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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13871-0.txt b/13871-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf21b60 --- /dev/null +++ b/13871-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1255 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13871 *** + +THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE + +OF GOD THE BEST RULE + +OF A HOLY LIFE. + + +BROTHER LAWRENCE. + + +Being Conversations and Letters of Nicholas Herman, of Lorraine +(Brother Lawrence). _Translated from the French._ + + +FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY, + +NEW YORK. CHICAGO. TORONTO. + +_Publishers of Evangelical Literature._ + + + + +PREFACE. + + + +This book consists of notes of several conversations had with, and +letters written by Nicholas Herman, of Lorraine, a lowly and unlearned +man, who, after having been a footman and soldier, was admitted a Lay +Brother among the barefooted Carmelites at Paris in 1666, and was +afterwards known as "Brother Lawrence." + +His conversion, which took place when he was about eighteen years old, +was the result, under God, of the mere sight in midwinter, of a dry +and leafless tree, and of the reflections it stirred respecting the +change the coming spring would bring. From that time he grew eminently +in the knowledge and love of GOD, endeavoring constantly to walk "_as +in His presence_." No wilderness wanderings seem to have intervened +between the Red Sea and the Jordan of his experience. A wholly +consecrated man, he lived his Christian life through as a pilgrim--as +a steward and not as an owner, and died at the age of eighty, leaving +a name which has been as "ointment poured forth." + +The "Conversations" are supposed to have been written by M. Beaufort, +Grand Vicar to M. de Chalons, formerly Cardinal de Noailles, by whose +recommendation the letters were first published. + +The book has, within a short time, gone through repeated English and +American editions, and has been a means of blessing to many souls. It +contains very much of that wisdom which only lips the Lord has touched +can express, and which only hearts He has made teachable can receive. + +May this edition also be blessed by GOD, and redound to the praise of +the glory of His grace. + + + + +CONVERSATIONS. + + + +FIRST CONVERSATION. + + +The first time I saw _Brother Lawrence_, was upon the 3d of August, +1666. He told me that GOD had done him a singular favor, in his +conversion at the age of eighteen. + +That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and +considering that within a little time the leaves would be renewed and +after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of +the Providence and Power of GOD, which has never since been effaced +from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the +world, and kindled in him such a love for GOD, that he could not tell +whether it had increased during the more than forty years he had lived +since. + +That he had been footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer, and that he +was a great awkward fellow who broke everything. + +That he had desired to be received into a monastery, thinking that he +would there be made to smart for his awkwardness and the faults he +should commit, and so he should sacrifice to GOD his life, with its +pleasures: but that God had disappointed him, he having met with +nothing but satisfaction in that state. + +That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD'S Presence, by +continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit +His conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries. + +That we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of GOD; +which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him. + +That we ought to _quicken_, i.e., _to enliven, our faith_. That it was +lamentable we had so little; and that instead of taking _faith_ for +the rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial +devotions, which changed daily. That the way of Faith was the spirit +of the Church, and that it was sufficient to bring us to a high degree +of perfection. + +That we ought to give ourselves up to GOD, with regard both to things +temporal and spiritual, and seek our satisfaction only in the +fulfilling of His will, whether he lead us by suffering or by +consolation, for all would lie equal to a soul truly resigned. That +there needed fidelity in those dryness, or insensibilities and +irksomenesses in prayer, by which GOD tries our love to him; that +_then_ was the time for us to make good and effectual acts of +resignation, whereof one alone would oftentimes very much promote our +spiritual advancement. + +That as for the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the world, he +was so far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was +surprised that there were not more, considering the malice sinners +were capable of; that for his part he prayed for them; but knowing +that GOD could remedy the mischiefs they did when He pleased, he gave +himself no farther trouble. + +That to arrive at such resignation as GOD requires, we should watch +attentively over all the passions which mingle as well in spiritual +things as in those of a grosser nature; that GOD would give light +concerning those passions to those who truly desire to serve Him. That +if this was my design, viz., sincerely to serve GOD, I might come to +him (B. Lawrence) as often as I pleased, without any Fear of being +troublesome; but if not, that I ought no more to visit him. + + + +SECOND CONVERSATION. + + +That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and +that having resolved to make the love of GOD the _end_ of all his +actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method. +That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for +the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His +gifts. + +That he had been long troubled in mind from a certain belief that he +should be damned; that all the men in the world could not have +persuaded him to the contrary; but that he had thus reasoned with +himself about it: _I engaged in a religious life only for the love of_ +GOD, _and I have endeavored to act only for Him; whatever becomes of +me, whether I be lost or saved, I will always continue to act purely +for the love of_ GOD. _I shall have this good at least, that till +death I shall have done all that is in me to love Him_. That this +trouble of mind had lasted four years; during which time he had +suffered much. But that at last he had seen that this trouble arose +from want of faith; and that since then he had passed his life in +perfect liberty and continual joy. That he had placed his sins betwixt +him and GOD, as it were, to tell Him that he did not deserve His +favors, but that GOD still continued to bestow them in abundance. + +That in order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and +referring all we do to Him, we must at first apply to Him with some +diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love +inwardly excite us to it without any difficulty. + +That he expected after the pleasant days GOD had given him, he should +have his turn of pain and suffering; but that he was not uneasy about +it, knowing very well, that as he could do nothing of himself, GOD +would not fail to give him the strength to bear it. + +That when an occasion of practicing some virtue offered, he addressed +himself to GOD, saying, LORD, _I cannot do this unless Thou enablest +me_: and that then he received strength more than sufficient. + +That when he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault, +saying to GOD, _I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to myself; +it is You who must hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss_. That +after this, he gave himself no further uneasiness about it. + +That we ought to act with GOD in the greatest simplicity, speaking to +Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs, +just as they happen. That GOD never failed to grant it, as he had +often experienced. + +That he had been lately sent into Burgundy, to buy the provision of +wine for the society, which was a very unwelcome task for him, because +he had no turn for business, and because he was lame and could not go +about the boat but by rolling himself over the casks. That however he +gave himself no uneasiness about it, nor about the purchase of the +wine. That he said to GOD, _It was His business he was about_, and +that he afterwards found it very well performed. That he had been sent +into Auvergne, the year before, upon the same account; that he could +not tell how the matter passed, but that it proved very well. + +So, likewise, in his business in the kitchen (to which he had +naturally a great aversion), having accustomed himself to do +everything there for the love of GOD, and with prayer, upon all +occasions, for His grace to do his work well, he had found everything +easy, during fifteen years that he had been employed there. + +That he was very well pleased with the post he was now in; but that he +was as ready to quit that as the former, since he was always pleasing +himself in every condition, by doing little things for the love of +GOD. + +That with him the set times of prayer were not different from other +times; that he retired to pray, according to the directions of his +Superior, but that he did not want such retirement, nor ask for it, +because his greatest business did not divert him from GOD. + +That as he knew his obligation to love GOD in all things, and as he +endeavored so to do, he had no need of a director to advise him, but +that he needed much a Confessor to absolve him. That he was very +sensible of his faults, but not discouraged by them; that he confessed +them to GOD, but did not plead against Him to excuse them. When he had +so done, he peaceably resumed his usual practice of love and +adoration. + +That in his trouble of mind, he had consulted nobody, but knowing only +by the light of faith that GOD was present, he contented himself with +directing all his actions to Him, _i.e._, doing them with a desire to +please Him, let what would come of it. + +That useless thoughts spoil all: that the mischief began there; but +that we ought to reject them, as soon as we perceived their +impertinence to the matter in hand, or our salvation; and return to +our communion with GOD. + +That at the beginning he had often passed his time appointed for +prayer, in rejecting wandering thoughts, and falling back into them. +That he could never regulate his devotion by certain methods as some +do. That nevertheless, at first he had _meditated_ for some time, but +afterwards that went off, in a manner he could give no account of. + +That all bodily mortifications and other exercises are useless, except +as they serve to arrive at the union with GOD by love; that he had +well considered this, and found it the shortest way to go straight to +Him by a continual exercise of love, and doing all things for His +sake. + +That we ought to make a great difference between the acts of the +_understanding_ and those of the _will_: that the first were +comparatively of little value, and the others, all. That our only +business was to love and delight ourselves in GOD. + +That all possible kinds of mortification, if they were void of the +love of GOD, could not efface a single sin. That we ought, without +anxiety, to expect the pardon of our sins from the Blood of JESUS +CHRIST, only endeavoring to love Him with all our hearts. That GOD +seemed to have granted the greatest favors to the greatest sinners, as +more signal monuments of his mercy. + +That the greatest pains or pleasures of this world, were not to be +compared with what he had experienced of both kinds in a spiritual +state: so that he was careful for nothing and feared nothing, desiring +only one thing of GOD, viz., that he might not offend Him. + +That he had no scruples; for, said he, when I _fail_ in my duty, I +readily acknowledge it, saying, _I am used to do so: I shall never do +otherwise, if I am left to myself_. I fail not, then I give GOD +thanks, acknowledging the strength comes from Him. + + + +THIRD CONVERSATION. + + +He told me that the _foundation of the spiritual life_ in _him_, had +been a high notion and esteem of GOD in faith; which when he had once +well conceived, he had no other care at first, but faithfully to +reject every other thought, _that he might perform all his actions for +the love of_ GOD. That when sometimes he had not thought of GOD for a +good while, he did not disquiet himself for it; but after having +acknowledged his wretchedness to GOD, he returned to Him with so much +the greater trust in Him, as he had found himself wretched through +forgetting Him. + +That the trust we put in GOD, honors Him much, and draws down great +graces. + +That it was impossible, not only that GOD should deceive, hut also +that He should long let a soul suffer which is perfectly resigned to +Him, and resolved to endure everything for His sake. + +That he had so often experienced the ready succors of Divine Grace +upon all occasions, that from the same experience, when he had +business to do, he did not think of it beforehand; but when it was +time to do it, he found in GOD, as in a clear mirror, all that was fit +for him to do. That of late he had acted thus, without anticipating +care; but before the experience above mentioned, he had used it in his +affairs. + +When outward business diverted him a little from the thought of GOD, a +fresh remembrance coming from GOD invested his soul, and so inflamed +and transported him that it was difficult for him to contain himself. + +That he was more united to GOD in his outward employments, than when +he left them for devotion in retirement. + +That he expected hereafter some great pain of body or mind; that the +worst that could happen to him was, to lose that sense of GOD which he +had enjoyed so long; but that the goodness of GOD assured him He would +not forsake him utterly, and that He would give him strength to bear +whatever evil He permitted to happen to him; and therefore that he +feared nothing, and had no occasion to consult with anybody about his +state. That when he had attempted to do it, he had always come away +more perplexed; and that as he was conscious of his readiness to lay +down his life for the love of GOD, he had no apprehension of danger. +That perfect resignation to GOD was a sure way to heaven, a way in +which we had always sufficient light for our conduct. + +That in the beginning of the spiritual life, we ought to be faithful +in doing our duty and denying ourselves; but after that, unspeakable +pleasures followed; that in difficulties we need only have recourse to +JESUS CHRIST, and beg his grace; with that everything became easy. + +That many do not advance in the Christian progress because they stick +in penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of +GOD, which is the _end_. That this appeared plainly by their works, +and was the _reason_ why we see so little solid virtue. + +That there