“My name is Stanley, my ancestors were once respectable, my great-grandfather was a principal officer in the army of the commonwealth; but the family falling to decay, my father took up with the wandering life of the gipsies; among them I was born, and have continued to the present time. I am now in my eightieth year, and have led a long and wicked life; but there is one thing that troubles me above all the rest. About forty years ago, in the course of conversation with a brother of mine, I cursed the Almighty to his face! From that time, sir, I have been a stranger to peace; the recollection of my blasphemy has followed me ever since; I cannot forget it; it haunts me from place to place; alone or in company, it is the same. I get no rest; my wickedness fills me with horror; I am indeed a monster; often have I tried to remove the impression, but it is impossible. O, sir, my sin it too heavy for me to bear! Such has been its influence upon my spirits, that the bare mention of God’s name would bring a trembling upon me, and fill my mind with anguish. As long as I could, I concealed the cause of my uneasiness, till it became too painful to bear, and I was at length induced, about two years ago, to reveal it to my family; from that time I have earnestly sought for God’s forgiveness, but I still feel his hand heavy. O might I but be pardoned! I could then die in peace; but, sir, with this burden upon my soul, death will indeed be dreadful.” Having heard his affecting relation, my friend immediately spoke of Jesus Christ—of his death on the cross for the salvation of sinners, and exhorted him to believe in the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world; assuring him, that there was mercy with God to pardon him; that the divine compassion was like the boundless sea; that the arms of Christ’s mercy were still extended to embrace and welcome all that come to him, even the vilest; that many great sinners had been pardoned upon repentance and were now shining in glory; that there was room still for more, and that if he repented and believed in Christ as the only Saviour, salvation was as free for him as for others. At these words his countenance brightened; but as speaking had by this time greatly exhausted him, my friend bade him farewell for the present.