be at all concerned at it but they will send out others who must in like manner be treated Notwithstanding which there shall many be made manifest who love me and keep my Word and I will pour out upon them the Streams of the Spirit and all things I will Praise-worthyly and Gloriously accomplish And no body shall hinder me for I am the LORD and will fulfil my Word which hath this long time been spoken Amen It shall come to pass as surely as I the Lord am the Lord. Amen 11. Next follows a Glorious Promise how God's Truth shall break forth like Light so that none shall be able to withstand it and that it shall fall like Fire into the Eyes of the Fools whence dread and trouble shall come upon them Should I not in this time cause my unfathomable Faithfulness and mine Everlasting Love to break forth seeing that the Hour is come Yea my Light shall arise in the Darkness and my Truth shall Shine like the Sun in his full strength for my Statutes I will make to be acknowledged and my Truth will I not suffer to lye hid in obscurity I will do another thing in Israel yea a strange thing will I do which shall drop from the Spirit of Truth and like Fire fall into the Eyes of the Unwise And if they will not receive it Darkness shall seize upon them O slumber not now ye Wise Virgins but stand on your Watch for the Bridegroom cometh Go ye forth with a new noise Praise ye and Magnifie my Name O ye Nations and Armies For the New Jerusalem is about building Be ye then compacted every one to another in the Love taking no thought how it should be for I am with you 12. The following one is a precious Testimony of Christ towards a Person of great Quality being in the Fear of the Lord vvhom He lifts very Graciously up I the Substantial Truth the Everlasting Love do in the Spirit bear vvitness that I am CHRIST the Lord of Belief the Vanquisher of unbelief the Destroyer of doubt the Light of Men the Spring of Life one that is Holy and Righteous who destroyeth the Kingdom of Darkness taketh avvay the Power of Hell and pulleth out the Sting of Sin I am JESUS CHRIST the Lord who do reveal my self and for the Love which I bear to all Men do witness in the Spirit that tho' I do more clearly and more Familiarly reveal my self to some then I do to others as may be seen in Paul and Cephas yet my everlasting Love is the same unto all Men for I respect not the Person of any but whosoever doth well and keepeth my Commandments the same is well-pleasing unto me Wherefore I JESUS the Lord of Life do bear witness that I am revealed after an hidden Spiritual manner in their Spirits because in singleness and oneness I am delighted to Work I am the very same Spirit that bore witness in the Spirit of all the Apostles namely the Spirit of Christ by whose wounds you are healed I am the Eternal Love through whose Glory you stand in the Father's Presence Therefore Sing ye merrily O let Heaven and the Children of God give a shout for joy for my Hour is come in which I gather in my Vintage even them whom my Father hath given me for an everlasting Heritage whom I have purchased to my self through my Cross and Death In which blessed Way as many as are true believers do follow me under my easie Yoak I am the Way of Life whosoever believeth in me hath Life Everlasting and I will dwell in him and he in me to Everlasting Glory Behold here are the Wounds and the Marks of the Nails for a Testimony in the Spirit of this my so burning Love I spread forth my Arms to take in that which is gone astray to hold up that which is feeble to strengthen that which is fearful for I will take my Flock to my Self and feed them for my Heart melteth towards them Why should I not exalt my self in the Sanctuary And why should I not declare my Power in the Hearts of all the Faithful Yea why not in all Speeches and Languages Am not I your Shepherd How then can I any longer see the Confusion of my Flock Give thy Voice O Lord of Heaven my Father and regard the Desolation hereof and behold how all things are neglected and how my true Word which I uttered by my Prophets and my Apostles is looked on as nought For what they do is all Hypocrisy they forsake the Power of the Word and dig themselves out here and there their own Wells whose being is in the outward Work but the Powerful Principles of Faith whose being is in the Inward Ground they deny And therefore is my Wrath kindled and for this end am I come to Judge the Earth But who is there that hath known my meaning And who hath been of my Counsel Nevertheless the Spirit by whom ye are Sealed unto Holiness searcheth all things even the Spirit so richly poured out on you by the Father and by whose means