The Fool batb said in bis be art, tbereis no God. Pf. xiv. 1. 
 
 AN 
 
 ANSWER TO THE WORLD, 
 
 FOR PUTTING IN PRINT A BOOK. IN 1804, CALLED 
 
 Copies and Parts of Copies of Letters and Communica- 
 tions, Written from Joanna Southcott, 
 
 AND 
 
 TRANSMITTED BY MISS TOWNLEY TO MR. W.SHARP IN LONDON. 
 BECINNJNC WITH THE 
 
 PARABLE OF THE LITTLE FLOCK OF SHEEP: 
 
 In which Pieasons are given, in Answer to the Mockery and 
 Ridicule of Men, for printing the Parables and Fables, 
 which were Published from DIVINE COMMAND in 
 that Book. 
 
 BY WILLIAM SUA IIP. 
 
 For evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched. As for 
 FAITH it shall flourish, Corruption shall be overcome, and tlie 
 Truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared. 
 
 2 Esclrus vi. 27, ,"-', 
 
 L A /) V : 
 
 PRINTED BY S. ROUSSEAU, WOOD STREET, Si J A FIELDS; 
 
 \MJ SOLD BY E. I. FIELD, NO. I. 1 ,;', NEAR Bf.OO I '. \ lOll'.r, 
 
 HIGH IIOLHOUN. 
 
 ]&0().
 
 r 
 TO THE WORLD. 
 
 ii A S the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is 
 -ilL the laughter of the Fool." [Ecclefiajles viu 6.) 
 may be applied to many and to them might be a suf- 
 ficient answer ; but for a man innocently to become the 
 sport of fools, in these days, cannot be any matter of sur- 
 prise, when the existence of a God is denied by some ; 
 and the existence of a Devil is treated by numbers as a 
 phantom produced by a wild imagination, or a scare- 
 crow to frighten silly people. Nevertheless, for the 
 sake of truth, which hath been so long without fruit, it 
 is necessary it should be declared; and for me to give a 
 short account to the world, from my first reading the 
 publications signed Joanna Southcott, published 
 in the year 1601. By reading only her three first Books, 
 called Strangk Effects of Faith, and two 
 others, called Strange Effects of Faith, with 
 
 REMARKABLE PROPHECIES MADE IN THE YEAR, 
 
 1792, &x. of Things which are to come, I was 
 convinced, from the events that had happened, and com- 
 paring them with what I read in these books, that the 
 visitation to her must be out of the course of nature, and 
 not of human wisdom. It then became my duty to 
 search further into the truth, which occasioned my 
 journey to Exeter, at the end of that year, with several 
 friends, and who went with the like innocent motives. 
 I had the same right to go to Exeter, to enquire after 
 the truth, if it had been only for my individual amuse- 
 ment, as others have to go to Bath, to entertain them- 
 selves with its dissipations. I was then happy to find 
 
 A 2
 
 ( 4 J 
 
 Joanna South cott, with whom I became personally ac- 
 quainted, had put it out of the power of evil-disposed 
 peop'e ever to prove her an impostor, as she had, before 
 her publications appeared to the world, made her 
 appeal to the clergy in her neighbourhood, who were of 
 the established church, stating to them the purport of 
 her writings, which, were dictated to her from a Spirit 
 invisible, that she might have the benefit of their 
 advice and assistance. It was the duty of the clergy, 
 according to the laws of the church of England, to give 
 those who applied to them, such ghostly council and 
 advice, to the quieting his or her conscience, and avoid- 
 ing of all scruple and doubtfulness. Here is the duty of 
 every clergyman, which is to be seen in the exhortation 
 in the Communion Service, and which every person may 
 read in the Prayer Book. But her sincere application 
 was not successful, according to the desire of her heart; 
 this appeal to the church, however, proved Joanna 
 Southcott could be no impostor; for it is the maxim of 
 every impostor to shun the truth, and avoid investiga- 
 tion. I have further to observe, that from the year 1792 
 to the end of the year 1794, her writings were sealed 
 up, and after being witnessed, were put out of her pos- 
 session; and the same caution was observed at the end 
 of each succeeding year, and were at each time placed 
 in the hands of persons of credit, until the arrival of my- 
 self and friends at Exeter, when at our departure, which 
 was at the beginning of January, 1 502, the whole of her 
 sealed writings were put in our possession, properly 
 sealed and witnessed. The box, containing the greater 
 part, was given to my care, and a parcel, also sealed and 
 witnessed, was given to the Rev. Stanhope Bruce; and 
 and one to each of the other frierrds. And I think it 
 necessary to add, that whilst I was at Hath, on my return 
 from Exeter to London, 1 had a large case made, which
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 enclosed the whole box, for the cords round the box 
 were sealed with seven seals, and I had a quantity of 
 tow put between the box and the case, to preserve the 
 seals from being broken. Here again, I must observe, 
 that all these cautions' of Joanna, about her writings, 
 in sealing, &c. could BOt prove her an impostor; neither, 
 from these circumstances, could the Spirit that so di- 
 rected her, be a false Sp". it 3 neither was it possible for 
 us to be deceived respecting the identity of the tarilhgs 
 delivered to us : and which remained secure with us un- 
 til they were conveyed by me to High-house, Padding- 
 ton, where the box and parcels were opened, and the seals 
 broken, in the presence of above forty person, who were 
 assembled together by public notice, and which was at 
 the beginning of January 1S03. And after the writings 
 were taken out, each paper was signed by three persons, 
 before they were delivered to Joanna, for them after- 
 wards to be copied off. The reader will now take notice 
 from these particulars, that there can be no cunningly 
 contrived plan to deceive; and from the whoie of Joanna's 
 conduct, up to this day, together with what we dis- 
 covered, when at Exeter, from the evidence of those 
 who knew her many years before, and from constant 
 observation since, of those who have lived with her, and 
 do now live with her, there is every confirmation of her 
 sincerity, and of the divine truth of her writing?. She 
 could not adopt a more prudent, or mere respectful 
 mode of conduct, than in her application to the clergy, 
 who might be supposed to be the best informed in spiri- 
 tual knowledge ; and whose duty it is to give every ghost- 
 ly council and advice, according to what is required of 
 them, as may be seen before, quoted from the Prayer 
 Book. 
 
 Since Joanna's firfl. application, every means have been 
 used to invite the clergy at large, by letters sent to many 
 of them at their places of residence, and by public adver-
 
 ( o ) 
 
 tisement, and also to religious people of everjr sect, 
 There are many other particulars, which it is not neces- 
 sary for me to repeat, they being already laid before the 
 public ; and Mr. Foley has related in his book what may 
 be necessary to add further, to which I must request of 
 the readers to refer, for their greater satisfaction. 
 
 The clergy of the church derive their incomes from the 
 establishment, that their attention and time may not be 
 diverted from those sacred duties, by any trade or calling, 
 like other men, that they may be the better enabled to 
 instruct their flock in the true knowledge of the word of 
 God, to guard them against all false doctrines, and that 
 impostors and hypocrites may 'not come among them to 
 deceive, and after to ruin them in their religious princi- 
 ples. Of the ministers of the church, who are more 
 than twenty thousand in number, only FOUR have yet 
 been found to sit in judgment, and vindicate the ways of 
 God to man. Three of these formed part of the seven, 
 who, with myself, came from distant parts, and visited 
 Joanna, at the end of the year 1801. 
 
 The present awful state of the world has been increas- 
 ing in calamities, ever since the year 1792, the very year 
 when the Spirit of Prophecy was given to Joanna. 
 Let any person only compare the state of this nation, be- 
 ginning at that year 1 792, with what it is at present ; let 
 them well consider the burdens that have increased up- 
 on the people; the sufferings many must have gone 
 through, by dearth and scarcity, and an uncommon in- 
 crease of national taxes and other heavy expences ! Let 
 every person, whether they believe in Prophecies or not, 
 only place the two dates together that is, 1709 and 
 this year 1S0G; then let them view the events that have 
 happened on the continent op Europe, between those 
 .two periods of time. In the year 1792, there was no 
 war in which this country was engaged; the means of 
 subsistence could be had at an easy rate. She wrote at
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 that time of what would happen; and which has since 
 come to pass. When the mind of man reflects upon 
 what has happened within the period of the last thir- 
 teen years, they must conclude, that some great and 
 mighty change is about to take place. 
 
 After my belief was fixed, that her visitation was from 
 the God of heaven and earth , it was my duty to believe 
 he would be faithful to his Word and his Promises: 
 and there can be no faith but what has its root in cha- 
 rity : every one must know, when one person has re- 
 ceived any act of real friendship from another, without 
 a possibility of any return, the person receiving a favour 
 ought to place confidence in his friend's future inten- 
 
 ^ons; if otherwise, he must be void of all charity and 
 faith in the good intentions of his friend, and prove 
 himself unworthy of any future friendship. Now this 
 must be my case, if I doubt the Love and Wisdom of 
 the Almighty God, by rejecting his Commands, when I 
 know what his Commands are ; and as I believe his 
 Spirit has dictated the Writings of Joanna Southcott, 
 which declare he is now coming to redeem the world 
 from the bondage of evil, and establish his universal 
 Kingdom of Peace. Therefore, if it be required of man 
 to have charity for his friend, and who is liable to errors, 
 what excuse can be made for a man who shall have any 
 doubt that the Almighty is both " faithful and true," 
 and that in righteousness HE doth judge and make war 
 to destroy all the evil that is on earth, when ins will 
 may be done on earth as it is DONE in IIeavf.x. Here 
 are my reasons for my belief. If any person chooses to 
 find fault with me, I expect their answer founded on the 
 love of truth. 
 
 The first and greatf.st promise, made by the 
 Almighty, was before man was created, or had 
 any existence, that he was to bt created in the Image, 
 after the likeness of his Creator. It must be the
 
 ( 9 ) 
 inmost principle of Divine Love, to act out of and from 
 itself; for love is not confined, and can have no bounds . 
 and it is truly written, God is Love. Now with this free- 
 dom of Spirit man was created, to act in obedience or 
 not ; but who after, was tempted to become a prodigal 
 child. The wisdom of the Most High had provided a 
 remedy, that his image might not be lost in Man ; 
 therefore, after the command was given to Man, not to 
 eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, in the 
 very next verse there is the remedy provided for Man's 
 redemption, that he may be again restored by the Pro- 
 mise first made after his creation, to make him an help- 
 mate in the Woman, who was taken from the Man. 
 And it was to her, and not to the Man, that the promise 
 was made after the fall that her Seed should bruise the 
 Serpent's Head. As Christ certainly was born of the 
 woman, to have his heel bruised, so by his Spirit's vi- 
 siting the woman, she becomes at last the Helpmate. 
 And it is said the Woman is to be prepared, as a bride 
 is adorned for her husband; therefore, whatever Woman 
 is to receive Christ in the Spirit, must be prepared for 
 that purpose, in such a manner that her desires must be 
 to him, and to him alone, to know his Will; and 
 when convinced it is his Will, that she may obey, as it 
 is written, " Let us be glad and rejoice, and give ho- 
 nour to him, (that is Christ) for the Marriage of the 
 Lamb is come, and his Wile hath made herself ready." 
 Rev. xix. 7 The reader must keep his attention fixed 
 to the Fall, which came through the Woman the pro- 
 mise was made to the Woman Christ was born of the 
 Woman and the Redemption from the Fall must come 
 through the Woman at last, as the Fall came through 
 her at first*. I am convinced that Joanna has for 
 above twenty years, in various ways, been in preparation 
 
 * Sro an explanation of this given by the Spirit, in Mr. Foley's 
 l^ook, from page '20 lo the end of 31.
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 from a Spirit invisible, before the year 1792, when the 
 Spirit of Prophecy was first given to her. Had she not 
 been thus gradually prepared, before this period, 
 the suddenness of the extraordinary visitation would 
 have been too powerful for nature to bear ; neither could 
 she have had that confidence in the truth of the Spi- 
 rit, if she had not had proofs before, respecting herself, in 
 her own private life, in many instances. Her Life has been 
 before printed, with the reasons; and Mr. Foley has 
 of course done her character every justice, in his Book. 
 Here are the means of human redemption, having the 
 foundation on the first promise made to man for his 
 good, on which all the promises of the Scripture rest. 
 From the beginning of Genesis to the last of Revelation, 
 not a single failure of any one promise can be proved by 
 man ; for all is made on conditions, provided man per- 
 forms his part in faith and obedience; and, like every 
 human contract, any failure on man's part, compels his 
 Creator to act according to the justice of his will: and 
 Man by his disobedience forfeited the best promise of 
 his creation. I most particularly request of the reader, 
 that he will examine with attention, I mean the most 
 scrupulous attention, the Six Books of the Explanations 
 of the Scriptures, dictated through Joanna by an invi- 
 sible Spirit ; he may then judge of the Spirit and the 
 Bin le together ; and he may judge of me for my belief 
 and faith. I knew that at the time I was printing the 
 Book, containing the Parables that are so much despised, 
 I must become an object of ridicule, and with many of 
 contempt. My faith being decided that Joanna's visita- 
 tion was from Divine Authority, it is not for me to 
 oppose the wisdom of the Almighty God, by my own 
 natural understanding, whether I understood the Parables 
 or not ; whatever his Commands are to put in print, I 
 am toobcv; because I know God is faithful and true- 
 and who is now daily proving the truth of his divine 
 
 i;
 
 ( io ) 
 
 Word, by bis Spirit's visiting Joanna, for ber to claim 
 tbe Promise made at the Fall, which is to bruise 
 the Serpent's head, by her being the helpmate; and 
 which never entered her natural mind, any more than it 
 did the mind of any woman that ever existed. It is 
 therefore not the length of time that is at all to be con- 
 sidered. It is sufficient to know that near 6000 years 
 have passed away with the world under the dominion of 
 evil ; and through all the different ages, no person 
 whatever has come forth to claim the fulfilment of 
 that Promise, which was wisely concealed in the bosom 
 of the Father, until his appointed time. 
 
 The Parables, which I put in print last year, in my 
 book, beginning with the Parable of the Flock of Sheep, 
 are explained by the Spirit, and given to the public in 
 this book ; and the Parables in Mr. Foley's book, en- 
 titled, What manner of Communications are these, are 
 explained from the same Divine Source, in his book just 
 published. The reader will now be in possession of the 
 whole; and he will see the reasons, why such Parables 
 were given. What other way can be pointed out to ex- 
 plain to the world the various evils that the human race 
 hath been tainted and tormented with I know not ; but 
 this I know, every art has been used to adulterate Di- 
 vine Truth, in every period of the world; and the in- 
 nocent have alwavs been the victims for the murderer. 
 The crimes have been so numerous from the fall up to 
 this day, that the whole earth might be covered, were 
 all to be put on record*. It is by parables that these 
 
 * Let every individual publish the his ton of his own errors, or 
 crimes, that have not readied the eve of the world, or have been ex- 
 posed by the laws of his country ; let families do the same ; also ci- 
 ties, and nations, with all the millions of inhabitants in our own days, 
 together with what parses daily and hourly in the heart and mind to 
 commit, if nun were not restrained by law, or the fear of being ex- 
 jjo-ed; then let every man consider and reflect back, and go from
 
 ( II ) 
 
 numerous evils can be brought within the compass of 
 every understanding : and as we read that the Kingdom 
 of Heaven is likened to every likeness of things on 
 earth ; also, at our Lord's first coming, we read, that 
 Jesus spake in parables, and without a parable spake hb 
 not unto them." Matt. xiii. 
 
 The reader may now proceed to read the explanations, 
 from the Spirit to Joanna, beginning in page 5(5, on 
 Parables; and which are further continued in Mr. Foley's 
 book *. 
 
 TYPES AND SHADOWS. 
 
 Every man must know, by common observation, 
 that before the sun shoots forth its first rays of light, 
 which we call the dawn of the day, the earth is in dark- 
 age to age, what murderous and adulterated hearts have existed since 
 the fall of man, under the Devil ! Can the numerous sands on the 
 sea shore he enough to equal the crimes of men, what they hav 
 committed, and particularly what they would have committed, if ex- 
 ternal restraints, and their dear characters, had not stood in the way ? 
 Ten thousand years of life would he but a short allowance, to write 
 out the crimes and arts of hell, that have taken place on this earth. 
 When the reader has reflected deeply, lie will better know how to 
 estimate the truth of every historian ; lie will behold the rubbish, the 
 lies, murders, and concealments too, of gi-cut nun, as well as small 
 men, in all ages and in all countries. Then let men survey the con- 
 duct of animals, the beasts and birds of prey, they may see, by com- 
 parison viith iiKiii, innocence even in their ferocity; for when 
 their hunger is satisfied, they generally become tame and barm, 
 less; but man, under the dominion of the devil, is a bottomless pit 
 that is never fall. 
 
 * As 1 have made observations different from what 1 had at first ex- 
 pected, and which may be of some length, I have made a distinction 
 by printing the words of the Spirit to Joanna in a larger type. These 
 observations, which I have made, on a smaller type, are only to be 
 considered as my sincere and humble efforts to assist the minds of 
 others ; as by their various occupations with the world, in the pursuit 
 wf business, many valuable truths might Lave escaped their notice.
 
 ( 1* ) 
 
 ness, that nothing can be discovered, unless by the 
 light of the moon, which is only a reflected or borrowed 
 light: all objects are but imperfectly seen, and the real 
 truth cannot be discovered. In Revelation xii, we read 
 of the Woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon un- 
 der her feet. In the Writings of Joanna, the Moon is re- 
 presented as a type of Satan, while the World is un- 
 der his power, and in the darkness of night : It is by his 
 wisdom that many of the learned are instructed ; and to 
 many others this kind of wisdom appears to shine bright- 
 ly, and the understanding of men is much dazzled and 
 puzzled with difficulties, that a ray of pure truth is not to 
 be found. These men constantly boast of the improved 
 state of civilization, when compared with the Indians, 
 Savages, Hottentots, Sec. who, they say, are not en- 
 lightened, like civilized society, with the aid of learn- 
 ing. That the savages and others are in a dark state is 
 certainly true ; and it is a truth that cannot be denied, 
 that the devil is to be found as well among savages, as 
 he is in civilized Europe. All are alike the descendants 
 of Adam, and of course under the Fall : and that the 
 savages murder each other is also true ; for they have 
 their wars ; yet then it is seldom but with their next 
 neighbours, and soon at an end, when the enlightened 
 world, with the advantage of learning, always have, and 
 do still continue to extend, their wars, their mischief, and 
 their crimes, to every part of the globe. Although the 
 safety of their persons and property is owing to those 
 laws which have originated from the Bible, they 
 in general deny all revelation ; therefore, if learn- 
 ing and civilization claim the preeminence, why have 
 they not produced peace on karth and good will 
 amongst men ? We have had, and we continue to 
 have, plenty of authors, and plenty of divines too 
 
 " Yet o'er the earth the darkness it is gone ; 
 
 Mything but darkucw in the Sons of Men."
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 I hope I shall be excused for having wandered from the 
 subject j but while mankind are under the government 
 of the Moon, these melancholy facts suddenly appear 
 to my view : therefore I shall again proceed with the 
 rising sun, which is described as a type or emblem of 
 Christ, who is the true light and life of Man ; and it is 
 by his wisdom alone that the darkness proceeding from 
 the Moon, which is a type of Satan, can be dispersed. 
 We all know, that, at the first appearance of the rays of 
 the sun above the horizon, the shadows first appear, pro- 
 duced from substances, or objects that are behind. Let 
 the reader here reflect on the simplicity of this language 
 drawn from nature ; and how easy this may be under- 
 stood by every capacity, whether learned or not ; for 
 these effects in nature do not require the aid of what is 
 called learning, but may be understood by illiterate men 
 of every nation and language, however ignorant they may 
 be of the different modes of speech, with all their endless 
 variations ; and which scholars are so proud of displaying:, 
 and who waste so much of a short life in their pursuit 
 only that their own dear selves may be admired. This 
 may appear to some like honey covering over a dish full 
 of dirt (as mentioned in page 31 of Joanna's Prophecies.) 
 These characters treat with contempt the parables used 
 by Christ, for human instruction ; and they reject also 
 every knowledge produced by types and shadows. 
 Therefore as man cannot be brought to the knowledge 
 of wisdom at once, he can only be gradually instruct- 
 ed, like the introduction of the light of the morning. 
 For any man to be brought suddenly out of darkness to 
 behold the sun in its meridian splendor is impossible 
 even the light of candles, when introduced into a room 
 has been too strong for the eye, after the company has 
 been sitting together at the close of the day ; therefore 
 the splendid sun must produce the wonderful effect like 
 the deprivation of sight. These common observations I
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 trust are sufficient to convince the reader, that the true 
 and easy way that man can be instructed by, is first by the 
 shadows, which the light makes us discern, that when 
 they appear the substance must be behind, which will 
 gently lead him to the truth. In Joanna's Book of Let- 
 ters, page 32, she says, when the hand of God is in any 
 thing, he always brings the shadows before the sub- 
 stance ; and in the same page, when the sun is behind 
 a tree, the shadow comes before the substance ; in the 
 preface to Joanna's first Book of Prophecies, which it is 
 every ones duty to attend to, she says, I shall go on till 
 I have made public all the mysteries of the Bible the 
 times which are to come and what shall happen till 
 Christ's Kingdom is established : sometimes from types 
 and shadows ; sometimes from dreams and visions ; and 
 also from the Bible. Here I beg of the reader to go to 
 Mr. Foley's book, lately published, page 17, upon the 
 lessons of the day appointed by the church, and read 
 with attention. It is also a truth in nature, which can- 
 not be denied, that there are shadows produced from the 
 light of the moon, and which frequently produce terror 
 and dismay, particularly to a timid mind. When man be- 
 came dead to the light and wisdom of the Sun, or the Lord 
 of Life, 'by the Fall, it was then that the knowledges of 
 Satan, like the light of the moon, introduced the reign of 
 terror and darkness in the world; and which cannot be 
 better displayed than it is in a part of the history of Jo- 
 anna's life, of her being frightened by the false appear- 
 ances that were presented to her imagination by the light 
 of the moon, with the fright of the owls, who at the 
 same time were as much disturbed by her, when they 
 were stealing app'es*. The owls at this presentday are 
 in the same state of alarm, fearing the fulfilment of the 
 Bible, that darkness may no longer prevail. It is notsur- 
 priiing that mockery and ridicule are gone forth against me 
 See page 13 of the Cod called theLittle Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( 15 ) 
 
 and my friend, for publishing of the parables contained in 
 our two books, and which give soexact adescription ofthe 
 murderous and adulterated state of the world, that many 
 cannot bear that the whole should be exposed. Men will 
 there find that the true knowledge of the Bible cannot 
 be known, without a right understanding of types and 
 shadows ; they were placed in the prophets, the same as 
 they have been placed to Joanna ; and were pointed out 
 as signs to the people, of what should take place, and of 
 what the end would be. But as I shall introduce a com- 
 munication from the Spirit, in page 89 of this book, ex- 
 plaining the use ofthe visitation at Bristol, in the sum- 
 mer of 1S04, to Joanna, a true account of which is be- 
 fore the public, in the two books published by Mr. Fo- 
 ley and myself, at the end of that year ; it is needless for 
 me to observe, that the types were set as strongly in Jo- 
 anna as they were in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, of 
 what is now coming upon all nations ; and by referring 
 to that communication, the reader will be instructed by 
 the Spirit of Wisdom, why those types were set in the 
 prophets of those days, as well as in Joanna, in the year 
 1804 ; therefore I shall not presume to give any further 
 observations. All created Nature is as a Book of Wjs- 
 dom, and an Uncreated Being must be the Author ; and 
 what God writes must be in a legible hand. From 
 the appearances that are in nature, and the most 
 trifling ways of men, are brought forth types to 
 inform the most simple mind, what is the divine will to 
 man, in both the old and new Testaments. 
 
 In Jeremiah xviii. 2. the prophet is thus ordered 
 "Arise and goclown to the potter's house, and there I will 
 cause thee to hear my words. If any person should be de- 
 sirous to know the reason why Jeremiah should be com- 
 manded to go to a potter's house in particular, and there 
 sec formed thoseearthen utensils called pots, the answer to 
 this enquiry is in verse 0, as follows " O house of Israel,
 
 ( lfi ) 
 
 cannot I do with you as this potter ? saitli the Lord t 
 behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in 
 my hand, O house of Israel. 
 
 I shall next require the reader's attention to Acts ii. 
 After they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began 
 to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them ut- 
 terance" it is to be observed, there appeared unto 
 them cloven tongue?, like as of fire. Here again tha 
 tongues were as types or signs to them of the new mode 
 of utterance ; for every man heard them speak, each in 
 their own language ; and they were all amazed, and 
 marvelled, saying one to another, Are not these which 
 speak Galileans ? and how hear we every man in our own 
 tongue, wherein we were born ? Here I cannot but call 
 to mind the words of a clergyman of the church, a doc- 
 tor in divinity too, who told me " he had no opinion of 
 a Holy Ghost who could not write grammar." This learn- 
 ed divine, who said these words tome, is the author of 
 many publications to civilize the world : and he also 
 .has since expressed his contempt of people's attending 
 to the writings of a foolish old woman ; but it remains 
 for this man to prove, how many of the apostles were 
 learned men. 1 shall now leave this foolish doctor of 
 divinity, and shall return to Acts ii. where there is ano- 
 ther verse that may give offence to the learned. It is 
 -verse 17, being the words of the prophet Joel, which 
 Peter one of the apostles then delivered : " And it shall 
 come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out 
 my Spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and your daugh- 
 ters shall prophesy ; and your young men shall see vi- 
 sions ; and your old men shall dream dreams. It is need- 
 less, at present, to say much about dreams; all 
 persons, whether learned or not, know what they 
 are ; but I must observe that they form an important 
 part of the wisdom of the Bible, as will bo seen in the 
 following pages, many dreams have proceeded from 
 that Spiiit of Wisdon?, which is to be upon all flesh;
 
 C 17 ) 
 
 and which persons of every nation and language may 
 and will understand, when the knowledges of the Lord 
 cover the earth, as the waters cover the great deep ; 
 for when this takes place, the substance is come of 
 what stands on record, of the Apostles' being filled with 
 the holy ghost, which was in them as the shadow. 
 And as the tongues appeared like as fire, the fire shall 
 try every man's works. 1 Cor. iii. 13. It is unnecessary 
 for me to repeat the many passages in the Bible, all prov- 
 ing that fire is a type of purification, as many pages 
 might be filled ; for by fire, and by his sword, will 
 the Lord plead with all flesh. Isaiah lxvi. 15. It is how- 
 ever necessary to remark, that the Apostles spake to 
 every man, each in his own tongue, the tongue 
 wherein he was born ; and in the very same manner the 
 Spirit now speaks to Joanna ; for all persons think 
 and ponder in the only language they were educated in : 
 they can think in no other ; neither can they be instruc- 
 ted in any other. I shall here introduce the words given 
 to Joanna last summer. 
 
 THE WORDS OF THE SPIRIT. 
 tc I shall reason with man, from the different 
 languages and tongues. Let a man come in a 
 tongue to a nation, they never learnt, and speak 
 in a tongue they never understood ; I ask thee, 
 without an interpreter, how his words would be un- 
 derstood ? Suppose a Frenchman was talking with 
 thee in his own tongue, and to bring the parables 
 from his own nation, what knowledge wouldcst thou 
 learn from all he had said ? In thy heart thou an- 
 swerest, none ; perfectly so I tell thee of mankind ; 
 should I come to them in the language of heaven, 
 and bring men parables from the glory there ; what 
 likeness would it be to the sons of men ? or what 
 knowledge would they draw therefrom, any more 
 than thou, wouldest draw from a tongue thou hadst 
 
 c
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 never heard ? Therefore, I tell thee, the wisdom of 
 men is madness and folly, to judge their Creator, 
 whoknovveth whereof ye are made and what parables 
 ye may understand. Should a king go to a beggar, 
 that was brought up in the greatest ignorance, and 
 should the king address him with all his learning, 
 what would a beggar understand from him ? or 
 what answer would he make to his words ? only say 
 he had spoke in a language he was never accustomed 
 to ; perfectly so I tell thee of" mankind ; the igno- 
 rance of a beggar it not so much inferior to the wis- 
 dom and learning of a king, as mankind's is inferior 
 to the wisdom and learning of a God ; therefore, I 
 tell thee, if I did not stoop to men to teach them 
 parables in their own form, for them to learn and 
 understand, men could never learn from me any- 
 more wisdom and knowledge than thou couldest 
 learn from the tongue of a Frenchman, without an 
 interpreter, to know his meaning; but where is the 
 man who can interpret for me, if I did not stoop to 
 them to speak in words they could interpret ? There 
 is no man who could be my interpreter. But now 
 mark what 1 said in my Gospel " They would 
 strain at a gnat and swallow a camel ;" perfectly so 
 I tell thee are thousands ; they strain at the parables 
 J bring forward for man, and think them too simple 
 fur an all-wise God, while they swallow every vice 
 that bringeth the parables upon their own heads. 
 And now I shall tell thee further of thy pondering 
 thoughts, aj I have shewed thee why I brought 
 these parables to the likeness of the Bible ; and dis- 
 cern in the same books were all my strange dealings 
 with thee, to shew the likeness of my dealings with 
 the prophets ; that what happened to them should 
 happen to their nation ; for they were only set as 
 types and shadows to the people ; perfectly so I tell 
 thee was thy visitation, that now stands in these 
 two books, It is a type and a shadow deepc/M> 
 .*./; not only of this, but of all nations. There-
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 tore I tell thee, if men could discern clearly the 
 mystery of these two books, they would clearly dis- 
 cern the end of all ; for in those two, the end 
 stands." 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF EVIL. 
 
 I shall now submit a few observations to a certain 
 class of men who call themselves Philosophers. Some 
 there are who openly profess themselves to be Atheists ; 
 of which I once doubted the possibility that such 
 characters could any where be found ; although the 
 Scriptures declare, "The Fool hath said in his heart, 
 there is no God." But in regard to those who call them- 
 selves Deists, they are numerous, not only among the 
 philosophers and great writers of the present day, but 
 are to be found amongst those professing Christianity, 
 and who have their places of worship. All these dif- 
 ferent characters, if any could be found honestly to re- 
 flect at all, must believe it to be a great and universal 
 truth, that all created Beings had their beginning 
 from a Power that cannot be understood or compre- 
 hended by the natural mind of man; neither can man, by 
 the same natural powers, either trace his origin, or the 
 origin of the world in which he lives. No man, can 
 know how he first received his lite, but by a revelation 
 from the same Almighty Power, that created him 
 and breathed in him the breath of lite ; tor none but a 
 fool can believe that man could give himself wisdom, 
 any more than lie could create himself; and whoever 
 presumptuously believes the contrary, let him read witli 
 attention the following lines from Joanna's book, called 
 Strange Effects of Vaith, which I have mentioned in 
 the beginning of this book, with the reasons for my 
 belief: 
 
 " But fi r.- 1 !< t thy original be trae'd 
 And tell me then what mighty thing thou wast. 
 
 C 2
 
 { 20 ) 
 
 When to the potent world my word gave birth, 
 And fix'd my centre on the floating earth, 
 Didst thou assist me with one single thought, 
 Or my ideas rectify in ought ?" 
 
 Man could only have found himself a regular organizedbe- 
 ing, with a mind which enabled him to reason, to discover 
 what was truth, with every blessing around him, and a 
 glorious creation before him; that he was fearfully and 
 wonderfully made; and could only be a recipient of 
 wisdom, or the Image of his God that created him. It 
 is certainly every man's duty to enquire, why he is not 
 both wise and happy; or for what end he was created; that 
 the world on which he lives and breathes, with its air 
 and atmosphere, shall be impregnated with death and 
 disease ; that instead of generating only wholesome 
 particles, to give life and happiness, it is well known to 
 all that, by continual changes of climate, diseases are 
 continually succeeding each other ; that every created 
 thing on the surface of the earth is only a living image 
 of death and sorrow; and map after he contemplates on 
 the whole, finds himself with an infected heart. These 
 reflections must surely lead men to know what they 
 ought to be, by reflecting what they are. Man will then 
 find it his principal duty to know himself. If any man* 
 whether deist, philosopher, or pretended christian, is 
 hardy or bold enough to say, his wretched, wicked life 
 proceeded from the seeds that were in him at his first 
 creation, then man places all his misery and crimes to his 
 Creator. For the first and greatest promise we 
 read of, and which promise can alone proceed from di- 
 vine love, is to be found in the 1st. of Genesis, 20th 
 verse, "Let us make man in our image, after our like- 
 ness." Therefore if man was created at jirst with evil 
 and malice in his heart, they must come from his 
 Creator ! or the fool may be justified, who says in his 
 heart, there is no God. Every one who opposes truth.
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 because he will not see it, begins in Ignorance and ends 
 a tyrant. And the time will come, when the philoso- 
 pher, so called, will know and feel the awful conse- 
 quence of degrading his Creator, and making sport 
 with his Name. There are men distinguished for learn- 
 ing, and what is called knowledge, who deny at this pre- 
 sent day any supernatural cause, and pretend to reason, 
 as they say, from effects in outward nature, until they be- 
 come frantic with the pride of self-elevation ; and at last 
 fancy that wisdom not only proceeds from, but even be- 
 gins in, themselves. In this state of madness or folly, 
 they must substitute falsehood for truth, like as the 
 father of lies is described in the Bible, and from whom 
 will be found every evil to proceed. The love of self- 
 elevation must produce contempt for others ; and to love 
 their neighbour as themselves is impossible; because their 
 delight is to rule, until hatred must be substituted for 
 love, and falsehood for truth. The mind is thus drawn 
 away from the belief in a God ; because man, in this 
 state, hates every power superior to himself like the 
 devil, in whose image and likeness he is now become. 
 Although man in this state of insanity does not believe in 
 a devil or any infernal powers ; but denies the existence 
 cither of a God or a Devil, he allows of the existence 
 of nature ; because it is present before him, and he daily 
 knows that he has the senses of feeling, seeing, hearing, 
 smelling, and tasting ; and with this knowledge of 
 the five sense* dogs, and other animals, who are 
 without the rational knowledge to explain the use of 
 these senses, although they have them, are by far his 
 superiors In this state of masquerade many men do 
 now live, with the devil concealing himself under the 
 mask, that he may reign and rule, by artfully fixing the 
 mind only to outward nature, to promote universal in- 
 fidelity. These men, whom I shall call Naturalists, 
 form only a part of the enemies to truth ; for when we
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 see the numerous race of hypocrites, who have the name 
 of the Lord in their mouths, affecting nothing but holi- 
 ness and purity, at the same time deny to their fellow- 
 creatures the least spark of divine love or grace; parti- 
 cularly to those who dare to differ with them in opinion, 
 a, id who believe that a devil was purposely formed, and by 
 the God of love too ! ! for the endless torment of those 
 who are not of the elect number. It is needless to enu- 
 merate the variety of enemies, now called Religionists, 
 all contradicting each other; yet, united to oppose uni- 
 versal Redemption, and the universal Love of Christ! ! 
 Upon reflection, it cannot be a matter of surprise to me, 
 when I see that Philosophers, Deists and Arians, Athe- 
 ists and puritanical Calvinists, who can have no charity 
 for the God of the universe, that they should abuse and 
 slander those who wish to have no other weapon but the 
 sword of truth. The days are now ar.ivcd, when there 
 is scarce faith upon the earth ; and the clays of Satan 
 must now be shortened, otherwise no flesh can be saved. 
 Murk xxiii. '20. These pas?:iges of Scripture are ex- 
 plained in the words given to Joanna, in her writings ; 
 and for the present I shall leave them. Many divines 
 and others, place every crime to originate in the human 
 heart; concealing the cause of its corruption, they 
 speak of human depravity and wickedness: all of which 
 are well known in our courts of justice, and our daily 
 intercourse with human society. In our courts of jus- 
 tice, in the indictment, of a murderer, or traitor, it be- 
 gins in this form of words " Not having the fear 
 of God before his eyes; but being moved by the insti- 
 gation of the devil, did, &c. he." They also quote 
 from the Scriptures, "That the heart of man is prone to 
 evil, as the sparks fly upwards." All this, in the cor- 
 rupt state of nature, is certainly true; they ought also 
 to inform their hearers, who it is that makes the fire of
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 evil that produces the sparks. In the greatest and blessed 
 promise given in the first chap, of Genesis, ver. 26 " Let 
 us make man," &c. one cannot but believe, when man 
 was formed after the image and likeness of his Creator, 
 he must be only prone to good : He neither knew of the 
 existence of any evil; and his mind must be void of all 
 suspicion of evil. A Being of love and wisdom can- 
 not produce hatred and falsehood ; and man in his crea- 
 tion could know nothing but loye and truth ; therefore, 
 had he remained as he was created, the heart and mind of 
 mau could only be prone to reproduce these divine quali- 
 ties. The k beastly inoculation of evil came afterwards ; 
 man's nature is now become so changed, that the divine 
 image is nearly gone, and would soon be no more seen 
 in this world, if the Creator of angels and men did not 
 interfere with his mighty power, to shorten those days, 
 and restore all things to order under himself, that the 
 kingdoms of this world may become the kingdom of the 
 livirig God, and bring man back to his inheritance for 
 which he was created. I have heard it said, in conver- 
 sation with various persons, when speaking of the wick- 
 edness we daily see and hear of, in all classes of men, 
 and also from the history of past ages, that its 
 permission proved God to be the author; particularly with 
 one who is deemed a prodigy in learning; after I had 
 mentioned to him the observations that I had made of 
 men throwing the blame on their Creator, as being the 
 cause of evil, he replied lie cvrfd have prevented it if 
 he would. I replied, that compulsive goodness was no- 
 thing no person can be praised for an act of virtue, if 
 its appearance proceeds from compulsion or force; as it 
 then ean only be au appearance, but not a reality : a God 
 uf order cannot contradict himself, to make compulsion 
 to be called obedience ; if we were not created free- 
 agents we could have no choice ; there can be no love 
 by compulsion ; or with words to this effect : and our
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 conversation finished. I have since reflected much upon 
 this ; because many disputes have arisen about what is 
 called the Origin of Evil', and it has often occurred to 
 ray mind, that whatever had a beginning, which came 
 not from God, will have an end. In the Book of Wis- 
 dom ii chap. 23, and 24 verse, it is said, " God made 
 man to be immortal, and made him an image of his own 
 eternity. Nevertheless, through envy of the devii came 
 death into the world.'' Here evil first began in this 
 world. Now it must be evident to every man's under- 
 standing, there must be a freedom of choice in all created 
 beings, angels as well as men, and the happiness of all 
 rests upon their obedience to the divine will ; but 
 there can be no such thing as compulsive obedience ; 
 the two words compulsion and obedience can no more 
 be joined together than heaven and hell can become 
 one in union. For any one to say God could prevent evil, 
 if he would, might as well say, when God gave man his 
 choice to obey his commands or not, he compelled man 
 to be disobedient: and the remark, which thislearned man 
 made, was from the same infernal source as the words 
 were first made to Eve, to intice her to taste the for- 
 bidden fruit, and who afterwards made Adam to blame 
 his Creator for giving him the woman. Therefore the 
 devilish and satanic spirit that produced the fall of man, 
 and inoculated the human race with evil and misery, 
 once was an angel of light, united to his Creator, and par- 
 took of his eternal wisdom and inexhaustible love in 
 realms of bliss ; and whose immense happiness flowed 
 to him and those joined with him, by their voluntary 
 obedience : and the least departure or deviation from 
 their obedience must produce rebellion, which is the 
 beginning of every evil, truly described as the sin of 
 witchcraft. Here the mind of Lucifer became inverted; 
 but in disguise, as an angel of light (which he once
 
 ( 25 ) 
 
 was) he since goes on, by every form of purity and every 
 outward appearance of virtue. In the divine state of 
 free agency, in which Lucifer was at first created, stands 
 every created being, whether angels or men, to this day, 
 and ever will so continue. Although God created him 
 an angel, yet he did not prevent him from being a devil. 
 If God had by his power so prevented him, he then must 
 have ceased to be an angel, having no choice ; for the 
 essence of tyranny begins in compulsion to destroy free 
 agency; and when compulsion is used by a God of Love, 
 whose darling attribute is mercy, it is only to preserve 
 those who by their obedience wish from their hearts to 
 be in union with his Spirit; therefore judgments are 
 called his strange works. It was his strange work to drive 
 the fallen angels out of heaven, to prevent them from an- 
 noying, or endeavouring to destroy the happiness of those 
 angels who were faithful in their love. After this the 
 wisdom of the Most High gave him six thousand years to 
 be on this earth, to try him, and permittedhim to tempt* ; 
 and therefore he is called, in Holy Writ, the tempter; and 
 when man became disobedient to divine command, he 
 fell under Satan's power, which made him to be the 
 prince of this world. Here came his great power to act 
 by compulsion ; the reign of terror here began on earth, 
 to devour and destroy whenever the good fruit appeared 
 in man in all ages. And in the Sixth Book, printed and 
 published by Joanna at the end of the year 1501, the 
 reader will see how in every age the evil fruit destroyed 
 the good. Here the reader will reflect upon the wisdom 
 of the Almighty, in his command to man, not to eat of 
 the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and of evil ; 
 for man was not to know the evil, but only the good. 
 Everyman whose mind is satisfied of the existence of an 
 Almighty Being, who was before all things, and whose 
 eye is every where present, cannot believe it possible, 
 # * See Strange Effects of Faith, Rook i v. p. 147; and p. 27 of this. 
 
 D
 
 ( 26 ) 
 that he can be deceived or be betrayed by a devil, who at 
 his first creation, as an angel, was the work of his hands ; 
 and by foreseeing what passes in the heart and mind of 
 Lucifer, and every other being, cannot by his divine 
 wisdom put bounds to the evil, and provide a remedy; 
 for there can be no eternity to evil, which had a beginning 
 and must have an end. The man who doubts the wis- 
 dom and fore- knowledge of God, may as weM deny his 
 power of creation; or man may join with Satan and say 
 lie created himself. I shall here transcribe the words of 
 the Spirit of Wisdom, from a book published by Joanna 
 Southcott, called " Sound the Alarm" page 58; at the 
 same time request the reading of her Prayer, which pre- 
 cedes that communication. The reader will see in the 
 communication, that the devil began by folly, which 
 progressively destroyd the wisdom he had once received, 
 and he became a tyrant of darkness as man became 
 dead to the knowledge of the Most High when he fell 
 under his power. 
 
 A person asked Joanna, il Why the Lord created the 
 devil to be such a sinful being in heaven, when he fore- 
 knew he would be so ?" Heie is the answer of the Spirit 
 to Joanna : 
 
 " Now I will answer thee, of the man that asked why I 
 created the devil, knowing what a wicked beinglie would 
 be? Here the wisdom of man hath taken in question the 
 wisdom of his maker. But know, O vain men, you 
 must first feel the pain of sickness, before you know the 
 pleasure of health. A man that never felt poverty, knows 
 not what he enjoys by his riches. Neither did the an- 
 gels in heaven know from whence all their happiness 
 flowed, that I had created in the realms of bliss. There- 
 fore as worms breed in wood, so did evil breed in the 
 devil and fallen angels. They could not believe that all 
 happiness sprang from me. Envy and pride entered 
 their hearts, as worms into wood, till it begins to decay
 
 ( 27 ) 
 and moulder into dust. Just so did evil enter into the 
 heart of the devil that thought he was a created being > 
 though not of me, but of himself equal in might, 
 majesty, and power and that he ought to be worshipped 
 in heaven, equal with me. Thus evil entered his heart 
 without my creating it ; and as wood is grown, and is made 
 into timber for use, and the worms breed in it of them- 
 selves, without being there when it was first formed and 
 fashioned * : just so did evil enter into the heart of the 
 devil, like the worms that bread of themselves in timber, 
 till he became corrupt all through, by pride, malice, and 
 envy. Thus did evil breed of itself. Then I separated 
 the evil from the good, and cast him out of heaven, with 
 the angels that worshipped him, and placed his power 
 below to shew his reign, and created man upon the 
 earth, where he had power to tempt man, as he tempted 
 the angels in heaven. Therefore when I created man, I 
 well knew the depth of Satan's arts, that he would find 
 away to have an influence over him, as he had over the 
 angels in heaven. Therefore I said, it was not good for 
 the man to be alone, and said, I would make an help- 
 mate for his good, and placed the tree of knowledge in 
 the garden, that if the man eat thereof, he should be 
 deacl " to Knowledge" but did not add the last words 
 that I meant. Now, this command was given to the 
 man, and kng-wn to the devil, who thought if he could 
 impose on the weakness of the woman, he should destroy 
 the works of the creation and say, the woman I made 
 for man's good was for his hurt; and then prove to the 
 fallen angels I had as greatly erred in casting them out 
 of heaven, as I erred in the creation, in making the 
 woman for man's good to be his helpmate: but man be- 
 came dead to knowledge. How then could she b:^ for his 
 good ? It was concealed from the knowledge of man to 
 
 * Every thing' has a form rones ponding with its essence. 
 D 2
 
 ( 28 ) 
 this day, how she could be for man's good, that the wo- 
 man was then made, who, they judged, brought the fall 
 on man. Here with man it might appear impossible, 
 but with God all things are possible and the mystery 
 is possible and plain ; for, the man was made of the 
 dust of the ground ; the woman was made of flesh and 
 blood, taken from man in astute of perfection. But know, 
 he was not then the per/eel man, but divided into tzvo 
 living souls and bodies; and Satan betrayed that part ot 
 him, that I pronounced for his good and man east his 
 blame on her, and me forgiving her. But on the serpent? 
 that is, the devil, was the woman's blame cast ; and 
 know the curse I then pronounced on him, that that 
 curse should fail on him above every living creature 
 that lie should creep on his belly, as having no foot to 
 stand upon. This, as a serpent, was pronounced against 
 the devil, and I said I would cause enmity between his 
 seed and her seed, and it should bruise his head. Now, 
 answer me, O ye sons of men, did Satan outwit me? 
 or shall I outwit him? If I do not fulfil the intent of 
 my heart, Satan must have outwitted me in the creation, 
 as he is now trying to outwit men in their redemption. 
 But know, () vain men, if he outwits man, he cannot 
 outwit ME, who made the heavens and formed the 
 earth, and knew all the depths of Satan's arts : There- 
 fore 1 laid apian in the creation to make room for man's 
 redemption, by the woman that I created for man's good, 
 by casting her blame on Satan s head ; and that every soul 
 will find in the end. Then will all the earth know I did 
 not err in the creation, when 1 bring in your redemption. 
 Tor every footing Satan hath got on earth must be taken 
 away, when I come to fulfil my promise, to bruise his 
 head ; and bring the curse on him as I pronounced. Then 
 will men say, " Let God be true, and every vuin a liar," 
 that says he erred in the creation, and did not make
 
 ( 29 ) 
 the woman for man's good. But know, I am God, and 
 change not. It is man that hath sought out many in- 
 ventions to wrest the Scriptures to his own condemna- 
 tion, not discerning the Lord's body till his coming 
 that as my heel was bruised; so must Satan's head be 
 bruised also. But this knowledge man has been dead to, 
 ever since the fall, which way it will be accomplished,, 
 till the glory of the Lord was revealed to the "woman, 
 that she should ask and receive, that her joys should be 
 full, to be avenged of her adversary the devil, whose 
 subtle arts caused her fall ; and my promise must be 
 her plead, and my honour is engaged to save all to the 
 utmost, who now believe my word is, "Yea and Amen'* 
 What I promise I shall fulfil; therefore as dust returns 
 to dust, the creation must turn to what I created them 
 for at first. So if it did not prove for man's good then 
 that she was betrayed, it shall be for man's good that 
 she pleads the promise, which was made in the crea- 
 tion, to bring in man's redemption. Therefore have I 
 made ail her Prophecies more true and plain, if man can 
 discern them through, than any prophecies given to man, 
 that you may now begin to see the woman is your help- 
 mate for your good. But if all were given plain and 
 true to man, they would not want, nor receive the 
 woman, for their good ; but judge they knew all them- 
 selves. Therefore I have foiled the prophecies of men, 
 arid made it more plain tothewoman, that you may be- 
 gin to lift up your heads, and " Know that your Redemp- 
 tion draweth near;" and my words are near to be fulfilled* 
 that Satan's curse, which was pronounced, shall fall upon 
 his head and my kingdom of peace near to be estab- 
 lished. But all these mysteries you must dig deep to 
 find them ; for this is the pearl of great price." 
 
 To ascribe evil to proceed from God, a man may as 
 well say darkness proceeds from the sun, when he shuts the
 
 { 30 ) 
 windows of his chamber : for darkness is a deprivation of 
 light, as an evil mind, which produces hatred and every 
 base principle, is a deprivation of heavenly love and good- 
 ness. The world under the fall is in darkness, originally 
 produced by the prince of darkness, -when man fell un- 
 der his power; and, as I before observed, he is called the 
 prince of this world. The Bible is a divine collection of 
 records on purpose to shew to man the effects of his 
 fallen state, that in the end, from the fountain of all 
 goodness, he may see also the origin of evil and its end; 
 many infidels have blamed the Bible, in recording so 
 much evil, instead of admiring it for its impartiality, in 
 shewing what man has been, and what he is under the 
 powers of darkness, when what are called the best of 
 men in every age have fallen into evil deeds, except Jesus 
 Christ, of whom every historian, and men of every descrip- 
 tion have united with Pilate to say " I find no fault in 
 him." The first man, Adam, a created being after the 
 image of his God, who had no human father, was se- 
 duced into disobedience, through the ignorance of the 
 woman, as they were without any suspicion of evil; for 
 a suspicion of evil could only proceed from a knowledge 
 that evil existed; and the power of Satan was at that 
 time unknown to them; and as he had before succeeded in 
 tempting angels, (for in the ii Peter 4.) " God spared not 
 the angels that sinned," there can be no doubt, but he 
 would have had the same success with man, had there 
 been no woman to betray ; for it was not through the 
 instrumentality of a woman that the angels fell. But 
 the duty of the first man, Adam, was to stand in his 
 obedience, which would have been their protection from 
 every temptation, and A.dam would never have used the 
 words infused into him by Satan, to blame his Creator, 
 for giving him the woman ; but as he fell by the tempta- 
 tions of Satan, through the woman, man v\ill in the end 
 prai&c his Maker for making the woman to be his helpmate
 
 ( 31 ) 
 
 for his good, by the Spirit of Christ, when he comes in 
 power to redeem the world from death, hell, and sin. 
 Christ came into the world born of a woman, of the Holy 
 Ghost. The only two persons that were without any 
 human fathtr were the first man Adam, and the second 
 man Adam, who was the Lord from heaven, (on 
 whom the first Adam cast the blame.) Jesus knew the 
 tempter's arts, and suffered for man that inexpressible 
 misery, which the mind cannot conceive. Human feel- 
 ings are as different from divine, as light from darkness ; 
 we know that a good and humane man feels pain in this 
 world, when he beholds an act of cruelty; but a 
 man, in whose breast pity is a stranger, feels no torment, 
 and loves the world with its cruelties. From this we may 
 conceive only a faint idea of the sufferings of Christ, 
 who was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief, 
 who sweated drops of blood. During the time he was 
 on this earth, as a man, he was, in common with every 
 earthly being, subjected to every temptation from the 
 prince of this world, as is mentioned in Luke iv ; for 
 Satan well knew who he was ; and when he shewed the 
 Lord the kingdoms of this world, in a moment of time 
 which he offered to give, with the glory of them, he 
 added, " For that is delivered unto me : and to whomso- 
 ever I will, I give it." In this chapter are the tempta- 
 tions of Christ recorded, and his victories over them ; 
 he not having evil in himself, although subject to its ef- 
 fects; but by his divine power he resisted the temptations 
 of thesame tempter, who at first by arts seduced our first 
 parents to evil ; and who is described with his crimes 
 and arts in various parts of the Bible, and also in Joan- 
 na's Books, until we find, in Lithe 22, Satan's entering 
 into Judas to betray his Lord, and who was afterwards 
 crucified ; and before he expired, he said, It is finished 
 and here finished the power that Satan had over him'
 
 f 32 ) 
 
 who as a man came in the lowest state of humiliation, mto 
 a world under the dominion of evil, and by his combats 
 and victories, he successively glorified that human body 
 he received from his mother, and united it to the Divine*, 
 and as our Lord had during his natural life proved that he 
 had no spot or blemish of evil, and who resisted every 
 temptation unto his death, his body did not see cor- 
 ruption, but he arose again from the tomb with his 
 glorified body. Here let the reader mark and reflect up- 
 on his dying words It is finished, and not to fall 
 into the fatal error of many, who say these words signi- 
 fy the redemption of the world from Satan's power, 
 when it is so well known his power and mischief has 
 continued in the world, over the human race, up to this 
 day, and the world is not ye redeemed. For here was 
 the heel of the seed of the woman bruised ; as Christ 
 was born of the woman without a human father : and it 
 is by the seed of the womaji that Satan's head is to be 
 bruised, by the Spirit of Christ in her, at his second 
 coming ; and all those who are united to the woman in 
 obedience, are spiritually the seed of the woman ; and 
 those who are in the world in this spiritual union, when 
 Satan receives his curse, (which must be above every 
 creature, whose crimes and arts, are as much beyond 
 human conception, as the love of Christ is beyond every 
 human love ; then it is that our vile bodies will be 
 changed like unto Christ's glorious body, which he had 
 glorified by his victories and arose from the grave. It is 
 necessary to remark, that from the fall of man up to 
 this day, there has been no human being but what has 
 committed evil, or fell under some temptations ; neither 
 could any man whatever stand at all in his own strength; 
 and when Christ had finished his work, as a suffering 
 Saviour, he said " Father forgive them, they know 
 
 '* Father, glorify tliv name. John xxii. y&.
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 not what they do. But it is the murderer who entered 
 Judas, that knew who he was, and caused his innocent 
 blood to be shed, who is therefore without any claim to 
 forgiveness or pity, not having a heart of repentance like 
 Judas. When Satan left the man he despaired and 
 died. It was not the spirit of Judas that betrayed his 
 Lord ; for in St. Luke xxii. 3. it says, " Then Satan en- 
 tered Judas." Judas was only the instrument, or hand, 
 not the principal; for the 21 verse might be thtts read* 
 * f But behold the hand of Satan that betrayeth me is 
 with mk on the table. Judas was here the hand of Satan J 
 had it been the man's spirit, then these words " Satan 
 entered Judas," could be of no ufe, and could have no 
 meaning; and if the truth is here to be doubted, then 
 we must doubt the whole : for my own part, I believe 
 all or none ; for we must be either all right, or entirely 
 wrong. The Jews were at this time so blinded by the 
 prince of this world, that they did not believe Christ was 
 the Son of God. Here was a distinction made between the 
 crimes of men, in their state of ignorance and darkness, 
 and the power that seduced them to evil, not only at that 
 time, but from the beginning. While the whole creation 
 has been groaning and travailing in pain, and doth still 
 so continue up to this day ; while temptation has always 
 succeeded temptation ; the evil fruit constantly devour- 
 ing and destroying the good; and since Christ and his 
 apostles have fallen; in the very name of Christ and his 
 apostles has every cruelty been committed, and every 
 base art has been practised : for there is not a religion 
 having the name of Christ for its institution, but has been 
 used has a mask for crimes; even the great public edi- 
 fices that have been raised to the worship of the Al- 
 mighty, in different parts of what is called the christian 
 world, have been named after the apostles of Christ aid 
 
 E
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 other saints, but who would bo despised were they now 
 alive.* Yet in all periods of human misery, the devil has 
 not succeeded to destroy the whole ; and notwithstanding 
 his power men have resisted him, even through tor- 
 ments, unto death ; not that this could ever be by man's 
 feeble power ; but they have honestly invoked and im- 
 plored the aid of the divine Spirit, which has been to 
 them a tower of strength, and made them triumph over 
 the tyrant with their expiring breath. 
 
 There are literary characters of this present age, who 
 profess to be Atheist?, and who employ their pens 
 either, as they presumptuously say, for the improvment 
 of the public, or to the support of their families. I have 
 personally known such men, although I once doubted 
 the possibility. These men, sometimes call themselves 
 JsTaturalists ; and as these and many other men aspire to 
 be gods, as they despise the wisdom of their Creator, 
 and substitute what the devil has infused into their 
 minds; (and whose existence they also deny;) for the 
 denial of a devil is now almost universal ; particularly by 
 atheists, deists, philosophers, or naturalists, as I have be- 
 fore observed) it well suits his artful design, to cause 
 men to blame their Creator for that delude of crimes 
 that has oversprea/1 the world ever since man departed 
 from the Divine Spirit. These men, called Atheists, 
 or Naturalists, attribute ail wisdom to nature, and the 
 natural senses. But to them I will submit the follow- 
 ing observations : There is a natural truth to be found 
 in the seventh verse of the second chapter of Genesis, in 
 a few well-chosen words, which these fools can never 
 improve, and it is not in the power of language more 
 clearly to express ; the words are these: " And the Lord 
 
 * The Spaniards have even named their ships of war, after divine 
 and holy names ; one first-rate man of war, brought into a British 
 port, was called the Saviour of the World ! There are also Knights 
 of the Holy Ghost! ! J
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 God formed man of the dust of the ground." Let these 
 men find out of what other matter are our bodies formed, 
 as also the bodies of every living animal, from the great- 
 est to the least; even those that are so minute that they 
 can scarcely be discerned by the human eye ; but by 
 the help of glasses are found to have a wonderfully 
 organized form of bones, muscles, Sec. all are formed from 
 the dust; the same also of animals of the largest magni- 
 tude. Do not the houses, in which we dwell, and all 
 the furniture, made from timber and other materials, 
 come from the dust? the clothing of our bodies is 
 made from animal and vegetable substance* ; we eat 
 animals for food, who have again been fed by 
 vegetables, which again, by springing out of the earth 
 are produced from the dust. Let those who have 
 read the history of nations and empires, and reflected on 
 the stately and magnificent structures of antiquity, the 
 remains of departed grandeur, and also the buildings of 
 these latter ages, consider from whence they came; 
 let any man, whether learned or not, view the cathedral 
 of St. Pauls, and other buildings of this great capital 
 London he must cry out, " Dust thou art." These 
 few words, which I have taken from the third chapter 
 of Genesis, and which a child may be easily made to 
 understand, cannot be rejected but by fools, who say in 
 their hearts, there is no God ; when from every common 
 observation the truth is daily before us. These im- 
 portant words, also convey another meaning, tor every 
 man to know, and which forms an important question 
 why it should be so particularly mentioned, that man 
 was made of the dust of the ground, iftheAlmi 
 never created beings in any other way, or from any other 
 materials ? The answer immediately occurs to then 
 that there was a new mode of creation, different from (he 
 creation of angelic beings, and before unknow n to them, 
 
 E2
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 and that the Almighty in his wisdom thought proper to 
 rhal e a new race of beings, different from others ; and the 
 reasons why are clearly explained in Joanna's Fourth Book, 
 page 1-18 ; where, speaking of the rebellion and pride of 
 Jaicifer, who was cast out from the society of the just, 
 the same as a man, or set of men may be thrust out of 
 societies on earth, when he or they become obnoxious. 
 Here are the words given to Joanna in that page : 
 
 *' And soon from thence I cast him hence, 
 
 And did him then dethrone; 
 To try again his future reign 
 
 lsoon created man 
 
 I must here beg leave to observe, if man, who is of 
 the dust, and fallen to the dust, unites with the Spirit of 
 Christ now with the woman, he will be an instrument to 
 make the serpent lick the dust ; pride will have its 
 fall, and man will be redeemed. As it is evident to every 
 person's understanding that there are beings of a different 
 order, whose bodies were not composed of earthly sub- 
 stances, or the dust of the ground, like unto man, and 
 who have invisibly communicated with man in different 
 ao-es, as messengers, or as ministering spirits to guard 
 and counsel him against the power of evil j and to be 
 the messengers to bring glad tidings to man for future 
 blessings, that he may, in the end, be united to his 
 Creator, and bear his i m age, it would be unncessary 
 to bring all the numerous proofs from the Old as well as 
 the New Testament, when every reader has his Bible to 
 refer to, where he may search for himself, if he behonest 
 to himself ; for by being honest to himself, he will feel 
 it his duty, and his principal duty too, to be honest to 
 his God, by believing him to be faithful and true, and 
 that in-: never can vary and change, like man. For if we 
 do but reflect, how this visible creation must have ori-
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 ginally burst forth, and how it has since continued in, 
 such wonderful order, and daily presents itself to our 
 view, if we choose to open cur eyes to contemplate these 
 wonderful works, we shall then own that all must have 
 been produced by a God of Order, and not of confusion. 
 No person thus reflecting can be so void of reason as to 
 believe that this World was created for bad men and 
 devils, to reign and rula in, and for ever to counteract 
 his divine order; and that he created all things to 
 continue only as instruments of misery, and eternally to 
 remain so; and that there will not come a day when the 
 fulness of time is come when he will awake as one out 
 of sleep to restore all things to order under him, when 
 the last thing he will destroy is death, with its sting of 
 sin, that God may be all in all. W hat man with any 
 honesty of mind, or feeling in his heart, will wish to 
 perpetuate the sting of sin ? Because man fell into 
 darkness, shall the love of God also expire with the 
 wisdom of man? and that he has not power to restore 
 man to himself, who first created him and breathed into 
 him the breath of life when man became a living soul ? 
 Although the body of man came from the dust of the 
 ground, the wisdom he had could only be spiritual, and 
 must come from spirit and eternal life. The first 
 created man would, to human wisdom, have been a soli" 
 tary being, had there been no spiritual beings or angels 
 of another order of creation for his associates ; the 
 heavens and the earth must have been one in union, and 
 communion; and while man continued in his happy state 
 of obedience, the angelic society were with him for his 
 true happiness, unfolding to him the love and wisdom of 
 an eternal God, as best suited his state of reception to be 
 a partaker with them. And the spiritual mode they had 
 to communicate ideas cannot be known at this day, by 
 any natural or acquired language ; nothing of this can
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 ever be known but by revelation ; and whatever 
 characters have been thus favoured, at different periods 
 since the fall, to converse with ministering spirits or an- 
 gels, it must have been by a spiritual preparation only; by 
 the putting off man's wisdom, like the shoes from his 
 feet, that is made by himself, that lie may stand on 
 holy ground, by which God has preserved a witness 
 of himself in different ages, with a view to the end. 
 
 When I said man would be a solitary being, if he had 
 no society with angels, I beg not to be understood there 
 could be no communication or union with his God with- 
 out them j but as by the established order of infinite 
 wisdom, there are principalities and powers emanating, 
 from the eternal majesty of God, who can have no equal 
 to himself, ail must be inferior ; but as from the bosom 
 of the Father proceeds the Son, who is One with 
 the Father *, the Son is as a medium of communica- 
 tion to all created beings, whether angels or men, to de- 
 scend and commune with them, according to their states; 
 and who, to restore man to himself, took man's nature 
 upon him even his fallen nature, from the Virgin Marv, 
 which was God manifested in the flesh ; and in Matt. i. 1 . 
 was called Jesus. Angels and men, when in union of spirit 
 have some resemblance, like equality, to each other; 
 but with infinite varieties and degrees, greater or less, 
 all emanating" from the eternal source of iovc and wisdom, 
 from which arises the divine freedom of society, the 
 true liberty of the Sons of God; which also agrees with 
 our Saviour's words " In my Father's house are many 
 mansions." When the fatal change took place by the 
 
 * " 1 and my Son who boili as One; 
 
 I took him from my side, 
 And so my plan I plac'd t'<>r man, 
 
 In mv own likeness all." 
 
 I'\urlh BcoJi'f Piopbecies, p. IIQ.
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 faU> the spiritual vision was withdrawn and closed. This 
 was out of pure love and mercy to man ; for when man 
 became subjected to the powers of hell, nature became 
 changed ; the will of God was not done on earth, as it 
 was done in heaven. Had the spiritual vision continued 
 open in rrmn, and the infernal host before him and about 
 him, nothing but horrors could ever attend him, without 
 any repose ; what is now invisible to him could produce 
 nothing but despair ; and it is by invisible means he is 
 now preserved from his invisible enemies. Here again, 
 the mercies of God most wonderfully present themselves, 
 whose love is constantly with us, although in disguise; 
 and who commands the rage of the sea, and compels it 
 to have its bounds ; for man is not to be lost in the 
 tempest; there is a shore, which will be his rest and 
 he will see it at the end. 
 
 This spiritual language must remain unknown until 
 man is redeemed from the fall, and the Kingdom of 
 Christ is established ; when the last will be first ; the 
 Alpha will be the Omega; and the Creator will then have 
 become the Redeemer; then will the knowledges of the 
 Lord cover the earth, as the waters cover the great deep; 
 the angels of God ean then descend, to be the com- 
 panions of mankind. And here lam led to make some 
 remarks upon 
 
 DREAMS, AND THE VISITATION OF ANGELS, 
 
 By the proofs that are in the Bible. We read in Genesis 
 xviii That the Lord appeared to Abraham in the plains 
 of Mamre : and he sat in the tent door and three men 
 stood by him, cc. aud in chap, xix And there cnvie two 
 angeh to Sodom at even ; and Lot sat in the gate of 
 Sodom; hi chap, xxi: When Abraham stretched 
 forth his hand to slay his son, the angel of the Lord cal- 
 led to him omtof heaven ; and, in thefifteenth verse, ther.n-
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 gel of the Lord called out of heaven a second time. 
 But I particularly wish to eng ;ge the reader's at- 
 tention to the twenty-eighth chapter, where Isaac had 
 called Jacob to arise and go to Padan-aram, to take a wife 
 of the daughters of Laban, his mother' o brother, to in- 
 herit the land to which he was a stranger, and which 
 God had given to Abraham and his seed, one hundred 
 and fitty years before, in these words, chap. xvii. ver. 8. 
 And I will give unto thee and to thy ,eed after thee 
 (in their generations) the land wherein thou art a 
 stranger; all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting 
 possession; and I will be their God." Now to re- 
 turn to chap, xxviii. 10th ver. \vc read that Jacob 
 went out of Beersheba, and went toward Haran ; he 
 lighted upon a certain place and tarried there all night ; 
 because the sun was set : And he lay down to sleep ; and 
 he dreamed; and behold a ladder set upon the earth* 
 and the top of it reached to heaven ; and behold the an- 
 gels of God ascending and descending on it ; and behold 
 the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord 
 God of Abraham thy Father, and the God of Isaac : the 
 land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to 
 thy seed; and thy saed shall be as the dust of the earth, and 
 thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and 
 to the north, and to the south : and in thee and in thy seed 
 shall all the families of the earth be blessed, &c. 
 &c. Here is a dream, and a dream too that demands the 
 serious attention of all ; for all will find it a pleasing 
 dream of the end. Next I shall proceed to chap, xxxvii. 
 And Jacob, afterwards called Israel, dwelt in the land 
 wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan* 
 with his generations. Joseph was seventeen years old, 
 and was feeding the flock with the brethren : veree 3 
 Now Israel loved Joseph, more than all his children ; 
 " because he -ocas the son of his old age:" and when his
 
 ( 41 ) 
 
 brethren saw their father's love to him, they hated him ; 
 verse S And they hated him yet the more for his 
 dreams and his words; verse 1 1 And his brethren envied 
 him; but his father observed the saying; verse 18 
 And they conspired against him to slay him ; and when 
 they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, 
 they said one to another, " Behold this dreamer cometh ;" 
 verse 22 And Reuben delivered him out of their hands, 
 that they might not kill him, but cast him in a pit ; and 
 Judah saved him from perishing in the pit, saying, verse 
 26 " What profit, if we slay our brother, and conceal 
 his blood ? Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites, and 
 they brought him into Egypt ; verse 36 And they sold 
 him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, and a captain of 
 the guards. Chap, xxxix. 2 And the Lord was with 
 Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in 
 the house of his master the Egyptian. Here again, by 
 the false story of Potiphar's wife, verse 20, Joseph was 
 put into prison, a place where the king's prisoners were 
 bound; verse 21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and 
 shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of 
 the keeper of the prison. And the chief of the butlers, 
 and the chief of the bakers were put into prison by the 
 wrath of Pharaoh, where Joseph was bound. They 
 dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his dream, in 
 one night, which were interpreted by Joseph, who said, 
 Do not interpretations belong to God ? And Joseph's 
 interpretations of both dreams came to pass.* And on 
 the third day, on Pharaoh's birth day, he restored the 
 chief butler, who did not remember Joseph, but forgot 
 him. Chap, xlii At the end of two full years, Pharaoh 
 dreamed, awoke, and dreamed again, both in one night. 
 In the morning Pharaoh's spirit was troubled ; and he 
 
 " Head this chapter.
 
 ( 42 ) 
 
 sent for the wise men and magicians ; but none could in- 
 terpret the dreams to Pharaoh. When the chief butler, 
 who had been in prison, remembered his faults to Joseph 
 he told Pharaoh of Joseph's interpretation of his dream? 
 and the baker's dream, when in prison (two years before;) 
 verse 14 " Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph ; and 
 they brought him hastily out of the dungeon ; and he 
 shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in 
 unto Pharaoh." And Pharaoh told to Joseph his dreams, 
 which no one could interpret; verse \6 And Joseph 
 answered Pharaoh, saying, " It is not in me : God shall 
 give Pharaoh an answer of peace." After Pharaoh had 
 told his two dreams, Joseph said the dreams of Pharaoh 
 are one : God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to 
 do. And by Joseph was given the true interpretation to 
 Pharaoh of the seven years of plenty and the seven years 
 of famine throughout the land, and over the earth. Af- 
 ter this, Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find 
 such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God 
 is ? And Joseph was thirty years old, when he stood be- 
 fore Pharaoh ; and Joseph was appointed to rule over the 
 house of Pharaoh, and over all his people; only on the 
 throne was Pharaoh greater than Joseph ; verse 51, 
 and the seven years of dearth began to come; verse 55 
 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the 
 people cried to Pharaoh for bread : and Pharaoh said 
 unto all the Egyptians, go unto Joseph: "What he 
 saith to you, do." And the famine was overall the 
 face of the earth; chap, xlii And when Jacob knew 
 there was corn in Egypt, he sent Joseph's ten brethren 
 from Canaan to buy corn, that they might live, and not 
 die; verse 7 And when Joseph saw his brethren, ho 
 knew them ; and Joseph remembered the dreams which 
 be dreamed of 'them, which caused his brethren's envy, 
 and himself to be sold, when they were tempted to slay
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 him. And when Joseph had made himself known to his 
 brethren, chap xlv. 4. he said, "I am Joseph your 
 brother, whom you sold into Egypt ; now therefore be 
 not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me 
 hither : for God did send me before you, to preserve 
 life. For these two years hath the famine been in the 
 land, and yet there are five years, in the which there shall 
 be neither earing nor harvest ; verse 7 And God sent me 
 before you to preserve a posterity m the earth, and to save 
 your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was 
 not you that sent me, but God." 
 
 After these words of Joseph, I shall not presume to 
 add, only to observe, that these marvellous events were 
 brought absut by Dreams. I, cannot refrain from bring- 
 ing forth the words of a man, that prodigy in learning, 
 whom I mentioned in a former part of this book, who 
 endeavoured to persuade me against the belief in dreams, 
 and who totally rejects every thing supernatural ; he 
 said, Dreams were only the shaking of the nerves. By 
 what means the nervous [system could produce such 
 dreams, again to produce such events, is for him and 
 those physicians who agree with him in the same opi- 
 nions, to explain, I now return; verse 16 It pleased 
 Pharaoh well, and his servants, that Joseph's brethren 
 were come; and Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "Say unto 
 thy brethren, This do ye j and take your father and 
 your households, and come unto me : and I will give you 
 the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat of the 
 fat of the land." And the brethren returned to Israel 
 their father, to bring him to Egypt, to dwell in the land 
 of Goshen, that he might be nigh unto Joseph. While 
 Israel was on his journey, with all he had, God spake to 
 Israel in the visions of the night, and he said, " I am 
 God the God of thy father ; fear not to go down tu Egypt .- 
 
 F 2
 
 ( 44 ) 
 for I will there makeof thee a great nation": chap. 
 xlvi. 4. And the number of souls that came with Jacob 
 into Egypt, who were sent for by Joseph, were threescore 
 and six, to dwell in the land of Goshen in Egypt, to be 
 nourished daring the famine. And Jacob, or Israel, lived 
 In Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was 
 an hundred and forty-seven years. And Israel said unto 
 Joseph, behold I die: but God shall be with you, and 
 bring you again unto the land of your fathers. And Ja~ 
 cob called unto his sons, and said, gather yourselves to- 
 gether, that I may tell you that which shall hefaljou in the 
 last days ; chap. xl. 33. And when Jacob made an end of 
 commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet in the bed, 
 and yielded up the ghost. And Joseph went to bury his 
 father, and with him the servantsof Pharaoh, and the house 
 of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house, and a 
 very great company ; so they carried the body of Jacob 
 from Goshen to Canaan. And after Joseph's return into 
 Egypt, fromtheburial of his father; chap. 1.16. hisbrethren 
 fearing that Joseph would requite them for the evil they 
 did unto him, they sent a messenger unto Joseph, say- 
 ing, thy father did command before he died, saying, so 
 shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the 
 trespass of thy brethren, and their sin ; for they did unto 
 thee evil : and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass 
 of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph 
 wept; and his brethren fell down before his face; and 
 they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said 
 unto them, fear not: for am I in the place of God ? J3ut 
 as for you, ye thought evil against me ; but God meant 
 it unto good, to bring to pass, as at this day, to save 
 much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not : I will 
 nourish you, andyour little ones. And hecomfoited them, 
 and spake kindly unto theni. \nd Joseph dwelt in 
 Egypt, he and his father's house : and Joseph lived an
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 hundred and ten years. So Joseph died, and all his 
 brethren, and all that generation. And the children of 
 Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly and multi- 
 plied, and waxed exceeding mighty ; and the land was 
 filled with them. 
 
 These chapters, beginning at the xxviii, with the 
 dream of Jacob's ladder, I do most seriously recommend 
 to be read through ; as I have only brought together the 
 leading particulars in a very short compass, trusting that 
 the readers will refer to each chapter, that they may 
 never forget what events have taken place, that were re- 
 vealed by Dreams; and what is taking place at this day; 
 and how the Lord promised to make known his will in this 
 manner, as in Numb, xii And the Lord came down in the 
 pillar of a cloud and called Aaron and Miriam ; and he 
 said, hear my words : If there be a prophet among you, 
 I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, 
 and will speak unto him in a dream. Again in Judges 
 xiii The children of Israel did evil in the sic;ht of the 
 Lord ; and the Lord delivered them into the hands of the 
 Philistines forty years. And the angkl of the Lord 
 appeared to the wife of Manoah, who was barren, and he 
 was told she should conceive and bear a son, who should 
 begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines, whose name 
 was Sampson. There are a variety of other parts of the 
 Bible, where the Lord appeared in a dream. To Solo- 
 mon, and also to others ; particularly in Daniel vii. 13 
 " I saw in the night visions, and behold one like the 
 Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came 
 to the A nciknt of Days, and they brought, him near be- 
 fore him, and there was given him dominion and glory, and 
 a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should 
 .serve him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, 
 which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which 
 shall not be destroyed." Many dreams and visions are
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 in Daniel, which are needless here to add. I now feel 
 it a duty to mention a few passages from the New Testa- 
 ment, wherein it is clearly and most decidedly proved, 
 that the foundation of every Christian Church in 
 the World rests on dreams and visions, and also in the 
 belief of angels.; and without the belief of these, they 
 hold no higher rank amongst the human race than 
 Savages and Hottentots, whom they affect so much to 
 pity for their ignorance and darkness. 
 
 I shall begin with the birth of Jesus Christ: in 
 Matt. i. when as his mother Mary was espoused to 
 Joseph, before they came together, she was found with 
 child of the Holy Ghost. and while he (Joseph) thought 
 on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared 
 unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of 
 David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife : for 
 that which is conceived in bet is of the Holy Ghost; 
 and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his 
 name JESUS : for he shall save his people from their sins. 
 Then Joseph being raised from sleep didas the angel of the 
 Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and 
 knew her not till she had brousrht forth her first-born son. 
 and he called his name Jesus. Here we find the con- 
 ception of the Virgin, and also the office of Christ, the 
 Saviour and Redeemer of the World, declared by an an- 
 gel in a dream. And in chap. ii. we read of the wise 
 men who had seen his star, and came from the East to 
 worship: and Herod the king was troubled and all Jeru- 
 salem; and he gathered the chief priests and scribes of 
 the people together, to know from them where Christ 
 should be born. And they told him, in Bethlehem, as writ- 
 ten by the prophet Micah v. <2. And Herod privily en- 
 quired of the wise men, what time the star appeared, 
 and scut them to Bethlehem to find the young child, and
 
 ( 47 ) 
 bring him word, that he also might go to worship the 
 child; but whose intention was to destroy it; for after 
 the wise men saw the child, and made their offerings, in 
 verse 12, they were warned of God, in a dream, not 
 to return to Herod. And after they were departed, be- 
 hold the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a 
 dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his 
 mother, and flee into Egypt ; and be thou there until 
 I bring thee word : for Herod will seek the young child's 
 life to destroy him. 
 
 Here I shall put a question : Why should IJerod, the 
 chief priests, the scribes, and all the people, be alarmed 
 at the birth of an infant, that in itself had no power to 
 hurt any, or do the least harm whatever ? The answer 
 is,, it was a birth out of the course of nature, and was 
 foretold by the prophet ; the infernal powers were alarmed 
 at this wonderful birth ; Satan knew who it was; and 
 this alarm was infused into the minds of the people; for 
 all Jerusalem were frightened at a Babe ! But the scribes 
 and chief priests told Herod of this birth, from the words 
 of the prophet Micah, which concluded with these words 
 "That shall rule the people." It is here worthy of a 
 remark, that as Herod, and all Jerusalem, both great and 
 small, should be alarmed at the birth of this child, it 
 must be a strong proof of the divinity of Christ, as well 
 by the conduct and fear of the Jews alter, even until his 
 death upon the cross ; and which leads me to the first 
 verse: Mary was espoused to Joseph, before the* 
 came together, &c. The custom of the Jews was, that 
 a contract was made, by which the women were con- 
 sidered as the wives of their intended husbands, although 
 the marriage had not been confummated. The usual 
 time from the contract was six months, before the ac- 
 tual consummation ; and if during that time, the in- 
 tended bride became pregnant, she was by the law
 
 ( 46 ) 
 stoned to death ; but it" the bridegroom did not insist on 
 so rigorous a punishment, he had it in his power to dis- 
 claim all intercourse with her ; and she was considered 
 as infamous, and abandoned to the hardships of life. But 
 Joseph, her husband, beinga just man, and not willing 
 to make her a public example; was minded to put her 
 away privily: Mall. i. 19- Thus the conception 
 of the Virgin Mary was not more marvellous than when 
 the BREATH of the Almighty at first made man a living 
 soul ; both were equally incomprehensible to natural 
 wisdom; for in Luke i. 35. the angrel said unto the Vir- 
 gin, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the 
 power of the Highest shall overshadow thee : therefore 
 also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be 
 called the Son of God." And in the next verse, the sign 
 was given to Mary of what the power of God could do : 
 " And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also 
 conceived a sou in her old age : and this is the sixth 
 month with her who is called barren." Now to return 
 to the sixteenth verse: He (Joseph) arose and took 
 the young child and his mother by night, and departed 
 into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod ; 
 and the angel of the Lord again appeared in a dream to 
 Joseph in Egypt, for him to arise and take the young 
 child and his mother, to return to the land of Israel. 
 During this time, Herod rinding himself mocked by the 
 wise men, who had before been warned in a dream not 
 to return to tell him where the child tvas, ordered all the 
 children under two years old to be slain, that were in 
 Bethlehem and in all the coasts. 
 
 Here we may bring to our view, what a monster the 
 devil can make of a man! I shall now proceed to the 
 visitation of the Virgin Mary ; but first to the birth of 
 John the. Baptist, who was the son of Elizabeth, the wife 
 of Zacharias a priest ; they were both well stricken in
 
 ( *& ) 
 
 years, and Elizabeth was until then barren.* Whilst 
 Zacharias was executing the priest's office before God, in 
 the order of his course, there appeared unto him the 
 Angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the 
 altar of incense, and said unto him, fear not, Zacharias; 
 ver. 13, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth 
 shall bear thee a sort, and thou shalt call his name John, 
 &:c. and in ver. 18, Zacharias said unto the angel, I am 
 an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And 
 the Angel answering said, I am Gabriel, that stand 
 in the presence of God, &c. And after those days his 
 wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months; 
 and in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from 
 God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin 
 espoused to a vian whose name was Joseph, of the house 
 of David: and, in ver. 25, the angel said, Hail highly fa- 
 voured, the Lord is with thee : blessed art thou among 
 women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at 
 his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of saluta- 
 tion this should be. And the angel said unto her, fear 
 not, Mary : for thou hast found favour with God; and 
 behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring fcrth 
 a son, and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, 
 and shall be called the Son of the Highest : and the Lord 
 God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David : 
 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever ; 
 and of his Kingdom theue shall be no end. Here I 
 must not only request the reading of this chapter; but 
 also to refleet on the different visitations of past ages, 
 which I have brought together, in as short a space as 
 possible of Jacob's ladder, when the Lord stood above 
 
 * We shoultl tall to our minds Abraham and Sarah; and also the 
 wife of M anouh, the mother of Sampson, who was barren. These 
 thiu^s itandinj as shadows in past ages shew Almighty Ptr.ver. 
 
 G
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 it what happened after by Joseph and his brethren and 
 to compare also Daniel's night visions, of what will be 
 the end, of the Ancient of Days, whose dominion shall 
 not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be 
 destroyed. Now let the reader reflect, deeply reflect too, 
 as to the number of years that passed away, from the 
 time of Abraham to the birth of Christ, a space of 
 2000 years ; it was 1760 years before the birth of Christ, 
 that Jacob had this dream ; and 125 years from Jacob's 
 dieam until the death of Joseph ; and 64 years from the 
 death of Joseph and all his generations, Moses was born, 
 when the succeeding Pharaoh ordered all the male child- 
 ren of the Hebrews to be put to death, which we may 
 compare with the fury of Herod upon the innocent 
 children, that the Son of God might be destroyed. Had 
 the infernal powers, by artfully working in Pharaoh, suc- 
 ceeded in destroying the male children of the Hebrews 
 at their birth, the whole race of Israel, to whom the 
 tromises were made, would have been lost ; and the fe- 
 male children, by being mixed with the Egyptians, the 
 descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, could no long- 
 er have been a peculiar and chosen people. In these 
 events may be clearly seen the workings of the powers of 
 evil, to destroy all that was good ; and here also we may 
 call to our serious attention, the great deliverance of the 
 children of Israel under Moses, and the destruction of 
 Pharaoh's host, so clearly described in Joanna's writings, to 
 be nType of the destruction of the Power of SATAN in the 
 end; and Daniel's visions of the end were shewn to him 
 553yearsbeforethebirthof Christ! Can any man, whether 
 philosopher or atheist, if he has a heart to reflect at all, sup- 
 pose that all these events can be inventions ? or that they 
 are not true? I am only surprised, when all is considered 
 together, that there should be found a man in the world* 
 having the use of his senses, who can have any doubt;
 
 ( 51 ) 
 
 yet there is scarcely faith to he found ! For what purpose, 
 or to what profit, according to the selfish mode of reason- 
 ing of the present day, could it be to the apostles and 
 disciples of Christ to believe, and testify their belief to 
 the world? their gain was torment, destruction, and 
 death j and the evil has been destroying and pursuing 
 the good to this day, the same as Pharaoh pursued the 
 children of Israel, and as Herod destroyed the innocent 
 children, by oppression and by blood ! But as there are 
 men who will say, that all these things are invention?, 
 how could all the parts so systematically agree with each 
 other, at such distant periods of time, and by people who 
 never saw each other, living at remote ages ? Here I will 
 leave the reader to ponder upon the whole, and judge for 
 himself; for it is his particular duty to know the truth 
 that the devil may be known in all his monstrous forms, 
 and what he has made of man, who was created to bear 
 the image and likeness of his God, according to these 
 lines in Joanna's Fourth Book, page 147 ' 
 
 Out of the dust I made at first 
 
 ]\Iy perfect Image there ; 
 I breathed in him, it then was seen, 
 
 My Spirit bright and fair. 
 
 Read this whole Communication, and then see what 
 Spirithas been in man after his fall 1 If we read the life 
 of our Saviour, we may trace the invisible power of hell 
 over the human mind, by the alarm stirred up, not 
 only at his divink jiirth, but also the extreme 
 cruelty and envy of the Jews ; for Pilate even knew that 
 they delivered him for envy ; Matt, xxvii. 16. for when lie 
 asked the Jews whom he should release, Barabbas or 
 Jesus, the Jews chose a murderer to be released, instead 
 ot innocence; for Barabbas had committed a murder in ;l 
 
 G 2
 
 ( 32 ) 
 
 sedition. When Pilate saw he could prevail nothing, 
 but rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed 
 his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent 
 of the blood of this just person : See ye to it. Then 
 answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, 
 and on our children*. 
 
 I shall here add the nineteenth verse, as to Pilate's tvife' 
 <e When Pilate was set down on the judgment seat, his 
 wife sent unto him, saying, have thou nothing to do with 
 that Just Ma 3; for I have suffered many things this 
 day in a Qre a.m, because of him." As every one must 
 know, by the crimes of men in every age, that the whole 
 world must be under infernal influences; what man, con- 
 ceived in sin, can do all this away ? who can redeem the 
 xvorld, if the Creator is not to be its Redeemer? 
 
 I have taken a wider and a more extensive range than 
 I expected, when I rirst began this book; as I only in- 
 tended to have given an answer to the mockery of the 
 
 * At the end of the Index to the Bible arc these words:" This 
 year Jerusalem (according to Christ's Prophecy) is besieged, taken, 
 sackt, and burnt, by Titus; 1,100,000 of Jews perished, 97,000 are 
 taken prisoners; besides an innumerable company that in other places 
 of Judca kill themselves, or perish through famine, banishment, and 
 other miseries." These events took place ?,~ years after Christ de- 
 livered these words in I.'c/.r xix. " When he vas come near, he be- 
 held tiie city, and wept over it, saving, if thou hadst known, even 
 thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! 
 but now they are hid from thine eyes; for the days shall come upon 
 thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass 
 thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even 
 with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not 
 leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knowest not the 
 time of thy visitation." The dews have been travelling vagabonds in 
 every nation, and are living proofs of the truth of prophecy ; no 
 sooner are our eyes opened in the morning from sleep, but their cries 
 ere sounded in our ears, while they an* parading our streets to pur- 
 chase our ranged and worn-out raiments-.
 
 ( 53 ) 
 world, for publishing of the Parables from Joanna, when 
 she was at Bristol in 1804; but reflecting on the denial of 
 every thing supernatural, I conceived it necessary to 
 make other observations, to shew to what an alarming ex- 
 tent infidelity is increased ; and in what a variety of forms 
 falsehood and hypocrisy are gone forth ; all of which 
 prove that these are the latter days. Not only the reality 
 of "a devil is universally denied ; but the divinity of Jesus 
 Christ is openly attacked ; yet he is considered as an ob- 
 ject of worship, because he was a better man than ethers. 
 Here it is allowed he had a purity of character above every 
 other man ; yet by denying the divinity of hisbirth, they 
 make him an impostor, and his mother a degraded woman, 
 whom the angel, said was blessed among women. A per- 
 son of such purity and innocence of character, (which they 
 are obliged to confess he was ) would not have suffered 
 himself to be called the Son of God, if he were not, and 
 begotten only like every other man. He would not have 
 said, as in Johnx. 30. " I and my Father are One;" 
 and in Johnv'm. 18. he said, I am one that bear wit- 
 ness of myself ; " for if he was only as another man 
 he would have had other witnesses, like every other man ; 
 and again, when the Jews said to him, John viii. 4. 
 " We were not born of fornication ; we have one 
 Father, even God." Mark his reply: " If God were 
 your Father, ye would love me ; for I proceeded forth, 
 and came from God.'' and in verse 43, he said, "Why 
 do ye not understand my speech, even because ye can. 
 not hear my word : " Ye are of your father, the devil, 
 and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a mur- 
 derer from the beginning ; and abode not in the truth, 
 because there is no truth in him: when he speaketh a 
 lie, he speaketh of his own ; for he is a liar, and the fa- 
 ther of it ;" verse 45 " and because I tell you the truth* 
 ye believe me not." No person but a good and upright
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 man, which they declare him to be, could have uttered 
 .such bold words ; and at the same time to be an impos- 
 tor, then he must have been as bad as the father of lies, 
 if not worse. -?-Therefore those who deny his divinity, 
 cannot understand his speech, and they must be under 
 their father the devil, and clothed with the garments or" 
 hypocrisy and deceit, in their pretended worship ; 
 neither will these men believe or understand these wosds* 
 in ver. 38. " I speak that which I hg,ve seen with my 
 Father :" and to these men the concluding words may 
 be applied ; f* And ye do that which ye have seen with 
 your father/' {meaning the devil). I shall now call the 
 reader's attention to Matt. iii. 16. "And Jesus, when 
 he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water : 
 and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw 
 the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting 
 upon him : and, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This 
 is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." How 
 could these words come from the God of heaven, and the 
 Spirit lighting upon him like a dove, if be were not the Son 
 of God? I need add no other observations to this. Let 
 those who deny the divinity of the Son of God, and yet 
 preach from his words make theirs; but 1 trull; and hope 
 that the reader will not fail to read these chapters and 
 judge for himself. Although these men, or any other 
 men, cannot deny the spotless innocence of Christ; yet, 
 their sincerity is by no means like that of Pilate, who 
 washed his hands before the multitude, saying, " I am 
 innocent of the blood of tins just person." But these 
 men rob Christ of every thing except the letters of his 
 name; and it must be well known that they are com- 
 pelled to make use of that name, if it werp only to 
 cheat with; indeed they cannot cheat without it; for 
 no congregation could they collect together, in a country 
 professing Christianity, without the name of Jesus Christy
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 and a prttenJeJ belief in him. It is by the use of hi* 
 Dame alone that they can preach at all ; and when, men 
 take so much pains to do away the essence of divine truth 
 ] can have no hesitation to doubt their sincerity, and con- 
 sider them no more than a race of impostors; and the 
 same character may be applied to all who deny the truth 
 of dreams, and visions^ and angels appearing at sundry 
 times. To take away the belief in these, the foundation 
 is gone, and the superstructure must vanish away as a 
 phantom of the brain. But there is a chain of evidence 
 composed of a variety of parts, or links, from the be- 
 ginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelation ; and 
 the greatest events have been produced by dreams, and 
 the visitation of angels in dreams, and their appearing 
 personally as men : and every church in the world, having 
 the name of Christ, must believe the whole., or their 
 church and their livings must fall and perish together: 
 so must every individual professing Christianity ; and 
 those who deny these, and also deny Christ's being 
 the Son of God, they are only thieves and robbers. 
 To believe in a part only, as fancy directs, will not do; for 
 the chain cannot be broken that unites the whole to- 
 gether as ONE. 
 
