as the moment of God. Use +it for his glory, and every succeeding moment. Thus the present +becomes the eternal moment, for which we must render account to God. +May God be All in All to us in every passing moment, now and forever. + + + + +HOW TO ADMINISTER REPROOF. + +A single word, spoken in the spirit of Christ, with humility and +sweetness, will have more weight, in correcting others, than many words +uttered in our own spirit. The reason is this: when passion mingles +with correction, although the truth may be spoken, Jesus Christ does +not cooperate with us. Therefore, the person is not corrected by what +we say, but, being opposed to the manner of correction, is more +confirmed in the evil. In proportion as Jesus Christ speaks by us, +without us, or without the minglings of self, his word is efficacious, +and turns the heart of the person to whom we speak, to receive what we +say. I know there are some who resist, knowingly, _his_ word, but our +passionate zeal does not correct them. + +It is important to wait the moment of God to collect others. We may +see real faults, but the person may not be in a state to profit by +being told their faults. It is not wise to give more than one can +receive. This is what I call _preceding_ the _light_,--the light +shines so far in advance of the person, that it does not benefit him. +Our Lord said to his apostles, "I have many things to say to you, but +you cannot bear them now." + +The prophet says, the Lord carries his children in his arms, as a +nurse. A nurse could wish that the child could walk alone, but she +waits in patience the time. Let us do the same, and never discourage +the weak. Let us not destroy the good grain with the tares. Who does +not admire "the long suffering patience of God?" And I may add to St. +Paul's words, all unworthy as I am, and of those who admire it, how few +imitate it! If those to whom God has given so much grace, have so many +faults themselves, with how much patience should they bear with those +who are less favored. + + + + +BEARING THE STATES OF CHRIST. + +During my late severe illness, a strong impression rested on my mind, +that I was called to participate in the last sufferings of Jesus +Christ. The language of my heart was, I am ready, O, Father, to suffer +all thy will! In thus yielding my heart, as Abraham when called to +sacrifice his beloved Isaac, I realized a new bond of alliance with +Christ, and these words, "I will betroth thee unto me forever," was the +voice of the Bridegroom to my soul. + +When Paul said, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus," he did +not refer to any external marks in the flesh, but to bearing the states +of Jesus Christ. In David are expressed all the states of Christ, with +the difference only there is between the type and the original. Job +was an eminent instance of being reduced to nothingness, and also of +exaltation by the favor of God. Those who pass through the furnace, +and suffer with Christ, are prepared to wear the white robe, which +adorns the bride, the Lamb's wife. Their souls become the +dwelling-place of the Most High. + +Are not those beautiful subterranean palaces, which we read of in +fable, and which are reached after crossing deep caverns, and so hidden +that none can find them, only those to whom the secret is revealed, +representative of the interior palace of the soul, where the Lord +inhabits. "The king's daughter is all glorious within." + + + + +OUR IMPERFECTIONS SHOULD NOT HINDER OUR LABORS FOR OTHERS. + +Although I am so weak and unworthy in myself, God uses me for the good +of others. The many defects of our temperament, should not hinder our +labors in behalf of others. These faults have nothing to do with the +grace, which operates effectively on the souls for whom we labor. God +reveals himself, through the fathers and mothers in Israel, and thus +increases confidence in them; while, at the same time, their weaknesses +forbid placing too much dependence on them. + +Although our Lord acquaints us with his designs regarding others, and +the aid we may render them, yet this should not give us the least +desire to aid them, only in the order of his providence. Neither +should we be arrested in his work, although the souls we aid repulse +the effort. God will make good the results in due time. It implies +great death to self, never to put our hand selfishly to the work of the +Lord, as it does, also, never to go a step out of the path in which he +leads us. When we mingle self, we retard, rather than advance, his +work. Nature is so corrupt that it deeply infests spiritual things, +and so subtle as to conceal itself under all artifices. + +I do not know why I have written you thus. God knows, and that is +sufficient. + + + + +DEATH, RESURRECTION. + +This is no time to be disheartened. When the sinful lusts rebel, leave +them to their disorderly cravings. Let them cry, as a child from whom +we take away a dangerous yet pleasing toy. Strengthen yourself for +crosses and