The Autobiography of Madame Guyon | Page 6

father who loved me tenderly and seeing how little my education
was attended to sent me to a convent of the Ursulines. I was near seven
years old. In this house were two half sisters of mine, the one by my
father, the other by my mother. My father placed me under his
daughter's care, a person of the great capacity and most exalted piety,
excellently qualified for the instruction of youth. This was a singular
dispensation of God's providence and love toward me, and proved the
first means of my salvation. She loved me tenderly, and her affection
made her discover in me many amiable qualities, which the Lord had
implanted in me. She endeavored to improve these good qualities, and I
believe that had I continued in such careful hands, I should have
acquired as many virtuous habits as I afterward contracted evil ones.
This good sister employed her time in instructing me in piety and in

such branches of learning as were suitable to my age and capacity. She
had good talents and improved them well. She was frequent in prayer
and her faith was as great as that of most persons. She denied herself
every other pleasure to be with me and to instruct me. Such was her
affection for me that it made her find more pleasure with me than
anywhere else.
If I made her agreeable answers, though more from chance than from
judgment, she thought herself well paid for all her labor. Under her care
I soon became mistress of most studies suitable for me. Many grown
persons of rank could not have answered the questions.
As my father often sent for me, desiring to see me at home, I found at
one time the Queen of England there. I was near eight years of age. My
father told the Queen's confessor that if he wanted a little amusement
he might entertain himself with me. He tried me with several very
difficult questions, to which I returned such pertinent answers that he
carried me to the Queen, and said, "Your majesty must have some
diversion with this child." She also tried me and was so well pleased
with my lively answers, and my manners, that she demanded me of my
father with no small importunity. She assured him that she would take
particular care of me, designing me for maid of honor to the princess.
My father resisted. Doubtless it was God who caused this refusal, and
thereby turned off the stroke which might have probably intercepted
my salvation. Being so weak, how could I have withstood the
temptations and distractions of a court?
I went back to the Ursulines where my good sister continued her
affection. But as she was not the mistress of the boarders, and I was
obliged sometimes to go along with them, I contracted bad habits. I
became addicted to lying, peevishness and indevotion, passing whole
days without thinking on God; though He watched continually over me,
as the sequel will manifest. I did not remain long under the power of
such habits because my sister's care recovered me. I loved much to hear
of God, was not weary of church, loved to pray, had tenderness for the
poor, and a natural dislike for persons whose doctrine was judged
unsound. God has always continued to me this grace, in my greatest

infidelities.
There was at the end of the garden connected with this convent, a little
chapel dedicated to the child Jesus. To this I betook myself for
devotion and, for some time, carrying my breakfast thither every
morning, I hid it all behind this image. I was so much a child, that I
thought I made a considerable sacrifice in depriving myself of it.
Delicate in my choice of food, I wished to mortify myself, but found
self-love still too prevalent, to submit to such mortification. When they
were cleaning out this chapel, they found behind the image what I had
left there and presently guessed that it was I. They had seen me every
day going thither. I believe that God, who lets nothing pass without a
recompense, soon rewarded me with interest for this little infantine
devotion.
I continued some time with my sister, where I retained the love and fear
of God. My life was easy; I was educated agreeably with her. I
improved much while I had my health, but very often I was sick, and
seized with maladies as sudden as they were uncommon. In the evening
well; in the morning swelled and full of bluish marks, symptoms of a
fever which soon followed. At nine years, I was taken with so violent a
hemorrhage that they thought I was going to die. I was rendered
exceedingly weak.
A little before this severe attack,