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ent, testifieth to the truth of this miraculous cure. The СНАР. said John Farrington and William Safford also testify, That they were afterwards informed that Elder Henry Cluff, Job Bishop, and Eleazar Rand, were, at the time mentioned, sitting in silence in a room in the upper part of the meeting house, near by:-that Job Bishop suddenly rose out of his seat, and bade Eleazar Rand, Go and lay his leg on John's leg, without saying what John,

or where.

44. That Eleazar instantly obeyed, and was led by the power of God, to the house, and into an upper room, where the said John Farrington was then sitting, as before mentioned; and that, returning to the meeting house, he was met by Job Bishop at the head of the stairs, who bade him, Go again, till seven times-which he accordingly did.*

Taken from the mouths of the said John Farrington, and William Safford, April 22, 1808. In presence of Daniel Goodrich and Seth Y. Wells.

45. JENNET DAVIS, of Hancock, testifieth, That in the month of May, 1783, (being then in the twenty-first year of her age) she had a tooth extracted from her lower jaw, on the right side; and it being the furthermost tooth, the jaw was much injured by the operation, and was very sore, which afterwards terminated in an issue which occasioned a very offensive breath.

46. That some time in August following, she took cold in her jaw, which occasioned it to swell very much, and was attended with a high fever and great pain.-That outward applications were made for her relief, but without effect:-That the swelling still increased, till her face and neck, on that side, were swelled nearly even with her shoulder, her head turned over her opposite shoulder, and her jaws set, in such a manner, that for the space of six days, she could take no nourishment, except what she sucked through her teeth.

47. That one afternoon, about the beginning of September, Elder John Hocknell came to the house where

Since the first Edition of this work was published, the testimony of Job Bishop, of Canterbury, in New-Hampshire, hath been given in confirmation of these particular circumstances.

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CHAP. she then lived, (in Richmond, near Hancock, Berkshire county, Massachusetts] and tarried till evening, when the people assembled to the number of forty, and went forth, in the worship of God with great power:-That she attempted to unite, but was scarcely able to move, when Elder Hocknell came up to her, put his hand upon her face, and bade her, Labour for the healing power of God; that her face immediately felt warm, and the pain left her, so that she went forth and laboured in the worship of God with great power.

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 hath 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, testifieth, 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 running, 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.

51. JERUSHA BIGELOW, of Hancock, in the month of October, 1785, was taken suddenly sick with the cankerrash, 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 Goodrich, who lived about a mile distant, having faith 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.

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 testify

(JEMIMA PEASE, and
JOSEPH MARKHAM.

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

54. SUSANNAH Cook, of Hancock, testifieth, That in the spring of the year 1783, (according to the best of her remembrance) she was healed of an issue or feversore, 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 num ber of the brethren and sisters were assembled.-That her feelings led her to apply for a healing gift to Anna Northrop, who was then labouring under great power

СНАР.

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CHAP. of God-That she received a healing gift from Anna's hand, which instantly restored her:

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56. That previous to her receiving this gift, she 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 WaterVliet) 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, testifieth, 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 axe, received a very bad wound on the top of his foot: [his father, Gideon Turner, testifieth 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 testifieth, that while Mary (the child's mother) was stroking the wound, he saw the flesh

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gradually gather and close up, leaving only a small red CHAP. streak, about the size of a knitting needle; 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.

(Signed)

(MARY TURNER,

GIDEON TURNER.

CHAPTER XI.

Remarks on the Evidence of Christ's Second Appearing,

TH

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 contra dict 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 operateth upon the body, but that which purifieth and saveth 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 no thing which they received was in vain.

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.