“That something still, which prompts th’ eternal sigh,
For which we bear to live, nor fear to die.”
The love of Jesus, filled up in his soul, that mighty void, this whole creation leaves in human hearts.
His exactness in all those particulars, which comprize men’s duty to God, their neighbour and themselves, was such, and so well known, that it would be easy to swell this chapter, by enlarging on each of them, to an enormous size. But passing over the greater part of them, I shall only point out a few particulars, relating chiefly to his internal state, which were within my own notice: referring the reader, for a larger, and more satisfactory picture of him, to the following collection from his diary: in which are represented, those secret transactions of God upon his soul, to which himself alone could be privy.
The particulars I premise are,
I. His Prayer.
From the earliest dawn of the grace of God in his soul, he was singularly remarkable for constancy and importunity in prayer. He was early a wrestler with God, and prevailed to the obtaining that eminency in the knowledge of God, for which he was apprehended in Christ, and which is here related in part. The more he got acquainted with divine things, the more did he increase in this soul-enriching exercise. “He that has never prayed, can never conceive; and he that has prayed, as he ought, can never forget, how much is to be gained by prayer.”
Beside the daily, and often public pouring out of his soul, in general intercession, and occasional addresses to God, in behalf of needy souls (groaning under the guilt of sin, or body of corruption, or whatever was the cause) who often came to him for that purpose; he had his own stated times for approaching God in secret; in which it was far from sufficing, barely to present himself, and wait, whether in silence, or in discourse before the Lord. He accounted the work still to do, unless he felt his spirit affected with sentiments suitable to his condition; whether of holy mourning, self reprehension, recovery, or increase of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, or some establishment in faith, meekness, patience, hope, or love.
Praying with all prayer, seemed the business of his life; for the doing of which, he waited neither for postures, times, or places. An heart so disposed, rendered holy to him, every thing of this kind, which may be said of places.
*Prostrate upon his face, kneeling, standing, walking, eating; in every posture, and in every place and condition, he was a man mighty in prayer. In sleep itself, to my certain knowledge, his soul went on (Canticles v. 2.) in groans, and sighs, and tears to God. His heart having attained such a habit of tendency to its Lord, could then only give over, when it ceased to beat.