you believe even by his strength for it is he himself who vvorketh Faith in you Be thou then through this Spirit stirred up in Faith my dear M y Dwell thou in me and I will dwell in thee that thou with memaist live everlastingly Believe and so art thou helped for in believing me thou findest all things Be joyful in Hope patient in Affliction take good heed to this I say and live up to it so shall I for ever remain thy faithful Friend and Brother Wrestle with me in the Faith so shalt thou know me for I will come with the Father and the Holy Ghost and we will dwell with thee for the Father loveth thee for my sake and the Comforter the Holy Ghost is with thee In singleness and lowliness of Heart Sing HALLELUJAH This is a Testimony in the Spirit given from the Everlasting Christ Jesus the Conqueror of Death Devils and Hell 13. The Grafting in again of the Olive Branches which were broken off and the breaking off of the Evil Branches and Transplanting them into a wild place Peace be with you dear Children Speak ye now concerning the help out of Sion and rejoice over the Salvation of Israel For the hour is come in which I bring again the Branches of the Olive and regraft them into their Places for that I am the Lord excercising righteousness and stedfast in keeping my Word But as for the Evil and the Hardned them do I again lop off and send away into a wild Place Why speakest thou so loftily O thou profligate one My Justice I will make thee to see for thou hast nothing of thy self but all that thou hast is from meer Grace But be of good Comfort my Ephraim I will provide for thee my dear Daughter and will deliver thee from the Scorners I have said it to thee be joyful henceforward and fear not for I am
an appearance of Godliness as if it were possible the very Elect would be deceived by them For they have Tokens of Perfection making to themselves a Glory of true Humility notwithstanding which there is nothing in them but Deceit and Abomination As I live I will destroy them for they Prophesie by their own Spirit with which the Starry Spirit is intermixed and bring forth many Wise Sayings and say I am he I am he believe me for here is Immanuel Christ is in me he speaks by me But all this is meer deceit they are Lies and Fallen Spirits Yet be not afraid ye Lambs who hear my Voice for ye shall be preserved against the Hour of Temptation for to Babes is the Mystery discovered and that which is Foolish and that which is Simple before the World is that which I have prepared for my self And the Simple tread securely and that which is Nothing I have chosen and unto little Children is given the Heavenly Wisdom to the end they may put to shame that which is lifted up in the Carnal Sense and that which is little may put that which is exalted underneath it Be not then afraid ye Lambs for unto you is given the true Wisdom to the end ye may be certain and able to discern for ye have the pure Ointment and the Spirit of Truth whereby ye may know all the secret Pleasures and become certain Take heed for the False Spirit is now in all States though not so powerfully as he shall be Judge now my Fathers and Brethren beloved in Christ a true Judgment in the Eyes of God I earnestly beseech you for the Universal Love of the Truth and to the Publick Confession of the Holy Wonders of God to send me as soon as may be your Theological Answer May the Lord JESUS to whom this Matter appertains be powerful with his Spirit in your Spirit May he defend you with his Mighty Arm against all the Gainsayers of his Holy Truth and Crown you in the Day of the Resurrection of the Righteous with Everlasting Glory Amen I remain Your c. Most Obliged to Love and Prayer J. W. P. The Postscript IT having pleas'd our Good God and Saviour by several Testimonies of the same kind and Revelations given to Persons in many Places and of all Sorts and Ranks as Rich and Poor Noble and Plebeian Learned and Unlearned Men and Women Young and Old hidden from the World but known to God to confirm what he has Reveal'd by his Spirit in this Blessed Lady I beseech you Country-men and Brethren from the Deep Centre of Love to hearken to this one Sealing Testimony which some few Years since flow'd from the Vnity of the same Spirit to One in This Nation I heard a Voice saying Great silence in Heaven for half an Hour Then there was a great Gathering together of many Saints and Angels before the Throne and they seem'd in great Consultation And He that sate on the Throne appear'd in great Glory with a glorious Crown on his Head Then I heard a Voice saying Arise my Servant that art to go forth with the Everlasting Gospel for I am coming forth