many times
before they are lost in the sea, so the soul undergoes many changes,
before it is received into God.

The results of self-crucifixion are happy, because God then becomes all
to the soul. We lose self, and substitute God in its place. We take
away the finite, and receive the Infinite. This is blessed.

NO DEPENDENCE ON INSTRUMENTS.

What shall I say regarding the state in which you find yourself, in
relation to me? I have no movement either to promote our re-union, or
hinder it. Let God direct. Are you leaning upon him, or upon the
creature? If on the creature, it is a bruised reed, which will fail
you. God sometimes makes use of instruments, whom he finds it
necessary afterwards to reject. If he designs to remove me from you,
can I have any wish to retain you? God forbid. He may design this
separation, to make you die to any confidence in the creature. He may
no longer design to use me for your benefit. I might have mingled my
own impurity, with his pure light flowing through me. If God permit me
to err, it is on account of my pride. I have never given you any
assurance of my infallibility. What am I but an erring creature?
Leave me, leave me, and unite yourself only to God, who will never
mislead you. Means are good, only in the order of God. They injure
us, if we rest in them. If God remove me from you, acquiesce in his
will, with a devotion worthy of a child of God. Be humble, and
courageous enough to own your fault, in leaning on an arm of flesh.
Men of the world may be obstinate, but the child of God should be
supple. Whatever separation there may be between us, believe me, you
will always be dear to me in our dear Lord. I hope, when you are lost
in him, you will find this little drop of water, (myself) in the same
great ocean of love.

CHILD OF GOD SOON TO DIE.

I have had a presentiment that you would not survive this illness. I
lose in you the most faithful, and the only friend on whom I could
rely, in the persecutions which threaten me. I feel my loss, but
rejoice in your happiness, I could envy you. Death only lends a
helping hand to rend away the veil, which hides infinite beauties. Our
Lord has strongly cemented our souls. May the benediction of the
divine Master rest upon you. Go, blessed soul, and receive the
recompense prepared for all those, who are wholly the Lord's. Go, we
separate in the name of the Lord; I cannot say a last adieu, for we
shal