MARY, OUR MOTHER

FIRST CONVERSATION

    Conversion and previous employment. * Satisfaction in God’s presence. *
     Faith our duty. * Resignation the fruit of watchfulness.

   THE first time I saw Brother Lawrence was upon the 3rd of August, 1666. He
   told me that GOD had done him a singular favor, in his conversion at the
   age of eighteen.

   That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering
   that within a little time, the leaves would be renewed, and after that the
   flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and
   Power of GOD, which has never since been effaced from his soul. That this
   view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a
   love for GOD, that he could not tell whether it had increased in above forty
   years that he had lived since.

   That he had been footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer, and that he was a
   great awkward fellow who broke everything.

   That he had desired to be received into a monastery, thinking that he would
   there be made to smart for his awkwardness and the faults he should commit,
   and so he should sacrifice to GOD his life, with its pleasures: but that GOD
   had disappointed him, he having met with nothing but satisfaction in that
   state.

   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 as for the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the world, he was so
   far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was surprised there
   were not more, considering the malice sinners were capable of: that for his
   part, he prayed for them; but knowing that GOD could remedy the mischiefs
   they did, when He pleased, he gave himself no farther trouble.

   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.
[From 'THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD']