imest truths of our most holy
Christianity, but she basked in the clearest and most beautiful
sunlight while they groped in darkness. She grasped with ease the
deepest and sublimest truths of holy Writ, while they were lost in the
mazes of their own profound ignorance.

One distinguished divine was delighted to sit at her feet. At first he
heard her with distrust; then with admiration. Finally he opened his
heart to the truth, and stretched forth his hand to be led by this
saint of God into the Holy of Holies where she dwelt. We allude to the
distinguished Archbishop Fenelon, whose sweet spirit and charming
writings have been a blessing to every generation following him.

We offer no word of apology for publishing in the Autobiography of
Madame Guyon, those expressions of devotion to her church, that found
vent in her writings. She was a true Catholic when protestantism was in
its infancy.

There can be no doubt that God, by a special interposition of His
Providence, caused her to commit her life so minutely to writing. The
duty was enjoined upon her by her spiritual director, whom the rules of
her church made it obligatory upon her to obey. It was written while
she was incarcerated in the cell of a lonely prison. The same all-wise
Providence preserved it from destruction. We have not a shadow of doubt
that it is destined to accomplish tenfold more in the future than it
has accomplished in the past. Indeed, the Christian world is only
beginning to understand and appreciate it, and the hope and prayer of
the publisher is, that thousands may, through its instrumentality, be
brought into the same intimate communion and fellowship with God, that
was so richly enjoyed by Madame Guyon.

E. J.

CONTENTS

PART ONE

Chapter 1 13
Chapter 2 19
Chapter 3 25
Chapter 4 30
Chapter 5 38
Chapter 6 49
Chapter 7 60
Chapter 8 68
Chapter 9 76
Chapter 10 79
Chapter 11 84
Chapter 12 89
Chapter 13 100
Chapter 14 108
Chapter 15 113
Chapter 16 121
Chapter 17 128
Chapter 18