Sometimes the soul flies to others and opens her state so that she may find consolation. Thereby she frustrates God's designs toward her. It is of the utmost consequence to know what use to make of the distress. The whole of one's spiritual advancement depends on it. We should, at these seasons of internal anguish, obscurity and mourning, cooperate with God and endure this consuming torture in its utmost extent, while it continues, without attempting to lessen or increase it. Bear it passively, and do not seek to satisfy God by anything you can do of yourselves. To continue to be passive at such a time is extremely difficult, and requires great firmness and courage. I knew some who never advanced further in the spiritual process because they grew impatient and sought means of consolation.
Jeanne Guyon: An Autobiography. Witaker House, New Kensington, PA (1997). Page 54.
(Madame Guyon lived from 1647 to 1717)
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