needed neither art nor science for going to GOD, but only a +heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for +_His_ sake, and to love him only. + + + +FOURTH CONVERSATION. + + +He discoursed with me very frequently, and with great openness of +heart concerning his manner of _going_ to GOD, whereof some part is +related already. + +He told me that all consists _in one hearty renunciation_ of +everything which we are sensible does not lead to GOD; that we might +accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him, with freedom +and in simplicity. That we need only to recognize GOD intimately +present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may +beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for +rightly performing those which we plainly see he requires of us, +offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we +have done. + +That in this conversation with God, we are also employed in praising, +adoring and loving Him incessantly, for His infinite goodness and +perfection. + +That, without being discouraged on account of our sins, we should pray +for His grace with a perfect confidence, as relying upon the infinite +merits of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. That GOD never failed offering us His +grace at each action; that he distinctly perceived it, and never +failed of it, unless when his thoughts had wandered from a sense of +GOD'S Presence, or he had forgotten to ask His assistance. + +That GOD always gave us light in our doubts, when we had no other +design but ask to please Him. + +That our sanctification did not depend upon _changing_ our works, but +in doing that for GOD's sake, which we commonly do for our own. That +it was lamentable to see how many people mistook the means for the +end, addicting themselves to certain works, which they performed very +imperfectly, by reason of their human or selfish regards. + +That the most excellent method he had found of going to GOD, was that +of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men,[1] and +(as far as we are capable) purely for the love of GOD. + +That it was a great delusion to think that the times of prayer ought +to differ from other times: that we are as strictly obliged to adhere +to GOD by action in the time of action, as by prayer in the season of +prayer. + +That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of GOD, +his soul being at that time insensible to everything but Divine love: +and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no +difference, because he still continued with GOD, praising and blessing +Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy; +yet hoped that GOD would give him somewhat to suffer, when he should +grow stronger. + +That we ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in GOD, +and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would +not deceive us. + +That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of +GOD, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with +which it is performed. That we should not wonder if, in the beginning, +we often failed in our endeavors, but that at last we should gain a +habit, which will naturally produce its acts in us, without our care, +and to our exceeding great delight. + +That the whole substance of religion was faith, hope and charity; by +the practice of which we become united to the will of GOD: that all +besides is indifferent, and to be used as a means that we may arrive +at our end, and be swallowed up therein, by faith and charity. + +That all things are possible to him who _believes_--that they are less +difficult to him who _hopes_--that they are more easy to him who +_loves_, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of +these three virtues. + +That the end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this +life, the most perfect worshippers of GOD we can possibly be, as we +hope to be through all eternity. + +That when we enter upon the spiritual life, we should consider, and +examine to the bottom, what we are. And then we should find ourselves +worthy of all contempt, and not deserving indeed the name of +Christians: subject to all kinds of misery and numberless accidents, +which trouble us and cause perpetual vicissitudes in our health, in +our humors, in our internal and external dispositions; in fine, +persons whom GOD would humble by many pains and labors, as well within +as without. After this we should not wonder that troubles, +temptations, oppositions and contradictions happen to us from men. We +ought, on the contrary, to submit ourselves to them, and bear them as +long as GOD pleases, as things highly advantageous to us. + +That the greater perfection a soul aspires after, the more dependent +it is upon Divine grace. + +[2]Being questioned by one of his own society (to whom he was obliged +to open himself) by what means he had attained such an habitual sense +of GOD, he told him that, since his first coming to the monastery, he +had considered GOD as the end of all his thoughts and desires, as the +mark to which they should tend, and in which they should terminate. + +That in the beginning of his novitiate, he spent the hours appointed +for private prayer in thinking of GOD, so as to convince his mind of, +and to impress deeply upon his heart, the Divine existence, rather by +devout sentiments, and submission to the lights of faith, than by +studied reasonings and elaborate meditations. That by this short and +sure method, he exercised himself in the knowledge and love of GOD, +resolving to use his utmost endeavor to live, in a continual sense of +His Presence, and if possible, never to forget Him more. + +That when he had thus in prayer filled his mind with great sentiments +of that infinite Being, he went to his work appointed in the kitchen +(for he was cook to the society); there having first considered +severally the things his office required, and when and how each thing +was to be done, he spent all the intervals of his time, as well before +as after his work, in prayer. + +That when he began his business, he said to GOD, with a filial trust +in Him, "O my GOD, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in +obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I +beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy Presence; and to +this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, +and possess all my affections." + +As he proceeded in his work, he continued his familiar conversation +with his Maker,--imploring His grace, and offering to Him all his +actions. + +When he had finished, he examined himself how he had discharged his +duty; if he found _well_, he returned thanks to GOD; if otherwise, he +asked pardon; and without being discouraged, he set his mind right +again, and continued his exercise of the _presence_ of GOD, as if he +had never deviated from it. "Thus," said he, "by rising after my +falls, and by frequently renewed acts of faith and love, I am come to +a state wherein it would be as difficult for me not to think of GOD as +it was at first to accustom myself to it." + +As brother Lawrence had found such an advantage in walking in the +presence of GOD, it was natural for him to recommend it earnestly to +others; but his example was a stronger inducement than any arguments +he could propose. His very countenance was edifying, such a sweet and +calm devotion appearing in it as could not but effect the beholders. +And it was observed that in the greatest hurry of business in the +kitchen, he still preserved his recollection and heavenly-mindedness. +He was never hasty nor loitering, but did each thing in its season, +with an even, uninterrupted composure and tranquility of spirit. "The +time of business," said he, "does not with me differ from the time of +prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several +persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess +GOD in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed +sacrament." + + + + +LETTERS. + + + + +FIRST LETTER. + + +Since you desire so earnestly that I should communicate to you the +method by which I arrived at that _habitual sense of_ GOD'S +_Presence_, which our LORD, of His mercy, has been pleased to +vouch-safe to me, I must tell you that it is with great difficulty +that I am prevailed on by your importunities; and now I do it only +upon the terms that you show my letter to nobody. If I knew that you +should let it be seen, all the desire that I have for your advancement +would not be able to determine me to it. The account I can give you +is: + +Having found in many books different methods of going to GOD, and +divers practices of the spiritual life, I thought this would serve +rather to puzzle me than facilitate what I sought after, which was +nothing but how to become wholly GOD'S. This made me resolve to give +the all for the all; so after having given myself wholly to GOD, that +He might take away my sin, _I renounced, for the love of Him, +everything that was not He; and I began to live as if there was none +but He and I in the world_. Sometimes I considered myself before Him +as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge; at other times I beheld +Him in my heart as my FATHER, as my GOD: I worshipped Him the oftenest +that I could, keeping my mind in His holy Presence, and recalling it +as often as I found it wandered from Him. I found no small pain in +this exercise, and yet I continued it, notwithstanding all the +difficulties that occurred, without troubling or disquieting myself +when my mind had wandered involuntarily. I made this my business as +much all the day long as at the appointed times of prayer; for at all +times, every hour, every minute, even in the height of my business, I +drove away from my mind everything that was capable of interrupting my +thought of GOD. + +Such has been my common practice ever since I entered in religion; +and, though I have done it very imperfectly, yet I have found great +advantages by it. These, I well know, are to be imputed to the mere +mercy and goodness of GOD, because we can do nothing without Him; and +_I_ still less than any. But when we are faithful to keep ourselves in +His holy Presence, and set Him always before us, this not only hinders +our offending Him, and doing anything that may displease Him, at least +wilfully, but it also begets in us a holy freedom, and, if I may so +speak, a familiarity with GOD, wherewith we ask, and that +successfully, the graces we stand in need of. In fine, by often +repeating these acts, they become _habitual_, and the presence of GOD +rendered as it were _natural to_ us Give Him thanks, if you please, +with me, for His great goodness towards me, which I can never +sufficiently admire, for the many favors He has done to so miserable a +sinner as I am. May all things praise Him. Amen. + +I am, in our LORD, yours, &c. + + + +SECOND LETTER. + + +_To the Reverend_-- + +Not finding my manner of life in books, although I have no difficulty +about it, yet, for greater security, I shall be glad to know your +thoughts concerning it. + +In a conversation some days since with a person of piety, he told me +the spiritual life was a life of grace, which begins with servile +fear, which is increased by hope of eternal life, and which is +consummated by pure love. That each of these states had its different +stages, by which one arrives at last at that blessed consummation. + +I have not followed all these methods. On the contrary, from I know +not what instincts, I found they discouraged me. This was the reason +why, at my entrance into religion, I took a resolution to give myself +up to GOD, as the best return I could make for His love; and, for the +love of Him, to renounce all besides. + +For the first year I commonly employed myself during the time set +apart for devotion with the thought of death, judgment, heaven, hell, +and my sins, Thus continued some years, applying my mind carefully the +rest of the day, and even in the midst of my business, _to the +presence of_ GOD, whom I considered always as _with_ me, often as _in_ +me. + +At length I came insensibly to do the same thing during my set time of +prayer, which caused in me great delight and consolation. This +practice produced in me so high an esteem for GOD, that _faith_ alone +was capable to satisfy me in that point.[3] + +Such was my beginning; and yet I must tell you that for the first ten +years I suffered much: the apprehension that I was not devoted to GOD +as I wished to be, my past sins always present to my mind, and the +great unmerited favors which GOD did me, were the matter and source of +my sufferings. During this time I fell often, and rose again +presently. It seemed to me that all creatures, reason, and GOD Himself +were against me; and _faith_ alone for me. I was troubled sometimes +with thoughts that to believe I had received such favors was an effect +of my presumption, which pretended to be _at once_ where others arrive +with difficulty; at other times that it was a wilful delusion, and +that there was no salvation for me. + +When I thought of nothing but to end my days in these troubles (which +did not at all diminish the trust I had in GOD, and which served only +to increase my faith), I found myself changed all at once; and my +soul, which, till that time, was in trouble, felt a profound inward +peace, as if she were in her centre and place of rest. + +Ever since that time I walk before GOD simply, in faith, with humility +and with love; and I apply myself diligently to do nothing and think +nothing which may displease Him. I hope that when I have done what I +can, He will do with me what He pleases. + +As for what passes in me at present, I cannot express it. I have no +pain or difficulty about my state, because I have no will but that of +GOD, which I endeavor to accomplish in all things, and to which I am +so resigned that I would not take up a straw from the ground against +His order, or from any other motive than purely that of love to Him. + +I have quitted all forms of devotion and set prayers but those to +which my state obliges me. And I make it my business only to persevere +in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and +a general fond regard to GOD, which I may call an _actual presence of_ +GOD; or, to speak better, an habitual, silent and secret conversation +of the soul with GOD, which often causes me joys and raptures +inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great, that I am forced to +use means to moderate them and prevent their appearance to others. + +In short, I am assured beyond all doubt that my soul has been with GOD +above these thirty years. I pass over many things that I may not be +tedious to you, yet I think it proper to inform you after what manner +I consider myself before GOD, whom I behold as my King. + +I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and +corruption, and who has committed all sorts of crimes against his +King; touched with a sensible regret, I confess to him all my +wickedness, I ask His forgiveness, I abandon myself in His hands that +He may do what he pleases with me. The King, full