4 
EELIGIOUS IMPKESSIONS. 
Inteod. 
all who wished for education might have obtained it. Many 
availed themselves of the privilege; and some of my school¬ 
fellows now rank in positions far above what they appeared ever 
likely to come to when in the village school. If such a system 
were established in England, it would prove a never-ending 
blessing to the poor. 
In reading, everytliing that I could lay my hands on was de¬ 
voured except novels. Scientific works and books of travels were 
my especial delight; though my father, believing, with many of 
his time who ought to have known better, that the former were 
inimical to religion, would have preferred to have seen me poring 
over the ‘ Cloud of Witnesses,’ or Boston’s ^ Eomfold State.’ Our 
difference of opinion reached the point of open rebellion on my 
part, and his last application of the rod was on my refusal to 
peruse Wilberforce’s ‘Practical Cliristianity.’ This dislike to 
dry doctrinal reading, and to religious reading of every sort, 
continued for years afterwards; but having lighted on those 
admirable works of Dr. Thomas Dick, ‘ The Pliilosophy of Ke- 
ligion,’ and ‘ The Pliilosophy of a Future State,’ it was gratifying 
to find my own ideas, that religion and science are not hostile, 
but friendly to each other, fully proved and enforced. 
Great pains had been taken by my parents to instil the 
doctrines of Cln*istianity into my mind, and I had no difficulty in 
understanding the theory of our free salvation by the atonement 
of our Saviour, but it was only about this time that I really 
began to feel the necessity and value of a personal application of 
the provisions of that atonement to my own case. The change 
was like what may be supposed would take place were it possible 
to cure a case of “ colour blindness.” The perfect freeness with 
which the pardon of all our guilt is offered in God’s book drew 
forth feelings of affectionate love to Him who bought us with his 
blood, and a sense of deep obligation to Him for his mercy has 
influenced, in some small measure, my conduct ever since. But 
I shall not again refer to the inner spmtual life which I believe 
then began, nor do I intend to specify with any prominence the 
evangelistic labours to which the love of Christ has since impelled 
me: tins book will speak not so much of what has been done, as 
of what still remains to be performed before the gospel can be 
said to be preached to all nations. 
