. The soul having a
very simple method of prayer, all other prayer seems foreign to it.
When it would make a request, and as soon as the soul knows distinctly
what it demands, there is something which goes before to accomplish it,
without the utterance of words. When the soul utters words, or makes
petitions, if the spirit accompanying approves, the prayer is made with
ease. If the spirit do not cooperate, the words are uttered with
difficulty, or not at all. God takes the place of self in the soul,
and there prays for things agreeable to his will. This is a state of
the soul, in which it has no desire to originate prayer, but loves to
be silent in the presence of God. This is an experience more
satisfactory than I am able to express. O, that all the earth knew
what it means to keep silence before the Lord!

GREAT HUMILIATIONS.

I have a clear discernment of your state. It seems to me, I see it in
some measure as God sees it; that is, in the pure light of truth,--the
reasons why you suffer, and the blessed results of these sufferings. I
have known that the period of discipline would be long, and very long,
because you suffer not only on your own account, but also for the
benefit of others. God destines you to accomplish great things for his
glory, and exterior humiliations in your case not being suited to his
designs, he makes use of concealed humiliations, known only to yourself
and God. I will repeat to you the words addressed by our Lord to St.
Paul. "My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in
weakness."

It will be in companionship with humiliations, that you will be saved
from falling into sin and error, and be prepared to be come a vessel
fit for the Master's use. You will experience from time to time, a
return of these humiliating states, and when you may think they have
entirely passed away, they will suddenly revive. But the greater your
humiliation, the more God will use you to perform his most excellent
works. In this state of entire self-reduction and humiliation, your
words will be clothed with power.

"I am come," says our Lord, "to bring fire on the earth." O martyr of
Pure Love,--_a sacrifice_ for the good of others, what if the fires be
already kindled in your bosom, shrink not! If you were less to God, he
might spare you.

Do not hesitate to speak to me of your sufferings, because it appears
to you useless. It is not so. If you speak of them in simplic