Thus far did he labour through the furnace of heart-tormenting conflict; assaulted on the one hand by the _Romanists_, who still wrought him all the trouble they could, both by calumny and contention: And on the other, by _the ruler of the darkness of this world_; _Satan_ and his emissaries, seeking to devour him. Our Lord’s words, _John xvi. 21._ were literally verified in him; as indeed they are more or less, in every one that is truly _born again_. He travailed in birth, and was in sorrow, and pain to be delivered. The agony of his heart frequently extorted from him, complaints to this effect, _the sorrows of death have compassed me about, and the pains of hell have got hold upon me_! He found trouble and heaviness. In his distress he cried unto the Lord, and said, _O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul! I am oppressed, undertake for me!_ And thus he remained for some time waiting, and longing for his God, even as the thirsty ground for showers. His sorrow it is true was often interspersed with gleams of sweetly reviving hope. That yet a little while, and he whom he sought would come, and would not tarry, while his very pulse still beat, _Make no long tarrying, O my God. Make haste my beloved, and come away. Be thou like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether._ The Lord did indeed wait to be gracious to him, and was exalted in having mercy upon him. He brought _to the birth_, and gave _strength to bring forth_. For the spirit of heaviness, he afterwards received the garments of praise, and for mourning the oil of joy. CHAPTER VI. _Of some particulars previous to his conversion._ AFTER having made use of every means, which either men or books could suggest, but without the desired effect, (being now in the nineteenth year of his age) as he returned to his lodging one evening in the city of _Limerick_, March 17, 1749, he saw an uncommonly large concourse of people assembled in a place called the _Parade_ adjoining to the main street. He turned aside to see what it meant; and perceiving a man preaching to the people in the open air (a thing then quite new in _Ireland_,) he eagerly stopped to know what he said. And hearing him (Mr. R. S.) from _Matthew xi. 28._ affectionately, and earnestly entreat all persons to _come to_ Jesus Christ, _that they might find rest to their souls_: and withal exhorting them to search the scriptures, and see for themselves if what he said was not true; it filled him with wonder, and with desire to know more of this matter.