When I entered the ranks of Gods people and first commenced the Christians warfare I had but faint ideas of the narrowness of that Way, and but little realized that it was as strait a way as the scriptures represent it to be, that but few should find & walk in it. Much less did I in my weakness conceive the many artful & cunning devices of Satan to draw the child of God from the paths of holiness I had not yet learnt by experience that the Devil like a roaring Lion goeth about seeking whom he may devour and that he grasps with his deadly claws every one that turns aside from the Highway of Holiness. But as I turned and set my face Zion ward and began to take up my march thither I soon began to hear the — at first but whispered suggestions of the Adversary trying to win me back to his service and I soon began to feel his firey darts levelled and hurled at me from almost every quarter I soon found that I had enlisted as a Soldier in a warfare and that I must act not only the offensive but likewise the defensive part and if I would gain the prize I must fight. But I had yet (as a raw undiciplined recruit) to learn the use of the armour with which Christians fight their battles and from whom I could expect help from trouble I could not wield with ease the Sword of the Spirit and the Shield of Faith though a comfortable garment ^& armour^, did not fit my body Shapen and conceive in Sin, in fine the garments of Salvation could not be expected to fit perfectly, and set with ease on one who had so long been clothed with shame and clad with the filthy garments of Unrighteousness But I had yet to learn of My Captain, of Him who is meek and lowly some simple & humble lessons of Christianity before I could make much resistance with the enemy in case of an open attack. Encouraging thought that the Captain of our Salvation being in all points tempted as we are is able to succour those that are tempted and that he will with every temptation provide a way for our escape