with Ten Thousands of my Saints to Judge the Earth Pray and cry aloud that Judgment may not break out in the House of the Lord Say Spare thy People O Lord and deliver thy Heritage and let them not be consumed with the Wicked Mourn O my People betwixt the Porch and the Altar so may ye prevent the Judgment that is coming forth Behold I will put a Key into the Hand of my Servant that is to go forth with the Everlasting Gospel which will unlock the Heavens and bring down a Blessing upon my People Sing O ye Heavens and rejoice O ye Saints that live upon the Earth For I will deliver you from the Adversaries by the mighty Hand of my Power Fast and Pray and your Cries shall be heard and your Tears shall be shut up into my Bottle for a Memorial before me And such as rise up against you shall fall before you And I saw a Rainbow about the Throne and the Voice said This shall be a Covenant betwixt me and my People Then I heard a great Voice saying I will come forth with Power and will scatter such as rise up against the Everlasting Gospel Arise arise my Servant and put on my Strength and come forth For I am coming to do great things upon the Earth Howl ye Wicked for I will pour out my Spirit on my Servants and on my Handmaids and they shall Prophesie and their Prophesies shall come to pass Prepare your Hearts O ye Saints to meet your God and I will fill your Hearts full of Joy and Rejoicing For it is given to you to sing the Song of Praises and Thansgivings Then shall the Daughters of Sion be fill'd with Praises and Songs of Deliverance For behold the King cometh with Triumph and Victory and the Voice of the LORD shall be heard through the Earth Then I beheld Four Cherubims clapping their Hands together and crying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbaoth Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory Then I beheld a Glorious Throne in the midst of Mount Sion and Twenty Four Elders round about the Throne and they threw down their Crowns saying Amen Amen so be it FINIS
never so Plausible and Rational so we can't but walk in the True Path when having utterly renounc'd them all we are Simplify'd to the state of little Children and made so perfectly Subject to Our Father that his Will may be done no less in us than it is in Heaven We know well enough if it were possible there are some Crafty Serpent-like Spirits having an Appearance of Godliness that would deceive the very Elect But let 'em do all that they can we are satisfy'd that 't is not possible for 'em ever to Deceive these or any that in the Inward Ground and Center of their Hearts do stand in the Faith and Love of Jesus these being they who through the pure Unction of the Spirit of Truth are fully confirm'd and enabled rightly to distinguish Spirits according to Section XLII 3. of This Letter This is their Profession and this they stick to If you tell 'em of False Lights and Impostors of Jannes and Jambres and the like they answer you unconcernedly that the Rod of Moses will prevail over the Rods of all the Evil Magicians That a Simon Magus shall be made to fall down before a Peter and a Divining Spirit to fly at the Command of a Paul And therefore say they lest we should be carry'd about with every Spirit and with every change of Doctrine we humbly conceive it not at all unbecoming the Goodness Justice and Truth of our Lord to send forth Now in these Last Days as in the Times of Old when the Gospel of Christ was first Publish'd some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers instructed by himself for the Compleating that which is left behind in the Saints for the Work of the Ministry even that of the Everlasting Gospel and for the Building up of Sion which is the Body of Christ They say that if there was need Heretofore there is no less need of such Now And were there no such need they suppose that no body can deny but that the more any one has of the Spirit of Christ the fitter such a Person is to declare his Mind They hold the Whole Counsel of God concerning Things Necessary for His own Glory or Man's Salvation to be either expresly set down in Scripture or by good and necessary Consequence to be deduced from it to which nothing Essentially or in Substance differing from it is at any time to be added either by New Revelations of the Spirit or Traditions of Men Nevertheless they not only own the Inward Illumination of the Divine Spirit to be needful for the Understanding of such Things as are there Reveal'd but do also believe that as well for a more powerful Vindication of it from false Glosses and Misunderstandings as likewise for a more free Publication of it over the whole World God