BF r% LIBRAR Y OF CONG RESS. Shelf .3X4P&A& PEESBl c - «£ \& NOTE. The following reprint of the Life and Trance of Dr. George De Benneville is made pursuant to the request of many sincere admirers of Dr. B. For a time no English Version of the work could be obtained, but after long and faithful research we succeeded in tracing a copy of the original tran si ation from the French manuscript in the possession of the Rev. Richard Eddy, of Melrose, Mass., who very kindly favored us with the loan of the same, and to whom we hereby acknowledge our hearty thanks. Our thanks are also due to Abraham H. Cassel, antiquarian, of Harleysville, Pa., for information given of the existence of the copy. However, copies of a German translation from the English were accessible, but a re-translation might have changed materially the spirit of the work. The book is commended to the earnest consideration of the reader by The Publisher. PREFACE. I Bless God that T was pver ac^uaintel with DR. GEORGE DE BKNNEYILLE, for such an humble, pious, loving man I have scarcely ever seen in my pilar ima^e through life. To such as consider this account as romantic, absurd, and inconsistent. I shall only say, "that if they had known the author as well, as T did, I doubt not they, would have thought of him in a sfood measure as I do/' I think it impossible that a man of his pietv, humility, benevolence, and universal good character, should have been guilty of deliberately imposing upon mankind; and from the very nature and circumstances of the ca6e, I cannot see how it is possible that he should be imposed upon himself. I have no doubt of the truth of th's relation myself, and have delivered it faithfully as I received it I consider myself hastening to the bar of Go 1, where I expect very shortly to give up my ac- count to the Jud«e of all the earth, and there- fore God forbid that I should ever practice de- ceptions or impositions on mv fellow creatures. ELHANNAN WINCHESTER. LIFE AND TRANCE OF DR. GEORGE DE SENNEVILLE. I, George De Benneville, was born in London, July 26th, 1703. My father George De Benne- ville was a French refugee, persecuted for his religion. He retired with his family and con- nections into England upon the invitation of His Majesty King William, who took a tender care of them, and employed them at his court. My mother was of the Granville family. She had nine children in five years after marriage, having twins four years successively, I being the last, and she died as soon as I was born. She knew that she should die at that time, and there- fore she was very often drawn, whilst she was pregnant, to pray for me, and it appears that the Lord heard her prayers and granted her re- quests. I was also very young when my father died, and was brought up by one of my uncles. After the death ot my mother, Queen Anne herself provided me a nurse, and she had the care of my first years. 8 When arrived at the age of twelve years, I was very wild, believing myself to be of a differ- ent mass from mankind in general, and by this fond imagination I was self-exalted, and believ- ed myself to be more than other men: but God soon convinced me to the contrary. As it was designed that I should learn naviga tion, I was sent to sea in a vessel of war belong- ing to a little fleet bound to the coast of Bar- bara with presents, and to renew the peace with Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. Having arrived at Algiers, as I walked upon deck I saw some Moors who brought refreshments to sell. One of them slipped down and tore a piece out of one of his legs. Two of his companions havinglaid him on deck, each of thf j m kissed the wound, shed- ding tears upon it, then turning towards the rising of the sun. they cried in such a manner that I was moved with anger at their making such a noise, and ordered my waiter to bring them before me. Upon demanding the reason of their noise, they perceiving that I was angry, asked my pardon, and told me the cause was owing to one of their brothers having hurt his ]( g by a fall, and that they kissed the wound in order to sympathize with him, and likewise shed tears upon it and took part with him, and as lears were saltish, they were a good remedy to heal the wound; sand the reason of their turning towards the sun's rising was to invoke Him who 9 created the suu to have compassion upon their poor brother, and to pray that he would be pleas- ed t© heal him. Upon that I was so convinced, and moved within, that I thought my heart would break, and that my life was about to leave me; my eyes were rilled with tears, and I felt s::eh an internal condemnation, that I was obliged to cry out and pay, " Are these Heathens ? No: I confess before God they are Christians, and I myself am a Heathen!" Behold the first con- viction that the grace of our Sovereign Good employed: he was pleased to convince a white person by blacks, one who carried the name of a Christian by a Pagan, and who was obliged to confess himself but a Heathen. But that was soon overcome and forgotten. But God who al- ways seeks to convince and save his poor crea- tures, did not leave his poor wandering sheep. Some time after my return home, being pre- sent by invitation at a ball, and having over- heated myself, I ordered my servant to prepare linen for me to change, and as I was putting it on, I fell into a fainting fit, and had a vision of myself, burning as a fire-brand in hell, and coming to myself again, I cried out. '■ I am damned 1" Prayers were desired in the French churches for