every leading providential circumstance that happened to me, from the day I was taken from my parents to that hour, was then in my view, as if it had but just then occurred.  I was sensible of the invisible hand of God, which guided and protected me when in truth I knew it not:  still the Lord pursued me although I slighted and disregarded it; this mercy melted me down.  When I considered my poor wretched state I wept, seeing what a great debtor I was to sovereign free grace.  Now the Ethiopian was willing to be saved by Jesus Christ, the sinner’s only surety, and also to rely on none other person or thing for salvation.  Self was obnoxious, and good works he had none, for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do.  The amazing things of that hour can never be told—­it was joy in the Holy Ghost!  I felt an astonishing change; the burden of sin, the gaping jaws of hell, and the fears of death, that weighed me down before, now lost their horror; indeed I thought death would now be the best earthly friend I ever had.  Such were my grief and joy as I believe are seldom experienced.  I was bathed in tears, and said, What am I that God should thus look on me the vilest of sinners?  I felt a deep concern for my mother and friends, which occasioned me to pray with fresh ardour; and, in the abyss of thought, I viewed the unconverted people of the world in a very awful state, being without God and without hope.

It pleased God to pour out on me the Spirit of prayer and the grace of supplication, so that in loud acclamations I was enabled to praise and glorify his most holy name.  When I got out of the cabin, and told some of the people what the Lord had done for me, alas, who could understand me or believe my report!—­None but to whom the arm of the Lord was revealed.  I became a barbarian to them in talking of the love of Christ:  his name was to me as ointment poured forth; indeed it was sweet to my soul, but to them a rock of offence.  I thought my case singular, and every hour a day until I came to London, for I much longed to be with some to whom I could tell of the wonders of God’s love towards me, and join in prayer to him whom my soul loved and thirsted after.  I had uncommon commotions within, such as few can tell aught about.  Now the bible was my only companion and comfort; I prized it much, with many thanks to God that I could read it for myself, and was not left to be tossed about or led by man’s devices and notions.  The worth of a soul cannot be told.—­May the Lord give the reader an understanding in this.  Whenever I looked in the bible I saw things new, and many texts were immediately applied to me with great comfort, for I knew that to me was the word of salvation sent.  Sure I was that the Spirit which indited the word opened my heart to receive the truth of it as it is in Jesus—­that the same Spirit enabled me to act faith upon the promises that were so precious to me, and enabled me to believe to the salvation of my soul.  By free grace I was persuaded that