agreeable surprise when he found that this had been done; and as soon as the paper was perused, the resolution was taken to insert it, without the addition or suppression of a single thought, and with as little alteration as possible of the language. If the fastidious should censure him for this, he is willing to bear it. He believes that if he had new cast the whole, he would not have been able to present a view of Mr. Eastburn's early life, and especially of his first religious exercises, nearly so interesting or so useful to the pious reader, as that which he will now find. It was desirable, besides, to show, as far as practicable, this excellent man precisely such as he was; and this was partly to be done by letting the reader see how he spoke of himself, and in what manner he expressed his thoughts in writing. He was, in no respect, an imitator; but he seems to have read the works of the inimitable John Bunyan, till he had unknowingly caught something of his manner. His narrative is as follows:

"At the pressing request of some of my religious friends that I should give some account of my life and religious experience, it is with reluctance I now make an attempt to comply truly willing that my name should be buried with my body, as to the opinion of my fellow-men; for I do know and feel that in all things I have come short.

*

As to my parentage, my father, ROBERT EASTBURN,* came from old England when quite young, of a strict Quaker family, and continued for some time in that connexion, and was married in their public meeting, in their way. My mother also belonged to the same denomina

* A memorandum found among Mr. Eastburn's papers, furnishes the following information :

Robert Eastburn was born in Old England, in the year 1710. He came to America with his parents, when he was four years old. He was married in the year 1733, to Agnes Jones of Germantown. She was born in the year 1713.-Robert Eastburn died Jan. 22d, 1778; his wife, Sept. 27th, 1784. They had six children-Sarah, Hannah, Thomas, Robert, John, and Joseph. Sarah lived to the age of 83 years, and died in Sept. 1818. Hannah died in 1773. Thomas in 1802. Robert in 1815. John in 1806.-We here add, Joseph died on the 30th of January, 1828,-having entered his 80th year on the 11th of the preceding August,

tion, and continued in their society until Mr. George Whitfield first came to America. My father had been under serious concern about his soul for some time before; but could get no relief, until hearing him preach. He went, as he said, with prejudice, to hear a young priest, but found he had been taught of the Lord, and could tell him the exercises of his heart; and his heart was now opened to attend to the preaching of the gospel by him, and this was the means of his spiritual asmfortMr. Whitfield used to call him his first fruit in America. My mother, being of a meek and humble temper, and seriously disposed, and being also benefited by his preach ing, left the Quakers and united with my father to follow him; which soon brought upon them severe trials from their parents and their former friends, which I do not wish to enumerate. Many of the followers of Mr. Whitfield united together, and erected a large building for worship, (now the old academy,) and by his advice called the Rev. Gilbert Tennant to be their stated minister, and became a regular congregation. My father was chosen deacon, and was very active in promoting the interest of the society, and in attending religious meetings in many places through the city.

I was born, according to the date in my father's Bible, on the eleventh day of August, 1748, in Philadelphia, the youngest of his children; and experienced the tender care of my kind parents, and the watchful providence of my heavenly Father. When an infant in my cradle, a cat had nearly drawn out my breath, when she was caught by my father, and just saved my life. When be ginning to walk, I had followed my brother to the river, and fell in and narrowly escaped being drowned. I was early put to school, and had serious impressions on my mind when young; so that I would retire from school and go to the garret of the house alone to pray, and would weep freely. My parents finding me at times serious, and like to make a scholar, were desirous that I might have an education; hoping I might be useful to my fellowmen in the work of the ministry. But it was a time of war, and my father having been a prisoner among the Indians, brought their circumstances too low to afford me

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more than a common English education. At fourteen years of age I was put apprentice to the cabinet-maker's business, in a large shop of seventeen lads and young men-all thoughtless about eternal concerns, and making the sabbath a day of idle amusement. I was tempted to go with them to skate on the Schuylkill; but had not gone far before my conscience so accused me of doing wrong, that I left them, ran back, hid my skates, and went to meeting. Thus I was an evidence of the truth of those words, Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.' I now quieted my conscience, and thought, by my regular conduct, praying in secret, and shedding a few tears at times, I should do well enough. But evil communications corrupt good manners. I was by degrees drawn into vain company. I had committed many trifling, jovial songs to memory, and having something of a turn for singing, I was often pressed to sing in company. I found I was going fast to ruin, and that a horrid snare was laid for my destruction; but the Lord was pleased to pluck me as a brand from the burning, and through his blessed restraints I was preserved from all scandalous outbreaking sins.

