From the Practice of the Presence of God by Bro. Lawrence

[Guest guest]

" THE first time I saw Brother Lawrence was upon the 3rd of August,

1666. He told me that...

....That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD's Presence,

by continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to

quit His conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries.

 

That we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of GOD;

which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.

 

That we ought to quicken, i.e., to enliven, our faith. That it was

lamentable we had so little; and that instead of taking faith for the

rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions,

which changed daily. That the way of Faith was the spirit of the

Church, and that it was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of

perfection.

 

That we ought to give ourselves up to GOD, with regard both to things

temporal and spiritual, and seek our satisfaction only in the

fulfilling His will, whether He lead us by suffering or by

consolation, for all would be equal to a soul truly resigned. That

there needed fidelity in those drynesses, or insensibilities and

irksomenesses in prayer, by which GOD tries our love to Him; that

then was the time for us to make good and effectual acts of

resignation, whereof one alone would oftentimes very much promote our

spiritual advancement.

 

That to arrive at such resignation as GOD requires, we should watch

attentively over all the passions which mingle as well in spiritual

things as those of a grosser nature: that GOD would give light

concerning those passions to those who truly desire to serve Him.

That if this was my design, viz., sincerely to serve GOD, I might

come to him (Bro. Lawrence) as often as I pleased, without any fear

of being troublesome; but if not, that I ought no more to visit him.

***

That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and

that having resolved to make the love of GOD the end of all his

actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method.

That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for

the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His

gifts.

***

That in order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and

referring all we do to Him; we must at first apply to Him with some

diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love

inwardly excite us to it without any difficulty.

 

That he expected after the pleasant days GOD had given him, he should

have his turn of pain and suffering; but that he was not uneasy about

it, knowing very well, that as he could do nothing of himself, GOD

would not fail to give him the strength to bear them.

 

That when an occasion of practising some virtue offered, he addressed

himself to GOD, saying, LORD, I cannot do this unless Thou enablest

me; and that then he received strength more than sufficient.

 

That when he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault,

saying to GOD, I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to

myself; 'tis You must hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss. That

after this, he gave himself no further uneasiness about it.

 

That we ought to act with GOD in the greatest simplicity, speaking to

Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs,

just as they happen. That GOD never failed to grant it, as he had

often experienced.

***

That our only business was to love and delight ourselves in GOD.

***

He told me, that all consists in one hearty renunciation of

everything which we are sensible does not lead to GOD; that we might

accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him, with freedom

and in sim- plicity. That we need only to recognize GOD intimately

present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we

may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and

for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us,

offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we

have done.

 

That in this conversation with GOD, we are also employed in praising,

adoring, and loving him incessantly, for His infinite goodness and

perfection... "