Letters of Madam GuyonGuyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte
Religion
Letters of Madam Guyon
Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte
Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte, 1648-1717
Some time since, there was given me a view of the States of Mary, the
mother of our Lord. I was alone in my chamber, and my soul was
completely filled with divine love. The divine Word seemed to say
within me, "I will show thee the chief work of my hands,--a perfect
nothing in itself,--the heart of Mary." In this manner was conveyed to
me, the inexpressible love of God for men--his operation in pure souls.
It was shown me, that her silence and acquiescence in the will of God;
her entire self-crucifixion and hidden life were worthy of imitation;
and that this same love which had operated so powerfully upon this
soul, emptied of self, desired to draw other souls also to her states,
and to make an effusion of the same grace and love in them, as in her.
O divine love! how great are thy wonders, how marvellous thy operations
on human hearts! My soul is lost in the depths of thy secret wonders!
Silence, silence--only silence!
I write to you, my Father, for the last time, to bid you a final adieu.
I can no longer listen to any other teachings, than this divine Word of
eternal Truth, which is spoken in the depths of my heart. But however
far separated from you, in the relation of Director, you are very near
and dear in the affections of my heart; in that pure love, which is
alone the operation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
GLORY OF GOD THE ONE DESIRE.
What have we to desire in heaven and on earth, only the glory of God?
But it is necessary to desire the glory of God as he desires it. He
who has absolute power over the heart of man, has a plan of operations;
he does all things in their time; he waits until the hour is come. In
coming into the world, our Lord could have converted the world at once,
and destroyed all its vices; but the economy of his wisdom did not so
direct. When I hear our Lord say, "_Mine hour is not yet come_," and
wishing neither to advance nor retard, for a moment, the hour that his
Father had appointed, I am plunged into my nothingness. We are only
instruments in his hands, which he may lay aside, or use according to
his good pleasure. We should be so dead to self, as to be indifferent,
whether he makes use of us or not.
Remain, therefore, my dear friend, in the hand of God. Let him
accomplish in you, and by you, all his good pleasure, whether to cast
down, or build up. God knows how much I love you.
SPIRITUAL UNION AND AID.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account