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A N

ACCOUNT

OF THE

CONVERSION

AND

EARLY PIETY

O F

Mr. Caleb Head.

With his after REMARKS and OBSERVATIONS, taken from his own Manufcripts.

H

AVING always had the Happiness and Advantage of a Pious Education, which my tender Parents took special Care and Pains to beftow upon me; (and for which I fhall have

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cause to praise God to Eternity.) The Bleffed Work of Regeneration was begun, and carry'd on in my Heart, fecretly, tho' not infenfibly for feveral Years toge ther; and the Holy and Bleffed Spirit of God was new Creating, and Forming my Soul.

AS long ago as ever I can remember, I have been of a ferious Temper and Difpofition; owing partly to my Parents early Inftructions; partly to the reading Books of Practical Divinity; but more especially to my Father's Preaching, which I conftantly attended, and delighted in: And tho' I was, when first affected with what I heard, fo young as to have forgot many of the Sermons with which it pleas'd God to impress my Mind; yet feveral of the Subjects are to this time fresh upon my Thoughts; which I would mention with great Thankfulness.

Pfalm 50. 22. Now confider this, ye that forget God, left I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

Pfalm 144. 15. Happy is that People whofe God is the Lord.

Pfalm

Pfalm 51.10. Create in me a clean Heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me.

John 14. 23. If a Man love me, he will keep my Words; and my Father will love him; ; and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.

Rom. 8. 17. If Children, then Heirs; Heirs of God, and joynt Heirs with Chrift, With that of the Prodigal Son,

Luke 15. 20. When he was yet a great way off, his Father faw him, and had compaffion, and ran, and fell on his Neck, and kiffed him. There are befides these many other Places, which I remember fo much of, as to be able to say, they help'd on my Converfion, tho' I cannot particularly relate them.

THE Books that firft made me in love with Reading, was the Pilgrim's-Progrefs and another of the fame Author's, that lay about in the House: which in the pleafing Allufions recommended Seriousnefs, and Religion in a way very fuitaE 4

ble

ble to my Understanding, and Apprehenfion at that time.

IT pleas'd God of his own Rich, and Sovereign Grace,by these things as Means; and the Operations of his Regenerating Spirit, as the great Caufe, and Agent, to convince me of my fallen State; and to difpofe me to a very great Thoughtfulness, and Concern what I fhould do to be fav'd. Whatever I read, or heard any way pointing to what I apprehended my Cafe, I apply'd to my felf; and look'd upon every Word as directed to me. I hearken'd to the voice of a Minifter, as the Voice of God; whofe Prefence and Concurrence I was convinced of, in the fuiting things difcours'd of, exactly to my Condition. This would at fometimes excite fuch' a Sorrow for my Sins, as made me burst out into Tears, and form many a Refolution to forfake my evil ways; tho' alafs! these Impreffions were frequently but fhort in their Continuance.

MY Concern to conceal these things from the notice of others, has fometimes driven me into the Fields, where under fome Tree or Hedge, as I thought out

of

of the way, and reach of Obfervance, I would spread my Miferable Cafe before the Great God; begging of him to direct me what I should do. These happy Moods would prevail a day or two together, but feldom longer before they wore off again.

MY Conftant and Close Attendance at School at that time, made me too intent upon my Diverfions when at Liberty and fo much was I taken up with those trifling Pleasures I then fet my Mind upon, as scarcely to allow my felf time to Eat and Drink, much lefs to think of my Soul, God, or Eternity. In a careless condition I fometimes continued a Month, or more; until it pleafed God by some seasonable affecting Sermon,to revive my former Sense; and awake me into a fiefh thoughtfulness of the Danger I was in. Then would Igrieve, and humble my felf for my forgetfulness of God, and my own Purposes. The Senfe of little Sins lay heavy on my Confcience; fuch as Lying, Petty Oaths, and the like; which were indeed the worst, and groffeít Sins that ever I had been guilty of.

THUS

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