whose Arm is not now shorten'd will for these Ends send out some Witnesses to all Nations with great Power before the End shall come Mat. 24.4 Rev. 14.6 7. and Section XI of the Letter Nay some I have found who are not afraid to assert That All the Reasons that can be brought why there should be any New Revelation or Inspiration after Moses will hold good why it ought to be Reviv'd in these Times before the Destruction of the False Mystical Jerusalem This I confess appear'd to me mighty strange at the first being an Assertion so opposite to what I had always entertain'd But I who knew full well the Modesty and Sobriety of these Persons in other Matters dare not be Hasty in Condemning what they profess to see whom I must own in several things to be much clearer-sighted than my self Whether and How they are able to make it good I leave them to consider and the Event to prove And since they are ready to enter the Lists upon this Head I desire no more from 'em but a Candid Hearing who seek those things only that make for Peace This is a True but Imperfect Account of a sort of Persons that are Persecuted Afflicted and Tormented for that Living Testimony of JESUS which the World cannot bear who are in Derision call'd PIETISTS Being in both the Saxonies Brandenburgh Lunenburg Hanover and the Countries of the Two Northern Crowns in which places they are most dispers'd mark'd out by That as Here by other Names If any desire to understand their Character better they may find it in the German Divinity a Book plac'd by Luther but one degree below the Holy Scriptures and in the * Translated out of High-Dutch and Printed in the Year 1685. Octavo Golden Rule of the Travelling Soul Of the Number of These is the Author of this following Letter now after long Consideration set forth in the English Tongue Who is not only of such Integrity in his Life as I have heard it confess'd by such as would have said otherwise if they could as that he cannot be suppos'd to have had any Design to Impose upon others but is also of such Intellectual Accomplishments as well Natural as Acquir'd that 't is not very probable he should be deceiv'd himself as those who intimately know him do assure me Besides the Post which he in the Lutheran Church Honourably bore and more Honourably parted with was not so Inconsiderable that any Thinking Person can imagine that he whatever otherwise his Inclinations might be should be guilty of a Base Action without the least prospect of any Advantage to himself by it but rather of the quite contrary This then is the Case He according to the Duty of his Function having with all Accuracy Studied the Holy Scriptures finds several Great and Glorious Prophesies which cannot with any tolerable interpretation be suppos'd to be as yet Accomplish'd or at best but very imperfectly At length after much Pains taken that he might be able to inform himself and others in these deep Truths he becomes known as is set down Section XX XXI XXII XXIII to a Young Lady of Admirable Endowments who professes to have been Visited by GOD from her very Childhood in a manner very Extraordinary which for many Years she had conceal'd from the World He examines into the matter finds a surprizing Harmony in all and every part and many concurring Events to establish what he heard from her Mouth Whereupon after about a Years time and having had all Opportunities to try the Truth of what she asserted he Communicates the Matter of Fact plainly and simply in This Letter directed to the Clergy holding the Confession of Ausbourg What he did in this unbecoming the Character of his Person unbeseeming the Episcopal Authority lodg'd in him inconsistent with the Care of his own Diocess or District of Lunenburg with his Universal Love for the whole Church of Christ and with a generous Concern for the Good of all Mankind or lastly that a Wise and a Good Man would not do in the same Case notwithstanding all the loud Cries against Him I am not able to
