moral character; nor any evil alleged against them, but from mere slander, on account of their faith and testimony. Nor was any persecution ever raised against them, but by means of that false religion and spirit of oppression, which had long been established in the British dominions, and whose despotic influence had not yet ceased in America.

XXII. It is unnecessary, however, to enlarge on this subject, or to state all the particulars of the abuse which Mother, and the Elders, and the Believers in America received on dif ferent occasions, from lawless ruffians, who were taught by the false religion of their forefathers, to commit the most scandalous outrages upon a harmless people, under pretence of suppressing error. It may here suffice, simply to observe, that Mother was the principal object at which their rage was pointed; that during the time of her ministry, she frequently suffered such cruel and shameful abuse as modesty forbids to mention; and that her testimony was supported, and gained the ascendency, amidst those scenes of trial and difficulty, which, to every outward appearance, were insurmountable, and under which she persevered, unshaken and immovable, with that patience and fortitude of mind which surpassed all human comprehension. And although unsupported by letterlearning, and independent of man's wisdom; yet she was supported by that hidden wisdom and power of God, by which she opened the scriptures, and the very nature of things, in so convincing a manner that none were able to gainsay or resist the force of her words, upon any principle of candour.

After Mother and the Elders were released from prison, they again collected together at Water-Vliet, where they were visited by great numbers from distant parts of the state of New-York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-Hampshire, and the District of Maine, who received faith; and through the power and gifts of God, which were abundantly manifested for the destruction of sin, and the salvation of souls, many were filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and increased in their understanding of the way and work of God.

XXIII. In the Fifth month 1781, Mother and the Elders left Water-Vliet, and visited the distant parts, from place to place, where the gospel had been received; and in all the principal places which they visited, they were resorted to from the adjacent parts; and their ministry being every where accompanied with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, in

searching out sin and purging iniquity from the soul, Believcrs were built up in their most holy faith, received an increase of that overcoming power by which they were enabled to keep out of sin, were filled with consolation and peace, and many more were added to the faith.

Having finished their labours among the distant Believers, they returned to Water-Vliet, where they arrived in the Eighth month 1783,-having been absent about two years and four months. On the 21st day of July, the year following, Elder William Lee departed this life at Water-Vliet, being forty years of age.

The decease of Elder William served as a particular means of preparing the minds of Believers for a still heavier trial, in being deprived of the visible presence and protection of Mother, the thought of which seemed almost insupportable to many. But having finished the work which was given her to do, she was taken out of their sight, in the ordinary way of all living, (at Water-Vliet,) on the 8th day of the Ninth month 1784.

Thus, in the early dawn of the American revolution, when the rights of conscience began to be established, the morning star of Christ's second coming, disappeared from the view of the world, to be succeeded by the increasing brightness of the Sun of righteousness and all the promised glory of the lat~ ter day.

And thus the full revelation of Christ, in its first degree, was completed; which was according to that remarkable prophecy of Christopher Love, (who was beheaded under Cromwell:) "Out of thee, O England, shall a bright star arise, whose light and voice shall make the heavens to quake, and knock under with submission to the blessed Jesus."

XXIV. After Mother's decease, the gift and appointment of God, for the lead and protection of the Believers, rested upon Elder James Whittaker; under whose ministration the work continued and increased, in purging away sin and uncleanness, and promoting union and harmony among those who believed and had set out to obey the gospel, in reproving the disobedient, strengthening the weak, and confirming the faithful; till having finished his labours, he departed this life at Enfield, in the state of Connecticut, on the 20th day of July, 1787, being 37 years of age.

Elder John Hocknell (the last of those from Europe who

were called Fathers) survived Elder James many years; and deceased at Water-Vliet, February 1799, being 76 years of age. But after the decease of Elder James, the leading gift, in the visible administration, descended upon those who had received the gospel in America, and was particularly vested in two, namely, Joseph Meacham and Lucy Wright; who, according to the special gift and appointment of God, were known and acknowledged by all to stand in the spiritual re lation of a joint parentage to the whole visible body of the Believers. Through their special labours, the Believers were gathered together into families, according to the reve lation of God respecting the Church of Christ in the true order of the gospel, which order was established, in the year 1792. About four years after, Elder Joseph (having finished his work) deceased, at New-Lebanon, August the 16th, 1796, aged 54 years.

