"
"Were you not soon convinced," I said, "that your salvation must be an
act of entire grace on the part of God, wholly independent of your own
previous works or deservings?"
"Dear sir, what were my works before I heard that sermon, but evil,
carnal, selfish, and ungodly? The thoughts of my heart, from my youth
upward, were only evil, and that continually. And my deservings, what
were they but the deservings of a fallen, depraved, careless soul, that
regarded neither law nor gospel? Yes, sir, I immediately saw that, if
ever I were saved, it must be by the free mercy of God, and that the
whole praise and honour of the work would be his from first to last."
"What change did you perceive in yourself with respect to the world?"
"It appeared all vanity and vexation of spirit. I found it necessary to
my peace of mind to come out from among them and be separate. I gave
myself to prayer; and many a happy hour of secret delight I enjoyed in
communion with God. Often I mourned over my sins, and sometimes had a
great conflict through unbelief, fear, temptation, to return back again
to my old ways, and a variety of difficulties which lay in my way. But
He who loved me with an everlasting love, drew me by his loving-kindness,
showed me the way of peace, gradually strengthened me in my resolutions
of leading a new life, and taught me, that while without him I could do
nothing, I yet might do all things through his strength.
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