humiliations. You will soon be made alive in Jesus Christ. + +The extraordinary peace you have tasted, is the commencement of the +resurrection-life. This peace is not invariable, because the new life +is given little by little, yet, I assure you, it will soon fill your +whole soul. As God has rapidly advanced inward death, and caused you +to run, with a giant step, in the way of self-crucifixion, and this, +notwithstanding all the oppositions of the carnal man, he will also +thus rapidly advance the resurrection. + +The loss, of all things of the earthly life, which follows the +resuscitated life, will be deep and extended. The death and burial +which precede the resurrection, cannot compare with that total loss, +which follows the resuscitated life. This is something different, and +in a new state. You will arise from the sepulchre, as the Spouse of +the Beloved. + +All is consumed in myself, not in the ordinary way, but in a total +loss; so that there remains nothing which can be named or known. It +seems to me, the death of self is carried almost to infinity, it makes +so many unknown steps. Since this morning, this unworthy creature +experiences a still greater reduction of self than ever before. Die, +live; lose yourself, and find yourself again; then you will have +experience of this state. + + + + +GRACE DEEPLY INTERIOR. + +While you perceive nothing sensible, or apparent, in your religious +state, there is, at the same time, evidence to others of a hidden +spring of life within your soul. God does not give you the sweet rain +which, falling, clothes all the surface of the soul with verdure, but +he gives you the deep well-spring, by which means you live and +flourish, and produce, not herbs and flowers, which are born and die in +the same day, but substantial fruits, ripening for eternity. David +said, the life of man upon the earth is as grass, which groweth up in +the morning, and withers in the evening. This refers to the natural +life, but it is also true of the selfish life of man. It flourishes in +the morning of the spiritual life, but no sooner does the sun of +righteousness arise in his warmth, than this life withers and is cut +down. The righteous are as a tree planted by the rivers of water, +whose leaf is always green. This is because the roots are well watered +by the deep-flowing current. + +God never ceases to operate in your heart. The calm, resigned state of +your soul is proof of this. + +Take good care of your health. Do not labor beyond your strength. God +will abundantly reward you for your labors of love in behalf of others. +These are labors he never fails to recompense. I pray God, my dear F., +to preserve you for his work. I have many things to say, but I +forbear. Your time is precious. + + + + +SELF-RENUNCIATION. + +God designs you, my friend, for himself, but he will lead you by a way, +entirely opposed to what you have marked out. He does this in order to +destroy your self-love. This is accomplished only by the overthrow of +all your purposes, preconceived views, natural reason and sagacity. +Self-love has many hiding-places. God alone can search them out. You +seek the honor that cometh from man, and love to occupy a high +position. God wishes to reduce you to littleness, and poverty of +spirit. Believe me, dear sir, you will grow in grace, not by knowledge +acquired from books; not from reasonings upon divine truths, but by an +efflux from God. This efflux will reach and fill your soul, in +proportion as you are emptied of self. You are so much occupied of +yourself in speaking, reading and writing, that you give no place to +God. Make room, and God will come in. + +You speak of your many cares. If you will give yourself wholly to God, +these cares will be greatly diminished. God will think for you, and +arrange by his Providence, what you cannot effect by long years of +planning. In the name of God, I entreat you to renounce your own +wisdom, your self-leadings, and yield up yourself to God. Let Him +become your wisdom. You Will then find the place of rest, you so much +need. + +May you read this letter, with dependence on the Spirit, which has +dictated it, and without regard to the instrument, and your heart will +testify to the truth of what I have written. Take courage, and be +persuaded that if God destroys the natural life, it is only to give you +himself. Endeavor to be nothing, that God may be all. When void, God +himself fills the space. + + + + +UNEXPECTED FAULTS. + +Yesterday, after I left the parlor, I uttered some words hastily, and +suffered very much in consequence; a suffering not like the pangs of +penitence I formerly experienced, but more subtle and interior; and the +soul was more acquiescent. Whether it was the words I uttered too +precipitately, or the reflections that followed, which caused this +suffering, I could not determine. A part of myself seemed to be thrown +out of God, as we see the ocean reject certain things, which it +receives again more deeply into its bosom. Thus I