HOPEFUL NARRATES HIS CONVERSION. 151

victions were upon me, were such troublesome and such heart-affrighting hours, that.
I could not bear, no, not so much as the remembrance of them upon my heart.
Curis. Then, as it seems, sometimes you got rid of your trouble?
Horr. Yes, verily, but it would come into my mind again, and then I should be as
bad, nay, worse than I was before.
Curis. Why, what was it that brought your sins to mind again?
Horr. Many things; as,
If I did but meet a good man in the streets; or,
If I have heard any read in the Bible; or,
. If mine head did begin to ache; or,
. If I were told that some of my neighbors were sick ; or,
. If I heard the bell toll for some that were dead; or,
. If I thought of dying myself; or,

IAA kwon eH

. If I heard that sudden death happened to others ;

oO

. But especially when I thought of myself that I must quickly come to judg-
ment.

Curis. And could you at any time with ease get off the guilt of sin, when by any of
these ways it came upon you ?

Horr. No, not I; for then they got faster hold of my conscience ; and then, if I
did but think of going back to sin (though my mind was turned against it), it would
be double torment to me.

Curis. And how did you do then ?

Horr. I thought I must endeavor to mend my life ; for else, thought I, I am sure
to be damned.

Curis. And did you endeavor to mend?

Horr. Yes, and fled from not only my sins, but sinful company too, and betook me
to religious duties, as praying, reading, weeping for sin, speaking truth to my neigh-
bors, etc. These things did I, with many others, too much here to relate.

Curis. And did you think yourself well then?

Horr. Yes, for a while; but, at the last, my trouble came tumbling upon me again,
and that over the neck of all my reformations.

Curis. How came that about, since you were now reformed?

Hopr. There were several things brought it upon me; especially such sayings as
these: “ All our righteousness are as filthy rags ;”*" “By the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified ;””” “ When ye shall have done all those things which are com-
manded you, say, We are unprofitable ;’“* with many more such like. From whence I