Being come to the house, which proved to be John Raunce's, I saw the
people sitting together in an outer room; wherefore I stepped in and
sat down on the first void seat, the end of a bench just within the
door, having my sword by my side and black clothes on, which drew
some eyes upon me. It was not long ere one stood up and spoke, whom
I was afterwards well acquainted with; his name was Samuel Thornton,
and what he said was very suitable and of good service to me, for it
reached home as if it had been directed to me.

As soon as ever the meeting was ended and the people began to rise,
I, being next the door, stepped out quickly, and hastening to my
inn, took horse immediately homewards, and (so far as I remember) my
having been gone was not taken notice of by my father.

This latter meeting was like the clinching of a nail, confirming and
fastening in my mind those good principles which had sunk into me at
the former. My understanding began to open, and I felt some
stirrings in my breast, tending to the work of a new creation in me.
The general trouble and confusion of mind, which had for some days
lain heavy upon me and pressed me down, without a distinct discovery
of the particular cause for which it came, began now to wear off,
and some glimmerings of light began to break forth in me, which let
me see my inward state and condition towards God. The light, which
before had shone in my darkness, and the darkness could not
comprehend it, began now to shine out of darkness, and in some
measure discovered to me what it was that had before clouded me and
brought that sadness and trouble upon me. And now I saw that
although I had been in a great degree preserved from the common
immoralities and gross pollutions of the world, yet the spirit of