The enjoyments of the divine sweetness, which God imparted to him in secret, and the nearness of access to the divine Majesty, with which he was favoured, were indeed amazing. He has been sometimes, as it were, lost in glorious absence, on his knees, with his face heavenward, and arms clasped round his breast: in such composure, that scarce could one hear him so much as breathe.
His soul seemed absorbed in God, and enjoyed a calmness and transport, which can here, be well enough reconciled. From the serenity, and something resembling splendor, which appeared on his countenance, and in all his gestures afterwards, one might easily discover, what he had been about.
*It was especially towards the conclusion of his Lord’s work, that he was favoured with such near fellowship with him. He approached the throne of grace with much of the reverential boldness of faith, believing, that whatever he asked, he should have the petitions he asked for; the holy Spirit making intercession in his heart, according to the will of God. And to such a degree of confidence in him, did he arrive by this means, that in the greatest straits of his life (and he met with some things which came home to him, with the deepest sensibility) he was more than kept up; so that he seemed to fear nothing, even where, to all human apprehension, every thing was to be feared. He so abandoned himself to God, in the discharge of his duty, that his very friends were sometimes ready to charge him with being a little rash or imprudent. Altho’ he endeavoured to use his understanding as far as ever it would go; yet acting in view of those things which are not seen, and from motives referring to eternity, he was not, it is true, so attentive to the decorums among men, as mere human prudence would have dictated. And in reality it is a truth, which is learned from a series of experience, and confirmed by numberless examples, that whoever would do much for God, should take care of being (in a sense) too wise. There is reason to think, that if the apostles themselves had consulted the directions of bare human reason, they never had undertook the conversion of the world.
An habitual spirit of mortification served as wings to his prayer. And perhaps the want of this, is, much more than is commonly thought, a grand cause of that indisposedness to, and weariness in prayer, which is so generally complained of among Christians; many of whom are often even glad of a pretended occasion to avoid the duty. “Something is amiss in us, and it wanted a name, till the Spirit of God, by enjoining us the duty of mortification, hath taught us to know, that want of mortification of spirit, is the case of all, at least of many of our secret and spiritual indispositions. The excellencies of heaven cannot be discerned but by a spirit disrelishing the low appetites of the world. Unless our spirit be mortified, we neither love to pray, nor does God love to hear us.” We find all the way thro’ our heavenly journey, that to be carnally minded, in the least degree, is a proportionable degree of death. And that a mind truly spiritual alone, has true life and peace.
It is hard to say positively which he was most remarkable for, the spirit or the gift of prayer, tho’ it need not be told which he most esteemed. His public character, made it right and necessary for him, to desire and endeavour after spiritual gifts. And the eminency to which he arrived therein in general, is too well known to need a particular relation. To hear him, on some occasions pour out his soul to God, made one often think, whence hath a man these things? Such a sluice of divine oratory ran thro’ the whole of his language on religious subjects, as is rarely to be met with. His public addresses to God, were commonly well nigh altogether, in the words of the Holy Ghost. *It seemed as tho’ he turned the whole bible into words of adoration, confession, petition, supplication, thanksgiving and glory: while at the same time his expressions glowed with the love of God: and all this with such ardour, intention, pertinency and faith, that it has seemed sometimes (one time in particular was peculiarly noticed) as tho’ the heavens were burst open, and God himself appeared in the congregation. Something of that Acts iv. 31. was often conceived while he prayed. But he made no account of this with regard to the perfection of his own soul. He made it his chief aim to follow after love, and to live in a momentary spirit of watchful prayer.
*He has sometimes had very remarkable answers to prayer. One only I shall mention. A number of religious societies both in England and Ireland appointed a public fast, for the imploring God, to restore to health an eminent servant of the church, who had been some time under languishment of body. Mr. Walsh was then in Dublin, and pouring out his soul about noon, he spoke aloud, in a manner which shewed it not to be of himself, and said he shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. And, blessed be God, the event shewed the prediction to be of God.
Towards the latter part of his progress, and before his last sickness in particular, his prayer had less of labour in it than formerly; and consisted for the most part, of a passive receiving the impressions of the divine Spirit: God acting rather in him, than he acted himself. And so still, and recollected did he frequently appear herein, that it was as if God was visibly before him, and that he spoke to the divine Majesty, with nearness of access, and child-like familiarity. Indeed every object and occurrence, spoke to him of God: nor could there be wanting to him, at any time or place, incentives to raise his heart in prayer or praise to him whom his soul loved.
One particular which he learned in the course of his experience, was, that altho’ the lights which are received from God in the way of prayer, are, of all others, to be most faithfully attended to; yet nevertheless, one ought not to act upon every appearance of this kind; that the enemy of man’s salvation can, and often does, mimick the Spirit of God; and as an angel of light, imposes upon the servants of God, by representing as from him, that which is often no other than Satan’s illusions, or our own imagination: on account of which, some persons have in most ages, been led into grievous mistakes, and improprieties of conduct. He perceived danger with regard to himself from this quarter, and was therefore very sparing in mentioning much of what he often felt. He weighed every thing by the word of God, avoided precipitancy of conduct, and making haste; and at the same time, laboured continually to abandon himself, as it were blindfold to the teaching of the Spirit of truth, and of purity.
II. Redeeming the time.
In order to do this effectually, his manner was to draw up a plan in writing (till use made it familiar to him) of the manner, in which he judged it most profitable to spend the day. He distributed it into certain portions, and assigned to each its particular employment: allowing only for occasional interruptions in the business of his profession. Reading the scriptures, prayer, and visiting the sick, had the grand places in this division. He could never find any leisure for mere, ceremonious visits, or unnecessary conversation of any kind. Even at meals, and indeed in every little incidental matter he ceased not to pursue his main end of living: namely, to get, and to do good in his generation.