seemed to myself to +be rejected, and without any power to make the least movement to +return, and without even a regret that I was rejected. I was willing +to remain where God placed me, until the moment he received me again to +himself. If I should afflict myself on account of this experience, +which was new and unexpected, I believe it would be wrong, and sully +still more the soul. The depths of my soul remain unchanged--fixed in +God. He removes the impurity, that has exteriorly sullied it, and +holds the soul still his own. + + + + +APOSTOLIC STATE. + +I have read your letter, my dear F., with great pleasure. The true +Apostolic state is to become all things to all men; that is, to impart +to each one spiritually, according to his necessities. Only those who +are reduced to littleness and simplicity, have this power of +communicating grace. They have also the ability to sympathise deeply +in the states of others; of bearing in some measure their burdens, and +are sometimes in great heaviness on their account. This communication +of grace and aid, is not necessarily restricted to the personal +presence of the individual. We may be "absent in body, yet present in +spirit," after the manner of God's operations; and as the angelic +powers communicate to us. It is only by the enlightening of God's +Spirit, that we realise the state of those to whom we are spiritually +united. + +Unity of souls is experienced, not only with those in the body, who +have affinity with ourselves, but also with those out of the body. I +realise with the holy prophet David, a correspondence and unity, which +renders our souls one in God. You will experience this unity with the +saints more fully, when all perception of self is taken away. St. Paul +says, "_Ye are come_ to an innumerable company of _angels_--to the +_spirits of just men made perfect_." David was in the Old Testament, +what Paul was in the New. They were both deeply interior Christians. +The Apostles, after having received the Holy Ghost, spake all +languages. This has also a spiritual meaning. They communicated +grace, according to the necessities of each one. This is speaking the +word--the efficacious word, which replenishes the soul. This +nourishing, life-giving word is represented by the manna, and the +reality is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is himself the bread of +life in the soul. Amen, Jesus! + + + + +PAINFUL EXPERIENCE. + +To-day my health is better, and I find myself able to reply to your +letter. Let the view of yourself that God gives you, be accepted, +whether it relates to your fallen condition in general, or to +particular faults; but add nothing to this view by your own +reflections. These continual reflex acts of the mind, do not help you; +they do not remove the faults. I am not surprised, that you find in +yourself so many evils; evils which render you almost insupportable to +yourself. When God accomplishes the work of purification, he removes +all that is opposed to the divine inflowing life. + +These evils of your nature, which are now apparent, and which were +deeply concealed, are perceived by you, only because they are passing +out from their hiding-places. All persons do not have so deep a +knowledge of themselves; therefore do not suffer so much, because all +are not destined to so profound a death and burial while in the body. +Be silent, and drink the bitter cup. These humiliations will endure +until your state is in some degree perfected; after which they will +become more and more slight, and only at intervals, until the death and +burial is consummated. + + + + +ECSTACY OF THE MIND, AND THE WILL OR HEART.--THE DIFFERENCE. + +The intellectual part of man can be in some degree united to God; but +the soul loses itself in God, only by the loss of the will and by love. +This loss of the will is the true ecstasy, which is a permanent state, +and is effected without any violence to nature. When love is the +controlling exercise, the will follows, and the soul is reduced to +unity; as in the natural exercise of love, the stronger the love, the +greater the submission of the soul to the object beloved. Sacred love +does not bind parts, but draws it fully, until it is absorbed wholly in +this divine oneness. + +The mind may tend towards its divine object, with ardor, but the will +not concurring, causes dissonance and swooning, or impetuous +transports. I call this momentary ecstasy; it cannot long endure +without separating the soul from the body. + +The difference between these two states is, as that of water, retained +in the air by a machine, and of a river, running naturally into the +sea, as ordered by the grand Architect of the universe. Love, which +carries the will in its train, changes the whole man; this is the +divine, the true ecstasy. This is what is called transformation, and +loss of the soul in God. It is certain, however, that the creature +always remains a being distinct from God. + + + + +A VIEW OF SELF. + +The activity of the