Glimpses of Christian History Presents Pastwords #67: The Life of John Engelbrecht by a Friend of Mankind ©2007

Containing a near death experience.

FIRST TESTIMONY

ev. Sir,
Your favor by John Engelbrecht, is come to my hands and I perceive with great pleasure, the wonderful dealings of Almighty God, with the children of men, as it proves that out of the mouth of babes and sucklings he has ordained perfect praise. As the Lord by his wisdom never knew the wisdom of men and this world, he saw fit to reveal himself unto the poor in spirit, whom you sent unto me. Having conversed with him, and examined him, I have not the least doubt but that he is of God, and led and guided by his blessed Spirit.

1. He sees and knows that the whole would lie in wickedness and that spiritual darkness prevails over the globe; he rebukes hypocrites and pharisees, and strives, after the inward man, that what they say with their mouths may be found in their hearts, and says that a true christian life doth not consist in outward forms but in Spirit, power and a living faith.
2. Although he had been favored from on high with many visions, yet doth he not lead the people to them, but to the word of God, and makes the word of God his rule of life, walk and practice.
3. He admonishes with christian zeal to a true heart sorrowing repentance in Spirit, and would that all should serve God in Spirit and in truth, without any selfish views.
4. He says true happiness is only obtainable by a true genuine faith, as it is contained in the scripture, and that is the only true faith which proves itself by love; faith cannot be without love, nor love without faith, and love is the only true sign of faith.
5. He takes nothing good to himself, but gives God the glory, esteems himself humble, and unworthy and remains in spiritual humility.
6. He uses true parables, and metaphors which he explains by the word of God, and brings natural and visible things to enlighten the spiritual and heavenly, as Doctor Arndt says, that he is a good christian, who brings spiritual things from temporal things.
7. He hath a good [text missing] the scripture, talks well [text missing] person, his office, his Spirit, [text missing] warfare, and killing the old man and exercising godliness.
8. Seeks and strives with great eagerness to bring souls to happiness, and lays Christ as the foundation of eternal life, says and talks much of the great love of God in Christ, and the experience of the blessed love in his own soul.
9. This and still more have I heard with astonishment, while he makes me conclude and acknowledge that he is not only sent by God, but that God makes use of ordinary means and extraordinary, through weak instruments to call poor sinners to repentance and convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgments to come. Although the world will not hear when God calls by his servants, who labor day and night, for the good of souls; yea, despised them, as they also did that poor man. Concerning my trumpet which I gave out in the world to awaken sinners I perceive that it hath been despised by many, as you know [text missing] as if I taught a new doctrine [text missing] never entered into my [text missing] I pray that the light that is now in the world, may become more clear and larger, and what begun by Doctor John Arndt may shine more and more unto the perfect day. According to Daniel's prophesy many shall be cleansed, and purified on that day, the wicked believe it, but they that have knowledge, thereof must suffer, which is according to Christ's own words, in the world you shall have tribulation, in me you shall have peace.

As the eye of man is, so doth he judge; how can flesh judge spiritually. Therefore commit yourself to God, who knows the heart. It appears to me that there will be many, who will be cleansed and purified, and that there are more in the lower class (as it was in Christ's time) who stand in the light than amongst the ministers and higher class, he that will not come to the light, must consequently remain in darkness, I therefore pray you, as a spiritual man, for me, that God would grant me a joyful Spirit, and protect me against my persecutors. I recommend you to god and his grace, and remain.
Your friend, JUDAS EGARDUS, Pastor of Northdorff. A.D. 1624.

SECOND TESTIMONY

Concerning the letter which you sent me by John Engelbrecht, I answer, that I have conversed with him at sundry times, and do not perceive in him any deception, but he appears to have been sent by the blessed Spirit, and to seek nothing but the advancement of Christ's kingdom and his blessed gospel, and the building up of many souls in the true faith, and in bringing many sons and daughters of men to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. But that the world does not like him, is not strange, because they generally dislike every true shepherd of Christ. Therefore, I pray that God, through his spirit, would lead and guide him, and strengthen and comfort him.

As a regard for this man's work, I send you a pamphlet, out of genuine love, and, should you think proper, I desire you will put it in print, that the true light may again shine and dispel that darkness which now prevails, and that love to Christ and the gospel may thereby be awakened in many souls. You ministers cannot be against it unless you are entirely destitute of love, which I pray may not be the case. I therefore recommend you to God and his grace.

Your friend, PAULUS EGNILUS, Pastor of Northdorff. A.D. 1625.

WE MUST DISCERN ANEW THE 1622 HIDDEN TESTIMONY OF JOHN ENGLEBRECHT

LIFE OF JOHN ENGELBRECHT.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Chapt. I.

John Engelbrecht, Birth, Trials both of soul and of body, and his sufferings and persecutions.

As the Lord God Almighty, at all times hath been pleased to pass by the high and lofty ones of this world and reveal himself to the low and humble in heart, and to make them instruments to serve Him in this world, as the word of God informs us, so it pleased the Lord, at this time, to reveal himself to this poor but pious man, John Engelbrecht, to call him from his low occupation to the highest in the world, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to call poor sinners to Repentance.

John ENGELBRECHT was born in Brunswick, on Easter-day, 1599, was by occupation, a Woollen Weaver's Journeyman. George Engelbrecht, a Taylor, was his father, who sent him to school a short time, where he learned to read a chapter and to write his name, although but poorly. He was kept to work constantly so that he had no time to spare to read any books. He was from his youth a very still, sedate and sorrowful person, and suffered great agony of mind and great concern for his immortal soul, for which he constantly made application to the Lord, that He would be pleased to strengthen and comfort him by his blessed Spirit; and continued so to cry to the Lord that He would have mercy on him.

Chapt. II.

His Sickness, Death, Visions, Resurrection, Preaching Repentance to the people, and the answer he received therefrom.

His sickness began on the second Friday in Advent, in the year 1622. As he was on that day at the church, and in the afternoon sermon he become very sorrowful and low in spirit, on account of there being so few people in the church, and the coldness that was prevailing among mankind to hear the word of God.

After returning from church he soon went to bed, on account of his trials and agony of soul, where he was taken with such a loathing of corporeal nourishment that he could neither take drink, nor victuals, which soon deprived him of all strength, so that he expected his end to be very near. Therefore he desired that the Lord's Supper might be administered to him, which was granted, the minister remaining and praying with him. The agony of his soul increasing to that height, that he screamed so loud that his voice was heard in the second and third houses, which brought together a great many people, who all fell on their knees, and cried to God that he would have mercy on that poor man, and deliver him from his soul destroying pain.--Public prayers likewise were made in all the churches in the city for him, that God would be pleased to grant him a free pardon of all his sins, wherewith Satan had beset him. He said he felt the pains in his body as if many knives were stabbing his heart. Especially, Satan troubled him greatly with his thoughts, that he from a youth was cast off from the Lord, and that there was no mercy for him. Moreover, Satan told him, he did not know if he was elected or not, but his lips were continually saying these words "the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sins, and, dear Jesus, into thy hands do I commit my soul, for thou, O Lord, hast redeemed it."

