1778 ISAAC CHILDS. 8pp Manuscript Prophetic Vision of American Revolutionary War.

An absolutely delightful non-authorial holograph of Quaker prophet, Isaac Childs' [1734-1769] influential prophetic vision, received 1757. It was delivered originally in the context of the controversial non-engagement of Quakers during the French and Indian War [1754-1763]. Some Quakers, jealous of their financial and political military holdings joined in. My many Quakers, especially the revivalists of the period, these was considered a serious compromise of the Gospel of Peace and as detrimental to their role as prophets of reconciliation. 

Not published until 9 years later, the visions had immediate popularity and were widely distributed among the Quakers  in manuscript rather than print form. Three similar early examples held by archives at Haverford College. The text of the work itself expresses his hesitance and publishing and preferring that it be distributed "by the Lord himself" as the great teacher, though at last he relents to the Lord's pressure to publish in the vision. 

The early MSs tradition of the work seems to have allowed for variety in the earliest examples. Our example, for example, seems to have variations from the first published edition [1766] and be closer to the 1840 edition. There was also apparently a very small edition published during the American Revolutionary War, indicating in notes that his visions were predictive of the persecution of Quakers for non-resistance / pacificism during the conflict for American Independence. No examples have been traced. 

Our manuscript is completely fresh to the market and a fascinating example distributed or utilized in a Friends' meeting during the American Revolutionary War, underlining the 1840 edition's claim that the work became of special significance during the conflagration of 1775-1783. 

THE COMPLETE TEXT:

"The candles that were dimed and gave them of the golden oyl running through the golden pipes from the two golden olives that Stand before the Lord on high and he spake Comfortably unto them and told them that it was because of the Cursed Sodomy and great forsakeing of the Lord their god that they were thus Judged but he said unto them fear ye not although the ancient walls are removed from about this Place it is but that the wicked may Receive the Rewards of their works and the Land be Cleansed from the Polutions thereof for there is an horrible Rebellion in this Land and turning aside from the way of Righteousness provoking the Holy one by sin and Transgression and breaking the holy Covenant of the most high god thus saith the Lord I have turned my hand against this place for Evil and I will give the people over to the furnace of affliction: and he that Cometh forth shall Come forth as pure Gold tried in the fire more pure then the golden wedge of Opher and he that Cometh not forth but Despiseth mine holy Covenant I will forsake him and give him over to the tormentors and I will Remove his candlestick out of its Place there shall be Dreadful weeping and Gnashing of teeth and there shall ******** Great overturning in the Land saith the Lord, for behold I have threatened them with famine and to let the sword in upon them and he scourged them in their borders for their wickedness but they have Refused to humble themselves and have Lifted up the heel against mee and Despised the meek appearance of the messengers of the holy Covenant: they have made this wicked world their idol they worship it Day and night and when they gather in their most Solemn assemblies behold it is in their minds Cursing and Swearing Drunkenness whoredom theft Chambering wantoness and all manner of abominations is in their borders and saith the Lord they will afflict themselves with fasting and put up their prayors saying Lord saveus whilst their hearts thirst after the blood of their Enimies whom I have suffered to Come upon them but thus saith the Lord I will Except none of your prayors your fastings or afflictions of Body but I iwll suffer to come in upon you the waters of a mighty River whose floods shall go over the banks fo the Land of Imanuel the Streams whereof Shal overspread the whole Land and there shall be Great Afflictions which Shall not Ceas untill sin and Transgression be intirely swept away in his time many shall strive to flee to the strong tower which is in the midst of the mountain but non shall be able. 