natural selfish life, is the greatest obstacle to +your progress. Allow of nothing which gives sustenance to this life. +Be on your guard against applause. Applaud not yourself when you have +done well. Admit no reflections in regard to the good you have +accomplished, so that all that nourishes self-complacency may die. + +Possess your soul in peace as much as possible; not by effort, but by +ceasing from effort; by letting go everything that troubles you. Be +quiet, that you may settle, as we leave water to settle when agitated. +When you discover your errors and sins, do not stop, under whatever +good pretext, to remedy them. Rather abandon yourself at once to God, +that he may destroy, in you, all that its displeasing to him. I assure +you, you are not capable of yourself, to correct the least fault. Your +only remedy is abandonment to God, and remaining quiet in his hands. +If you discovered the depth of inward corruption in your heart, your +courage would fail! On this account, God conceals from us, in part, +the view of our sins, and discovers them to us, only as he destroys +them. + +Rest assured, God loves you. He will take care of you. Have faith in +his love and mercy. You will see farther by and by. When you are in +trouble, do not fail to write me. Have good courage, and all will be +well. You are very dear to me in our Lord. + + + + +STATE OF A SOUL IN UNION WITH GOD. + +Although, in the latter part of my life, I do not perceive those marked +states of abandonment and submission, neither of interior sorrows, such +as I formerly experienced, this does not prove that these distinct +states no longer exist; but the soul having become more fully +established in God, it makes less account of them, or is less affected +by external impressions. As pure flowing water leaves no trace where +it passes, so these _distinct_ states leave no durable impression. The +soul seems to have lost its own qualities of resistance and aversion, +and runs, without ceasing into its Original. It is on this account I +cannot write so fully of my states of mind as formerly. My soul, in +its depths, rests in God. "My peace, says Christ, _I give unto you_." + +I pray for the church; I mourn at times that God is so little known and +loved; but these feelings are transient, and the soul is ready to take +any impression that God gives it. While it seems to have no consistency +of its own, so to speak, it adapts itself to the state of others with +wonderful facility. Sometimes even relating amusing stories, to +children, and to those who cannot be entertained in any other way. + +The soul, in this state of union with God, is sometimes permitted to +foretell things to come, which appear very obscure to man, but which +are, nevertheless, infallibly true, because proceeding from God. The +knowledge of the event, and its full explanation, will come in the +fulness of time. The soul is ready for anything; ready for nothing. All +that is true comes from God; what is not true, from the creature. The +soul does not seek to justify itself, nor produce humiliation, but +passes on, disregarding self, and absorbed in God. + + + + +STATE OF REST IN GOD. + +If I do not reply to you, Dear Sir, as soon as you might expect, it is +because I hold myself in reserve, until I have a movement to write, and +not from any want of regard to you. Relative to the distinct, +voluntary acts of resignation, renouncement, it would be difficult, in +my present state, to make such acts, because such acts would seem to +imply something of self-appropriation still remaining; whereas, I have +given to my Sovereign, all that I am; and as far as I know, I have +nothing more to give him. My soul is at rest in his will. + +It is the same in regard to prayer, or petitions. The soul having a +very simple method of prayer, all other prayer seems foreign to it. +When it would make a request, and as soon as the soul knows distinctly +what it demands, there is something which goes before to accomplish it, +without the utterance of words. When the soul utters words, or makes +petitions, if the spirit accompanying approves, the prayer is made with +ease. If the spirit do not cooperate, the words are uttered with +difficulty, or not at all. God takes the place of self in the soul, +and there prays for things agreeable to his will. This is a state of +the soul, in which it has no desire to originate prayer, but loves to +be silent in the presence of God. This is an experience more +satisfactory than I am able to express. O, that all the earth knew +what it means to keep silence before the Lord! + + + + +GREAT HUMILIATIONS. + +I have a clear discernment of your state. It seems to me, I see it in +some measure as God sees it; that is, in the pure light of truth,--the +reasons why you suffer, and the blessed results of these sufferings. I +have known that the period of discipline would be long, and very long, +because you suffer not only on your own account, but also for the +benefit of others. God destines you to