Precepts of Mother Ann Lee

316 Pages·2012·16.08 MB·English

TESTIMONIES

OF THE

Life, Character, Revelations and Doctrines

OF

MOTHER ANN LEE

AND
THE ELDERS WITH HER,

Through whom the Word of Eternal Life was opened in this day,
OF
CHRIST’S SECOND APPEARING.

Collected from Living Witnesses,
IN UNION WITH THE CHURCH

THE LORD HATH CREATED A NEW THING IN THE EARTH.
A WOMAN SHALL COMPASS A MAN. — JEREMIAH

SECOND EDITION
ALBANY, NEW YORK:
WEED, PARSONS & CO., PRINTERS.
1888
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Have you already read The Particulars of Mother Ann Lee?
PREFACE.
That which we have seen and beard declare we unto you, that ye also may
have fellowship with us.-ut John, rst, 3rd.
Having been eye and ear witnesses of all that our
blessed Mother and the first Elders have done and taught
among us, from the time they first opened the Gospel in
America, till they left this world, it seems good to us,
in answer to the request of our beloved Brethren and
Sisters, who have never seen those blessed Ministers of
Christ, in the body, to make a faithful record of those
precepts and examples, and other cotemporary events,
which most eminently manifest their real characters.
The work of God, in the dispensations of His grace to
a lost world, being contrary to all the desires and inclina
tions of an evil nature, is, of course, always manifested in
a way contrary to all the calculations and expectations
of the natural man.
In consequence of these miscalculations and erroneous
anticipations natural men always overlook the work of
God; and, while it appears in the world, and is seen, felt
and known, of those who are in it, it is quite out of sight of
those who presumptuously undertake to lay out the way of
God according to their own corrupt inclinations. Hence
iv PREFACE.
it is that so much has been, and still continues to be said,
and reported abroad in the world, to vilify and calum
niate the characters of the First Witnesses, and especially
that of Mother Ann Lee, notwithstanding the incontesti
ble evidences in their favor, so clearly manifested in the
good fruits which they have brought forth. And, though
knowledge increases in the land, yet, those who continue
to do wickedly, do not, will not understand !
Therefore, it is not for such that we record these things ;
for, like pearls of inestimable value, they ought not, and
must not, be trampled under feet ; but, for the benefit of
those who have honestly and faithfully confessed and for
saken their sins, and have set out, once for all, to follow
Christ in the regeneration, for their sakes, we feel a pecu
liar satisfaction and blessing, in recording some of those
precious gifts of God through which we are taught and
led in the way of life and salvation.
Every honest upright soul, in perusing these testimonies,
will readily perceive they are no cunningly devised fables;
but, that the spirit of eternal truth is clearly manifested
in them, and that they witness, beyond all controversy, the
reality of those things in which they, themselves, have
already been instructed, and, by experience, found reliable.
These testimonies have been given by those who were
eye and ear witnesses of what they contain. By a suitable
arrangement of the testimonies of many individuals, we
have been enabled to give short sketches of the lives,
characters, and manners of Mother Ann Lee, and the
two principal Elders with her, vrz.: Father William Lee,
and Father James Whittaker ; with some of their expe-
PREFACE. v
rience and sufferings in England, as related by themselves,
and those who came with them; the plainness and clear
ness of their testimony, and the mighty power of God
which attended it ; their principal struggles and persevering
fortitude through many sufferings, and much opposition to
plant the Gospel, and establish the foundation of Christ's
Kingdom in this land; their great manifestation of God;
their prophecies, visions and revelations; their labors in
word and doctrine, together with the remarkable power
and gifts of the Holy Spirit revealed among the people,
through their ministration.
It is now many years since Mother Ann, and those who
came from England with her, left the body; and those
who were eye and ear witnesses of these things, have also
followed them to the land of souls.
\Ve, therefore, feel it a duty to record these things,
being fully persuaded that God requires it of us, that those
who come after us may know and understand more fully,
concerning the truth of those things wherein they may
be instructed.
All who, at this day, have seen the branches flourish,
may thereby be assured that the root is holt; but this
assurance will doubtless be greatly strengthened by a care
ful perusal of these testimonies.
Herein may be seen, as in a mirror, the lives, examples
and sufferings, the precepts, doctrines and spiritual gifts,
and Divine manifestations of our ever blessed Parents in
the Gospel, by which it will readily be perceived that we
have received the Gospel, not by precept only, but by
example also.
vi PREFACE.
It cannot be expected that every transaction of the lives
and ministry of the First Witnesses should be particularly
stated; nor is it necessary; but, enough is herein written,
to prove to all faithful Believers, that Christ did, verily,
make a Second Appearance in Ann Lee; that she was
chosen, a Witness of God, to usher in a new dispensation of
the Gospel; to rend the veil of the flesh, which separates
the soul from God; to enter into the Holy of Holies, and
become the first spiritual Mother, of all the Children of the
Resurrection. That the Elders with her were true and
faithful Ministers of the Gospel; and, that, through their
labors and sufferings with Mother Ann, the testimony
of eternal life has been revealed and confirmed unto us ;
that a foundation has thereby been laid for the salvation
and redemption of lost man; that the spiritual Zion now
established on the Earth, with all its order, harmony and
beauty, first originated from these faithful Witnesses; and
that this will prove a decisive work, which, in its progress,
in this, and in the spirit world, will eventuate in a final set·
tlement with all the souls of men, as it is written:
"Behold I come quickly, and My reward is with Me,
to give to every man according as his" {own) "works
shall be."
The names of individuals who have given particular tes
