lowing words, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead?" Luke xvi. 31.

It may be inquired, can any unprejudiced reader assert, after consulting the following passages of Scripture, that the spirit of prophecy was, or was designed to be entirely withheld after the death of the apostles? "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos iii. 7. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant." Ps. xxv. 14. "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants, and on my handmaidens I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy." Joel ii. 28, 29. "Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." John xvi. 13. "And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, &c. To another prophecy." 1 Cor. xii. 6-12, 28, 29. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation; for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Pet. i. 20, 21. "Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." 1 Cor. xiv. 1. "If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace; for ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and that all may be comforted." 30, 31 ver. "Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith." Rom. xii. 6. If there were

to be no true prophets in the latter days, why should we be warned to beware of such as are false? "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits." Matt. vii. 15, 16, 21, 22; and xxiv. 1-13. "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take heed: behold I have foretold you all things." Mark xiii. 22, 23; 2 Pet. ii. 1; 1 John iv. 1. "But the prophet which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him." Deut. xviii. 20-22.

It has been, and can be proved, that several of J. W.'s predictions have been fulfilled, some of which will probably be laid before you. Say not with the king of Israel, "But I hate him, for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil." 2 Chron. xviii. 1-7.

We read of two young men in the days of Moses, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rested, and they prophesied: "And there ran a young man and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them." Num. xi. 27-29. May the children of men, instead of being influenced by that spirit of sectarianism, self-confidence, and self-righteousness, so prevalent in the present

66

day, (which leads them to oppose, with so much warmth, everything at variance with their own views and opinions,) attend to the words of their Bibles: "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess. v. 21. Charity suffereth long and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Thinketh no evil: endureth all things." 1 Cor. xiii. 1-8. "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matt. vii. 2.

We must either entirely deny revelation, or acknowledge, on the authority of the Scriptures, that God frequently revealed his will to his servants in different ages of the world, in the most plain and familiar manner; also in trances or visions, and by the instrumentality of angels. This is so self-evident, that it requires no proof to any person who believes the truth of the Sacred Volume, and is even superficially acquainted with its contents. For instance, refer to Genesis iii. 9-19; iv. 6-15; vi. 13-22; vii. 1–4; viii. 15-22; ix. 1-17; xii; xv; xvii; xviii. 1-33; xix; xx. 6; xxii. 1-16; xxviii. 13—15; xxxi. 24; xxxii; xxxv. 1–13; Exod. iii; vi. 1-13; 1 Sam. iii. 1; Prov. xxix. 18; Isa. i. 1; xxi. 2; xxix. 11; Lam. ii. 9; Jer. i. 2-4; Dan. ii. 19; vii; viii; ix; x; Micah iii. 6; Matt. xvii. 9; Luke i. 22; Acts ix; x. 17; xi. 5; xii. 8—15; xvi. 9; xxiii. 8, 9; xxvi. 19; xxvii. 23; 2 Cor. xii. 1— 9; Num. xii. 6; 2 Chron. xxvi. 5; Ezek. i. 1; viii. 3; xiii. 16; xl. 2.

A much greater number of references could be introduced to prove the truth of what is advanced; and if the Lord is pleased, according to promise, to reveal himself in a similar manner to any individual in the present day, will any presume to declare that person to be mad, or an hypocrite, or a deceiver, and all this on the assertion of others, and without convincing proofs of the truth or fallacy of their statements? "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord."

Isa. lv. 8. Beware lest thou be found a despiser of his word, who says, "Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause, to decline after many to wrest judgment." Exod. xxiii. 1, 2. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." xx. 16. Read Acts xxiii. 1-12., and see 9th verse, "We find no evil in this man: but if an angel or spirit hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God."

CHAPTER II.

His Birth-Education-Occupation-Marriage

Disasters-Severe Illness-Visions.

HAVING So far cleared our way, we proceed to state that John Wroe was born in a small village called Bowling, in the parish of Bradford, Yorkshire, September 19th, 1782, and was baptized in the church of that town.

The time allowed for his education appears to have been nearly lost, for on leaving school he could only read very imperfectly; and it was concluded, from his apparent want of capacity, that he never would become a scholar, the truth of which conclusion has been fully verified.

He was brought up to the same employment followed by his father, who was a master collier, farmer, and worsted stuff manufacturer. In course of time his father gave him a share in his business, and an article of partnership was drawn out, but never signed. His brother Joseph afterwards joined them as a partner, but the more laborious part of the trade was attended to by John, who being determined to save money, applied himself with great labour and assiduity to the accomplishment of his object, but unforeseen occurrences took place, which straitened them in their circumstances. This was to him a time of trial, and the treatment he met with from his father and brother imbittered his sorrows, and has frequently led him to reflect on the hardships Joseph had to contend with in consequence of his dreams; but the Lord permitted all this to occur, doubtless for some good purpose; perhaps to prepare him for his mysterious ways of dealing with him.

John's grandfather declared that the Lord would