The Autobiography of Madame GuyonGuyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte
Religion
The Autobiography of Madame Guyon
Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte
Catholics -- France -- Biography; Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte, 1648-1717
About eight or ten days before Magdalene's day, 1680, it came into my
mind to write to Father La Combe, and to request him, if he received my
letter before that day, to pray particularly for me. It was so ordered,
contrary even to my expectations, that he received my letter on St.
Magdalene's eve, and when praying for me the next day, it was said to
him, thrice over, with much power, "Ye shall both dwell in one and the
same place." He was very much surprised, as he never had received
interior words before. I believe, O my God, that that has been much
more verified, both in our inward sense and experience, and in the same
crucifying events which have befallen us, pretty much alike; and in
Thyself, who art our dwelling, than in any temporal abode.
CHAPTER 27
On that happy Magdalene's Day my soul was perfectly delivered from all
its pains. It had already begun since the receipt of the first letter
from Father La Combe, to recover a new life. It was then only like that
of a dead person raised, though not yet unbound from grave clothes. On
this day I was, as it were, in perfect life, and set wholly at liberty.
I found myself as much raised above nature, as before I had been
depressed under its burden. I was inexpressibly overjoyed to find Him,
whom I thought I had lost forever, returned to me again with
unspeakable magnificence and purity. It was then, O God, that I found
again in Thee with new advantages, in an ineffable manner, all I had
been deprived of; the peace I now possessed was all holy, heavenly and
inexpressible. All I had enjoyed before was only a peace, a gift of
God, but now I received and possessed the God of peace. Yet the
remembrance of my past miseries still brought a fear upon me, lest
nature should find means to take to itself any part therein. As soon as
it wanted to see or taste anything, the Spirit ever watchful crossed
and repelled it. I was far from elevating myself, or attributing to
myself anything of this new state. My experience made me sensible of
what I was.
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