116 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. leave of his father, upon the next lecture day, to go to church; but this he absolutely refused, conceiving it to have been the occasion of his present sadness. Also, to prevent his attend- ance at church, his father locked him up in a high chamber of the house, thinking by this means to confine him there till the service was over. Such, however, was his courage, and his desire to hear the word, that he made his escape by tying a cord to the window, and sliding by it down the side of the house ; and so went to the church, where the Lord was pleased so to deepen his convictions, that it ended in a sound conversion of his soul to God. epon his return home, he found his father greatly exasperated. His situation was now deplorable. While his earthly parent was exceedingly dis- pleased, the thoughts of an almighty and offended God were almost insupportable. It was no small aggravation of his distress, that for some time he had not a friend on earth to whom he could unbosom his complaint. Afterwards he made known the anguish of his mind to Mr. Erbery, who was instrumental in further promoting his edification and benefit : nevertheless the Sovereign Disposer of all eventswas pleased to suspend the manifestationsof his love, and keep him under a cloud for many years.. About the same time some others, who had been his com- panions in vice, were brought to an acquaintance with God. "'hey who had been familiar associates in games and sinful pleasures, now often assembled together for the purpose of fasting and prayer. That they might not neglect their school- hours, nor displease their parents, they met together in the night season, when their parents thought they were in bed. For many months they held these nocturnal assemblies, setting apart two nights in the week for these devotional exer- cises. Mr. Love's father seeing him continue in this course, appeared to draw his affection from him, and looked upon him as a hopeless youth. He who had been called a young gamester, was now stigmatized a young puritan. Mr. Erbery perceiving his distressed situation, waited upon his father, and requested him to allowhis son to come to his house, and he would promote his improvement in learning, and take proper care of him, to which his father gave his consent. In this new situation he continued for some time, to his great advantage and comfort, of which he retained a lively sense to the dayof his death. His father going to London, procured a place for him as an apprentice, entered into an Sloane's MSS. No. 3945.
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