FROM THE OLD PLACE WE MOVED TO THIS NEW HOUSE ON THE HILL

CHAPTER J

ALIFOR

CONVICTION AND CONVERSION

WHEN nine years of age, I was deeply con

victed of sin one evening while listening to a conversation in our home. My father and mother, together with some relatives, were talking of the eternal torments of the wicked. One dark picture after another was drawn, and while standing some distance from them, apparently unnoticed, I was so overcome with the fear of hell that I could hardly move. soon caught my father's eye, and he reminded me that it was bed-time. I left the room

I

with a longing to unburden my heart to some one, for a consciousness of sin had settled upon me. Daylight was anxiously looked for, in hopes that it would bring relief, but when it came it did not lift the darkness from my soul. The need of a Savior was thus felt early in life.

We lived in Lewis County, Kentucky, on the Kinnikinnick, nine miles from Vanceburg.

The nearest church was five miles away From the time I was first convicted I had no opportunity of attending a meeting for two years yet there was such concern at times about my soul that I was scarcely able to work or study.

Mother was familiar with many of the old Methodist hymns, and often sang them about her work and before retiring at night. The following hymn of Wesley's on the final account, greatly impressed me:

"And must I be to judgment brought,
And answer in that day

For every vain and idle thought,
And every word I say?

"Yes, every secret of my heart
Shall shortly be made known,
And I receive my just desert
For all that I have done.

"Thou awful judge of quick and dead,
The watchful power bestow;
So shall I to my ways take heed,
To all I speak or do.

"If now Thou standest at the door,
O let me feel Thee near,

And make my peace with God, before
I at Thy bar appear."

The songs she sang were the only sermons I heard. They were used by the Spirit to keep me under conviction. Among them

were: "Come Humble Sinner in Whose Breast," "There Is a Spot to Me More Dear, and, "Show Pity Lord, O Lord Forgive.

I meditated on these hymns day and night, and asked mother to buy me a book so I could learn them. She had so many things on her mind that my earnest appeal went unheeded. Having no one else to go to, I believed that God would answer prayer, and knelt down and asked Him for the book. Two weeks later I went to visit my eldest sister at her home. In the evening, when her husband returned from town, he threw a beautiful leather-bound hymn-book into my lap, with the remark, "I thought we needed a hymn book here." I was delighted with this book, and much of my time was spent at their home memorizing hymns.

Two years elapsed. A revival meeting was in progress in the church before mentioned. My father, eldest brother and two sisters were converted in this meeting. I had the opportunity of going only twice. At the first service I attended I went forward to the altar, and the next evening joined the church on probation; but no real change of heart was experienced and my soul languished in darkness, more miserable than before. Having been encouraged by receiving a hymn-book in answer to prayer, I prayed for a Bible also.