his judge. At other times my mind has been rapt into an extasy of grateful and joyful admiration. All astonishment, as if some strange thing had happened unto me, I listened to their earnest cry for salvation.

Sometimes they were preachers of Christ to me. And, while they related their experience, and repeated their enquiries, all I could do was to mingle mine abundant tears with theirs. My mouth was shut. My soul was struck with solemn awe. I felt, in a measure at least, as Moses felt, when he saw the vision of God in the burning bush. Not that I was oppressed with any dread or slavish fear, but my mind was full of the glorious majesty of God my Redeemer!! And under that impression, abased, overwhelmed, and shrinking into the dust!-ready to say with Job, "I have "heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but

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now mine eye seeth thee, wherefore I abhor "myself, and repent in dust and ashes!" The finger of God was manifest. His works declared him present.

At this memorable period I was often constrained to regard with amazement the sovereignty apparent in the divine proceedings. Usually the worst of characters were made the subjects of his grace. And, in many instances, means, in themselves, very inconsiderable, and, in our view, very

unlikely, were found effectual to strike conviction into the hardest heart.

Sometimes the remonstrances of a son pierced the rocky heart of a father. The father, lately a reviler and a persecutor, became an earnest and successful preacher of righteousness to the rest of his family: in so much that the whole lump was leavened. Happy family! As when it could be said, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her Sister "and Lazarus." In this day of the Lord, a thought glanced in conversation, or a word spoken in secret, proved, in the hand of the Lord, an instrument both quick and powerful-" a discerner "of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Often an arrow shot at a venture, scarce even with design, (and from how feeble a bow!) has gone well directed; and soon my astonished soul has beheld, what could not be concealed, that arrow deep and fast in the sinner's bleeding dying heart.

Some indeed of these awakened enquirers had been, in character, of decent morals, the most regular people in the neighbourhood. Yet they were taught by the same Spirit—they were equally convinced of their helpless misery-they spake the same language, "Shew me the way to Jesus;""Is there help for the vilest of sinners?"-" What must I do to be saved?"

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It was common to them all to be first surprised

with distressful alarms. In some few instances, this distress subsided without effecting any real change, like the momentary surprize of one overpowered by sleep.

In general, the awakening proceeded to a humbling conviction of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and its deep planted powerful principles, in their very nature: and issued in a real and universal change in heart and life.

These were lovely scenes to behold and admire from day to day. The rocks rending-the eyes of the blind opened-the ears of the deaf unstoppedprejudices, corruptions, idolatrous affections, if not utterly abolished, yet fleeing to hide themselves from the majesty of the Lord of Hosts.

My astonished soul, contemplating these wonders, and continually tracing in them the energy of the eternal Spirit, found herein "the oil of joy " and gladness,"-a sovereign balm for my deep and ghastly wound. Not all the world could have furnished a cordial so rich and effectual. "It is "the Lord's doing," (I cried with great joy,) "and 'tis marvellous in mine eyes!" "He has "done all things well!!"

Now my work was continually encreasing on my hands. New scenes of delight were openingnew calls of duty returned. Indeed " the fields ap❝peared every where white to the harvest”—the day

unusually inviting, and my own heart prepared to spend and be spent in the labour of love. I went daily from house to house, and found every where a most affectionate welcome. The Lord had given the word. "The isles waited for his law." Wherever I came, there gathered a willing

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people." The houses were continually crowded. On these occasions I was led to urge a regard to personal religion, as consisting in a state of reconciliation with God, and in a real and entire change of heart and life, wrought by the Spirit of God, who "worketh faith in us, and thereby "uniteth us to Christ in our effectual calling"solicitous that the foundation should be well laid. Prayer, too, both of the closet and family, was earnestly recommended and encouraged; and I found reason to conclude that the Spirit of the Lord was pleased to render "family prayer" a powerful mean of deepening and extending conviction.

The field of labour and usefulness now extending on every hand, I felt the need of creatureassistance. I began to pray the Lord of the

"harvest that he would send forth more labourers "into his harvest." But whence might these reinforcements be looked for? In vain did I turn my regards to the church. Its members were few, and not sufficiently alive. I rather looked to the valley

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"of dry bones." There, with wonder and joy, I saw many quickened, and raised, and clothed afresh. Yet what could be expected from these? Many of them could not read. And as to prayer,,how should they attempt it, beyond their closet and family? Reason and unbelief would have crushed the hope untried. But help, immediate help, was needed. The work was the Lord's; and with him nothing is impossible. My spirit looked "to God alone." On Saturday evening, (May 10, 1805,) I called a meeting: and, after seeking God in prayer, represented the state of the neighbourhood, and the need there was of assistance in the work of the Lord. Few were present but those who had been lately brought under a religious concern. Amongst whom were many of youthful vigor, and much alive to the things of God. I stated to them the obligations which the grace of God had brought them under-the encouragement which the presence and power of God, now manifest on the minds of men, afforded; and invited them to come forward, united in heart and handwillingly offering themselves to the service of Christ and of souls. I told them that though they knew little, the grace of God could supply all deficiency. I represented to them the reply of Jehovah to Moses, as sufficient to silence every possible objection, "Who hath made man's mouth," or "Who maketh

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