AN



            ACCOUNT, - c.


                     PART I.

From the time of the Autthor's acquaintance with the people
  called Shakers, and joining ikeir Society, until he began to
  doubt; and more minutely examine into the propriety of their
  Faith, Docrines, and Prafice.

        A FEW iketches of my life, previoufly to my
becoming acquainted with the people who are the fub.
jeaq of this hj/lory, may, perhaps, be acceptable to my
readers.
  I was born the 26th day of May, 1766, of reputable
parents, who then refided in the city of New-York. Soon
after my father joined the Society of the people called
Quakers; and with an acquaintance and fome connec-
tion with this people I was brought up. In my juvenile
years, I was much difpofed to ferious inquiry and re-
fleion; and thought if I lived to be a man, I would
not be wicked as I faw many were. But when I attain-
ed the age of fourteen years, I became immoral and
wicked, and continued fo until, my -eighteenth year..
Then I became thoughtful and ferious, which produced a
reformation in my life and praaice; and at length I was
brought to experience what I had been an utter ftranger
to before, and which was what is believed by Chriftians
in general to be that converfion which entitles the foul
to the kingdom of heaven. But lofing a feeling fenfe
of what I had enjoyed, I again had my trials, as I could
not red in any thing fhort of true peace of mind  About
three years after I had become fetioufly difipofed it mus
                     B