J. N. Maffit, the eloquent Methodist preacher, was born in Ireland, and died in this country.

      He says: "When a child, the influence of divine things made deep impressions on my mind. * * * [123] My father, at his death, gave me a solemn charge to prepare for death; but I soon forgot his counsel, and set aside his dying request, entering with avidity into all the pleasing delights of puerile sport.

      "At the age of fourteen, I procured every novel and romance in the libraries, for the purpose of exploring the field of fiction. Even the hours that were necessary to the support of nature, were sacrificed to this; all my powers being swallowed up in the pursuit of the poison these baneful and pernicious works infuse into the soul. I attended all the balls and theatres within my reach, and devoted all my leisure hours to the study of dress and show. This course was the moans of leading me into the paths of vice and folly, and crushing every seed of virtue implanted in my heart. I hope this statement may prove a lasting warning to the young, to beware how they trifle with instruments formed for their destruction.

      "Imprudence at a ball brought on a malignant fever for several weeks, which caused mental derangement. I felt the messenger death was at the door, and I was shivering, as it were, on the brink of that abyss, where melting fire in quickening fury, forever rolls. My feelings were, at one time, so harrowed up at the thought of dwelling with devils and damned spirits, that in the bitterness of my soul I cried out, Lord, save or I perish! Lord, save, or I sink into hell! After recovering, I relapsed again [124] into sin. For several years more I continued in this state of alienation from God. At length, on a Sabbath evening, my mother expressed a desire that I would accompany her to Methodist meeting. I did not go into the house until the sermon was ended. The congregation was detained a little while, to enter into a new covenant with God. Maddened by the horrors of my mind, caused by my sinful condition, whilst witnessing this I started to flee the house--but at the head of the stairs was arrested by some unknown power. My alarm increased, I trembled, and feared lest I should fall. After service, I returned home; and during the night had terrible visions, which frighted me so much with a conscious sense of my inability to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and the miseries of the damned appearing in colors too glaring for my imagination to bear, I literally cast myself out of bed, and on the floor, in humble prostration, cried out, Who art thou, Lord? Mercy! save me from the opening pit! I cried--I wept--implored mercy--called upon a compassionate God to extend an arm of pity towards a repenting, returning rebel. I promised to give up all my vain companions--offered up my vanity--my pride--my dress--and made two more sacrifices that were as difficult as the parting with the right hand, or the plucking out of the right eye: the theatre and ball room. * * * But after all my [125] promises, I began, next day, to halt between two opinions, and, if practicable, desired to take a middle path, or steer a course that would keep me suspended between religion and the world.--When a sinner is brought to the rallying point, he tries and looks for security in every hiding place in the bowers of ease, but all in vain; and not till the drooping, fainting rebel is deeply wounded--his strength exhausted--hopeless and lost, and sensible of the inefficiency of every earthly covert to give real safety, is he willing to approve and close in with the offers of mercy, or bow submission to the yoke of Christ.

      "For three days I could adopt the language of the prophet, 'Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?' [Jeremiah 8:22]. * * * A woman, whom I had before hated, to whom I now applied for instruction, said, 'If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who ever liveth to make intercession for us' [1 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25], and particularized to me more clearly the plan of salvation--that I could possess no better recommendation to the holy Saviour, than misery, nakedness and pollution--that all our efforts are unavailing to make ourselves better, or procure pardon and reconciliation with God, but merely through the merits of our adorable Redeemer. All that was therefore required of the seeking soul was a total renunciation of the world-- [126] forsaking all that heretofore caught the affections--and every possibility of escaping the divine indignation, but 'repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ' [Acts 20:21]. She advised me to make one trial more--to resolve that if I were to perish, it should be at the foot of Calvary. * * * Thus, mingled hope and fear alternately enwrapped my soul, and I felt myself to be the most abject wretch that crawled the earth--When, lo! a light from heaven broke, in dazzling splendor, through the gloom--dispersed the clouds, and shot its loveliest beams through all my powers. I looked--the current of my sorrows ceased to flow--the mountains of my sins disappeared--and all was joy and peace. By faith I distinguished my Saviour, felt the efficacy of His sufferings and death, and was warmed by the tide of salvation that overwhelmed my soul. I sunk, by dying love compelled, and owned Him conqueror! O, how my enraptured bosom thrilled with divine ardor! Astonished at the influxion of glory, my vision was obscured to the sight of earthly objects, and the suburbs of paradise appeared in view. How soul-reviving the name of Jesus! With the angelic throng I could fall down and adore. If all the world had been present, I felt as though I could acknowledge Jesus, and invite them to a participation of those pleasing sensations that were communicated to my soul." [127]

[THW 123-127]