things in it, that I am far from approv ing; and to be sure it contains as lit tle gospel, as any book of religion I am acquainted with. But though a very uncomfortable book for a person, who is duly brought under a serious concern for his soul; yet 't's very useful to prepare the way, to shew the need, which we have of a Savior, and to enforce the practice of that holy diligence in the use of means, which the important interests. of eternity reasonably demand. This was its use to me. By the perusal of it, I was convinced, that I was guilty of great remissness and negligence; that the duties of secret devotion called for far more of my time and attention, than had been hitherto allotted to them that if I hoped to save my own soul, and the souls of those, that heard me, I must in this respect, greatly alter my conduct, and increase my diligence in seeking and serving the Lord. From that time I began to study in what manner iny devotions might be rendered' more fervent and pertinent; I transcribed and laid up in my memory, scripture petitions; I employed some time in read

ing manuels of devotion, made attempts to compose prayers myself, and became more frequent and earnest, and I trust more spiritual than heretofore, in my secret addresses to the Majesty of Hea

ven.

About this time, after many delays, I complied with the admonitions of my conscience, and disengaged myself from all my other employments, with a solemn resolution of leaving all my tempo ral concerns in the hands of the Lord, and of entirely devoting myself to the work of the ministry. Being thus become master of all my time, I dropped every other study, and turned the whole current of my reflections, inquiries, and reading into another charnel, and thenceforth scarce opened a book, which treated of any thing besides religion.

The first step I took, after this disengagement, was to keep common-place books: one I had for noting down remarkable passages out of other authors: and another for collecting into into one view, every text I could meet with in Scripture, respecting the most impor

tant and controverted doctrines of the gospel. Though I held this but a little time, (for when my engagements multiplied, I dropt it,) yet I found it very useful, in bringing me acquainted with many passages of the word of God, to which I had not hitherto much attended; and it prepared the way for penning my sermons, on doctrinal subjects, with the scripture testimonies concerning the point in hand, in one view be fore me.

In January 1777, I met with a very high commendation of Mr. Hooker's works, with the honorable distinction of judicious bestowed upon him. This excited my curiosity to read his book, which accordingly I did with great pro fit. In his discourse upon justification, page 496, folio edition, printed 1682, I met with the following remarkable passage, which, as well for its excellency, as for the effect thereof upon my relig. ious views, I shall, though somewhat long, transcribe. "If our hands did never offer violence to our brethren, a bloody thought doth prove us murderers before him. If we had never open

ed our mouth to utter any scandalous, offensive, or hurtful word, the cry of our secret cogitations, is heard in the ears of God. If we did not commit the sins, which daily and hourly, in deed, word, or thought, we do commit; yet in the good things, which we do, how many defects are there intermingled! God in that, which is done, respecteth the mind and intention of the doer cut off then all those things, wherein we have regarded our own glory, those things which men do to please men, and to satisfy our own lik ing, those things which we do for any by respect, not sincerely and purely for the love of God; and a small score will serve for the number of our righteous deeds. Let the holiest and best things, which we do, be considered. We are never better affected, unto God, than when we pray, yet when we pray, how are our affections many times distracted! how little reverence do we show unto the grand Majesty of Heaven, unto whom we speak! How little remorse of our own miseries! How little taste of the sweet influence of his tender

mercies do we feel! Are we not as unwilling, many times, to begin, and as glad to make an end, as if in saying, Call upon me,' he had set us a very burdensome task? It may seem somewhat extreme, which I will speak ; therefore, let every one judge of it, even as his own heart shall tell him, and no otherwise. I will but only make a demand! If God should yield unto us, not as unto Abraham; if fifty, forty, thirty, twenty, yea, or if ten good persons could be found in a city, for their sakes the city should not be destroyed: but, and if he should make us an offer thus large, search all the generations of men, since the fall of our father Adam; find one man, that hath done one action, which hath passed from him pure, without any stain or blemish at all ; and for that one man's only action, neither man, nor angels shall feel the torments, which are prepared for both. Do you think that this ransom to deliver men and angels, could be found among the sons of men? The best things which we do, have somewhat in them to be pardoned; how then can we do