being discouraged, he set his mind right
again, and continued his exercise of the _presence_ of GOD, as if he
had never deviated from it. "Thus," said he, "by rising after my
falls, and by frequently renewed acts of faith and love, I am come to
a state wherein it would be as difficult for me not to think of GOD as
it was at first to accustom myself to it."

As brother Lawrence had found such an advantage in walking in the
presence of GOD, it was natural for him to recommend it earnestly to
others; but his example was a stronger inducement than any arguments
he could propose. His very countenance was edifying, such a sweet and
calm devotion appearing in it as could not but effect the beholders.
And it was observed that in the greatest hurry of business in the
kitchen, he still preserved his recollection and heavenly-mindedness.
He was never hasty nor loitering, but did each thing in its season,
with an even, uninterrupted composure and tranquility of spirit. "The
time of business," said he, "does not with me differ from the time of
prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several
persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess
GOD in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed
sacrament."

LETTERS.

FIRST LETTER.

Since you desire so earnestly that I should communicate to you the
method by which I arrived at that _habitual sense of_ GOD'S
_Presence_, which our LORD, of His mercy, has been pleased to
vouch-safe to me, I must tell you that it is with great difficulty
that I am prevailed on by your importunities; and now I do it only
upon the terms that you show my letter to nobody. If I knew that you
should let it be seen, all the desire that I have for your advancement
would not be able to determine me to it. The account I can give you
is:

Having found in many books different methods of going to GOD, and
divers practices of the spiritual life, I thought this would serve
rather to puzzle me than facilitate what I sought after, which was
nothing but how to become wholly GOD'S. This made me resolve to give
the all for the all; so after having given myself wholly to GOD, that
He might take away my sin, _I renounced, for the love of Him,
everything that was not He; and I began to live as if there was none
but He and I in the world_. Sometimes I considered myself before Him
as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge; at other times I beheld
Him in