 The Bible cannot be understood without these and a 
 knowledge of types and shadows, as they are explained in 
 Joanna's writings : and the visitation to her is not only 
 the same as were those to the prophets, but in her are 
 fulfilled the words in John iii. 8. Here is the won- 
 der as mentioned in Revelation xii ; and these things 
 could never be explained to man, unless the seals wore 
 unloosed, as mentioned in the Revelation, and some one 
 had been found worthy to unloose the seals. Jesus 
 Christ, who is described as the Lion of the Tribe of 
 Judah, and who was the Lamb that was slain, is the onl\ 
 one, and who, as mentioned in chap. v. has redeemed its
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 to God by his blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, 
 and .people, and nation. What'has been sealed up in the 
 bosom of the Father is now revealed through the Woman 
 clothed with the Sun the day of redemption being now 
 at hand. 
 
 I will now introduce the words of the Spirit of Jesus, 
 
 ON PARABLES*. 
 
 FROM THE SPIRIT. 
 
 if NOW come to the Flock of Sheep : for I 
 now tell thee, these two books, that I ordered to be 
 printed in this manner, that you could not under- 
 stand one without going to the other, as some of thy 
 life is placed in one, and some in the other, so that 
 they both must be compared together ; perfectly so 
 stand the Law and the Gospel, which I shall bring 
 together to compare with thy Books. And know 
 what I have told thee, from the Flock of Sheep ; 
 I have compared the murderer to the devil, whose 
 subtle arts lay in wait to destroy mankind ; and so 
 I tell thee, he laid in wait to destroy Noah and his 
 sons, as he hath laid in wait for all ages, to break 
 off the happiness and union in man. Yet these 
 footsteps are not discerned by mankind, how he 
 goes on; that it was not the judgments of the de- 
 Inge, or the world's being drowned, nor the love I 
 shewed Noah, nor the love and faith he shewed to 
 me, put a stop to the progress of sin and misery : 
 no ; I tell thee, like the Flock of Sheep breaking 
 out against the murderer at the place where he com- 
 mitted the murder ; and that was the way he received 
 his punishment, to suffer for the crime he had com- 
 
 * The continnntion of the explanation ot these I'arables the reader 
 will find in Mr. Foley's Book, beginning in page 64.
 
 ( 5/ ) 
 
 mitted, for a crime he had not committed ; because 
 the innocent sheep broke out at the same place in 
 judgment against him. Now perfectly so in like 
 manner I have brought round the mystery of the 
 Fall, and the promise that was made ; Satan was 
 not cast and chained for the crime he then com- 
 mitted, neither understood they the promise ; and 
 ages have run on the same ; they never discerned 
 the promise that was made, neither discerned they 
 it must be pleaded, till I came to visit thre : and 
 here the innocent sheep appear, which, I tell thee, 
 lie cannot shun ; because I have set bounds for him, 
 as I set at first for man ; and thy innocence he can- 
 not betray, by all the arts he can invent. And now 
 come to the Gospel, where the murder was com- 
 mitted, to have the Flock of Sheep appear : See my 
 Heel how it was bruised ! Here the serpent stands 
 guilty to work in man to complete the murder, to 
 have my Heel bruised at first, that his Head 
 may be bruised at last ; fori now tell thee, in these 
 Parables, and the perfect manner I have worked 
 in thee, stands the likeness of my Bible through ; 
 therefore, I tell thee, now the time is comr for 
 vengeance to fall on the serpent's head ; and no 
 more can he escape than the murderer escaped his 
 just judgments, though concealed from every eye, 
 before it was brought to light by the Flock of Sheep: 
 aid yet I tell them, as by the Flock of Sheep, per- 
 fectly so are the mysteries of the Full ; they were 
 concealed from every eye, to understand the mean- 
 ing, before the Truth was brought to light by 
 thee; and yet I tell them, not by thee; because the 
 le was revealed p. y me. Can men suppose 
 the Flock of Sheep would in that manner have turn- 
 ed every way to baulk both horse and rider, if I had 
 sent no ixvisi'i-LK beintgs, of spirits or angels, 
 that had power over the sheep ? 1 tell thee, no ; 
 the sheep would rot have done it themselves, 
 
 n
 
 ( 58 ) 
 
 without their being turned by my command, as 
 Balaam's ass was turned, by the angel's standing in 
 the way, unperceived by the rider ; and perfectly 
 so, I tell thee, were the sheep turned by my com- 
 mand ; and perfectly so, I tell thee, by an invisible 
 Spirit came all this revelation to thee, to bring 
 round every mystery, and to turn the whole every 
 way, to bring to light the dark councils that were 
 hid from man. And so I tell thee, from these two 
 Books, I have shewed thee they allude to the Law 
 and the Gospel ; that meaneth, to the prophets, 
 and my decrees made from the beginning, which 
 are my Law and the Gospel, I have told thee must 
 join together ; which I am explaining from the sim- 
 ple shadow of the two Books that were placed in 
 order by me ; for I gave the command how they 
 should be placed ; and I have plainly shewn thee 
 from the one *, how thy book begins of the likeness 
 of Eve in innocence, in temptations, and in the fear 
 of falling; as Eve was in when she did fall. Thus I 
 have shewed thee the likeness of the one ; and from 
 the Parable of the Sheep, I shall shew thee the other, 
 which I shall prove from men and devils. See how 
 Ilerod sought my life, and slew the children to slay 
 me ; sec how Satan worked in man to go on, till 
 my death appeared; and yet, thou seest (like the 
 man) how he still goes on in disguise from men, 
 that he is their murderer ; before I come to warn by 
 my Spirit to bring the Law and Gospel together, 
 which I have told thee means the Promise made in 
 the Fall, and for which my Heel was bruised to 
 fulfil. And now I will tell thee how my sheep must 
 stand ; perfectly like thy two Books, that one part 
 of thy life is in one, and the other part is in the 
 other, so that you must go through them both to 
 
 ' Head flic first paiirs of Mr. Foley's Book, " What manner of 
 Onmiimiiuatiojis aic these," which liook represents the Law ai;d 
 l'iophets
 
 ( 5 9 ) 
 
 bring thy life together ; now perfectly so, I tell thee, 
 men must place my Bible the promise that was 
 made in the beginning the promise that was made 
 in the Psalms, for me to have the Heathens for 
 mine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth 
 for my possession* for my enemies to be made my 
 footstool *\- for the government to be upon my 
 shoulders J for the ends of the earth to see my sal- 
 vation^ for my Spirit to be poured out upon all 
 flesh || and all the earth to be taught of the Lord**. 
 Then where is Satan's power, when the prince of 
 this world is judged and destroyed-f-^, and the Lamb 
 ef God is taking away the sins of the world ;|;|', to 
 destroy him that hath the power of death, which is 
 the devil , that he is overcome by the blood of 
 the Lamb ||j| ? Now I tell thee, perfectly like the two 
 Books, thy history being broken off in one, and 
 being put in another, so that you must join them 
 both together, perfectly so, I tell thee, stand the 
 Scriptures of Truth ! for both books of the Bible, the 
 Old Testament and the New, stand in regular order 
 to prove to mankind the promise must be fulfilled, 
 and the kingdom restored to man as it was designed 
 before the Creation, and before the foundation 
 was laid. And now I shall tell thee, why I ordered 
 thee to put in print thy whole history, and the 
 history of thy father ; because I tell thee, perfectly 
 as thy father's conduct appeared to thee, to wound 
 and grieve thy heart, and then to grieve himself, 
 that he had grieved a child lie loved***, pcrfectlv so, 
 I tell thee, is my feeling for man ; for no more than 
 thy father could refrain his passions, when the powers 
 of darkness worked them high, no more can 1 avoid 
 often grieving and wounding the hearts of my chil- 
 
 * Psalm ii. 3. t Pjhlvi vx.\. + Isaiah ix. fi. Tsaiafi xlix. 0. 
 |! Joe/ ii. 28. ** /,.'/,//' iiv. 13. '-} .!>//! wl.'li. j; John 
 
 U 2Q. Hebrews ii. 11. \\\\ Revelations il 11. 
 
 *** Seepage 12. Flotk of Sheep. 
 II 2
 
 ( to ) 
 
 drcn whom I love, while Satan is daily accusing 
 them, as he did Joi? : they would not serve me if 
 the)' were afflicted, is Satan s upbraiding in all ages ; 
 therefore, I tell thee, I do not willingly grieve and 
 afflict the children of men, that look unto me as 
 their Father and Protector ; and yet, like thy father, 
 I often grieve them by afflictions, while the devil 
 is busy to condemn them ; therefore, I tell thee, 
 he must he destroyed, before your Peace can flow as 
 a river ; and I must take out of my Kingdom 
 all that offend, all trial wound and grieve my 
 children ; for these are my promises through the 
 records of my Bible, which may be as easily dis- 
 cerned, if you weigh the whole together, as thy 
 life can be discerned, if von weigh the two books 
 together. Here I have shewn thee, why I or- 
 dered thy life in print, and to be put in two 
 books, to bring them both together. Now I shall 
 come to the Parables, that I ordered thee to place 
 in both books ; know I have told thee, the Flock of 
 Sheep is compared to my Gospel, find with my 
 Gospel 1 shall compare the Parables that are placed 
 in this book. And now come first to the Parables 
 that are in my Gospel : Matt. xiii. 8. "A sower 
 went out to sow his seed." Here \ began in parables 
 to my disciples, and to nil men : Now mark the 
 words of my disciple^ " Why speakest thou unto 
 them in parables? " Know my answer :" " It is 
 given unto you_, to know the mysteries of the King- 
 dom of Heaven : but to them it is not given." Now 
 mark the parables through the chapter, and to what 
 parables I likened the Kingdom of Heaven. It was 
 likened unto a leaven, which a woman took and hid 
 in three incisures of meal, till the whole was 
 leavened. Now mark this parable with the other, 
 chap. xxii. 2 ver. " 'i lie Kingdom oi Heaven is like 
 unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his 
 and sent forth his scrva \i* to call ilicm that were
 
 ( 6i ) 
 
 bidden to the wedding : and they would not come.*" 
 chap. xxv. " The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto 
 ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth 
 to meet the bridegroom." Now I tell thee from 
 these parables, if they discern to what I likened the 
 Kingdom of Heaven to the marriage of the king's 
 son, and to the woman's having the little leaven, 
 they must know and discern, this is a spiritual 
 union that must take place with God and Man : 
 and to brinp; the likeness of the kino's son, the 
 shadow must begin with the woman. And iiere 
 bring the parable of the child that is born poor, and 
 mean for the noble knight*. Now I tell thee, from 
 this parable, it appeareth to the grand world that 
 boast of wisdom and learning, knowledge and un- 
 derstanding, as much to be despised by them to 
 think that a simple woman, without learning, birth, 
 or blood, as the rich and great so much boast of, 
 should be born as an Heir to claim the promise ; and 
 that mysteries should be revealed to her I This, I tell 
 thee, is as much despised by man, as the child was 
 despised by the knight ; and yet I tell thee, to make 
 my parables true, and to make the Law and Gospel 
 join, as thy history joins in the two books, that is 
 not completed in one, perfectly so, I tell thee, the 
 likeness of this parable must be fulfilled ; and the 
 spiritual union of the marriage must begin with the 
 woman to bring the Kingdom to what I likened 
 it to ; therefore I tell thee, however simple these 
 parables may appear to an unbelieving world, yet 
 to believers it is given to know the mystery, that 
 perfectly like the child in the womb of providence, 
 all these things were decreed, which neither men 
 nor devils can overturn ; for as the woman was hid 
 at different times to save her life, to be preserved 
 to the end, and fulfil the decrees; perfectly so, 
 i tell thee, it has been by the woman, in the womb 
 
 ' Pa^e SI, Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 of Providence ; she was made for man's good ; but as 
 Satan sought her life, to destroy her, I was born of 
 the woman, to be man's helpmate for her ; that 
 meaneth, that I might be a helpmate for man's 
 good, that was born of the woman ; and they sought 
 my life to destroy it. So here is the second time 
 it hath been hid from man, of the mystery of the 
 Creation, when I made the woman. But now I am 
 come in the Spirit to unveil the mystery, and clear 
 the whole. For I now tell thee, as thy writings 
 have been hid. and twice cut open, and proved by 
 man*, and yet as the promise that was made is not 
 fulfilled, they must wait till the third time, that 
 thy trial cometh by Friends and Foes. Perfect- 
 ly so, I tell thee, stands the nvystery of the Gos- 
 pel, that men do not understand ; and yet if they 
 discern the parable deep, and what was the end, 
 they could discern plainly, the woman was created 
 to make man perfect in happiness, as the child in 
 the end made the knight; but as the child's life 
 could not be preserved, if kind Providence had not 
 interfered, and the powers of heaven protected the 
 child ; perfectly so, I now tell thee, without kind 
 Providence, and the interference of heaven, the wo- 
 man can never be preserved and restored to that 
 state of happiness and innocence, she was created 
 for. And now to come to this happiness, you must 
 come to the other parable -f~. where the courage of 
 the lady ventured her life to find out the murderer 
 she wis jealous of; and yet I tell thee, this could 
 not be done, for her to hive that faith and courage, 
 wisdom and prudence, to bring the truth to light, 
 without a kind Providence interfering in her behalf. 
 So you must discern from the parable, she was pro- 
 
 * The Box of sealed writings and the scaled pare 1 ! ".ore opened at 
 the Trial at Hi_',h House, I'addmgton, in January, ISO,'); and again 
 at the second Trial, at Neckinger house, iiemioiuUey, in December, 
 ISO-!. 
 
 t See page 70, 71, I lock of Sheep.
 
 ( 63 ) 
 
 tected by heaven, or she could not have brought the 
 murder to light in that manner, and save her own 
 life. Now from this parable stands Satan s end \ for 
 this is what I said in my Gospel, Johnxii. 31 ; I 
 said Now was the judgment of this world ; that 
 meaneth, the judgment they then passed on me ; 
 but mark the words that follow : Now shall the 
 prince of this world be cast out ! Now mark my 
 words further: chap, xvi Of judgment, because 
 the prince of this world is judged ; and mark further, 
 whar I said to my disciples : I have many things to 
 to say unto you; but ye cannot bear them now; 
 howbeit, when the Spirit of Truth is come, he 
 shall guide you into all truth. Now I tell thee 
 from these words, how could the disciples bear to 
 go through all their sufferings, if I had told them 
 of the end, and the perfect mystery of my death, 
 with the reason why my heel was bruised ? For the 
 victory could not come by man, to have the prince 
 of this world cast out ; to have him judged by the 
 transgression of man ; as man never cast it on him. 
 No : it must be by the woman, whom he betrayed, 
 to claim the promise, where il ivas made, that he 
 might he judged for all the evils that he had done from 
 the creation^ ever since he betrayed the woman. But 
 had these things been explained to the disciples, I 
 ask thee how they could have borne them ? but now 
 mark from the Spirit of Truth when he comes, he 
 shall guide you into all Truth. Now I ask thee, 
 what men make of these words? was not the Spirit 
 of Truth in me ? but know I told them, they could 
 not bear it then ; but now the Spirit of Truth is 
 come to guide you into every Truth, and bring 
 every thing to your remembrance, from the founda- 
 tion of the world to this day. And now mark my 
 words further ; when they said, blessed is the 
 womb that bare thee, and the paps which gave thee 
 suck, know my answer ; Yea rather blessed are they
 
 that hear and believe my Gospel. Luke xi. 28. 
 Now I ask how men understand these- words? Do 
 they vainly suppose my followers are more blessed, 
 or yea rather blessed than my mother ? I tell thee, 
 no : and know what was written of her, all genera- 
 tions should call her blessed ; and blessed she is call- 
 ed ; and blessed, I tell thee, she is : and yet, I tell 
 thee, the meaning of my words, though they were 
 blessed that believed my Gospel, and the womb was 
 blessed that bore me ; yet, I tell thee, rather 
 blessed are those, that believe to the. fulfilment ': 
 and they may say blessed are they that, believe 
 my Gospel, that Idled to fulfil the pkomise ; for I 
 now tell thee, they will be rather blessed that enjoy 
 the fulfilment ; because they will not have to go 
 through the miseries and evils that others had to go 
 through, when the murderer is cast and cut off, 
 like the fable, for betraying the woman *. Now 
 mark the parable : he was a murdcicr of women ; 
 and by a woman he vcas found out, and brought to 
 justice. Now I tell thee, the parable goeth deep, 
 and close with my Bible, if you discern how he was 
 betrayed by the -very hand lie thought to murder ! 
 Now perfectly so, I tell thee, is Satan betrayed, as 
 the guilt was first cast on his head, by the zvoman he 
 betrayed. And now discern in what manner I have 
 ordered to lay my plan, as I laici it first for man, that 
 Satan may be judged according to my Gospel, and 
 by the trials and temptations that he pursues all with, 
 and which plainly prove he is justly cast, as he 
 claimed it, (that is death) for man at the first ; there- 
 fore, I tell thee, the fable is plain for man to discern 
 the end ; and weigh my Gospel with the Revela- 
 tion ; and let them mark the twelfth chapter with 
 the twentieth, and then they must discern the truth 
 of the parable, that I ordered thee to print; for 
 know what 1 said in my Gospel, that I would liken 
 
 * See rn : :( ; 70 and 71 Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( 65 ) 
 
 the Kingdom of Heaven to every likeness of things 
 upon earth ; then now discern this parable of the 
 woman, (that is the lady), with what agonies of 
 sorrow she went through, and what the man 
 had in his heart, to be her murderer ! and how 
 she brought it round to bring on his destruc- 
 tion. Now I tell thee, from this parable, as it is 
 placed between the man and the woman, perfectly 
 so stands the Revelation, between the serpent and 
 the woman ; and know, the man must be first cast, 
 to be in prison till the judge cometh ; and perfectly 
 so stands the Revelation. Satan is first cast, having 
 a little space to come down in wrath, before the 
 judge cometh to pass his sentence. So I tell thee, 
 these two fables*, that I ordered thee to put in 
 print, are a perfect likeness of the Gospel, if men 
 can understand what they read, and discern the 
 parables that were placed by me at first, and how 
 they were ordered to be placed by me at last; for 
 in the man and woman, I have placed the likeness, 
 if you discern the parable deep, to weigh it with my 
 Gospel. 
 
 And now I shall come to another Parable, of the 
 Alarming Drum, when the soldiers beat aloud \. 
 Now I tell thee, from this parable, though you will 
 see it come upon many; yet, I tell thee, it is the 
 perfect end, when I come to brin^ in my king- 
 dom \. And now come to the parable in my Gos- 
 pel What shall the Lord of the Vineyard do when 
 he cometh ? He will come and destroy all these hus- 
 bandmen, and give the vineyard unto others. So 
 I tell thee, from the parable, men and devils both 
 may fear; for the srnsc is like the other; because as 
 thy parable ends, the innocent was bawd, and the 
 guilty was cast. 
 
 " Knight and the F.aiK. 
 i" See ].:{' ~h~ Flocti oi' Sheep. i Mark \i. Luke xx. <->.
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 And now I shall tell thee of another Parable to 
 compare with my Gospel, which is the Hermit in 
 disguise* : and so in disguise I came to my fol- 
 lowers, when I arose from the dead, and appeared 
 first to the women, and next to my disciples. 
 Now I tell thee, from this chapter, {Luke xxiv.) 
 mark in what disguise I appeared to my disciples, 
 and they knew me not : and now I ttll thee., in the 
 Spirit I am come in the same disguise to men ; and 
 their eyes are so holden, they do not know me ; and 
 yet, I tell them, I shall make myself known amongst 
 my disciples, before 1 take thee out of the world ; and 
 yet I appear in disguise to men, expounding to 
 them, on the Scriptures, in what manner the whole 
 must be fulfilled. Here 1 have shewed thee I come 
 in disguise ; so I ordered thee to pen the fable of the 
 Hermit in Disguise : but know, I told thee, from 
 the type of the hermit, what the end would be. 
 And now mark from that parable, how it ended well 
 with the innocent; but the guilty met his fate ; and 
 perfectly so I told my disciples the end would be, 
 when I came in might, majesty and power, to 
 welcome my friends into the joy of their Lord. 
 Now if thou discernest the parables, that I ordered 
 thee to pen, the end brought guilt upon the guilty, 
 and the innocent were freed ; perfectly so stands my 
 Gospel, that the same end would be to mankind. 
 But now I know thy pondering thoughts : there are 
 dreams put in print, that the innocent was murdered, 
 and the guilty fled -\-. So here the misery fell upon 
 the innocent ! Now perfectly so, I tell thee, is the 
 Gospel; the innocent was "murdered and the guilty 
 fled in the beginning ! Mark my death ! and the 
 death of my disciples ! Here is the parable that thou 
 hast put in print by my commard, standing perfect- 
 
 * Sec pagcQO Flock of Sheep. 
 t See jrajre GS-t-Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( 6? ) 
 
 ly like me and my disciples ; and what I told them 
 before would take place in me and them. So as the 
 two dreams were fulfilled, my words were fulfilled 
 in the Gospel : here it fell upon the innocent, while 
 the guilty fled. So as these things were accomplished 
 in the first, there is every other parable remaining 
 for the last; and deep, I tell thee, the parable 
 stands, as a type for the end : to shew men clearly 
 the truth of my parables ; how they may hope to 
 the end ; how they will be delivered at the end ; 
 and how the murderers will be destroyed. There- 
 fore, I tell thee, these Books that thou cbuldest not 
 bear, because of the parables, arc a clearer and 
 deeper sign of the end, than any Books that have 
 been printed ; because the parables were commanded 
 by me to be put in print*." 
 
 * In page 48 of die book called the Flock of Sheep, there 
 is another parable, of die Healkn g S a lv k being applied, 
 before the corruption is drawn out. This, in the first place, 
 alludes to the clergy at large, who pretend to heal the 
 nation over whilst they continue in their sins and in their 
 blood, without searching their wounds to the bottom ; 
 therefore they pretend to heal the wound that is in man, 
 without first drawing out the corruption, that is originally 
 from the devil ; so that the root of evil must never be 
 drawn out. It may also be applied to all the believi rs ; 
 some of whom have believed themselves more holy than 
 their brethren, without discovering the corruption in 
 their own hearts; and who have been n proved, on pur- 
 pose that, they might be healed, however painful it must 
 be to them. This parable, as respecting the clergy, 
 is explained by the Spirit, which the reader will 
 see in page -1 0, and is also applied to believers, and i.1 
 a fulfilment of the words in the Gospel ; - Whose fan is 
 in his hand, and iik will thoroughly purge his floor." 
 Here are the words of the Sim kit. 
 
 " This bringeth it to thy parable, that I ordered thee 
 to pen; (Brown's Healing Salve, and Deem's Draw- 
 ing Salve). So if you weigh them both together, you 
 
 I '2
 
 ( 08 ) 
 
 ' Now I shall come to another Parable, that is plac- 
 ed in my Gospel, and in thy Book. But now I know 
 thy pondering thoughts : Where in my Gospel can 
 I liken what the lady said of the gentleman, that he 
 was like an empty bottle *? And now I will tell thee 
 where I have placed it to in my Gospel ; Luke xi. 44. 
 i4 Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
 crites ! for ye are as graves which appear not, and 
 men that walk over them are not aware of them." 
 Now I tell thee, from these words, an empty grave, 
 that is not discerned, is like an empty bottle, which 
 deceives man, if he expects to have wine therein. 
 Now perfectly so I tell thee of mankind, scribes, 
 Pharisees, and hypocrites have been in every age of 
 
 will see the parable join with my Gospel and with my 
 pruning them that are in the vine, if they will bear prun- 
 ing; but if not, I tell thee, like withered branches they 
 must be cast out." 
 
 Since the foregoing remark was sent to the press, the 
 following lines were taken out of Joanna's sealed writ- 
 ings, written in 171)0, exactly tkn years ago, when 
 people then thought their clangers were over, which we 
 may apply to the present state of the country , for, in 
 consequence of the death of Mr. Pitt, we have had new 
 rulers, some of whom are men of great acquired knovv- 
 3e-de, and distinguibbed for integrity of heart. 
 
 ** The healing Balsam now is tried ! 
 
 But here the wound lies deep. 
 They think the dangers all are gone, 
 
 Before the wound seems dried ; 
 Bui soon they'll find they are deceiv'd; 
 
 The wound lies deep within, 
 And when that it begins to break, 
 
 They'll find their judgment gone; 
 For /;; flu r hhod the)/ arc bound up , 
 
 And all told not to fear: 
 Wv Law and Gospel's all forgot, 
 
 Let all men now take care." 
 
 * See page f>9 Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( 6 9 ) 
 
 the world ; and it was known to me, they would 
 continue to the end ; therefore I compared them to 
 graves that are empty, and not discerned, that men 
 walk over unaware and fall into ; because I tell 
 thee, men do not discern the deceit that is in them- 
 selves, as the lady discerned the deceit of the man. 
 She soon perceived he was nothing but emptiness, 
 and ordered an empty bottle to convince him ; but 
 how few have her wisdom, to discern the emptiness 
 there is in mankind! They boast of my Bible ; they 
 boast of the Gospel ; that they have a knowledge of 
 the whole ; but when you come to put them to the 
 trial, and ask them what they make of the whole, 
 and whether they judge it will be ever fulfilled, I tell 
 thee, their wisdom is as empty as thebottle ; for they 
 will tell you it must be fulfilled in their wisdom 
 and their ivisdom is like the man 's fortune, which thou 
 knowest was none ; perfectly so I now tell thee, 
 there is no wisdom in man to know the way the 
 Scriptures will be fulfilled ; and he that boasts he 
 hath this knowledge is like the man that would have 
 deceived the lady by his appearance, if she had not 
 found out the real state of his fortune, that all was 
 gone, and he had nothing left. Nov perfectly so I 
 tell thee the same of mankind ; their wisdom is 
 gone : their knowledge was lost in the beginning; and 
 man hath no power of himself, to help himself; 
 neither hath he knowledge to know the end ; there- 
 fore I rell thee, men must discern these things, how 
 far man's wisdom and understanding are gone ; and 
 how far their wisdom would lead men astray ; as the 
 wisdom of the Jews led men from my Gospel, so 
 would men's wisdom lead them from my Kingdom. 
 Therefore I tell thee, the wisdom of man is perfectly 
 like thy parable, and like the parable I brought for- 
 ward of the graves, that men walk over, not discern- 
 ing the pit they might fall into : for now mark my
 
 ( 70 ) 
 
 words further : The light of the body is the eye ; 
 therefore when thine eye is single thy whole body 
 also is full of light ; but when thine eye is evil, thy 
 body also is full of darkness. Lukeyii. 34. Now I 
 shall tell thee the meaning of these words To have 
 your eye single you must have it to the Lord, be- 
 lieving all my Bible will be fulfilled ; that God is a 
 God of Truth ; and to that truth your eye must be 
 fixed ; then the Scriptures will fill you with light 
 to discern what is not fulfilled, and what is to be ful- 
 filled, to make the word of the Lord in all things 
 come true : but if your eye be evil, like Jezebel's, 
 when she saw my wondrous working at the first, 
 what I had done by the hand of the prophet, yet her 
 evil eye was darkened, not believing, from the mira- 
 cles she had seen before, that I had power to save the 
 prophet, and bring on her the destruction that I had 
 threatened to Ahab's house ; and that I should de- 
 stroy her, as I had destroyed her prophets ; this 
 her evil eye never discerned before the destruction 
 came upon her*. 
 
 ON T THE PARABLE OF LOUD BURNET. 
 
 Now I shall answer thy pondering thoughts, at 
 the 5Qth page in the Flock of Sheep. Simple as thy 
 thoughts were, in the manner thou judgedst to be 
 called aloud, so simple, I tell thee, were the 
 thought^ of believers, to think they should know the 
 powerful visitation of my Spirit, when thy trial was 
 at the end of the year : for I now tell thee, there 
 were many who expected the promise to be fulfilled, 
 of the pouring out of my Spirit, when thy trial was 
 at the end of thai year, as thou wast in expectation 
 to hear my voice call thee aloud; and like thy disap- 
 
 \ Sec the continuation in Mr. Foley's Book, from page 07 to 71.
 
 ( 71 ) 
 
 pointmcnt was their disappointment. Therefore, I 
 tell thee, I ordered these shadows, simple as they 
 appear to be, to be printed ; yet, I ordered it so, 
 that, from the shadow you may discern the sub- 
 stance, how the like disappointment came to Be- 
 lievers. Now I tell thee, if men discerned this deep, 
 and compared the shadow and substance together, in 
 these little things, they would discern my footsteps 
 in greater ; for it was to open the eyes of their un- 
 derstanding that I permitted these trilling things to 
 appear : and let this be discerned by all ; though 
 thou wast disappointed every time thou waitedst with 
 expectation ; yet know, in a day thou little thought- 
 est of, and in an hour unaware, thou heardest thy 
 name called aloud. And mark the enquiry thou 
 didst make, to know if it was possible to come from 
 thy brother's room ; now perfectly so, I tell thee, 
 suddenly and unexpectedly will thy calling be, and the 
 enquiry be made*. Now 1 tell thee, like the shadow 
 will be the substance of the disappointment, and the 
 
 * 
 
 Now to understand this, it is necessary to say, that 
 the time when Joanna expected to be called was on the 
 24th of June; but she was not called till the 1st 
 of August, when she heard her name called aloud 
 " Joanna," upon which she desired Underwood to 
 see if there was any one in her brother's room ; but 
 there was no body there; as that was the only room 
 that the voice could come from, had one called in 
 the house. Then she desired Underwood to call 
 aloud in that room, that, she might prove if the voice 
 could be heard from thence ; but it could not ; there- 
 fore she knew that she was called by the same voice 
 that she had so often been called by, and to her as- 
 tonishment at a time that she did not expect ; for she 
 was surprised at it, as she had passed the time she 
 expected to be called, and did not then think she should 
 be called till the three mouths were up.
 
 C n ) 
 
 sudden surprise*. And now I shall answer thy 
 pondering thoughts upon the letters that were sent 
 to Foley and Sharp*)-; as thou hast been pondering in 
 thy heart to what purpose were the letters sent, so near 
 alike each other, to he put in print; for thou canst 
 see no meaning in either. But now I shall answer 
 thee, why this was done : as I have told thee, from 
 those two books, I shall bring them to the Law and 
 the Gospel ; now mark John xii. 30, 31 "This 
 voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 
 Now is the judgment of this world : now shall the 
 prince of this world be cast out." Chap. xvi. 11. 
 " Of judgment, because the prince of this world is 
 judged." Here I have shewed thee from the Gospel, 
 and now I shall come to the prophets : Isaiah xxv. 7, 
 8 " He will destroy in this mountain the face of the 
 covering cast over all people, and the veil that is 
 spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in 
 victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from 
 off all faces, and the rebuke of his people shall be 
 taken away from off all the earth : for the Lord hath 
 spoken it. And it shall he said in that day, Lo, this 
 is our God, we have waited for him." Isaiah xliv. 8 
 " Fear ye not, neither be afraid : have not I told 
 thee from that time, and have declared it ? ye arc 
 even my witnesses." Now I shall answer thee from 
 these words ; as thy letter stands in both books, se- 
 parated, one part in one, and the other part in the 
 other ; yet perfectly to one sense and meaning they 
 both are of one thing; anil perfectly so, I tell thee, 
 stand the words of the Prophets and the Gospel. 
 And now mark the words before ; irr. (j " Thus 
 saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Rcdeem- 
 
 * See Flock of Sheep, pn;;e /'.ft. 
 t The 20th June, Isoi, 87th ]-a^e it] Mr. L'olcv's, and ( 2Stli page in 
 Mr. Sharps hook,
 
 ( 73 ) 
 
 er, the Lord of host ; I am the first, and I am the 
 last, and besides me there is no God." Now I ask 
 what thou understandest from these words, any more 
 than thou understandest from thy books ? In thy 
 heart thou answerest, thou dost not understand them. 
 Now I answer thee : perfectly as thy two letters might 
 be joined together as one, perfectly so, I tell thee, 
 stand the words before thee: the Lord the King of 
 Israel, and his Redeemer, I tell thee, are united as 
 one, though it appeareth to man, from the Gospel, 
 that they are separated, like thy letters ; and yet it 
 is known to thee, they were only divided by one be- 
 ing sent to one, and another being sent to another ; 
 and many words in both are alike ; now perfectly so, 
 I tell thee, stands the Gospel appearing as a se- 
 paration to man, that the Lord and the Redeemer was 
 divided, by my taking man's nature upon me, and 
 condescended to be born of a woman. Here stands 
 the separation that stumbleth the Jews ; because it is 
 written, I am God, I know not any, and besides 
 me there is no God. Now I tell thee, from these 
 words, the Jews will never be convinced, until they 
 discern the separation that all came from the be- 
 ginning from one Mead, as thy letters are in one 
 sense, though parted into two separate books. Now 
 perfectly so, I tell thee, stand the Law and the Gos- 
 pel : there is no earthly God, man can set up ; there 
 is no Image, man can set up; neither is there any 
 Man that can be set up by man, to be a God, but 
 only the Creator of the Universe, who dwelleth in 
 the heavens above, and amongst the habitations of 
 the earth below. But this men do not discern, the 
 meaning of the words that were spoken in the creation, 
 when the Creator of the world said, Let us make 
 man in our likeness. Now I tell thee, if men discerned 
 deeply the words that were spoken at first, t hey would 
 discern to whom I spoke that there was a Unity in 
 
 K
 
 ( M ) 
 
 Heaven of some One I compared with myself. Here 
 I have shewed thee from the first words in the crea- 
 tion, concerning making man ; secondly from the 
 Fall, after the man had cast his blame upon his Crea- 
 tor, for giving him the woman ; and I pronounced 
 the curse on the serpent for betraying the woman. 
 Mark the words that I said: He shall bruise thy head, 
 and thou shalt bruise his heel. Now whose heel do 
 men vainly suppose I said he should bruise, but the 
 Lord's, where the man cast the blame ? Now I tell 
 thee, as the unity was together in the words let us ; 
 so I tell thee, the blame was cast on the US that was 
 united together as one. These things I am speaking 
 for the sake of the Jews, to open their blind eyes ; 
 because it is written there is but one God, they 
 cannot believe, from that God, there can come a 
 Holy One to be a Redeemer, to fulfil the words 
 spoken in the creation ; for I tell thee, there are thou- 
 sands who marvel as much at the Law and the Gospel, 
 how they can be divided and joined together, as thou 
 hast marvelled at thy two books, how they are divided; 
 and yet thou sayest they are joined as one, the same 
 thing printed over again. Perfectly so, I tell thee, I 
 and my Father were ONE, one in substance from 
 the beginning ; one in heart and spirit united ! So I 
 tell thee, there was but one God for the Jews to wor- 
 ship ; and they knew of no other ; neither taught J 
 them another; neither taught I in my Gospel of anv 
 other God for men to worship ; but plainly told them 
 1 and my Father were ONE; and that I was from 
 the beginning I come from the Father I go to 
 the Father is what I taught my disciples and mark 
 in what manner I taught them to pray. So if men 
 discern my Gospel, they must discern my coming in 
 the Flesh, to suffer for the transgression of man ; and 
 to have my heel bruised, which was a separation from 
 the Father, to take man 's nature upon me, as thine 
 was a separation in the two letters ; and yet one in
 
 I 75 J 
 
 substance. And now I ask thee, who do men suppose, 
 came to Moses in the Bush ? or on Mount Sinai ? or 
 who so often visited Moses ? I know the thoughts of 
 thy heart ; and to thy thoughts I shall answer ; they 
 both were as ONE; but the separation came by taking 
 man's nature upon me : but, I tell thee, in Spirit 
 it was ONE ; and by the same Hand, the same 
 Power, and the same Spirit, that Moses's miracles 
 were wrought, I wrought all the miracles in the 
 Gospel : but, I tell thee, to fulfil the one I must 
 suffer the other. Therefore I tell thee, thousands 
 and tens of thousands, besides the Jews, are stum- 
 bled concerning the Gospel ; as they cannot look 
 into the mystery of the Trinity ; and many judge 
 they worship two Gods, by uniting the Father and 
 Son together ; and this, I tell thee, is through ig- 
 norance, for want of discerning the words in the 
 creation " Let US," in the beginning, which was 
 first, and must be last, and besides it, there is 
 no God. Here I have shewed thee plainly in what 
 manner the us was divided, perfectly like thy two 
 letters, and many words the same over again ; and 
 so, I tell thee, they are here : thus saith the Lord, 
 the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of 
 Hosts. Now I ask thee, who was HIS Redeemer, 
 that did his will, and obeyed it and came to suffer 
 for the transgression of man, to fulfil the promise? 
 Will they say, this was man ? I tell thee, no; man's 
 redemption cannot come by man ; therefore it must 
 come to the Gospel " Behold the Lamb of God, 
 that taketh away the sins of the world ;" for who 
 shall set in order things from the beginning, to fulfil 
 the promise that was made in the beginning ? But 
 these things I have revealed to thee, the reason why 
 I took man's nature upon me, to suffer for the trans- 
 gression of man, that was cast upon his Creator, that 
 m the end the Promise may be fulfilled : and it is 
 
 K 2
 
 ( 76 ) 
 
 known to thee, the enmity that is kindled between 
 thee and the serpent ; between thy seed and his seed ; 
 all his malice and fury was strongly felt by thee; and 
 heard, and discerned by my handmaids that were with 
 thee ; therefore I said, be not afraid ; ye are my wit- 
 nesses; and my witnesses ye are, of the enmity that was 
 kindled. Now come to the Gospel, the words that 
 I ordered thee to pen : John xvi. 1 1 The prince of 
 this world is judged ; but mark the words that I said 
 before, in ver. 7, 8 When the Comforter cometh 
 he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, 
 and of judgment; of judgment, because the prince of 
 this world is judged. Now mark these words: I told 
 them the Comforter must first come, to reprove the 
 whole world, before the prince of this world was 
 judged. And now mark the other words that I or- 
 dered thee to bring together. This voice came not 
 because of me, but for your sakes: Now shall the 
 prince of this world be cast out. Perfectly so, I tell 
 thee, the powerful working of my Spirit, and the 
 manner the voice was spoke within thee, came not 
 for thy sake, but for the sake of' others, that they 
 may be my witnesses, that the enmity was kindled; 
 that the prince of this world should be judged and cast 
 out. Now I shall come to thy pondering: in Foley's 
 book, the same letter is in the Q/th page ; as they 
 stand both (Sharp and Foley's) in one date, and 
 thou hast been pondering in thy heart how simple 
 many things appear to be published to the world ; 
 but know what I told thee in the beginning, thy 
 case was Job's, and thy friends were like Job's ; and 
 how simple does the book of Job appear to an igno- 
 rant world, that know not the designs, nor the de- 
 crees of their Creator! Let them mark the two 
 first chapters, and my answer to Satan, concerning 
 Jo!) : kb Behold he is in thine hand, but save his 
 life." Here is a mystery that no man discerns, why 
 I should suffer Satan thus to try and tempt Job ;
 
 ( 77 ) 
 
 doth not this appear to the world as simple as my 
 suffering Satan to tempt and try thee ? But the 
 ends were unknown to man, why this thing was per- 
 mitted ; know I have told thee, it was not for Job 
 only, but for all men, to shew in what manner 
 Satan upbraids mankind ; and how afflictions often 
 come to the just, to confound and shame their ac- 
 cuser ! But how would mankind believe Satan was 
 such an accuser and tormentor, if I had never per- 
 mitted his arts to appear ? and if they had never 
 appeared in the Bible, then the world might say it 
 appeared simple for Satan to be permitted in this 
 manner to try thee. But in Job's afflictions mark 
 his words " I know that my Redeemer liveth, and 
 that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." 
 Here was Job's inward assurances from me, while 
 the powers of darkness were strong upon him ; but 
 mark my words to Job, in chap. xl. 2 " Shall he 
 that contends with the Almighty instruct him ? He 
 that reproveth God, let him answer it." Now it is 
 known to thee, I have told thee already, it was Sa- 
 tan that reproved God concerning Job ; then know 
 I compared thee to Job in the beginning ; and now, 
 I tell thee, like Satan's contention concerning Job, 
 so were ii is contention and aggravation in every way 
 concerning thee, therefore 1 said, you are my wit- 
 nesses against the devil ; fear not, nor be terrified, 
 my friends ; I am in the Spirit, and will destroy your 
 enemy. Now do these things appear more marvel- 
 lous to men, that I should speak in the Spirit to 
 thee, than to dispute with Satan concerning Job ? 
 I now tell thee, all appcareth alike marvellous to 
 mankind ; and yet, I tell thee, all is brought to- 
 gether, that ye may call all things to your remem- 
 brance, and weigh the beginning with the ending : 
 for as I compared thy life with Job's, so I shall com- 
 pare Job's, and Satan's accusation against him, with 
 the beginning. And now mark Job's end ; he was
 
 ( 78 )' 
 
 twice as rich as at the beginning; because, thouknow- 
 cst, his riches were doubled, after I had confounded 
 Satan, his accuser; and perfectly so, I tell thee, 
 will be the end of man, after I have put to silence 
 your accuser. But how shall I bring all things to 
 your remembrance, and call forward my footsteps, 
 that were hid in the great deep, to shew you, from 
 the beginning, you do not know the ending, before 
 my wisdom doth appear, if I had not brought 
 forth types and shadows in thee, that men might 
 weigh the whole together, how Satan disputed con- 
 cerning Job, how he disputed with me in the Gos- 
 pel, and how it is said, in the Revelation, his 
 malice would be kindled against the woman, when 
 he knoweth he hath but a short time, and is cast 
 unto the earth ? Then know he persecutes the woman 
 which brought forth the man child. Now I tell 
 thee of this mystery, concerning the man child, 
 it will not be cleared up till the end ; and then will 
 every one see clear the perfect mystery of the man 
 child, that is brought forward to man, to rule the 
 nations with a rod of iron. But this I shall leave, 
 and shew men plainly, from thy visitation, the clear 
 truth of the Gospel ; and let them weigh it with the 
 Scriptures that I have mentioned. 
 
 And now I shall come to thy pondering heart, in read- 
 ing oyer the hooka of Moses; and thy own thoughts 
 thou hast feared being in a sin; as thou hast discerned 
 many iliings that appear more wrong in the books of 
 Moses, which are put in print, than the things I 
 have commanded thee to put in print; and strange 
 do the things appear to thee that 1 should order the 
 children of Israel to offer up bullocks and sheep, to 
 make atonement for their sins. These tilings ap- 
 pear marvellous in thy eyes; and I now tell thee, 
 marvellous in the eyes of man do all my ways appear, 
 from the creation of the world to this day; because 
 my footsteps have been hid in the great deep, and
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 my paths past man's finding out. But know I have 
 told thee, the books of Moses stand a type of the 
 end ; and the serpent he lifted up in the wilderness, 
 was a type of my being lifted up; and know I 
 have told thee, the type of the beasts being slain is 
 a type of the end, that SATAN must be slain like- 
 wise. And now discern the words at first, which 
 were said to the serpent " Cursed art thou above 
 all beasts ;" then now I tell thee, from the shadow at 
 the beginning, and the words that were then spoken, 
 the shadow must begin with the beast to be offered 
 up for the sins of man ; therefore, I tell thee, no 
 man discerneth in what manner my Bible stands, 
 that the types and shadows come/// st, and the sub- 
 stance hist. Now mark ; these things were ordered 
 by Moses, that I visited through the wilderness. 
 And now come to the Gospel : when I came to pur 
 away the shadows, I came to bring the substance ; 
 I was lifted up, like the serpent in the wilderness ; 
 and I came to bear the curse for man ; then discern 
 what followeth : I did not tell my disciples to make 
 anymore offerings of bullocks or sheep ; but know I 
 told them, it was the prince of this world that should 
 be judged and cut off; for the shadows were past 
 it was the substance that was to come ; and the old 
 serpent, called the devil, to be destroyed ; for as 
 thcjirsl shadows came upon m i<;, 'o the second shadow 
 of killing the beasts and destroying them, should 
 come upon I UM, which came in the form of n ser- 
 pent, compared with the bras!. Now I. tell thee all 
 mankind, that mock thy visitation, thy prayers and 
 petitions, to claim the promise, to have the Beast 
 destroyed, that sin may be removed, may marvel 
 at the Books of Moses : and let men answer me, 
 which they judge most consistent with the wisdom 
 of a wise and just God, to see the sacrifice in every 
 heart, wishing to have the Beast destroyed, that is 
 the author of all your sins, that you may serve the
 
 ( 80 ) 
 
 Lord without sin unto salvation, or wishing to live 
 in sin, and have its author remain, but offer up 
 bullocks to make an atonement for your sins ? Now 
 I ask mankind, which they judge is most pleasing to a 
 just God, the shadow, or the substance ? And 
 know, after the shadow of offering up the beasts, 
 they committed sins as before ; so this sacrifice did 
 not do; but when evil is destroyed, sin will be de- 
 stroyed ; then the sacrifice of the heart will be esta- 
 blished in righteousness and peace. Now I tell thee, 
 from thy pondering thoughts, these typesand shadows 
 were commanded to be be done, after the flood, to 
 shew the next Beast that must be swept away; 
 and my Bow was set in the clouds for man ; there- 
 fore the beasts were ordered to be slain, to shew 
 the type of the promise how the Beast must 
 be slain in the end ; when my Blood makes a full 
 atonement for the transgression of man, then must 
 come the language of every heart, to have the Beast 
 slain, that sin may be destroyed; that meaneth, 
 the serpent that betrayed them, compared to the 
 beast ; and as the shadow, the beasts were slain ; 
 but when it cometh to to the substance, know it is 
 the old serpent, called the devil, whose power must 
 be cut off. Now if these types and shadows did not 
 stand in the Bible, men might marvel at the end, 
 when 1 come to reveal all mysteries, and bring all 
 things to your remembrance ; but now let him that 
 mocks my visitation to thee, and men's signing for 
 the destruction of Satan, that they may be sealed 
 mine to the day of redemption ; thise that mock 
 this direction, and think it too simple for a God, let 
 them tell me what good the blood of bulls and goats 
 could do ? or whether a man could appear more holy 
 or just in my sight, or more innocent before me, 
 because he had slain a bullock, a sheep, or a lamb? 
 Did this change the man's heart ? In thy heart thou 
 amwerest, no; and yet, I tell thee, obeying the
 
 ( 81 ) 
 
 command was a blessing to them that did it in true 
 obedience to my will and command : because the type 
 and shadow stood of the end. Now perfectly so I 
 tell thee of the end ; it is not signing your names 
 that changes the heart, or overcomes the evil power, 
 so that he hath not power to tempt you ; and yet I tell 
 thee, the perfect obedience, and true desire of the 
 heart, to have evil destroyed, that I may walk with 
 man, and man with me, is a more acceptable offering 
 than the burnt- offerings of beasts ; so that he who 
 despiseth the one, let him point out why I com- 
 manded the other. Here ! have shewed thee, from 
 the books of Moses, what was the shadow of slaying 
 the Beasts-, and so I tell thee of every command, 
 being given to Moses, what they should all do, 
 were but types and shadows of the end, when my 
 delight is with the sons of men ; and my often visit- 
 ing of Moses, as thou hast remarked in reading his 
 books through, are types and shadows of the end, 
 when I come to claim the earth my own, and walk 
 up and down in it ; that meaneth, constantly to 
 visit men by the Pow r ER of my Spirit, when every 
 heart is renewed by me, and every evil is taken out 
 of the way. Therefore I tell thee, the Books of 
 Moses arc types of the end. 
 
 Now come to the prophet Balaam : 
 
 BALAAM AND THE HEATHEN NATIONS. 
 
 Num. xxii. He was not a prophet of the children 
 of Israel ; but he was a prophet of Balak's whom 
 Balak sent unto ; but thou knowest his heart 
 went atler Balak, that he might be promoted 
 by him to honour. Now I know thy ponder- 
 ing thoughts : how could Balaam be a prophet 
 of the Lord, and not be of the seed of the Jews, 
 when I said. " You only have I known of all the 
 families of the earth?''' Here is a mystery thou dost 
 not understand, concerning Balaam ; but this mys- 
 
 L
 
 ( 82 ) 
 
 tery I shall explain to thee. Dost thou think all the 
 families of Israel were in Egypt? that none of their 
 offspring was any where, but there ? I tell thee they 
 were scattered in different parts. Dost thou think 
 of the Jews there are none of their offspring amongst 
 the Gentiles, that believe the Gospel ? I tell thee, 
 Yes ; for when they are so scattered and divided, 
 men know not from what slock, they spring ; therefore 
 leave off thy pondering thoughts concerning Balaam: 
 and now discern his heart, how he wished to be pro- 
 moted to honour by I3alak ; and yet know his 
 answer " If Balak would give me his house full of 
 silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the 
 Lord my God, to do less or more." Numbers xxii. 
 3 8. Here, I tell thee, he was truly convinced, it 
 was out of his power to do according to the wishes 
 of Balak's heart ; and yet it was in his heart to wish 
 to please Balak ; therefore, I ordered him to go up 
 with the people that came unto him. Now I know 
 thy pondering thoughts : after I had ordered him 
 to arise and go, it is said the anger of the Lord was 
 kindled, because he went. This appears contra- 
 dictory to thee ; perfectly so, I tell thee, do many 
 things appear contrary to the wisdom of man, that 
 are wrirten in the Scriptures of Truth. Now I tell 
 thee, why my anger was kindled when he arose to 
 go ; because [ knew the thoughts of his heart, that 
 his heart went more with Balak, that he might be 
 promoted bv him to honour, than his heart was with 
 "me. Now I tell thee, if Balaam had risen by my 
 command, and his heart had been not. to do the 
 will of man, but of God, my anger would not have 
 been kindled, because he went by my command-, but 
 it was knowing the thoughts of his heart, that he 
 wished to go from me, and go up to please Balak, 
 that kindled my anger against Balaam ; therefore the 
 angel stood in the way, and opened the mouth of 
 the ass, that he i ight sec my wondrous working, 
 before he went to Balak ; and know it was out of his
 
 ( S3 ) 
 
 power to go one step of his own ; for I tell thee, 
 his conscience soon smote him in what he was do- 
 ing ; therefore he said, I have sinned : and after that 
 he repented ; for mark his words in the following 
 chapter : " Let me die the death of the righteous, 
 and let my last end be like his ! Now I tell thee, 
 from Balaam, here stands a type deep of the end ; 
 and I tell thee he prophesied of the end ; though it 
 is known to thee, many have judged his prophecies 
 only to foretel the coming of Christ ; but I tell thee 
 he prophesied of the end. And now look to his 
 vision i 'He hath said, which heard the words of God, 
 and knew the knowledge of the Most High, which 
 was the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, 
 but having his eyes open*; I shall see him, but not 
 now : I shall behold him, but not nigh : there shall 
 come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall 
 rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of 
 Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth." Numb. 
 xxiv. 16, 17. Now I tell thee to mark his para- 
 bles through : " How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob I 
 and thy tabernacles, O Israel ! He shall pour the 
 water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in 
 many waters, and his King shall be higher than A gag, 
 and his kingdom shall be exalted." Now I tell 
 thee, these words men do not discern : let them read 
 the chapters through, and what were the parables of 
 Balaam. After the ass had opened her mouth to re- 
 prove him, he prophesieth of the end what star 
 should appear ; what sceptre he should sway; and 
 whose kingdom should be exalted ! But mark thg. 
 end of Jus parables : " Alas ! who shall live when 
 God doe th this?" Here, I tell thee, he plainly 
 shews, from every parable, what is the end of the 
 children of Israel ; and what I shall arise to do ; but 
 who are the children of Israel.? is thy enquiry ; does 
 
 * Eyes of his Spirit. 
 L 2
 
 ( 84 ) 
 
 his allude to the Jews ? are they the children of Israel 
 who are meant ? But know, already I have told thee, 
 who the children of Israel are : It is they to whom 
 the promises are made ; for as Balaam was a prophet, 
 and not with them, yet he prophesied of the end, 
 perfectly so, I tell thee, many true Prophets 
 will arise, to discern the end, that are not of the 
 Gospel, as Balaam did ; and yet I tell thee, it is those 
 that are of the Gospel, and rely npon me for Re- 
 demption, that I shall free from the powers of 
 darkness, as the children of Israel were freed from 
 the hand of Pharaoh ; and yet I tell thee, like Ba- 
 laam, when my deliverance draweth near, to gain 
 the promised land for my people, and build Jeru- 
 salem afresh, prophets like Balaam must arise, and 
 warn these nations ; for I tell thee, as the angel 
 appeared in the way to Balaam, and opened the 
 mouth of the ass, to let Balak know that the chil- 
 dren of Israel would possess his land ; perfectly so, 
 I tell thee, will the visions he in the end to warn 
 other nations what are my decrees. Now I ask thee, 
 who would receive the threatenings abroad from this 
 nation? or who would hear the threatenings? Would 
 Balak have sent to Moses, or to Aaron, to enquire of 
 them ? In thy heart thou answerest, no; perfectly so 
 I tell thee of other nations; they will not hear the 
 threatening from this nation, and Prophets like Ba- 
 laam must arise from abroad; therefore, it is written, 
 in the Revelation, of the leaves of the tree 
 being for the healing of the nations. I tell thee, 
 they must be first wounded by judgments, and warn- 
 ed of destruction by prophets, that will arise amongst 
 them ; and then with joy they will hear the news, 
 that there are hopes for those that turn. So I tell 
 thee, in the book of Moses that thou hast read over, 
 and stumbled at, stand every type and shadow of 
 the end. But where is the man who can prove the 
 prophecies of Balaam are fulfilled ? and where is my
 
 ( 85 ) 
 
 kingdom so exalted ? No ; I tell thee, men do not 
 discern the Scriptures they read ; nor what is fulfilled, 
 nor what is yet to come ; but all will find the truth 
 of Balaam's words "God is not a man, that he 
 should lie, neither the son of man, that he should 
 repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or 
 hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good ? I 
 have received commandment to bless ; and he hath 
 blessed, and I cannot reverse it." Num. xxiii. 19, 20. 
 Now I tell thee, from Balaam's words ; I have or- 
 dered thee to read through the Books of Moses, 
 that thou may est discern the truth of my words, 
 that the prophecies of Balaam were not then fulfilled; 
 but he prophesied of what should be hereafter, when 
 I come to deliver my people from the bondage of 
 sin and Satan, as 1 was then delivering them from 
 the hand of Pharaoh which were but types and 
 shadows of the end. Now mark the words of Ba- 
 laam, and what followed after, and then you will see 
 that his words must stand to the end : " He hath 
 not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen 
 perverseness in Israel ; the Lord his God is with 
 him, and the shout of aking is amongst them." Num. 
 xxiii. 21. " The people began to commit whoredom 
 with the daughters of Moab ; 3 ver. And Israel 
 joined himself with Baal-peor : and the anger of the 
 Lord was kindled against Israel. Num. xxv. 1.3. 
 The Lord said unto Moses This people will rise up 
 and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers 
 of the land whither they go to be among them, and 
 will forsake me, and my covenant." Deut. xxxi. Hi. 
 For I know their imagination, which they go about, 
 even now, before I have brought them into the land, 
 which I sware, ver. 21. Now I have shewed thee 
 from these chapters, that I foresaw there was per- 
 verseness in the hearts of the children of Israel, and 
 that they would turn away from all my commands, 
 that I had commanded them ; therefore I tell thee, 
 the words of Balaam were not fulfilled in them : nei-
 
 ( 80 ) 
 
 ther do men discern what they read ; for know I told 
 Moses how I knew they would depart from me, and 
 brine; down my anger upon them, and how they 
 would be scattered again in the end ; therefore I tell 
 thee, no man discern eth that Balaam prophesied of 
 the end. When the hearts of men are changed, and 
 the imagination of their hearts are to have all evil de- 
 stroyed ; then will the words of Balaam be fulfilled 
 that the shout of a King will be in the camp of Israel ; 
 but that must be the true Israel of God, when the 
 morning sTARariseth in their hearts; then will I de- 
 stroy all the AmoriteSjthe Canaanites, and the Kenites. 
 Now I tell thee from these nations, it alludes to all 
 nations that are like them, when I come to make a 
 final end, and sway the sceptre in righteousness: then 
 it may be said How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, 
 and thy tabernacles, O Israel ! when I come to afflict 
 Eber, that he perish for ever. Now I tell thee the 
 meaning of the words of Eber's perishing for ever, 
 compared with the other nations. It is the ROOT 
 OF EVIL must perish for ever ; then shall my 
 doctrine drop as the rain, my speeches shall distil 
 as the dew, when men publish the name of the 
 Lord, and ascribe the greatness unto your God, 
 when I separate the sons of Adam. Deut. xxxii. Here 
 is a chapter thou dost not understand ; neither is it 
 understood by the ltarned ; yet thou sayest in thy 
 heart, the words seem plain before thee When the 
 Most High divideth to the nations their inheritance, 
 when he separateth the sons of Adam : he set the 
 bounds for the people, according to the number of 
 the children of Israel ; for the Lord's portion is his 
 people ; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance : and all 
 this thou judgest alludes merely to the children of 
 Israel, without considering how often they were pro- 
 voking me to anger to destroy them ; and how they 
 were always rebelling against me ; then what portion 
 could they be to the Lord, to be the lot of his in- 
 heritance ? No; I tell thee, these words stand for
 
 ( 87 ) 
 
 the end, when my people will be my portion, that 
 turn unto me, to live for ever in my fear and in my 
 favour; then shall I keep them as the apple of mine 
 eye. For I tell thee, the world is as a howling wil- 
 derness, and as a desert it is now to man ; and Satan 
 is ready to catch the prey ; therefore I tell thee, the 
 Scriptures, that thou hast pondered over are not dis- 
 cerned nor understood by men, that all these things 
 stand upon record what I shall do for my people in 
 the end ; neither have men discerned what followed 
 the children of Israel ; and how their rest was not 
 sure ; neither did they continue in my favour to en- 
 joy the things that were written of them ; neither do 
 they discern for what end these words stand to shew 
 mankind how the shadows of the first are the substance 
 of the last, when I told Moses I would give them the 
 lands I had promised to their fathers ; and as the 
 shadow began by the children of Israel, so., I tell thee, 
 the substance will end unto all the true Israel of 
 God, when I separate the sons of Adam, to preserve 
 the Abels, and destroy the Cains. This is the sepa- 
 ration I shall make, when I come with ten thousands 
 of saints, who are longing for my coming and lor my 
 commands to be written in every heart ; then will 
 come the words of Moses, that he spake to the dif- 
 ferent tribes of Israel ; so will it rest upon the dif- 
 ferent nations, who receive the blessings like Jacob; 
 for then, I tell thee, it will be lasting. And now mark 
 the words of Moses, in the chapter that is before thee. 
 Dent, xxxiii. Now I have shewed thee these chap- 
 ters, and gave thee a short explanation therefrom, that 
 men may discern what stands on record, from the 
 beginning to the ending; for I nov tell thee, these 
 chapters, though they perfectly speak of the end, 
 they art not discerned by man, but are judged as 
 men judge my Gospel : because I said // is finished \ 
 they judge that all was finished ; and perfectly so by 
 the words of Moses ; because he said it to the chil- 
 dren of Israel, they judge all was fulfilled in them ;
 
 ( 88 ) 
 
 that is, unto the Jews at that time, without discerning 
 who were the true Israel of God. Now I tell 
 thee, if men take all for the Jews, for them only to 
 have the promised blessings, they cannot believe my 
 Gospel ; for now I ask thee, what Scriptures will men 
 apply unto those that are brought in by my Gospel, 
 to believe in their redemption ? and where stand the 
 Promises by the Prophets, if they allude all to the 
 Jews, that all stand for them only in the end? Then 
 my Gospel must be null and void; and th&re is no 
 man who can make it good, because I said I come 
 to fulfil the law of God and the prophets ; and again 
 I told my disciples, in all my parables, that it was 
 them that believed in me, that I died for their salva- 
 tion, that I should come again to redeem ; and these 
 are they that should be welcomed into the joy of 
 their Lord, who were faithful at my coming. Now 
 I tell thee, if men weigh the Gospel and the Prophets 
 together, and ascribe all the blessings that were made 
 to the Israel of God to be to the Jews only, then they 
 must deny the Gospel ; for the Law and the Gospel 
 cannot stand together ; because at my coming to re- 
 deem the world my Promise is to none who do not 
 believe in me, that I died for the salvation of man ; 
 and this, I tell thee, men must believe, if they be- 
 lieve the prophets ; then how can these things stand 
 for the Jews, who neither kept the law of Moses, 
 neither keep they my Gospel ? Then where is the 
 rock they have to fly to, who neither obey the Fa- 
 ther nor the Sox the Law nor the Gospel ? Then 
 now I ask thee on what can they rely? But now I 
 know thy pondering heart : thousands of the Jews 
 turned to the Gospel, and upon their offspring may 
 the promises rest in the end ; but this, I tell thee, 
 is unknown to man, who is the offspring of the 
 Jews, and who is not ; therefore I tell thee, as Jacob 
 was called Israel, so I tell thee are the promises to 
 Jews and Gentiles, as Jacob and Israel were two names 
 in one ; perfectly so siands the end, which, I tell
 
 ( s& ) 
 
 thee, comes by faith : Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 
 obtained the promise by Faith and there stands tht 
 whole Israel of God." 
 
 What the Spirit has further delivered will be found in 
 Mr. Foley's Book, in his Answer to the World, begin* 
 ning at page 71, and continued to the end of page 77. 
 
 The tahole of 'these Communications roere taken by Anj? 
 Underwood, from the mouth of Joanna South- 
 Cott, in the presence oj Jane Townley. 
 
 A COMMUNICATION 
 
 ON 
 
 JOANNA'S VISITATION, AT BRISTOL, 
 
 in 1804. 
 
 I have promised, in page 15, to give to the public a 
 further Communication about Types and Shadows, and 
 which follows here, in addition to what has already been 
 given by the Spirit in the foregoing pages. 
 
 June 9, 1805, after Joanna had been reading over her 
 wondrous visitation at Bristol, in the summer of 1804, she 
 deeply pondered in her heart of the manner of her visita- 
 tion ; of her being so strongly assaulted by the powers 
 of darkness, at that time j and that the publication of 
 them could be" of no use to be put in print, as she saw no 
 prophecies in them. Whilst Joanna was thus pondering, 
 the Spirit told her, they were of use for a time to 
 come; and that the strange things, which had happened 
 to her during that year, should be compared with the 
 fcook of Job with Isaiah xx where the Lord ordered him 
 to walk naked and bare-footed three years, for a sign 
 and a wonder upon Egypt, &c. with Jeremiah xiii 
 where the Lord ordered him to take a linen girdle, and 
 
 M
 
 { 90 ) 
 
 put it on his loins ; and after that he was ordered to take 
 the girdle and go to Euphrates, and hide it' there in a 
 hole of the rock ; and after many days, he was ordered 
 to go again and take it out; and also in Ezekicl iy, are 
 seen the many different ways the Lord commanded him 
 to do. 
 
 In the same year of ISO*, Joanna was twice ordered 
 to send the Letters by Express, instead of the usual mode 
 by the post. Now all these things together appeared to 
 her marvellous ; as she could see no prophecies in them ; 
 and that it could be no pleasure to people to read about 
 her sufferings. These were the pondering thoughts of 
 Joanna, on Sunday, June 9, 1805, while she was reading 
 over the Book printed by Mr. Foley, at the end of 1804, 
 entitled, " What manner of Communications are these!' 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRTT. 
 
 Now, Joanna, I shall answer thee from the pon- 
 dering of thy heart and thoughts, which I have 
 worked strongly in thee ; as the hearts of all men are 
 known to me, and the pondering of thy heart and 
 thoughts are the pondering thoughts of many. And 
 now I tell thee why I ordered thy Visitation to be so 
 in print. Know what I told thee of the year at the 
 beginning, that it was a type of the End \ and now I tell 
 thee, there are no books that have been printed are a 
 stronger prophecy of the end than those are : and I 
 now tell thee, what happened to thee is a deep type 
 and shadow to your nation, and to all nations. 
 For as Isaiah's going barefooted was a type unto 
 the people what should happen to them ; so I tell 
 thee, what happened to thee is a type unto the na- 
 tions the same ; and perfectly so they will find it in 
 the end ; for as I placed types and shadows in thee, 
 let this be observed and remarked by all men, this 
 thing came to thee in the 4th year of the century, 
 that I told thee before the century began, in the 4th
 
 ( 91 ) 
 
 year I should begin to change my Blessings into 
 Judgments ; and in that year I set the type as strongly 
 in thee as I set it in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. 
 And now mark the words which I said to Jeremiah, 
 after I had set the sign from the girdle, that he took 
 out of the rock and saw it was marred, and was 
 profitable for nothing; know my answer : After this 
 manner will I marr the pride of Judah, and the great 
 pride of Jerusalem. And perfectly so, I tell thee, 
 hath been my Visitation to thee ; and in like manner 
 it shall come upon the Nations. And mark every 
 way ; it came to thee in different ways, and in a 
 different manner; and so, I tell thee, in different 
 ways, and in a different manner, it will come upon 
 the Nations. And mark how many different ways I 
 ordered the type to stand in Ezekiel, chap, iv * : the 
 one by taking a tile, as though he was laying siege 
 against Jerusalem and setting battering rams against 
 it round about ; and as I ordered him to take an iron 
 .pan and set it for a wall of iron between him and the 
 city, and to besiege it, for a sign to the house of 
 Israel ; then I ordered him to lay on his left side, 
 to lay the iniquities of the house of Israel upon it ; 
 and the years of their iniquity were to be according 
 to the number of days that I ordered him to lay on 
 his left side three hundred and ninety days ; and 
 forty days to lay on his right side, for the iniquities 
 of the house of Judah, each day for a year. Then I 
 ordered the meat he should eat to be mixed together, 
 which was unpleasant to the taste. Thus I com- 
 manded the prophet for a sign unto the people, what 
 their iniquities should bring upon them ; and per- 
 fectly so, I tell th.ee, the three months that my 
 Visitation was so strange upon thee, in the 4th year 
 of the century, will be three years to this nation, 
 
 * Read the 4th and 5th chapters, which were written *>lt> years hr 
 fore Christ. 
 
 M 2
 
 ( 02 ) 
 
 wherein they will see my strange Visitation, of various 
 kinds. For though they do not discern the distresses 
 that have happened to your people abroad no more 
 than they discerned what happened to thee ; and yet, 
 1 tell thee, it was felt by the people of your own land, 
 as my visitation was felt by thee : and as thou didst 
 lie on the floor in agonies and sufferings, so did your 
 people lie on the ground by the sword, by the plague 
 that was in your Port *, and others were sunk in the 
 great deep. But this hath been unnoticed by man, 
 to discern the shadows that first appeared ; but I tell 
 you, it will be felt by your land when the Expresses 
 come of dangers, as I ordered the Expresses to go out* 
 This is a shadow you do not discern, the two expresses 
 that I commanded should be sent out the first year 
 that I began to visit your nation with heavy afflicti- 
 ons ; they do not discern it ; neither will they 
 discern it, before judgments come heavier upon 
 them ; but by Expresses they will be warned : and I 
 now tell thee, in various ways things will happen in 
 your land. And now I shall begin with thy first Visi- 
 tation : thou wast alarmed, fearing thou hadst done 
 wrong, and every mark, of despair was fixed in thee ; 
 then came the power of my Spirit to thy deliver- 
 ance. Now I tell thee, this is one of the things that 
 will happen to your nation : when they see the 
 judgments roll on, and great dangers seem to sur- 
 round them, there are thousands who will begin like 
 thee, tp make enquiry if they have done wrong ; for 
 know I have told thee, the persecuting Pauls, where 
 the hearts be good, they will begin to grow jealous 
 for theirselves, when they see the dangers before 
 them, and the truth is plainly shewn unto them ; 
 then ihey will begin to cry out like thee, and enquire 
 into the cause : therefore I rook my Spirit from thee 
 and hid my face as it were for a moment, and gave 
 the enemy room to work, that I might shew thee 
 
 * Gibraltar.
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 what would be in the heart of man. But know I told 
 thee, those that began to grow jealous, like thee, fear- 
 ing they might do wrong, I should convince them in 
 the end, when I began to shew my powerful working : 
 and powerful they will find it in the end. This is 
 the shadow of one of thy visitations, that many, 
 like thee, will be jealous for themselves. But now 
 I shall tell thee of another visitation, when thou 
 wast laid on the floor, insensible of what thou wast 
 doing, till thou hadst discoloured thy own flesh by 
 thy own hands, beating thyself. This is a Type 
 which stands deep for ihe LAND, that is insensible 
 of their own dangers, insensible of what they are do- 
 ing, and what they are bringing on themselves. And 
 I tell thee, it is not to this nation only, but the type 
 stands deep for other nations ; because thy prophe- 
 cies stand for all nations, and the ends of the earth : 
 and my visitation is upon all nations, which I tell 
 thee will go on ; for I shall not stop until I have 
 made an end. Therefore I tell thee, thousands, 
 like thee, will be insensible of what they are doing, 
 till their own hands bring on their own destruction, 
 as thy own hands wounded thee. This is another 
 shadow which lies deep for the nation ; and, as I 
 told thee, for all nations : and know, in this thou 
 wast insensible. Another shadow is of thy sickness ; 
 for I now tell thee, as thou wast sick, so shall I 
 sicken the nations, and make them sick with smit- 
 ing them ; for I now tell thee, as thy stomach loath- 
 ed the bread of man, so do men loath my word, 
 and the bread that cometh down from heaven to be 
 eternal life to them ; and yet, I tell thee, this is as 
 much loathed by thousands, as bread was loathed by 
 thee; therefore I shall make them sick even unto 
 death, as thou wast sick ; but thy life was prolong- 
 ed to finish the work I had for thee to do; and so 
 I tell thee of the nations ; though I shall make them 
 sick with smiting them, yet I shall not cut them clean
 
 ( 9* ) 
 
 off, "before my work is finished, in the war yon are 
 now engaged ; for I now tell thee, as thou brakest the 
 clomen ware, the potter's clay, so shall I break the 
 nations in pieces. For I now tell thee, perfectly like 
 the types I placed in my prophets, which I have 
 mentioned unto thee, perfectly so all nations will 
 know I placed the types last year in thee ; and there- 
 fore, I tell thee, it is not seven times seven the 
 number of those books that are printed, that will 
 be enough for the end. Here I have shewed thee 
 thy own folly, concerning the books. And now I 
 shall go on with the types I placed in thee ; and 
 come tothy midnight hours, and thy restlessness 
 jn thy red. Here, I tell thee, the type goes deep 
 for thy friends, as well as foes. When dangers sur- 
 round you all, then let them mark thy words; "Fear 
 not my friends fear not my followers fear not ye 
 that are longing for my coming." For what I spoke 
 then to my handmaids through thee, is spoken to all 
 my brethren. This, I tell thee, is a deep type to the 
 Believers, when my destroving angel goeth forth, 
 and dangers seem to surround them all ; then I bid 
 them to fear not, but stand still and see the salvation 
 of the Lord: and they will know what manner of eom- 
 nmnicathms all these are, when their hearts are sad ; 
 for then their deliverance draweth near, to turn 
 their sorrows into joy, and end as thine did with 
 the year, which is but a shadow to the Believers, 
 how their sorrows will end in a perfect harmony and 
 joy. But had enemies come forward at the end of 
 the year, the type could not be set for them to 
 shew clearly their end, after troubles had come upon 
 them as the type stood in thee; for I tell thee, every 
 type stood in thee, for friends and foes; for those 
 that mock their coming Lord, and those that are 
 longing for my kingdom. And now I -.hall tell thee 
 of thy temptations. It is known to thee as well as to 
 me, many have disputed of the book of Job, and
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 never believed there was such a man, or such tempta- 
 tions, and thought that Satan would not dispute with 
 the Lord, or that the Lord would ever answer him. 
 This, as it is known to thee as well as me, hath been 
 disputed by men; therefore I permitted the powers 
 of darkness to work every way with thee, that it 
 might be made known- at the end, what are his dis- 
 putes, and what are my answers. And now I tell 
 thee, as Satan's working was strong with thee, so will 
 his working be strong with mankind, that he may 
 foil them in the end. And this I told thee in the 
 year \ 800, how strongly Satan would pursue man- 
 kind, that he may seek their destruction, and not 
 let them go to possess my promised rest, that I have 
 promised unto man. But had I never made known 
 his arts to thee, by permitting him to come, his arts 
 would never have been made known to mankind ; 
 for had it been only in the book of Job, it would 
 not have been believed by man, that in all ages he 
 hath pursued the same ; but I tell thee, in all age* 
 many have been his arts, and strong have been his 
 disputes against mankind : therefore it is written, 
 he is the great ACCUSER of the Brethren ; but 
 how could this be proved and known, to appear to 
 mankind, if I had not permitted him to visit thee, 
 to shew you all, that the end is at hand. And I 
 now tell thee, deep are the parables, which Satan 
 brought forward ; for if he cannot accomplish them 
 in one, he will try to accomplish them in others; 
 though not in the same manner, yet I tell thee, in 
 the same sense will his pursuits be with mankind ; 
 and every visitation that came to thee, in the year 
 that is past, will be deeply discerned in the end, when 
 thou art no more; for every mystery and every work- 
 ing must be made known to mankind."
 
 ( 96 ) 
 
 I am afraid to add any observations at the close of this 
 book, lest I should divert the mind from the words of 
 wisdom ; as it is my sincere wish, that every man may 
 seriously consider, that he has a great duty to perform, 
 like a jury in a court of justice, which is to know the 
 truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth : 
 a For he that is most zealous to find out the Truth is the 
 most zealous to know his God : He that hath ears to hear, 
 |et him hear; he that hath a heart to understand, let him 
 understand : I have spoken, but ye have not hearkened; 
 and the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the pro- 
 phets, rising early and sending them unto you ; but ye 
 have not hearkened, nor inclined your ears to hear." 
 Jer. xxv. 3. For as a horse that runneth a race and stop- 
 peth not until he hath gained the prize, so will the Re- 
 deemer of Israel go on, and will not stop, until he hath 
 brought forth judgment unto victory, and accomplished 
 all the promises made in the Bible, having their founda- 
 tion on the promise at the creation of man; for so 
 sure as the body of man came from the dust of the 
 ground, so sure will he rise above the dust and become 
 a living soul: "Thy dead shall live ; with my dead 
 body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell 
 in the dust : for thy dew is as the dew of herbs ; and the 
 earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter 
 thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee .- 
 hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the in- 
 dignation be overpast. For behold the LORD 
 
 COMETH OUT OF HIS PLACE, TO PUNISH THE INHA- 
 BITANTSOF THE EARTH FOR THEIR INIQUITY: THE 
 EARTH ALSO SHALL DISCLOSE HER BLOOD, AND 
 SHALL NO MORE COVER HER SLAIN. Isa. XXVI. 1921. 
 
 April 3. 1B0G. WILLIAM SHARP. 
 
 S. Rovsst: \u, Printer, Wood Street, Spa Fields. 
 
 \Vr\ce One Shilling and Sixpence.]
 
 THE 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV. THOMS P. FOJLEY, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 WORLD, 
 
 WHO HATH BLAMED HIS FAITH IN BELIEVING IT WAS A 
 COMMAND FROM THE LORD TO PUT IN PRINT SUCH 
 PARABLES, AS HE PRINTED LAST YEAR AT STOUR- 
 BRIDGE, UNDER THE TITLE OF 
 
 WHAT MANNER OF 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS 
 
 ARE THESE? 
 
 GENESIS, 1 5th CHAP. 1st VERSE. 
 " Fear not, Abram; I AM thy Shield," 
 
 VERSE 6. 
 
 He believed in the LORD, and lie counted it to him for 
 Righteousness." 
 
 Oldnxiinford, Kotaubcr, 180.3. 
 
 * ' 
 
 STOURBRIDGE: 
 PlilXTED AT THE OFFICE OF J. HEMING,
 
 
 
 TO THE PUBLIC. 
 
 AS I have been greatly blamed by many 
 for publishing such a Book of Joanna 
 Southcott's Divine Writings which I did 
 last year at Stourbridge, under the title of 
 
 " WHAT MANNER OF COMMUNICATIONS 
 
 are these?" And which the World have 
 been pleased to call stuff and fables : 
 so now I am happy to come forth, and I 
 shall endeavour to justify my conduct to 
 Those, who will listen to common sense and 
 reason, that I did not build my Faith upon 
 a sandy foundation; but from a full, and 
 clear Conviction, that Those Communica- 
 tions, however, they might appear to the 
 wisdom of men, did proceed from the 
 
 A 
 
 -
 
 4 
 
 Spirit of the LIVING GOD: and therefore, 
 with peculiar Joy I gave up my own Wisdom, 
 to be directed by the Wisdom of the Lord. 
 But I did not do this in a hasty or a careless 
 manner. For in the Christmas of 1801, I 
 went down from London with four others, to 
 Exeter, and there met Two Persons from 
 different pa^ts of the Kingdom, to search 
 diligently into the Writings and Character of 
 Joanna Southcott; and to know, whether 
 those things were true or false which had 
 come before us. For, if it proved to be 
 (what we are certain it is) The Glorious Work 
 of the Mighty God of Jacob, it was our 
 indispensible Duty to push it forward with 
 every power and faculty of our Souls : and 
 if it was a Falsehood and Delusion, it was 
 equally our Duty to crush it in its Birth, and 
 to prevent its spreading to the ruin of thou- 
 sands and tens of thousands of our Fellow- 
 Creatures. As I have given a faithful and 
 accurate account of our proceedings at Exeter, 
 in a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellors 
 of the Two Universities, I shall not here 
 enter upon the several particulars; only say, 
 We were fully satisfied and convinced, from 
 clear and open proof, that Mrs. Southcott 
 was visited by the Spirit of God : and, that 
 the same Spirit which dictated the Scriptures 
 of truth, dictated her Writings. Since that 
 period, I have lived near two years in the 
 game house with her, and can assert with
 
 Truth and Confidence, that She has had no 
 assistance whatever, from Men, Books, 
 any other Sourse, but the Invisible Spim thai 
 directs her:- and which has revealed iq her 
 All the Public Events that have taken ph 
 in this Nation, and the surrounding' Ou$s 
 
 FOR MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS,, *S W<Cl\ 
 
 as the private Events belonging K) particular 
 persons and families, with amazing cteari; 
 and precision; and whieh no Human Being' 
 could have done Without the a*d and assistance 
 of the Qod of Heaven. Moreover, $mm 
 was a Public Trial held at the High-bouse, 
 at Paddington, tor seven days in (anu^ry, 
 1803 ; and all People were invited to be pre- 
 sent from the highest to the lowest in the 
 Realm, who would come in a fair and honest 
 way to investigate this most important a<i 
 momentous Cause. Indeed, Mrs. Southcott 
 more than once in the msost buasible, and 
 respectful manner, wrote to the- King, and 
 solicited Him to send Any of his Mmistei'j, 
 or Learned Divines, to examine into these 
 matters, and to see whether they sprung from 
 the Lip of Truth, or from the Ljp or Delu- 
 sion. But no notice was taken of her Letters. 
 Neither, were we more successful in our 
 Invitations of the Nobles,.. Clergy, or Laity; 
 but we experienced the most silent, and 
 marked contempt. Nor were there Any 
 found, who had, Zeal, Courage,, and Love 
 
 A 2
 
 6 
 
 sufficient to come forward, to search faith- 
 fully into these things for the Honor and 
 Glory of God, and for the welfare of Man- 
 kind; SAVE ONLY THE TWENTY-THREE PER- 
 SONS chosen by Divine Command, as they 
 believed; together with about Thirty Vi- 
 sitors, who joined them, and who signed their 
 Names, after the evidence was summed up, 
 and the Trial was finished, as being fully 
 convinced, that this was the work of ihe 
 Lord. From that time to the middle of last 
 Summer, various Books have been published 
 by Mrs. Southcott upon various Subjects 
 temporal and spiritual; and all tending to 
 show that This is the Cause of Jehovah ; 
 and that the Lord is coming (after the de- 
 struction of satan's kingdom) to establish His 
 Blessed and Glorious Kindom of Love and 
 Peace upon earth for a thousand years, as is 
 promised in the 20th Chapter of the Revela- 
 tions : when the Stone cut out without 
 Hands shall become a Great Mountain, and 
 fill the whole Earth ; and when the King- 
 doms of the World shall become The King- 
 dom of the Living God, and HE shall reign 
 for ever and ever !! " Illustrious Era ! Thine 
 it is to close the long Series of Preparation, 
 which Providence has been carrying on from 
 the first of time Thine, to fulfill the wishes 
 of the Worthy and Devout of every Age, 
 and every. Clime. Thine, to recover man 
 from depredations and dishonor Thine, to
 
 consummate the Mission, and to adorn with 
 its brightest Honors, THE CROWN of the 
 Saviour of the World. Thine, to vindicate 
 the Government glorify the Perfections, 
 and illustrate the All-bounteous Character of 
 the God of Love. Thy approach, glad 
 period, will be hailed by Myriads of Intelli- 
 gent Beings; who animated by Thee with a 
 celestial glow of Devotion will give expres- 
 sion to their Raptures in the long suspended 
 Song of Angels Glory to God in the 
 Highest and on Earth Peace and Good- 
 will towards Men !!" 
 
 Being then fully assured, that I was en- 
 gaged in the Work of the Lord from a long 
 chain, of clear and irresistible proofs which 
 had passed before me; and being convinced 
 of the Truth of the Divine Mission of 
 Joanna Southcott, I did not hesitate a mo- 
 ment, but with Joy executed the request of 
 publishing these Communications alluded to, 
 however difficult it might be to understand 
 them ; or to comprehend the entire scope, 
 and drift, of their full meaning. Re- 
 membering what Abraham did when he was 
 ordered to offer up his Son Isaac ; he gave 
 up his own wisdom with A strong faith in 
 the Lord, that HE could not order him to do 
 a Thing that was wrong, tho' to the Judg- 
 ment of men, it might appear wrong, that 
 the Lord should tell him to kill his Son, to 
 whom, the promises were made, in the 17th
 
 8 
 
 chapter of Genesis, 15th and 1 6th versos. 
 Before Isaac was born, or Sarah was with 
 child the promise was made, She should be a 
 Mother of Nations; Kings, and People, 
 should be born of her. In the ltencteenth 
 vetse in answer to Abraham's prayer fot 
 Ismael the Lord saith, Sarah thy wile shall 
 bear thee a Son indeed, and thou shalt call 
 his name Isaac; and I will establish MY 
 Covenant with him for an everlasting Cove- 
 nant, and with his seed after him. Now, 
 as this promise was made, that Is.iac should 
 have seed, it was contrary to the Wisdom of 
 men, to have that Child offered up; for how 
 then was the Seed to come ? But contrary 
 to the Wisdom of men, Abraham's Faith was 
 in the Lord, that HE was able to raise the 
 Seed of Isaac, if it was from the Dust after 
 it was destroyed. Therefore in 22nd Chao. 
 Abraham obeyeth contrary to the Wisdom of 
 men, and receives from the Lord this approv- 
 ing Sentence " Because thou hast done this 
 tiling, and hast not withheld thy Son, thine 
 only Son, that in Blessing, I will bless thee: 
 and in multiplying, I will multiply thy Seed 
 as the Stars of Heaven, &c. &c." Now, 
 knowing Irom demonstration This to be the 
 Cause of God, I gave up my own wisdom 
 and entirely submitted to be directed by the 
 Lord. For, tho' it might be contrary to the 
 Wisdom of men, that such Parables should 
 be put in Print, and to say it was a Command
 
 9 
 
 of the Lord for to compare an Adulterous 
 Nation, with an Adulterous Woman, and 
 which the Wisdom of the World condemns ; 
 yet, I was certain in my own mind that in 
 the end all would be cleared up, and every 
 crooked Path be made straight, ancj the whole 
 would redound to the Praise and Glory of 
 God : and therefore, in full Faith I relied 
 upon the Truth of the Spirit which had 
 directed Mrs. Southcott for so many years, 
 and\with gladness fulfilled the part pointed 
 out to me to perform. Here, I must beg 
 leave to insert what was given to Joanna by 
 the Spirit upon the 17th Chapter of Genesis, 
 before alluded to, respecting Mr. Sharp, and 
 my publishing our Books last year, according 
 to jhe directions given us by the Chosen 
 Handmaid of the Lord. 
 
 The Answer of the Spirit. 
 
 " Know, I told thee of Abraham's Faith, 
 and I also told thee, the Seed of Abraham is 
 the Seed of Faith ; and here the Seed of 
 Faith is strong in the likeness of Abraham of 
 what Sharp and Foley have done ; and now 
 is the time it shall be multiplied like the Stars 
 of Heaven; and as the Sands which are upon 
 the Sea Shore : for it is the Seed of Faith, 
 that shall possess the gates of their enemies : 
 and it is the Seed of Faith wherein Ail Nations 
 
 J*
 
 10 
 
 of the Earth must be blessed. But how can 
 All the Nations of the Earth be blessed, 
 before the Seed of Faith is planted in man, to 
 believe My Promise as Abraham did ? No ! I 
 tell thee, they cannot enjoy that blessing, be- 
 fore the Promise that was made in the Creation 
 is fulfilled *by Faith; then, cometh the Bles- 
 sing to All Nations upon Earth. And now 
 open the Eyes of your Understanding, and 
 discern what the Seed of Isaac was, in Jacob 
 and Esau. The One a Seed of Faith : but 
 in Esau none. The same you may mark in 
 Jacob's Sons. So now discern it is not the 
 Seed after the Body, having Children ; but 
 it is the Seed of the Spirit, where Faith is 
 grafted, and do grow. And now discern 
 from the Faith of Abraham : his was not a 
 Faith after the Wisdom of men; but after the 
 Wisdom of God. Perfect so I tell thee of 
 the end. Let men discern from Abraham's 
 Faith, what must be the Faith of All Nations, 
 when I come to bless them all. They must 
 believe as Abraham did by his Son : viz. 
 that I was able to raise him up from the dust ; 
 or, give him Another Isaac to fulfill the 
 Promise- and so men must believe from the 
 Faii ; that I Am able and willing to fulfil 
 My Promise I made to the Woman, and to 
 destroy her enemies to make her now the 
 Helpmate of man and to make her Seed 
 bruiser he Serpent's head."
 
 11 
 
 The Bible too, has been thrown open in 
 such a clear and wonderful manner by the 
 Spirit through Mrs. Southcott, that all the 
 Light which wc have already experienced 
 from Learned Divines, and Learned men, 
 must vanish before the Light now given 
 us, as the dew before the morning's Sun. 
 
 " Now in the Earth there's nothing new t 
 But here's a wonder to your view, 
 That in the Earth was never seen 
 Since Earth's Foundations first were lain, 
 To take My Bible, and explain 
 As ne'er was understood by men ; 
 And gave the following Challenge here, 
 That every mystery she will clear : 
 " When to the purpose All will come, 
 To justify, or to condemn ; 
 Then she will make the Mystery clear : 
 And prove the Tree of Knowledge here, 
 That by her Faith She reached so high, 
 And the good Fruit She brought so nigh, 
 Whereof She bade you now to taste, 
 The bad is fall'n the good is plac'd, 
 Which now hangs hov'ring on the Tree, 
 And All shall find 'tis pluck'd by She. 
 So fall'n man can'st ascertain 
 What madness now hath fill'd thy Brain; 
 To judge that e'er h woman's hand 
 Could give such Challenge unto man ? 
 No! No! in man I'd soon appear, 
 For to confound and shame her here, 
 Did not the Challenge come from Me; , 
 
 You are but men, you all shall see, 
 Whom I've pronoune'd to be dead, 
 As you the woman first obcy'd ; 
 
 B 2
 
 12 
 
 But if your Life you'll now regain, 
 J tell you All to do the same, 
 And now obey the woman's hand, 
 And Paradise you may command," 
 
 First Bvok, Page 176. 
 
 We have tried every deparfment in the state 
 to bring this cause publicly before the world, 
 to try whether it was a delusion, or a cunning- 
 ly devised fable : or whether it was the real 
 and Glorious Work of the Lord of Heaven 
 and Earth. We last year offered Mr. Pomeroy 
 to meet him and any Twenty-three Persons 
 in England which the Bishops, or himself 
 would bring against us, (provided they had 
 not received Letters from Miss Townley, and 
 returned them; for with such we have 
 sworn not to meet, as we regarded them as 
 evil fruit)', and if after Seven Days fair Trial, 
 it was found to be an Error, and a Falshood 
 we had supported, we were ready and willing 
 to make every reparation to the world, in our 
 power; and to surfer whatever punishment 
 might be deemed just by our Judges to be 
 inflicted on us. Now, after all these propo- 
 sals I appeal 10 the public, whether we have 
 not acted in the most open and impartial 
 manner, possible; and if we had not strong 
 and substantial grounds for our proceedings, we 
 DAREnotdo what we have done; and what, 
 the Lord supporting us, we shall conti nue to 
 do. Would men but read without prejudice
 
 IS 
 
 $r passion, the last Trial of Joanna Southcott, 
 which took place in December last, 1804, at 
 Neckinger House, Bermondsey, and which 
 continued seven days they would see such a 
 chain and body of Evidence brought forward, 
 as must flash conviction upon every honest 
 and humble heart, of the Truth of her Cha- 
 racter, and of the Truth of her Pretensions. 
 But one of the great objections to her mis- 
 sion is, that it comes in so mean a garb. 
 This affronts ttie Great, the High, & the Learn- 
 ed; they cannot, they will not receive it in 
 so humble a station ; and would sooner do 
 despite to the Spirit of Grace, by condemning 
 what they will not give themselves the trou* 
 ble to explore ; and the same Question that 
 was put by the Self- Righteous, and Learned 
 Jews, when our blessed Lord was with them 
 in the Body, might with propriety be applied 
 on the present occasion ; viz. ** which of 
 the Rulers have believed ? non^of them ; 
 a because they will condemn without giving 
 themselves the trouble to examine whether 
 it is right or wrong; and will determine the 
 Cause without Trial, without Justice, and 
 without Equity or Truth. 
 
