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It was the good pleasure of God to call for the Lamb of my flock: and my sober reflection found reason to say, "It is the Lord, let him do with me as seemeth good unto him."

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Blessed be his name, even in that stormy night, he did not leave me to be "tossed with tempests " and not comforted." Hope, even in the midst of the thickest darkness, inspired my troubled breast. Well I remember with what earnest cries my distressed soul said unto the Lord, "do not "condemn me; shew me wherefore thou con"tendest with me!"

While awful silence seemed to prevail, and all his waves and billows were made to roll over me, my heart was at first tempted to regard the Almighty as a wrathful adversary, and myself as a stranger to his covenant. But soon God was pleased to bring my soul near to him, " even to "his seat; he filled my mouth with arguments." I was encouraged to spread the case of my poor perishing charge before him, and with many tears entreated some manifest token of his presence and power. I thought, if I could see the clear evidence of my own interest in salvation, and the

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power and glory of the Lord in his sanctuary,"

as the result of this sorrowful visitation, I could feel reconciled and thankful-I could say,

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"Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, and "blessed be the name of the Lord!"

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Now, my dear Sir, I can say, "truly the Lord “is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and “he knoweth them that trust in him." Well he knew the frame of the most unworthy of his servants, and remembered that I was but dust. When he might have trodden me in his anger, he suffered me to lie at his feet—he heard the cry of my distress —he “strengthened me with strength in my soul.” "Trust in him at all times, ye people; pour out

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your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” Not more truly delightful are the songs of angels in his ear, than the importunate and persevering cries, the feeble, earnest stammerings of a child of grace for new covenant blessings: Oh, the incalculable privilege of a throne of grace! what a mercy to a poor sinful creature to have admission and even invitation into the presence chamber of the eternal King! Alas, my backwardness and distrust! what adversaries have they been to my soul!

Now light began to rise out of darkness. My mind seemed to be elevated, as if by the inspiration of the Almighty, to desires and aims, far surpassing any thing I had before experienced-carried out, as if by a presentiment of a rich blessing at hand, to project and pursue plans and measures of more extensive usefulness.

The Lord's day immediately following, my convulsed frame not admitting of my appearance in

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the pulpit, I directed public notice to be given of the weekly prayer-meeting before instituted at my own house; and of another to be alternately held at the houses of such friends as should be found willing to encourage it.

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Now was Satan's hour, even "darkness." Horror revives in my breast, while I recollect the Lion's dreadful roar on that occasion. Never did such dreadful darkness overspread my soul as at the first of these meetings. We read of a miserably possessed youth approaching Jesus, of whom it is said, " Straitway the spirit tare him, and he fell on the ground, and wallowed

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foaming." In that representation, I am reminded of the confusion, the agony, the unutterable distress, the vile and blasphemous suggestions with which my mind was rent and torn. The keenest sensations, and those that were contrary to each other, distracted and tormented my spirit. One moment I was tempted to call every thing in question that related to God, to Christ, and Revelation: then, the sentence of condemnation seemed "The to be spoken in thunder to my soul.

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sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains "of hell gat hold upon me; I found trouble and 66 sorrow." I began to wish I had not uttered a thought of the prayer-meetings; and would fain have revoked the appointment. So, Satan would

have had it. He would have compelled me to relinquish a measure so contrary to his interest, and have crushed this offspring of the Spirit of God in its birth.

Hard as was my heart at this time, never was I more amazed than at the tears that fell almost from every eye. I had even formed a resolution to give notice of the total discontinuance of these meetings. But the God of my mercies prevented me! and that, I suppose, by means of those many tears. Glory! Glory! to his adored name!! The next meeting came. A crowd pressed in. The room could not contain them.

I entered trembling. A sacred awe of the majesty of God possessed my mind. When the first emotion had a little subsided, and I could speak, I found my heart enlarged: I felt as a messenger from the dead, to a company of condemned sinners on the confines of dread eternity. Soon an unusual impression appeared. appeared. Amidst solemn silence, strong sensations were manifest. The earnest countenance, the sighs and tears, bespoke the awakened, trembling soul: and united to declare Verily, God is in this place!!"

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Many now present, from the distance of two or three miles, have been regular in their attendance ever since. Presently, we found a shaking among the dry bones. Hard hearts relented-deep-rooted

corruptions and prejudices, the stronghold of the kingdom of Satan, gave way-slaves of sin sighed by reason of their bondage, and began to seek deliverance with strong crying and tears. My house, which death's unusual terrors had so lately filled. with agonizing sorrow, now resounded with the cries and groans of penitents. Many resorted hither

trembling and astonished," earnestly enquiring, "Sir, what must I do to be saved?" Scarce a day passed without one or more of these welcome visits. Often they came two or three in companytheir errand, and solicitude the same.

Nothing, like this, could heal my wound, and turn my sorrow into joy. You, my dear Sir, will see that herein God gave me my request, and, in his great mercy, did more for me than I could ask or think. He "gave me beauty for ashes, the oil "of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for "the spirit of heaviness."

Yet still was my soul overwhelmed within me. The transition was great and sudden-my nature frail and convulsed. It was a considerable time before the wide extremes of grief and joy would admit the calm temperature, that present duty required.

Sometimes, when these earnest enquirers have been uttering the anguish of their bleeding hearts, my soul has trembled like a convicted criminal before

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