8 I have never understood what it was to reach such a point of virtue that, to pass beyond, a miracle would have to be performed; so true is it that a person sometimes finds himself so far plunged into either suffering, or danger, or desertion by his fellow-creatures, that nothing is left to him but God, who nevertheless is always found at the end of Jacob's ladder, with arms and heart open to embrace the Angels and the souls which fly straight to him; and it is wonderful how God takes pleasure in abundantly communicating himself to souls which have abandoned all and given themselves wholly to him. To lose all, that one may find God, is a sweet loss and a holy usury. [226] 9 Le cœur croist à mesure que les trauaux croissent pour Iesus-Christ; & la Nouuelle France est le pays du monde le plus propre, pour entendre le sens literal de ces belles paroles, _Sicut misit me viuens Pater, ita & ego mitto vos._ Ie vous enuoye de mesme sorte, que mon Pere m'a enuoyé. _Ecce ego mitto vos sicut oues in medio luporum._ Voicy que ie vous enuoye cõme des brebis au milieu des loups. Parmy ces forests, en voyant ces Sauuages, nous pauures Estrangers, & seruiteurs de Dieu, que pouuons nous attendre sinon vn coup de dent, & quelque effect de leur barbarie naturelle. Qui craind bien Dieu, ne sçauroit plus rien craindre en ce monde. [226] 9 The heart grows according as its works for Jesus Christ increase; and New France is the most suitable country in the world in which to understand the literal meaning of these beautiful words, _Sicut misit me vivens Pater, ita et ego mitto vos_, "I send you, even as my Father has sent me." _Ecce ego mitto vos sicut oves in medio luporum._ "Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves." Among these forests, at the sight of these Savages, what can we poor Foreigners and servants of God expect but to feel their teeth and some of the effects of their natural barbarism. He who truly fears God can fear nothing more in this world. 10 Il est vray que faire neuf cens lieuës sur les flots de la mer, & auec cent & cent rencontres de Turcs, de glaces, de bancs, d'orages assez horribles, [227] cela peut estonner la nature; & donner de la palpitation au cœur humain; là on experimente ce que veut dire Dauid, _Anima mea in manibus meis semper._ Ie tiens mon ame tousiours dans mes mains, & ie suis tout prest à tout moment de la sacrifier à Dieu; trop heureux helas! de pouuoir faire tant de fois vn pretieux holocauste de moy-mesme; mais les infusions de Dieu dans les cœurs, & le renfort qu'il verse dans nos ames surpasse tous nos maux. Ie confesse que i'ay mieux appris sur la mer que sur la terre, que c'est qu'infusion de Dieu dans vne ame bien faite.