 We know indeed, that the Floods of an- 
 ger and persecution hi men will now arise, 
 but they will only bear up the Ark. We, 
 know, the unrighteous and wicked will now 
 perish, but God's Covenant with His meek,
 
 14 
 
 and faithful Servants, will be established. We 
 know, the Dove of Peace will return after 
 the sweeping storm, and the Altars of the 
 Lord be built in harmony and love, and 
 the Bow of God's everlasting mercy will be 
 seen in the dispersing Clouds. 
 
 With peculiar thankfulness and gratitude 
 to the Almighty, I shall lay before the World, 
 The Answer of the Lardy given by the Spirit 
 to Mrs. Southcott in vindication and illustfu- 
 tion of the Communications which I published 
 last Summer-'-znd for which I have been 
 so highly condemned. The serious and can- 
 did reader will there see every mystery cleared 
 up, and every difficulty made plain. 
 
 It was to bring men to their Bibles, aiid to 
 convince them, that without the Spirit of 
 God teaching them, they could no more 
 understand and clear up the Mysteries and 
 Parables of that Golden Book, than they 
 could understand, and clear up, the Myste- 
 ries and Parables of that Book which 1 last 
 year published. Therefore, let men cast 
 away their swelling human Wisdom, (which 
 will now come to nought) and let them 
 become as little Children, and they will then 
 be taught of the Lord, and be meet to be 
 partakers of the Kingdom of Heaven. I 
 trust, I have given such Reasons to the hum- 
 ble, and unprejudiced Reader, as fully to 
 justify my Conduct in what I have done
 
 15 
 
 and I can assure him after fo^r years of 
 mature, and raithiul Investigation of. Joanna 
 Southcott's Inspired Writings, I have found 
 the pure blaze of Truth, to shine in them 
 with conspicuous Lustre; and. therefore, I can 
 with confidence urge him to search diligently 
 into these momentous Works, and to judge 
 for himself ; for he may be assured, that 
 the Evil Day, and the Judgements of God 
 are coming in full Stream upon this Nation, 
 for their ?teglect > mockery, and coriicmpV of 
 these things. I shall conclude this address 
 to the Public, with saying, that we have such 
 clear and irresistible Proofs of This being the 
 Glorious Cause of the Most High God ; and 
 that our dear Redeemer will now take unto 
 Himself His Great Power and Reign ; and 
 so certain is this sure, this heart-cheer- 
 ing truth, that unless men can stop the 
 Sun from rising at his appointed time ; or the 
 Tide from ebbing and flowing at its fixed 
 period ; so certain is it, they can neither stop 
 this work, nor overcome this now de- 
 termined decree of the Supreme Ruler 
 of the Universe : We therefore, humbly 
 hope, that nothing will seduce or separate 
 us from pursuing and continuing in, this 
 Blessed and God-like Work, till we arrive 
 at the bright and perfect day. We must now 
 show to the World, 
 
 " That dauntless Courage which all rage defies, 
 11 And fear no Danger whilst wc view the Prize."
 
 16 
 
 We must now show to the World, that 
 neither Tribulation, nor Distress, nor Perse- 
 cution, nor Famine, nor the Sword ; nor 
 any of the terifying Disasters, nor the allur- 
 ing Interests of this mortal State, shall 
 vanquish, or overcome us: for, in our 
 full, and sure Trust, in the Lord, we are 
 persuaded, that neither the fear of death, 
 nor the Love of Life ; nor angels, nor prin- 
 cipalities, nor powers; no arts of Satan 
 or his Instruments ; nor things present, nor 
 things to come: no pains, or pleasures felt 
 or expected: nor Height of Prosperity, nor 
 Depth of Misery; nor any other Creature: 
 no event, or circumstance, in the whole 
 Circle of Creation ; nothing we humbly 
 trust, under the Divine Grace, will draw us 
 from the path of our present Religious 
 Course: will divert us from the Love and 
 Fear of God; will disappoint us of the 
 unspeakable Joys and Rich Rewards, of 
 our Lord's now approaching millennial 
 
 KINGDOM. 
 
 THOMAS P. FOLEY. 
 
 Oldswinford, Worcestershire, Kov. 1805.
 
 1? 
 
 HERE follow Communication!; given by the 
 Spirit to Joanna Southed t, and taken from her 
 mouth, and copied off by Miss To^nleyand 
 Mrs. Under woody and transmitted to the Rev. 
 Thos. P. Foley, of Oldsxvinford ; together 
 with some Parables, beautifully explaining the 
 mysteries and apparent difficu Ities in the Book, 
 that he published last year at Stourbridge, 
 under the title of " WHAT MANNER OF 
 COMMUNICATIONS ARE THESEl" 
 
 The following Communications was given to 
 Mrs. Southcott, on Sunday, July 14th, 1805, 
 upon the Lessons of the day, and upon her 
 pondering thoughts on various Subjects. 
 
 First Lesson for the morning Service, 15th chap 
 of the 1st Book of Samuel 22nd verse 'And 
 Samuel said, hath the Lord as great delight in 
 Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices, as in obeying the 
 Voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better 
 than Sacrifice, and to hearken than the Pat of 
 Hams,' 
 
 The Second Lesson, 2nd chap, of John, 10th 
 verse ' And saith unto him, every man at the 
 beginning doth set forth good wine; and when 
 men liave well drunk, then that which is worse ; 
 but thou hast kept the good wine till now.' 
 
 The Gospel for the day (5th S. after Trin.) was 
 c
 
 18 
 
 the 5th chap. 1 of St. Luke, 10th verse.. 'Jesus 
 said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou 
 shalt catch men.' 
 
 First Lesson for the Afternoon 17th chap, of 
 the 1st Book of Samuel, 37th verse. ' l>avid 
 said moreover, the Lord that delivered me out of 
 the Paw of the Lion, and out of the Paw of the 
 Bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this 
 Philistine.' 
 
 Second Lesson, 5th chap. 1st Epistle of Thess. 
 2nd and 3rd verses. 
 
 ' The Day of the Lord so cometh as a Thief 
 in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and 
 Safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, 
 as Travail upon a woman with Child ; and they 
 shall not escape.' 
 
 The Psalms for the day, 71 st Psalm, 14th 
 verse. ' I will go forth in the strength of the 
 Lord God; and will make mention of, thy lligh- 
 teousuess only.' 
 
 * Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth, 
 up until now; therefore, will I tell of thy won- 
 drous works.' 
 
 The Psalms in the Afternoon, 73rd Psalm 11th 
 verse. ' lush, say they, how should God perceive 
 it : Is there knowledge in the Most High ?' 
 
 The Answer of the Spirit. 
 
 ' - 
 
 ' Now, I shall answer Thee of the Lessons, 
 tjiat All men may mark the Signs and Shadows 
 that first come unto man, before the Substance. 
 Mark Saul's disobedience, and mark his shadow-^- 
 How he ljrst rent the mantle of Samuel (15 chap. 
 Samuel, 27th verse) before the Kingdom was
 
 19 
 
 rended from him : and mark Samuel's words, 
 ' The Lord hath rended the Kingdom of Israel 
 from Thee this day, and hath given it to a Neigh- 
 bour of thine, that is better than Thou.' Here, 
 the Shadow came first to Saul from a simple Type 
 and Shadow, before the Substance was fulfilled. 
 And now mark the Shadow of David, and the 
 words that he said to Saul, (17th chap. Samuel, 
 34th verse) ' Thy Servant kept his Father's Sheep, 
 and there came a Lion and a Bear, and took a 
 Lamb out of the Flock, and I went after him and 
 smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and 
 when he arose against me, I caught him by the 
 beard and smote him, and slew him.' Now, here 
 was the Shadow first to David he slew both the 
 Lion and the Bear, which made him confident in 
 slaying the Philistine ; and after that he slew tbs 
 Philistine and gained the Kingdom, that was 
 rended from Saul ; so the Lion and the Bear fell 
 before him ; for Saul was as a Lion to David, 
 seeking to destroy him. Now, come to the Gos- 
 pel, and mark the Shadows of MY working 
 Miracles, ' The water pots were first filled with 
 water before I made them wine; and the best 
 wine was reserved for the last : and so I tell thee is 
 the best wine for man. Let all these Shadows be 
 marked together; and mark the Draught of Fishes, 
 that was the Shadow to the Disciples, till the Net 
 was full, and began to break ; and the Boat began 
 to sink and know the words, that I said unto 
 Simon, which is Peter (Luke, chap. 5. verse 10.) 
 * Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men/ 
 Now, mark every Shadow came before the Sub- 
 stance; then think of the Thousands that were 
 
 c 2
 
 20 
 
 after this converted by Peter's preaching. Now, 
 come to the other Lesson, IstThess. 5th chap. 1st 
 verse, ' The Times and the Seasons, Brethren, 
 ye have no need that I write unto you ; but the 
 Day of the Lord so cometh as the Thief in the 
 Night, when they shall say, Peace and Safety, then 
 sudden destruction cometh upon them, as Travail 
 upon a woman with Child.' Now, I have told 
 thee to mark all the Types and Shadows in these 
 Chapters, that were placed for the day how it 
 came to Saul and David how the first was water, 
 and the next wine how the Disciples were made 
 Fishefos ; -Catchers of Fish, before they were 
 Catchers of Men. Now, these Types and Sha- 
 dows I shall bring to the Chapter that is before 
 thee ; as the Shadows come before the Substance 
 and the things of beasts were compared to men : 
 perfect so I now tell thee, must things temporal be 
 compared to things spiritual and as the Apostle 
 hath here compared MY Coming, and the Sudden 
 Destruction to Those that walk in darkness, that 
 it should come upon them, as a Travailing Wo- 
 man with Child ; and this comparison of the 
 Apostle's words which all men may take temporal, 
 they will find I shall make spiritual ; and now I 
 tell thee, as a Woman with Child, in a temporal 
 sense ; so hath thine been in a spiritual sense, 
 travailing in birth, with pains and anxiety of mind 
 to know the meaning of thy visitation. And know 
 what I have told thee already All the Sorrows 
 that came upon thee, will surely come upon the 
 Nation to Those that walk in darkness. And 
 now mark the Visitation in the year that is past, 
 how sudden and unexpected did every Load come 
 upon thee ; and know, I have told thee, in like
 
 21 
 
 manner it wi 1 ! come upon the N.ition, th^t say, 
 Peace and .Safety, tihnking no evils wiU overtake 
 them. 
 
 Thus have I told thee their Troubles will come on 
 unaware, as thine came on Thee ; yet 1 tell 
 thee like thy Deliverance,, will it be to the Chil- 
 dren of the Light; for in Thee stands the Type of 
 Them Both. For as all the otlier Types that are 
 placed for the Lessons of the Day, that were fist 
 placed of Saul, which was hut a shadow in rend- 
 ing the Mantle ; and the substance came after of 
 the Kingdom being rended from him : - pj rfgc t so 
 I tell thee will be the shadow of thy pains', that 
 were but trifling, like Samuel's Mantle : yet the 
 substance will be great unto the Nation, as it was 
 of Sauls Kingdom : For I tell thee, t us is tnc 
 meaning that will follow the Apostle's words : 
 that as things have stood Temporal, while Tem- 
 poral things remain : so thus it must be Spiritual, 
 when MY Spiritual Kingdom cometh. And 
 let the feelings of thy heart be penned in the day 
 that is past; and then I shall answer thee again. 
 For I now tell thee as nothing but a continuation 
 of the feelings of My Spirit causes happiness in 
 Thee : so perfect happiness can never be in man, 
 before the evil power is destroyed ; and My Spirit 
 be poured out then cometh continual happi- 
 ness for men to rejoice in the GOD of their Sal- 
 vation, when I have delivered them out of the 
 hand of the Lion, and out of the paw of the Bear, 
 and destroyed the uncircumcised Philistines: 
 then, will their water be turned to wine and 
 know the best wine is reserved to the last For 
 know, I have told thee as the Types and Shadows 
 came first to Saul and David of what should follow
 
 22 
 
 them : so Saul and David were but Types and 
 Shadows of the end. Now, write the feelings of 
 
 thy heart- -Saturday July the 13. 1805. 
 
 A deep melancholy came over my Spirits as I sat 
 pondering to myself of various kinds of things ; and 
 how uneasy many of the Believers seemed to be, 
 as they had built themselves up with wondrous 
 Ideas that as they were Believers they must im- 
 mediately be delivered out of every trouble, and 
 have every thing come to their wishes which, I 
 was clearly convinced in my own mind, from all 
 the Prophecies given to me, they had troubles and 
 difficulties first to go through, and although the 
 Lord had promised to protect them in the end : 
 and I am clearly convinced their Deliverance 
 from troubles cannot come, till the Deliverance 
 comes to the Nation in a way we know not. 
 These thoughts struck a melancholy upon me, and 
 pondering in my heart, that I was not clear from 
 the words spoken to me in 1792, I should leave 
 the World till the fifteen years were up; as I did 
 riot die last year ; I thought to myself in Avhat 
 strong manner the words were spoken in 1792, 
 
 when I thought I should die " / will add to 
 
 thy Days fifteen years.'" Then, I thought if I 
 lived the fifteen years, I should live tjmough the 
 years of sorrow, and hear the murmuring and com- 
 plaining of Believers, as I know there are in many 
 who h:ive filled themselves up with wonderful 
 Ideas, that some Miracles will be Avrought for them, 
 especially when my Trial is, they expect wonders 
 will fall for them. With these meditations I 
 thought the time long, but was afraid to wish for 
 death, fearing I should be in a Sin, and yet in my 
 heart, I felt it impossible to wish for life.
 
 23 
 
 The Answer of the Spirit 
 
 u Now I shall answer thee from the pondering 
 of thy heart, of the Believers, who judge their de- 
 liverance will come at thy death. Mark the words 
 that I said unto thee in the year that is past ; they 
 all might mourn if thou didst die at the end of 
 the year : for then I tell thee their sorrows would 
 greatly increase after thy death ; but, if I pro- 
 longed thy life to the fifteen years that I told thee 
 in 1792 then, I tell thee their Deliverance will 
 come at thy death, because the time will be up, 
 that I told thee Deliverance would come to them, 
 that were wishing for their coming LORD. And 
 now mark the time that I first told thee of fifteen 
 years in 1792 : and five years in 1802 : So if 
 thy life be preserved to see the time, then, they 
 may expect wonders and a wondrous deliverance 
 
 that wiil happen together in this Land. But I 
 
 now tell thee, it is not for thee to know, nor any 
 man to know, whether thOu wilt see the time, or 
 not of the fifteen years but this is for all to know, 
 as thy heart was wounded by the murmuring of 
 thy Friends, because the wonders did not appear 
 as they expected ; so I tell thee would many hearts 
 be wounded, if I should take thee before I make 
 a full end because they will have no one to com- 
 fort them'. But I know the thoughts of thy heart, 
 and what thou sayest within ? I have promised 
 to pour out MY Spirit upon MY CHOSEN 
 when I take thee out of the World ; that as the 
 Spirit of Elijah fell upon Elisha ; so shall MY 
 Spirit fall upon them. Tins is my promise! 
 - -and Tills I shall fulfil. And yet, I tell 
 thee, ye have all Spirits of your own, that was
 
 24 
 
 this done before the Nation is more enlightened 
 before the truth is more come found before Be- 
 lievers were more come in, would it not be one 
 for Paul? Another for Apollos ? Another, for 
 Caphas? That meaneth, One would cleave to 
 One; Another would eleavc to Another ; and 
 while the Believers aie few- they would kindle 
 Strife, instead of l\ace ; by being many Masters 
 and as thou weariest thyself with the visitations 
 of others ; not knowing what is right , or wrong : 
 I perfect. so I tell ihee, would be the confusion 
 of the Believers, if they were separately visited 
 before the time is come, that every thing is made 
 clear from the years that I. have mentioned : 
 so when they see the end of the Rolling Stone; 
 and see the fifteen years that I spoke to thee of at 
 first and the five years from lbt2, that I told 
 thee alter, and then weigh the whole together 
 Every man can stand with boldness upon thy 
 'Writings, and his own Visitation, when every 
 Truth is plain before him, but where is the man 
 can stand now ? lor, if doubts and jealousies 
 arise in thy breast from what Spirit so many are 
 visited ? W hat jealousies may arise in others, that 
 have not been so long acquainted with MY Spirit, 
 as thou hast been ? neither have they seen so many 
 1 ruths of the Spirit, as tho.u hast seen of thin ? 
 But, remember thy jealousy in the beginning after 
 tliou hadst seen many Truths come on ; then, if 
 thou wast jealous after seeing so many 2 ruths, 
 what would the other Believers be, if they were 
 left in the midst of confusion visited by a Spirit 
 they are unacquainted with? And now call reason 
 to thy assistance. Suppose the different Commu- 
 nications that are given to thee on various Subjects
 
 25 
 
 were given to forty different men, how would they 
 be able to place them together, to say they were 
 clear they were all from one Spirit ? I tell thee, Jea- 
 lousy would rise amongst them, because if they were 
 divided in different portions one tiling given to 
 one another thing given to another then, every 
 one would wish to have the greatest but when 
 the whole is given through thee, and then sent 
 out for all, there is no room for discord to arise. 
 Therefore, I tell thee, if thou lovest thy friends, 
 make thyself easy and be at rest; and sooner wish 
 for their sakes to live through the time, than leave 
 thy friends in distress. For I now tell thee, had 
 I brought on thy awful Trial, and taken thy life at 
 the end of the year that is past, many of thy 
 Believers would now be wishing as much for death, 
 as thou didst on that day which is past : there- 
 fore, it was My wisdom to tell thee in the begin- 
 ning, that I should add to thy days the number of 
 years, that I mean to bring on Afflictions upon 
 this Land ; and it is not for thee to know, whe- 
 ther I shall shorten those days or not, of thy life : 
 but the others will not be shortened ; for I shall 
 go on with the Judgments that are lingering 
 for the sake of those whose hearts are known to 
 Me, that lingering Judgments will awaken ; and 
 those that are hardened in the midst of Judge- 
 ments, must fill up the measures of Iniquity, to 
 confess my Judgments just When I bring on 
 their fatal destruction, they must own they have 
 long been warned; and though they did not be- 
 lieve the warning, Yet, I tell thee, they shall see 
 the Judgments, that they may have no excuse to 
 make. For I know the excuse that is made by
 
 26 
 
 man they cannot believe My Visitation to a 
 Woman, to warn of the end, to warn all Na- 
 tions to reveal My Secrets to thee, and to throw 
 open the mysteries of the Bible. This appeareth 
 hard to man. Now I shall come to the Lessons 
 of the day, and to the words I ordered thee to 
 pen. Hath the Lord as great delight in Burnt 
 Offerings and Sacrifice, as in obeying the Voice 
 of the lord ? Now, I tell thee from these words, 
 though men read the Lessons, and discern the 
 words of the Prophet Samuel ; yet they do not 
 believe the Visitation of the Lord in these days 
 neither do they discern there is any mystery in 
 My Gospel of making the Water Wine but only 
 to shew that I worked miracles amongst them 
 neither do they discern that the best Wine is re- 
 served for the last. But know all men, if the 
 best wine should be reserved for the last; then 
 MY BEST PROMISE must be fulfilled at last. 
 And what was the best promise I made for 
 man in the.BEG inning ? in thy heart thou sayest 
 thou dost not know what I mean by this enqui- 
 ry. Then now I will tell thee; as was the sha- 
 dow of Saul, so was it from the beginning, when 
 I said, " Let us make Man in Our Image, after 
 Our Likeness, and let him niece Dominion over 
 all Cattle, and oxer all the Earth." Here was 
 My Promise first to man: next, I said I 
 should make him a helpmate for his good; for 
 this was the meaning of my words and this 
 was My i'iust promise before he fell by 
 disobedience and forfeited that Promise. Then 
 mark the words further The Promise that I 
 made between the Woman and the Serpent, 
 c< That her Seed should bruize his Head." Now.
 
 here I have told thee already, as I rended the 
 Kingdom from Saul, so I would rend it from Sa- 
 tan by the promise 1 had made to the Woman ; 
 therefore I tell thee, "to obey is better than Sacri- 
 fice, and to hearken than the fat of Rams." So 
 let men hearken, and hear My words, and the 
 Justice of my Pecrees that I made in the Crea- 
 tion then, they will find by My heel being bruized 
 for the Transgression of man, that the best wine 
 which is the rest promise is reserved to the 
 last, to Bruize Satan's Head for betraying the 
 Woman and the promise I made to man, 
 that she should be a helpmate toman; and 
 by claiming the Promise, she is A Helpmate for 
 his Good: therefore, "Rebellion is as the Sin 
 of Witchcraft, and Stubborness as Iniquity and 
 and Idolatry." Now, I tell thee from these 
 words, the rebellion began first in the devil, as 
 the sin of wjcthcraft to betray the woman. Now 
 mark the words Samuel said further to Saul be- 
 cause thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, 
 He hath rejected thee from being King. Now, 
 I tell thee, these words stand deep for men and 
 devils. For though I have told thee, as the 
 Kingdom was rended from Saul, So I will rend 
 the Kingdom from Satan. And yet I tell thee, if 
 men rebel against My words against My Promi- 
 ses and my Just Decrees, their Rebellion is as 
 Iniquity and Idolatry; because I tell thee it is 
 Iniquity in themselves, and they are making an 
 Idol of themselves trusting more to themselves, 
 than they trust to My Promise ; relying more on 
 their own wisdom, than they rely upon My words; 
 therefore I tell thee they must rej ect My words 
 that I spoke in the beginning; and I shall reject 
 
 d 2
 
 28 
 
 them from enjoying My Kingdom. For I now tell 
 thee as Samuel said to Saul, when Saul told him 
 he had saved ihe best of the sheep and oxen, to 
 offer sacrifice unto the Lord; But what delight 
 have I in sacrifice, if men will not obey My words? 
 Here I tell thee Thousands are like Saul, thinking 
 it right to save the beasts, as Saul did but I tell 
 thee, as the shadow was to Saul, so is the substance 
 now to all, for to obey is better than sacrifice. 
 And let men deeply discern My Bible, and trace 
 those records through: then, they will find 
 the best wine is reserved to the last, for Those 
 that obey My Commands: but Those that now- 
 rebel like Saul, will find My Kingdom rended 
 from them, and given to their Neighbours, that 
 are more worthy of it. And now come to David. 
 Mark from David how hejirst slew the Beast, 
 before he slew the Philistine, to gain the Shadow 
 of the Crown, by having Saul's Daughter: but 
 here thou beginnest to ponder within, if Saul be 
 a Type of Satan, how should the Shadow of the 
 Crown come by his daughter ? But know, I have 
 told thee, I have placed Saul two ways ; as 
 the shadow of a tree will go two ways whether 
 the sun be on one side, or on the other. As the 
 sun turns, the shadow turns : perfect so I tell thee 
 of Types and Shadows they are placed to stand 
 two ways ; as I have already told thee of Esau; 
 as* a shadow he stands two ways : and so I have 
 told thee of Jacob And the same I tell thee of 
 David He stands a shadow of man and Mc 
 therefore, I tell thee, the beast must be slain 
 before My Kingdom can come, to have My 
 Throne established in Righteousness. Now, I 
 tell thee, if men discern deep from these Two
 
 29 
 
 Kings, that were the first anointed by Me; for. 
 though there were Many Other Heathen Kings ; 
 yet, they were not The Anointed of the Lord like 
 Saul and David: then, let men discern deep 
 from the Shadow of these Two, and see the end : 
 how Saul had the Kingdom rended from him, 
 for saving the beasts : and the shadow of David 
 began from slaying the beasts. Now, as I 
 have told thee of a Sun Dial ; perfect so I tell 
 thee stands My Bible if men would mark the 
 shadows in the beginning ; and the way the Kings 
 rose that zvere anointed by Me ; they would dis- 
 cern by the same marks what would be the ending : 
 for as the Figures stand in a Sun Dial from 
 mid-day to mid-night; and from mid-night to mid- 
 day, one following after the Other : perfect so 
 I tell thee, as the turn of the Sun bringeth round 
 to the same Figures from four in the morning to 
 four in the afternoon from eight in the morning 
 till eight at night and the turn of the Sun bring- 
 eth to the same hours from six to six ; and from 
 seven to seven thus Mill the Sun shew you in a 
 long Summer's day ; and perfect so I tell thee, 
 if men would discern the Figures of My Bible, 
 the way Kings began by My appointment and 
 the desire of meru they would clearly see the end. 
 And perfect so I tell thee of the fall Like a 
 travailing woman in sorrow did Eve begin, when 
 She found She was betrayed by the serpent - 
 condemned by her husband and blamed by her 
 Maker like a travailing Woman her sorrows 
 began ; and perfect so I tell thee like a travailing 
 Woman the whole will end. Therefore, I tell 
 thee My Bible is not discerned by men, that it 
 stands perfect like a Sun Dial;*is 1 have told thee
 
 30 
 
 of the hours at the turn of day which bringeth 
 round the morning and evening Sun-rising ;md 
 Sun-setting to the hours alike and as the Soring 
 of the year ; so I tell thee was the Spring of time : 
 and so I tell thee was the fall. See how rruich 
 nearer the hours come together to one Likeness 
 at Spring and Fall ; to what they are in Summer 
 and Winter and so I tell thee of the end > 
 Nearly like the Fall wi'l come the Spring for man, 
 when I come to bring in their Redemption, as I 
 told them to mark the Green Leaves, knowing 
 that the Summer was nigh at hand, and their 
 Redemption, as I told them to mark the Green 
 Leaves, knowing that the Summer was nigh at 
 hand, and their Redemption drew near. But 
 now I know thy pondering thoughts ; if the Spring 
 and Fall be alike in man, how can happiness 
 attend him? To this I answer as the minutes 
 change : so will the time change. First it fell on 
 man, but next it must fall on -the beast, whom I 
 pronounced cursed above every living creature : 
 and yet I have already told thee, and I now tell 
 thee again as it begun with the Woman and the 
 Serpent, which is the Devil, for that old Serpent 
 he is called : perfect so it must end therefore, 
 the enmity must be kindled between the Serpent 
 and the Woman, as I said in the Fail. Now, 
 remember the time I died for man thou knowest 
 it was in the Spring; and perfect so I tell thee 
 was Mv Dea h for man; to bring back the Sun 
 to the hours it was first fixed, and rest the curse 
 on the Serpent's head. Here I tell thee, if men 
 look deep into every mystery of the Creation 
 into every mystery of My Bihle, and discern the 
 Spring and Fall, how I placed the rising and the
 
 31 
 
 Setting Sun, to come in hours near together ; they 
 would see My Bible was like a Sun Dial, topont 
 out the whole to man, that had any light of the 
 Sun within him, to discern and sec tie Fields 
 they would see from the Fall, where the Sun rises 
 i what was the Premise and where it must set, 
 when 1 bring in the Sping fol nan to rfVem him 
 from the Fall. The Sun must cct on the Woman's 
 head, and the powers of darkness must go into 
 daikness for iw&c was tr.e curse fixed, and hrre 
 must hi 8 pre - Waves be stayed. And t! is I tell 
 thee c . oun Dial for man, if they will weigh 
 the whole together. And all men will know a. id 
 find in the end I have placed the Sun Dial in I bed, 
 and know in the Woman the Figures stood. 
 First. To be created as an helpmate for man. 
 Secondly To have the promise made Ikt, that 
 
 her seed should bruize the Serpent's head. 
 Thirdly. For ME to be born of a Woman, to 
 have MY Heel bruized, that 1 might accom- 
 plish the promise and 
 Fourthly. To send MY Spirit to visit a Wo- 
 man, to kindle that enmity, and to claim the 
 promise. 
 Here are the four quarters for men to discern; 
 and here is the Sun Dial whereby all men may sec 
 the time and the seasons, how all will be fulfil- 
 led. And now let all men discern deep from the 
 manner of thy Visitation the manner of thy FaiMi 
 and Fears, what thou hast gone through, trusting 
 .strong in ME ; fearing to offend Jealous of be- 
 ing deceived with a single eye to MY honor 
 and glory wishing to know MY will and obev 
 it and with a strong enmity against the seipeiit, 
 which is the Devil; fearing neither his threat- 
 
 's
 
 32 
 
 enings, nor his malice ; but trusting wholly in Me 
 to be thy Keeper and Deliverer from all his 
 power. Now, I tell thee if men discern this 
 deep, and weigh thy Visitation through and 
 weigh My Bible through that they would as 
 clearly see the days that are come, and for 
 what thy calling is ; as a man can see the hour 
 in the day by a Sun Dial, when the Sun shines 
 bright. But where there is no Light in man, to 
 discern the Sunshine of MY BIBLE; nor the 
 Marks: nor the Figures, that are placed there 
 they cannot see where the Sun must set ; nor 
 where the promise was made to have it set : 
 but let them discern deeply the Shadow of the 
 Fall, how the woman was beguiled by the serpent 
 the sorrows and the sufferings she went through, 
 when she saw her Son was slain ; and the Other 
 fled from her presence : Judge, O man of her 
 Reflections ! Ye know not her Sufferings, nor 
 Repentance : then, what have ye to marvel at, 
 that I the LORD who searcheth the Hearts, and 
 seeth the Sorrows in My Creatures, and the Re- 
 pentance they go through, while the adversary 
 rejoices at their Fall ; that I should say of their 
 adversary, as I said unto Samuel, (15 Sam. v. 2) 
 ' I remembered what Amalek did to Israel, how 
 " he laid wait for him in the way, when he came 
 14 up from Egv.pt Now go and smite Amelek, 
 H and utterly destroy all that they have, Sheep 
 " and Oxen, Camels and Asses, Infants and 
 * l Sucklings, and the whole." Now, I tell thee 
 from these words let Infant and Suckling, Man 
 and Woman take care that join with the beast. 
 For, I remember a!l he hath done, how he 
 betrayed the Woman at first ; how he laid iu
 
 33 
 
 wait for her Son : tj work in one to slay the other: 
 and how he laid a\ wait for man to work in one 
 to slay the other ; rod how he laid in wait for 
 
 Judas to work m hi 11 to BETRAY ME all 
 
 these things I well remember; therefore, i 
 shall destroy him, an I utterly cat off Root and 
 Branch, Alan and Woman, that join with the beast - 
 and lie that wishes to preserve him, will nave 
 the Kingdom raided from him, which I designed 
 for man before the Creation of the World, and 
 before the Foundation was first laid I designed 
 the Kingdom for man; and for him. to be created 
 in My Likeness to live in perfect happiness 
 united with Me, and. I with him and what- 1 
 designed, I wi ll a c c o m p l i s ii : lor now . ; I 
 shall go on like David, to take the Lamb out of 
 the Lions mouth, and out of the paw of tiie Bear; 
 and slay the uncircuincised Philistines, that defy 
 the Armies of the Living .God. These things 
 shall I go on to do ; therefore, I tell thee, Those 
 that mock My coming, they will find it will come 
 upon them in a day they little think of, and in an 
 hour unaware, as mv first visitation came 
 upon Thee. dt 
 
 Now 1 shall explain from the manner of thy life, 
 how thou wast visited by my Spirit, to guide and 
 direct thee for thyscif This thou knowest wenl 
 on for years, and the enjoyment was to thyself; 
 but how s rdden and unexpected did My Visitation 
 come of the Nation ? but where would thy Senses 
 have been gone, if thou hadst no knowledge of 
 Me before ? I know the pondering of thy heart, 
 and the answer thou irmkest within, thou shouldest 
 not. have believed it a Visitation from the Lord ;
 
 34 
 
 but have judged thy Senses would soon be lost, if 
 thou didst not try to withstand- the Visitation. 
 Now, here I tell thee from thy Visitation, though 
 thou hadst been unacqaainted with my Spirit, to 
 vjsit thee of truths before concerning thyself; yet, 
 it is known unto thee, and to ail, thou hadst 
 fear mixed with thy faith : so there was a Shadow 
 in thee of what there was in the beginning though 
 thy Visitation was from Me the Living Lord ; and 
 yet thy faith was mixed with fear- and perfect so 
 was Eve's in the Fall She had a fear mixed in her 
 when She contended with the Serpent, and yet he 
 overcame her by his temptations. Now, I tell 
 thee in like manner, let all discern have been thy 
 fears, that thou mightest have been deceived by 
 some wrong Spirit : but when thou art cast down, 
 I raise thee up when thou wcrt wounded, I 
 healed thee when thou art afflicted, I comfort 
 thee and by My Tr'th and My Words, I have 
 led thee on, to bring thee to the knowledge of 
 the good ; as- Satan brought Eve to the knowledge 
 of the evil, Therefore, I tell thee, if men dis- 
 cern deeply from the knowledge of the Fruit, 
 being good and evil and that the Fruit was 
 plucked by the Woman's hand by the subtilty of 
 the Serpent, to come to the evil, and bring death 
 upon man ; so I have told rhee, the same hand 
 must bring the knowledge^ of the good but, by 
 what hand, and what power ? or from whence 
 must his knowledge conic r Thou knowest, I have 
 told thee, as Satan's arts brought the first (to Eve); 
 so My Wisdom brings the last (to thee): for the 
 last is first, and the first is last Now, thus it 
 must be to fulfil My Words, tliat I have spoken 
 through the Bible. And now let men discern iu
 
 35 
 
 what manner I have led thee on, is faith ani 
 fiar, that thou mayest be compared to a Woman 
 travailing with Child, that knowerh not till the 
 Child is born, whether She shall have a Son or a 
 Daughter : whether the Child will live or die 
 and yet She travaileth on in hopes that She may 
 have a living Child -yet whether living or dying, 
 She cannot get free of her burthen till the Child 
 is born, whatever anguish She goes through. " 
 This is the perfect State of a travailing Woman 
 with Child; sometimes feeling pain sometimes 
 feeling none and sometimes feeling the Child to 
 struggle in her womb. This is the perfect State 
 of a Woman with Child, which is felt more or 
 less by all that are with Child. And now I shall 
 appeal to thy own Conscience, whether this hath 
 not been the true State of thy mind and heart, and 
 the struggling of thy Spirit within : sometimes 
 in faith; sometimes in fear: for I tell thee 
 My Spirit hath worked with thee in different ways, 
 to bring the perfect Likeness in thy mind and heart 
 - struggling in faith struggling in fear pains of 
 mind, and pains of heart have been thy case as 
 a Woman with Child feels pains of Body ; so hast 
 thou felt pains of mind. And yet I tell thee, 
 as a Woman with Child cannot get rid of her 
 burthen, till the Child is born ; no more canst 
 thou get rid of thine, till thy Children are born; 
 to see the clear and perfect day. Therefore, I 
 tell thee it way impossible for thee to draw 
 back after My strong Visitation to thee; for by 
 stronger powers than man, hast thou been led on 
 to shew mankind the reparation' of thk 
 fall that in like manner as Satan brought on 
 
 E- 2
 
 *36 
 
 fiormw upon* the Woman in the Fall, and Sho 
 travailed m pain in Child- birth, to bring on maris 
 ffastyuction : so it must be in' like manner of 
 ipain-and Child-birth, to bring on mans restitution. 
 io^ias one is Temporal ; so the other is Spiritual. 
 .And as a Woman travaileth in pain and anxiety of 
 mind to be travailing in a Spiritual birth therefore, 
 1 tell thee, the Lessons of the day must go toge- 
 ther Said slain David gained the victory 
 '1 he best wine reserved to the last And all things 
 ;C#me, as pain to a travailing Woman with Child. 
 3The meaning of these things I have explained 
 and a temporal travailing and a Spiritual I have 
 compared together. Now, I shall come to the 
 Ration Are they not groaning like thee under 
 burdens and afflictions? under loads and oppres- 
 sions ? and yet there are Thousands that walk in 
 darkness, and will not see the day-light ? And 
 yet I tell thee, when Troubles come faster on, 
 and greater burdens do appear ; Thousands will 
 begin like thee, to have their jealousy alarm them ; 
 fearing they have been wrong on the one hand, as 
 thou hast feared on the other, For, I now tell 
 thee, every perplexity of mind, that hath been in 
 thee, will hasten fast on the Nation but how 
 could I place the Type in thee ; or how couklest 
 thou be compared to a travailing Woman; travail- 
 ing in birth, and crying to be delivered, if in 
 pain nor fear had ever alarmed thy breast? The 
 
 Scriptures could not be fulfilled in thee? 
 
 Now, I tell ti.ee as thy desire of death is known 
 to Me ; so are the hearts of many, who think 
 wonders will come at thy death, and their deli- 
 verance will then come ; therefore, they are 
 wishing and longing for the time : This is known
 
 3? 
 
 to Me ; to be in the hearts of many, anion g thy 
 Believers, but they will not tell their muds; 
 therefore, I worked .the same desire in thy -heart, 
 that I might shew fhein their folly that no won- 
 drous delivei*ance dm come in tiie manner they 
 expect, before My appointed time t work deli- 
 verance for the whole ; and that will not come in 
 a xvay that is judged by man. I shall first try the 
 Nation by heightening their afflictions before J 
 shall bring on anv deliverance; that I may see what 
 they will do, when the Burden comes heavier upon 
 them. Shall I cut eff a whole Nation lor the sake 
 of a F w? And many are known to Me whose hearts 
 are like Jehu's see my Zeal for the Lord of Hosts, 
 while their Eye is only to their own self Interest f 
 For, I now tell thee, there are Many who are 
 looking more for the Loaves and Fishes, than for 
 My Kingdom oi Peace, that they may enjoy every 
 happiness in Me, and be freed from every Temp- 
 tation, and feel an heavenly joy within. -This 
 however is known to Me to be the desire of 
 Some, who say- they come in by the Sheep-fold ; 
 and these latter are the People, that must look tor 
 a Rervard : but the former, that come in lor the 
 Loaves and Fi- lies, do not come in by the Sheep- 
 fold ; and Hierefore, T tell thee their expectations 
 will fail. But let not thy heart be wounded, nor thy 
 Spirits grieved because I have told thee what is 
 in The hearts and thoughts of some of the Belie- 
 vers, thinking thy Awful Trial will being on De- 
 liverance to them, which I tell thee it will not, 
 but only heighten their Sorrows, if I take thee 
 out of the World, before the Lnd drawtth near* 
 
 -know, I have lo'd thee it would heighten 
 their troubles, sooner than cause apy Deliverance.
 
 38 
 
 -'Therefore, I tell thee the way they have plan- 
 ned happiness for themselves, would only bring 
 sorrow upon their heads. If taking of thy Life 
 would be any Comfort or Blessing to mankind ; 
 and would add to their happiness and My Glory, 
 Do they vainly think 1 would prolong; thy Life 
 to live in a World thou art weary of? I tell 
 them, No ! their wavs are not as My Ways ; nor 
 their thoughts as MY thoughts -It is for the sake 
 of True Believers, who have a single Eye to My 
 Honor and Glory, and for the Good of Mankind 
 that thy life is prolonged till all Truths are made 
 clear before them, and their Hearts are prepared 
 for My Visitation to receive My Spirit ; but I 
 know Sorrow hath filled thy heart, because I have 
 told ihee, the hearts and thoughts of some of the 
 B< lievers, who expect they know not what. Now, 
 let them call reason to their assistarce, and see if 
 they judge Me a Merciful GOD, whether they 
 think I shall destroy the Nation to saveajezo before 
 they are tried with deeper Judgments. And let 
 them consider what I told thee, when I first or^ 
 dered thee to publish to the World ; if I should 
 puli the weeds too soon, the wheat would be de- 
 stroyed : aid how could your Nation stand if I 
 cut it short when ye are surrounded with a Fo- 
 reign Enemy? And yet I tell thee, such are 
 the wild Ideas of Many in your Nation, thinking 
 they should be more happy if the Land was cut 
 more short. This I know is a folly in many, 
 and I tell thee it is a Folly for who then would 
 protect your Land? Know what is said in My 
 Gospel, let both grow together till Harvest ; 
 and so I tell thee of this Nation They must both 
 grow together till the end draweth near and sq
 
 39 
 
 far from thy death bringing them an happy deli- 
 verance, I now tell thee if I take thee shortly 
 before the end draweth near, they would find 
 themselves a- Ships without a Pilot ; One would 
 say he was directed one way and Another, An- 
 other, till strife and discord would he among 
 them- Here I have shewed thee from the Sha- 
 dow of those that say they have been visited, and 
 have different directions given ; but to whit con- 
 tusion would all things go, if every man followed 
 these different directions ? For I now tell thee 
 in the end, they will find the Truth of all MY 
 Words to thee, and from a few you may plainly 
 discern it ; therefore I tell thee they would be 
 like a Ship without a Pilot tossed to and fro with 
 every w nd, if they were left to their own Wills. 
 These things I have explained to thee to shew 
 thee the folly that is in mankind; they know not 
 the way to plan for their own happiness. And 
 now I will tell thoe another reason, why their 
 thoughts are vain and foolish, to think if thy awful 
 Trial was come, and My Spirit was poured out 
 on them, that they were visiter 1 , as thou art visi- 
 ted, they would be more happy This, I tell thee 
 is a folly in man ; for while the World stands full 
 of unbelief, and they are judged as madmen and 
 fools, they would be judged so ; and so much 
 the more if the Spirit of Prophecy was now 
 given them ; because I tell thee this must be the 
 end to them, that are chosen to be present with 
 thee at thy awful Trial; that the words of the 
 Apostle might befulfiled "ye may all prophecy 
 in your turn, v and that My Gospel may be fulfii- 
 Jed u to be born of the spiRiT." These things 
 must come in their time, when vour Nation is
 
 40 
 
 mOffceniighened, and the truth hastening on upon 
 all Nations, to make all things more cleaj before 
 them ; then they may receive My Spirit with J >v 
 and say, " THE COMFORTER IS COME " 
 But, no iv? I tell thee as a field of Wheat being 
 cut before it is ripe withereth away, and nc er 
 comes to good Corn ;---perfect sb I tell thee 
 would the Visitation of My Spirit be, to be pour- 
 ed' out upon the Believers before the corn be 
 ripe for the Harvest. 
 
 Now, let^tUeih call reason to their assistance; > 
 Supposingevery man that was present at thy Trial, 
 had tUQ Spirit, of Prophecy, would not the World 
 say th^y were all mad ? I tell thee, yes-! and it 
 would do more harm, than good amongbt mankind; 
 and every man must bear his own burden of being 
 mocked, despised, and ridiculed but now the 
 whole burden lays on thee; thou appearest the 
 Standard for All for though men say they are 
 Madman to believe in thy Visitation, yet, how 
 much more would they say they were Mad-men if 
 they began to prophecy ? Was the Spirit of 
 Prophecy 'given to Many as things stand ai present, 
 it would do no good to Mankind,, only Mould 
 cause confusion amongst them, an I bring the 
 h a\len the heavier upon themselves. Now, as I 
 know the eagerness of Many to wish for thy Trial, 
 because I have said in the end, it should be like 
 the day of Pentecost ; so they expect great things 
 from thi 3 Visitation. But let them call reason to 
 their assistance, what My Disciples went thro' 
 after My 1 veath, that the Holy Ghost was poured 
 out upon them but know, while I lived and was 
 in the Body amongst them, the whole feiufften was 
 laid upon ME : now perfect so I tell thee of this
 
 41 
 
 Visitationwhile thy Life rcmaineth, the xrhole 
 must lay upon thee. They can hut blame the 
 Others for only believing ; but if I should take 
 thee out of the World in the State it now stands, 
 and when unbelief so much abounds, MY Work 
 must cease ; or My Friends must get themselves 
 into trouble, if I should command them to up 
 through the work, and visit them as I have visited 
 thee. This, I tell thee would not be to their. Joy: 
 but would heighten their Sorrow, and make then' 
 load and burden the heavier: so I plainly tell 
 thee, the thoughts of men are vain and foolish, to 
 wish to take the burden from thee, and lay it 
 on themselves. Let them discern how thou art 
 confined, and how the World would mock thee, 
 if thou wast known to appear in public; then, 
 how can men vainly wish to be mocked the same ? 
 For, I now tell thee they would be mocked the 
 same if they pretended to prophecy ; or if even 
 the Spirit of Prophecy was given them they could 
 not go boldly abroad, to face an unbelieving YVorkl. 
 as they now do. All these things I have laid be- 
 fore thee, as I know the working of Manv Hearts, 
 how they judge the time rolls on, and thy awful 
 Trial is not yet come, for them to be visited with 
 the Holy Ghost, as they were in the day of Pen- 
 tecost. This I know is the thoughts of Many 
 and this I know is the desire of Many; Ihit now 
 I shall come to reason with men, and Jet them 
 look to thy Visitation in whatmanner I led tiiee on. 
 year after year expecting every year men would 
 meet together to prove thy writings, whether thev 
 were of God, or not: and by so donig thou 
 sayest every year seemed but as one year to thee : 
 but how would thy heart have tailed thee, if
 
 42 
 
 I had told thee in the beginning of the number of 
 years it would be, before Any would meet together 
 to examine the Truth: and that None of those 
 men whom I ordered thee to write unto, would 
 come forward to oun the Truth, that was put in 
 their hands? This would have sunk thy Spirits 
 low, and made thy burden too great for thee to 
 bear, if thou hadst all these things to look forward 
 to the number of years and the backwardness 
 of the Ministers I sent thee unto :-- but, know 
 thy own judgment, how thou always thought, be- 
 cause I assured thee, thy Writings would be proved 
 by My Chosen, that would come to Taylors 
 (Exeter) to enquire into some Truths ; this, I 
 told thee My Chosen men would do. Now, 
 reflect with thyself what Judgment thou drawest 
 in thy own mind and heart, and thy Friends* 
 together, that it was the men to whom L bid thee 
 write : but had I told thee then men would 
 come from distant parts of the Kingdom, to 
 enquire the Truth at Taylors, would it not have 
 fdled thee with jealousy and doubts of the Truth ? 
 In thy heart thou answerest, yes ! And now I 
 answer it would have discouraged thee to write to 
 the Ministers of Exeter, if every clear Truth had 
 been told thee; and yet discern how much 
 greater than thy expectation, or any thought that 
 tilled thy head, have. I brought the things round 
 for thee and let reason take possession of thy 
 heart, if I had confined thee to a few in Exeter, 
 and they had been Believers, would the Truth 
 have tied abroad, and been made so clear in other 
 places, as it now is : In thy heart thou answerest, 
 no 1 therefore, I have done more for thee, to 
 make the Truths clear for the public World, than 
 ever entered thy thoughts, though I disappointed
 
 43 
 
 thee in the Judgment thou hadst drawn ? Now, 
 perfect so, I tell thee, is the case of Believers : 
 as distant as things have come from any Judgment 
 thou hadst drawn thyself, and all came to the 
 perfect Truth of My Words in a more strong and 
 clear way: so I tell thee, it will eome to all. 
 For, reason must tell thee had thine been confined 
 to Exeter, they would as soon said, they were 
 Mad-men ; as they have said it by the others, and 
 the Truth could not be made known. For, if the 
 unbelieving World ?ww say it was smuggled up by 
 Friends, when it is publicly known to the World 
 that the Truths were put in the hands of Ministers 
 who do not believe ; and who would have contra- 
 dicted the Witnesses if they were not true. 
 Now discern if people plead their unbelief from 
 the way that I have brought it round, how much 
 more room would they have for unbelief, to say it 
 was a false thing of Friends if these Ministers 
 had come forward as believers; then, indeed, 
 there could be none to say the Truth could be 
 proved by Any other, than by Friends. Now, 
 as I have shewed thee the weakness of thy Judg- 
 ment, that thou couldest not make it clear to 
 mankind to prove it was not the deceit of Friends ; 
 so on the other hand, I shall shew thee My Wis- 
 dom, and the weakness of men's Judgment, like 
 thine, to expect so hastily the pouring out of My 
 Spirit ; because I said when every Truth was made 
 clear of the Vision I shewed thee in 1/94, it 
 should be like the days of Pentecost to Man. 
 Now, I tell thee as these words were put in print; 
 so if I had hastily fulfilled them, Would not the 
 unbelieving World say it was an infusion in then 
 heads, because they would make thy Writings 
 
 v
 
 44 
 
 Tiiu e ? Then who would believe them ? I tell 
 thee no man ! Therefore I disappointed them at 
 first, to prove to the World there was no deceit 
 in them : neither would they take any notions in 
 their heads of being visited by My Spirit, like the 
 Disciples of Old, when they were not. Then 
 where is the man can condemn their Innocence ? 
 And now mark the year that is past, how they 
 came from different Quarters expecting the Visi- 
 tation of My Spirit, and the fulfilment of thy 
 Prophecies; but here again like thee they have 
 been deceived. Then where is the man can con- 
 demn them ? To say they have filled their heads 
 with confusion, that is not heal and true 
 This, must convince the unbelieving World and 
 plead in their behalf, that there is no Infusion in 
 them, to fancy things that are not real. 
 And now I tell thee as My Wisdom have cleared 
 their Innocence in a way they never expected : so 
 I toll thee, I shall clear them when I come to the 
 purpose, to fulfil My Words that the unbelieving 
 World might not have room to say they fancjed 
 these tilings, because they were said in thy Writ- 
 ings: for then they might have fancied them 
 before I had fulfilled them, according to their own 
 Judgment as they had expected. Therefore, I 
 tell thee as 4i sa PP om tments by placing a wrong 
 Judgment 'happened to thee; perfect so it hath 
 happened to them ; but now I shall come to the 
 same reasoning with them, as I came to with thee 
 Uow would it have discouraged Many that came 
 forward at thy Trial, if they had known My won- 
 drous Working was kept back for the enp: 
 tharthfe best wine was reserved jor the last; 
 and th.-it the last time was not come? This, 
 would hive discouraged them, as it would have
 
 45 
 
 discouraged thee, to be writing to Ministers, if 
 1 liiid told thee they would never come., for ward 
 with the TitUTii: and yet I tell thee, the 
 truth is come forward more strong to con- 
 vince an unbelieving World, that say it 
 was proved by nothing but Believers; than it 
 could possibly have been, it these Ministers had 
 been Believers: and perfect so I tell thee of 
 the end, I shall make the Truth much clearer 
 to prove their Innocence and My Visitation to 
 them, than it could be proved if they had never 
 been deceived. 
 
 
 >~ 
 
 A Dream of Four White Oxen, 
 
 - * - 
 
 AND 
 
 The Parable of the Black. 
 
 HERE T shall introduce a Dream that a man had 
 (and which is founded upon a true Story) con- 
 cerning hi.-? travailing till lie met with a learn of 
 White Oxen, and which is the Introduction of the 
 ,l large Crock, or Pot of Gold " mentioned in 
 the Book I published last year at Stourbridge. 
 It is as follows : 
 
 -" The Dream of the Crock of Gold in the 
 26th page of What manner of Communications 
 are These ?" thus began. " A man dreamt he 
 should go till he saw four White Oxen in a Plough, 
 and then he should have great Possessions. The 
 man went eighteen or nineteen miles ; at last he 
 saw four White Oxen ploughing he went up and
 
 40 
 
 spoke to the man, and told him his Dream. The 
 man laughed at him for a Fool and said, he 
 dreamt the same night, that he should go to such 
 a place, and dig up a French Nut Tree, and 
 under it he should find a large Crock or Pot of 
 
 Gold"' See the continuation in the 26'th page 
 
 of my Book. 
 
 The Parable of the Black is as follows : 
 " A Black told my Father, that God Almighty 
 killed his Father cowardly in bed ; for if he had 
 been out upon his Father's Balks it was not 
 Twenty God Almighties could have killed him; 
 for then he would have run for his life. See the 
 explanation in the QJth page of my Book. 
 
 THOMAS P. FOLEY. 
 
 The Continuation of Joamws Communications. 
 
 " Now 7 1 shall reason with thee of Pomeroy Had 
 he come forward a strong believer affirm- 
 ing the Truths were put in his hand as an exalted 
 Character I ask thee, who among the unbelieving 
 World would have believed his report? But now 
 every reasonable mind must know from the strife 
 between ye, and the unbelief that is in him, 
 every Witness must be true, and thy Letters to 
 him must be true ; or he would have ceme for- 
 ward, and denied the whole, if there was any 
 falshood or deceit. So here 1 have shewed thee 
 from Pomeroy I have brought it round in a way 
 the unbelieving World do not discern, to prove 
 the Truth is proved by enemies as well as friends 
 and so I tell thee of the end I shall make every 
 Truth clear in a way that ye know not; and
 
 47 
 
 mark the way .the shadow began by Strangers 
 coming from different Quarters to search out the 
 Truth through faith: and so I tell thee, 
 men will act through unbelief when My 
 appointed time is come ; but know I have told 
 thee the best xpine is reserved to the last; and 
 My Visitation to thee shall rise higher and higher, 
 brighter and brighter to the perfect day and they 
 shall know what was sown in weakness shall rise 
 in power; what they judge was spoken in fool- 
 ishness they shall find I will prove in wisdom. 
 But I now tell thee, it was but to try thee, that 
 I said I did not tell thee thou shouldest live to see 
 the end of the year that is past ; but shall I take 
 thee out of the World before I have clearly proved 
 to mankind thy Visitation is from the Lord ? For, 
 I now tell thee, if My Wisdom that lies behind 
 was revealed to another and not to thee, thousands 
 would say thy Visitation was not from the Lord ; 
 therefore, I tell thee to make thyself easy, till I 
 have cleared up every mystery, why I began to 
 speak in words, and in verse that appeared low 
 to man why I have kept back the best wine for 
 the last and why I have ordered these simple 
 Fables to be put in print and compared with the 
 Nation; which I. know thy foolish Wisdom can- 
 not bear the thoughts of and yet I tell thee, thou 
 wilt see the end to prove it true and the very 
 thing thou thinkest most simple, I tell thee, the 
 Nation will find most true and discern how the, 
 Horn is blowing by Those that are .gone forth to 
 give the warning; and how the unbelieving World 
 is mocking the warning: perfect as the Fady 
 did (in Foley's Book) and persuading others to 
 the same unbelief as she had. Therefore, I tell 
 thee Those that mock the warning that is given
 
 48 
 
 the Horn that is blowing for men's Salvation 
 have all to fear their own destruction, that it will 
 come upon them, as it came upon the Lady in a 
 day and hour unaware ; therefore, I tell thee 
 thy judgment is weak to wish that Parable out of 
 the Book ; ; for ' that Parable shews the end to 
 those that mock the Visitation of the Lord : 
 for I tell thee their laughter will be turned into 
 mourning, that say they have nothing to fear from 
 all My Warnings and Threatenings : they will 
 find they have all to fear : so do not judge thy- 
 self wise in wishing it not to appear : for I tell 
 thee that will appear in the end a Standard of con- 
 dem ation to this Nation, and every Nation that 
 mocks the warning when they are warned so 
 thou set thy heart at rest, for I tell thee, the 
 thoughts of thy heart are evil to wish to have it 
 out of the Book. But this' I tell thee as the 
 ponderings of thy heart have been to despise the 
 Parable, because it is not in a manner that thou 
 judgest clear for the Lord to bring forward con- 
 sistent with the Bible, and therefore thou canst 
 not bear it, and wisheth to have it taken out ; 
 so 1 tell thee of the Nation, they may wish it 
 not to be fulfilled, that the truth may never appear: 
 but as I tell thee the Parable must remain; so 
 I tell thee, the truth will appear. For, the 
 Parable is like the Bible, that I compared the 
 Children of Israel to an adulterous Woman, and' 
 so I have compared the adulterous Nations and 
 though the words are not put into a Song in My 
 Bible; yet, I tell thee, (he Parables are the same. 
 So here I have shorted thee thy pondering thoughts 
 are wrong ; and full as wrong are thy pondering 
 thoughts to wish to leave the World before the 
 best wine appeareth ; for how could I clear My
 
 40 
 
 Honor in what the World mocks and despises by 
 another hand, to prove thy Writings came from 
 ME. I now tell thee, the World would sav, it 
 did not all come from one Spirit, if I should take 
 thee out of the World and clear up every Mys- 
 tery by another hand for to make the Water 
 Wine for as Water thy Writings appeareth to 
 thousands; but I shall turn it into Wine. By all 
 the directions of the past I shall clear them in the 
 end by the same hand that I begun : and perfect 
 so, I tell thee, I shall clear My Honor in making 
 the Woman -an Helpmate for man, which appears 
 as great folly to thousands as they say thy Writ- 
 ings appear. For the Wisdom of their Creator 
 is blamed by the Creature, and this hath been 
 done in every Age of the World ; and point out 
 the Age that the Wisdom of God was not blamed 
 by man when I came to visit by My Spirit? In thy 
 heart thou answereth there is no Age, but man 
 hath condemned My Visitation to the Prophets : 
 and so I tell thee Adam begun to cast the blame 
 upon his Creator ,- and thus All Ages have gone on ; 
 and so I tell thee they will go on to the end till 
 sudden destruction comes upon thousands, like 
 the sudden deaths that have been to Many, and 
 remarked in this year, 1805 and deep I tell 
 
 thee they will remark thejend. Now I shall 
 
 come to thy pondering thoughts I said,- I would 
 clear up the mystery of thy Visitation by the same 
 hand I began ; and thou sayest in thy heart thy, 
 hand is stopt writing, and the writing is given to 
 Another; so if I make thee a mouth and voica, 
 I do not make thee the hand to end that which I 
 made thee to begin. To this I answer from the
 
 50 
 
 Fall. I took thy Writings from thee to clear U]fc 
 every mystery ; for know, I said the same hand 
 that brought the knowledge of the evil, should 
 bring the knowledge of the Good. Now, if you 
 take the sa??ie hand without calling the Woman 
 the same hand, you must say it must be brought 
 by Eve ; but know I have told thee by the same 
 hand I mean the Woman. And now I tell thee 
 Perfect as thy Writings began by thee and car- 
 ried on by other Handmaids : perfect so the 
 promise began by Eve to lay the Foundation for 
 Another to claim and to build thereon : so I tell 
 thee the hand is alike, it cannot be changed to 
 man : and perfect so I tell thee as thy hand be- 
 gan the writing from My Spirit ; so the hand of 
 Woman shall end. Then now discern what is 
 meant by the same hand ; it is not meant the 
 hand of Eve that plucked the evil, and brought 
 the knowledge of the evil, shall bring the know- 
 ledge of the Good : and yet I tell thee the Foun- 
 dation was as much laid by her in speaking the 
 Truth, and casting her blame on the serpent ; as 
 the Foundation of thy Waitings was first laid by 
 thy hand and as men blame the Foundation that 
 was laid by thee, and thousands judge it foolish- 
 ness what thou hast penned, because they do not 
 discern the mystery, nor understand what thou 
 hast penned: perfectly so I tell thee is the mys- 
 tery of the Fall ; -they do not. discern the pro- 
 mise her First Reasoning and her second truth 
 neither do they discern the Fault in man ; 
 neither do they discern how soon the Curse came 
 on again from Noah after the World was drown- 
 ed, that he pronounced ujxm his Son ! These 
 things are not discerned by men ; therefore, the 
 blame layeth upon the Woman without discerning
 
 51 
 
 Adam was as easy to fall by the weakness of the 
 Woman, as She was by the subtil ty of the serpent : 
 but see how the blame was cast? These things 
 men do not discern therefore, they go on as 
 Adam began, to cast the blame upon the Woman 
 and My Honor can never be cleared for giving 
 the Woman for his Helpmate, if I do not clear 
 My Honor to fulfil My Promise, and make her 
 for his good and perfect so I now tell thee, I 
 cannot clear My Honor in the simple manner I 
 have often spoken to thee ; therefore, I tell thee, 
 I shall clear up the whole by the same hand I 
 began that meaneth, to be a Mouth and Voice 
 in thee, to speak the words, and by the hand of 
 Women to be penned : but let no one judge 
 irom these words, that what I have begun by 
 thee as a Mouth and Voice, that other Women 
 are to end % that I shall be a Mouth and Voice to 
 them. For, now I tell thee, there are Many 
 that if they were to hear these words without 
 having them clearly explained, they would say 
 thou wast but a Shadow ; for they were the Sub- 
 stance. Therefore, I tell thee all I mean by 
 another hand of Woman, is, to finish what thou 
 hast begun, and to pen the words that I shall 
 deliver to thee, and thou to them. Here I have 
 shewed there are many things laid behind to clear 
 up the whole ; and thou art wrong to wish deli- 
 verance from the World, before I have cleared 
 up the whole and confounded all Gainsayers. 
 
 g a
 
 52 
 
 Joannds Communications in continuation on 
 the Song of Lord Burnet. 
 
 Tuesday night, July lth, 1805. 
 
 " After I was in bed, I was pondering upon 
 the whole, and I was deeply answered that by the 
 hand of the Woman, the Lord would confound 
 men and devils the devil for betraying her and 
 man for blaming his Maker for giving the Woman 
 to him. After these words I begun to ponder 
 upon the song of loud burnet : and it was 
 deeply answered through a Song, yet, the Parable 
 was deep throughout. It begun to be answered 
 me from the first words, " By One, by Two, 
 and by Three" and three were the Judgments 
 threatened upon the Nations The Sword-~The 
 Plague and the Famine, and these judgments 
 they were calling down. And I should observe 
 how the Shadows of the Three were in the Nations 
 abroad, that had already come : and Three things 
 and been in this Land The Dearth of Provisions 
 the Sword of war that you are engaged in, and 
 theThousands that have been lost thereby and the 
 burden to cany on the war, and though these 
 three things appeared before them ; yet, the Na- 
 tion was like the Lady to smile upon the World 
 with all its Vices, and their hearts were fixed to 
 wander from God ; as the Lady wandered from 
 her husband to seek after another lover. Perfect 
 so was the State of the Nation and though they 
 were warned of their dangers, as the Foot-page 
 warned the Lady; yet, their Confidence was 
 perfect like hers to smite the person that warned 
 them ; and still Self-confident in the love of the 
 World to wander from God, as the Lady did 
 from her husband. ,So that, every step of the
 
 53 
 
 Fable was the Perfect Likeness of the Land ; 
 and I should discern- from the Foot-page after 
 acquainting his Lord with the whole, how he 
 called down his men " by One, by Two, and by 
 Three," the second time, and so are the Nations 
 going on the same, to call down the three judg- 
 ments that were first threatened. And in this 
 Nation Believers are gone out to blow the Trum- 
 pet, to sound the alarm yet, neither the past s 
 nor the present had any effect upon thousands 
 They, perfectly like the Lady, that knew the 
 FoOt-page had seen her ; knew, he had threat- 
 ened her; heard the trumpet blown that dangers 
 were near her : yet, She was still self-confident 
 till her destruction came. And perpect so is the 
 Nation. Now, they have heard the warnings 
 they have seen the Judgment from the past harvest 
 and the other burdens that are upon the Land, 
 and yet they are still Self-confident therefore, 
 the Song thou canst not bear is the True Picture 
 of the Nation and a Picture for the Nation to 
 draw their True Colors before them. And to 
 shew their perfect likeness I ordered that 
 Song to be put in print And know what I 
 likened the Children of Israel to? to a treacherous 
 Woman playing the Harlot : and what did I say 
 in my Gospel ? To what shall I liken this Gene- 
 ration ? And now 1 say the same, to what shall 
 I liken this Generation ? In the Parable of the 
 Lady I have shewed thee to what I have likened 
 it to ? Therefore, be not thou like the Self-righte- 
 ous to think thou art more wise, and more 
 
 holy than Me that thou canst not bear to 
 
 liken a Nation that is wandering from Me, 
 as the Lady did from her Husband, unto an 
 Adulterous Woman. Here I have shewed thee 
 the perfect likeness; and I now tell thee the
 
 64 
 
 Self-confident have to fear the perfect end of the 
 Lady. I know that soNfr is as much disliked 
 by Many, as it is by thee : therefore, I worked in 
 thee to think upon the Song, when not reading 
 it, that it may be answered for others. So let thy 
 pondering, and My Answer be copied off, and 
 sent amongst the Believers, that they may discern 
 the depth, and answer to the whole. But now I 
 know thy pondering thoughts It ; was not so 
 answered in that clear manner, when it was printed. 
 To this I answer ; had it been answered clear to 
 every particular, 1 could not have tried the Wis- 
 dom of men, to what they would place a Parable, 
 that is so plain before them, to shew the end ? 
 How could I try their judgment, if I had pointed 
 out every particular? therefore, I gave an expla- 
 nation in a manner they did not understand of the 
 past ages and the present. For I now tell thee 
 like the destruction upon the Lady it came upon 
 the Jews of old, and upon Jerusalem. And, if 
 you discern My Gospel you will discern the de- 
 struction will come the same. Therefore, I tell 
 thee it is not the Song that you are to look to, nor 
 the form it is placed by man: but the sense through 
 it contains. And I now tell thee there are many 
 Parables in the Bible as much mocked and despised 
 i as much ridiculed and not understood why they 
 are placed in such a manner, as that Song is* 
 Therefore, I tell thee it was My Wisdom to bring 
 forward such a Song, and shew the perfect 
 likeness from the Song, that men may discern the 
 meaning of the Parables that are in My Bible. 
 Now, where is the man can point out a more 
 perfect likeness of your Nation, than I have 
 pointed out from the Parable thou so much hated ? 
 Now, canst thou answer from thyself that thou 
 canst point out, a more clear way, to shew the
 
 65 
 
 Nation in its hue colors? In thy heart thou 
 answerest, no ! Now, T tell thee the Form of the 
 Song, and the manner of the words, if men find 
 fault with and blame ; the^r must blame the Authors 
 that made- it: because the Song was not composed 
 by thee but it is the Parable to shew the likeness 
 of the endj that I commanded it to go in print. 
 And I now tell thee I confined thy senses not to 
 discern the manner of the Song, that thou shou-ldest 
 not alter it when it was printed. And now I 
 have told thee if they blame the Song, they must 
 blame the World that made it: and yet the 
 Parable is deep as I have told thee : and now 1 1 
 shall answer thy further pondering heart, from 
 the manner I have explained it in the Book ; and 
 perfect as I have explained it the end will be ; for 
 the destruction must come in the end upon the 
 root of evil upon the author that tempts man 
 to sin. 
 
 ^>nwifOIBfflir<9 
 
 Qn Joanna s Temptations by Satan at Bristol, 
 in 1804. 
 
 Now I shall answer thy pondering heart why 
 should I suffer thee to be thus tried and tempted 
 by the devil by every art he could invent, is thy 
 next pondering thoughts in reading the whole 
 together, what thou wentest through, s in the year 
 that is past ? 
 
 Simple as this may appear of My permission, 
 as it could not be without My permission ; so this 
 hath appeared marvellous in thy eyes pondering 
 on from the past : but mark what I told thee in
 
 the beginning of the year, thdt year, was a Type 
 of the end. And how could I so clearly free 
 the Fall of the Woman* if I had not suffered thee 
 by every way satan could invent to be tried and 
 tempted to the uttermost ? And how could I so 
 clearly shew My power that! kept thee in the midst 
 of Temptations, if I had not suffered thee to be 
 tempted? Now, I tell thee, if men discern and 
 weigh the Book deep, they must discern it was 
 impossible for simple Women to be together in 
 all the wondrous working that came to thee, if 
 My presence had not been with you : fears, I say, 
 would have alarmed the whole. Now, I tell thee 
 as thy poidenng thoughts have been; so are the. 
 pondering thoughts of Many; for all hearts are 
 known to Me. Therefore, I worked in thy 
 heart and thoughts the perfect thoughts I know 
 are in others ; that I may answer them by thee ; 
 as thou knowest I answered Peter, when 1 knew 
 the thoughts of the Pharisee. I brought the Pa- 
 rable forward to My own' Disciple : and so I 
 tell thee I bring things forward to thee, to answer 
 the World by thy simple thoughts. And now I 
 tell thee as thou hast pondered, why I suffered 
 satan to tempt and try thee : so I know men 
 ponder from the beginning, why I suffered satan 
 to come in that manner to tempt, and try the 
 Woman at first? The same, I tell thee, they 
 have pondered of Job, why I have suffered satan 
 to try there? And others have pondered in the 
 . Gospel, if I was the SON of God, why I should 
 suffer satan to tempt Me ? All these pondering 
 thoughts, I know, arc in men ; which make 
 Many jealous of their Bibles, and fill them with 
 unbelief. It is not consistent with the Wisdom 
 f God, say they, that His Son should be tried
 
 57 
 
 and tempted by; the devil ? This is known to Me, 
 are the. thoughts of men: perfect so I tell thee 
 of the Prophets there are many things spoken 
 by them that I commanded for Types and Sha- 
 dows which appear full as contrary to their 
 Judgment, to come from the Wisdom of a God, 
 as the Parables I have ordered thee to pen. 
 Therefore, I tell thee to shew them My Bible in 
 all its Simplicity and Truth, I have permitted the 
 Likeness of the whole to come to thee ix tiils 
 age; that men may see the- Truth of My Bible, 
 when they have seen the clear Truth of My 
 Visitation to thee, and thy Prophecies. For, I 
 now tell thee the hearts of men are known to Mc, 
 There is not a. pondering thought in thy heart) 
 that can appear simple in thy Writings, that doth 
 not appear simple to men in tiie. Bible. And I 
 tell thee there are Thousands and Tens of Thou- 
 sands, whose, hearts are concealed from tiie 
 World, but their hearts are not concealed from 
 Me; for every thought is. known to Me and 
 though they boast of the Scriptures of Truth ; 
 yet, I tell thee, they do not believe the Scrip- 
 tures are true: neither do they believe they 
 will ever be FULi^t^i^i^^tTf^ap pears simple 
 like thy Writings to Thousands : therefore, if it 
 was not for Prophecies to awaken them out of 
 their unbelief, the Nation would perish 'like the 
 World of Old. Therefore, thy pondering thoughts 
 are worked by ME, to shew tiie perfect state of 
 man, how-they ponder in re;u.linj; the ' tfefciptares. 
 For, I now tell thee the Song tliOsG dispised so 
 much in thy heart, is not morexlespised oy thee, 
 than My Bible is by Thousands. Andi I'.teli tnee 
 conscious guilt will hereafter coadeiilia-. utfuny,
 
 58 
 
 when they see thy Prophecies fulfilled ; that they 
 have looked upon My Bible with as much dislike, 
 as thou lookest upon that Song and they take as 
 much in question the devil's tempting the Woman 
 in the beginning why I should permit it: as thou 
 ponderest in thy heart why I permitted all thy 
 temptations, and for what use they were printed. 
 But I tell thee for what use they were printed ? 
 To prove to mankind the truth of My Words 
 the perfect enmity between thee and 
 satan, which is plainly proved from thy First 
 Visitation; and from the enmity they must 
 see the promise, " that the serpent's head 
 must be bruized" Therefore, I tell thee and 
 all men, thy Visitation, and thy Prophecies, are 
 no addition to the Scriptures; but a fulfil- 
 ment of the Scriptures. Therefore, I tell thee, 
 no man can say thou hast added thereto; or took 
 therefrom : but perfect as the words were spoken, 
 perfect so they are now fulfilling, and that every 
 Soul will know, I have begun, and I shall make 
 an end." 
 
 ON THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK OF, 
 
 WHAT MANNER OF 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS ARE THESE t 
 
 
 " And now come to the beginning of the Book, 
 and mark from thy First pondering thoughts, the 
 happiness thou feltest in obeying; and the fears 
 thou hadst in disobeying : -yet, these thing?
 
 59 
 
 appeared to thee simple to stand in print j-^-but 
 to thy simple thoughts I shall answer? How 
 could I bring all tilings to your remembrance from 
 the Foundation of the World to this day, to lay 
 the whole state of the Woman before your view ? 
 Her first simplicity? Her first Innocence, if I 
 did not bring the Shadow of the likeness in thee? 
 Now, I tell thee from thy thoughts and simple 
 pondering was the first thought and conduct of 
 Eve ; that she would stand to her first words, 
 and disputed with the serpent, saying, she should 
 fall from her happiness, if she went from them. 
 This, I tell thee was the beginning : put mark 
 what followed as thy fears arose thou hadst 
 disobeyed concerning the Book being wrongly 
 placed ; and all the horrors of hell arose in thee 
 by My permission, to shew the perfect state in 
 the beginning, I permitted thee, though inno- 
 cent, to fear thou hadst acted wrong and I 
 permitted satan to work every honor in thee, 
 that I well knew he worked in Eve : that you 
 might perfectly see the likeness of the Creation 
 what was the Woman's first simple innocence 
 what her next horror and confusion after she was 
 betrayed like thy horror when thou wast filled 
 with jealousy, fearing thou hadst disobeyed. Here 
 stands the perfect likeness of the Woman in the 
 Creation, in the beginning of thy Bopk, that 
 appears simple to thoe ; and I tell thee as simple 
 it appeareth to Many ; because they do not de- 
 cern My footsteps, to call every thing clear to 
 Men's Remembrance. And now I shall come 
 further to the purpose of the Fall -when I 
 entered strong into thee, know, the words I spoke 
 
 within thee against the tempter- I said 
 
 H 2
 
 60 
 
 " That hell should tremlde, and should fear. p 
 Tliese were the first words I spoke to thee, when 
 I entered within to comfort thee, and to condemn 
 that evil power, that so strongly sought thy ruin. 
 -Then, now compare this with the Creation 
 " the serpent said unto the Woman, yea, hath 
 God, said, ye shall not eat of every Tree of the 
 Garden ? 
 
 " And the Woman said unto the serpent, we 
 " may eat of the Fruit of the Trees of the G arden : 
 " but of the Fruit of the Tree which is in the 
 " midst af the Garden, God hath said, ye shall not 
 " eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 
 
 " And the serpent said unto the Woman, ye 
 " shall not surely die. 
 
 " For God doth know, that in the day ye eat 
 U thereof? then your eyes shall be opened: and 
 ' k ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil." 
 
 Now, I tell thee from this chapter is the per- 
 fect simplicity of the Woman, that was in thee in 
 the beginning of the Book. Her innocence was 
 betrayed; and her misery came on By her the 
 Truth was spoken ; as every true word was spoken 
 by thee when thou wast in agonies of sorrow. 
 In the beginning M'hcn thou feltest joy, thou 
 didst speak the truth in the simplicity of thy heart 
 and when thou feltest sorrow and despair, thou 
 didst speak the Truth of the feelings of thy heart. 
 Then now see the true state of the beginning 
 " The Lord said unto the Woman, what is this 
 thou hast done r And the Woman said, the ser- 
 pent beguii'd me, and I did eat?" Then now see 
 the likeness together; for Eve's last words were 
 spoken with truth, I tell thee, in agony and dis- 
 pair. Then see My answer " The Lord God 
 said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this,
 
 61 
 
 thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every 
 beast of the Field : upon thy belly shalt thou go, 
 and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life."- 
 Now, let men discern liie perfect likeness of My 
 words to the old Serpent, the devil, when he had 
 betrayed the Woman, and caused her Fall and 
 My words when I appeared in thee, saying, ; the 
 devil had laid his Net, and he should surely fall 
 therein* Let them weigh them both together, and 
 see the likeness of My Love and Anger and My 
 
 Fury against the arts of hell. Now come to 
 
 the following words 
 
 " I will put enmity between thee and the 
 Woman, and between thy seed, aud her seed :-**- 
 it shall bruize thy head." Then, now mark the 
 words I spoke within thee, that I would make hell 
 tremble and fear ; and redeem man from hm 
 power; for I should conquer hell they should 
 no longer bruize My heel ; but My Fury should 
 fall on hell. Now, let them weigh these together; 
 then they will see the perfect likeness of the 
 Creation now brought back, and called to then* 
 Remembrance, and laid before their view by the 
 simple manner I have worked in thee, to place 
 the whole before them. And now mark the 
 Chapter further " The Lord God said, Behold 
 
 the Man is become as one of us, to know good 
 i and evil and now lest he put forth his hand, 
 ' and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and 
 
 live for ever. Therefore, die Lord God sent hirri 
 
 forth from the Garden o( Fden, to till the ground 
 ' from whence he was taken. So HF drove out 
 ' the man; and HF placed a flaming sword which 
 
 turned every way, to keep the way of the Tree 
 
 of Life.' Now, weigh these words with the 
 
 words which were further spoken in 17 and 18th
 
 m 
 
 pages of Foley's Book I said, what was done in 
 the Secret* Chamber should be made known upon 
 the House Top : for I said, I would clear every 
 mystery. And now I will tell thee, every mystery 
 1 will clear, to prove every thing from the begin- 
 ning, and to shew the likeness of every Shadow. 
 And now come to the new creation. The 
 new Covenant that I said I would make with 
 man: and how I placed the forbidden Fruit? 
 But here thou hast pondered in thy heart they 
 were never put to the Trial ? To this I answer 
 They were not put to the Trial, when thy Trial 
 was, because none but Friends were present 
 and the others refused to come: so they have 
 not yet been put to that trial: neither. was 
 satan's Trial, when thy Trial was his head was 
 not bruized with My Heel, though the words stand 
 together : neither is the Tree of Life come to 
 man, that the Sword was placed to keep for man. 
 All is not yet fulfilled : and yet I tell thee from 
 thy pondering thoughts, are the thoughts of Thou- 
 sands concerning the Bible. Thou judgest thy 
 Trial is over, and no forbidden Fruit appeared to 
 be rejected or reproved: therefore, the 
 Command I gave thee Mas of no use; without 
 considering " there is a day to come, when 
 
 THOU WILT FIND THE USE OF ALL." N OW, 
 
 1 tell thee, like thy thoughts thinking all was 
 fulfilled, that thou hast nothing more to fear from 
 the Command which was given in the NEW 
 COVENANT: perfect so men judge the Bible 
 they think all is over; the time is past Mv 
 Heel was bruized All was fmishe \-^ there is no 
 future day to come, to bruize the serpent's head. 
 As thou hast been pondering in thy heart, there 
 is no day to come to try the Forbidden Fruit ; so
 
 6S 
 
 men judge there is no clay to come for the evil to 
 be tried* for the Promise to be claimed: for the 
 Tree of Life (that was preserved) to be obtained 
 by man. All they judge is passed by, and forget, 
 as thon judgest by thy Trial, all is passed by, and 
 the caution was of no use; but, I tell thee a day 
 uill come when thou wilt find the caution to 
 be of use and perfect so they will find the 
 Scriptures the days are coming when allshai.l 
 be fulfilled. Now, mark further of Cain- 
 after the first sorrow of Eve was- over, her sorrows 
 begun again by Cain's murdering Abel And now 
 mark how thy sorrows begun again by the strong 
 temptations of the devil? how the horror of hell 
 came upon thee, more than thou knewest how to 
 bear, after thou hadst felt the Power of My Spirit, 
 and the Promise I had made thee ? Here bejmn 
 the Shadow of Eve in thee how the powers of 
 darkness attacked her ? What horror and misery 
 she felt, when one was slain, and the other tied ? 
 Here begun the Shadow of Eve in the beginning 
 of thy Book. 
 
 OJV JVO4H. 
 
 Now I shall come to Noah Therefore, I 
 ordered thee particularly to put thy life in print, 
 that they may see how the Creation goes on from 
 the Shadow of thy simple life. Now, mark whew 
 the sons of men had provoked Me to anger by 
 their sins and disobedience, that I said, I would 
 destroy tlcm, but Noah found grace in the eyes of 
 the Lord. And now let them mark the Shadow 
 in Thee jas Noah was the only man that I said
 
 VtLs- 1 a just and perfect man that walked- before 
 God, and found favor in My sight perfect so was 
 the name with thee. But now I shall come to the 
 mystery of the name. Though Noah found favor 
 in My sight, and did all that I commanded him, 
 and man was preserved in the Ark that Noah built. 
 Here Noah showed his love to Me, and I to him : 
 yet, know from Noah the Covenant of Peace 
 was not established for know, how soon Noah's 
 anger, was kindled against his Son. Here was 
 Innocence and Peace,, Love aud Unity soon 
 broken. off between the Father and the Son: per- 
 fect as thy Love was broken -off- for here satan 
 took advantage to work between them, that their 
 Love and Unity should be turned into anger. 
 Now, mark the Covenant that I made with Noah 
 if Be ye Fruitful and multiply, bring forth 
 
 * Abundance in the Earth: and I will establish 
 \ My- Covenant with you neither shall All Flesh 
 ' be cut off any more by the Waters of a Flood 
 
 * I do set My Bow in the Cloud, and it shall be 
 
 * for a Token of a Covenant between Me and 
 
 * the Earth." Now mark after this Covenant, 
 the Covenant of Peace was broken with Noah 
 and his Sons. How was their Love turned to 
 anger and confusion ? And sin, and sorrow en- 
 creased as before ? Though I tell thee, My Love 
 to man to preserve him in the Ark was perfect 
 like thy Love to Noah and though My Covenant 
 
 !\as made not to destroy the Earth any more by 
 he Flood, and the Bow stands a mark to this day 
 as thy Love stands on Record : so do My Bow 
 stand on Record of the Covenant I made with 
 Noah, and is seen in the Clouds. But, how did 
 man go on to wound My Heart, and grieve My 
 Love, to turn from Me alter I had shewn so muefc
 
 65, 
 
 Lore tp him ? And yet discern thq beginning 
 the strength of his Faith- the obedience of bi# 
 Love, in what manner he begun by every obcl.- 
 ence; and yet see how soon the whole was 
 chilled ? And sec in what maimer his Sons went 
 on, that the Generations of Noah was soon broken 
 off from love; as thy Love and his was broken 
 off. But now mark where stands die fault ? Was 
 the fault in the Woman there ? I tell thee< No 1 
 ^nd yet thou sayest in thy heart, if I bring the 
 Parable to thee, there was fault in the Woman to 
 break it off, because there was fault in thee to 
 break off the love : so thou sayest in thy heart, 
 that the Woman stands still condemned from Noah 
 and his Sons, as well as from Adam ? To this I 
 answer the powers of darkness have been pur- 
 suing you ever since the Creation, raid by the ad- 
 vantage he had over the Woman, is pleading the 
 promise of man's death, and by every art is 
 working his destruction. Ana 1 novy I tell thee 
 from Noah and his Sons, if he could not gain the 
 advantage over the Woman,, bP would not have 
 rested till he hati over the man. for I now tell 
 thee as thou ponderest in thy heart the time is 
 past of the Forbidden Taut that I placed in men, 
 jthat refuse Me coming in the Spirit to the Woman, 
 as a Helpmate for man: so would satan have 
 worked in man, if he could not have betrayed the 
 Woman, the time was past and the things were 
 forgotten; as Noah and his Sons forgot what 
 destruction Sin had brought upon Mankind., 
 Therefore, I tell thee, satan would have found 
 a way to tempt men to evil, if he had not don 
 it in the beginning but as he had done it in th 
 beginning, and the blame by man was cast on th 
 
 J
 
 66 
 
 Woman, and on his Maker for giving him the 
 Woman then, know the words that I have told 
 thee, that I will clear My Honor by the hand of 
 the Woman to the shame and confusion of men, 
 who now blame My Visitation to the Woman, to 
 claim the Promise for the destruction of satan, 
 that caused her Fall. For, 1 nOw tell thee, if 
 men discern the Love of Women for Me, and 
 their Love for the good of Mankind It hath 
 been like thy love to Noah : but here thou sayeafe 
 in thy heart in thy love thou wast to blame, be- 
 cause by thee the love was broken off? Now, I tell' 
 thee as that perfect Innocence was id the Woman, 
 so satan's arts broke oif die love which brought on 
 the sorrow to Mankind. Therefore, in tiiis I'll 
 not blame thee : but I tell thee the Standard of 
 thy Love that is placed in the Book is to shew My 
 Love to man in the case of Noah to preserve 
 him in the Ark ^-and his Love, Faith, and 
 Obedience, in building the Ark, and still to shew 
 it was broken off from being a lasting and happy 
 L T nion between God and man and perfect so I 
 tell thee in all ages, where there was love it 
 caused sorrow ; as satan trieth to break it off, and 
 to cause discord between God and man. ' There- 
 fore, thy simple history is but a Shadow to 
 shew how things went on, and how thy Love was 
 broken off to shew the shadow of the Deluge 
 how soon the love was broken oft* after My won- 
 .dlrous deliverance to man. 
 

 
 
 6* 
 
 ON PARABLES. 
 
 '* Now \ t<ell thee from Jezebel stands the Type 
 of the Lady, that I ordered thee to put in print 
 in the Book I compared with the Law, that 
 meaneth, the Old Testament, as you call it the 
 Law and the Gospel; therefore, I compared it 
 with Jezebel and now mark, First, she saw the 
 Famine that was in the Land according to the 
 words of the Prophet Elijah; and the rain came as 
 he said to Ahab 1st Kings, chap. 1 1, v. 1. " Go, 
 " shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain 
 " upon the Earth." Here were the Two Predic- 
 tions she saw at first Strong and visible marks, 
 that he was a Prophet from the Lord, with the 
 other wondrous works, of the fire coming down 
 upon the Altar, that Elijah had built These 
 wondrous things being all done by the Prophet 
 did not give her a single Eye to discern that God 
 which had done such wonders, and had brought 
 down such judgments, could yet do greater : r 
 but her Eye was evil and full of darkness there- 
 fore, when she saw the whole, she thought to 
 destroy that Prophet by whose hands 1 had done 
 these wondrous works. Therefore, bhe prophe- 
 cied her own destruction:-" So let the Gods do 
 ' 4 to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as 
 v the life of one of them by to-morrow this time" 
 (1st Kings, 19th chapter 2nd verse.) Aud 
 now mark how her life ended; and he said, throw 
 her down, so he. he threw her down, and some of 
 her blood was sprinked on the wall,- and on the 
 horses, and they trod her under foot ; and when 
 jlicy went to bury her, they found no more of her, 
 
 i Z
 
 GS 
 
 than the skull, and the feet, and t/.e palms of her 
 hands. Here, came her own destiny upon her, 
 that she so confidently and boldly prophecied of: 
 
 which, I tell thee is a likeness of the Parable 
 
 of Lord Burnetts Lady ; and these things I have 
 ordered to be put in print, to call inen back to the 
 Records of the Bible, that they may see the Self- 
 confidence there is in an evil eye; how they are 
 darkened till destruction cometh upon them. And 
 how let men mark by whom these Parables were 
 ordered to be put in print not by thy Wisdom 
 nor the Wisdom of man : because the Parables 
 thou couldest not bear ; and the mockery of the 
 World would have been feared by men, if it had 
 been done by them. Therefore, I tell them it 
 was done by MY COMMAND ; that they may 
 call back the Scriptures, and discern wliat followed 
 them that mocked in the midst of Judgments and 
 Dangers- and see what their end was, and com- 
 pare it with the Parable of the Self-confident Lady. 
 - " Now I tell thee if men discern deeply and 
 weigh My Bible deep, and what 1 commanded 
 the Prophet Ezekiel to do as a Sign and Parable 
 to them, what should befall them for their stub- 
 bornness and disobedience, they would see these 
 Parables are like My dealings with man in all 
 Ages of the "World when I came to warn Man- 
 
 .kind See, what Parables I brought unto them ; 
 
 so let them read deep the 4th. and 5th. Chapters 
 of Ezekiel ; that meaneth, to ponder in their 
 hearts like thee ; and let them mark the Words 
 that 1 said in the 16th. Chapter, 45th, verse ; 
 41 Thou art thy Mother's Daughter that loathcth 
 * **, her Husband and her Children ; and thou art 
 14 the Sister of thy Sisteis, which loatheth their 
 w. Husbands and their Children." Now, if men
 
 6Q 
 
 discern My ways arid to what I compared the 
 Nations, they wculd have an Eve suigle to see 
 the Lhiht ; that every Parable is alike brought to 
 the Nations of what their likeness is ; ind as the 
 Parables were of Old, to compaie them to Sodom 
 to Samaria to the Nation*; and to the Pro- 
 pie : so their eyes would be opened to see from 
 the Likeness of the Parable what I hive likened 
 life Nations to, and what will he thf Evd of the 
 self-confident their laughter of the Parables will 
 be turned into mourning ; though I know many 
 will say in their hearts, who could judge THE 
 LORD would have ordered such songs to he put 
 in print, to be brought to the Nation Songs of 
 Mourning and of Woe ! But let them discern 
 What brought the Mourning and the Woe in the 
 Parable, but her MOCKING THE WARN. 
 1NG, when She had wandeTed from 'her Husband, 
 to follow after another Lover ! Now, if vou dis- 
 cern the Prophets through, in this manner I com- 
 pared the Nations in Ages past; and AM I not 
 GOD the same in the present ? Is it nut written 
 THY MAKER is thy Husband ? Then, if thy 
 MAKER is thy Husband to come as a BRIDE- 
 GROOM and claim the Brides MY OWN, what 
 must become of those that mock My Warning, 
 and mock My Coming. Doth not My Gospel 
 tell them they will be shut out at My Coming 
 and the Servants that mock the coming of their 
 Lord will le cut off? therelore I tell thee, if 
 men discern deeply and weigh the Records of 
 Truth, they will discern the Parables, that I or- 
 dered thee to publish to the World will shew the 
 end to Mankind; which have a perfect likeness 
 to the Parables in My Bible and they must 
 know, that no One would print such Parables
 
 from Themselves, wkhout ekl ie vivo it a 
 command of the LORD therefore, let no 
 man condemn for it is I The Lord that JUSTI- 
 F1ETH, to shew Mankind I ordered these things 
 to point out the end from the Parables : and as 
 to thy Life, I ordered thee to print and place it 
 in the Two Books, (Sharp's and Foley's) that 
 from them both you may bring it. all together : 
 perfect so I tell Mankind you must bring the 
 words of the Prophets and the Gospel together 
 to see wiiAt was prophecied of ME by the Pro- 
 phets then, mark My sayings, and the Miracles 
 I wrought ; and then discern the words of the 
 'i Apostles. Now, when you have weighed the 
 whole together ; you must clearly discern every 
 Parable I ordered thee to pen, hath the perfect 
 sense and meaning of the Parables through that 
 stand on Record, to bring every thing to your 
 remembrance, and to quicken your memories with 
 what was before, that you may call the Scriptures 
 back. But, I now tell thee, the Two Books of 
 thy simple Life and Fables are not more despised 
 and mocked, than the Bible is mockedby thousands: 
 for J now tell thee the Parables in the Bible 
 are known to Me to be mocked and despised, and 
 laughed at, and ridiculed by an unbelieving 
 World, who judge, if there is a God, as it is 
 written in the Scriptures, He must be too wise, 
 too full of Might and Majesty, too full of 
 Greatness, to bring forward such simple Parables 
 to the sons of men ; which, I tell thee is judged 
 lom eh, than a learned Divine would bring for- 
 ward. These, are the simple thoughts of man- 
 kind ; for which reason the Scriptures are despised 
 by thousands and rejected of man ; as thou began 
 to despise the Fables when reading them over,
 
 7* 
 
 and pondering in thy heart, whether they could 
 be from the Lord, that thou wast ordered to put 
 them in print and whether thy senses were then 
 deranged by some strong Visitation that wis not 
 from ME and whether I had permitted this to 
 be done, to shew what a deranged state of mind 
 would do. These, have been the ponderings of 
 thy heart : and perfect so, I tell thee, thousands 
 have judged the Bible to be from a deranged 
 state of mind of those men, that called themselves 
 Prophets ; and they could not believe that 'such 
 directions and such Parables as were spoken by 
 the Prophets, codd ever come from a God of 
 Wisdom." 
 
