Men Women and Children running up and down one while stretching their Arms upwards to catch their Saviour in his coming down others extending them forwards to meet his embraces a third with a sudden turn pretends to grasp him and a fourth clapping their hands for joy they had him with several other antick Postures which made me think that Bedlam it self was but a faint Image of their Spiritual Phrensies All this while they were singing as loud as their throats would give them leave till they were quite spent and look'd black in the Face When these were tir'd in came a fresh Company repeating the same Hymns with the like noise and wildness At this time Mr. Mason was in a darkish Garret upon his Bed and dy'd as I take it within a Month after and it was with some difficulty that I got access to him for they had deny'd several The Sister who wrote the Letter introduc'd me but told me beforehand that he did not care to talk of his Sentiments or Vision but referr'd me as to that Matter to his Two Witnesses who could say as much to it as himself He had a Week before been troubled with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a Ranula under his Tongue which made him the more unwilling to talk While I discours'd of common Matters he heard me patiently but as soon as I enquir'd of his Vision he sign'd to his Sister to have me down to the Two Witnesses who knew all his Mind I went from him into a lower Chamber where two Men which they call'd the Witnesses but I suppose one was but a Deputy because I have since heard that one of the Witnesses who dy'd within a Week after was sick when I was there met me with many Spectators The Witnesses gave me the same Account with the Letter That our Lord appeared to the Prophet on the 16th of April c. And to confirm the Truth of it they further told me That at the same time two Angels appeared in white to a Man of their Society as he was going homewards to Great-Harwood and forc'd him back again I ask'd the Witnesses What was their proper Business They answered with much assurance That their Prophet was not to bear Witness of himself That in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Truth should be establish'd That God would give Power to his two Witnesses c. But the choicest Place was as I remember Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lord 's and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord and sir-name himself by the name of Israel and so on to the 8th Verse Ye are my Witnesses They witnessed That their Prophet was the very Person spoken of Rev. 1.1 He sent and signified it by his Angel to his servant John They witnessed That Mr. Mason was that Elijah that John the Baptist was not that Elijah that was to appear before the great and terrible Day as the Baptist said I am not therefore there were two Elijah's and therefore John Mason was one They witnessed farther That their Prophet saw our Saviour for a considerable time that He said many things but spoke no words For His Majestick Looks said that he came to Judge and Condemn the greatest part of the World and his smiling Countenance said He would save Sion and the holy Ground that is said they Water-Stratford and its Borders They could not or would not tell me how far the Borders would extend but they told me that few that very few of this Land should be Sav'd This I thought very hard and therefore I ask'd them What would become of some truly pious Persons that might never hear of Water-Stratford To which they answered That some of the Elect would be hall'd thither without their consent by Angels Will our Saviour said I be visible to all when He comes amongst you They reply'd To very few And as they seem'd to explain themselves only to the Prophet and his Witnesses but with the Prophet he would daily Converse and be very Familiar and His chief Residence would be in the Clouds They expect Him they assur'd me every Minute and therefore Day and Night they are upon the Watch. When our Saviour has done here He would they said carry the Believers in this new Prophet to the New Jerusalem and gather the Elect in other places to them When I ask'd 'em How Mr. Mason was affected at the sight of our Saviour they had an Answer ready That he had not the least fear upon him which they told me was the fulfilling of a Prophecy Heb. 9. and the last He shall appear the second time without sin to salvation And now I thought it time to enquire seriously Whether it was not possible that their Prophet might be deceived To which the Sister who had been all the while present gravely Answer'd with an obliging Accent O Sir the Holiness of his Life makes it impossible that God should permit him to be deceived When I had given as I thought a due reply to this the Witnesses confess'd they did not much insist upon that since the Spirit assur'd both the Prophet and themselves That He was the very Christ that appear'd to him To this I returned That several have been as confident of the Spirit 's impulse as themselves and yet have been deceiv'd and then they cited something out of Dr. Owen That though he that has not the Spirit may think he has it and be deceived yet they that have it know they have it and cannot be deceived Like