“1st. The Lord convinced me of my bosom sin, that which did most easily beset me; representing the heinousness of it in various circumstances.” “2dly. All my other abominations: sins in general, of omission, and commission were set in array before me, as an army ready to devour me; or, as so many devils ready to tear me in pieces. God wrote them down in large characters, so that I might well say, _My sins were ever before me_.” “3dly. I was clearly convinced, that not only my sins, but likewise what I called my duties, were an abomination unto the Lord. My _righteousness_ appeared _as filthy rags_. The _corrupt tree could not bring forth good fruit_.” “4thly. The same spirit convinced me, that I was an unbeliever; that I had not true faith, and therefore no part nor lot in the Lord Jesus Christ. As an unbeliever I was _condemned already, and the wrath of God abode upon_ me, (John iii.) I assented indeed to every thing revealed in the bible; yet I now clearly perceived, I lacked the very true, Christian faith. I learned from the _Methodists_, so called, and had it confirmed to me by the New Testament, that whosoever has true faith, has with it the remission of sins,¹ and is at peace with God. I read, that _whosoever believeth, is born of_ God; and _he that is born of_ God _sinneth not_:² but I sinned, and thence inferred, I had not faith, neither was _born of_ God.” ¹ ♦Romans iv. 5. and v. 1. and viii. 1. John iii. 18. Acts. xiii. 39. 1 John v. 10. ² 1 John iii. 9. and v. 1. ♦ Arabic chapter numbers replaced with Roman numerals for consistency. “5thly. I was deeply convinced, that I could not help myself; that I was utterly unable to work, either repentance, faith or holiness in my own soul, and that it was by grace alone I could be saved.” “6thly. I was without comfort, and miserable. My soul was grieved, and my heart fainted within me. I found labour and sorrow beyond expression. Worldly comforts availed nought. I had no rest night or day. When I prayed I was troubled; when I heard a sermon, I was pierced as with darts and arrows. Whenever I either read or conversed, still I was broken and bruised in heart. Thus was I stripped of all, and wretched, and blind and naked; having neither faith nor power, holiness nor happiness. Truly there was no sound part in me. All was _wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores_. Often I could neither sleep nor eat. The affliction of my soul so affected my body, that at length I was obliged to take to my bed.” “7thly. I saw by the same light of the holy Spirit, the ground of all this, namely, _Original sin_. This I felt was the source of all my misery and helplessness. _By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all, for that all have sinned._¹ Here I saw the root of all evil. Hence are we _children of wrath_; banished from God, and the tree of life.” ¹ Romans v. 12.