y rarely to be found), sustained in high,
flowing, delicate, and soaring continuity will produce in her
conditions akin to a madness of joy. For one brief instant _she
remembers! but cannot utter what!_

Of visions I know nothing, but received all my experiences into my
soul as amazingly real inward perceptions. That these perceptions
are of unprecedented intensity, and more realistic than those which
are merely visual, can be understood by bodily comparisons; for to
_feel_ or to be one with fire is more than to _see_ it.

To try to compare spiritual life with physical experiences would
seem to be useless; for, to my feeling, while we live in the spirit we
live at a great speed,--indeed, an incalculably great speed--and as a
whole and not in parts. For with physical living we live at one
moment by the eyes, at another with the mind, at another through
the heart, at another with the body. But the spirit feels to have no
parts, for all parts are of so perfect a concordance that in this
marvellous harmony all is one and one is all. And this with
_incredible intensity,_ so that we live not as now--dully--but at
white heat of sensibility.

_Prayer_

Prayer is the golden wedding-ring between ourselves and God. For
myself, I divide it into two halves--the one petitioning, the other
offering.

Of petitioning I would say that this is the _work_ of the soul; and of
offering, that it is the pleasure of the soul.

Of petitioning, that I come to it under His command; and of offering,
that I come to it of my own high, passionate desire.

I make upon my knees, three times a day, three short and formal
prayers of humble worship, as befits the creature worshipping its
Ineffable and Mighty God: and for the rest of my time I sing to Him
from my heart and soul, as befits the joyful lover, adoring and
conversing with the Ineffable and Exquisite Beloved.

* * *

This is the circle of His way with us. First is prayer; then love; and
after love, humility. With humility comes grace; and after grace,
temptation; and in temptation we must quickly enter prayer again.

* * *

O wonderful and ineffable God! who, while remaining hidden from
His lovers in this life, yet so ravishes their hearts and minds and
souls that they are unable to find truly sweet even the greatest of
life's former joys--for nothing can now ever satisfy them but the
secret and marvellous administrations of His love and grace! On one
day feeling to be forsaken, t