HOPEFUL NARRATES HIS CONVERSION. 153

Curis. But did you think, when at first he suggested it to you, that there was such
a Man to be found, of whom it might justly be said that He never committed sin ?

Horr. I must confess the words at first sounded strangely; but after a little more
talk and company with him I had full conviction about it.

Crris. And did you ask him what Man this was, and how you must be justified by
Him ? - :

Horr. Yes, and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, that dwelleth on the right hand of
the Most High.” And thus, said he, you must be justified by Hin, even by trusting
what He hath done by Himself in the days of His flesh, and suffered when He did
hang on the tree.”° I asked him further, How that Man’s righteousness could be of
that efficacy to justify another before God? And he told me He was the mighty God,
and did: what He did, and died the death also, not for Himself, but for me; to whom
His doings, and the worthiness of them, should be imputed, if I believed on Him.

Curis. And what did you do then?

Horr. I made my objections against my believing, for that I thought He was not
willing to save me.

Curis. And what said Faithful to you then?

Horr. He bid me go to Him and see. Then I said it was presumption. But he
said, No, for I was invited to come.” Then he gave me a book of J esus’ inditing to
encourage me the more freely to come; and he said concerning that book, that every
jot and tittle thereof stood firmer than heaven and earth.” Then I asked him what I
must do when I came; and he told me I must entreat on my knees,”” with all my
heart and soul,” the Father to reveal Him to me. Then I asked him further how I
must make my supplication to Him ; and he said, Go, and thou shalt find Him upon a
mercy-seat, where He sits all the year long to give pardon and forgiveness to them
that come. I told him that I knew not what to say when I came ; and he bid me
say to this effect: God be merciful to me a sinner, and make me to know and believe
in Jesus Christ; for I see that if His righteousness had not been, or I have not faith
in that righteousness, I am utterly cast away. Lord, IT have heard that Thou art a
merciful Good, and hast ordained that Thy Son Jesus Christ should be the Saviour of
the world; and, moreover, that Thou art willing to bestow Him upon such a poor
sinner as Iam. And I am a sinner indeed. Lord, take therefore this opportunity,
and magnify Thy grace in the salvation of my soul, through Thy Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.”

Curis. And did you do as you were bidden?

Hors. Yes, over, and over, and over.
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