XXV. From the beginning of the work in America, in the year 1780, until about the year 1787, there was little to be seen or heard but the out-cry of convicted souls, labouring under the power of God, and roaring like the sound of many waters and mighty thunderings against the Man of Sin, and all that is of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-shaking and trembling,-prophesying or speaking with new tongues-singing and dancing-leaping and shouting, day and night; and such various supernatural effects of the power of God, as appeared to the blind spectators of this world like the most unaccountable confusion. But such as were in the work, knew perfectly what those things meant, and felt, therein, the greatest possible order and harmony, it being to them the gift and work of God for the time then present; and which bore the strongest evidence that the world was actually come to an end, (at least to those who were the subjects of it,) and the day of judgment commenced.

But when they had found a sufficient degree of mortification and death to the life and influence of a corrupt nature, and separation from the spirit of the world, the scene changed, and such righteousness, peace, and order fallowed, as had never before been established on this earth, since man was created.

XXVI. During the progress of this remarkable change, the testimony was entirely withdrawn from the world: and

therefore, though the men of the world in general, have been obliged to acknowledge that the visible fruits were good, yet the real internal work from which those fruits were produced, was wholly hid from their eyes. And though some have ignorantly tried to ascribe these evidently good effects to some secret evil cause; yet every reasonable person must grant that, an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Consequently, that testimony which is productive of faithfulness, justice, righteousness, and every virtue, both in relation to things temporal and spiritual, must have proceeded from the eternal fountain of truth and goodness: Therefore, the fruits and effects of the present gospel of Christ, are justly to be considered as a standing evidence of the real character of Mother and the Elders, and of all those who have been leaders in the work; whatever wicked and unreasonable men may insinuate to the contrary.

The testimony was withdrawn from the world about the year 1785, and was rarely opened to any until about the year 1797; after which there were a few small openings, in different places, to such as were in a special manner awakened; but nothing very remarkable has appeared in the order of providence, to open the way for the spreading of the gospel, until about the beginning of the present century.

XXVII. In the year 1801, an extraordinary work of God began in Kentucky and the adjacent states, which prepared the way for the testimony of the gospel to be opened in this western country, in the year 1805.

Accordingly, on the first day of January, 1805, three messengers, namely John Meacham, Benjamin S. Youngs and Issachar Bates, were chosen and sent by the gift of God, from the Church at New-Lebanon, to the people of the Revival in Kentucky and the adjacent states, and were cordially received by a number of the first leading characters in the Revival, and opposed by others.

A general account of this extraordinary work in Kentucky and the parts adjacent, from the year 1801, until the year 1805, may be seen in the pamphlet lately published, entitled, The Kentucky Revival; with an account of the entrance and progress of the testimony, and the opposition it received from false teachers. Since that time the work hath continued to increase both North and South of the river Ohio; and at present there are in this Western country, eleven brethren and

eight sisters, sent from the Church at Lebanon, as labourer's together in the work.

XXVIII. Since the opening of the gospel in this western country, the minds of mankind have been greatly stirred up, both by way of opposition and enquiry; and many are struck with astonishment to see such effects produced by means which to human wisdom seem so inadequate to see so many persons of good information, and of the most upright char acters, and even eminent for their piety, renounce the honors and pleasures of the present life, with all their hopes of salvation upon their former principles, to find their relation to a people whose faith is said to be founded upon the testimony of a despised woman.

But souls who are truly convinced of sin, and are willing to have salvation on any terms, will not stumble at God's manner of dispensing it; and many such there are at this day, who, like the tender branch of the good olive manifest, (by their fervent prayers and tears, under the pressure of an evil nature) that the summer of their redemption is nigh, even at the door. But as the fulness of redemption could not be obtained until the times appointed for the full manifestation of Christ; we shall, therefore, proceed to consider the various operations of God, from the first creation of man, in relation to this important event: and let him that readeth understand.