Heffer ERRAT A. G-23-52Page xiii. Line 8. For fecond read third. 79500 xviii. 27. For Almighry read Almighty. av. XX. 25. For churches read church. If any other inaccuracies pafs through the prefs, which may fometimes poffibly happen after care has been employed to prevent it, the reader may expect to fee them duely noted, for amendment, at the end of the volume. N. B. Since the following work began to be printed, I have met with feveral objectors to the very front of it, declaring, M. GUION was no Lady, * Now for the better information of all fuch, as well as in vindication of the deceased Author of an account of her life and writings (published by him in English, with fome valuable extracts from them, above thirty years ago) who has all along given her the fame title, I think it neceffary here to obferve, that tho' fhe herfelf, through the whole hiftory of her life, has past it over in filence, as being entirely divested of all regard to worldly titles; yet the French editor of her fpiritual works, in a note at the beginning of his preface, has acquainted the public, that the gained this title from her marriage, her husband being one of the Lords of the canal of Briare, which fupplies a communication between two of the finest rivers in France, viz. the Seyne which runs by Paris, Rouen, &c. into the English channel; and the Loire which runs by the cities of Nivers, Orleans, Blois, Tours, Angers and Nantz into the bay of Biscay. The title thus obtained fhe continued to bear to the end of her days. In regard to her father, fhe does not tell us his name, nor give any other account of him than that of his piety and virtues. Viz, JOSIAH MARTIN of London, whofe memory I efteem, as I believe generally do fuch as were acquainted with him, being a man of learning, humility and fervent piety. THE Tranflator's PREFACE. T HE reader will view, in the courfe of this translation, the progress of a holy pilgrim, not fictitious but real; a life of no common fort; from its birth upward attended with remarkable events, affaulted with troubles and inured to oppofitions; a foul filled with the love of God; from him deriving, and inftrumentally diffufing, a happiness undefiled, incorruptible, unhurt by storms, and growing firmer in perfecutions; ensuring on high its everlasting duration, in a state of boundless perfection and purity. Or the fundry other fpecies of biography, is there any worthy to be put in the ballance against this? What are all the adventures of the curious, or acquifitions of the covetous, but the trivial blaze of a moment, when compared with eternity? What the fplendor of military atchievements, but the deteftable havock of the destroyers of mankind? What the dark intrigues of rivals, or profound politicks of statesmen, however fuccessful? Are they not generally incompatible with our Lord's golden rule, of doing unto all men as we would defire them to do unto us? What the inventions of art, effufions of wit, or elaborate productions of human industry? They have their reward : But in a narrow limit. Their encomiums may A 2 spread fpread around this globe, and that is their wideft circle. What the highest elevations on earth, but tottering, or flippery, pinnacles? SUCH are the fubjects, and the lives, which engrofs the greedy attention of a great part of mankind. Paffing by the principal point unregarded, as it prefents no pleafing entertainment to a viciated tafte, they therefore prefer lying vanities, tho' at the conftant hazard of being fatally deluded, and drawn down by them to the habitations of their miferable victims. No attainment is fafe and happy, but that of the foul which, thro' every obstacle, arises to the obedience of the laws and dictates of its Creator, to be fitted thereby for endless communion with him, and with all that are his, in his blissful and glorious kingdom. THE following narrative affords a fhining instance of one who attained it. Tho' her lot, in a dark and arbitrary country, fubjected her to many great disadvantages; Yet, thro' faithfulnefs to what it pleafed God to difcover to her, The appears at length, in purity of heart, to have furmounted them. This gives room to hope that her memoirs may prove of valuable service to many, an inftructor to the ignorant, a monitor to the negligent, a confirmation to the pious, and a confolation to the afflicted. ESPECIALLY fuch as, either in a fingle or a married ftate, meet with heavy croffes and difappointments, may be likely to relieve their dejection, and receive fresh encouragement, of the best kind, by tracing her steps in life; wherein |