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could sustain。 There was but little difference； whether I was
asleep or awake； but if there was any difference； the sweetness
was greatest while I was asleep。＇159＇ As I awoke early the next
morning； it seemed to me that I had entirely done with myself。 I
felt that the opinions of the world concerning me were nothing；
and that I had no more to do with any outward interest of my own
than with that of a person whom I never saw。 The glory of God
seemed to swallow up every wish and desire of my heart。 。 。 。
After retiring to rest and sleeping a little while； I awoke； and
was led to reflect on God's mercy to me； in giving me； for many
years； a willingness to die； and after that； in making me willing
to live； that I might do and suffer whatever he called me to
here。 I also thought how God had graciously given me an entire
resignation to his will； with respect to the kind and manner of
death that I should die； having been made willing to die on the
rack； or at the stake； and if it were God's will； to die in
darkness。 But now it occurred to me； I used to think of living
no longer than to the ordinary age of man。 Upon this I was led
to ask myself； whether I was not willing to be kept out of heaven
even longer； and my whole heart seemed immediately to reply：
Yes； a thousand years； and a thousand in horror； if it be most
for the honor of God； the torment of my body being so great；
awful； and overwhelming that none could bear to live in the
country where the spectacle was seen； and the torment of my mind
being vastly greater。 And it seemed to me that I found a perfect
willingness； quietness； and alacrity of soul in consenting that
it should be so； if it were most for the glory of God； so that
there was no hesitation； doubt； or darkness in my mind。 The
glory of God seemed to overcome me and swallow me up； and every
conceivable suffering； and everything that was terrible to my
nature； seemed to shrink to nothing before it。 This resignation
continued in its clearness and brightness the rest of the night；
and all the next day； and the night following； and on Monday in
the forenoon； without interruption or abatement。〃＇160＇
＇159＇ Compare Madame Guyon： 〃It was my practice to arise at
midnight for purposes of devotion。 。 。 。 It seemed to me that
God came at the precise time and woke me from sleep in order that
I might enjoy him。 When I was out of health or greatly fatigued；
he did not awake me； but at such times I felt； even in my sleep；
a singular possession of God。 He loved me so much that he seemed
to pervade my being； at a time when I could be only imperfectly
conscious of his presence。 My sleep is sometimes brokena sort
of half sleep； but my soul seems to be awake enough to know God；
when it is hardly capable of knowing anything else。〃 T。 C。
Upham： The Life and Religious Experiences of Madame de la Mothe
Guyon； New York； 1877； vol。 i。 p。 260。
＇160＇ I have considerably abridged the words of the original；
which is given in Edwards's Narrative of the Revival in New
England。
The annals of Catholic saintship abound in records as ecstatic or
more ecstatic than this。 〃Often the assaults of the divine
love；〃 it is said of the Sister Seraphique de la Martiniere；
〃reduced her almost to the point of death。 She used tenderly to
complain of this to God。 'I cannot support it；' she used to say。
'Bear gently with my weakness； or I shall expire under the
violence of your love。'〃＇161＇
＇161＇ Bougaud： Hist。 de la Bienheureuse Marguerite Marie； 1894；
p。 125。
Let me pass next to the Charity and Brotherly Love which are a
usual fruit of saintliness； and have always been reckoned
essential theological virtues； however limited may have been the
kinds of service which the particular theology enjoined。
Brotherly love would follow logically from the assurance of God's
friendly presence； the notion of our brotherhood as men being an
immediate inference from that of God's fatherhood of us all。
When Christ utters the precepts： 〃Love your enemies； bless them
that curse you； do good to them that hate you； and pray for them
which despitefully use you； and persecute you；〃 he gives for a
reason： 〃That ye may be the children of your Father which is in
heaven： for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good； and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust。〃 One
might therefore be tempted to explain both the humility as to
one's self and the charity towards others which characterize
spiritual excitement； as results of the all…leveling character of
theistic belief。 But these affections are certainly not mere
derivatives of theism。 We find them in Stoicism； in Hinduism；
and in Buddhism in the highest possible degree。 They HARMONIZE
with paternal theism beautifully； but they harmonize with all
reflection whatever upon the dependence of mankind on general
causes； and we must； I think； consider them not subordinate but
coordinate parts of that great complex excitement in the study of
which we are engaged。 Religious rapture； moral enthusiasm；
ontological wonder； cosmic emotion； are all unifying states of
mind； in which the sand and grit of the selfhood incline to
disappear； and tenderness to rule。 The best thing is to describe
the condition integrally as a characteristic affection to which
our nature is liable； a region in which we find ourselves at
home； a sea in which we swim； but not to pretend to explain its
parts by deriving them too cleverly from one another。 Like love
or fear； the faith…state is a natural psychic complex； and
carries charity with it by organic consequence。 Jubilation is an
expansive affection； and all expansive affections are
self…forgetful and kindly so long as they endure。
We find this the case even when they are pathological in origin。
In his instructive work； la Tristesse et la Joie；＇162＇ M。 Georges
Dumas compares together the melancholy and the joyous phase of
circular insanity； and shows that； while selfishness
characterizes the one； the other is marked by altruistic
impulses。 No human being so stingy and useless as was Marie in
her melancholy period！ But the moment the happy period begins；
〃sympathy and kindness become her characteristic sentiments。 She
displays a universal goodwill； not only of intention； but in act。
。 。 。 She becomes solicitous of the health of other patients；
interested in getting them out； desirous to procure wool to knit
socks for some of them。 Never since she has been under my
obse