The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human NatureJames, William
ReligionComparative
The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature
James, William
Conversion; Experience (Religion); Philosophy and religion; Psychology, Religious; Religion
“At first, I began to feel my heart beat very quick all on a
sudden, which made me at first think that perhaps something is
going to ail me, though I was not alarmed, for I felt no pain. My
heart increased in its beating, which soon convinced me that it
was the Holy Spirit from the effect it had on me. I began to feel
exceedingly happy and humble, and such a sense of unworthiness as
I never felt before. I could not very well help speaking out,
which I did, and said, Lord, I do not deserve this happiness, or
words to that effect, while there was a stream (resembling air in
feeling) came into my mouth and heart in a more sensible manner
than that of drinking anything, which continued, as near as I
could judge, five minutes or more, which appeared to be the cause
of such a palpitation of my heart. It took complete possession of
my soul, and I am certain that I desired the Lord, while in the
midst of it, not to give me any more happiness, for it seemed as
if I could not contain what I had got. My heart seemed as if it
would burst, but it did not stop until I felt as if I was
unutterably full of the love and grace of God. In the mean time
while thus exercised, a thought arose in my mind, what can it
mean? and all at once, as if to answer it, my memory became
exceedingly clear, and it appeared to me just as if the New
Testament was placed open before me, eighth chapter of Romans, and
as light as if some candle lighted was held for me to read the
26th and 27th verses of that chapter, and I read these words: ‘The
Spirit helpeth our infirmities with groanings which cannot be
uttered.’ And all the time that my heart was a‐beating, it made me
groan like a person in distress, which was not very easy to stop,
though I was in no pain at all, and my brother being in bed in
another room came and opened the door, and asked me if I had got
the toothache. I told him no, and that he might get to sleep. I
tried to stop. I felt unwilling to go to sleep myself, I was so
happy, fearing I should lose it—thinking within myself
‘My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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