I bless, praise, and adore the Lord the Holy Spirit, that he has ever thus visited my soul with his quickening, renewing, reproving, and consoling influences; that in the place of my captivity he has again and again assured my soul of her part and lot in himself, in the love of the Father, and in the doing and dying of the Saviour; which has produced evangelical repentance, increasing hatred to sin, fervent love to God, and willing and cheerful obedience to his laws; that he has supported my spirit in the deep affliction, and brought me near to himself; subdued what was wrong, and led me to see wherein I have erred; chastened, scourged, afflicted, tried, and brought me low; taught me many important lessons for my future benefit, and glorified his own grace in my soul, and has at last led me to say, he has done all things well, praise ye the Lord.
In the second place, as is my duty to do, I make this public acknowledgement of my gratitude, for the special, long, unwearied, and unreserved kindness of my friends, to me, during this severe trial, which has lasted above three years. The support of myself, the support of my children, and the ability afforded me for the relief of some hundreds, during my confinement, and which relief and support has been owing to the affection and sympathy of many females, from the very best and noblest motives, also from some gentlemen in the fear and love of God—men, whose conduct and characters are agreeable to the word of God, who have accompanied their generosity with many prayers for the sanctification of my troubles, and which prayers have, I believe, been answered to my felicity, and, I trust, the future joy of their hearts, as influenced by that holy charity that rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Nor do I forget their kind exertions in the support of the cause of God and truth, within these walls, though wrecked with dissentions, and injured by many, who shall be nameless here, as I hope to forgive every injury I have received.
I might here mention, were it prudent, some particular persons, whom the Lord has raised up to seek the welfare of this oppressed Church—persons whom I scarcely knew before, but who have been the instruments of much good to us. I beg them to accept this my warmest gratitude and acknowledgement.