Except them whose Candles remain burning and whose Light Shines in their borders they shall strive and be able and shall have the Songs of Salvation and sin upon Banks of Deliverance they shall say not by our power nor our might but by the Spirit of our God are wee saved from Enimies whilst they who believed not (having heard) suffer for their sins then I Looked and be hold the wild board of the forrest Continued making war in the mountain and slew many of her suburbs and took men woman and Children then the Candlesticks which were of silver, brass and of Iron and many Dark Candlesticks ***** to resist and they went out against him and smote him in his hinder parts and wounded him a little but they Could not prevail against him then they Cryed aloud against the Golden Candlesticks and said our wives and our Children are taken Captives and our men are Slain by the Sword of them which are no people and you will not arise for our help and power was given them to oppress the golden Candlesticks for a time then arose Some of them and went forth and Joyned with the Candlesticks of Silver of brass and of iron because of the oppression that was upon them and they which remained gathered themselves to gather upon the top of the mountain and sat Silent for a time before the great tower that  that was in the midst thereof and many were Pained in their veyr hearts and Lifted up their voice unto the Great Lord of Sabbath becaus of the Distresseng and Carrying away Captive that was in the Land never theless it Pleased the Lord of Sabbath to Continue Judgment for a time and times but as they Continued Crying and humbling themselves before him Imploring help of his Sacred magesty for themselves and for the People it Pleased him in his infinate Goodness to Command the Board of the forrest to Return from their borders and he Chained him with a strong Chain and put a hook in his jaws and Drew him back unto the wilderness and the mountain was at rest fora short seasons but the walls thereof was not yet Rebuilt nither shall be for the Days of many generations Saith the Lord: and about this time the Candlesticks of Silver of brass and of Iron Exercised athority over the Golden Candlesticks and would have overthrown them but they could not by reason of the tower which was in the moutain where unto ability was given them to flee: and behold the wind of heaven arose and blew upon the mountain and the water of the great River Came forth and passed over the **** and there was a great Earthquake and there followed a mighty furnace whose burning was as the burning of lime and the Candlesticks of Silver of brass and of Iron were cast into the furnace and the fire thereof burned in them and all things which came forth out of the furnace were as pure gold but they which came not forth were no more but as fuel of fire and many Golden Candlesticks were repined and as I behold there appeared Candles in all of them which Came out of theme which were all of pure gold set around with precious Stones and one of mighty Power Rent the Heavens above and Came Down having in his right hand a live Coal which he had taken from the holy alter from the most high God and he touched the Candles therewith and the Light appeared and I behold and Low the waters of the great River assuaged and there was a Calm and the golden Candlesticks which were people Men and women went up to the top of the mountain Rejoyceing but the furnace Still Remained burning in the mountain that at any time if any of the Candlesticks which appeared Rusty mite be refined therein: and he that Came Down from above held golden Snuffers in his right hand that if any of the Candles appeared dim he might Clip them that their Light might renew its Shineing and he had power also the two golden olives and their Golden pipes and he Commanded them that they should pour forth of the Golden oyl into the Golden Candlesticks and I also saw the peacable Streasm of Shilo Decending upon the mountain and they were as pure Gold Clear as Christal and he that held the golden Snuffers whose appearance was like the Son of God Called unto them that Stood upon the Mountain Saying Come and Drink freely for this is the new wine of the kingdom of god and they Came and Drank thereof and Sang Praises unto him that Lives for ever and ever and they honoured him and Worshiped him in the beauty of holyness and he thus Called them made a Covenant with them that they should be his people and he would be their God and he Said unto them there bath been in this Mountain wars and Bloodshed andmany of *** people have Ered therein and have Strayed from the good Shepperd who was meek and Low in heart and gave his Life for his Sheep who when he was Reviled Reviled not again but Patiently Suffered all things that The will of the father Might be done and So ought my People to have done that my wil might be done in them and not to have Distrusted the Power of the highest and made flesh their arm nor gone forth into the martial Spirit that is Productive of bloodshed And misery for it is Contrary to my will and the Glorious Dispensation of The Gosple to mankind whereby many have shone as Lights in the world which many in ***** Remain and not in this Land onely but also upon the face of the whole Earth but it shall not be so in the time to Come for Saith the Lord I will Establish peace upon the Earth and it shall Come to pass that he that formeth an Instrument of war shall be ashamed thereof: and I will Judge him at the Last Day the roaring Cannon and beating Drums Shall Not be heard the Glittering Sword and all Instruments of war Shall Case and the Prophisy of mine anointed Shall Come to pass Nation Shall not lift up Sword against Nation Neither shall Learn war any more Isaiah 2.4 for the mouth of the Lord hath Spoken it and it Shall Shurely Come to pass nothwithstanding many nations and Great kings Resist and oppose its Comeing Behold Saith the Lrod are but as Grashopers and fade as the flowers of the Earth and go to a Dark house of Silence and Seen of men no more therefore give Ear my People unto my word and Incline Your hearts to wisdom and to Learn understanding That they may know the will of God and do it and ye shall have Peace from your enimies round about you and I will build about this Place the walls and bulwarks of my Salvation and You Shall know I the Lord, Your God have visited you for Goo and have Saved you from your Enimies and also that you were not Able to save your Selves in the time of trouble and it Shall be as Long as you Remain faithfull and keep my Commandments I will keep you and your generations and you Shall be as a mountain That Cannot be Removed but if at any time ye or your Sons or your Daughters Refuse and Rebell and I Threaten them with my Judgments to humble you if you Lift up the heel Against me and my Rebuke as your fathers done I will surely Cut