timonies, are generally inserted at the end of the article
given; or, where their names are particularly mentioned, at
the beginning of such articles, then, their initials only are
placed at the end; but, where the article given relates par·
ticularly to the person who gave it, then the name, being
given in the beginning of the article, is omitted at the end.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I. Introduction, birth, parentage, religious exercises
and sufferings of Ann Lee; her revelation and testimony;
voyage to America ..................................... .
CHAPTER II. Mother's experience and sufferings in America,
previous to the opening of the Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CHAPTER III. First interview of the people in this country
with Mother and the Elders, with some questions and
answers that passed between them.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
CHAPTER IV. First interview of different individuals with
Mother and the Elders.................................. r6
CHAPTER V. The subject continued......................... 23
CHAPTER VI. The subject continued........................ 28
CHAPTER VII. Sketches of Mother's experience and sufferings
in England, as related by herself, at different times.. . . . . . . . 34
CHAPTER VIII. Mother's persecution in England, as related by
herself, and those who came with her to this country........ 39
CHAPTER IX. Mother converses with Eleazer Grant and others.
Some further particulars of her persecution in England
Mission and voyage to America, &c....................... 49
CHAPTER X. The wicked alarmed at the spreading of the Gos
pel-Mother and the Elders imprisoned at Albany-Many
stirred up to inquiry, and the work still increases-Mother
sent to Poughkeepsie jail, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
CHAPTER XI. The Church visited at Watervliet-The Gospel
increases- Mother sets out on a journey to the eastward
Visits Tucconock, Enfield, and Grafton, and arrives at Har-
vard. The inhabitants alarmed by false reports, &c ...... ,. 64
viii CoNTENTs.
PAGB. .
CHAPTER XII. Mother and the Elders visit Petersham. Meet-
ing at David Hammond's disturbed by a mob-Mother
shamefully and cruelly abused.. . . . . . . . • • • . . . . • • • • . . . . . . • . 72
CHAPTER XIII. Mother and the Elders return to Harvard.
They are threatened, and ordered to leave the place. After
much affliction, they leave Harvard, and go to Enfield, from
whence they are driven by a mob-They go to Ashfield,
afterward return to Harvard, &c......................... 78
CHAPTER XIV. The Believers driven from Harvard, and cruelly
abused by a riotous mob................................. 88
CHAPTER XV. Mother visits Norton, Rehoboth and Stoning
ton-thence through Preston and Windham to Stafford
thence to Enfield, Cheshire, and Ashfield... . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . roo
CHAPTER XVI. At Ashfiellil Mother is visited by great multi
tudes of people-Great manifestations of the power of
God, and great purging among the people-A mob excited
by Daniel Bacon . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . ro6
CHAPTER XVII. Mother and the Elders return to Harvard
By the complaints of a deaf and dumb man a mob is raised,
and assembled at Shirley. The Elders taken from Shirley
to Harvard and whipped ................................. II4
CHAPTER XVIII. Mother and the Elders leave Harvard, and
visit Petersham-A mob assembles, the Believers abused,
and Aaron Wood knocked down-Mother and the Elders
go to Joseph Bennet's in Cheshire-thence to Richmond .. 122
CHAPTER XIX. Great opposition from the wicked instigated by
Senior Valentine Rathbun, Mother and the Elders taken with a
warrant, and tried by a Court of Justices. Samuel Fitch and
Brethren committed to jail. Opposition continues-Mother
visits the prisoners-Returns through West Stockbridge, &c. 125
CHAPTER XX. Mother arrives at New Lebanon; Meeting at
John Bishop's-Mother visits a number of families in and
around New Lebanon-goes to Jabez Spencer's in Stephen-
town; and returns again to New Lebanon .................. 134
CHAPTER XXI. A persecuting mob is raised-Mother carried
before Eleazer Grant; cruelly abused, and driven out of
New Lebanon.. .. • • . .. • • .. .. .. • .. . • .. . • . . . . .. . . • . • • .. .. • 144
CoNTENTs. ix
PAGE.
CHAPTER XXII. Mother and the Elders return to Nathan Far
rington's-A mob surrounds the house at night-Mother
proceeds on her journey-stops at E. Kapp's, and is driven
off by a mob, arrives at Niskayuna, &c .................... I 52
CHAPTER XXIII. Great manifestations of God in Mother;
Christ her head, Lord and Husband ....................... I6o
CHAPTER XXIV. Prophecies, visions and revelations......... I68
C,HAPTER XXV. The subject continued ........•.....•.••.•.. I74
CHAPTER XXVI. The subject continued ...........•......•.. ISO
CHAPTER XXVII. The Gospel preached to departed spirits ..•. ISS
CHAPTER XXVIII. The confession of sin ...•......•...•.•.•. I92
CHAPTER XXIX. Miraculous gifts .......••...•............. 200
CHAPTER XXX. Counsel in temporal things-Industry, clean·
liness, prudence, economy, giving of alms and charity to the
poor ....•.•..........................................•. 207
CHAPTER XXXI. Promises to the faithful-Counsel and in
struction to young people. Concerning children-Concern-
ing beasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
CHAPTER XXXII. Reproof and instruction .................. 220
CHAPTER XXXIII. Public teaching, doctrinal speeches; ex-
hortations, &c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
CHAPTER XXXIV. The subject continued ................... 238
CHAPTER XXXV. Speeches to individuals, on various occa-
sions .........................•...•.......•..•••........ 242
CHAPTER XXXVI. The subject continued ................... 249
CHAPTER XXXVII. The subject continued ..•.•............. 254
CHAPTER XXXVIII. Sketches of the life and character of
Elder William Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
CHAPTER XXX IX. Some further Sketches of the life and char
acter of Mother Ann Lee ......•......................... 268
CHAPTER XL. Sketches of the life, character and ministry of
Father James Whittaker ................................. 276
CHAPTER XLI. The subject con tinned ............• , ..•....•. 287
CHAPTER XLII. Of the judgments of God .•.•...•••....••.. 297
B