accomplish great things for his +glory, and exterior humiliations in your case not being suited to his +designs, he makes use of concealed humiliations, known only to yourself +and God. I will repeat to you the words addressed by our Lord to St. +Paul. "My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in +weakness." + +It will be in companionship with humiliations, that you will be saved +from falling into sin and error, and be prepared to be come a vessel +fit for the Master's use. You will experience from time to time, a +return of these humiliating states, and when you may think they have +entirely passed away, they will suddenly revive. But the greater your +humiliation, the more God will use you to perform his most excellent +works. In this state of entire self-reduction and humiliation, your +words will be clothed with power. + +"I am come," says our Lord, "to bring fire on the earth." O martyr of +Pure Love,--_a sacrifice_ for the good of others, what if the fires be +already kindled in your bosom, shrink not! If you were less to God, he +might spare you. + +Do not hesitate to speak to me of your sufferings, because it appears +to you useless. It is not so. If you speak of them in simplicity, +your heart will be relieved, and strengthened. I know how to +sympathise with you. God bless you. + + + + +REPOSE OF THE SOUL IS GOD. + +Having given up myself wholly to God, and loving Him far better than +myself, how can I find any opposition to his good pleasure? How can I +do otherwise than yield to one I love better than myself? How can a +soul withdraw from the dominion of a Sovereign, that it loves with the +whole heart? "What can separate us from the love of God, in Christ +Jesus?" Although, while we remain in this life, there is a possibility +of sinning, and of separation from God, and it is true, that the soul +remains in oneness with Him, only by the continuance of his mercy, and +that if he should leave it, it would immediately fall into sin, yet I +cannot have the least fear, that my God will leave me, or that I shall +ever separate myself in any degree from his love. + +The creature can take no glory to itself, to whatever state it may +arrive. O that you might comprehend what I cannot express--the sense I +have of the goodness of God, to keep what is his own! How jealous, how +watchful he is over the soul! God seems so truly all things to me, +that I seem to see nothing, to love nothing, relish nothing, only what +he causes me to see, love and relish in himself. I am only capable of +loving and submitting to him, so much is he my life. I believe God +blindfold, without questioning or reasoning. _God is_; this is +sufficient. How immense is the freedom of the soul in him! O may you +not doubt, that when all of self is taken away from the creature, there +remains only God. O God, can I have any self-interest, or appropriate +aught as mine? In what can I take it? How strange the thought! how far +removed from the possession of God! I am lost. God is. + + + + +POWER OF CASTING OUT EVIL SPIRITS. + +Although for many years, profound truths have been revealed to me, and +God has manifested his power through me, in an extraordinary manner, my +state has invariably been one of infancy, simplicity and candor. God's +grace has rendered me equally willing to lie concealed, or to execute +his will more publicly. During seven years, without my knowing how it +was accomplished, as soon as I have approached some persons, possessed +by demons, the evil spirits have departed. I have realised simply a +desire to relieve them, and this desire, or prayer, has been answered +in a way unknown to myself. Of myself, I have no goodness nor power at +all. I have only the capacity of a child--of letting myself be used by +God, as pleases Him. My life appears natural. I am encompassed with +infirmities. My health is greatly impaired. My infirmities are a +balance-wheel, a counterpoise to exaltation. Yet life is ever flowing, +without any thought of the means of sustaining it, as we live in the +air, without thinking of the air we breathe. + + + + +STATE OF A SOUL RE-UNITED TO GOD. + +In reply to your enquiry, my dear children, concerning my state, I +would say, that exteriorly, I am open, simple, childlike. My interior +resembles a drop of water, mingling and lost in the ocean, and no more +discerning itself,--the sea not only surrounding, but absorbing it. In +this divine immensity, the soul discerns and enjoys all objects in God. +All is darkness and obscurity in respect to itself; all is light on the +part of God. Thus, _God is all_ to me. This has been my state more +than thirty years, although in latter years I have realized greater +depths in these experiences. Think of the bottomless sea; what is +thrown therein, continues sinking, without ever reaching the end. Thus +divine love is the weight of the soul, that sinks it deeper and deeper +in God. "God is Love, and he who dwells in love, dwells in God, and +God in him." O immensity! + +Jesus