edifice of error.

VIII.

HER TEACHING.

On a previous page I have given extracts from her autobiography which
show pretty plainly the mistakes into which Madame Guyon fell at the
outset of her Christian career. They had their root in the idea that her
communion with God was so close and intimate that all her thoughts were
not merely devout and God-ward, but even Divine, coming direct from God.
So she fell into the Quietist error of intense introspection, looking
for guidance, not solely to the written Word, but chiefly to her own
inward impressions, or "inspirations," as she considered them to be.

But was it at all wonderful that this good woman, brought up in the
bondage of corrupt doctrine and deeply-incrusted prejudices, should
entertain some theological errors? The only wonder is that she attained
so much of the truth, and, in that age of mingled intolerance and
licentiousness, lived a life of purity and charity, of holy aspirations
and devout performance. And though her excessive introspection is not at
all to be imitated, and many of her views are such as we with our
greater light cannot, of course, endorse, yet her mistakes in
metaphysics and in theology did not affect the beauty of her life, which
was chiefly spent in acts of charity and earnest endeavours to spread
the knowledge of her Lord and Saviour. If her benevolent efforts at
evangelisation did not always show the successful results she desired,
if disappointments crowded some of her later years, yet to her case we
can rightly apply the words of the poet:

"Yet to the faithful there is no such thing
As disappointment; failures only bring
A gentle pang, as peacefully they say,
'His purpose stands, though mine has passed away.'"

Her Works, amounting in all to forty volumes, were published in Paris in
several editions. Her _Poems and Spiritual Songs_ occupy four volumes.
Some of these simple utterances of a devout heart were beautifully
translated by Cowper, and with one of the most characteristic of these
renderings this sketch may fitly be concluded:--

"THE ENTIRE SURRENDER.

Peace has unveiled her smiling face,
And woos thy soul to her embrace,
Enjoyed with ease, if thou refrain
From earthly love, else sought in vain.
She dwells with all who truth prefer,
But seeks not them who seek not her.

Yield to the Lord with simple heart
All that thou hast and all thou art;