presence of God. It is sealed upon my heart, with as much clearness and certainty, that it is the spirit of the living God, and that it visits, woos, invites, and strives with all, at least for a season, as it is, that God is no respecter of persons. And I as fully believe no man can have any clear knowledge of God, or of his own religious duty, without the holy spirit's influence, as I believe the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, and that the world by wisdom knows him not. Yea, so quick and powerful, so discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart; and so just and distinguishing, in approving and condemning them, according as they are good or bad, is this spirit, word, and witness in man; that not only without the aid of human injunction or information; but in direct dissent from, and diapprobation of, the sentiments, advice, and pressing invitations and persuasions of my play-mates, and those much older than myself, and who confidently and repeatedly declared to me, that such and such things were innocent, and not at all wicked, and that nobody thought them so but myself; the testimony of truth would and did arise and live in my heart when very young, through the shining of divine light or influence of the holy spirit, that those things were evil, were wicked; and I thought, notwithstanding all those young persons could say to the contrary, that all good people would think as I did; and believe they would be generally so accounted, if all men kept strictly to the holy spirit's teachings. But violence being done to clear conviction in the mind, death takes place, as in Adam in the day he ate the forbidden fruit. And in this state of death, the truth is not so easily distinguished from error, or good from evil, as before transgression. Evil habits gain strength; darkness covers the mind; temptation is renewed; and though the spirit again in some degree premonisheth, and bids beware, the mind, habituated to the stifling of conviction, too.commonly again rushes forward, and becomes more and more hardened and darkened, until what was at first plainly condemned as evil, by the unflattering witness in the mind, is at length maintained to be innocent and sinless. This is the too usual course of poor mankind.

God makes his appearance in them in very early life. They

too generally rebel against the light which he graciously affords them. This prevents their knowing" the way thereof;" because "they abide not in the paths thereof." And how is it likely they should know the way of truth, or increase in divine wisdom, when they sin against what God has already made known to them? Is it strange, seeing when they know God, in some degree, by his shining in them, they glorify him not as God, by obedience, that "they become vain in their imagination, and their foolish hearts are darkened?" And what is next? Why just what follows in this scripture passage; for it is a very natural consequence of rebellion and darkness, and we often see it verified among men: they soon begin to profess themselves wise, and so become fools. "Now we know better, (think they,) than to believe this and the other thing is sinful. They are trifles. God takes no account of such minute affairs. These precise men are over-scrupulous. They are overrun with notions. There is nothing in their nice conceits. If they give way to all these vain fears, and suffer themselves to be frightened with dreams of evil, in so many of the innocent amusements of life, they will soon fancy nothing in the world is innocent." This, and such like, is the language of that wisdom from beneath, which governs the darkened minds of such as transgress the early convictions of truth, and rebel against the light of heaven. On the contrary, those who, while they have the light, believe and walk in it, do truly become the children of it; and therein are most joyfully the children of the day of God's salvation.

Before I was ten years old, the workings of truth grew so powerful in my mind at times, that I took up several resolutions, (or at several times resolved,) to amend my ways, and live a serious and religious life, though I was not one of the most vicious of my years; yet enough so to be made very sensible of the Lord's controversy with me, on account of the evil of my ways. My mind became exceedingly disquieted, when I went contrary to divine manifestation; though I had not yet a clear sense that it was the very power and spirit of God upon me that so condemned and distressed me for sin, and strove to redeem my soul from the bondage of corruption.

I now began to take notice of what I heard read and conversed of respecting religion; and among other things, I heard frequent mention in books and conversation of the spirit of God; and that good people in former times had it in them, and by it learned the will of God, and were enabled to perform it. I perceived it was often spoken of in both the Old and New Testament, and many other writings. I understood that true converts in these days also have it. But, like many others, I overlooked its lively checks and calls in myself; had no idea that I had ever known any thing of it; longed to be favoured with it; but supposed it was some extraordinary appearance, different far from any thing I ever yet had been acquainted with.