of mercy and +goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me +eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of +His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, +in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as +His favorite. It is thus I consider myself from time to time in His +holy presence. + +My most useful method is this simple attention, and such a general +passionate regard to GOD; to whom I find myself often attached with +greater sweetness and delight than that of an infant at the mother's +breast; so that, if I dare use the expression, I should choose to call +this state the bosom, of GOD, for the inexpressible sweetness which I +taste and experience there. + +If sometimes my thoughts wander from it by necessity or infirmity, I +am presently recalled by inward motions so charming and delicious that +I am ashamed to mention them. I desire your reverence to reflect +rather upon my great wretchedness, of which you are fully informed, +than upon the great favors which GOD does me, all unworthy and +ungrateful as I am. + +As for my set hours of prayer, they are only a continuation of the +same exercise. Sometimes I consider myself there as a stone before a +carver, whereof he is to make a statue; presenting myself thus before +GOD, I desire Him to form His perfect image in my soul, and make me +entirely like Himself. + +At other times, when I apply myself to prayer, I feel all my spirit +and all my soul lift itself up without any care or effort of mine, and +it continues as it were suspended and firmly fixed in GOD, as in its +centre and place of rest. + +I know that some charge this state with inactivity, delusion and +self-love. I confess that it is a holy inactivity, and would be a +happy self-love, if the soul in that state were capable of it; +because, in effect, while she is in this repose, she cannot be +disturbed by such acts as she was formerly accustomed to, and which +were then her support, but which would now rather hinder than assist +her. + +Yet I cannot bear that this should be called delusion; because the +soul which thus enjoys GOD desires herein nothing but Him. If this be +delusion in me, it belongs to GOD to remedy it. Let Him do what He +pleases with me; I desire only Him, and to be wholly devoted to Him. +You will, however, oblige me in sending me your opinion, to which I +always pay a great deference, for I have a singular esteem for your +reverence, and am in our LORD, + +Yours, &c. + + + +THIRD LETTER. + + +We have a GOD who is infinitely gracious and knows all our wants. I +always thought that He would reduce you to extremity. He will come in +His own time, and when you least expect it. Hope in Him more than +ever; thank Him with me for the favors he does you, particularly for +the fortitude and patience which He gives you in your afflictions. It +is a plain mark of the care He takes of you. Comfort yourself, then, +with Him, and give thanks for all. + +I admire also the fortitude and bravery of Mr. ----. God has given him +a good disposition and a good will; but there is in him still a little +of the world, and a great deal of youth. I hope the affliction which +GOD has sent him will prove a wholesome remedy to him, and make him +enter into himself. It is an accident which should engage him to put +all his trust in _Him_ who accompanies him everywhere. Let him think +of Him as often as he can, especially in the greatest dangers. A +little lifting up of the heart suffices. A little remembrance of GOD, +one act of inward worship, though upon a march, and a sword in hand, +are prayers, which, however short, are nevertheless very acceptable to +GOD; and far from lessening a soldier's courage in occasions of +danger, they best serve to fortify it. + +Let him then think of GOD the most he can. Let him accustom himself, +by degrees, to this small but holy exercise. No one will notice it, +and nothing is easier than to repeat often in the day these little +internal adorations. Recommend to him, if you please, that he think of +GOD the most he can, in the manner here directed. It is very fit and +most necessary for a soldier, who is daily exposed to the dangers of +life. I hope that GOD will assist him and all the family, to whom I +present my service, being theirs and Yours, &c. + + + +FOURTH LETTER. + + +I have taken this opportunity to communicate to you the sentiments of +one of our society, concerning the admirable effects and continual +assistances which he receives from _the presence of_ GOD. Let you and +me both profit by them. + +You must know his continual care has been, for about forty years past +that he has spent in religion, to be _always with_ GOD, and to do +nothing, say nothing, and think nothing which may displease Him; and +this without any other view than purely for the love of Him, and +because he deserves infinitely more. + +He is now so accustomed to that _Divine Presence_, that he receives +from it continual succors upon all occasions. For about thirty years, +his soul has been filled with joys so continual, and sometimes so +great, that he is forced to use means to moderate them, and to hinder +their appearing outwardly. + +If sometimes he is a little too much absent from that _Divine +Presence_, GOD presently makes Himself to be felt in his soul to +recall him, which often happens when he is most engaged in his outward +business. He answers with exact fidelity to these inward drawings, +either by an elevation of his heart towards GOD, or by a meek and fond +regard to Him, or by such words as love forms upon these occasions, as +for instance, _My God, here I am all devoted to Thee_: LORD, _make me +according to Thy heart_. And then it seems to him (as in effect he +feels it) that this GOD of love, satisfied with such few words, +reposes again, and rests in the fund and centre of his soul. The +experience of these things gives him such an assurance that GOD is +always in the fund or bottom of his soul, that it renders him +incapable of doubting it upon any account whatever. + +Judge by this what content and satisfaction he enjoys while he +continually finds in himself so great a treasure. He is no longer in +an anxious search after it, but has it open before him, and may take +what he pleases of it. + +He complains much of our blindness, and cries often that we are to be +pitied who content ourselves with so little. GOD, saith he, _has +infinite treasure to bestow, and we take up with a little sensible +devotion, which passes in a moment. Blind as we are, we hinder GOD, +and stop the current of His graces. But when He finds a soul +penetrated with a lively faith, He pours into it His graces and favors +plentifully: there they flow like a torrent, which, after being +forcibly stopped against its ordinary course, when it has found a +passage, spreads itself with impetuosity and abundance_. + +Yes, we often stop this torrent by the little value we set upon it. +But let us stop it no more; let us enter into ourselves and break down +the bank which hinders it. Let us make way for grace; let us redeem +the lost time, for perhaps we have but little left. Death follows us +close; let us be well prepared for it: for we die but once; and a +miscarriage _there_ is irretrievable. + +I say again, let us enter into ourselves. The time presses, there is +no room for delay: our souls are at stake. I believe you have taken +such effectual measures that you will not be surprised. I commend you +for it; it is the one thing necessary. We must, nevertheless, always +work at it, because not to advance in the spiritual life is to go +back. But those who have the gale of the HOLY SPIRIT go forward even +in sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with winds and +storms, let us awake the LORD, who reposes in it, and He will quickly +calm the sea. + +I have taken the liberty to impart to you these good sentiments, that +you may compare them with your own. It will serve again to kindle and +inflame them, if by misfortune (which GOD forbid, for it would be +indeed a great misfortune) they should be, though never so little, +cooled. Let us then _both_ recall our first fervors. Let us profit by +the example and the sentiments of this brother, who is little known of +the world, but known of GOD, and extremely caressed by Him. I will +pray for you; do you pray instantly for me, who am, in our LORD. + +Yours, &c. + + + +FIFTH LETTER. + + +I received this day two books and a letter from Sister ----, who is +preparing to make her profession, and upon that account desires the +prayers of your holy society, and yours in particular. I perceive that +she reckons much upon them; pray do not disappoint her. Beg of GOD +that she may make her sacrifice in the view of His love alone, and +with a firm resolution to be wholly devoted to Him. I will send you +one of these books which treat of _the presence of_ GOD; a subject +which, in my opinion, contains the whole spiritual life; and it seems +to me that whoever duly practices it will soon become spiritual. + +I know that for the right practice of it, the heart must be empty of +all other things; because GOD will possess the heart _alone_; and as +He cannot possess it _alone_ without emptying it of all besides, so +neither can He act _there_, and do in it what He pleases, unless it be +left vacant to Him. + +There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful +than that of a continual conversation with GOD. Those only can +comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you +to do it from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek +in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and +because GOD would have us. + +Were I a preacher, I should, above all other things, preach the +practice of _the presence of_ GOD; and, were I a director, I should +advise all the world to do it, so necessary do I think it, and so easy +too. + +Ah! knew we but the want we have of the grace and assistance of GOD, +we should never lose sight of Him, no, not for a moment. Believe me; +make immediately a holy and firm resolution never more wilfully to +forget Him, and to spend the rest of your days in His sacred presence, +deprived for the love of Him, if He thinks fit, of all consolations. + +Set heartily about this work, and if you do it as you ought, be +assured that you will soon find the effects of it. I will assist you +with my prayers, poor as they are. I recommend myself earnestly to +yours and those of your holy society being theirs, and more +particularly + +Yours, &c. + + + +SIXTH LETTER. + + +_To the Same_. + +I have received from Mrs. ----, the things which you gave her for me. +I wonder that you have not given me your thoughts of the little book I +sent to you, and which you must have received. Pray set heartily about +the practice of it in your old age: it is better late than never. + +I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the +practice of _the presence of_ GOD. For my part. I keep myself retired +with Him in the fund or centre of my soul as much as I can; and while +I am so with Him I fear nothing, but the least turning from Him is +insupportable. + +This exercise does not much fatigue the body; it is, however, proper +to deprive it sometimes, nay often; of many little pleasures which are +innocent and lawful, for GOD will not permit that a soul which desires +to be devoted entirely to Him should take other pleasures than with +Him: that is more than reasonable. + +I do not say that therefore we must put any violent constraint upon +ourselves. No, we must serve GOD in a holy freedom; we must do our +business faithfully; without trouble or disquiet, recalling our mind +to GOD mildly, and with tranquility, as often as we find it wandering +from Him. + +It is, however, necessary to put our whole trust in GOD, laying aside +all other cares, and even some particular forms of devotion, though +very good in themselves, yet such as one often engages in +unreasonably, because these devotions are only means to attain to the +end. So when by this exercise of _the presence of_ GOD we are _with +Him_ who is our end, it is then useless to return to the means; but we +may continue with Him our commerce of love, persevering in His holy +presence, one while by an act of praise, of adoration or of desire; +one while by an act of resignation or thanksgiving; and in all the +ways which our spirit can invent. + +Be not discouraged by the repugnance which you may find in it from +nature; you must do yourself violence. At the first one often thinks +it lost time, but you must go on, and resolve to persevere in it to +death, notwithstanding all the difficulties that may occur. I +recommend myself to the prayers of your holy society, and yours in +particular. I am, in our LORD, + +Yours, &c. + + + +SEVENTH LETTER. + + +I pity you much. It will be of great importance if you can leave the +care of your affairs to ----, and spend the remainder of your life +only in worshiping GOD. He requires no great matters of us; a little +remembrance of Him from time to time; a little adoration; sometimes to +pray for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, and +sometimes to return Him thanks for the favors He has given you, and +still gives you, in the midst of your troubles, and to console +yourself with Him the oftenest you can. Lift up your heart to Him, +sometimes even at your meals, and when you are in company: the least +little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry +very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of. + +It is not necessary for being with GOD to be always at church: we may +make an oratory of our heart wherein to retire from time to time to +converse with Him in meekness, humility and love. Every one is capable +of such familiar conversation with GOD, some more, some less: He knows +what we can do. Let us begin, then. Perhaps He expects but one +generous resolution on our part. Have courage. We have but little time +to live; you are near sixty-four, and I am almost eighty. Let us live +and die with GOD. Sufferings will be sweet and pleasant to us while we +are with Him; and the greatest pleasures will be, without Him, a cruel +punishment to us. May He be blessed for all. Amen. + +Accustom yourself, then, by degrees thus to worship Him, to beg His +grace, to offer Him your heart from time to time in the midst of your +business, even every moment, if you can. Do not always scrupulously +confine yourself to certain rules, or particular forms of devotion, +but act with a general confidence in GOD, with love and humility. You +may assure ---- of my poor prayers, and that I am their servant, and +particularly + +Yours in our LORD, &c. + + + +EIGHTH LETTER. + + +_(Concerning wandering thoughts in Prayer.)