Christ, the embodiment of truth and love, has explained the +Scriptures by fulfilling them. So when the soul has passed into God, +the Word is fulfilled in the soul, as it was in Christ. O Love! thou +art thyself the pure, naked, simple truth, which is expressed, not by +me, but by thyself, through me. Amen. + + + + +CONCISE VIEW OF THE INTERIOR WAY. + +_The soul seeks God in faith not by the reasonings of the mind and +labored efforts, but by the drawings of love; to which inclinations God +responds, and instructs the soul, which co-operates actively. God then +puts the soul in a passive state, where he accomplishes all, causing +great progress, first by way of enjoyment, then by privation, and +finally by pure Love._ + +What do we understand by the Interior way? It is to seek the kingdom +of God within us. Luke 17, 21. We find this kingdom only where God +has placed it, _within the soul_. It becomes necessary, then, to +withdraw the eyes of the soul from external landmarks and observations, +which man, in the pride of reason, has located around it, and rest the +eye in faith, on the Word of the Lord,--"_Seek and ye shall find_." +This seeking, involves an interior activity of the soul; a desire, a +determination, and searching after what is hidden. + +When the soul has thus earnestly sought the kingdom of God within, this +kingdom is developed little by little. Interior recollection becomes +less difficult, and the presence of God more perceptible and agreeable. +Formerly it was supposed, that the presence of God was only the thought +of God, and that it was necessary to force the mind--to concentrate the +thoughts with violence to find God. This is true in some sense, but, +as the soul cannot long endure this tension, and as the kingdom of God +is not found in the external vestments of the soul, but in its depths, +this labor is of little avail. So little progress is made, the soul +becomes discouraged, and the evil one, who fears nothing so much as the +reign of God in the soul, makes an effort to draw the soul to +externalities. + +In order to accomplish this object, he takes two methods, either by +excessive labors, persuading the soul that this is the way to find God, +and thus choking the internal process of the interior life, or, by this +tension of the mind, of which I have spoken. Neither of these methods +open in the soul, the interior way. + +You reply, how, then, is this life accomplished? I answer, God, seeing +the heart of him who seeks him within, draws near to him, and teaches +him a just moderation in all things; and, by this retrenchment of all +excess in externals, the soul begins to perceive the peaceful kingdom. +It realizes within itself a guide, who provides for its necessities, +according to divine laws, who takes away the burdens that sin imposes; +a guide who does not foster corrupt nature, nor forbid innocent +pleasures. + +When the soul begins to perceive this kingdom, and that the King +himself is manifested in some degree, it thus communes, (and we may +call this the second step), O, my Beloved, I have sought thee with all +the strength of my heart, in the place where thou hast taught me to +seek thee, and I have there found thee! Days and nights have I passed +in seeking thee. All the desires of my heart go after thee. But now I +have found thee. I pray thee to reign as Sovereign, to establish thine +empire in my soul. I will do thy will alone. I will resign to thee +all the right I have to myself; all that thou, by thy goodness, hast +given to me. + +At this stage of progress, the soul ceases from self. Its work is to +regard, lovingly, the operation of God, without a desire either to +advance it, or place any obstacle in the way of its progress. The soul +has been active, in the first stage, to destroy, with all its power, +that which might hinder the kingdom of God within; and this was a great +effort; for habit had rendered interior recollection very difficult, +and the powers of the soul did not easily reunite themselves in one +centre. + +Now the soul seeks no longer to combat the obstacles, which hindered +its return within, but lets God combat and act in the soul. Saying, it +is time O, Lord, that thou shouldst take possession of thy kingdom! Do +so, I pray thee, exclusively. I desire, on my part, only to observe +thine operation. + +This commencement of the reign of God, and of the passive way, is very +highly relished by the soul. The soul passes days, and even years, +separated from creature enjoyments without weariness. It advances very +much more by this way, in little time, than by all the efforts of many +years. It is not without faults and imperfections, but divine love +diminishes them little by little, or does not permit the soul to become +disturbed by them, lest it become discouraged and its love hindered. +This state is called passive love. The soul sees no cause to fear; it +supposes that all the work is done, and that it has only to pass into +eternity, and to enjoy this good Sovereign, who