rue, and such a desire too as a thirsty
man has to drink; but, at the same time, this longing desire was
mingled with a certain terror, as if I had dreaded that the drink for
which I longed was mixed with deadly poison. My mind was so much
weakened, or rather softened about this time, that my faith began a
little to give way, and I doubted most presumptuously of the least
tangible of all Christian tenets, namely, of the infallibility of the
elect. I hardly comprehended the great work I had begun, and doubted of
my own infallibility, or that of any created being. But I was brought
over again by the unwearied diligence of my friend to repent of my
backsliding, and view once more the superiority of the Almighty's
counsels in its fullest latitude. Amen.

I prayed very much in secret about this time, and that with great
fervour of spirit, as well as humility; and my satisfaction at finding
all my requests granted is not to be expressed.

My illustrious friend still continuing to sound in my ears the
imperious duty to which I was called, of making away with my sinful
relations, and quoting many parallel actions out of the Scriptures, and
the writings of the holy fathers, of the pleasure the Lord took in such
as executed his vengeance on the wicked, I was obliged to acquiesce in
his measures, though with certain limitations. It was not easy to
answer his arguments, and yet I was afraid that he soon perceived a
leaning to his will on my part. "If the acts of Jehu, in rooting out
the whole house of his master, were ordered and approved-of by the
Lord," said he, "would it not have been more praiseworthy if one of
Ahab's own sons had stood up for the cause of the God of Israel, and
rooted out the sinners and their idols out of the land?"

"It would certainly," said I. "To our duty to God all other duties must
yield."

"Go thou then and do likewise," said he. "Thou are called to a high
vocation; to cleanse the sanctuary of thy God in this thy native land
by the shedding of blood; go thou then like a ruling energy, a master
spirit of desolation in the dwellings of the wicked, and high shall be
your reward both here and hereafter."

My heart now panted with eagerness to look my brother in the face. On
which my companion, who was never out of the way, conducted me to a
small square in the suburbs of the city, where there were a number of
young noblemen and gentlemen playing at a vain, idle, and sinful game,
at which there was mu