being convicted, and she soon after experienced religion. The next morning I had an opportunity to talk to her brother; the good Spirit reached his heart, which caused him to weep as I told him of the sufferings of Christ for poor sinners. He was soon converted and remains a useful brother in Christ to the present time. Other preachers laboured there shortly after, and a number were converted and baptized. I then returned to New-Bedford again; not long after I dreained a messenger came and said I must prcach in Taunton, for the meeting-house would be opened for me. When I awoke I thought that the Congregational meeting-house would never be opened for me to hold a meeting.

I continued to stay at New-Bedford, till after the great hurricane on the 23d of September, 1815, a day never to be forgotten by thousands. I was then standing by the water side in solemn prayer to Almighty God, for those poor mortals I saw perishing in the water. One young man in attempting to save another, perished himself and was buried beneath the waves. The scene before us that day reminded me of that passage in revelation; fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgments is come. And truly it was an hour of judgment; it brought many to see themselves in an unprepared state to meet God, and bowed their knees before him that day, that never did before, and cried for mercy. The Lord spoke by his mighty power that day, which was the means of the conversion of many.

A few days after I started for Taunton, to

see if the Lord had a work for me to do there. When I got to the place I went to see Mr. Pippon, the Congregationalist minister, and told him my feelings in mind; that if I was not deceived I had a call to warn the people in that place to repent and believe the gospel. I told him I did not know of any house in the place, where I could speak to the people. He told me his house would be free if he had not let part of it; but, said he, you are a person we are acquainted with, and I have no objection to your having a meeting at our meeting-house; he told me he would see some of the members of the church, and if no objection should be made, he would make an appointment the next Thursday.

I then went on to the other village, where the reformation had been the spring before, and found my brethren engaged in religion, and told them I had come to hold meetings at the other village, and expected to see a reformation, and wanted their assistance; if the Lord worked we must be workers together with him. I then went to a grove of woods about a half a mile from the place and prayed, and while on my knees a young man that I had not seen for six months, came into my mind. I prayed to the Lord if he was not converted, that he might have his sins set in order before him, and he repent and be converted. It was so strange to me that this young man should come to my mind while at prayer, I thought I must see him before I slept. I went that evening two miles to see him; not knowing where he lived, and there being a young man who attended a

grocery store in the village, I was acquainted with, I thought I would inquire where this young man lived. As I entered the store I saw the same young man I was in pursuit of. As soon as he went out I followed him, and taking him by the hand said, did you ever see the time that you wanted religion? He answered yes, six months ago; I was one day at the water side to see a young man baptized; and when he came out of the water he looked so happy, I was convinced there was a reality in religion, and that I never could be happy without it; I tried to pray to the Lord to pardon my sins; but I have given up seeking religion since, and have been guilty of profanity and levity, and my conviction has left me, and now I care nothing about it. I walked some distance with him home, and stood and talked with him in the street, till he made a solemn promise that he would pray for himself for one week, and dispense with the sinful practice of swearing. The next day we went into the field together; he appeared to be a real penitent. We kneeled and prayed to the Lord for his pardoning mercy. About a week after, this young man became a happy convert, and was very gifted in prayer and exhortation.The evening following I was at the house of widow Dean, a Congregationalist, who granted me the privilege of holding a meeting at her house, and as many people assembled as could be accommodated. I spoke to them of the importance of serving God. This was my first meeting in the place after I thought I had a call to preach there. I used to read a chapter

in the bible, and spoke as the Spirit gave understanding, not confining my remarks to any particular passage, for fear I should be confused and not be able to proceed. After attending my first meeting, I began to be very much discouraged, fearing I had ran before I was sent; and my manner of speaking being so simple, no one would think I was sent of God. Here the enemy told me I had better staid inNew-Bedford and attended to my work. I felt so bad that night after meeting, that I almost concluded to give over the idea of speaking any more in public. But our feelings vary like the wind, and we are not always to judge by our feelings. God many times works out of the sight of men-good may be done and we not know it, as it was the case in this meeting; for not long after, eleven persons dated their awakenings from the same meeting.

The next morning I went to see the preacher in the place, who was to give me an answer respecting holding a meeting at his house of worship. He told me he had conversed with his friends, and there was no objection, and he had made the appointment the Thursday following, and he and a number of his church would attend. I then notified my brethren at the other village, and we met the day appointed at the meeting-house. I delivered my message with great freedom to the people. After I had done speaking, many of my young brethren spoke freely of the good things of the kingdom; and the minister and many of the church also spoke of the great satisfaction they had enjoyed in the meeting; and truly we might

say, it was a refreshing season from the pres ence of the Lord-how good it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. And what resem. bles heaven more, than brethren of different denominations to meet in love, to worship God together in one spirit. I now began to be encouraged that the Lord was about to bless my labours in that place. The meeting-house had been opened according to my dream; but where I was to have my next meeting I did not know. I thought if the Lord had a work for me to do, he would incline some one to open his house; and accordingly a man by the name of Elias Perry asked me if I would have a meeting at his house the next Saturday evening. I told him I would and made the appointment. A large number came together, and a very powerful meeting it was. Mr. Perry, himself, seemed to be under serious awakenings; and one young man was under such pungent conviction, that he bowed on his knees and prayed for mercy. He had a proud-spirited brother present, who appeared mortified to think his brother should pray as he did; for he observed to me afterwards, he thought his brother was only frightened because there was so much praying and exhorting in the meeting; that for his part he did not think anything of the kind would cause him to be concerned. I replied I believed it was the power of God that had visited his brother-that God's Spirit was powerful, and he might yet feel the same. He said he did not believe it. I asked him if he was willing to promise before God that he would not strive against the Spirit if it should come upon him.