VICISSITUDES, &c. I was born in the year 1780, in Granville, Massachusetts, of parents that were strangers to God; although my father was a member of the Church of England, and my mother had been raised by pious parents, of the Presbyterian order. But, whether she had any sense of the neces sity of the new birth and holiness of heart, I cannot say; for she was called to a world of spirits when I was but five months old, leaving behind six children, two sons and four daughters, my eldest sister being about fifteen years old. My father married in about six months after the death of my mother; and, although the woman that he married was an industrious, good housewife, yet he lost his property, and was reduced very low, by the sinking of continental money; and the children were scattered as a consequence. My eldest sister married when I was six years old; and she prevailed on my father to give me to her, which accordingly he did; and I was carried into the state of New York, and saw his face no more.* * My tender heart was often wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and I was at times very unhappy, for fear I should die, and what would become of my soul! I was early taught that there was a God, a heaven, and hell; and that there was a preparation necessary to fit me for those mansions of rest, prepared for all that are faithful until death. My heart often mourned before God, young as I was, for something, I scarce knew what, to make me happy. I dared not sleep without praying to God, as well as I knew how, for many years. My sister's husband being a man not calculated to gain the world, although they had no children, I was raised to labor as much as my strength would permit; and perhaps more, as my constitution was very delicate from my birth. But the Lord was my helper, though I knew him not by an experimental knowledge, yet I had a fear of him before my eyes; and he that taketh care of the young ravens cared for me. From the time that I was six years of age until I was eleven, my serious impressions never left me; but from twelve to fifteen I was mixing with those that were unacquainted with God, or the things that pertain to the kingdom of heaven. My mind was taken up with the vanities of this present world, although my heart was often tender under the preaching of the gospel, so that I could weep and mourn; yet The summer past, in my journey to the east, I met with a half-brother, whom I had not seen for twenty-seven years-and with whom my father died: and also was at one of my sisters, whom I had not seen but once for twenty years. She being nine or ten years older than myself, was able to inform me of some particulars concerning my mother's death, which were a consolation to me. |