From early youth my mother impressed me with the necessity of strict honesty. At the age of fourteen, I was called from Harrisburg to see her die.--Her last words to me were, "My son, be honest and trust in God, and He will always open a way for you." This sunk deep in my heart, and has never been forgotten. I was then left an orphan, my father having died some years before.

      I then returned to Harrisburg; and after several years, went to Pittsburg, and thence to New Orleans, God evidently caring for me all the time. I then came back to Pennsylvania, and three years later, married, and commenced business in Harrisburg.--My business succeeded, but God permitted me to see that there is no safety in earthly possessions; I was greatly defrauded. Removing to Middletown, prosperity followed me. But all this time I neglected to thank God properly for His goodness.

      About 1824, my beloved brother John Winebrenner began to visit our town and preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins. He sought my heart, and his efforts, added to my deceased mother's [63] admonitions and the light of the preached word, impressed me thoroughly. I reflected on my sinfulness against God, who had been so good toward me and had prospered my business so well. I resolved to repent and lead a different life I besought my wife to join me. Together we kneeled, and prayed as best we could, to be brought to the enjoyment of true piety; and for some weeks I continued to pray, sometimes in the cellar, the garret, barn, woods, or wherever I could find a secluded spot. My soul was exceedingly sorrowful, and my anguish for sin so great at times that the great enemy of souls sought to retard my reform by evil suggestions, one of which was, that I could never obtain pardon for my sins, and to end my misery had better destroy my life.

      At length I went to a Methodist camp-meeting in York County, Pennsylvania. Reaching the encampment on a Saturday, I kneeled by the side of a tree at four o'clock in the afternoon, and remained there till two the next afternoon, wrestling for the pardon of my sins. During this long struggle I endeavored to lay hold of something to aid me to embrace salvation, for I had long been under the notion that I must make some considerable sacrifice on my own part, before I could be saved. At last my thoughts firmly fixed upon the fact that the all-atoning sacrifice of Christ was sufficient for me; I began to trust in Him alone. [64] The moment I believed with all my heart that Jesus died for me to save my soul, and was willing to be sent even to hell, if He so ordained it, the burden of my sins was removed, as though a monstrous weight had rolled off me; and, glory be to JESUS! I felt unutterably full of the love of God. I felt I was a new creature in Christ Jesus, that my sins were forgiven, and that the Spirit bore witness with my spirit that I was a child of God. I shouted aloud the praise of my Regenerator, and immediately published to all around how He had blessed me.

      I left the camp-meeting on Monday morning, for home, and for twelve miles stopped every person on the road, declaring that Christ Jesus has power on earth to forgive sins, and urging them to love and serve Him. At home, I told my wife my news, and she immediately knelt with me in our room, and did not rise till she also had found the pearl of great price.

      The Lord followed our conversion by the conviction and conversion of many others, among them several relatives. I continued preaching salvation to all within my reach, and sometime later entered the public ministry, in the Church of God, in which I have endeavored to labor where opportunities offered, for over twenty-five years, witnessing many conversions and happy religious seasons. My temptations and sorrows have been numerous, but with [65] David of old I can say, the Lord has delivered me out of them all. The promise that He will never forsake His people has ever been my stay and consolation.--For thirty-two years I have been serving Him, and am resolved till death, when I know He will give me a crown of rejoicing. I am happy to be counted fit to bear testimony for Jesus, and hope this may induce others to seek the Lord while He may be found.

[THW 63-66]