 I 
 to 
 
 On Joannas Visitation at Bristol, in 1 8Q4. 
 
 " toow I shall come to thy Visitation in the 
 year that is past, the 43rd page in Foley's Book, 
 and mark the' words I said to thee then no 
 longer shall My Spirit strive with man. And 
 now mark the Books of Moses," how My Spirit 
 strove with man, and what I said in the 32, chap, 
 of Deuteronomy that I bid thee mark ; though 
 My Promises were so great on the one hand ; yet, 
 see My threatenings on the Other. In the 
 *22nd. ver. "A Fire is kindled in Mine Anger, 
 " and shall burn unto the Lowest hell, and shall 
 41 consume the Earth with her Increase, and set 
 " on Fire the Foundations of the Mountains*' 
 and mark the 39th. and 40th, verses u I kiii 
 " audi make alive; I wound and 1 heal ; neither 
 <l is there any can deliver out of My Hand :
 
 72; 
 
 *f for I lift up My Hand to Heiven, and say, I 
 * liv:^ jfpr e\ er."' No,w let mei discern fro' " this 
 Chapter how G l> 'EAT are My Promises in the 
 beginning; and \e, how SETERE are My 
 threatenings ai-ti let them wf.igh it wnh the 
 manner qf My Yfeitafjqn to thee, i said, My 
 ^ViTge-ir and My Fary should go forth ; and My 
 Lo^iug-kindncss should save to tjie utmost- 
 Aqd now mark in this Chapter I said in the begin- 
 ning, " My Doctrine should dro" as ih< Rain; 
 ]vly Speech shouM distil as the Dew, as the small 
 Rain upon the tender Herbs, and as the Showers, 
 upon the Grass." Now, I tell thee from thesp 
 word* if men discern them, I have shewn My 
 Great Promises to the sons of men, that abide in 
 My Covenant ; and in the same Chapter I have 
 shewed My severe threatenings to them that de- 
 spise my Counsels. Now, let men weigh this with 
 the manner of My Visitation to thee, then they 
 will discern the Likeness of My words unto Moses 
 that frocu One Spirit came the whole. For, I 
 pow tell thee thy Visitation hath. not been c|ceply 
 decerned by man, to weigh it with the Prophets, 
 
 that Love and A -tiger is mired, together 
 
 Promises and Threatenings to shew. you. the End. 
 And know, I have told thee from the Books of 
 Mo;es, there are many things that stand yr the 
 End. And now let men discern hi wh,)t manner 
 was My Visitation -to thee j and let them dis- 
 cern in what manner My Spirit has been striving 
 with man Thou sayest in thy Heart in reading 
 through the Books of Motes it appeareth to thee, 
 as though the LORD had visited the Earth fre- 
 quently during the FORTY YEARS IN THE 
 WILDERNESS, as though HE had been upon 
 the Earth ; the same as HE was in the days of the
 
 fte*rn? f lUpiVjL I teU,.thcc from %- pondering 
 thoughts, J .^Vi^nsw^r t u p i i kst is last ; 
 and tus : AT is fihsTv For, IN' THE SPIRIT 
 was My strong Visitation to man in the^ begin- 
 ning : and in* the s pi hit will be My strong 
 Visitation in the ex ding but how could I 
 vUit Moses in the Spirit in the manner I hare 
 vwted thee? What knowledge had man of the 
 Spirit being visited witjiix before I came in the 
 tlcsh, to tell them in what maimer My Spirit 
 should visit mankind ? .Now, I tell thee, this 
 was made known by the Gospel, which was not 
 made known to the Prophets of Old : therefore, 
 My Visitation must appear visible; or, they 
 could not know they were visited by the Lord. 
 lUit dost thou vainly believe the God of Heaven 
 The Creator of tlic Universe, was abiding upon 
 the Earth, to be always conversing with Moses, 
 as thou dost suppose ? I tell thee, no ! The 
 Power of My Spirit was with Moses, and lie 
 was often visited by Angela, as Messengers, to 
 declare M^y Will and now I tell thee no more 
 than thou knowest when thou art visited power- 
 fully by My Spirit, and when thou art vjsited by 
 Angels, as Ministers : no more did Moses know 
 who visited him. For, I now tell thee after I 
 appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai ; in the 
 Burning Bush and went before Him, to deliver 
 the cbildren of Israel: if I sent My Angels 
 unto Him in My Name, I ask thee, if Moes 
 could tell any more than thou canst tell, whether 
 there is any different Spirit, or Power that visits 
 thee Hut I know thy pondering thoughts? A 
 different Power thou hast TWICE PELT; in 
 thy First Visitation in- 179-, when 1 told thee 
 
 K
 
 74 
 
 #f what was coming upon the Earth; it was 
 
 with Power and made thee tremble and a 
 
 greater Power thou didst feel in My strong 
 Visitation to thee in the year that is past (1804) 
 And now I ask thee if thou couldest continue 
 to bear the powerful Visitation of My Spirit in 
 the like mariner always ? In thy heart thou 
 answerest, no ! -Then now I answer thee of 
 Moses Mark how he feared and trembled 
 when I appeared to Him in the Bush (Exodus 
 Srd chapter 6th verse). Then how canst thou 
 simply suppose, that a mere man could be so freely 
 and frequently conversing with his God, to come 
 down in My Bodily Presence, as a God arrayed 
 in Majesty ? For, know it is said, * None shall 
 see My face and live." Therefore, I tell thee thy 
 thoughts were simple, to judge I was forty 
 tears upon the Earth in the Wilderness con- 
 versing with Moses as man with man ? I tell 
 thee, no! and yet in the spirit I strongly 
 visited Moses which made his face shine, that the 
 children of Israel could not look on Him when 
 I had visited him strong, And perfect so I tell 
 thee was My powerful voice in thee: but, I 
 ask thee who could pen the words if I had con- 
 tinued in the strength of My Spirit to have been 
 in thee? I tell thee, ye can as well bear to look 
 in the fervent Sun when it shines in all its Splen- 
 dor; as bear the powerful Visitation of My 
 Spirit. For, I now tell thee, when I visited 
 thee in Power so strong, at Bristol, in 1 804 : 
 thy own Spirit fell before Me ; and so I tell thee 
 
 la all My strong Visitations therefore, thy 
 
 senses seemed gone. Then how can the Spirit of 
 the Lord, and your Spirits bear witness together, 
 jf I visit so strong to overpower your Spirits more
 
 73 
 
 than ye can. bear .?. Now, perfect so \ tell the 
 of Moses * To be conversing with God, as 
 thou, supposed as man with man through the 
 wilderness,, is more than man could bear. And 
 yet I tell thee My Spirit was upon Moses ; or 
 He could not have borne the murmuring of the 
 children of Israel : and by My Angels lie was 
 visited. Therefore, 1 tell thee, the first is last, 
 and the last is first THE VISITATION 
 
 OF THE SPIRIT. And now I tell thee oi: 
 
 the Burning Bush when I appeared to Moses on 
 Mount Sinai Like the first will be the last when 
 I come to destroy satan's host, and free My 
 People from his power ; as it was when I came 
 to destroy Pharoah and his host : for know it is 
 written, " he that doth let, will let, till he be 
 taken out of the way ; whom the Lord shall 
 
 consume with the brightness of His Coming"- 
 
 then the Burning Push must, appear. Here I 
 have shewed thee from the Books of Moses w hat 
 were the Shadows in the beginning ;- and what 
 the Substance must be in the ending und what 
 *s the likeness of My Visitation to thee. And 
 now I tell thee, no more than the children of 
 Israel could look on Moses without a veil be- 
 tween, when his face shined with the Glory of 
 the Lord: no more can thy Believers look into 
 the mystery of My strong Visitation to thee with- 
 out having a veil between* that they cannot 
 clearly discern the mystery of thy walking to and 
 fro, speaking words in My. name, as though I 
 was present in thee; for strong I teli thee was 
 My Spirit then within thee. But I ask thee, 
 how thou couldest bear the Continuation ? Or, 
 how couldest thy friends, bear to write from, thee ?
 
 And yet I tell thcc in this manner f visited th#e, I 
 that tfhey'might know and see the Powor o# A In- 
 spirit ; and from whence thy Visitation was, bv 
 tiie words that -were uttered when' thy 'Sense* 
 seemed gone: because P f#l thee, *& Poivdr o 
 My Spirit 'when it cometh in Power is mbi'-e -than 
 your frail natures can bear. Now 1ct thein wcigli> 
 these things together- tatfftft the Scriptures I have 
 ordered thee to point out; and let them discern 
 My answer to thy Visitation at that time. Now, 
 I Shall answer thy pondering thoughts in reading 
 through the Books of Moses unto Samuel how 
 many things hast thou discerned- appeared as 
 simple to be put in tliO Bible, as THE HIS- 
 TORY of thy life Can possibly appear for in 
 reading over thy own- Books, thou ponderest in 
 thy heart to what usC'wcre these things printed, 
 as they appear simple. Perfect so thou hast 
 pondered of the Bible. And to thy pondering 
 thoughts I answeiv How could man be Judge 
 Between God and man, unless they read through 
 the Bible, and see My different dealings wheri 
 1 sent blessings; and when I sent Judgments; 
 if the history of their lives was not penned. * 
 Therefore, 1 tell thee, these things that appear 
 simple to thee to be put in print; is to- -shew what 
 was in man; and how they provoked ME to 
 anger, to turn My Blessings into Judgments, 
 And how often hast thou pondered in- thy heart 
 what Mad-men were the .Jews, to go oiv as they 
 did, after being tried so often with Blessings, and 
 with Judgments ? Now, I tell thee in this man- 
 ner it was known to ME, All Ages would con- 
 tinue for like the past; so are the present; 
 though their crimes are not of the same nature. 
 Thou sayest in this Land -they do not appear so
 
 77 
 
 perverse as the Jews were? To this I answer, 
 is thy eye like MINE to be every where ? Arc 
 all things open to thy view, as to MINE ? Thou 
 a-nswerest, no !- And now look to the Nations 
 abroad, and see the evils that are there ? There- 
 fore, I tell thee like the Nations past, are the 
 present. Every act of sin and cruelty is now 
 done under the Sun while sat n walks to and fro, 
 as a roaring lion seeking whom lie may devour. 
 Therefore;, I tell thee, thy Visitation that appear- 
 eth simple, is a true and simple warning 
 to man; to shew that I have jjegux", and I will 
 make an end. And marie what came upon the 
 Prophets as Types and Shadows of what should 
 come upon the Nations perfect so I tell thee 
 will My Visitation be in Love and Anger.* 
 
 All These Communications were taken from 
 the Mouth of Joanna Southcott, by ANN 
 UNDERWOOD, and in the presence of 
 JANE TOJVNLEW
 
 
 
 - 
 
 i 
 
 . .., 

 
 THE CONCLUSION. 
 
 . 
 
 WHEN we calmly and without 
 prejudice take a comprehensive view of the 
 honest and artless History of Joanna Southcott 
 as pourtrayed in these Books of her Life, we 
 must confess the Simplicity and Innocence 
 that runs through them are strong marks 
 of the full Truth of her pretensions, and of 
 her Divine Mission. For where is the Person 
 can exhibit to the World the true history 
 of their lives from the beginning to the end- 
 ing, and say, with a safe Conscience appeal- 
 ing to God and man, that it has been more 
 pure and spotless than what Joanna Sou'thcott's 
 hath been ? I do not believe there is that 
 Being under Heaven can now do it, and de- 
 clare the Truth. For this must be remem- 
 bered, that She hath kept nothing back, 
 but has nobly and boldly penned her foibles
 
 80 
 
 her mistakes and her errors, that She may 
 be able to shame and confound all Enemies, 
 by appealing to the Standard of Truth for the 
 Sincerity and uprightness of her Conduct 
 and that She has evcr-had^n vie.w in all her 
 Dealings with the World, to have a Con- 
 science void of offence, and clear of Self-re- 
 proach towards God and towards man. And 
 Ik re I am happy in testifying that ever since 
 my acquaintance with her in the year 1801, 
 I have iound TRUTH, HONOR, and PIETY 
 to rule all her Actions ; and that the Glory 
 of God, and the Welfare of men, have been 
 the first and fervent desire of her heart. Tne 
 following observation I shall now make. 
 How. could the World have been enabled to 
 judge between God and man had not the 
 Lives and Histories of the Jews been penned ? 
 And how could men now judge between 
 God and the Woman if the perfect History of 
 Joanna Southcott's life did not appear before 
 them ? And by her life which is now iaith- 
 fully. given, men may judge of the Truth, or 
 Falsehood other Claims and from her life, 
 let Jhpse, who boast of Religion, and say 
 they are more Righteous than her call their
 
 81 
 
 own lives and true Histories before them, and 
 I am persuaded, conscious Guilt will stop the 
 mouths of all her Accusers. . I know, it has 
 been rashly an^ wickedly asserted by Igno- 
 rant, Vain-boasting, and Self-righteous men 
 that Joanna Southeott has been led on under 
 the influence of satan ; but did they know, 
 the truth of her character, and the truth of 
 her writings, they would be then more hum- 
 ble and less positive ; fearing they might be 
 deceived by the arts of the evil one, and 
 NOT HER. And how will these wise and 
 self-confident men be astonished and ca*t 
 down, when they see in the end, the wis- 
 dom of God to shine with truth and lustre in 
 the very Books which they have so condemn- 
 ed : and which will also prove the truth of 
 that Scripture, that "the wisdom of this 
 "World is foolishness with God." A^ain he it 
 further remarked, how could men and devils 
 be ashamed and confounded if the true and . 
 faithful History of Joanna Southcoti's life had 
 not been drawn ? And if nothing simple ; 
 foolish, or wrong, had appeared in her con- 
 duct, might not Satan have upbraided her ? 
 And might not the World have condemned 
 
 L
 
 82 
 
 her with this enquiry? She hath penned one 
 part of her life, but are we sure she hath pen- 
 ned THE WHOLEof it ? And how could She 
 have answered with a clear Conscience She 
 had, if ought had been kept hack ? But now 
 She can boldly come forward and challenge 
 all, and defy them to prove anything of im- 
 portance is withheld in her whole History, 
 but that TRUTH hath ever directed her 
 and we know, the Lip of Truth will be es- 
 tablished for ever. Now, from the Simplicity 
 and Innocence of her life, if satan huth decei- 
 ved her ; there is room for every man to fear 
 and from the manner of her Visitation, if we 
 look to the Prophets we shall see how Types 
 and Shadows were placed in them, in like 
 manner as they are placed in her and this 
 is a clear proof, that we are not supporting a 
 Delusion or a Cunningly devised Fable, but 
 the mighty work of JEHOVAH : because 
 we are acting agreeable to the Oracles of 
 Truth. 
 
 The next thing that claims our attention 
 is the Visitation of Joanna Southcott, and 
 which 1 shall compare with the Scrip- 
 tures.
 
 83 
 
 We must know, that our Blessed Lord 
 told us in His Gospel the Visitation of His 
 Spirit would come ; and in that perfect man- 
 ner as HE described it in the 3rd chapter of 
 St. John : so hath it come to Joanna South* 
 cott. And we have never heard of any Per- 
 son since the time of our Saviours being upon 
 Earth, that hath been visited by Angels as 
 the Prophets were in days of old : but all 
 Visitations have been from the Inspiration of 
 
 the Spirit WITHIN for, HE says, "The 
 
 Kingdom of Heaven is WITHIN You, 
 And again The Spirit of Truth shall come 
 to guide you into all Truth and our Lord 
 told His Disciples, that it was His Father 
 that spoke WITHIN them: and from His 
 Conference with Nicodemus He saith, Those 
 that are born of the Spirit, HEAR THE 
 SPIRIT, as ye HEAR THE WIND. 
 "Now, from these Passages and Many more, 
 that might be brought torward, we are fully 
 assured, there would be a Visitation of the 
 Spirit, and that this would continue ; for 
 it is written, " Lo, I am with you to the End. 
 And again The God or* Truth shall lead 
 you into all "Truth. But how can the God of 
 
 L 2
 
 M 
 
 Truth lead us into All Truth 'without the 
 Visitation of His Spirit? Or, how can the 
 Spirit of the Lord bear witness with our Spirits 
 u itHoift^is Visitation ? Or, how can we try 
 tile Sf/irrts; to know whether they are of God 
 in'nere'be'no Spirits to try ? And how can 
 v/elthittiih'Xhe Spirit, if the* Spirit' doth not 
 Visit? We surely cannot quench it. And 
 how can we des])Le Prophecies, if no Pro- 
 phecies are given ? We surely cannot despise 
 tlicrn. Now, from these and many more 
 "Words to the same purpose, it is clear and 
 evident that there were to be Prophecies, as 
 well as' a Visitation of the Spirit in the latter 
 days ; And we have examined the Prophecies 
 of Joanna Southcott by the Touchstone of 
 Truth, in the most open, fair, and public 
 manner, and to the best of our Judgments 
 from clear and full evidence produced be- 
 fore us, we have THREE TIMES declared 
 to the World, that they came from the God 
 of Truth : but we cannot say how All her 
 Prophecies will be fulfilled, no more than 
 we can say how all the Prophecies of the 
 Gospel will be fulfilled : yet, we know the 
 Words of the Lord are, " Yea and dmen"
 
 85 
 
 and that He will at His own appointed time 
 strictly execute what He hath promised and 
 thus we have no doubt but He will in His 
 Wn good pleasure faithfully perform the 
 Glorious Promises made to His Chosen 
 Handmaid ; because it has been PROVED 
 thdt they have flowed from the Fountain of 
 Truth. Now, if we examine the Books of 
 Moses we shall find, that many Prophecies 
 given to him were literally fulfilled in the 
 Jews of Old. "We see, they possessed the Pro- 
 mised Land, as Moses foretold them. We 
 see, they were disobedient again as Moses 
 foretold them. "We see, they were scattered 
 again as Moses foretold them. We see, their 
 hearts and thoughts were foretold by Moses. 
 For as the Lord told him they would do, 
 they really and actually did do. So that 
 many things of Moses came perfectly true to 
 the Jews : and yet, All his Prophecies are 
 not completely fulfilled concerning the 
 Twelve Tribes of Israel, Now, if we look 
 to David and Solomon we shall see many 
 things fulfilled, tho\gh not All; for the 
 Psalms are not fulfilled ; neither are the Pro- 
 phecies of Solomon fulfilled ; and yet it was
 
 86 
 
 fulfilled of Solomon's departing from the 
 Lord ; and the House that He built in Honor 
 to the Lord was destroyed, and his kingdom 
 .was divided. And thus if we exam iiie all 
 the Prophets, we shall find One part is ful- 
 filled, and the Other not. ,TThe same obser- 
 vation we may make of the Gospel. One 
 part is fulfilled: and the other not. Jerusalem 
 was destroyed the Jews were scattered 
 the Disciples were put to death Our Blessed 
 Lord was put to death according toHisPredic- 
 tion; and He rose again according to His Words. 
 All these things were spoken of by Christ 
 before He was put to death, and before any 
 of them were accomplished. So these Truths 
 are past ; and there are many more to come 
 to fulfil the Gospel. For, we find in the 21st 
 chapter of Luke, 25th verse "And there 
 shall be signs in the Sun, and in the Moon, and 
 in the Stars: and upon the Earth DISTRESS 
 of Nations, with perplexity the Sea and the 
 Waves Roaring: men's hearts failing them 
 for fear, and for looking after those things 
 which are coming upon the Earth : for the 
 powers of Heaven shall be shaken. And then 
 shall they see the Son of Man come with
 
 87' 
 
 Power and great Glory. Arc! when these 
 things begin to come to pass, then look up, 
 and lift up your Heads; for lo ! YOUR 
 REDEMPTION" DRAWETH NIGH. ** 
 Now, this hath not yet taken place ; though 
 it assuredly will in GOD's appointed time 
 for it is written, * This Generation, (viz. un- 
 der the Fait ) shall not pass away till all be 
 fulfilled. Heaven and Earth shall pass away ; 
 
 but My Words shall not pass away," 
 
 Again, it is written in the 1 4th chapter of 
 St. John the Comforter, which is the 
 Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send 
 in My Name, He will teach you all things, 
 and bring all things to your Remembrance " 
 for our Blessed SAVIOUR expressly says in 
 the 17th verse "The Spirit of Truth whom 
 theWorld cannot receive, because itseethllim 
 not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him, 
 for //edwelleth with you, and shall be in you." 
 And this is the Comforter that our Lord 
 said, HE would pray the Father, that HE 
 should give unto us, to abide for ever. So 
 the Gospel is plain of an Inward Visitation of 
 the Spirit of the Lord: and without THAT 
 no Prophecies can be depended upon and in
 
 88 
 
 this manner we can affirm and testify, that 
 the Visitation to Joanna Southcott hath been 
 literally fulfilled : and therefore, we have the 
 Scriptures for our guide, to know what Spirit 
 dwelleth with her, and is in her, even the 
 Spirit of Truth, which is testified by the Truth. 
 See, 15th chapter of St John, 28th verse, 
 and the 16th and 13th verse. 
 
 If we examine the Prophets we shall 
 find in the 31st chapter of Jeremiah and 33d 
 verse, that it is written, " After those days 
 saith the Lord, I will put my Law in their 
 inward Parts, and write it in their hearts : 
 and will be their God, and they shall be My 
 People. And they shall teach no more every 
 man his Neighbour, and every man his Bro- 
 ther, saying, know the Lord ; for they shall 
 all know Me, from the least of Them unto 
 the greatest of Them, saith the Lord : for I 
 will forgive their Iniquity, and I will re- 
 member their Sin no more." The Words of 
 Kzekiel upon this Subject are too important 
 to be passed by. . "Then will I sprinkle 
 clean Water upon you, and ye shall be clean : 
 from all your filthiness, and from all your 
 Idols will I.cleanse you. A New Heart
 
 89 
 
 I 
 
 will I also give you, and a Neto Spirit will 
 I also put within you : I will take away the 
 Heart of Stone out of your Flesh, and I will 
 give you a Heart of Flesh. -And I will put 
 my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk 
 in My Statute^, and ye shall keep My Judg- 
 ments and do them. Ezek. 36 chap, 25, 27, v. 
 And the words of Joel were confirmed by 
 St. Peter in the 2nd chap, of the Acts, 17th 
 verse. "And it shall come to pass in the last 
 days, saith God. I will pour out my Spirit 
 upon All Flesh, and your Sons and your 
 Daughters shall Prophecy.' 1 Now, if we 
 search the Law and the Gospel, we shall 
 clearly perceive that Prophecies will come in 
 the latter days, and that there must be a Visi- 
 tation of the Spirit to fulfil the Scriptures 
 and we have as strong grounds for this belief, 
 as ever the Prophets had of old to rely upon 
 the Visitation of Angels: because it is affir- 
 med by God, and we know that Man cannot 
 reverse it. And further when we reflect 
 how the Lord condescended to \isit Man in 
 all Ages of the World and when we reflect 
 how He condescended to visit Moses in the 
 
 Bush, and upon Mount Sinai, and upon 
 
 M
 
 90 
 
 the Altar and how He sent His Angels to 
 guide him through the Wilderness, and 
 how He declared His mind to Moses concern- 
 ing the Children of Israel, and how He vi- 
 sited the Prophets to declare His will to the 
 People and afterwards, His infinite Love to 
 Man, to have the son of His Bosom come 
 down from Heaven, to bear our Sins, and to 
 die for our Transgressions, that HE might 
 
 reconcile the whole World onto God; 
 
 I say, when we weigh the whole together 
 we must believe HIM to be a God of 
 Truth ; and that He will be with us to the 
 end according to His Words. W T e must be- 
 lieve also, that from the Visitation of His 
 Spirit True Knoivledge will come to Man, 
 which I have clearly, and I trust, decidedly 
 proved, from the Scriptures must take place 
 in order to fulfil them* 
 
 Once more then, we are happy in pub- 
 licly declaring to the World this mighty Truth, 
 that JOANNA SOUTHCOTT IS VISI- 
 TED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. We 
 can prove, whenever called upon, in the 
 most satisfactory manner, that many of her 
 Public Predictions concerning This, and
 
 91 
 
 Other Nations from 1792 to this day have 
 already come to pass: as well as many 
 private Predictions respecting Herself and 
 Believers. And from these Truths that are 
 past, we have the strongest Assurance to be- 
 lieve that the rest will follow in their deter- 
 mined hour : for never did any Prophecies 
 come on so fast, so true, and so clear, as 
 what Her's have done since the begin- 
 ning of time. Besides, She hath opened the 
 Bible in such an astonishing and wonderful 
 manner, from the First chapter in Genesis to 
 the Last chapter in the Revelations Recon- 
 ciling all difficulties and setting forth the 
 whole Plan of the ALMIGHTY concerning 
 His Justice, Truth, Mercy, and Goodness to 
 His Creatures concerning His Irreversible 
 Decrees and concerning the fulfilment of 
 that Golden Book, as no one ( except the 
 Lord were with them ) could have done, no 
 more than they could have made this Terres- 
 trial Globe : and therefore, we have sure 
 
 and fixed Grounds to believe THE PRO- 
 MISE made in the Creation is now arrived 
 to be accomplished viz For THE WOMAN 
 
 to be THE HELPMATE of man. 
 
 m 3
 
 92 
 
 Hear what the Spirit says in the 37th 
 
 page of the First Book of Sealed Prophe- 
 cies 
 
 ** But now your Helpmate strong is come, 
 That Earth and Hell miiy rage in vain,- 
 Your every Victory now T'll gain, 
 To prove your Helpmate now is good, 
 And Fll fulfil My Father's word : 
 And Safari's arts are all in vain 
 By his own Sword he shall be slain. 
 So let the Learned now appear, 
 And answer what I've spoken here: 
 And then I'll answer thee again 
 Men with their Maker now contend, 
 1 say, as Adam did at first ; 
 And now's the time for ME to burst, 
 And cast the ev'ry fault on Man, 
 As you reject her written hand ; 
 Which you so soon received at first, 
 To have the evil fruit to burst; 
 ME and MY followers for to kill ; 
 And so your Guilt hangs hov'ring still, 
 Until I do turn back the Dart, 
 And plunge it in the rebel's heart, 
 By the same hand that he betray'd 
 Therefore the oath to thee was made : 
 And where's the Man will blame thy* Prayer? 
 MY Kingdom he shall never share. 
 So here's the Justice of a God . 
 "Embrace MY Love ; ox fear MY Rod." 
 
 And now I shall conclude with ad- 
 dressing a few Words to my dear Brethren, 
 and Fellow-labourers in this Blessed and Glo- 
 
 See 97 page of the Fifct Book of the Sealed PropLcciw.
 
 93 
 
 nous Cause. Permit me to remind you, 
 that we are embarked in a Voyage of the 
 greatest, and most momentous Concern, that 
 was ever undertaken by the Sons of men. It 
 is a Voyage of Discovery. Oh may it close to 
 us as a Circumnavigation of Charity, Peace, 
 and Love ! We are now in the midst of 
 a Tempestuous Ocean, where many Diffi" 
 cuities and Dangers await us : and therefore, 
 we must prepare our Souls for Trials and 
 Temptations. What, if from our First setting 
 out until now, the Wind has been fair, and 
 our Passage favorable: yet, we must not flat- 
 ter Ourselves with vain hopes, that it will thus 
 hold with us to the end : (or No one ever 
 reached the Shore of the Heavenly-Canaan 
 without meeeting a Storm by ihe way. 
 Moses, Job, and David, and All the Renown- 
 ed in holy Writ bear witness to this Truth : 
 Nay, the Son of God Himself had a Conflict 
 with the sharpest Storm that Nature ever 
 felt ; for the Prince of the power of the Air, 
 and all the potentates of Darkness conspired 
 to heighten the fury and the horrors of it : 
 and it was so tremendous, that it shook 
 both Heaven and Earth. How, then, can
 
 94 
 
 We hope to escape without encountering 
 some adverse Gales? But, be not dismayed, 
 the/ the Wind and the Waves may be against 
 us; though fearful Dangers should be in our 
 way: yet, let us make Resolutely for the 
 
 Canaan-Shore. Forget not, that we are 
 
 already half-way on our Voyage, and should 
 we now turn back, " The Bear would meet 
 
 us, and our bones would break." Better 
 
 then, far belter, if we needs must Perish, to 
 Perish in the right way. Shrink not then 
 from your Posts, nor cast a longing, lingering 
 look upon this vain and deceitful World; but 
 set your faces unalterably fixed upon the 
 
 Promised Land. Let us neither faint, nor 
 
 slacken our Diligence to hold oh our Course, 
 though the Waters Rage and Swell and 
 though, the Mountains shake because of the 
 
 Tempest : but let us put our firm trust in 
 
 the Lord, knowing, HE will deliver us out 
 of all Storms, and will carry us in the c?id 
 into a Haven of rest, that rest which remain- 
 eth for the People of God. 
 
 And now () Blessed Lord, who hast 
 appointed Thy Chosen Servants to many diffi- 
 culties and dangers for the trial of their Faith 
 and Constancy; and lor the Glory of Thy
 
 95 
 
 Name in their Deliverance : suffer not the 
 
 Spirit of thy Feeble Ones to fail before Thee 
 in the day of their calamity and distress : but 
 be with them in every Storm, and stand by 
 them in every temptation. Thou bust graci- 
 ously promised, that when we pass through 
 the Waters Thou wilt be with us : and that 
 when we pass through the Fire we shall not 
 be burnt. Be it unto us, O Lord accor- 
 ding to Thy Word. Let neither the fear 
 
 nor the favor of men prevent us from sup- 
 porting the Cause of God and Truth. Let us 
 now prove Ourselves Children of the Free 
 Woman, knowing, that when THE SON 
 shall make us FREE, we shall be FREE 
 
 INDEED that His Spirit will Jortify our 
 
 souls against all opposition, and will make us 
 
 VALIANT for the truths before us 
 
 and here if we prove Faithful to the Grace 
 and Appointment given us we have nothing 
 to fear; but shall be carried safe through 
 
 all Trials and Troubles of every kind : 
 
 for HE that Rideth upon the White Horse is 
 our LEADER and DEFENDER : and HE 
 hath a Bow to Wound His Adversaries, and a 
 Crown to give his True and Gold-tried Fol- 
 lowers, and HE goeth forth Conquering and
 
 96 
 
 to Conquer.- 
 
 -But remember, to him 
 
 only that overcomdh, will HE grant to sit 
 with HIM on His Throne ; as HE also 
 * c Overcame, and is set down with His Father 
 4t on His Throne." 
 
 THO. P. FOLEY. 
 
 Oldswinford,- 
 December 21, 1 805. 
 
 I 
 
 r- 
 
 Sold by E. I. Field, No. 139, near Bloomsbury Couit, 
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 LETTERS, 
 
 AND 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS 
 
 or 
 
 JOANXA SOUTHCOTT, 
 THE PROPHETESS OF EXETER: 
 
 lately written 
 TO 
 
 JANE TOWNLEY, 
 
 LUKE, 24th CHAP. 17th VERSE. 
 
 " WHAT MANNER of Communications 
 ARE THESE? " 
 
 JUNE, 1804. 
 
 ^o* 
 
 STOURBRIDGE . 
 PRINTED BY J. HEMING, 
 
 1804,
 
 

 
 fp 
 
 LETTERS, Sec. 
 
 . .. h m KiMUM W>* " 
 
 JUNE \oth % 1804. 
 Dear Miss JownJey, 
 
 IT HAT new wonders arc 
 daily presented before ray view ! I dare not suf- 
 fer myself to indulge a thought of them ; if I 
 did, I could not write, or keep my senses : but if 
 we go one step from the directions the Lord hath 
 given to me, we are lost in time, and to all Eter- 
 nity ; fallen from the height of happiness, to the 
 depth of misery and woe. We must stand by 
 Eve's first words; but we are lost, if we comply, 
 as she did, to go one step further afterwards. I would 
 sooner go to the flames as a martyr, than go one 
 step from the directions the Lord hath given me 
 concerning my Trial and you must charge my 
 friends, for their lives, NEVER to consent to 
 ANY PROPOSALS made by any man; but say.
 
 as the Lord hath commanded it, we MUST 
 OBEY ; for, if they consent any other way, they 
 shall never see me: for I am determined to abide 
 by Eve's first words, and no arts of the serpent can 
 work in man, shall ever make me go to the second: 
 for had she abided by the first, " Ihe Lord hath 
 forbidden it" and stood to her word, she could not 
 have fallen and now the devil will come in men, 
 instead of the serpent, to try me. Therefore, 
 we must stand to Eve's first words, and then we 
 shall not fall, I hope, by the next post, you will 
 be able to send them all the joys that are set be- 
 fore them, and then let them judge for themselves; 
 if they would run so fatal a hazard, as to go one 
 step of their own* to do either good or evil. I am 
 forbid from ever speaking to man any more, before 
 I meet them in my Trial so I cannot see friend 
 or toe, and no man must come in my presence be- 
 fore I go to begin my journey, and then I must 
 not speak to any man upon the road and when 
 I arive to take my Trial, there is not one of my men 
 friends must come to see me, before they meet me 
 in the room and then those that are against me 
 must enter first, having such strict charges given 
 me; and knowing that how the serpent would 
 try in man to betray me, to make me disobey. I 
 began,, this morning, to ponder in my heart what 
 Arts he could use in, man to accomplish it; but 
 thought to myself, he might use his arts in this 
 way to tempt men, they ought to have me first 
 to be tried by medical men, to see if I was in my 
 senses; hut that I thought the devil would be 
 easily (oiled there, as they were to contend with 
 the Twenty-four chosen men first and if they 
 would not consent to that then, they would give 
 it up tiiat all is right : as you, as well as so many
 
 witnesses can prove my senses as good as ever, and 
 my understanding much clearer. Another thought 
 came into, my head, they might make a search after 
 me, to resolve to find me, and then I was deter- 
 mined in my mind, not to see them, for I would 
 shut my eyes, and keep fast my mouth that it 
 was not all the arts of men and devils should 
 make me open either: for I would not look on 
 them, as Eve did on the serpent; nor dispute with 
 them, as she did with the serpent. I am writing 
 you my simple thoughts, because the answer to 
 them is deep and weighty; for I was ordered 
 to pen the ponderings of my heart. 
 
 Adieu. 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 
 
 The answer of the Spirit to the above ponderings of 
 . Joannas heart* 
 
 *' NOW this has been the pondering heart of thee 
 
 How thou wouldst act sooneT than disobey? 
 
 And from thy heart I'll now appear, 
 
 And prove that men are devils here; 
 
 If they would have thee disobey, 
 
 And let the serpent now to say, 
 
 It is a fever of thy brain, 
 
 That thou with men do thus contend 
 
 Thy Maker's will for to obey ; 
 
 '1 hey all shall find the woman's free 
 . J'rom the temptations of the Fall, 
 
 And from that guilt, I tell }ou all-.. 
 
 And so by her the serpent's cast : 
 
 But now in man he strong doe> burst ; 
 
 So 'tis with man she must contend ; 
 
 Because the devil's now in men-- 
 
 And like the serpent do appear,-^
 
 6 
 
 And now from fPatil III answer here, 
 
 That My simplicity is come 
 
 To shew you in the woman's form 
 
 I'M come the world for to redeem, 
 
 Trom Adam's fall, I now tell mn 
 
 And now I'll tell you of the Law, 
 
 Under the fall you all must know. 
 
 You all stand tainted by the fall; 
 
 But bow's the time, 1 tell you'all, 
 
 1 will redeem ydu from that curse, 
 
 For here the serpent now is cast-T- 
 in true simplicity she's come, 
 
 That is, in CHRIST to guide her hand 
 
 In true obedience to appear - 
 
 And now, Oh men, you must take care 
 
 You are not in the serpent's form ; 
 
 Then here's a sin you don't discern, 
 
 So strong against the HOLY GHOST, 
 
 If any man so bold should burst; 
 
 As in her heart she'th ponder'd here, 
 
 From hell that man I cannot clear; 
 For there he ever must remain, 
 
 Worse than the devil you see plain, 
 That man in boldness must become; 
 
 For now I'll answer unto man > 
 
 Had satan in the serpent's form, 
 Gone to the woman then unknown, 
 And said he'd sting her then to death, 
 If she refus'd the fruit to taste ! 
 And shew'd her then his pois'nous spear. 
 Then soon in hell he should appear: 
 Because no blame could be in her 
 She eat the Fruit her life to spare ; 
 Or, else, I say, her life to save, 
 When i had said, she should not live; 
 If in My Power he had come, 
 I say, My honour 't must be gone 
 To let him reign another day, 
 No, 'twas by arts he did betray. 
 And they by arts may try the same, 
 But know, vain man, if ere you come 
 In any Violence to appear : 
 As I've pronounc'd by satan's spear, 
 Your sins against the HOLY GHOST, 
 
 f 3. Corj. 11 chap. 3 vente, - Galatians, 4 chap. 4 ver?*
 
 And you in hell are ever lost. 
 
 Because much bolder you must come, 
 
 Than ever satan did assume; 
 
 And 'twas by arts he did condemn, 
 
 That he MY people could betray ; 
 
 And so by arts he cange to thee, 
 
 With every fatal threatening there; 
 
 But never did to thee appear: 
 
 Because that power I forbad, 
 
 And ne'er would let him to proceed. 
 
 And now the same, I say to man, 
 
 I'll give them leave to act like him, 
 
 In every threatening to appear; 
 
 But ne'er approach thy person here. 
 
 If they can make thee to comply 
 
 With all the arts that they can try : 
 
 Then I'll not cast the blame on man, 
 
 If they can pluck thee from MY HAND, 
 
 By any arts, or threatenings, here; 
 
 But if in Power they do appear, 
 
 Thinking by Pdwer thus to do ; 
 
 Thy silence every soul shall know. 
 
 Because as thou hast ponder'd here, 
 
 And there's no answer men should hear 
 
 In any word then spoke by thee, 
 
 Nor, yet their face thou should'st not see* 
 
 I'd sooner make thee dead and blind, 
 
 Than e'er let man that Power find. 
 
 And soon in hell they should appear, 
 
 And they no more from ME should hear 
 
 And no raor* mercy they should see, 
 
 Than they would hear, and see in thee. 
 
 For now I've brought the cause to man. 
 
 To prove the c.m\ how all will stand : 
 
 For as that chapter doth appear, 
 
 Man is the serpent; I say here ; 
 
 For My simplicity is come, 
 
 To bring the cause, and now try man. 
 
 What they would be in satan's room : 
 
 For strongly in them now he's come 
 
 The simple woman to betray, 
 
 Ami make her now to disobey; 
 
 With every art that they can do, 
 
 I now allow them to pursue, 
 
 Without a violence to appear; 
 
 Or, we approach thy person here;
 
 8 
 
 Unless they make thee to comply 
 By thy consent, and Me deny.* 
 But in thy heart I well do know, 
 Thou say'st no arts can ever do-** 
 If they likesatan should appear, 
 To send the greatest offers here : 
 As he would 've made thee Queen of hell ; 
 And man on earth the same should swell, 
 To say they'd make the Queen the same. 
 They'd find in thee an equal scorn 
 They with their Gold may perish here, 
 And all their threatenings thou'lt not fear 
 For My command thou wilt obey 
 Nor Earth, nor Hell should alter thee ; 
 Before thou had'st seen the perfect end. 
 To no one living thou wilt bend ; 
 But My command thou wilt obey- 
 Then hear the words I now do say 
 I've brought the woman, to your view, 
 Tis for your good you all shall know : 
 If by her words you now do stand, 
 Then Paradise you may command. 
 For now the serpent is in man, 
 With all the rage of hell he's come, 
 To see if he can me betray 
 By any arts brought round this way. 
 I gave him leave to work his will 
 And try his power and his skill 
 With all the art, he can invent, 
 To work in man is My consent :--* 
 Thy every virtues for to try, 
 To see if thou wilt e'er comply 
 To 7iew proposals made by man : 
 Then I will own like Eve thou'st done 
 But if like Eve thou'lt not appear, 
 With ali thtir threatening malice here: 
 But to her first words thou wilt stand, 
 And say it is the LORD'S command ; 
 The way the trial now is plac'd : 
 And then the good Fruit they shall taste. 
 But one step further must not go ; 
 For there the woman found her woe 
 And there your woes, 1 say would come. 
 If now erne step is giv'n up to inan. 
 From any way the trial's plac'd ; 
 For then the Evil it wouiu burst.
 
 9 
 
 And every woe must come on man, 
 
 For then i say, you're all undone. 
 
 But' if you stand unto MY word 
 
 You'll find ME as a Powerful GOD, 
 
 To bring REDEMPTION unto man, 
 
 And find My Kingdom is nigh at Hand 
 
 Because mankind i well do know, 
 
 When they are convinced they wrong did go, 
 
 To seek by arts for to betray, 
 
 I know in mourning then they'll lay ; 
 
 And all themselves they'll highly blame, 
 
 And then the Serpent 1 shall shame 
 
 And tell him for to act like men, 
 
 Weep and repent of what he 'th done : 
 
 For he shall grieve mankind no more, 
 
 I'll rid him of this earthly shore; 
 
 And claim the kingdoms all my own, 
 
 And men as Earthly Gods shall come 
 
 And Paradise on Earth shall see. 
 
 So here's the mystery of the Fall: 
 
 For the first words I tell you all, 
 
 Must in the woman now appear ; 
 
 With My Command, must all stop there* 
 
 And then the Serpent must be cast, 
 
 And he in hell with rage may burst: 
 
 Because I know he've had his time, 
 
 And now he'll find I will HAVE MINE. 
 
 For so the ending shall appear. 
 
 And know I always told thee here, 
 
 When I redeem'd you from the Fall 
 
 You must come back to Adam's call-* 
 
 For the Creation 't must appear 
 
 When I do come the whole to clear. 
 
 And can it be another way ? 
 
 I ask, My Honor, how't must lay, 
 
 To say at first I laid a Plan. 
 
 To be a Helpmate then for man ; 
 
 As I pronoune'd it for his good. 
 
 Can man so vainly judge their God, 
 
 Should let the devil ME betray, 
 
 And turn ME back another way ? 
 
 And tell ME I should not go through, 
 
 The Plan I'd laid would never do ? 
 
 But now, to do it, 1 AM come; 
 
 And Satan may consult with man, 
 
 B
 
 10 
 
 To turn it back another way 
 They both together may agree 
 If they an art can now invent 
 Thy heart in sunder for to rend ; 
 And make thee disobey My will ; 
 Then I'll give up to Satan's skill, 
 That he hath work'd to act in man, 
 If they thy heart can now o'ercome - 
 Then men shall say there is a God; 
 But not in Power as 'tis said ; 
 Nor yet in Wisdom so DIVINE, 
 If they can make the heart of thine, 
 To yield to them another way, 
 Than I have laid the Plan for thee'\ 
 
 Now, my dear Miss Townley, must not we 
 be worse than Mad-men and Fools deserving pun* 
 ishment worse than the devil, if we draw back to 
 dishonor GOD, after His unbounded love and 
 goodness to man ? 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 JOANNA SOUTRCOTT,
 
 11 
 
 HERE follow copies, and part of copies, 
 of Letters and Communications of 
 Joanna Southcott, which she sent 
 to Miss Townley; and which Miss 
 Townley has, according to the dates, 
 transmitted to the Rev. T. P. Foley, of 
 Oldswinford , Worcestershire. 
 
 Wednesday \ June *3, 1S04. 
 REV. SIR, 
 
 I went, this morning, to our dear 
 Joanna, for directions for Mr. Sharp, concerning 
 the Book in which the Letters are placed wrong: 
 but no words can express the feelings of my heart, 
 to see her, as though she was surrounded by the 
 devil and all his hellish hosts, in such agonies as 
 if he was tearing her very soul and body. The 
 horror and misery of her was far beyond what pen 
 can express, or heart conceive, that was not an 
 eye-witness to it. It has been a day indeed; a 
 day of everlasting remembrance to me, that never 
 can be forgotten. I shall give you the words, pen- 
 ned from her mouth during this scene of distress; 
 though I was hardly able to pen them at the time* 
 and scarcely able to write them now : but it is 
 her wish to have them to-morrow. Here followeth 
 the words. (Signed) 
 
 JANE TOWNLEY. 
 
 ANN UNDERWOOD,
 
 12 
 
 June 13, 1804. 
 
 Dear Miss Townley, 
 
 THERE is no pen can paint, 
 nor heart conceive, the horror and misery I have 
 felt, ever since the book, that is now printing in 
 London, has come to my view ; when I saw it was 
 placed wrong, it went as a dagger to my heart: 
 and though I was answered, the Lord had permit- 
 ted it for wise ends, and you took all the blame to 
 yourself, yet the thoughts of Mr. Sharp's letter 
 struck as a dagger through my heart and soul ; as 
 I remembered hearing it read, he had altered the 
 title-page, which I then understood was only the 
 outside leaf, that I did not approve of myself; but 
 when the book was brought, that I saw he had 
 altered the whole, self-reflection cut me to the 
 soul; and, till the Lord is pleased to take this 
 burden from me, my life is miserable. All the 
 heavenly joy I felt before, is now vanished into 
 horror and misery greater than I can bear. I do 
 not believe there is a more wretched being, this 
 side the grave, at present: for I am fallen 
 from the. height of happiness to the depth of mi- 
 sery. Instead of heavenly Joys too grot for me 
 to bear, my heart and soul wanting to be enlarg- 
 ed to bear them ; I now feel sorrow, horror, mi- 
 sery and woe, no pen can paint, no heart can con- 
 ceive, and, no tongue can express, what I now 
 feel; my life I cannot bear. What will be my 
 fatal end? All the sufferings that I have had 
 from 1792 to this day, are nothing to the suffer- 
 ings I now feel ; for I am now upon the wrack of 
 misery, wishing for death, but cannot die, and in 
 this state am afraid to die, fearing I should meet 
 an angry God, that I have innocently offended,
 
 13 
 
 not knowingly or designedly. But from whence 
 came all my misery that I cannot bear? Am I my 
 own murderer? Have I been doing wrong? And 
 is this the way that the Lord is come to punish 
 me? Was mine false fire? Was mine false Love? 
 Was mine a delusion from the devil? must now 
 be my enquiry: For the Lord hath now hid his 
 face from me; and the devil, with all his hellish 
 power, has now taken possession of my soul. 
 Who shall I reflect upon? If my sufferings are 
 that I am wrong, being led by a wrong spirit, 
 that is now come to shew himself in his true co- 
 lors, and the horror and misery I must soon be in 
 then I must say, cursed men! that when I be- s 
 sought them, in the bitterness of my soul, they 
 would not hear me, but do as the devil said they 
 would, to make me believe it was the God of 
 heaven. Then, by what arts are we all Letrayed? 
 Is there a God, must now be my enquiry? And 
 will HE give all this power to the devil? LORD 
 have mercy upon me ! CHRIST have mercy upon 
 me, and deliver my soul from the jaws ofVdeath, 
 from the power of hell, from the }, it of destruc- 
 tion ; for in thee, my God, I have trusted : forsake 
 me not in this trying hour; but leti^y light shine 
 upon me, and shew me where the error ilfs, which 
 way. my sufferings came. Is it for the present? 
 Is it for the past? We are all undone: for then 
 the whole world lies in the power of the devil. 
 If for the present pardon my iniquities, blot out 
 my transgressions, in mercy, dear Lord! I pray 
 thee, and remember them no mere; for my trou- 
 ble is greater than I can bear. The power of hell 
 has taken hold of me, and there is none but a God 
 can deliver me; for it is not all the powers on 
 earth, that are in man, can now give me one
 
 14 
 
 moment's pleasure: for, if the Lord do not de- 
 liver me, I am for ever undone. Now, I must 
 leave all to yourselves; for my direction seemeth 
 quite over. If they were from the devil, it is 
 time to be over: if it be of God, HE hath hid 
 His Face from me; and, for a moment, HE hath 
 forsaken me. But in loving kindness I trust HE 
 will visit me, and not destroy me for a thing I am 
 innocent of. I am, &c. 
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT, 
 
 After writing this letter, she begged me 
 [Underwood] to leave her to herself, and to take 
 with me all the knives, and every thing that she 
 could hurt herself with; but not to go away, but 
 stop in the adjoining room : when she went 'to 
 prayers and tears, that the Lord would deliver 
 her from her dntadful sufferings; which I did the 
 same by her door. After a considerable time she 
 opened the do<;>r, and her distressed looks I can- 
 not describe, ^uhe said, she had no answer to her 
 prayers, and Qt must direct ourselves: at which 
 I cried out, we cannot direct ourselves; and there 
 shall not another letter go out of the house, unless 
 the LORD, in His unbounded love, mcrcv, and 
 goodness, direct us, through thee. She said, she 
 had no answer, and she could not direct us; and 
 flung herself back in a chair, for a few minutes. 
 It is too late to write you the particulars, though 
 you shall have them in your next. Oh, what a 
 day! and ho\v the house has shook? 
 
 (Signed) JANE TOWNLEY, 
 
 ANN UNDERWOOD.
 
 15 
 
 Here I shall go on ivith a continuation of Joanna's suf- 
 ferings of yesterday. 
 
 June 13/^, 1804. 
 
 AT the time the horror of the devil was upon 
 me, I felt I could not bear my existence: there- 
 fore I desired Mrs. Underwood to take away every 
 knife out of the room; that, in my despairing 
 moments, I might not lay violent hands on my- 
 self. As soon as she was gone, I fell on my knees 
 in prayer, and could not avoid crying aloud ; but 
 could not express all with my tongue, what I 
 felt in my heart: but, finding I had no answer to 
 my prayers, I arose, and was silent for some mi- 
 nutes, listening if I could hear " the small still 
 voice of the Lord." But, feeling no comfort, 
 and hearing no answer, I opened the door, and 
 desired Mrs. Underwood to send the letters by 
 their own directions, as none were given to me. 
 Mrs. Uuderwood, in floods of tears, said, we can- 
 not direct ourselves; and no more letters shall go 
 out of the house, unless the Lord, in His unbounded 
 Love, Mercy, and Goodness, will direct us through 
 thee. She then went and told Miss Townley, no 
 answer was given, no more directions from the 
 Lord. The Lord had hid his face from us, and 
 no more letters shall go out of this house: for she 
 felt in her heart, if the Lord would not be pleased 
 to direct us, we would not direct ourselves. She 
 then came back to me, and told me, that Miss 
 Townley was upon her knees in prayer and tear?, 
 when Mrs. Underwood came back with this word. 
 Here all were alarmed; and they wculddo nothing 
 of themselves, without the directions of the Lord
 
 id 
 
 Then the Light of the Lord broke in upon me; 
 and I walked the room, in tears, speaking these 
 words : 
 
 " I feel my JESUo is not gone; 
 
 I feel my SAVIOUR will return ; 
 
 He'th hid his face, but now he's come; 
 
 A tedious night shall a bright morning have: 
 
 Then my soul shall take its old abode, 
 
 And, cloth'd in flesh, I shall behold my God." 
 
 My repeating these words, Underwood fell 
 down upon her knees, to return thanks to the Lord: 
 and, in an instant, a Spirit entered me, that took 
 my senses; and I felt strength enough in me, as 
 though I could crush the world to atoms. The 
 Spirit spoke with power and fury, " I'll chain the 
 rebel to his den." I walked up and down the 
 room, and shook the whole house ; for I was not 
 myself. I could not stop my fury; words flew too 
 fast to utter against the power of darkness : and 
 I felt in myself power, that I thought, if he was 
 present, that I could tear him to pieces ; and should 
 not have feared, had there been ten thousand men 
 and devils before me. After this power ceased, 
 I laid myself upon the bed, to compose myself 
 for a little while. I soon was ordered to rise and 
 write. The first words I penned, were, " Dear 
 Lord! what Spirit hath been so powerful in me, 
 this day.'* I was answered, " The shadow of the 
 substance to come in all. The horror of hell that 
 thou hast felt this day, some will come against 
 thee in, by temptations then, as a God I shall 
 appear in thee, and cast the devils out of men by 
 my power, as I broke in thee: but as I knew these 
 things were too high for thee, without a veil be- 
 tween, I caused Foley's illness, for thou to judge 
 it a pleasing dream. Now I must explain that,
 
 17 
 
 befdfe I go any further. Mr. Foley's illness, with 
 the other confusions, gave Satan the advantage* 
 over me: and, as I had written the day before . 
 that the Lord had ordained the thing concerning 
 the book, and then to feel that horror and misery 
 after, threw me into a dreadful state of despair. 
 And now I shall go on, as it is spoke in verse. 
 
 " And now I tell thee how 1 shall appear, 
 In much more power then they all shall see : 
 Than now, this day, I entered into thee. 
 Because,, in power, I did now appear, 
 And now's the time I'll shake the earth once more. 
 And they shall find ME in the woman's form; 
 For hell shall tremble now it shall be known. 
 For now, I say, I'll chain the rebel/lown, 
 And men shall tremble at my every sound; 
 For every heart I shall much stronger shake, 
 Than ere thy walking in this room did make: 
 And much more fury every foe will see, 
 Than ere this day did now appear in thee. 
 And now I'll tell thee of the words I spoke 
 When from My Silence I in thunder broke; 
 So strong within thee then 1 did appear 
 I said, that hell should tremble and should fear. 
 I said, that man I surely would redeem, 
 And they should find me in the woman's form. 
 I said, no longer men should bruize my heel; 
 But now my fury it should fall on hell. 
 I said mankind should all begin, like thee, 
 For to enquire, and long the truth to see. 
 I said, my power should all in fury bieak: 
 I said, the devil now hath laid his net . 
 I said, that in it he should surely fall . 
 I said, My Fury now should conquer hell - 
 I said, the hearts of men I'd surely shake, 
 And many hearts like thine I'd surely make; 
 As full of horror when I do appear, 
 That they like thee would say they could not bear 
 The Agonies, 1 said, that they would feel, 
 When they do know they're bruising now my heel: 
 C
 
 18 
 
 And then, I said, they should; repent like thee; 
 ' 1 said, thy sufferings they must know and see 
 And bring their guilt, like thee, before my view, 
 And then enquiie, jike thee, the truth to know ; 
 Which way their guilt did lie upon their head, 
 As thou enquired'st the way thou wast betray 'd, 
 I said, before me every thing should come; 
 And then I'd conquer in the woman's form. 
 I said, like thee mankind should surely break, 
 And so enquire if the Lord did speak. 
 For, now, the, secret chamber doth appear, 
 Where every mystery, I saic, 1 should clear; 
 And on the House Top this will sure be done 
 I said, in power now I'd conquer man. 
 So great in power now I would appear, 
 For men should tremble, and the devils fear; 
 For, now the tempter I'll bind to his den, 
 And so the house by thee was shaken then, 
 And so tiie fabric of the earth Fil shake, 
 And in ten minutes this and more I spoke 
 For sixteen minutes they did not appear 
 After 1 enter'd ere I left thee here. 
 And then, to prove to thee that that was true. 
 Brought Foley's letter plain before thy view : 
 Because his life I told thee I would spare, 
 And he'd recover for to copy there, 
 The very letter I unto him sent. 
 So let thy friends observe all that is penn'd, 
 And every day and date they now. must put, 
 That men may judge the manner all was wrote : 
 Or, else, I tell thee they will not appear, 
 The way thou ordered every man to swear: 
 Because that swearing they'll say thou'st forbid; 
 And now by swearing must they all proceed. 
 ] tell thee, yes, MY BIBLE to fulfil, 
 And now My Covenant I tell thee still, 
 Firm as the heavenly pillars it shall stand, 
 For now's the time I'll shake both sea and land. 
 For all shall tremble, as thy friends did here, 
 And then, with joy, they'll see their Lord appear.
 
 1? 
 
 But in this manner should I come to man, 
 1 tell them plain, My Gospel could not stand: 
 Because the Jews would all begin to siy, 
 Now the Messiah's come we plain do see. 
 Ah, w here's your Saviour in the woman's form ! 
 These wondrous miracles for to perform :' 
 Or where's the Saviour that fro pi her was born, 
 That ever made his foes so much submit, 
 T6 cast their crowns and all beneath his feet? 
 For now beneath me every soul shall fall ; 
 For hell I'll conquer, and I'll conquer all. 
 Awl so My Law and Gospel I'll make true, 
 And now My Covenant bring to their view- 
 And so go on to write thy pleasing dream, 
 And in the end they'll surely see it plain; 
 That men like Adam they are all asleep, - 
 But, when they see the woman for to breik 
 Upon the serpent in her fury there 
 In words that all will tremble for to hear 
 Thou curs'd betrayer, as thou said'st of man ; 
 ' But then in fury thou wilt surely come 
 Against the serpent, and in rage dispute, 
 While men will tremble, and they'll all stand mute. 
 JUNE 13, 1804. 
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 
 
 Here follow the words that I had been writing 
 on Tuesday morning, June i2, 1804, when Miss 
 Townley and Underwood brought me Mrs\ Foley's 
 letter. I shall begin at the words where I had bic- 
 gun in the morning, and their names are signed. 
 
 June 12, 1804. 
 Dear Miss Townley, 
 
 I shall now give you thr 
 Communication that I had been writing on Tues- 
 day morning, June 12th, when you brought me 
 Mrs. Foley's letter, wherein it was said, t .at Mr-
 
 20 
 
 Foley was very ill indeed and yu seemed 
 thunderstruck at my saying I was glad of it, and 
 desired you both to sign your names to what I had 
 been writing; where I had began, and where I 
 had wrote to when you came. You know I had 
 told you how dangerously ill I had been in the 
 night, and marvelled the people in the house had 
 not heard me groaning. The communication is 
 as follows. 
 
 *' As restless as thou hast been this night, which 
 is but a shadow of what the Clergy WILL FEEL 
 that have turned back thy letters; and thy con- 
 fusion of this morning, is but a shadow of their 
 confusion that have mislaid their letters. What 
 hurry will they be in to find them? And say, as 
 thou sayest, they must find them, or thou wilt not 
 speak unto them. And when they- have found 
 them, they will see, they have as wrong misplaced 
 their bibles, as thou hadst wrongly misplaced thy 
 writings: and they will own, Town ley hath found for 
 them what they had lost, CHRIST in the woman, 
 THE HELPMATE for man, to enter into a new 
 Covenant, with man, that all the old may be done 
 away, and all things become new: and the former 
 shall not come into my mind; for, behold, I create 
 all things NEW. And this is My New Creation, 
 : to place the forbidden fruit in man, that hath 
 returned their letters, refusing to accept ME as a 
 helpmate in the woman. And this is my command 
 to man : they must tell the Bishops, one and all, 
 that any of their Ministers they may send, that 
 can produce their letters, and own they have kept 
 them; but those that have returned their letters, 
 as evil, they must not send. And My Chosen Men 
 must tell them, they will not meet ANY MAN 
 to dispute with, but those that can swear, by Hini
 
 21 
 
 that Livetli, the letters were sent them, snd they 
 have kept them. And, if this cannot be found 
 among the Church Clergy, let it be enquired 
 among other Ministers: for I will make of the 
 Church that are not of the Church, if they cannot 
 be found in the Church. But there are THREE 
 that I have reserved to myself, by sealing their 
 names in the sealed book; that is, the Reverend 
 Archdeacon Moore, the Reverend Chancellor 
 Nutcombe, and the Reverend Mr. Pomeroy. 
 Now, if these men have not had the letters sent 
 to them, and returned them, they may have one 
 given to them ; but, if they have had one, and 
 returned it, they shall not appear. So they must 
 say, by Him that Liveth, every man is come ac- 
 cording to order; " for God is a God of Order, 
 and not of Confusion." And this is the new Cove- 
 nant I will make with man ; and that proverb shall 
 be no more in Israel, " The Fathers have eaten 
 sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on 
 edge." But, now, 'tis the soul that sinneth shall 
 die ; for the iniquities of the Father shall no longer 
 rest upon the Children. For THIS IS THE 
 NEW COVENANT I am making with man, 
 and I will be a Covenant-keeping God: if they 
 do not break My Law, they shall have part in the 
 first Resurrection, and then, of the second, death 
 hath no power; for these are the first Redeemed 
 upon the Earth, and their leaves shall be for the 
 healing of the nations. And if any man add to, 
 or take from this Covenant, he shall add to his 
 own destruction, and have his name blotted out 
 from the Tree of Life, to have no part in it. Now, 
 if any man ask thee, by what authority thou hast 
 done these things, let this be thy answer Let 
 them tell thee, by what authority they rejected
 
 22 
 
 Christ to be the Helpmate for man in the woman, 
 when they say, as in Adam all died, even so in 
 Christ shall nil be made alive. And what they 
 know not now, they shall know hereafter; for I 
 am come to fulfil My Bible." 
 
 So far had I written, when you came with Mrs. 
 Foley's letter; and here both your names stand 
 (Townley and Underwood). Now do you mar- 
 vel ! I rejoiced at Mr. Foicy*s illness; knowing, 
 if it was not from the Lord, it was better for he 
 and me to die, than to have this Covenant go out 
 in the name of the Lord; as I am ordered to have 
 it printed. If it was from the Lord, I knew Mr." 
 Foley's illness would be set for a clear sign for me 
 if it was from God : if not, I had rather die. 
 Therefore, this must be printed by Mr. Foley, 
 with the reasons I assigned; and the answer to his 
 sickness, with this Covenant of the Lord, that I 
 was writing when his letter came, must now be 
 put in print, with the answer that was given me 
 the same day of his recovery, which took place be- 
 fore my letter could reach his hand by the letter 
 I received the following day: and the shadow of 
 mv rejoicing then, brought the substance to me 
 the following day; when both wonderfully broke 
 in upon me, the Power of God and the Truth 
 of his Word as I felt the One and saw the 
 Other, by Mr. Foley's letter. 
 
 (Signed) JOANNA SOUTHCOTT.
 
 23 
 
 Thursday, June 14, 1804. 
 Dear Miss Tvxnlcy, 
 
 And rrow I shall direct thee how to dispute 
 with the Learned when a Judge of Assize comes 
 to pass sentence on a Thief and a Murderer, for 
 whom doth he pass that sentence? Thou answer- 
 est for the person whom the thief, or the murderer 
 hath murdered. But suppose the Judge answer I 
 will not cast the thief and the murderer for the 
 sake of the person he had robhed and murdered ; 
 because he despiseth them much more than he 
 did the murderer, or the thief would you not 
 call him an unjust Judge? Thou answerest, ye?, 
 he could not be fit for a Judge, having no Honor 
 nor Justice in him ; for how could he then try any 
 Cause, if he was partial in the Law ? Then let 
 this be laid before the Judges And I'll proceed 
 further Would he not for his Honor say, though 
 I fear not GOD, nor regard the man that was 
 murdered; yet, I will relieve this Woman of her 
 Adversary, lest she weary me with often coming. 
 For, now I will bring the Cause to a man murder- 
 ing a woman's hufband and the Judge refused 
 to pass sentence on the murderer, because he had 
 more regard for the murderer than he had for the 
 man that was murdered: but if the Wife is cry- 
 ing daily for vengeance, wearying the Judge to be 
 avenged of her injured Hufband, saying, the mur- 
 derer is taken ; he is bound in Prison: it is the 
 Law of our Land ; and you will not try him for 
 murdering my Iluiband you cannot trv ANY 
 murderer, for then you break that L;nv And 
 what is a Law for One, is a Law for all ! And if 
 you let that murderer go untried, by what autho- 
 rity could I be tried, if I murdered you in re-
 
 24 
 
 vengc ?pr, by what authority should another 
 Judge condemn me ? Would he not say you had 
 broke the Law, freed the murderer, and not suf- 
 fered murderers to be tried and condemned? And 
 my love is so great for my Hufband, that if I can- 
 not be avenged of it by your trying the man that 
 murdered him, I will find a way of revenge to 
 murder you! What answer would this unjust 
 Judge make, any other than this? Though I fear 
 not GOD, nor regard the man; yet, I will avenge 
 this Woman of her Adversary, lest she wearies 
 me with often coming ; or, seek my life ifr her re- 
 venge. In this manner let them dispute with men 
 of Honor, what is a Law for one, is for all. And 
 now I will come to the Laws of GOD. The law of 
 GOD was to avenge the woman's adversary by 
 My Death but how can it be avenged by My 
 Death, before a woman bringeth forth her cause 
 against him. It is like a man being murdered, and 
 the murderer let go without any Action being 
 brought against him : as this has been done by 
 great men, because of money the murder hath 
 been passed over and for want of Love in the 
 Wife, the revenge hath not been sought after. 
 Now, Joanna wilt thou do by Me, as the Groom's 
 wife did, give up My death without revenge, be- 
 cause the Bishops are great men, when I tell thee 
 it is impossible for the cause to be brought forward 
 against the devil by man without the woman? for 
 it was the woman that was betrayed by the devil, 
 and to the woman the promise was made and 
 though I was murdered, My murderer was never 
 brought to Justice, by any woman till now; nor 
 the author of My death. Now, if thou givest 
 up the Cause to man, to let them to act one step 
 contrary to what I have ordered thee, then thou
 
 25 
 
 takest away My Life, as thou hnst taken away 
 Townley's bounty, and thou causes! Me to be mur- 
 dered twice But I hear thy enquiry. Is the fatal 
 stroke committed by thy unfortunate hand, then 
 thou canst not live? But tremble no more :- thou 
 hast done right by my command. I know thou 
 could'st not write, if thou feartst thou hast done 
 wrong : but I tell thee it was my command, to 
 take away the one thousand; because I will have 
 the one thousand to reign in power the second 
 time, by the woman's ordering the cause to be 
 removed that caused her fall ; and, to shew her 
 perfect obedience the second time, the cause is 
 brought forward by the woman. She is, the se- 
 cond time, put to the trial of her obedience. 
 Now, if thou standest in thy obedience the second 
 time, as thou hast in printing thy book, then, the 
 six thousand that are not taken away, brmgeth 
 ME the second time to come in power and great 
 glory; for there is no one can.hurt ME but thee: 
 and, hitherto, thou hast done all things well, for 
 ME to come the second time and reign in power* 
 And, now, in power I will reign and rule, if all 
 thy friends say, as thine said the day that is past, 
 they will not do any thing without MY direction 
 is given to thee: therefore, I hid my face from 
 thee, before they had given their answers they 
 would do nothing without ME ; and then I shewed 
 the Shadow of My power; and, if they continue 
 to copy after these women, they shall see the 
 Substance of My power." Lord, save me by thy 
 power! let me not say with Peter, though all men 
 deny thee, yet will not I; and yet, alterwards, did 
 deny: but that fall would make my end more 
 fatal, and Thy honor lost. " Joanna, I answer 
 thee, I know thy fears will kill thee, if I <\o not 
 
 D
 
 20 . 
 
 assure thee, the gates of hell shall not prevail 
 against thee." (Signed) 
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 
 
 June 14, 1804. 
 
 Continuation of Joanna's History. 
 
 " A large Crock, or Pot of Gold. And 
 
 now, faid he, fhould I be fuch a fool to go and 
 tell the man, that I fhould dig up his French nut- 
 tree becaufe of my dream, and then fhare with 
 me the money. The man's dream was anfwered, 
 for he knew the French nut-tree was in his own 
 garden ; fo he went home pleafed with the jour- 
 ney, and in the night he began to dig, and found 
 a large crock of gold : but being a poor man, he 
 told the matter that he worked for, that he had a 
 friend in London who was dying, and he rauft go 
 and fee him, which he did, and afterwards came 
 down all in clofe Mourning, faying, that his friend 
 had given him three Hundred Pounds, and as he 
 liked the little fpot he lived in, he would buy it. 
 So he bought his Houfe and Garden-land for ever. 
 Then he faid he would alter his Garden, and dig 
 up the French Nut Tree, where, he found a large 
 Cheft of Gold under the Crock of Gold. He could 
 then boldly claim it his own, and rewarded the 
 man that told him his dream. He left a great 
 deal to the poor when he died, and houfes for 
 
 them to live in. But to return to my Father's 
 
 dream you muft underftand, that when my Fa- 
 ther had this dream, he was in Getfham, fourteen 
 miles from Heavy-tree, and my Father knew 
 nothing of my fealing up my* writings, till a 
 month after I came to Heavy-tree, and furprizcd
 
 us by faying he came in the Bifhop's Carnage, at 
 which we all laughed. He laid, if he did not 
 come in it, he rode behind it, which was true; ibr 
 the Bifhop had been out an airing, and his car- 
 riage overtook my father, when he ordered his 
 coachman to ftop, as he faw my father going 
 towards Exeter, and enquired how far he was 
 going : he faid, to Heavy-tree, to Mr. Wolland's, 
 to fee his daughter; that he came from Getfham. 
 The Bifhop then ordered his fervant to alight 
 from his horfe, and affift my father to get up be- 
 hind his carriage. My father then enquired of 
 the fervant, who the gentleman was, that he might 
 know how to return him thanks when he alighted. 
 The fervant answered, it was the Bifhop of Exeter. 
 My father faid, he was glad he afked ; or e\(h he 
 mould have thanked his Honor, inftead of his 
 Lordfhip. Mr.Woliand told my father, the fervant 
 only mocked him ; for he thought ihe Bifhop would 
 not have condefcended, in that manner, to have 
 flopped his coach to take up a poor man : though 
 that Bifhop bore a moft noble character, for it was 
 Bifhop Buller. "When be had baffled my father 
 about it, he faid he would go to the turnpike, and 
 know what gentleman went through at that time 
 with his coach; the turnpike-man laid, like the 
 fervant, it was the Bifhop: at which we were fur- 
 prifed, and he furpriled us with the dream that is 
 mentioned, as we knew it was the fame night I 
 fealed up my writings. I mentioned this fiirple 
 thing, as both are deeply explained to me. And 
 now I am ordered to go on with the hiitory of my 
 Lovers, as they are explained alio. When I was 
 young in years, 1 had many Lovers: but the firfl 
 I indulged the company of was Noah Bishop, a 
 farmer's ion in Sidmouth ; as I kept houle for my
 
 28 
 
 brother at Sidmouth. Then, after we had be&t 
 acquainted for many months, my friends began to 
 be againft my keeping company with him ; as they 
 thought another of more fortune would make me 
 an offer, but that had no v eight with me : though 
 many people faid, that Noah was a very paflionate 
 man, and would foon break my heart if I had him. 
 Thus they plagued me for a long time: at laft, I 
 was determined to try his temper, by provoking 
 him to anger, and upbraided him with going to 
 another, at which he threw himfelf in a violent 
 paflion that aftonifhed me; and faid, he wiflied 
 the tongues of the people were in hell burning. 
 I made for anfwer, he might with mine there too, 
 if I was his wife and offended him. He faid, no , 
 it was his fervent love for me, that provoked him 
 fo much to anger with every one that let me againft 
 him : but his arguments did not prevail. I law 
 the fury of his anger, and foon alter broke off the 
 acquaintance; though I confefs I had equal love 
 for him, but I thought it was better once fmart 
 than always ache, and time and prudence would 
 wear off love, by keeping my thoughts in love 
 to My CREATOR: lb I broke off my courtfhip. 
 After that, they were daily wounding my ears 
 that Noah was miferable ; that he faid he would 
 as foon be dead as alive, and he was ill on my 
 account: and, when he found he could not die, 
 he was determined to go to lea; for he could 
 never live to fee me the wife of another. This 
 opened every wound of my heart afrefh, and 
 kindled lo> e ftronger than ever, and I was deter- 
 mined to have him if he returned again ; for I 
 thought I had rather break my heart by his pair 
 fions, ihan t>reak my heart by my own cruelty 
 and wound us both.
 
 29 
 
 Here follows a letiet from Miss Town ley mid 
 Mrs. Underwood, to the Rev. T. P. Foley. 
 
 Monday, June 18, 1804. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 I muft leave off my letter to you from 
 our dear friend Joanna, and make some faint at- 
 tempt to describe what we have been witness to 
 this day, Monday, June 18. Miss Town ley can- 
 not hold her pen, therefore I muft take it up. 
 But I shall begin from yefterday morning, when 
 she came down dressed in white, and said she 
 supposed we should wonder to see her : but sue 
 took up two different colored gowns, and was told 
 she muft put on white, and wear it for three days. 
 After that, she went up flairs to her own secret 
 chamber: she. sat down to write, but a trembling 
 came over her, and she was ordered to put down 
 her pen; for there her pen should drop, except 
 signing the Seals. She then came down for me 
 to write, and I began the copy of your letter of 
 yefterday, Sunday, June 17. After I had wrote 
 a little time she seemed in great agonies, and said 
 I muft take her key, and lock up all her books 
 and pagers, and deliver them to her brother, and 
 see them packed up, and signed, and sealed, by 
 her brother, Miss Townley, and me. Alter that 
 was done, she went on with tolerable composure 
 for some time; but was told, she muft go through 
 the hiftory'of her Lovers, and her Father, which 
 seemed to give her pain; as she said, she. could 
 see the depth of the words, how they flood a type 
 to the nation : but, at supper, she seemed cheerful, - 
 and, when she went to bed, she could not get her
 
 30 
 
 gown off. I went to her assiflance, and found her 
 arms quite red, with trying to get it off; but she 
 was told, she had put on her clething, but could 
 no f get it off without assiflance. About eleven 
 o'clock I heard a thumping in her room, and went 
 up to her door, where I heard her lamenting the 
 miserable blind state man was in, through the 
 arts of the devil. I stayed a great while at her 
 door; but, hearing her quiet, I came away. This 
 morning she requtfted both Miss Townley and 
 me would go and copy for her. We began about 
 her father, and she was extremely affecled ; but, 
 the further she went, the greater her diftress 
 seemed : and, when she came to her Father's ago- 
 nies, after his being in a passion* with her, that 
 she was worked up in such a manner she could 
 not ftand ; for she had been walking the room in 
 great agonies. While we were penning it, the 
 power of the Lord broke in upon her soon after 
 ten,, o'clock, and she continued speaking till one. 
 Miss Townley supported her in the chair all the 
 time, and I got pillows to lay on her lap, for I 
 feared she would beat herself to pieces. The 
 agony and fury she seemed to be in, made her to 
 appear in great strength: and she stamped the 
 floor till she made the house shake, and continued 
 all the time an explanation of the Bible, from 
 the parable of her Lovers and Father; where she 
 ended and seemed composed, and said she would 
 lie down on the bed, and desired we would leave 
 her, and finish our letters for the post. But we 
 had not been down ten minutes, bclore I heard a 
 noise, and went up flairs and found her upon the 
 floor: where she continued, Arete bed out upon 
 her back, for an hour; saying, " he nmft on the 
 ground claim tfiH land as his own." I attempted
 
 31 
 
 to get her on a mattress; but she said, our Saviour 
 was on the ground, and so must she. Remember, 
 this is the sixth day, My labor rnuft be done. 
 Here Underwood dropped her pen. I think it 
 right to inform you, that juft before the Power 
 of the Lord came upon her, she said she was sick 
 unto death; and, as she vomited violently, I ran 
 down flairs for warm water, but she said she could 
 not drink it. I then offered her wine, which she 
 immediately drank; and said, it was now the time 
 the vats would run over with new wine. To give 
 a regular description of all that has passed to-day, 
 is impossible; but, that the Lord will enable us to 
 recoiled the words she spoke, I have not the smal- 
 ler!: doubt. I attempted to pen her words, but it was 
 impossible they flowed so fail. Your letter I re- 
 ceived this morning and read it to her, and she 
 approved it all, both letter and proof sheet and 
 said I muftsend (he Printed letter and proof copy 
 to a Gentleman here, who has been twice for in- 
 formation ; for she was told he would be the means 
 of awakening thousands; and as soon as I'had 
 written these worJs I was called up flairs, and we 
 have put her to bed she desired us to wash her 
 feet, which Underwood and I did, and put her 
 on clean Linen. She said she knew not why, but 
 we muft do it and one of us was always to set 
 up with her. I have sent you all I can ; poor soul ! 
 to see how she has bruized herself with the thump- 
 ing on the Floor. She desired me to tell you, 
 that she dreamt a few nights ago, that we put her 
 on the night cap we did. 
 
 Adieu, &c. 
 JANE TOWNLEY.
 
 32 
 
 Continuation of Joannas History. 
 
 Monday, June 18, 1804. 
 
 This resolution I had fixed in my mind, to 
 renew the acquaintance, if he returned again on a 
 Sidmouth Fair-day. In the morning I met him, 
 and he asked me if I intended to go to the Fair 
 I answered, yes, so we parted: but I deter- 
 mined in my heart to go to the Fair on his account. 
 And, when I came to the Fair, I met with many 
 of my acquaintance, who pressed me to join their 
 company, young men and maids: but I made ex- 
 cuses, and said, I could not; for my heart was itill 
 with him. I then met others, that pressed me the 
 same ; I made the same excuse again, that I was in 
 pursuit of my brother, to go home, but, going up thro' 
 the Fair, I met Noah and my brother together. He 
 then pressed me to join him; but, for my life I 
 could not: my hand and heart seemed as though 
 they were bolted, and I desired my brother to go 
 for the horse, and go home. d ! redly. My brother 
 went away for the horse, and Noah went with us. 
 While my brother went into the yard for the horse, 
 Noah intreated me to go in and drink with him 
 for old acquaintance, if I would not for new. I 
 told him l# I would not go in either for old or new ; 
 if he made as many words as there were flars in 
 the sky, or ftones in the ftreet but the dejection 
 of Iris looks cut me to the heart: and, when I was 
 upon the horse, I could have given my life to have 
 been back with him in the Fair; and could scarce 
 .speak to my brother, going home: which he per- 
 ceived, and said, if I was so melancholy he would 
 carry me back again. My brother exclaimed, this
 
 33 
 
 is the way of the women; you refused to go with 
 him when he intreated you, and now you .ire as 
 melancholy as he. I then spent a reftless nighty 
 which was renewed the next day by a young vrct r 
 man of my acquaintance, who said, the hard shower 
 of rain that came on in the evening made all the 
 youngfters in Woolbrook go into a Public House 
 together, and they had all their sweethearts but 
 Noah, and her heart ached to Sep how miserable 
 he appeared; and there was a young vrin^n m 
 the room who was juft mad about him, but he 
 took no notice of her. I then determined, if ever 
 he speke to me any mote, my resolutions were 
 fixed never to slight him more. The Sunday 
 alter I was going to milking in my brother's 
 ground, and met Noah; he intreated me to let 
 him go wiin me to keep up the cows, but my heart 
 was boifed in a moment. I said, my ci-vvs wanted 
 no keeping up, neither worild I accept of his 
 company: but I had not gone twenty yards from 
 him, before my heart denied What my trembling 
 lips had spoken; aiid I thought I would give the 
 world for his company, and made a resolution in 
 my mind, that I would never be such a 1 >u) any 
 more. But, the Sunday following, he put me to 
 the like trial, by my brother's hiving a beautiful 
 Pear Free; and the young mad whrf was with 
 him asked me leave to let him go in and have a 
 few pears. Noah asked me if I would give him the 
 \ same liberty: I very gravely answered NO but 
 Richard who was with him might carry him out 
 some, but I would not permit him to come into 
 the orchard. H'ere my heart was torn again : 
 I thought to myself, what a ftubborn cieature was 
 I, to plague myself to plague him. I then de- 
 termined to be matter of mv ftubborn heart, as I 
 
 E
 
 34 
 
 judged it and thought to myself he never should 
 try in vain neither did he: for he fixed his re- 
 solution to go to sea, but did not go. And when 
 a young man persuaded him to go again, and told 
 him, if he had been accepted as Noah had, he 
 would try again * and not give it up, for he was 
 sure I liked him. But Noah answered, I have- 
 tried often enough, and it is always the same, and 
 all her friends are against me; and now, if I die 
 for her sake, I'll never try more. These words 
 cut me to the soul: yet I admired the nobleness 
 of his spirit, and was convinced his passion was 
 Jove, when he held me so strong by my hands, 
 that hurt my hands and wrifls for many days 
 and said he would not let me go, before I had told 
 my authors, who had told such lies againft him. 
 All these ponderings in my heart drew my love 
 almoitjo madness, that nothing but religion could 
 keep me in my senses. My sisters knew the flate 
 . of my mind, and persuaded me to leave Sidmouth, 
 and come back to Getsham to my father's. I an- 
 swered, No: you may kill me, or you may drown 
 me; but I will not leave the place where he is: 
 I mutt see him, if I cannot have him. We went 
 to Newton Fair; and I had met with an. accident 
 that day in my eye, that I was almost blind, by 
 what they call in Devonshire a Cuckol-button 
 getting into it. As I was going up through the 
 orchard, in diftraclion of love, I ran my eye en- 
 tirely againft it, and they persuaded me not to go 
 to the Fair; but I was determined to go, for I 
 knew Noah would be there: but how was my hear.; 
 torn, when I met him in the Fair, and he passed 
 me by unnoticed. I then felt I could not beai< 
 myself, and desired my sillers to return home, 
 wJio were laughing at me for saying, when I nVt
 
 35 
 
 espied him, t; there he. is, there he is." As we 
 were going home, we met his Brother Nathaniel 
 Bishop. He asked me, what was the matter with 
 my eye? I told him. He asked, if I could not 
 cure it? I told him, No. Nathaniel answered, 
 can't Noah cure it? I cried out, in madness, if 
 he can, he wont: at which my sifters reproved 
 me; and said, I had declared my love to his bro- 
 ther. I said, I did not care if 1 had ; for I wished 
 to awaken his passion to return ngain: for I had 
 rather die with him than live without him. My 
 sifters went home the next day, and told my fa- 
 ther and mother the dreadful ftate I was in. My 
 father raved in agonies; and said, my former sips 
 are brought to my remembrance : How many wo- 
 men's hearts have I broken by Love! He walked 
 the chamber, my sifter said, like a madman; cry- 
 ing out, now it is come home upon me : for that 
 maid, who is the delight of my soul, is now wounded 
 the same. In this manner my father lamented 
 that ever he had courted a woman, and not mar- 
 ried her, when he knew her passions of love were 
 so ftrong for him: but, after he had broken the 
 hearts of many women, he married his firft wife 
 out of pity, because he saw her upon a sick bed. 
 What I had appointed, HE, the Lord had disap- 
 pointed, concerning the rtmainder of this hiftory. 
 
 (Signed) 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 
 
 AND 
 
 JANE TOWNLEV.
 
 36 
 
 A copy of a Letter of Mrs. Southern? s from 
 Mis'* Townley to the Rev m T. P Foley. 
 
 June, 19, 1804. 
 l\LV:rend Sir, 
 
 After the sufferings Mrs. Southcort 
 went through yesterday, she was obliged to be un- 
 dr's^ed and go into bed, for in her agonies fight- 
 ing with the devil, she had beat herself black and 
 hi .e. and was too faint and weak to set up. She 
 then sat up in her bed, and went on with her His- 
 tory, tnat she was ordered to pen, particularly as 
 the whole was explained to her. She often felt 
 faint with dying sweats, and told us not to he a- 
 larmed, if she fainted away. Her words made us 
 leave our pens, and go to her bed side, and see, 
 what a fainting state she was in. After that she 
 recovered and <irew better, and told us she muft 
 go on witl^her Hiftory, and begged we would May 
 up if if wastill midnight, for she muft go through 
 that day but many tilings she cut so short, that 
 you cannot understand, till you see it made more- 
 plain beiore you. She was so iil, that we brought 
 another bed in the Room to sleep on the Floor, as 
 we could npt be:,r to leave her. Juft at midnight 
 ,\s we had finifhed, and made up the bed on the 
 floor fcr'our.-ei es, as we could not bear to return 
 ami leave her that night alone by herself She 
 came out of the Bed, and 6aid she vould lay on 
 the floor hers; if, and we should sleep in her bed. 
 Soon after she laid on the floor, all the rage and 
 horror of hell broke in upon her, and the devil 
 told her, she should see her midnight hour now ; 
 for he would burst in and tear her to pieces but
 
 37 
 
 Knowing the Lord would not permit him, in ago-, 
 nies she lay in prayer, begging the Lord would be 
 pleased to shew His Loving Kindness to her again, 
 for the horrors of hell were more than she could 
 Ljear. We were witnesses lo her sufferings and a- 
 gonies and kneeled down to prayer. She jthen 
 desired Underwood to go and bring her that Com- 
 munication which was given on Sunday morning 
 concerning David While Underwood was reading 
 it in a voice not her own, but seemed like a mild 
 sweet voice of an Angel in a singing Tone, which 
 she said she could not read it any other way. The 
 devil then said to Toanna "curse the words" Joanna 
 threw herself in a Passion with the devil, and ptay- 
 ed the Lord to deliver her from him. Then she 
 called for her Bible, and opened to the 52 chapter 
 of Isaiah, and found Joy and Comfort break in 
 upon her from the 6 verse. "Therefore My peo- 
 ple shall know My Name therefore they shall 
 know in that Day, "that I AM HE that doth speak, 
 
 behold it is I " Here her chains began to 
 
 burst. She then opened again to the 12 chapter 
 of Ecclesiastieus, the 12, and 13, veises struck 
 forcibly upon her. 'Who will pity a Charmer, 
 * that is bitten with a Serpent, or any Such as come 
 ' ; nigh wild Beasts." The latter close of the 12, 
 " lest he seek to take thy seat, and thou at the last 
 " remember my Words, and be pricked there- 
 '* with." These words were forcibly answered her. 
 'That none would pity her, if she gave the Ser- 
 " pent room to sting her: if she gave up her 
 11 Faith ; as he. had been tempting her : for that 
 41 serpent alluded to the devil ; and their Bibles 
 44 men did not underftand. \For every man of 
 " feeling would pity another, that was stung by 
 " a natural serpent, or fall in the way of wild
 
 35 
 
 " Beafts. But she was the Charmer no man would 
 M pity her foes would rejoice her friends would 
 * l despise her and satan's power would come in 
 4t her stead to 4ravc the World totally loft ; for 
 * the Lord cannot ad but with Juflice, Truth, 
 kt and Honor to plead with the devil, and deftroy 
 11 him," Now you see what a situation she ftands 
 in-; therefore, she desires her Friends. to tell all 
 fhey have no proposals to make It all muft be as 
 the Lord directs her. After spending one hour in 
 misery she was comforted, though she did not feel 
 the power of the Spirit of God break in upon her, 
 a> before : but she called to mind these words. 
 "The setting Sun will feel a setting ftroke." She 
 laid awake till day light came, and she refused to 
 drink wine or beer. Now I shall come to this 
 Morning Tuesday, June the 19th 1804. "Joanna 
 " dreamt, in the morning, that the devil came to 
 " her bedside with all the honors of hell to destroy 
 u her, she felt his hand, and broke the top of his 
 * c finger." She then dreamt that a man said, he 
 had outwitted the devil by his own craft. .After 
 that she dreamt she was going to some place with 
 little Richard Foley; but going into a House she 
 left him, and went away without him: As she 
 was walking through some beautiful Fields, she 
 recollected the dear Child was left behind, 
 and felt herself hurried and confused, and thought 
 she would make haste back to seek him; but to 
 her aftonishment, she heard his cry in an adjoining 
 Field; he was crying like a mad Child, my Jan- 
 ney, my Janney. I pursued my steps with eager- 
 ness to go where I heard his cries, and to my Joy 
 and aftonishment saw a Woman enter the Field 
 with the Child in her arms. I ran with eagerness 
 to embrace him ; he sprang into my arms with
 
 .39 
 
 eagerness, and threw his Head into my bosom* as 
 though he would have died with Joy, and I felt 
 equal pleasure. His dear little Face was swelled 
 with tears, and covered over Tfith a. bathing 
 sweat. 
 
 -" Now, Joanna, thee I'll answer 
 
 As the child did then appear ; 
 
 Perfect so, I now do tell thee, 
 
 - Are nay sufferings for thee here. 
 
 But to make true, before your view 
 
 The Hermit in disguise; 
 
 I cannot slay my rival foe 
 
 Before 1 do chastize. 
 
 My honor here, to prove it clear 
 
 That me thou bast obeyed; 
 
 And then my agonies you'll Hear, 
 ' When I do bruise his head 
 
 * And now to Foley's letter look 
 
 The shadow does appear; 
 
 And aii shall find 1 Am the root, 
 
 That do these branches bear. 
 
 Now I'll go on to answer men, 
 
 From what is raid before : 
 
 The agonies the Child was in, 
 
 Do in my heart appear. 
 
 The love of thine, they all will find, 
 
 That thou hndst for the Child : 
 
 But greater love in him was found, 
 
 Let no ori'j here be foil'd. 
 
 The dream of him must now be seen, 
 
 Unto your Land appeal, 
 
 And in thy writings 't must be known, 
 
 1 nlac'd the shadow there. 
 
 Then in the child, when so he smil'd 
 
 Upon my every friend ; 
 
 And now you'll fytij, the time's at hand, 
 
 I shall the same descend. 
 
 But first they'll see, I now tell thee, 
 
 * I had wiiitrn -o far, when Mr. F&Icy\ Irt'er nme
 
 40 
 
 ME like the child appear ; 
 
 For now I'll come to answer man . 
 