And as he had not taken any nourishment, from Friday before the second in Advent until the Thursday following, and all the time suffered great agony of soul and great pain of body; he perceived, at about 12 o'clock at noon, that he was struck with death; first at his feet;--and in the twelve following hours, he lost his senses one after another, first his legs and hands became stiff, and then his body, so that he had no feeling in the, then he lost his speech, then his mouth was closed, which had no feeling; but when his eyes were closed the stroke was so hard that he felt it very much, but his hearing did not leave him till the last, as he could hear when they prayed with him, and saying how cold and stiff are his legs. His hearing had not left him at 11 o'clock in the night, as he heard the Watchmen of the city cry at that hour.

About midnight he appeared to the by-standers to be dead, and his mother made preparation to have him laid out, when at this time, his spirit by the mighty power of God, was carried before hell and into heaven. As soon as he lost his hearing, he thought he was taken up bodily, and carried by the Spirit, swifter than an arrow could fly, before hell, where he saw an extraordinary darkness, such as cannot be compared with any thing of the kind in this world, and there was such a stench and smell, as cannot be expressed, and in that darkness he heard a great number of awful voices, crying out, "Oh, ye mountains, fall on us, and ye hills, cover us and hide us from the presence of the Lord. Wo! wo! wo! unto us, damned to all eternity!"

As he was before hell, the devils beset and told him, that he was a damned and lost person, and cast off from the Lord forever and he must dwell with them, and they were ready to snatch him into hell; then spake he in the Spirit, although my heart and all devils condemn me, thou, O Lord, my Heavenly Father, cannot condemn me, because of thy great and unspeakable love; because thou, O Lord, hath planted me as a vine to everlasting life; for that purpose thou gavest, Heavenly Father, thy only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for me, and to give his precious blood a ransom for my sins, which he gave not only to me but to all that believe on him. As he thus spake, the darkness vanished away, the voices were no more heard, and also the stench and smoke were lost, and all was still. Then appeared to him the blessed Spirit, who conveyed him into the clear light of the majesty of heaven, there he saw the company of holy angels, and the company of the apostles, around the throne of God, singing and making music with heavenly tongues.

He was then commanded by a holy angel from the Lord, to go into the world again and make known to the people what he had seen and heard, before hell and in heaven; the first to the warnings of the wicked, the latter to the comforting and strengthening of the sorrowful in heart. His understanding was so enlightened that he understood the whole Bible, and received particular commands that he should tell the people that they should repent with a true heart sorrowing repentance, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and have a lively faith, which is proved by love and good words; that the Lord had determined to suffer no longer, with the self-righteous and hypocrites, who were so prevailing in the world; for it was decreed by a counsel of the Holy Trinity, that "no man should see Christ fact to fact in eternity who had not seen him in heart, in faith, and in the spirit in this world." Also it was told him that there were many in the world who acknowledge Christ with their mouths, but whose hearts were far from him, which their fruits daily prove, because there is no love in the world, but all is hypocrisy and duplicity; no man doing to his neighbor as he would be done by; for as a candle cannot burn without giving light, nor the sun shine without splendor. nor the fire without heat, or a good tree without good fruit; no more can there be true faith without true love. To his orders were annexed these blessings and threatenings, that if he should be faithful and do as he was commanded, he should return to the place of light and glory; but on the other hand, if he should prove unfaithful, he should return to the place of darkness.

His Guide conducted him from the place of light and felicity of Almighty God, back into the world again; he then began to feel that he was coming to life, and thought that he was laid on his bed again; his hearing returned to him; then his eyes began to move, so that he could see again, and in twelve hours he was brought to life, in the same manner as he died.

As soon as he perceived his feet had strength and were able to bear him, he arose from his bed, and felt as strong as he ever was before in his life. He would have gone out immediately to do his duty as he was commanded, but the people present would not suffer him; not knowing how to proceed with him, as they were unacquainted with the affairs that had happened to him in his vision. Seeing that they would not permit him to go out, he sent for the minister who had been with him in his sickness, and who was very much astonished to see him in such a wonderful frame of health and so much the more, as it was one without any aid of medicine or nourishment, but by the power of Almighty God alone.

He began to fulfill his commission, by preaching repentance to the people, and made the beginning with the above minister, first; laying before him the wickedness of the ministry, he told him, that they did not preach the word of God from a pure heart, but that their hearts were full of pride, self-love, love of the world, love of money, and other abominations; and that they did not do the things themselves which they preached to others; therefore they should repent of their wicked deeds, or the Lord would punish them severely. To which the minister made the following answer; Truly, this cometh from the Lord and not of man; it is the Lord's work we ought to perfect; but we are feeble dust worms of the earth, we cannot do as we wish, because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; we should do as we preach to others, but we cannot perform it.

Then answered John Engelbrecht, it is true, you cannot do it, and you shall not do it, for the Lord does not want your works; but he wants you to be still and let Christ reign in you, and guide you into all truth, in bringing your thoughts into the Divine will, under the power of Christ Jesus, that the Holy Ghost may reign in you, and that he may perform all good works in you and not suffer your nature to have any share in acting anything of a divine nature; but always be actuated by the spirit of the Living God.--This is the reason that you effect no good amongst your hearers, because you speak to them in worldly wisdom, and not in the power and demonstration of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Then the Minister said unto him, ‘dear John, I thank you, that you as a brother in Christ, have admonished me, and I hope our Lord will bring us all to a true Evangelical repentance.' You need not thank me, says John Engelbrecht, but thank the Lord, for unto him belongs, Thanksgiving, Praises and Glory. I am nothing but a dead instrument, and like unto a fife, which has no sound of itself, but when a man plays thereon, then it gives a sound; so it was with me, for I was dead and stiff, and could give no sound, but that my words give a sound now, is done by the power of the Holy Ghost, and not by me. I laid here before you as a dead man and had no life in me, but when the Lord put his blessed spirit into me, I not only became naturally alive, but spiritually also; and I was as a dead clod, in which is no life and that clod does not stir or move, but is lifeless and dead, and the Lord saw good to put his Holy Spirit into my dead body, whereby he brought me to life again by his Almighty power; and with his holy hand he leads me now, and reigns in me by his blessed Spirit, and Christ lives in me, and not I.

And after he was done admonishing his minister, to a true repentance, he began with the rest of the people that came to see him, for it soon became known all over the country, which brought many people together, to whom he spake as he was commanded when he was in heaven. And in a few days the minister declared openly from the pulpit, what great work the Lord had done, on this John Engelbrecht; and that he was sent from the Lord to speak to the people and to admonish them to a true heart sorrowing repentance. Now this affair became public through the whole city, and there came such a multitude of people together, that his house had not room enough to contain them, therefore, the greatest part of them had to remain in the streets, and some of them went to the windows of the neighboring houses. To them all, he preached out of the word of God; setting before them Heaven and Hell, and the consequences thereof, and admonishing them to a true heart sorrowing repentance, to newness of life, and to good works, and such he did from morning until night, which did not deprive him in the least of his health nor strength. The nights he spent in singing songs of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord. He had had no sleep for nine months, although he wished and tried much to obtain it. The people thought it would deprive him of his senses.

At that time he heard the angels sing forty-one nights, with his bodily ears, and playing on heavenly instruments. He was permitted to join with them, in singing praises, and hallelujahs to the Lord and to the Lamb forever. He sung the hymn, (After eternal joys my soul aspires.) and others of a like nature, which made them so full of rejoicing, that they remained whole nights with him singing. At one time he addressed himself to the people, in the following words, "My friends, do you not hear the angels sing, and play on beautiful instruments?" It pleased the Lord to open the ears of a widow woman whose name was Shumon, so that she heard distinctly the heavenly music, which by no means could be compared with any earthly music or instruments, as it far exceeded them all.

