ly those who know high
contemplation can judge of the immensity of what I say) to listen
and _attend to_ some most trivial want of a fellow-creature! Reader,
it is the hardest thing of all. No sooner have we learnt the hard and
difficult way of ascent than we must willingly come down it, even
remain altogether in the valley below, and that with a smiling face
and, if possible, no thought of impatience! This is the true sacrifice
of the soul. Now, the sacrifices of the creature are the giving up of
the near and visible joys and prides of the world to follow Christ,
and are not real but seeming sacrifices, for, if done heartily and with
courage, an exchange between these joys and the joys of the
invisible is rapidly effected, and there remains no sacrifice, but "the
hidden treasure" is ours! But the sacrifice of the soul is real and long;
for having at last re-found God, she must resign her full joy of Him
till the death of the body--and this willingly, thankfully, without
complaint, not asking favours but pouring up her gratitude. In joy or
in pain, in happiness or in tribulation--gratitude! gratitude!--and this
not by her own strength but by strength of the Holy Ghost.

* * *

Because of this new way of living, the mind acquires a great
increase of capacity and strength and clearness: being able to deal
quickly and correctly with all matters brought before it with an ease
previously altogether unknown to its owner. It is no exaggeration to
say that the sagacity, scope, and grasp of the mind feels to be more
than doubled from that which it previously was, and this not because
of any study, but by an involuntary alteration. So that, though the
mind and attention are now given almost exclusively to the things of
God, yet when the things of the world have to be dealt with, this is
accomplished with extraordinary efficiency and quickness, though
very distasteful to the mind.

* * *

As the soul returns to her source nothing is more strongly
emphasised to her than the strength and intensity of individuality;
she is shown that the essence of all joy is Individuality in Union.

In the marvellous condition of Contact, though we cease to be the
creature or the soul adoring the Creator (but by an incomprehensible
condescension we are accepted as one with Himself in love), yet we
retain our own consciousness, which is our individuality.

In the highest rapture I ever was in, my soul passed into a fearful
extremity of experi