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A SHORT METHOD OF PRAYER

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1 A SHORT METHOD OF PRAYER By J. M. B. DE LA MOT GUYON. Translated from the Paris Edition of 1790 By A. W. MARSTON. LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, LOW, & SEARLE, CROWN BUILDINGS, 188 FLEET STREET. 1875. PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY EDINBURGH AND LONDON2 PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH PROTESTANT EDITION.Some apology is perhaps needed when a Protestant thus brings beforeProtestant readers the works of a consistent Roman Catholic author. Theplea must be, that the doctrine and experience described are essentiallyProtestant; and so far from their receiving the assent of the RomanCatholic Church, their author was persecuted for holding anddisseminating them.Of the experience of Madame Guyon, it should be borne in mind, thatthough the glorious heights of communion with God to which she attainedmay be scaled by the feeblest of God's chosen ones, yet it is by nomeans necessary that they should be reached by the same apparentlyarduous and protracted path along which she was led.The "Torrents" especially needs to be regarded rather as an account ofthe personal experience of the author, than as the plan which Godinvariably, or even usually, adopts in bringing the soul into a state ofunion with Himself. It is true that, in order that we may "live untorighteousness," we must be "dead indeed unto sin;" and that there mustbe a crucifixion of self before the life of Christ can be made manifestin us. It is only when we can say, "I am crucified with Christ," that weare able to add, "Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives inme." But it does not follow that this inward death must always be aslingering as in the case of Madame Guyon. She tells us herself that thereason was, that she was not wholly resigned to the Divine will, andwilling to be deprived of the gifts of God, that she might enjoy thepossession of the Giver. This resistance to the will of God impliessuffering on the part of the creature, and chastisement on the part ofGod, in order that He may subdue to Himself what is not voluntarilyyielded to Him.Of the joy of a complete surrender to God, it is not necessary to speakhere: thousands of God's children are realising its blessedness forthemselves, and proving that it is no hardship, but a joy unspeakable,to present themselves a living sacrifice to God, to live no longer tothemselves, but to Him that died for them, and rose again.A simple trust in a living, personal Saviour; a putting away by Hisgrace of all that is known to be in opposition to His will; and anentire self-abandonment to Him, that His designs may be worked out inand through us; such is the simple key to the hidden sanctuary ofcommunion.3 A SHORT METHOD OF PRAYER. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH PROTESTANT EDITION. 2Author’s Preface 4 I. PRAYER POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES, BY THE MOST SIMPLE 7 II. FIRST DEGREE OF PRAYER 9 III. SECOND DEGREE OF PRAYER, CALLED HERE THE PRAYER OF SIMPLICITY 12 IV. SPIRITUAL DRYNESS 13 V. ABANDONMENT TO GOD 14 VI. SUFFERING 16 VII. MYSTERIES 17 VIII. VIRTUE 18 IX. PERFECT CONVERSION 19 X. HIGHER DEGREE OF PRAYER, THAT OF THE SIMPLE PRESENCE OF GOD 21 XI. REST IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD--INWARD AND OUTWARD SILENCE 24 XII. SELF-EXAMINATION AND CONFESSION 26 XIII. READING AND VOCAL PRAYER 28 XIV. THE FAULTS AND TEMPTATIONS OF THIS DEGREE 29 XV. PRAYER AND SACRIFICE EXPLAINED BY THE SIMILITUDE OF A PERFUME 31 XVI. THIS STATE NOT ONE OF IDLENESS, BUT OF ACTION 33 XVII. DISTINCTION BETWEEN EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR ACTIONS 39 XVIII. EXHORTATIONS TO PREACHERS 43 XIX. PREPARATION FOR DIVINE UNION 44Walk before me, and be you perfect."--Gen. xvii. 1.45 AUTHOR'S PREFACE.I did not write this little work with the thought of its being given tothe public. It was prepared for the help of a few Christians who weredesirous of loving God with the whole heart. But so many have requestedcopies of it, because of the benefit they have derived from its perusal,that I have been asked to publish it.I have left it in its natural simplicity. I do not condemn the opinionsof any: on the contrary, I esteem those which are held by others, andsubmit all that I have written to the censure of persons of experienceand learning. I only ask of all that they will not be content withexamining the outside, but that they will penetrate the design of thewriter, which is only to lead others to LOVE GOD, and to serve Him withgreater happiness and success, by enabling them to do it in a simple andeasy way, fit for the little ones who are not capable of extraordinarythings, but who truly desire to _give themselves to God_.I ask all who may read it, to read without prejudice; and they willdiscover, under common expressions, a hidden unction, which will leadthem to seek for a happiness which all ought to expect to possess.I use the word _facility_, saying that perfection is easy, because it iseasy to find God, _when we seek Him within ourselves_. The passage maybe quoted which says, "You shall seek me, and shall not find me" (Johnvii. 34). Yet this need not occasion any difficulty; because the sameGod, who cannot contradict Himself, has said, "He that seeketh findeth"(Matt. vii. 8). _He who seeks God, and who yet is unwilling to forsakesin, will not find Him, because he is seeking Him where He cannot befound_; therefore it is added, "You shall die in your sins." _But he whosincerely desires to forsake sin, that he may draw near to God, willfind Him infallibly_.Many people imagine


A SHORT METHOD OF PRAYER

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