wheat: and being in the winter season, it required my rising before day in order to accomplish my task of work before I went to school. But the Lord inclined my heart to seek him in those my youthful days; though at times, through hard usage, I revolted and gave myself up to a reprobate life. Some times I was tempted to run away, not caring much what became of me, and thinking I could not fare much worse if I spent my days in a prison. But thou, O Father, restrained me, for thou hadst a work for me to do; and as thou wast preparing me for it, thou turnedst those crosses and disappointments into blessings. Thou wast my father and my friend, for I had none to cry unto but thee, and thou didst hear me and comfort me. Thou madest hard things easy, and bitter things sweet, and thou reconciled me to my situation. As I grew up, I had this consolation, that I was faithful in my master's business. He was for the most part a quiet, inoffensive man; but my mistress and myself were too much of a temper to agree well together; until Truth took hold of my mind and chained down my strong passions, which with hers used to rise very high at times. She was a woman of ungovernable passion, and would sometimes break out upon me in great rage about my work, although I was but young in years. Oh! the injury done to youth, by being placed under such who have no government of their own tempers! I believe many have been ruined thereby, and driven into things that have brought lasting shame and disgrace upon them. It was nothing short of the goodness of the Shepherd of Israel that kept me from falling into gross enormities: for even when I was tempted thereto, he raised an abhorrence in my mind against it. He stepped in between, as it were, and would not suffer me to fall into the jaws of the devourer. Oh! matchless, unfathomable love! What shall I render, what have I to render unto thee, O Father of mercies, for all thy benefits? My tongue and my pen are far too short to set forth one half thy praise. It is thine own works that praise thee, and I record it to thy honour. During those days of the tendering visitations of Divine love to my soul, I used frequently when I went out to work in the fields, to take my book along with me, and when I had a little leisure, I found great satisfaction in reading. In the neighbourhood where I lived, there were many young people, who used frequently to collect together and make merry nights, as they called them. Their amusements were such as card-playing, singing, dancing, &c. in which I also took much delight, and often went to these night meetings; insomuch that there was a prospect of my becoming a proficient in these vanities. But, to the praise of the ever worthy name of my God, be it spoken,-he left me not, but followed me with reproof; his light and his Truth showing me that the course I was pursuing led down to the chambers of death, and thither I was hastening, if I continued in that way. This alarmed me, and caused me to bemoan my situation; so that under these convictions I endeavoured to keep from going into company. Sometimes, I concluded I would associate with them no more; and in order to shun them on the first day of the week (for it was customary for us to collect together on that day) I have at times taken my book and gone from the house, either into the woods or to some place where they could not find me; and there I have sat and read for hours together. At these seasons I was often deeply affected, and particularly so on reading in the New Testament; especially concerning the sufferings of Jesus Christ;-severely condemning in my own mind the conduct of the Jews towards him, and saying at times within myself, that had I lived in those days, I would have been his follower: not knowing that it was his holy Spirit that was then offering to be my leader, director and support in the way of life and salvation. O blessed Shepherd of Israel, how tenderly thou didst deal with me in those days of my childhood! Thou tookest me by the hand as a most tender father, to lead me out of the vanities and follies and sinpleasing pleasures to which I was prone by nature. Thou corrected me in mercy, and in great lovingkindness thou reproved me. In the riches of thy adorable goodness, thou revealedst thy son Jesus Christ in me, and caused me clearly to understand that thou wast speaking to me by and through the spirit of thy son in my heart. Here I saw that it was this which had been and was still smiting me for my evil ways, and bringing sorrow over the mind for speaking and doing amiss;-and that this was and is the only means offered by God for our reconciliation to him. I saw that there was power in that which smote for sin, to deliver from it, and I understood what I read of Christ that all power was given unto him of the Father. Oh! this was indeed a glorious day, never to be forgotten by me while I retain my memory. Oh! what rejoicings of soul I felt! What ravishings of |