April 3 [ 1816]

My spiritual birthday. Full well I recollect how cheerless and sad appeared the morn of April third 1813  An enormous load of sin and guilt lay heavy upon my heart while dark and foreboding fears fill my troubled breast  Full well also I remember how bright and resplendant [sic] shone the sun at three in the afternoon. Then O wonder of wonders how matchless and eternal and boundless. Then as I humbly hope Jesus said to me daughter be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee  Then was my pride humbled and there was the native enmity of my heart subdued then shone the character of God more resplendant [sic] than the sun in the firmament at noon day