those that are in a Dream may think themselves awake but they that are awake are well assur'd of it After this I ask'd what Argument they had to convince the doubtful who thought it a little unreasonable to believe such strange matters at second hand What Miracles what Signs c. But they interrupted me and in a half-passion answer'd This was sign sufficient that all should be Sav'd that believ'd it and they that did not should be destroy'd and damn'd This began ro stir me and I could not forbear saying That I fear'd they were all deluded and that they would find in a little time c. But the Witnesses would not suffer me to proceed and starting up in a furious transport told me I would be I have forgot the Word but am sure it meant damn'd for my Unbelief and so they avoided me When I came down into their Parlour the Dancers were encreas'd in that Room to Thirty or more They usually entertain'd all sorts of Vagabond-Fidlers Singing-Boys or Wenches and hir'd them to stay with them because they thought our Saviour would have all sorts of Musick to attend Him They pretended not to any Miracles nor discerning of Spirits nor need they for they require nothing but this Faith That Christ has this Second time appear'd in Order to Salvation If I had talk'd with the Prophet himself of these things I
could have had no better satisfaction for the only Argument he made use of at that time to any one that doubted was By the Eternal God I saw Him with these Eyes By the Living God 't is true c. As he told many that went to see him and as he said several times in his last Sermon out of the Window the Sunday before I was with him to above five hundred some say fifteen hundred People He had for a long time left off giving the Sacrament to any but some Select Persons of his own way and since the 16th of April gave it no more because Christ was come He had left off Praying because he thought nothing remained to be prayed for and had determined to Preach no more because they should be all enlightned from above If any Man came to him that had formerly admir'd his Preaching or Praying he would ask him if he could believe that he saw Christ If it was answer'd that he dar'd not say that but yet out of respect to him was afraid to disbelieve then he would thank God that He had given him such a measure of Faith and asking him if he could love Christ charg'd him to get Oil. One of his most considerable Friends whom he much valu'd was to see him a Week or ten Days before my going and put the Case home to him telling him He should have a great care of what he said for the sake of his many Friends as well as upon his own account For there were many had so great a respect for him as to be ready to give credit to whatsoever he should vent which in all probability would have this ill consequence That if he should after all his confidence prove mistaken they would never believe any other Prophet before him for his sake To all which Mr. Mason most solemnly reply'd 'T is as true as any thing in sacred Writ About a Week after I had been there another Gentleman of his and my Acquaintance made him a Visit and told him He ought to be very cautious in talking of things thus much out of the way But he answer'd positively As sure as God is true I saw him and added He first saw his back Parts and then his Face which was too glorious for Words to express This Friend then enquir'd Whether our Saviour had said any thing to him And receiving no answer he ask'd a Clergy-man that stood by Whether he understood that our Saviour had said any thing This anger'd Mr. Mason so much that he passionately turn'd to him What need was there of saying any thing when He has actually began His Reign A third Friend of his and mine went to him within a day or two after when he not only asserted the same things but shew'd the very place where he stood described the Foldings of the Gown with the Colour of it and declar'd the several impressions that the Spirit made upon him at the same time one was That the crimson Gown was dipt in the Blood of his Enemies This Person had a great Reverence for Mr. Mason and therefore was not free to tell me the other Impulses I am well assur'd of the integrity of these three Persons who were his intimate Friends or else they had found no admittance I can't omit another remarkable Instance of their Extravagancy which I receiv'd from a sober Gentleman A Servant belonging to his Family was standing at Mr. Mason's Fire-side when he came towards the Chimney with a great Roll and whether he burnt it or not I am uncertain down he threw it crying out with a loud Voice Fire Fire Fire This gave the Alarm to all the rest who ran up and down with their firery Exclamations for a long time after This Passage I had omitted because it came from a second hand had not the Sister whom I visited with several Queries at Water-Stratford on the twenty third of July last in a great measure confirm'd it For she acknowledg'd That in a mystical way there had been often crying out Fire to denote as I think she said the suddenness of the Destruction that was coming upon the Land I ask'd her at the same time Whether they had not often talk'd of Sacrificing for I had heard of several Stories