a voice saying, “rise up and pray,” which strengthened me.  I fell on my knees and prayed the best I could the Lord’s prayer.  Knowing no more to say, I halted, but continued on my knees.  My spirit was then taught to pray, “Lord, have mercy on me—­Christ save me.”  Immediately there appeared a director, clothed in white raiment.  I thought he took me by the hand and said, “come with me.”  He led me down a long journey to a fiery gulf, and left me standing upon the brink of this awful pit.  I began to scream for mercy, thinking I was about to be plunged to the belly of hell, and believed I should sink to endless ruin.  Although I prayed and wrestled with all my might, it seemed in vain.  Still, I felt all the while that I was sustained by some invisible power.  At this solemn moment, I thought I saw a hand from which hung, as it were, a silver hair, and a voice told me that all the hope I had of being saved was no more than a hair; still, pray, and it will be sufficient.  I then renewed my struggle, crying for mercy and salvation, until I found that every cry raised me higher and higher, and my head was quite above the fiery pillars.  Then I thought I was permitted to look straight forward, and saw the Saviour standing with His hand stretched out to receive me.  An indescribably glorious light was in Him, and He said, “peace, peace, come unto me.”  At this moment I felt that my sins were forgiven me, and the time of my deliverance was at hand.  I sprang forward and fell at his feet, giving Him all the thanks and highest praises, crying, Thou hast redeemed me—­Thou hast redeemed me to thyself.  I felt filled with light and love.  At this moment I thought my former guide took me again by the hand and led me upward, till I came to the celestial world and to heaven’s door, which I saw was open, and while I stood there, a power surrounded me which drew me in, and I saw millions of glorified spirits in white robes.  After I had this view, I thought I heard a voice saying, “Art thou willing to be saved?” I said, Yes Lord.  Again I was asked, “Art thou willing to be saved in my way?” I stood speechless until he asked me again, “Art thou willing to be saved in my way?” Then I heard a whispering voice say, “If thou art not saved in the Lord’s way, thou canst not be saved at all;” at which I exclaimed, “Yes Lord, in thy own way.”  Immediately a light fell upon my head, and I was filled with light, and I was shown the world lying in wickedness, and was told I must go there, and call the people to repentance, for the day of the Lord was at hand; and this message was as a heavy yoke upon me, so that I wept bitterly at the thought of what I should have to pass through.  While I wept, I heard a voice say, “weep not, some will laugh at thee, some will scoff at thee, and the dogs will bark at thee, but while thou doest my will, I will be with thee to the ends of the earth.”

I was at this time not yet thirteen years old.  The next day, when I had come to myself, I felt like a new creature in Christ, and all my desire was to see the Saviour.