one who had lost his senses and was melancholy. The ministers often visited me and would fain have made me believe that I had not committed any very great sins, and 10 that 1 had behaved according to my rank and station. Then I was obJiged to answer them that if they had no other things than those to tell me, they could answer no purpose but as fly- leaves to cover my shame, and my damnable estate; that it was in vain to come and visit me with such comfort, for that I felt myself con- demned. Then they answered me in another manner than before, saying", that since I would not receive their remonstrances it might be looked upon as a mark that peradventure I was destired from the beginning to condemnation Then they gave me up, and came, no more to visit me. After that I continued in the state of condemnation during the space of fifteen month.*, believing that ail the world but myself might be saved, and that I never could be saved> because my sins, as I thought, were too many and too great to be forgiven. At length after the fifteen months had expired, after having passed through many temptations, it happened to me one day, having laid myself down to re- p .»se, that I was awakened out of my sleep and heard a voice within me, which pronounced the Bt-Dteiice ot my condemnation, and left me no room to hope. I then discovered the root Of a II my sins and iniquities within m heart. Tha* discovery brought me into an extreme agony* despair entered into my soul whic'i was now pressed on aii oides witj mirt ry cause! especi- 11 aliy by such great unbelief and hr.rdness of heart, which was the most insupportable of all my troubles; I could discover no remedy for •my diseases, but thought that my sentence of damnation was goin°: to he execute}; the sor- row of ray soul was even to death; I desired to die. but death fled from me; I could iind no remedy but to leave myself to the justice of my judge, for a condemned criminal as I was, I knew that hk- judgments were just 5 and that I •had merited much more than I felt. . Thus abandoning mysblf to justice, and wait- ing' for its accomplishment in me, I discovered between justice and me, the criminal, one of a most majestic appearance, whose beauty, bright- ness and grandeur, can never be described. He cast a look of srrace and mercy upon me, and such a look of love as penetrated through me — the fire of which so embraced my soul that I Joyed him again with the tame love. lie peu suaded me in my heart that he was my Saviour, mediator, and recor.eiliator. and while 1 thought thereon, he began to intercede for me in this manner, saying, u My father, behold me with thy paternal regard. I have made expiation for this sinner, who hath received in himself the sentence of condemnation. I have taken human nature for him. I have suffered all kind of ignominy tor him I have shed my blood even to the last drop for hin. , I have suffered the 12 shameful death of the cross for him. I have de- scended into the aby&s of hell for him, that I might deliver him. T have been put to death for his offences and raised again for hi* justifi' cation, and where his sins abound, our grace abounds much more. O my Heavenly Father, pardon this poor sinner, and cause thy mercy to come to him." The judge or justice had nothing more to say. The sentence disappear- ed. Then I heard his eternal, universal voice which penetrated through me wUh divine pow* er, saying, " Take courage my son, thy sins are forgiven thee." Immediately all the burden of my sins and iniquities was gone, all the st ; n£s and reproaches ceased in a moment, a living faith came in their stead, and the tears of sorrow were all wiped from my eyes I cast myself at the feet of my mediator, reconciler, saviour, and intercessor, and embraced him with an enlivening faith, melting into tears of love> humility, and nothingness. O my Lord and my God r thou hast saved me through pure grace; what shall I render to Thee for all Thy benefits? O my divine love, whom I honor and do re, £ive me a pure, a holy heart filled with thy virtues and thy love, even such as thou wouidst that I should have, and ri-nrw a right spirit within my breast. Now I ki ow that thy m; rvellous mercy hath given me a Saviour before I knew my danger and slavery* 13 a physician wh© had the care of my disease be- fore I felt or knew the same; a Redeemer who undertook to pay the debt, that I was neith- er willing nor able to pay. Oh! my Benefactor, guide me by the efficacy of Thy spirit to walk in the way of Thy truth and universal love. Teach me Thy eternal and universal word; speak my Lord and my God, for thy servant heareth. Give me Thy grace, oh my divine love, that I may have the eyes of my faith fixed constantly upon Thee, and that I may follow Thee whither- soever Thou mayst please to lead me; that Thy holy will may b** accomplished in time and eter nity, to the praise of Thy glory, and my com- plete salvation. O my dear soul, sink thyself down into noth- ingness and the det pest humiliation, and adore in spirit and in truth. Honor the ocean of love, and the great wonders of the wisdom and power of thy God, who has employed all these bound- less, incomprehensible miracles to restore and to save thee, and not only thee, but all the human species through Jesus Christ our Lord. "O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and power of God, how unsearchable are his judg ments, and his ways past finding out! for of him, and through him, and for him are all things " To Him be glory eternal. In the present case his goodness shines, for God has loved me before I was born. O what 14 grace! God himself has loved rne in my fallen estate, in which I was wholly lost. what mere} 7 ! God has lov»d me even when I \va* al ■ together unworthy, and that freely too O what love! He has given me his well-beloved Sen, end in giving him he has given me his ] aternal heart; and at the time that h° took hu- man nature, he became my parent, that by this parentage he might oblige himself to have a right to love and to have a care of me. I fe*d him, the just, for my offences and wickedness which he had taken to bear as his own, brought before the most righteous judgment-seat, where 1 e himself alone paid the last penny of the dread Jul debt of all the world. 