send for
and converse with them, I would perhaps find out the reason of such an
unexpected order. Besides all other things I had also the most
convenient lodging for my performances in the new mission. But here we
select only those points which are preparatory to the development of
deep secrets by which the three extraordinary men mentioned on the
title-page become extraordinary witnesses of our mission. The merchant
with whom I boarded knew most persons of our congregation. Therefore I
took the paper on which I put the names according to the Heavenly
commission, and asked him whether he knew any of those persons who were
on the paper. After his negative answer I called our messenger to give
him the paper with the order to inquire at those who were acquainted
with most people of our congregation, to find out those persons and
invite them to come to me about important matters, without telling the
case which I myself did not understand. But at the moment, when I would
give him the paper, I was severly shaken and heard the voice, not to
inquire for any body but to perform that which I had been commanded to
do. The order having been given by the leader from whom other most
important orders came, I was satisfied, that with the order were deeper
things connected than I could expect. I asked the messenger whether he
heard any voice. He replied, in the negative. I understood that I was
taken by him into the inner state, when he shook me and said to me not
to inquire for anybody, but to perform the order.

From Monday to Tuesday in the week before Easter I was again shaken and
awakened by my leader at 1 o'clock A.M. and heard his voice: "Arise and
write for the book the order given on the preceding night to be executed
on next Sunday." To understand this order I must remark, that soon after
my declaration made to Bishop Fenwick of Boston, that if he refuses to
sign the Epistle I can have no ecclesiastical communion with him, which
declaration was a polite manner in which I excommunicated the bishop, I
commenced to write a book, showing that my extraordinary steps were made
under higher direction testifying my extraordinary mission; because as
soon as I was ordered to separate from the bishop, and to perform
independently from all bishops in the Roman Catholic Cathedral Church,
what would be shown me by the spirit, I understood my extraordinary
mission; although I did not know, what the Heavenly Congress intended to
perform by m