if I could hardly persuade myself that I was yet a being in the world. My mind instantly compassed a world lying in wickedness.I realized for them that misery which must come upon them in an unexpected day.Thought I, O that inconsiderate men could see their situation as I see it!

When a few days had passed, under serious reflection I recollected that part of my second dream, which related to my being in an open field much engaged in prayer. The interpretation immediately was, that the wide and extensive barren plain which I saw, was the. world in wickedness. I recollected again, that there were several persons on the plain with me. It came to my mind that these brethren, who had been laboring in the ministry were the very persons whom I saw there-I had not so understood this part of my dream until now. But when this interpretation come. to me, it was like lightning bursting upon the mind. Thought I, is it possible, that the Lord will make use of me in his work.What, me! even me! O how unworthy am I! I could see in myself, no worthiness, parts or qualification for such a task. But as I knew my dream was of a divine purport, I had the witness that it would all be fulfilled in process of time; and though my mind was not naturally inclined to yield to the interpretation which I had already conceived, yet I felt measureably to say, not my will, but thy will be done, O Lord! My desire was daily

and hourly that the Lord would make known duty, and when he should make his will known, I really felt as if he was the one that. must fit and enable me to do it too. It was not long before the Lord was pleased to counsel me upon my pillow again. I thought in the vision of the night, that I was warned to prepare for death. I was informed that I was shortly to leave all the concerns of this natural life. I did not feel in any degree terrified,. but immediately put about arranging my temporal affairs, for the good of my family. After I had collected various effects and put them together in one place, I called my wife. to me and informed her that I must leave her, and that there was all the property I was worth, and that she must make the best of it for her maintenance.

After I had made due preparation I pa-tiently waited my departure, and employed my time as the Lord would have me, not knowing the means by which I was to leave the world. When I had continued a considerable time on the earth, the time of my departure at length came. I did not dream of dying, but the first I knew of myself, I was a great distance from the earth, triumphantly soaring to the upper regions. I had not proceeded far when it appeared as if I was met with a company of angels, who began to sing with heavenly sweetness. I felt completely calm and happy in my mind. I was conducted upward for awhile until met by an innu

merable company of angels, who brought with them additional and incomprehensible joys. I soon felt to realize that I had passed from this world to the next. It appeared to me that I was in the immediate presence of God with a countless number of glorified spirits, and where all things conspired to happiness. It appeared that knowledge did not consist in beholding, as with a natural eye, but the mind became measurably infinite, so that it was capable of beholding all things at one time. All things seemed to have a spiritual existence,and tho' there appeared to be millions of angels, yet their thought, subject and theme, were so completely one, and their happiness consisted so much in each other, through the Spirit it would be most proper to say there was but one of all. I might as well throw down my pen, as to attempt to describe the joys of the place. Could I forget the unworthiness of myself, I could with pleasure tell that I heard things "not lawful to be uttered;" that is, it is out of the power of human ability to describe what I felt, what I heard and saw. Such was the state of my mind, I had forgot that I ever was an inhabitant of any other place. It was in the midst of my enjoyment that my views were conducted still further, and suddenly there were thrown open to my discovery, an incompre hensible degree of happiness, hitherto secluded. I realized that the happiness which I enjoyed, was but an inch of ground compar

ed with a boundless field, for it was by such a similitude that it was shown me. Into this state of happiness I was about to enter when I awoke, and found that it was a dream! My natural strength was so far overcome by my views, that it was not without difficulty that I turned myself in the bed. Finding myself in the flesh, the language of my heart was that of the poet :

This life's a dream, an empty show;
But the bright world to which I go,
Hath joys substantial and sincere ;
When shall I wake and find me there?"

O how astonishingly good was the Lord in preparing my mind for the trials which awaited me! Had he not dealt with me as it were with an open hand, in giving me proofs of himself and of his loving kindness toward me, I should have fallen under the trials with which I afterwards met. This dream represented the work which the Lord soon required of me. It was not a natural death particularly intended, but a spiritual death to this world, was more especially received by me to be the meaning of the vision. As to the extent of the the joys which my mind was permitted to discover of another world, it was not any thing that I shall ever fully attain to in this world, and live in the body.

Not long after this time I appeared in public, but my method was very disagreeable to many, for instead of laboring particularly

from a text, my mind was led to embrace a subject and to expound and read the scriptures, to maintain the ideas which were on my mind. After this my mind was so calmı (though much oppressed before) that for some days I did not harbor the most distant thought that I should ever appear in public testimony again-my mind was clear from doubts or fears, and I enjoyed the spirit of a child. But it was not long before I felt it my duty to appear publicly in behalf of the truth again; and accordingly I obeyed-and again and again I felt my duties and as often obeyed, and for a while as often concluded that every time was the last.

After I had been attached to society a few months my mind began to query upon many things. I had by this time been to the Sacrament (so called) several times, but not finding that enjoyment which I expected, I was led not to dispute the ceremony, but to query what should be the reason I did not receive that enjoyment which others so frequently said they received. As often as I came to the communion so often I was led to doubts, darkness and death; for my mind not receiving that help which I fancied others did, I was moved to doubt my christianity, and as I received no help, light nor life, I feared (according to the general but falserendering of the scripture,) Test I should "eat and drink damnation to myself."* So my

*See PLEA, Chap. 7th, on 1 Cor. xi. 29,