again with
unspeakable magnificence and purity. It was then, O God, that I found
again in Thee with new advantages, in an ineffable manner, all I had
been deprived of; the peace I now possessed was all holy, heavenly and
inexpressible. All I had enjoyed before was only a peace, a gift of
God, but now I received and possessed the God of peace. Yet the
remembrance of my past miseries still brought a fear upon me, lest
nature should find means to take to itself any part therein. As soon as
it wanted to see or taste anything, the Spirit ever watchful crossed
and repelled it. I was far from elevating myself, or attributing to
myself anything of this new state. My experience made me sensible of
what I was.

I hoped I should enjoy this happy state for some time, but little did I
think my happiness so great and immutable as it was. If one may judge
of a good by the trouble which precedes it, I leave mine to be judged
of by the sorrows I had undergone before my attaining it. The apostle
Paul tells us, that "the sufferings of this life are not to be compared
with the glory that is prepared for us." How true is that of this life!
One day of this happiness was worth more than years of suffering. It
was indeed, at that time well worth all I had undergone, though it was
then only dawning. An alacrity for doing good was restored to me,
greater than ever. It seemed to me all quite free and natural to me. At
the beginning, this liberty was less extensive; but as I advanced it
grew greater. I had occasion to see Mon. Bertot for a few moments, and
told him, I thought my state much changed. He, seemingly attentive to
something else, answered, "No." I believed him; because grace taught me
to prefer the judgment of others, and rather believe them than my own
opinions or experience. This did not give me any kind of trouble. Every
state seemed equally indifferent if I only had the favor of God. I felt
a kind of beatitude every day increasing in me. I did all sorts of
good, without selfishness or premeditation. Whenever a self-reflective
thought was presented to my mind, it was instantly rejected, and as it
were a curtain in the soul drawn before it. My imagination was kept so
fixed, that I had now very little trouble on that. I wondered at the
clearness of my mind and the purity of my whole heart.

I received a letter from Father La Combe, wherein he wrote that God had
discovered to him that he had great designs in regard to me. "Let them
b