1 beheld him upon the cross deface and destroy the obliga- tion that was asrainst me, and after that, he en- tered once for all into th< holy place by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for me. Approach then now, O my soul, to the throne of grace, and adore this unspeakable love which has loved thoe first. Love him eter- nally, with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might, who has made thee to know by experience the great mysteries of his holy love, respecting all his creatures. Hallelujah! Amen. O what an alteration from beins: a chill of darkness to a child of light; now I know in 15 whom I have believed, atd desire to consecrate myself to my Lord, my Sovereign Good, the re- mainder of my days. My conversion made a great noise among the people, for they saw me praising and adoring my divine Saviour on ail occasions, and before all company where I came, without exception, calling and exhorting each one to submit to the love of God, just as tbey found themselves, and although their sins were many and great, His trace was greater to receive and pardon, but we must come as we are, for He is the be- ginning and the cud of the conversion of all the human species, and whosoever is not convertep by Him, and to Him, is not converted at all. The French ministers were very uneasy at what they heard concerning me, doubting whether I was a true Protestant, and therefore they demanded a written confession of my faith. I told them paper would suffer any thing to be written udou it, tmth or falsehood, but that I was not ashamed to confess with my mouth what I believed in my heart, and that if they would let me know when they would meet me together, I would be ready to appear before them to give them an account of my faith, and the wonders which the most Holy Trinity had wrought within me. The time was fixed and I appeared before them. They asked me many questions, but we 16 could not agree, for they held predestination, and I held the restoration of all souls, became having myeelf been the chief of tinners, and that God, through Jesus Christ, by the efficacy of his Holy Spirit, had granted me mercy ana tie. pardon of all my sins and had plucked me as a brand out of hell, I could not have a doubt but the whole world would be saved by the wuie power. They answered me that I must not take it ill — that the} 7 could not own me as a member of their church. I replied, that I was very weil content to be cast out, and that my consolation was, that they were not a^le to blot my name out of the book ol life. Soon after I got acquainted with some per- sons who led a very retired life, having received a deep knowledge of themselves through grace. We sometimes met together, but we were soon persecuted with reproach. After that I received a voice of grace inwardly to go and preach the gospel in France. I resis ted it more than once or twice, fearing persecution, but I was struck with a sickness and had pa ; n like the agony of death, was ready to die, and knowing it was because I had not hearken »*d to that voice that had called me to bear witness to the truth in France, I humbled myself before my God through Jesus Christ my Lord, asking pardon for my offences, and promising to sub- mit myself to follow his voice, u t )on which I 17 was immediately healed, and grew more rob us* than I had ever been before. Then I heard his voice once more, calling me to go to France to preach the gospel, and I found myself obliged in my soul to follow the voice, though with fear and trembling. I took passage at Dover for Calais, and imme- diately upon my arrival I began to preach and proclaim the good news in the market, even the eternal salvation by Jesus Christ within us, and that each one of us might be saved by pure grace, and that whosoever, knowing: himself, feeling the burden of his iniquities, having re- course to Jesus Christ, resigning himself with- out reserve, with all his sins, even had he found himself in his damnable estate, should be de- livered, and obtain the pardon of all his sins. As soon as I had done, I was taken before a magistrate, who made me to know that my con- duct was contrary to the statute of the kins:. I was then conducted to prison, where I had no sooner arrived than all the fear of persecution vanished; my soul was strengthened in the Lord Jesus, and I felt the love of my divine Saviour very near, accompanied with his divine light. After some days had past, I wa6 brought before the justice, and being examined v. ho I was and by what order I preached, I told him who I was, and that I was drawn by the special grace of my God in Jesus Christ, by the power of his Holy 18 Spirit, to teach the nations, and that for refus- ing to obey the voice of my God I was taken very sick. While they were examining