A Revealed Knowledge of the Prophecies and Times, Book 2

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The Copy of a letter to William Pitt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, which the Lord commands me now to publish.

In obedience to the sacred command of the Lord God, whose servant and prophet I am, I inform the chancellor of the Exchequer, that the prisoners now in confinement, and on trial, charged with the crime of High Treason against the king's life, are innocent.

I am likewise commanded to inform you, because God is very merciful and compassionate, that the seventh chapter of the prophecy of Daniel, and last part of the sixth chapter in the Revelation to St. John, will be fulfilled before the expiration of seven months from this day. And also my revelation to the Hebrews, as their prince and leader, according to the twelfth chapter of the prophecy of Daniel; to the king and people of England, and the people of all nations, as their ruler—for—and immediately under God, according to the twenty-second chapter of the second book of Samuel; to all nations, as the promised Signet of Peace, according to the second chapter of Haggai; and as Elijah, to the wicked, the revilers, and blasphemers against God, according to the fourth chapter of Malachi.

RICHARD BROTHERS.

No. 57. Paddington Street,
9th of the month called November.

The king and duke of Portland, as secretary of state, were wrote to at the same time.

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Revelation, Chap. xi.

15. And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdome of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

RICHARD BROTHERS,

The man that will be revealed to the Hebrews as their prince; to all nations as their governor; according to the covenant to king David, immediately under God.

LONDON, No. 57, Paddington Street,
20th of the month called February, 1795.

THE END.

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ANECDOTES OF RICHARD BROTHERS, THE PROPHET.

[From the Register of the Times, for March, 1795.]

This extraordinary character having, for some months past, been the theme of the public in general, induces us to state some particulars respecting him, that, we trust, will gratify the curiosity of our readers. To see a man rising from the humble state of a workhouse, to that of a person attracting the attention of all ranks and degrees, for his prophetic assertions, has justly excited astonishment. Let him be a madman, enthusiast, or hypocrite, he must be considered as the most extraordinary man this century has produced. To cause the most distinguished divines to hesitate in their opinions, respecting the truth or falsehood of his scripture expositions, is, surely, in an untutored man, a most wonderful trait of character. Allowing him to be a hypocrite, to blind an appearance of truth so artfully, with the reality of falsehood, as to confound the most learned in scripture, evinces a faculty that few men, however powerful in the arts of delusion, in the course of ages, are found to possess. As a madman, there is such an urbanity of manners, such a piety of principle, such a forbearance of self-gratification, such a uniform perseverance in attending to the welfare of human nature -- that we think it impossible for all the faculty, versed in the different kinds of Mania, to define the nature of Mr. Brothers's madness, and to class it under its respective species. Supposing him an enthusiast, he is equally extraordinary. Such persons are generally impelled to the most strenuous and violent of bodily and mental efforts. Their faculties are in a state of perpetual agitation. Their passions seldom find a quiescent pause from continual excitement. -- Their object, whatever it may be, so powerfully interests all their thoughts, that they are never becalmed, by rest or peace, until nature, exhausted, submits to their soothing influence; but, contrary to this, Mr. Brothers has appeared to be almost divested of the common passions of nature. Ever calm -- ever collected -- ever affable and communicative of sentiments, dictated by a boundless attachment to the peace of man, if an enthusiast, he is, of all enthusiasts, -- the most wonderful.

The above observations are stated merely as evidence of his singularity of character. They are not meant to vindicate or disprove the veracity of his predictions, or his being the chosen restorer of the Israelites to their kingdom.

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With regard to the particulars that have transpired respecting Richard Brothers, -- we have to state the following:

In 1782, he was a lieutenant on board the Albion, of 64 guns. This ship being paid off in 1783, he was reduced to his half-pay, on which he supported himself until 1789, when some religious scruples arising in his mind against the taking of oaths, he was prevented receiving his arrears until there were two years due, in 1791. At this period he lodged with a Mrs. Green, in Dartmouth Street, with whom he had then resided three years. During this time, he behaved with honesty, affable temper, and morality of principle.

Although he suffered the greatest distress from not receiving his arrears of pay, amounting to 130l. by refusing to take the necessary oaths before the Agent, yet he persisted in refusing to be guilty of the crime, which he calls voluntarily swearing. -- The reason he stated for his refusal was, that he considered swearing, every six months, as a qualification to receive pay, was unnecessary, unjust, and wicked. Having stated what he considered the concealed and unheeded cruelty of the oath, in addition to objections against the form, he was told, there was an order of council to take the oath, and that it was not in the power of the admiralty to dispense with it.