of that nature and some of them that seem'd black but this was all that she did acknowledge That there had been frequent mention of Sacrificing among them not in a carnal but in a spiritual Sense that as formerly there was Sacrificing of Prefiguration and Expectation so now they did eat the Sacrifice of somewhat that signifi'd Thanksgiving In truth her Answers were by this time become so mysterious and refin'd like Molino's Discourses in his Spiritual Guide that she made me think of the Converse I once had with a melancholy Rosicrucian Doctor whom I desir'd when he talk'd something obscurely to explain himself but then he was ten times more mysterious and told me What he said was not to be understood without an Angelick Vnderstanding The great thing I desir'd to know of her was Whether Mr. Mason who had been dead some Weeks before had any Sense of his Death approaching and whether he had maintained the same Opinions to the last I was the more inquisitive because I had receiv'd different Representations about it She answer'd That she verily believ'd he had a fore-sight of his death because he had often said in this sickness That he had fulfill'd his Ministry and finish'd his Gospel Whereas at the end of a former sickness about three quarters of a Year before he said He knew or believ'd he should not die because he had not fulfill'd his Ministry nor finish'd the work of the Lord. And I know a little before he dy'd he told his Northamptonshire-Friends That they should not be surpriz'd if they heard he was dead But though he might think himself mortal three or four days before he dy'd yet I am well assur'd that five or six Weeks before he had thought otherwise for about that time he told his most particular Friend That our Saviour would daily converse with him and that 'till he went to the New Jerusalem Which made him ask him whether he thought he should live always or words to that effect and he presently answer'd There is here that shall never tast of death The Sister added That in his former Sickness toward the latter end of it he declar'd That he should not dye at that time because several Prophecies were not verify'd The most material was Isa 33.37 Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty they shall behold the Land that is very far off thine heart shall meditate terror As to several other Queries I propounded she answer'd so obscurely though nevertheless discreetly that I was enclin'd to write her a Letter about a Fortnight after which obtain'd this Answer verbatim Aug. 16th 1694. SIR I Receiv'd your Letter but must beg your Pardon in not sending the Papers of my Brother
for I cannot be free to lend them out for many reasons and have deny'd to do it to a Minister that was his intimate Acquaintance and what of them has been seen formerly has since his Death been improv'd against him and so has all that ever was taken out by piece-meals and has turn'd to no account but pecking-work against the Doctrine of the Kingdom If any Person would spread the Doctrine in course as it was deliver'd in the four Years Ministry then all would see how He clear'd and prov'd all things by Scripture which he Preach'd But the Papers that he kept by him were but part of the Doctrine and the Midnight-Cry contains the three parts which he often Preach'd upon That Christ would have a Davidical Kingdom here and that it would be usher'd in by a dreadful Tribulation and that this would be done in a short time He also often declar'd That he knew himself to be the Harbinger sent before Christ's Face which several Scriptures point out that should prepare the way of the Lord though he often would say that he knew himself to be the Unworthiest of all the Lord's Ministers but God should have all the glory of his grace to him for ever He declar'd that by him the way of the Lord was prepar'd and all things restor'd in a ministerial way by a declar'd Decree and that God had given him special grace for this Work and had unseal'd the Book to him that was to be seal'd till the time of the end and had given him the Revelation of Jesus Christ and the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy He also declar'd to us about three Weeks before he sicken'd That now he had fully and wholly done the Work the Lord had sent him upon as to the Message before Christ's Face and that he had but very few words more to say to us for he should soon be parted from us and be with Christ He told us also That Christ had took the matter into his own hands and that he would visibly perform what he had sent him to declare He said that God had done the part of a God to this Nation in giving them warning and they should know that they were the truths of the eternal God that were deliver'd amongst them and the words of truth and sobriety though the Nation had hist at all and the Devil had roar'd against it yet God would vindicate this Cause and that soon too Two days after he sicken'd He began to tell us how God had pour'd in his Loving kindness into his Soul in an extraordinary manner and so it continu'd all his Sickness And the last words he spake to us were that he was full of the loving-kindness of the Lord. During his sickness he spoke but little but