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CHAP.

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48. That after meeting, she retired to rest, and slept comfortably, which she had not done for many nights before. That the next morning she awoke, well and comfortable-the swelling was entirely gone, and she arose in perfect health; and that she has had no return of the disorder from that time to this.

Taken from the mouth of the said Jennet Davis, April 23d, 1808. In the presence of Mary Southwick, Daniel Cogswell, Daniel Goodrich, and Seth Y. Wells, R. Clark, J. Demming, J. Southwick.

(Signed) JENNET DAVIS.

49. MARY SOUTHWICK, of Hancock, testifies, That about the beginning of August, 1783, (being then in the twenty-first year of her age,) she was healed of a cancer in her mouth, which had been growing two. years, and which, for about three weeks, had been eating, attended with great pain and a continual runring, and which occasioned great weakness and loss of appetite.

50. That she went, one afternoon, to see Calvin Harlow, to get some assistance :-That Mother being at the house, Calvin asked her to look at it.—That she accordingly came to her, and put her finger into her mouth upon the cancer; at which instant the pain left her, and she was restored to health, and was never afflicted with it afterwards.

Taken from the mouth of the said Mary Southwick, the 23d day of April, 1808. In presence of Jennet Davis, Rebecca Clark, Daniel Cogswell, Daniel Goodrich, and Seth Y. Wells.

(Signed) MARY SOUTHWICK.

51. JERUSHA BIGELOW, of Hancock, in the month of October, 1785, was taken suddenly sick with the canker-rash, which increased to such a degree that her life was despaired of.-She was senseless for some time-had a very high fever-her tongue swelled and cracked open. One Friday evening, the family expecting that she would die before morning, had made preparations to lay her out.

52. On Saturday morning, her father went for Anna

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Goodrich, who lived about a mile distant, having faith, CHAP. to believe that Anna could cure his daughter. Anna came, and after kneeling by the bed side, and praying to God for a gift of healing, which receiving, she laid her hand upon Jerusha, (who appeared to be near dying,) and her fever left her, and she felt herself immediately well, rose from her bed, and walked into another room, and in a short time recovered her strength.

So testifies

JERUSHA BIGELOW
ELCE BIGELOW, &
ANNA GOODRICH.

In presence of Daniel Goodrich, Seth Y. Wells, and a number of other witnesses. April 23, 1808.

53. ENOCH PEASE, (now living at Enfield, in Connecticut,) when about two years old, was taken very sick, and senseless, and like to die. Joseph Markham went to see the child-felt a gift to kneel down, with several of the family, by the side of the cradle where the child lay; and laying his hands upon the child, he was immediately restored to health, and soon after went to play with the rest of the children. So testifies SJEMIMA PEASE, &

JOSEPH MARKHAM. In presence of D. Goodrich, S. Y. Wells and others. Hancock, April 23d. 1808.

54. SUSANNAH Cook, of Hancock, testifies, That in the spring of the year 1783, (according to the best of her remembrance,) she was healed of an issue or fever-sore, under which she had suffered very much for the space of seven years, and could find no relief from doctors, though much labour and pains were taken for her recovery.

55. That having faith to be healed by a gift of God, she went six miles, to Luther Cogswell's, where a number of the brethren and sisters were assembled. -That her feelings led her to apply for a healing gift to inna Northrop, who was then labouring under great power of God. That she received a healingg gife from Anna's hand, which instantly restored he'. 56. That previous to her receiving this gift, she

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was not able to walk one mile without great difficulty, and greatly increasing her disorder; but that she was never troubled with her old complaint afterwards. That soon after, she travelled about forty miles on foot, [to Water-Vliet,] and could travel any distance on foot without any inconvenience.

Taken from the mouth of the said Susannah Cook, the 23d day of April 1808. In presence of Daniel Goodrich, Seth Y. Wells, and others.

(Signed) SUSANNAH COOK.