very

Thus the Jews, even while they were expecting Christ's coming, knew him not when he came. They overlooked and despised his mean and ordinary appearance; thought he was Joseph's son and born among them, and so rejected, abused, and finally put him to death. But they were mistaken in his pedigree: his descent was from heaven; and God, not Joseph, was his Father. Just so are thousands now mistaken, as to the dignity and origin of God's spirit in them; they think it is of man, a part of his nature and being; whereas it is of the life, power, and substance of God. Its descent is as truly from heaven, as was that of the Lord Jesus. He came in that low, mean, and ordinary appearance, as to outward show and accommodations; teaching us thereby not to despise the day of small things, nor overlook the littleness of the motions of divine life in our own souls. And when he compares the kingdom of heaven, which he expressly says is within, to outward things, he very instructively inculcates to us, that the beginnings of it are small, "a little leaven"-" a little seed"—" a grain of mustard seed"-"the least of all seeds." This is true in the inward, whatever it be in the outward; for the seed of the kingdom is "the least of all the seeds" in the field or garden of the heart. Other seeds sprout, spring up, and take the attention, while "the incorruptible seed," the "word of God" in the heart, is overlooked, trampled under, and despised.

Oh! that children and all people would be careful in their very early years, and as they grow up and advance in life, to

mind the "reproofs of instruction" in their own breasts; they are known to be "the way of life," divine life to the soul. This something, though they know not what it is, that checks them in secret, for evil, both before and after they yield to the temptation, warning them beforehand not to touch or taste, partake of, or commit iniquity, and afterwards condemning them if they do so; and inwardly inclining them to a life of religion and virtue: this is the very thing, dear young people, whereby God worketh in you, to will and to do; and by which he will, if you cleave to it, and work with it, enable you to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him. Despise it not; do no violence to its motions; love it, cherish it, reverence it; hearken to its pleadings with you; give up without delay to its requirings, and obey its teachings. It is God's messenger for good to thy immortal soul: its voice in thy streets is truly the voice of the living God: its call is a kind invitation. to thee from the throne of grace. Hear it, and it will lead thee; obey it, and it will save thee: it will save thee from the power of sin and satan: it will finally lead thee to an inheritance incorruptible in the mansions of rest, the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

I entreat you, as you love your own souls, and prize an everlasting salvation; I warn you, by the dreadful fruits of disobedience, by the pangs, remorse, and sufferings of my own soul for sin and transgression! Had I steadily obeyed the truth in my inward parts; had I attended singly and faithfully to this divine monitor, my portion had been peace; my cup, a cup of consolation. I might have rejoiced and sung, whereas I have had to mourn and weep. For as I grew up to fifteen years and upwards, in violation of clear inward convictions, in opposition to the dictates of the holy spirit, I began to run into company, learned to dance and play cards, and took great delight therein. I was often deeply condemned, and often strove to stifle the witness, and persuade myself there was no harm in any of these things.

My father sometimes reproved me in those days for my conduct; but sinning against divine light and visitations, hardened me against his advice. I grew more and more vain, proud, airy,

and wanton. I put myself in the way of much evil communication; and it mournfully corrupted good manners. My taste for pleasure and amusement grew keen, my spirits were low and languid when alone, and I rushed into company and merriment for alleviation.

Thus I went on frolicking and gaming, and spending my precious time in vanity. Often at night, or in the night, and sometimes near break of day, I have returned home from my merry meetings grievously condemned, distressed, and ashamed; wishing I had not gone into such company, and resolving to do so no more: but soon my resolutions failed me, and away I went again and again; and thus continued making still greater strides in folly than before. The Lord followed me close, in mercy, and often brake in powerfully upon me, turning all my mirth into mourning; yet I still got over the holy witness, did despite to the spirit of grace, and repaired again to my haunts of diversion and merriment. Sometimes when I have stood upon the floor to dance, with a partner by the hand, before all were quite ready, God has arisen in judgment, and smitten me to the very heart. Oh! I still feelingly remember the majesty of his appearance within me, when none knew the agony of my soul; how he erected his tribunal in my bosom, as in an instant, and in awfulness arraigned me before him. I felt ready to sink under the weight of condemnation and anguish; but resolutely mustering all the stoutness I was master of, I brazened it out, until the music called me to the dance, and then I soon drowned the voice of conviction, became merry, and caroused among my companions in dissipation, until time urged a dismission of our jovial assembly, and called me to return, often lonely, to my father's house, my outward habitation. Ah me! how fared it with me then? I assure thee, reader, I have not forgotten those sad and mournful walks, at the conclusion of my midnight revellings. I have been broken down in deep abasement and self-abhorrence, have come to a full stand, stopped and sat down on a stump, stone, or log, by the way, wrung my hands, and strewed my tears before the Lord, in sorrow and extremity of anguish, bordering almost on desperation. I have begged forgiveness, implored assistance, vowed amendment, obtained some relief, and