me, there came in an old man with a white beard. All the justices saluted him. He said to them, "Have nothing to do wTth this person, for Ihavesuffer" ed much this night past on his account," and re- tired immediately. I was then condemned to eight days impris- onment, (as it was the first time) , and to be com* ducted by the servant of the magistrate out of the bounds of the city, letting me know that if I was found employed in the same manner a second time, my life would be in danger. I was about 17 years of age when I began to preach iu France. In this manner I employed two years in that kingdom^ preaching the gospel in high and low Normandy, the country of my father, for he was born in the cily oi* Rouen. There were mauy ministers of us together: Monsr. Durant, dela Chevrette, Dumoulin, U Ac- bar, and others, Wc met together in mountains and woods, to the number of 30O 3 where God very often wrought great wonders by the power o( the gospel, among men and women, and even boys and girls of the age of twelve or fifteen years, that did not even know how to read or vrite They were convinced by the power of grace and began to proclaim the gospel with a mos 1- . marvellous strength oi soirit, without any lear, being embraced by love divine. 19 We were many times taken prisoners during the two years, sometimes by means of oar own brothers who would go and inform the soldiers in the marshalsey where we were met together. Manv were hanged, others whipped at the hands of the hangman and branded with a hot iron, all their goods confiscated, and they sent on board the galleys, but all that did not weaken us, but on the contrary, the grace of our divine love strengthened us to a wonder. At last we were surrounded by a party of sol- diers one day when we w. re assembled by the side of Dieppe, where many were taken prison- ers, among whom was myself and a Mr. Durant, a young man about 21 years of age, of Genoa. After a month's imprisonment we were con- demned to die— he to be hanged and I to have my head cut off. We were conducted together to the place of execution. He sung the 116th Psalm when on the ladder, and died joyfully. I was then conducted to the scaffold and my eyes were ordered to be bound to prevent my seeing, but upon my earnest request that was omitted. I then fell upon my knees, and praying the Lord that he would not require my blood at their hands, as they knew not what they did, my soul was filled with exceeding joy. The executioner bound my hai;ds, and while he was 20 employed in so doing a courier arrived from the king, which was Louis XV, with a reprieve for the criminal. Immediately the joy of my heart was gene and darkness entered into my soul. I was then reconducted to prison at Paris, where I was confined sometime before I was liberated through the intercession of the Queen. Many things happened to me during my ex^le in France and the time of my confinement. One may easily discover here that the grace of God never leaves those who trust in Him and are faithful until death After my releasement I retired into Germany, where I began to learn the language with great difficulty. I found many souls who were con- vinced by grace and who led a very retired life amonof the French refugees at Bulin, Magdeburg, Brandenburg, Brunswick in the Palatinate, Ham- burg, Altona, Stade, Gluckstad', Bremen, the country of Hanover in F anders, Brabant, the low land of Holland, the country of the Wal- denses and many other places. I found work all around — souls who desired to he saved. I had also a large acquaintance among: the nobility in Germany and Holland. We had a large communion of brethren and sis- ters iu Jesus Christ our Lord. I was wholly employed in traveling from place to place, in visiting the brethren and preaching to the nations in the German, French and Dutch 21 languages. There were many assemblies of brethren all around. In some places we had liberty, and where that could not be had public- ly we met secretly in particular families, but nevertheless grace wrought wonders in convinc- ing ^ouls and leading them to a real deep knowledge of themselves and of the damnable estate into which all men are plunged by nature, for none can obtain salvation without being first damned in themselves. I was much concerned about the salvation of souls, and their estate deeply affected me. I had also an acquaintance with a company of gentry, who dwelt together near Siegen, some of them were married, but only dwelt together as breth- ren and sisters — among them the baron of Peuchink, the lords of Fleishbein, and the count of Marsey, who was employed in writing books, which were printed in French and Ger- man. They led a very retired life, fill i wi f h love and friendship to all the world, without bound, and were very charitable both to friends and enemies. Our acquaintance with each other happened in a wonderful manner. One day brother Mar- sey had a vision concerning me, when I had ar- rived in the Palatinate, being about twenty leagues from him. I was drawn by grace, being engaged in prostrating myself in spirit before the presence of the most Holy Trinity, and hav- 22 ing a vision, I discovered a marvellous throne with seven foot stools, upon each foot-stool were two candlesticks of gold, and upon the throne I saw a great table with seven candlesticks of gold placed in a round figure upon it; then I saw many with robes whiter than snow, who stood up near the'candlesticks of gold on each side of the foot-stools and round the table. Immediately the candlesticks