 From what was said before 
 
 And let^the Noahs in your land, 
 
 Now like him to appear 
 
 And then they'll see, the mystery, 
 
 A Noah must be found ; 
 
 And read the chapter now of he, 
 
 And tremble at the sound : 
 
 For I said there he Riust appear; 
 
 And if you him deny,f 
 
 Much greater agonies you'll bear, 
 
 Than thou didst bear that day : 
 
 When thou'st complain, 'tis all in vain 
 
 He never will return- 
 
 No, no, I tell you 'tis too late, 
 
 For to refuse the man : 
 
 A Noah here, I'll now appear, 
 
 And thy First Love now see : 
 
 Because my heart he did ensnare, 
 
 And gain'd the love of thee. 
 
 But it was I, that dwelt on high, 
 
 Then kept thee from that man : 
 
 For in the end, 'twas my intend, 
 
 I, in that name should stand. 
 
 To shew you clear, the Noahs here 
 
 May all turn back like he 
 
 I'll try no more, the time is o'er, 
 
 She put me off too long : 
 
 I'll sooner see my misery, 
 
 Than e'er turn back again. 
 
 Then Noah's flood, the deluge stood, 
 
 And Noahs you'll become, 
 
 To perish in the every flood, 
 
 If. you will not return. 
 
 Because that here the Type appears, . 
 
 Her heait you plain do see, 
 
 How strong in love her passions were. 
 
 And so 'tis now by me. 
 
 For I Am come the Lover strong, 
 
 Of all the human race : 
 
 f The 54.'.^ chapter of Iajph, and 9lh verse.
 
 41 
 
 That do not do] as thou hast done 
 Thy Lover to disgrace, 
 I say with lies ; let men grow wise-* 
 I'll place it every way : 
 Because My Bible you may see, 
 For here the Type doth lay ; 
 Now in these two, brought to your viewf, 
 A Noah to be plac'd : 
 But when the husband is the Lord 
 Look deep, ye fallen race, 
 How it should come so plain to man, 
 And these Two Lovers see : 
 But he the Bridegroom could not stand, 
 My Bible saith 'tis Mil, 
 That must appear the Bridgroom here, 
 When Noah's flood do come: 
 Then see how love did both ensnare, 
 To drown the eyes of them. 
 Because in thee I oft did see 
 Thy eyes in floods of tears : 
 And just the snme I know in he, 
 When he in deep despair; 
 Did say no more he'd not appear, 
 If he died for thy Sake- 
 Then now, you Noahs all take care 
 Like him you do not break : 
 For if you do, 1 tell you true 
 My Love will all be gone; 
 And bring the whole unto thy vieWj 
 How Cold thy heart is come 
 Unto the man that here doth stand; 
 And 1 shall stand the same: 
 If men do say, like he that day, 
 They'd sooner die, than turn : 
 Then sure thy pride must be appli'd; 
 For I shall leave them all : 
 But if they now return to ME, 
 My heart like thine shall fall ; 
 Inflam'd with love they now shall prove 
 Their SAVIOUR to appear: 
 Because in he you all shall see, 
 I AM the Noah- there.* 
 F
 
 A1 
 
 The Root and Offspring to appear, 
 Then let the Branches come : 
 And let their love like your's to prove- 
 And then the earth you'll see 
 In every blessing to abound, 
 In love and harmony: 
 But it was I, that dwell on High, 
 Did then ordain that stroke : 
 To shew My Bible plain that way, 
 How Noah's love was broke 
 But here the man I'll not condemn, 
 'Twas I that bolt'd the door ; 
 Because My Bible I'd make plain, 
 And prove a Noah there 
 Did first incline thy heart and mind, 
 To feel thy passions strong: 
 But irl that chapter all shall find 
 Thy husband he must come : 
 A widow here thou didst appear 
 Forsaken then by He ; 
 And know the man reject'd thy hand ; 
 Then now the mystery see 
 The thing is plain, if learned men 
 Could weigh the matter deep. 
 Such thing I never would ordain'd 
 To make the likeness break ; 
 To shew the man, that in him stand, 
 A Noah then by name, 
 Who did reject thy every hand 
 When heart-felt love inflam'd : 
 And thou the same, I know thy name 
 When Love did thee ensnare : 
 But it was I that dwelt on high 
 Prevented tb' union there. 
 Because to all I'd prove the call, 
 'Tis like My Bible plac'd ; 
 And now's the time I'll prove to all, 
 Your MAKER so shall burst. 
 For Noah's flood in love both stood, 
 And floods of tears came on ; 
 And now I tell you for your good, 
 I'll bring it so to man.
 
 43 
 
 Bnt do not say, like him that day, 
 It shall be in despair 
 If they will all turn back to ME, 
 My hand and heart they'll share." 
 
 (Signed) 
 JANE TOWNLEY. 
 
 -jjjjt 
 
 A Letter from Miss Toxonley (being a copy of 
 Joanna SouthcotCs) to the Rev. T. P. Foley, 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 Joanna being weak and faint with 
 the fatigue of the sixth day, laid down on the bed 
 for some hours, while I was finishing your letter ; 
 but she awoke with a most beautiful and heavenly- 
 dream, though she could not recollect it ; but it 
 seemed to be with the power of GOD breaking in 
 strong upon her. Here I will Rest from My Labor. 
 All Old things shall be done away ; and all things 
 shall become New. No longer shall My Spirit 
 strive with man, but I will destroy man whom I 
 have created, that will not enter into the New 
 Covenant with Me : for now My Delight shall be 
 with the Sons of men, that enquire what the Lord 
 hath said, and what HE hath spoken concerning 
 them $ and they shall be MINE in the day that I 
 make up My Jewels ; and I will spare them as 
 a man spareth his own Son that serveth him. For 
 now, I will wound, and I will heal ; I will kill, 
 and I will make alive ; I will cast down, and I will 
 raise up; for, a quick work will the Lord do upon 
 the Earth. And my new covenant shall stand with 
 man; and whosoever will enter into it, let him 
 seek ME, and he shall find ME : let them call
 
 44 
 
 i 
 
 upon ME, and I AM ready to answer. I AM 
 HE that created all things; that fiftieth the Hea- 
 vens with MY Majesty that filleth the Earth 
 with My Goodness and that filleth hell with My 
 terrors. And now the Heavens shall Be filled with * 
 My Majesty the Earth shall be filled with My 
 Goodness and hell shall be filled with My Ter- 
 rors. For now, I will break out on the Right hand, 
 and on the Left: I will kill and destroy at once : 
 My Anger is kindled My fury shall go forth 
 and My Loving kindness shall save to the utmost 
 all them that now come unto ME. For 1 have 
 placed the Chapter before You, and they shall 
 Jcnow Thou art the Woman; a Widow in thy 
 Youth and forsaken; grieved in spirit and rejected 
 by man, and refused. But I call thee as a Wo- 
 man forsaken, and his name (Noah) stands as a 
 Type unto you all : for as the floods of Love where 
 in you Two, so are the floods of My Love coming 
 to Man : for in rest and peace, ye shall possess 
 your souls, after I have brought My Mighty work 
 to pass I know thy heart trembleth, and all thy 
 bones shake: you are serving the Lofd with fear 
 and trembling, but soon shalt thou come into My 
 presence with thanksgiving, >nd enter into My 
 Courts with Praise. Awake, awake, O Zion, put 
 on thy beautiful Garments, O Jerusalem ; for the 
 day of the Lord is at hand, that HE bath visited 
 and will redeem his people. I have visited by My 
 Spirit ; and now will I redeem by My power. I 
 will no longer bow down to man, but unto My 
 Name shall all men bow; and unto Me-shall all 
 men swear, that they will be taught of Me, from 
 the greaU ft to the leaft. Bring forth your argu- 
 ments, O ye ftout-hearted ; plead your cause ye 
 that boaft of Learning. Where js your God whom
 
 45 
 
 you have forsaken ? Where are your Bibles which 
 you have neglected ? Have I not said it, and shall 
 I not do it? Shall men set all my Councils ait 
 nought, and say they are wiser than their Makf.r? 
 Shall the Clay contend with t-e Potter? Shall he 
 that is formed say unto him that formed him, what 
 doefrThou? I AM GOD, there is none besides 
 ME: My Honor I will not give unto an- 
 other; neither My Praise to the Sons of men. 
 Their Wisdom shall not save them : and their 
 Counsels I will bring to nought : for the Wisdom 
 of the wise men shall perish : and the Underfra'id- 
 ingsof the prudent shall he hid. But now will I 
 gather him that halteth ; for I have led t! em bv 
 a way they know not, and in by-paths they did 
 not underftand. But now will I make crooked 
 paths ftraight before them: for now will I unveil 
 the myfleries unto them : they are the Abrahams, 
 and the feed of Abraham, and like Abraham they 
 have gone on, inviting men to come forward 
 binding the Cords upoft the Altar : but now the 
 Cords are broken; My Ifaacs shall be unbound : 
 no longer fhall they invite men: no longer (hall 
 they entreat them: but they fhall ftand valiantly 
 in their faith and wait till men fhall invite them : 
 wait till men fhall entreat them to let them ftand 
 the Trial, that they may see the NEW CREA- 
 TED BEING- that they may see the NEW 
 COVENANT that is making with man, ai;d 
 know that the Mouth of the LORD hath spoken 
 it, that they may enter into a NEW COVENANT 
 with Him, before they call upon the Rocks and 
 Mountains to cover them for they fhall find I 
 will go forth with Fury, and None mall flay My 
 Hand. I will break down the pricle of the Lofty, 
 and \ will exalt the Spirit of the Meek; for the
 
 40 
 
 meek man is bowed down, and the humble man 
 is despised in his humility, and for a moment I 
 have hid My Face from them. For now will I 
 reason together with man ; though their sins are 
 as scarlet, I'll make them as wool ; though they 
 are as Crimson, I'll make them as snow. For 
 now will I create all things NEW. For now he 
 that hath spoiled and was not spoiled: he that hath 
 dealt treacheroufly, and no man dealt treacheroufly 
 with him: but now his time is over of dealing 
 treacheroufly ; and they (hall not deal treacher- 
 oufly with him ; (Isaiah the 33 chapter J Hear, and 
 hearken, ye sons of men, who is the man that deals 
 treacheroufly with him. Who is* the man that 
 hath spoiled, and no nkn sought to spoil him? 
 Open Your eyes ye blind : unstop your ears ye 
 deaf and discern My Words that I spake unto 
 You, that My Wisdom was hid in the great deep, 
 and My Paths pair man's finding out. Satan hath 
 dealt treacheroufly, and no man hath dealt trea- 
 cheroufly with him: sata*n hath spoiled; but no 
 man hath spoiled him but now he hath made an 
 end of dealing treacheroufly, for his treachery can 
 go no further. My Sons and Daughters have 
 been bound with Cords of the Altar, as Isaac was 
 bound But now the Ram fhall be caught in the 
 thicket, and all My Isaacs (hall be unbound ; and 
 now shall they deal treacheroufly with the devil ; 
 for now the Lord fhall be gracious unto them. 
 They have waited for me every morning, and 
 they fhall see the salvation of their God. When 
 they pass through the waters, I will be with them; 
 and, in the floods, it (hall not drown them : for they 
 are created NOW, and not from the beginning; 
 even before the day when thou heardest them 
 not, lest thou shouldest say, Behold, 1 knew them.
 
 Isaiah 48th chapter, 7th verse. O ye sons of 
 men that boast of wisdom, and ye learned, that 
 boast of learning, how do you understand nvy 
 Bible? Have 1 not said, I should shew you 
 New Thin os, and hidden things, that you 
 did not know? Then now lot your GOD be 
 true, and every man a liar, that says, he can 
 Irnd out by learning, what are My hidden 
 mysteries in the lhble, when I have concealed 
 them from Men and Angels Angels could not 
 look into the depth of My Decrees Then where 
 are ye vain boasting men, whose Breath is in 
 your nostrils and whom 1 pronounced dead to 
 knowledge? Shall I come and contend with men 
 and devils, with the Bible I cannot clear? Let 
 the wise men contend with the wise men and 
 let them contend with a Fool that is brayed in a 
 Mortar, and see if he will not contain his Folly, 
 till I can make my Bible as plain before him, 
 that a Fool, though away-faring man may not 
 err therin. Where is the man that by searching 
 can find out his GOD ? Who can find out the 
 ALMIGHTY to perfection? Shall I come in 
 power, and not come in honor ? How did satan 
 upbraid ME concerning Job ? How did satan 
 upbraid me. in the flesh, when he said I should 
 cast myself down from the Temple; for "it is 
 written I should give My Angels Charge con- 
 cerning Him." ? Then how shall I contend with 
 satan? To be a God of Confusion, and not of 
 order? Have not Kings order in their Wars? 
 Do they not produce' their cause before they 
 break out in a War, that they may shew a just 
 cause for it? Or, how would the enemy upbraid 
 them, and sav, that they had dealt treacherously 
 with them? They were not spoiling, but man
 
 48 
 
 wished to spoil them. Then how can a King 
 appear in such a War ? Would not his Enemies 
 dispise him, when he could shew no just cause 
 for what he had done ? Would not his Subjects 
 be ready to forsake him, and say, that he had 
 called them out to battle against an enemy which 
 had not offended them ? Where was their love 
 ami courage to fight for their King, whom they 
 found all the Fault in, and saw none in the enemy 
 they were going to war against, but their lives 
 were slaughtered for nought? Judge the cause 
 ye learned ; open your eyes, ye prudent, and see 
 that I cannot cast down your adversary, the de- 
 vil, that* is as a roaring Lion seeking .whom he 
 may devour. (But how' could I keep him from 
 his prey, before I had made the Partition Wall 
 strong against him?) Before I had proved My 
 cause to be just; that I had said unto him, as 
 unto the proud waves of the Sea, "hitherto shalt 
 thou go, and no further." Then as a KING I 
 can contain My honor. I sat bounds for man in 
 the Creation, and thou Temptest man to break 
 them. And now I have sat bounds for thee, the 
 same. Now see the Creation stand before thee 
 dead to knowledge, as I had pronounced them. 
 See the Woman I created for mart's good stand 
 
 before me in perfect obedience. Tuesday 19> 
 
 of June, here ends the seventh day. 
 
 Joanna was now too weak, faint, and trembling 
 to stay up longer. She could taste nothing for 
 supper but a small piece of tart: her appetite is 
 quite gone from tea, and she can drink nothing but 
 camomile tea. She was often sick as death, on 
 Tuesday; bringing up water. The Tuesday night 
 she awoke at midnight, full of the strength of 
 the power of the Lord, in her pleading all his
 
 4g 
 
 sufferings for man, and all the mockery that hg 
 bore for man. Townley and Underwood slept 
 in the next room. Underwood awoke; and heard 
 Joanna very loud, talking and thumping the bed. 
 She called Townley, and then went directly into 
 her room, and Townley followed as quick as she 
 could, and found her full of the spirit of the 
 Lord: it continued till one o'clock, expressing the 
 agonies which he bore for man, and the shameful re- 
 proach he had been treated with by man. The names 
 they had called him, were then repeated by her; 
 and so she said the mid-night hour would break 
 for man, when HE came in fury to his enemies 
 in Love to his friends. The heavenly words 
 flowed too fast to be penned, or to be recollected, 
 all of them: but she said, " Tell My disciples, 
 " the women visited me first; and here the wo- 
 " men appear. Mary, do not weep; rejoice in 
 " in the God of your salvation; enter into the 
 "joy of your Lord: I will call My Sons and 
 " Daughters from afar; I will enlarge my borders: 
 "I will strengthen my stakes; I will break out 
 " upon the Right, and on the Left: ALL NA- 
 " TIONS shall drink the cup of My Fury.". 
 Repeating these words, she said, she felt full of 
 Power and Strength of the Lo B d. You my friends 
 have nought to fear; but England, Oh! England 
 how have you slighted my warnings? How have 
 you despised my Invitations? How have you set 
 at nought all my Counsels? But turn unto ME, 
 and I will turn unto You. This is the shadow 
 of the mid-night hour? for in that manner HE 
 will break with power and fury upon His Ene- 
 mies, and set all their mockery before them. 
 Tremble, ye Jews " Mourn, ye Gentiles; for the
 
 50 
 
 day of the Lord is at hand: the day of the 
 Lord is nigh at hand." 
 
 u For 90 the midnight hour will burst for all, 
 And men and devils tremble at the call. 
 For, now, the mystery I'll explain to thee 
 I brought then on the War for men to see : 
 And then I left thet at that very lime, 
 And made the weak; and weak they all will find 
 The trembling Nations .to before me stand ; 
 When I do come to conquer Sea and Land: 
 I'll lay before them all that I did bear; 
 I'll make the Jews to tremble, and to fear; 
 For all their mock'ry I will then turn back, 
 And they shall know the way they all diiLmock: 
 Because my hand shall not be shorten'd then; 
 I'll conquer devils, and I'll plead with men: 
 For in the Vallies now I'll bring them low, 
 And weak as' thee, the Nations all shall know 
 They shall in weakness, and in trembling stand ; 
 But mark the Spirit and thy strength command 
 How full of Strength that hour thou didst appear, \ 
 No Men or devils, thou that time coulds't fear :< > 
 Then here's the warning to My Brethren dear, ) 
 
 That by the Woman I so bid them seud, 
 To My Disciples to tell them in the end, 
 They'll find My Spirit so strong in them to burst 
 For hell I'll conquer ; and 1 have conquer'd First, 
 To build a Wall I told you for the war ; 
 I know the roaring Lion does appear 
 Against Mv Friends, that wish My Kingdom here 
 Therefore THE WALL I made it BY THE SEAL 
 Against the devil, now for to prevail 
 Against his fury, I shall now go on: 
 Because My Wall he now is breaking down. 
 Then here's A WAR 1 tell you all IS JUST; 
 For I shall conquer as I told you first. 
 And now My Warriors let them to go on, 
 Tho' weak in nature, but they'll find ME strong- 
 Strong to deliver I shall now appear, 
 And strong to conquer you shall find ME here. 
 And now my foes I'll make them to comply, 
 And they shall know the midnight hour draws nigh. 
 And now the mystery I shall here explain, 
 It is to bring the likeness of thy dream,
 
 51 
 
 That I did shew thee then in ninety-two ; 
 
 "When all the Fvil Fruit before thy view, 
 
 1 said 'twas fallen: black the veil whbin, 
 
 Then to thy view a room was surely seen 
 
 Where was a bed, and did thy GOD appear, 
 
 "Who rose and told thee, He was waken'd there; 
 
 And thou didst stand His Answers for to hear. 
 
 Aud now, My Sisters, you the Likeness see. 
 
 How from the Bed My Spirit doth appear, 
 
 To warn you all, th^ Fruit is fallen here. 
 
 And now in ranks the good Fruit they may stand; 
 
 J Tis but as trees things have been seen by man: 
 
 Because the mysteries you did ne'er discern, 
 
 The way or manner I to you did warn ; 
 
 And all as water you have surely been, 
 
 To think your God would always thus contend 
 
 With Dust and Ashes, if they'd not comply 
 
 Unto thy words, I now will answer here, 
 
 I made thee ill, the every "truth to clear; 
 
 That from the bed I do reveal My will, 
 
 And now the stubborn hearts of men I'll chill. 
 
 And now the cause in hand I'll surely take, 
 
 And all the fabric of the earth I'll shake: 
 
 And all the strong men I'll bring weak as thee, 
 
 And then their boasting let them for to see 
 
 How by their conduct they insult their God; 
 
 Then now unto the Kings I shall allude 
 
 Could I with Satan now in rage begin? 
 
 To kindle war with such vain, ignorant men? 
 
 Then, like the King that 1 did name before, 
 
 I tell you all, I must come IN THIS WAR ; 
 
 For men against Me surely now they're found, 
 
 Then how can Satan tremble at My sound 
 
 Without a friend My Honor to support? 
 
 I tell you plain you do My Honor hurt; 
 
 Weak as this woman they do now appear: 
 
 So weak are men in judgment, 1 see clear 
 
 And no more stiength have they now got to stand, 
 
 Than thou hast got to conquer bea and land, 
 
 Without My power for to carry thee through 
 
 Thy trembling nature thou dost feel and know; 
 
 Because thy strength and appetite is gone, 
 
 And so I tell thee are the sous of men:- 
 
 Their strength of wisdom it shall all fall down, 
 
 As on the bed thou'rt now in weakness found:
 
 52 
 
 And all their appetites shall go the same, 
 
 Unless the GOOD FRUIT do their hearts inflame' 
 
 And then, I say, I'll raise them up again. 
 
 If for the good fruit they do but complain; 
 
 And list'ning wait, MY STILL VOICE FOR 
 
 TO HEAK," 
 I'll give them strength, and raise them up once more: 
 Because I tel! thee I shall raise thee up;- 
 Thou need'st not fear- thoul't hear My voice and hope, 
 That greater wonders now I shall go through ;- - 
 And greater Mysteries bring before thy view. 
 And from thy Father I shall now appear ; 
 'Tis but the Owls that did thee frighten here : 
 Because their fruit it surety now must fall, 
 7 Twas but a shadow thou didst hear of hell." 
 
 The meaning of this is, when I was laid on 
 the floor the seventh day, the horrors of satan 
 came in upon me, and told me if I would not 
 give up my confidence in Christ I should see 
 the mid-night hour to burst upon me with his 
 coming- in with all his hellish Host, for he had got 
 them at the door. I told him I knew the Lord 
 would not let them come in with him. The de- 
 vil upbraided me, and said, I was to dispute with 
 him. I said yes, but not before two simple Wo- 
 men, and he was ever a coward ; and a coward 
 he wanted to appear. But I knew the Mercies 
 of GOD would not let hiin appear; and so I got 
 rid of him as before-mentioned. But this morn- 
 ing at nine o'clock I was just got into a Dose, I 
 felt him come upon me almost to stifle me : but 
 I thought to myself, if I must die in these ago- 
 nies, I have done the Will of the Lord, and I 
 feel a happy and peaceable Conscience. I ber 
 gan to pray that the Lord would deliver me, 
 and I groaned aloud, and he left me, as Townley 
 and Underwood entered my Room, which I was 
 " to see and I asked them why they' did not
 
 53 
 
 corns sooner, as they must have heard me groan ; 
 but they said they did not, ti 1 just before they 
 opened the door, though Uiey came at nine 
 o'clock as they nrereordered, for tlicy were for- 
 bid coming before. 
 
 ** Now, Joanna, thee I'll answer. 
 
 As the Fabte cloth appear; 
 Now 1 udl thee, like thy Father, 
 
 Twas the Owls that frighten'd there: 
 And Owls they be, they all shall see. 
 
 And out they all shall fly ; 
 
 And so the fruit they shall let fall, 
 
 J'll burst the light to thee. 
 
 The clouds I'll break, for now I speak 
 
 A God IN POWER Divine: 
 
 And thou shall see what frighten'd thee, 
 
 And know it at thit time 
 
 When thou'st come home, before my throne, 
 
 Then evety thing thou'lt know; ; 
 
 The way the shadows did deceive, 
 
 And thou wert frighten'd so. 
 
 But know no harm did thee alarm, 
 
 And none to thee shall come 
 
 Could satan be such ignorant fool 
 
 To think I'd e'er let him 
 
 Approach thee here? in person appear, 
 
 When all I have foi bad? 
 
 No men, nor devils, to appear 
 
 Before thee to proceed ; 
 
 But well I know his rage is so, 
 Such coward he would enne; 
 If I his chain should e'er let go, 
 Then hell should be his doom ; 
 Never- to free from misery, 
 ]f he that way Could break; 
 *But he shall find there's power in ME, 
 Thy Father now do speak 
 And do not blame, nor will 1 shame 
 Thy weakness at that time 
 When thou dost fear ; / tell thee here 
 Bis footsteps close beiiud.
 
 54 
 
 Thf n fear no more, for now the doors 
 Are open'd wide for all ; 
 And now the Glands I'll surely burst, 
 And down the Fnjit shall fall ; 
 Thai in his mouth he now have got, 
 The doors are open'd wide 
 And every Gate / will uulock, 
 To shew thc/aitkjul Bride* 
 Now I'll go on from every man, 
 And Noah they must see : 
 How he rejett'd thy every hand,- 
 When so provok'd by thee 
 Then there the man the Name doth sland 
 To make my Bible clear; 
 And let the Learned all command, 
 And tell how't happen'd here; 
 That this should come to make it strong, 
 So perfect like n.y word 
 And from my bible I'll go on, 
 . And prove a Noah's flood 
 Will be in man ; their fears will come 
 Like Noah's heart, and thine 
 And then their Tears to Joy shall turn, 
 1 say to Joys Divine.- 
 As 'tis with thee the end will be, 
 "Where Love do make thee smart, 
 There's neithe r one in misery ; 
 For know, a Noah's heart 
 lnflam'd again ; his heart did come. 
 As it was at the First ; 
 Thou heard'st him say he lov'd her name, 
 And so the end shall burst, 
 To every one that now do come 
 In perfect love to ME : 
 They'll find My Name to be the same, 
 A Noah's love they'll see, 
 Is not confin'd in heart and mind 
 He never could love more ; 
 As he at first seem'd then inclined ; 
 And here's another door x 
 
 I shall unlock, and mark the stroke, 
 The word* were spok'n by thee; 
 When thou bis heart had surely got, 
 His Anne thou then did'st see; 
 And told him then, His wife was corne. 
 The woman he should have.
 
 55 
 
 T?nt mark how he did her despise, 
 
 And said he'd never give 
 
 His hand to slitt, 'twa-. known to thee, 
 
 But yet it so did turn ; 
 
 That afterward* his love was there, 
 
 The same for her did burn 
 
 So now to all, it so will fall, 
 
 Like Noah's love and thine; 
 
 That do believe this every call, 
 
 Is from your God Divine. 
 
 But if too late the door be shut, 
 
 Like Rigsby to appear; 
 
 She's gone, site's gone, now / am come, 
 
 And cannot enter here ; 
 
 Because my. ways she did despise : 
 
 It was well known to me : 
 
 The woman he hud slain before, 
 
 The truth they all must see. 
 
 For thou'st kept back the fatal .stroke, 
 
 That made thee hate the Man . 
 
 The'poison he had bought before, 
 
 And gave it to her hand 
 
 And so she did die, was then their cry. 
 
 By hiscur'st hand betray'd ; 
 
 Therefore no devil thou didst say, 
 
 Should ever be thy head. 
 
 Wedded to sin, the man had been, 
 
 A child of hell become 
 
 And now the truth thou must declare, 
 
 And tell the Woman's doom 
 
 How she with child, by him beguil'd, 
 
 And then the shame to Miss ; 
 
 He bought the poison then for her, 
 
 But / shall answer this 
 
 Savine you know is an herb doth grow 
 
 And there the poison laid ; 
 
 He said the Child's life it would take 
 
 And there she was betray'd ; 
 
 Because her own, he told her then, 
 
 Her life 't could never hurt ; 
 
 'Twas but the Child that would be slain, 
 
 Her honor to support. 
 
 So here's the man like satan came, 
 
 the Woman to betray ; 
 
 And afterwards thy Lover came 
 
 Satan hath act'd that way ;
 
 56 
 
 For close to thee, he oft does flee 
 
 By every art appear 
 
 And in thy writings all may see* 
 
 Profess'd thy lover there ; 
 
 Till rage in thee, the same to he, 
 
 As from the former place 
 
 Now mai. the man how he does stand, 
 
 An artful foe to burst; 
 
 First to betray, and then to say, 
 
 Her honor he'd" secure ; 
 
 lie laid his pois'nous darts that way, 
 
 And made her murder sure. 
 
 And now to thee the same he'd flee, 
 
 If he thy hand could gain, 
 
 T4ie Children all dead barn must be. 
 
 The Mother must be slain ; 
 
 If /'d not one in love too strong, 
 
 That hat'th My rival foe ; 
 
 And so n he'll see the woman's gone, 
 
 Where he can never go 
 
 Then he'll appear, / am foil'd here, 
 
 / never shall her see ; 
 
 By any arts for to ensnare. 
 
 She's gone, She's gone from me. 
 
 y/nd for my love he now may prove 
 
 She hath disgraced the whole ; 
 
 My honor now is gene that way, 
 
 Oh ! Rigsby's passions fall ! 
 
 If he did see the the lines from thee, 
 
 liow.him thou hast disgrae'd ; 
 
 He'd curse ihe c ay he came to thee, 
 
 Thy hand for to embrace: 
 
 Conceal^! before did- all appear, . 
 
 And vengeance / did miss; 
 
 But now my guilt doth all appear; 
 
 What woman brought round this ? 
 
 Is it from One where / did come 
 
 In love and passions burn ; 
 
 And was the malice in her heart, 
 
 To think of what I'd done ? 
 
 Could she not bear, my guilt was there 
 
 Her Sex for to betray ? 
 
 / knew her hatred did appear ; 
 
 But did not know that way, 
 
 She so did hate, in rage so great
 
 5? 
 
 My face she would not see ; 
 
 But as a man can / now stand 
 
 7o turn nvy rage on she ? 
 
 No ! conscience hire must now appear^ 
 
 '1 is Heaven has me betra/d ; 
 
 My conscious guilt / cannot bear, 
 
 For now 'tis o'er ffly head. 
 
 Conceal'd so long by what 7'd done, 
 
 / thought it all would die ; 
 
 But now the vengeance it is come, 
 
 Will be the Sinner's cry.- 
 
 ' 7"hen now let'helrthe same to swell, 
 
 And cry he's guil'y here ; 
 
 My murder was concealed so long, 
 
 The way /did appear, 
 
 !n arts at first / so did burst, 
 
 The Mother and the Child ; 
 
 / both did kill by arts from hell ; 
 
 And ihen thought to beguile 
 
 The bride the same to her / came 
 
 By arts and passions strong ; 
 
 And every way I then did try; 
 
 To hold her by the hand ; 
 
 But't would not do, I well do knO'w; 
 
 For all my arts did miss-r- 
 
 711 bring the person to my tfiew, 
 
 For sO I'll bring round Ul ' s - 
 
 The Child at first, by arts that burst, 
 
 He surely Was struck dead 
 
 And now the same, behold the name, 
 
 The Woman so is led ; 
 
 For dead to all, now in this Call 
 
 He hath the Woman slain. 
 
 And then he thought to conquer all, 
 
 And gain the heart of tliine. 
 
 But there in vain he surely came, 
 
 His deeds do now appear ; 
 
 In words from hell, how be did swell, 
 
 AsRfgsby's arcs did there ! 
 
 So now the two before their view, 
 
 In print their deeds are seen ; 
 
 ThyFathers Words bring to thy view. 
 
 And blot them out again : 
 
 Because that there, they must appear, 
 
 As men unlik'd b y thee ; 
 
 Jli neither one thy heart can share 
 
 H
 
 58 
 
 '71s ALL gave up Ko ME. 
 
 A nd now I'll come in words so strong ", 
 
 Thy Father said before 
 
 His former sins to him were come, 
 
 When thv grief did appear; 
 
 How many womens' hearts he'd brolTe? 
 
 And I may say the same ! 
 
 Became in love for him they dropp'd ; 
 
 The martyrs did appear 
 
 Then in the flames, for ME they came, 
 
 It was for love they stood 
 
 And.'tk for love, / now shall prove, 
 
 All thia /now allude ; 
 
 Because that here thou dost appear 
 
 A suffering Child for ME 
 
 And now the past / mean to clear, 
 
 Thy Father's passion see-rp. 
 
 Flow all was plac'd when he did burst 
 
 Jn grief he could nor bear ; 
 
 His former sins he said were plac'd, 
 
 And. then his heart did tear, 
 
 To think that one his Child's become 
 
 To feel the fatal smart ; 
 
 What he before by love had done, 
 
 y^nd broke the Womens' hearts. 
 
 71ien now my sins where said by him, 
 
 To my remembrance come ; 
 
 And now the same, I say to men, 
 
 My Bible' you discern ; 
 
 The guilt of All on me did fall, 
 
 They plac'd the sin there first; 
 
 And so my Lovers I see all, 
 
 In sufferings have been cast. 
 
 .Now all together you must brin^,- 
 
 And place before your view J ' 
 
 And then thy Father's Love they'// see, 
 
 The Likeness to be true- 
 That I the same in Love AM come, 
 
 To see whatiGailt I bore ; 
 
 It was to free the TALL of men 
 
 I did THAT WAY appear ; 
 
 And so to man I then did come., 
 
 My Lovers then were cast ; 
 
 In broken hearts, they died for ME;-*> 
 
 Or, cruel torments burst. 
 
 All this for ME, I plainly see
 
 5g 
 
 ft had been done before ; 
 And with thy Father 't will agreej 
 For no man can appear, 
 To prove My Bible so don't stand, 
 Without^the Marriage here. 1 ' 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 JANE TOWNLEY, 
 
 To the Same, 
 
 Thursday Afternoon, June 2i, 1804. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 As soon as we had finished our 
 Letters for one Post to send to Mr Sharp in Lon- 
 don, the day being ordered by the Spirit for us 
 to do so; the following day we are ordered to 
 take up our pens to write to you : so that you can- 
 pot have a clean and regular account, as you have 
 had already, nor Mr. Sharp either for, the true 
 knowledge is concealed from you Both before the 
 Books are out of the Press : and just so stands all 
 mankind that know not the way "He trradfcth 
 the wine press of his Father's wrath: nor, what 
 vengeance was in His Heat; no more than you 
 know what letters are sent to Mr. Sharp; or 
 Mr. Sharp know the letters that are now sent to 
 you ; so you must draw your own judgments, as 
 you can, before you see both the books together, ancl 
 the Forbidden Fruit is placed before you ; for you 
 must not write one Communication of mine to 
 Mr. Sharp, but you may write any to Leeds. 
 
 Joanna has been confined to her Bed ever since 
 Tuesday night, but though the Lord hath casx 
 her down, He has promised to raise her up ; but 
 she is able to set up in her bed, and deliver to ue
 
 6o 
 
 the words of The Lord, that are spoken to her. 
 But she feels the anger of the Lord is greatly 
 kindled, and soon they will see Him break forth 
 in fury ; for they have refused the promise, that was 
 made to man in Creation; and they have refused 
 the promises that were last made to man in tbt* ir 
 Redemption. But now I shall put all things 
 plain before you, and I will make them as naked 
 as thou art in thy Bed, and they shall find they 
 have no more wisdom, no more understanding, 
 no more knowledge of My Word, than thou hast 
 clothing upon thee which from the heat of thy 
 Fever thoq hast none, having thrown the Bed- 
 clothes from thee. And so shall the heat of My 
 Fury make them lay down jn the dust, as weak 
 as thou art: and I will strip them of all their 
 Clothing I will strip them of all their Wisdom; 
 for I am as sick of their Wisdom, as thou hast been 
 of thy Tea ; and I will spue them out of my mouth, 
 as thou hast spued out thy Tea and I will give 
 them Bitters to drink, as thou art drinking now. 
 To have this be understood, the agitation of the 
 Spirit Joanna has been in the last seven days, has 
 brought her weak, and .faint, and so sick, that she 
 cannot drink her Tea, but brings it up again, and is 
 obliged to drink Camomile Tea, which she can- 
 not heap. For I am sick of their Wisdom, and I 
 shall make them sick of Mine : for the Cup of 
 My Fury is kindled against them, and My heart 
 is hot within Me: they shall feel the Hand of 
 ^he Lord heavy upon them, as heavy as thou feel- 
 est My Hand, when thou groanest under it, and 
 said, thou shoulds't die, and prayed to be deli- 
 vered from the power of the devil, for at that 
 tjrne J;hpu so judged ME.
 
 I 
 
 6l 
 
 >-r" And now (lie nation shall the Likeness sec 
 Because at first thou lelt'st the Hand of God, 
 So heavy on thee pressing with such Load; 
 That tfiou said'st satim surely must be there; 
 Thou felt'st the hand under thy neck appear**}, 
 And then thy body it was pressed so, 
 That thou wast dying, thou didst judge, I know; 
 But rest and peace within thee thou didst find, 
 And now I'll perfect tell My every mind 
 It was the Parables in all to clear, 
 That in like manner 1 did press thee there; 
 To prove roe Likeness now in all was true, 
 The rage of hell that night before 1 knew 
 Was close upon thee ; thou didst feel his power, 
 And then thou know'st 1 told thee of an hour, 
 That thou should'st wake to see the Lord appear;. 
 And much like Osmyn 1 did then come there, 
 And think what Agonies that she did bear; 
 When Osmyn held her by the trembling hand, 
 And slrew'd the picture; judge how she must stand, 
 With heart oppress'd, and much more grief than thine; 
 Because that sweetness in thy heart thpu'st find; 
 And all that sweetness thou shalt find in ME 
 Conscience at peace, and all thy guilt I'll free; 
 Because thy weakness I. will never blame 
 Thy doubts and fears shall only put to shame. . 
 The boasted Confidence that is in man ; 
 When they'd no footing in the least to stand, 
 If that My Bible they did e'er discern; 
 Their jealousy, like thine, must them alarm: 
 And say, they fear THE WOMAN may BE TRUE; 
 And bring our Bibles plain before our view. 
 For, if the second Adam must appear, 
 We know the Lamb's wife, she is mention'd there; 
 She must be ready for to stand the Bride, 
 And now avenge the Cause where first it laid ; 
 And see the vengeance that was in My heart, 
 To have the woman to avenge her dart 
 I pon the serpent, that did bruise My heel : 
 Because by arts he've surely stung the whole~ 
 Afid now the enmity in man do fall;
 
 6'2 
 
 Against the woman'* seed they now are come; 
 
 "But from thy lovers I shall here go on 
 
 Remember him that to!d thee of his store, 
 
 He'd gold enough for bo'h, he'd want no more * 
 
 Then now on John I surely here will lean, 
 
 A shadow deep, that I shall noW explain; 
 
 He wished to wed before the time was up; 
 
 But know thou told'st him so it would not drop r-' 
 
 And now 1 tell thee thou "hast wish'd the same, 
 
 To wish the marriage ere the time was come. 
 
 But know I told thee this could never be; 
 
 In My appointed time the Truth thou'lt see: 
 
 And now I tell thee My appointed time 
 
 Is for the present, every soul shall find; 
 
 Or else the ending they'll all find like John 
 
 The part the journey he with thee did come, 
 
 And then the journey he did take no more; 
 
 Because that night I bolt'd tlie every door : 
 
 When thou before My Throne did'st so complain, 
 
 And wish'd an interest in my heart to gain 
 
 Then know the answer that 1 then gave thee; 
 
 That a new heart in 'thee should surely be; 
 
 And on it there I'd build my every law, 
 
 And put My Spirit there the fools shall know, 
 
 That by a woman th us 'twas never done: 
 
 Then the Creation by her you must plan, 
 
 If you do place it to a Woman here ; , 
 
 Or to the devil now, you Fools take care 
 
 For now My Folly shall begin to break, 
 
 And from the' Mid-night hour My wisdom speak 
 
 But from the Mid-night hour I'll first appear, 
 
 When Peter West thy heart did so ensnare ; 
 
 And told thee then how deeply'he did love, 
 
 And thou the shadow in thy heart did prove, 
 
 And know at Mid-night that you ttyo did part. 
 
 And know at Mid-night thou didst feel the dart, 
 
 That was of Love to kindle in thy breast, 
 
 And the war within thy heart did burst : 
 
 Thy foolish heart was wandering then from Me, 
 
 Let it not wander was the prayer of thee ; 
 
 Unless thy Husband I did him design, 
 
 And from thyself thou then, did'st fix the time,
 
 63 
 
 \f/rut I before had kindled in thy breast ; 
 
 And so My Peter's every one was cast : 
 
 Because that Peter he did ME deny, 
 
 And so My bride have turn'd it b ;ck that way, 
 
 For all the Peter's she denied the same 
 
 Men fled from Me and thou hast fled the same, 
 
 To turn it back that way by every man 
 For mark, when Peter did again return, 
 That had deny'd, as I had fix'd the mark, 
 And know the time, and bring the every spark 
 That was of love, kindl'd again in he ; 
 But then thy answer let them all to set-^- 
 
 " If he was better to them he mihtgo f 
 
 Thou would never wsste his love, thou told'st him so r 
 
 To hurt himself, and back to thte to come, 
 
 If he was great ; thou told'st him thou wast grand." 
 
 And now 1 tell them, grand 1 will appear,; 
 
 And all My boasting Peters tell them here 
 
 Unto the skies they've swell VI their wisdom high 
 
 Ana bow I teH them they'll fall back this way : 
 
 Because the upright man thou can'st not find, 
 
 For to seek out their SAVIOUR's heart and mind; 
 
 Unless the Noahs they do all app ar, 
 
 And say we'll turn and try her heart once more; 
 
 Before by Noah sute the thing was done 
 
 I tell them pt;iin thy History must go en; 
 
 In every truth thy History must appear; 
 
 Because the Likeness I'll jn all compare, 
 
 You know at first how that you two did part, 
 
 When Jealousy had wound'd thy tender heart." 
 
 Continuation of Joanna's History, 
 
 " As I am called to write the particulars, that 
 aU may be explained, J shall mention what I have 
 omitted before we* parted for good. There was a 
 young woman in SidmQuth, Captain Wickers's 
 daughter, who was almost mad about Noah Bishop,
 
 64 
 
 aha* would follow him wherever he went; when: 
 he did go to Sidmouth Town, one Sunday, she 
 followed him upon thee beach, and followed him 
 part of the way home, and he slood talking with 
 her. A friend of mine passed them by, and came 
 and told me of it. This fired my soul with jea- 
 lousy: and, as soon as I saw him enter the yard; 
 I went'immediately up stairs. He came and en- 
 quired of my sister for me. She told him I was 
 gone up stairs, because I refused to see him; for, 
 that I had desired her to tell him, that where he 
 had been already, he might go again, along with 
 Fanny Wickers* He declared to my sister, he 
 could not bear her; and, though she followed him, 
 he hated her, and believed her a very bad, loose 
 girl; hut, as she had followed him, he was obliged 
 to stop, and speak with her: but this excuse did 
 not do for me. * My heart burned with jealousy: 
 and, in my passion, I said, I would riot come down 
 for the night ; neither did I the next day. I 
 thought, if what he said was real, he would come 
 as usual, when I was milking, as he knew I could 
 not shun him then ; but, to my astonishment, he 
 did not come: this fired my heart with indignation, 
 for I tltought my jealousy was without a cause. 
 The next day, I went to my father's at Getsham, 
 and Noah came and pleaded his cause again with 
 toy Sister, who told him I was more confirmed in 
 my opinion than ever ; and she was gone to Get- 
 sham to my Father's. He said, well then I will 
 soon be after her, for I will go and and see her, 
 and convmcehez, that I hale Fanny Wichers. My 
 Sister told him he need not go to Getsham to see 
 me, for I should return again the latter end of the 
 week. He said, then he would wait till my return. 
 I returned home on the Saturday night, but assooi?
 
 65 
 
 as lie came into the house on the Sunday, I 
 fled from him as before; but in the evening 
 when I went to milking I saw him standing at 
 the Orchard Gale, as he knew I could go no 
 other way; he had an halter in his hand, and 
 said, he had been down to turn the Sheep out 
 of the Orchard, and put in the Colt, and he 
 would not let me go till he had convinced me 
 of his dislike to Fanny Wickers, and that I was 
 the only Woman in the World that he loved, 
 I told him, if what he said was tru*:, he would 
 have come on the Monday night to convince me 
 of the Truth, and not have staid away as he did; 
 for I suoposed he was w*th her then. He assured 
 me to the contrary ; for his father had sent him in 
 the morning all over Bulverton Hill to find the 
 colts, and he had come round two or three times 
 to my brother's grounds, in hopes of seeing me 
 watering the bullocks, which I very often used to 
 do at noon, as there was no water in the field; 
 but he had missed the time that I came, and made 
 it so late before he could find his horses, that he 
 did not return home till after night; and to prove 
 the truth of what he said, he could bring his bro- 
 ther Nathaniel, William Prince, Richard Isaac, 
 and many others, to testify the truth of what he 
 said; and his brother, and William Prince, did 
 testify the truth: so I gave up all my jealousy in 
 this matter, before it came to be alarmed another 
 way, by people's saying, that he would break my 
 heart in a twelve-month if I had him, which, 
 brought the sorrows upon me, as is mentioned in 
 my history : but, as all particulars must be explain- 
 ed, > I shall notice one further. His wife that is 
 now, and I, were intimately acquainted : and, one 
 Sunday, when she came into the house, I told, him 
 
 I
 
 66 
 
 that she should be his wife. In a contemptuous 
 fnanner, he said, he did not like her: but, years 
 after, when he courted her, I was in company with 
 him at a reaping- harvest, and there was a woman 
 there that said her name was Anne. He said, 
 Oh, Anne! I love the name of Anne and now I 
 may say the same of my dear SAVIOUR, that I 
 have been so often jealous of, fearing HE would 
 let the gates of hell prevail against me ; but 
 now I know none can pluck me out of His Hand 
 and now I will, say, with David, " if I am 
 vile, I will still be viler," and prove the truth 
 that the Bible is clear, and the truth of His words 
 are true to me. 
 
 - " Though I'm unworthy, and of merit none; 
 
 I see the merit in my Saviour's groans. 
 
 I see the merit doth in Him appear, 
 
 Unworthy I his hand or heart to share ; 
 
 Because my jealousy so wrong have been, 
 
 As 'twas by Noah now to me is seen. 
 
 And all my passions open now anew, 
 
 I see my SAVIOUR's words in all are true; 
 
 That of my jealousy I may complain, 
 
 To let my heart be so enrag'd by men. 
 
 It is the Harlots that have me provok'd ; 
 
 It is the Harlots that did cause the stroke. 
 
 To cause the jealousy by my weak hand, 
 
 When I did sign the folly of a man, 
 
 That said from hell the writings did appear, 
 
 And by his wisdom he'd destroy them there. 
 
 But by his wisdom this he could not do ; 
 
 He's just like Fann the Harlot in my view ; 
 
 Because a Harlot she by man was plac'd, 
 
 For so they said her roving heart did burst 
 
 To every man ; that she thought she could gain; 
 
 And now the empty world I see as plain, 
 
 That they are roving after pleasures here, 
 
 And every vanity their hearts ensnare.
 
 6/ 
 
 And so my heart they thought to tear that way, 
 Because I knew there came my Jealousy 
 Because professed Christians stood before, 
 And made me judge my Saviour's Lord was the 
 And that his promises to me He would forsake, 
 And that's the way my Jealousy did break ; 
 But curst tormentors now your rage is o'er, 
 Your fury can no more from hell appear, 
 With all the arts that now are in your view ; 
 I see my Saviour, and I see him true, 
 Doth in this Fable strong to me appear: 
 I see this Likeness and I feel it here. 
 And now your fury shall no further go, 
 To say my Lord will fill my heart with woe. 
 No, him I'll trust, and give both heart and hand; 
 J see myself doth in this fable stand 
 I see my Lord in Noah to appear; 
 Not all the arts of hell shall now appear, 
 To make me ever grieve my Dying Lord : 
 Til trust His honor, and I'll trust his word-* 
 For ail my passions they are open here, 
 Much stronger for my Saviour to appear, 
 Than ere in youth they did appear for man; 
 I'd sooner die, than now give up my hand 
 To any wretch, that shall against Him speak- 
 No, No, my heart in sunder you may break, 
 To kill my honor, and despise my fame; 
 To say thy Maker thou doth boldly name, 
 To be my husband, and the Lord of hosts, 
 1 tell you plain in Noah it is plac'd: 
 Because the shadow there is in the man; 
 But in my youth 1 was forsaken then, 
 Grieved in spirit I did then appear, 
 Worse than a widow's was my sorrows there- 
 And 'twas pretended Friends brought on that woe, 
 And now pretended Friends the same I know, 
 Within my heart these daggers all would place; 
 And the last error fata'ler than the first 
 Then now, ye cursed tyrants! look and see, 
 If you once more can break the heart of me; 
 Just like the devils you must all appear,. 
 And worse than serpents for to sting ine here.
 
 68 
 
 But now I tell you, sooner I will die, 
 
 Than e'er my God and Saviour to deny: 
 
 Because so plain He'th brought all to my view, 
 
 And 1 have witnesses to prove it true 
 
 That 'twas by arts my Jealousy did go, 
 
 Because the Harlots tlfey have stood, lefore, 
 
 And made me judge my Saviour's Love was there. 
 
 But from the Fable now I plainly see, 
 
 They stood before but had no heart of He, 
 
 To make him change His Bible for to turn, 
 
 I see the way the Harlots all become 
 
 To follow after, and to stand before ; 
 
 And that's the way my jealousy was there. 
 
 And so his absence 1 one time did aee, 
 
 When hell by arts provok'd my Jealousy, 
 
 And then my Lord not hasty to return, 
 
 1 thought my writings every one to burn. 
 
 But then my blessed SAVIOUR did come round, 
 
 He proved the 'Truth that HE was in the sound, 
 
 And shew'd the way my Jealousy did come, 
 
 The arts of Satan unto me made known ; - 
 
 And by HIS 7 RUTH, I did believe his word, 
 
 Ana by HIS TRUTH I'll now stand by my LORD,, 
 
 Ten thousands deaths by man I'd sooner die, 
 
 Than ere my blessed SAVIOUR now deny. 
 
 No, No, the shadow it is gone before, 
 
 But of the substance I will now take care, 
 
 And trust the honor of my SAVIOUR dear; 
 
 Tho' I am unworthy HE is worthy found, 
 
 Unto His Cross my hand and heart is bound ; 
 
 And I will sooner die beneah His Feet 
 
 Than ere give up His Love that is so great, 
 
 To be aveng'd of all, out rival foe 
 
 That strong in satan now 1 know do go 
 
 And in the Harlots he do now appear - 
 
 To stand before them that he mav ensnare, 
 
 And kindle Jealousy again to burst; 
 
 But now too late the happy die is cast : 
 
 For me as plain to see my SAVIOUR'* name; 
 
 As I saw Nonh's when he humbly came, 
 
 To place the t'tith of all before my view; 
 
 And shall rny LQRD so humbly now pursue,
 
 Then well the Manger HE may call to mind, 
 
 How humbly first HE came unto mankind, 
 
 And how the mock of fools HE then did bear; 
 
 And now the same they're pointing every spear, 
 
 To crucify my dying LORD again ; 
 
 Weigh every shadow, and you'll see it plain 
 
 Because the suhst nice now I plain do see, 
 
 The second time you'd murder HIM and me: 
 
 As Eve by arts satan did murder first, 
 
 And so by arts the Cross of Christ was plac'd - 
 
 And sj by arts he'd place it all again ; 
 
 Chiist and the Woman once more to be slain, r 
 
 The second time the swo d go through he" soul, 
 
 This is the way I Know you'd murder all 
 
 But now I tell you Christ shall murder me; 
 
 Before my hand and heart I'll ever give 
 
 To any living, but my LORD alone; 
 
 I'd sooner die and come before His throne; 
 
 And there my tri il I'd begin to plead, 
 
 And ask HIM how this way I'd been misled 1 -* 
 
 His Words and Bible all for to believe, 
 
 I'd ask HiM how satan could so deceive; 
 
 I'd ask the devil how he could appear 
 
 In Christ's form, my heart for to ensnare, 
 
 And say, that by it I should conquer hell, 
 
 Then now the truth for once he sure must tell; 
 
 Because against himself he now must stand, 
 
 To say he is a devil in all lands; 
 
 And in the hearts of all men he does go, 
 
 Nothing but ruin he do see and know ; 
 
 While he hath power for to rule and reign, 
 
 Then sure the self-accuser must be slain. 
 
 Because if 1 should murder now a man, 
 
 An\ boldly say I had the murder done; 
 
 And tell the way I did to all contrive^ 
 
 I ask what law would let me then to live 
 
 If I plead guilty; man must plead the same > 
 
 And so from hell, as you do say, it came; 
 
 From his own words he now is guilty cast; ". * , 
 
 And I'm the witness will against him burst. - 
 
 But if from heaven you say is n >w the sound, 
 
 ^Then sure your Conquering SAVIOUR will be found;
 
 ;o 
 
 As HE hath said to conquer earth and hell, 
 And make the rebel in his den to dwell; 
 That he may never vex the earth no more, 
 Until the thousand Years are named be o'er 
 And now Joanna I have spoke in thee, 
 The truth of all for thou to hear and see. 
 This is the way that thou must plend with man; 
 Because thy eyes I've open'd to discern, 
 How clear in all the likeness doth agree, 
 And now like Noah I shall answer thee. 
 It is the harlots do before me go, 
 Profess they love ME, and they hold ME so, 
 That I must save them by my dying blood; 
 But ne'er avenge it on the serpent's head 
 Therefore their love like Noah 1 do hate; 
 Though they profess to ME, their love is great, 
 _ To have MY dying blood be all in all; 
 And never have my rival foe to fall," 
 
 Here We ended on Thursday night, June 2r, 
 
 i3o4 And then a Letter was received from 
 
 Exeter, that they had sent a Letter to Mr. Pome- 
 roy, which he returned back without answering 
 a word. Tins set all Joanna's heart on fire ; the 
 agonies she felt, no tongue can express she saw 
 the fatal ruin he was bringing on himself, and 
 called to her remembrance a Letter she was or- 
 dered to send him; she thinks it was in 1797. 
 
 ** AncJ Judas he shall be to me, 
 
 Jf he do mc deny; 
 
 Uo comfort in this world he'll have, 
 
 And trembje for to die. 
 
 Jlc must be found an cinpty sound, 
 
 And hollow all within : 
 
 I asked the Bishop how he'd look 
 
 Qb sucty dccejtful men." 
 
 Because in his Preaphjng he professed great Love 
 for Cfmst ; therefore it was said, the Lord would 
 try the man, and now he is weighed in the bal- 
 ance and found wanting, but knowing it is the
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 devil's arts have deceived him, wounds me to the 
 heart in pity for the man ; but as for the Devil 
 I hate, my rage and malice grow more and more 
 every day against him ; as I receive Letters 
 how believers are daily haunted, for those that 
 are longing for Christ and His Kingdom, the de- 
 vil is pursuing with all his rage and fury, while 
 those that do as a man } said at Leeds, that, he 
 did give the devil a, corner chair to set in his heart 
 that then he said th,e deril was at rest with him ; 
 but if he disturbed him, the devil would plague 
 him and I heard the same man say, he v/ould 
 die to redeem the devil, which made me tremble 
 to think there could be so wretched a being. I 
 told him his death would not redeem the devil; 
 for that power was in GOD only and he would 
 find him a cruel devil to him, tho' he professed so 
 much love to him, he would not find that love in 
 return from him : but I am soiry to say I see his 
 likeness in many men ; they would sooner bring 
 the day of Vengeance on themselves, and free the 
 devil from his just punishment, than let the devil 
 have his due. For they gave him a corner chair 
 to set in their hearts, because he may not disturb 
 them. But I will assure them in the end, they 
 will find the devil to be like a Gentleman's Gar- 
 dener, who courted the Gentleman's Maid, and 
 made great professions of love to her, till he had 
 brought her with Child and then he ordered her 
 one night to come at mid-night to such a Garden 
 at her Master's, and he would meet her there, 
 and take her to Church to be married early in 
 the morning; but while the bloody wretch was 
 digging the Grave, to bury her when he had mur- 
 dered her, the Gentleman was warned by a dream, 
 that his Gardener was digging of a Grave, tt 
 
 f George Hey, near Lccdi*.
 
 72 ' 
 
 murder his Cook, he told his wife of it, ano* said 
 he'd go down she desired him not, and said it 
 was only a dream. He went to .sleep and dreamt 
 the same again lie then said, he would rise, but 
 his Wife persuaded him not to listen to dreams. 
 lie went to sleep again, and dreamt the same the 
 third time ; he then sprung off' his bed, and said, 
 he'd lav there no longer, till he searched out the 
 truth of his dream. He slippedon his Night-gown 
 and went down and met hiifCook Maid at the 
 door, dressed to meet her devilish lover. He 
 asked pie maid where she was going, she was 
 compelled to tell him she was going to meet his 
 Gardener to go to Church to be married. He 
 told her she should not. The poor innocent maid 
 burst into tears, and said she must go, for she 
 was with Child l?y him. The Gentleman told 
 her, he was only going to murder her, and to 
 convince her he would' go first to the Garden, 
 which he did, and left the poor maid trembling 
 in the house. When he came, he found the Gar- 
 dener had dug a very deep Grave ; he asked him 
 what he was doing ? The wretch answered ma- 
 king of a Cucumber-bed. The Gentleman told 
 him it was the wrong season of the year to make 
 Cucumber-beds And he knew from the maid 
 that told him she was with Child by him, and he 
 had appointed her to meet him there, that he had 
 designed to murder her, and had dug that for her 
 Grave. The wretch finding that he was betrayed 
 fled from his master and left the country. And 
 now I shall insert Joannas dream of last night 
 " I dreamt last night, that I was to go to be 
 married with my Brother Page that is dead ; my 
 Brother-in-law. He first made love to me, and 
 then married my Sister. But to this I 'thought I
 
 T9 
 
 must go to be married by Proxy, as the Queen* 
 do. I thought some said, why you must not marry 
 with a man, if you are wedded to Christ: I said. 
 No, it was but by Proxy, like the Queens ; for I 
 should nerer live with the man: but my happi- 
 ness would never be completed, before I had gone 
 through the Proxy of marriage. I thought some 
 cried out, in raptures of joy, and said, now I see 
 the whole mystery clear. One strange gentleman 
 cried out, in contusion and raptures of joy, she 
 shan't want for money nor a house she hath many 
 presents sent her, and I will provide a house for 
 her. I thought they kept presenting to my view, 
 little things, wrapped up; and, when I opened 
 them, there was gold and blue ribbons in them* 
 I thought many men seemed bursting with joy: 
 but one man in the company looked as if he would 
 burst with envy; and said, I don't know what to 
 make of this woman's marriage, I believe it's all 
 a sham ; while others warmly reproved him. I. 
 then thought, that myself, with my friends, entered 
 a beautiful, large garden; where I saw four crown 
 pieces lay upon a stone. I thought I picked thenz 
 up, and give one to Miss Townley* and one to> 
 Mrs. Foley; and said, I had found them upon the 
 earth : but, as they were covered with dust* I did 
 Hot know whether they were silver or not. I 
 thought we began to rub the pieces, and I found 
 they were not -true silver : so I cried to my 
 friends, it is not true silver, fling them all down 
 in the garden again; which I thought we all did 
 So we pursued our journey together, till we came 
 out of the garden; and then I lost my friends, 
 I know not how, and I was in a room with two wo- 
 men, that were very ill-looking old women. And 
 I< thought in derision they said one to the other, 
 
 K
 
 74 
 
 have you heard of this mighty woman that is going 
 to be married? I heard their mockery, and pulled 
 my veil over my face, that they might not know 
 it was me: but I thought Jealousy alarmed one of 
 them, and she went down stairs to call a parcel 
 cf women more to come up, and prevent my going, 
 I thought I looked at the stairs, and saw them full 
 of old women, looking like witches Immediately 
 I felt the strength of the Lord enter in me, and I 
 flew like a Bird over their he^pls, and flew out of 
 the house. 1 thought they turned in con- 
 fusion to seek me, and said, where can she go, 
 that we cannot find her? I thought with myself, 
 the Lord will carry me where you cannot find 
 me. And I thought I was carried round, from 
 place to place ; and saw the people as if they 
 were bursting with envy at me: but so quick and 
 powerful was my flight, that no one could prevent 
 me, nor touch me, nor stop my fl'ght, till I came 
 to some beautiful piace, which I cannot recollect, 
 and then I awoke." ,, 
 
 Here, Sir, you are left in a confusion, like Mr. 
 Sharp, sending you dreams and visions with the 
 explanation: for the explanation of this dream 
 and vision will be sent to Mr. Sharp, and he will 
 be puzzled to know what it alludes to, as you may 
 be puzzled to know what it meanctb, to go in print 
 without an explanation: but the explanation you 
 are forbid to' know, till the book is printed. But 
 I wish I could find the Clergy as wise as Mr. Sharp, 
 to say his head is now confused, to find out the 
 mystery of what I am sending: for he knows" 
 there must be some pages kept back that ought to 
 be sent, to make my writings clear before him, 
 for he cannot now understand them. Now, if the 
 Clergy were as wise as he is, they would see there
 
 H 
 
 5 
 
 were some hidden mysteries in the Bible, that 
 they can't find out, to make the Bible clear and 
 true; as you will both see by my letters, that you 
 cannot make the mysteries clear, till both books 
 are brought together. (Signed) 
 
 JANE TOWNLEY. 
 
 From the sa?ne to the same. 
 
 p <-, . Friday Afternoon, June 22,. 1 804. 
 
 The following Communication is given 
 to Joanna, in answer to a simple Parable " of a 
 Black." The Parable is sent to Mr. Sharp, and 
 the explanation is sent to you. 
 
 " For so My Bible doth appear, 
 
 I tell you simple men ; 
 
 The Parables you've goi them here, 
 
 But cannot them explain. 
 
 No more than he the thing could see 
 
 Why thou such things should pen; ! 
 
 For in the dark there stands a mark, 
 
 That no one does discern 
 
 Had been up on his father's bulks, 
 
 He said that he could run; 
 
 Because that there he might appear, 
 
 In strength he thought to stand; 
 
 But when upon bis b*'d he were, 
 
 He judg'd a coward's hand 
 
 Had slain him then, ye simple men, 
 
 Your Bibles stand the same; 
 
 I'll bring the mystery to the Land, 
 
 That you may know My Name. 
 
 My Father here cannot ippear, 
 
 To strike the rebel dead ; 
 
 No other way His Honor clear, 
 
 But bring it to the bed,
 
 f9 
 
 Where I did fall ; I tell you all, 
 
 That so 't must surely come: 
 
 For me to strike the rebel dead, 
 
 As satan's arts are known. 
 
 For him I'll place, ye fallen race, 
 
 The Black's father to be ; 
 
 And I must bring him to the bed, 
 
 That first did murder ME : 
 
 For in the Land, as now you stand, 
 
 The bulk of all to place; 
 
 By satan's arts you this command, 
 
 That be may run his race, 
 
 To save his lite, and end the strife, 
 
 For there his bulk does come 
 
 And if with him you thus do hold, 
 
 You give him room to nm; 
 
 For Twenty here he well may clear, 
 
 My Bible he does see ; 
 
 My Honor I can never clear, 
 
 Till to my bed 't must be : 
 
 Because that there, he did appear, 
 
 I say a coward first; 
 
 And now My Honor I can clear, 
 
 To make a coward burst, 
 
 On him the same; ye simple men^ 
 
 And strike the rebel dead : 
 
 But from the bulk in all he's plac'dj 
 
 "To bring it on your head, 
 
 For man to fall, I tell you all, 
 
 And he to run the same : 
 
 He know'th My Honor cannot fall, 
 
 A liar to become 
 
 And plead with he, in lies to be ; 
 
 A God for tp appear 
 
 No ! Twenty Oods he'd quickly free,, 
 
 And say no truth was here. 
 
 Then how can 1, that dwell'th on high, 
 
 In lies for to proceed : 
 
 No, all your earthly Gods must die, 
 
 $3e'd quipkly strike them dead ? 
 
 And so he'd run to ME 'twas known, 
 
 The bulk in all to place ;
 
 77 
 
 And say 'tis man I must enthrone, 
 
 For where's the truth to burst? 
 
 No woman here did now appear 
 
 A helpmate to mankind; 
 
 My Bible you can never clear, 
 
 You earthly Gods must find ; 
 
 Because that here you may appear,, 
 
 That number to make good ; 
 
 And every one would satan clear, 
 
 You ne'er could strike him dead: 
 
 No, he would run to ME, 'tis known, 
 
 The way he'th run before ; 
 
 The woman he did first enthrone, / 
 
 Then how can I appear, 
 
 To say the way he did betray, 
 
 J'd bring it at the last? 
 
 Then 'twas the woman you do say, 
 
 And there the truth shall burst; 
 
 In' honor clear I shall appear, 
 
 The woman all must free ; 
 
 And say, if he did Eve ensnare, 
 
 Then now 'tis come to ME f 
 
 I say the same, again I'M come, 
 
 The woman to beguile; 
 
 Then there the devil cannot stand, 
 
 And well thou then may'st smile, 
 
 To see a thing so simply done, 
 
 That I shall here explain 
 
 I'll bring. My Bible out to man. 
 
 For that's the bulk I mean. 
 
 The bulk of all from Adam's fall. 
 
 If satan there could stand ; 
 
 You earthly Gods he'd conquer aM, 
 
 And run by my command; 
 
 Because that here he would appear; 
 
 And say no truth whs plac'd; 
 
 I promis'd as a SAVIOUR here. 
 
 The likeness it must burst : 
 
 God of this world, he sure did call 
 
 The devil at that time : 
 
 Then how that God could he e'er fall, 
 
 Till Chr^jt ap Eve could find^
 
 78 
 
 For to obey, as Eve did f lay 
 
 Obedient to his will; 
 
 I tell you all, ye earthly Gods, 
 
 You'd keep his footing still ; 
 
 He well does know, and so does go, 
 
 To work in every heart, 
 
 And Cowafds he would make of you, 
 
 To take your S.WIOUR's part ; 
 
 For Christ to come, and reign the same, 
 
 Jn power in every land 
 
 For now 1 tell you Satan's frame, 
 
 The Bulk in him doth stand 
 
 That's of Mankind, you all may fintl, 
 
 And look which way you will, 
 
 The reigning power that is in man, 
 
 Is bound to Satan's will. 
 
 And this he gain'd ye simple men, 
 
 By Woman's simple hand, 
 
 And by that bed he must be slain, 
 
 For there : the Type doth stand, 
 
 "What he gain'd first, from Woman burst, 
 
 And so he'll now appear! 
 
 He'll place there Witchcraft at the last, 
 
 The Bride they'd murder here : 
 
 She should not come, to Christ be't known, 
 
 By witchcraft would they cry; 
 
 To have the Saviour all their own, 
 
 And death and hell to die. 
 
 2^o, we'll keep up our every hope, 
 
 That we had got before ; 
 
 His blood to wash away our stains, 
 
 We do not want e'er more. 
 
 Thus 't will begin in hell to burn, 
 
 The Witches now he'll try ; 
 
 That he hath power for to bewitch, 
 
 And make the Bride to die: 
 
 Because that here he will appear, 
 
 As he appear'd before ; 
 
 And from the Jews, 1 this shall clear, 
 
 For so they'll answer here 
 
 What Blasphemy must be in she, 
 
 Her SAVIOUH to blaspheme! 
 
 To say in spirit now H l*L's come, 
 
 With her to plead like men; 
 
 For to appear like Noah here, 
 
 The Hermit in disguise:
 
 79 
 
 With all her Lovers to compare, ' 
 
 Tin time for to chastise 
 
 If this does go -vr weii do know, 
 
 She ll gain men all lier own 
 
 They'll judge the Biale to be true, 
 
 The way that she hath shewn. 
 
 And we no more, than Fools appear, 
 
 Will satan swell their Pride; 
 
 1 know the Witches will appear, 
 
 That way the witchcraft li'th 
 
 Then from the first I stong shall burst, 
 
 Ami call the mid-night hour 
 
 And see your Saviour how IIE's plac'd, 
 
 Your pride for to devour 
 
 My Grandeur here, when I appear, 
 
 To make My Wisdom shine ; 
 
 Would i your mockery ever bore ? 
 
 Had I not known My Mind, 
 
 That at the last a Prince I'd burst 
 
 By Woman's simple hand ! 
 
 Because that there, I tell you here, 
 
 The devil's power doth stand 
 
 Now I the Last the same do burst, 
 
 The earth for to con.mand ; 
 
 I come to do My FATHER s will, 
 
 And there His Will shall stand : 
 
 The Woman shall your IWpmate be, 
 
 For now I've gain'd her hand. 
 
 The fruit to pluck now to the root, 
 
 And down the root shall fall; 
 
 Not all his witchcraft now shall do, 
 
 For I shall conquer hell : 
 
 This very way, now I do say, 
 
 That I did first design: 
 
 The Woman shall your Helpmate be -^ 
 
 I'll further tell My Mind : 
 
 It is not one to ME 'tis known, 
 
 For I'A M a David here ; 
 
 And many Brides are now My own, 
 
 Alike with her to swear: 
 
 But now the First from Saul did burst. 
 
 For there the Bride did come, 
 
 And David's Crown that way was found, 
 
 Anil Saul's was overthrown. 
 
 So unv the Saul, i tell )ou all, 
 
 la Satan he does stand ;
 
 80 
 
 fiat now within thou dost begin, , 
 
 Thy pondering heart command:^ 
 
 Mast thou appear the Daughter herfe 
 
 Of satan just the same-. - 
 
 I tell thee no, it is not so, 
 
 Tlio' all from Shadows^caroe. 
 
 The Shadows first from saten burst, 
 
 Children undei the Fall; 
 
 Then there t he daughter thou must stand 
 
 I now do tell you all : 
 
 Because that there hell did appear, 
 
 A prince of earth to come ; 
 
 And by the Fall, I tell you all 
 
 I then pronounced man 
 
 As dead to be in Love to ME, 
 
 Or knowledge to' become ; 
 
 By satan's arts you all may see 
 
 Your Children form'd by him. 
 
 Then now see clear, the shadow here, 
 
 A Child of his must come ; 
 
 To give their hand to Darid here, 
 
 And slay their father's throne ; 
 
 That did appear in Saul now there, 
 
 And there the shadow see, 
 
 Ho^David's life were then preserv'd, 
 
 By a Daughter born of lie ; 
 
 That is of Saul, I tell you all, 
 
 So David gain'd his Crown ; 
 
 And so I tell you by the Fall, 
 
 You're satan's Children found. 
 
 Fallen from M E in misery, 
 
 By satan's artful haud : 
 
 And from the Shadow all must see, 
 
 How David's Crown must stand. 
 
 But here within thou dost begin, 
 
 In Jealousy to burst ; 
 
 And from this Fable thou dost see, 
 
 Thou art unequall'd plac'd ; 
 
 Not for to Love thou here dost prov*, 
 
 For David's heart did go, 
 
 And other women better lov'd, 
 
 Than her thou well dost know. 
 
 So misery and jealousy, 
 
 Have work'd thy passions high 
 
 And is My Love no more for thee J 
 
 Tho' thou for me wilt die.
 
 81 
 
 Thy love's so great, without deceit, 
 In every thing to prove : 
 And shalt thou see that misery, 
 To find a David's love 
 So cold to thine ! No, I'll resign, 
 'Twas but a shadow there ; 
 When I at first came to mankind, 
 The Brides for to ensnare- 
 To wed with me 1 now tell thee, 
 And Brides they did become ; 
 Because that they do trust in ME, 
 That I shall them redeem. 
 But now see clear, the mystery there, 
 I am a David found, 
 The Ark of God in all to clear, 
 And bring the nivsteries round: 
 That t am come to act like him, 
 For to uncover ail, 
 The Brides that 1 have got before, 
 Do now like her appear: 
 What fool say they, must Christ now be 
 To come anil stoop so low, 
 And in their heaits they Me despise, 
 Like Saul's daughter ihey go. 
 But 1 shall aay, like him that day, 
 Iff vile i do appear; 
 Then now much viler I will be, 
 And come to Noah here 
 For like his love Mine now shall pit>ve, 
 Thy Jealousy did burst ; 
 Like Saul's Daughter for to appear, 
 Thou know'st how it was plac'd ; 
 That she despis'd him so unwise, 
 And folly she did see, 
 For him to dance before the Ark, 
 In honor then to Me. 
 But viler there he would appear, 
 He told her at that time 
 And now the mysteries i shall clear, 
 And bring it to mankind. 
 A David here I did appear, 
 I told them at the first, 
 His Root and Offspring then I were ; 
 The morning star to burst 
 
 6th Chap. 2nd Book of Samuel through. 
 
 L
 
 82 
 
 But then see clear My Brides were there, 
 
 Tho' then I wed with Some, 
 
 My Humbleness they could not bear, 
 
 And so despis'd My Name. 
 
 So they did die, I tell tliee why, 
 
 No Children did appear, 
 
 Till other Brides were gain'd by Me, 
 
 My every crown to share 
 
 So first from them; the Jews did come, 
 
 And every one did die ; 
 
 Because My ways they did despise, 
 
 Too low thev all did cry ; 
 
 And now the same they moe^MyName 
 
 The Brides that here do come 
 
 Tho' at the) first My death they plac'd, 
 
 To be the life of them : 
 
 Then now within thou dost begin, 
 
 The mystery for to see ; 
 
 Children of Said I tell you all, 
 
 Like Saul's Daughter will be ; 
 
 Tho' I began to thee 'twas kno ati, 
 
 To place the Shadow there ; 
 
 With Saul's Daughter 1 then did come, 
 
 The likeness to compare; 
 
 And thou within did*st tremble then > 
 
 And all may tremble too, 
 
 That say My Ways they do despise, 
 
 Bring all before thy view ; 
 
 For viler there he did appear, 
 
 To tell her he would be; 
 
 And viler here, I will appear, 
 
 And that they all shall see ; 
 
 If low at First, 1 here did bursf, 
 
 And in the Manger come ; 
 
 I tell them lower at the Last, 
 
 1 shall receive My Crown. 
 
 Humility you all shall see, 
 
 Do highest honor bring, 
 
 And humbly now I'AM come to thee, 
 
 Thy heart and soul to win. 
 
 And so to all, I now d'o call, 
 
 Brothers and Sisters here ; 
 
 My mother too, before My View, 
 
 My Love do so appear ; 
 
 Then surely I who dwell'th on High, 
 
 Do humbly now become;
 
 83 
 
 For to invite My every Bride, 
 
 My Kingdom tor to share ; 
 
 Because this way to thee, I say 
 
 My Kingdom 't mus,t appear; 
 
 It is by Love you all must prove, 
 
 Mv Kingdom it must come ; 
 
 And it is Love the Cause must move, 
 
 The Serpent to condemn ; 
 
 I said at Last MY Love should burst, 
 
 Unto them in the end . 
 
 When I do bring My earthly Crown 
 
 MY Love to man must bend : 
 
 Or how should they in Love to ME 
 
 Shun every Bival Foe. 
 
 No, I'll appear to answer here, 
 
 MY Sheep astray do go, 
 
 And they are gone from ME'tis known 
 
 Then Horses must appear, 
 
 That to the Manger now will come, 
 
 MY Chariot Wheels to clear ; 
 
 And draw them on, as they've begun. 
 
 Like Horses Men must be ; 
 
 The strength of sheep is too much gone 
 
 To stand the light lor ME. 
 
 So I'll appear like Noah here, 
 
 My sheep are gone astray ; 
 
 MY words they do profess to hear, 
 
 And so profess'd THEY LAY 
 
 In love to ME, they say they be, 
 
 And so they follow here ; 
 
 But as their hearts I plain do see, 
 
 Their love I cannot bear. 
 
 But now to thee a mystery, 
 
 Like Noah I shall come ; 
 
 And tell thee of thy Jealousy, 
 
 That did thee now enflame : 
 
 The sheep were gone he told them then 
 
 And Horses in the Room, 
 
 That he had been one day to seek, 
 
 And now the day is come. 
 
 Because this year 't shall so appear, 
 
 That Horses 1 shall find : 
 
 My every Harness for to wear, 
 
 My Chariot Wheels behind, 
 
 Shall surely go, they all shall know 
 
 And bring ME to MY Thram vm*
 
 84 
 
 That I shall now prepare for you, 
 
 And claim this Earth MY own, 
 
 So now see clear, one shadow's here, 
 
 How Noah wail'd to see, 
 
 Tby every Bullock* to appear, 
 
 Thai watei'd the) may be. 
 
 So now to all, 1 thus do call, 
 
 I wait'th for man the same ; 
 
 That to MY Brook they all may come, 
 
 Whih thirsty hearts enflam'd; 
 
 As He was there in love appear'd, 
 
 So is MY heart for Man ; 
 
 But if that they do act like thee, 
 
 And miss the time 1 come ; 
 
 Then they may grieve as thou'st believe 
 
 Thou surely miss'd the whole, 
 
 But if their arts I find like thee, 
 
 They'll find me so to fall 
 
 To come again, and shew them plain* 
 
 They way they ME did miss ; 
 
 Tho' I was waiting at their doors, 
 
 And would have shew'd them thus, 
 
 How f was come in love toman, 
 
 And told them of the time ; 
 
 But they did look another way, 
 
 The mysteries could not find 
 
 And satan there did strong appear, 
 
 To make them miss the mark ; 
 
 As I your footsteps did prepare, 
 
 To leave both in the dark ; 
 
 Because the thing 1 did design, 
 
 To bring the Shadow here ; 
 
 And shew the substance to mankind, 
 
 The way 1 shall appear; 
 
 If Jealousy in them I see, 
 
 As in thy neart did burn ; 
 
 To think that I AM gone from thee. 
 
 Like Noah i II return ; 
 
 Andshew them plain how this was done 
 
 They ne'er ciiscem'd the time, 
 
 And for MY Horses 1 was gone, 
 
 MY Chariot Wheels to find ; 
 
 Thatthoy may draw you all shall know 
 
 That have MY Harness here ; 
 
 Because MY Sheep too w<ak do go, 
 
 To bring MY Kingdom here.
 
 85 
 
 No't must go on in battle strong, 
 And now thy dream thou'st see ; 
 How in the + Air the Horses fought, 
 And then came down to thee ; 
 And valiant stood tho' dipt in blood, 
 The colour did appear ; 
 And now I tell thee by My Blood, 
 I'll surely conquer here. 
 Angels above, inflam'd with love 
 With devils do contend ; 
 And now below, you all shall know, 
 They are come to fight with men ; 
 Because that here, no man could bear, 
 The Battle to go through ; 
 The rage of hell in all to clear, 
 Man never could go through : 
 To fight with all, without My Call, 
 To send My Spirit Strong 
 And let My Angels guard the Way, 
 Their Guardians now become. 
 As thou did'st say this very day 
 My life now stand'th at stake; 
 And I know well the rage of hell, 
 That way would surely break 
 If I'd not plac'd My Army Strong, 
 Before thou see'st the Pitt ; 
 Wherein to fall, I tell you all, 
 If men could now slay thee; 
 More fatal now than Adam's fall, 
 Their ruin now 't must be: 
 As once for all my death did fall, 
 The world for to redeem ; 
 But now no more let men take care, 
 I will be slain for them. 
 So if they kill, thy blood to spill, 
 'Twill no atonement make: 
 But as the fire on Sodom fell, 
 Shall now on England break. 
 And fire below they all should know, 
 Would soon consume the whole : 
 And all my friends with thee should go, 
 f S* naje 86, of the second book of peohecia.
 
 86 
 
 And I'd receive your sotils 
 - To realms of bliss, in perfect rest, 
 And I'd receive you all 
 And then the flames no soul should miss, 
 But be burnt like a scroll, 
 I tell you first the flame should burst, 
 The judgment-day should come : 
 If satan does his sufferings 'miss, 
 And sinners die for him ; 
 Then, in his chaii,* they may appear, 
 And give him every room : 
 And all his sufferings they may share, 
 And feel the devil's doom. 
 For he is -cast in hell to burst, 
 And there he soon shall go : - 
 So if for him you do contend, 
 His doom you'll surely know 
 And then your chairs may all appear, 
 That in your hearts do stand ; 
 For satan's peace you'll feel it there, 
 In hell with him to stand ; 
 And then you'll see his chair to be, 
 A flaming chair for all ; 
 To keep you strong in misery, 
 Your fatal peace will fall : 
 To die for hell, that did rebel 
 Against the Son of God I 
 And all the Angels do know well, 
 The wretched paths he trod; 
 While he above did share My Love, 
 In Glory for to shine; 
 But when upon fftis earth he came, 
 The Ruin of Mankind 
 Von all do know he strong does go, 
 To seek it to this day - 
 And will you come to die for him ? f 
 To have My Vengeance lay ? 
 
 * This alludes to George Hey, who lives near Leeds; and v. m said, .that 
 ht always gave the devil an arm-chair in his heart, and then lie did not 
 tNt*We him. 
 
 f Tlit same Gcojge Hey iaid, lie was fco die for the deVil.
 
 st 
 
 Now all in man, can you now stand 
 
 With hacks of brass appear? 
 
 Or are your sinews iron strong, 
 
 That you My wrath can bear 
 
 Ever to be in misery, 
 
 And in devouring flames? 
 
 My Bible you must know and see, 
 
 And tremble at My Name 
 
 For I Am come in Love now strong. 
 
 If" Love your hearts will gain ; 
 
 You'll find a Noah's heart to turn, 
 
 And shew the mystery's plain : 
 
 But if you'll not, I tell your lot, 
 
 From Saul the thing you'll see; 
 
 If you a David now do mock, 
 
 And say My brides you be ; 
 
 But no despise, l'A'M too unwise, 
 
 To act thus like a God : 
 
 Th'-n sure to Saul, I tell you all. 
 
 You'll feel a David's rod. 
 
 1'h at you're the bride close by My side, 
 
 And yet my ways you scorn; 
 
 The answer see will come from ME, 
 
 A David will be known; 
 
 More viler here I shall appear, 
 
 You'll see the following day ; 
 
 Thy history then 1 mean to clear, 
 
 A David I will be 
 
 A Noah too -they all shall know, 
 
 In love for thee the same ; 
 
 And bring the woman now will come, 
 
 So much to praise MY Name * 
 
 All hazards run, as she hath done. 
 
 In fervent Jove to Me: 
 
 Then say a Bathsheba is come. 
 
 Whose husband slain shall he: 
 
 The front appear, he shall be there, 
 
 The Harlots I'll embrace ; 
 
 For every mystery I shall clear. 
 
 And bring all to this race. 
 
 There's not a Bride, on earth appli'd,
 
 88 
 
 That say they are wed to ME ; 
 
 And now despise the way 1' AM come, 
 
 But Saul's Daughter they be. 
 
 And now the Sauls I tell them all. 
 
 Their Children all shall die ; - 
 
 And Bathsheba more close to ME, 
 
 Shall in My Bosom lie; 
 
 Because unwise you me despise, 
 
 And I'll despise you all ; 
 
 You say my life that you would save. 
 
 When first, to man I call : 
 
 But now the Last 1 strong do burst, 
 
 You do despise ME more, 
 
 Than ere the Jews did at the First, 
 
 So Saul's Daughter take care ; 
 
 Lest you do see that rage in ME, 
 
 A bloody Husband come 
 
 My Bible stands in Types for ye, 
 
 To make the end be known. 
 
 So I'll end here, and say no more, 
 
 Until this night be past; 
 
 That other Wonders shall appear, 
 
 To make the whole to burst." 
 
 Here we ended on Friday evening, June 22, 1804.' 
 (Signed) JANE TOWNLEY. 
 
 From the same to the same, 
 
 P . Monday Afternoon, June 25, 1 804. 
 
 It is fruitless to attempt to pen the agonies 
 of Joanna's heart on Sunday night, June 24, from 
 the Parable of the two women, and seeing Mrs. 
 
 B was the woman murdered by satan's arts: 
 
 her sufferings seemed more than she could bear. 
 We were witnesses to her sufferings till sleep
 
 80 
 
 closed her ryes, calling to us, to beg we would join 
 with her in prayer for that wretched, unfortunate 
 woman; for she said, she clearly saw it was all 
 satan's arts: and one parable, she said, came strong 
 to her, that the Lord would act like Lord Burnet, 
 which puzzled her mind, as she could not see her- 
 self any likeness to the wife of Lord Burnet; for 
 she was as different to her as light <md darkness. 
 However, she was ordered the thing should be 
 penned, and it should be explained. 1 he next 
 morning, when she awoke, to add to her further 
 miseries, she was told, no books should go to S - 
 before they had -paid the money; and she should 
 remember, Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead 
 for keeping back the money that was to be put 
 into the Treasury: and, as Joanna had sold it out, 
 to put it into the Treasury to assist in carrying on 
 the Lord's work; and they had kept it back her 
 soul trembled for S ; and, as she had received 
 former friendships from her, was the more wounded 
 and grieved to the heart, before the mystery was 
 made plain before her and then her sorrow was 
 turned into joy. After she had written the letter 
 to Mrs. S , she was ordered to pen the story of 
 Lord Burnet. It was a tale she heard when a 
 child, but she cannot remember the beginning: 
 only, that Lord Burnet was going to the Chace, 
 and to leave his house for some days; and, before 
 he went, it was said, that 
 
 Down he called his merry-mdn all, 
 By one, by two, and by three; 
 
 The first came down in velvet white 
 The second came down in Pall r 
 
 The third came down Lord Burnet's Lady, 
 The fairest of them all ; 
 
 She look'd as bright as the Surrtmer's sun 
 Upon the little Musgrovcs ; and he upon she again." 
 
 M
 
 90 
 
 After Lord Burnet was gone to the Chacr, 
 Musgroves and Lady Buinet went to bed together, 
 which the little Footpage made an excuse to go to 
 the Lady's room; and, seeing them in bed toge- 
 ther, said, that Lord Burnet should know it beibre 
 any sleep had closed his eyes 
 
 " But out she put her lilly white hand : 
 
 So white, so long, and so small; 
 
 And gave him a small box under the ear, 
 
 And bid him go tell his tale. 
 
 So the little Footpage he took, to his heels 
 
 and run, 
 And when that he came to some broad water side, 
 He smote on his breast and swam ; 
 And when that he came to Lord Burnet's gate, 
 He knock'd so loud at the ring, 
 That none was so ready as Lord Burnet's 
 
 Porter, 
 To let the Footpage in 
 When that he came to Lord Burnet's Hall, 
 Where Lord Burnet sat at me*at; 
 He said, if thou knew what news I have 
 
 brought, 
 Not a bit more thou'st now eat. 
 What news? what news ? my little footpage, 
 What news hast thou brought unto me? 
 My wedded Lady is she brought to bed, 
 With a son or a daughter free? 
 ~Thy wedded Lady is not brought to bed, 
 With a son or a daughter free, 
 But now together both in thy bed. 
 The little Musgroves and she. 
 If this be a lie, Lord Burnet did cry, 
 That thou hast brought unto me; 
 A new pair of gallows there shall be built, 
 And hanged thou shalt be. 
 If this be a true tale, Lord Burnet he cried, 
 That thou hast brought unto me; 
 My eldest daughter, the heir of my land, 
 Thy wedded Lady she shall be.
 
 91 
 
 If this be-a lie, Lord Burnet, he said, 
 
 That you have brought unto me; 
 
 A new pair of gallows there shall be built, 
 
 And hanged I will be. 
 
 If this be a true Tale ! Lord Burnet, he said* 
 
 That you have brought unto me ; 
 
 Thy eldest daughter, the heir of thy land, 
 
 My wedded Lady she shall be. 
 
 The last two verses are, the footpage repeat- 
 ing Lord Burnet's words back to him again, to 
 claim his promise. 
 
 Then down he call'd his merry-men all, , 
 
 By one, by two, and by three ; 
 
 He bid them for to stand in stead, 
 
 For he did think there was never more 1 need. 
 
 But one that ow'd Musgroves good will, 
 
 He took out a crumpled horn, 
 
 And blow'd so loud and so shrill,- 
 
 Away, Musgroves, away ; - 
 
 O, hark ! O hark ! said little Musgroves, 
 
 1 think I hear my Master's men, 
 
 Come tripping down over the plain 
 
 JSJo, No, lie still, and keep your body warm, 
 
 For neither one of my Lord Burnet's men, 
 
 Shall do thee or I any harm. 
 
 Then one that ow'd little Musgrove good will 
 
 He took out his crumpled horn, 
 
 And blow'd so loud and so shrill, 
 
 Away, Musgroves, away; 
 
 O, hark ! O, hark ! said little Musgroves, 
 
 'Tis time for to be gone: 
 
 I'm sure 1 hear my Master's men, 
 
 Come tripping down over the plain. 
 
 No, No, lie still, and keep thy body warm, 
 
 For 'tis my father's blind shepherd, 
 
 That's driving the sheep to the fold : 
 
 But when Lord Burnet came to his house, 
 
 The Footpage knock'd with the Ring, 
 
 And then the Servant did appear, 
 
 To let the Footpage in.
 
 02 
 
 Lord Burnet behind, they soon did find, 
 Unto his room did go ; 
 And, as the Footpage said before, 
 He found the words were true. 
 Well, how dost thou like my bed, he cry'd? 
 And how dost thou like my sheets? 
 And how dost thou like my wedded lady, 
 That lies in thy arms asleep? 
 -; O, well 1 like thy bed ! he cri'd, 
 And well I like thy sheets! 
 But better I like thy wedded lady, 
 That lieth in my arms asleep! 
 Arise, arise, thou wicked man, 
 And put thy clothing on ; 
 For 'tis a shame for any Lord 
 To kill a naked man. 
 There are two swords up by the wall, 
 Take thou the best, leave me the worst of all. 
 The first blow that he struck, 
 He struck Lord Burnet down; 
 The second blow Lord Burnet struck, 
 His brains laid on the ground. 
 Arise, arise, thou wicked woman, 
 And put thy clothing on ; 
 For 'tis a shame for any Lord 
 To kill a naked woman. 
 So he kill'd the Lady and Musgrove 
 So merrily sings the bonny thrush, 
 So sadly sings the Sparrowr 
 So merrily sung Lord Burnet himself, 
 For I shall be hang'd to-morrow. 
 
