August 1832 a continuance of the foreerding subject

I have hastily noticed in the foregoing pages some of the leading circumstances
of my life, up to the time of my entering the ranks of the Servants of
God. In looking it over I find many imperfections but as it was written
some time since and in great haste I shall let it remain for the
present and continue my narrative begginning where I
left off

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

August 1832 a continuance of the foreerding subject

I have hastily noticed in the foregoing pages some of the leading circumstances of my life, up to the time of my entering the ranks of the Servants of God. In looking it over I find many imperfections but as it was written some time since and in great haste I shall let it remain for the present and continue my narrative beginning where I left off

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