UNDER this head, is comprehended the whole of his conduct, and experience, as a Christian, considered in his private capacity. And for this especially, we are furnished with the most ample materials, both from the general tenor of his conversation and from his diary.
He lived for this one thing. All his actions and employments had this single tendency; and he considered every thing else, with reference thereto: making his estimate of the good or evil of every intention, action, exercise, and understanding, according as it tended to promote, or hinder this best of pursuits, and noblest enjoyment of the human soul.
Without regarding the inclinations of nature, he embraced, or rejected every thing, with a view altogether to the promotion of the holy and happy fellowship of his soul with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
I am aware, how much more easy it is to say great things on this head, concerning one’s self, or others, than to say nothing but the truth. And it may be questioned, whether the greater part of the shining accounts hereof which we have seen, are the simple truth: the writers often shewing, rather what they could say, than what the persons whom they describe, really were. It is a fruitless expectation to look for more in men, than the state of humanity really admits.
The perfection of human kind is such a state of mind and body, as their nature admits of, and as God has provided for them, in the ocean of his love, and treasures of his grace. The sum of our perfection is, that being saved from all our enemies, (that is sins, including all wrong tempers, as well as words, and actions,) we love God with all the powers of the soul, and serve him, with the whole capacity, of both our soul and body. And whoever has attained to this (which whoso denies the possibility of, rejects the counsel and word of God) is, a perfect man, according to the scripture; manifold infirmities, necessarily connected with a dying body notwithstanding.
*This servant of God had his infirmities, properly so called, which often made him weep in secret places. And yet, so powerfully did the grace of our Lord work in him, to the destruction of sin; and to such a degree of victory did he attain over himself, the world and Satan, that, to many, he seemed more than human; being in truth a man of another world, in whom dwelt richly the Spirit of the living God.
To such as were witnesses of his fervent zeal, mighty prayer, steady seriousness, and habitual heavenly-mindedness, I shall not wonder if all that follows, seems far short of a full description of him. And yet, I am aware on the other hand, that to many others, it may have all the air of mere ideal flight, or enthusiastic folly; to persons, who, cold themselves, think ardor comes from hell.
The deep, and genuine acquaintance with God, to which he attained, was in truth beyond that which the generality of Christians arrive at; although all are, without doubt, equally entitled thereto. He truly put off the old man with his deeds, and became renewed in the spirit of his mind. He fully experienced the significancy of those words, Sin shall not have dominion over you. And he that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sin. As also, ye are dead: and he that is dead, is freed from sin. And from hence it was, that there appeared throughout his whole carriage, such fruit unto holiness. In him might be seen, how great things God doth for his children, who simply follow him, even in this world: no less than making them complete before him in love.
My first acquaintance with him, begun soon after the mercy of God had stirred me up, to seek his face. From a studious regard to the holy scriptures, it was soon given me to understand, what manner of person a Christian approved of God must be: and thenceforward, I both read, conversed, and thought of little else. And in him I saw clearly, what till then I had only conceived: in him my conceptions were truly exemplified. Much had been reported, both of the gifts and graces of Mr. Walsh; yet, I found in him, much more, than I had either conceived or heard. Nor did the long intimacy with him, with which I was afterwards privileged, alter, in the least my sentiments.
It might perhaps be thought tedious, minutely to describe all the particular graces, which adorned his life. And indeed to conceive of the excellencies which appeared in him, they need not be attended to, one by one; for neither so, could they be fully comprehended. But he walked before God, in such a manner, as abundantly included them all. He was a person of a surprizing greatness of soul, for which the whole circumference of created good, was far, far too little: he found in God.