aces
inhabited exclusively by Roman Catholics, where the doctrines and
worship of the protestant Christians are little known, the term
protestant is regarded by most as synonymous with heretic, blasphemer,
and reprobate. The people generally are imbued with these prejudices,
which are diligently kept up and disseminated by some among them, and
I myself was at that time too much under their influence to admit, at
once, that the protestants could be the true Christians for whom I was
seeking.

Soon, however, the thought returned; and as I reflected on that
declaration of St. Paul, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution," 2 Tim. 3:12, possibly, said I, these
protestants may be calumniated on the very ground of their religion
being more in accordance with the Gospel. Many other passages of
Scripture presented themselves to my mind, which led me to believe
that this supposition might be correct. I therefore determined to lose
no opportunity of clearing my doubts upon this point.

As there were no protestants either in our town or neighbourhood, whom
I could consult, I determined to write to the only one I knew; and
though but little acquainted with her, I ventured to request that I
might be apprised of, her pastor's next visit, signifying that I was
anxious to consult him on a subject of importance. Either she did not
understand my letter, or from some other motive, her answer, though
obliging was not satisfactory on that point which most interested me.

I waited patiently for some time, and applied myself diligently to
reading and meditating on the word of God, which had become like
necessary food to my soul. In all my prayers I entreated the Lord that
he would condescend to direct me to those true Christians of whom his
church was composed, and permit me to become one of their number. I
felt a confidence, from all that I had experienced, that my divine
Benefactor would grant my request whenever he saw it good for me; this
confidence quieted me, but could not remove my desire to ascertain
what the protestant religion really was.

One day, particularly, this anxiety became stronger than ever, and
degenerated, I acknowledge, into real impatience. I was unhappy at
my lonely and isolated situation, without a friend to whom I could
communicate my dearest interests; I believe I could have gone a
hundred miles to have found any one who thought and felt as I did. It
was at this moment of perplexity