ch of the language of the accursed going on; and
among these blasphemers he instantly pointed out my brother to me. I
was fired with indignation at seeing him in such company, and so
employed; and I placed myself close beside him to watch all his
motions, listen to his words, and draw inferences from what I saw and
heard. In what a sink of sin was he wallowing! I resolved to take him
to task, and, if he refused to be admonished, to inflict on him some
condign punishment; and, knowing that my illustrious friend and
director was looking on, I resolved to show some spirit. Accordingly, I
waited until I heard him profane his Maker's name three times, and
then, my spiritual indignation being roused above all restraint, I went
up and kicked him. Yes, I went boldly up and struck him with my foot,
and meant to have given him a more severe blow than it was my fortune
to inflict. It had, however, the effect of rousing up his corrupt
nature to quarrelling and strife, instead of taking the chastisement of
the Lord in humility and meekness. He ran furiously against me in the
choler that is always inspired by the wicked one; but I overthrew him,
by reason of impeding the natural and rapid progress of his unholy feet
running to destruction. I also fell slightly; but his fall proved a
severe one, he arose in wrath, and struck me with the mall which he
held in his hand, until my blood flowed copiously; and from that moment
I vowed his destruction in my heart. But I chanced to have no weapon at
that time, nor any means of inflicting due punishment on the caitiff,
which would not have been returned double on my head by him and his
graceless associates. I mixed among them at the suggestion of my
friend, and, following them to their den of voluptuousness and sin, I
strove to be admitted among them, in hopes of finding some means of
accomplishing my great purpose, while I found myself moved by the
spirit within me so to do. But I was not only debarred, but, by the
machinations of my wicked brother and his associates, cast into prison.

I was not sorry at being thus honoured to suffer in the cause of
righteousness, and at the hands of sinful men; and, as soon as I was
alone, I betook myself to prayer, deprecating the long-suffering of God
towards such horrid sinners. My jailer came to me, and insulted me. He
was a rude unprincipled fellow, partaking of the loose and carnal
manners of the age; but I remembered of having read, in the Cloud of
W