what he did was constantly confirming what he had formerly deliver'd And to the last he still testify'd That he had seen the Lord and that it was time for this Nation to tremble and for Christians to trim their Lamps And as to our present expectations as you desire to know We believe there will be a change according to the word we have had delivered amongst us and that Christ did really appear to my Brother and we take it as a Seal to the doctrine of the Kingdom and as an appearance for his appearance We do believe also that the Lord will appear where the word of the Kingdom has been Preach'd where the Seed of the Kingdom has been sown which my Brother and others have believ'd is meant this Seed of the Kingdom which is that Mustard-Tree in which the Birds will come and lodge in the Branches thereof as Mat. 13.32 And it s believed that the people of God will be gather'd there for where the body is thither will the Eagles be gather'd together And that he will appear in that Mountain where he has been waited for as in Isaiah the 25.9 10. And we do believe him a Prophet sent to this Nation Now as to the second Request in your Letter I find my self very willing to serve you but not capable For the Doctrine that my Brother deliver'd was very large and weighty and so are the particulars of his Life and I not being able to write Sense or English conclude that you will be much troubled to read what I have writ already And if I say any thing of that honourable Minister I must say as hundreds more do that knew him That for soundnese of Doctrine for Christian Converse and for Exemplary Conversation he has not left his Fellow in the World He had such a continual Tide to spirituality such a Zeal to the glory of God and such a Flame of love to Jesus Christ that I never saw the like upon no Man upon Earth before There was certainly an extraordinary effusion of the Spirit of God pour'd out upon him and he was the self-abasingest Creature that ever I knew in my life He would stoop to the necessities of the meanest but would not yield to the sinful humour of the greatest He would never speak evil of no Man but would say to us though you condemn practices condemn not particular Persons for said he a Man that is truly humble will never open his Mouth in Self-boasting or Censure of others He was like Moses meek in his own Cause dead to Affronts and deaf to Reproaches and blind to Injuries but a vehement Man in God's Cause And to the Cartload of Reproaches that was of late cast upon him I never heard him answer any thing to them but Blessed be God that he has accounted me worthy to suffer in this honourable Cause He work'd in God's Service as if he was to merit Salvation by it but yet call'd himself an unprofitable Servant He was of an easy nature in point of Civility but of a steely nature in point of Sinfulness He was the fiercest Man in the World against Sin but the pittyfullest Man to the Sinner His Charity was extraordinary to poor Christians but perfonn'd with the greatest Secrecy that possibly could be and he never turn'd one Petitioner from his Door without an Alms and most commonly gave them Soul-instruction also Now as to his every day Exercise in his Family I need not acquaint you for all knew how he walk'd and how strict he kept the Sabbath But to note particulars that were remarkable of his Life would swell to a large piece and I hear that Mr. Hammet and Mr. Mehew have been writing his Life and Doctrine who have been well acquainted with his Conversation these many Years and have known what a faithful Minister of Jesus Christ he was and what extraordinary success from first to last God gave him in Conversion work in his Ministry and what an universal respect he had for all Christians and where he saw most of the Image of God those he loved best though they differ'd from him in Opinion The Haversham Christians are able to give a large
aggravation of it at this time when so many new Sects are brooding Again His dismal apprehensions of an Eternal Decree which had damn'd the major part of Mankind mov'd the fiery Spirits of many of his Hearers to aspire to the same whole-sale Condemnation In a word He made a great number to neglect their Families their Business and Calling and to lead a santering life all the Week long 4. Lastly Though we should still grant that he meant well yet God might have several good Ends in suffering this Delusion Namely 1. That other Men may be the more thankful that God hath kept 'em within the compass of his revealed Will and all just Moderation as Bishop Hall speaks it Solil 29. and that they whom he hath blest with Wisdom and a discerning Spirit might the better content themselves with their share Casaub p. 47. and be the more heartily thankful for that which he there calls the highest gift of God Grace excepted which is the Reformation of it namely sound Reason 2. There may be another end of this Divine Permission of an Error viz. Because some certain earthy and heavy Complexions are hereby inveagled into the ways of Holiness and stirr'd up by that vehemency and zeal us'd by such Persons to bethink themselves of the powers of the World to come when calmer Exhortations though joyn'd with closer Reasonings would have been altogether unsuccessful And though this indeed be a way of Preaching Christ that is in the main unwarrantable and unsafe yet we know St. Paul when the Principle was Envy and Strife that actuated the Preacher rejoyc'd nevertheless that Christ was Preach'd either in pretence or truth 3. 