Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

19

he would destroy man whom he had created; so there was but a NOAH found to build the ark; and he, like thee, was judged a fool; but now I ask thee, where will you find, from Scripture, that men rose to be warm and zealous with him, while others were against him? This discord did not arise, in the latter years of Noah's warning; therefore, I tell thee, they became perfectly like the men to thee, regardless of the warning, judging him a fool, as men judge thee.

"This was the state of man, when the world was drowned, in the perfect state thou foundest men, when in thy heart thou despisedst them all. But thou sayest, that thou didst not despise them; though thou wast wearied out with their conduct, and wishedst to forsake them, as thou sawest they had forsaken thee. Then I tell thee thou despisedst their conduct, if thou didst not despise the men, and wert weary of them, as I was weary of the world, when I destroyed it. So now judge from thy own feelings, what was the state of mankind, when I forsook them all, and brought the deluge upon them. Yet know, at that time I had a NOAH to build the ark, that by obedience man might be preserved and tried again. Here, in the likeness with thee, to have one man that I directed thee to, was the beginning after the flood; then look to the Scriptures through, and discern the ages back. I had some men warm with the prophets, to fear my threatenings, to fear my judgments; so that all men did not come like the antediluvian world, for ME to have no man to regard my name; and yet, I tell thee, in a dead state were the Jews become, when I took man's nature upon ME; and yet, in that dead state, there were many, as well as Simeon, who were waiting for my coming. Then now discern in my Gospel: though my enemies were furious, as Satan's working was strong in man; yet, on the

:

other hand, my disciples were zealous, and ran every hazard for my sake, till they were put to death for ME, as I died for them. In like manner see the martyrs, and all the love that hath been shewn to me in men, which could not be proved to shew the love of man so great, if this persecution had not arisen. And therefore, I tell thee, it was the enemies who were the means of gaining the victory for my friends; because it shewed the greatness of their love, to suffer so much through persecution, for my sake; and therefore I said I should come again to raise up my friends in the last days; and destroy those who would not that I should come and rule over them, when I came to bring in my kingdom of righteousness and peace for then will the enemy be cast out, the prince of this world, that hardens men to go on in this persecution. So that here the enemies in mankind gain the victory over their leader. I do not tell thee, that it is they will conquer him, or gain the victory to triumph over him. This I have told thee will not be till the end, that the final day of judgment takes place; and yet, I tell thee, it is by his followers, that I shall gain the victory for my friends; because, if all resisted his temptation, and none joined with him, to persecute ME and my true friends; I ask thee how I could cast him out? And therefore, as I told thee, it is through the love of my friends, and the persecution of my enemies, that the victory will be wrought in the end, for to fulfil the words I said in my Gospel, that the prince of this world should be judged and cast out: and now I have set a way for judgment.

"Here I shall come back again to thy thoughts. Thou sayest, that thou didst not do justice to mankind, to say thou hast been forty years wearied out with the perverse hearts of men; because, on the other hand, thou hast been strength

[graphic]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

ened and supported, and that

a protese by men; so that, under my sme mamac men instruments in Tetecte through every day, ac u prome I made thee. Thus me joined in love and

greatest number is in m

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

r

ings, thou thoughtest the

in that harsh manner of mer ima

they had shewn thee, and

[ocr errors]

through on thy account;

condemn the innocent wine

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

hearts of men perverse: T

est, for their sakes, that

in hand, to make bare my a

clear before them, and trading

blocks out of their way.

their way rejoicing, knowing te

liverance draweth near

"Because that men bus 2

For men are men, thous
They do not act such e
'Tis but where Satam ille
With every furiou

Which he doth work

Then there

Because their hearts de

perverse de 2

While other men joissa
Now mark the diference ar
And call thee back to si
How different mea se ==
When all together t

And in thy heart deal
That true religion fee

Thy mind and heat fa
But now the difference le az
How great the changes -
Though man thou'st b
What different conder
So planted in the sons of
Against thyself thou dithe
That thou too harsh ha
For all thy friends the's

How men like brothers did appear-
"How harsh have I condemn'd them here!"
And now thy harshness thou may'st see,
In likeness I did answer thee,

That I was griev'd for man the same,
And said they did not know my name;
And this I said to thee at first,

That wrong men's judgment all was plac'd;
But now the changes I see here,
And like thy answer I'll appear;
For I can not condemn them all.

If strong my judgments now do fall,
Like thee, in love I'll think on men;
I know and see what they have done.
Because it is in love to ME

That they have shewn their love to thee;
And so I say 'tis for my sake

The mock of fools they now do take,
To bear their scorn and still go on :
They'll find, like thee, in love to man,
That all my promise I'll fulfil,
And all their wounds I'll surely heal.

"But, when I speak the words of man, Both sexes together here I mean; Because 'tis for the human race That I have so unveil'd my face: But I shall still unveil it more, Till I've unbolted every door That hath a heart to let me in, And so the victories I shall win. But where the bolts are made so strong, That Satan guards I cannot come; Then I shall leave them for his prey, And from that door I'll turn away ; But where 'tis bolted but by man, I'll find a way to overcome.

"So here's the difference in the two;
Now see the change before your view,
That at this time is come to thee;
Yet greater change they'll find in ME.-
But now thy writings must appear,
And what thou judg'dst of man before.
So both together let them weigh';
Then see the dawning of the day;
Because my heart they'll find like thine,
To turn to men when they prove kind,

23

And wish to know my perfect love;
This change in thee they'll surely prove
To find it in the Lord the same,

And they shall find my every name."

In the year 1794, after the Scriptures had been explained to me in an extraordinary manner; and the truth of my writings in 1792, appeared in 1793, of the war, and which still was going on in 1794, I was ordered to write to the Methodists; as I was foretold the end of all things was at hand, and I should not conceal what was revealed to me, but send to Mr. Leech, to warn all men of approaching dangers. I did as I was bid; he sent me back a few lines to say, if it was so, what could he do? He would not give warning of what he did not believe: he said he believed, as many more did, that we should see good days; and did not think there was any danger. This letter surprised me, coming from a minister of the Gospel: I read it, on my knees in prayer to the Lord, and was auswered in a manner that quite astonished me; and I thought to send him the words given me in answer to his letter; but as the people all joined with him, by saying they hoped I would trouble them no more, as he had other things to mind; this prevented my sending the answer. Their words might have been unnoticed by some, but they were not by me; as my eye is quick in discerning, my heart is tender in feeling, deep are my meditations, strong is my memory, and every one's conduct laid clear before me. And, when I was forsaken by all, that I thought men cared for none but theirselves; as they well knew that I believed it from the Lord, and many of the truths had then appeared; but they took no pains to convince me, if they thought it was not from the Lord; nor shewed any regard to search out the truth, if it was from him; and as

« FöregåendeFortsätt »