gan to exercise my talents for the good of souls. I had acquired a considerable knowledge of Divinity and some gift in extempore prayer and in reading with readiness and propriety, I had much improved. I was thought to read any book well, but especially books of sermons and treatises on religious subjects. I acquired the gift of extempore prayers, by officiating as chaplain. in Mr. Cannon's family, from the first time family prayer was set up in it, which was shortly after my becoming a member of

it the second time.

The way in which I exercised my talents was by appointing meetings, every sunday when the minister was not to preach in the neighbourhood. In these meetings, I used to make prayers, sing Watts' Hymns and Psalms, and read some lively and practical discourse. Considerable congregations used to attend those meetings: solemn attention was paid-impressions were frequently made on the hearers, and I hope some good was done. I never pretended to preachbut only read a printed sermon, with the addition, sometimes of a few words, either to point or explain a sentence. But at the same time I took care to interweave the additional words so naturally with the rest, that the whole might appear to be read in

the book. I had no conception of any man's presuming to preach the gospel, before he had gone through an introductory course of necessary education-nor then, unless he were duly ordained to the ministerial office, by those who have authority to ordain. None thought of preaching without these qualifications and credentials. The contrary practice is of a more modern date; and whether it be right or wrong I leave the impartial to determine.

Having continued this excercise for some time, several of my friends wished me to turn my attention toward the ministry, suggesting I had talents suitable for such an office, and that I might be of more service by devoting myself entirely to the preaching of the gospel. But I looked upon the idea as fanciful, and paid little regard to suggestions of that sort. Not that I was averse to the office-but how it was possible I could be qualified, so as to be admitted to it, I had no conception-I was wholly among the Presbyterians-had received all my knowledge of religion from them, was peculiarly attached to them and their Church and had no notion then of being a minister or member of any other. I had never examined the principles of the Church of England, and by what I knew of the lives and

preaching of the Clergy, I had imbibed strong prejudices against that Church-I know also that the Presbyterians required the knowledge of the Latin, Greek, &c. in all, who took part with them in the Ministry. This obstacle appeared insuperable, as I was totally ignorant of these languages, and without the means of acquiring the knowledge of them.

I had, by this time, taught school five or six years, and was under such a character as a teacher, that I suppose, I could have got business any where. Having stayed with Mr. Cannon as long as convenient, I went into Cumberland, and set up a school at Mr Thomas Tabb's, a gentleman who had lately joined the Presbyterians. I boarded in his house, performed the office of a chaplain in the family, morning and evening, and still kept up the custom of meeting on sundays, either at my school-house or other private houses. Here I was living when N. Davies, a gentleman of Cumberland, solicited, and obtained a young man from the college of New Jersey, to come to his house to instruct his son, in the Latin &c. this young man's name was Alexander Martin, who, after the Revolution was repeatedly elected governor in North Carolina, and is, at this time one of the

members of Congress-I was now more than ever pressed on by my friends, to turn my attention to the ministry; and, for this purpose, they advised me to put myself under the tuition of Mr. Martin. I was still without money, perhaps I had not twenty shillings in cash-for, of late, I had laid out what money I could spare, in buying books-and a very good collection of Divinity, Poetry, &c. I had got, the want of money was the only obstacle in the way-but the hand of Providence interposed, and removed it. Mr. John Cannon, with whom I had lived, and Capt. John Hunter, uncle to Mr. Martin, kindly offered me such assistance, as should enable me to go through my studies. This they did unsolicited, and gratis-Such a generous proposal I could not reject, and, in a little while, entered Mr. Martin's school, as his pupil, being then twenty-five years and four months old--or thereabout.

I had never seen the rudiments of the Latin tongue, in all my life, nor had I learned a word in any grammar whatever. But such was the strength of my memory then, that in eight days, I could so perfectly repeat every part of the grammar, that I began to construe, give the parts of speech, rules, &c. In seven months, I F

began to read Suetonius, one of the most difficult Latin authors in prose-in a word, I acquired such knowledge of the Latin and Greek, in that year, that my generous friends were released from their burdenas I was capable of improving myself, and teaching others also.

In the following year Mr. Martin returned to the Jersies, and I took the school upon myself, and continued with Mr. N. Davis, as tutor of his son, for a year and a half-I was next employed by Mr. Thompson Swann, to teach his children, and some others, for which he agreed to give me forty pounds a year, and my board at his house. I continued with him one year at this place, I once more to my sorrow, experienced the baneful effects of trifling and ungodly company. Mr. Swann's house was a place of great resort. Scarce a week in the year passed without a company for cards, dancing, &c. The same was the case, more or less, with all the wealthy families in the neighbourhood. It was therefore all but impossible for me to avoid being with such company in the situation I was and sure enough it had a very undue effect on my mind-I thank God, I never gave way then to any overt acts of sinbut I found the company had a very cooling