astonishing he did not faint. I encouraged him to take no thought for his body, but by faith to plead the blood of the covenant. His importunity increased, till he made a sudden pause, and turning to me, he said, “I am happy! O how happy! bless the Lord ! blessed be my God!” And he praised God, in language which astonished me.
He was so filled with the love of God, that he opened the door and walked into the street, though he had not been able to stand for some time without assistance. Accents of praise to the most high God filled the air, in the solemn silence of the night. He said, “O ye angels join with me to praise the Lord! The dead’s alive, the prodigal is found! Glory be to God for ever. Oh! the matchless mercy of God, to save me at this latest hour,” &c. &c.
This was a memorable night: what a contrast between the former and the latter part of it. In the beginning, devils were raging within him, unwilling to lose their prey: in the after-part of the night, angels were rejoicing over another sinner saved by grace. I sang several hymns of praise to God, and we conversed as brethren in the Lord, and fellow-citizens of heaven: we eat the bread of life, and antedated the joys above. When his mother came down stairs in the morning, she was struck with astonishment to hear her son praise God. He said, “If God had not sent this his servant to visit me, I should have been damned for ever. The Lord has pardoned all my sins. I am so happy I cannot describe it— Glory be to God for ever,” &c. He continued a few days, faithfully warning his friends and acquaintance to flee from the wrath to come, magnifying the boundless grace of God as manifested in him, and then triumphantly departed this life, in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection.
