I then began to look around me; and compare myself with the bulk of my comrades. I thought I was not so bad as they were. I began to reason with myself, that if God was to send _me_ to hell for _my sins_, surely those that were worse than I was, would also be condemned; and, if that was the case, how few would there be that would escape! I would fondly have indulged the idea, that surely God would not be so severe, as to condemn so many, and would fain have cherished the hope, that because I was not so bad as the major part of those I knew, I should have a chance to escape. But when I reviewed my past life in the light of the word of God, I found nothing but condemnation; for I perceived that that word took cognisance of the quality of sin, as well as the quantity, and condemned both sins secret and sins open: I began to remember the means that I had enjoyed above others, of religious instruction and information; and the declaration of our Lord, "To whom much is given, of them shall much be required," rang in my ears. I remembered the impressions made upon my mind by early religious instructions; I recollected the resolutions I had made to forsake sin, and the convictions which had produced these resolutions; I thought of my breaches of these resolutions, and my former forgetfulness and indifference: and more particularly, my failing in keeping my last most solemn vow. I began to meditate and consider of God's dealings with me as an individual: and of the account he would require of me _as an individual sinner_. I no longer durst compare myself with other men. I knew not the extent, in number and heinousness, of any other man's sins. I knew not their secret sins and evil purposes of heart; and as God would bring all manner of sin into judgment, I durst no longer think in my heart that I was a whit better than the most wicked and profane person I knew; for I knew more evil of myself than I had known, or could know of another. This led me to look more strictly into my own heart, and to examine what was done in it, as I found that the word of God discerned the thoughts of the heart. This led me to investigate the _motives_ of my actions, and then I found that I did nothing that was pure. I called to mind the past goodness of God, the many mercies and deliverances he had given me; I reflected on my ungrateful behaviour, and was filled with wonder and astonishment that a God of such awful majesty, should have spared such an ungrateful and vile wretch so long; I was led afresh to consider, "What shall I do to escape the just vengeance of Almighty God?" and my resolution was to repent afresh of my sins, and devote my future life, with greater resolution to his glory. I durst not delay my repentance to a more convenient time, because the fear of death stared me in the face; and I was convinced, that as death left me, judgment would find me. I trembled at the thought of being called, by death, before the awful tribunal of God. I had nothing to