 Now, Joanna, as you have all tried your wis- 
 dom and can see nothing in this Parab'e, to com- 
 pare the Likeness of the Lord ;- the Likeness of 
 the Adul'ress Lady, to compare w'th the World ; 
 and her Lo ,r er to the devil that seduced her and 
 the Lord that slew them both, to the Likeness of 
 Myself I shall compare this Parable ^ivo ways. 
 First, to My coming in the Body, ns I always 
 told thee tQ meet the Jews j but satan adulterated
 
 93 
 
 their minds from Me, after I was wedded to some, 
 they went back and followed no more after ME. 
 Then the promise came to the Gentiles, or to the 
 seed of the Jews, that turned Christians; for ye 
 kno v not from whence ye Sprung. There the 
 Lord made the promise to the faithful Boy, and 
 there the promise stands in My Bible, that if the 
 Jews proved Adulterers, that I would make them a 
 people, that were not a people; and call them be- 
 loved, that were not beloved ; and give My Herit- 
 age to others: but here thy mind is puzzled, how 
 can this stand a Type with God and Man. 
 Then now in verse I will begin, 
 And prove the likeness of the thing: 
 When to the world I did appear, 
 Confess'd myself the Saviour there; 
 And to the Jews I then did come, 
 They were the Brides to all 'tis known? 
 Because the Jews, 1 well did know, 
 They judg'd a Gon and Saviour too, 
 Must both in power then appear, 
 And bring the kingdom to them there 
 And so they all' were wed to ME; 
 That grandeur great 1 knew to be; 
 That Lords and Ladies I'd make all, 
 And so My kingdom then should fall: 
 But their' adulterous hearts, I knew, 
 That Love to ME they did not shew 
 And then the promise 1 did make, 
 That if the Jews did ME fo$ake; 
 The Corner-stone I'd take away 
 And there my Land they all shall see, 
 Should in My daughter then appear: 
 "No other way you cannot clear, 
 Ever to make My Bibk' true; 
 And bi ing the whole before your view - 
 ,Kow mark the promise that he made, 
 What io bis servant then lie said; 
 That if a Harlot she M'as come, 
 Jiis wile to be in bed with one:
 
 94 
 
 Then sure his lands he'd freely give 
 Unto the servant; he should live 
 His eldest heir tor to possess : 
 But if he told him then a lie, 
 Upon a gallows he shonld die. 
 The servant held him to his word; 
 He knew the truth of what he said. 
 And then the horn began to blow, 
 When hereturn'd the truth to know, 
 And then the servant did alarm : 
 The Fable you do not discern. 
 'Twas but blind shepherds, she did say, 
 "When that the horn was blow'd that way: 
 And therefore he had nought to fear, 
 Until her Lord he did appear; 
 And, when he found himself betray'd 
 Mark the two swords that there were laid 
 And mark the way they both did fail; 
 This parable stands deep for all. 
 because the man he first did slay, 
 That did his honor then betray ; 
 And so the bride he did cut off; 
 Have wisdom; now I've said enough. 
 The Lord in anger then did lay; 
 But mix'd with Love, when he did slay 
 The wife that was so near his soul : 
 The parable goes deep for all. 
 For he rejoic'd that he must die, 
 Life was a burden, he did cry; 
 And so he sung that he must die, 
 To see his wife so murder'd there, 
 Adultery he could not bear: 
 Because his passions they were strong. 
 He made his will before to man, 
 That all his lands that he should have, 
 And so his promise he did crave 
 Because the youth said he would die, 
 If then he told him any lie. - 
 So here's the shadow of the man, 
 But now the Likeness all discern: 
 And then I'll turn another way, 
 When I've explained the first to thee.
 
 95 
 
 For I'll go hack to Adam's fall, 
 For there the Type stands deep for,a!l ; 
 And there the Adultery first was plac'd. 
 When satan's arts the woman cast : 
 And then the blame was cast on ME, 
 And so the rage began that way ; 
 For though he struck Me to the ground, 
 The second sword must sure be found: 
 For 1 shall surely bruize his head; 
 Mark ye the promise, how 'twas made 
 Unto the youth that did appear, 
 Because the Parable lies there ; 
 Unto the promise that was made, 
 He'd live or die, you know he said, 
 And to the promise bid him stand; 
 In Death or Life he did demand, 
 That to my word I there should stand. 
 If he told truth, the tiuth should be 
 To be the heir : blind mortals see : 
 If he told lies, then on his head, 
 He said the gallows should be laid, 
 To build anew for him to die : 
 Now here the hidden mystery lies. 
 The woman then was murder *d there, 
 By satan's arts that did appear; 
 Because that I prouounc'd her dead; 
 But know the curse on satan laid 
 When he had stung me to the soul, 
 Betray *d the woman, now see all 
 My honor then engag'd 't must be, 
 When I'd prouounc'd the curse on he. 
 To slay the woman at that time; 
 But here's a mystery lies behind. 
 He bid her put her clothing on. 
 And said to murder 't was a shame, 
 A naked woman to appear- 
 and know the man siood guilty there ; 
 Tho' he the truth in all had told, 
 Another mystery I'll unfold. 
 The youth that did the tidings bring, 
 Repent'd when he had seen the thing; 
 His dying Lord for to appear,
 
 96 
 
 His Lady murdered Servant Inert ; 
 All three together thus did fall; 
 He felt her blow 1 tell you all, 
 That she did strike him with her hand, 
 Too late he wish'd he'd never swam 
 Over the Brook, that way to go, 
 Or, ever let his Master know, 
 That by the man he was betray 'd, 
 He then repent'd of what he said : 
 But his repentance came too late, 
 When he saw all had met their fate* 
 And how his promise could be claim, 
 When by his words his Lord way slain, 
 No, there his promise it might stand, 
 Could he with confidence demand. 
 The promise that was made him first, 
 When that before him Three were plac'd 
 As murder'd by his busy hand ; 
 As he himself did then condemn 
 And wish'd he'd left the evil lie, 
 Sooner than cau-s'd his Lord to die ; 
 Tho' first in love he did appear, 
 Thinking the Servant for to clear; 
 That from his House he then did go, 
 No other way he meant the blow ; 
 Then for to free the servant man, 
 In love to him, he then did stand ; 
 But when he saw his great mistake, 
 In agonies his heart did break ; 
 And thought no lands where due to he, 
 That caus'd the murder of these three" 
 
 Here we ended on Monday Night June the 25th 
 1804. The sftc days Joanna having been con- 
 fined to her Bed, without being permitted to put 
 on her Cloaths before she hears the Voice of the 
 Lord call her aloud, as she has often heard it 
 before.
 
 97 
 
 Ittesday Morning, June 26/, 1804. 
 
 After we had dropped our Pens on Monday 
 Night, Joanna and Townley were gone to bed* 
 as she now sleeps with Joanna, and only returns 
 to her lodgings at times in the day. Soon after 
 ten o'clock Joanna went out of bed, and walked 
 up and down the room : about eleven Underwood 
 came up, and saw Joanna walking up and down 
 the room ; at last she broke out with preat power 
 of the Spirit, and great fury Underwood not 
 knowing at first from what spirit it was, that she 
 seemed in that fury; asked, if she should rend to 
 her to sooth her; but J oanna answered NO, she 
 wanted nothing to sooth her, for she felt nothing 
 but Joy. She walked to and fro shaking the very 
 house, exclaiming against the devil, savin?, hither- 
 to satan hath walked up and dow r n the Earth ; but 
 now he had cast himself, and he should walk up 
 and down no 'more for the Lord would now walk 
 up <nd down the Earth in his stead he acrused 
 My Handmaid of disobeying the commands of the 
 Lord; but here were the Two Witnesses to prove 
 him a liar, but you cannot understand the sense 
 of this, if I do not tell y >u the particulars After 
 the shadow of the First Seven Days, that was said 
 to be the shadow of her Trial, Joanna was order- 
 ed to undress and go to bed, and never to arise 
 to put on'her Cloaths more, before she heard the 
 voice of the Lord call her aloud, in the same man- 
 ner she had often heard it before -and in the 
 same manner she heard a voice call aloud, Tom, 
 the very morning that the Letter came from the 
 Rev. Thomas P. Foley; but his name was called 
 aloud in the morning, and three or four hours after- 
 wards came his distressing letter, that was answer- 
 
 N
 
 98 
 
 ed and sent by an Express by a Horn, that Mow- 
 ed aloud. Joanna asked Underwtx d, if she did 
 not hear the Voice, as she was then in the Ro-m; 
 Underwood answered no. Joanna was surprised, 
 and said, it waked her; in the same manner she 
 was arswered, she must hear her own name cal- 
 led before she did arise from her bed as before ; 
 but she was ordered to come out of her bed, and 
 walk up and down the Room without any Cloth- 
 ing, but her Linen that she sleeps in, which she 
 often did ; and walked up and down hasty like 
 one in a Fever with her Fan in her hand, some- 
 times with the Fan open, and sometimes closed, 
 throwing it to and fro, saying, I am come to do 
 my Fathkr's Will, treading down the Wjne press 
 of His wrath; but Joanna says, when she was 
 confined to her bed the first days, she was very 
 powerfully visited by the de\ ii many times a day: 
 He asked her once if this was the Love of Christ 
 to her, to keep her there in her' bed: Joanna 
 answered, y^s, "His Yoke was easy and His Bur- 
 then was light." He had not laid upon her such 
 heavy Burthen, as HE HIMSELF bore for her; 
 and she knew the Lord had wise ends for keeping 
 her in bed, which she enjoyed, as she felt no pain, 
 but could lay down upon her bed, when she was 
 minded to with pleasure. Then the devil would 
 aggravate her another way, and tell her she was 
 an idle, lazy Bitch, and she ought to get up she 
 answered, she never would, till the Lord called 
 her aloud : but those aggravating, provoking 
 speeches of the devil made her eager and desirous 
 in her heart, that th.fi Lord would call her aloud, 
 
 to stop the contentious 7'ongue of the devil. 
 
 Sunday morning. Seeing four days had past 
 
 and bhe had heard no voice to call her, only Mr,
 
 99 
 
 Foley's name repeated, she went out of bed and 
 washed herself, and took off her night cap, and 
 asked Underwood for clean Linen, as she thought 
 to herself, perhaps the Lord would call her 
 when she was naked, as He called Adam: but 
 finding she was deceived, she laughed at her own 
 foily, and teld us her simple thoughts, which di- 
 verted us all. Alter that the devil plagued her 
 again, and said, she was a fool to tell them how 
 she was disappointed, for as we did not hear the 
 Voice call Tom, they could not hear the Voice 
 call Joanna ; so she might have deceived them, 
 and .told them that the Lord had called her. Jo- 
 anna answered, thou devil, I cannot deceive the 
 Lord, and what good is it to deceive them ; they 
 cannot protect me in the hour of danger, and it 
 is by His Power I stand or fall : then the devil 
 plagued me another way, aod said it was he that 
 used to call me, and now I had forbid him from 
 me, he would never call me more ; so if I laid in 
 bed till my name was called, I might lay a bed 
 for ever. I said so I would and die in mv bed, if 
 the Lord did never call me aloud to get out of it, 
 for if he had power to do all these wondrous things 
 He surely had power to call me aloud. In this 
 manner I have been in and out plagued with the 
 devil, trying every way to make me get up with- 
 out being called, which 1 would not do tor ten . 
 thousand Worlds-, for I would sooner die in my 
 bed. Then the devil brought to my remembrance 
 a former thing that I had heard, and said the 
 Lord was dealing with me, as a Father did with 
 his Daughter, who was deeply in love with a 
 Gentleman the Father did not like, and he beat^ 
 her so severely 
 
 " That the Blows they fell sore; 
 ,So She look to her be i, 
 Anil Slic ucver rose more. "
 
 100 
 
 And sp it would be with me, if I waited till the 
 Lord caller! me I said, I did not care for that, 
 for I would sooner die in my bed, than disobey 
 the Lord. When the devil found no arguments 
 could make me to arise, the sixth day he came an- 
 other wav, and upbraided me that I had arose, 
 and walked up and down the room : I said, I 
 was ordere 1 to go up and down the room some- 
 times, and then go into my bed again; but the 
 devil kept on plaguing me in that manner, that I 
 hadarose, till I told To wnlcy and Underwood to 
 be witnesses against him, and told them what he 
 had said, and asked them if they could prove that 
 was rising from the bed, to go out without 
 any Clothing about th^ Room. They said no 
 that was not rising without your Clothing ; you 
 cannot go out in the Street so, nor out of your 
 Room, the Lord had ordered you to walk ; see- 
 ing the Agonies I was in, by the pr&Tckng Lies 
 of the devil. They both fell down upon their 
 knees by rrjy bed side, and Townley said we will 
 say the Lord's Prayer together, which we three 
 joined in ; then we prayed to the Lord to chain 
 down Satan, for having entered into man to he- 
 fray HIS only SON, our BLESSED SAVIOUR 
 and REDEEMER, and having caused HIM to 
 die the Ignominious Death upon the Qross, and 
 HIS dear precious and innocent Blood, *o be shed 
 /or the Sins of mankind ; "but FATHER forgive 
 *' them, for they know not what they do," and 
 
 hasten to cut off all the powers of darkness. 
 
 "When this prayer was ended, I felt a. swimming 
 round my head, and the powers of darkness broke 
 off from me. I then was ordered to pen the Pa- 
 rable of the Lord Burnet, .as I had learnt it when 
 a child, but could not see how it could be explained
 
 101 
 
 any way, to bring it to the Likeness of Christ. I 
 had the Parable wxote as I learnt when a Child, 
 hut did not understand the explanation, till it came 
 to the promise made to the Boy, when the Eyes 
 of my Understanding began to be opened; but 
 as it was come to night, and Townley and Under- 
 wood, had staid up till two o'clock the flight be- 
 fore, to send off the EXPRESS to London : we 
 shut up writing at Candle-light, after Townley 
 came to bed with me, I felt the Spirit working 
 strong in me, of the depth of Lord Burnet's words 
 when he said, 
 
 " If tliis be a lie Lord Burnet lie said 
 
 Tiiat thou hast brought unto me 
 
 A new pair of Gallows there shall be built, 
 
 And hanged thou shall be." 
 
 I knew they were lies which the devil brought a- 
 gainst me, and therefore felt the force of ths 
 words; that now the second time the New Gal- 
 lows must be built for the devil, for he must be 
 as honest as the Boy was, or the Lord will make 
 him: as Lord Burnet would have hang'd his Boy, 
 if he had come with lies to disgrace his Wife, had 
 she been innocent, but she was not. ' But I knew 
 I was innocent, for I have never suffered a man 
 to come into my presence, since I was forbid ; 
 neither would I suffer myself to look into the 
 Street, fearing I should see a man, and it was not 
 all the arts the devil could use, would make me 
 disobey my Lord. And now, I know HE will be 
 like Lord Burnet, do to the guilty lying wretch, 
 that hath defiled the whole World by sin, as Lord 
 Burnet did to his Wife and Servant, and Lord 
 Burnet's death is past already, in our SAVIOUR'S 
 being Crucified upon the Cross, after HE had cut 
 off all the Brides, that defiled His Bed, and de~ 

 
 102 
 
 filed His Honor, by following after other Lovers^ 
 that were defiled by the arts of the devil ; but 
 then the Blow came to man instead of the devil, 
 as it came to. Judas when he had betrayed our 
 SAVIOUR to defile the Jews The first Blow 
 that he struck, struck him down to the power of 
 men: but the pecond blow that ourSAVJOUR 
 struck, when HE struck to Judas's heart an con- 
 science, HE then struck him dead, as he went 
 and bought a Halier to hang himself. He then 
 called forward the Jews; or, they wtre cailed 
 forward, as an Adulterous Race against Him ; and 
 then the natural Branches were cut off; and then 
 HE said, like Lord Burnet, that now HE must 
 die for the whole, and gave up HIS Life upon 
 the Cross, seeing His Honour betrayed, His Bed 
 defiled, and so He cast the Adulterers into the 
 Bed together. Then now go back to the other 
 Promise made by Lord Burnet, 
 
 *' IT this be a true Tale my little footpage, 
 That thou hast brought unto me ; 
 My eldest Daughter the Heir of my Land, 
 Thy wedded Lady She shall be. 
 Then mark, ye hold me to my Word, 
 And now discern your (tying Lord, 
 That as in Adam you died here ; 
 1 he eldest Daughter must appear, 
 If you'll possess My every Land, 
 Then now the Marriage at! command ; 
 Tho 'tis the youngest doth appear, 
 
 The eldest Daughter is not here.- 
 
 And how that way could it ere come ? 
 Bring back the Parable to man. 
 When by his ways the whole was shun, 
 What elder Daughter could he gain, 
 To join with him in heart and hand ? 
 When she condemned ii in the Man, 
 That hit his JnsficeiW \va> Last.! 
 r J iio' umio her all wrong did burs!. -
 
 103 
 
 She thought that he should sin conceal, 
 Sooner than go for to reveal, 
 The Crime her Mother then had done; 
 She cast the blame upon the man 
 Her Mother's Crime she did not see ; 
 Her Father's Honor to betray ; 
 7o bring her Footman t.; his Bed, 
 She thought that Evil might be hid ; 
 And in her heart condemn'd the man, 
 That told her Father what she'd done ;- 
 And he himself as much did blame, 
 When all the deaths he saw that came 
 From every Truth that he had told 
 The mysteries here I shall unfolJ. 
 When that My Truth did come to man, 
 Discover'd tirst by satun's hand; 
 I said, if so it did appear, 
 That he the tru h had spoken there; 
 My eldest Daughter then would be, 
 1 well know then the Brides of he, 
 Till every heir I had cut off, 
 And all My Lands were gone to nought, 
 And now to nought they all are come 
 I said the Woman did condemn 
 The love to man that did appear, 
 And all the blame she cast it there 
 Upon the devil, that betray'd ; 
 For so the Likeness now I've lai<- 
 The Shadow's in the simple man, 
 
 That'smote his breast in haste did run 
 
 And so in haste he did appear, 
 
 The Types for men and devil* here ; 
 
 Because he said, if that he did lie, 
 
 The Gallows should come round that way 
 
 Unto His words the man did hold, 
 
 Then now let salun's heart grow cold ; 
 
 For when the Truth I came to know 
 
 Both lies and truth from him did flow; 
 
 * I was true that they had disobey'd. 
 
 But 'twas by him they were betray'd 
 
 1 heiihow the second words shall come, 
 
 T/ig younger Daughter shall be known. 
 
 Snail gain the Every land for Met 
 
 As then tlie elder did for he; 
 
 Because th Last shall now be First,
 
 104 
 
 For so My Bible all is placd. 
 
 And if the last the fmt appears, 
 
 1 he elder Daughter sure is here, 
 
 That now shall gain My every Land, 
 
 And you with her in Marriage stand ; 
 
 Then all My Lands you now shall have. 
 
 For true are the words the Man did give, 
 
 To say the woman hini betray'd, 
 
 And trite the woman then she said, 
 
 Satan had tempt d hei thus to do, 
 
 And every word I knew was true. 
 
 Therefore the Curse pronoune'd it great; 
 
 For well I knew where laid deceit ; . 
 
 JBnt then My Honor could not clear, 
 
 As Disobedience I found there. 
 
 The man and woman soon did own, 
 
 And so in death they both did come 
 
 Dead to all knowledge then of Me 
 
 The other Promise none do see, 
 
 That lie'th behind prepared for man; 
 
 If his bed was tiefii'd by One, 
 
 A servant then that did appear, 
 
 Another st -rvant was the Heir; 
 
 Because the Truth that he had told ; 
 
 And now the mystery I'll unfold 
 
 The Truth by him was told at first, 
 
 What from the woman's hand did burst; 
 
 And when the woman did appear, 
 
 And said the serpent tempt'd her there ; 
 
 And so the words 1 knew were true. 
 
 And cast oh satan then his due ; 
 
 But as the whole were naked then, 
 
 I could not light with simple men, 
 
 That had no Clothing then to clear, 
 
 I knew no knowledge then was there. 
 
 Therefore their Clothing / put on, 
 
 And at that time/cover'd them, 
 
 With nought but Goat Skins 1 put on, 
 
 Till ages faster did roll on 
 
 J hen every Clothing / put on, 
 
 7b shew My Bible and My Word, 
 
 And shew t hern all My glittering Sword ;- 
 
 How all My Bible it doth stand, 
 
 And here's the Clothing yon command ; 
 
 Jf like that youth you now will be, 
 
 And put your Clothing oa for Me ;
 
 105 
 
 Against the devil now complain, 
 
 You all may swim throug-i Jordan's stream: 
 
 But if in bods dchTd you lie. 
 
 In -.atan's arm:, now do say, 
 
 Just like tln-y two you a!! shall fall, 
 
 And here's a warning to you all 
 
 For now my promise it shall stand 
 
 My daughter now shall gain the Land, 
 
 And all that are in Bonds with she, 
 
 My every Land shall gain that way : 
 
 For now the Truth is fairly try'd, 
 
 I've chose her for to be (he Bride, 
 
 And / MYSELF to be the Heir; 
 
 My FATHER s every land to share 
 
 For now I'il place MYSELF 'to man, 
 
 That said he'd die the Truth to claim 
 
 If it was lies upon his head, 
 
 lie said on him it should be laid ^ 
 
 And so he said the Truth to clear 
 
 He'd die, or be the perfect Heir ; 
 
 And so in griff he first did die 
 
 The second promise still must lie, 
 
 For he to be the perfect heir; 
 
 And now the Likeness I've brought here. 
 
 For now the Truth I say shall burst, 
 
 1 piae'd the Likeness of the First 
 In true Obedience for to stand, 
 
 The men and women I command 
 What / 'forbid they must not <lo ; 
 
 What I command they must pursue 
 
 And by the v\ oineji this is done, 
 
 And sat an like the t'ootpage came: 
 
 Or, in My form he did appear, 
 
 And strong belied the Ionian here 
 
 \Vhich 1 did say, if it was true, 
 
 I'd give him penult's and the Jews 
 
 I'd give him up \>\ every Land, 
 
 \i he the truth could now command. 
 
 I3ut when the I rulh I came to k.,i>w, 
 
 J found- the la r -o to n, 
 
 With nought but lies he did appear, 
 
 To say that thou had.'-t risen'here, 
 
 A way that i did thee forbid ; 
 
 And now I'li lig it on his head; 
 
 Because tae lit* ne told at lirst, 
 
 o
 
 106 
 
 Upon his head I plac'd the Curse ; 
 But to go through I could not clear; 
 Because that man was guilty here. 
 But now from guilt I know thou'rt frefc, 
 Because 'twas I that order'd thee 
 Out of thy bed that way to come; 
 And so to travel up and down, 
 The skeleton for to appear. 
 The naked woman you see here : 
 As she appear'd in nought but bone, 
 And thou no clothing hadst got on 
 For, at that time, I sure was there, 
 When satan did so strong appear; 
 For to condemn with every lie, 
 1 tell thee I was standing by 
 And I the Witnesses did hear; 
 So the blind shepherds may appear, 
 That to the Fold do drive my sheep, 
 That way he lulls them all asleep; 
 And in his arms he holds them fast, 
 Until with rage that I shall burst, 
 And place him in Lord Burnet's room, 
 For there he's bringing on their doom v 
 Upon the Nation 1 see first, 
 The men and women so are plac'd, 
 By satan's fury first to die; 
 He holds them, and he then does cry, 
 That thev are guilty of the deed: 
 He tells them 'tis no use to flee, 
 Because of dangers there are none 
 'Tis the blind shepherds blow the born, 
 That at the midnight men did hear, 
 And at the mid-day did appear 
 For I have gone through day and night, 
 To blow the horn the wretch to fright: 
 Or else, to make mankind to fear, 
 That they may part and sin no more. 
 But judge that danger's in the sound, 
 That in their beds they mayn't be found J 
 For if that sat;n find them so, 
 I know his furv it must go, 
 And say that they are justly cas-t ;
 
 107 
 
 Because he found them in their lust, 
 In every thing that I forbid; 
 Then in tins truth he may proceed, 
 To strike them with the fatal blow; 
 Though his own death 1 well do know 
 Shall follow after like the man; 
 And that's the way his death shall come. 
 Because his bride he's murdering here, 
 That he by sin have wedded clear; 
 But yet no bridegroom can he stand, 
 'Tis but a shadtnv of the man 
 And that's the way they will be cast, 
 That like the woman now do burst; 
 When they My alarming Horn do hear, 
 To say blind shepherds do appear, 
 Driving my sheep unto the Fold, 
 That way their hearts will all grow cold. 
 Then to the others 1 shall come,' 
 That spoke the truth you know by man; 
 And if the tnith was found in he, 
 You know the lands were said to be 
 Then with My Heiress all his own; 
 And perfect so it now shall come : 
 Because that I'll stand to the word, 
 And he shall tremble at a God, 
 That came in power the truth to see-w 
 Therefore the night I work'd in thee. 
 To leave thy bed, and travel on, 
 The words before thee must be shev/n," 
 
 After part of the explanation given to me, con- 
 cerning the parable of Lord Burnet, ail the sense 
 of what has been written to-day, broke in upon 
 me, after they had given ove.r writing. I th'en 
 was answered, " take up thy bed and walk," As 
 I was walking up and down, pondering* in my 
 beart the events of ilv day, and what was snid of 
 the promise made to the Boy, if he had told the 
 truth, the Spirit of. the Lord entered into me with
 
 108 
 
 power, which must be reserved till another day, 
 as 'tis time to prepare for the post. 
 
 We all join in Kindest Christian love to yourself, 
 
 Mrs. Foley, and the dear little Richard, This 
 
 second Horn mentioned, is an express that was 
 
 sent <ff to Mr. Sharp, on Monday morning at 
 
 two o'clock; I think much more wOndetful th.-in 
 
 any you have seen yet l * So the Horm went through, 
 
 day and night -" for (hey would' at rve at Mr. Shaip's 
 
 about nine or ten o'clock, "Ihcse Horns aie said to 
 
 be the Horns of the Lord, hlo\* ing *o awaken the 
 
 nation; as Lord Burnet's ser ant hlowed his Horn, 
 
 to awaken the Lady and the Footman: but if the 
 
 nation le like the Lady and ihe Foo'man, judge 
 
 it is nothing hut the blind shepherds of tht Lord, 
 
 driving their sheep to the Fold, they will find 
 
 the Lady's sudden destruction, though. satan's doom 
 
 must follow alter; if tlev gii mscK'es into 
 
 his power, which they are now hastily doUig. For 
 
 the power of God that was in me last* night, and 
 
 the words that were (hen spoken against the 
 
 powers of darkness, and again'st the se'corr 1 d trumpet 
 
 that is now blowing ; ;or, as Christ dud at the 
 
 First Horn, when the Horn o\' the Guspei was first 
 
 pronounc'. d, so the bec s ond Horn is the Horn of 
 
 Redemption, that must bring the promise that was 
 
 made to man: apd satan most, with his f>llowers, 
 
 now fall together; for that Parable goeth deep to 
 
 the nation, and will b'ing in a sudden destruction. 
 
 Therefore, this must go in print. If they say I 
 
 am writing ft "in songs, tell them they are fatal 
 
 song that they are singing; and such songs as luU 
 
 t^eai ajl asleep, 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 JANE TQWNL5Y.
 
 log 
 
 From the tajne to the same. 
 
 ' Tuesday, July 3, 1804* 
 Rev. Sir, 
 
 I slir 11 omit sending vou t 1 e particulars 
 of John Symons, to tell you the wobd<*rs i>\ law 
 night, on Monday evening, July 2. A it t r J am>a 
 had been to supper, and Underwood thought her 
 composed, and going to sleep; and she ssod sne 
 believed she sh mid. Townlcy then came Up, 
 ad said her two fa'se teeth had both fallen out, 
 and she feared it would alter her \oice: Joan? a 
 said, she did not th nk it did alter her voice, and 
 rejoiced they were, fallen out, and said they must 
 not be put in any more. Town ley said they should 
 not, and then went to bed; but Joanna desired it 
 might be remembered, that they fell out the day 
 that John Symons. would receive his letter about 
 himself and Pomeroy. Joanna says, she felt her- 
 self dull and heavy to go to sleep; but the Spirit 
 of' the Lord kept her waking. She was ordered 
 to take up 1 er bed and wa.k : fox, as s e walked 
 every night, so should the arrows of eleath fly f)st 
 by night, and the Pestilence si <uid go. by eiay; tor 
 nffiv thousands should fall on the right hand, and 
 ten thousands on the left : for the destroying Angel 
 Should go forth, and go up and down the earth', as 
 she went up anej elown the room. Here she s:ys 
 the Gary of the Lord broke in so strong upon h< r, 
 that took away her senses. She cannot recollect 
 any thing further, only ij Pomeroy would fiirn (he 
 King's evieience, to tejl who so powerfully p< r- 
 puaded him, to deny his fiord and tVJ.ster, the 
 JL,orei would now, at ?he fast? jorgive him and cast 
 tfce others f but, ii he would not, they should all
 
 110 
 
 tHe together, and fatal would be their end. The 
 Lord had placed Pomeroy as foanna'a judge, per- 
 fectly as Pi'ate was placed our Saviour's judge. 
 35ut he should remember the words the Lord said 
 unto Pi : ate, he that deli ered Me unto thee hath 
 the greatest sin; and he that tempted Pomeroy 
 to .draw back hath the greatest sin. But Joanna 
 aays, her senses entirely let t her; this she remem- 
 bers, but the other she does not remembers and 
 says, we have told her strange things this morning, 
 that we ourselves, Town ley and Underwood, are 
 commanded to pen. She walked about the room 
 "with as much fury of the Lord as at anv former 
 time; and stamped with such fury that the whole 
 house shook, and alarmed the people in the house, 
 The Master of the house went into the street, and 
 beard the noise the same in the street as in tin 
 house. Joanna spoke so powerfully to satan, telling 
 him his doom, and she appeared to fix her eye. 
 and to extend her arm towards one spot, that I, 
 Townley, who was the.n alone in the room with 
 her, thought Joanna saw satan; but Townley felt 
 no fear. Soon after Underwood returned into the 
 room, Joanna said, if we wished for rest we must 
 take up our beds and go to our tents: but we told 
 her we preferred staying with her. She then went 
 on walking about the room, talking loud and 
 powerfully WHAT the Lord was going to dj upon 
 the earth, and stamping her foot violently. Her 
 fury about satan I have told you: but what she 
 said about men, and to whom she pointed, I am 
 ordered to keep secret, and only to write it as a 
 memorandum for myself; as only the Friends are 
 to see it, that they may know the end of all thing's. 
 She walked in this fury a full half hour, and then 
 got into bed, and went on talking, but in a different
 
 Ill 
 
 voice, tt then appeared k> me, Townley, as if 
 our Saviour was speaking in her, and reminded 
 us what our blessed Saviour suffered for our sakes; 
 the words exactly I mnnot rco -licet, but she told 
 us she felt a heavenly joy win i her. She then 
 Was more composed, and wept to sic p; and i e 
 did the same. And rk h If come to Joanna's 
 
 information. She savs that she does not remem- 
 ber a word, but Townley hath just called to her 
 re me ml - rice,; that Joanna particularly told us, 
 that man had been twice dead, and twice plucked up 
 by the raits. But after Joanna went to sleep, she 
 Ichfeamt that a circle was placed over her head, 
 with a circle like 'the sun in the middle, in a round 
 chcle, bright and fiery. Round the circle of the 
 sun were black clouds; which fell over her, and 
 Fastened her to her bed. She then felt herself 
 dying, and fainted away with the agonies she bore; 
 and thought she was immediately taken out of her 
 ted, and carried, in a most wonderful manner, to 
 the bottom of the bed: she felt the curtains barst 
 before her, and she was carried round the room- 
 She wfshed to awake Underwood and Townley, 
 and tell them to see the begmuiag of miracles, 
 and to see the two white hands that clas p< J 
 round her; but she does not remember that they 
 awoke to see either. She was then carried away 
 out of the room into the open world, and passing 
 by some people; she thought she had got on a 
 branched linen gown, with green flowers on the 
 top; a gown she had got lately, but never wore 
 it but one day. Some of the people, as she 
 passed by, she thought said, that she had got on 
 the serpem's dres*; but she thought to her-e Y f 
 she had 'no serpent's dress on, and reflected with 
 be i self what the gown was the running branches
 
 112 
 
 that bring she green leaves of victory: so that 
 gown must be shewn to man, *o see what judg- 
 ment they will draw from the gown, that fools 
 judge the serpent's dress: hut there they will see 
 the running branches purple without, the black 
 cross in the m'ddle, and the f>,ur square green. 
 fl vvers without, that bring the green leaves to 
 man the summer that is nigh at hand there- 
 fore, let men take care that they do not $;iy, 
 " The harvest is over, the day and the summer 
 is ended, but we are not saved ;" afier this she was 
 brought again into her bed, after being carr'ed to 
 different places. She then awoke, and heard 
 fome one knock at her door, in the same manner 
 that Undeiwood used to knock to call her to 
 breakfast. She called out, Who is there? Town- 
 ley, being awake, said, she he^rd no one knock or 
 call : this was after the day was broke. She then 
 lay still to compose herself to sleep; but felt a 
 band come round her, and a head come over her, 
 that she thought kept breathing in upon her, with 
 more powerful breath than ever was the force of 
 air from a smith's bellows, that blowed the fire 
 for the anvil. She thought to herself she should 
 be afraid, if she did not know herself to be in 
 the hands of God; but her perfect love had cast 
 out f<ar, that she neither feared men nor de- ils. 
 *l'he devils before her sremed like gnats or flies, 
 that you can kiil with the flip of your finger; 
 and men appeared, before her, no other than the 
 gia<s that is to be mowed down: for now she 
 lo. ks upon all men as grass, and the beauty 
 thereof to fade and decay, that must be cut down 
 to nourish the Sheep and Oxen, that the Lord 
 will pres r e: and thee Bullocks J that will give 
 
 + All of the 'Com -kind, in Devonshire, are called Bullocks.
 
 113 
 
 Milk, to bring forth the Cream of his words, 
 so the after-grass is preserved for them, when f he 
 mowing grass is cut down. After this she tried to 
 sleep to com pose herself, and felt as above. At last she 
 fell asleep with the strong breathings that were 
 over her head which is impossib!e for her to 
 describe, and which took her senses quit? away 
 and whether awake or asleep she does not know ; 
 birt she remembers that she was quite awake when 
 she felt the hand of the Lord upon her; but in 
 that heavenly and beautiful manner, that she felt 
 joy un peakable and full of g'ory. She fe?t herself 
 laying as it were in heaven, in the hands of the 
 Lord, and- was afraid to move, fearing she should 
 remove his heavenly hand, which she felt as per- 
 fect as ever woman felt the hand of her husband. 
 In this happy manner I fell asleep, and in my sleep 
 I was surprised wi'h seeing a most beautiful and. 
 heavenly figure, that arose from the bed between 
 Townley and me. He arose, and turned himself 
 backward towards the feet of the bed, and his 
 head almost reached the tester of the bed, but 
 his face was towards me, which appeared with, 
 beauty and majesty, but pale as death. His hair 
 was a flaxen color, all in disorder around his face. 
 His face was covered with strong perspiration: no 
 man in. a salvation could appear worse. His 
 locks were wet like the dew of the night, as 
 though they had been taken out of a river. The 
 collar of his shirt appeared unbuttoned, and the 
 skin of his bosom appeared white as tlte driven 
 mow. Such was the beauty of the heavenly 
 figure, that appeared before me in a disordered 
 state: but the robe He had on was like a surplice 
 down to his knees. He put out one of his legs 
 to me, that was perfectly like mine, no Jargerj 
 
 P
 
 114 
 
 "but with purple spots at the top, as mine are with 
 beating myself, which Townley, UnderwooH, and 
 Taylor are witnesses of. Met hough t in my dream 
 HE got himself in th.it perspiratjon, being press< d 
 to sleep between Townlev and me. 1 said to 
 Him, are you my dear dying Saviour, that is 
 come to destroy all the works of the devil? HE 
 answered me, Yes. I thought I called Underwood 
 and waked Townlev to look at Him, which they 
 did with wonder and amaze. I then thought I 
 would go out of my bed, and fall down on my 
 knees before Him, to return Him thanks for His 
 mercy and goodness; but, as soon as these thoughts 
 entered my head, He disappeared, and a woman 
 appeared in His stead, which gave me pain to see 
 he was gone; but the woman told me many won- 
 derful things that were coming upon the earth, 
 and what was coming upon the devil : but, as she 
 said she knew me at such a time, before she was 
 a spirit, I marvelled how she" should know any 
 thing of me, and grieved at the loss of my dear 
 Redeemer, for I saw no beauty in the woman: 
 but my sorrow was, that I had lost sight of Christ; 
 and though the woman would reason strong with 
 me, but her reasons I did not like. In this con- 
 fusion I awoke, and heard the hell tolling for the 
 dead, and the drums Leating at the same time; 
 which 1 remarked to Townley. Soon after, I 
 heard the Master of the house, as though he was 
 hammering with both hands. I asked what he 
 was doing, to make such a noise; but Underwood 
 told me he was making a chicken-coop, to keep 
 in the chickens Now let this be sent as it is to 
 Foley, Bruce, Sharp, and Taylor; for no explana- 
 tion shall be given this day : only let them try 
 their own judgments, and they shall have the
 
 115 
 
 explanation another time. We can but just 
 
 save the Pos' ; and we unite in kind Christian 
 Jove to Mrs. Foley, dear htcie Richard* and your- 
 self. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 JANE TOWNLfY. 
 
 
 P. S. In the morning, before we began writing, 
 Joanna called for the Bible, and opened it at the 
 second chapter of Haggai; which she desires you 
 will read and weigh deep. 
 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 Friday Morning, July 2o, 1804. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 Joanna was ordered to have a jour- 
 nal from Sunday last copied off ivg'ilar, with the 
 singular things concerning herself from the Sunday 
 to the Friday following; and the reasons are to 
 be assigned to her, why she was ordered to bring 
 it in this manner. 
 
 The answer of the Spirit. 
 " And now, Joanna, I shall assign the rea c oh', 
 why I ordered "thee to put on THY THREE 
 RINQS, and bring forward the shadow of thy 
 Journal. But now call hack to the substance; in' 
 what manner thn hath b en carried on first, thy 
 despair; next, the p>wer of My Spirit, coming 
 with fury in thee then mark uh;t follows alter, 
 how often' my Spirit have I eon 1 ke fury in thee, 
 declaring My tin earnings against men and devils;
 
 110 
 
 -then mark thy Promise made to ME, and My 
 Promise to thee : then let every one w< igh deep, 
 now it went on frrm the power of My Spirit, the 
 fury of My Spirit ; what I poured out day after 
 day t night after night, that should c< me on men 
 and devils, that now MOCK My reign. It is not 
 to hear My voice: it is not to discern the woids 
 fiat are spoken in a day if you do not discern 
 My Footsteps, trace them track after track, word 
 after word, day alter day, how I began, and how 
 I AM going on. First, to .shew My threatnings 
 and My Power 1 in thee', and by thee then come 
 on thy disputes with a an then. My Fury break-* 
 5ng again in thee then come on thy disputes 
 wiih man. But here let 'hem see 1 have brought 
 jjiec low, to shew mrnkh d what My Fury will 
 bring upon THIS UNBELIEVING NATION, 
 aud upon all NATIONS; fpr J bha'll make them 
 as sick with smiting them, as thou wast THAT 
 DAY: but their sickness wiil i 01 end like thine, 
 to leave them in a day, and seemed to he restore d 
 the following day. But 1 tell thee t heir's will 
 CONTINUE, till they will say with Cain, " My 
 troubles are greater than I can bear," 1 cannot; 
 shun the judgments of a God, whom I have so 
 long mockeH and despised. Let them Jcok on thee 
 and see THE SHADOW then let the m trem- 
 ble for THE SUBSTANCE. For, know, as 
 Isaac was bound as a Type of Me, and the arrows 
 of death went through Abraham and Isaac, as 
 judging he must be slain : but then man was pre 
 served, and after that I was slain. So now the 
 see nes are changed another way ; thou only bearest 
 in My stead the shadow of Isaac; and, though 
 they are crucifying thee daily for My Siike in the 
 Spirit, and thou i'eelest it in the ody ; yet,
 
 117 
 
 know, I DIED ONCE FOR ALL, and T shall 
 DIE NO MORE FOR MAN. And ce-y sor- 
 row thou now feelest, every dagger they ha e 
 placed in thy breast, shall be returned DOUBLE 
 npjn this ungrateful Nation, upon tlrs ungrate- 
 ful People, that DESPISE the Warn ng, DE- 
 SPISE the Invitation, DESPISE the Redempt.on 
 of ME that loved them, and gave My Life for 
 them: for now Joanna, I tell thee, My appetiie 
 is like thine, gone from everv one, that are NOT 
 LONGING .fjr THE COMING of the Lord. 
 And now see where thy Appetite is gone Thy 
 Appetite is gone from every Fruit thy Appetite 
 is gone from Fish and Flesh thy Appetite is gone 
 from the Bread of man, nay, from the Flour of 
 Wheat, for all appear to thee but Bran; thou can'st 
 digest nothing but the Bread of Heaven, which is 
 MY WORD coming down to thee. Now, Jo- 
 anna, I tell thee why I have taken thy Appetite 
 i'rom every thing, but the virtue of the Flesh boil- 
 ed in water, and Herbs eaten with it, and Wine 
 to drink know, that out of My side came Blood 
 and Water- the next words stumbled Joanna, us 
 she did not know there were such words in the, 
 Bible, "AS- MY FLESH IS MEAT INDEED, 
 AND MY BLOOD IS DRINK INDEED." 
 She remembered the other Evangelists, but had 
 forgot they were in St. John's Gospel, 6th, chap. 
 md 55th verse. 
 
 Here follows the answer.-^ 
 
 '* Now, Joanna, thee I'll answer, 
 JAH, JbHOVAH, is thy x\1a<=ter, 
 All thy doubts 1 now shall clear ; 
 It was I Uut WQik'd within thee,
 
 118 
 
 Ererv frrfect trulh to see ; 
 
 In the Truth I shall deftnd thee; 
 
 Search my wont, (hat's on recoitl, 
 
 Arcd sec how alt do stand; 
 
 And then t hey 'H find 'tis from tbtirLord, 
 
 That did the ivhok comm'ind. 
 
 I said, the bread must be My Wordy 
 
 And row My Word is come 
 
 1 said, My Flesh should be your food, 
 
 And now thy food is known. 
 
 7b he virtue here that doth appear 
 
 From simple sheep to be; 
 
 Bat know the nYsb thou canst not bear, 
 
 ]So, 'tis the flesh of Me 
 
 Is all thy Food, that do allude 
 
 With herbs is mingled here; 
 
 It is the water from my side, 
 
 la all that thou cin'st bear, 
 
 And know the wine, for 1AM the vine 
 
 That doth thee here support; 
 
 And now I'll tell thee of mankind, 
 
 The way the Bread doth hurt 
 
 I said, at first My Bread was plac'd, 
 
 5o be the bread lor man ; 
 
 The way my body they should taste, 
 
 But they did ne'er discern; 
 
 That at the last My Flock should burst, 
 
 From heav'n 't must all come down : 
 
 And now \ tell thee of thy taste, 
 
 T by appetite is found 
 
 Sickert'd of all that men do call 
 
 r J Tie perfect 3read of Me; 
 
 No, 'tis the water and tie blood, 
 
 That now must set you PREE. 
 
 The Bread of Life must end the strife 
 
 Which comes from Heaven's High 
 
 T hront' 
 TU bread of man may soon be gone, 
 For, now I shall disown 
 AM those that come now in My Name, 
 And do Mv Flesh deny ; 
 I'll put My Shepherds all to shiurje,
 
 119 
 
 TTiey like fhe Sheep .may J* 
 
 An I Yteihe Flesh for to bring forth 
 
 A Food thnn em'st not bear; 
 
 Ko, 'tis from Me they alUhall see, ' 
 
 The blood and water here: 
 
 For now T AM coine, I tell you plain, 
 
 So perfectly lifcefUee; 
 
 Mt appetite from all is gone ; 
 
 Mv boffy I do see 
 
 Is broken here as men appear. 
 
 To make it earthly f >td 
 
 And nothing; but (lie bran is liere. 
 
 They've all rejus'd the goodz 
 
 'Tis but a few I well do know* 
 
 That in the vine do stmd: 
 
 Tho' they as fruit their works do shew, 
 
 They are ripen'd to my h tnd. 
 
 Bat now their taste will not dige.t 
 I sty, no more to Me; 
 .Than thou ean'st bear the earthly fruit, 
 That's ripen'd on th" trees: 
 Just so is mm their fruit become, 
 As loathsome in My sight; 
 An.d ihev shall find, before 'tis long, 
 I do them all dislike: 
 As thou dost here, all fruit appears 
 Quite loathsome unto thee: 
 And loathsome let the Shepherds hear, 
 Their fruit is all to ME: 
 Because their fruit is to the root, 
 7b shy their Lord once more; 
 Then let such shepherds all stand mute, 
 Their fruit I cannot bear 
 No! there the axe I now will fix, 
 To cut such Branches down : - 
 And then to Satan I shall fix, 
 For he shall feel his Wound, 
 The fruit is gone I see in ram, 
 And bona n minds appear, 
 To think My Gospel e'er must standi, 
 To h ive no change appear: 
 Tbeu of My dewth, and oi "My worth,
 
 120 
 
 You nothing make of Me; 
 Only to chance a worthless race, 
 Still woise and worse to be. 
 The J< ws at first you know were cast> 
 "Win n I did first appear, 
 T heir sacrifices then did cease; 
 And all their prophets there 
 Did fall with ME; blind mortals see, 
 What change did then take place; 
 But my Apostles then judg'd ME, 
 That 1 should all embrace 
 'Another day, they then did say; 
 And now the day is come 
 That 1 shall change the scenes for all, 
 My gospel now/ make known. 
 It was from heaven My word was given, 
 That there the bread must come; 
 Aiid that my flesh must be your food, 
 "Your ROCK to build upon. 
 
 And now I shall answer thee in plain words, as 
 the verse may appear stumbling to the readers; 
 for thy tears prevented ME from making it clear. 
 And now I shall go back to Sacrifices and Burnt 
 Offerings. It was the command of the Lord that 
 was given to Moses for Burnt Offerings to. be offer- 
 ed up to the Lord ; but these Burnt Offerings and 
 Sacrifices were but Types and Shadows, of MY 
 being offered up for the Sins of Mankind, as the 
 Paschal Lamb, to make atonement for man. In 
 thy writings^ have told thee, what the meaning 
 f the Two Rams was, and what the Burnt Offer- 
 ing of Sin, IS; and why the Blood of Bulls and 
 of Goats is mentioned in the Scriptuies to make 
 no atonement for sin. Now these things that were 
 mentioned in the Scriptures I ha ve already told 
 thee, and now I tell thee again, though they 
 were commanded, they only stood as Types and
 
 121 
 
 Shadows OF THE LAST DAYS. But did ftiese 
 Tvpes and Shadows last forever? Look at the 
 Jews, thoug'i they do not believe in ME, nor in 
 MY G;spel, yet, these Types and Shadows are 
 don away by them. For as the Changes of the 
 Season bring S immer and Winter, Seed time and 
 Harvest ; and one whole Crop is cut down which, 
 is ripe for the Fhrvesi and NEW SEED is sown 
 again : so the time came for the cutting off the 
 Jows, and the NEW SEED was sown^ in the 
 Gentiles, and then instead of Sacrifices and Burnt 
 Off rings, I COMMANDED THE BREAD 
 AND WINE TO BE KEPT IN REMEM- 
 BRANCE OF ME, till I came with THE 
 WORD AND THE BREAD that cometh 
 down from Heaven: then know, it is MY 
 FLESH that must be your Food ; and MY 
 BLOOD that was shed, must be your Drink. 
 And now I shall explain the meaning of the words, 
 * v Ye have kept the Sacrament in remembrance of 
 ME" not as MY Flesh as must change your vile 
 Bodies, and make them like My Glorious Body, 
 that death might be swallowed up in Victory ; 
 and MY WORD to be THE BREAD of Life 
 that as in Adam all died ; even so in CHRIST 
 shall all be made alive. This is THE BREAD 
 of Heaven ; and these are MY woids left on re- 
 cord, which, if a man BELIEVE, he will find 
 iMY Flesh to be Flesh indeed Spiritual Food ; 
 Spiritual Meat. And My Blood shall cleanse you 
 from all Sins. He that deuieth this, denieth MY 
 Bible, and do not keep My Sacrament according 
 to My Words, the Bread of Life coming down
 
 122 
 
 ffeomr<H6*verr t but according to the Customs of 
 Men the Bread of Men and not according to 
 the Word of GOD." 
 
 adieu, 8cc. 
 
 JANE TOWNLEY. 
 
 In 0)ii the same to the same 
 
 Sunday Afternoon, July 0.2nd, 1804. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 We received a Letter from Mr- 
 Sharp, wherein he informs ns the Clergy are 
 preaching against Joanna and her Friends from 
 the Pulpit, without reading her Books. Here Jo- 
 anna was deeply answered ; the Truth of the 
 Gospel was here made manifest "Blind Leaders 
 of the Blind, till all fall into the Ditch together." 
 For they are judging of things they know nothing 
 about ; and where are the Gentiles better than 
 the Jews? For, tbey are doing despite to the 
 Spirit of God, saying, they want not the know- 
 ledge of the MOST HIGH, and they are cru- 
 cifying the Lord daily IN THE SPIRIT, as the 
 Jews did IN THE BODY, and are bringing the 
 day of Vengeance on themselves; and, was it not 
 for the NEW COVENANT that the Lord said 
 He would make with man, "that the Iniqui- 
 41 ties of the Fathers should no more be laid upon 
 " the Children, but it was the soul that sinned 
 should die" and this NEW- COVENENT, He
 
 123 
 
 fiath established with us, that "blessed be the Lord, 
 their Iniquities cannot destroy us, as the fall of 
 Adam fell upon all the race of Mankind ; but this 
 NEW COVENANT Cuts off that Fall from 
 all them that believe in Redemption, in and 
 through the Merits of Christ ; so blessed be tne* 
 Lord for His unbounded mercies, that from THE' 
 AUTHORITYof the Bible aswell as The PROJ 
 MISES made to me in my Writing, the Lord will 
 not now lay the Iniquities of one upon the other, 
 nor punilh the Innocent with the Guilty, the Ju-fi 
 with the UMJuft ; but deeply are the Words faid 
 to me, the devil is now working STRONG in the 
 Minifters to bring the day of Vengeance upon 
 man, that he may escape the Curse pronounced 
 upon him, and could he work thus in the heart* 
 f all men, the world muft be burnt up like the 
 Scroll, and all muft be burnt to afhes, and I muft 
 say juftly deserve it; for if God so loved the 
 World to give His Only Son to have His Heel 
 Bruized, as promised in the Fall fur the Trans- 
 greffion of man; and Chrift so loved the World 
 to give up his Life for man, a>nd man was ready 
 to clamour for His Bloud ; but now the time is 
 come for satan's curse, to fulfil the promife that 
 was made at the fame time in the beginning 
 they now want to make GOD a liar in the pro- 
 mife HE made through HIS SON;' fdr, if we read 
 our Bibles through, the Bible is no more clear of 
 CHRIST'S Death and Sufferings for man, than 
 it is of HIS triumphing over Death, Hell, and 
 Sin, and treading down all the Wicked as Allies 
 under HIS Feet, which was prophecied by the 
 Prophet Malachi, as well as from tiie Guipel, ill. 
 Epiftle of John, 5th chap* 1 ith \ei. "l-bis h tin
 
 124 
 
 Record that GOD hath given to us. Eternal Life, and 
 this Life is in HIS SON" I need not qu^te to }ou 
 the many pafTages of Scripture which affi ; ire us of 
 eternal life in this World through Christ Jesus, 
 both of Redemption ; nd Salvation, and that HE 
 will deftroy all the works of the devil, as well as 
 the promise made iu the Revelations, that he is to 
 be chained down FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. 
 I am sorry to say, I b< lieve the Clergy know no 
 more of their Bibles, than they do vf my writings 
 and was the Lord to come iorward, as it is said 
 to me, with a Sword in one hand, and his Bible 
 in the other, the Shepherds muft fail as the grass 
 before HIM, for thev could not answer one word 
 of a thousand :i only ajlow, they have been 
 Blind Leaders of the Blind, and must confess 
 they have acted as it is said in the 82ud Psalm, 
 5th verse.TT "That will not be learned, nor under- 
 ' stand, but walk on still in darkness; all the Fount 
 " d at ions of the Earth are out of course. I hare said % 
 !* ye are Gods : and ye are all the Children of the 
 il MOST HIGHEST. But ye shall die like men ; and 
 "Jail like one of the Princes."? 
 
 * . .. -*f Now, Joanna, I shall answer, 
 Thou no further hast to go; 
 JAH, JEHOVAH, is thy Master, 
 All the Shepherds I do know, 
 Like the psalm that thou hast mention 'd, 
 They are wandering here from Me: 
 But they'll hold no Contention, 
 Because the Light they mUl not see. 
 The Psalm is true before their view t 
 And true the words are come; 
 They neither know, nor will they learn 
 What root to build upon
 
 125 
 
 But boldly stray, as thou dost fay, 
 
 My bible's all despis'd ; 
 
 But my Just Judgments they shall see t 
 
 To make the t ools more wise. 
 
 Did I appear to perish here ? 
 
 And hang upon the Tree, 
 
 The clamouring Tongues of men to 
 
 hear ? 
 And Satan swell'd this way? 
 To say, 'twas come now to his doom, 
 But men will not submit, 
 To let the Cross for him to come, 
 Nor nail his hands, nor feet : 
 ft is head to bruize, they do refuse, 
 Is satan's haughty pride ? 
 I tell you fataler than the Jews, 
 The Gentiles now must hide : 
 The Rocks now call, to skreen you all, 
 That will the serpent free ; 
 The A>ce is laid 1 tell you all, 
 T hen tremble every T ree, 
 That now stand out so full of doubt. 
 And wish him to remain 
 Ko Love for ML there cannot be, 
 "Your sickly love is vain ; 
 Your rage do swell inrlam'd by hell, 
 And ihere you all shall go, 
 Unless like Nineveh you'll fall 
 In sorrow, grief, and woe. 
 But I'll raise up an Israel's hope, 
 For them that trust in M ; 
 1 never did on Calvary drop, 
 1 o set the serpent free-*- 
 As you vain men do now contend, 
 MY BltJLL throw aside ; 
 And satan in you to remain, 
 Then sure in vain I died. 
 If 't must go on;, then by your Plan, 
 Por men to mock MY Name ; 
 1 ask you how the Jews do stand}, 
 Or, who do spread MY.Pame ?
 
 126 
 
 Will you appear to answer here, 
 You spread the ; Fame of ME, 
 To make a Bible none can clear, 
 But lies throughout to be ? 
 Bring ME the man that can contend, ' 
 Fast bound in saltan's chain, 
 To prove MY Bible'all is true f 
 No, all your arts are vain. 
 It can't be done, ye sons of men, 
 By satan's arts or yours-i- 
 MY Bible you- do all deny. 
 And think yourselves secure, 
 To preach a word that came from God, 
 Which you affirm is wrong, 
 For if MY Bible all is false- 
 Then lies upon your tongue 
 You do appear, I tell you here, 
 In to the Church to go ; 
 And to MY Altar do repair 
 With words you do not know 
 The Bread of Heeven, must sure ^e 
 
 gken, 
 I tell you tis MY WORD, 
 That must comedown, the end be found, 
 You ne'er discern 'd your Lord ! 
 From Types at first all things did burst, 
 And so that Type did come : 
 But know the end was MY Intend, 
 To make the truth be known; 
 Shadows from man, the Bread did come, 
 Shadows of Bread below :' 
 But now 'tis drawing to the end, 
 Your bread will never do. 
 No, 'tis MY Word must be the Bread, 
 To save you in the end ; 
 And 'tis My Flesh must now break 
 
 forth, 
 The Spirit 's my intend 
 Must here appear, your Flesh must bear, 
 To eat and drink with ME : 
 I see the ponderings'in tby heart,
 
 Which way can this thing be? 
 "to eat MY flesh, can man express. 
 To eat the Flesh* .was MINE ? 
 A mystery here thau cans't not clear, 
 Thy pondering thoughts resign. 
 It is not so, I well do know, 
 My Flesh is not their Food : 
 But further let thy thoughts to go 
 And let them eat MY Word ; 
 That's to believe, I dont deceive, 
 Then let MY Flesh appear ; 
 And know that I shall come again, 
 Their every guilt to clear 
 That man with ME alike may be, 
 Close joined to the VINE ; 
 Then in MY Spirit you will drink, 
 And know MY Blood's the Wine, 
 That must appear in power here. 
 The Water-pots to turn : 
 And- in the end they'll all see clear, 
 With Wine I've made tbem strong, 
 Because MY word, that's on record, 
 Shall make their Foes submit ; 
 And when in povctr I appear 
 They'll tremble at their Feet. 
 So I'll end here, and say no more, 
 But let MY Sheep demand 
 The way the Bible men can clear, 
 If they DENY thy hand- 
 No man on earth can now come forth, 
 To prove these Writings thine ; 
 And as to hell, where darkness dwells, 
 They surely must resign : 
 Because from he it cannot be 
 As I have said before; 
 A Judas men would make of he, 
 To bring his gallows here : 
 Himself to hang, but 'tis for men, 
 That he persuades them so ; 
 Because their GOD they may condemn, 
 And all to hell may go. %
 
 128 
 
 But when that I, who dwell on High, 
 PROVE, every word IVe epoke ; 
 1 ask them where they then will fly, 
 For to prevent the Stroke." 
 
 adieu, &c. &c. 
 
 JANE TQWNLEY. 
 
 Vv 
 
 ' 
 
 PRICE. TWO SHILLINGS AND THREE-PENCE. 
 
 Mrs. Southcott's Writings are sold at E. I.- FIELD'S, 
 No. 2, High-Street, St. Giles's, near the Church, London ; 
 at Miss Eveleigh's St. Sidwell's, Exeter: and at Tho. Child's 
 Bje-Market, Stourbridge, Worcestershire. 
 
 CntcrcD at Stationer's fyalL 
 
 *0&00* 
 
 ruourhndgc; Printed by J, Hcmtnft.^
 
 COPIES AND PARTS OF COPIES 
 
 OF 
 
 LETTERS AND COMMUNICATIONS, 
 
 WRITTEN FROM JOANNA SOUTHCOTT, 
 
 XNtiJfTRANSMITTED BY MISS TOWNLEY 
 
 TO MR. W. SHARP, IN LONDON. 
 
 THE PARABLE OF THE LITTLE FLOCK OF SHEEP* 
 
 J. HE Fable that was in my heart, called to my 
 remembrance, was of a man that was tried in Exeter 
 Caftle, for Healing of iheep. He pleaded he did 
 not fteal them ; for he was going to a fair, and the 
 flock of sheep jumped over the hedge and ran before 
 his horse. He rode as fast as his horse could run, 
 to get before them ; but (till the sheep kept before 
 the horse. He turned his horse many ways to try 
 to shun them, but the sheep would immediately 
 turn and get befora? him.' He then turned his horse, 
 and thought to go*home ; but the jsheep turned in 
 an instant, and came before him ^gain. After his. 
 turning many times, 'trying every way in his power 
 to get before the sheep, and finding it impossible, 
 .lie thought he might as well go with them to the 
 fair, as be Tound driving them home to his own 
 house ; and in driving them to the fair he was taken. 
 And in this manner he pleaded in the Castle, to 
 clear himself; and the 'judge said he believed him 
 innocent ; but the jury said they believed him guilty. 
 The judge could not bear to give it up to the jury ; 
 and said he would try another jury. He had ano- 
 ther jury, and tried the cause over again, and they 
 found him guilty the same. When the judge found 
 he could not free him; but by the two juries had 
 made the cause more strong against him, the judge 
 then addressed the prisoner ' I believe you inno- 
 cent concerning stealing these sheep ; but I beliexe 
 you are guilty of some fatal crime, for which th 
 
 & IuassEAii, Printer, Wood StTe*t, Spa Fields, 
 
 A '
 
 ( 4 > 
 
 judgments of God followed you, in the sheep, to 
 punish you for a crime that you have committed, 
 in a crime that you have not; and as I have tried 
 my utmost to save you, and by that way brought 
 it the harder against you, it is impossible now for 
 me to save your life, as you are found guilty by both 
 juries; therefore I shall thank you, as you must die, 
 that you will confess what crime you have com- 
 mitted." The bloody wretch then confessed, he 
 lived a servant in the house with the mistress, he 
 was then married to ; but as she had got a husband 
 when he went there a servant, so to have the wife, 
 whom he said he loved, he contrived, one morn- 
 ing, when his master arose to go to a fair, to rise 
 early and go before him and meet him in a private 
 place and murder him, which he did. He then 
 went home to bed as if composed, and happy in the 
 cruelty he had committed, and appeared easy and 
 chearful before the wife. The night came, but no 
 husband returned. She was alarmed ; and he pre- 
 tended equal alarm the same ; but would not go 
 alone in pursuit to find him. A miserable night 
 was spent by the wife, and he appeared to share her 
 sorrows, as an angel of light, though he was the 
 devil himself. When the master was found mur- 
 dered, he professed every agony with the wife ; and 
 by his false and pretended love gained her favour, and 
 she afterwards married him. And at the time he wa& 
 taken lie was oroin^ to the same Fair that his master 
 was going to when he murdered him ; and at the 
 very place that he kilted his master and threw him, 
 in the ditch, the sheep that were in the field jumped 
 over the hedge and ran before him. So the inno- 
 cent sheep brought the guilty wretch to the end he 
 deserved. I feel, from this Parable, that the whole 
 mysteries of the Bible will be brought to light, and 
 the concealed Murderer be made known. But here 
 my soul trembles and all my bones shake ! I see 
 myself in the Woman's place y my dear Lord mur$ 
 1
 
 ( s. ) 
 
 <tered ! my first Husband murdered ! And by the 
 cursed arts of his murderer I have often been be- 
 trayed, fearing that I was wrong in listening to the 
 voice of my dear dying Lord ; as Satan's arts have 
 often told me, to deceive me, that he came as a 
 friend, to persuade me against my Lord ; therefore I 
 am the Woman that hath had my Lord and Master 
 murdered; and am daily pursued by his murderer: 
 and now my soul crieth aloud for vengeance ! 
 Blessed be the Lord for his little Flock op 
 Sheet, that have now jumped over the hedge to 
 free me from the murderous wretch who slew my 
 dear Lord, at first, whom my soul loved and now 
 my soul shall love him last. Oh ! how often has 
 that cursed wretch persuaded me there was no God, 
 and that he alone was all in power; but now, blessed 
 be the Lord, the murderer will be brought to justice. 
 For I feel that my Bible will burst from this Para- 
 ble. But how can I bear the reflections of my soul, 
 to think I was ever in the hand of the devil, that he 
 should have power to tempt me, through unbelief, 
 that he was not the wretched murderer, nor his guilt 
 would ever be brought to light ? But from this 
 Parable I know he will ; and I would sooner now 
 give up my life, than I will give up my just revenge 
 against the cursed murderous foe 
 
 So now I trust the sheep will stand 
 To join with me in heart and hand, 
 And then the Trial I'll go through, 
 And bring the Murderer to their view, 
 When by both Jurats he is cast; 
 For so I know the end will burst; 
 And I shall see the traitor fall, 
 Who by disguise hath conquer' d all 
 That judge! him innocent to stand. 
 But now the Little Flock's at hand 
 That will his footsteps all betray, 
 And shew the tall where it did lay ; 
 And shew what arts he doth pursue 
 To murder Gentiles and the Jews j 
 For in like manner both he cast, 
 And in my Master's room he nlac'l 
 A 2
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 Himself in power to appear 
 But now the Little Flock is near 
 That will betray his every guilt; 
 And he shall know that he has spilt 
 The Blood of J esus, my dear Lord, 
 Who all his cursed arts abhorr'd ; 
 And yet he let them to go on 
 Until his Little Flock was come, 
 In the same place for to appear; 
 And thenhis Flock he did ensnare. 
 Whatever way the wretch would turn 
 My F"lock before him still would eome 
 Then bless'd be my avenging God, 
 That now will make him feel his rod; 
 And he in prison now is cast, 
 And so hi* trial now miut burst. 
 No Judges here can ever do 
 For to believe him just and true, 
 That he the world has not deceiv'd. 
 All this they vainly may believe; 
 But I've a Jury nigh at hand 
 That will for me the Trial stand ; 
 And so they'll cast the murderous foe: 
 No longer will they let him go 
 To reign in power as before, 
 He's bound in. prison I see clear; 
 And from his prison he may bursty 
 And then I know he will be cast, 
 Juift like the Parable that is here. 
 God's hidden wisdom I see clear 
 In secret tracks conceal'd from man ; 
 God's wisdom they can never scan; 
 Because all things he'll bring to light 
 Clear as the $uu before your sight; 
 " And in more lustre it shall shine 
 When I have told thee all my mind, 
 The way the Thief 'shall now appear, 
 And then my Little Flock I'll clear, 
 Flow innocence did guilt betray : 
 1 meant to bring it round this way. 
 And so the thing ordain' d at first 
 That at the end it so should burst: 
 And now's the time I'll burst the whole, 
 And all his subtle aits shall fall, 
 No more your Flusbands to betray, 
 Nor get your Wive- in love with he; 
 For I will break his every band, 
 And" he the trial now shall stand, 
 The wav he slew me at the first; 
 For now my Little Flock will burst, 
 .And then my Brides they all will see 
 How they have been in bonds with he. 
 But when the Trial doth appear, 
 He'll fmd the Little Flock, is.nea*
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 > 
 
 That Tir confess he cannot steal. 
 The Mysteries now L shall reveal: 
 They're innocent, by my command; 
 And there the tempter bold may stand 
 To say their hearts he could not steal. ? 
 For deeper Mysteries I'll reveal: 
 Twas I that made my Flock to go 
 So strong before him, he shall know, 
 That let him turn which way he will 
 They'll find a way to baffle stiii, 
 That. they before him still will stand, 
 And so the Trial they'll command, 
 To make him stand and hear the sound 
 That he in all is guilty found; 
 That first the Husband he did slay, 
 And then the Wife he did betray 
 To make her judge her Lord was dead, 
 And then by arts he her betray'd 
 To make her think her Lord was gone, 
 And he her Lover was become, 
 To lead her faithful heart astray. 
 I know he has sedue'd this way, 
 To make thy fervent love grow cold 
 For now the mysteries I'll unfold: 
 He slew thy Saviour at the first, 
 And then in power he strong did burst, 
 To take possession of the whole. 
 And now I'll prove how this did fall: 
 My Christian Friends he first did slay, 
 And so his arts come round that way; * 
 Because theyjudg'd it could never be 
 My faithful Friends were slain by he." 
 
 June the \5th\ 1804, 
 
 Here I shall give the verse in continuation of the 
 Flock of Sheep. After I had arisen from a bed of 
 sorrow, I was ordered to take my pen in hand, and 
 the Lord would answer me further of the Parable. 
 
 " Now Joanna, thee I'll answer: 
 
 From the Parable appears, 
 I thatajn thy Lord and Master 
 
 Know the' Thief hath enter' d here, 
 After lie had arts to murder 
 
 My alarming Love to thee, 
 Well I know his arts went further, 
 
 And that way infiamed thee; 
 Because in all he strong did fall 
 
 Their sorrow to express; 
 For he, like Judas, work'd in all 
 
 And brought on thy distress. 
 The Man the Husband did allow, 
 
 That was pronounced dead ;
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 But by what arte he did not know 
 
 The death on him was laid; 
 And then by arts be did contrive; 
 
 Unto her close to lav. 
 But now from thee the cause I'll free, 
 
 As it thou canst not bear, 
 To think the wife was plac'd in thee, 
 
 The murderer's guilt to share. 
 "No, 'tis not thee, they all shall see, 
 
 That did the wretch caress. 
 No: thou art with the Flocic of Sheep^ 
 
 That did before them burst ; 
 So thee I'll clear; thou canst not bear 
 
 To have the thing brought home. 
 Then I shall come another way, 
 
 And bring it to the Groom. 
 In foreign Land where it doth stand 
 
 A prince in power to reign : 
 A Bethsheba for to command 
 
 The Groom was surely slain ; 
 And then, her love did never prove. 
 
 To seek her vengeance there ; 
 Because that .die, by gold from he, 
 
 Ne'er let the cause appear, 
 But all let die: I'll tell thee why 
 
 The great would all conceal, 
 And sooner let their ^old to fly 
 
 Than have their deeds rcveal'd. 
 'And whore's not love the cause to prove 
 
 I know the dead must lie 
 Without their blood to be aveng'd 
 
 And wilt thou act like she ? 
 Thou answerest, No: the truth is so 
 
 No Black Prince here, shall reign, 
 That prov'd thy Husband's overthrow; 
 
 lint irowh&shall be slain. 
 Then do not fear, for thou art here 
 
 Amongst the Sheep that burst; 
 For when the gap I had made clear 
 
 I know thou vert the first, 
 That from the gap began to hope 
 
 That there was room tobur.-t, 
 And go before and make it clear 
 
 The way the murder came. 
 The Day of Vengeance now is near 
 
 Trie Devil to condemn. 
 And here's the Bride now by my side 
 
 That shall in fury break; 
 For I shall place the Parable 
 
 To bring thee to the Sheep, 
 Where thou did>t burst, I tell thee, fust 
 
 And let my Seaixd come 
 And in the Field with thee appear, 
 
 Satan shall fall like him.
 
 ( 1 ) 
 
 For now I say to thee this day 
 
 The Trial so must come. 
 My Sheep have been turn'd every waj 
 
 By Satan s artful hand; 
 But still before, I tell thee here, 
 
 My Sheep did surely go; 
 And now I'll let the Judge appear, 
 
 And prove the world is so. 
 When 1 was cast the Judges burst 
 
 My Murderer then to free ; 
 And my first Jury then was cast. 
 
 That boldly stood for me. 
 But now again, the second time, 
 
 My Jury do appear 
 My every Kingdom for to claim. 
 
 And cast the Murderer here. 
 But now the same the Judges came 
 
 That is, the world I mean; 
 They'll try to free the infamy, 
 
 The Juries to condemn; 
 But I'll appear to make it clear 
 That of the Sheep he's free. 
 All ways he 'th tried to turn them liere, 
 
 But this could never be, 
 Because before my Spirit there 
 
 Stood strongly in the men, 
 That he his guilt can no way clear; 
 
 For now the time is come, 
 That I am here and do appear 
 Now in the Woman's Foirn; 
 For there at first the Thief did bm>t-*- 
 
 And now I've burst the same, 
 I tell thee, in the Flock of Sheep, 
 
 Where first the murder came. 
 But unto thee the thing, 1 fee, 
 
 In agonies thou'st plac'd, 
 Because thy heart reproached thee, 
 
 And I that way diet burt 
 To say thy heart had felt the dart 
 
 Of Satan's artful hand; 
 Because that thee, through jealousy 
 
 The Trial could not stand. 
 Always to bear, he did ensnare, 
 I know, thy heart with grief, 
 Until m\ Suli v they did appear 
 
 For to give thee relief; 
 Because alone thou niadest thy inoaa, 
 
 Before my Sheep did conic, 
 And all together did agree 
 To bring thy Trial on. 
 For I'll reveal and not conceal, 
 
 Tis bringing round this way, 
 As though my Sheep he here "did steajj
 
 ( 8 > 
 
 But then the Judge will say-* 
 No: he is free, we plain do see 
 
 He never stole them here, 
 Because the Sheep were led by MB 
 
 This way for to appear, 
 That at the last he might be cast 
 
 We see our Bible's plain, 
 That like the Parable must burst, 
 
 And many will maintain 
 It was from Heaven the Type was giveiij 
 
 A mystery deep to Man, 
 That e'er a thing like this should come 
 
 To make our Bibles clear ; 
 The way the Murderer was found out 
 
 By Innocence was here. 
 Because the Sheep he could not keep, 
 
 That I turn'd everv way 
 It is a Mystery here lies deep: 
 
 " None but a God," they'll say, 
 " Could order so such thing to do, 
 
 " To make the Sheep appear; 
 " And now to prove his Bible true, 
 
 " This Parable is clear: 
 " The lViicf\s cast, we see at last 
 
 " Where he betray' d at first ; 
 *' And now the gap is broken down, 
 
 " Then out the Sheep may burst. 
 " Now every way for to betray 
 
 " We see his artful hand." 
 It was thy jealousy to try 
 
 That first I plac'd the Man, 
 As thou to be the Bride of he; 
 
 But it thou could'st not bear. 
 I used this innocent disguise 
 
 To black the villain here; 
 And thee to try, I tell thee why 
 
 For so the Jews will burst: 
 " Our Husband he did sure betray, 
 
 " And murdered at the first; . 
 *' And in his arms we all do lay 
 
 " Ah ! here the truth doth burst : 
 *' Christ, we see, must murdered be, 
 
 " And then to come again, 
 ' An Israel's Shepherd to appear, 
 
 " The Sheep, we now see plain, 
 " He plac'd at first, the Type did burst, 
 
 " We know, by God's Command : 
 *' Or else the Rider would have miss'd, 
 
 *' So many ways he turn'd, 
 ' Himself to free from infamy, 
 
 " But Abel's Flock was there; 
 *' And now the murdering Cains, we for, 
 
 * In Satan do appear.
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 ** Then as the curse it then was plac'cl, 
 
 " We now see must come on. 
 " By Innocence the Guilt was cast, 
 
 " We must the whole decern; 
 ** That are not blind, we now must find 
 . " God's Wisdom to appear: 
 *' He's turning Water now to Win$ 
 
 " Too strong for us to bear. 
 '" For to contend like learned men, 
 
 " We cannot here dispute: 
 ' Her Parables are b-ought so plain, 
 
 " It strikes our Lea< ning mute." 
 This will be seen by learned men. 
 
 That now have eyes to see, 
 That from the Parable was penn'd 
 
 'Twas first ordain'd by me 
 That way to come and to condemn 
 
 The guilty Murderer there, 
 When for a crime he'd never done, 
 
 " But now we do see clear 
 " The Sheep are free, not stolen by hie ; 
 
 " He wished them to miss; 
 ** But this we find could never be, 
 
 " For God hath brought round this 
 *' Before our sight, to bring to light 
 
 " Our Bibles to our view." 
 Then sure the Lamb's Wife must appear* 
 
 And her revenge is true ; 
 It was an innocent disguise 
 
 To place it in her first ; 
 But when her heart inflam'd did ris* 
 
 Thcnin true love to burst, 
 I chose this innocent disguise 
 
 To black the villain's art, 
 Thy love and goodness to surprize, 
 
 The more inflam'd my heart; 
 Now I have been the Hermit strong * 
 
 And that all men shall know. 
 To prove thy heart was all my own, 
 
 I let my rival foe 
 In thee to break thy heart to sink 
 
 In every horror here ; 
 But yet thy hand I'd not let go, 
 When he thy heart did tear, 
 Jnflam'd by hell, I do know well, 
 
 But I was then behind, 
 And in thy heart 1 soon did swell-*- 
 Thy Osmyn thou shalt find, 
 
 June the \6th, 1804, 
 
 t This alludes to the Parable of the Hermit in Dinguise, in p. ^ 
 
 B
 
 ( 10 ) 
 
 THE HISTORY OF JOANNA'S LIFE. 
 
 June the 17 th, 1804. 
 
 My Father married his first Wife out of pity, be- 
 cause he saw her upon a sick bed, and he was told 
 she could not live without him. He then went and 
 told her to arise, for he would have her; as he 
 thought to himself he would break the hearts of no 
 more : but that woman died in child-bed ; and while 
 she was dying, my Mother was in the room ; and he 
 t! )uf,ht to himself, if she died, as soon as decency 
 would illow, he would make his addresses to my Mo- 
 ther, whom he felt in his heart to admire. But my 
 Moth r had thought in her heart, of all the men upon 
 earth he was the last she would have; for she was 
 provoked with words she had heard before, as one 
 of my grandfather's servant men had been in com- 
 pany with my Father and many others, who was 
 talking about the women whom they should like for 
 wives ; and one said, my Mother he should like for 
 a wife. Another made answer, " I would never go a 
 courting there ; for men enough have tried there, 
 and she hath refused them all : she looks with scorn 
 on every man." My Father answered, "you know not 
 how to go a courting to a religious woman : I'll be 
 bound for it, if I was a widower I would gain her." 
 The man came home and told my Mother of it ; 
 which she said raised her indignation, and she 
 thought to herself, if he was a widower, and offered 
 to come to her, he should find she was not so easily 
 gained. But, being very intimate with his Wife, she 
 was desired to be with her when in child-bed ; which 
 she was ; and then my Father fixed his mind to 
 come to my Mother as soon as decency would allow ; 
 but the agonies he saw his Wife die in, made him 
 like a distracted man. So my Mother judged him 
 a man of tender feelings, which with all his passion
 
 (, 11: ) 
 
 he really was - ; for though he was a man of strong 
 passions, yet after his passion was over, his heart 
 was torn with self-reflections, and he would do any 
 thing to make amends : for he was a man of tender 
 feelings, and strong passions ; and my Mother has 
 often reproved us children when we have been pro- 
 voked with our Father's passions. She would often 
 say, " Children, why do you blame your Father ? 
 if he is passionate he is compassionate, and he doth 
 not do like many men, spend his time and his mo- 
 ney in public houses, to bring you children to the 
 parish ; but he has been a hard working, careful, 
 industrious man, to keep you from the parish, that 
 you might not suffer, as other poor apprentices do." 
 And now I must speak of my Father's tender feel- 
 ings ; for he was as compassionate as he was passionate; 
 for I remember our apprentice maid, when my Bro- 
 ther had fallen out with her, my Father would not 
 permit him to come in his presence to supper, but 
 said it was as good to be a toad under a pair of har- 
 rows as to be an apprentice under so many masters 
 and mistresses ; one master and mistress were enough 
 for any apprentice ; and no apprentice in his house 
 should have any more. You may marvel I am 
 writing these particular things ; but it is the sixth 
 day, and here I shall rest from my labour : one 
 Master an^Mistress shall be enough for a!] : one 
 God and one Lawgiver. And now I shall come to 
 another thing of my Father : He said my temper 
 was such, and my care and industry so great, that 
 no man but a devil could ever fall out with me ; and 
 yet he himself, when provoked to passions, without 
 a cause, would fill out : and James Speerway, who 
 worked at his house, working of ilax, and slept in 
 the house, had been witness to my Father's falling 
 out with me, and repeated his words to me Your 
 Father says, none but a devil can fall out with you ; 
 and now he hath made himself a devil by falling out 
 with you. But I never saw a man in such agonies in 
 
 2
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 mv life as he was, after he had done it. He raved 
 like a madman in the night, and said ' f Oh ! my 
 dear child, have I grieved her heart, that makes 
 herself such a slave to keep me from a prison I 
 Why shall I grieve her heart ? What devil is in 
 me r Oh, that dear creature, how does she strive 
 to please me ! how does she strive to keep me from 
 ruin ! I must see her !" This was his waking in the 
 night after he had fallen out with me. James Speer- 
 way made him this answer " How can you wish to 
 disturb her ? She has staid up to work till twelve 
 o'clock, and is but just gone to bed." But my Fa- 
 ther answered, " I cannot live unless I see her." So 
 they were forced to knock at my door and call to 
 me ; when I arose and went to my Father, who took 
 me by the hand, and said " My dear child, dost 
 thou forgive me ? Why did I fall out with thee, 
 that is the comfort of my life, and venturest thy life 
 to save me from ruin ? Oh my dear child 1 Oh my 
 dear child ! my heart is wounded to see thy love for 
 me !" At the same time my Father's face was like a 
 pot when you take off a cover covered with drops, in 
 great.sweat, which I took and wiped off, and sat hours 
 by his bed-side to comfort him, and 'to compose 
 him to sleep. But the next day he told James 
 Speerway, how his heart was wounded to think he 
 had grieved me. One more instance of my Father I 
 must mention. We had been making of cyder in 
 the day ; and at twelve at night he waked, and find- 
 ing I was up at work, he called down and desired 
 me to go down to the lower orchard to the pound 
 house, and see if the cyder was not running over the 
 tub, for he was afraid it was. The pound house 
 was more than two fields from the house we lived in, 
 or a long lane the other way. I took the candle and 
 lanthorn and went down as my Father desired me. 
 I did not perceive there was any moon, for it shined 
 in a cloud ; but when I came to open the pound 
 house door, the light of the moon shone out through
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 the cloud against the jambs, which made them ap- 
 pear to me 1 ke a man, and the summer upon the 
 top like the head of a man ; at the same time the 
 owls that were up in the pound chamber were 
 frighted at my opening the door, and they flew out 
 and let the apples fall, which made a great noise. 
 At this I was frightened, and thought it was the 
 spirit of the man that had been drowned in the well 
 before ; as there was a well t by the pound house, 
 which was a dwelling house when my Father took the 
 farm ; but people said it was always troublesome, 
 and no man would live there ; so he made no use of 
 the house, only for my Brother to keep rabbits, 
 which used to make a great noise in the night ; and 
 Squire Putt one Sunday called my Father into the 
 School-house, and said he had an information 
 against him, that he had smugglers in Ins lower house, 
 and people did hear them every night as they rode 
 by : so that he made that house a smuggling house, 
 and they did hear the people jumping about. My 
 Father answered, your honour is wrongly informed ; 
 it is nothing but rabbits my Son keeps there ; and if 
 your honour will not believe me, I must beg your 
 honour wjll send one ot your servants, and then you 
 will see how the rabbits get up upon the benches of 
 the window and jump off to make that noise. Mr. 
 Putt took my Father's word ; for he had said before, 
 if there was an honest man in the parish it was my 
 Father; and told my Father, when he was poor- 
 warden and brought in his book of accounts at 
 Easter, that he was peevishly honest, and therefore 
 he must stand poor-warden another year. But now 
 I shall return to my fright. Judging I had seen a 
 spirit, when I opened the door and heard the owls, and 
 saw the light of the moon shining against the jambs, 
 I let my lanthorn fall and put out my candle ; I then 
 ran home as fast as I could run, without bol'ing 
 the door, or locking the garden gate, but ran. 
 home through the lane, and thought 1 heard the
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 footsteps of the spirit after me ; for more than twenty 
 yards I ran through a river, as the waters were then 
 high. When I came home my Father called out to 
 know if the cyder was run over ? but finding my 
 voice so trembling that I could scarce answer him, 
 he called out "My dear love, what is the matter?"' I 
 thought to myself he might well say mv dear love; for 
 he had frightened me out of my senses, by sending me 
 down in the pound house at that time of the night. So 
 I told him how I was frightened ; and 'hat I had rieither 
 seen the tubs nor the cyder, for my candle was gone 
 out ; and I had neither bolted the door nor locked 
 the pate. My Father pitied my weakness, and did 
 not blame n e, but assured me I had seen no spirit, 
 and it was nothing but the moon, that was hid in a 
 cloud, that shined against the jambs ; and it was 
 the owls fly' ng out. that lie supposed had apoles in 
 their mouth - and let them fall, which made the noise. 
 I looked at the window and saw the moon was burst 
 from the clouds, but I had perceived no moon be- 
 fore. I then went to bed, reflecting with myself 
 what a weak fool I had been, to be frightened with 
 nothing but shadows; for I was truly convinced of 
 the truth of my Father's words, and called to my 
 remembrance, that I had seen nothing but a glim- 
 mering light shining against the jambs, and that I 
 heard the owls rlv over my head, that in my confu- 
 sion I did not think of. Now I have ended the story 
 about my Father and my fright, I shall return back 
 to my old Lover. I staid at Sitimouth some months, 
 in hopes he would return again ; but rinding he would 
 not, I left the place, and determined to give my 
 heart and soul to God. I told my Sister I should ra- 
 ther die than ever marry any man but him. My 
 Mother and Sisters often reasoned with me, the mad- 
 ness of my passions. I told my Mother, it was for 
 my good to wean my heart from this world and 
 bring it to the Lord. She answered, it was for my 
 good if I made that use of it. After that I went to 
 service : and musing lo myself repeatedly the hymns
 
 ( 15 ) 
 
 I have mentioned, and many others, I got the bet- 
 ter of my foolish passion, though I could not blot 
 his memory from my mind. I then had a young 
 man come a courting in Honiton, whose tame was 
 John Thomas ; and though he was a man of fortune, 
 the thoughts of the other drew my heart from love ; 
 but by strong persuasions of my friends I indulged 
 his company for a little time, and faithfully told him, 
 he might think, as my Father was a farmer he would 
 give me a fortune, but I would not deceive him, for 
 he could give me none. His answer was " money, 
 my dear, I do not want; I have money enough 
 for you and myself too : I have fifty pounds a year, 
 which my Uncle left me ; I have money out at use,, 
 which my Father gave me, which I will call in, if 
 you will be married, and place you in a shop before 
 my time is out ; for I had rather have you without a 
 farthing, than any other woman with five hundred 
 pounds/' His generous offer made me indulge his 
 company a little while, though I could not feel in 
 my heart to love him ; and I reasoned with him the 
 folly of his wishing to be married till his time was 
 out, as he was an apprentice to a serge maker. Af- 
 ter that my Mother died, which made me dead to 
 the world : and the Sunday, I went in to hear the 
 minister; (Mr. Brown had asked me to go and hear 
 Mr. Stevens of Axminster.) His text was -Blessed 
 are they that weep, for they shall be comforted. I 
 thought he preached his sermon all to me ; but the 
 hymn struck deep upon me 
 
 I ask'd them how they thither came? 
 
 They with united breath 
 Ascrib'd the Conquest to the Lamb ; 
 
 Their Victory to his death. 
 They mark'd the footsteps that he trod, 
 
 His zeal inspir'd their breasts ; 
 And following their incarnate God, 
 
 Possess'd the promis'd rest. 
 
 With these hymns, and the sermon, my heart was 
 filled with nothing but heaven, or a strong desire
 
 t 16 } 
 
 for heaven. John Thomas came part of the way 
 home with me, the last time I ever was in his com- 
 pany ; for that night, when I came home, I was 
 freed from the burden of my doubts and fears, by 
 the powerful answer that was given to me in prayer, 
 which is mentioned in my Fifth Book. I then bid 
 adieu to the world. After that I went down into 
 the West Country ; and Mr. Rigsby made me an 
 offer of his hand and fortune, which was sixty 
 pounds a-year ; and said, the first moment he saw 
 jne in Black Torrington church, he was deep 
 enough in love with me to be married before he 
 went out of it. But I refused the man, because 
 they told me he had had a base child. All my 
 friends were provoked with me; but I could not bear 
 his sight, though they would persuade me it would 
 be an advantageous match for me ; but I told them, 
 I never would be wedded to a man that was wed- 
 ded to sin ; nor have a man for my husband that 
 had the devil for his father ; so I left the West 
 Country ; and after I was gone Mr. Rigsby came to 
 my Sister Page's to see me. The servant maid told 
 him I was gone home into Devonshire. She said he 
 turned as pale as death " She is gone ! she is gone ! 
 indeed she is gone !" I returned to my Father's ; and 
 after that he went down to the West Country to my 
 Sister's. My Sister told my Father of Mr. Rigsby's at- 
 tachment to me. My Father came home in great fury 
 and askedmehow I couldrefuse aman of such fortune? 
 besides he was a handsome, genteel man ; and he be- 
 lieved I was mad. I told my Father I did not like 
 him. He in heat of anger exclaimed, I don't know 
 what the devil thou dost like ! thou shouldest have a 
 man chalked out for thee ; and if thou dost not like 
 him he shall be blotted out again. I said a man 
 must be of a more noble spirit than he was for a Hus- 
 band for me. Mv Father said, he did not see any 
 of these noble spirited men going ; he had seen men 
 of my Sister's liking ; but he never saw a man of my 
 J
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 liking in his life, and he was afraid he never should. 
 It was well for him I was not married, as I was the 
 only one that could go to his house to assist him in 
 distress ; for, though they assisted him in money, 
 they could not go to stay with him, as I did. But 
 here I shall leave my Father. After this I went to 
 Sidmouth to my Brother ; and Peter West paid his 
 addresses to me. He was a young man of remark- 
 able good character, and one I thought remarkably 
 handsome. Here my heart began to be entangled 
 again in love, which I dreaded. One Sunday even- 
 ing after we parted I walked my room, with a war 
 in my heart: I was thinking with myself, where 
 is my foolish heart wandering ? and was earnest in 
 prayer that the Lord would not permit the love of 
 the creature to draw my heart from my Creator, 
 and that the Lord would not permit me to keep 
 company with any man, that he had not ordained 
 for my Husband. I prayed that that might be a 
 sign to me that he might not be able to come to 
 me for a month. I was answered, he should not 
 come for a month if it was not the Will of the Lord 
 I should have him. The next day my Brother said 
 Peter's courtship was too hot to hold long. I said 
 if it lasted a month it would last for ever. My 
 Brother laughed at my words ; but rinding Peter 
 came no more, he said then Peter's faith has failed 
 him ; and some laughed, and said Peter was worse 
 than Paul, to break off in that abrupt manner. I 
 said I did not blame him ; for if he thought he could 
 do better, I did not wish him to Kurt himself to 
 come to me. But two months after I met him I y 
 chance, and he then would have renewed his for- 
 mer acquaintance, and said he would never deceive 
 me more. I told him he never should, for no man 
 9ho.uld deceive me twice; and if he thought him- 
 self better lie should iro to better; for I never want- 
 ed any man to hurt himself to come to me : for he 
 was great, and I was grand, and he might Faiss his 
 
 c
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 colours as high as the skies, but he must take care 
 they did not fall down again ; but he did so much, 
 that his friends lamented that they ever persuaded 
 him against me. But I refused him in answer to 
 what was said to me in prayer ; for his being ab- 
 sent a month was a convincing proof to me I was 
 not to have him ; but did not tell him so. He said, 
 these upright men get if you can ; but I don't 
 know where you will find them. True I found his 
 words ; as true he did mine ; for upright men are 
 very scarce. After that, for a short time, I kept 
 company with my brother-in-law, and then went 
 to Exeter, to the place where I was directed. But, 
 Oh! what a scene of misery broke out there! 
 After living some years in the house, the master of 
 the house declared himself in love with me. No 
 tongue can paint the horror I felt, to hear of love 
 from a married* man. I asked him how he could 
 make a profession of religion, and talk of love to 
 another whilst he had a wife of his own. He said 
 his love was not sinful; it was Only religious love, 
 which no man that had such a wife as he had, that was 
 roving after other men, could help ; and told me of ma- 
 ny men that he had catched her with and now to see 
 a mind so mild and. heavenly, endowed with every 
 virtue, no religious, man could help it. I told him 
 he should not venture in temptation's road ; and if 
 his heart was inclined to love me I would leave 
 his house, and gave warning to go away. I went 
 to Mr. Triinlett's to offer. lie threw himself into a 
 violent passion, and. said if I would stay he never 
 would mention his love more ; but if I went, never 
 a methodist should come into his house again ; but 
 if I would stay he would maintain, the preachers, 
 that he knew I had a great regard for, as I thought 
 .them religious men. This made me earnest in 
 prayer, that the Lord would direct me what to 
 do. I was answered, the Lord would direct me and 
 protect me, nothing should harm me ; but I should
 
 { 19 ) 
 
 !}Qt leave the house, for he had ends unknown to 
 ine, to keep me in it. So in a state of misery in 
 my mind I staid there some time : sometimes jea- 
 lous it was a wrong spirit that ordered me to stay 
 there. After that he took a methodist parson into 
 his house, who declared himself a lover ro the wife 
 in my presence, and despised her husband, and 
 wanted to set all the children agamst him. This 
 wounded me to the heart; and he himself expressed 
 a jealousy. I thought to get the man out of the 
 house privately, by Mr. Wesley's preachers; so 
 that I went to put Mr. Wills out of the 
 thoughts of his jealousy : but he threw himself 
 iji a violent passion, and upbraided me with hypo- 
 crisy. He said I was as bad as her to vindicate her: 
 I had upbraided him with crimes he was never 
 guilty of, in his love to mc, and was going ro leave 
 the house for mentioning it ; but now I upheld her 
 in crimes she was guilty of; for he knew his wife 
 too well, and Saunders too. His words cut me to 
 the heart ; for I knew I was concealing a much 
 blacker crime than I had reproved in him, but 
 thought I was the wrong person to tell him of it, 
 as it might inflame his mind to renew his former 
 words to me ; so I left the house, and went to Mus.- 
 herry with my Brother.^ But when Mr. Westley's 
 preachers told me that Saunders was turned out of 
 their meetings, and Wills had taken him into his 
 house, after I had tried by every private means to 
 get' him out of the house^ by writing to his wife and 
 daughter what infamous characters they had got 
 on Suinders's account; and Mrs. Wills did not 
 regard her character, and persuaded her children 
 the same, I then wrote a letter to him, that he had 
 a serpent in his bosom, by keeping of Saunders 
 there. He then threw all his malice Upon me ; 
 and said his wife was a virtuous prudent woman ; 
 and I was a wicked woman ro ma^ di^urhan.cye 
 
 C '2
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 between them. I then saw his pretended lore was 
 as I told him, temptations from the devil, by his 
 disappointed malice. I thought so ungrateful a 
 man could not exist ; but here his malice went fur- 
 ther. He haunted me to the places where I went, 
 to get me out of service, till I was obliged to go to 
 law with him ; and then he hired two false witnesses 
 against me, which made me tremble in the Guild- 
 hall, fearing he would swear away my life. I was 
 then answered It is finished ; hitherto it is God's 
 permission ; but no further is his restraint. I asked 
 my counsellor why Wills did not bring his Son, be- 
 cause he would not swear so false as the others would? 
 My counsellor, Roberts, asked counsellor Fanshaw 
 why he had not brought the Son ? He said he 
 brought as many as he thought proper. Counsellor 
 Roberts said, you brought as many as did not care 
 what they swore; Mr. Wills would not purjure 
 those in his own house, but he cared not how many 
 he perjured out of the house. Let him bring the 
 Son i and if he swore as these have, I will give up 
 my cause. But the Son would not come to defend 
 him. So I got my trial ; because the Son would 
 not come against me, to take a false oath. The 
 mystery of this goes deep to the nation : as you 
 have not a quarter of the particulars. It paints the 
 world in its true colours. The day after I was order- 
 ed to write the history of my life, and have it go in 
 print ; for thousands should be converted by it. I 
 wrote the History of my Life ; but my fiiends per- 
 suaded me never to put it in print ; and I was not 
 pressed by the Spirit after I had written it to put it 
 in print, till I was visited again in ninety-two ; but 
 this was at the end of the American War. When you 
 have received the History of my Life, you will 
 receive the explanation of the whole. 
 
