1。Afeelingofbeinginawiderlifethanthatofthisworld’sselfishlittleinterests；andaconviction，notmerelyintellectual，butasitweresensible，oftheexistenceofanIdealPower。InChristiansaintlinessthispowerisalwayspersonifiedasGod；butabstractmoralideals，civicorpatrioticutopias，orinnerversionsofholinessorrightmayalsobefeltasthetruelordsandenlargersofourlife，inwayswhichI
　　describedinthelectureontheRealityoftheUnseen。[154]
　　[154]The“enthusiasmofhumanity“mayleadtoalifewhichcoalescesinmanyrespectswiththatofChristiansaintliness。
　　TakethefollowingrulesproposedtomembersoftheUnionpourl’Actionmorale，intheBulletindel’Union，April1-15，1894。
　　See，also，RevueBleue，August13，1892。
　　“Wewouldmakeknowninourownpersonstheusefulnessofrule，ofdiscipline，ofresignationandrenunciation；wewouldteachthenecessaryperpetuityofsuffering，andexplainthecreativepartwhichitplays。Wewouldwagewaruponfalseoptimism；onthebasehopeofhappinesscomingtousreadymade；onthenotionofasalvationbyknowledgealone，orbymaterialcivilizationalone，vainsymbolasthisisofcivilization，precariousexternalarrangementill-fittedtoreplacetheintimateunionandconsentofsouls。Wewouldwagewaralsoonbadmorals，whetherinpublicorinprivatelife；onluxury，fastidiousness，andover-refinement，onallthattendstoincreasethepainful，immoral，andanti-socialmultiplicationsofourwants；onallthatexcitesenvyanddislikeinthesoulofthecommonpeople，andconfirmsthenotionthatthechiefendoflifeisfreedomtoenjoy。Wewouldpreachbyourexampletherespectofsuperiorsandequals，therespectofallmen；affectionatesimplicityinourrelationswithinferiorsandinsignificantpersons；
　　indulgencewhereourownclaimsonlyareconcerned，butfirmnessinourdemandswheretheyrelatetodutiestowardsothersortowardsthepublic。
　　“Forthecommonpeoplearewhatwehelpthemtobecome；theirvicesareourvices，gazedupon，envied，andimitated；andiftheycomebackwithalltheirweightuponus，itisbutjust。
　　2。Asenseofthefriendlycontinuityoftheidealpowerwithourownlife，andawillingself-surrendertoitscontrol。
　　3。Animmenseelationandfreedom，astheoutlinesoftheconfiningselfhoodmeltdown。
　　4。Ashiftingoftheemotionalcentretowardslovingandharmoniousaffections，towards“yes，yes。”andawayfrom“no。”
　　wheretheclaimsofthenon-egoareconcerned。Thesefundamentalinnerconditionshavecharacteristicpracticalconsequences，asfollows：——
　　a。Asceticism——Theself-surrendermaybecomesopassionateastoturnintoself-immolation。Itmaythensoover-ruletheordinaryinhibitionsofthefleshthatthesaintfindspositivepleasureinsacrificeandasceticism，measuringandexpressingastheydothedegreeofhisloyaltytothehigherpower。
　　b。StrengthofSoul——Thesenseofenlargementoflifemaybesoupliftingthatpersonalmotivesandinhibitions，commonlyomnipotent，becometooinsignificantfornotice，andnewreachesofpatienceandfortitudeopenout。Fearsandanxietiesgo，andblissfulequanimitytakestheirplace。Comeheaven，comehell，itmakesnodifferencenow！
　　“Weforbidourselvesallseekingafterpopularity，allambitiontoappearimportant。Wepledgeourselvestoabstainfromfalsehood，inallitsdegrees。Wepromisenottocreateorencourageillusionsastowhatispossible，bywhatwesayorwrite。Wepromisetooneanotheractivesincerity，whichstrivestoseetruthclearly，andwhichneverfearstodeclarewhatitsees。
　　“Wepromisedeliberateresistancetothetidalwavesoffashion，tothe’booms’andpanicsofthepublicmind，toalltheformsofweaknessandoffear。
　　“Weforbidourselvestheuseofsarcasm。Ofseriousthingswewillspeakseriouslyandunsmilingly，withoutbanterandwithouttheappearanceofbanter；——andevensoofallthings，forthereareseriouswaysofbeinglightofheart。
　　“Wewillputourselvesforwardalwaysforwhatweare，simplyandwithoutfalsehumility，aswellaswithoutpedantry，affectation，orpride。”
　　c。Purity——Theshiftingoftheemotionalcentrebringswithit，first，increaseofpurity。Thesensitivenesstospiritualdiscordsisenhanced，andthecleansingofexistencefrombrutalandsensualelementsbecomesimperative。Occasionsofcontactwithsuchelementsareavoided：thesaintlylifemustdeepenitsspiritualconsistencyandkeepunspottedfromtheworld。Insometemperamentsthisneedofpurityofspirittakesanasceticturn，andweaknessesoftheflesharetreatedwithrelentlessseverity。
