to me a reality that he stood before me, and I
fell down at his feet and poured out my soul to him. I wept aloud like
a child, and made such confessions as I could with my choked utterance.
It seemed to me that I bathed his feet with my tears; and yet I had no
distinct impression that I touched him, that I recollect. I must have
continued in this state for a good while, but my mind was too absorbed
with the interview to recollect anything that I said. But I know, as
soon as my mind became calm enough to break off from the interview, I
returned to the front office, and found that the fire that I had made
of large wood was nearly burned out. But as I turned and was about to
take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my
mind that there was any such thing for me, without any recollection
that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world,
the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through
me, body and soul. I could feel the impression, like a wave of
electricity, going through and through me. Indeed, it seemed to come
in waves and waves of liquid love; for I could not express it in any
other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollect
distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings.

"No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my
heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I should
say I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart.
These waves came over me, and over me, and over me, one after the
other, until I recollect I cried out, 'I shall die if these waves
continue to pass over me.' I said, 'Lord, I cannot bear any more;' yet
I had no fear of death.

"How long I continued in this state, with this baptism continuing to
roll over me and go through me, I do not know. But I know it was late
in the evening when a member of my choir --for I was the leader of the
choir--came into the office to see me. He was a member of the church.
He found me in this state of loud weeping, and said to me, 'Mr. Finney,
what ails you?' I could make him no answer for some time. He then
said, 'Are you in pain?' I gathered myself up as 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 own
brief account of his post-conversion feelings:--

"I