Thomas Walsh.”
[¹] And his request was then carefully observed. But the present occasion, will be thought reason sufficient for publishing it.
His struggles, sentiments, and attainments, partly before, and partly after this letter, even to his death, are farther represented in the following extracts.
*“London, Sunday, June 2. All this forenoon I was raised above myself, and lost in God. Heaven as it were came down into my soul, and I saw the glory of the world to come! I beheld all the glory of this world, as the mire in the streets. But Oh, the views, which I had of heaven, and the foretaste of those ravishing joys, that flow there, so transported my soul, that I could bless God, that ever I was born.”
*“Tuesday 4. My soul was transported this day to such a degree, as greatly affected even my body. I do not recollect, that I ever before felt such a sense of the presence and glory of God. Surely if he should manifest himself a few degrees more to me, I could not live in the body!”
*“Sunday 9. I gave myself up to God. I heartily desire to give my whole heart, chearfully, and without reserve to thee my love! Many things would alienate it from thee. But O my Saviour, keep thou my every desire. Knit me closely to thyself, and suffer no false fire to abide in my heart. I acknowledge, O my God, that it is an amazing instance of thy love, that thou hast made me a child of thine. Let I beseech thee, thy goodness be the strongest tie to keep my heart stayed upon thee.”
“Tuesday 18. I was so low in body, that I could hardly speak or think. Oh, how does this corruptible body press down my soul! Yet I can praise God for his dispensations towards me; he afflicts me, that I may be partaker of his holiness.”
“At the Lord’s table I was in an agony for holiness. My soul, and even my body, were ready to faint with desire, and longing for all the mind that was in Christ Jesus.”
“Saturday, July 20. O how my soul laboured with God in secret prayer! I said in my heart, if I am indeed a child of God, Why have I not greater desires to depart, and to be with Christ? I prostrated myself before the throne of grace, and cried to God to answer me as by fire: and he soon silenced my despondences by answering in my heart, ‘My son, thou art mine.’”
“Wednesday, September 21. God overpowered my whole frame, so that my body fainted under the pouring out of the Spirit of Christ.”