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raise up a minister from among his offspring. In consequence of this impression, John's father named his youngest son Thomas, which was his grandfather's name, and educated him for the ministry, but was prevented from applying to the Archbishop of York for ordination, through the persuasion of the vicar of Bradford, and another person, by reason of an impediment in his utterance.

John and his father, in course of time, quarrelled, in consequence of the latter having sold a large quantity of goods to Joseph and John Sykes, of Leeds, contrary to John's wish, for which he said they would never pay, and so it proved.

John then concluded on commencing some line of business on his own account; he employed a person to settle their books, and on doing so the balance was much in his favour, notwithstanding the great loss he sustained.

After leaving his father, he was for a short time with his cousin; but being informed that the occupying tenant was about to leave the farm in Tong Street, he applied for and took it.

Next morning he went home to his father, who informed him that the bills received in the above transaction, (and in consequence of which they dissolved partnership,) were returned. His father wished him to go to Liverpool on this business, and he went; but during his absence, the tenant of the farm alluded to brought John's father a letter from his landlord, directing it to be delivered to John; but they had matters so arranged that his father got possession of it, instead of himself, and held it for three years, but John occupied the house; however his father wished to dispossess him, in order to give it to his brother.

On going from his own house to Adwalton, on a Bradford fair night, in order to pay money, he was attacked by two men, who treated him very ill, and robbed him of his book containing eighteen pounds. After much difficulty the robbers were secured and

committed to York Castle; they were clearly identified, and would have been convicted were it not for the perjury of some of their associates. One of them was named Thomas Bonner, watchmaker, of Pontefract; the other William Mc. Dowel, of the same place. They were, however, both transported afterwards.

Being now employed in the wool-combing business, he took some apprentices; but one of them, named Benjamin Lockwood, caused him to lose several hundred pounds after his apprenticeship had expired, for he bought a considerable quantity of wool on credit, from James Rusher, of Wakefield; and in some time Rusher induced John to write his name at the bottom of Lockwood's account, which was considered as becoming security for the amount. Lockwood had dealings with Rusher for two years after, paying regularly for such wool as he received, but allowed the original amount to remain due, and only paid the interest of it. He endeavoured to contract debts with several others, with an intention of absconding to America; he was arrested frequently in the same week. Rusher also had him arrested; John soon met with similar treatment, but was bailed, and Lockwood imprisoned; but he availed himself of the Insolvent Debtor's Act. The case came to a trial, and though the verdict was in favour of John, the expences he incurred exceeded £500.

He was about five years an housekeeper previous to his marriage with the daughter of Benjamin Appleby, of Farnley Mills, near Leeds.

In the year 1819 John was afflicted with a fever, and his life considered to be in imminent danger. He was attended by Dr. Blake, of Bradford, and Dr. Field, of Tong Street. The former told John's wife that there was no probability of his recovery, and advised her to prevail on him to settle his affairs. Concluding that his recovery was very improbable, he became much concerned about his spiritual interest, for all his deeds were introduced to his view.

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He accordingly requested the Methodist preachers to visit him and pray with him, but they refused, although his wife sent to four of them. She then inquired of him whether she might send for the minister of the Established Church at Bradford. He replied, "It is now late; read one or two chapters for me, and I will see what I can do for myself;" but he found no comfort.

Dr. Blake atttended him every day for three weeks; he was reduced almost to a skeleton. However, in the course of a few weeks he recovered from his bodily illness, but his distress of mind continued. He wrestled with God both day and night for several months, and sometimes walked up and down his own fields, with his bible, and sat under the hedges, and read easy passages, but continued destitute of comfort. Soon after this he was visited with what are called trances or visions; (see Num. xxiv. 4; Acts x. 10; xi. 5; xxii. 17;) at the commencement of most of which he was struck blind and dumb; his eyelids became as firmly united as if they had naturally grown together; and his tongue fastened in his mouth, in which state he remained during the whole period of their continuance, which was sometimes seven, twelve, twenty-four, or thirty-six hours. After one of the trances he continued blind for six days, but not dumb.

Many remarkable events were revealed to him during their continuance, as well as afterwards, and which were accomplished according to his predictions. He then began to travel and act as a public speaker. While thus engaged, he made known such parts of the subjects communicated to him during his trances, as he considered himself directed to publish.

From the time of his being visited by the trances, (which he afterwards denominated visions,) he attended the meetings of the societies, believing in modern divine revelation and prophecy, as preparatory to the introduction of that great event known by the

term Millennium, societies which had espoused the writings of Joanna Southcott and George Turner, the latter being then alive, and looked upon by them as the Lord's servant and messenger, by whom he would from time to time make known his will to them; however, John Wroe did not become a member of any of the said societies at that time, nor of any other, and which was occasioned by the instructions given him in one of his visions, in which he was informed that after he had travelled for three years in England he should be joined to the Lord's people, and which people he then concluded were Jews, appearing to him with long beards.

Towards the latter end of the year 1822, the three years alluded to being then nearly expired, John Wroe was informed by an angel in vision that he was to be joined to the people with whom he had been assembling for some time, and to occupy the place of George Turner, then deceased. This information he received when in one of their meetings at Bradford, on a Sunday evening, and which he communicated to the society, but they received it at first with some degree of opposition, which, however, soon disappeared, as far as regarded the society at Bradford, and many others; but several continued to oppose, and consequently became separated from the rest.

The three years he considered to have expired on the 14th of December, 1822, at which time he accordingly became a full member of the said society.

He then by the direction of the Spirit, relinquished his worldly employment, became wholly engaged in the work of the ministry, and consequently left Bradford to visit all to whom he might be sent, and warn them of approaching events.

The most remarkable of his travels and voyages in the succeeding ten years, are those to Gibraltar, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy, in 1823; to Scotland in 1827, and Wales in 1828; the particulars of which, with those on other subjects, are given in their respective chapters.

CHAPTER III.

His Visions, with Explanations.

HAVING stated that John Wroe had been visited with visions, a few of which are here inserted. (See Num. xxiv. 4; Acts xxiii. 8, 9; xxvii. 23.)

When in one of my fields, and wrestling with God in prayer, I saw a vision, having my eyes open. A woman came to me, and tossed me up and down in the field; I endeavoured to lay hold of her, but could not; I therefore knew it was a spirit; after which, being laid in my bed, I was struck blind, and also dumb. This was at about two o'clock on the morning of the 12th of November, 1819. The sun and moon then appeared to me, after which there was visible a very large piece of glass; on looking through it I beheld a very beautiful place, which I entered. I saw a multitude of people, which no man could number. There came an angel, who became my guide, and said to me, "Thy prayers have been heard, but not accepted; for thou wert not like Abraham when he offered his son Isaac for a sacrifice, for thou hast withheld thine heart from the Lord thy God, but now thou art cleansed, spirit return unto thy rest." And as quick as lightning the following words struck forcibly upon me: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, as long as the rod of thy word, and the staff of thy defence is with me." During the time I was in this situation, (being about twelve hours,) I knew what was passing in the room, and what every person said, and shook hands with them, expecting that I was immediately to leave the body.

On the 14th of November, 1819, at about ten in the forenoon, I had a second vision; was struck blind as on the first, and remained so for some hours.

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