Moravian Lives

During my School years my natural depra
vity began to discover itself bad examples among
my School companions were not wanting to se
duce me to sin.
In the year 1760 being placed as a boareir[?]
under the care of the Rev. M.r Mansell at Barton
under Nudwood in Staffordshire, I received the
first serious impressions. My worthy Tutor, Mr
Mansell was at that time Curate of the Parish
Church & preached the Gospel with much zeal.
He also used to assemble the awakened among his
Parishioners every Sunday Evening in his great
Hall, when he sung, prayed, & expounded the Poup-
tures[?] with them; his Pupils were also present. Tho'
only in my 11th year, yet these private meetings
were blessed to my heart, & his frequently insist
ing on "One this is needful" made an indelible
impression on my mind: & tho I was then ignorant
of the spiritual meaning of these words, yet they
in succeeding years often occurred to my mind,
till the Lord was graciously pleased to manifest
himself to my soul as my Saviour.
Having finished my education in 1762, I
returned to & lived with my Mother in Wor-
cester about a year & a half.