To get him to sleep, his father and mother, with the minister agreed to give him a dose of Opium; accordingly they sent for a physician, who gave him a very strong portion, but to no effect, for he continued, as usual, to exhort and admonish the people in the day time to true evangelical repentance, and the night he spent in singing praises to God. Upon this, they locked the house, that no more people should come to him, as his parents thought it would deprive him of his senses, being so long without sleep, as the dog days were coming on. Then the spirit of God ordered him to preach the word of God, and to admonish the people to repentance in the streets and to go to them, that desired him to come to their houses, which he did, and obeyed the heavenly calling and therefore the word of God was spread more and more by him, as a great many people desired him to come to their houses, where there was always a great gathering of people, and to many of them, his words were blessed by the Lord, to their souls, who began to bring forth fruit, meet for repentance. And as the poor people did wonder how it could be possible that this John Engelbrecht, who never had studied the Bible, could speak so well from the scripture, and some times better than the ministers from the pulpit, and as this came to the ears of the ministers and they were afraid, that they should be despised and lose their credit, they called a council, and summoned John Engelbrecht to appear before them, and as he came before them, they told him that he should no more speak to the people out of the word of God, nor what was revealed unto him, because thereby the ministry would lose their credit, but if there was any thing more revealed unto him, he should come and tell them, and they in a proper manner, would make it known unto the people, and they advised him to take up his trade again, which was his calling, and not preaching. Then he answered them and said, I must obey God before man, and I must prefer spiritual thing before natural, that by his preaching, the ministry did not suffer, for he was not against them, but with them, and what they preached in the church he had a right to speak in the houses of the people, and especially as he had an extraordinary call from the Lord to preach the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, which the Lord was pleased to accompany with wonders and miracles; and as he mentioned an extraordinary call, they were more and more enraged against him, and more so as he told them that they did not seek the honor of God, but of themselves, that they were proud and high minded, and not meek and lowly as they ought to be, whereby they committed great sins, and therefore desired them to leave off such sins and repent and be humble.

The day following they cried him down from the pulpit, as a man who was serving the Devil, and his work was the work of the Devil; in order to make him to be despised by the people, they gave out word that he was a false prophet, warning the people not to go near him, nor hear him; and they would not let him come to the church nor suffer him to partake the sacrament, unless he acknowledged openly that he had been deceived and done very wrong in speaking to the people, and that he had been deluded by the Devil; all of which they wanted him to make a public confession before the whole congregation; then they would forgive him and take him into full communion again. But he told them that this was against God, the truth, and his conscience, and therefore he could not conform to their request, but would stand to his integrity, and serve the Lord as he had commanded him; be faithful and comfort himself with the partaking of the body and blood of Christ by faith (as they would not suffer him to come to the table of the Lord.) of which it was not in their power to deprive him. As they could not persuade him to turn from his steadfastness nor leave off speaking to the people, but as he had laid before the council, and proved to them that his doctrine was truth and of God and not from the Devil, they left off asking of him a confession, nor did they forbid him to speak to the people any more; but this they wanted him to do, to say to the people, that he learned the word of God out of the Bible, and out of preaching, and not to tell them that he received it of God in heaven; if he would do that then they would take him into the church again. Then he answered them that altho' he did not despise the reading of the Bible and hearing preaching, (for hereunto did he exhort them as means to use as often as they could,) but he could not wrong his conscience, nor speak contrary to what he knew was truth, neither would he have an angry God frowning on him, by pretending that he received his knowledge through these means. Although he ministers left off persecuting and contradicting him, yet there were many that fell off from John Engelbrecht who thought that his work was not from God, and gave no more attention to his exhortations and admonitions to a true repentance neither were they so circumspect in their walk as they had been before, and all this came by crying down John Engelbrecht as a enthusiast and false prophet, therefore he went from Brunswick to Winsen near Zell, and afterwards to Hamburg. He approved himself every where of an exemplary life, walk, and conversation, and thereby made full proof of his ministry; wherever he had an opportunity he spoke in great humiliation of soul of the wonderful works of the Lord to him a poor sinner, and exhorted and admonished the people to turn to the Lord by a true repentance and godly life and conversation, and he was not dismayed nor discouraged by the gainsaying or persecution of the ungodly and wicked people of the world nor did this keep him from his duty, but on the contrary, it made him more bold as he saw that there was so much wickedness prevailing in the world; always remembering the awful threatenings which the Lord made unto him while he was at Brunswick, the consequences that should befall him, if he should be slothful or unfaithful. Notwithstanding he was left like the prophet, Jeremiah xx. 9. and did not follow the steps which the Lord had directed him, but left off speaking to the people and exhorting them any more to true repentance and to a holy and godly life and walk, for which the Lord punished him, that he was nine days dumb and could not speak a word, to which many people in Brunswick were witnesses. The Lord was graciously pleased to send a holy angel unto John Engelbrecht, who made known to him, that if he should still prove disobedient to the heavenly calling, and not do his duty, nor speak to the children of men in the name of the Lord, and not reprove them for sin, and not admonish them to a holy life, nor to bring forth good fruits, which will prove themselves by love, he should become speechless and dumb, not only in this life, but also in that which is to come.

Chapter III.

The wonderful, which the Lord was pleased to show unto this poor man.

As the Lord God Almighty had called him into service, and tog o forth in his name to preach repentance, to the children of men, and to exhort them to obedience, newness of life, and a godly walk and conversation, and the Lord had restored his health without any means of food or medicine, but made him as strong as he ever was before in his life, he become not weak in the least, although he preached every day from morning until night, and the nights he spent in singing Hymns of praises and thanksgiving unto the Lord, and for six days together he did not take the least nourishment for his body, neither of victuals nor drink; yea, the Lord God hath been pleased to keep him without natural means, of victuals and drink, sometimes, 8, 12, and 13 days, yea, three weeks, and for all that, he did not become weak in the least, nor even his lips dry, altho' he spoke every day from morning until night. Another time the Lord kept him six weeks, without any natural food, and yet his strength did not suffer in the least thereby; nine days did he take nothing but cold water, which turned to sweet wine in his mouth. At another time he was beset by a number of dragoons who rushed upon him with their naked swords to kill him, but he received neither wound nor pains. Then they took a spear and broke it on his head, which did not hurt him; they then took their Pistols to kill him, but they would not go off; at last they were going to run him down with their horses, but they could not make their horses go one step, sot he Lord God Almighty preserved this poor man from all the power and assault of the enemy in a miraculous and wonderful manner.

Chap. IV.

Another vision from the new heaven and the new earth.

In the same year the Lord shewed unto John Engelbrecht, a vision from the new heaven and the new earth, (he lived at that time in the house of the minister at Winsen,) he was carried into paradise where he saw the new heaven and the new earth. The earth being so clear and light, that notwithstanding it was more than a thousand miles in diameter, he could see through it as through a clear chrystal glass, and the heaven he could see going round the whole earth, which gave such a light as the sun does here; but the sun he saw in heaven, gave more light than earth and heaven both, so that it was a thousand times brighter than the natural sun, and exceeds all description.