_ + +You tell me nothing new; you are not the only one that is troubled +with wandering thoughts. Our mind is extremely roving; but, as the +will is mistress of all our faculties, she must recall them, and carry +them to GOD as their last end. + +When the mind, for want of being sufficiently reduced by recollection +at our first engaging in devotion, has contracted certain bad habits +of wandering and dissipation, they are difficult to overcome, and +commonly draw us, even against our wills, to the things of the earth. + +I believe one remedy for this is to confess our faults, and to humble +ourselves before GOD. I do not advise you to use multiplicity of words +in prayer: many words and long discourses being often the occasions of +wandering. Hold yourself in prayer before GOD, like a dumb or +paralytic beggar at a rich man's gate. Let it be _your_ business to +keep your mind in the presence of the LORD. If it sometimes wander and +withdraw itself from Him, do not much disquiet yourself for that: +trouble and disquiet serve rather to distract the mind than to +re-collect it: the will must bring it back in tranquility. If you +persevere in this manner, GOD will have pity on you. + +One way to re-collect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and +preserve it more in tranquility, is _not to let it wander too far at +other times_: you should keep it strictly in the presence of GOD; and +being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep +your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from +its wanderings. + +I have told you already at large, in my former letters, of the +advantages we may draw from this practice of the presence of GOD: let +us set about it seriously, and pray for one another. + +Yours, &c. + + + +NINTH LETTER. + + +The enclosed is an answer to that which I received from ----; pray +deliver it to her. She seems to me full of good will, but she would go +faster than grace. One does not become holy all at once. I recommend +her to you: we ought to help one another by our advice, and yet more +by our good examples. You will oblige me to let me hear of her from +time to time, and whether she be very fervent and very obedient. + +Let us thus think often that our only business in this life is to +please GOD, and that all besides is but folly and vanity. You and I +have lived about forty years in religion (_i.e._, a monastic life). +Have we employed them in loving and serving GOD, who by His mercy has +called us to this state and for that very end? I am filled with shame +and confusion when I reflect on one hand upon the great favors which +GOD has done, and incessantly continues to do me; and on the other, +upon the ill use I have made of them, and my small advancement in the +way of perfection. + +Since by His mercy He gives us still a little time, let us begin in +earnest: let us repair the lost time: let us return with a full +assurance to that FATHER of mercies, who is always ready to receive us +affectionately. Let us renounce, let us generously renounce, for the +love of Him, all that is not Himself; He deserves infinitely more. Let +us think of Him perpetually. Let us put all our trust in Him. I doubt +not but we shall soon find the effects of it in receiving the +abundance of His grace, with which we can do all things, and without +which we can do nothing but sin. + +We cannot escape the dangers which abound in life without the actual +and _continual_ help of GOD: let us then pray to Him for it +_continually_. How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How can +we be with Him but in thinking of Him often? And how can we often +think of Him, but by a holy habit which we should form of it? You will +tell me that I am always saying the same thing. It is true, for this +is the best and easiest method I know; and as I use no other, I advise +all the world to do it. We must _know_ before we can _love_. In order +to _know_ GOD, we must often _think_ of Him; and when we come to +_love_ Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will +be with our treasure. This is an argument which well deserves your +consideration. + +I am, Yours, &c. + + + +TENTH LETTER. + + +I have had a good deal of difficulty to bring myself to write to Mr. +----, and I do it now purely because you and Madam ---- desire me. +Pray write the directions and send it to him. I am very well pleased +with the trust which you have in GOD: I wish that He may increase it +in you more and more. We cannot have too much in so good and faithful +a Friend, who will never fail us in this world nor in the next. + +If Mr. ---- makes his advantage of the loss he has had, and puts all +his confidence in GOD, He will soon give him another friend, more +powerful and more inclined to serve him. He disposes of hearts as He +pleases. Perhaps Mr. ---- was too much attached to him he has lost. We +ought to love our friends, but without encroaching upon the love due +to GOD, which must be the principal. + +Pray remember what I have recommended to you, which is, to think often +on GOD, by day, by night, in your business, and even in your +diversions. He is always near you and with you: leave Him not alone. +You would think it rude to leave a friend alone who came to visit you: +why then must GOD be neglected? Do not then forget Him, but think on +Him often, adore Him continually, live and die with Him; this is the +glorious employment of a Christian. In a word, this is our profession; +if we do not know it, we must learn it. I will endeavor to help you +with my prayers, and am, in our LORD, Yours, &c. + + + +ELEVENTH LETTER. + + +I do not pray that you may be delivered from your pains, but I pray +GOD earnestly that He would give you strength and patience to bear +them as long as He pleases. Comfort yourself with Him who holds you +fastened to the cross. He will loose you when He thinks fit. Happy +those who suffer with Him: accustom yourself to suffer in that manner, +and seek from Him the strength to endure as much, and as long, as He +shall judge to be necessary for you. The men of the world do not +comprehend these truths, nor is it to be wondered at, since they +suffer like what they are, and not like Christians. They consider +sickness as a pain to nature, and not as a favor from GOD; and seeing +it only in that light, they find nothing in it but grief and distress. +But those who consider sickness as coming from the hand of GOD, as the +effect of His mercy, and the means which He employs for their +salvation--such, commonly find in it great sweetness and sensible +consolation. + +I wish you could convince yourself that GOD is often (in some sense) +nearer to us, and more effectually present with us, in sickness than +in health. Rely upon no other Physician; for, according to my +apprehension, He reserves your cure to Himself. Put, then, all your +trust in Him, and you will soon find the effects of it in your +recovery, which we often retard by putting greater confidence in +physic than in GOD. + +Whatever remedies you make use of, they will succeed only so far as He +permits. When pains come from GOD, He only can cure them. He often +sends diseases of the body to cure those of the soul. Comfort yourself +with the sovereign Physician both of the soul and body. + +Be satisfied with the condition in which GOD places you: however happy +you may think me, I envy you. Pains and sufferings would be a paradise +to me while I should suffer with my GOD; and the greatest pleasures +would be hell to me if I could relish them without Him. All my +consolation would be to suffer something for His sake. + +I must, in a little time, go to GOD. What comforts me in this life is, +that I now see Him _by faith_; and I see Him in such a manner as might +make me say sometimes, _I believe no more, but I see_. I feel what +faith teaches us, and in that assurance and that practice of faith, I +will live and die with Him. + +Continue then always with GOD: it is the only support and comfort for +your affliction. I shall beseech Him to be with you. I present my +service. + +Yours, &c. + + + +TWELFTH LETTER. + + +If we were well accustomed to the exercise of _the presence of_ GOD, +all bodily diseases would be much alleviated thereby. GOD often +permits that we should suffer a little to purify our souls and oblige +us to continue _with_ Him. + +Take courage: offer Him your pains incessantly: pray to Him for +strength to endure them. Above all, get a habit of entertaining +yourself often with GOD, and forget Him the least you can. Adore Him +in your infirmities, offer yourself to Him from time to time, and in +the height of your sufferings, beseech Him humbly and affectionately +(as a child his father) to make you conformable to His holy-will. I +shall endeavor to assist you with my poor prayers. + +GOD has many ways of drawing us to Himself. He sometimes hides Himself +from us, but _faith_ alone, which will not fail us in time of need, +ought to be our support, and the foundation of our confidence, which +must be all in GOD. + +I know not how GOD will dispose of me. I am always happy. All the +world suffer; and I, who deserve the severest discipline, feel joys so +continual and so great that I can scarce contain them. + +I would willingly ask of GOD a part of your sufferings, but that I +know my weakness, which is so great, that if He left me one moment to +myself I should be the most wretched man alive. And yet I know not how +He can leave me alone, because faith gives me as strong a conviction +as sense can do, that He never forsakes us until we have first +forsaken Him. Let us fear to leave Him. Let us be always with Him. Let +us live and die in His presence. Do you pray for me, as I for you. + +I am, Yours, &c. + + + +THIRTEENTH LETTER. + + +_To the Same_. + +I am in pain to see you suffer so long. What gives me some ease and +sweetens the feelings I have for your griefs is, that they are proofs +of GOD'S love towards you. See them in that view and you will bear +them more easily. As your case is, it is my opinion that you should +leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the +providence of GOD: perhaps He stays only for that resignation and a +perfect trust in Him to cure you. Since, notwithstanding all your +cares, physic has hitherto proved unsuccessful, and your malady still +increases, it will not be tempting GOD to abandon yourself in His +hands, and expect all from Him. + +I told you in my last that He sometimes permits bodily diseases to +cure the distempers of the soul. Have courage then: make a virtue of +necessity. Ask of GOD, not deliverance from your pains, but strength +to bear resolutely, for the love of Him, all that He should please, +and as long as He shall please. + +Such prayers, indeed, are a little hard to nature, but most acceptable +to GOD, and sweet to those that love Him. Love sweetens pains; and +when one loves GOD, one suffers for His sake with joy and courage. Do +you so, I beseech you: comfort yourself with Him, who is the only +Physician of all our maladies. He is the FATHER of the afflicted, +always ready to help us. He loves us infinitely more than we imagine. +Love Him, then, and seek no consolation elsewhere. I hope you will +soon receive it. Adieu. I will help you with my prayers, poor as they +are, and shall always be, in our LORD Yours, &c. + + + +FOURTEENTH LETTER. + + +_To the Same_. + +I render thanks to our LORD for having relieved you a little, +according to your desire. I have been often near expiring, but I never +was so much satisfied as then. Accordingly, I did not pray for any +relief, but I prayed for strength to suffer with courage, humility and +love. Ah, how sweet it is to suffer with GOD! However great the +sufferings may be, receive them with love. It is paradise to suffer +and be with Him; so that if in this life we would enjoy the peace of +paradise we must accustom ourselves to a familiar, humble, +affectionate conversation with Him. We must hinder our spirits +wandering from Him upon any occasion. We must make our heart a +spiritual temple, wherein to adore Him incessantly. We must watch +continually over ourselves, that we may not do, nor say, nor think +anything that may displease Him. When our minds are thus employed +about GOD, suffering will become full of unction and consolation. + +I know that to arrive at this state the beginning is very difficult, +for we must act purely in faith. But though it is difficult, we know +also that we can do all things with the grace of GOD, which He never +refuses to them who ask it earnestly. Knock, persevere in knocking, +and I answer for it that He will open to you in His due time, and +grant you all at once what He has deferred during many years. Adieu! +Pray to Him for me, as I pray to Him for you. I hope to see Him +quickly. + +I am, Yours, &c. + + + +FIFTEENTH LETTER. + + +_To the Same_. + +GOD knoweth best what is needful for us, and all that He does is for +our good. If we knew how much He loves us, we should always be ready +to receive equally and with indifference from His Hand the sweet and +the bitter: all would please that came from Him. The sorest +afflictions never appear intolerable, except when we see them in the +wrong light. When we see them as dispensed by the hand of GOD, when we +know that it is our loving FATHER who abases and distresses us, our +sufferings will lose their bitterness, and become even matter of +consolation. + +Let all our employment be to _know_ GOD: the more one _knows_ Him, the +more one _desires_ to know Him. And as _knowledge_ is commonly the +measure of _love_, the deeper and more extensive our _knowledge_ shall +be, the greater will be our _love_: and if our love of GOD were great, +we should love Him equally in pains and pleasures. + +Let us not content ourselves with loving GOD for the mere sensible +favors, how elevated soever, which he has done, or may do us. Such +favors, though never so great, cannot bring us so near to Him as faith +does in one simple act. Let us seek Him often by faith. He is within +us: seek Him not elsewhere. If we do love Him alone, are we not rude, +and do we not deserve blame, if we busy ourselves about trifles which +do not please and perhaps offend Him. It is to be feared these +_trifles_ will one day cost us dear. + +Let us begin to be devoted to Him in good earnest. Let us cast +everything besides out of our hearts. He would possess them alone. Beg +this favor of Him. If we do what we can on our parts, we shall soon +see that change wrought in us which we aspire after. I cannot thank +Him sufficiently for the relaxation He has vouchsafed you. I hope from +His mercy the favor to see Him within a few days.