The Friend Volume 25 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 Excerpt: ... in the State of North Carolina, of parents not members in our religious Socieiy, and losing his father at an early age, the difficulties and privations lo which he was subjected in his bringing up were great, and must have been of serious disadvantage to him. Al so early an age as between seven and eight years, it appears lie wns removed from malernul care, and placed out with a shoemaker, and during his apprenticeship he encountered many hardships, with but little opportunity of obtaining any school instruction; yet with diligent application when not employed in his business, he acquired sufficient learning to qualify him for the ordinary concerns of life. He appears to have been sensible of the visitations of Divine Grace at an early period, which gave him a view of the corruptions of his own heart, and brought him under deep exercise of spirit, and enabled him to cry for deliverance to Him, who alone is able to save all that come unto God by him. In this seeking frame of mind, he went lo the meetings of different religious denominations, and about the nineteenth year of his age, united himself to the Methodist society. He was in search of Ihe life and substance of religion, and not finding that which nourishes the soul up unto eternal life, he became dissatisfied with his present connection. In reference to the fervent travail he was introduced into, I hat he might come to a proper decision respecting the religious society he should join, he says, "Things were opened to my understanding, and I was mercifully hum bled, and desired above all things lo be righily direcied in so important a matter, on which rested the salvation of the immortal soul. I was unwilling to be deceived in any wise, and prayed much for heavenly counsel, and did believe I was ...