entire dependence on himself which he gave me, which was such that I was like a new born infant.

She

My sister had brought me a maid*, whom GOD was willing to give me, to fashion her according to his will, not without some crucifixion to myself, (for I believe it never is to fall out, that our LORD will give me any persons without giving them wherewith to make me suffer for them) whether it be for the purpose of drawing them into a spiritual life, or never to leave me. without the cross. She was one on whom the LORD had conferred very singular graces. was in high reputation in the country, where she passed for a saint. Our LORD brought her to me, to let her see the difference between the sanctity conceived and comprized in those gifts, with which she was endowed, and that which is obtained by our entire destruction, even by the loss of those very gifts, and of all that raised us in the esteem of men. Our LORD had given her the same dependence on me, as I had in regard to Father La Combe, nevertheless with some difference.

THIS girl fell grievously sick. I was willing to give her all the assistance in my power, but I found I had nothing to do but to command her bodily sickness, or the disposition of her mind ; and all that I said was done. It was then that I learned what it was to command by the WORD, and to obey by the Word. It was JESUS CHRIST in me equally commanding and obeying.

SHE,

* One of those young women who was a prisoner in the Bastile at Paris, twelve years, when Lady GUION was there, Editor's Note.

SHE, however, continued sick for some time, One day, after dinner, I was moved to say to her, "Rise and be no longer sick." She rose and was cured. The Nuns were very much astonished; and as they knew nothing of what had passed, but saw her walking, who in the morning had appeared to be in the last extremity, they attri buted her disorder to vapours.

[Here she relates some other extraordinary matters, for which we refer the reader to the original French.]

66

THUS are miracles operated by the annihilated soul, in such sort that as this soul is now become nothing, from hence nothing ought to be attributed to it. It does not say, when it feels an impulse to heal, "be thou healed in the name of JESUS CHRIST :" For that is a power of doing miracles in the Name of CHRIST: But here it is CHRIST himself who does the miracle, and who says by that person "Be healed," and it is done: Or "Let the devils be gone," and they are gone. When the person says that, it is the divine Word which speaks, and effects what it speaks; the Word which spoke in the beginning, and all things were made. These don't make use of any form of prayers before it. before it. They say what is given them to say. JESUS prayed publickly at the resurrection of Lazarus: "But "this," he said, "I do because of the people "who stand by, that they may believe that thou "hast sent me.' "" Other servants of GOD, favoured with the gift of miracles, pray, and obtain thereby what they desire: But here it is the WORD who uses his own authority, and who acts by the person in whom he lives and reigns.

Two

Two things hereupon are to be observed. One is, that the souls of which I speak don't generally do their miracles by giving any thing, or by simply touching; but it is by the Word, although they sometimes accompany it with a touch. It is the All-powerful Word. The other is, that these miracles require the consent, or at least that there be no opposition, of the party on whom they are to be wrought. Our blessed LORD asked those good people whom he healed, "Are ye willing to be healed?" Could there be

..

any

doubt of it when the men came to him for that very purpose? Such is the great secret of ° the operation of the Word, and of the liberty of man. 'Tis not thus on the dead, or on inanimate creatures. He then speaks, and it is done: But in the other case it requires the consent of the soul.

I HAVE at sundry times experienced, and felt in myself, how much God respects the freedom of man, and even demands his free concurrence; for when I said, "Be healed," or, "Be free "from your troubles;" if such persons acquiesced therein, the Word was efficacious, and they were healed. If they doubted, or resisted, though under fair pretexts, as saying, “I shall "be healed when it pleases GOD, I will not be "healed till he wills it;" or, in the way of despair, "I cannot be healed; I will not quit "my condition," then the word had no effect. I felt in myself, that the divine Virtue retired in me. I experienced what our LORD said, when the woman afflicted with the issue of blood touched him, and he instantly asked, "Who touched 66 me ?" The apostles said, "Master, the multitude throng thee, and press thee; and sayest

"thou,

་

"thou, Who touched me?" But he replied, "It "is because virtue hath gone out of me." (Luke viii. 45, 46.) JESUS CHRIST had caused that healing virtue to flow, through me, by means of his Word: But when that virtue met not with a correspondence in the subject, I felt it suspended in its source, which gave me some pain. I should be, as it were, displeased with those persons: But when there was no resistance, but a full acquiescence, this divine virtue had its full effect. One cannot conceive the delicacy of this healing virtue. Although it has so much power over things inanimate, yet the least thing in man either restrains it, or stops it entirely *.

THERE

*The language of infidelity boldly pronounces, miracles are ceased; as if either the omnipotence of GOD, or his benevolence to mankind were ceased. So formerly, when iniquity bore sway, the people said, "The "Lord hath forsaken the earth; the Lord seeth not." Ezek. ix. 9.

Among the first Christians, we find, there were diversities of gifts from the same spirit, viz. gifts of heal‐ ing, working miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, &c. 1 Cor. xii. 4, 9, 10. I have no doubt at all but if men at this day were sufficiently purified, they would in like manner be eminently dignified. This I must ever believe on behalf of that infinite wisdom and goodness, which would have all men to be saved from evil, and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth. 1 Tim. ii. 4. The things which this divine Truth unfolds are such as the natural man receiveth not; for they are foolishness unto him: Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. ii. 4.

M. GUION had been brought through the Deeps, and had passed through the Furnace of Purification. Who then can be competent Judges of her Words and

Works,

THERE was a good nun much afflicted, and under a violent temptation. She went to declare her case to a sister whom she thought very spiritual, and in a condition capable of assisting her. But far from finding succour here, she was very much discouraged and cast down. The other despised and repulsed her, treating her with contempt and rigour, said, "Don't come near me *, "since you are that way.' This poor girl in a frightful distress came to me, thinking herself undone, on account of what the sister had said to her. I consoled her and our LORD relieved her immediately; but I could not then forbear telling her, "that assuredly the other would be

punished, and would fall into a state worse "than hers." The Sister who had used her in such a manner came also to me, highly pleased with herself in what she had done, saying, "she abhorred such tempted creatures; that as "for herself, she was proof against such sorts "of temptations, and that she never had a bad thought." I said to her, " My Sister, from "the friendship I have for you I wish you the

pain of her who spoke to you, and even one "still more violent." She answered me haughtily, "If you were to ask it from GOD for me, "and I ask of him the contrary, I believe I shall "be heard at least as soon as you." I answered her with great firmness, "If it be only my own "interests which I ask, I shall not be heard ;

" but

Works, but such as have followed CHRIST to the same Length and Depth? We have no other rule to judge of Pretenders and their Pretensions by, but that which CHRIST has given, viz. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Mat. viii. 16.

* How rash and unchristian is it to deride temptations.

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