He also saw in heaven, a new full moon near the sun, which was much brighter than the natural sun--and a hundred thousand stars, which were exceedingly clear and brilliant, and which could be seen clear while the sun was shining. The sun, moon, and stars, in the new world, shone so clear and bright, that it is beyond all comprehension. The earth was full of all sorts of beautiful and fragrant flowers, of various colors, whereby we see the almighty power of God, who can create all things as beautiful as he pleases.

As he entered into the new earth, he saw no man, except the Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared in a bodily shape, and looked like a beautiful young man. He had a true body, and was in forma s other men; but his was not a corporeal body, but a spiritual body, and transparent; so that John Engelbrecht could see through Christ, even so that he could see the heart of Christ; and his five wounds shone brighter than all the starts in the firmament, and his whole body shone more clear, and gave more light than sun, moon, and stars. The face of Christ was like a chrystal looking-glass, so that John Engelbrecht could see his face in Christ's face a thousand times clearer than in any looking-glass. The remembrance, therefore, created in him such joy and rejoicing in his soul, that he never forget it all his life time. And such joy could not be compared with any in this world. As he beheld the Lord Jesus Christ in such a beautiful position, he asked him, "Oh, my dear Lord Jesus, be pleased to show me they Father;" and as soon as he said so, there came a flame out of the heart of Christ, which filled heaven and earth, and made it many thousand times brighter than it was before! Then John Engelbrecht speaks again to the Lord. "Dear Jesus, be pleased to show me the Holy Ghost;" and immediately there came many thousand streams of lightning out of every part of the body of Jesus Christ, like unto the chain lightning in the horison; then he saw the Spirit proceed from God the Father, and God the Son, and saw the Father in Christ, and Christ in the Father. Then Christ's whole body was filled with the Father, and the fire, light, and purity of the Father.--So it pleased the Holy Trinity, to reveal themselves unto John Engelbrecht.--God can reveal himself in the way he pleases, and no man can hinder him, nor call him to an account, as he is an Almighty self-existent being.

Moreover John Engelbrecht, asked the Lord Jesus to show him the faithful souls; then the Lord Jesus brought him near to the Father, and showed him the faithful in the hand of the Father; there nothing disturbed nor hurt them; but they lived in perfect heavenly peace and felicity--God always comforting them. He saw them as sparks of fire, many hundred thousand in number, flying one through another as sparks proceed from a large flame of fire; and they went through the air backward and forward, singing and praising God with heavenly music.

He then asked the Lord to show him his mother's soul in bodily shape. Jesus Christ answered and said unto him, "You shall see your mother's soul in bodily shape at the judgment day, when I shall raise up all bodies;" but he continued begging and pleading with Christ, and said again, "Oh my dear Jesus, show unto me the soul of my mother in bodily shape, for thou art the Almighty God, and can do as you see fit, and no man can hinder thee, and as thou can command they holy angels, whoa re Spirits, to appear unto the people in this world in bodily shape, so thou can order that I may see the soul of my mother in bodily shape." Jesus answered him and said "as thou art so desirous of seeing the soul of they mother in bodily shape, I will show thee all the souls. Then John Engelbrecht said, "dear Jesus, I pray thee, from my very heart, grant me this favor."

The Lord then ordered him back to the world, and bid him cry out, "rise, ye dead, who sleep in the name of Jesus Christ, and no more." He was then transported from the new world into another like unto this world, where he was place upon a high mountain from whence he could see every part of the world. There he cried aloud as the Lord Jesus had commanded him "Rise, ye dead, who sleep in the name of Christ Jesus, and nor more." Hardly had he spoken these words, when many graves were opened and the dead came out of them, with whom he immediately returned to the new world. They were all now in paradise, standing around the Lord Jesus, each shining on the Lord and the Lord on each of them; the appearance may be compared to a large chrystal ball hung in a room with a number of small ones around it, which were all so clear and bright that the large one could be seen in the small ones and the small ones in the large, as in a bright looking-glass. John Engelbrecht saw, also, all the bodies of the believers, in Christ's clear transparent body, and Christ's body in every believer's. the bodies were all clear and bright so that he could see through them, every believer's body being like the body of Christ. He could see those that were a thousand miles distant as well as those that were near him. Their names he knew without being told, and what his eyes saw he comprehended in a moment. He saw Adam, Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Mary, Elizabeth and all the faithful. He likewise saw his own mother in her bodily shape, and his face shone in her face as in a looking-glass, and he took notice how much he looked like her. He saw some birds flying in the air which had golden feathers, and they sang praises to God with wonderful and beautiful voices. When David and Solomon departed from the earth and were flying in the air, there came two beautiful birds, at their request, and sat upon their fingers and sung a wonderful song of praise and glory to god; it was a thousand times more harmonious than all the music in the world. While in the new world he saw beautiful beasts who had a golden skin over their bodies, and golden hair, and the saints in the new world did play with them and sing hymns of praises and thanksgiving to God for creating so many beautiful creatures to praise and glorify him, and to manifest his power and wisdom.

