I was raving mad. At evening I returned home, and asked my wife about her conviction und conversion, expecting as she professed religion, that she knew what heart religion was; but to my astonishment, I found she never had experienced a change of heart. She had been awakened, when young, under a sermon of Mr. Hunter, a presbyterian minister) which brought er to prayer; but in process of time it Fore off again. About seven years after hat, as a brother of her's was setting under a fence, watching for deer, another man, who was also a hunting, about sun set, seeing his head through the fence, and and taking it to be a fox, shot and killed join, im. This unfortunate affair gave her anmetheer alarm, whight her again to unto me, a must join the mer in a short for they are my people, and they at duty right."

d three My heart felt as light as a bird, bei came relieved of that load of guilt, which befortions had bowed down my spirits, and my body to felt as active as when I was eighteen, so she that the outward and inward man were both animated, and I felt as if I could have sprung from the bed to the fire, which was about fifteen feet.

I arose and called up the family, and fook down the testament, and the first place

than a strict pharisee this gave her displeasure, and she asked me if I thought that none had religion, but those who knew it : I told her no, not one: For all who had it, must know it. Next day she went to her minister to know what he thought of it. He told her she was right, for people might be good christians and know nothing about what I insisted on; and advised her not to mind me, for I was expecting to be saved by my works. This gave her a momenta. ry satisfaction, and home she came, quite strong, and attacked me, and related what her minister had said: She also brought a book which he had sent me, requesting I would read it, entitled "Bellamey's New Divinity," in which he insisted upon conversion before conviction, and faith before repentance: I read it about half through, and found him a rigid predestinarian.His doctrine of decrees and unconditional election and reprobation so confused my mind, that I threw it by, determining to read no more in it, as my own experience clearly proved to me that the doctrines it contained were false. Next day my wife carried the book back: I desired her to tell the minister, from me, that it was full of lies, which scripture and experience both proved. He sent for me to come and sce him: accordingly the day following I went

C

and dined with him; after dinner he requested all the family to withdraw from the dining room, they did so, and he and I were left alone. He then told me he understood that God had done great things for me; whereupon I related my conviction and my conversion; he paid a strict attention until I had done, and then told me that I was under strong delusions of the devil. He got a book out of his library for me to read; as he handed it to me, the Lord shewed me by the voice of his Spirit, that the book was not fit for me: however, I disobeyed the divine impression, and took it at the minister's request. I returned home, felt a temptation to doubt, and called to mind my various sins, but none of them condemned me; I then tho't upon a particular sin, which I concluded would condemn me, but in a moment I felt an evidence that that sin was forgiven, as though separate from all the rest that ever I had committed; but recollecting the minister had told me that "I was under strong delusions of the devil," it was suggested to my mind, it may be he is right: I went a little out of the road, and kneeled down and rayed to God, that if I was deceived to undeceive me; and the Lord said to me, Why do you doubt? Is not Christ allsufficient? Is he not able? Have you

not felt his blood applied ?" I then sprang upon my feet and cried out, Not all the devils in hell, nor all the predestinarians on earth should make me doubt, for I knew that I was converted: at that instant I was filled with unspeakable raptures of joy. When I got home, my wife asked what the minister had said; I told her, and that he had no religion: at which she burst into tears, and wept, to think I should say the minister had no religion. She said it was dreadful that I should condemn their minister: she then said, you hate me, and all the presbyterians: I replied, no, my dear, I love you all; but as yet I have not found one converted christian among you.

For three days I continued in these divine raptures of joy, and thought I should have no more trials or warfare, not being acquainted with the travels of a christian through the snares and dangers in life; but the fourth day I fell into heaviness, through powerful temptations. The devil harassed my soul with fear that I had grieved the Spirit of God, and that it had left me: a severe temptation ran through me, "Let him go if he will! Let him go if he will!" Then it was strongly suggested to my mind, that I had as good turn back to my old ways again; but I cried,

no, I love my Jesus! I never will; no, not for a thousand worlds! In the evening I prayed as usual, but still felt as if dark and forsaken; after I got into bed, the Lord visited me in a powerful manner, and I lay as in the arms of Jesus. Towards the dawn of day, in a dream, I thought I saw the preacher, under whom I was awakened, drunk, and playing cards, with his garments all defiled with dirt. When I awoke and found it a dream, I was glad; although I still felt some uneasiness on his account. In about three weeks after, I heard that the poor unfortunate preacher had fallen into sundry gross sins, and was expelled from the methodist connection: thus I saw my dream fulfilled. The tidings of his fall filled me with such distress, that I wandered about like a poor lost sheep, with these reflections: If the head is thus fallen, what will become of me, or what combats may I have with the devil? At length, when in prayer, under sore temptation, almost in despair, a new thought was impressed on my mind, that I must not trust in the arm of flesh, for, Cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. I then saw that my salvation did not depend on his standing or falling; I had to stand for myself, and to give diligence, through grace, to save my own soul; that