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just if he condemned me, and would be glorified in doing it, for I had procured it all to myself; and that my mouth would be for ever stopped, for I was under a threefold condemnation-condemned by the law, condemned by the gospel, and by my own confcience. But here I felt it cut closeft; the thoughts of being condemned by the gospel, which is in itself good news and glad tidings, and in which is revealed a Saviour, who I faw was every way fufficient and able to fave me. But it all rested on the act of his fovereign will; and whether that act would be put forth in mercy or in justice, I knew not. Here all legal hopes are cut; no bottom in this dungeon. And this was the place where fovereign mercy took me up. About this time God, in his kind providence, fent you down to the King's dale. You were, by appointment, to spend a day at the G-, and I was invited to meet you there. My cafe, at that time, feemed to be defperate. I had been for some time in great fear of lofing my rationality, and was fure it must take place, if God did not appear for me; and then I thought I fhould be left to curfe and blafpheme all that was good. This cut me to the quick. I was truly miferable, and thought myself not fit for the fociety of any that feared the Lord. I thought, if they did but know my heart, they would fpurn me, and especially such an old fervant of the Lord as I conceived you to be; for which reafon I had a deal of pro and con in

in my

mind that morning whether to go or not. I wanted to hear your converfation, and others whom I knew were to be there; and glad fhould I be could I have been fhut in a closet for that purpose. However, I at laft concluded to go, but with this refolution, that I would by no means whatever open my mouth. You were almoft a ftranger to me, I having never been in your company but once before, nor ever had any conversation with you. When I came I found you there, with several others, at dinner, and I was placed next to you. Even this circumftance made my heart ready to burft within me. O, thought I, did you but know what a wretch I am, you would not endure me so near you! I did try to hide my face with my bonnet as much as I could. But you had not fat many minutes at dinner before you related a circumftance of a woman who was brought under convictions by your miniftry, and who at laft was quite deprived of her rationality, and was put into a mad-house; and her husband faid to you, "You always faid it was the work of God on her foul; but what can you fay now?" You faid to him in anfwer," And fo I do now; and I believe, in God's time, fhe will be brought to her right. mind." This account was, indeed, like fewel to that fiery temptation I was then under; and no fooner was the word out of your mouth, than my. fenfations were fuch as I cannot defcribe. I thought I even feemed as if I felt my fenfes going b from

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from me. At this time, if I had had all the world given me, I could not have helped bursting into tears; they came indeed from the abundant grief of my heart. You obferved me, and turned to me very quick, and faid to me," What do you weep for? Jefus Chrift came into the world to fave finners." I answered, " If you knew my state, and what a wretch I am, you would not fay fo to me." You turned to me again, and said, “ What do you cry for?" I made no answer, being determined, if poffible, to keep my refolution. You repeated it feveral times, but could draw no more from me, till his Majefty's herald, who was prefent, faid, "Sir, let her alone; perhaps fhe will tell you what the matter is by and by." You then left off noticing me, and related a circumftance of a young woman who for fome time had attended your miniftry, and who was brought into great diftrefs of foul; one who, I found, frequently vifited you; and that fhe came to you one day, and faid, "I am come to vifit you for the laft time, as it is of no ufe; all is over with me; there is no hope for me, I am certainly loft; I have neither ftrength nor power left, and fink I muft." You faid to her, "Well, girl; I fee now your strength is gone, and you are brought to the place of promised deliverance; the work of ftripping is done, there is nothing left; and I fhall foon fee you again with a new fong in your mouth." Thefe are the words, as near as they are brought to my recollection

recollection at this time. She went from you, and I think, if I am not mistaken, it was but a few days after, as fhe was attending your miniftry, that the Lord appeared for her, burft her bonds, and delivered her foul; and the next time you faw her she told you a better tale, as you had predicted. This account took off the edge of those feelings which were communicated by the other relation, as I thought I saw a near resemblance between her condition and mine. When you had related this, you turned to me again, and asked me the fame queftion as before, to tell you what was the matter with me. I did then open my mouth, and told you it was on account of the hardness and rebellion I felt in my heart. You then ordered a glass of beer, and one for me, and said, “ Come, you and I will drink together." You asked me what I would drink to you. I anfwered, "I can drink my kind love to you." You faid, " Can you, from your heart?" I faid, heart?" I said, "Yes." You faid, "What can you love me for? It must be for fomething of God which you find in me; for no foul can love me for God's fake, unless they are loved of God; for we are to be hated of all men for his name's fake." And you added, "As fure as the Lord liveth, fo fure fhall you and I fit down together in the kingdom of heaven." That you fhould speak in such pofitive language to me, was very ftrange; neither could I credit you then. You then entered into converfation with me, and told.

ine all my feelings, as if you had been privy to al that had paffed in my heart for three years back; and even fome particular things which I had been exercifed with but a few days before, which I knew none could know but God and myself; and which I had not mentioned even to the King's herald; therefore I knew you could have no information of them from him. You came to me that day, as Chrift came to the woman of Samaria, and told me all things that ever I did. And fent of God you was, I am well perfuaded, by the bleffed effects that followed. You had your commiffion from God to " ftrengthen the weak hands, and to confirm the feeble knees;" for my foul was refreshed; and I received a confidence at that time that God would appear for me; nor did I ever fink fo low afterwards; and it was about a month after this that God was pleafed to appear and deliver my foul. You faid unto me, "You fhall not die in the pit, for in the pit I know you are." I fhall never forget this interview, nor the effects of it, as long as I have an existence.

When the Lord faw that my ftrength was gone, and that there was none fhut up or left, then he graciously appeared for me, and made the ministry of his excellency, by which I was alarmed and pulled down, the means of bringing me forth into the light and liberty of the children of God. The fermon was preached from thefe words: "Thou haft chaftened me fore, but thou haft not given

me

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