Page:Malefactor reformed, or, The life of Philip Parson, of Birmingham.pdf/5

5 surely I deserve the gallows!’ I said, ‘ It is of thy mercy, O Lord, that I am not consumed!’ I resolved to make all the reparation in my power to any whom I had injured if I could do it privately.

After the awful scene was closed, I returned home with a heart deeply oppressed with grief. On my way I was overtaken by an old acquaintance, who asked me if I wanted any thing in his way. I knew what he alluded to, and told him I did not; that I had had enough, and too much in that way already; that I was determined to reform; and before I parted with him exhorted him to do the same. He heard me very patiently, and said he thought it would be best for us all. When I came home, I immediately burned all my bad notes, which amounted to more than £50. I opened my Bible, and my attention was arrested by these words: ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him,’ which very much encouraged me in my good purposes. The next day I went to my work, and found myself more happy in my lawful employment, than I had done for a considerable time before.

Soon after this, I went to a place of public worship; the subject of the minister’s discourse was prayer; he explained its nature, objects, and. While speaking on the subject of prayer, he mentioned the pardon of sin as one of them, which he observed was a present blessing. He proved from the holy scriptures, that it was