The fifth book of wonders

their pastors that the believers can apply to for an explanation of the meaning of my words, if I do not fulfill them? And how can I fulfill them—so that everyone is taught by the Lord, as written by the prophets—without raising up in the last day a LIKENESS of the BODY I laid down for man? A reference to Southcott’s prophecy that she would miraculously give birth to a spiritual child named Shiloh.

“But now I tell you of mankind: they are exactly what I said in my Gospel—they will not enter in themselves, nor will they allow those who are entering to go in. I warned you of this in the beginning: that you would first hear the mockery of fools. And now the mockery of fools has filled you with anger and indignation because of their lies as well as their blasphemy.

“But now I ask you: how could it be proved that it was the ‘mockery of fools’ if they did not reveal their folly by showing that they are men devoid of understanding, sense, reason, and religion? For such men would rejoice to come forward in the same manner against the Scriptures with ridicule, just as they have come forward against my visitation to you, if they were not afraid of the laws of the land. For if you observe the manner of the abuse, the Scriptures are mocked in the same way—artfully done, like the devil, to mock them in your name. This plainly shows what the hearts of men are.

“It was to reveal the hearts and thoughts of men that I ordered you to carry your first book to Brice; for you did not know what his religion was, nor why I sent you to him. But now recall to your memory that he did not mock the prophecies; instead, he said people were eager for them and therefore he willingly took them in hand. But know this: as soon as the Gospel was mentioned, and the Holy Ghost was mentioned, then his mockery began; and he soon revealed what he truly was. Then he began to