The first thing I can remember as regards my religious experience, is the teaching by my mother of several little prayers, and on sabbath mornings sitting down and giving me sundry admonitions, to avoid profanity, and setting before my youthful mind God's disapprobation of all vice and sin. These instructions sounded continually in my ears, and had a restraining power over me, to keep me from many evils, and point me to a better course of life. * * *

      My mother's knee ceased to bow, and her voice no longer led in prayer at the bedside; and my father died; and I was brought nigh to death, and that caused me to make a covenant with God, who was pleased to hear and bless an afflicted son, when I was restored to health. For two years I was often made to rejoice in prayer and meditation, and in remembering the covenant I had made. I left home to learn a trade and having no one to instruct me, the devil, through his vile seductions, entwined my affections around wicked associates.

      At length Elder John Winebrenner came to Uniontown, Maryland, and preached the truths of God's law, which aroused me to proper reflection. [198] His sermons were like arrows to my heart, while many passages of Scripture revolved through my mind, such as, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psalms 9:17). "The Lord trieth the righteous; but the wicked, and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup" (Psalms 11:5, 6). But one as a keepsake, kept me from despair, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him need not perish, but shall have everlasting life" (John 3:16). In this condition I removed to Ohio, hoping to find a more suitable place to pay my vows to God, by being absent from my friends, as I was very much ensnared by a feeling of shame.

      At a Methodist camp-meeting I tried to seek God, but failed to find the sought-for rest. I was very miserable. The devil seemed always present, suggesting to me to commit suicide, for I was excluded from every chance of mercy. But I was enabled to meet those thoughts with certain passages of God's word, such as, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found" (Isaiah 55:6). "For I will have mercy, and not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13). But the one [199] that more especially rung in my ears, was, "Confess me before men, and I will confess you before my heavenly Father and His holy angels" (Luke 10:32). Thus for fifteen years I wandered in this dilemma, commencing in my sixteenth year.

      By sickness I was brought nigh the grave--O, gloomy bed for a sinner!--At last, Elder David Neidigh, Jr., came to preach where I resided, and I immediately resolved to make another effort for salvation. O! that I could call the angels to assist me now, in glorifying the worthy name of my Redeemer, and publishing to all the world, that He has "begotten me again to a lively hope" (1 Peter 1:3), and made me acquainted with a present salvation, by giving the consolation of a full assurance of my cleansing from all sin and a free and welcome access to the grace of God, through faith in His name (Romans 5:1-5). After my conversion I was baptized, in resemblance of a burial and resurrection. Three years after that, I entered the ministry, and have seen many souls made the happy subjects of saving grace. Thus far, for six years, I have been enabled to overcome the enemy, and hope finally to enjoy the "rest that remaineth for the people of God" [Hebrews 4:9]. Kind reader, let the righteousness of Jesus induce you to trust in Him for salvation.

[THW 198-200]