Sunday Afternoon, September 23, 1804.

Joanna began his morning, as soon as she had breakfasted, to read through Samuel and could not avoid pondering in her heart, how David, that was such a chosen man of the Lord, and to whom such great blessings were promised, should have such wicked Sons; and yet she was clearly convinced in her own mind, that it was no cunningly devised fable of David's to say it: because our Saviour himself speaks so highly of him. She likewise thought upon Jacob's Sons; how great the Promise was made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and yet what vices were in Jacob's Sons! All these things appeared marvellous in her eyes: but here comes.

THE ANSWER OF THE LORD.

"JOANNA, I shall answer the ponderings of thy heart. All these are TYPES OF THE CREATION, TYPES OF THE FALL, and TYPES OF THE REDEMPTION. Here are mysteries thou canst not understand; but I shall explain them unto thee; and begin with the Creation. What a Promise did I make to Man at first; and what blessings did I set before him! In whose likeness did I say I created him? and in what Paradise did I place him, if he had continued to obey my command? But where did Adam fall? and what followed the Fall? Was not Adam the original progenitor of all men that I created, to be faithful, to multiply, and to replenish the earth? and I said, I had formed him in my own likeness? But after his Fall, what did Cain do? Then why dost thou marvel so much about David's sons? Was not Adam as greatly formed as David? Was I not his Maker? And do I not call myself the Father of all men? Yet what followed on in the posterity of the children, here I shall explain to thee, in the children of David.