Letters of Madam Guyon Part 8

This commencement of the reign of G.o.d, and of the pa.s.sive way, is very highly relished by the soul. The soul pa.s.ses days, and even years, separated from creature enjoyments without weariness. It advances very much more by this way, in little time, than by all the efforts of many years. It is not without faults and imperfections, but divine love diminishes them little by little, or does not permit the soul to become disturbed by them, lest it become discouraged and its love hindered.

This state is called pa.s.sive love. The soul sees no cause to fear; it supposes that all the work is done, and that it has only to pa.s.s into eternity, and to enjoy this good Sovereign, who already gives himself to the soul in so much fulness.

But in the onward progress of the soul, it becomes no longer doubtful, whether the soul is to remain in the pa.s.sive enjoyment of G.o.d and his communications. The soul begins to feel a drawing, to let G.o.d not only be all things in the soul, but there to reign separate from the soul's enjoyment of his gifts. The soul now experiences what is called, by the author of the Imitation of Christ, _the exile of the heart_. It hears a voice in the depth of the soul, or, rather, has an impression, that G.o.d reigns there alone. This exile is at first very painful, for it is important to notice, that, from the commencement of seeking G.o.d in the depth of the soul to the possession of him, there are many trials, temptations, sorrows. _Every successive state is marked by a purifying process_. Persons often mistake, and take the first purification for the last. When G.o.d reigns alone in the soul, separate from the action of self, and self is destroyed, it is beyond any previous state.

When the soul has ceased from its own selfish operations, and the man of sin is exterminated, its defects become more apparent, because G.o.d wishes it to comprehend what it is by itself, and what it would be without him. The soul is thus afflicted, believing it has lost the virtues, acquired with so much care, and seems to have faults that it had not before perceived. It says, with the spouse in the Canticles, "I have washed my feet, how shall I sully them?" You do not perceive, O, soul beloved, that you do not sully them in going to "open to the spouse," and that if you contract some slight impurity, he will remove it so perfectly, that you will become more beautiful. In the mean time, it is not the desire of the spouse to become beautiful in her own eyes, but to see only the beauty of her Lover. When the soul is faithful in this state, and really desires to die to itself, she is pleased only with the beauty of her Beloved, and says his beauty shall be my beauty. But it is necessary to advance beyond this, for, after being despoiled of her beauty, it would be a selfishness much greater to appropriate to herself, the beauty of her Beloved. His beauty must remain untarnished, unappropriated by her; she must leave him all, and remain in her nothing, for the nothing is her proper place. This is Perfect Love, which regards G.o.d alone.

SELECTIONS FROM HER POETRY.

A LITTLE BIRD I AM.

"A little bird I am, Shut from the fields of air; And in my cage I sit and sing To Him who placed me there; Well pleased a prisoner to be, _Because, my G.o.d, it pleases thee_.

"Nought have I else to do; I sing the whole day long; And He, whom most I love to please, Doth listen to my song; He caught and bound my wandering wing, But still he bends to hear me sing.

"Thou hast an ear to hear; A heart to love and bless; And, though my notes were e'er so rude, Thou wouldst not hear the less; Because though knowest as they fall, That Love, sweet Love, inspires them all.

"My cage confines me round, Abroad I cannot fly; But, though my wing is closely bound, My heart's at liberty.

My prison walls cannot control The flight, the freedom of the soul.

"Oh! it is good to soar, These bolts and bars above, To Him whose purpose I adore, Whose Providence I love; And in thy mighty will to find The joy, the freedom of the mind."

G.o.d EVERYWHERE, TO THE SOUL THAT LOVES HIM.

"Oh! Thou by long experience tried, Near whom no grief can long abide; My Lord! how full of sweet content, _I pa.s.s my years of banishment_.

"All scenes alike engaging prove, To souls impressed with sacred love; Where'er they dwell, they dwell in Thee, In Heaven, in earth, or on the sea.

"To me remains nor place nor time, My country is in every clime, I can be calm and free from care On any sh.o.r.e, since G.o.d is there.

"While place we seek, or place we shun, The soul finds happiness in none; But with a G.o.d to guide our way, 'Tis equal joy to go or stay.

"Could I be cast where Thou art not, That were indeed a dreadful lot; But regions none remote I call, Secure of finding G.o.d in all.

"My country, Lord, art Thou alone; No other can I claim or own; The point where all my wishes meet, My law, my love; life's only sweet.

"I love my G.o.d, but with no love of mine, For I have none to give; I love thee, Lord; but all the love is thine, _For by thy life I live_.

I am as nothing, and rejoice to be Emptied, and lost, and swallowed up in thee.

"Thou, Lord, alone, art all thy children need, And there is none beside; From thee the streams of blessedness proceed; In thee the bless'd abide.

Fountain of life, and all-abounding grace, Our source, our centre, and our dwelling-place."