[4] Let us pray for +one another. + +I am, in our LORD, Yours, &c. + +NOTES: + +[1: Gal. i, 10; Eph. vi, 5, 6.] + +[2: The particulars which follow are collected from other accounts of +Brother Lawrence.] + +[3: _I suppose he means_ that all distinct notions he could form of +GOD, were unsatisfactory, because he perceived them to be unworthy of +GOD; and therefore his mind was not to be satisfied but by the views +of _faith_, which apprehend GOD as infinite and incomprehensible, as +He is in Himself, and not as He can be conceived by human ideas.] + +[4: He took to his bed two days after, and died within the week.] + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Practice of the Presence of God +the Best Rule of a Holy Life, by Herman Nicholas + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13871 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life + +Author: Herman Nicholas + +Release Date: October 26, 2004 [EBook #13871] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Shimmin, Project Manager, Keith M. Eckrich, +Post-Processor, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE + +OF GOD THE BEST RULE + +OF A HOLY LIFE. + + +BROTHER LAWRENCE. + + +Being Conversations and Letters of Nicholas Herman, of Lorraine +(Brother Lawrence). _Translated from the French._ + + +FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY, + +NEW YORK. CHICAGO. TORONTO. + +_Publishers of Evangelical Literature._ + + + + +PREFACE. + + + +This book consists of notes of several conversations had with, and +letters written by Nicholas Herman, of Lorraine, a lowly and unlearned +man, who, after having been a footman and soldier, was admitted a Lay +Brother among the barefooted Carmelites at Paris in 1666, and was +afterwards known as "Brother Lawrence." + +His conversion, which took place when he was about eighteen years old, +was the result, under God, of the mere sight in midwinter, of a dry +and leafless tree, and of the reflections it stirred respecting the +change the coming spring would bring. From that time he grew eminently +in the knowledge and love of GOD, endeavoring constantly to walk "_as +in His presence_." No wilderness wanderings seem to have intervened +between the Red Sea and the Jordan of his experience. A wholly +consecrated man, he lived his Christian life through as a pilgrim--as +a steward and not as an owner, and died at the age of eighty, leaving +a name which has been as "ointment poured forth." + +The "Conversations" are supposed to have been written by M. Beaufort, +Grand Vicar to M. de Chalons, formerly Cardinal de Noailles, by whose +recommendation the letters were first published. + +The book has, within a short time, gone through repeated English and +American editions, and has been a means of blessing to many souls. It +contains very much of that wisdom which only lips the Lord has touched +can express, and which only hearts He has made teachable can receive. + +May this edition also be blessed by GOD, and redound to the praise of +the glory of His grace. + + + + +CONVERSATIONS. + + + +FIRST CONVERSATION. + + +The first time I saw _Brother Lawrence_, was upon the 3d of August, +1666. He told me that GOD had done him a singular favor, in his +conversion at the age of eighteen. + +That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and +considering that within a little time the leaves would be renewed and +after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of +the Providence and Power of GOD, which has never since been effaced +from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the +world, and kindled in him such a love for GOD, that he could not tell +whether it had increased during the more than forty years he had lived +since. + +That he had been footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer, and that he +was a great awkward fellow who broke everything. + +That he had desired to be received into a monastery, thinking that he +would there be made to smart for his awkwardness and the faults he +should commit, and so he should sacrifice to GOD his life, with its +pleasures: but that God had disappointed him, he having met with +nothing but satisfaction in that state. + +That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD'S Presence, by +continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit +His conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries. + +That we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of GOD; +which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him. + +That we ought to _quicken_, i.e., _to enliven, our faith_. That it was +lamentable we had so little; and that instead of taking _faith_ for +the rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial +devotions, which changed daily. That the way of Faith was the spirit +of the Church, and that it was sufficient to bring us to a high degree +of perfection. + +That we ought to give ourselves up to GOD, with regard both to things +temporal and spiritual, and seek our satisfaction only in the +fulfilling of His will, whether he lead us by suffering or by +consolation, for all would lie equal to a soul truly resigned. That +there needed fidelity in those dryness, or insensibilities and +irksomenesses in prayer, by which GOD tries our love to him; that +_then_ was the time for us to make good and effectual acts of +resignation, whereof one alone would oftentimes very much promote our +spiritual advancement. + +That as for the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the world, he +was so far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was +surprised that there were not more, considering the malice sinners +were capable of; that for his part he prayed for them; but knowing +that GOD could remedy the mischiefs they did when He pleased, he gave +himself no farther trouble. + +That to arrive at such resignation as GOD requires, we should watch +attentively over all the passions which mingle as well in spiritual +things as in those of a grosser nature; that GOD would give light +concerning those passions to those who truly desire to serve Him. That +if this was my design, viz., sincerely to serve GOD, I might come to +him (B. Lawrence) as often as I pleased, without any Fear of being +troublesome; but if not, that I ought no more to visit him. + + + +SECOND CONVERSATION. + + +That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and +that having resolved to make the love of GOD the _end_ of all his +actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method. +That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for +the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His +gifts. + +That he had been long troubled in mind from a certain belief that he +should be damned; that all the men in the world could not have +persuaded him to the contrary; but that he had thus reasoned with +himself about it: _I engaged in a religious life only for the love of_ +GOD, _and I have endeavored to act only for Him; whatever becomes of +me, whether I be lost or saved, I will always continue to act purely +for the love of_ GOD. _I shall have this good at least, that till +death I shall have done all that is in me to love Him_. That this +trouble of mind had lasted four years; during which time he had +suffered much. But that at last he had seen that this trouble arose +from want of faith; and that since then he had passed his life in +perfect liberty and continual joy. That he had placed his sins betwixt +him and GOD, as it were, to tell Him that he did not deserve His +favors, but that GOD still continued to bestow them in abundance. + +That in order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and +referring all we do to Him, we must at first apply to Him with some +diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love +inwardly excite us to it without any difficulty. + +That he expected after the pleasant days GOD had given him, he should +have his turn of pain and suffering; but that he was not uneasy about +it, knowing very well, that as he could do nothing of himself, GOD +would not fail to give him the strength to bear it. + +That when an occasion of practicing some virtue offered, he addressed +himself to GOD, saying, LORD, _I cannot do this unless Thou enablest +me_: and that then he received strength more than sufficient. + +That when he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault, +saying to GOD, _I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to myself; +it is You who must hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss_. That +after this, he gave himself no further uneasiness about it. + +That we ought to act with GOD in the greatest simplicity, speaking to +Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs, +just as they happen. That GOD never failed to grant it, as he had +often experienced. + +That he had been lately sent into Burgundy, to buy the provision of +wine for the society, which was a very unwelcome task for him, because +he had no turn for business, and because he was lame and could not go +about the boat but by rolling himself over the casks. That however he +gave himself no uneasiness about it, nor about the purchase of the +wine. That he said to GOD, _It was His business he was about_, and +that he afterwards found it very well performed. That he had been sent +into Auvergne, the year before, upon the same account; that he could +not tell how the matter passed, but that it proved very well. + +So, likewise, in his business in the kitchen (to which he had +naturally a great aversion), having accustomed himself to do +everything there for the love of GOD, and with prayer, upon all +occasions, for His grace to do his work well, he had found everything +easy, during fifteen years that he had been employed there. + +That he was very well pleased with the post he was now in; but that he +was as ready to quit that as the former, since he was always pleasing +himself in every condition, by doing little things for the love of +GOD. + +That with him the set times of prayer were not different from other +times; that he retired to pray, according to the directions of his +Superior, but that he did not want such retirement, nor ask for it, +because his greatest business did not divert him from GOD. + +That as he knew his obligation to love GOD in all things, and as he +endeavored so to do, he had no need of a director to advise him, but +that he needed much a Confessor to absolve him. That he was very +sensible of his faults, but not discouraged by them; that he confessed +them to GOD, but did not plead against Him to excuse them. When he had +so done, he peaceably resumed his usual practice of love and +adoration. + +That in his trouble of mind, he had consulted nobody, but knowing only +by the light of faith that GOD was present, he contented himself with +directing all his actions to Him, _i.e._, doing them with a desire to +please Him, let what would come of it. + +That useless thoughts spoil all: that the mischief began there; but +that we ought to reject them, as soon as we perceived their +impertinence to the matter in hand, or our salvation; and return to +our communion with GOD. + +That at the beginning he had often passed his time appointed for +prayer, in rejecting wandering thoughts, and falling back into them. +That he could never regulate his devotion by certain methods as some +do. That nevertheless, at first he had _meditated_ for some time, but +afterwards that went off, in a manner he could give no account of. + +That all bodily mortifications and other exercises are useless, except +as they serve to arrive at the union with GOD by love; that he had +well considered this, and found it the shortest way to go straight to +Him by a continual exercise of love, and doing all things for His +sake. + +That we ought to make a great difference between the acts of the +_understanding_ and those of the _will_: that the first were +comparatively of little value, and the others, all. That our only +business was to love and delight ourselves in GOD. + +That all possible kinds of mortification, if they were void of the +love of GOD, could not efface a single sin. That we ought, without +anxiety, to expect the pardon of our sins from the Blood of JESUS +CHRIST, only endeavoring to love Him with all our hearts. That GOD +seemed to have granted the greatest favors to the greatest sinners, as +more signal monuments of his mercy. + +That the greatest pains or pleasures of this world, were not to be +compared with what he had experienced of both kinds in a spiritual +state: so that he was careful for nothing and feared nothing, desiring +only one thing of GOD, viz., that he might not offend Him. + +That he had no scruples; for, said he, when I _fail_ in my duty, I +readily acknowledge it, saying, _I am used to do so: I shall never do +otherwise, if I am left to myself_. I fail not, then I give GOD +thanks, acknowledging the strength comes from Him. + + + +THIRD CONVERSATION. + + +He told me that the _foundation of the spiritual life_ in _him_, had +been a high notion and esteem of GOD in faith; which when he had once +well conceived, he had no other care at first, but faithfully to +reject every other thought, _that he might perform all his actions for +the love of_ GOD. That when sometimes he had not thought of GOD for a +good while, he did not disquiet himself for it; but after having +acknowledged his wretchedness to GOD, he returned to Him with so much +the greater trust in Him, as he had found himself wretched through +forgetting Him. + +That the trust we put in GOD, honors Him much, and draws down great +graces. + +That it was impossible, not only that GOD should deceive, hut also +that He should long let a soul suffer which is perfectly resigned to +Him, and resolved to endure everything for His sake. + +That he had so often experienced the ready succors of Divine Grace +upon all occasions, that from the same experience, when he had +business to do, he did not think of it beforehand; but when it was +time to do it, he found in GOD, as in a clear mirror, all that was fit +for him to do. That of late he had acted thus, without anticipating +care; but before the experience above mentioned, he had used it in his +affairs. + +When outward business diverted him a little from the thought of GOD, a +fresh remembrance coming from GOD invested his soul, and so inflamed +and transported him that it was difficult for him to contain himself. + +That he was more united to GOD in his outward employments, than when +he left them for devotion in retirement. + +That he expected hereafter some great pain of body or mind; that the +worst that could happen to him was, to lose that sense of GOD which he +had enjoyed so long; but that the goodness of GOD assured him He would +not forsake him utterly, and that He would give him strength to bear +whatever evil He permitted to happen to him; and therefore that he +feared nothing, and had no occasion to consult with anybody about his +state. That when he had attempted to do it, he had always come away +more perplexed; and that as he was conscious of his readiness to lay +down his life for the love of GOD, he had no apprehension of danger. +That perfect resignation to GOD was a sure way to heaven, a way in +which we had always sufficient light for our conduct. + +That in the beginning of the spiritual life, we ought to be faithful +in doing our duty and denying ourselves; but after that, unspeakable +pleasures followed; that in difficulties we need only have recourse to +JESUS CHRIST, and beg his grace; with that everything became easy. + +That many do not advance in the Christian progress because they stick +in penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of +GOD, which is the _end_. That this appeared plainly by their works, +and was the _reason_ why we see so little solid virtue. + +That there needed neither art nor science for going to GOD, but only a +heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for +_His_ sake, and to love him only. + + + +FOURTH