were lighted and chairs were brought that each one might sit down, the n they began to sing a new song to the honor of the most high, so that my soul was lost in admira tion : then altogether bending their knees, the whole company adored the most holy Trinity ; the vision vanished in an instant, and I came to myself. Some little time after my brother Marscy sent a letter to me, written after this manner. My well beloved and dear brother in Jesus Christ our Lord, the most Holy Trinity discov- ers many wonders to his children, who are rooted upon the rock of deliverence, and have their eyes of faith fixed upon theii Sovereign Good: he honors them with his universal pres- ence, and embraces them with the fire of heav- enly love; as I have been favored with the con- solation of seeing you in hie holy presence, I hope you will not deny that communion in the body that we have had together in spirit, tothd praise of the glory of our God, through Jssus 23 Christ our Lord, by the et£cacy of His Holy Spirit. Thus wishes and dwells for ever, Marsey your Brother, united by the grace of God, Amen. Alter I had passed about 18 years in Germany and Holland, I became sickly of a consumptive disorder, occasioned by being greatly concerned for the salvation of souls, and much disquieted because the greatest part bj' far walked in the ways of perverseness, and neglected their con- version which caused me great trouble, and I took it so to heart that I believed my happiness would be incomplete, while one creature re- mained miserable. Sometimes I was a little comforted within my grace in some manner, but that did not last iong. 1 dwelt at that time in the country with the brethren near the city of Mons, an Haguiauth near the borders of France, in the Emperor's dominions. My fever increased in such a manner as re- duced me almost to a skeleton, so that they were obliged to feed me as an infant. While I lay in this weak situation, I w T as favor ed through gra^e with many visions: in one it appeared to me that I was conducted into a fine plain, filled with all kinds of fruit trees, agree- able both to the sight and smell, loaded with all kinds of the most delicious fruits, which came to my mouth, and satisfied me as with a river of pleasure: same time I beheld the inhabitants, 24 they were beautiful beyond expression, clothed in garments as white as snow. They were filled with humility, and their friendship and love was toward all beings; they saluted me with the most profound reverence, and most lovely air, saying to me with a voice of love, which penetrated through me. "Dear soul take cour- age, be comforted, for in a little time you shall see the wonders of our God, in the restoration of all the human species, without exception. " The weakness of my body so increased that I was certain of dying. I exhorted my dear brethren to be faithful unto death; to be stead- fast, immoveable, and to be always turning in- ward with an enlivening faith, to behold with a fixed attention the Lamb of God, with believing eyes, and to hearken to his eternal word within them, and that then they should receive of the fullness of Christ's grace upon grace, by which they should be strengthened to abide steadfast unto the end. As I had communed with many assemblies of brethren, but in particular with that connected with my dear brother Marsey; the brethren there had a vision of my death, and sent brother Marsey to see me. When he arrived he found me in the agonies of death; he embraced me with a kiss of peace and love, and saluted me in the name of the brethren, who recommended themselves to me, 25 and desired that I would remember tliem before the throne of God and the Lamb. He then took leave of me, and I felt myself die by degrees, and exactly at midnight I was separated from the body, and saw the people occupied in washing it, according to the cus- tom of the country. I had a great desire to be freed from the sight of my body, and immedi- ately I was drawn up as in a cloud, and beheld great wonders where I passed, impossible to be written or expressed. I quickly came to a place which appeared to my eyes as a level plain, so extensive that my sight was not able to reach its limits, fi.led with all sorts of de- lightful fruit trees, agreeable to behold, and which sent forth such fragrant odors that all the air was filled as with incense In this place I found that I had two guardians, one at my right hand, and the other at my left, exceedingly beau- tiful beyond expression, whose boundless friend- ship and love seemed to penetrate through all my inward parts.... They had wings, and resem- bled angels, having shining bodies and white garments. He that was at my right hand came before me, and said: "My dear soul and my dear brother take courage, the most Holy Trinity hath favored you to he comforted with an everlasting and universal consolation, by discovering to you how, and in what manner he will restore all his 26 creatures without exception, to the praise of his glory, and their eternal salvation; and you shall be witness of this, and shall rejoice in sing- ing and triumph with all the children of God, therefore as a reward for the friendship and love that you have borne for your neighbors, on whose accounts you had many extreme griefs, and shed many tears, which shall all be wiped away from your eyes by God himself, he shall turn all your griefs to exceeding great glad- ness," Then he took his place at my right hand. Afler that the second guardian, who was at my left hand; appeared before