atever degree of light and ardor they have attained, are unqualified
for it. They often think they have this discernment, when it is nothing
else but sympathy or antipathy of nature. Our Lord destroyed in me
every sort of natural antipathy. The soul must be very pure, and
depending on God alone, that all these things may be experienced in
Him. In proportion as this maid became inwardly purified, my pain
abated, till the Lord let me know her state was going to be changed,
which soon happily ensued. In comparison of inward pain for souls,
outward persecutions, though ever so violent, scarce gave me any.

The Bishop of Geneva wrote to different persons. He wrote in my favor
to such as he thought would show me his letters, and quite the contrary
in the letters which he thought I would never see. It was so ordered
that these persons, having showed each other their letters received
from him, were struck with indignation to see in him so shameful a
duplicity. They sent me those letters that I might take proper
precautions. I kept them two years, and then burned them, not to hurt
the prelate. The strongest battery he raised against me was what he did
with the Secretary of State, who held that post in conjunction with the
Marchioness of Prunai's brother. He used all imaginable endeavors to
render me odious. He employed certain abbots for that purpose, insomuch
that, though I appeared very little abroad, I was well known by the
description this bishop had given of me. This did not make so much
impression as it would have done, if he had appeared in a better light
at Court. Some letters of his, which her royal highness found after the
prince's death, written to him against her, had effect on the princess,
that, instead of taking any notice of what he now wrote against me, she
showed me great respect. She sent her request to me to come to see her.
Accordingly I waited on her. She assured me of her protection, and that
she was glad of my being in her dominions.

It pleased God here to make use of me to the conversion of two or three
ecclesiastics. But I had much to suffer from their repugnances and many
infidelities--one of whom had vilified me greatly--and even after his
conversion turned aside into his old ways. God at length graciously
restored him.

As I was undetermined whether I should place my daughter at the
Visitation of Turin, or take some other course; I was exceedingly
surprised, at a time I least expected it, to see F