“Friday. A day of fasting (a frequent practice of his.) At prayer my soul was greatly humbled before God. Entire resignation, without much joy, was the state of my heart this day.”
“Saturday, March 12, 1757. Preparing for a short journey to-day, and laying up my books, I felt some little distraction. I could bless God however, that I had not money to lay up. Alas, for the rich of this world: how are they to be pitied! How hardly can they be saved? Jesus, make and keep me poor in spirit; nor suffer this world ever to defile me. Suffer not my soul to cleave to the dust, but cause all my affections to flow towards thyself. I would not live upon earth. I desire, pray, and labour, that my heart may be in heaven, with Christ my head.”
“Sunday 13. I conversed with one to-day, who told me, that for fourteen years last past, she never found any unhappiness, but always rejoiced in the love of God. Before and after sacrament, I found such desire, as almost made my heart break. My soul and flesh cried, mourned and wept for the perfect love of God. There is a beauty and excellence in holiness, which has quite won my heart.”
“All day, both in reading, prayer, and conversation, I felt something of that promise, John iv. 14. I look for religion to possess, and entirely change me. I see and feel, that Christianity is something divine, living, generous, powerful, and internal. It is God dwelling in the soul of man, 2 Corinthians vi. 16.”
*“Friday 18. I prayed, and read till twelve. My body began then to complain. It does not like fasting; but my soul did banquet on the rich delicacies of the love and promises of God. I am in the way to heaven; but I want a heavenly nature, heaven within me. My soul can be satisfied with nothing less than God. Jesus, my dear Jesus, let me ever esteem thy blood, and righteousness above the whole world! Through thee I come to God. By thee I enter heaven. Thou art heaven.”
“My heart was penetrated with the goodness and love of God. I see still more clearly, that love is the fulfilling of the law—supreme, constant, and perfect love of God, and pure benevolent love to the whole of human kind.”
Happy soul, when once renew’d,
God in thee, and thou in God,
Only feel’st within thee move
Tenderness, compassion, love.