Chr.  And did you presently fall under the power of this conviction?

{339} Hope.  No, I was not willing presently to know the evil of sin, nor the damnation that follows upon the commission of it; but endeavoured, when my mind at first began to be shaken with the Word, to shut mine eyes against the light thereof.

Chr.  But what was the cause of your carrying of it thus to the first workings of God’s blessed Spirit upon you?

{340} Hope.  The causes were, 1.  I was ignorant that this was the work of God upon me.  I never thought that, by awakenings for sin, God at first begins the conversion of a sinner. 2.  Sin was yet very sweet to my flesh, and I was loath to leave it. 3.  I could not tell how to part with mine old companions, their presence and actions were so desirable unto me. 4.  The hours in which convictions were upon me were such troublesome and such heart-affrighting hours that I could not bear, no not so much as the remembrance of them, upon my heart.

Chr.  Then, as it seems, sometimes you got rid of your trouble.

Hope.  Yes, verily, but it would come into my mind again, and then I should be as bad, nay, worse, than I was before.

Chr.  Why, what was it that brought your sins to mind again?

{341} Hope.  Many things; as,

1.  If I did but meet a good man in the streets; or,

2.  If I have heard any read in the Bible; or,

3.  If mine head did begin to ache; or,

4.  If I were told that some of my neighbours were sick; or,

5.  If I heard the bell toll for some that were dead; or,

6.  If I thought of dying myself; or,

7.  If I heard that sudden death happened to others;

8.  But especially, when I thought of myself, that I must quickly come to judgment.

{342} Chr.  And could you at any time, with ease, get off the guilt of sin, when by any of these ways it came upon you?

Hope.  No, not I, for then they got faster hold of my conscience; and then, if I did but think of going back to sin, (though my mind was turned against it), it would be double torment to me.

Chr.  And how did you do then?

Hope.  I thought I must endeavour to mend my life; for else, thought
I, I am sure to be damned.

{343} Chr.  And did you endeavour to mend?

Hope.  Yes; and fled from not only my sins, but sinful company too; and betook me to religious duties, as prayer, reading, weeping for sin, speaking truth to my neighbours, &c.  These things did I, with many others, too much here to relate.

Chr.  And did you think yourself well then?

Hope.  Yes, for a while; but at the last, my trouble came tumbling upon me again, and that over the neck of all my reformations.

{344} Chr.  How came that about, since you were now reformed?