After John Engelbrecht had seen so many wonders, and had heard the saints sing praises and thanksgiving to the Lord and ascribe honor, and glory, and majesty to God and the Lamb, he was told that he must go into the world again and tell the children of men what he had seen and heard, and say to them, "if you would enter into paradise, where you will have every thing your hearts desire, and where your bodies will be changed and fashioned like unto the body of Christ, you must repent and not resist the pleadings of the holy Spirit, but let it work in you that repentance which is unto life. No man's body shall be glorified in eternity, whose soul is not glorified in time, by the Holy Ghost then if their souls are not glorified in this world, their bodies shall not be glorified in eternity, but cast into hell and darkness, and there remain in torment through all eternity. And as the Lord Jesus had done commanding John Engelbrecht, he says to the Lord, Oh, dear Jesus, if it is thy holy and blessed will, let me remain with thee here in paradise, that I may behold they glory and sing praises, thanksgiving and glory to thee and the Father and blessed Spirit, with all the saints; for should I go into the world again and tell the people what I have seen and heard here, they would not believe that thou hast commanded me these things because they never heard such wonderful things before in the world; and they will call me a liar, and one that dreamt such things, or say the devil had revealed it unto me to scandalize they holy work, and would bring great grief and sorrow to my heart. Thou knowest, Oh Lord, it pains me to see thy holy work dishonored, therefore let me be here with thee in paradise, if it is thy holy and blessed will, and send me no more into the world to speak to the people what thou hast revealed unto me, for the wicked will not believe me, that thou hast sent me, but dishonor they holy work, as I often have heard, when I have spoken to them in they name, what thou hast revealed unto me in heaven; and when I tell what thou hast revealed unto me, they will dishonor they holy name and work. Then the Lord answered him, and said, take no care to thyself about that, but go thou into the world again and do as I have commanded thee, although there are many wicked persons in the world, who will despise the revelations of God, yet there are many that with great joy will receive what I have revealed unto thee. But I know how to find them out, who despise and make light of my holy work and revelation, and punish them with an everlasting punishment, when my time is come, because they despised my words which I sent unto them by my servants, although they did not understand it, and as thou must see their bad actions and hear their bad words, which grieveth thee much, that they despise my work and words, suffer it to be so for now, for the more you suffer in the body in them, the more joy, and peace, and consolation you will enjoy in eternity. Therefore, go thou now into the world again, and do what I have commanded thee, make hast, run straight take up they garment and let not the long robe of this world hang about your feet to hinder you from running; hurry on, run straight, and let no man stop thee from coming. I will follow hard after thee, and will soon come, to make an end with the wicked world, but will take my faithful followers to myself in my kingdom, there they shall live with me in joy, peace and endless pleasure, but the wicked I will send down to hell. Then John Engelbrecht consented to go back to the world again, as the Lord commanded him, but as he had seen David and Soloman, (as mentioned before) flying in the air, with those little birds sitting on their fingers, and singing such melodious and beautiful songs, and likewise the other beautiful birds, wherein he took great delight in hearing their melody, and he rejoiced in his heart, about the greatness, might and power, of the great Creator, in creating such beautiful beasts. Then he spake unto the Lord Jesus, as I must go into the world again, and tell the people what I have seen and heard here, I pray let me first, if it is thy holy will, fly up to David and Solomon, that I may see and hear those birds more particularly that when I go into the world again I may tell the people better about this heavenly pleasure, and excite in them strong desires to come here into paradise, where there is such infinite joys and pleasure. This request was granted by the Lord Jesus immediately, who told him, as thou hast desired, so be it unto thee, for here is nothing impossible with my believing and faithful servant, fly up to David and Solomon, for here they may do what they please, after that saying he flew up to David and Solomon and heard the birds sing more distinctly, and David and Solomon received him joyfully and took him in their arms and embraced him. Then said John Englebrecht to the two heavenly kings, now I should be glad to fly higher up under heaven, and take the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand and count all the stars; then they said unto him, fly higher up into heaven and take the sun in they right hand and the moon in thy left hand, and count all the stars, for there is nothing impossible for us to do. So he did according to their words, and took the sun in his right hand, and the moon in his left hand and counted all the stars under heaven; but not after the manner of natural wisdom, but after the wisdom of Almighty God, and after he had done that he let the sun and moon go again out of his hands, but still his heart's desire was to fly through the starry heaven, and to see what was there. Then the guide, leading him through the starry heaven into immensity where God from eternity hath dwelt, before he had created Heaven or earth or any creature. He saw no created creature, but all were heavenly beings, full of brightness and glory, it was so full of excellency and majesty. Here, John Engelbrecht says, I must lay my hands upon my mouth, for I can say nothing about the Holy of Holies, where God has dwelt from all eternity, in and of himself, and this will never be revealed to the ungodly, no not in time nor in eternity, nor does the Lord reveal this to his saints whilst they are in the world, but he spares if for them until they come into paradise. When they arrive there, they will see the exceeding great and unspeakable greatness of the power, excellency and majesty of Almighty God, and view the Holy of Holies, where God has dwelt from all eternity where there is such heavenly joy and rejoicing which no man can describe. And as John Engelbrecht was in immensity, he desired to see the Lord Jesus Christ as he saw him in paradise, and all the saints standing around him. In a moment the Lord Jesus stood before him with all the saints around him, and their bodies were as clear and light as when he saw them in paradise. Then the Lord said unto him again, thou must go into the world again, and tell the people what thou hast seen, and what hath been revealed unto thee; and three children (who had lately died within a few weeks of each other) commanded him what he should tell their parents. One of the children stood at the right hand of Christ, his name was Christian, and was the son of the minister of Winsen, and about a year and a half old, when he died, the second was a girl, about 18 years of age, the Tax gatherer's daughter of Winsen, and stood at Christ's left hand, the third was a youngster about 18 years old, the son of the old Chaplain's son of Winsen, whose father lately died but his mother was yet in the world, and that young man stood behind Christ, and John Engelbrecht saw him through the body of Christ, as through a clear Chrystal glass, and the young man saw John Engelbrecht, and they all three began to speak one after another, the little boy looked at John Engelbrecht and smiled at him, then said he to the child, Christian, art thou here also; and he said yea, I am here, and become a heavenly king, and I desire you, my dear John, as thou art doing into the world again, to go to my dear mother, who bore me under her heart and brought me to Christ, and my father also. I wish them those blessings from the Lord and everlasting happiness, and tell them not to mourn for me, for I am here in perfect happiness, heavenly felicity and glory, and I shall not come to them in that vale of tears and sorrows, but they shall soon come to the regions of mortal bliss and glory. Then said the damsel to him, I ask the favor of you, dear John, as you are going into the world again, to go to my father and mother, and say unto them, I shall soon be married to my heavenly bridegroom, and the marriage will soon take place, the letters are already written by the heavenly secretary, which are sent out daily to the world to the people, whereby the people in the world are invited to come here to the marriage; therefore tell my parents, that they must surely come to the marriage, for it soon will begin, and continueth through all eternity, and has no end, here hath every thing an eternal duration. The young man then spake to John Engelbrecht saying, my dear John, when you go in to the world again, go to my dear mother, and tell her I am full of heavenly joy and felicity, and am a heavenly king, which kingdom I would not exchange for all the kingdoms of the world; and desire her not to sorrow for me; as I am in the enjoyment of eternal felicity and everlasting happiness, and God hath crowned me with glory; tell her also, that God will not leave her, although she is poor and a widow, but he will soon bring her here, where she shall renew her strength like the eagle, and flourish and blossom through eternity; her age shall be turned into youth, her poverty into everlasting riches, her sorrow into eternal joy, her sickness into continual health, and all her temporal trials and troubles, into heavenly joy, peace and everlasting happiness. Now as the three children were done speaking, the Lord gave him a golden cup in his right hand, and a pitcher in his left hand, and saying unto him these words, go thou now into the world again and give to every one a draught of my heavenly wine; and they who like my heavenly wine, and the taste thereof, and are desirous to come here to my heavenly marriage, and would drink to their fill through all eternity, tell them that I will soon come and fetch them to me, to the heavenly marriage, where they shall have enough of my heavenly wine through all eternity.

Those that have a great desire to come to me here in paradise, and who live under the cross and have to drink the water of affliction in the world, tell them to take up their cross cheerfully, and drink the water of affliction with patience until my time and hour comes. Then I will change their water of affliction into the wine of joy and gladness; but they must wait with patience and not desire to come sooner than the appointed hour arrives, when I will bring them here. Also they must always desire to live according to my will , and rather suffer trials and tribulation, than wish to be freed therefrom, for thereby they will obtain salvation. If they live in the world without the cross and do not obey my will, they shall not see my face in peace. But if they take up the cross in the world and live according to my will, then they shall be saved. But they shall not make any crosses themselves and thereby think to obtain salvation; but the cross which I lay upon them, shall they bear with patience and a good will, and not murmur nor repine, neither strive to be released therefrom; for the more willing and patient they are, the lighter the cross will be, and it will do them good; but if they resist the cross it becomes heavier and heavier, which is not my will. What I lay upon them they must bear whether they will or not. Therefore tell the people in the world to take heed that they shun not the cross but to take it up and bear it with patience and true resignation, and thereby obtain their salvation in time and through eternity.

This is the vision of the new heaven and the new earth which John Engelbrecht saw; and what he was commanded to do he discharged faithfully, particularly when he came to the people who had to drink largely out of the cup of the cross, to whom he gave large draughts out of the golden cup of the word of God, which comforted and strengthened them.

Chapt. VI.

More edifying exhortations from the writings of John Engelbrecht, OF HEAVENLY JOY.

