ork that lay
before me. However, I set to work, and, with all the powers I had,
commenced to wrestle with my studies.

"My Professor was a man of beautiful disposition, and had an
imposing presence. The books he wrote on abstract and difficult
theological problems were highly prized in those days. Moreover, he
belonged to a class of preachers, not altogether unknown to-day,
who have a real love for that order of preaching which convicts and
converts the soul, although unable to practise it themselves. _He
knew a good thing when he saw it_.

"The first time he heard me preach was on a Sunday evening. I saw
him seated before me, at the end of the church. I knew he was going
to judge me, and I realised that my future standing in his
estimation, as well as my position in the Society I had now made my
home, would probably very much depend on the judgment he formed of
me on that occasion.

"I am not ashamed to say that I wanted to stand well with him. I
knew also that my simple, practical style was altogether different
from his own, and from that of the overwhelming majority of the
preachers he was accustomed to approve. But my mind was made up. I
had no idea of altering my aim or style to please him, the world,
or the Devil.

"I saw dying souls before me, the gates of Heaven wide open on the
one hand, and the gates of Hell open on the other, while I saw
Jesus Christ with His arms open between the two, crying out to all
to come and be saved. My whole soul was in favour of doing what it
could to second the invitation of my Lord, and doing it that very
night.

"I cannot now remember much about the service, except the sight of
my Professor, with his family around him, a proud, worldly daughter
sitting at his side. I can remember, however, that in my desire to
impress the people with the fact that they could have Salvation
there and then, if they would seek it, and, to illustrate their
condition, I described a wreck on the ocean, with the affrighted
people clinging to the masts between life and death, waving a flag
of distress to those on shore, and, in response, the life-boat
going off to the rescue. And then I can remember how I reminded my
hearers that they had suffered shipwreck on the ocean of time
through their sins and rebellion;