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
There were omissions of importance in the former narration of my life.
I willingly comply with your desire, in giving you a more
circumstantial relation; though the labor seems rather painful, as I
cannot use much study or reflection. My earnest wish is to paint in
true colors the goodness of God to me, and the depth of my own
ingratitude--but it is impossible, as numberless little circumstances
have escaped my memory. You are also unwilling I should give you a
minute account of my sins. I shall, however, try to leave out as few
faults as possible. I depend on you to destroy it, when your soul hath
drawn those spiritual advantages which God intended, and for which
purpose I am willing to sacrifice all things. I am fully persuaded of
His designs toward you, as well for the sanctification of others, as
for your own sanctification.
Let me assure you, this is not attained, save through pain, weariness
and labor; and it will be reached by a path that will wonderfully
disappoint your expectations. Nevertheless, if you are fully convinced
that it is on the nothing in man that God establishes his greatest
works,--you will be in part guarded against disappointment or surprise.
He destroys that he might build; for when He is about to rear His
sacred temple in us, He first totally razes that vain and pompous
edifice, which human art and power had erected, and from its horrible
ruins a new structure is formed, by His power only.
Oh, that you could comprehend the depth of this mystery, and learn the
secrets of the conduct of God, revealed to babes, but hid from the wise
and great of this world, who think themselves the Lord's counselor's,
and capable of investigating His procedures, and suppose they have
attained that divine wisdom hidden from the eyes of all who live in
self, and are enveloped in their own works. Who by a lively genius and
elevated faculties mount up to Heaven, and think to comprehend the
height and depth and length and breadth of God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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