My dear father was born August 26th, 1818, at Stowupland, Suffolk. Very early in life he was the subject of much exercise of soul, and was first brought to think upon his state of sinfulness through the reading of the Word of God. The constant practice of his godly father was to gather his children round the table on Sunday evenings, and to have them read the Scriptures verse by verse. So very early were these impressions made upon his mind that, when quite a child, he frequently could not sleep at night, because of his exercises concerning his own state, and the thought of eternity and the punishment of the wicked. Other children seemed happy when he was miserable. I have heard him say…