already gives himself +to the soul in so much fulness. + +But in the onward progress of the soul, it becomes no longer doubtful, +whether the soul is to remain in the passive enjoyment of God and his +communications. The soul begins to feel a drawing, to let God not only +be all things in the soul, but there to reign separate from the soul's +enjoyment of his gifts. The soul now experiences what is called, by +the author of the Imitation of Christ, _the exile of the heart_. It +hears a voice in the depth of the soul, or, rather, has an impression, +that God reigns there alone. This exile is at first very painful, for +it is important to notice, that, from the commencement of seeking God +in the depth of the soul to the possession of him, there are many +trials, temptations, sorrows. _Every successive state is marked by a +purifying process_. Persons often mistake, and take the first +purification for the last. When God reigns alone in the soul, separate +from the action of self, and self is destroyed, it is beyond any +previous state. + +When the soul has ceased from its own selfish operations, and the man +of sin is exterminated, its defects become more apparent, because God +wishes it to comprehend what it is by itself, and what it would be +without him. The soul is thus afflicted, believing it has lost the +virtues, acquired with so much care, and seems to have faults that it +had not before perceived. It says, with the spouse in the Canticles, +"I have washed my feet, how shall I sully them?" You do not perceive, +O, soul beloved, that you do not sully them in going to "open to the +spouse," and that if you contract some slight impurity, he will remove +it so perfectly, that you will become more beautiful. In the mean +time, it is not the desire of the spouse to become beautiful in her own +eyes, but to see only the beauty of her Lover. When the soul is +faithful in this state, and really desires to die to itself, she is +pleased only with the beauty of her Beloved, and says his beauty shall +be my beauty. But it is necessary to advance beyond this, for, after +being despoiled of her beauty, it would be a selfishness much greater +to appropriate to herself, the beauty of her Beloved. His beauty must +remain untarnished, unappropriated by her; she must leave him all, and +remain in her nothing, for the nothing is her proper place. This is +Perfect Love, which regards God alone. + + + + +SELECTIONS FROM HER POETRY. + + +A LITTLE BIRD I AM. + + "A little bird I am, + Shut from the fields of air; + And in my cage I sit and sing + To Him who placed me there; + Well pleased a prisoner to be, + _Because, my God, it pleases thee_. + + "Nought have I else to do; + I sing the whole day long; + And He, whom most I love to please, + Doth listen to my song; + He caught and bound my wandering wing, + But still he bends to hear me sing. + + "Thou hast an ear to hear; + A heart to love and bless; + And, though my notes were e'er so rude, + Thou wouldst not hear the less; + Because though knowest as they fall, + That Love, sweet Love, inspires them all. + + "My cage confines me round, + Abroad I cannot fly; + But, though my wing is closely bound, + My heart's at liberty. + My prison walls cannot control + The flight, the freedom of the soul. + + "Oh! it is good to soar, + These bolts and bars above, + To Him whose purpose I adore, + Whose Providence I love; + And in thy mighty will to find + The joy, the freedom of the mind." + + + + +GOD EVERYWHERE, TO THE SOUL THAT LOVES HIM. + + "Oh! Thou by long experience tried, + Near whom no grief can long abide; + My Lord! how full of sweet content, + _I pass my years of banishment_. + + "All scenes alike engaging prove, + To souls impressed with sacred love; + Where'er they dwell, they dwell in Thee, + In Heaven, in earth, or on the sea. + + "To me remains nor place nor time, + My country is in every clime, + I can be calm and free from care + On any shore, since God is there. + + "While place we seek, or place we shun, + The soul finds happiness in none; + But with a God to guide our way, + 'Tis equal joy to go or stay. + + "Could I be cast where Thou art not, + That were indeed a dreadful lot; + But regions none remote I call, + Secure of finding God in all. + + "My country, Lord, art Thou alone; + No other can I claim or own; + The point where all my wishes meet, + My law, my love; life's only sweet. + + "I love my God, but with no love of mine, + For I have none to give; + I love thee, Lord; but all the love is thine, + _For by thy life I live_. + I am as nothing, and rejoice to be + Emptied, and lost, and swallowed up in thee. + + "Thou, Lord, alone, art all thy children need, + And there is none beside; + From thee the streams of blessedness proceed; + In thee the bless'd abide. + Fountain of life, and all-abounding grace, + Our source, our centre, and our dwelling-place." + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of Madam Guyon, by P. 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