me, and spoke thus, "My dear soul, my dear brother be of good cheer, thou shalt be strengthened and comforted after your griefs, with an universal and eternal consolation. You must be pre- pared to pass through the seven habitations of the damned — be of good courage and prepare yourself to feel something of their sufferings, but be turned inward deeply during the time, and you shall therefore be preserved." Then he took his place at my left hand. Immediately we were lifted up in the air, and sometime after we arrived in a dark and obscure place, where nothing but weeping, lamentation, and gnash- ing of teeth could be understood. A dreadful place, as being the repository of all sorts of damned souls, under condemnation with the torments, pains, griefs, and sufferings which 27 their sins had merited, for each one had his works to follow him to death. All iniquities and sins were reduced to seven classes of habi tations; there was an eternal confusion there, that which one made the other destroyed. The duellist in his fire of anger, hums aeraiust his enemy, and they pass as a flame and fire-brand of hell, one through the other. You might see fornicators, idolaters, thieves, adulterers, the covetous, drunkards, slanderers- ravisheis, &c. each laboring and being employ- ed with his sins and iniquities. One might also see all kinds of conditions of men, divines, depu- ties, controverters, advocates, judges, lawyers, and in a word, one might discover whatsoever any of them had committed upon earth. In each habitation, I discovered that those who were abased and that appeared sorrowful for their sins, were separated from the others of their sort that were not yet so. I was then con- ducted into each »f the seven habitations of the damned, where I knew one I had been acquaint- ed with upon earth. I discovered also that he had an habitation among the damned, and that they were able to see the elect from that habi- tation where he was. but were not able to pass through, because there was a great gulf be- tween them, so that all are obliged to dwell where they are. It is impossible to describe my condition, as I 28 had great compassion towards the sufferers, in- asmuch as I had part of their sufferings. After we had passed through we were lifted up some distance from the place, where we re- posed ourselves, and a messenger was sent to us, who watered or refreshed us as with a river of pleasure, saying, eat ni} r beloved, and drink my friends, to refresh yourselves after all your toils and pains. My dear soul, and my dear brother, (addressing himself to me) the most Holy Trinity always works w T onders in all times within his poor creatures without exception, and he will order for a time, and half a time, that you shall return into your earthly taber uacle. to publish and to proclaim to the people of the world an uniyersal gosoel, that shall re- store in its time all the human species without exception to its honor, and to the glory of its most Holy Trinity Hallelujah. Beholding the messenger attentively, I dis- covered that he had a most glorious bo ly, dressed in a robe whiter than snow, tilled with the most exalted love and friendship, joined with the deepest humility which penetrated me through and through, and suddenly there was heard a great multitude of the heavenly host, and the messenger said, as he flew to join the same, with a sweet voice — '■ Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and who is to come." 29 The multitude was innumerable, and there was one who surpassed in grandeur, brightness, beauty, majesty, magnificence and excellence, all the others, even the Son of the living God. being the brightness of his glory, and the ex- press image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power— when he had by himself purged cur sins — sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. As the multitude approached the glory caused us to fall down, and to adore in spirit and in truth the Son of the living God, who marched in the midst of the multitude. After they had pasv>d us, we were lifted up, and caused to follow them,' for the air carried us the way they w T ent, in a different manner than we went before. O, the wonders of our God! When we arrived in the place of the seven habitations of the redeemed, we could per- ceive no more darkness, obscurity, pain, tor- ments, lamentations, afflictions, nor gnashing of teeth, all were still and quiet, and an agree- able sweetness appeared through the whole. Then all the heavenly host shouted with one voice and said, "An eternal and everlasting deliverance, an eternal and everlasting restora- tion, universal and everlasting restitution of all things." Then all the multitude adored the most Holy Trinity, and sang the song of the Lamb , ev?n the sons: of triumph for the victory 30 gained by him, -in the most barm on ions i ner, and at the end, ali the multitude being: upon their knees, said with a loud voice, "Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, O King of Saints/ 7 Presently they pasted through the seven habitations of the damned, and a multitude w T as delivered from each, being clothed in white robes, they followed the heavenly host, praising and glorifying the Most High for their deliverance; one mierht know them amongst the others: they all retired by a different way than that by which they came. The messenger then came and conducted us into a most wonderful place, and ordered my two guardians to conduct me into live celestial mansions where the Lord's elect abide, and then to re-conduct me to dwell yet a time, and half a time in my earthly habitation, and to preach to the lower woild the universal everlasting gospel, and that the most Holy Trinity ha..