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._