LIFE & JOURNAL - Christian Israelite Church

1819-1822
Lord, that if his visitation was not from the Lord that he would
cut him off. He then rose up and pressed against the swords,
and the two men were ordered to go forward, still keeping the
points of the swords together, to the next archway leading into
the farthest room, which they did, and John followed, and they
were to stand in the archway all the time John was speaking
during the meeting, with the swords before him, crossed at the
points; he relates that he felt much power in speaking, and most
of the people were drowned in tears.
At the conclusion of the service it was directed that the two
persons who held the swords should stand one on each side of
the door of the archway, and to hold up the swords in their
hands, and cross them at the points, and all who were convinced
of the truth of John Wroe’s visitation, if they belonged to
Bradford body, they were to pass under them, but the others
were to pass on the rear. Most of the body were convinced that
day that he was called of God.
James Shand before mentioned, and some others, appeared
much intimidated, and refused to go under the swords.
After the above, seven parables were given, which are
numbered backward, and are called the “SEVEN PARABLES OF
THE TWO SWORDS”. The seventh was given on the day the
swords were drawn. Witness, William Muff.
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Meeting-house, Bradford, October 27 th 1822.
The seventh Parable, and first explained - A certain
nobleman had a piece of ground, and he let it out to tenants to
dress it, and take care of it, and in process of time these tenants
became much troubled with a number of rats, which almost
destroyed their crops; and from the cry about these rats, a
person came forward and said that he would prescribe a
medicine that would rid them of these rats, but they took no
notice of him. Then the tenants increased, and the rats
increased, until they were almost overcome by them; they then
made their case known to the master of this piece of ground,
and he gave ear to their cry, and came to see whether the report