CONVERSATION. + + +He discoursed with me very frequently, and with great openness of +heart concerning his manner of _going_ to GOD, whereof some part is +related already. + +He told me that all consists _in one hearty renunciation_ of +everything which we are sensible does not lead to GOD; that we might +accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him, with freedom +and in simplicity. That we need only to recognize GOD intimately +present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may +beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for +rightly performing those which we plainly see he requires of us, +offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we +have done. + +That in this conversation with God, we are also employed in praising, +adoring and loving Him incessantly, for His infinite goodness and +perfection. + +That, without being discouraged on account of our sins, we should pray +for His grace with a perfect confidence, as relying upon the infinite +merits of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. That GOD never failed offering us His +grace at each action; that he distinctly perceived it, and never +failed of it, unless when his thoughts had wandered from a sense of +GOD'S Presence, or he had forgotten to ask His assistance. + +That GOD always gave us light in our doubts, when we had no other +design but ask to please Him. + +That our sanctification did not depend upon _changing_ our works, but +in doing that for GOD's sake, which we commonly do for our own. That +it was lamentable to see how many people mistook the means for the +end, addicting themselves to certain works, which they performed very +imperfectly, by reason of their human or selfish regards. + +That the most excellent method he had found of going to GOD, was that +of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men,[1] and +(as far as we are capable) purely for the love of GOD. + +That it was a great delusion to think that the times of prayer ought +to differ from other times: that we are as strictly obliged to adhere +to GOD by action in the time of action, as by prayer in the season of +prayer. + +That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of GOD, +his soul being at that time insensible to everything but Divine love: +and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no +difference, because he still continued with GOD, praising and blessing +Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy; +yet hoped that GOD would give him somewhat to suffer, when he should +grow stronger. + +That we ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in GOD, +and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would +not deceive us. + +That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of +GOD, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with +which it is performed. That we should not wonder if, in the beginning, +we often failed in our endeavors, but that at last we should gain a +habit, which will naturally produce its acts in us, without our care, +and to our exceeding great delight. + +That the whole substance of religion was faith, hope and charity; by +the practice of which we become united to the will of GOD: that all +besides is indifferent, and to be used as a means that we may arrive +at our end, and be swallowed up therein, by faith and charity. + +That all things are possible to him who _believes_--that they are less +difficult to him who _hopes_--that they are more easy to him who +_loves_, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of +these three virtues. + +That the end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this +life, the most perfect worshippers of GOD we can possibly be, as we +hope to be through all eternity. + +That when we enter upon the spiritual life, we should consider, and +examine to the bottom, what we are. And then we should find ourselves +worthy of all contempt, and not deserving indeed the name of +Christians: subject to all kinds of misery and numberless accidents, +which trouble us and cause perpetual vicissitudes in our health, in +our humors, in our internal and external dispositions; in fine, +persons whom GOD would humble by many pains and labors, as well within +as without. After this we should not wonder that troubles, +temptations, oppositions and contradictions happen to us from men. We +ought, on the contrary, to submit ourselves to them, and bear them as +long as GOD pleases, as things highly advantageous to us. + +That the greater perfection a soul aspires after, the more dependent +it is upon Divine grace. + +[2]Being questioned by one of his own society (to whom he was obliged +to open himself) by what means he had attained such an habitual sense +of GOD, he told him that, since his first coming to the monastery, he +had considered GOD as the end of all his thoughts and desires, as the +mark to which they should tend, and in which they should terminate. + +That in the beginning of his novitiate, he spent the hours appointed +for private prayer in thinking of GOD, so as to convince his mind of, +and to impress deeply upon his heart, the Divine existence, rather by +devout sentiments, and submission to the lights of faith, than by +studied reasonings and elaborate meditations. That by this short and +sure method, he exercised himself in the knowledge and love of GOD, +resolving to use his utmost endeavor to live, in a continual sense of +His Presence, and if possible, never to forget Him more. + +That when he had thus in prayer filled his mind with great sentiments +of that infinite Being, he went to his work appointed in the kitchen +(for he was cook to the society); there having first considered +severally the things his office required, and when and how each thing +was to be done, he spent all the intervals of his time, as well before +as after his work, in prayer. + +That when he began his business, he said to GOD, with a filial trust +in Him, "O my GOD, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in +obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I +beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy Presence; and to +this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, +and possess all my affections." + +As he proceeded in his work, he continued his familiar conversation +with his Maker,--imploring His grace, and offering to Him all his +actions. + +When he had finished, he examined himself how he had discharged his +duty; if he found _well_, he returned thanks to GOD; if otherwise, he +asked pardon; and without being discouraged, he set his mind right +again, and continued his exercise of the _presence_ of GOD, as if he +had never deviated from it. "Thus," said he, "by rising after my +falls, and by frequently renewed acts of faith and love, I am come to +a state wherein it would be as difficult for me not to think of GOD as +it was at first to accustom myself to it." + +As brother Lawrence had found such an advantage in walking in the +presence of GOD, it was natural for him to recommend it earnestly to +others; but his example was a stronger inducement than any arguments +he could propose. His very countenance was edifying, such a sweet and +calm devotion appearing in it as could not but effect the beholders. +And it was observed that in the greatest hurry of business in the +kitchen, he still preserved his recollection and heavenly-mindedness. +He was never hasty nor loitering, but did each thing in its season, +with an even, uninterrupted composure and tranquility of spirit. "The +time of business," said he, "does not with me differ from the time of +prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several +persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess +GOD in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed +sacrament." + + + + +LETTERS. + + + + +FIRST LETTER. + + +Since you desire so earnestly that I should communicate to you the +method by which I arrived at that _habitual sense of_ GOD'S +_Presence_, which our LORD, of His mercy, has been pleased to +vouch-safe to me, I must tell you that it is with great difficulty +that I am prevailed on by your importunities; and now I do it only +upon the terms that you show my letter to nobody. If I knew that you +should let it be seen, all the desire that I have for your advancement +would not be able to determine me to it. The account I can give you +is: + +Having found in many books different methods of going to GOD, and +divers practices of the spiritual life, I thought this would serve +rather to puzzle me than facilitate what I sought after, which was +nothing but how to become wholly GOD'S. This made me resolve to give +the all for the all; so after having given myself wholly to GOD, that +He might take away my sin, _I renounced, for the love of Him, +everything that was not He; and I began to live as if there was none +but He and I in the world_. Sometimes I considered myself before Him +as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge; at other times I beheld +Him in my heart as my FATHER, as my GOD: I worshipped Him the oftenest +that I could, keeping my mind in His holy Presence, and recalling it +as often as I found it wandered from Him. I found no small pain in +this exercise, and yet I continued it, notwithstanding all the +difficulties that occurred, without troubling or disquieting myself +when my mind had wandered involuntarily. I made this my business as +much all the day long as at the appointed times of prayer; for at all +times, every hour, every minute, even in the height of my business, I +drove away from my mind everything that was capable of interrupting my +thought of GOD. + +Such has been my common practice ever since I entered in religion; +and, though I have done it very imperfectly, yet I have found great +advantages by it. These, I well know, are to be imputed to the mere +mercy and goodness of GOD, because we can do nothing without Him; and +_I_ still less than any. But when we are faithful to keep ourselves in +His holy Presence, and set Him always before us, this not only hinders +our offending Him, and doing anything that may displease Him, at least +wilfully, but it also begets in us a holy freedom, and, if I may so +speak, a familiarity with GOD, wherewith we ask, and that +successfully, the graces we stand in need of. In fine, by often +repeating these acts, they become _habitual_, and the presence of GOD +rendered as it were _natural to_ us Give Him thanks, if you please, +with me, for His great goodness towards me, which I can never +sufficiently admire, for the many favors He has done to so miserable a +sinner as I am. May all things praise Him. Amen. + +I am, in our LORD, yours, &c. + + + +SECOND LETTER. + + +_To the Reverend_-- + +Not finding my manner of life in books, although I have no difficulty +about it, yet, for greater security, I shall be glad to know your +thoughts concerning it. + +In a conversation some days since with a person of piety, he told me +the spiritual life was a life of grace, which begins with servile +fear, which is increased by hope of eternal life, and which is +consummated by pure love. That each of these states had its different +stages, by which one arrives at last at that blessed consummation. + +I have not followed all these methods. On the contrary, from I know +not what instincts, I found they discouraged me. This was the reason +why, at my entrance into religion, I took a resolution to give myself +up to GOD, as the best return I could make for His love; and, for the +love of Him, to renounce all besides. + +For the first year I commonly employed myself during the time set +apart for devotion with the thought of death, judgment, heaven, hell, +and my sins, Thus continued some years, applying my mind carefully the +rest of the day, and even in the midst of my business, _to the +presence of_ GOD, whom I considered always as _with_ me, often as _in_ +me. + +At length I came insensibly to do the same thing during my set time of +prayer, which caused in me great delight and consolation. This +practice produced in me so high an esteem for GOD, that _faith_ alone +was capable to satisfy me in that point.[3] + +Such was my beginning; and yet I must tell you that for the first ten +years I suffered much: the apprehension that I was not devoted to GOD +as I wished to be, my past sins always present to my mind, and the +great unmerited favors which GOD did me, were the matter and source of +my sufferings. During this time I fell often, and rose again +presently. It seemed to me that all creatures, reason, and GOD Himself +were against me; and _faith_ alone for me. I was troubled sometimes +with thoughts that to believe I had received such favors was an effect +of my presumption, which pretended to be _at once_ where others arrive +with difficulty; at other times that it was a wilful delusion, and +that there was no salvation for me. + +When I thought of nothing but to end my days in these troubles (which +did not at all diminish the trust I had in GOD, and which served only +to increase my faith), I found myself changed all at once; and my +soul, which, till that time, was in trouble, felt a profound inward +peace, as if she were in her centre and place of rest. + +Ever since that time I walk before GOD simply, in faith, with humility +and with love; and I apply myself diligently to do nothing and think +nothing which may displease Him. I hope that when I have done what I +can, He will do with me what He pleases. + +As for what passes in me at present, I cannot express it. I have no +pain or difficulty about my state, because I have no will but that of +GOD, which I endeavor to accomplish in all things, and to which I am +so resigned that I would not take up a straw from the ground against +His order, or from any other motive than purely that of love to Him. + +I have quitted all forms of devotion and set prayers but those to +which my state obliges me. And I make it my business only to persevere +in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and +a general fond regard to GOD, which I may call an _actual presence of_ +GOD; or, to speak better, an habitual, silent and secret conversation +of the soul with GOD, which often causes me joys and raptures +inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great, that I am forced to +use means to moderate them and prevent their appearance to others. + +In short, I am assured beyond all doubt that my soul has been with GOD +above these thirty years. I pass over many things that I may not be +tedious to you, yet I think it proper to inform you after what manner +I consider myself before GOD, whom I behold as my King. + +I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and +corruption, and who has committed all sorts of crimes against his +King; touched with a sensible regret, I confess to him all my +wickedness, I ask His forgiveness, I abandon myself in His hands that +He may do what he pleases with me. The King, full of mercy and +goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me +eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of +His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, +in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as +His favorite. It is thus I consider myself from time to time in His +holy presence. + +My most useful method is this simple attention, and such a general +passionate regard to GOD; to whom I find myself often attached with +greater sweetness and delight than that of an infant at the mother's +breast; so that, if I dare use the expression, I should choose to call +this state the bosom, of GOD, for the inexpressible sweetness which I +taste and experience there. + +If sometimes my thoughts wander from it by necessity or infirmity, I +am presently recalled by inward motions so charming and delicious that +I am ashamed to mention them. I desire your reverence to reflect +rather upon my great wretchedness, of which you are fully informed, +than upon the great favors which GOD does me, all unworthy and +ungrateful as I am. + +As for my set hours of prayer, they are only a continuation of the +same exercise. Sometimes I consider myself there as a stone before a +carver, whereof he is to make a statue; presenting myself thus before +GOD, I desire Him to form His perfect image in my soul, and make me +entirely like Himself. + +At other times, when I apply myself to prayer, I feel all my spirit +and all my soul lift itself up without any care or effort of mine, and +it continues as it were suspended and firmly fixed in GOD, as in its +centre and place of rest. + +I know that some charge this state with inactivity, delusion and +self-love. I confess that it is a holy inactivity, and would be a +happy self-love, if the soul in that state were capable of it; +because, in effect, while she is in this repose, she cannot be +disturbed by such acts as she was formerly accustomed to, and which +were then her support, but which would now rather hinder than assist +her. + +Yet I cannot bear that this should be called delusion; because the +soul which thus enjoys GOD desires herein nothing but Him. If this be +delusion in me, it belongs to GOD to remedy it. Let Him do what He +pleases with me; I desire only Him, and to be wholly devoted to Him. +You will, however, oblige me in sending me your opinion, to which I +always pay a great deference, for I have a singular esteem for your +reverence, and am in our LORD, + +Yours, &c. + + + +THIRD LETTER. + + +We have a GOD who is infinitely gracious and knows all our wants. I +always thought that He would reduce you to extremity. He will come in +His own time, and when you least expect it. Hope in Him more than +ever; thank Him with me for the favors he does you, particularly for +the fortitude and patience which He gives you in your afflictions. It +is a plain mark of the care He takes of you. Comfort yourself, then, +with Him, and give thanks for all. + +I admire also the fortitude and bravery of Mr. ----. God has given him +a good disposition and a good will; but there is in him still a little +of the world, and a great deal of youth. I hope the affliction which +GOD has sent him will prove a wholesome remedy to him, and make him +enter into himself. It is an accident which should engage him to put +all his trust in _Him_ who accompanies him everywhere. Let him think +of Him as often as he can, especially in the greatest dangers. A +little lifting up of the heart suffices. A little remembrance of GOD, +one act of inward worship, though upon a march, and a sword in hand, +are prayers, which, however short, are nevertheless very acceptable to +GOD; and far from lessening a soldier's courage in occasions of +danger, they best serve to fortify it. + +Let him then think of GOD the most he can. Let him accustom himself, +by degrees, to this small but holy exercise. No one will notice it, +and nothing is easier than to repeat often in the day these little +internal adorations. Recommend to him, if you please, that he think of +GOD the most he can, in the manner here directed. It is very fit and +most necessary for a soldier, who is daily exposed to the dangers of +life. I hope that GOD will assist him and all the family, to whom I +present my service, being theirs and Yours, &c. + + + +FOURTH LETTER. + + +I have taken this opportunity to communicate to you the sentiments of +one of our society, concerning the admirable effects and continual +assistances which he receives from _the presence of_ GOD. Let you and +me both profit by them. + +You must know his continual care has been, for about forty years past +that he has spent in religion, to be _always with_ GOD, and to do +nothing, say nothing, and think nothing which may displease Him; and +this without any other view than purely for the love of Him, and +because he deserves infinitely more. + +He is now so accustomed to that _Divine Presence_, that he receives +from it continual succors upon all occasions. For about thirty years, +his soul has been filled with joys so continual, and sometimes so +great, that he is forced to use means to moderate them, and to hinder +their appearing outwardly. + +If sometimes he is a little too much absent from that _Divine +Presence_, GOD presently makes Himself to be felt in his soul to +recall him, which often happens when he is most engaged in his outward +business. He answers with exact fidelity to these inward drawings, +either by an elevation of his heart towards GOD, or by a meek and fond +regard to Him, or by such words as love forms upon these occasions, as +for instance, _My God, here I am all devoted to Thee_: LORD, _make me +according to Thy heart_. And then it seems to him (as in effect he +feels it) that this GOD of love, satisfied with such few words, +reposes again, and rests in the fund and centre of his soul. The +experience of these things gives him such an assurance that GOD is +always in the fund or bottom of his soul, that it renders him +incapable of doubting it upon any account whatever. + +Judge by this what content and satisfaction he enjoys while he +continually finds in himself so great a treasure. He is no longer in +an anxious search after it, but has it open before him, and may take +what he pleases of it. + +He complains much of our blindness, and cries often that we are to be +pitied who content ourselves with so little. GOD, saith he, _has +infinite treasure to bestow, and we take up with a little sensible +devotion, which passes in a moment. Blind as we are, we hinder GOD, +and stop the current of His graces. But when He finds a soul +penetrated with a lively faith, He pours into it His graces and favors +plentifully: there they flow like a torrent, which, after being +forcibly stopped against its ordinary course, when it has found a +passage, spreads itself with impetuosity and abundance_. + +Yes, we often stop this torrent by the little value we set upon it. +But let us stop it no more; let us enter into ourselves and break down +the bank which hinders it. Let us make way for grace; let us redeem +the lost time, for perhaps we have but little left. Death follows us +close; let us be well prepared for it: for we die but once; and a +miscarriage _there_ is irretrievable. + +I say again, let us enter into ourselves. The time presses, there is +no room for delay: our souls are at stake. I believe you have taken +such effectual measures that you will not be surprised. I commend you +for it; it is the one thing necessary. We must, nevertheless, always +work at it, because not to advance in the spiritual life is to go +back. But those who have the gale of the HOLY SPIRIT go forward even +in sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with winds and +storms, let us awake the LORD, who reposes in it, and He will quickly +calm the sea. + +I have taken the liberty to impart to you these good sentiments, that +you may compare them with your own. It will serve again to kindle and +inflame them, if by misfortune (which GOD forbid, for it would be +indeed a great misfortune) they should be, though never so little, +cooled. Let us then _both_ recall our first fervors. Let us profit by +the example and the sentiments of this brother, who is little known of +the world, but known of GOD, and extremely caressed by Him. I will +pray for you; do you pray instantly for me, who am, in our LORD. + +Yours, &c. + + + +FIFTH LETTER. + + +I received this day two books and a letter from Sister ----, who is +preparing to make her profession, and upon that account desires the +prayers of your holy society, and yours in particular. I perceive that +she reckons much upon them; pray do not disappoint her. Beg of GOD +that she may make her sacrifice in the view of His love alone, and +with a firm resolution to be wholly devoted to Him. I will send you +one of these books which treat of _the presence of_ GOD; a subject +which, in my opinion, contains the whole spiritual life; and it seems +to me that whoever duly practices it will soon become spiritual. + +I know that for the right practice of it, the heart must be empty of +all other things; because GOD will possess the heart _alone_; and as +He cannot possess it _alone_ without emptying it of all besides, so +neither can He act _there_, and do in it what He pleases, unless it be +left vacant to Him. + +There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful +than that of a continual conversation with GOD. Those only can +comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you +to do it from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek +in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and +because GOD would have us. + +Were I a preacher, I should, above all other things, preach the +practice of _the presence of_ GOD; and, were I a director, I should +advise all the world to do it, so necessary do I think it, and so easy +too. + +Ah! knew we but the want we have of the grace and assistance of GOD, +we should never lose sight of Him, no, not for a moment. Believe me; +make immediately a holy and firm resolution never more wilfully to +forget Him, and to spend the rest of your days in His sacred presence, +deprived for the love of Him, if He thinks fit, of all consolations. + +Set heartily about this work, and if you do it as you ought, be +assured that you will soon find the effects of it. I will assist you +with my prayers, poor as they are. I recommend myself earnestly to +yours and those of your holy society being theirs, and more +particularly + +Yours, &c. + + + +SIXTH LETTER. + + +_To the Same_. + +I have received from Mrs. ----, the things which you gave her for me. +I wonder that you have not given me your thoughts of the little book I +sent to you, and which you must have received. Pray set heartily about +the practice of it in your old age: it is better late than never. + +I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the +practice of _the presence of_ GOD. For my part. I keep myself retired +with Him in the fund or centre of my soul as much as I can; and while +I am so with Him I fear nothing, but the least turning from Him is +insupportable. + +This exercise does not much fatigue the body; it is, however, proper +to deprive it sometimes, nay often; of many little pleasures which are +innocent and lawful, for GOD will not permit that a soul which desires +to be devoted entirely to Him should take other pleasures than with +Him: that is more than reasonable. + +I do not say that therefore we must put any violent constraint upon +ourselves. No, we must serve GOD in a holy freedom; we must do our +business faithfully; without trouble or disquiet, recalling our mind +to GOD mildly, and with tranquility, as often as we find it wandering +from Him. + +It is, however, necessary to put our whole trust in GOD, laying aside +all other cares, and even some particular forms of devotion, though +very good in themselves, yet such as one often engages in +unreasonably, because these devotions are only means to attain to the +end. So when by this exercise of _the presence of_ GOD we are _with +Him_ who is our end, it is then useless to return to the means; but we +may continue with Him our commerce of love, persevering in His holy +presence, one while by an act of praise, of adoration or of desire; +one while by an act of resignation or thanksgiving; and in all the +ways which our spirit can invent. + +Be not discouraged by the repugnance which you may find in it from +nature; you must do yourself violence. At the first one often thinks +it lost time, but you must go on, and resolve to persevere in it to +death, notwithstanding all the difficulties that may occur. I +recommend myself to the prayers of your holy society, and yours in +particular. I am, in our LORD, + +Yours, &c. + + + +SEVENTH LETTER. + + +I pity you much. It will be of great importance if you can leave the +care of your affairs to ----, and spend the remainder of your life +only in worshiping GOD. He requires no great matters of us; a little +remembrance of Him from time to time; a little adoration; sometimes to +pray for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, and +sometimes to return Him thanks for the favors He has given you, and +still gives you, in the midst of your troubles, and to console +yourself with Him the oftenest you can. Lift up your heart to Him, +sometimes even at your meals, and when you are in company: the least +little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry +very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of. + +It is not necessary for being with GOD to be always at church: we may +make an oratory of our heart wherein to retire from time to time to +converse with Him in meekness, humility and love. Every one is capable +of such familiar conversation with GOD, some more, some less: He knows +what we can do. Let us begin, then. Perhaps He expects but one +generous resolution on our part. Have courage. We have but little time +to live; you are near sixty-four, and I am almost eighty. Let us live +and die with GOD. Sufferings will be sweet and pleasant to us while we +are with Him; and the greatest pleasures will be, without Him, a cruel +punishment to us. May He be blessed for all. Amen. + +Accustom yourself, then, by degrees thus to worship Him, to beg His +grace, to offer Him your heart from time to time in the midst of your +business, even every moment, if you can. Do not always scrupulously +confine yourself to certain rules, or particular forms of devotion, +but act with a general confidence in GOD, with love and humility. You +may assure ---- of my poor prayers, and that I am their servant, and +particularly + +Yours in our LORD, &c. + + + +EIGHTH LETTER. + + +_(Concerning wandering thoughts in Prayer.)