Reflections on
the Life of
Madame Jeanne de la Mothe Guyon.
Her first acquaintance, July 1671, with Francis La Combe. Some account of him.
It is during this period of her personal history, as it is given in her Autobiography, that we first find mention made of Francis de la Combe. As this somewhat distinguished individual is closely connected with a portion of her history, it may be proper to say something of him. He was born at Thonon, a flourishing town of Savoy, situated on the borders of the lake of Geneva.
In early life he was the subject of religious impressions; and in accordance with his design of devoting himself formally to God in a religious life, he attached himself to the Barnabites, one of the religious Orders in the Catholic Church. He was possessed of a high degree of natural talent, which was improved by a finished education. He was tall and commanding in his personal appearance, and naturally eloquent. Impressed with the importance of religion, he seems to have given his whole heart to God's work. He was frequently employed in religious missions, by those on whom the responsibility of such movements rested in the French church, particularly in the year 1679, and about that time, when he was sent to the province of Chablais, in Savoy, in which his native town, Thonon, was situated. He also labored as a missionary at Annecy, another town of Savoy, situated not far from the city of Chamberry.
His labors were not exclusively of an active kind. He published a small treatise, entitled A Short Letter of Instruction, in which he endeavors to point out the principles of growth and of the highest possible attainment in the Christian life. His principal published work was his Analysis of Mental Prayer, Orationis Mentalis Analysis originally written in Latin, and afterwards translated into French.
His personal activity and influence were such, combined with the influence of his writing, that Louis Fourteenth, who was extremely sensitive to any deviations from the established doctrines of the Romish Church, thought it necessary to shut him up in prison. He was first confined in the chateau of Lourde; he was subsequently transferred to the castle of Vincennes, near Paris, and at a later period was imprisoned in the castle of Oleron, situated in the Isle of Oleron, a place celebrated for having given name to a portion of maritime law, but which derives some portion of its notoriety from the persons who have suffered within the dungeons of its prison. His imprisonments, as I find it stated in one of the writers whom I have consulted, extended through twenty-seven years. His persecutors at last had some pity on him. Just before his death, when body and mind had both been prostrated by his sufferings, he was placed in the Hospital of Charenton. He died in 1714.
It was in June or July of 1671, (she speaks somewhat indefinitely as to the month) that a letter was brought to Madame Guyon from her half-brother, Father La Mothe. The bearer was La Combe, who was then young, but came highly recommended from La Mothe, who wished his sister to see him, and to regard and treat him as one of his most intimate friends. Madame Guyon says, that she was unwilling at this time to form new acquaintances; but desirous of corresponding to the request of her brother, she admitted him. The conversation turned chiefly upon religious subjects. With the clear insight of character which she possessed, she could not fail to become deeply interested in La Combe, as one on whom many religious interests might depend. But still she could not at that time fully decide whether she should regard him as truly a possessor of religion, or as merely a seeker after it.
"I thought," she says, "that he either loved God, or was disposed to love him; a state of things which could not fail to interest me, as it was the great desire of my heart that everybody should experience this divine love."
As God had already made use of her as an instrument in the conversion of three persons, members of the Religious Order to which he belonged, she indulged the hope that she might be made a benefit to him. And although she says she felt a reluctance to begin the acquaintance, she now felt a desire to continue it.
La Combe left her, but he was not satisfied. Providence had brought him in contact with a mind to which either grace or nature, or both in combination, had given power over other minds. He desired, therefore, to see more and to hear more. And, accordingly, on the basis of the acquaintance which had thus begun, he repeated the visit after a short time. Madame Guyon remarks, that La Combe, who seems to have been a man not only of intelligence but of vivacity and generosity of feeling, was very acceptable to her husband. On this second visit, he conversed with her husband freely. During the interview, he was taken somewhat unwell; and with the view of recovering and refreshing himself in the open air, he went out and walked in the garden. Soon after, Madame Guyon, at the particular request of her husband, went out for the purpose of seeing him, and of rendering any assistance which might be needed. She availed herself of the opportunity which was thus afforded, to explain to him what she denominates the interior or inward way, "la voie de l'interieur" a way which is inward because it rests upon God, in distinction from the way which is outward, and which rests upon man. He was prepared to receive her remarks, because he inwardly felt the need of that form of experience which was involved in them, and because he perceived, from her countenance, her conversation, and her life, that she possessed that of which he felt himself to be destitute.
La Combe always admitted afterwards, that this conversation formed a crisis in his life. Her words, attended by divine power, sunk deep into his souL It was then, and there, that he formed the purpose, with divine assistance, to be wholly the Lord's.
"God was pleased," says Madame Guyon, "to make use of such an unworthy instrument as myself, in the communication of his grace. He has since owned to me, that he went away at that time changed into quite another man. I ever afterwards felt an interest in him; for I could not doubt that he would be a servant of the Lord. But I was far from foreseeing, that I should ever go to the place of his residence."
Of La Combe we shall have occasion to speak again hereafter.
— from The Life of Madame Guyon (1877), Volume 1, Chapter 11.
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