He soon after supported his former objections, and made another request, that he might receive his pay without being obliged to take the oath. On this occasion, he observed, that if the order of council inforced an oath, in any manner or any form whatever, and that the man it was directed to operate upon, swore that he was not forced, but that the oath he took was a voluntary act, the result of his own free will -- would it not, in the sight of God in heaven, and every man of discernment under him on earth, amount to a false oath? These reasons and objections he published, at the time, in the Public Advertiser. He also published the letter he received from the admiralty, stating their insufficient power to dispense with the usual form of swearing. Knowing the president of the admiralty was a member of the council, he wrote to him: In this, he stated, that as men, whether few in number, or the increased multitude of a senate, were not infallible, they must consequently be subject to error. To enforce this assertion, he alluded to the decision of the privy council, relative to a native of Glasgow, who had his ship seized in the West-Indies, for what, he considered, was an undesigned infringement of the Navigation Act.

Such was his aversion to taking the oath that he endured the want of even a bit of bread. Without considering him a Prophet, but merely as a man of purity and piety of principle, he is to be admired for the fortitude with which he endured his sufferings, rather than obtain relief by committing an act, which appeared to him most offensive to God and man. This conduct may be admitted as a proof of his being, at least, sincere in his religion professions, however he may be the dupe of his own visionary delusions.

Mrs. Green being greatly distressed for the money due to her from Mr. Brothers, applied to the work house board of the United Parishes of St. Margaret's and St. John's the Evangelist, Westminster. The work-house board considering the distress she must suffer, as well as what appeared to them, the lamentable situation of our Prophet himself, resolved to receive him as a casual pauper. Agreeably to an order from the board, he was brought about a week after to the work-house. He entered the room with his hat on, and requested they would excuse his taking it off, as that homage he considered only due to the Almighty.

At first he appeared offended with his examination; but being desired to take a chair, his good temper returned. He then took off his hat, and said, he knew when he was treated with that respect his character demanded. In this instance, he appears to have refused taking off his hat, more from ideas of personal consequence, than any peculiar homage he meant to reserve for the Almighty. His examination containing sentiments which serve to display his temper, and the state of his mind, we insert it as follows. Pray, sir, do you know the reason of your being brought to this house? Indeed I do not. All that I know of the matter is, that I was brought in a very rough manner; but as external objects affect me but little, I acquiesce.

I think, sir, you are in his Majesty's service?

You are mistaken, I resigned two years since. I am in the service of a Prince, the greatest and most potent. A Prince, in whose service my wages will be certain; but his kingdom is not of this world. What, sir, was your reason for resigning your commission; Disgust; I conceived the military life to be totally repugnant to the duties of christianity, and that I could not conscientiously receive the wages of plunder, bloodshed, and murder.

How did you imagine that you could live without your pay, and that pay, which, from your character and appearance, we should suppose with honour to yourself and advantage to your country? Therefore I rejected. I observed before, that it was impossible for a military man to take his pay with a safe conscience; I trust the matter I serve will not suffer me to want. I shall, in a few days, receive a sum more than sufficient to pay this woman's debt, ten times over.

Pray, sir, have you ever been a house-keeper? I cannot absolutely say I have not; I once agreed for a house and was two mouths in possession; but as a very melancholy idea comes across my mind when I think of that period, I hope you will not press me further upon that question.

Certainly we shall not. We understand, sir, that you were born in America? I was, in the town of Placentia, in Newfoundland; I have not a friend or relation in this part of the world.

Where did you lodge before you came to Westminster? In Bridewell precinct.

You will excuse us, sir, we mean it not as impertinent, but as a necessary question; What did you pay weekly? I am above that false pride which thinks from inquiry, I will answer any question you please to put to me.

I have always endeavoured to live within the bounds of my income -- narrow as they were; but you may suppose, that out of nominally 3s, but really 2s. 10d. per day, I could not afford any superb lodgings. In fact, I paid 2s. 6d. per week for my room.

[The conclusion of the anecdotes of Mr. Brothers are promised in the succeeding number of the Register of the Times, which has not yet been received by the American editors.]