you of from the Earth and yet I shall have a name among men No more and I will break the walls which I have Set about And they shall never be built again from henceforth forever for Behold I brought your fathers out of a land wherein they were Oppressed and Could not freely Serve me and I moved the heathen Back for their sakes tho: not by the Power of the Sword nor By the Strength of battle but I my Self Rebuked them that they Should not Destroy mine anointed nor do my People no harm and I Fed your fathers in the wilderness many Days and gave them Strength to Culivate the Land and blest their Labour with Success and gave them Corn in Abundance and many Goodly Things and they Increased in the Land and their Generations Were in Prosperity and waxed fat and did not highly Esteem the Rock of their Salvation and Rebeled against me in the Time of Corrected they Kicked Nevertheless I did not Impute Their Sins unto you Neither have I numbred them to their Children Neither will I but Every man Shall Suffer for his own. ***** and He Called unto many and taught them many Excelent things and Commanded them to go forth and Publish this Doctrine unto All People wherever he Should Send them even the Glad Tidings of Peace and Salvation as many as Believed on the name of him that Sent them and Received his Laws an Obeyed it Promising to be with them from thenceforth and Evermore - And the Lord Said unto me behold I have Shewed thee all these Things that thou Mightest make them known unto the People of this Land for I have Determined to do unto this Place according to all that thou hast Seen therefore Now write these things in a book that if there are any that will hear and Understand and Repent and be Converted if they are not hardned I will heal them and Save them from the Great hour of Temtation which Cometh on all flesh: but I Said in my heart Oh Lord wherefore should I write these things in a book is not this the new Covenant Dispensation and is not the Great Teacher Come: who Said he would Teach his people himself that there may be no more Occasion for any man to teach his Neighbour or his brother the Knowledge of the Lor for have Not all men known thee from the Leass to the greatest is not The true Light Come into the world and hath it not Shined in Ever mans heart inlightning every man that Cometh into The world that through it they might beleive and beleiving Receive Power to become the Sons of God and if men refused The Teacher that was Come down from heaven and his holy Light in their own hearts how then will they hear me who am but a youth and a Strypling one of low **** and the Lord said unto me all these things are true and many More also: Nevertheless that which I have Commanded thee To write: write for I will be Clear of the blood of all men and have them without Excuse and because people are Forsaking their Measure of the grace of God and Departing From the holy Light of Jesus in their own hearts there still Remains a necessity to Prophicy and to preach the Gosple and in as much as thou hast Seen many Candlesticks Whose Candles was almost gone out **** So also there Are many people who have allmost forsaken the Light of their Salvation and are near to be left in Darkness And thou Sawest Some left Quite in Darkness. So there are some people who are in a state of nature which  is a state of Darkness although the true Light hath Shined in every one of their hearts they would not receive it nor Comprehend it but Chose rather to follow the foolish Imaginations of their own wicked hearts: and as thou Sawest Some Golden Candlesticks with bright Candles in them even so also there are some people who are in a Large degree of Perfection and holyness and as Gold Exceleth Silver Silver brass and brass Iron: So are some people more Purified then others and are further proceeded in the way of their Salvation and as thou Sawest that Judgment was to Continue untill none appeared Remaining out of Pure Gold with Lights burning in them neither Shall my Judgments depart from this land untill all the Inhabitants there of Larn Righteousness: yet nevertheless I will call in Marcy unto this People whether they will hear or forbear and if any one hear my voice and open unto me I will have marcy on him and his Candlestick shall not be Removed in mine Anger for I Declare to the world this Day that I Desire not the Death of him that Dieth nor that the Siner should Die in his Sins whereby the Kingdom of Satan may be advanced for I Created man for a Purpose of mine own Glory and have visited all men with the Light of the Son of my bosom for the Completion thereof and have wailed Long for the Spiritual return of fallen mankind and in Bowels of tender mercy have sent my servants and Handmaids whom I have known to invite them who are Gone astray to Return unto me and Repent and flee from the Wrath which is to Come upon them which Die in their Sins for I can have no pleasure in the Destruction of my Creatures which I have made nither is mans Destruction of me but of himself and that not thro Ignorance but thro hardness of heart and unbelief for I have been Gracious to all People wherby they might have known me and have been at peace: and I have handed forth the offers of my Salvation without Respect of Persons nevertheless if any man whom I have Called Receive not the offers thereof and will not Return at my Reproof I will be just in Judgment without Respect of Persons.

Wherefore fear not thou to write these things in a Book and Publish them in thy native Country and if any one hear thee and Return unto mee then thou hast Not Laboured in vain but if no man will hear thee nor that which thou hast written nither then hast Thou Laboured in vain but hast Done the will of him that sent thee and thou shalt have the reward of Peace and if thou Remainest faithfull and holdest out to the End and faintest not I will remain with thee and Receive thee up at the Last Day: after these Things I sat silent before the Lord for a time: but Henceforth I Durst not Question with him any more for his word was as a fire and as a hamer in mine Heart and I was Broken before him and humbled With his goodness and my heart was opened and fingers Loosed to write to Shew forth to the world that which I have seen in the Light of the Lamb: and be it known to all people to whom these few lines may Come that Notwithstanding things of this nature at this time are something uncommon Among men yet I Dare not Distrust the Wisdom of Heaven no Disobey the Command thereof nor be so Much biast by any thing Carnal as to hide the Revelation of the Son of God as I Shall answer **** The same at the Perril of my soul. 

Written in the Year 1757 the 7th month

This copy Written in 1778 the 6th month."

A fair example only, breached on folds, some completely detached. Chipped at extremities with minor textual losses; two hinges reinforced.