“All souls are thine, O Lord God, and thou willest _all_ to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. For this end thou did give thy only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. I beseech thee therefore O eternal God, shew thy tender mercies upon those poor souls who have been long deluded by _the god of this_ world, the pope, and his _clergy_. Jesus, thou lover of souls and friend of sinners, send to them thy light, and truth, that they may lead them, and call those straying sheep, now perishing for lack of knowledge, to the light of thy word, which is able to make them wise to salvation through faith, which is in thee!” CHAPTER V. _Some further account of his progress in the way of life, with other reasons of his conduct in regard of the church of Rome._ THE affair of renouncing communion with the Romish church, and declaring himself a member of the church of _England_, being now over, he set himself to read with much diligence the holy scriptures, together with the writings of some of the most eminent Protestant divines. And hereby he received further light every day, being more and more persuaded that his conduct was right. By this means he began likewise to see into the nature of the gospel, and the one, only way which it points to life and blessedness, grace and glory. ‘Now (says he) I begin to discern clearly that it is _the blood of_ Christ alone which _cleanseth from sin_, and that _by one offering_ of himself once for all, _he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified_.’¹――Perfectly accomplished, without any need of other helps, or repetitions of the same, all that was necessary in order to the justification and glorification of all believers. ¹ Hebrews x. 14. “I likewise became now more clearly sensible of the errors which I formerly held. As 1st, Thinking that my own works could merit something from God. 2dly, vainly imagining that there is a place for the purgation of sin after death. When at any time therefore I was asked now, why I had left the church of _Rome_? I could answer upon good and solid grounds: because I am well assured that the doctrines of merit (to speak of no more) and works of supererogation, are contrary both to reason and scripture.”――――To reason, it being absurd to suppose that a creature, receiving life, and breath, and all things from its Creator, should be able to love, adore, and obey him, more than is required of him as his indispensable duty.――――To scripture; being flatly contrary to the words of Christ, _When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you, say_, that is, take knowledge, _we are unprofitable servants_.¹ ¹ Luke xvii. 10.