f  Does  the  reader  think  this  harsh  ?  let  him  consider  whether  it  can  be  any
iliing  else  than  the  want  of  a  firm  belief  of  the  word  of  God,  and  a  contempt  of
feis  holiness  and  authority,  that  can  make  him  think  so,  and  he  will  do  well  tf
*PPV  *ue  awful  case  to  his  own  conscience!


253

Biisery.  How  my  mother,  whose  affection,  both  nat-
ural and  spiritual  towards  me  was  inexpressible,  would
have  borne  such  a  stroke,  I  cannot  conceive.  Morning
and  evening  she  frequented  the  church,  to  hear  thy
word  and  to  pray,  and  the  salvation  of  her  son  was  the
constant  burden  of  her  supplications.  Thou  heardest
her,  O  Lord,  and  perform edst  in  due  season,  what  thou
hadst  predestinated.  Thou  recoveredst  me  from  the
fever,  that  at  length  I  might  obtain  also  a  recovery
of  still  greater  importance.
The  Manichees  are  divided  into  two  bodies,  auditors
and  elect.  He,  in  whose  house  I  lodged,  was  of  the
former  sort.  I  myself  was  ranked  among  the  latter.