I can say for a truth, although I have seen the glory of God but for a moment, yet it did create in me such supernatural joy, that I feel it still in my soul. How great then must be that joy when we arrive into glory with the Lord forever, where the holy angels make such heavenly music. I do not despise the earthly music, but like it, for it brings fresh to my memory the heavenly music which I heard; I like it too, because it is a gift of God. As I heard before hell a number of abominable and hostile voices, so I heard in heaven a multitude of unspeakable and beautiful ones making glorious music. As I saw before hell an extraordinary darkness, so I saw in heaven a great light; and as there was a great stench in hell, so in heaven was there a sweet odour.

OF THE GLORIOUS DWELLING OF GOD, AND THE JUSTIFIED SOULS.

Eternal immensity shall be our dwelling place, where God is all in all, and we shall dwell in him and he in us; for that is the true kingly palace where we are to live; paradise being a pleasure garden, in which the king often walks with the saints, (who will all likewise be kings) and God will bestow on them the divine light and brightness of his nature;--and as the Creator is greater than the creature and as the workman is superior to the work of his hands so does the brightness of the saints in paradise greatly exceed the brightness of the natural sun. As there will be many hundreds of thousands of bodies filled with this divine light, we may imagine something of the immense brightness and glory which will there be displayed. But amidst all the brightness of placer the body of Christ will be distinguished by the superior glory which surround it. Oh! what unspeakable pleasure, what heavenly joy will be felt in beholding with our eyes the beautiful body and charming face of Christ, in which is united the Father and the Holy Spirit. Even when God reveals himself to man (as he was graciously pleased to unto me) it is nothing when compared to the glory which we shall witness when we got to dwell with him in paradise; then shall we behold him with everlasting rejoicing. When I think how Christ with the Father and blessed Spirit revealed themselves unto me, it creates in me such heavenly joy that it cannot be compared to any sense of pleasure ever experienced by me under any other circumstances. Oh, then! what pleasure will those experience to whom he reveals himself in paradise. As a man who has been permitted to taste a small quantity of very pleasant wine earnestly desires to drink his fill thereof; so is it with me who have had a taste of the wine of heavenly joy and consolation but was not permitted to satisfy my thirst, and was obliged to return to this sinful body again. I feel very desirous to return to the regions of the blessed where I can drink, from the fountain of life, never ending draughts of heavenly felicity. Nor would I exchange the promise I have of returning to paradise, for the possession of all the treasures of this world, or to be crowned emperor of the universe. If the imperfect taste I had of the joys of the blessed, causes such great pleasure, how great must be the happiness I shall enjoy when I return to dwell with Christ forever!

HOW A MAN MUST PREPARE HIMSELF FOR THAT HEAVENLY JOY

He who would enjoy life eternal in the heavenly paradise, must leave his sinful ways and lead a holy and godly life and pray that he may grow in grace, and that he may grow stronger and stronger in the faith, and that his body may be glorified in time;--if he follows these directions he may hope to be glorified in eternity and dwell in happiness forever.

The beginning of this holy and godly life must be made in this world, for to whom the Lord doth not reveal himself in time, to them he will not reveal himself in eternity, and they will remain in everlasting darkness. Those whom God enlightens here he will change in eternity and renew them with his godly nature and fill them with holy fire. Now he who would have his soul filled with this holy and godly nature and would that God should reveal himself to him and rule and reign over him while on earth, must leave off all sins especially those of a presumptuous nature, nor grieve the holy spirit any more but come to a heart-sorrowing repentance.
To this I have to bear testimony, as Christ and John made the beginning, by preaching to the people, "Repent and believe the gospel, for the kingdom of heaven is come nigh unto you;--every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire;" the axe is now laid to the root of the tree and Christ will soon come and cut down all the wicked and send them to hell.

HOW WE MUST GROW IN CHRIST

I find but few people in the world who are willing that the Holy Ghost should rule in their hearts, and reign over them. There are some, indeed, who lead moral lives and who love the word of God in their hearts, and fear him with their fleshly wisdom, and who read much in the Scriptures and other good books, whereby they are convinced of what is right and try to lead a good life, all of which is commendable; but still they have not got upon the true ground; that is, they are not led by the blessed Spirit in their hearts. Therefore they must give themselves up with their whole hearts to the Holy Ghost and cry to him that he would teach them as he taught those who wrote the scriptures and other good books. And when they hear his voice and feel his workings in their hearts and are thereby enlightened, they must do nothing contrary to his holy will, and be ready to suffer all for Christ's sake, and to take up their cross cheerfully and be willing to suffer poverty, hunger, cold, sickness and all other trials; as Christ has said, "He who would be my disciple let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." Let the cross be ever so burdensome still they must bear it with patience until death, not even desiring that Christ would take it from them; neither must they seek for means to throw it off but always pray to God that he would give them wisdom, knowledge and strength to bear it and be fully resigned to his will. A christian may do this, if he have a cross laid upon him such as sickness he may use medicine as a mean for his recovery, if hungry he may eat, if cold he may warm himself, if thirsty, he may drink; for this reason, God has given these means that the creature may use them according to his necessities; but he must always ask the blessing of God when he uses them, and if they are not efficacious he must not repine but be fully resigned under his afflictions. Then will the Holy Ghost enlighten them and work in their hearts a true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby they will feel the mighty power of God, and they will bear the cross with rejoicing not only in tribulations but even unto death.

ADMONITION FOR CHRISTIANS TO MEET TOGETHER, AS ALSO TO HOLY SOLICITUDE.

We must always look one at the other with the eye of love, through Christ, that he may dwell in us: and we should always come together in the name of Christ, for he has said "where two or three are met together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them, and bless them;" therefore, where wo or three meet together in the name of Christ, and Christ is in the midst of them, there is the true church of christ, where the people, out of pure love to him, assemble to talk of holy things which tends to his glory and the edification of their souls; they likewise exhort each other as the Holy Ghost has given them abilities. If any have sinned knowlingly they admonish them to repent and do so no more, and such admonitions are received with willingness and love. They also teach each other according to the advice of St. Paul. Nor would I forbid the preaching of the word although one should preach an hour or two, but brotherly exhortation should not be neglected. The best preaching is in questions and answers, as Dr. Luther writes, "where there is held a godly conversation out of the scripture, in pure love to Christ, there is growth in grace. As brotherly exhortation in this world is entirely dead, he has awakened in me a desire, if in any, to build it up again. I was also commanded to hold with the people such conversation from time to time as I should have opportunity; to meet with them, and to admonish them that they should put away all worldly conversation, and speak one to another out of the word of God after the sermon is over. Also shall the people examine and search themselves how they have lived hitherto, and sometimes withdraw themselves from all mankind, and draw near to God with their hearts, and speak with God in prayer of faith. As Moses withdrew himself outwardly on Mount Sinai according to the command of God, and fasted for a while, so shall the people withdraw themselves from the world and draw near to God in their hearts (the spiritual Mount Sinai,) there to speak with God, and fast from sin; by which means they shall be glorified and made more godlike, as Moses' face was shining when he spake with God on Mount Sinai, so that the children of Israel could not behold his face because the glory was so great.

THE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER RIGHT THE LOVE OF GOD.

