ject of much ridicule. In high glee I took the poor neglected Bible from the desk, and said, 'Now see if I don't open to something that will be applicable to my situation,' then, with affected gravity, opened the book, and the first words I cast my eyes upon were, Eccl. xi. 9. "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth," &c. I closed the book, nor could I be prevailed on to show my companions the denunciation I had read, but it made a lasting impression on my mind, and, for several days, "God will bring thee to judgment," was continually sounding in my ears. I soon, however, found means to stifle this conviction, and was not a little vexed that my tranquillity should be disturbed by a mere fortuitous occurrence.

Thus I lived until I had attained my twentieth year, when that overruling Providence, who " willeth not the death of a sinner," cast my lot in an obscure corner of New-Hamp

shire, among the people called Methodists. I had heard of this people, but knew little more of them, than that they wore unfashionable clothing. I had an idea, however, that they were most wretched enthusiasts, and placed them in the ratio of the Shakers, and the followers of Jemima Wilkinson. Drawn by curiosity, I at length attended the Methodist Meeting, to hear a preacher who was newly come upon the circuit; a youth of nineteen, whom my fancy represented as some raw country lad, without education or abilities. With the idea of a Gospel preacher, I had associated that of academical literature; and when I understood that the Methodist preacher had never graduated at the University, nor even passed through a course of ecclesiastical study, I concluded his discourse would afford my classic taste a rich repast of ridicule; but I was disappointed. He was a young man of

strong natural genius, and I have reason to believe the wisdom of the God of Daniel directed him to his The words of his text

subject.

were, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." In stating the reasons why St. Paul was justified in this declaration, he was led to notice the evidences of the truth of the Christian system, and every word brought conviction to my heart.

He entirely refuted the contracted notions that I had imbibed of the Gospel, and represented its excellencies in such persuasive terms, that my prejudices to Christianity vanished like the early dew before the beams of day. I had many times listened with attention to eloquent preaching, and admired the oratory, though I was indifferent to the subject. But this was a new species of eloquence: it pleaded directly to the heart, and I seriously thought myself personally addressed by the speaker.

I had now different conceptions of Deity, and viewed my conduct in a different light than had ever before been exhibited to my mind. I saw clearly that "Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man; and while I felt I had been abusing that grace that had been freely offered to me in the Gospel, my sensations were almost insupportable. Yet, in assenting to the truths of Christianity, I felt an emotion of pleasure, to which my heart had long been estranged. Gloomy and dark had been the night of scepticism, and the beams of Gospel truth were sweet to my soul, as the opening of a beautiful morning after a night of darkness and tempest.

Though deeply distressed with a sense of my unparalleled offences against a Being of infinite purity, my exercises were not unaccompanied by hope; nor did my anxiety so much arise from a fear of future

punishment, as from a deep sense of my ingratitude and rebellion, and I resolved, by the grace of God, to spend the residue of my days in the service of him who had spared my life in the midst of rebellion, and brought me at last to behold my own wretched situation.

I had gone to meeting in the morning a gay, thoughtless infidel, opposed to every thing serious, and particularly opposed to this people.

But now, how changed! I thought of the woman of Samaria, and concluded, like her, that I had found a man who told all that ever I did. I had agreed with some wicked companions to stay in class-meeting, for the purpose of displaying my wit, should the stripling preacher dare to question me. But I now staid with very different intentions. My tears attested my sincerity, though I was utterly incapable of manifesting my feelings. But what astonished me most was, that when prayer was