soul, and fervently begged that God would never again permit me to blaspheme his most holy name.  The Lord, who is long-suffering, and full of compassion to such poor rebels as we are, condescended to hear and answer.  I felt that I was altogether unholy, and saw clearly what a bad use I had made of the faculties I was endowed with; they were given me to glorify God with; I thought, therefore, I had better want them here, and enter into life eternal, than abuse them and be cast into hell fire.  I prayed to be directed, if there were any holier than those with whom I was acquainted, that the Lord would point them out to me.  I appealed to the Searcher of hearts, whether I did not wish to love him more, and serve him better.  Notwithstanding all this, the reader may easily discern, if he is a believer, that I was still in nature’s darkness.  At length I hated the house in which I lodged, because God’s most holy name was blasphemed in it; then I saw the word of God verified, viz.  ’Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.’

I had a great desire to read the bible the whole day at home; but not having a convenient place for retirement, I left the house in the day, rather than stay amongst the wicked ones; and that day as I was walking, it pleased God to direct me to a house where there was an old sea-faring man, who experienced much of the love of God shed abroad in his heart.  He began to discourse with me; and, as I desired to love the Lord, his conversation rejoiced me greatly; and indeed I had never heard before the love of Christ to believers set forth in such a manner, and in so clear a point of view.  Here I had more questions to put to the man than his time would permit him to answer; and in that memorable hour there came in a dissenting minister; he joined our discourse, and asked me some few questions; among others, where I heard the gospel preached.  I knew not what he meant by hearing the gospel; I told him I had read the gospel:  and he asked where I went to church, or whether I went at all or not.  To which I replied, ’I attended St. James’s, St. Martin’s, and St. Ann’s, Soho;’—­’So,’ said he, ‘you are a churchman.’  I answered, I was.  He then invited me to a love-feast at his chapel that evening.  I accepted the offer, and thanked him; and soon after he went away, I had some further discourse with the old Christian, added to some profitable reading, which made me exceedingly happy.  When I left him he reminded me of coming to the feast; I assured him I would be there.  Thus we parted, and I weighed over the heavenly conversation that had passed between these two men, which cheered my then heavy and drooping spirit more than any thing I had met with for many months.  However, I thought the time long in going to my supposed banquet.  I also wished much for the company of these friendly men; their company pleased me much; and I thought the gentlemen very kind, in asking me, a stranger, to a