would not come.  This happened in the week after my public appearance in my present charge.  I asked, whether the case was known in the congregation, and I was told, that it was known.  On the next following Sunday, which was Quinquagesima or the next Sunday before Lent, I received the order from my leader to excommunicate that man publicly.  I delivered a sermon appropriate to the case, mentioned that such a man was in the congregation, without naming him, and made the declaration that such a man does not belong to the church of Christ or to our congregation till he is converted from his illegal connection.

After that many other performances of our mission took place, which cannot be mentioned here, except the following: 

According to the agreement the signers of their names and contributions for our support and to defray the necessary expenses, had to bring a portion of their contribution before Palm Sunday 1838 which is the Sunday before Easter, and if somebody should be hindered in doing what he agreed to do, he should come and mention his reason, or if he could not come himself, he should send word by some other.  In the case, that he would neglect to do the one or the other, we would send, to inquire for the reason of his having neglected his duty.  This was to be mentioned for the right comprehension of the unexpected events which we must in this connexion of things report as briefly as possible.

In the night from Palm Sunday to Monday I was at one o’clock by a shock suddenly awakened and I heard the voice:  “Arise and take from the catalogue those who had neither brought their contributions, nor the excuse why they could not do so, and excommunicate them on the next Sunday solemnly from Christ’s Church.”  I arose directly, made light, took them from my catalogue and put them on another paper.  Then I became suddenly very drowsy and returned to bed.  When I arose at the usual time, I reflected upon the unexpected communication, and I thought, that my duty was to inquire for the men, and that only under the condition that they would obstinately resist to submit to the rules of our order, they would deserve a public declaration, that they do not belong to Christ’s Church.  Also it appeared quite strange, that Easter Sunday was appointed for that excommunication.  I thought, that if I would send for and converse with them, I would perhaps find out the reason of such an unexpected order.  Besides all other things I had also the most convenient lodging for my performances in the new mission.  But here we select only those points which are preparatory to the development of deep secrets by which the three extraordinary men mentioned on the title-page become extraordinary witnesses of our mission.  The merchant with whom I boarded knew most persons of our congregation.  Therefore I took the paper on which I put the names according to the Heavenly commission, and asked him whether he knew any of those persons who were on the paper.  After his negative