The people shall truly and rightly consider that great and glorious work of redemption of Christ Jesus, who through his sufferings and death has redeemed them from eternal damnation, and brought them to life again through his resurrection, and the moving cause they shall examine and behold with admiration, that all these did flow from the love of God, to poor, simple, fallen man. They shall ponder the love of God in their hearts and think steadfastly on it and rejoice at it, and strive always to live in that love, and pray that the blessed Spirit would give them to taste and feel that love always, and pray, ‘Oh thou sweet love, let us live in thy favor that we may all enjoy it, and love one another in our hearts, and live in love and peace whilst here below.' But where should we be so well off as in thee the almighty, all-powerful, and merciful Creator; who would wish to have anything better in their hearts than that unspeakable love of God to poor fallen man. As David says, "taste and see how good and gracious the Lord is." If the gifts of God are so beautiful and sweet, how much more so must the giver of all good and perfect gifts be; and if the gifts create in the people such joys, how much more joyful must we be in the presence of the Lord; and when we receive such strength from the creature, what strength can we not receive from the great Creator; yea, the gifts of God and his love are so great towards us, that we see and taste daily of them. But mankind think but little on the gifts, love, and mercy of God, from whom comes all good and perfect gifts; but still remain hanging on the creature and will not come to Him who is all in all, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last--Therefore the Lord is very angry with the people who cleave so to earthly things, and will not look up to heavenly things. If they would only come to him, he would not only give them all heavenly gifts, but himself also, and they would learn to know by his gifts, what is life eternal.

GOD DWELLS IN THE FAITHFUL.

There is much good planted both by my speaking and writings; but according to Scripture testimony all good and perfect gifts come from the Father of mercies. Hence it is evident that the Blessed Spirit reigns in me and that God dwells in me of a truth, and that I have been made a partaker of that fiery, God-like substance which shines and burns in me. And as when I take earthly food I feel my body strengthened thereby, so when I receive the heavenly food into my heart then do I feel my spirit strengthened. And so it is with all true believers; for this heavenly fire is as many sparks which fly and are scattered abroad, from every spark of which proceeds a great fire, but still it is but one fire and one substance, which was from all eternity, and is full of energy, wisdom and power, proceeding from God himself who created the heavens and the earth. God, who dwells in heaven and whose presence fills immensity, dwells alike in every contrite heart, and makes himself known unto those who do his will.

That this is the truth, I can by experience testify, for I have a spark of that heavenly fire in my heart which becomes larger and larger and enlightens me more and more, the more I strive and cry to the Holy Ghost to reveal himself in my heart and work in me faith, love, meekness, humility, and all other christian graces.

THE OUTWARD FORM MAKES NO CHRISTIAN UNLESS THE HEART BE WITNESS

If a man knows Christ, (by his understanding of the Scriptures) of his person, office, and what he has done in the world, and how what he has done in the world, and how he was born, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven; if a man enjoy and acknowledge all this it will benefit him, but still it will not entitle him to salvation, unless the Holy Ghost works in his heart a true faith in the Lord Jesus, which is proved by love, a holy life, and an earnest desire for the prosperity of the church.

The ungodly may outwardly acknowledge Christ, but still they are not saved thereby; for the kingdom of God consists not of outward things but of the inward man; nor is it seen outwardly, in this world, but inwardly, as Christ says, "not lo, here, nor lo, there, but he kingdom of God is within you.' It is in his own heart that every man must seek for the kingdom of God and not without; we must press through the outward things into the inward, as it is by those only that we can be saved.

All those to whom the Lord has given the Scriptures, in which they may read the history of Christ, must be thankful, as it may prove a mean of bringing them to a knowledge of the truth. They must likewise be cautious that they do not misuse the Scriptures, nor think because they have read much that they are safe; but they must pray for the teachings of the holy Spirit that they may understand his word aright.

There are many Christians who lead pharisaical lives, who hear the word of God and partake the sacrament, and keep from outward sins, but still their hearts are full of hatred, envy, pride, love of money and of the world. Such people imagine that by leading a moral life they render themselves acceptable and pleasing unto God, but they are nothing but self-righteous people, whom the Lord abhors and if the Lord abhors such people, and looks upon them as ungodly and unkind, what will become of those who outwardly and openly lead wicked lives in this world and commit knowing and presumptuous sins, such as eating and drinking to excess, lying and cheating, cursing, swearing and oppressing the poor, and still pretend that they are good Christians, because they hear the word of God outwardly and partake the sacrament. Some depend only on outward works and live worse than the Pharisees whom they despise; but as the Pharisees cannot obtain salvation by their works, much less will those mouth-Christians, who acknowledge Christ only with their mouths, obtain salvation by their best works. They have the word of God, and Christ's doctrine and live, for an example, but thy live not according to what they profess and must look for greater punishment. Therefore, go Christians, hearing the word of God outwardly or partaking the sacrament, for all this will help you nothing, nor make you happy hereafter, because your hearts are not right with God. But if you want to be saved, then must you have true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which the Holy Ghost must work in your hearts, which proves itself by love. You must be born again, and live in the new birth, and die daily to yourselves and to sin, and to all that is contrary to the commands of god, and grow in grace and good works. Oh, may all who read this Book truly consider that while they continue to live in knowing sins, they are going farther and farther from God, and falling deeper and deeper into sin. Oh, may they leave sinning, turn about, with full purpose of heart to the Lord God Almighty who created heaven and earth; then will all things be for your good, and every cross and affliction bring you nearer to God. But if you go on in sinning against God, then will he send you down to hell, where you shall suffer pain and torment through an endless eternity.

Oh, ye wicked and ungodly people, turn to the Lord with a true heart sorrowing repentance; leave off your presumptuous sins, and cry to the Lord, for his blessed Spirit to work in your hearts a true genuine faith, which works by love; resist not the Holy Ghost, but suffer him to work in you all that is good, and lead you into the truth, by which you will receive salvation to your soul, then being led by the Spirit of God, you will be the children of God. But those who resist the Spirit of God cannot be led by him, and are not the children of God; and to such does not belong eternal life, which I wish all mankind would truly consider and prove themselves whether they are in the truth or not, and know whether they are led by the Spirit of God or by the bad Spirit. If you do bad deeds you are led by the bad Spirit, if you are doing good works then you are led by the good Spirit for the Holy Ghost leads no man to bad actions but to all that is good and well pleasing unto God, and the good Spirit leads people to God, and not from God.

Remain not in, nor depend on the outward worship only, for this alone will do you more hurt than good, but learn to use the outward so that the Holy Ghost may thereby lead you to the inward worship, and that by the first the last may be awakened in your hearts, and thereby come to all spiritual understanding and experience, then the outward becomes profitable and good, for the Holy Ghost worketh powerfully in your hearts through the sacraments when you use them right, and so also is the Holy Scriptures as a clear godly light if they are read a right and with a penitential heart and your understandings will be more and more enlightened and become stringer and stronger in faith, and grow in love, meekness, humility, patience and other christian graces; but to the ungodly it is a dead letter. So it is with the hearing the word of God, to the faithful it is all light and life, and very profitable and good, but to the ungodly it is nothing but dead work which profits them nothing but hurt; but when he is through the scripture awakened, and turns to the Lord with all his heart, and the blessed Spirit overcomes him, then it is no more a dead letter, but a clear and bright light through which the blessed Spirit enlightens him more and more, the more he reads and meditates, in the fear of God, on the Scripture. And to that the people ought to pay great attention, according to the admonition of Saint Peter, until the day spring arises from on high, and the morning star Christ Jesus rises in his heart, and when he is risen, he will teach the people through the blessed Spirit what they shall do and what they shall leave undone, and when they sincerely turn to him and he changes their hearts, then they will become good and pious, and their hearts will become the school of the Holy Ghost, wherein he not only teaches the people, but rules and reigns over them, and leads them to all that is good, and instructs the spirit of man. Through this operation shall the spirit of man be cleansed by the mild Spirit of God, man's mind will become god-like and partake more of that godly nature, if he abstains from all sin and worldly lusts, and from the very heart wrests all sin, and crucifies all sins with the affections thereof. Such a person cleanses his heart by faith in Christ Jesus, and as they have a clean heart, they behold God in true faith, as Christ says, Matt. V. 8. "blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Also the people behold God by faith in time, and afterwards face to face in full perfection, and he that beholds God with a clean heart, hath all things which he desires and wishes for, as the beginning here in time, and afterwards to perfection through all eternity, according to the saying of David, "ask of the Lord and he will give you your heart's desire."

