The Varieties of Religious Experience - Penn State University

The Varieties of Religious ExperienceI had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world,the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to gothrough me, body and soul. I could feel the impression, like a waveof electricity, going through and through me. Indeed, it seemed tocome in waves and waves of liquid love; for I could not express it inany other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollectdistinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings.“No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroadin my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know butI should say I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of myheart. These waves came over me, and over me, and over me, oneafter the other, until I recollect I cried out, ‘I shall die if these wavescontinue to pass over me.’ I said, ‘Lord, I cannot bear any more;’ yetI had no fear of death.“How long I continued in this state, with this baptism continuingto roll over me and go through me, I do not know. But I know itwas late in the evening when a member of my choir —for I was theleader of the choir—came into the office to see me. He was a memberof the church. He found me in this state of loud weeping, andsaid to me, ‘Mr. Finney, what ails you?’ I could make him no answerfor some time. He then said, ‘Are you in pain?’ I gathered myself upas best I could, and replied, ‘No, but so happy that I cannot live.’”I just now quoted Billy Bray; I cannot do better than give his ownbrief account of his post-conversion feelings:—“I can’t help praising the Lord. As I go along the street, I lift upone foot, and it seems to say ‘Glory’; and I lift up the other, and itseems to say ‘Amen’; and so they keep up like that all the time I amwalking.”141141 I add in a note a few more records:—“One morning, being in deep distress, fearing every moment I shoulddrop into hell, I was constrained to cry in earnest for mercy, and the Lordcame to my relief, and delivered my soul from the burden and guilt of sin.My whole frame was in a tremor from head to foot, and my soul enjoyedsweet peace. The pleasure I then felt was indescribable. The happinesslasted about three days, during which time I never spoke to any personabout my feelings.” Autobiography of Dan Young, edited by W. P.Strickland, New York, 1860.232