nd her feeble strength was tried to its
utmost. But she records, "This illness was of great use to me, for,
besides teaching me patience under very severe pains, it enlightened me
much as to the worthlessness of the things of this world. While
detaching me to a great extent from myself, it gave me fresh courage to
bear suffering better than I had done in the past." When at last she
regained her health, the loss of her mother and the crosses of every-day
life served still further to solemnize her mind, and to turn her
aspirations heavenwards. She followed strictly her plan for private
prayer twice a day; she kept watch over herself continually, and in
almsgiving and other ways endeavoured to do as much good as she could.

III.

LIGHT BREAKS IN.

About this time a pious lady, an English exile, came to reside at her
father's house; and though she could but imperfectly understand her
devout conversation, Madame Guyon saw in her face a sweet satisfaction
which she herself had not as yet attained. Then her cousin De Toissi
arrived from the East, and, with sincere concern for her welfare,
encouraged her in her search after happiness in God. To him she
unburdened her soul, giving him a full account of all her faults and all
her wants. He tendered the best counsel he could. She now tried to
meditate continually on God, saying prayers and uttering ejaculatory
petitions. But all was in vain. The advice of these excellent persons
led her to look too much inwardly upon her own heart, instead of upward
to the Saviour as revealed in His word. So she still laboured along in
deep darkness and depression.

It was with a sudden brilliance that light and joy broke in upon her
spirit. In July, 1668, she was once more at the parental home, to nurse
her father, who was dangerously ill. Knowing well his daughter's
unhappiness, M. de la Mothe recommended her to consult his confessor, an
aged Franciscan, who had been of service to himself. This good man,
after listening for some time to the story of her restless wanderings
after peace, said, "Madame, you are seeking outside what you have
within. Accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, and you will find
Him there." These few and simple words turned her gaze from her own
efforts and feelings to see that peace was a thing to be found not in
outward deeds but in a heart right with God; and so she was enabled to
realise the bounteous love of God, which at that instant was broadening
h