[♦] “occurrd” replaced with “occurred”
“Then I cried unto the Lord God, and said—All things are known to thee, and thou seest that I want to worship thee aright. Shew me the way wherein I ought to go, nor suffer me to be deceived by men.”
The Lord who apprehended, and instructed Saul, when he enquired of him in astonishment, What wilt thou have me to do?[¹] Attended to, and answered his prayer; which he did not cease then, to pour out before him. The Father of lights, and the giver of wisdom to all that ask it, did, according to the adorable methods of his working, instruct and determine his choice in this particular.
[¹] Acts ix.
To this time and occasion may be referred what he has more than once told me, determined him with respect to the Popish doctrine of merit, and had much influence on his entirely renouncing the communion of that church: namely, the deep impression on his mind of those words of St. Paul, If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. This passage he assured me he had not remembered ever to have read, or heard; and that afterwards, when he met with it (Galatians ii. 21.) it was to him like life from the dead. Truly, O God, Thy word is a light, and by taking heed thereto, this young man’s way was cleansed.
Soon after this, he resolved to stand no longer in desponding hesitation, halting between two opinions. “Therefore, (says he) going to my brother and the other persons who used to converse with me on this head, and providentially meeting the two principal ones together, I determined now, once for all, either to convince, or be convinced by them; for I had an unfeigned desire to save my soul.”
“Proposing therefore my design, they desired me to bring a bible, and with it Nelson’s feasts, and fasts of the church of England. Accordingly, we began reading, and conversing, and continued together till midnight.” The result of which was, he now determined no longer to resist conviction. “I was (says he) constrained to give place to the light of truth. It was so convincing that I had nothing more to say. I at length confessed the weakness of my former reasonings, and the strength of those which were opposed to me!”
“About one o’clock in the morning I retired to my lodging, and according to my usual custom went to prayer: but now, only to the God of heaven, I no more prayed to any angel or spirit. For I am deeply persuaded that there is [♦]but one God, and one Mediator between God and man, even the man Christ Jesus. Therefore I resolved no longer to suffer any man to beguile me in a voluntary humility, in worshiping either saints or angels.[¹] These latter I considered as they are represented, Ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.[²] But with regard to any worship being paid to them, one of themselves said, See thou do it not, worship God.[³] God only.
[♦] “b” replaced with “but”
[¹] Colossians ii. 18.