Confirmation and we cannot without the highest Affront to that Reason which we pretend so much to but give it to that side which has all the real Characters of Truth and Sincerity when the other has only Phansies and Suspicions to support its Credit But if besides all this God himself has been pleas'd by his Immediate Finger to set his Seal to the Truth of these Revelations and to confirm 'em in a Miraculous Manner as will in part appear by the Account of some Matters of Fact nakedly related in This Letter that are evidently above the Power of Nature then one would think there could be no longer any room for standing out against or even for not surrendring one self up to the Belief of their Divine Original And if all the Marks of True Inspiration be Applicable to These and no Objection has been made to 'em which has not been made to those of the Acknowledg'd Prophets in the Times wherein they liv'd as might be instanc'd at large I know not what more can be desir'd This is left to the Spirits of the Prophets and to the Consideration of all those who profess to believe that sure Word of Prophesie which is the Testimony of JESVS Many Testimonies relating to this Matter might easily be brought were it either Needful or Convenient under the present Circumstances so to do Whence it is thought fit to Publish only One that has been Communicated by an Eye and Ear-witness who made it his Business to be perfectly acquainted with this Matter By all which and by a mighty Cloud who daily bear Testimony hereto and especially by the Two Witnesses of the Old and New Testament there are some who for their own parts dare say that they are fully Convinc'd both as to the Revelations consider'd apart and as to the Blessed Lady whom God has chosen to be the Instrument of ' em Who is not in the decrease at all but still gloriously proceeds as is well known to many in the Increase of this Marvellous Illumination The Sun-beams of the Divine Light and Glory do every day more Throughly and more Intimately Enlighten the Bright Wounds of Jesus do daily more and more purifie Her and in short she is in such a manner prepar'd that if She be call'd out hereafter of the Solitude in which she is at present and be Crown'd with Glory Wisdom and Power it will be no more than what we may reasonably expect It is not to be doubted but that the Spirit will bear Witness that this is Truth to all that will listen to it in the pure stilness of Holy Silence And I am well assur'd that here in England in like manner as it has done in Germany and Holland it must work with great Power on the Souls of many and that God will do something in a little time to awaken the Slumbering Nations But granting there should be nothing at all Divine in this Matter I can't see any Hurt that the Publishing of it to this Nation would be For here is no Encouragement to any Frantick Zeal to set up it self in the Name of the Lord nothing to promote Seditions Strifes and Dissentions but the quite contrary nothing for the Establishing a Sect or Party but frequent and powerful Incitements to Peace Unity and Love of every one Nothing taught but what is highly Agreeable to the Doctrine of Christ and nothing Foretold which a Good Man may not wish for or which as to the Main is not publickly Pray'd for in Most or All the Congregations of Any that are call'd Christians In some of 'em Occasionally in others Constantly As the Conversion of the Jews the Fulness of the Gentiles the Destruction of all Idolatry Superstition Heresie and Schism the Settlement of Peace Truth and Righteousness over the whole Earth that so all that will may come to be Enlighten'd and those that will not but obstinately refuse the Light may be cast out into the outward Darkness the Kingdoms of this World being made the Kingdom of our God and of his Christ and there being One Fold under One Shepherd If then these things be in themselves desirable and to be Pray'd for and have been Pray'd for above these Sixteen Hundred Years we must needs allow that there can't be any Hurt in the Belief of 'em to be near at hand And consequently let this Matter of Fact be never so contestible it can have no Bad Influence either upon the Lives and Actions of Any or upon Publick Affairs But if this Matter be indeed of God God will go along with it Here and those that Fight against it will be found to Fight against God So that if it be of Him it shall stand and Triumph and if it be not of Him none can more Earnestly desire that it may come to Nothing than He who sends it Now abroad to the English Nation for this End that God alone may be Glorify'd and that Truth and Righteousnes may Prevail to the Confusion of Errour and Impiety To which let all the Earth say Amen Hallelujah Come Holy Ghost our Souls inspire And lighten with Celestial Fire Thou the Anointing Spirit c. Form of Ordering of Priests 1 Thes v. 19 20 21. Quench not the Spirit Despise not Prophesyings Prove all things hold fast that which is Good Acts xxii 14 15. The God of our Fathers hath chosen Thee that thou shouldest know his Will and see that Just One and shouldest hear the Voice of his Mouth for thou shalt be his Witness unto all Men of what thou hast Seen and Heard John xiv 21. He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him 1 Cor. ii 10 11 12 13. God hath Revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For who knows the things of a Man save the Spirit of a Man even so the things of God knows none but the Spirit of God Now we have received not the Spirit of the World or of Man but the Spirit of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God Which also we speak not in the words which Man's wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual And afterward v. 14 15. But the Natural the Animal or Soulish Man receives not the things of the Spirit of God For they are foolishness to him neither can ye know them because they are spiritually discerned But he that is Spiritual discerneth all things yet he himself is discerned of no Man John i. 46. Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth Come and see The Testimony which is referr'd to in the Preface EST illa Virgo singularibus maxime supernaturalibus a Deo ornata donis Spiritus ita ut externus ipsius faciei habitus cum intima animae Spiritus qualitate suaviter respondeat Gaudet mirabili summe extraordinaria a
Deo vocatione ita ut si curriculum Vitae ipsius attente cum cura perlegeris ad plane singularia ipsam a Deo electam co-ordinatam esse fateberis In externa conversatione adversus omnes tam amicos quam inimicos praeprimis eminet blanda ejus cum intima humilitate conjuncta gravitas Et cum multa tela a Satana hactenus experta animus ejus in tam quietum tranquillum gaudii pacis intimae statum est deductus ita ut veluti infans nihil magis anhelet quam ut incorrupto continuo nexu in optimi Patris voluntate tanquam in tutissimis Spiritus Tabernaculis suaviter acquiescere possit Quod si spectes ipsius Revelationes sunt quasi compendium illarum rerum quae in Ecclesia Sionitica hoc futuro tempore sint proditura in publicum Mundi Theatrum Alias illae sunt ex fonte vivo essentiali petitae profundissimae nihilominus tamen primitiae tantum eorum quae sua aetate majori cum abundantia manifestabuntur Pondus Majestatem cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conjunctam Divinitatem harum Revelationum in ipsa lectione si praemeditatis precibus eam fueris aggressus senties Nec est quod cogites ipsam vel ex libro vel alio rerum divinarum perito tantam tamque profundam hausisse sapientiam sed ex Simplici Majestatico plane Prophetico Stylo imo ex ipsa impletionis experientia ipsam a Spiritu Sancto essentialiter fuisse edoctam certo certius tibi affirmare poteris Hinc est quod earundem prima publicatio in Lingua Germanica non sine larga benedictionis messe hactenus fuerit cum alii honoribus rebus mundanis impliciti ex harum lectione si non penitus mutati tamen ad magis seriam circa Christianismum summe necessariam impendendam curam solicitudinem quam maxime sunt instigati Alii correpti jam tum a Deo in dulcissimo Servatore performati inter legendum ex laetissimo harum Revelationum nuncio ad dulcissimi Vini Spiritualis perceptionem gaudii Celestis sensus sunt deducti Alii Divinitatem harum Revelationum destruendi evertendi molitores confusi ad silentium redacti Alii a contemptu reprehensione refutatione harum Revelationum divinitus avocati repressi ut ita facile pateat quod Testimoniorum circa harum Revelationum cumulus neque hoc neque futuro Tempore unquam tibi deesse poterit Quare ne quaeso illotis Revelationum harum lectionem aggrediare manibus neque praeoccupatis judiciis corruptae rationis scrupulis eas laceres sed cogita spiritualia spiritualiter esse dijudicanda Laborandum hinc tibi praeprimis est orandum ut eo ex quo haustae sunt Revelationes Spiritu vero secundum harum Revelationum Mentem tuam conformandi proposito polleas Quo si fueris instructus vere correptus a Domino non secundum Spiritus accepti illuminationis mensuram tantum Divinitatem harum Revelationum recte dijudicaveris sed benedictio largissima incrementum agnitionis vivificae singulare gaudium amoris pacis Divinae in Te redundabit certissimum uberrimum Vale prout gloria Dei requirit utere hisce salutariter feliciter S. D. G. The same in English THis Virgin is endow'd by God with Singular and very Supernatural Gifts of the Spirit so as even her outward Air and Countenance do sweetly conspire with the Inward Qualifications ofher Soul and Spirit She has obtain'd a Wonderful and most Extraordinary Call from God so that if thou read her Life with Attention and Care thou shalt confess that she is by God Chosen and Ordain'd for Matters altogether Singular In her outward Conversation with all both Friends and Enemies but more especially with these there shines forth in Her a pleasant Gravity in Conjunction with the deepest Humility And tho' hitherto she has experienc'd many of Satan's Darts her Mind is brought