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.

I first saw Brother Lawrence on August 3, 1666. He told me that GOD had shown him a special favor by converting him 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.

One winter, he saw a tree stripped of its leaves. He thought about how soon its leaves would grow back, followed by flowers and fruit. This gave him a profound understanding of God's care and power, which never faded from his soul. This understanding completely freed him from the world and stirred such love for God in him that he could not tell whether his love had grown in the more than forty years since.

That he had been footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer, and that he was a great awkward fellow who broke everything.

He had been a footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer. He was a big, clumsy 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.

He had wanted to enter a monastery because he thought he would suffer for his awkwardness and mistakes. In this way, he would sacrifice his life and its pleasures to God. But God had disappointed him, for he had found nothing but satisfaction in that life.

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.

We should become aware of God's presence by continually talking with him. It is shameful to stop talking with him and think about trivial and foolish things.

That we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of GOD; which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.

We should nourish our souls with lofty thoughts of God. This will bring 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.

We should quicken, that is, enliven our faith. It is regrettable that we have so little faith. Instead of letting faith guide their conduct, people occupy themselves with trivial devotions that change daily. The way of faith is the spirit of the Church. It is enough 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 seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will, whether he lead us by suffering or by consolation, for all would lie equal to a soul truly resigned. That there needed fidelity in those dryness, or insensibilities and irksomenesses in prayer, by which GOD tries our love to him; that then was the time for us to make good and effectual acts of resignation, whereof one alone would oftentimes very much promote our spiritual advancement.

We should give ourselves over to GOD in both worldly and spiritual matters. We should find satisfaction only in doing his will, whether he leads us through suffering or comfort. For a soul truly surrendered to him, both would be the same. We need to remain faithful through dryness, lack of feeling, and discomfort in prayer. GOD uses these experiences to test our love for him. Then is the time to make sincere and effective acts of surrender to his will. Often, a single act of surrender can greatly advance our spiritual growth.

That as for the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the world, he was so far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was surprised that there were not more, considering the malice sinners were capable of; that for his part he prayed for them; but knowing that GOD could remedy the mischiefs they did when He pleased, he gave himself no farther trouble.

He heard daily of suffering and sins in the world, but he was not surprised by them. On the contrary, he was surprised there were not more, given the malice sinners were capable of. He prayed for them. But he knew that God could remedy the harm they did whenever he pleased, so he worried no further.

That to arrive at such resignation as GOD requires, we should watch attentively over all the passions which mingle as well in spiritual things as in those of a grosser nature; that GOD would give light concerning those passions to those who truly desire to serve Him. That if this was my design, viz., sincerely to serve GOD, I might come to him (B. Lawrence) as often as I pleased, without any Fear of being troublesome; but if not, that I ought no more to visit him.

To reach the surrender that God requires, we should watch carefully over all our passions. These passions enter into spiritual matters as well as more worldly ones. God would shed light on those passions for those who truly desire to serve him. If I sincerely intended to serve God, I could visit him (Brother Lawrence) as often as I pleased, without fear of troubling him. But if I did not, I should not visit him again.