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Sandy Warner ~ ~
swauthor777@usa.net ~ ~
www.thequickenedword.com
GENERAL WASHINGTON'S VISION
(Originally published by Wesley Bradshaw.)
(Copied from a reprint in the National Tribune,)
(Vol. 4, No. 12, December 1880.)
Also published in 'Will our president die in Office" by
Gordon Lindsay, 1980
The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the
Fourth of July, 1859, in Independence Square. He was
then ninety-nine years old, his dimming eyes rekindled
as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which he had come to
visit once more. "I want to tell you an incident of
Washington's life -- one which no one alive knows of
except myself; and which, if you live, you will before
long see verified."
He said, "From the opening of the Revolution, we
experienced all phases of fortune, good and ill. The
darkest period we ever had, I think, was when
Washington, after several reverses, retreated to Valley
Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of 1777. Ah!
I often saw the tears coursing down our dear commander's
careworn cheeks, as he con versed with a confidential
officer about the condition of his soldiers. You have
doubtless heard the story of Washington's going to the
thicket to pray. Well, he also used to pray to God in
secret for aid and comfort.
"One day, I remember well, the chilly winds whistled
through the leafless trees. Though the sky was cloudless
and the sun shone brightly, he remained alone in his
quarters nearly all afternoon. When he came out, I
noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual, and
there seemed to be something on his mind of more than
ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk, he
dispatched an orderly to the quarters of the officer I
mentioned who was in attendance at the time. After
preliminary conversation of about half an hour,
Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange
look of dignity that he alone could command, said to the
latter:
"`I do not know whether it is due to the anxiety of my
mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was preparing a
dispatch, something seemed to disturbed me. Looking up,
I beheld, standing opposite me, a singularly beautiful
being. So astonished was I, for I had given strict
orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments
before I found language to inquire the cause of the
visit. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I
repeat my question, but received no answer from my
mysterious visitor, except a slight raising of the eyes.
By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through
me, and I would have risen, but the riveted gaze of the
being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed
once more to speak, but my tongue had become useless, as
though it had become paralyzed. A new influence,
mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession. All I
could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown
visitor. Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed to
become filled with sensations, and grew luminous.
Everything about me seemed to rarefy, including the
mysterious visitor.
"`I began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience
the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany
dissolution. I did not think, I did not reason, I did
not move; all were alike impossible. I was only
conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion.
"`Presently I heard a voice saying, "Son of the
Republic, look and learn," while at the same time my
visitor extended an arm eastwardly. I now beheld a heavy
vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This
gradually dissipated, and I looked out upon a strange
scene. Before me lay spread out in one vast plain all
the countries of the world -- Europe, Asia, Africa, and
America. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and
America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia
and America lay the Pacific.
"`"Son of the Republic," said the same mysterious voice
as be fore, "look and learn." At that moment I beheld a
dark, shadowy being as an angel standing, or rather
floating, in mid-air between Europe and America. Dipping
water out of the ocean in the hollow of his hand, he
cast some on Europe. Immediately a cloud raised from
these countries, and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it
remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward
until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp
flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals,
and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the
American people. A second time the angel dipped water
from the ocean and sprinkled it out as before. The dark
cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose billows
it sank from view.
"`A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son
of the Republic, look and learn." I cast my eyes upon
America and beheld villages and towns and cities string
up one after another until the whole land form the
Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. Again I
heard the mysterious voice say, "Son of the Republic,
the end of the century cometh; look and learn."
"`And this time the dark, shadowy angel turned his face
south ward, and from Africa I saw an ill-omened specter
approach our land. It flitted slowly over every town and
city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set
themselves in battle against each other. As I continued
looking, I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a
crown of light on which was traced the word "Union,"
bearing the American flag, which he placed between the
divided nation. He said, "Remember, ye are brethren."
Instantly the inhabitants, casting down their weapons,
be came friends once more, and united around the
National Standard.
"`Again I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the
Republic, look and learn." At this the dark, shadowy
angel placed a trumpet to his lips and blew three
distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he
sprinkled it on Europe, Asia, and Africa. Then my eyes
beheld a fearful scene. From each of these countries
arose thick black clouds that were soon joined into one;
and throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light
be which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving with the
cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America,
which country was enveloped in the volume of cloud. And
I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole
country and burn the villages, towns, and cities that I
had beheld springing up.
"`As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon,
the slashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of
millions in mortal combat, I again heard the mysterious
voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn."
When the voice had ceased, the dark angel placed his
trumpet once more to his mouth and blew a long and
fearful blast.
"`Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shown down
from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the
dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment
the angel upon whose head still shown the word "Union"
and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword
in the other descended from the heavens attended by
legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the
inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh
overcome, but who, immediately taking courage again,
closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.
Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict I heard
the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look
and learn." As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for
the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled
it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back,
together with the armies it had brought, leaving the
inhabitants of the land victorious.
"`Then once more, I beheld the villages, towns, and
cities springing up where I'd seen them before, while
the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had
brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice:
"While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew
upon the earth, so long shall the Union last." And
taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the
word "Union," he placed it upon the standard while the
people, kneeling down, said "Amen."
"`The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I,
at last, saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I had
at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found
myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who
in the same voice I had heard before said, "Son of the
Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted. Three
great perils will come upon the Republic. The most
fearful is the third [The help against the third peril
comes in the shape of divine assistance], passing which
the whole world united shall not prevail against her.
Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his
God, his land, and his Union." With these words the
vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt
that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the
birth, the progress, and the destiny of the United
States.'
"Such, my friends," said the venerable narrator, "were
the words I heard from Washington's own lips, and
America will do well to profit by them."
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Words from the The Quickened Word are excerpts from the journals of Sandy Warner. To
better understand how God speaks, read Sandy’s book, “101+ Ways God
Speaks, And How to Hear Him.” Website:
www.thequickenedword.com Email:
swauthor777@usa.net
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