_ + +You tell me nothing new; you are not the only one that is troubled +with wandering thoughts. Our mind is extremely roving; but, as the +will is mistress of all our faculties, she must recall them, and carry +them to GOD as their last end. + +When the mind, for want of being sufficiently reduced by recollection +at our first engaging in devotion, has contracted certain bad habits +of wandering and dissipation, they are difficult to overcome, and +commonly draw us, even against our wills, to the things of the earth. + +I believe one remedy for this is to confess our faults, and to humble +ourselves before GOD. I do not advise you to use multiplicity of words +in prayer: many words and long discourses being often the occasions of +wandering. Hold yourself in prayer before GOD, like a dumb or +paralytic beggar at a rich man's gate. Let it be _your_ business to +keep your mind in the presence of the LORD. If it sometimes wander and +withdraw itself from Him, do not much disquiet yourself for that: +trouble and disquiet serve rather to distract the mind than to +re-collect it: the will must bring it back in tranquility. If you +persevere in this manner, GOD will have pity on you. + +One way to re-collect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and +preserve it more in tranquility, is _not to let it wander too far at +other times_: you should keep it strictly in the presence of GOD; and +being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep +your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from +its wanderings. + +I have told you already at large, in my former letters, of the +advantages we may draw from this practice of the presence of GOD: let +us set about it seriously, and pray for one another. + +Yours, &c. + + + +NINTH LETTER. + + +The enclosed is an answer to that which I received from ----; pray +deliver it to her. She seems to me full of good will, but she would go +faster than grace. One does not become holy all at once. I recommend +her to you: we ought to help one another by our advice, and yet more +by our good examples. You will oblige me to let me hear of her from +time to time, and whether she be very fervent and very obedient. + +Let us thus think often that our only business in this life is to +please GOD, and that all besides is but folly and vanity. You and I +have lived about forty years in religion (_i.e._, a monastic life). +Have we employed them in loving and serving GOD, who by His mercy has +called us to this state and for that very end? I am filled with shame +and confusion when I reflect on one hand upon the great favors which +GOD has done, and incessantly continues to do me; and on the other, +upon the ill use I have made of them, and my small advancement in the +way of perfection. + +Since by His mercy He gives us still a little time, let us begin in +earnest: let us repair the lost time: let us return with a full +assurance to that FATHER of mercies, who is always ready to receive us +affectionately. Let us renounce, let us generously renounce, for the +love of Him, all that is not Himself; He deserves infinitely more. Let +us think of Him perpetually. Let us put all our trust in Him. I doubt +not but we shall soon find the effects of it in receiving the +abundance of His grace, with which we can do all things, and without +which we can do nothing but sin. + +We cannot escape the dangers which abound in life without the actual +and _continual_ help of GOD: let us then pray to Him for it +_continually_. How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How can +we be with Him but in thinking of Him often? And how can we often +think of Him, but by a holy habit which we should form of it? You will +tell me that I am always saying the same thing. It is true, for this +is the best and easiest method I know; and as I use no other, I advise +all the world to do it. We must _know_ before we can _love_. In order +to _know_ GOD, we must often _think_ of Him; and when we come to +_love_ Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will +be with our treasure. This is an argument which well deserves your +consideration. + +I am, Yours, &c. + + + +TENTH LETTER. + + +I have had a good deal of difficulty to bring myself to write to Mr. +----, and I do it now purely because you and Madam ---- desire me. +Pray write the directions and send it to him. I am very well pleased +with the trust which you have in GOD: I wish that He may increase it +in you more and more. We cannot have too much in so good and faithful +a Friend, who will never fail us in this world nor in the next. + +If Mr. ---- makes his advantage of the loss he has had, and puts all +his confidence in GOD, He will soon give him another friend, more +powerful and more inclined to serve him. He disposes of hearts as He +pleases. Perhaps Mr. ---- was too much attached to him he has lost. We +ought to love our friends, but without encroaching upon the love due +to GOD, which must be the principal. + +Pray remember what I have recommended to you, which is, to think often +on GOD, by day, by night, in your business, and even in your +diversions. He is always near you and with you: leave Him not alone. +You would think it rude to leave a friend alone who came to visit you: +why then must GOD be neglected? Do not then forget Him, but think on +Him often, adore Him continually, live and die with Him; this is the +glorious employment of a Christian. In a word, this is our profession; +if we do not know it, we must learn it. I will endeavor to help you +with my prayers, and am, in our LORD, Yours, &c. + + + +ELEVENTH LETTER. + + +I do not pray that you may be delivered from your pains, but I pray +GOD earnestly that He would give you strength and patience to bear +them as long as He pleases. Comfort yourself with Him who holds you +fastened to the cross. He will loose you when He thinks fit. Happy +those who suffer with Him: accustom yourself to suffer in that manner, +and seek from Him the strength to endure as much, and as long, as He +shall judge to be necessary for you. The men of the world do not +comprehend these truths, nor is it to be wondered at, since they +suffer like what they are, and not like Christians. They consider +sickness as a pain to nature, and not as a favor from GOD; and seeing +it only in that light, they find nothing in it but grief and distress. +But those who consider sickness as coming from the hand of GOD, as the +effect of His mercy, and the means which He employs for their +salvation--such, commonly find in it great sweetness and sensible +consolation. + +I wish you could convince yourself that GOD is often (in some sense) +nearer to us, and more effectually present with us, in sickness than +in health. Rely upon no other Physician; for, according to my +apprehension, He reserves your cure to Himself. Put, then, all your +trust in Him, and you will soon find the effects of it in your +recovery, which we often retard by putting greater confidence in +physic than in GOD. + +Whatever remedies you make use of, they will succeed only so far as He +permits. When pains come from GOD, He only can cure them. He often +sends diseases of the body to cure those of the soul. Comfort yourself +with the sovereign Physician both of the soul and body. + +Be satisfied with the condition in which GOD places you: however happy +you may think me, I envy you. Pains and sufferings would be a paradise +to me while I should suffer with my GOD; and the greatest pleasures +would be hell to me if I could relish them without Him. All my +consolation would be to suffer something for His sake. + +I must, in a little time, go to GOD. What comforts me in this life is, +that I now see Him _by faith_; and I see Him in such a manner as might +make me say sometimes, _I believe no more, but I see_. I feel what +faith teaches us, and in that assurance and that practice of faith, I +will live and die with Him. + +Continue then always with GOD: it is the only support and comfort for +your affliction. I shall beseech Him to be with you. I present my +service. + +Yours, &c. + + + +TWELFTH LETTER. + + +If we were well accustomed to the exercise of _the presence of_ GOD, +all bodily diseases would be much alleviated thereby. GOD often +permits that we should suffer a little to purify our souls and oblige +us to continue _with_ Him. + +Take courage: offer Him your pains incessantly: pray to Him for +strength to endure them. Above all, get a habit of entertaining +yourself often with GOD, and forget Him the least you can. Adore Him +in your infirmities, offer yourself to Him from time to time, and in +the height of your sufferings, beseech Him humbly and affectionately +(as a child his father) to make you conformable to His holy-will. I +shall endeavor to assist you with my poor prayers. + +GOD has many ways of drawing us to Himself. He sometimes hides Himself +from us, but _faith_ alone, which will not fail us in time of need, +ought to be our support, and the foundation of our confidence, which +must be all in GOD. + +I know not how GOD will dispose of me. I am always happy. All the +world suffer; and I, who deserve the severest discipline, feel joys so +continual and so great that I can scarce contain them. + +I would willingly ask of GOD a part of your sufferings, but that I +know my weakness, which is so great, that if He left me one moment to +myself I should be the most wretched man alive. And yet I know not how +He can leave me alone, because faith gives me as strong a conviction +as sense can do, that He never forsakes us until we have first +forsaken Him. Let us fear to leave Him. Let us be always with Him. Let +us live and die in His presence. Do you pray for me, as I for you. + +I am, Yours, &c. + + + +THIRTEENTH LETTER. + + +_To the Same_. + +I am in pain to see you suffer so long. What gives me some ease and +sweetens the feelings I have for your griefs is, that they are proofs +of GOD'S love towards you. See them in that view and you will bear +them more easily. As your case is, it is my opinion that you should +leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the +providence of GOD: perhaps He stays only for that resignation and a +perfect trust in Him to cure you. Since, notwithstanding all your +cares, physic has hitherto proved unsuccessful, and your malady still +increases, it will not be tempting GOD to abandon yourself in His +hands, and expect all from Him. + +I told you in my last that He sometimes permits bodily diseases to +cure the distempers of the soul. Have courage then: make a virtue of +necessity. Ask of GOD, not deliverance from your pains, but strength +to bear resolutely, for the love of Him, all that He should please, +and as long as He shall please. + +Such prayers, indeed, are a little hard to nature, but most acceptable +to GOD, and sweet to those that love Him. Love sweetens pains; and +when one loves GOD, one suffers for His sake with joy and courage. Do +you so, I beseech you: comfort yourself with Him, who is the only +Physician of all our maladies. He is the FATHER of the afflicted, +always ready to help us. He loves us infinitely more than we imagine. +Love Him, then, and seek no consolation elsewhere. I hope you will +soon receive it. Adieu. I will help you with my prayers, poor as they +are, and shall always be, in our LORD Yours, &c. + + + +FOURTEENTH LETTER. + + +_To the Same_. + +I render thanks to our LORD for having relieved you a little, +according to your desire. I have been often near expiring, but I never +was so much satisfied as then. Accordingly, I did not pray for any +relief, but I prayed for strength to suffer with courage, humility and +love. Ah, how sweet it is to suffer with GOD! However great the +sufferings may be, receive them with love. It is paradise to suffer +and be with Him; so that if in this life we would enjoy the peace of +paradise we must accustom ourselves to a familiar, humble, +affectionate conversation with Him. We must hinder our spirits +wandering from Him upon any occasion. We must make our heart a +spiritual temple, wherein to adore Him incessantly. We must watch +continually over ourselves, that we may not do, nor say, nor think +anything that may displease Him. When our minds are thus employed +about GOD, suffering will become full of unction and consolation. + +I know that to arrive at this state the beginning is very difficult, +for we must act purely in faith. But though it is difficult, we know +also that we can do all things with the grace of GOD, which He never +refuses to them who ask it earnestly. Knock, persevere in knocking, +and I answer for it that He will open to you in His due time, and +grant you all at once what He has deferred during many years. Adieu! +Pray to Him for me, as I pray to Him for you. I hope to see Him +quickly. + +I am, Yours, &c. + + + +FIFTEENTH LETTER. + + +_To the Same_. + +GOD knoweth best what is needful for us, and all that He does is for +our good. If we knew how much He loves us, we should always be ready +to receive equally and with indifference from His Hand the sweet and +the bitter: all would please that came from Him. The sorest +afflictions never appear intolerable, except when we see them in the +wrong light. When we see them as dispensed by the hand of GOD, when we +know that it is our loving FATHER who abases and distresses us, our +sufferings will lose their bitterness, and become even matter of +consolation. + +Let all our employment be to _know_ GOD: the more one _knows_ Him, the +more one _desires_ to know Him. And as _knowledge_ is commonly the +measure of _love_, the deeper and more extensive our _knowledge_ shall +be, the greater will be our _love_: and if our love of GOD were great, +we should love Him equally in pains and pleasures. + +Let us not content ourselves with loving GOD for the mere sensible +favors, how elevated soever, which he has done, or may do us. Such +favors, though never so great, cannot bring us so near to Him as faith +does in one simple act. Let us seek Him often by faith. He is within +us: seek Him not elsewhere. If we do love Him alone, are we not rude, +and do we not deserve blame, if we busy ourselves about trifles which +do not please and perhaps offend Him. It is to be feared these +_trifles_ will one day cost us dear. + +Let us begin to be devoted to Him in good earnest. Let us cast +everything besides out of our hearts. He would possess them alone. Beg +this favor of Him. If we do what we can on our parts, we shall soon +see that change wrought in us which we aspire after. I cannot thank +Him sufficiently for the relaxation He has vouchsafed you. I hope from +His mercy the favor to see Him within a few days.[4] Let us pray for +one another. + +I am, in our LORD, Yours, &c. + +NOTES: + +[1: Gal. i, 10; Eph. vi, 5, 6.] + +[2: The particulars which follow are collected from other accounts of +Brother Lawrence.] + +[3: _I suppose he means_ that all distinct notions he could form of +GOD, were unsatisfactory, because he perceived them to be unworthy of +GOD; and therefore his mind was not to be satisfied but by the views +of _faith_, which apprehend GOD as infinite and incomprehensible, as +He is in Himself, and not as He can be conceived by human ideas.] + +[4: He took to his bed two days after, and died within the week.] + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Practice of the Presence of God +the Best Rule of a Holy Life, by Herman Nicholas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD *** + +***** This file should be named 13871.txt or 13871.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/8/7/13871/ + +Produced by Robert Shimmin, Project Manager, Keith M. 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