"I was now awfully alarmed with a view of eternity and the danger of losing my soul, which determined me to leave all vain company, and try afresh to seek salvation. But I found it hard to stand their solicitations, and afterwards their persecution; for they would come with great pretensions of friendship, and beg I would not leave them, or deprive myself of all the happiness of youthful pleasure; for Solomon, they told me, had said, there was a time for all things;' and the time to be merry certainly was, when we were young; and they said I could not pretend to be more holy than David, and he danced. My reply was, that we had been merry, but as we did not know how soon death might call us, as he did many as young as we, our time to mourn might soon begin, and never end; and I thought it high time for us all to cry for mercy, before it was too late. What made my alarm so great and lasting was, the views I now had of eternity, from one of Mr. Davis's Sermons. These

words were fixed in my mind, 'Oh! Eternity, Eternity! how will this awful sound echo through the vaults of hell! It was upon my mind day and night. I thought if I could live as long as Methuselah, and be in as much misery as it was possible to bear, all the time, I would be willing to bear it, if I could have hope of happiness afterward. Finding they could not persuade me to return to them, they turned to be cruel persecutors, mocking and treating me with contempt: and if they found my place of retirement, they would be sure to disturb me, throwing stones where they only suspected I might be. For a long time I used to rise at midnight, when they were asleep, and spend the time in prayer for mercy. One of them happening to hear me, was so much affected, he could not conceal his cries; and said, if I was afraid of going to hell, what would become of him and the rest of them. From that time he ceased his opposition, and became my friend till his death. But I had severe opposition, from a man in the shop, who had made a profession and turned back, and afterwards died in a bad way.

"I had at this time no religious acquaintance, for my father had moved from the city to Neshaminy. I attended worship on sabbath days, and every opportunity I could have, with great care. I worked hard, and was trying to gain a righteousness of my own. Having done overwork in my trade, I had gained a day clear, which I devoted to fasting and prayer alone. About this time I received a letter from a brother in New-York, in which he informed me he had been under soul-concern for some short time, and had obtained comfort. I thought he had not been so long nor so much engaged as I had been, and yet I had not the least comfort. I then began to think the Lord dealt hard with me, and I was displeased with his sovereignty. The ninth chapter of the Romans filled me with discouragement-that it was 'not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.' I feared I was not elected, and therefore would be lost after all. I went to the Episcopal Church, and when they read prayers and thanked God for their creation, my heart replied, I do not; for I wished I had never been born, and often wished I was a brute, a stock, or a

stone, rather than an accountable creature. I envied the little birds their happiness. I found fault with the imputation of Adam's sin, and that through his fall we were rendered helpless and yet condemned. My wicked heart rose in horrid rebellion, and would wish there was no power that could punish me in hell for ever. I continued a long time in this awful state of mind, and found truly that the carnal mind is indeed enmity against God.' I thought I had the very spirit of Satan, and began to wonder that the Lord did not strike me dead, and fix my place among the fiends in hell, for my dreadful rebellion against his awful majesty. And I did expect that must be the case at last, for I thought so vile a creature as I saw myself to be, could never be admitted into his ence; and often have I feared to close my eyes in sleep, fearing I should awake in torment.

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"About this time my father returned to the city; but I could not for a long time open my mind to him; but he, observing my distressed countenance, insisted upon knowing what was my trouble. I then made it known to him, and he did all he could to encourage me. He took me to see pious ministers; a Mr. Strain was often in town at that time, to whom I made my case known. He gave the advice Paul gave to the jailer, and pressed me to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, immediately; warning me against false resting-places, and insisted upon it I was now doing so, and said while I hoped to be saved in any other way but through Jesus, I was practically calling God a liar, who declared there was no other way. That evening a strange minister preached upon the sin of unbelief. I determined then that I would never close my eyes in sleep again, until I had made the attempt; and I spent the night in a solitary place alone, trying to realize my need of a Saviour, as a guilty, polluted, lost sinner; and then thinking of the offices, fulness, and invitations of the Saviour-trying to give up myself to him, and praying to be accepted by him, but I could find no relief. I thought I could as easily clasp the moon with my hands, which was then shining over my head, as I could believe so as to obtain comfort to my soul; not realizing that faith was the gift of God. I wondered that ministers

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