57. MARY TURNER, of New-Lebanon, testifies, That her son Jonathan, (since deceased,) being about nine or ten years of age, was chopping wood, at some distance from home, and by a stroke of the ax, received a very bad wound on the top of his foot: [his father, Gideon Turner, testifies that he could lay his finger, at length, in the wound.] That he was brought home, and she seeing it bleed excessively, was greatly troubled, not knowing what to do for it.

58. That she went into another room, kneeled down and cried to God, and soon felt the power of God run down her arm, and into her right hand-instantly her hand seemed to be filled with the power of God, accompanied with such a delicious balsamic smell, as she was unable to describe.-That feeling confident that it was a gift of healing for her son, she returned directly into the room and put her hand on the wound, and it instantly ceased bleeding. She then walked the floor-came again, and laid on her hand a second time; this she repeated seven times, gently stroking the wound, during which time, it closed up and was healed, leaving only a small seam.

59. That she then bound it up. This being Saturday afternoon, the next morning she unbound it, and found no other appearance of the wound than a small white seam, resembling a white thread;—after which he attended meeting, went forth in the worship of God, was fully restored, and found no inconvenience from the wound afterwards.

60. Gideon further testifies, that while Mary (the child's mother) was stroking the wound, he saw the flesh gradually gather and close up, leaving only a

small red streak, about the size of a knitting needle; CHAP. and that he was restored as above described.

Taken from the mouths of the said Mary and Gideon, April 25th, 1808. In the presence of Daniel Goodrich, Seth Y. Wells and others.

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XI.

CHAPTER XI.

Remarks on the Evidence of Christ's second Appearing.

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HERE were many instances of miraculous cures of diseases, of almost every kind, which never were published abroad, being known at the time, only among the people themselves. The instances inserted in the foregoing Chapter, are but a few out of many, which were of such a nature as could not be hid; most of them were circumstantially known to the world, and of which there are many living witnesses to this day.

2. Yet such was the bitter opposition of the generality to the way of God, that many either impiously denied, and contradicted abroad, what they knew to be facts, or maliciously slandered what they could ; neither contradict nor deny.

3. This, however, was but little regarded by the believers, as such extraordinary and occasional gifts made no essential part of the foundation of their faith; and knowing, also, that such kind of evidence would decrease and be withdrawn from the world, in proportion as the true spiritual substance of the gospel increased.

4. It was not that miraculous power which operates upon the body, but that which purifies and saves the soul from the nature of sin, that the truly wise and discerning believer esteemed the most; yet for every operation of the power of God, they were thankful, and nothing which they received was in

CHAP.
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5. And doubtless the end was answered for which those miraculous gifts were given, inasmuch as they confirmed the faith of the weak, removed the prejudices of many who were doubtful, and took away every just ground of objection from the enemies of the cross of Christ.

6. Yet some might pretend to object, that the miracles wrought by Mother, and by the first Elders, and others, through her ministration, were neither so numerous nor so great as those that were wrought by Jesus and his apostles. But who is to be the judge of the nature, number, or greatness of those miracles?

7. If natural men are to judge according to their outward senses, the objection will also apply to Christ's first appearing; and upon the same rule of judging, it will equally apply to every manifestation of the power of God since the flood of Noah!

8. For in every dispensation, since that period, those visible miraculous operations, which have attended the testimony of God, have continually decreased in the esteem of natural men, and become less and less wonderful and affecting to their outward senses; insomuch that many of their wise men, while they admit the facts, deny any supernatural or divine agency in the case; but account for the most extraordinary appearances, as springing from certain causes in nature, before unknown.

9. To whatever cause natural men are pleased to ascribe the miraculous operations of the power of God, it is certain, they have always thought they had good reason to object to the present, from its inferiority to the past. It is granted, according to their sense, that John the Baptist, who was superior to all the prophets, did no miracle. That in some places, Mat in Jesus himself did not many mighty works, because of their unbelief; and that in his own country, and among Mark vi. his own kin, he could do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed

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them.

10. That his baptism at Jordan, was not so wonderful as Joshua's dividing Jordan, and leading through the thousands of Israel dry shod; nor the darkness

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