-, a pure, universal love towards all the human race without exception, and to each one in par. ticular; then tuning himself towards me he said, "My dear soul, my dear brother, thou shalt be favored of the most Holv Trinity to be conducted by the guardians, who shall never leave thee: when thou shalt have need of their counsel, thou needest but to call them, and they shall be day and night present at thy 31 service; they shall conduct thee into five of the heavenly mansions at this time, where thou shalt partake in a certain degree of the celestial glory as much as thy spirit shall be able to re- ceive, as not being yet sanctified and purified sufficiently; and then thou shalt be re-conduct- ed into thine earthly tabernacle for a time and half a time, and shalt preach to the lower world the universal everlasting gospel, and that the most Holy Triuity has a pure universal love towards all the human race without exception f and towards each one in particular. The foun- tain of grace bless and preserve thee, and cause his face to shine upon and in thee, and en- lighten th'ne understanding both in time and in eternity. Amen." Our knees bending of their own accord, he laid his hand upon my head and blessed me, and immediately took wing, and swiftly fled away. After that my guardian conducted me into five celestial habitations where I discovered many wonders: some had greater brightness, glo'-y and majesty than others, and as the places were, so were the inhabitants; some were clothed in garments whiter than snow; othos had transparent bodies, and others again had white bodies resembling crystal. It is im- p ssible to express these things. They were moved by boundless burning love, rising up and then plunging themselves into the deepest 32 humility; all their motions were penetrating, being filled with love and friendship. Their actions and manners were strengthened and ani- mated with brightness, being filled with light as with the rays of the sun; it was the fire of heavenly love, which by inflaming all their hearts, caused them all to burn iu the same spirit. They have no need of any way of speak- ing there, but the language and motions of eternal and universal love without words for their actions, their motions spake more than all words. I was then conducted into five habita- tions of the elect. At the first a great multi- tude came before us with songs to the honor and glory of the Most High, and of the victory gained over the damned. They received us with triumph, great zeal, love and friendship, saluting us with profound humility, and con- ducting us into a large room; there was a great table covered and furnished with all sorts of fruit, not only pleasant to behold, but also ex- ceeding by delicious to the taste- In the mean time while we were taking our repast, the celestial multitudes formed songs, and sang psalms of praise and thanksgiving to the most Holy Trinity. After that we were conducted into all the five celestial habitations, (that I was to see) where I saw many wonders impossible to decsribe. First, many thrones lifted up of inexpressible beauty and magnifi- 33 and desired that I would remember them before the throne of God and the Lamb. He then took leave of me, and I felt, myself die by degrees, and exactly at midnight I was separated from the body, and saw the people occupied in washing it, according to the custom of the country. I had a great desire to be freed from the eight of my body, and immediately I was drawn up as in a cloud, and beheld great wonders where I passed, impossible to be writ- ten or expressed. I quickly came to a place whirh appeared to my eyes as a level plain so esttnsive that my sight was not able to reach its limits, filled with all sorts of delightful fruit trees, agreeable lo behold, and sending forth Riich fragrant odors that all the air was filled as with incense. In this place 1 found that I had two guardians, one at my righ; hand and the other at my lefc, exceedingly beautiful be- yond expression, whose boundless friendship and love seemed to penetrate through all my inward parts. They had wings and resembled angels, having shining bodies and white gar- ments. The one that was at my right hand came be- fore me, and said: "My dear soul and my dear brother take courage, the most Holy Trinity has favored you to be comforted with an ever- lasting and universal consolation, by discover- ing to you how and in what manner he will re- 34 store all bis creatures, without exception , to the praise of his glory and their eternal salvation; and you shall be witness of this and shall re- joice in singing and triumph with all the children of God, as a reward for the friendship and love that you have borne for your neighbors, on whose account you had many extreme griefs and shed many tears, which shall be all wiped away from your eyes b> God himself, who shall turn all your griefs to ex- ceeding great gladness." Then he took his place at my right hand. After that the second guardian, who was at my left hand, appeared before me and spoke thus: "My dear soul, my dear bro'her be of good cheer, thou sha't be strengthened and comforted after your griefs with an universal and eternal consolation. You must be prepared to pass through the seven habitations of the damned; be of good courage and prepare }'ourself to feel something of their