into such a quiet and still State of Joy and Peace within that like a little Child she breathes after nothing more than that she may without Mixture and without Interruption sweetly rest in the Will of her most kind Father as in the securest Tabernacle for her Spirit to dwell in Now if you look to Her Revelations they are as it were an Abridgment of those Things which in the SION-Church are to be brought forth both in This and in the Next Age upon the Publick Theatre of the World Besides they are taken from the very Living and Essential Fountain and are most Deep nevertheless they are but the First Fruits of those which shall in greater abundance be publish'd in their proper Season The Weight the Majesty the Heavenliness and the Inspiration of these Revelations you will feel in the very Reading of them if with due Preparation of Prayer you set about it And think not that either from any Book or from any Person skill'd in Divine Matters she has fetch'd this so great and so profound a Wisdom that is in them But from their Plain Majestick and perfectly Prophetical Style yea from the very Experience of their Fulfilling you may with the greatest Certainty maintain that she is Essentially taught by God Hence it is that the First Publishing of 'em in the German Tongue has not hitherto been without a large Harvest of Blessing since some involv'd in the Honours and Affairs of the World have been by the Reading of 'em if not wholly chang'd yet most mightily stir'd up at least to the exerting a more serious Care and Watchfulness about the Christian Religion of the great Necessity of which they are made sensible Others being even then Convinc'd by God and perfectly Transform'd in their most sweet Saviour have by the most Joyful Tidings of these Revelations been Transported as they were Read to taste the most delicious Wine of the Spirit and to have a Sense of the Joy of Heaven Others who have labour'd to destroy and o'rethrow the Divine Authority of these Revelations have been Confounded and put to Silence Others have been in a Miraculous Manner recall'd and withheld from the Contempt Censure and Refutation of ' em From all which it may easily appear that a Cloud of Witnesses both in the Present and Future Age will never be wanting to confirm their Authority Wherefore set not about I beseech you the Reading of These Revelations with unwash'd Hands neither suffer 'em to be Tortur'd with Pre-conceiv'd Notions or the Scruples of Corrupted Reason but consider that Spiritual Things are to be Spiritually discern'd Hence above all you are to Labour and Pray that you may be endued with the same Spirit from which They do proceed and with a Real Purpose of Conforming your Mind according to the Practice of ' em Which when you shall have obtain'd and shall be truly Convinc'd of the Lord then you shall according to that measure of the Spirit and Light
had then some Conversations concerning the Conversion of Israel and the Kingdom of Christ For this Person happening afterward to Travel through the Town in which dwelt the Widow with her Daughters was informed by some Friends how there was in that Town a Godly Family in which a young Maiden had by particular Illumination received very much from God concerning the Future Grace and Restoration of the Tribes of Israel As the said Person writ this to us withal adding that all this Agreed with what we had been discoursing together we resolved in the Name of God to write to the said young Gentlevvoman from whom we received such an Answer as wonderfully heartned us and gave us presently to see that it must be an higher Hand that guided her's in writing XXI As therefore we knew not yet any thing of these Heavenly Testimonies or of the manner in which the Lord gave and dictated them he was pleas'd to comfort and lift us up who were wearied and tired and despised before the World for having believed and witnessed his Kingdom by a dear Kingdom Testimony which was sent us upon October the 20th of the Year MDCXC by this B. Maid which here follows I the Spirit of Love I the Truth of Jesus Christ do in the Spirit witness and declare that ye my dear Friends do stand in the Truth In which being firmly grounded be sure to hold fast the trust of my Love and I who am the Hope of Israel will bring you forth safe notwithstanding all the oppositions of the Incredulous for I am a Strong Castle wherein ye may securely dwell And the more simple ye grow so much the greater delight do I take that ye may see deeper and deeper into my Mysteries which I will reveal to those that are of a Contrite Heart and will lay open to the Simple in the Faith In this latter time I