 I did not tell the worst of Rigsby, when I 
 was writing of him, what made me despise him so
 
 ( 31 ) 
 
 much ; but the reason was, he kept a woman in his 
 house, and brought her with child, and then to con- 
 ceal his shame from the world, he got some savine, 
 and intreated her to take it ; he said it would not 
 do her any harm, only kill the child, and so she was 
 to conceal her shame from the world, and might 
 live with him as before. The simple woman took 
 his advice, and killed the child and herself too ; 
 and when she was dying, in her agonies she told it, 
 but as she did it by her own consent, and did not 
 blame him so much as herself, he had no punish- 
 ment of the law ; but his character was despised 
 by upright people ; yet as. he was a young man of 
 a decent fortune, he got himself respected amongst 
 people of the world, who had no better principles than 
 himself. But of the truth of his history my Sister 
 did not tell my Father, as he tried to persuade peo- 
 -ple it was a false report, and bribed her friends to 
 keep it secret ; and for the love of the money some 
 did ; which made it a confused story, and could not 
 be proved ; but confused as it was, I bclieved.it true ; 
 and after my Father's passion was over, I told him 
 my reasons ; which, he said, if it was true he could 
 not wish me to have him. 
 
 But as I was ordered to go through my history in that 
 day, I could not go through particulars; but now, as 
 these particulars are most wonderfully explained, I am 
 ordered to put them in print : one part must be sent 
 to the Reverend Mr. Foley, and the other part will be 
 sent to. Mr. Sharp. So Mr. Sharp is desired to print 
 from this day, the letters he receives; and Mr. 
 Foley the letters he receives his day ; thus they are 
 both printing a book they canndt understand, before 
 they see both, the hooks together ; for Mr. Sharp 
 must see no more of Mr. Foley's letters, nor Mr. 
 Foley of his, before the book is out. The Lord is now 
 working in this manner, to shew mankind the folly of 
 the Jews and Gentiles; for no more than they two
 
 ( ;*3 ) 
 
 can .understand what tfyey are printing, before they 
 come to weigh both the books together ; no more do 
 the Jews understand the Law, .nor the Gentiles the 
 Gospel, hefore they come deeply to weigh the whole 
 together. Mr. Sharp may marvel, why I have sent 
 Jiim such a history, tliat he does not understand the 
 meanjng of; and Mr. Foley may marvel, 1 have sent 
 Jiijn the meaning, but never told him the Parables 
 from whence they were taken ; so they are both lost 
 jn ,'a mist, as Mr. Putt was by my Father's rabbits, 
 when he had an information that he kept smugglers 
 there and perfect so they are smuggling up the 
 .$ible, and will make it a smuggling book; but 
 when 'they come to look to the mystery, they will 
 find there are living words in the Bible, that must 
 make a noise as the rabbits did, and if they will 
 cpme and see the truth, as my Father desired Mr. 
 .Putt to send his servant, they .will find my words 
 jls true as my Fathers, that they had laid a wrong 
 information, to say the Bible must be smuggled 
 MP to the weak judgment of men, and the living 
 "tyuth that stands in it, must never break out and 
 appear. 
 
 " So from the smugglers T now begin : 
 The living truth to ofon vas never seen, 
 But when the truth they did begin to hear, 
 They said that smugglers in all -was there; 
 Because the truth they did not wish to know, 
 But all my Bible they have smuggled so, 
 To cheat their God , in all to him bis due, 
 They cheat theircoui:try,and they cheat thcirjving, 
 .And yet to thee, they all tW lies do bring, 
 That thou art the smuggler that doth appear, 
 But now the truth I bjci them see and hear: 
 That in my Bible living. truths do stand, 
 .And like the rabbits they-may alt command ; 
 For when the day-light it to all appear, . 
 They'll fipd no smuggling in the words are here ~ 
 But truths and life mast now before them burstj 
 WQ' They'll find the smugglers in the land are cast-, 
 
 They'll (hid the Shepherds are the smugglers here* 
 Tlmr information? let them ail appear ; 
 n i
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 And then' I'll prove they've "smuggled ererv word, 
 And in like luiiincr, they've condemned their G^d, 
 As they condemn' d thy simple Fathr r there, 
 And fill as wrong, tit make them alt a>pearj 
 Fdr when the truth, they all do come to see*, 
 Thevil find my every word, a> true to b 
 As e'er thy Father's' it did then appear ; 
 A.nd perfect so, tlly innocence ill clear, 
 Ami prove to air .the informations wrong, 
 To's'av the Smuggling &&i in thee becom'e ; 
 That thou my Bible now art smuggling up, 
 Thev li find the truth in every word to drop* 
 As. from thy Father s lip's drd then a'ppear ; 
 They'll find tlfe living truth in all is here, 
 That-must burst out, if men will come, and see; 
 And jump for joy, that 1 am come to free 
 A world of ruin now from misery. 
 Ami from thy Father's words I'll further go. 
 Nothing but devils can condemn thee so; 
 Though oft his fury he doth wor in rmhi ; 
 Bit like thy Father, let them now condemn 
 Themselves in passions, how they so did burst; 
 Anc. from thy Father I have told thee first 
 That with tt>e nation I should him compare. 
 And with the nation I do answer here 
 That every Father that is in .your land, 
 A Son of mine, will like thy Father stand ; 
 Themselves of passions, they will surely blame, 
 And say, the Devil did their hearts inflame : 
 For none but devils, now they plain do see, 
 Could e'er condemn the innocence of thee ; 
 For so the Fathers now I know they'll break, 
 Aud blame themselves, they did so harshly speak, 
 Provok'd by passions, bv the Devil here, 
 For in their words thy Father did appear, 
 And said, the Devil surely was in he, 
 Or he should never grieve the heart of thee; 
 It was the Devil did him then provoke, 
 And on hirmelf he felt the greatest stroke 
 When thou in tender love did sooth him there. 
 Thy Father's history does not half appear. 
 The tender love that thou didst .shew to he, 
 The flaming passions thou didst often see ; 
 Because thy Father's passions they, were strong; 
 And his own way he wish'd ail to be done ; 
 But his own way, by prudence thou didst see. 
 It he did get it would his ruin he. 
 Therefore together jangling you went on. 
 Till on his death-bed then, behold the man: 
 " If thou art pre cut Christ i< surely here i" 
 And let hi dying words to all appear 
 And then the dying Fathers all will see, 
 When de.ul to sin, thev all will speak like he : 
 ' If thou art present, Christ is surely here." 
 Nww pen id* word', and let them to appear.
 
 When my Father lay on his death-bed, the per* 
 sons that attended him told me, they heard my Fa- 
 ther talking to the Devil, who said he was come for 
 him ; my Father answered, he would not have him ; 
 for how could he think to have him, when he 
 knew he had an interest in Christ ? he had always 
 been praying to him, and seeking after him, and 
 relied on his tender mercies and goodness, and how 
 could the Devil think to have him ? But they knew, 
 by my Father's answers, that he terrified him, that 
 he would have him ; and it threw him into strong 
 convulsion fits. But when I came, he was almost 
 insensible to the knowledge of any one ; and when 
 I held him by the hand, calling him Father, he* 
 laid, " Father! be you my Father?" I said, no; 
 my dear Father, you are my Father. He said, 
 " Who are you then ?" I said, Joanna ; he clasped 
 me by the hand and said, " my dear child, if thou 
 art come, then Christ is Come.*' This was the night 
 that he died, while I was holding his dying hands. 
 My Sister Carter said at his burial, as soon as his 
 corpse was taken from his chamber, she heard the 
 most beautiful heavenly music, singing round the 
 house the Corinthian Anthem : She asked of the 
 woman of the house, " If the singers were coming." 
 She said, (t No." My Sister finding she did not 
 hear the singing, took no more notice to her, but 
 waited with impatience, hoping* sire should see me, as 
 I appointed to go, but I was ill with my journey, and 
 ordered not to go: " Let the dead bury the dead," 
 were the words said to me ; so my Sister went to 
 the funeral with the woman she disliked, because 
 she thought she had nor taken care of my Father ; 
 but,, as she was going alon?;, she heard the savne 
 . heavenly music in the air; and it seemed to ascend 
 higher and liigher, till it had ascended out of her 
 hearing ; but, when she came to the grave, she 
 thought she should have fainted away, to hear him 
 put into the grave and the water flounced almo3t
 
 ( 95 ) 
 
 over the coffin, which they told her could not be 
 avoided, as the church yard laid so damp, and were 
 astonished to see her in such agonies, at the burial 
 of so helpless an old man ; but she said, she reflect- 
 ed in her mind, that she had not taken him to her 
 own house, fearing proper care had not been taken 
 of him, and she was angry with me, when they told 
 her, that I said I praised the Lord when he had 
 taken him out of a miserable world. I asked her, 
 how she could wish to see him live in such misery, 
 when he had told her he was perfectly miserable 
 with the people he was with. Then how could I 
 wish to see him live in that misery ? My Sister said, 
 she would have altered that misery, if she had known 
 his end was so near ; and no\v her conscience did 
 reproach her, I told her, I had nothing to reproach 
 my conscience with ; for I had done for my Father 
 to the utmost, and supported him to the last penny. 
 
 ** Now these shadows thou hast mention'd, 
 
 Tis the suhstance must appear, 
 So let all men drop contention, 
 
 Like you two, 'twill soon appear. 
 Repentance strong in some will come, 
 
 And like thy sister say, 
 *' If we had known the day at hand ; 
 
 " We'd done a different way." 
 Repentance late will be the fate 
 
 Of thousands in your land ; 
 I tell you plain, ye sons of men, 
 
 Like these two all do stand: 
 The one appear " my conscience clearj 
 
 " I'm glad to see the hour 
 " The heavenly music for to hear, 
 
 " And see my Saviour's power." 
 While others say another way 
 
 " No here my heart doth hum ; 
 *' My conscience I can never clear, 
 
 " He did intreat to come 
 " And dwell with hie, I plain do see, 
 
 " But him I did refuse." 
 And now I tell thee, in the end, 
 
 This must come to the Jews ; 
 Because that there, they'll see it clear, 
 
 The watery graves must come i 
 The resurrection to appear, 
 
 When 1 arose again: 
 
 a
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 The one lament, without content, 
 
 And did iny sufferings see; 
 The others say another way, 
 
 No grief for him can be. 
 Then thou say here do I appear 
 
 The sister not to mourn ; 
 No, no; to thee can never be, 
 
 Thou art not .the sister there: 
 Because in all, 1 now will call, 
 
 And prove thy conscience clear, 
 Then sure the two brine, to your view. 
 
 The Gentiles must be come, 
 And clear their conscience they will prove, 
 
 I tell th.ee now in one : 
 When thou art gone, and I am come, 
 
 The substance all will see 
 " Our conscience clear doth now appear, 
 
 " There is no grief in we : 
 *' For she is free from misery, 
 ^ " Deliver' d from her foe," 
 ^Vhilst some will say, in that great day, 
 
 " Had I belie v'd it so, 
 " That she was near, her death appear, 
 
 " And did us so invite, 
 *' That from her foe we'd take her here 
 
 " And bring the truth to light ; 
 " But we refus'd, and like the Jews, 
 
 " In cruelty did stand, 
 *' And every way she begg'd of we 
 
 " To free her heart and hand ; 
 " But we would not until the strok^ 
 
 " Of death to her was near." 
 
 June the 20th, 1804. 
 
 THE PARABLE OF THE HEIIMIT. 
 
 The Hermit zvas called Osmyn. 
 Orlando, the revengeful Ureal of Osmyx, 
 Belinda, the Fair. 
 
 Osmyn, an officer in the Navy, was gone to 
 sea and left Belinda, whose affections he had gained, 
 and she was deeply in love with him. 
 
 Orlando was a Rival to Osmyn, and used his ut- 
 most endeavours to gain Belinda. 
 
 lie practifed all his wary schemes, 
 
 To gain the Fair One's heart ; 
 But she despis'd his every love 
 
 Aud shuji'd hi* powwful arfc.
 
 ( v ) 
 
 When he found all his attempts vain and fruitless 
 to gain the fair one, he thought if he could gain 
 one to aid his scheme, in gaining the ring from Be- 
 linda, which Osmyn had given her, that then he 
 should be successful in his projects to procure him- 
 self admittance to her by the ring, for he had agreed 
 with villains to kill Osmyn as soon as he returned 
 from sea Thus when he had made known his 
 deep-laid scheme 
 
 A Hermit did appear 
 And promis'd for to lend his aid 
 
 To gain the Fair One there. 
 He oiler' d gold and great rewards 
 
 To gain the Fair One's Ring 
 Because his Rival he'd destroy 
 
 When he did complete the thing 
 The Hermit promis'dthen his aid, 
 
 And to the fair one goes : 
 Complain'd of poverty anil woe, 
 
 Her goodness soon he proves, 
 A*; Heaven had taught her to be good 
 
 To charity inclin'd ! 
 She gave him gold, she gave him food, 
 
 And promis'd he should find 
 A friend in her, if he appear d 
 
 Assistance more to crave 
 The Old Man bless'd her generous heart 
 
 And did this warning give, 
 " Beware, beware, he laid, of Out, 
 
 " Beware thou generous good : 
 " May Heaven protect thy generous heart, 
 
 " In virtue thou hast stood." 
 He press'd her, hand, and eager ga/'d, 
 
 And blessings calTd from Heaven, 
 As she such favours had bestow'd, 
 
 Such bounties to him given 
 lie heav'd a sigh and went away, 
 
 And hftSted o'er the plain : 
 Belinda look'd to see bis way 
 
 And saw Orlando come 
 The Hermit stopp'd with him to speak 
 
 The Lady then complain'd, 
 ' Shall he another's favours f-eck 
 
 " When I so oiler' d miner" 
 She lift'd her hand and miss'd her Rin., 
 
 "Oh Heavens! be just," she cried," 
 " Was it for this the Old Man press'd 
 
 " To gain the paltry thing r" 
 Then as she spoke, Orlando burst 
 
 So hasty o'er the plain. 
 
 D 2
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 Then in she went, her door did bolt, 
 
 And fear'd to see him come 
 Orlando came with hasty joy- 
 That he had got the Ring ; 
 And said that ho would give it her 
 
 If she would let him in. 
 Now for her absent lover s sake 
 
 She did unbolt the door 
 And for to gam her lover's Ring 
 
 She did him then implore ! 
 With scornful smile he thus replied, 
 
 " Now thou art mine, my Fair! 
 "Whilst thou wert wearying Heaven, he cried, 
 
 " I did enjoy thy prayers-^ 
 *' Oh black ingratitude!" she cried, 
 
 " Can man so cruel be, 
 *' To boast of victories so by arts 
 
 " As now are gain'd by thee ?" 
 With scornful smile he then replied, 
 
 " Let Heaven reward the good" 
 This being said Hew ope the door, 
 
 Where the Old Beggar stood 
 " I've seen a man," the Hermit cries, 
 
 " That from far climates came, 
 * Bid me this picture to produce, 
 
 " And you would know his name." 
 With eager joy she then did gaze, 
 
 " Tt is my Lord 1" she cries ; 
 " It is, it is, mij Osmyn brave." 
 Orlando He rose in haste " My rival Foe 
 rises in ** Look to the Fair," he cries 
 
 /taste. " 'Tis time ere this my rival's dead; 
 
 " 'Tis time that he should die." 
 He drew the sword and rushed out 
 Belinda Ah ! cruel heart of stone; 
 cries. She heard a horrid, horrid shout, 
 
 That echo'd to the groan. 
 She shriek'd, she cried, " Ah ! let me go 
 
 To see my love" she cries. 
 Hermit. " I am order' d not to let thee go, ' 
 
 Replied the sturdy sage, 
 " Though of thy goodness T do know 
 
 Thou can'st not mock old age." 
 Belinda. " Villain," she cried, " a* base as old, 
 
 " Let me be gone !" she cried, 
 " 1 must behold my hero brave, 
 
 " My love before he dies" 
 Hermit. <And so thou shalt," he then replied, 
 
 *.* Behold him on this board !" 
 And down he threw his silver locks, 
 
 And so confirm'd his word 
 *' I chofe this innocent disguise 
 
 " To black a villain's arts; 
 v Thy love and goodness to surprize,
 
 '( ^g ) 
 
 The more inrlatn'd inv heart : 
 Thou hast not seen the Foe, 
 
 Perhaps ere this the villain's dead, 
 By friends prepar'd helow. 
 
 Osmyn had prepared friends to destroy Orlando, 
 as Orlando had thought to destroy Osmyn And 
 Osmyn by taking the disguise of the Hermit, be- 
 came fully assured of the infamous and diabolical 
 intentions of Orlando towards him, and therefore 
 caught him in the very trap he laid for Osmyn. 
 So will Satan be caught in the very trap he hath 
 laid for others by the Goodness and Power of our 
 Blessed Lord. 
 
 A LETTER FROM MR. SHARP TO THE BISHOP OF . 
 
 SEE THE BOOK ON THE PRAYERS FOR THE EAST, PAGE 33. 
 
 "MY LORD, Titchfitld Street, London, JuneZS, 1804. 
 
 If your Lordship would wish for any information 
 about this extraordinary and respectable character, 1 
 shall feel it a duly, for the sake of Truth, to wait on 
 you at any hour or day, when it suits your convenience; 
 but I think it proper to inform your Lordship that 
 Mrs. Joanna South colt most certainly writes from a 
 Spirit invisible, as 1 have frequently been with her 
 and have wrote from her for these last two years ; 
 and what she has written before, as signs for future 
 belief, have actually taken place. The whole tenden- 
 cy of her writings proves that the millennium, or 
 Kingdom of Christ, is at hand. I trust that I have 
 reputation, both as a man and an artist, to lose, which 
 is of too much consequence to be sacrificed, for what 
 may be called a delusion by the world: I have there- 
 fore taken every method to prevent myself from being 
 deceived by any cunning contrivance. 
 J am, with respect, 
 
 Your Lordship's humble Servant, 
 
 William Shabp. 
 
 P. S. I sh&ll feel myself highly gratified bv your Lord- 
 ship's acceptance of two prints, being the labour of my 
 h$uds 3 which allude to the subject oj the present letter.
 
 ( so ) 
 
 THE BISHOP'S ANSWER. 
 
 " The Bishop of , is obliged to Mr. Sharp for 
 
 the offer of his Prints, but desires to be excused from 
 accepting them. They are fine engravings, and he wishes 
 Mr. Sharp shewed as much judgment in his religious 
 
 opinion as skill in his profession. House, May 
 
 30th, 1S04." 
 
 To such a conduct Mr. Sharp thinks it proper to add this 
 observation, that a Bishop had a serious duty to perform, 
 which was to let his judgment be founded on the truth, 
 and nothing but the truth. As the Bishop had the Book, 
 containing a hundred pages, only one day, no man of rea- 
 son can feel either his reproof or censure, if he would not 
 -give himself time to examine. If any sensation conW 
 at all operate on the mind of Mr. Sharp, it could only be 
 that of pity, to see a dignitary of the church so disgrace 
 himself as a man; for there are persons in very humble 
 stations of life, who would be ashamed of such rudeness: 
 and he still wishes this Bishop may at last feel it a duty 
 Jo set a pattern of humility. From his having not paid a 
 due respect to his high station, bis name ts omitted. 
 
 Dear Miss Town ley, May the 27th, 1804. 
 
 You are ordered to put in print the letter I 
 sent you the 24th, on the Fast, ami the letter I 
 sent you in answer to the two letters you sent me, 
 that came from Leeds. I am ordered to send you 
 some of the contents of the two letters I received 
 together ; the one in derision, that men may see 
 the answer given to men, that can so boldly trifle 
 vitli the Lord, I shall here give you the letter. 
 
 " Madam, London, May the }Jl, 1804. 
 
 " / suppose you will he greatly surprised at the 
 
 receipt of this. I am a pet son who has read many of 
 
 your publications as well as others in connexion nith 
 
 you, J remark in a hook intituled, an Epistle to the 
 
 Chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge, tt is there said 
 
 W page the S///, amongst other things, you can and
 
 ( 31 ) 
 
 have told and revealed secret thoughts and conversa- 
 tions of persons, which was acknowledged to be true 
 by Mr. Eastelake, of Exeter, and befote seven others. 
 Now, Madam, a gentleman and myself would gladly 
 become converts to your doctrine, if you can convince 
 us by some extraordinary proof of your mission from 
 God to us, by answering this letter without the gen- 
 tleman or myself giving you any directions of our 
 7iqmes or places of abode. A letter to either of us 
 will be received with thanks. Speedy answer will be 
 esteemed a favour." 
 
 At the receipt of this letter my heart burned with 
 indignation, to think that man could so presump- 
 tuously trifle with the Lord, to think he would an- 
 swer such impertinent enquiries, which made me 
 expect no answer, as you saw in my letter. But 
 now I am ordered to' put the letter in print, and the 
 answer to it, with some lines of the other letter, 
 that men may see the different answers, and know 
 that the Lord will not be mocked by man: 
 
 The Letter from the Friends, in part ; 
 rt Joanna, 
 
 ." Oh, our dear sister! glory and honour and 
 power be ascribed to Him that sittelh upon the Throne, 
 and unto the Lamb for ever and ever, who by you has 
 subdued and sealed the final doom of our great adver 
 sary the Devil, and thrown open the gates of glory 
 and eternal life and happiness to a lost and sinful 
 world." 
 
 As these two letters came together, so the an- 
 swers arc placed'one after the other. So all must be 
 published as. I 'have sent them to you. 
 
 (Signed,) . Joanna Southcott. 
 
 Dear Miss Townley, May the 26th, 180.4 : . 
 
 When I saw the letter you sent me, of the two 
 
 men that wrote to know if I could find out their
 
 ( 32 ) 
 
 names and places of abode, without their directions, 
 as I had found out what was in Mr. Eastlake's heart 
 concerning me, this insolence I did not know the 
 Lord would condescend to give any answer to, as it 
 is mocking and trifling with the Lord ; yet the Lord 
 condescended to answer it to me, though not to 
 them. That this was a shadow of what the sub- 
 stance would follow. For men will want to have 
 idle curiosity gratified "As I have told thee, all 
 must come to the likeness of my Gospel; and the 
 manner men acted with me they will now act with 
 tliee ; and know, when they mocked me, and smote 
 me, they said in derision. Prophesy who it is that 
 simteth thee ;- and when they sent me to Herod they 
 wanted to see my miracles ; when on the cross the 
 thief in like manner derided me ; and the people 
 said, let him come down from the cross, and we will 
 believe him. But none of this impertinence in man 
 was answered by me; for if they did not believe, 
 by what was done before, they would not believe 
 by any miracles then; but say, as they had said be- 
 fore, it was miracles from the devil, who had given 
 me the power ; therefore I gave up without answer- 
 ing them a word. And now I. am in the Spirit to 
 thee, their mocking is the same ; but if thy writings 
 were from the devil, this is a curiosity he might find 
 out, as his agents are every where. But as thy 
 writings are from me, the living Lord, such im- 
 pertinent enquiry I shall never answer ; for if all the 
 truths that are in thy writings, and the wondrous 
 manner all his brought round, will not convince 
 them, I shall not answer this insolence of men, to 
 convince them any other way'; but to tell them to 
 appear before iny judgment seat,, and then their in- 
 solence will be answered, when my angels come to 
 strike the death warrant unto them, as it did to the 
 two men that said thou wast the devil, and they 
 would go to Lepds to see thee ; and to the devd I 
 sent them both, by 9 sudden stroke of
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 And let this be a warning to men : Shall man con- 
 tend with his Maker, and c'irect me the way I shall 
 prove my visitation to thee ? The thing of Eastlake 
 was for a convincing proof, to thee, to know, in an 
 extraordinary manner, I was come to visit thee; 
 and as- there was no appearance at that time, of 
 what I told thee was hastening on, I permitted that 
 thing to happen in the meeting, to convince them I 
 was come to warn thee of what was hastening on, 
 I warned thee of what was in their hearts and 
 inds concerning thee, that thou mightest have 
 some clear assurance of my visitation unto thee. Bat 
 that did not convince them, though they confessed 
 the truth was told thee ; yet they said, that truth 
 came from the devil. And just the same would 
 men say now, if I should answer the impertinent en- 
 quiry of these men. Shall I answer ? I know them 
 not ; let them depart from me as workers of iniquity ! 
 Eastlake I know, and his heart and soul is known 
 to me ; and though I reproved him I loved him ; 
 but these men, whose hearts are not mine, must go 
 to their masters for their names ; for their hearts 
 are departed from me, as workers of iniquity. 
 Therefore my answer is, I know them not. And I 
 hear the language of thy heart : My soul come not 
 thou into their secrets ; so they and their names may- 
 perish together. 
 
 Can man so boldly trifle with his God, 
 
 To ask where Satan takes up his abode, 
 
 In every heart where he doth reign and rule, 
 
 I say the writer must judge thee a fool; 
 
 If thou hadst power, to answer such a man, 
 
 Bring forth my Gospel and my ways discern. 
 
 So of their folly I shall end it here : 
 
 To tempt the Lord their God let men beware; 
 
 Because such men I never meant to know, 
 
 And at my Coming they will find it so 
 
 And this to Turner I do bid thee send. 
 
 And now I'll come to answer for thy friends: 
 Their names and natures are well known to me; 
 And at my Coining they their name will see
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 Enroll' d in glory with their Lord to retgo. 
 
 In different answers I shall turn to men. 
 
 As different conduct in them doth appear : 
 
 So different answers they shall know and hear. 
 
 For those that mock my Spirit now in thee, 
 
 They all shall know the same they're mocking ME J. 
 
 But those that do my Spirit here approve, 
 
 They in the end shall see my perfect love. 
 
 So now in peace their souls they may possess, 
 
 Because thy Trial 1 shall bring it first, 
 
 And then the other things will surely burst. 
 
 For 1 shall never act like men, 
 
 To let my judgments first come on 
 
 Before men's judgment doth appear, 
 
 For to condemn or for to clear ; 
 
 And then behind they'll find my hand, 
 
 To bring my judgments on the Land ; 
 
 If men in fury now appear, 
 
 They'll find my hand in fury here. 
 
 And" if they careless now do sleep, 
 
 I say, like Pike, they'll howl and weep*. 
 
 But if with prudence men appear, 
 
 And say, the whole we'll now see clears 
 
 Before our judgment we can draw, 
 
 The truth of all we'll see and know. 
 
 Then I shall act the same with man, 
 
 And they'll not feel my heavy hand; 
 
 Because, as men deal now with thee, 
 
 The likeness all shall see in me, 
 
 To deal the same with every man 
 
 And here's the warning to your Laud. 
 
 For now to all I'll answer here, 
 
 As thou and Townley do appear: 
 
 * In November, 1703, I dreamt that some straw had caught fire, 
 and that the shop below was in flames. Then I awoke with the 
 hurry of my dream and thought I would go down stairs, to see if the 
 servants had left a candle burning below, but being very sleepy I 
 determined to consider it only as a dream, and go to sleep again. Yet 
 I thought I would wait and see; but it struck deeply upon me 1 
 should be too late, and the house would be burnt; sol got out of 
 bed, and went to the top of the stairs, and 1 smelt a smoke ; for the 
 candles were falling down, they being on fire. The noise made me 
 believe they might be bricks in the chimney. I then called up Mr. 
 Pike and said, " the house was on fire." He said, " I was dreaming, 
 for he knew better;" but he was at last convinced of the truth, which 
 made him rise, and while I was returning to put on mv clothes, he 
 came down stairs, and made a most hideous noise and howling, and 
 was almost suffocated. I quickly went to the maid servants, and was 
 obliged to shake them, and when they awoke they told me, " I was 
 dreaming;" one was in a passion ; but I forced them out of bed, and 
 then I went down stairs and was almost suffocated in passing to the 
 * f reet. After Ml'. Pike had made his noise and cried " fire," I cried 
 " fire," and went as far as the Guildhall to alarm the people. Se 
 further paiticulars in p. 27, Waruingto the World."
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 For thou to be shut up from man, 
 
 And in thv stead doth Townley stand, 
 
 To send all letters in her name, 
 
 Though from thy hand they surely came ; 
 
 But in thy hand there none are sent, 
 
 Nor yet thy name unto a friend ; 
 
 But now through her the whole is given: 
 
 And so they'll find the God of heaven 
 
 Hath given the whole the same through thee, 
 
 Though thy hand-writing none do see ; 
 
 Nor doth my Name to men appear. 
 
 The copies first thou send'st to her, 
 
 And then she sends them in her name j 
 
 And perfect so I say 'tis done, 
 
 In every likeness come from me, 
 
 As thou thy letters send'st to she. 
 
 For so thou 'st done all heretofore, 
 
 Perfect as Townley doth appear 
 
 Placed in thy stead to act for thee, 
 
 And perfect so thou'st done for me, 
 
 The same as Townley doth appear 
 
 To act for thee, I say once more, 
 
 In perfect likeness all hath been, 
 
 Thou didst act for me, as she is seen 
 
 Now in thy stead to act for thee, 
 
 Which in the end they all shall see. 
 
 It is the likeness to compare 
 
 That I have plac'd these shadows here, 
 
 To shew you plain the way it came, 
 
 "Fis but to her thou sign'st thy name ; 
 
 And so thy letters thou dost send 
 
 Unto my handmaid and my friend; 
 
 Then who shall pluck my "friend from me ? 
 
 Her murderers men must surely be, 
 
 If they Would pluck her from my hand ; 
 
 Worse than the sequent men must stand 
 
 To rob her soul from every blifs ; 
 
 And where's the man can answer this, 
 
 To say that in her stead they'll stand, 
 
 If she'll give up thy written hand, 
 
 And in thy stead not to appear ? 
 
 Will man presumptuous answer here, 
 
 That he'll protect her from all harm, 
 
 If it be tlie Lord that here doth warn? 
 
 Who call'd her foirh my friend to be ? 
 
 Will men a Judas make of she, 
 
 Her faithful trust for to betray ? 
 
 I ask mankind what they can "say, 
 
 If she like Judas should appear," 
 
 To say her guilt she could not bear? 
 
 Then answer me, presumptuous man, 
 
 Who e'er doth wish to stop her hand, 
 
 That she her office may'nt go through, 
 
 I'll prove the serpent strong in you ; 
 
 2
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 That wish to have her now draw back ; 
 A murderer's heart in man must break, 
 Because her life you'd murder here, 
 In agonies she could not bear. 
 So here's an answer deep for man 
 That doth this woman here condemn. 
 
 Here, my dear Miss Townley, you see how strict 
 the command is given you to stand faithful, and 
 how severe the threatenings against any that persuade 
 you to act faithless. So I trust you will stand, as I 
 have stood, in the strength of the Lord, and the 
 power of his might, in opposition -to men and de- 
 vils, putting on the whole armour of God to with- 
 stand the fiery darts of the devil : for cursed is he 
 that puttetli his hand to the plough and draweth 
 back. But this caution I need not give you, as I 
 know the strength of your faith, and- the goodness 
 of your heart. The former part of this letter was 
 in answer to two letters sent me, that you re- 
 ceived for me ; one an ariony v.ous letter that was so 
 ignorant and impudent, to think they could jest 
 with God as they could jest with man ; the other 
 from my friends who are longing for the coming of 
 Christ. Here you see the different answers. The 
 stroke endeth with one, where the other answer 
 beginneth, I must conclude, with my earnest 
 prayers for you, spiritual and temporal, that the 
 Lord will restore your health, and strengthen your 
 faith to stand the trill you are called to go through. 
 I remain, with the greatest respect, 
 
 Your sincere friend, 
 (Signed.) Joanna Southcott. 
 
 Dear Miss Townley, 
 
 I shall now give you a communication that was 
 given me, to assign the reasons why I was ordered 
 to be concealed from the world ; that if men seek me, 
 they arc not to find me, till they have assembled to- 
 gether ; all those that are chosen to be labourers 
 J
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 with me in the Lord's vineyard ; because I sought 
 man in the bitterness of my soul, and they refused 
 to see or hear me. This you will see explained in 
 the following communication : 
 
 For so I say I'll now foil man, 
 For now my mind I will reveal, 
 And tell thee why I do conceal 
 Thvjplace and person to mankind ; 
 . Ana thou the former call to mind, 
 I said like Putt 1 should appear * } 
 And perfect so I'm acting here. 
 When I invited, men said nay : 
 Thy face they all rcfus'd to see } 
 Thy letters they refus'd to hear; 
 Thou sought'st their face in tears and prayer* 
 And yet thy face they would not see, 
 Nor take one single thought of thee; 
 When grief and sorrow thee oppress'd, 
 They'd never calm thy grief to rest ; 
 If Satan led thee by the hand, 
 Then in his fetters thou must stand, 
 And sink thy soul in deepest woe: 
 In vain toman thou'st often gone, 
 Or else in vain thou there didst send} 
 For thou no answer could'st obtain. 
 And now I'll turn it back on man, 
 And say my answer is the same ; 
 You would not see her in distress, 
 Nor give her suffering heart redress, 
 When she in jealousy did fear : 
 And your advice she'd wish to hear} 
 But then your answer it was none. 
 Unto the rock she did complain ; 
 And I'm her hock who then did hear, 
 And gave an answer to her prayers. 
 And now I'll answer unto man, 
 Perfect like you I've laid my plan : 
 That you shall never see her here 
 Before her friends do all appear, 
 That I have chosen with her to stand, 
 And then you all may see her baud; 
 And for herself she'll answer here: 
 To meet her foes she shall not fear; 
 Because their wisdom I'll confound, 
 And prove myself in every sound: 
 
 * Parson Putt offered Joanna's Father a house, which he refused; 
 and, some time after, Joanna went to him and said, she \va.s con.* 
 to beg a favour of him for her father ; this lie supposed was for the 
 house: so he immediately said to her, 
 
 " To those that will not when they may, 
 ' When they will they shall have nay.''
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 That 1 the Lord of keavtn and EAKfrf 
 
 Have spoken by her, a? she saith, 
 
 Therefore the shadow I've turn'dback, 
 
 To act with man as man did act, 
 
 In former Years, I say, to she, 
 
 And perfect so the end shall be ; 
 
 For now the shadows are begun : 
 
 I have order'd her to deal with man, 
 
 As they before did deal with she. 
 
 The type goeth deep if man can see : 
 
 Here is a shadow of the end ; 
 
 For 1 said, this Year should bend, 
 
 Because I plac'd it with the last ; 
 
 When I myself in glory burst, 
 
 I then shall hide myself like thee, 
 
 That now refuse to come to me. 
 
 For then I say they'll come too late : 
 
 * I know them not, the door is shut;' 
 
 Then they may seek and wish tofind. 
 
 But 1 shall farther tell my mind : 
 
 If men seek thee, thou wilt appear, 
 
 With all thy friends the truth to clear } 
 
 And so I say I'll come with mine : 
 
 But then my foes my looks will find. 
 
 If they affront Townley in thy stead, 
 
 I know 'twill make thy heart to bleed, 
 
 To think she suffers here for thee ; 
 
 And then thy blacken' d looks they'll see, 
 
 In nought but anger to appear; 
 
 For no man's person thou wilt fear, 
 
 But with contempt treat every man. 
 
 If they tliy friend do rtbw condemn. 
 
 Because thou'it say it is for thee, 
 
 That she is mock'daswell as for ME} 
 
 And tills with anger thou'it resent : 
 
 The shadow's deep: let man repent; 
 
 For every way I've shewn the end: 
 
 By placing Townley as a friend, 
 
 To stand the trkiljtrst with men, 
 
 Before thy friends together come. 
 
 Then thou in person wilt appear, 
 
 And all thy friends thou'it welcome there j 
 
 And perfect so the end will be : 
 
 For in thy Trial men will see 
 
 How every shadow's carried on, 
 
 To shew my Spirit here is com? 1 , 
 
 In words and power unto thee. 
 
 And 'tis by friends my work must be, 
 
 I tell you, carried on by men, 
 
 If that my kingdom they will win. 
 
 But first the Woman mustappear, 
 
 To crown my head, man's guilt to clear; 
 
 Because my blood was shed by man ; 
 
 Then now discern her written hand,
 
 ( 3 9 ) 
 
 And how my Bible doth appear, 
 
 That it is W oman you compare, 
 
 Unto my cuu&cu 'tbatstands for all. 
 
 Then all these shadows now command ; 
 
 As to a Woman all is plac'd, 
 
 Then the creation so mu&t burst, 
 
 As I at first did it design ! ! ! 
 
 And now to man I've told my mind* 
 
 Why all my Bible so doth stand : 
 
 That in the end you may command, 
 
 As I design'd it at the first. 
 
 All through my Bible so 'tis plac'd, 
 
 To prove my church from her must be, 
 
 When men are made joint heirs with me ; 
 
 For that's the way my church shall stand. 
 
 The spirit and the bride command. 
 
 So let the learned answer here, 
 
 Why all my Bible doth appear 
 
 So highly in the Woman's name ; 
 
 And then I'll answer thee again? 
 
 And this to Foley she must send, 
 
 And put in print the lines thou'st penn'd. 
 
 For in the end mankind will see 
 
 The mysteries of this year to be 
 
 The likeness of the setting sun 
 
 When I do bring the night on man. 
 
 That like their sleep will pass away; 
 
 But then I'll bring a glorious day 
 
 Unto my faithful followers here, 
 
 That for my coming do appear 
 
 And like thy Psalm I'll answer here : 
 
 " The dawn of each returning day, 
 
 Fresh beams of knowledge brings, 
 And from the dark returns of night 
 
 Divine instruction springs." 
 And so I tell thee all will be divine, 
 And in my glorious kingdom they shall shine, 
 When I have claim'd the kingdoms for mv own, 
 And all the powers of darkness to unthrone. 
 
 The verse above quoted is the words of David, 
 that come daily in my mind, as every day bringeth 
 fresh wisdom from divine directions to me, so that I 
 may end with the words of David. 
 
 How wondrous are thy works O Lord, 
 
 How deep are thy decrees ! 
 Thy secret tracks in wisdom lie, 
 
 No striped sinner sees. 
 
 Adieu, adieu, my dear Miss Townley, 
 
 (Signed,) Joanna Southcott.
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 DEAR MISS TOWNLEY, 
 
 On Sunday Evening after I had sent you the 
 Communication, I sat meditating to myself on the 
 words spoken to me in 1794. 
 
 Tis I that holds thee by the hand, 
 
 And will not let thee go 
 Till stedfastly by faith thou'lt stand, 
 
 And all my goodness know. 
 
 To these words I was answered, 
 
 Then now thy hand I still shall hold 
 
 Until thou knowest me whole, 
 
 And when my love I do unfold 
 
 I shall receive thy soul 
 
 To realms of glory and of bliss, 
 
 In heaven's high courts above, 
 
 Where thou in Joy shall ever rest 
 
 And taste my perfect love. 
 
 That here below thou cans't not know, 
 
 Whilst Satan's Power do reign ; 
 
 For deeper mysteries I shall shew, 
 
 And now the whole explain. 
 
 If strong my Love you here did prove* 
 
 Your Enemy would come 
 
 And say, "that ye were "worse than He, 
 
 " Though I did him condemn ; 
 
 " But had 1 shewn such Love to him, 
 
 "As doth for man appear, 
 
 " He never would my ways condemn'd." 
 
 For now I'll tell thee here, 
 
 When men below my Love do know 
 
 In all it's power to shine, 
 
 A heavenly Joy they then will know, 
 And then that Joy they'll find 
 
 Daily to spring in every thing, 
 
 In beauty to appear 
 
 For then, I say, one heart and mind 
 
 Will in you all be here, 
 
 And Joys below in all will flow, 
 
 As now it flows above. 
 
 In Realms of Glory none can go 
 
 To interrupt my Love ; 
 
 But here below, I well do know, 
 
 Stita?i stands between ; 
 
 And here your Joys can never flow, 
 
 Till I do all redeem 
 
 From Satan's hand, and free my Land 
 
 From every Serpent here; 
 
 And then like saints you a// may stand, 
 
 Like angels to appear j
 
 ( 41 ) 
 
 Enthron'd above they see my Loyc, 
 
 And so shall men below. 
 
 The Cause for men I'll surely move, 
 
 And they shall find it so ; 
 
 Because for Men I now will stand. 
 
 As they do stand for me ; 
 
 And they shall gain the promis'd Land, 
 
 Their advocate 111 be. 
 
 The promis'd Land you must command, 
 
 What 1 did say at first, 
 
 All that was good I made for man, 
 
 And so it now shall burst. 
 
 Let men go on as some began 
 
 To bring my Kingdom near, 
 
 Then I'll go on to work with men, 
 
 In power for to appear ; 
 
 And then below mankind will know 
 
 My true and perfect Love ; 
 
 For Satan's bounds he now shall know : 
 
 Like Adam he must move ; 
 
 Because that he is fallen, I see, 
 
 As Adam feli at first. 
 
 Beyond his bounds he now is found, 
 
 A nd so I say he's cast ; 
 
 For I'll not spare the Serpent here, 
 
 As I did not spare man. 
 
 My words ana promise I shall clear 
 
 Thy Sealed Book shall stand, 
 
 Till unaware I do appear 
 
 To chain the Rebel down ; 
 
 Because his fall, I tell you all, 
 
 Like Adam now he's found ! 
 
 And worse than he must surely be, 
 
 For Adam did repent ; 
 
 But Satan's fury now I see, i 
 
 His mind is fully bent 
 
 In rage to swell, with pride of Hell 
 
 His fury doth appear ; 
 
 And now in man I do know well, 
 
 What flames he'll kindle here ; 
 
 In every man, where he can come, 
 
 My Kingdom to prevent. 
 
 Therefore my judgments must go on, 
 
 Till I in sunder rend 
 
 The veil from Men to shew them plain 
 
 That Satan's friends they he. 
 
 For it is Satan work'd in men 
 
 To make them foes to thee. 
 
 But simple men, their thoughts are in vain. 
 
 Their God they do not know. 
 
 My Kingdom they could ne'er obtain j 
 
 My Bibie proves it so. 
 
 This way must come, be it known to man. 
 
 And see my Bible clear ; 
 
 P
 
 ( M ) 
 
 Against the Woman Satan stands, 
 
 As >o doth now appear. 
 
 Then know the end must here be comc> 
 
 And altogether weigh ; 
 
 For I shall answer simple men, 
 
 And boldly to them say 
 
 The Jews at first on me did burst, 
 
 Hv Satan's artful hand ; 
 
 The rage of Hell in them was plac'd, 
 
 And so thev nail'd my Hands, 
 
 I sav, and Feet, tlic wounds went deep. 
 
 And then thev fix'd the Spear ; 
 
 And now in Spirit I am come, 
 
 Men do the same appear ; 
 
 In rai^e T see mankind to be r . 
 
 In furv for to burn 
 
 Impossible is judii'd by thee: 
 
 And can men so become ? 
 
 What men so blind, can Satan find, 
 
 When Truths are all so clear ? 
 
 To prove from Heaven is every sound 
 
 Can Satan blind them here ? 
 
 I tell thee so he now will do. 
 
 And thou wilt see it clear. 
 
 Unto the press these words must go, 
 
 For I shall answer here ; 
 
 What ra<j;e doth How, I well do know, 
 
 To see the woman stand 
 
 In true obedience now by me, 
 
 For to support thy hand. 
 
 Then they'd prevent with one consent, 
 
 If thev could find a way ; 
 
 But Satan's veil from some I'll rend, 
 
 Alike thev will not see. 
 
 For some are mine, their hearts I'll join, 
 
 I tell thee, with the rest 
 
 That in my Vineyard now arc come 
 
 The eleventh hour doth burst, 
 
 To hire men here, that will appear, 
 
 And in my vinevard go ; 
 
 For their reward thev now shall gain 
 
 If they mv work will do. 
 
 For now to all I loud do call, 
 
 My Kingdom is at hand , 
 
 And them that will it now obtain 
 
 Must in my Labour stand. 
 
 For I'll go on to ask of man 
 
 In conscience to appear, 
 
 If they my Kingdom think to gain, 
 
 And never seek it here ? 
 
 Or shall it come tovou, vain men, 
 
 That do it now oppose ? 
 
 No : to my Gospel you must come, 
 
 And know I'll cast out those
 
 f ) 
 
 That do offend against my friends, 
 That workers are with me. 
 Or do you judge that I shall come 
 Before your hearts I see ; 
 To wish me here > shall I appear 
 To men that don't regard 
 My dying Love, that so did prove 
 To bring their full reward ? 
 As at that time 1 knew mankind 
 Did suffer for my sake: 
 Andnow's the time, mankind shall find, 
 My Love to Man shall break ; 
 Upon guch men as they were then- 
 All mocked at the firs,tj 
 And now the same it is in man 
 Men's mockery so doth burst. 
 Then now see plain, ye sons of men, 
 "Who must my Kingdom have; 
 You cannot judge your God so blind, 
 My Kingdom e'er to give 
 Lnto such men as mock my Name, 
 Nor wish my Kingdom near. 
 Or could you judge before you're tried 
 I ever should appear ? 
 No: men, you are blind you all will find, 
 I'll never come that way ; 
 To prove your hearts is first my mind, 
 My welcome for to see. 
 But here within thou dost begin 
 To say men's words thou dost know 
 They wish for me, will thousands say, 
 But never wish it so, 
 At first to come in Spirit strong 
 Unto the Woman here, 
 To plead the Promise in the Fall, 
 My lather's words to clear. 
 Then sure in man there is no plan 
 That 1 can man redeem ; 
 But let my Coat be known to them 
 It was without a Seam. 
 So if they tear and rend it here 
 My Coat cannot be whole, 
 To say I died the Fall to clear, 
 And make the Serpent fall. 
 So here let man discern thy hand, 
 And answer for the Fall ; 
 And then by thee they all must stand 
 To keep my Garments whole ; 
 Or else they'll rend with one consent 
 My Kingdom from them all. 
 If with the Serpent now they stand, 
 Then with him they shall fall. 
 
 F 2
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 THE JEZEBEL IN THE REVELATIONS. 
 
 Saturday Morning, June 23<</, 1804. 
 
 I dreamt, in the night, that my brother's 
 son that is dead, was alive ; I thought the Lord said 
 to me, I was to kill the child, as Abraham was to 
 kill Isaac. I thought I could not kill him any other 
 way than by taking him and twisting him round the 
 neck ; I thought the child was then dressed up to 
 be roasted; it then seemed the child began to go into 
 convulsion fits, and was in such agonies, as my 
 heart ached to see him. I said I hoped I had not 
 hurt the bone of his neck, that he might come to 
 life again. And then I thought I travelled on, and 
 saw a woman, sitting on a gate post, railing to ano- 
 ther woman against me, and told the woman she 
 must come to her for religion, I thought I gave the 
 woman a push, and pushed her off the gate ; and the 
 other woman was disputing strong for me. I then 
 thought a number of other women came, that looked 
 like witches, and one looked me strong in the face, 
 and said in derision, ' are you the Saviour, then I 
 will go on my knees in the mud pit ? which she did. 
 1 said no, I was not the Saviour, but Christ was 
 come in the Spirit to me to bring in the Redemp- 
 tion of Man. I thought one woman mocked me, 
 and said, I see yours is a money business, and I 
 will give you half a guinea. I told her I despised 
 her money, and she should put it in her pocket. She 
 said, so she would ; for she had not half guineas so 
 plenty ; and another woman took out a parcel of half 
 guineas that were brass and shewed me, and said she 
 had not half guineas so plenty neither. I said no, 
 and what you have are not good. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 w Now, Joanna, remember this dreamlbrought thee 
 before Foley's letter came ; for she is the Jezebel
 
 ( ) 
 
 that sat upon the post, and told the people to come 
 to her as a Prophetess, full of lying wonders : for 
 the gift of healing is not yet come. But let not 
 Foley be grieved because he seduced my people to 
 believe that woman a prophetess, for she is not ; 
 but I permitted them to find out the cheat, that they 
 may see the depth of Satan's arts. But as they spoke 
 against her, I will put no other burden upon them, 
 but that which they have already; hold fast till I 
 come, and keep my words unto the end, then will I 
 give them power over nations- The last chapter of 
 Isaiah let them weigh deep ; for now is coining the 
 end ; Zion that travaileth to be delivered, shall be 
 delivered, for I have brought to the womb, and I 
 will not shut it. Let not thy heart grieve nor tremble, 
 fearing they have done wrong ; for I permitted this 
 thing to be, to shew them the difference between 
 Satan suerking and mine. I kept silence concern- 
 ing the woman, that they might go on, to rind out 
 the cheat, and see where the Jezebel lay, that they 
 have so often condemned in thee. Now let them see 
 the different working, me with thee, and Satan 
 with her. To ease thy lear, consider, call my 
 wokds to thy remembrance, when thou wert so 
 much afraid they would do wrong through ignorance ; 
 know, I told thee, in the time of ignorar.ee God 
 winked at it ; and what errors they did through ig- 
 norance should be righted, for I would not lay them 
 to their charge; neither do I lay this to their charge, 
 though they phced her as a prophetess wish thee : 
 and there, is the Stone that is fallen out of thy King; 
 for they will no longer let her stand as a pio;hetess 
 with thee ; for she is the Jtzeb'. 1 mi ntioned in the 
 2d chapter of the Revelations, 20th verse. She call- 
 ed herself a prophetess to teach and to seduce my 
 servants to commit fornication, and to eat things 
 sacriliced unto kiols ; and now I give her space to 
 repent oi her fornication ; and if she repents nor, 
 I will cast her into a bed with them that commit
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 thisadultery withher,and kill her with death ; and the 
 cures she hath done shall return upon them with 
 do hie force. For here Satan ca ie as an angel of 
 light, pretending he could not cure the disorders of 
 them that were wicked. Here they commit fornica- 
 tio > with my words, and in my name was this pro- 
 fessed to be ; therefore it was I that worked in the 
 hearts of my servants to go unto her, to see what 
 excuses she would plead, that she could not cure 
 them, whom my soul loveth ; for I have already 
 told thee, and I now tell thee again, Hirst and his 
 family are chosen servants of mine. Nov/ let Hirst 
 remember what I said concerning; him, how Satan 
 delighted to punish him ; but in the end he should 
 delight to triumph over him ; and now let his de- 
 light begin, faithfully to declare the cheat of the 
 woman, whom Satan has raised up in opposition a- 
 gainst me, and let him remember the truth of thee; 
 when I told thee the death of Foley's child, thou didst 
 faithfully read it to him, and told him to copy it 
 out, before thou receivedest Foley's answer, to know 
 whether the child would die or live : let him re- 
 member all thy upright dealings, how thou never 
 used one art to deceive any man ; but if jealousies 
 alarmed thee, thou spakest freely ; if Satan attacked 
 thee, thou didst shew in thy looks and told it ; so that 
 he must know in thee there is no deceit. Now let 
 him write the particulars of the woman unto thee, 
 and I will answer thee again ; for there is the Stone they 
 have placed in thy King, that now shall fall out from 
 thy name, and the naked truth shall now appear ; 
 the Cures she did by Satan s arts were those which 
 Satan s power afflicted, and there he gave her power 
 to cure. " And now I shall tell you the sense of the 
 Ring, that you may understand what you read. 
 Mr. Abbott, one of the jury-men, gave me a very 
 pretty Gold Ring, set with small blue Stones all 
 round it, but when the Midnight Hour broke in 
 upon me, of the Spirit of the Lord, what he would
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 do upon the earth, throwing my hands, which I 
 could not restrain, I beat out one of the Stones, 
 which I was very sorry to see in the morning, fear- 
 ing it was a type of his death, or some oi the others. 
 This I have often pondered in my heart, as it was 
 never explained to me till now ; and now it is deeply 
 said to me, if my Prophecies had been from the 
 Devil as her lying wonders of healing were, I 
 should soon be discovered by the Letters I put in 
 the hands of the Ministers : as the Woman was 
 discovered by Mr. Hirst's going to her with his 
 daughter, and so would the religious ministers 
 have found it a delusion that came against me ; for 
 if it had not been of God it would not have come 
 to pass, for the arts of the Devil can never last long.- 
 And now it shall be fatal for that woman if she adul- 
 terates my Name with the lying wonders done by 
 the Devil : 
 
 Artel there they shall scethcJcze1>el appear. 
 
 So now the name's dropt out from me, 
 
 The Jezebel, they all shall see. 
 
 Doth in that woman strong appear, 
 
 And she is an adulterer, 
 
 To say she does it in my Name, 
 
 I'll put her confidence to shame; 
 
 For there the witches all did come, 
 
 Thinking my honour to blaspheme; 
 
 That miracles they wrought by Mi:, 
 
 15ut then my servant she did see, 
 
 Uy Satan's arts she well did know, 
 
 She could not heal who was /(is foe; 
 
 Because to me he is a friend, 
 
 And so I'll prove him in the end: 
 
 And down the Jezebel shall fall, 
 
 Thou s'trikest the blow 1 tell them all. 
 
 fiefort the Lclt< r ere did rami; 
 
 I shew'd the woman in thy dieam, 
 
 That did the people so ensnare, 
 
 To tell them all to come to her; 
 
 Hut so the other woman stood, 
 
 To see her arts they were not i^ood; 
 
 For all the wonders she did tell, 
 
 \ tell you plain, come all from hell ; 
 
 And in the mud pit, they may fall, 
 
 For that's the way she cur'd them all; 
 
 Wiih muddy hearts, all black wiibiu, 
 
 That had from Satan felt the stin^
 
 ( 48 ) 
 
 Of the disorders she did cure : 
 
 But now I tell them to take care* 
 
 Or in the mud pit they will fell, 
 
 That now are curd by arts from hell. 
 
 Their conscience he doth cure the same, 
 
 They may not hear their Saviour's name. 
 
 And so this mockery all do come, 
 
 For Satan's cures to me are known, 
 
 The way that he their wounds doth heal. 
 
 That they another day will feel, 
 
 More fatal than it was before.' 
 
 And let thy shoulder to appear, 
 
 How quickly Brown dry'd up the first, 
 
 And after that thy pain did burst 
 
 In agonies thou couldst not bear, 
 
 Until that Deem to thee appear'd, 
 
 And then thou told'st her of thy pain, 
 
 And fear'd thy shoulder was rotting then". 
 
 And that thy arm thou would'sthave lost, 
 
 For where's the salve that Brown did boast, 
 
 That she did heal thy wound so soon ? 
 
 Unto the nation this must come, 
 
 Then in their blood they are healing all, 
 
 The Woman's Wonders now do fall, 
 
 1 tell you plain, throughout your land, 
 
 They're healing by an artful hand; 
 
 To heal their consciences all the same, 
 
 But some like thee they'll find the flame. 
 
 So let the Parable appear, 
 
 And then again I'll answer here. 
 
 The Parable was many years ago. I had some- 
 thing gathering in my shoulder, and I could not 
 bear my stays to rub against it. Mrs. Brown said 
 she had an excellent healing salve that I should put 
 to it and it would cure me, which she put for me, 
 and soon healed up the wound ; but soon after I was 
 in such pain in my shoulder, that I thought my arm 
 was rotting off. I told it to Mrs. Deem, and also, 
 how my shoulder was at first, what salve I had put 
 of Mrs. Brown's, that was such beautiful healing 
 salve. Mrs. Deem cried, yes ; but it was not fit for 
 your shoulder, for you have a gathering within, and 
 that corruption must be drawn out, and the 
 wound opened afresh before your shoulder can be 
 healed, or else you would lose your arm as you said. 
 Now if you will put the salve that I will give you, 
 to gather the wound and draw out the corruption,
 
 ( *9 ) 
 
 then Mrs. Brown's healing salye may be of use to 
 lieal it ; but your wound must be opened afresh, if 
 you will keep your arm or perhaps your life. I took 
 Mrs. Deem's advice, and confess the salve she gave 
 Tacked me with pain before the place was gathered 
 and broke ; but I knew I must suffer that or suffer 
 my arm to be cut off, and shoulder too ; but after 
 the wound broke, it was astonishing to see the cor- 
 ruption that was there, which was first drawn out 
 by Mrs. Deem's salve, and then Mrs. Brown's heal- 
 ing salve was of use, as Mrs. Deem had told me. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 " And now, Joanna, I'll bring the Parable to the 
 whole nation, to the Jezebel, to her lovers, and to thee. 
 The Jezebel is the woman that is now healing the 
 wounds of mankind by the arts of the Devil, under a 
 profession of religion in my name. Her Lovers and 
 her Adulterers are the Clergy throughout the land, who 
 love to heal .the nation in their sins and their blood, 
 without searching their wounds to the bottom ; they 
 adulterate my Bible as an adulterous man would 
 commit fornication with an adulterous woman ;> and 
 they heal the wound that is in man, without draw- 
 ing out the corruption that is from the Devil: but 
 I tell thee, his corruption must be first drawn off, 
 and his stinking wound must be first destroyed ; then 
 the Jezebel's words may be right to tell them to go 
 home and repent of their sins ; for if Satan comes 
 in arts to appear like me, he coim-th to use some of 
 my words and ways. And now I shall come to her 
 Adulterers and they that commit fornication with 
 her : it is the Clergy ; for they are healing the nation 
 as the woman is healing the sick, binding them up, 
 as Brown would thy wound, which had they power 
 to accomplish through the land, they would soon 
 find the nation in a much worse situation than thy 
 G
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 arm was by Brown's healing salve ; for perfect so 
 they are trying now to heal the nation to their utter 
 ruin and destruction ; and if they do not repent of 
 their fornications, I shall destroy them all ; for they 
 arc healing the souls of men by their lying wonders, 
 to siy the root of evil must never be drawn out and 
 destroyed, but 
 
 Held up as it has always been, 
 But now's the time I say with Deem : 
 Their Healing Plaistcr will not do, 
 Though that's the way they write to you, 
 To heal your every wound the same; 
 And soon your hearts they'll set on flame, 
 Worse than thy shoulder did appear 
 So of their Healing Salve take care;. 
 But say the evil out you'll draw; 
 The root of evil you do know 
 Is gathering fast, and it must break: > 
 The root of evil now I speak 
 Causes all the rottenness within; 
 And now like Brown you do begin 
 To heal him up like George's Chair *, 
 That he may set and rankle there. 
 And as the Shepherds now are come, 
 f To bring the Healing Salve to man ; 
 The Corner Chair from them to move, 
 The arts of Satan they do love ; 
 To let them set within the ir breasts, 
 Then soon they'll find his sting to burst. 
 And his adultery, to appear, 
 That with the Dream I'll now compare; 
 For like that woman is your land, 
 They are all defil'd as now they stand ; 
 Just like that woman then with child, 
 By Satan's arts mankind is foil'd; 
 For lie has got them in a snare 
 To adulterate my Bible here; 
 That he may dig the pit for all, 
 And so the nation he'd make fall, 
 If I'd not warn'd thee by the Dream, 
 When in the bed thou see'st me plaiu. 
 To say the evil fruit must fall, 
 And therefore now I tell you all, 
 The evil fruit I'll take away, 
 And shew the grave where it doth lay. 
 That Satan's digging now for man, 
 Because at first he laid his plan, 
 
 * George's Chair is a man at Leeds, who said lie would give the 
 Devil a corner chair in his heart to keep him at his ease.
 
 ( 51 ) 
 
 A simple woman to defile, , 
 
 And so that way she was with child, - < 
 
 That did a murderer then become, 
 He digg'd a grave then deep for man ; 
 And now he's digging it again, 
 Thinking the woman shall be slain, 
 And all her offspring for to die 
 Now my Express 1 bid it fly, 
 Because 'twas I that work'd in she, 
 And so the same 1 work'd in theej 
 For this Express must hasty go, 
 And mark what Foley he did do 
 When Carpenter was grievd the same, 
 That nipht he set their hearts in flame, 
 With love and gratitude to turn, 
 And so the same their hearts shall burn, 
 In love and gratitude to me 
 When my Express they all do see, 
 That I'm the Lord that wakes so soon, 
 To cast the Serpent in her room, 
 And now the Woman I will free, 
 Though she's in grief, bow'd down by mej 
 Because for man her heart does feel, 
 But know, that I am in her still ; 
 .! Or else this love would not appear, 
 
 Their every sufferings fo'r to share 
 And now in haste this all must go, 
 For Townley's heart I work'd it so, 
 To have the letter go with speed, 
 I knew thy heart how it did Weed, 
 To think thy friends were compass'd round 
 With mysteries that could not be found, 
 By any wisdom was in them ; 
 For now the crooked paths are come, 
 That they themselves cannot make straight, 
 Before I bring the truth to light. 
 So now the words I'll end them here, 
 Another day I shall appear, 
 The every mystery to explain, 
 Why the Express must come to men, 
 That are the servants of the Lord, 
 Unhidden lies my written word, 
 That thou another day shah fuid, 
 How my Express comes to mankind. 
 
 So end the letter, send it hastily, they must not 
 stop day nor night, till the letter comes to Fo- 
 ley's hand/' 
 
 This Letter was sent off by express, between 
 three and four o'clock, Saturday, June 23, 180-1* 
 
 f 2
 
 !( 52 ) 
 
 MISS TOWNLEY TO MR. SHARP. 
 
 Saturday 'Afternoon, June 23d, 1804. 
 
 This morning, when Joanna awoke, she asked 
 Mrs. Underwood, if she heard any one call Tom ? 
 Underwood said no. Joanna said, it called aloud 
 and waked her. She then toM her dreams, which 
 are in the other letter ; she being told the night be- 
 fore, that the Lord would clear up wondrous mys- 
 teries this- day, and feeling no Power of the Spirit 
 within her, she laid down faint and melancholy in 
 her bed, and said she could not live without the 
 Spirit of the Lord was with her: and it did not 
 seem to be strong upon her, only to tell her to write 
 her dreams. When we had written them, we received 
 a letter from the Rev. Mr. Foley, and I shall pen 
 his words as they are in his letter. " Last Monday 
 .evening, about eight o'clock, we were most agree- 
 ably surprized with a visit from our dear friends, 
 Mr. Mrs. and Miss Hirst, from Leeds; they. had 
 brought their daughter, from what I had written 
 to them, and from what they had heard, to take 
 her to Mrs. Hughes's in Herefordshire *, in hopes 
 she might be restored to perfect health, by the Di- 
 vine Power given by the Lord to that favoured ser- 
 vant. They rested themselves one day here, and on 
 Wednesday last, they set off for Kingsland, accom- 
 panied by my wife ; and I do expect them home 
 this day (Frday) and may the Lord crown their 
 faith and endeavours with full and perfect success, 
 is my sincere and ardent wish. From what I can 
 learn of this extraordinary woman, is, that her won- 
 derful cures seem to be wrought according to the. 
 strength of faitli in the persons who come to her : 
 they that have great faith are soon cured, and tlicy 
 
 * A remarkable account of this Woman, pretending to cure dis- 
 eases by a Divine Power, has appealed in the Newspaper*.
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 that have small faith receive but small benefit. But 
 by and by, all these wonderful matters will be per- 
 fectly cleared up. When Mr. Mrs. and Miss Hirst 
 return to Leeds, I shall send the communication to 
 Mr. Turner. (One o'clock, Friday). This mo- 
 ment our dear friends are returned: and no benefit 
 whatever has their daughter received ; and as far as 
 they can judge this woman is an abominable im- 
 postor. Oh ! what shall we say, or what shall we 
 think ? may it please the Lord to give us some in- 
 formation concerning this mysterious matter, through 
 our dear Joanna, for we are all bewildered and are 
 cast down. Mr. Hirst thinks she is not visited by a 
 Good Spirit, from the observations he has made dur- 
 ing the visit." 
 
 The answer to Joanna. " Now, Joanna, I shall 
 answer thee : I told thee on the Friday evening, the 
 night must pass, and on the morning new wonders 
 would burst; and I awaked thee calling Tom. 
 
 And so fiiom Tom the thing did come* 
 
 The wonders to appear; 
 And to the world they shall be known, 
 
 These wonders 1 shall clear; 
 Because like thee my people be, 
 
 The owls do frighten all, 
 And. try to pluck the fruit from ME, 
 
 But down I say't shall fall. 
 For my Express is now gone forth, 
 
 That every soul shall know, 
 The. Jezebel that is of Hell 
 
 Doth in that Woman go , 
 And there thy Dream thou may'st see plain, 
 
 That thou dost -blush to pen j 
 A Woman's nakedness thou know 
 
 Appeared unto men 
 That were by thee, thou'st blnsh'd to s?e 
 
 Her nakedness appear ; 
 And man stood by, beheld thy eye 
 
 With shame did cover there; 
 And now with shame, I'll tell thy name 
 
 The mysteries for to clear ; 
 Thou wilt not pen thy hateful dream, 
 
 From Satan it dVi appear; 
 Because from Hell the whole did swell. 
 
 As L have told thee here;
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 Adultery appear'd to thee, 
 
 Which made the man to smile ; 
 The evil then was not in he, 
 
 Though her would him beguile; 
 But 'twas not so, I well do J<now, 
 
 She could not him ensnare, 
 Because that he as well as thee, 
 
 Laugh'd at her folly there; 
 Though other men to her may come 
 
 In her adulterous place; 
 And try to heal, my Bible steal, 
 
 And all my laws disgrace. 
 It is with shame I do explain 
 
 This chapter unto men ; 
 For now this day, to thee I say, 
 
 They're acting in her plan ; 
 Naked they be, I plain dp see, 
 - And naked they'd make all ! 
 And so they heal, my Bible steal, 
 
 But necer clear the Fall; 
 The ways of men they do go on, 
 
 Pretend great cures they do; 
 But to the purpose let all come, 
 
 They'll find my words are true: 
 They cure no more than she did there 
 
 And Hirst's daughter see; 
 And now, you Shepherds every where, 
 
 You're acting just like she; 
 You do pretend to cure the men. 
 
 Or women that appear 
 By your Religion that is vain 
 
 In your adultery here : 
 You adulterate in every state 
 
 My Bible as it doth stand ; 
 And, as the Woman heal'd the Child, 
 
 You're healing now the land: 
 That's not at all, 1 tell you all, 
 
 They gain no more from ye, 
 Than to Hirst's daughter there did fall 
 
 To gain her cure from she. 
 So in the dark stands every mark, 
 
 As I have said before; 
 Your wondrous healing will not do, 
 
 My Bible must appear. 
 So my Express is gone with this, 
 
 A Warning to Mankind 
 You adulterate my every Word 
 
 And that you all shall find. 
 Simplicity was seen in they, 
 
 They went the truth to know; 
 Because that I who dwell on high, 
 
 Work'd in them this to do; 
 To find the cheat and prove deceit 
 
 Did in her strong appear.
 
 ( 55 ) 
 
 They did not say 'twas want of faith 
 
 Prevented the cure there 
 To try to heal where thieves do steal, 
 
 Thev did not thus go on ; 
 Then honesty in them you see, 
 
 And can you blame these men 
 That do declare what truth is here, 
 
 And in that truth abide ? 
 But when the Liar did appear, 
 
 They'd not in her confide. 
 To judge that she was warn'd by ME 
 
 These wonders for to do : 
 For when the truth of her was tried, 
 
 They found it was not so. 
 Then they went on as honest men, 
 
 Confess'd the truth to see ; 
 That an Impostor she was then, 
 
 And so they would say of thee 
 When they came down to judge the sound, 
 
 And found. deceit was the;*;, 
 They'd ne'er uphold thy written hand, 
 
 But would all condemn thee here. 
 So now at last the truth doth burst 
 
 To prove them upright men : 
 Now see my Bible how 'tis plac'd, 
 
 The world for to condemn, 
 That act like she in treachery, 
 
 Pretend what cures they do; 
 Pretend the Sinners they do heal, 
 
 When I know 'tis not so. 
 And wonders here must strong appear, 
 
 If it could be done by man ; 
 No, there's the silver did appear, 
 
 That thou took'st in thy hand, 
 And said the rust, or yet the dust 
 
 Had cover d to thy view, 
 And gave the pieces to their liand, 
 
 But did not know 'twas true, 
 Till thou didst try, and then did cry, 
 
 This silver is deceit- 
 si mean to bring it round this way, 
 
 And shew thee every cheat 
 That is in man: the time is come 
 
 My Bible I'll fulfil 
 And now, I say, if men u,o on 
 
 Like this adulterer still, 
 Her doom shall fall upon them all, 
 
 And in one bed be come! 
 You adulterate my Bible all, 
 
 And Boldly ME condemn; 
 With infamy 1 plain do see, 
 
 Your Maker you do scorn; 
 Your Lying Wonders now I sec, 
 
 Is like that Woman come.
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 Lilce her yon heal, like her you steal, 
 
 Your God for to provoke; 
 But now, ye stubborn sons of men, 
 
 1 shall turn back the stroke. 
 Your God you mock, for you know not 
 
 In Spirit strong I am here ; 
 And in my face you all do spit 
 
 Your letters shall appear * 
 Against you all, when 1 do call, 
 
 My chosen men to meet 
 I'll strip the cloathing then of all: 
 
 And tremble at rrty feet; 
 Because in She your likeness see, 
 
 For there's the cure you make, 
 You heal the blind in Infamy, 
 
 Where Satan's arts do break; 
 To wound them first and then to burst 
 
 Pretend you've made a cure ! 
 But in the end, you'll find these men 
 
 To feel their wounds much more; 
 Tl>an e'er before they did appear 
 
 Their wounds will surely break: 
 This is the way, I now do say, 
 
 You're healing all my sheep : 
 Your God provoke, to bring the stroke 
 
 That I've now brought on man ; 
 And by that Jezebel I'll prove 
 
 That like her you do stand. 
 Then now appear, your letters clear 
 
 That you've turn'd back to me: 
 Til prove like Jezebel you are, 
 
 Then your repentance see 
 Before too late, to meet her fafe 
 
 Like Jezebel become ! ! ! 
 Her Lying Wonders did appear 
 
 To frighten upright men : 
 Because in they no arts 1 see, 
 
 Nor none they do contrive; 
 And as my Bible stands that way 
 
 They simply were deceiv'd 
 They knew that healing must appear 
 
 And so they judg'd 'twas come. 
 But now the mysteries I shall clear 
 
 And tell how't shall be done : 
 When men do know my Bible's trut. 
 
 And all I have made good, 
 They'll heal the wound that I shall make. 
 
 For there the Spirit stood; 
 And there't must come, I tell you, strong 
 
 When Prophecies appear ; 
 
 Letters returned by the Clergy with cofttempt.
 
 ( 57 ) 
 
 I said I'd kill and make alive, 
 
 Then healing must appear 
 When I cast down to make the wound 
 
 The Conscience Men must healj 
 And tell them Satan, in the sound, 
 
 Did all their learning foil; 
 Because that there they must appear 
 
 My Bible for to see ; 
 And know the wise men they must fa.Il - 
 
 No man shall boast to me 
 As they've began, I tell them plain, 
 
 They can't to me appear. 
 Now think upou another dream, 
 
 What humble man went there 
 With thee to go, thou well dost know, 
 
 When thou that sight didst see; 
 And then the other man did smile, 
 
 And so the end will be ; 
 Tor my Express, that's now gone forth, 
 
 Will many men alarm ! ! ! 
 Therefore, f told thee, night nor day 
 
 They should not stop my hand: 
 But must go on, I told thee plain, 
 
 To bring the Midnight Hour 
 That Foley he might wake like thee 
 
 And feel my every power, 
 And say a God in wisdom stood 
 
 To make the mystery clear, 
 The Jezebel they did allude 
 
 Was in the Woman there 
 And they'll see plain, 'twas not iu vain 
 
 The journey they did take;. 
 The Midnight Hour will shew my power,, 
 
 How I shall now appear 
 The Horn to mow, they all shall know 
 
 The Midnight Hour is come ! ! I 
 Therefore the thing I ordered so 
 
 This way to bring it on: 
 The Shadow lure doth first appear. 
 
 The Towns for to alarm 
 Oh ! what dispatch, they'll say, is here 
 
 That they do not discern ? 
 The Foe is come, bejudg'dby some 
 
 Andfo he's at their door; 
 The greatest foe that is tor man, 
 
 '!'!><."! let their tsars appear 
 Their swoul to draw, for soon they'll know 
 
 He's digging pit* for all; 
 The greatest murderer now is come, 
 
 To make vour nation fai i 
 And so heel kill, your blood he'd spill, 
 
 It' I did not av 
 And my Expn - , this way fiit lorth 
 
 The hearts of some to shake, 
 H
 
 ( 58 ) 
 
 That now do stand then in this land;. 
 
 As she did then appear; 
 They are goipg out bv Hell's command 
 
 To meet their murderer there. 
 But now, whose Fan is in his hand, 
 
 I'll surely purge this floor, 
 And trembling make the Rebel stand*. 
 
 And keep the prisoners here; 
 For some 1 see like her to be, 
 
 Going out to meet their doom; 
 But T sisal 1 stop them now this way,. 
 
 Or Satan in. their room 
 Shall surely fall, I tell you all. 
 
 It' they will stand like she. 
 And tremble now to hear the call, 
 And judge the words from ME, 
 That 1 did speak, in fury break, 
 
 A* men so mock'd my name; 
 And say, they fear for to appear, 
 
 Did we our. God blaspheme? 
 I know that some will now begin 
 
 That way for to appear 
 " We judge our God is in the sound, 
 
 " 'Tis time to tremble here. 
 ** Now we see plain we are but men, 
 
 " Our Bibles did not know, 
 '" This way the Lord would ever come, 
 
 " We ne'er discern' d it so : 
 * So .it is said, we are misled* 
 " We ne'er did undertsand 
 *That perfect in the Woman's Form* 
 
 " He'd come again to Man 
 ** To free the- Law, we all do know 
 
 " We judg'd it at that time; 
 " When to the Cross He sure did go 
 
 " What folly fdl'd our minds? 
 " To judge it then, as simple men, 
 
 " We cannot make it clear: 
 * Under the Law, we all do know, 
 
 " The .lews do now appear 
 rt Under the fall we do see all 
 " In Adam's guilt to stand. 
 " Then how can we our Bible, clear 
 
 " And prove that now we staiulr 
 " Can we contrive to say alive 
 
 " In Christ all surelv be? 
 " As then in Adam all did die! ! ! 
 
 " it cannot be provd by we: 
 " Then wo mail fear the Lor.D is litre 
 
 " Provok'd in every sound: 
 ' \\\<\ if 'tisIliM we mock so here 
 
 " In guilt we 'hall be found. 
 " \Yc know at !:ui the die is cast, 
 
 " The worst error is come 
 " -The sin against the Holy Ghost 
 " Will not be forgiven djflliau
 
 < 59 ) 
 
 "* Then we tray fear for to appear 
 
 " One step further to go, ' 
 And like the woman trembling there, 
 
 I know, will many do 
 Then I'll repent and will relcni! 
 
 The threatening I have made ! ! ! 
 Though .'lezehel, a Type of Hell 
 
 1 have like my SJiephcrds laid, 
 Because that here they did appear 
 
 T($ mock me so with scorn ! ! ! 
 But yet their sins I now will clear 
 
 That humhly will return, 
 And say like Paul *\we now must fall 
 
 At our Emanuel's feet, 
 For the dispatch is gone for all 
 
 The Midnight Hour to meet." 
 So I'll end here and say no more, 
 
 But let the night pass through ; 
 Then other wonders will appear 
 
 To hring before thy view. 
 
 Saturday Night, June 23 d, 1 804 . 
 
 FROM MISS TOWNLEY TO MR. SHARP. 
 
 Sunday, JwieQAth, ISO! 
 Joanna waked with great joy and happiness in her, 
 and began to plan a simple scheme in her own head, 
 the way she thought she should hear the voice 
 of the Lord call her aloud, as she often heard 
 her name called aloud, and was promised she should 
 again ; and she thought it might he in the simple 
 plan she had placed in her own mind ; but finding 
 herself disappointed, she laughed at her own folly, 
 and told us her plan and her thoughts. The plan we 
 saw, but her thoughts were unknown to us, before 
 she told them, and then laughed at her simple 
 thoughts that she had been placing in her own 
 mind, and how she was disappointed, but did not 
 feel any sorrow at her disappointment ; but all was 
 joy and happiness within ; and she was admiring the 
 beauty of the Wisdom of the Lord, in what won- 
 drous manner he was working; and that she would 
 not go one step from his directions, for the whole 
 world. She was remarking the impudence und ig- 
 
 11 '2
 
 ( 60 ) 
 
 norance there was in men, from an impudent igno- 
 rant clergyman, that had the assurance to write to 
 Miss Townley, that she spent her money in the work 
 of the Lord ; for so it is, whatever the wretch may 
 judge it. He said he should not be surprized, if the 
 Chancellor took care of her fortune. But none ot 
 these threatenings are ever sent to ladies of fashion, 
 who ruin their fortunes in the works of the devil, 
 by gambling at cards, operas, balls, assemblies, 
 masquerades, and every catalogue of vice, that the 
 devil can invent, These are very well to be supported, 
 and every luxury and extravagance are very well to be 
 upholded, till their shattered fortunes are gone ; and 
 the poor, honest, industrious tradesmen, arc often 
 ruined by their extravagancies ; for they not only run 
 through their own fortunes, but they run through 
 the fortunes of others, and then think it very well to say 
 they are broke, therefore the people must forgive than, 
 and they remain as gentlemen the same, and with im- 
 pudence and confidence demand it, because of their 
 Rank and Title. After making these remarks to us 
 in part of the words, rivers of joy run througrV her 
 mind ; joy that she cannot express, and she felt her 
 heart tec full to keep silence ; she came out of her 
 bed and walked up and down the room as fast as pos- 
 sible, and said she felt hcrfelf so full she should 
 burs'- if Miss T, did not put down the communica- 
 tion she was copying and send it to her brother 
 to copy off; and call Underwood to sit to writing; 
 for she says, the world is at an end ; the days oi So- 
 dom and Gomorrah are come, in a day (hey little think 
 of; and in a day unawares the Lord will come witli 
 a shout FEO.M Heaven, as the voice of many wa- 
 ters; for Lis Ambassador is gone forth; His hokn js 
 blown; the Horn of Salvation to all them 
 that are waiting; the Coming of the Lord. His 
 Ambassador is gone forth, and His Horn of Salva- 
 tion is come.
 
 ( 6i ) 
 
 " The midnight hour of joy is come, 
 To my Beloved it is known, 
 Because at fust you saw it here; 
 I said the Woman should appear, 
 To warn my brethren all the same 
 And so to Foley this did come, 
 A midnight hour of joy to he ; 
 And so to Sharp this, thing might he; 
 For I'll send it by no post, 
 Because by silence men arc lost;* 
 Therefore My Horn, must hlow aloud 
 Tor to awake the sleepy crowd 
 And this Express they all must know 
 Does from 'their God and Savioub go: 
 To warn the people I'M at hand: 
 The days of Sodom now command, 
 And now Gomorrah all sliail see. 
 It is like Lot that you must flee ; 
 The day and hour when 1 do warn, 
 I tell you all, you don't discern: 
 For like the thoughts that were in thee 
 I tell thee perfect is in me. 
 They saw the plan I did prepare, 
 But yet my thoughts no man. did hear, 
 The thing, that I had in my view; 
 I'll bring the shadow now from you 
 Because the shadow there I plac'd, 
 And in thy heart 'twas I that hurst 
 To shew thy plan, but yet conceal, 
 Till afterwards thou didst reveal 
 The very thoughts that were in thee. 
 And now I'll tell the thoughts of sj.e, 
 My plan before you I did lay, 
 But all my thoughts conceal d like thci 
 Till now s the time I do appear 
 For to reveal the mysteries here. 
 1 said mv Bible tuuj: must come, 
 Then now discern it, implc men, 
 HowNoah's Ark doth now appear 
 And from the man I've taken her, 
 Now waiting for hci Co use Lor.n, 
 And listening for to hear his word, 
 As he did say, to gaji aloud ; 
 Then trenible all, ye bu, y c rowd. 
 Who now stand waiting at t'n door 
 To have your lover murder'd here, 
 A> Satan's ways you so di lo\ _ . . ! 
 Then now the truth to all I'll prove 
 That I ike the Gardener he doth call, 
 And deep he's digging pit- for all. 
 And yet he tells you, 'tis in \<v 
 If you'll meet him he uowwill j rove 
 A faithful husband to you all: 
 And like that woman yoij would fall.
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 If that MY KOHN do not ovale 
 
 The trembling hearts of men to shake, 
 
 That like the woman they may stand ; 
 
 For they're defil'd by Satan's hand, 
 
 Just as that woman, then with child, 
 
 I tell you all, he has beguil'd ; 
 
 And now by arts he'd lead them on 
 
 To bring the midnight hour for man 
 
 Into /lis cui'scdpit to fall', 
 
 The day of vengeance so he'd call 
 
 To bring the fatal pit for man; 
 
 And like that woman men do stand, 
 
 That now are listening to his sound, 
 
 And in his fetters strong are bound, 
 
 As she was then bound to the man. 
 
 By his pretended love 'twas done; 
 
 And now by his pretence the same 
 
 They've alldespis'd their SAViouR'sName; 
 
 And like that woman they do say 
 
 Satan their lover won't betray. 
 
 For though I meet them at the door, 
 
 And tell them dangers they are near, 
 
 If they go on like her that way, 
 
 They'll meet their ruin said by he. 
 
 And so by violence he kept her back, 
 
 Until he'd been and seen the wreck, 
 
 And shew'd her plain his dream was true: 
 
 Unto the grave he bid her go 
 
 When he had made the villain fly, 
 
 He shew'd her plain her death was nigh, 
 
 If he had let her gone alone, 
 
 She plainly saw she was undone. 
 
 And now to man I say the same, 
 
 The arts of Satan you inflame, 
 
 Stoutly to stand against your God 
 
 And tell the paths you all have trod, 
 
 And in them you Avill still go on, 
 
 You can't tin :i back, nor shun the man 
 
 That now is digging pits for all, 
 
 Wherein 1 say you ail must fall, 
 
 And bring the day of vengeance here. 
 
 It is for man he doth appear 
 
 To flatter on, for man must be, 
 
 It never was design'd for he 
 
 To bring the curse upon his head 
 
 As in my Bible it is said. 
 
 This is the wa? he flatters here ; 
 
 Twas he beguil'd the woman there, 
 
 And now by him that she must stand 
 
 But I have pluck' d her from his hand, 
 
 And warn a her of the midnight hour. 
 
 And Tiell shall feel my every power: 
 
 lie dig'd a pit for her at first, 
 
 And by that pit he now is cast;
 
 ( 63 ) 
 
 And by that pit he shall appear 
 And tremble as the man did there; 
 And like the man I'll mate Him Hy 
 'Tis for the Woman he must die; 
 You know I told you at the first, 
 For her I did pronounce the cure, 
 Because that he had herbetray'd 
 And so the. Gardener's arts were laid; 
 And I the thing did then ordain 
 To bring this parable to men, 
 How like the Gardener all is plac'd; 
 Tire simple woman so is cast, 
 That was betray'd by Satan's hand. 
 And now the way that men do stand, 
 They'd surely bring her murder here, 
 And Satan's arts would not appear 
 If I in Power did not burst, 
 And blow my Trumpet at the last, 
 That he no further should now go ; 
 He did betray her as a foe, 
 And then his lust to make complete, 
 He thought for her to dig the pit, 
 Wherein he thought he'd make her fall. 
 This is the perfect Type of Hell: 
 After the Woman he did lust 
 When the Creation first did burst, 
 And then the Woman did betray, 
 And she with child in grief did lay, 
 And then her murder he brought there. 
 Another fable must appear, 
 To make the mystery out more plain ; 
 Now think upon thy Mother's Dream, 
 Or yet a dream to thee she told ; 
 For every mystery I'll unfold. 
 These things were all ordain'dby me 
 That men their Bibles plain may see; 
 So now f bid thee place the two, 
 That's in thy heart I well do know, 
 And then the whole I shall explain, 
 And from my Bible prove it plain." 
 
 The dream that was in my view, was of two 
 servant maids, that lived with my Grandmother. 
 After they were gone away, one of the maids 
 that was very fond of my Grandmother (as well 
 as the other) came one day to my Grandmother 
 and wept bitterly about a dream that she had had. 
 She dreamt, that in Caddy-fields, between Or- 
 treyand Fairmile,she was walking, and iriCaddy-fields 
 she met a Cat, sitting upon a gate, which scratched 
 her upon the right breast till she bled to death. 
 1
 
 ( 04 ) 
 
 Mv Grandmother went to comfort her, and bested 
 her never to ao that wav alone. Whether it was 
 that nigiit, or a lew nights after, I cannot remember, 
 but at the very same place she dreamt the Cat met 
 her, she was found as it was supposed ravished and 
 r urdered. She was found murdered, and by the 
 Jury judged to be ravished. The young man that 
 courted her left Ortrey and was never heard of af- 
 terwards ; so it was supposed the deed was done by 
 him, But before this* murder was heard of, an ap- 
 prentice maid my Grandmother had laughed at 
 the woman's folly for crying about her dream; but 
 my Grandmother answered 
 
 Dreams are not always fables, Moll *, 
 Though, some wonders they do tell 
 lor 'tis in dreams the Lord doth warn 
 A way that men do not discern. 
 
 After this fatal murder, my Grandmother had 
 another servant maid, who was then gone from her 
 to Sidbury, and my Grandmother then lived at 
 Caddy near Ortrey. She came to my Grandmother 
 and told her dream ; that she dreamt she was walk- 
 ing over Sidbury Hill, and a Serpent met her, and 
 stung her to death. My Grandmother was alarmed 
 about the other's dream and death, and begged her 
 for her life, never to go that way alone ; and to pre- 
 vent any dangers happening to her going home, my 
 Grandmother said one of her servant men should 
 carry her home ; but now I cannot remember per- 
 fectly, whether ^he had the man to carry her home, 
 as my Grandmother argued with her from the 
 fate of the other, though 1 think she was not terrified 
 from her dream, but said she could go home safe; 
 however, my Grandmother would not -let her, and 
 one of my Grandfather's servants carried her home, 
 as they were all alarmed about the other's death ; 
 
 * Molly Gaidlner wa.s the name of the servant.
 
 ( 65 ) 
 
 but in carrying her home, they met no man at all, 
 and she saw no dangers stood in her way, for which 
 reason, she thought it folly in my Grandmother, 
 to be so fearful of her walking alone ; and after that, 
 within a week or a fortnight, I think it was, my 
 Grandmother heard the news that she was found 
 murdered at the very spot that she dreamt the Ser- 
 pent met her ; and wasjudged like the former, to be 
 ravished first and murdered after. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 ** Now, Joanna, thee I'll answer . 
 
 As these women did appear, 
 Perfect so, I now do tell tnee, 
 
 Satan's arts in all are here. 
 The Jews at first like cats did hurst, 
 
 The howling noise they made, 
 They spit at me, like cats to be, 
 
 My Mother was betray'd, 
 I say the same, they slew her name, 
 
 And ravish' d theu the Jews, 
 Till dead to me they all did fiee, 
 
 And let them hear the news : 
 That they at first like cats did burst, 
 
 The howlirig noise they made, 
 Against their Saviour they did burst' 
 
 Oh J men, be not misled. 
 Like cat's appear, they did come there, 
 
 And made such doleful cry; 
 They howling then like cats appear'd * 
 
 They said in Blasphemy, 
 That'! was come their priest and king, 
 
 A Saviour they'd destroy ; 
 And as I would not yield to them, 
 
 My life they would enjoy 
 It at the stake, they then did break, 
 
 And did like cats appear, 
 Because the noise they all did make 
 
 Is perfect like them here. 
 And now my Gospel you read through, 
 
 You'll sec the likeness clear; 
 What cats begin appear'd in men. 
 