'T is worthy of God to suffer it because hereby an occasion is administred to the Guides of the Church to exercise their vigilance and their gifts of discerning of Spirits in a sober and rational examination of every confident Pretender The pious and prudent exerting of such their Authority and Care being a thing of manifest tendency to the safety of t he Flock and to the magnifying of the Ministry or the Gospel in all the Genuine and Apostolical methods of its promotion 4. God's Timing of the permission of this Delusion makes it a more signal act of his good Providence When Liberty in Religion had made Men Licentious when a most gracious Indulgence has been abus'd to Extravagancies then then does it please God to suffer this Delusion that all Men may be certifi'd of the danger of Enthusiastick Principles both to Church and State Nemo satis credit tantum delinquere quantum permittas adeo indulgent sibi latius ipsi says the Satyrist Juv. Sat. 14. 5. To conclude all I shall in the last place give a Parallel case which we meet with in the 13 Chap. of the First Book of Kings of the Man of God out of Judah by the Word of the Lord unto Bethel Whilest Jeroboam stood by the Altar to offer Incense he cry'd against the Altar in the Word of the Lord and said O Altar Altar Thus saith the Lord c. His Message anger'd Jeroboam and he put forth his hand against him and it dried up Hereupon Jeroboam desir'd the Man of God to pray for him that his hand might be restor'd He did and it succeeded And the Altar was rent as he foretold The King then invites him home by promises of a Reward as well as Refreshment But the Man of God said unto the King If thou wilt give me half thy house I will not go in with thee neither will I eat Bread or drink Water in this place for so it was charg'd me by the Word of the Lord Eat no Bread nor drink Water nor turn again by the same way that thou camest so he went another way c. After this there was an old and Lying Prophet in Bethel that follows him and finds him sitting under an Oak faint perhaps and weary and smoothly invites him to his House to eat Bread But he immediately answers I may not neither will I for I was forbid by the Word of the Lord. When the cunning old Prophet found he was sufficient Proof against his Invitation he then pretends a Revelation which he thought a proper Bait for a Man that way given I am a Prophet also says he as thou art and an Angel spake unto me by the Word of the Lord saying Bring him back with thee into thine House that he may eat Bread and drink Water but he lied unto him So he went back with him and did eat Bread and drink Water Which he had no sooner done but the same false Prophet that deluded him pronounc'd his Sentence and as he returns a Lion met him by the way and slew him and his carcass was cast in the way and the Ass stood by it the Lion also stood by the carcass Here now I would fairly ask Whether this Man of God did not deservedly suffer without any possible reflection upon God's goodness For he had as much assurance as it was possible for Man to receive of the Mind of God The sign of the Prophecy came to pass the withered Hand was restored at his Prayer and we find him so undoubtedly satisfy'd of it that he denied the King's Meat or Treasures And should he not do you think have deny'd the old Prophet too notwithstanding all his warm Words and Angelical Pretences He should not you must needs say have left a certainty for an uncertainty He was certain that the first Order was the Mind of God and therefore he ought to have observ'd it 'till he had receiv'd from God himself with the same or equal evidence as positive Orders to the contrary Thus saith the Lord v. 21. Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed THE MOVTH OF THE LORD and hast not kept the Commandment which the Lord thy God hath commanded thee c. Praecepit tibi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says Grotius and adds Virorum laudatorum facta non laudanda quoties adferuntur in sacris literis solet aliquid addi unde intelligamus id non probari commanded thee with an Emphasis When the Scripture mentions the ill actions of good Men it commonly adds somewhat to show the dislike of it Now I dare say there is nothing can be objected against this nameless Man of God that may not be as fairly urg'd against our Neighbour who had the Name of a Prophet and nothing else Our Neighbour had long since known the true Mind of God reveal'd in his Word and was well acquainted with the evidences that confirm'd it to be his He had seen the good effects that it had wrought on others and had experienc'd the renovation it had wrought on his mind It had taught him to deny all manner of Invitations to sensual Gratifications it had made him above the Pleasures or the Profits of the World it had taught him to be empty of himself that he might be fill'd with God But when he had made so great a progress in