47 "From these words I shall answer thee. Let men compare this with the other, what I told thee of strangers coming to thee; and these I compared to pilgrims, that were unknown to thee; for my ways are all unknown concerning ******* but let them discern, at the time I told thee of joining with others, he leaves thee; therefore if men weighed the whole together, that I have ordered thee to bring forward, they would clearly discern, that there was no assurance that he would stand in a steady faith with thee, like other believers. But I shall shew thee the mystery of *******; and why I chose a man that acted like him; and spoke of him in a manner that no one discerned: it is to bring men to the Scriptures, that they may observe, from him, how man fulfilleth but in part what they expect is fulfilled in the whole; and so I tell thee of my Gospel: how many professors of religion suppose the fulfilment was then accomplished, when I came to die for the transgression of man; but their judgment is as wrong, to think all was finished, that I came to die for, to bring in the redemption of man. This was no more finished, or fulfilled, nor my designs were no more accomplished then, to destroy the works of the devil any more than ******* hath went through all the office expected by man. And now come to their discernment, who judge that he must fall to rise again; because I said he must stand the trial in the end. But this men do not discern, in what manner he stood the trial with men, to have his honour lost; neither do they discern in what manner all the conduct that he hath acted with must stand the trial with men in the end. There are deeper mysteries still behind, that men will. find another day. But now, if they judge that must appear in person, or he could stand no trial with man; then I ask them how they will explain the meaning of my words, that I said my Bible must stand the trial? I said Satan must stand the trial; and I said in my Gospel, Satan must be judged. These things men must discern and weigh together. But know what I said of believers, and those that were called forward first in the work, who came in by faith; I said they were but as water-pots filled with water, before the end cometh, for me to turn the water into wine. But now I ask them, how could I turn the water into wine, by a strength of wisdom, to join with their faith in the end, and a strength of knowledge, to understand all these things, by making every crooked path straight before them, that they may discern their own folly, when I come to make all things clear? But if they saw all things clear at present, and understood all mysteries, to know the meaning of all that was spoken; then they must be as men filled with wine already: for as wine is strong, so must their wisdom be strong, their understanding be strong, and their judgment must be great; for this I have told thee will be in the end. When I turn the water into wine His wisdom cannot equal thine, 49 The mysteries deep that are behind, To shew them what I've still in store, What was decreed in heaven at first "I have shewn thee in what likeness stands with my Bible, where it is on conditions, and where it is not. And so I tell thee of my Gospel, there are no conditions fixed of the Comforter's coming; for I said he should come and abide with you for ever: I said the Spirit of Truth should come to guide you into all truths, and teach you things to come: and the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. And now I have brought it round in this manner, to prove the truth of my words; and now thou must bring forward some of thy own prophecies, that have stood so long in print, unperceived by men. Now let them answer the following words, printed in 1801. Strange Effects of Faith, page 16. Your Captain too shall quickly come, And fix his glorious empire o'er The wise whose hearts will bend. As in a humble manger here D Here I shall make an inquiry of men, whether they say that this is all brought round by the devil, or whether they will say " I yield! I yield! I can hold out no more; Could Satan bring it round this way; You all will find I have a God, And every armour's nigh, That will confound in every sound His armour I'll put on; And then he'll shake the earthly ground; Confounded all will be, Who did pretend to baffle here We cannot answer thee One word of a thousand: it is the Lord's doing, and marvellous in our eyes." 51 stood on I am Here I have shewn how conditions, and how he acted both ways. likewise ordered to bring forward what was said of others, whom I was ordered to write unto, in 1796, how the conditions were placed for them; I accordingly wrote to *****; but it was not told me whether he would hear or not; but that it stood on conditions. Strange Effects of Faith, page 85. "Now like the Psalm I shall begin, That thou must send to The souls of many he shall win, If he my voice will hear. My words before him they must come, If England now does sleep. Out of their dream they must awake, My rod and sceptre both I'll shake, Great is my promise if they do, But threatenings are severe; Before I've ended here. So with thy letter now begin; For I shall all men try; And if they to the purpose come, Another time I shall explain The meaning of the thing." The Sunday after I had sent the letter, the reverend gentleman's text was from Hebrews, iii. 7. "Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, to-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, &c." When I came home, being full of doubts, I was answered |