Brother Lawrence                    The Practice of the Presence of God - 19

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Plan of Salvation

Fifteenth Letter:

From his death-bed.  Repeats the same exhortation to knowledge, that we may love.

...the deeper and more extensive our knowledge shall be, the greater will be our love...

     God knoweth best what is needful for us, and all that He does is for our good.  If we knew how much He loves us, we should be always ready to receive equally and with indifference from His hand the sweet and the bitter; all would please that came from Him.  The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light.  When we see them in the hand of God, who dispenses them: when we know that it is our loving Father, who abases and distresses us: our sufferings will lose their bitterness, and become even matter of consolation.

     Let all our employment be to know God: the more one knows Him, the more one desires to know Him.  And as knowledge is commonly the measure of love, the deeper and more extensive our knowledge shall be, the greater will be our love: and if our love of God were great we should love Him equally in pains and pleasures.

I hope from His mercy the favour to see Him within a few days. 

     Let us not amuse ourselves to seek or to love God for any sensible favours (howsoever elevated) which He has or may do us.  Such favours, though never so great, cannot bring us so near to God as faith does in one simple act.  Let us seek Him often by faith: He is within us; seek Him not elsewhere.  Are we not rude and deserve blame, if we leave Him alone, to busy ourselves about trifles, which do not please Him and perhaps offend Him?  'Tis to be feared these trifles will one day cost us dear.

     Let us begin to be devoted to Him in good earnest.  Let us cast everything besides out of our hearts; He would possess them alone.  Beg this favour of Him.  If we do what we can on our parts, we shall soon see that change wrought in us which we aspire after.  I cannot thank Him sufficiently for the relaxation He has vouchsafed you.  I hope from His mercy the favour to see Him within a few days.  Let us pray for one another.

(He took to his bed two days after and died within the week).

Brother Lawrence

(1611-1691)

(no portrait is available)

    Brother Lawrence was a French monk (Carmelite) who lived from 1611 to 1691. Prior to becoming a monk he was known as Nicholas Herman of Lorraine. 

    Like St. Francis, as a young man he was a soldier, but after becoming a monk he lived a quiet life performing various domestic chores for his monastery. 

   Nonetheless When talking to individuals, Brother Lawrence shared information about his own repeated efforts to keep his attention riveted on God no matter what business was occupying him. He reports that eventually this continual recollection of God became effortless and filled him with peace and joy. ____________