Remarks on Holy Living

Reflections on
the Life of
Madame Jeanne de la Mothe Guyon.

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Inquiries on holy living

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There is but one way for the Christian to walk in. It is not possible that there should be any other. "A strait and narrow way" it is true; but still, properly speaking, not a difficult way. Undoubtedly it is difficult to a heart naturally averse to it, to enter into it, and to become entirely naturalized to it. Sometimes the difficulty is very great; but when once the process is fairly begun, and the influence of old habits is broken, the difficulty is, in a great degree, removed; and it becomes true, as the Saviour has said, that His "yoke is easy, and His burden is light." 

But people do not understand this; FIRST, because, in a multitude of cases, they do not make the experiment at all — they do not even enter into the way; and SECONDLY, because they do not persevere in the experiment sufficiently long to render it a fair one. But whether difficult or not, whether the difficulty continues for a longer or shorter time, it is God's way, and therefore the only true and safe way. But why is it described as a strait and narrow way? I answer, because it is a way in which every step is regulated by God's will. It is a way of one principle, and cannot therefore be otherwise than both strait and narrow. Any deviation from that will, however slight it may be, is necessarily a step out of the way. It may be concisely described, therefore, as a way in God's will. And this truly is the way of life. It is not only the way which leads to life, as the Scriptures express it; but it does of itself constitute a life, because he, who is in God's will, is in life, and life is in him. "This," says the apostle John, "is the record,—That God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John v. 11, 12.)

— edited from The Life of Madame Guyon (1877), Volume 1,  Chapter 9.