she abandoned the common affairs of life, to deliver herself up to sublime chimeras. She went to Paris, where she became acquainted with M. d'Aranthon, Bishop of Geneva, who prevailed on her to go to his diocese, to perfect an establishment founded by him at Gex, for the reception of newly-converted Catholics. She went to Gex in 1681, accompanied by her little daughter. Some time after, her relations demanded of her a resignation of her office of guardian to her children, together with their fortunes, which amounted to forty thousand livres. She readily consented to this; and, reserving only a moderate income for herself, consigned over to her family the bulk of her property. The community of Gex, observing her liberality, asked the bishop to propose to Madame Guyon that she should bestow a pension on their house, and thereby constitute herself its superior. Her rejection of this proposal, on the plea of disapprobation of the regulations of the community, gave offence to the sisterhood and their patron, by whom she was desired to leave the house.
She then went to the Ursulines at Thonon, whence she proceeded to Turin, and thence to Grenoble: at length, by the invitation of the bishop, who venerated her piety, she retired to Verceil. After an absence of five years, which she had spent in teaching her doctrines, she returned in 1686, to Paris, with a view of procuring medical aid. During her wanderings she had composed two tracts, entitled "A Short and Easy Method of Prayer," and "The Song of Songs, interpreted according to its Mystical Sense." Her irreproachable conduct, added to the novelty of her doctrines, which recommended prayer, contemplation, and divine love, as the sum and substance of religion, procured her many converts. The principles of Madame Guyon, which savoured of Platonic philosophy, diffused themselves throughout Paris, under the name of Quietism. Letters, from the provinces in which she had lived, complaining of the spread of her doctrines, completed their triumph by stimulating the curiosity of the multitude. The church, alarmed at a heresy which disparaged ceremonial devotion, prepared to resist the attack. Father la Combe, a Barnabite, and Confessor to Madame Guyon, was the first who suffered. He was imprisoned. Madame Guyon herself was next confined, January, 1688, in the convent des Filles de la Visitacion, where she was strictly interrogated, and detained for eight months. Her deliverance was at length effected by Madame Miranion, the superior of the convent, who represented her case to Madame de Maintenon. This lady pleaded her cause with Louis the Sixteenth, who liberated her, and she was introduced at St Cyr, a convent erected by Madame de Maintenon.
Soon after her liberation, Madame Guyon was introduced to Fenelon, who became her disciple and friend. She was also distinguished by the notice of the Dukes de Chevreuse and Beauvilliers, men of merit and talents, and by ladies of the first distinction, who were attracted as much by the graces of her person and manners as by her doctrines.
The cry of heresy was again raised by the church, which, by its anathemas, gave importance to the sect it sought to crush. Madame Guyon was persuaded by her friends to submit her cause and her writings to the Bishop of Meaux; who, after a conference with her, and perusing her papers, declared his satisfaction. The fury of the church was not, however, allayed; and an order was
