I knew that none but GoD could deliver me out of prison, and I was satisfied that he would do it one day by his own right hand, though ignorant of the manner, and leaving it wholly to himself.

ONE day thinking why I could not invoke any of the saints, though united to them in GOD, it was put into my mind, that domesticks had need of credit and intercessors, while the spouse readily obtains every thing without asking any thing. He of his infinite goodness prevents her. Oh how little known is the holy author of all good! They examine my actions. They cry out that I do not say over my chaplet or beads, that I have no devotion for the holy Virgin. Oh divine MARY, though knowest how my heart is singly devoted to GOD, and the union which he has formed betwixt us in himself. I can do nothing but what he directs, depending wholly on his will.

[SHE here describes the manner in which Providence conducted matters, so as that she was vindicated to Madam Maintenon, and at length obtained her release.]

CHAP. IX.

[IN this Chapter she relates how they wanted to exact captious concessions, and false retractions from her; but that at length she was honourably set at liberty, and a few days afterwards had her first interview with the Abbe Fenelon, to whom she is united, as Jonathan to David, and stiles him her spiritual child.]

СНАР.

С НА Р. Х.

HAVE thought of writing no more of what regards my interior state, not having words to express it, being so perfectly separated from all that can fall under sentiment, expression, or human conception.

I SHALL only say that, after being raised up again I found in myself, some years before my being put into what is called the apostolic state, or mission for the help of others, all selfishness consumed in the purgatory I had passed through. I found myself in a felicity like that of the blessed. Nothing here below touched me. At present I see not any thing on earth which can give me pain in regard to myself.

THE happiness of such a soul can never be comprehended without experience! Those who die in being employed in thus helping their neighbour, die in the supreme felicity, though loaden with exterior crosses.

WHEN it pleased GOD to honour me with his mission, he shewed me that the true father in JESUS CHRIST, the Apostolic Pastor, ought like him to suffer for men, to bear their infirmities, and to be cloathed with their very weaknesses. He inclines the heart to what he demands, im, printing on it words like these, "I was happy, "I possessed glory, I was GOD: But I quitted it “all, and subjected myself to pain, contempt, "ignominy and punishment. I became a man

to save men. If thou art willing to finish what "is behind of my suffering, and that I form in "thee an extension of my quality of Redeemer,

thou

"thou must consent to lose the happiness thou

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enjoyest, to be subject to weaknesses and mi"series, to bear the infirmities of those with “whom I shall entrust thee, to pay their debts, “and in short to be exposed not only to their in"terior pangs, from which (as to thyself) thou “hast been delivered, but to all the most violent "persecutions. If I had continued in my pri"vate life, I had never suffered any persecution. "None are persecuted but such as are employed "in the help of souls."

He shewed me that he called me not, as some had thought, to gain exterior proselytes to the church, but singly to the propagation of his own good spirit. He does not so much design me for the first conversion of sinners, as to make those who are touched with a right desire to enter into perfect conversion. Since GOD has been pleased to bestow on me part of the Apostolic state, what have I not suffered? And yet my love for those souls, instead of desiring to be freed from it, has increased in proportion to my increase of suffering for them, even till their entire purification. Then the union, which has often been covered with clouds, becomes like a clear air, every where penetrated with the light of the sun. As to the souls which are the most consummate in the love of GOD, living among men, their exterior is covered with apparent weaknesses, which (like a poor skin) hide infinite treasures from the view of others, and tend to save them from being lost.

UPON first entering into the new life men find themselves so different from the rest of mankind, and think so differently from what they have been used to do, that the faults and errors of their neighbours become insupportable to them. The

soul

soul is ready to cry out, Now LORD lettest thou thý servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Luke ii. 29. But in regard to such as have the painful task of conducting others, if the souls conducted could penetrate, across their feeble outside appearance, the depth of their grace, they would look on them with too high a respect, and would not die to the support which such a conduct would give them. If the Jews could have penetrated through the exterior of JESUS CHRIST, Cominon with other men, they never had persecuted him, but would have been in a continual admiration. These persons then are a paradox both in their own eyes and in the eyes of those who behold them: For they see no more than a plain and homely appearance in them. Celestial wisdom flows from their heart and mouth, like a spring of divine sap, from trees pregnant therewith, which communicates life to an infinite number of branches, though one sees on them only a coarse and mossy rind. Hence men who presume to judge of these souls are very liable to err in judgment, and, as says the Apostle Jude, like filthy dreamers, to despise dominion and speak evil of dignities, of things which they know not, (Jude, v. 3. 10. ) the holy mysteries of GOD, revealed by him only to the souls which he has prepared to receive them.

SUCH Souls can only speak and write through the actual light of the present moment, which lasts no longer than it is necessary to speak, or write; without being able to see or think afterward on what they saw before, unless the actual light be restored to them. It is like a person to whom one opens a cabinet full of treasures, who sees them sơ long as it is open, but sees nothing of them when it is shut up again. Only the spouse opens and none

can

can shut; and when he shuts none can open. Such a soul cares neither for honour nor wealth nor life. If it were not so, it could not serve other souls in the whole extent of the designs of GOD.

IF GOD retained these hidden souls in the secret of his presence, they would be screened from the persecutions of men: But how willingly would they suffer fire and rack for a single soul! No wonder if the Devil stir up all quarters of his dominion against Apostolic souls; he knows that such a soul, were it hearkened to, would destroy his empire. All exterior devotions hurt but little; for he makes reprisals on the self-love of such devotions, for what they make him lose by the regularity of their observances: But there is no gain for him to make on a soul devoted to the truth of GOD, and to his pure love; who lets self be destroyed by the sovereign power of GOD. The devil cannot approach these souls but at a distance. The rage with which he is fired against them has no bounds. To be devoted to GOD, onemust have no choice or preference of esteem for one action above another. People form to themselves ideas, and imagine that a soul is given to GOD in some particular manner: And when they see any thing contrary to those ideas, they conclude God is not there, and yet it is often where he is most. He sets no value on any virtue of our✶ forming. A state which depends on any good, which is capable of being conceived or distinguished, is a virtuous state, but not a divine state.

THE saints of the LORD are sanctified, not like other saints, by the practice of some virtues; but by the LORD himself, and by an infinite suppleness to every intimation of his will, even in the smallest things, which is the real possession of Fff

every