His boiling passions were by oaths express’d,
And lies he made his profit and his jest. 
   Such was the boy, and such the man had been,
But fate or happier fortune changed the scene;
A fever seized him, “He should surely die—­”
He fear’d, and lo! a friend was praying by;
With terror moved, this Teacher he address’d,
And all the errors of his youth confess’d: 
The good man kindly clear’d the Sinner’s way
To lively hope, and counsell’d him to pray;
Who then resolved, should he from sickness rise,
To quit cards, liquors, poaching, oaths, and lies;
His health restored, he yet resolved and grew
True to his masters, to their Meeting true;
His old companions at his sober face
Laugh’d loud, while he, attesting it was grace,
With tears besought them all his calling to embrace: 
To his new friends such convert gave applause,
Life to their zeal, and glory to their cause: 
Though terror wrought the mighty change, yet strong
Was the impression, and it lasted long;
John at the lectures due attendance paid,
A convert meek, obedient, and afraid;
His manners strict, though form’d on fear alone,
Pleased the grave friends, nor less his solemn tone,
The lengthen’d face of care, the low and inward groan;
The stern good men exulted when they saw
Those timid looks of penitence and awe;
Nor thought that one so passive, humble, meek,
Had yet a creed and principles to seek. 
   The Faith that Reason finds, confirms, avows,
The hopes, the views, the comforts she allows —
These were not his, who by his feelings found,
And by them only, that his faith was sound;
Feelings of terror these, for evil past,
Feelings of hope to be received at last;
Now weak, now lively, changing with the day —
These were his feelings, and he felt his way. 
   Sprung from such sources, will this faith remain
While these supporters can their strength retain? 
As heaviest weights the deepest rivers pass,
While icy chains fast bind the solid mass;
So, born of feelings, faith remains secure,
Long as their firmness and their strength endure;
But when the waters in their channel glide,
A bridge must bear us o’er the threat’ning tide;
Such bridge is Reason, and there Faith relies,
Whether the varying spirits fall or rise. 
   His patrons, still disposed their aid to lend. 
Behind a counter placed their humble friend,
Where pens and paper were on shelves display’d,
And pious pamphlets on the windows laid: 
By nature active, and from vice restrain’d,
Increasing trade his bolder views sustain’d;
His friends and teachers, finding so much zeal
In that young convert whom they taught to feel,
His trade encouraged, and were pleased to find
A hand so ready, with such humble mind. 
   And now, his health restored, his spirits eased,
He wish’d to marry, if the teachers pleased. 
They, not unwilling, from the virgin-class