“I was told of some who talked evil of me. I prayed for myself, and for them, and truly the love of God was as a mighty fire in my soul. O what a heaven is this!”
“Altho’ love and joy lived and flowed in me, yet I wept and made supplication, being strongly tempted by the devil. Ah Lord. Thou knowest my state and trials. My desire is before thee, and my groanings are not hid from thee. Hast not thou made me pure, and sealed me thine for ever! Shine on thy work, and bear thy witness with my heart. Suffer not thy servant to be of a doubtful mind.”
“I see, that I ought to be much in prayer for the Holy Ghost. I plainly perceive that to be taught by him for one hour, is more profitable to the soul than many days reading.”
“I spent several hours in private, begging of God to enable me to fulfil the law of love. I feel so as I cannot write, the extent of Christian obedience. How deep, how wide!”
“Deliver me O Lord from the strife of tongues, and from the ungodly, who are a sword of thine. I found in retirement this day sore struggles, and deep consolation.”
*“O how great is the profit of simple prayer, and diligent reading of the holy scriptures? They are I find, of singular service to me. My soul is calmed, sweetened, melted, invigorated, and sensibly strengthened in the exercise of these holy duties. I weep and pray, and give thanks: yet still, I want deeper repentance, and much more humility. I would be penetrated with the sense of my own helplessness; and I do not find power equal to my will. I live however by faith, and find God unspeakably, and continually present.”
“My soul was solidly happy, and longing for humility this day. I desire to be simple, and filled more abundantly with love to God and my neighbour.”
“I never felt such gratitude to God, as I did this day, for bringing me from the idolatry of the Romish church. My heart was grieved in reading some of their horrid doctrines[¹] about saints, and images. O God, thou hast done this for me; and thou hast done many thousand things beside for me; and now I beseech thee do this for me, give me an humble, thankful and penitent heart.”
[¹] He was about this time, employed partly in reading Bishop Usher’s famous disputation with the Jesuits in Ireland. And of this book he says, ‘I cannot think that a papist who has learning and the fear of God, can, after reading it, remain in the errors of Popery.’
“This was a feast, and a fast day to my soul. All the ordinances of God are exceeding precious and profitable to me.”