Such was the prayer that was given me at once, far above ecstacies,
transports or visions. All these gifts are less pure, and more subject
to illusion or deceits from the enemy.
Visions are in the inferior powers of the soul, and cannot produce true
union. The soul must not dwell or rely upon them, or be retarded by
them; they are but favors and gifts. The Giver alone must be our
object, and aim.
It is of such that Paul speaks, "Satan transforms himself into an angel
of light," II Cor. 11:18; which is generally the case with such as are
fond of visions, and lay a stress on them; because they are apt to
convey a vanity to the soul, or at least hinder it from humbly
attending to God only.
Ecstacies arise from a sensible relish. They may be termed a kind of
spiritual sensuality, wherein the soul letting itself go too far, by
reason of the sweetness it finds in them, falls imperceptibly into
decay. The crafty enemy presents such sort of interior elevations and
raptures for baits to entrap the soul, to fill it with vanity and
self-love, to fix its esteem and attention on the gifts of God, and to
hinder it from following Jesus Christ in the way of renunciation and of
death to all things.
And as to distinct interior words, they too are subject to illusion;
the enemy can form and counterfeit them. Or if they come from a good
angel (for God Himself never speaks thus) we may mistake and
misapprehend them. They are spoken in a divine manner, but we construe
them in a human and carnal manner.
But the immediate word of God has neither tone nor articulation. It is
mute, silent, and unutterable. It is Jesus Christ Himself, the real and
essential Word who in the center of the soul that is disposed for
receiving Him, never one moment ceases from His living, fruitful, and
divine operation.
Oh, thou Word made flesh, whose silence is inexpressible eloquence,
Thou canst never be misapprehended or mistaken. Thou becomest the life
of our life, and the soul of our soul. How infinitely is thy language
elevated above all the utterances of human and finite articulation. Thy
adorable power, all efficacious in the soul that has received it,
communicates itself through them to others. As a divine seed it becomes
fruitful to eternal life.
The revelations of things to come are also very dangerous. The Devil
can counterfeit them, as he did formerly in the heathen temples, where
he uttered oracles. Frequently they raise false ideas, vain hopes, and
frivolous expectations. They take up the mind with future events,
hinder it from dying to self, and prevent it following Jesus Christ in
His poverty, abnegation, and death.
Widely different is the revelation of Jesus Christ, made to the soul
when the eternal Word is communicated. (Gal. 1:16.) It makes us new
creatures, created anew in Him. This revelation is what the Devil
cannot counterfeit. From hence proceeds the only safe transport of
ecstasy, which is operated by naked faith alone, and dying even to the
gifts of God. As long as the soul continues resting in gifts, it does
not fully renounce itself. Never passing into God the soul loses the
real enjoyment of the Giver, by attachments to the gifts. This is truly
an unutterable loss.
Lest I should let my mind go after these gifts, and steal myself from
thy love, O my God, Thou wast pleased to fix me in a continual
adherence to Thyself alone. Souls thus directed get the shortest way.
They are to expect great sufferings, especially if they are mighty in
faith, in mortification and deadness to all but God. A pure and
disinterested love, and intenseness of mind for the advancement of thy
interest alone. These are the dispositions Thou didst implant in me,
and even a fervent desire of suffering for Thee. The cross, which I had
hitherto borne only with resignation, was become my delight, and the
special object of my rejoicing.