lise the state of those to whom we are spiritually
united.

Unity of souls is experienced, not only with those in the body, who
have affinity with ourselves, but also with those out of the body. I
realise with the holy prophet David, a correspondence and unity, which
renders our souls one in God. You will experience this unity with the
saints more fully, when all perception of self is taken away. St. Paul
says, "_Ye are come_ to an innumerable company of _angels_--to the
_spirits of just men made perfect_." David was in the Old Testament,
what Paul was in the New. They were both deeply interior Christians.
The Apostles, after having received the Holy Ghost, spake all
languages. This has also a spiritual meaning. They communicated
grace, according to the necessities of each one. This is speaking the
word--the efficacious word, which replenishes the soul. This
nourishing, life-giving word is represented by the manna, and the
reality is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is himself the bread of
life in the soul. Amen, Jesus!

PAINFUL EXPERIENCE.

To-day my health is better, and I find myself able to reply to your
letter. Let the view of yourself that God gives you, be accepted,
whether it relates to your fallen condition in general, or to
particular faults; but add nothing to this view by your own
reflections. These continual reflex acts of the mind, do not help you;
they do not remove the faults. I am not surprised, that you find in
yourself so many evils; evils which render you almost insupportable to
yourself. When God accomplishes the work of purification, he removes
all that is opposed to the divine inflowing life.

These evils of your nature, which are now apparent, and which were
deeply concealed, are perceived by you, only because they are passing
out from their hiding-places. All persons do not have so deep a
knowledge of themselves; therefore do not suffer so much, because all
are not destined to so profound a death and burial while in the body.
Be silent, and drink the bitter cup. These humiliations will endure
until your state is in some degree perfected; after which they will
become more and more slight, and only at intervals, until the death and
burial is consummated.

ECSTACY OF THE MIND, AND THE WILL OR HEART.--THE DIFFERENCE.

The intellectual part of man can be in some degree united to God; but
the soul loses itself in God, only by the loss of the will and by love.
Thi