y soon afterwards the vision returned, though
somewhat varied. I was in the midst of a strange people, to whom
I was propounding the gospel. They received it with honest
hearts, and looked upon me as a messenger of salvation. I visited
from house to house, surrounded by friends and kindred spirits
with whom I had once been familiar in another state of existence.
I was in the spirit, and communing with the host of spirits that
surrounded me; they encouraged me to return to the body and
continue to act the part that my Master had assigned me. No
person, except those who have entered by pureness of heart into
constant communion with God, can ever enter into the joyous host
with whom I then, and in after life, held intercourse.

When I came to myself in the morning I determined to travel until
the end of time to find the people and country that God had shown
me in my vision; and I made my arrangements to start forth again,
knowing that God now went with me. I started off after having a
talk with Brother Stewart. He tried to dissuade me from going,
saying I had little experience, not sufficient to warrant my
traveling alone; that we had better remain together where we
were for a season, for we had a home there, and could study and
inform ourselves more thoroughly before starting out among
strangers. I told him that in and of my own strength I was but a
weak vessel; but my trust was in God, and unless He would bless
my labors I could not accomplish much. That I was God's servant,
engaged in His work, therefore I looked to Him for strength and
grace sufficient to sustain me in my day of trial. That I trusted
in the arm of God alone, and not in one of flesh. I started off
in a southwesterly course, over the Cumberland Mountains, and
went about seventy miles through a heavily timbered country. I
found many species of wild fruit in abundance along the way.

Springs of pure, cold water were quite common. I passed many
little farms and orchards of cultivated fruit, such as cherries,
peaches, pears, and apples. As I proceeded the country became
familiar to me, so much so that I soon knew I was on the very
ground I had seen in my vision in the Baptist church. I saw the
place where I had held my first meeting, and my joy was great to
behold with my eyes what I had seen through a glass darkly. I
turned aside from the road, and beneath the spreading branches of
the forest trees I lifted my heart with gratitude to God for what
He had