　　d。Charity——Theshiftingoftheemotionalcentrebrings，secondly，increaseofcharity，tendernessforfellow-creatures。
　　Theordinarymotivestoantipathy，whichusuallysetsuchcloseboundstotendernessamonghumanbeings，areinhibited。Thesaintloveshisenemies，andtreatsloathsomebeggarsashisbrothers。
　　Inowhavetogivesomeconcreteillustrationsofthesefruitsofthespiritualtree。Theonlydifficultyistochoose，fortheyaresoabundant。
　　SincethesenseofPresenceofahigherandfriendlypowerseemstobethefundamentalfeatureinthespirituallife，Iwillbeginwiththat。
　　Inournarrativesofconversionwesawhowtheworldmightlookshiningandtransfiguredtotheconvert，[155]and，apartfromanythingacutelyreligious，weallhavemomentswhentheuniversallifeseemstowrapusroundwithfriendliness。Inyouthandhealth，insummer，inthewoodsoronthemountains，therecomedayswhentheweatherseemsallwhisperingwithpeace，hourswhenthegoodnessandbeautyofexistenceenfolduslikeadrywarmclimate，orchimethroughusasifourinnerearsweresubtlyringingwiththeworld’ssecurity。Thoreauwrites：——
　　[155]Above，pp。243ff。
　　“Once，afewweeksafterIcametothewoods，foranhourI
　　doubtedwhetherthenearneighborhoodofmanwasnotessentialtoasereneandhealthylife。Tobealonewassomewhatunpleasant。
　　But，inthemidstofagentlerain，whilethesethoughtsprevailed，IwassuddenlysensibleofsuchsweetandbeneficentsocietyinNature，intheverypatteringofthedrops，andineverysightandsoundaroundmyhouse，aninfiniteandunaccountablefriendlinessallatonce，likeanatmosphere，sustainingme，asmadethefanciedadvantagesofhumanneighborhoodinsignificant，andIhaveneverthoughtofthemsince。Everylittlepine-needleexpandedandswelledwithsympathyandbefriendedme。Iwassodistinctlymadeawareofthepresenceofsomethingkindredtome，thatIthoughtnoplacecouldeverbestrangetomeagain。”[156]
　　[156]H。Thoreau：Walden，Riversideedition，p。206，abridged。
　　IntheChristianconsciousnessthissenseoftheenvelopingfriendlinessbecomesmostpersonalanddefinite。“Thecompensation。”writesaGermanauthor，——“forthelossofthatsenseofpersonalindependencewhichmansounwillinglygivesup，isthedisappearanceofallFEARfromone’slife，thequiteindescribableandinexplicablefeelingofaninnerSECURITY，whichonecanonlyexperience，butwhich，onceithasbeenexperienced，onecanneverforget。”[157]
　　[157]C。H。Hilty：Gluck，vol。i。p。85。
　　IfindanexcellentdescriptionofthisstateofmindinasermonbyMr。Voysey：——
　　“Itistheexperienceofmyriadsoftrustfulsouls，thatthissenseofGod’sunfailingpresencewiththemintheirgoingoutandintheircomingin，andbynightandday，isasourceofabsolutereposeandconfidentcalmness。Itdrivesawayallfearofwhatmaybefallthem。ThatnearnessofGodisaconstantsecurityagainstterrorandanxiety。Itisnotthattheyareatallassuredofphysicalsafety，ordeemthemselvesprotectedbyalovewhichisdeniedtoothers，butthattheyareinastateofmindequallyreadytobesafeortomeetwithinjury。Ifinjurybefallthem，theywillbecontenttobearitbecausetheLordistheirkeeper，andnothingcanbefallthemwithouthiswill。Ifitbehiswill，theninjuryisforthemablessingandnocalamityatall。Thusandthusonlyisthetrustfulmanprotectedandshieldedfromharm。AndIforone——bynomeansathick-skinnedorhard-nervedman-amabsolutelysatisfiedwiththisarrangement，anddonotwishforanyotherkindofimmunityfromdangerandcatastrophe。Quiteassensitivetopainasthemosthighlystrungorganism，Iyetfeelthattheworstofitisconquered，andthestingtakenoutofitaltogether，bythethoughtthatGodisourlovingandsleeplesskeeper，andthatnothingcanhurtuswithouthiswill。”[158]
　　[158]TheMysteryofPainandDeath，London，1892，p。258。
　　Moreexcitedexpressionsofthisconditionareabundantinreligiousliterature。Icouldeasilywearyyouwiththeirmonotony。HereisanaccountfromMrs。JonathanEdwards：——
　　“Lastnight。”Mrs。Edwardswrites，“wasthesweetestnightI