will declare my Wonders I say it who am the Lord of Faith Jesus Christ to you my beloved having Loved you from the beginning of your Life It is I who bind up what is Sore and heal what is Wounded for I am Love and whosoever remains in Love dwells in God and the Father dwells in him Dear Friends Farewel I have witnessed this in the Spirit from the abundance of the Love which I bear towards you Amen Reading then this Divine Exhortation Encouragement of which we had no manner of doubt we fell upon our Knees giving thanks for it and directing our Vows to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of Sacrificing up to him our whole Life of placing our confidence in him preferably to all Men and of declaring abroad his holy Truth Hereupon we resolved to be acquainted with such dear Friends of God and accordingly we parted hence on the Third of November and arrived there on the Sixth of the same in the Evening where we saw in them much more then we could have before believed and were immediately convinced of the Divinity of the Matter And for as much as they had not hitherto observed in the Holy Scripture that which the Lord had spoken to them as God had made it knovvn to us by his Spirit and also for as much as there vvere also some things contained in those Divine Testimonies vvhich they had received vvhich they did not as yet understand and as vve confer'd one vvith another of the Gift vvhich vve had received from God vve vvere mightily comforted together We my Wife and I for that we saw how that which we had Comprehended and found out in the Prophets and in the Apocalypse concerning future things vvas not according to our ovvn Fancy but in the Truth according to the Sense of God And they for that by our Instructions they came to knovv hovv that vvhat the Lord had given them after an Extraordinary manner had been before conceived by the Spirit of God in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles XXII We vvere then also mightily refresh'd by our dear Lord and Saviour vvho during this Intervievv vvas Graciously pleased to give us this follovving Testimony Be ye joyful be ye joyful ye vvho knovv my Name and have my Love for I will do great things for you Therefore be ye chearful Look and observe well for I am here I go in to the Work Be ye affectionate be filled with Joy and with Psalms of Praise Verily I say unto you the Hour cometh and is now come in which I judge according to Truth and Righteousness I am Christ the Lord who have Compassion over dear Sion and over Ephraim my Beloved I have brought you together with a Blessing and am in the midst of you I am the Light and the Love and I delight to abide with you I have said it unto you but who is there that can discover that which is my Intention Amen I have said it unto you Now according as the Lord who both knows all things and can make all things subservient to his Will had said it so it came to pass While by his Marvellous and holy Conduct we have now had with us this dear Family for these Nine Months past which we had not at our first Meeting any reason to hope for and have according to his Will been by wonderful steps brought to dwell together So upon the Tenth day of November we parted thence with Joy and were led home in Peace But as soon we were return'd the Slanders began afresh to be reviv'd against us but we took new strength from all the Benefits which we had received from the Lord and one day we had this Encouragement given us Peace be with you ye Blessed here am I your loving Saviour your dearest Friend and Brother whose Everlasting Love and Faithfulness cannot be bounded for my Love is flaming and my Heart is all on fire But ye do not yet conceive my Love it is so very great O be glad O cry aloud and sing O praise ye and magnifie my Name for my Right shall get the Victory and my Truth shall be made great It shall arise and spread like the break of the Morning Rejoice ye in my help ye who are driven out I run after you to bring you back to lead you home unto me I who speak it am Christ the Lord. Believe only and hold fast to me and then let not your Hearts be troubled for I will make my Name to be great and my Statutes I will cause to be received Ye are those whom I love confess ye therefore that I am the Lord from Everlasting who lye not that I should be slack to fulfil the Word of my Promise And I would that every one should be converted and live My Hand is not shortened my Faithful Mercy hath no end and my Love grows not cold O Sing with a joyful Melody for my Hour is come and the Day of the Bridegroom is at hand Love ye one another and live happily To your upright Friends in the Truth