on my knees. He then
read a chapter and a printed sermon; for no regular meetings for
expounding the Scriptures were allowed in Prussia, except an ordained
clergyman was present. At the close we sang another hymn, and then the
master of the house prayed. Whilst he prayed, my feeling was something
like this: "I could not pray as well, though I am much more learned than
this illiterate man." The whole made a deep impression on me. I was happy;
though, if I had been asked, why I was happy, I could not have clearly
explained it.

When we walked home, I said to Beta, "All we have seen on our journey to
Switzerland, and all our former pleasures, are as nothing in comparison
with this evening." Whether I fell on my knees when I returned home, I do
not remember; but this I know, that I lay peaceful and happy in my bed.
This shows that the Lord may begin His work in different ways. For I have
not the least doubt, that on that evening, He began a work of grace in me,
though I obtained joy without any deep sorrow of heart, and with scarcely
any knowledge. That evening was the turning point in my life.--The next
day, and Monday, and once or twice besides, I went again to the house of
this brother, where I read the Scriptures with him and another brother;
for it was too long for me to wait till Saturday came again.

Now my life became very different, though not so, that all sins were
given up at once. My wicked companions were given up; the going to taverns
was entirely discontinued; the habitual practice of telling falsehoods was
no longer indulged in, but still a few times after this I spoke an
untruth.--At the time when this change took place, I was engaged in
translating a novel out of French into German, for the press, in order to
obtain the means of gratifying my desire to see Paris, &c. This plan about
the journey was now given up, though I had not light enough to give up the
work in which I was engaged, but finished it. The Lord, however, most
remarkably put various obstacles in the way and did not allow me to sell
the manuscript. At last, seeing that the whole was wrong, I determined
never to sell it, and was enabled to abide by this determination. The
manuscript was burnt.

I now no longer lived habitually in sin, though I was still often
overcome, and sometimes even by open sins, though far less frequently than
before, and not without sorrow of heart. I read the Scriptures, prayed
often, loved the brethren, went to chur