sufferings, but be turned inward deeplv during the tim- and you shall therefore be preserved." Then he took his place at my left hand. Im- mediately we were lifted up into the air, and sometime after we arrived in a dark and ob- scure place, where nothing but weeping, lamen- tation and gnashing of teeth could be under stood— a dreadful place, being the repository of ail sorts of damned souls, under condem- nation wi h the torment?, pains, griefs and suf- 35 ferings which their sins had merited, for raeh one had his works to follow him after death. All iniquities and sins were reduced to seven classes of habitations; there was an eternal confusion the'-e— that which one made the other destroyed. The duellist in his fire of anger, burned against his enemy, and they pass as a flame and fire brand of hell, one through the other. You might see fornicators, idolaters, thieves, adulterers, the covetous, drunkards, slanderers, r.ivishers, &c, each laboring and being employ- ed with his sins and iniquities. One might also see all kinds of conditions of men, divines* deputies, controverters, advocates, judges, law- yers, an 1, in a word, one might discover what- soever any of them had committed upon earth. In each habitation I discovered \ hit those who w< re abased and who appealed sorrowful for their sins, were separated from the others of their sort that were not. yet so. I was then con- ducted into each of the seven habitations of the damned, where I knew one I had been ac- quainted with upon earth. I discovered also that he had an habitation among the damned, and that they were able to see the elect from that habitation where he was, but were not able to pass through because there was a great gulf between them, so that ail were obliged to dwell wheie they were. It is impossible to describe my condition as I 38 had great com passion towards the sufferers in- asmuch as I had part of their sufferings. After we had passed through we were lifted up some distance from the place, where we re- posed ourselves, and a messenger was sent to. us who watered or refreshed us as with a river of pleasure, saying, u Eat my beloved and drink my friends, to refresh yourselves after all your toils and pains. My dear soul and my dear brother, (addressing himself to me), the most H0I3' Trinity works wonders at all times within his poor creatures without exception, and he will order for a time, and half a time, that you shall return into your earthly taber- nacle to publish and to proclaim to the people of the world an universal gospel that shall re- store in its time all the human species without exception to its honor and to the glory of the most Holy Trinity. Hallelujah. " Beholding the messenger attentively, I discov- ered that he had a most glorious body, dressed in a robe whiter than snow, filled with the most exalted love and friendship, joined with the deepest humility which penetrated me through and through, and suddenly there was heard a great multitude of the heavenly host, and the me ssengcr said, as he flew to join the same, with a sweet, voice: "Holy, holy is the Lord God Al- mighty, who was, and is, and who is to come." The multitude were innumerable and there 37 was one who surpassed in grandeur, brightness, beauty, majesty, magnificence and excellence, all the others— even the Son of the living God, being the brightness of his glory and the ex- press image of his p3rson, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had bv himself purged our sins, sal down at the right hand of the majesty on high. As the multitude approached, the glory caused us to fall down and to adore in spirit and in truth the son of the living God, who marched in the midst of the multitude. After they had passed us we were lifted up and caused to follow them, for the air carried us the way they went,' in a dilferent manner from what we went before. O the wonders of our God! When we arrived in the plaee of the seven habitations of the damned we could per- ceive no more darkness, obscurity, pain, tor- ments, lamentations, afflictions, nor gnashing of teeth, al! were still and quiet, and an agree- able sweetness appeared thr.ugh the whole. Then all the heavenly host shouted with one voice and said, "An eternal and everlasting de- Hveranee, an eternal and eves-lasting restoration, universal and everlasting restitution of all things. " Then all the multitude adored the most Holy Trinity and sung the song of the Lamb, even the song of triumph for the victory gained by Him, in the most harmonious man 38 ner, and at the end, all the multitude being upon their knees, paid with aloud voice, "Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God Al- mighty, just and true are thy ways, O King of saints." Presently they passed through the seven habitations of the damned, and a mul i- tude were delivered from each, being clothed in white robes, they followed the heavenly host , praising and glorifying the Most High fo>* their deliverance. One might know them amongst th« others — they all retired by a different way from that by which they came. The messenger then came and conducted us into a most wonderful plaee and ordered my two guardians to conduct me into five celestial mansions, where the Lord's elect abide, and then to re-conduct m * to dwell yet a time and half a time in my earth- ly habitation, to preach to the lower world the universal everlasting gospel, and that the most Holy Trinity has a pure universal love towards all the human race, without exception, and to each one in particular; th