The Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of Madam Guyon, by P. L. Upham

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Title: Letters of Madam Guyon

Author: P. L. Upham

Release Date: September 25, 2009 [EBook #30083]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF MADAM GUYON ***

Produced by Al Haines

LETTERS

OF

MADAM GUYON.

BEING SELECTIONS OF HER RELIGIOUS THOUGHTS AND
EXPERIENCES, TRANSLATED AND RE-ARRANGED
FROM HER PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE

By P. L. UPHAM.

"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone; but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit."

BOSTON:

HENRY HOYT, No. 9 CORNHILL.

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858, by HENRY HOYT,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of
Massachusetts.

PREFACE.

Madam Guyon's correspondence was very extensive, occupying five printed
volumes. Her style of writing is somewhat diffuse. In giving
religious advice to many persons, there would necessarily be frequent
repetitions. It has, therefore, occurred to the writer, that a
selection and re-arrangement of thoughts, such as is found in this
little volume, would be more acceptable and useful, than a literal and
full translation of her letters. This selection necessarily involved
much re-writing and condensing. Great care, however, has been taken to
reach her true sentiments, and to give a just relation of her religious
experience.

In the interesting preface to her letters, published in 1767, the
writer remarks: "Next to the Holy Scriptures, we do not believe there
has been given to the world, any writings, so valuable as Madam
Guyon's; and of all these precious treasures, her letters are the most
rare. All who have received the unction of the Holy One, whereby they
know the truth, are agreed upon her divine writings."

If the writer may be permitted to add her humble testimony, having
enjoyed the privilege of reading her writings in the original for
several years, she would say, there are no writings, excepting the
Sacred Oracles, from which she has received so much spiritual benefit.
It is on this acc