I lived in a place where there was no preaching, and no religious instruction; but every day I went out amongst the hay-stacks, where the presence of the Lord overshadowed me, and I was filled with sweetness and joy, and was as a vessel filled with holy oil.  In this way I continued for about a year; many times while my hands were at my work, my spirit was carried away to spiritual things.  One day as I was going to my old place behind the hay-stacks to pray, I was assailed with this language, “Are you going there to weep and pray? what a fool! there are older professors than you are, and they do not take that way to get to heaven; people whose sins are forgiven ought to be joyful and lively, and not be struggling and praying.”  With this I halted and concluded I would not go, but do as other professors did, and so went off to play; but at this moment the light that was in me became darkened, and the peace and joy that I once had, departed from me.

About this time I was moved back to the farm where my mother lived, and then sold to a stranger.  Here I had deep sorrows and plungings, not having experienced a return of that sweet evidence and light with which I had been favoured formerly; but by watching unto prayer, and wrestling mightily with the Lord, my peace gradually returned, and with it a great exercise and weight upon my heart for the salvation of my fellow-creatures; and I was often carried to distant lands and shown places where I should have to travel and deliver the Lord’s message.  Years afterwards, I found myself visiting those towns and countries that I had seen in the light as I sat at home at my sewing,—­places of which I had never heard.

Some years from this time I was sold to a Presbyterian for a term of years, as he did not think it right to hold slaves for life.  Having served him faithfully my time out, he gave me my liberty, which was about the thirtieth year of my age.

As I now lived in a neighborhood where I could attend religious meetings, occasionally I felt moved to speak a few words therein; but I shrank from it—­so great was the cross to my nature.

I did not speak much till I had reached my forty-second year, when it was revealed to me that the message which had been given to me I had not yet delivered, and the time had come.  As I could read but little, I questioned within myself how it would be possible for me to deliver the message, when I did not understand the Scriptures.  Whereupon I was moved to open a Bible that was near me, which I did, and my eyes fell upon this passage, “Gird up thy loins now like a man, and answer thou me.  Obey God rather than man,” &c.  Here I fell into a great exercise of spirit, and was plunged very low.  I went from one religious professor to another, enquiring of them what ailed me; but of all these I could find none who could throw any light upon such impressions.  They all told me there was nothing in Scripture that would sanction such exercises.  It was hard for men to travel, and what would women do?  These things greatly discouraged me, and shut up my way, and caused me to resist the Spirit.  After going to all that were accounted pious, and receiving no help, I returned to the Lord, feeling that I was nothing, and knew nothing, and wrestled and prayed to the Lord that He would fully reveal His will, and make the way plain.