The Book of Benjamin - Appointed to Be Read in Households #232839

Now it came to pass, in the six-and-thirtieth year of the reign of Victoria, and in the fifth month of the year, that the Lord appeared unto Benjamin of Israel (for such is his name being interpreted) in a vision, and said: Arise, thou, awake from thy sleep, 0 Benjamin, for I have chosen thee to bear my message unto the people of this land. And Benjamin answered and said: Who am I, and what is my father's house, that the Lord should have chosen me? And behold, now, I am not of their race and nation peradven ture they will not listen to my words — yea, they will scoff at my teaching, as in days that are gone. (for aforetime Benjamin had stood forth as a prophet among the people but they had rejected him, and despised his teaching.) Thou knowest that of old I sought to lead them in the right path but they would none of me yea, cast me forth from the pleasant places that my soul doth love into the wilderness Where no pasture is. And, behold, now they have exalted Gladstone, mine enemy, whom my soul hateth, and have made him their ruler. And the Lord answered and said Fear not, Benjamin, my son, for I am with thee. And, 10, now I will smite the people with blindness, so that they shall not see clearly the thing that is. Then shall they, being blind, turn upon this man Gladstone, whom thou hatest, and shall drive him from his place; and thou shalt rule in his stead. And when thou art lifted up, and seated in the high places of the land, fear not, neither be dismayed, but proclaim unto the people the new gospel that shall be given unto thee.