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tained against both Father La Combe and me. Father La Mothe who conducted the whole tragedy, artfully dissembled, according to his custom; flattering me to the face, while he was aiming the keenest wounds behind the back. He and his confederates wanted, for their own interest, to persuade me to go to Montargis (my native place) hoping thereby to get the guardianship of my children, and to dispose of both my person and effects. All the persecutions from Father La Mothe and my family have been attended on their part with the views of interest; and those against Father La Combe have sprung from rage and revenge, because he, as my director, did not oblige me to do what they wanted; as well as out of jealousy. I might enter into a long detail on this head, sufficient to convince all the world hereof: But I suppress, to avoid prolixity. I shall only say that they threatened to deprive me of what little I had reserved to myself. To this I only replied "That I would not go to law, that if they were "resolved to take from me the little I had left

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(little indeed in comparison of what I had given "up) I would surrender it entirely to them;' being quite free and willing not only to be poor, but even in the very extremity of want in imitation of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

I ARRIVED at Paris on Magdalene's eve, 1686, exactly five years after my departure from that city. After Father La Combe arrived there, he was soon followed and much applauded. I perceived some jealousy in Father La Mothe hereupon, but did not think that matters would be carried so far as they have been. The greatest part of the Bernabites of Paris, and its neighbourhood, joining against Father La Combe, induced

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thereto from several causes that particularly related to their order. But all their calumnies and evil attempts were overthrown by the unaffected piety of Father La Combe, and the good which multitudes reaped from his labours.

I HAD deposited a little sum of money in the hands of F. La Combe (with the consent of his Superior) to serve for the entrance of a Nun. I thought myself obliged in conscience to do it; for she had, through my means, quitted the new catholicks. It was that young woman whom I mentioned before, (See Part II. chap. v.) whom the Priest of Gex wanted to win over. As she is beautiful, though very prudent, there always continues a cause for fear, when such an one is exposed without any establishment. La Mothe wanted to have that money, and signified to La Combe "that, if he did not make me give him it

for a wall, which he had to rebuild in his con. "vent, he would make him suffer for it." But the latter, who is always upright, answered, “ that "he could not in conscience advise me to do any

thing else but what I had already resolved, in "favour of that young woman." So now he and the provincial ardently longed to satisfy their desire of revenge. They employed all their thoughts on the means of effecting it.

For this purpose they sent to Father La Combe, to confess a man and a woman, who were united to commit every sort of crime with impunity, and to persecute the servants of GOD. I think there never was such another artifice. The man counterfeits all sorts of hands, and is fit for executing any vile design. They pretended to be very devout; and among so great a number of

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souls, as came from all parts to Father La Compe to confess, he never discerned these diabolical spirits: GoD so permitting it, who had given power to the devil to treat him like JOB.

ONE evening before this, being alone in my chamber, retired in prayer, all on a sudden my state of childhood seemed to be taken from me, to make way for that of my being joined to JESUS CHRIST crucified. What passed in this new union of love to that divine object, himself alone knows. My state still became deeper, as I had borne JESUS CHRIST in his denudation and crosses, so now I seemed to bear him in crucifixion, which was the finishing of all his states. Nothing but experience can make any comprehend what I mean. These words at this time I felt imprest. And he was numbered with the transgressors. MARK XV. 28. And it was put in my mind that I must bear JESUS CHRIST in this state in its whole extent. Oh my LORD if there has not yet been poured upon me enough of reproaches and ignominies, finish and consummate that state to me by the last punishment. Every thing will be well received as coming from thee. For me to suffer for thy name's sake was the contract of our sacred marriage: And thy hand, maid acknowledges thy goodness to her, con, tinued to this day, in sanctifying her sufferings to the honour of thy worthy name.

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I RECEIVED a letter from Father La Combe, who wrote to me in these terms, "The time looks gloomy," (speaking of Father La Mothe's humour in regard to him) " I know not when the "thunder will fall: But every thing shall be wel "come from the hand of Gop." In the mean time

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the husband of that wicked creature, who counterfeited the saint, in order to play his game the better, left off going to confess to Father La Combe, but sent his wife, who said she was very sorry that her husband had quitted that Father; she told him, that GOD had revealed to her things to come, and that he was going to meet with great persecutions. It was easy for her to know it, since she was planning them with Father La Mothe, the Provincial and her husband.

DURING this time I went into the country to the house of the Duchess of C.* There I found several persons, whose interior progress the LORD made me instrumental to assist, and who were of the number of my spiritual children. I felt a strong impulse to communicate to them in silence: But as it was strange to some of them, admitting natural timidity, I failed in fidelity to what GOD required of me. They read a passage of scripture, which they interpreted in a manner quite contrary to the sense given me of it, which oppressed my spirit exceedingly; and the more so because I durst not speak, on account of certain persons present, who held me in a kind of bond

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* It is observable that through this part, after her return to Paris, she is very tender of setting down the names or sirnames and titles of any of her friends. The writer of the Archbishop of Cambray's life acquaints us, that that Prelate first met with this Lady at the Duchess of Bethune's house. But she does not once make mention of that Duchess, nor of the house of Charoste. And though in the IIId Chapter of this part, she informs us that the more persecution raged against her the more children were given her of the LORD, yet she mentions the names of none of them, being unwilling thereby to occasion their being exposed to, and involved in, her sufferings.

age: But after dinner I had an opportunity to speak to some of them, which gave relief to my troubled mind. Often from the plenitude which filled my soul, I was favoured with a freedom to impart or communicate to my best disposed children to our mutual joy and comfort, not only when present, but often when absent. I even felt it to flow from me into their souls. When they wrote to me they informed me that at such times they had received abundant infusions of divine grace. Our LORD had given me that spirit of truth, which knows how to refuse the evil, and chuse the good. Even when any preached, or talked of pious subjects, I felt in myself that which rejected every thing of human conception or opinion, and accepted only that which was the pure truth.

FATHER La Combe wrote to me while I was in the country, that he had found an admirable woman (meaning the counterfeit saint I have mentioned above) and gave me some circumstances respecting her, which put me in fear for him. Nevertheless as the LORD gave me nothing particular thereupon, I writ to him that I resigned him to God for that, as for the rest.

THE husband of that woman, induced by the enemies of Father La Combe, wrote defamatory libels, to which they attached the propositions of Molinos, which had been current for two years past in France, declaring that they were the sentiments of Father La Combe. These libels were spread about in the communities in all parts. Father La Mothe and the Provincial, acting as persons well affected to the church, carried them to the Official, or judge of the Ecclesiastic court,

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