the world had hitherto ruled in me, and led me into pride, flattery,
vanity, and superfluity, all which was naught. I found there were
many plants growing in me which were not of the heavenly Father's
planting, and that all these, of whatever sort or kind they were, or
how specious soever they might appear, must be plucked up.

Now was all my former life ripped up, and my sins by degrees were
set in order before me. And though they looked not with so black a
hue and so deep a dye as those of the lewdest sort of people did,
yet I found that all sin (even that which had the fairest or finest
show, as well as that which was more coarse and foul) brought guilt,
and with and for guilt, condemnation on the soul that sinned. This
I felt, and was greatly bowed down under the sense thereof.

Now also did I receive a new law--an inward law superadded to the
outward--the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which
wrought in me against all evil, not only in deed and in word, but
even in thought also; so that everything was brought to judgment,
and judgment passed upon all. So that I could not any longer go on
in my former ways and course of life, for when I did, judgment took
hold upon me for it.

Thus the Lord was graciously pleased to deal with me in somewhat
like manner as he had dealt with his people Israel of old when they
had transgressed his righteous law, whom by his prophet he called
back, required to put away the evil of their doings, bidding them
first cease to do evil, then learn to do well, before he would admit
them to reason with him, and before he would impart to them the
effects of his free mercy. (Isaiah i. 16, 17.)