| 2. | In the morning i took the bible , and beginning at the new testament , i began seriously to read it , and impos d upon my self to read a while every morning and every night , not tying my self to the number of chapters , but as long as my thoughts shou d engage me : it was not long after i set seriously to this work , but i found my heart more deeply and sincerely affected with the wickedness of my past life : the impression of my dream reviv d , and the words , all these things have not brought thee to repentance , ran seriously in my thought : i was earnestly begging of god to give me repentance , when it happen d providentially the very day that reading the scripture , i came to these words , he is exalted a prince and a saviour , to give repentance , and to give remission : i threw down the book , and with my heart as well as my hands lifted up to heaven , in a kind of extasy of joy , i cry d out aloud , jesus , thou son of david , jesus , thou exalted prince and saviour , give me repentance 忽然,就像有天意似的,在我照例翻阅圣经时,读到了这句话: "上帝又高举他在自己的右边,立为君王和救主,将悔改的心和赦罪的恩,赐给以色列人。 "于是,我放下书,双手举向天空同时,我的心灵也升向天上,并欣喜若狂地高喊: "耶稣,你大卫的儿子,耶稣,你被上帝举为君王和救主,请赐给我悔改的心吧! "这是我有生以来第一次算得上是真正的祈祷,因为,我这次祈祷与自己的境遇联系了起来,并且,这次祈祷是受了上帝的话的鼓舞,抱着一种真正符合圣经精神的希望。 |