entirely false, neither knowing me, nor why they so hated me. To swell the stream of affliction yet more, my daughter fell sick and was likely to die: There were but little hopes of her when her mistress also fell ill. My soul, leaving all to GOD, continued to rest in a quiet and peaceable habitation. O principal and sole Object of my love! Were there never any other reward of what little services we do, or of the marks of homage we render thee, than this fixed state above the vicis situdes in the world, is it not enough? The sen ses indeed are sometimes ready to start aside, and to run off like truants; but every trouble flies before the soul which is entirely subjected to GOD, By speaking of a fixed state, I don't mean one which can never decline or fall, that being only in Heaven. I call it fixed and permanent, compared with the states which have preceded it, which were full of vicissitudes and variations. I do not exclude a state of suffering in the senses, or arising from superficial impurity, which remains to be done away, and which one may compare to gold refined in its substance, which yet may contract spots on the outside. That gold has no more need to be purified in the fire, having undergone that operation; but needs only be cleansed without. So it seemed to be with me at that time.

THERE is also a pain in this state, which is inflicted of GOD. All the crosses and troubles from without do no more to it than only graze the skin, when compared to this. The soul which is re deemed both from every resistance of the divine, Will, and from every selfish practice even of good, has nothing more to fear, or to suffer, from men or devils, though they discharge all their fury on

it. Against such a soul indeed all hell is stirred up, and yet all that is little of a suffering to it. Nor could these have any power, were it not given them from above. JESUS CHRIST bore all the avenging justice of GoD: And it needed God to bear that weight. So it needs a soul transformed and passed into GOD, to bear the weight of the Father's justice. Such are the souls destined to be victims hereof, and to fill up what is behind of the

the Church CHRIST, for his Body's sake which is

(Col. 1. 24.) But what is there behind

of his sufferings, since he himself said, “It is finished," (John, xviii. 19.) except the extension thereof in his members? JESUS CHRIST, in the garden, suffered exceedingly, both from the withdrawing of GOD his Father, and from the weight of the sins of all mankind: So, in his members, their unity with the will of God is so much the greater, as it is less perceived through the weight and force of their sufferings.

My da

CHAP. X.

Y daughter had the small-pox and the purples. They sent for a physician from Geneva, who gave her over. Father La Combe then came in to visit and pray by her. He gave her his blessing; and soon after she wonderfully recovered. The persecutions of the new catholicks against me continued and increased: Yet, for all that, I did not fail to do them all the good in my power. My daughter's mistress came often to converse with me, but much imperfection appeared in her discourses, though they were on religious subjects. Father La Combe regulated many things in regard to my daughter,

which vexed her mistress so much, that her former friendship was turned into coldness. She had grace, but suffered nature too frequently to prevail. I told her my thought on her faults, as I was inwardly directed to do: But though, at that time, GOD enlightened her to see the truth of what I said, and she has been more enlightened since; yet the return of her coldness towards me ensued upon it. The debates between her and my sister grew more tart and violent. My daughter, who was only six years and a half old, by her little dexterities, found a way to please them both, chusing to do her exercises twice over, first with the one, then with the other, which continued not long; for as her mistress generally neglected her, doing things at one time, and leav ing them at another, she was reduced to learn only what my sister and I taught her. Indeed the vivacity of my sister was so excessive, that, without a particular grace, it was hard to suit one's self to it: And yet she appeared to me to surmount herself in many things. Formerly I could scarce bear her manners; but I have since loved every thing in GoD, who has given me a very great facility to bear the faults of my neighbour, with a readiness to please and oblige every one, and such a compassion for their calamities or distresses as I never had before.

MORE easily did I bear the great faults of imperfect souls, than very little ones in such as GOD had begun to draw toward perfection. I feel my heart enlarged with tenderness towards the first, and a certain firmness in regard to the others, not to tolerate in them faults which are so much the more dangerous, as they less distrust them on account of their subtilty. Though it seems that

my

I

my miseries ought to impose silence on me, cannot forbear, without suffering much, to reprove those souls for their defects. The more any soul is favoured with eminent grace, the more nearly is it united to me; the more violent also is the weight and suffering I feel for it, if it slip or turn aside ever so little. I discern its foundation and its failings, as if they were outwardly. shewn or set before me. I mean the inward failings of the mind, for others surprize me not. This view diminishes not the esteem I have for the persons; but it makes me know what they want, and obliges me often to tell it to them.

I HAVE no difficulty to use condescension with imperfect persons; I should be secretly smitten if I failed therein: But with souls of grace I cannot bear this human manner of acting, nor suffer long and frequent conversations. It is a case which few persons are capable of, and which is scarce known. Some religious persons say that these conversations are of great service. I believe it may be true for some times, but not for all; for there is a period wherein it hurts, especially when it is of our own choice; the human inclination corrupting every thing. The same things which would be profitable, when GOD, by his Spirit, draws to them, become quite otherwise, when we of ourselves enter into them. This appears to me so clear, that I prefer being a whole day with the worst of persons, in obedience to GOD, before being one hour with the best, only from choice and a human inclination.

THE order of divine providence makes the whole rule and conduct of a soul entirely devoted M m

to

to GOD. While it faithfully gives itself up there to, it will do all things right and well, and will have every thing it wants, without its own care; because GOD in whom it confides, makes it every moment do what he requires, and furnishes the occasions proper for it. God loves what is of his own order, and of his own will, not according to the idea of the merely rational or even enlightened man; for he hides these persons from the eyes of others, in order to preserve them in that hidden purity for himself.

no.

BUT how comes it that such souls commit any faults; because they are not faithful, in giving themselves up to the present moment. Often too eagerly bent on something, or wanting to be over faithful, they slide into many faults, which they can neither foresee nor avoid.-Does Gon then leave souls which confide in him? Surely Sooner would he work a miracle to hinder them from falling, if they were resigned enough to him. They may be resigned as to the general will, and yet fail as to the present moment. Being out of the order of GOD, they fall. They renew such falls as long as they continue out of that divine order. When they return into it, all goes right and well.

MOST assuredly if such souls were faithful enough, not to let any of the moments of the orden of GOD slip over, they would not thus fall. This appears to me as clear as the day. As a dislocated bone out of the place in which the economy of divine wisdom had fixed it, gives continual pain till restored to its proper order, so the many troubles in life, come from the soul not

abiding