The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life

The Practice of the Presence of
God the Best Rule of a Holy Life

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Title: The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life
Author: Herman Nicholas
Release Date: October 26, 2004 [EBook #13871]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE
OF GOD THE BEST RULE
OF A HOLY LIFE.
BROTHER LAWRENCE.

Being Conversations and Letters of Nicholas Herman, of Lorraine
(Brother Lawrence). _Translated from the French._
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY,
NEW YORK. CHICAGO. TORONTO.
_Publishers of Evangelical Literature._

PREFACE.

This book consists of notes of several conversations had with, and
letters written by Nicholas Herman, of Lorraine, a lowly and unlearned
man, who, after having been a footman and soldier, was admitted a Lay
Brother among the barefooted Carmelites at Paris in 1666, and was
afterwards known as "Brother Lawrence."
His conversion, which took place when he was about eighteen years old,
was the result, under God, of the mere sight in midwinter, of a dry and
leafless tree, and of the reflections it stirred respecting the change the
coming spring would bring. From that time he grew eminently in the
knowledge and love of GOD, endeavoring constantly to walk "as in His
presence." No wilderness wanderings seem to have intervened between
the Red Sea and the Jordan of his experience. A wholly consecrated
man, he lived his Christian life through as a pilgrim--as a steward and
not as an owner, and died at the age of eighty, leaving a name which
has been as "ointment poured forth."
The "Conversations" are supposed to have been written by M. Beaufort,
Grand Vicar to M. de Chalons, formerly Cardinal de Noailles, by
whose recommendation the letters were first published.
The book has, within a short time, gone through repeated English and
American editions, and has been a means of blessing to many souls. It
contains very much of that wisdom which only lips the Lord has
touched can express, and which only hearts He has made teachable can
receive.
May this edition also be blessed by GOD, and redound to the praise of
the glory of His grace.

CONVERSATIONS.

FIRST CONVERSATION.
The first time I saw _Brother Lawrence_, was upon the 3d of August,
1666. He told me that GOD had done him a singular favor, in his
conversion at the age of eighteen.
That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering
that within a little time the leaves would be renewed and after that the
flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and
Power of GOD, which has never since been effaced from his soul. That
this view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in
him such a love for GOD, that he could not tell whether it had
increased during the more than forty years he had lived since.
That he had been footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer, and that he was
a great awkward fellow who broke everything.
That he had desired to be received into a monastery, thinking that he
would there be made to smart for his awkwardness and the faults he
should commit, and so he should sacrifice to GOD his life, with its
pleasures: but that God had disappointed him, he having met with
nothing but satisfaction in that state.
That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD'S Presence, by
continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit
His conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries.
That we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of GOD;
which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.
That we ought to _quicken_, i.e., _to enliven, our faith_. That it was
lamentable we had so little; and that instead of taking faith for the rule
of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions, which
changed daily. That the way of Faith was the spirit of the Church, and
that it was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of perfection.
That we ought to give ourselves up to GOD, with regard both to things
temporal and spiritual, and