　　everhadinmylife。Ineverbefore，forsolongatimetogether，enjoyedsomuchofthelightandrestandsweetnessofheaveninmysoul，butwithouttheleastagitationofbodyduringthewholetime。PartofthenightIlayawake，sometimesasleep，andsometimesbetweensleepingandwaking。ButallnightI
　　continuedinaconstant，clear，andlivelysenseoftheheavenlysweetnessofChrist’sexcellentlove，ofhisnearnesstome，andofmydearnesstohim；withaninexpressiblysweetcalmnessofsoulinanentirerestinhim。IseemedtomyselftoperceiveaglowofdivinelovecomedownfromtheheartofChristinheavenintomyheartinaconstantstream，likeastreamorpencilofsweetlight。AtthesametimemyheartandsoulallflowedoutinlovetoChrist，sothatthereseemedtobeaconstantflowingandreflowingofheavenlylove，andIappearedtomyselftofloatorswim，inthesebright，sweetbeams，likethemotesswimminginthebeamsofthesun，orthestreamsofhislightwhichcomeinatthewindow。IthinkthatwhatIfelteachminutewasworthmorethanalltheoutwardcomfortandpleasurewhichIhadenjoyedinmywholelifeputtogether。Itwaspleasure，withouttheleaststing，oranyinterruption。Itwasasweetness，whichmysoulwaslostin；itseemedtobeallthatmyfeebleframecouldsustain。Therewasbutlittledifference，whetherIwasasleeporawake，butiftherewasanydifference，thesweetnesswasgreatestwhileIwasasleep。[159]AsIawokeearlythenextmorning，itseemedtomethatIhadentirelydonewithmyself。I
　　feltthattheopinionsoftheworldconcerningmewerenothing，andthatIhadnomoretodowithanyoutwardinterestofmyownthanwiththatofapersonwhomIneversaw。ThegloryofGodseemedtoswallowupeverywishanddesireofmyheart……
　　Afterretiringtorestandsleepingalittlewhile，Iawoke，andwasledtoreflectonGod’smercytome，ingivingme，formanyyears，awillingnesstodie；andafterthat，inmakingmewillingtolive，thatImightdoandsufferwhateverhecalledmetohere。IalsothoughthowGodhadgraciouslygivenmeanentireresignationtohiswill，withrespecttothekindandmannerofdeaththatIshoulddie；havingbeenmadewillingtodieontherack，oratthestake，andifitwereGod’swill，todieindarkness。Butnowitoccurredtome，Iusedtothinkoflivingnolongerthantotheordinaryageofman。UponthisIwasledtoaskmyself，whetherIwasnotwillingtobekeptoutofheavenevenlonger；andmywholeheartseemedimmediatelytoreply：
　　Yes，athousandyears，andathousandinhorror，ifitbemostforthehonorofGod，thetormentofmybodybeingsogreat，awful，andoverwhelmingthatnonecouldbeartoliveinthecountrywherethespectaclewasseen，andthetormentofmymindbeingvastlygreater。AnditseemedtomethatIfoundaperfectwillingness，quietness，andalacrityofsoulinconsentingthatitshouldbeso，ifitweremostforthegloryofGod，sothattherewasnohesitation，doubt，ordarknessinmymind。ThegloryofGodseemedtoovercomemeandswallowmeup，andeveryconceivablesuffering，andeverythingthatwasterribletomynature，seemedtoshrinktonothingbeforeit。Thisresignationcontinuedinitsclearnessandbrightnesstherestofthenight，andallthenextday，andthenightfollowing，andonMondayintheforenoon，withoutinterruptionorabatement。”[160]
　　[159]CompareMadameGuyon：“Itwasmypracticetoariseatmidnightforpurposesofdevotion……ItseemedtomethatGodcameattheprecisetimeandwokemefromsleepinorderthatImightenjoyhim。WhenIwasoutofhealthorgreatlyfatigued，hedidnotawakeme，butatsuchtimesIfelt，eveninmysleep，asingularpossessionofGod。Helovedmesomuchthatheseemedtopervademybeing，atatimewhenIcouldbeonlyimperfectlyconsciousofhispresence。Mysleepissometimesbroken——asortofhalfsleep；butmysoulseemstobeawakeenoughtoknowGod，whenitishardlycapableofknowinganythingelse。”T。C。
　　Upham：TheLifeandReligiousExperiencesofMadamedelaMotheGuyon，NewYork，1877，vol。i。p。260。
　　[160]Ihaveconsiderablyabridgedthewordsoftheoriginal，whichisgiveninEdwards’sNarrativeoftheRevivalinNewEngland。
　　TheannalsofCatholicsaintshipaboundinrecordsasecstaticormoreecstaticthanthis。“Oftentheassaultsofthedivinelove。”itissaidoftheSisterSeraphiquedelaMartiniere，“reducedheralmosttothepointofdeath。SheusedtenderlytocomplainofthistoGod。’Icannotsupportit，’sheusedtosay。
　　’Beargentlywithmyweakness，orIshallexpireundertheviolenceofyourlove。’“[161]