“But,” I asked, “suppose you have not repented and believed, what then?” Receiving no answer, I continued, “Then, nothing; but the responsibility and the name.”

A few days afterwards he came to me, saying that I had made him quite miserable, and asked me whether I meant to deny the necessity of baptism.  I said, “Certainly not, but the condition of faith and repentance must be fulfilled.  Whatever Baptismal Regeneration may be, Spiritual Regeneration is the work of the Spirit in those who believe in Christ Jesus.”  After a long talk and prayer, he appeared to understand that a conscious change should be wrought in him, and a spiritual faculty imparted, by which he could “see the kingdom of God.”  He remained for the evening service and meeting in the schoolroom and was much impressed with what he witnessed.  Instead of going away, he stayed with me till after midnight, when he found peace with God (as he said) in the church where we had been praying.  Then he ordered his horse and rode home; but before he set out, he exacted a promise from me that I would not mention his conversion to any one.  I consented to this, on the condition that he announce the change which had been wrought in him, from his pulpit on the following Sunday.

A few days afterwards my friend came to me in a great rage, and charged me with announcing his conversion all over the town.  I told him that I was not sure enough of it myself to say anything about it, and that I had not spoken to a single person on the subject.  Still he seemed to doubt me, for he said his brother had been with him, and had told him that it was known all over the town that he had been to Baldhu, and that he was converted.  Upon inquiry, I found out that my servant, who sat up till after mid-night to get his horse, had overheard our conversation, and was the offending party.

I am always afraid of persons who are ashamed to acknowledge their conversion.  My friend, I am sorry to say, made no announcement, but went on preaching as if he had always been the same, and consequently never came out to be of any use or help in the work.  His testimony was indistinct also, and without any power.  He became a very popular preacher afterwards, which was his great ambition, for he cared more for a large congregation than for Wining Souls.

Soon after this, I fell across another of my old friends in the street.  He tried to avoid me, but I went up and shook hands with him.  At first he would not look at me, and said he was afraid of me because I had changed my views.  I assured him that I had not changed anything, but that I had myself been changed.  As he was listening, I went on to tell him that I had long tried to make myself good enough for God’s acceptance, but finding that Christ would not receive reformed characters, I came to Him as a poor lost sinner, and He saved me.  Seeing that he continued attentive, I was proceeding to make my meaning plainer, when he turned round, and looking sternly at me, said, “If I understand you, I am to cry for mercy as ‘a common sinner.’”