WE MUST NOT REJECT THE OUTWARD MEANS.

Whoever will enjoy the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ aright, the same must not remain in the outward works, but must strive through the outward man, to come to the inward work, for that reason he must not neglect the outward means, although he has already come to the inward, and if for himself he hath no need of the outward means, still he shall not leave it on account of his weak brother, who has not yet obtained the inward workings of the Spirit of God, and is not so strong in faith, as he that comes to the inward work. The outward means are good to him that hath the inward work in his heart, because through that, he is awakened to holy mediation, and through the outward means, many good thoughts may arise in the mind, and by those means we become stronger and stronger in faith, grow daily in love, meekness, humility, and all christian graces.

The outward means are very profitable and good when used in faith, but without faith, and in darkness, and when we do not come to the true faith and to that godly light, then they prove hurtful to us. Such admonitions, doctrines and exhortations you may find in his writings; in particular he directs his discourses to the ministers, admonishes them to look well to the charge committed unto them, to lead their hearers into all truth, and to perform good works out of a pure heart in love. For the good of the people we will make mention of a few, which you may find in the vision of the three officers, and which are as follows:

You, ministers and teachers of the people, take the sword of faith in your right hand, and the sword of love in your left, and judge righteous judgment; that is, preach the word of God out of a pure heart, from henceforward, not for the sake of money or honor, but in faith and love. You must raise your voices like a trumpet, and lay before the ungodly their sins, without hypocrisy or deceitfulness, not seeking for those perishing things, such as barley, wheat, rye or money, from the people, but let them all go, and put your whole trust in the Lord who will give you all things freely, that you stand in need of. You must rebuke the wicked for their sins, the old as well as the young, and if all men should hate you, mind it not, God is able to support you without he help of man, and if God should suffer that like John you should lose your head when you are faithful to your calling, in admonishing the ungodly, be you contented, and let the head go for the truth's sake. Therefore, be instant in season and out of season, speaking in true faith and admonishing sinners to leave off from sinning. You must have no respect of persons, but must seek all things for the glory of god, and the salvation of your hearers, and preach in the power and demonstration of the Spirit of God, and if you should lose all, be persecuted, and be driven from city to city, then remember ye John the Baptist, Jesus and all the Apostles, who had no abiding city, nor days of pleasure whilst here in the world, but they were called to take up their cross tand deny themselves, following after righteousness and holiness. You must also take up your cross, which is laid on you and bear it patiently. Be preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, condemning sin and speaking the truth. When you reprove sinners and preach the truth as it is in Jesus, it must be done with a godly zeal in the love of Christ, not in a zeal which is not according to knowledge, not out of fleshly wisdom nor bitterness of heart; but all that ye do, that do in love to Christ, and to the good of precious and immortal souls, giving yourself wholly up to the Holy Ghost, that it may abide in you and reign over you, and make you godly jealous against sin. You must reprove sin, not in your own strength, but let the blessed Spirit work in you by his almighty power, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Be in full union with the blessed Spirit, that he may work in you a good work, and that through him you may preach the word in power, and lead your hearers to Christ, that he may rule in them, and reign over and enlighten their hearts, and teach them what is their duty, and what God requires of them. You must lead the people in their hearts to the Holy Ghost, as John the Baptist did to Christ; and as Christ himself taught those who heard him, what they must do to be saved. You must not preach such doctrine, that when the people hear you once, they will not come again, but make mention of what I now command and exhort you out of the scriptures, by inspiration of the blessed Spirit. When you are alone, then turn your thoughts inwardly, and pray to God that he would bring to your mind afresh, what you have heard in the sermon, that you in your hearts may meditate and think upon it; and cry daily to God, that he by his blessed Spirit would lead you into all truth, and encourage you to do all good works; that he would work in your hearts faith, love, meekness and humility, that you may grow in all christian graces; so that you may lead all your hearers in your preaching, and prove yourself a true shepherd, by a well ordered life and a holy conversation, building up your hearers in the most holy faith; if you do this, then are you in the right way.

BY WHAT RELIGION WE MAY OBTAIN SALVATION.

He was asked many times, which was the best and true religion whereby you may obtain salvation, to which he hath given the following answer, that there was no other religion made known unto him in heaven, whereby a man may obtain salvation, but he christian religion; what the Christian religion is, that every man can see clearly in the scriptures. So that there is no need of disputing about it, for the Holy Ghost is able to give the true meaning and sense of the word of God, and he only can glorify Christ in your souls. Therein consists the true religion, and not in so many articles;--He who lives in faith and love, and strives to follow Christ in deep humility of soul, in all which he taught while on earth, and is not only a hearer but a doer of the word, the same is the true and right religion, whereby we may obtain salvation. If all mankind would give up the names of their sects and denominations, with all the disputings and doctrines of men, and come to Christ and follow him in his holy life and doctrine, in love, meekness, humility, and in all other Christian graces, then there would be seen one flock and one shepherd, then there would be no more disputing about words which engenders strife, but all christians would live in perfect love, harmony and union, and also all civil wars would soon cease.

CHAPT. VII.

John Engelbrecht suffers much from the wicked, but hath good testimony from the pious.

He approved himself as a true ambassodar of God, both by his life and his doctrine and the Lord honored him with the true marks of a christian minister, he was called to much suffering, like his brethren before him, he was not only a poor and tried man, but suffered great persecution, and was dispised by the ministers, and laden with false accusations, and driven from one place to another, and even had stones thrown at him. The bishop of Hamburg to whom he sent a humble letter, treated him very ill he called him to his house and run upon him, with threatnings, and as John Engelbrecht answered him out of the word of God, so that the Bishop could say no more, he took a bunch of keys which were fastened together with an iron chain, and took him by the throat, and struck at him with the keys; but the Lord prevented the stroke by breaking the chain, and then he took his fist, and gave him several blows therewith, and drove him out of his house. The under Bishop did not much better, although he did not strike him, but called him to his house, took him prisoner, and sent him to the Lord Mayor for examination, who found him innocent, and told him he might do what the Lord had commanded him and not mind the minister. The Lord Mayor declared openly, that his man is innocent of the crime, whereunto the Bishop had condemned him, that is, for life time in the work house.

But besides this Lord Mayor, have many pious good men have given good testimony concerning this man, of which there are a few annexed.