“SometimesIwouldleavethecompanyoftenspeakingtothefiddlertoceasefromplaying，asifIwastired，andgooutandwalkaboutcryingandpraying，asifmyveryheartwouldbreak，andbeseechingGodthathewouldnotcutmeoff，norgivemeuptohardnessofheart。Oh，whatunhappyhoursandnightsIthusworeaway！WhenImetsometimeswithmerrycompanions，andmyheartwasreadytosink，Iwouldlabortoputonascheerfulacountenanceaspossible，thattheymightnotdistrustanything，andsometimeswouldbeginsomediscoursewithyoungmenoryoungwomenonpurpose，orproposeamerrysong，lestthedistressofmysoulwouldbediscovered，ormistrusted，whenatthesametimeIwouldthenratherhavebeeninawildernessinexile，thanwiththemoranyoftheirpleasuresorenjoyments。ThusformanymonthswhenIwasincompany？IwouldactthehypocriteandfeignamerryheartbutatthesametimewouldendeavorasmuchasIcouldtoshuntheircompany，ohwretchedandunhappymortalthatIwas！EverythingIdid，andwhereverIwent，IwasstillinastormandyetIcontinuedtobethechiefcontriverandringleaderofthefrolicsformanymonthsafter；thoughitwasatoilandtormenttoattendthem；butthedevilandmyownwickedheartdrovemeaboutlikeaslave，tellingmethatImustdothisanddothat，andbearthisandbearthat，andturnhereandturnthere，tokeepmycreditup，andretaintheesteemofmyassociates：andallthiswhileIcontinuedasstrictaspossibleinmyduties，andleftnostoneunturnedtopacifymyconscience，watchingevenagainstmythoughts，andprayingcontinuallywhereverIwent：forIdidnotthinktherewasanysininmyconduct，whenIwasamongcarnalcompany，becauseIdidnottakeanysatisfactionthere，butonlyfollowedit，Ithought，forsufficientreasons。
“Butstill，allthatIdidorcoulddo，consciencewouldroarnightandday。”
SaintAugustineandAllinebothemergedintothesmoothwatersofinnerunityandpeace，andIshallnextaskyoutoconsidermorecloselysomeofthepeculiaritiesoftheprocessofunification，whenitoccurs。Itmaycomegradually，oritmayoccurabruptly；
itmaycomethroughalteredfeelings，orthroughalteredpowersofaction；oritmaycomethroughnewintellectualinsights，orthroughexperienceswhichweshalllaterhavetodesignateas’mystical。’Howeveritcome，itbringsacharacteristicsortofrelief；andneversuchextremereliefaswhenitiscastintothereligiousmould。Happiness！happiness！religionisonlyoneofthewaysinwhichmengainthatgift。Easily，permanently，andsuccessfully，itoftentransformsthemostintolerablemiseryintotheprofoundestandmostenduringhappiness。
Buttofindreligionisonlyoneoutofmanywaysofreachingunity；andtheprocessofremedyinginnerincompletenessandreducinginnerdiscordisageneralpsychologicalprocess，whichmaytakeplacewithanysortofmentalmaterial，andneednotnecessarilyassumethereligiousform。Injudgingofthereligioustypesofregenerationwhichweareabouttostudy，itisimportanttorecognizethattheyareonlyonespeciesofagenusthatcontainsothertypesaswell。Forexample，thenewbirthmaybeawayfromreligionintoincredulity；oritmaybefrommoralscrupulosityintofreedomandlicense；oritmaybeproducedbytheirruptionintotheindividual’slifeofsomenewstimulusorpassion，suchaslove，ambition，cupidity，revenge，orpatrioticdevotion。Inalltheseinstanceswehavepreciselythesamepsychologicalformofevent，——afirmness，stability，andequilibriumsucceedingaperiodofstormandstressandinconsistency。Inthesenon-religiouscasesthenewmanmayalsobeborneithergraduallyorsuddenly。