feast; but how singular did it appear to me, to have it in a chapel!  When the wished-for hour came I went, and happily the old man was there, who kindly seated me, as he belonged to the place.  I was much astonished to see the place filled with people, and no signs of eating and drinking.  There were many ministers in the company.  At last they began by giving out hymns, and between the singing the minister engaged in prayer; in short, I knew not what to make of this sight, having never seen any thing of the kind in my life before now.  Some of the guests began to speak their experience, agreeable to what I read in the Scriptures; much was said by every speaker of the providence of God, and his unspeakable mercies, to each of them.  This I knew in a great measure, and could most heartily join them.  But when they spoke of a future state, they seemed to be altogether certain of their calling and election of God; and that no one could ever separate them from the love of Christ, or pluck them out of his hands.  This filled me with utter consternation, intermingled with admiration.  I was so amazed as not to know what to think of the company; my heart was attracted and my affections were enlarged.  I wished to be as happy as them, and was persuaded in my mind that they were different from the world ’that lieth in wickedness,’ 1 John v. 19.  Their language and singing, &c. did well harmonize; I was entirely overcome, and wished to live and die thus.  Lastly, some persons in the place produced some neat baskets full of buns, which they distributed about; and each person communicated with his neighbour, and sipped water out of different mugs, which they handed about to all who were present.  This kind of Christian fellowship I had never seen, nor ever thought of seeing on earth; it fully reminded me of what I had read in the holy scriptures, of the primitive Christians, who loved each other and broke bread.  In partaking of it, even from house to house, this entertainment (which lasted about four hours) ended in singing and prayer.  It was the first soul feast I ever was present at.  This last twenty-four hours produced me things, spiritual and temporal, sleeping and waking, judgment and mercy, that I could not but admire the goodness of God, in directing the blind, blasphemous sinner in the path that he knew not of, even among the just; and instead of judgment he has shewed mercy, and will hear and answer the prayers and supplications of every returning prodigal: 

    O! to grace how great a debtor
    Daily I’m constrain’d to be!

After this I was resolved to win Heaven if possible; and if I perished I thought it should be at the feet of Jesus, in praying to him for salvation.  After having been an eye-witness to some of the happiness which attended those who feared God, I knew not how, with any propriety, to return to my lodgings, where the name of God was continually profaned, at which I felt the greatest horror.  I paused in my mind for some time, not knowing what to do; whether to hire a bed elsewhere, or go home again.  At last, fearing an evil report might arise, I went home, with a farewell to card-playing and vain jesting, &c.  I saw that time was very short, eternity long, and very near, and I viewed those persons alone blessed who were found ready at midnight call, or when the Judge of all, both quick and dead, cometh.