.300036.4000597

21.
first learn much of human instability, and 
of the latent evil which lay in my deeply cor=
=rupted heart. Finding that my hope of returning
to the Sisters House, was not likely to be realiz=
=ed, I began to reflect on what some of my friends
had frequently suggested to me, Viz: That I was
too much set upon it, and that I ought to make
my mind bend to circumstances. This was well
meant advice, I am convinced, <emotion>though in my ears,
it had often sounded harsh and unfeeling; yet now
I began to think it had great weight,</emotion> and that it
was <sic>needfull</sic>  <corr>needful</corr> I should adopt it, which I would
endeavour to do with all my might. But alas!
How did I mistake the way! I thought the only
means of doing this is to seek for society: and to
mix with the world, in some degree; for to live 
the life of a recluse, is surely not the way to be
happy. I had many relatives who sought my 
company, but from whom I had hitherto stood
aloof, knowing their views did not correspond
with mine. But now I began to associate with
them, and others of my acquaintance with less
<sic>scrupolosity</sic>  <corr>scrupulosity</corr>; and might, probably, with safety,
had I but rightly known what it is to be in
the world, and not of the world; but this I had
not learned; and alas! I soon began to discover,
that the world had charms which I was before
a stranger to, but which suited my depraved na=
=ture too well, and soon became a snare to me.
O had not the faithful Shepherd now kept his
hand over me, where should I have been!