 What noise they all did make; 
 Until their Saviour they had slain, 
 And brought ME to the stake"! 
 That sure did come, in love to man, 
 
 As site did him behold; 
 But when he told his bloody plan, 
 Her trembling heart grew cold; 
 In agony she then did lay 
 When byliis lust opprcsj'd,
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 And then his cursed love did see 
 
 Her faithful breast to thrust ; 
 The dagger through, you all do know, 
 
 Went through her every soul, 
 And so she felt the fatal blow 
 
 And now I tell you all, 
 Just like the Jews, that did refuse 
 
 My dying love for man, 
 You all may tremble at the news, 
 
 For you like him do stand. 
 You do appear, 1 tell you here, 
 
 You Jews in every sound ; 
 For like the cats you did appear, 
 
 And then you struck the wound 
 To strike me dead, and then you fled, 
 
 I tell you all, from me. 
 So like that man, you Jews do stand, 
 
 And murdering cats you be : 
 JLikc them you howl, like them you scow], 
 
 My blood you then did crave ; 
 Upon your heads you said it should fall 
 
 And now my blood you'll see 
 Shall now appear, your guilt to clear, 
 
 I f you in grief do turn ; 
 And like the man you'll now appear, 
 
 In conscience for to mourn; 
 For well I know his grief was so, 
 
 His life he could not bear j 
 He surely felt a Judas' woe, 
 
 And died in deep despair. 
 For like the first his grief did burst, 
 
 When me he had betray'd ; 
 For my disciple he was plac'd, 
 
 That brought this on my head. 
 Then now see clear the likeness here, 
 
 Her lover he profess'd, 
 That afterwards he did appear 
 
 To wound her faithful breast: 
 For to betray, her murder lay 
 
 Committed by his hand ; 
 And then his conscience him betray' dt 
 
 And made him leave the land ; 
 Because that there he could not bear 
 
 Longer to remain ; 
 But of his end they did not hear 
 
 And now I tell you plain, 
 The end of man to all is come, 
 
 The murderers all shall flee; 
 But as you did not know the man, 
 
 What end did come to he; 
 So unto all it now will fall, 
 
 Their end you will not know. 
 But fatal will their ruin be, 
 
 To them that strike the blow,
 
 ( 67 ) 
 
 Or do assume for to begin 
 
 To strike tbe blow once more ; 
 You like the Gardener will be seen* 
 
 In your own pits appear ; 
 As he did then, ye simple men, 
 
 When digging of the grave; 
 He thought Uie woman should be slain, 
 
 His honour for to save ; 
 And money too, he then thought so, 
 
 For he must then provide 
 The helpless offspring to bring up, 
 
 If he the wife denied: 
 To make her so, he well did know, 
 
 He must the trial bear; 
 Unto expences this would go, 
 
 Which he the whole did fear. 
 So conscience deep that was asleep, 
 
 Then digg'd the pit for all: 
 Until he found his every net 
 
 Had digg'd therein to fall. 
 So Fll end here, and say no .more. 
 
 But to the Gentiles come: 
 For here the Murder must appear, 
 
 The Serpent is in them : 
 Because that he doth silent lie, 
 
 And stings them with a spear; 
 A noise in he you do not see, 
 
 Like cats for to appear; 
 And so 'tis come, 1 say to man, 
 
 The Gentiles they are here, 
 For to betray, as she did say, 
 
 The Serpent with his spear. 
 I've shew'd you first how it did burst, 
 
 The Jews like cats did slay, 
 And so the woman she was cast, 
 
 Her dream came round that way. 
 But know the last, how that was plac'd, 
 
 Twas by the poisonous spear; 
 You know in him no noise was seen 
 
 The Gentiles so are here; 
 They do not break, like cats, to speak, 
 
 Like Jews for to become ; 
 Because they had no footing here, 
 
 The whole for to condemn. 
 So silence see in tlicm to be, 
 
 Like adders they are found, 
 That are deaf to every mystery- 
 Then tremble at the sound. 
 See how you are plac'd, ye fallen race, 
 
 Like serpents to become, 
 That do the Woman now disgrace, 
 
 But have no foot to stand. 
 I tell you plain, ye sons of men. 
 
 Th*t footing you have none, 
 
 - I %
 
 ( 68 ) 
 
 The Woman here for to condemn. 
 
 But murder is your tone: 
 " In silence tic, we'll make her die, 
 
 " Her blood we'll surely spill:" 
 As I did then on Calvary, 
 
 By Cats, judge as you will. 
 But now 'tis here, I'll prove it clear, 
 
 Like Serpents you are come, 
 And silent lie that she may die, 
 
 Your sting this way is known. 
 Then of the two, I tell you true, 
 
 The Jews are noxo the best: 
 The Natural Branch is in my view, 
 
 And the Wild Olive cast. 
 So now see plain, ye sons of men, 
 
 How these two Women stand : 
 This very thing I did ordain, 
 
 To bring it to the land ; 
 Because that here you cau't appear 
 
 To prove the Fable'wrong; 
 For see the noise 'the Jews did make, 
 
 When I to theni did come; 
 But now again tnt second Time, 
 
 Like" Serpents you appear; 
 And I have tried you every way, 
 
 No noise in you I hear; 
 But silent lie, that all may die 
 
 And thousands yon -will kill, 
 I tell you, by your silent spears ; 
 
 Now judge this as you will: 
 Your footing's lost, and you may boast 
 
 Like the deaf adders here, 
 No other way, to thee I say, 
 
 They ever can appear, 
 Unless they see the mystery 
 
 The woman then with child ; 
 That just like her they certain be 
 
 By Satan's arts beguit'd ; 
 Then they'll see clear he doth appear 
 
 To dig the pit for all; 
 And to go further, such will fear, 
 
 That they their end shall fall ; 
 Because they'll see, as deep as thee, 
 
 These Parables do stand, 
 That surely were ordain' d by me 
 
 To bring all to the hud. 
 So my express must thus go forth, 
 
 The Horn to blow for all; 
 I've laid a way you did not see . 
 
 In bye paths this to call ; 
 A way unknown to man I'm come, 
 
 For so 1 said it should be; 
 And in a day, I now do say, 
 
 The truth they all will s-ee, 
 Men to appear, ns thou said st he re, 
 Like Empty Bottles come;
 
 ( 6 9 ) 
 
 But if I find them trembling here, 
 
 I'll Jill them up xv/t/i WiNji. 
 So lot thy Fable now ap'var, 
 
 I'll answer thee again." 
 
 It was a thing that I thought of a lady at Exetef, 
 whom a very empty prodigal i^an went a courting 
 to, thinking to gain her fortune, as he was in dan- 
 ger of breaking every day ; but the lady was told 
 of his circumstances ; and one day when he came to 
 dine with her, the lady asked him what he chused 
 to drink ? He said wine. The lady had agreed with 
 her servant before, and ordered the gentleman a 
 bottle of wine. The footman brought a bottle 
 corked close, as if it were full of wine, but no wine 
 was in it, arid put the bottle on the side table. She 
 desired the pretended gentleman to draw the cork, 
 and help himself to a glass of wine. The gentle- 
 man drew the cork, and said, " Oh, madam, this 
 bottle is full of emptiness." " Yes, sir," she re- 
 plied gravely, f{ and so are you ;" and then laughed 
 at his folly, to make any attempt to come to her. 
 I said Miss Townley might say the same by the 
 Clergy, that they were full of emptiness, by the 
 impudent and ignorant letters they have sent her, 
 which a plough boy would have been ashamed to 
 have sent. This made Joanna see mankind as full of 
 emptiness as the bottle was that the lady produced to 
 the gentleman, that when the cork was drawn there 
 was nothing there ; and they have drawn their pens 
 the same, and might well be ashamed to own their 
 names ; for how could they answer to see their let- 
 ters with their broken wisdom, like the gentleman 
 that went to the lady with a broken fortune ? And 
 when he missed his aim there, he soon discovered 
 he was as empty as she shewed jpim, for he broke 
 soon after ; and just so will all their empty wisdom 
 break into folly : " For they will soon find they 
 have a God to deal with, and not a simple woman, 
 that thev would defile and murder as the two wo-
 
 ( 70 ) 
 
 men mentioned by thy Grandmother ; but now they 
 shall rind I will awake, and protect the Wo- 
 man, as the Gentleman did, who rose at midnight 
 to save her life." 
 
 " For so I say, mj* midnight now is past, 
 
 To blow the Horn, and shew how all must burst} 
 
 For my Dispatches they shall so appear, 
 
 And with the dawning morn begin it here, 
 
 To, blow the Trumpet at the dawning day, 
 
 And with the rising Sun it now must % 
 
 To say the Years of Jubilee are come, 
 
 The ftansom'd Sinners they may now return ; 
 
 And so my Horn that day it shall go through, 
 
 And bring the setting Sun before their view, 
 
 With the Dispatch that I to all do send: 
 
 Because these things I surely did ordain 
 
 As Types and Shadows, for to place before j 
 
 And I let Satan for to work it there, 
 
 His every cursed art to work in man, 
 
 To shew how Woman/eft his ariful hand. 
 
 And by his power he made the Woman fall: 
 
 I tell you plain, these Men are Types of Hell ; 
 
 And Types of Hell you'd let them still appear, 
 
 If like the Master I did not appear, 
 
 To cast the Villain in the Pit he digg'd, 
 
 While all the nations are in sorrow big j 
 
 For big with sorrow all the lands I see, 
 
 Just as the \*oman nam'd by thee. 
 
 And now another Fable I shall place, 
 
 And then I'll tell thee how I'll answer this." 
 
 It was of a pretended great Gentleman, who went a 
 courting to Ladies at a great distance, and pretended 
 he was a going to marry them, but when they did 
 come, he robbed and murdered them ; and to con- 
 ceal his villainy^ he would make a visit to their 
 parents, to come and see them ; and when the parents 
 affirmed they had not seen their daughters since, 
 nor the maid that attended them, he would 
 pretend to be in the greatest agonies possible, fear- 
 ing some other rival had run away with them. In 
 this practice he continued for some time ; at last he 
 went a courting to a single lady, who had no pa- 
 rents to protect her. at all, and she was jealous of 
 him ; but to find out the truth of her jealousy, she 
 was determined to have a servant man to go with 
 her, and he (the gentleman), had invited another
 
 ( 7) ) 
 
 lady to accompany her ; but as they did not live all 
 on one road, theydid not gotogether,but appointed 
 to meet together at his house. The single lady, that 
 was on horseback, espied him at a great distance 
 from his house, walking with the other lady. She 
 said to her servant man, " I'll alight and run in, 
 and search his house," and charged him not to stir 
 from the place where she left him. She went up 
 stairs, and sawagreat many ladies' hands cut off, stuck 
 full of diamonds and gold rings, and she had the cou- 
 rage to pick up some, and put in her pocket. She 
 saw written behind the door 
 
 " Be bold, but not too bold, 
 
 " Lest your hearts' blood grow cold." 
 
 She had the courage to write in answer 
 
 . Bold I am, and bold I'll be, 
 ** Further I'll go, and more I'll see." 
 
 After she had gone through the whole, and had 
 seen the ladies' rich apparel, which he had taken 
 from them, when he murdered them ; she espied 
 him coming with the lady, and fearing to run out 
 of doors, lest she should he catched, she saw a 
 little door that went in under the stairs, where she 
 slipped in, and pulled fast the door. She heard him 
 say to the lady, her companion was not come, and 
 he would go up stairs and shew her his rooms. 
 Here her heart began to tremble for her companion ; 
 but knew, if she discovered herself, she could 
 pot save the other's life. The other's heart began to 
 tremble when he offered to take her up stairs, know- 
 ing herself a single lady in the hands of a gentle- 
 man ; he then began to force her up stairs, which 
 alarmed her jealousy the more, and she put her 
 hand to the bannister to keep herself back ; and he 
 immediately took out his knife and cut her hand off, 
 and let her know her fatal doom "when he had drag- 
 ged her up stairs. The shrieks and cries of the lady 
 prevented his hearing her get out of the closet that
 
 ( 72 ) 
 
 was under the stairs, and the lady's hand dropped 
 into her lap through a hole in the stairs. She 
 wrapped it in her handkerchief, and ran to her ser- 
 vant, while the bustle of the murder was up stairs, 
 and she rode home as fast as she could. And judg- 
 ing he would come to see her the next dav, she in- 
 vited a large company of ladies and gentlemen to 
 dine with her. He came as she expected, and all 
 the gentlemen and ladies ; she sent word she was 
 not very well, that she had got a cold, and begged 
 he would amuse himself with the company till 
 dinner was brought in, and by that time 
 she should be able to get up and come down. 
 In the mean time she ordered her sen-ant to have a 
 strong guard of constables round the house, to take 
 him if he offered to flee through jealousy. When 
 this was done, she had an elegant dinner carried in, 
 and then she entered pale as death, and he pro- 
 fessed to be sorry to see her so poorly. She said 
 she hoped she should be better by and by. He 
 then complimented , her upon her elegant dinner ; 
 she said*, Ye r , sir, but I have a much finer dish Jor 
 you than any one that is here. At these words he 
 turned pale, and jealousy alarmed his breast ; 
 he feared that as he had done to others, the Lord 
 'would requite him : she immediately ordered her 
 servant to go out and bring in that dish, which she 
 had shewn him. The servant went out and brought 
 in a dish with the ladies' hands, and the rings that 
 he had cut off placed round the dish ! He saw his 
 destiny then too late that the just judgment of God 
 had overtaken him. He fell almost lifeless on the 
 floor, and was taken to jail, where he received the 
 just punishment due to his cursed crimes. 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 " Now, Joanna, I will answer thee. As the Lady 
 placed that man's murder before his view, so have I 
 placed Satan's murders before him in thy Sixth Book, 
 shewing how he murdered all the Woman's gooi
 
 ( 73 > 
 
 Seed throughout: and now I shall place this to 
 
 and to thee. For that Parable stands a 
 
 Type for Safaris end. It was him that worked in 
 
 , to desire thee to come to her house; tor he 
 
 thought as he had slain the other before, he might 
 by arts slay thee also ; but as soon as his murderous 
 arts appeared, that he had slain all her faith, I took 
 thee from the house, and then he followed thee like 
 the man in thy Dispute. But I had a strong guard 
 of angels round thee, as the Lady had of men ; there- 
 fore when he told thee to be bold, but not too bold, 
 lest thy heart's blood grew cold, it was I that gave 
 thee courage to answer, Bold I am and bold I'll be, 
 further I'll go, and more I'll see : " 
 
 Which gave thee courage to go on, 
 And 1 11 condemn him by thy hand, 
 That shall against him now appear : 
 I'll make the wretch to tremble there* 
 When that before him all do come, 
 He'll feel his doom is like the man 
 That did the woman so betray. 
 For so their lives he took away 
 In every age that's past and gone. 
 But know bv wisdom this was done, 
 Her jealousy it did appear, 
 To know the truth she ventur'd there, 
 And to the house she went alone, 
 Until she pass'd through every room, 
 Where robes of innocence did lie ! 
 For his black arts, did them betray, 
 And so she saw the rings appear, 
 Upon the murder'd fingers there ; 
 And so the Rings ofc Faith, I know> 
 Are oft by Satan murder'd so. 
 Their Rings of Faith he takes away, 
 And so their lives he doth betray, 
 And strips them of their every robe, 
 That should bring them unto their Got>r 
 And so his nits do men betray, 
 Their innocence he takes away, 
 Until the Ring of Faith be lost, 
 And so of murder he doth boast, 
 And hath gone on unto this day, 
 Until my Wisdom here did lay, 
 To place thee in that Woman's room, 
 To bring on him his final doom. 
 And so thy faith I strengthen^ on 
 For to go on as she began ; 
 In jealousy thou didst appear ; 
 To know the truth thou ventur'd there,
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 And did goon from room to room 
 Till thou beginnedst to fear thy doom, 
 Because a Lady he brought in 
 That by his powerful aits he d slain; 
 That then the mystery thou didst see, 
 That she was murder'd then by He, 
 In every faith that she had got! ! 
 But know, before what thou hast wrote, 
 " '['hat bold I am, and bold I'll be, 
 " Further I'll go, and more I'll see.'* 
 And so alone thou hast travell'd on, 
 And wert supported then by man, 
 That did in faith stand strong with thee 
 His subtle arts that thou might see. 
 And so his subtle arts did come, 
 The murder'd woman must be known, 
 He told her thou should'st fall the same, 
 When by his arts he did inflame 
 Her heart in unbelief to burn; 
 Then back her cloathing thou didst turn 
 That he may now possess the whole, 
 For in her heart he strong doth rule. 
 And in the end all souls will see, 
 The Mysteries deep of her and thee. 
 Because the likeness doth appear, 
 Thou travellest on in wisdom here; 
 Procur'd the words the Villain spoke. 
 Because that toay he now shall drop. 
 And so like her, thou must go on, 
 'Fill to the purpose all do come: 
 And then thy dying looks they'll see, 
 Will fill his heart with jealousy. 
 And soon thy Book shall wake him fall; 
 And paler than the whited wall, 
 I tell thee, thou wilt see the man, 
 That hath been guided by his plan. 
 So from the woman you see here, 
 The way his death must now appear ! 1 ! 
 But if thy faith should now give up, 
 There is no room for man to hope: 
 For if the Lady then had died 
 In trembling fears, when there she lied, 
 His murder tben could not appear ; 
 Had he grown faint and fainted there, 
 Before the other's life was Hcd, 
 That he had done the murderous deed, 
 Then : ure her Might could never come, 
 Her fainting fears would her undone; 
 And others, mn*t have fell the same; 
 His practice he would have carried on. 
 So bv her Courage she did save 
 Her life that day then from the grave, 
 And many others from that doom 
 D ;cern the Parable, ye men!! 
 Because ! tell you it goes deep, 
 What ot thix woman now I speak,
 
 ( 75 > 
 
 For so will be the end of If ELL : 
 No more against her do you swell 
 Unless your Daughters you'd destroy, 
 And he go on for to enjoy 
 His murderous schemes, I sav, the ^ame, 
 And let this Woman you inflame, 
 To think of what she did go through, 
 To bring the Murderer to your view, 
 To stop his hand and slay no more 
 And now Ml end this Fable here, 
 Which is of Women, that did come; 
 But now I'll bring it unto Man, 
 The \l&rmiiisDr\imthe whole JiiUst clear, 
 And let the Fable now appear. 
 
 The fable was of a gentleman and his man, who 
 were benighted and came to a private inn. The man 
 went out to rub down the horses; and putting his 
 hand under the manger for a lock of hay he felt a 
 man's head. He went in and told his master, what 
 house they were in. The master said, if we both go 
 away they will be jealous ; therefore, you go and take 
 my horse and ride to the town as fast as you can, 
 for a regiment of soldiers ; and tell them you are 
 going for a particular paper for me to write on. The 
 man went as his master ordered ; but the ostler came 
 to him, and begged to let him go. The man said, 
 it was as much as his place was worth, for if he let 
 another go in his room he would never keep him 
 another day ; and, his master's paper was at a par- 
 ticular shop, and no man could get it but himself. 
 With these arguments he prevailed on the ostler to 
 let him go ; and as fast as his. horse could go he 
 went back to the town, which was five or six miles off. 
 After the man was gone sometime, two villainscame 
 into the room and asked the master, which should be 
 his murderer? He said, he hoped neither. They told 
 him, yes, one or the other must. He said then, he 
 hoped they would spare his life till he saw his ser- 
 vant and they might die together. They said, when 
 the servant came back he should meet with the same 
 fate ; but he must die then. When the gentleman 
 found nothing would do, he said, then lie hoped 
 
 k '2
 
 ( 76 ) 
 
 if he must die, they would give him one hour to 
 make his peace with God, as he must die. Devils as 
 they were, the restraining hand of God was with 
 them, that they gave him that hour, and turned up 
 an 1 our-glass ; and there was but a thimble of the 
 sand to run, when they heard the drums of the sol- 
 diers beat aloud ; then the villains immediately tied, 
 and knew they were betrayed, by the same hands 
 they had betrayed and murdered others ; but 
 though they fled they were pursued,, and every one 
 was taken ; and the house was put down never more 
 to be a public house after, that no more such devils 
 might go in their room, to murder others as they had 
 clone t 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT, 
 
 u Now, Joanna, thee I'll answer: 
 
 From this Parable appears 
 The lust hour is approaching, 
 
 And the sand for man is near. 
 Because their death for to bring forth 
 
 Satan is strong in man : 
 And if they do not wisely act, 
 
 Their murders all will come. 
 Because that two, bring to thy view, 
 
 At the Lower Moor did die * : 
 For Satan had inHam'd them so, 
 
 That the Devil was in thee: 
 So both did die, I tell thee why, 
 
 By Satan's artful hand, 
 Because in they he strong appear'd, 
 
 For there the Type doth stand. 
 So they are dead and both are fled ; 
 
 Then let the world take care, 
 That it don't fall that way to all ; 
 
 The Alarming Drum is near, 
 For men to free from misery, 
 
 That Satan now would slay. 
 The travellers they must fall like he 
 
 That under the manger lay 
 Had they not come, in wisdom strong, 
 
 In wisdom to appear 
 You all must own 'twas wisely done : 
 
 The I'arable see clear, 
 That I have plac'd: ye fallen race, 
 
 'Tis wisdom now must shine. 
 I ask what learning then could clear 
 
 Tie man's life at that time ? 
 No; 'twould not do, I tell you so, 
 
 Then wisdom's ways now see ; 
 
 * See page 39, of this Book.
 
 ( 77 ) 
 
 It is by wisdom you must go, 
 
 If now preserv'd you be; 
 For wisdom here did bright appear, 
 
 The lives of both to save; 
 And wisdom here, I'll prove it clear, 
 
 Must keep you from the grave, 
 That Satan here, did strong appear, 
 
 I say to dig for all!! ! 
 The Alarming Drum will soon be known. 
 
 To prove from whence the call; 
 For men will see, as deep as he, 
 
 Their lives stand now at stake; 
 For Satan's come their lives to claim 
 
 The Alarming Drum will break: 
 Then happy men that now begin 
 
 To see their death is near; 
 And by their wisdom will contend, 
 
 To bring my soldiers near, 
 That at the grave their lives to save; 
 
 For Satan threatens so, 
 That all their lives he now will have, 
 
 Then let my servants go; 
 In wisdom here let them appear 
 
 And all my soldiers bring. 
 It was in wisdom then he said, 
 
 His master plain was seen ; 
 So wisdom here let it appear, 
 
 Learning will never do; 
 For no philosophers could clear, 
 
 Such wisdom to pursue, 
 As then was done by they two men ; 
 
 Then wisdom fast pursue, 
 And then you'll all find in the end 
 
 Like them two you will do: 
 Yourselves to free from misery, 
 
 And make your foes be cast ; 
 Then all the houses I'll put down, 
 
 Where Satan's rage doth burst; 
 To murder all, both great and small, 
 
 The single hour they'll see: 
 When the last sand is nearly run, 
 
 A larmtng Drums will be 
 Their lives to save, when near the grave 
 
 Their deaths seem to appear; 
 The Alarming Drum they'll tee will come, 
 
 And their deliverance near. 
 So thus I'll end, for I intend 
 
 Men's wisdom for to try ; 
 And from the Parables that are penn'd. 
 
 The end for all draws nigh. 
 So my Express must thus go forth, 
 
 The dawning day appear 
 And from the rising of the Sun, 
 The Fables all are here.
 
 ( 78 ) 
 
 But from the day, I now do sav, 
 
 I shall the whole go through* 
 And from the Setting of the Sun 
 
 The sparkling light you know, 
 That doth appear from Fables here, 
 
 And wise you'll see the end ; 
 But wisdom's paths despisd they are; 
 
 'Tis deep what thou hast penn'd. 
 So I'll end here, and say no more, 
 
 But MY EXPRESS muni- flu ," 
 
 And tell my soldiers to take care, 
 
 The Alarming Drum is nigh. 
 The sand's near run, the hour's near gone, 
 
 The manger they will see; 
 If they in Wisdom do not come, 
 
 They all will die like he." 
 
 Sunday, 12 o'clock at Night. 
 
 FROM MISS TOWN LEY TO MR. SHARP. 
 
 Tuesday Afternoon, JunelO, 1804. 
 
 We have sent away two long letters to the 
 Keverend Mr. Foley, with the events of Monday 
 and to-day, with a very extraordinary Parable ex- 
 plained ; but as I could not go through the events 
 of the evening in Mr. Foley's, I shall continue them in 
 your's. And here you may puzzle your head a little 
 imre, and wonder from whence the beginning of this 
 all sprung, as the events of the day are all concealed 
 from you ; and a wondrous day it was. A little after 
 ten o'clock last night, Joanna was ordered to take 
 up her bed and walk. She went out of bed and 
 walked hastily up and down the room : at last the 
 Spirit op the Lord entered into her with Power, 
 saying, he would fulfd the Parable that she had 
 been writing ; for now, he had proved the Devil 
 the liar by the two witnesses ; and as Satan had 
 walked up and down the earth hitherto, the Lord 
 would walk up and down the earth now ; for he 
 was come in majesty and in tower, too great- for us 
 to bear if he came in his own p erson ; we could not 
 bear him in that divine majesty and power, 
 appear. ng in his own person, speaking in words he 
 was then speaking in her : How he would claim
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 the earth for hts own How he would destroy the 
 works of the Devil How he was treading the wine 
 press of his Father's wrath against the Devil. " But 
 should I appear in my own person Should I 
 appear in my own power Should I appear in my 
 own majesty, you would all tremble to stand be- 
 fore me. Therefore I am come in Spirit in the 
 Woman, to declare my Father's will unto men. You 
 are my two witnesses against the Devil Fear not 
 Lydia ; be not terrified my friends ; for I am in the 
 spirit, and I will destroy your enemy ; I will de- 
 stroy my adversary. Warn my disciples ; for I will 
 come in majesty and great power; but how 
 could you bear it, if I came in myself, to declare 
 these things ? No, I tell you, I must come in the 
 Woman, to destroy all the works. of the Devil and 
 in the woman I now appear Therefore, Satan, 
 feel thy doom ; thou hast belied her thou first be- 
 trayed her and now she hath obeyed me thou hast 
 belied her. Therefore thou shalt feel the rod of my 
 vengeance; and a new gallows shall now come for 
 thee : here are my two witnesses, to witness against 
 thee. Fear not ye women ; fear not my Lydia ; fear 
 not my Mother; fear not my Sister I will be your 
 Saviour I will be your Conqueror I will tread the 
 liar between my feet ; he shall feel the weight of my 
 fury ; he shall tremble and fall before me. I am pre- 
 sent in the Woman's Form But in my own form 
 you could not bear me In my own form you would, 
 tremble before me ; therefore I come in the Woman, 
 in a way that ye can bear, to declare my loving kind- 
 ness to the children of men. My faithfulness 
 and goodness I will not keep back : For with the 
 faithful I will deal faithfully ; and with the upright 
 now I will deal uprightly; but with the f'roward I shall 
 deal f rowardly ; and with hell I will deal with fury ; for 
 he shall not walk up and down in the earth as he has 
 done; I willcut him off and walk up anddown in his 
 room; I will claim the kingdom for my own, and I
 
 ( ) 
 
 will walk up and down in it I will come in ma- 
 jesty I will come in power. But should I appear 
 so now, vou women would fear and tremble ! But 
 fear not, ye women, I am with you I will protect 
 you rand I will destroy your enemy that came with 
 lies against you. My Promises are sure, and I will 
 fulfil them ; for I said the gallows should be for the 
 liar ; and my lands should come to the heir with my 
 Daughter that spoke the truth. Therefore tremble 
 now, Oh Satan ! thou shalt feel the weight of my 
 fury : for as thou puttest thy garters across the fan, 
 this clay, and thoughtest to thyself it was like Wool- 
 lands wards, throwing villains one on the one side 
 of the gallows and the other on the other; and so I 
 said, I would throw Satan- and his accomplices, 
 that had tied and bound thy feet so long ; for which 
 reason, thou didst throw them-so hastily on the floor, 
 and desired Underwood to pick them up and put 
 them into the fire, as thou wouldest never touch them 
 more. And so the fire of my anger shall now destroy 
 all the works of the Devil, and all the powers of the 
 Devil. But here thou must stop, and tell the sense be- 
 fore thou goest further : the greatest part of the words 
 before it came to thy garters, was delivered by me 
 last night, but some words were spoken, that I have 
 not repeated now." And now I shall speak from my- 
 self l After I was ordered to take up my bed and 
 walk, I went immediately out of bed and walked 
 up and down the room, fori knew the Lord did not 
 mean me to take my bed at my back ; so I went out 
 with my pondering thoughts, of the Parable I had 
 been writing in the day, and the abominable lies of 
 the Devil. All of a sudden the Spirit entered in me 
 with such power and fury, that my senses seemed 
 lost ; I felt as though I had power to shake the house 
 down, and yet I felt as though I could walk in air, 
 at the time the Spirit remained in *me ; but did not 
 remember many words I said, as they were delivered 
 with such fury that took my senses ; but as soon as
 
 ( 81 ) 
 
 the Spirit had left me, I grew weak as before. Now 
 what was spoke through me last night, I cannot re- 
 collect myself, but I was ordered to pen the words, 
 as they were spoken to me now ; so Miss Townley 
 and Underwood can* be better judges of the like- 
 ness of the words than I can ; but I perfectly re- 
 member these words, (i That if he came in his own 
 person, might, majesty, and power, that we 
 women should be afraid." To the best of our remem- 
 brance, say Townley and Underwood, they are the 
 very words that were spoken last night, from eleven 
 till twelve, and much more was spoken, as the words 
 flowed much faster than any pen could write them ; 
 and the room shook so violently that we were obliged 
 to take the things off the drawers. I laid upon the 
 bed, as perfectly quiet and composed, listening to 
 all she said ; Underwood stood at the feet of the bed, 
 looking at her and listening with the same attention; 
 but neither of us felt any fear ; and Joanna saith she 
 felt nothing but joy and power. 
 
 But here she must introduce a Parable. It was of a 
 Knight that was travelling and benighted ; and hear- 
 ing the mistress of the house, where he stopped, crying 
 out, he asked, What was the matter ? They said, she 
 was in child-bed. He went out and looked at the pla- 
 nets, and the child that was that moment born, he be- 
 lievedmust be his wife. lie went in and asked the farm- 
 er, if she was brought to bed ? The farmer said. yes. 
 He asked, what it was? He said, a girl. He got lodg- 
 ings for the gentleman hard by. He finding that 
 child was born for him made him restless ail the night. 
 I shall pen the story as I heard it. 
 
 The Knight he ditl tumble and toss in his bed, 
 
 And many strange piojects came inlo his head} 
 
 With a vexing lieait, next morning he rose, 
 
 And so to the house of the Fanner lie goes, 
 
 And asked the man with a heart full of spite, 
 
 If the i hild was alive, that was born the lasi night.? 
 
 " Worthy Sir,'' says the banner, " althoo%h i am poor, 
 
 I had one born last night, and six heretofore. 
 
 Four sons and three daughters 1 now have alive, 
 
 They are all in good health and are likely to thrive."
 
 ( 82 ) 
 
 " Well, then," said the Knight, " if seven you have, 
 
 Give me the youngest, I'll keep her most brave, 
 
 For I am a Knight of a noble decree, 
 
 And if you will part with the child unto me, 
 
 Full three thousand pounds I'll unto thee give, 
 
 When I from your hand your daughter receive. 
 
 The Father and Mother with tears in their eyes. 
 
 Did hear the kind offer, and both were surpris'd. 
 
 They delivered unto him the sweet babe on that day. 
 
 And With her he rode on till he came to some sea. 
 
 lie said if you live, you must be my wife, 
 
 But lam resolv'd to bereave you of life. 
 
 So he took the sweet Babe, and then threw her in 
 
 But mind how good fortune for her did provide, 
 
 She was then driven back on the waves by the tide, 
 
 And a man that was a fifhing as fortune would have 
 
 When she was a floating along with the wave; 
 
 He then took her up but quite in a maze, 
 
 He kiss'd her, and press 'd her, and on her did gaze; 
 
 And said, " he had never a child in his life, 
 
 " And now I will carry this home to my wife." 
 
 The wife was well pleased the child for to see, 
 
 And said " my dear husband, be ruled by me, 
 
 V For as we have no child, if you'll let me alone, 
 
 " We'll keep this dear infant, and call it our own.'* 
 
 The good man consented, as now we are told, 
 
 And spared for neither silver nor gold ; 
 
 Until that she was eleven full years, 
 
 And then her sweet beauty began to appear, 
 
 The Fisherman was drinking one day at an inn, 
 
 And several gentlemen were there drinking with him, 
 
 The woman sent the girl her husband to call home, 
 
 And when she into the drinking room came, 
 
 The gentlemen there were amazd for to see, 
 
 The Fisherman's Daughter so full of beauty; 
 
 They asked the Fisherman if the child was his own? 
 
 He replied, on the seas the infant was thrown. 
 
 The Knight in the company these words he did hear, 
 
 And said he would give him a thousand for her. 
 
 The Fisherman then sold her to the Knight for 
 the money ; the Knight told the child he would 
 send Iter to London in a coach to a brother of his, 
 where she should be brought up like a lady ; but 
 he wrote a letter and put it in the portmanteau and 
 said to his brother 
 
 " With sword or with poison destroy her this night, 
 " And not let her live till the next morning light.'' 
 But a thief in the night, with an evil intent, 
 To rob the portmanteau immediately went; 
 The thief was amazed when he then could not fiui 
 No gold nor no silver, nor nought to his miud^ 
 But onlv a letter the which he did read.
 
 ( 83 ) 
 
 And soon put an end to this treacherous deed: 
 
 The thief read the letter, and had so much grace, 
 
 To tear it and write in the very same place: 
 
 *' Dear Brother, receive this Maid now from me, 
 
 " And bring her up well, as a Maiden should be ; 
 
 ** Let her have good learning, dear Brother, I pray, 
 
 " Let servants wait on her by night and by day, 
 
 *' And when that I come, I'll sufficiently pay." 
 
 The Maid was attended most nobly indeed, 
 
 She'd men and maid servants to wait on her with speed. 
 
 Before a twelvemonth this cruel Knight came about 
 
 And as the Knight and his Brother together did talk, 
 
 lie saw the fair Damsel in the garden to walk. 
 
 She look'd then most beautiful, pleasant, and gay, 
 
 Like to the sweet Iris, the Goddess of May : 
 
 lie was in a passion when he did her spy, 
 
 And said most angry, " Why, brother, why, 
 
 " Did you not do as in my letter I writ ?" 
 
 His brotlvcr replv'd, " it is done every bit." 
 
 !Ic shewd him the letter that very same day, 
 
 The Knight was amaz'd, but nothing did sav. 
 
 lie said then the Girl sbail now go with me; 
 
 And with her he rode, 'till he came to some sea; 
 
 He then look d upon her with anger and spite, 
 
 And spoke to the Damsel and bid her alight. 
 
 Then down from her horse she immediately went, 
 
 And trembled to think what was his intent 
 
 " Ne'er tremble,'' said he, " for this hour is your last, 
 
 4< So pull off your cloathes, I command you in haste.'* 
 
 The virgin with tears on her knees did reply, 
 
 Saying, " What have I done, Sir, that now 1 must die. 
 
 " Oh ! pray let me know wherein 1 did offend, 
 
 " I'll stand on the sand each hour to nuke you amend." 
 
 We pull' d off his ring from hisjinger, and said 
 
 *' Pray look on it well, for the posev is plain, 
 
 " That you, when you see it, might know it again ; 
 
 *' I charge you for your life no er appear in my sight, 
 
 " Tor if you do I shall owe you a spite, 
 
 " Unless you do bring the same unto me," 
 
 With that, he let the Rinj; drop in the sea. 
 
 Which when he bad done, away he did go, 
 
 And (eft her to wander in sorrow and woe. 
 
 She rambl'd all night, at last did espy 
 
 A homely poor cottage, and to it did hie; 
 
 Being hungry and cold, and her heart full of grief, 
 
 She went to this cottage to as'< for relief. 
 
 The people reliev'd her, and the next dav 
 
 They got her a service as they do now sav, 
 
 At a nobleman's house not far from the place, 
 
 Where she did behave with a most noble ^race. 
 
 One day she was opening a fish, and saw the 
 gold ring, which she perceived with r?ptnres of 
 joy. Some years after,, the Knight came to the 
 
 l 1
 
 ( 84 ) 
 
 house where she lived to dine ; he perceived the 
 damsel in the gentleman's house, and asked her to 
 take a walk with him, which she complied with ; 
 but as soon as he came out of sight of the people, 
 he said, " You strumpet, did I not charge you for 
 your life, never to -appear in my sight ?" She hasti- 
 ly answered him, " Not till I did bring the same 
 ring that remember you dropped in the sea," which 
 she returned to him. He received the ring and fell 
 on his knees, and said, " Pardon, fair creature, I 
 humbly pray, for thou hast a million of charms ;" 
 and then he married her, with raptures of joy and 
 love. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 " Now mark the man. The thing was in the 
 Womb of Providence, which he with all his might 
 tried to prevent ; but all his schemes would not do. 
 The art of man, or the power of man is as nothing, 
 to light against the determined decrees of Jehovah. 
 Pride tempted the man to withstand his happy fate, 
 receiving a bride that was beautiful, young, and in- 
 nocent. To see an infant born of mean parents, he 
 could not benr to think that child should be the 
 partner of his soul to complete his happiness ; yet 
 that child perfectly completed it after he had seek- 
 ed so many ways to destroy it. The ring made him 
 fall at her feet, when she brought him the ring that 
 lie had cast away. This child I will place first to 
 my birth, when the star appeared in the East, and 
 the news was brought to the Wise Men, that I was 
 born the Peince and Saviouk of Mankind ; they 
 sought the young child's life to destroy it, but my 
 flight into Egypt, like the child's being thrown into 
 the sea, preserved my life: but here I know thy heart 
 is puz-zled, thy mind is confused -how can I bring 
 the likeness of that child to myself, when I was 
 destroyed and the child was preserved ? No, I tell 
 thee, there stands but the shadow, for I must come- 
 again in the Woman to fulfil the substance. So I 
 ball go again to the shadow, of the fisherman nh
 
 ( M ) 
 
 first preserved her life. As Jonah's life was preserved 
 in the sea ; so the man preserved the girl from the 
 seas, to preserve her life for more fatal ruin ; for as 
 thou sayest in thy heart, had not the heavens pro- 
 tected the child, she had better died in her infancy 
 than to be sold as she was into the hands of the 
 Knight, that might have seeked her ruin worse than 
 death, if he had not seeked her death ; but kind Pro- 
 vidence had been over-ruling to protect her. And 
 now I shall come to the thief, and comp.ire him with 
 the thief upon the cross, after Judas had betrayed me 
 and sold me. The thief upon the cross reproved 
 the other thief, and spoke of me as the other wrote, 
 " Remember me in thy Father's Kingdom." 
 
 So here zv e ended \ June 'IJ , 1804. 
 
 ** But here the subject I shall cud, 
 
 Suppose her then to die, 
 !No further on was my intend, 
 
 To bring it on that way. 
 Now, by this letter, I'll suppose 
 
 The shadow to appear, 
 And so my likeness then I'll close 
 
 To go no further there. 
 My Father's will for to fulfil 
 
 1 did go through for man: 
 And now go back unto the child, 
 
 How she at first was born: 
 A destiny design d to be, 
 
 The Partner of mans soul; 
 But Satan's arts did swell in he, 
 
 And here's the fate of all. 
 The arts of Hell began to swell, 
 
 When I the Woman plac'd 
 To be the Partner of his soul, 
 
 Then Satan's rage did burst! ! 
 But puzzling here it doth appear, 
 
 I know thy mind's perplex d; 
 Plow I this thing can now compare, 
 
 With the Creation fix'd ; 
 Because the man was then the plan, 
 
 As thou the thing dost see; 
 That sought the murder of the child, 
 ' And after married she. 
 Then bow to man can this now stand ? 
 
 Is thy enquiry here. 
 Then mre the Fall which was from Hell 
 
 Doth now in man appear;
 
 ( 86 ) 
 
 The way thou see the mvstery, 
 
 The murder of the child; 
 Because hy man 'twas carried on, 
 
 By Satan s arts bepuiCd ! ! 
 I tell thee so the Fall did go, 
 
 And must from man appear 
 The Fall of Man, I tell the plain 
 
 He cast the Woman there: 
 Because 'twas man did her condemn, 
 
 Then now begin to see; 
 The Woman's fall, 1 tell you all, 
 
 From Satan ne'er could be, 
 If man had conic in love then strong 
 
 Condemn'd the Serpent first; 
 Then I must come in love to man, 
 
 And on the Serpent burst. 
 But he did say another way, 
 
 And like the Knight appear 
 " The woman she did me betray, 
 
 " And I'll condemn her here; 
 " Mv destiny I now do see 
 
 " Is in the woman plac'd 
 *' And .iow myself 1 mean to free, 
 
 " And have the woman cast." 
 So he anpear'd I tell thee there, 
 
 .lust like the Knight become 
 ** My poverty 1 now do fear, 
 
 " The woman I'll condemn :" 
 So she was cast, the Knight did burst, 
 
 I tell you, like the Child; 
 The parents then did give her up, 
 
 And man is surely foil'd: 
 Because the King shall sure be seen, 
 
 That in the seas teas cast ; 
 And in the end you'll see it plain, 
 
 My yisiiLs so will burst, 
 To bring the Ring so plain to man 
 
 That they will then fall down, 
 And say the Kin - '; (hey do discern. 
 
 The truth in all was found. 
 The word at (irst it so did burst, 
 For in the sea, they then will say, 
 
 It was in sorrow cast ! ! 
 The woman on her trembling knees, 
 
 Did then in sorrows burst: 
 " What have I done ye simple men!'' 
 
 And let her words appear, 
 Tis innocence that v>nx betray d 
 
 And sec her Patients here, 
 They gave her up as they did hope 
 
 The man would faithful be; 
 And t-o the fall if then did drop, 
 
 When Satan did act like he; 
 To say thn child I have beguil'd 
 
 And blessings she shall know.
 
 ( 87 ) 
 
 So'now your learned men are foil d, 
 
 For Satan work'd it so 
 The ruin first -from him did burst, 
 
 As Satan laid the plan ; 
 And so I tell you at the last. 
 
 The end will come to man. 
 When he do see the mystery, 
 
 (low Satan led him on, 
 By every art he could invent, 
 
 To frustrate my plan; 
 I tell you so, I tell you true, 
 
 This way doth man appear: 
 Just like the Fable in your view. 
 
 Mankind have sure boon here 
 The planets see, your destiny, 
 
 For heaven first laid the plan; 
 The woman should your helpmate be, 
 
 Your wedded brides become ; 
 But you went on, ye simple men, 
 
 For to condemn the whole ! I ! 
 And in the seas you threw her then. 
 
 Her seas of sorrow fell. 
 To take her out, let no man doubt, 
 
 But 1 did then ordain, 
 And by the promise that I made, 
 
 I brought her out again, 
 A BRIDi. to man behold my plan, 
 
 And the next Promise see, 
 Tliat over her, her Lord shall rule. 
 
 And so the end shall be. 
 So I'll go on from man to man, 
 What sorrows did appear 
 When Heavens protect her at the first, 
 
 By man preserved were; 
 That kiss'd and prais'd, and on her gaz'd, 
 
 And call'd her then his own. 
 And as a child he did preserve, 
 
 Until the gold did come; 
 Then he betray'd, the child misled, 
 
 For cursed gold was cast: 
 You all must see the mystery, 
 The way the fable's plac'd : 
 Sold unto one that then did come 
 
 Her life for to betray 
 But mark the thief was found in man, 
 
 That sav'd her life that day. 
 Because lie tore what did appear, 
 
 1 ler life for to destroy: 
 And mark the words were written there 
 
 She honour should enjoy ; 
 And honour then to lici did come 
 
 But here the lines go deep ! ! ! 
 The Knight did to his Brother come. 
 
 While conscience was asleep : 
 " You should have done as I command," 
 The Knight to him did cry:
 
 ( 88 ) 
 
 When in the garden he saw her stand, 
 
 The girl he doonid to die ! ! / 
 His Brother then he did begin 
 
 To answer, " it is so, 
 "Your Letter see 'tis done by me j" 
 
 And did the Letter shew. 
 Where, in a maze, the Knight did gaze, 
 
 And marvell'd how 'twas so; 
 The Letter there did so appear, 
 
 So different wrote by he ; 
 Her murder there for to appear, 
 
 And now preserved to be ! ! ! 
 In written hand my name doth stand, 
 
 " But who did forge it here 
 *' I do not know" the Knight thought so 
 
 " My deeds shall not appear. 
 * My Brother s blind, I now do find, 
 
 " To what I said before : 
 *' I have not courage in my mind, 
 " To name the deed once more; 
 ' So Til conceal, and not reveal, 
 " What in my heart doth lie; 
 ** The murder here shall now appear 
 
 ** Conceal'd from man to die : 
 " So now with me the child shall be, 
 
 " And I'll destroy the whole." 
 So in disguise, before their eyes, 
 
 He thought to make her fall : 
 When in his hand the child did stand, 
 
 He took her then with he; 
 And when the seas he did command, 
 
 Her sorrows let her see: 
 The seas are burst, and you are cast, 
 
 " And now condemn'd to die ; 
 " Take offyour cloathing at the last," 
 
 Was then his every crv. 
 But she did not behold the stroke 
 
 Did to her heart appear ; 
 And ask'd what evil she had wrought 
 
 That she must perish there ? 
 Upon the sand she said she'd stand 
 
 Each hour to appear, 
 For to make him every amends, 
 
 If she did offend hiin there. 
 Then from the ring he did begin 
 
 To bring it to her view ; 
 And bid her see the poscy plain, 
 
 That she the ring might knoiv> 
 If e'er again it should be seen 
 
 To come before her view, 
 Then she might boldly answer him, 
 From his own words pursue:
 
 ( 9. > 
 
 " You charged me" the child might say, 
 
 " Never for to appear, 
 Unless tlie ring that 1 could bring, 
 
 " You in the seas dropt there." 
 So seas came.on, and sorrows strong, 
 
 She wander'd then alone, 
 Without a friend for to defend, 
 
 To Heaven was all her moan ; 
 Then I did provide, as it was raid, 
 
 Her strangers, in distress, 
 That did protect; her in the night, 
 
 And calm'd her grief to rest. 
 The service there she did prepare, 
 
 And friends she there did see ; 
 Because the maid beloved were, 
 
 Then in the house you see ; 
 Her place not high, you all may cry, 
 
 A slcullion maid become; 
 And so the fish was clean'd by she, 
 
 Where she did find the ring 
 She kept with joy would not destroy, 
 
 Though she might sold it there, 
 And bought. her clothing at that time, 
 
 More fit for her to wear. 
 But she did not now mark her lot, 
 
 By faith she kept the ring, 
 Because she judg'd her every lot 
 
 Depended on the thing. 
 If ever more he should appear, 
 
 The ring her life must save 
 And as her faith to her was then, 
 
 The end it so did prove 
 Because the Knight before your sight, 
 
 Did unto her appear, 
 When coming to her master's house, 
 
 He saw the damsel there, 
 Which made him swell in rage from Hell- 
 
 " Can I not her destroy ? 
 "It is by arts, I do know well, 
 
 " Her life L must enjoy: 
 *' Begin by love the cause to prove, 
 
 " And take her from men's power, 
 ' And when alone she makes her moan, 
 
 " I may her life devour." 
 So thus went on the arts o : man 
 
 A Hermit in disgui e\ 
 Because before him I did stand, 
 
 To make him act so wise; 
 The ring ai first for to be cast, 
 
 And say she might appear, 
 If e'er such wonder it should burst, 
 
 For her to sec it more 
 But wonders then, ye simple mea, 
 
 Did unto. him appear j 
 M
 
 ( 90 ) 
 
 When she did remind him of his words, 
 
 And shew'd the ring was there. 
 Then from the ring I'll now begin, 
 
 All Satan s power teas broke 
 And as a man he there did stand, 
 
 Or did before her drop 
 *' Pardon, said he in agony, 
 " For wonders I behold ! !.! 
 " Millions of charms in thee must be, 
 
 " My fluttering heart grows cold; 
 " When I look back upon the stroke, 
 
 " How oft I've seek'd to slay 
 " The beauty bright before my sight," 
 
 " That doth in wonders lay. 
 Wonders at first to me did burst 
 
 ** When I the star beheld, 
 ** That such an infant then was bora 
 
 " For me vo cloath with gold. 
 " No beauty then to me was seen 
 
 " To see a helpless child, 
 *' Born of such parents that were mean, 
 
 " A Knight's heart to beguile; 
 " Ladies of fame I thought to claim, 
 
 " In title great with me; 
 Therefore the heavens 1 judg'd unkind, 
 
 " To shew such destiny 
 ' As did appear to me then clear, 
 
 " To let myself down low; 
 * But by the wonders that are here, 
 
 " No Knight so high can go ; 
 " For where is one on earth can come, 
 
 " To shew that heaven's so kind, 
 w Such wonders for them e'er had done, 
 
 " To prove that love divine 
 " Have loved she from infancy, 
 
 ** And Heavens did guard her so; 
 " Though Satan strong did seek her life 
 
 " In me, I well do know; 
 ** Because my plan I must condemn, 
 
 " A murderer from the first; 
 And so by arts [ still went on, 
 
 " Till Innocence did burst; 
 ** With truth appear before nic there, 
 
 " And wonders to behold, 
 *' None but a God kept off my rod, 
 
 " Though it made her heart grow cold, 
 ' When 1 appear'd her murderer there 
 
 " To see her on the sand : 
 " But being moved by her tears, 
 
 " I did the Ring command, 
 *' That she must bring ere she was sees 
 
 " Before me to appear. 
 ' I ne'er could thought such vondrous thiiijj 
 " That heaven protected her.
 
 ( ft ) 
 
 v The Ring to gain, ye simple iuei^ 
 
 ** Let all your Brides appear, 
 ** With all tiieir costly diadems, 
 
 " But here's the greatest here. 
 To see the Ring that 1 did fling, 
 
 " And in the seas did cast, 
 " And Heavens a Fish prepar'd for h*i 
 
 " To bring it me at last; 
 I well might fall, I tell you all, 
 
 At Heaven's divine decrees ; 
 ** You see her beauty is not small 
 
 ** I now adore his ways, 
 * That did her protect, and me kept back 
 
 " From every fatal blow, 
 *' That Satan worked in my heart; 
 
 " And 'twas from him I know, 
 * That I went on in arts so strong, 
 
 " While Heavens protect my bride, 
 " That closer to my heart is come, 
 
 " No millions here applied." 
 Compar'd with she, the man did say, 
 
 Her charms were millions there. 
 I'll answer thee another day, 
 
 My Bible so compare: 
 But men I'll see what in them be, 
 
 Their judgment let them pass; 
 And then I'll prove theanystery, 
 
 My Bible so is plac'd ; 
 And so must end, I say to men, 
 
 If you your Bibles see; 
 As he the planets did discern, 
 
 Her murderer he can't be. 
 So now in print let this appear 
 
 To try the heads of men, 
 And with their Bibles this compare, 
 
 And like the Knight become, 
 That heard the cry, as he did say, 
 
 The mother and the child; 
 He view'd the planets for to see 
 
 What fortune on him smil'd; 
 And did discern in her his own, 
 
 Which he did first reject; 
 Till heavenly stars made her his own, 
 
 By wonders to protect. 
 So wonders here do strong appear, 
 
 Much greater than the child : 
 Which in the end you'll all see clear, 
 
 Bless God you all iserefoild. 
 Her lifjc to kill, her blood to spill, 
 
 Like him you do pursue; 
 But sure like him your end will come, 
 
 Whose hearts are just and true; 
 Like him relent, like him repent, 
 
 When you her tears do see ;
 
 ( 92 ) 
 
 And say" the Ring if it can be sce 
 
 " Well gladly 1 Wed with thee. 
 *' So now we'll try where this doth lie, 
 
 " The wonders do appear; 
 " Then like the man we all shall stand, 
 
 " And say her. charms are great, 
 ** And alWs done by Heaven s command, 
 
 " Though we laid every net, 
 
 " To frustrate His just decrees, 
 
 " That do in wisdom shine. t% 
 
 u But how can man with Heavens contend? 
 
 The folly of mankind 
 We plain do see, for now like he, 
 
 Well fall before his feet. 
 " For though the shadow stands in she 
 
 " 'Tis Christ made her complete, 
 Our helpmate here for to appear: 
 
 " Bring back the Ring again, . rt 
 
 " Then the New Covenant is clear, 
 
 " The Bible we see plain, 
 Is come tb man just like the Ring, 
 
 " That he cast in the sea, 
 " And by the fish it plain is seen, 
 
 " He hath brought it back this way; 
 *' Again the sa'mc, we know his name, 
 
 ' Jehovah this hath done; 1 ' 
 Then now see clear 'the Marriage here, 
 
 The Marriage of the Lamb. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LONDON : PRINTED BY S. ROUSSEAU, WOOD STREET, SPA FIELDS. 
 
 AND SOLD BY E. Ju FIELD, NO. 2, HIGH STREET, ST. GILES S, 
 
 TWO DOORS FROM THE ANGEL INN; AND 
 
 THE MISS EVELEIGHS, ST. SIDWELL'S, EXETER. 
 
 1804. 
 
 [Price Eighteen Pence.]
 
 ( I 
 
 , . - AN 
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 PARABLES 
 PUBLISHED IN 1804. 
 
 J\.S the Two Books op Parables, which have 
 been a stumbling-block to me and to many others, are 
 more deep, weighty, and clear, to shew the end of 
 all things to mankind, than any books I have writ- 
 ten ; I shall now giye the public my own pondering 
 thoughts concerning them, and the merciful manner 
 the Lord has condescended to make every crooked 
 path straight before me, and unveiled the mysteries 
 in them, so that I have been lost in wonder and sur- 
 prise, to see the weaknesss of my own judgment, 
 and the folly of my own heart, when the Lord was 
 pleased to condescend to unveil his hidden wisdom 
 that was concealed from me. 
 
 But first I shall give a short account of my own 
 folly, and then shew how the whole is explained. 
 Though I have been often reproved concerning my 
 jealousy of putting in print those Parables, and all the 
 simple history of my Life ; yet on reading them 
 over I felt a jealousy arise in my heart, whether there 
 was a possibility of my being deceived, by the di- 
 rections of a wrong spirit, to put them in print ; as 
 I knew my Visitations at Bristol were stronger than I 
 ever experienced before or since ; and the powers of 
 darkness often assaulting me, my earnest prayer and 
 petition was, to know if the Lord had permitted a 
 wrong spirit to deceive me, for ends unknown ; 
 and fearing I might be in a sin, in disliking the Pa- 
 rables, if they were from the Lord, as taking in 
 question his wisdom, that I well knew could never 
 
 A 
 
 S. Rousseau, Printer, Wood Street, Spa Fields
 
 ( 2 ) 
 
 err ; for if the Lord had commanded , I well knew 
 he had wise ends in it ; and though my own life 
 appeared simple likewise, to put in print the private 
 thoughts of my heart, as well as my public actions, 
 fearing at that time I should disobey, if I con- 
 cealed any thing, as I was ordered to put the whole 
 in print; but when I read it over, thinking my history 
 appeared simple and foolish, I thought that I might 
 have concealed the thoughts of my heart, if the 
 Lord had not wise ends in commanding the whole 
 to go in print ; and as the sense of the books was 
 concealed from me, my petitions were earnest that 
 the Lord would be pleased to make it clear before 
 me ; upon which, in his unbounded mercies and 
 goodness, he was pleased to set a Sign before me, 
 with the following words : 
 
 " If the Sign come true that I have placed before 
 thee, perfectly so will mankind see every substance 
 follow the likeness of the Parables I ordered thee to put 
 in print. Every one of them will be clearly discerned 
 in the end, and every thing that happened to thee at 
 Bristol. However strange the parables may appear 
 to thee, they will find every one is a type of the end ; 
 every horror that was in thy heart, every temptation 
 of the devil, and every strong assault that he made 
 against thee, will be severely felt by the unbelieving 
 world ; every agony in thy heart, and every sufFering 
 thou didst go through will be severely felt in the end, 
 by those who mock the coming of their Lord ; and 
 every comfort thou receivedst, every strength of my 
 Spirit thou didst feel, and every strong visitation thou 
 hadst from me, will be felt by believers in the end : 
 for my Spirit will be strong to support my friends, 
 while Satan's fury will be strong to wound my ene- 
 mies. Because his friends are my foes ; and yet they 
 will find he is good to none, as I have told thee, 
 but full of cruelty, malice, and envy against all the 
 human race : and thus, I tell thee, they will feel 
 the severity of his being a master, to those who are 
 willing to be his servants ; and thou hast felt but the-
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 shadow of his fury on the one hand, and but the 
 shadow of my mercy and goodness on the other. 
 When I come to shake the fabric of the earth, as 
 thou shakedst thy brother's house, every thing that 
 happened to thee at Bristol, they will find are deep 
 types and shadows of the end, and a comfort to 
 strengthen believers." 
 
 In a few days the Sign set before me was fulfilled ; 
 and I was ordered to open my Bible, which I did ; 
 it was in the 1. and 3. chapters of Ezekiel, to 
 which I was answered in the following manner, from 
 the first Chapter : 
 
 '* Now come to the wheels that brought the rings, 
 which thou by no means canst understand ; neither 
 can any man understand the chapter, or understand 
 the vision that was shewn to the prophet. And now I 
 ask thee, to what purpose this vision was shewn to the 
 prophet, that no man can understand? or of what 
 use is it to mankind, if it is not designed to be un- 
 derstood, that these things stand for the end ? Now 
 I shall answer thee from this vision. The appear- 
 ance of wheels within wheels shews the wondrous 
 works of your Creator, that the wheels of provi- 
 dence and my decrees were not understood ; they 
 have been as great mysteries to mankind as this 
 chapter appears to thee ; but this chapter sheweth. 
 you all the end. when my Spirit begins to work on 
 all the living creatures, and to give, W new life to 
 mankind. As marvellous as this chapter appears, 
 of seeing the wheels turn round, and such strange 
 living creatures appear to move, as the'Sprrit leads 
 them, so strange will the end appear, when I come 
 to give new life to the whole ; therefore I tell thee, 
 the meaning of the chapter never can be understood 
 by man, why these living creatures appeared in the 
 likeness of man and beast, as the mixture is here 
 described ; and yet, I tell thee, this is the state of 
 man ; tainted by Satan and by sin, these mixtures 
 appear in him. But do men vainly suppose, that 
 
 A 2
 
 ( 4 1 
 
 these living creatures would have appeared in a vision, 
 in such a wonderful manner, to the prophet, if they 
 had not alluded to man ? for the spirit of the living 
 creatures was in the wheels. This is to shew you all, 
 that the spirit of man is in the wheel of Providence, 
 that must run on my appointed time, before I come 
 to lift them up. But was I to explain to thee all the 
 meaning of the chapter, of the running of the wheels, 
 the meaning of the rings, and the living creatures, that 
 then appeared, like the noise of great waters, as the 
 voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the 
 noise of an host : when they stood they let down 
 their wings were these mysteries all explained, but 
 few men would believe them. But now I shall come 
 to the wings of a bird. Know what I have already 
 told thee : a bird may fly from you ; a bird may fly 
 to you ; because his wings carrieth him whither he 
 pleaseth ; perfectly so is the state of man : they fly 
 from me by temptations, while Satan's power re- 
 maineth ; but when my power begins to appear, to 
 destroy all his works, then the wings of men must 
 all fall down, and they will no longer fly from me. 
 Therefore, I tell thee, this vision stands deep for 
 the end, if men have wisdom to discern from what 
 I have said : and know what I have said in thy writ- 
 ings my chariot wheels shall not delay, but my 
 Spirit shall come to raise men up, that they may move 
 round with me, and let down their wings from flying 
 from me, when I come to shake terribly the earth : 
 as I told thee in the beginning, the voice of the Lord 
 shall shake terribly the earth ; and to these chap- 
 ters I directed thy hand, that thoudrewest no judg- 
 ment from the first chapter; but wast deeply af- 
 fected with the second And they will find there is 
 a prophet amongst them, where all dark sayings 
 shall be brought to light. 
 
 And now I shall explain to thee further from the 
 words of Ezekiel, and the manner of my visitation 
 to thee at Bristol. Now mark Chapter, ii. 2, 
 " And the Spirit entered into me, when he spoke
 
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 unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him 
 that spoke unto me." Now remember, these were 
 the chapters I directed thy hand to in ninety-three, 
 when I sent thee to warn the Methodists ; from 
 which chapter thou judgedst of their rebellion, and 
 their refusing to hear the warning, which proved to 
 thee, according to the words I spoke to the prophet 
 of old, that in like manner it happened to thee con- 
 cerning them. 
 
 And now come to my visitation to thee at Bris- 
 tol : and know it was plain to thee, and to my hand- 
 maids that were with thee, how my Spirit entered 
 into thee, when I spoke in thee in power; and how 
 thou didst hear the words; then now discern what was 
 spoken at that time, and what I told thee should, 
 come to men and devils that hell should tremble 
 and fear; for I would come to redeem man: but 
 they should not go on to bruise my heel ; for I 
 should bruise the serpent's head : that I should 
 shake the fabric of the earth : and make men to 
 tremble and be in agonies, that know not the days 
 of their visitation *. For this is the meaning of the 
 words, if men understand them. Here the words 
 were spoken plainly of the end, according to the 
 parables I ordered thee to bring forward, if men 
 have sense to understand the meaning of the words, 
 and the meaning of the parables, in what manner I 
 have placed them for men and devils. Here let the 
 eyes of men's understanding be opened and discern 
 in what manner my Spirit entered into thee, and 
 what words I spoke in thee, before I ordered the 
 parables to be called forward and go in print ; and 
 then discern the parables, in what manner they were 
 brought forward, like the words I spoke in thee, 
 which ye may discern from the Flock of Sheep, 
 how the innocent sheep brought the murderer to his 
 destiny, and he died for the crime that he had comr 
 
 * Seepage 17 of Mr. Foley's Byok, What maimer of Communica- 
 tions are these.
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 mitted, which was before concealed from man* ; and 
 by a remarkable hand of providence, that murder 
 was brought to light ; and so they will all find it is 
 by the same wonderful hand of Providence, that the 
 murder committed in the Fall, by the subtlety of 
 Satan, is brought to light, the way he shall receive 
 his punishment, perfectly as I spoke within thee, 
 saying, Hell should tremble and fear. So let men 
 weigh my words with the parable, that I ordered 
 thee first to bring forward, after this visitation, 
 saying, what I should do to the powers of darkness. 
 Let them mark the first parable of the Flock of 
 Sheep ; and then discern how it was explained of 
 the man's being a type of Satan, that was brought 
 to light by the Sheep ; but let them know that I 
 am the Shepherd to bring forward my Sheep ; and 
 it is I must reveal the mystery, in what manner tho 
 promise stood ; and how it must be fulfilled. And 
 let them discern, from the parable, that the man 
 was not hanged for the first crime he committed ; 
 and yet it was that crime that followed him, which 
 caused the other ; because it was in judgment 
 against the crime that was concealed, that the sheep 
 stood before him, and made him suffer for the 
 crime he had first committed, though he was cast 
 another way. And here you may all see the like- 
 ness of the Fall ; the adversary of mankind, that 
 caused the fall, was not then brought to justice, to 
 suffer for the crime; and yet for that crime, just 
 judgment was passed upon him, that in due time 
 should overtake him : yet these knowledges were as 
 much concealed from man, as the knowledge of the 
 murder was from the judge : and therefore the 
 judges of this age are stumbled like him ; and so 
 they will go on until all mysteries are made plain 
 before them, to discern the parables, and how they 
 are placed. And here is a parable that stands deep 
 with the words I said to thee, " I would bind the 
 
 * See page I of Mr. Sharp's Book, called The Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 tempter to his den and shake the fabric of the 
 earth, as thou shakedst thy brother's house. And 
 full as marvellous as the parable is, of the sheep 
 bringing the murder to light, that it should not go 
 unpunished, as marvellous are my ways and decrees, 
 to bring to light the hidden things that are done in 
 darkness, concealed from the knowledge of man, 
 that justice may take place in the end. 
 
 And now mark the next parable, that I ordered 
 thee to bring forward, was the Hermit in Dis- 
 guise * : and now mark from the parable I told 
 thee before, of the Sheep in Disguise ; because it 
 was in disguise he appeared to steal the sheep, when 
 in reality he tried to shun them ; and so in disguise 
 have all my footsteps appeared to Satan, and to 
 mankind, when I suffered myself to be betrayed and 
 put to death by men. My disguise was unknown 
 to him, and to my disciples, in what manner I 
 should come again to bring the guilt on his head. 
 All my threatenings stand to man throughout the 
 Scriptures, that man might fear: few Scriptures are 
 understood by man, how they stand for the de- 
 struction of evil, for Satan's power to be destroyed. 
 And now I shall tell thee my disguise, unknown to 
 men and devils : when I took man's nature upon 
 me, and came in the Flesh, and suffered myself to 
 be tempted by the devil, as man is tempted and 
 tried, to be a witness against all his- arts ; thus in 
 disguise 1 suffered as a man ; but how could I come 
 as a God, to suffer Satan to tempt me to fall down 
 and worship him ? This could not be done, as a 
 God ; it must be suffered in disguise, as a man : 
 and in like manner I went on, through my Gospel, 
 in disguise and appearance like a man, who had not 
 power to save my Life, when I came upon the Cross. 
 But had not my Love, like the Hermit, been great 
 for mankind, to lay down my life for their sakes, 
 which I had power to raise again had not this been 
 * See page 26 of the Book called The FJock of Sheep.
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 my Love, to destroy my Rival, in the end, whose 
 arts are to draw mankind from me, I should as easily 
 have shewn them I could save my Life on the 'Cross, 
 as when I arose on the third day. Therefore, as 
 Man, I came in disguise, to bear all their mockery, 
 their shame, and contempt, that they cast on me. 
 This I bore, as Man, and disguised myself of being 
 God, or having power with God, to destroy mine 
 enemies ; but had I done it at that time, I must 
 have destroyed the Wheat with the Tares: for 
 how could I preserve Man, and destroy the power 
 of Satan, in justice to my Father's honour to 
 bruise his Head, before I had suffered him to bruise 
 my Heel ? But how could my Heel be bruised 
 by the malice of men, if I had not appeared in dis- 
 guise amongst them, to be in the Flesh like man, 
 and conceal my power on the Cross ? Here was our 
 Love united together, for me to act in disguise, and 
 my Father's power concealed, to fulfil the one, and 
 have my Heel bruised, that I might come again in 
 honour and glory, to bruise the Serpent's head, as I 
 told thee, when I spoke so powerfully in thee 
 That hell should tremble, and should fear that I 
 would bind the tempter to his den and destroy his 
 power, as the Hermit in Disguise destroyed the power 
 of his adversary. And those whose hearts are up 
 unto me, longing for my return, to come and pos- 
 sess the Kingdom, as the woman longed for the re- 
 turn of her lover, to possess his hand and heart, will 
 find my Love unveiled, and shewn to them in their 
 distress, as the man shewed his : but as disguise was 
 in the body, when I came amongst mankind, that 
 it was but few knew who I was, so I have led thee on 
 in the Spirit, in such disguise, ttat thou hast often 
 taken in question, whether it was thy Lord or not, 
 that in all things led thee on, to put these simple 
 things in print : and many minds have been like 
 thine, not discerning the depth of the whole, while 
 the unbelieving world would no more believe it was
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 the command of the Lord, to lead thee on in 
 this simple manner, than the enemy to the lady 
 would believe it was her lover went on in that dis- 
 guise with him, to bring the mysteries all to light. 
 The one appears as simple to mankind as the other : 
 and so my Death appeared simple to the Jews ; 
 they could not believe the Son of God would suffer 
 such shame and reproach for man ; and give up my 
 Life to their malice in the end ; my Gospel appears 
 more foolifh to them than thy Books of Parables can 
 appear to mankind : but how could I bring men to 
 my Gospel, and point out my Love to men, what I 
 suffered for their sakes, to fulfil my Father's will, 
 and destroy the works of the devil, to bring men 
 back to our likeness ? All my sufferings, and all 
 my life, appear to them weak and simple, not 
 consistent with the wisdom and power of a God ; 
 but how could I convince men of the whole, if I did 
 not come in the Spirit, in the same simple way, to 
 mankind, and choose a weak foolifh instrument to 
 work by, that had no wisdom of her own to frustrate 
 my designs, that all may be brought forward as 
 simply as my Gospel appears to them ? And here, I 
 tell thee, is the Hermit in Disguise, to see the wis- 
 dom of a God act in so simple a way with man : but 
 where is the man that can any more look into the 
 wisdom of a God, than ye can look into the fervent 
 sun ? Clouds I have told thee must cover the one, 
 as its dazzling brightness in all its splendour is too 
 strong for your eyes to look into ; perfectly so are 
 my ways and wisdom too dazzlingly bright for your 
 understanding, which no man living could bear or 
 understand, was I to appear in my full splendour of 
 wisdom, without putting a veil between. There- 
 fore all men will find the parable true, that my 
 dealing with man is like the Hermit in Disguise, 
 before I have destroyed my rival foe ; then will 
 the veil of the covering fall, and men will discern 
 
 B
 
 ( io ) 
 
 the wisdom of their God, in what manner I have 
 led them on for their good. 
 
 And now come to the next Parable, that I or- 
 dered thee to put in print*; and then discern the 
 words I spoke " That I should conquer in the 
 woman's form." Then know, it is by my Spirit, 
 and by my Power, the adversary must be cast and 
 brought to justice, as the lady brought the man - r 
 but can this wondrous working be done by a wo- 
 man, to have your enemy destroyed, whom I said 
 was a murderer from the beginning ? can this mur- 
 derer be tried and cast, without my Spirit, and 
 without my power ? It must be my Spirit to di- 
 rect, my Wisdom to bring all dark sayings to light, 
 and my Power to execute ; all must be done by 
 me, though worked by a simple instrument, 
 that is but as clay in the hands of the potter : and 
 know, with clay I made the salve to anoint the eyes 
 of the blind ; then if my spittle upon the clay 
 wrought so great a cure for man ; let them know, 
 when my Spirit in power visits strongly the house of 
 clay, it must be eye-salve to the blind : for this is 
 the way I shall open their eyes. And now let men 
 discern these Parables deeply, how I ordered them 
 to be brought forward, and what I compared their 
 likeness to, after my Spirit had entered thee, speak- 
 ing in such powerful manner, to be discerned by all 
 around you ; and now, to open the eyes of your un- 
 derstanding, all must discern the words that were 
 first spoken, before I ordered the parables to be 
 brought forward ; and then place the likeness of the 
 parables, and what I compared them to, with the 
 likeness of my words ; and all was done in the se- 
 cret chamber, when I ordered thee to be kept se- 
 cret, that none but those I placed around thee 
 should enter thy room ; but what was done in the 
 
 * See page 70 of the book called M The Flock of Sheep."
 
 ( '1 ) 
 
 secret chamber must be revealed on the house top, 
 that my Gospel may be fulfilled. 
 
 And now come to the other Parable, that I or- 
 dered thee to place next * ; and mark the words I 
 spoke in thee iC All should begin to enquire, like 
 thee, the way they were betrayed ; and like thee 
 should their fears come on ; and then like thee I 
 should preserve them." Then now mark the para- 
 ble ; they found they were betrayed into the hands 
 of an enemy, and their lives were in danger ; in 
 their fears they were alarmed, and began with wis- 
 dom to seek a way to shun their dangers ; and like 
 thee they were preserved. So now discern this pa- 
 rable, with the words I spoke to thee ; and then 
 they will see I brought forward parables plain before 
 them, to shew them the likeness of my Words, how 
 I should fulfil them ; and from the Parables you may 
 see how the wise will see their dangers, fear them, 
 and shun them, while the others will be like the 
 parable I shewed thee of the Lady that mocked the 
 Warning, though so often repeated before destruc- 
 tion came upon her -J- : and these were the words I 
 spoke within thee how men and devils would trem- 
 ble and fear ; and what horror would be in some 
 that mocked the warning, when I come. So let 
 men discern all the words I spoke within thee, and 
 then they will see the parables, what likeness there 
 is in them to fulfil the words I spoke in thee. 
 
 So now discern the end of the Parable of the 
 Knight, how the decrees of the woman could not be 
 frustrated % ; and so I told thee of my decrees, they 
 were fixed and decreed from the foundation of the 
 world ; and in my Gospel I have shewn them I 
 should come again in might, majesty, and glory, 
 to bring in the Redemption of Man ; therefore I 
 brought forward a parable of a temporal decree, that 
 
 See page 7.5 of the Flock of Sheep. 
 t See p. 89 of What manner of Communications are these. 
 \ See p. 81 of the Flock of Sheep. 
 B2
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 no art nor malice, pride nor envy could frustrate ; 
 so judge from the Parables, how firm are my decrees 
 to fulfil every word I spoke in thee. And here I 
 have given them line upon line, precept upon pre- 
 cept ; here a little and there a little, that they may 
 be broken, snared, and taken ; that meaneth, the 
 unbelieving world, that hath erred in judgment, 
 and stumbled in visions ; but the wise will see it, 
 and consider how deep are the words I spoke in thee ; 
 and then they will see the likeness of the Parables, 
 and know they were brought forward by the wisdom 
 of a God, to shew you all the end is at hand, and 
 shew you what the end will be. 
 
 And now I shall come to the Dreams that followed. 
 In like manner let them appear. And now discern 
 from the first dream that I ordered thee to put in 
 print, brought forward like the parables ; how he 
 followed the warning, and was enriched thereby * ; 
 and now discern, how the dream is like the parable, 
 where Providence enriched them both ; the one 
 following the directions of his dream, and the 
 other a firm decree : and so were the dreams in my 
 Gospel, that were sent as warnings in the beginning 
 unto Joseph, concerning my Birth ; and how he 
 was warned to flee into Egypt, in a dream. And 
 now mark thy own dreams, of what I warned thee 
 in the beginning of my Visitation to man ; and 
 shewed thee in dreams how many would be con- 
 vinced ; and the happy end of those that were con- 
 vinced ; and how I shewed thee in thy dream of the 
 Sheep in the Air -f~; and so I tell thee from these 
 dreams, that I ordered thee to bring forward, they 
 are parables of the end, unto such as have faith to 
 believe in the dreams and visions I shewed thee, as 
 the man believed in the dream that was shewn to 
 him : For these dreams were ordered to be brought 
 
 * Sec p. 9f> of What manner of Communications are these; but the. 
 beginning of the dream being omitted there, it was afterwards inserted^ 
 : Mr. Foley's Answer to the World, p. 1-5 
 
 (- Sec p.159 of the Strange Litlctts of Faith, Part IV.
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 forward like the parables. So now discern the 
 earthly grandeur and riches he got by his faith in a 
 dream ; but how much greater is the spiritual happi- 
 ness, and every blessing I have in store for man, 
 that lie concealed, like the gold that he digged 
 deep to find : and this is what I likened the Kingdom 
 of Heaven to a Pearl of great Price, that ye must 
 dig deep to find, when I come to bring in your Re- 
 demption, and bring the Kingdom of God to man : 
 They are like the treasures hid in a field, or in the 
 garden, concealed from man, like the dream that 
 was shewn to him. So here is the likeness, from the 
 Dream, as well as from the Parables, fables of old 
 that I ordered thee to bring forward, to shew you 
 the end. 
 
 And now discern the other dream, of the Master 
 that saved the life of his Servant *; and this is a like- 
 ness of mankind, who are alarmed to give the warn- 
 ing ; and on some minds they will prevail to save 
 others from destruction. And now discern deeply 
 the exertion of the man, who listened to persuasions; 
 at first ; but being warned again and again, his re- 
 solution was fixed at last to save the life of his ser- 
 vant, as you see his conduct appear ; and perfectly 
 so they will see the end ; many like him that will 
 listen to persuasions, and not regard the warning at 
 first, after seeing repeated warnings, and the dangers 
 rolling on, they will be awakened at last ; and by so 
 doing awaken others, to snatch men as brands from 
 the burning, as he snatched his servant from destruc- 
 tion. So if men discern the Dreams, they will see 
 them like the Fables ; for in one likeness they both 
 appear : He that saw his danger at the inn, and he 
 that saw the danger by the dream. 
 
 And now discern the other dreams, of those who 
 were careless of the warning, and were destroyed, 
 according to their dreams, by their enemies, that 
 
 * See fa^e 71 pf What manner of Communications are these.
 
 ( " ) 
 
 appeared in different forms to them in a dream, and 
 the places shewn to both, how they ought to shim 
 the mark where destruction stood in their way ; but 
 this mark they did not shun, though the warning 
 had been given them in a dream, what places they 
 ought to shun *; but like the Lady, they went on, 
 who despised the warning until destruction came 
 upon her. 
 
 So now let men discern in what manner and what 
 likeness the parables and dreams stand together, 
 that I ordered thee to bring forward, as a warning to 
 mankind; and let them weigh them deeply with the 
 "words I spoke in thee, before I ordered thee to bring 
 these things forward ; then they will see the sense 
 and meaning of all the words I spoke in thee, when 
 my Spirit entered strong within thee, to speak in love 
 and anger ; anger against thine adversary, whose 
 temptations had been as strong, to seek thy destruc- 
 tion, as the gardener's arts to murder the woman ; and 
 as the enemy in the house came to murder the gen- 
 tleman, in like manner came Satan's arts to murder 
 thee, by temptations, before I came in power to 
 prevent him, and plainly told thee how I should act 
 according to the parable I brought. to thy remem- 
 brance of the Hermit in Disguise : I said it was my 
 love to destroy the adversary of mankind ; but those 
 that refuse my love, and despise my invitation, I 
 told thee they had to fear at last the dreadful horrors 
 thou felt at first. Therefore they must deeply mark 
 how thy fears were first alarmed, before my Spirit 
 came strong to thee ; and then discern the words I 
 spoke ; weigh them with the parables, and they will 
 judge of the end ; as horror and despair was the end 
 of some; but a happy deliverance the end of others: 
 and this will be felt by all nations ; as these Books 
 tell you the end. 
 
 And now come to thy own History, which I of* 
 
 * ik'c rage 0.J of tlvc Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( 15 ) 
 
 defed thee so particularly to put in print, to shev* 
 mankind my firm decrees concerning thee, that 1 
 had designed thee for such a work as this ; that no 
 inan should have power over thee to keep thee back 
 from obeying my commands ; but how could this 
 so clearly appear, to shew it was the decrees of 
 Heaven to keep thee from man's having a power over 
 thee, as being united in marriage, if I had not order- 
 ed thy simple history to appear ? Are there not thou- 
 sands unmarried, as well as thee, and live to be old 
 without husbands ? Therefore being unmarried 
 could not appear to be my firm decrees to keep thee 
 single, if thy life did not appear, to shew them all, 
 it was my decrees, like the decrees of the Knight, 
 and the decrees of Providence, that I have told 
 thee are fixed to fulfil my decrees in the end, that the 
 single woman is to the Lord, not to be in bondage 
 with any man, when I come to be her Director, her 
 Guide, and her Deliverer. This must begin with a 
 single woman, -kept by my power, as appeareth in 
 thy history; and however simple it may appear to 
 thee, it was my command, to shew my firm decrees, 
 that thou couldest not alter; though thy heart and 
 mind was often inclined to alter them, by the love 
 thou bearedst to man, in the days of thy youth ; 
 but all thy lovers were broken off by me. 
 
 Now perfectly like thy History, that thou hadst 
 not power over thyself to enter into wedlock with 
 man, as my decrees were fixed another way; so all 
 men will find in the end, my decrees have been 
 fixed in thee, that thou hast not power in thyself to 
 act another way. And now reflect with thyself, how 
 often the persuasions of men have filled thee with 
 jealousy, fearing a wrong Spirit might deceive thee; 
 thou hast often thought to give up the whole ; yet 
 these resolutions thou hadst no more power to put in 
 execution, than thou hadst power to return back to 
 thy lovers, when t^y heart was so inclined. So from 
 the history of thy life my fixed decrees must appear
 
 ( i6 ) 
 
 to man, that as clay in the hands of the potter, thy 
 life hath been in my hands, to guide and guard thee 
 in every thing. And now if men discern thy life, 
 they will see it like the parable I ordered thee to 
 bring forward, a fixed decree that could not be 
 altered, as it was in the Parable of the Knight ; and 
 this all men may discern, if they weigh thy history 
 deeply. But how could my decrees appear so firm 
 in thee, like the parable I ordered thee to bring for- 
 ward, if thy simple life did not appear, to shew my 
 decrees ? And now from this, let all men judge 
 whether the Creator of the universe, the Governor 
 of all things, would in so singular a manner have 
 kept thy life from the world, from the power of man, 
 that no restraint should be laid by him, to prevent 
 thee from going on and obey the command of the 
 Spirit, that was invisible to every eye, had not the 
 Spirit been from me the living Lord ? Do men vainly 
 suppose I should have kept thee in such a powerful 
 manner, for a wrong spirit to have power over thee ? 
 Then I ask them what they judge of me ? Therefore 
 ail men will find, simple as thy life appears, to be 
 in print, it was my command to have it appear, that 
 men may judge for themselves of my decrees ; and 
 to confound their arguments, to say an evil spirit 
 had power over thee, to keep thee in this manner. 
 
 I permitted thy Trials and Temptations, and order- 
 ed them to go in print likewise, that all men might 
 see, if thou hadst been led by an evil spirit, that 
 had power over thee, by that evil spirit thou wouklest 
 have fallen in the days of temptation ; and this every 
 man of sense will discern, if they deeply weigh the 
 whole together, that the power of an evil spirit 
 would not have kept thee from evil, when strong 
 temptations were laid before thee. Therefore I or- 
 dered the whole to go in print, and the truth to ap- 
 pear, while thy enemies were living to answer for 
 thcirselves, if any thing false was brought forward 
 by thee ; therefore my wisdom was concealed from
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 thee, for what ends the whole was done : for ends 
 to open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of 
 the deaf, to confound thy adversaries, and thy ene- 
 mies, and to shame all gainsayers, who allude all 
 my power, my wisdom, and my directions, to bring 
 all dark sayings to light, and fulfil my fixed decrees 
 from the foundation of the world, to an evil spirit ; 
 for this by ignorant men is placed to the power of 
 the devil ; but, from thy history, let them answer, 
 what power kept thee from falling into evil, when 
 the subtle arts of men and devils were laid for thee ? 
 These things I ordered to appear to fill men's mouths 
 with arguments, and to confound all gainsayers ; so 
 ponder no more of thy foolish life, how simple it ap- 
 pears to mankind. But let them all discern, it was 
 I that directed thee to the house *, and permitted 
 thee to be tried and tempted, to shew thy accusers, 
 by what power thou wast kept from falling into evil ; 
 and to bring forward the parable to mankind, how 
 much like him are professed Christians, that boast 
 of their christian love to me, and with what ingrati- 
 tude they now act, to turn their pretended love into 
 malice and revenge against me, now I am coming 
 in the Spirit, to destroy their adversary, and my 
 adversary : for there I tell thee is a parable that 
 stands deep with mankind ; and a parable that stands 
 deep for the end, when every truth is brought to 
 light, as I ordered thee to bring to light every thing 
 that was clone in that house : and this, every man 
 will find in the end, is like the words I spoke in thee, 
 of the horror and confusion that would be in some, 
 when I come in might, majesty, and power, to com- 
 plete the whole. 
 
 Here I have shewed thee, from the words I spoke 
 in thee at first, and all the parables I ordered thee to 
 bring forward, with the history of thy life, how the 
 whole agree together, if men have wisdom to dis- 
 
 * See the account of Mr. Wills's house in p. 18 of the Flock of 
 Sheep; and p. 69 of Mr. J. Southcott's Bock.
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 cern the likeness ; and when the eyes of their under- 
 standing be opened the wise will see it, and consi- 
 der, how from a few words being spoken I went on 
 to shew them how these things should be fulfilled. 
 And here I shall end with thy Books for the present, 
 and bring them from thy Books to my Bible. 
 
 These few words I spoke in the creation, when I 
 laid the foundation of the world, and said, Let us 
 make man in our own likeness ; but said, the man 
 was not good alone ; I would make a Helpmate for 
 him, which I did in the Woman ; and then discern 
 the Words I said in the Fall, when horror and de- 
 spair came upon the man and the woman, seeking 
 to shun me, knowing what they had clone. In this 
 despair the Man cast his blame on me ; but the Wo- 
 man cast it on the Serpent that betrayed her. And 
 now discern the words I spoke 1 will put enmity 
 between thee and the woman, and between thy seed 
 and her seed ; it shall bruise thy Head, and thou 
 shalt bruise his Heel. Here were few words spoken 
 in the beginning, like the few words I spoke in thee, 
 before I brought forward the parables, dreams, and 
 vjsions, to shew you how they would be accom- 
 plished in the end. Perfectly so stand my Words on 
 record : I first spoke the Words of what the end 
 should be ; and as the ages rolled on, I set signs 
 and parables, to shew you the end. As I have al- 
 ready told thee, that the type of Cain killing his 
 Brother was a type of my Death, and how the wick- 
 ed would pursue the good, to have my Heel bruised 
 first, till I come to avenge my Blood on the Adver- 
 sary, and bruise his Head. Then discern through 
 my Bible, how I went on to shew you the end ; as 
 I told thee from the deluge, when the world was 
 drowned, I saved none but the just ; but as the au- 
 thor of evil remained, sin again increased; there- 
 fore I told thee, like the deluge sweeping off a 
 race of sinful men, I should in the end sweep off 
 all the powers of evil. Here stood one parable in 
 my Bible, to shew you the end ; another I told thee
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 of the destruction of Pharaoh ; yet these things stand 
 but as parables, to shew you the end, when I come 
 to destroy the power of evil, as Moses was but a 
 shadow of me. And mark how the parables were 
 placed by him, as I told thee of the Brazen Serpent, 
 and the Manna that came down from heaven. These 
 things were but types of the end. And know how 
 the Prophets prophesied of me, in what manner I 
 should come to bear the transgression of man, to 
 fulfil the words spoken in the beginning; then dis- 
 cern my Gospel through, in what manner I came to 
 fulfil them ; and what mockery, scorn, and con - 
 tempt I was treated with by man, when my Heel 
 was bruised on the Cross. But then the enmity was 
 only kindled to bruise my Heel ; butnot kindled to 
 bruise Satan's head, which I told them I should come 
 again in might, majesty, and glory, to accomplish ; 
 for I said, if I was lifted up, the prince of this world 
 should be cast out ; again I said, he should be 
 judged, when the Spirit of Truth came from the Fa- 
 ther. Then now know all men, the Spirit of Truth 
 is to fulfil the Words spoken in the Fall, to bruise 
 Satan's head. * 
 
 So now let men trace the Scriptures through, and 
 weigh them with the words spoken in the beginning, 
 and the manner I have explained the Scriptures to 
 thee ; then they will see how the likeness stands to 
 fulfil the whole, and in what manner it must be ful- 
 filled, and joined together, as they will see thy pa- 
 rables, in one likeness, brought together with the 
 words I spoke in thee at first And let them dis- 
 cern the beginning of the Book *, of the Command 
 given to thee of standing in obedience, and thy re- 
 solution to stand in obedience ; then let them dis 
 cern what horror and misery thou felt, fearing thou 
 hadst disobeyed; and thy sufferings, while I left thee, 
 were as though tiie thing was real, that thou hadst 
 
 * The Book called, What Maimer of Communications are these. 
 C2
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 disobeyed ; and this was thy enquiry ; then mark in 
 what manner my Spirit entered thee, speaking to 
 the tempter. So if men discern deeply, they will 
 see in what manner I worked in thee to place a like- 
 ness of the Creation : and this thou knowest I told 
 thee before, when you come to the Redemption 
 you must come back to the Creation ; and in the 
 shadow of that likeness I brought it back to thee, 
 to shew plainly unto all men the true sense and 
 meaning of the words spoken to the Serpent, when 
 he betrayed the Woman, as I knew what horror and 
 misery she felt, which thine was but a shadow of. 
 And now mark for thyself the heavenly joy thou felt, 
 before these fears came upon thee, whether in ought 
 thou hadst disobeyed. Here I have shewed thee the 
 likeness of the Woman at first, as a shadow to re- 
 semble the substance ; and by that I have shewed 
 them the sense and meaning of the words spoken 
 to the Serpent, that his curse should be above every 
 living creature, when I come to bruise his head, ac- 
 cording to the words I spoke plainly in thee, for all 
 men to understand the last, if they could not un- 
 derstand the first. 
 
 And now come to thy History, that is placed here 
 and there, but not in a regular manner to go on to- 
 gether; for like thy history stand the Prophecies 
 through the Scriptures, which men must discern 
 from different places to bring them together, as 
 they must discern the history of thy life ; and then 
 let them discern all my sufferings from men and de- 
 vils ; how long I suffered myself to be tempted by 
 the devil, and what I suffered from the perse- 
 cution of men, and how I hid myself from them, 
 and all the agonies I bore in the garden of Gethse- 
 mane, when I knew my hour drew near to be offered 
 up a Sacrifice fok Man ! Thus let men deeply 
 discern all I went through in the Body ; and then let 
 them deeply discern in what manner I worked in 
 thee ro go through the sufferings, trials, and tempta-
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 tions of the devil, and all kind of sorrows, when I 
 came to visit thee strongly in the Spirit, that men 
 might call the whole to their remembrance, and see 
 the shadows of all things before them. But had these 
 things been clearly explained, for what ends the 
 whole was done, at the time the Books went out, 
 then the unbelieving world might have said they 
 went out to the wisdom of men, or an artful inven- 
 tion of thy own; therefore I concealed the mystery, 
 and said I sent them out to try the wisdom of men, 
 and then a further explanation would be given to 
 thee. But now discern from the wisdom of man : 
 where is the man that weighed deeply the manner 
 thy Book began ; the despair that followed thee ; 
 the words I spoke within thee, what I should come 
 in power to do, before I ordered the Parables to be 
 brought forward, to shew you the likeness from 
 Types and Shadows. 
 
 . Now thou sayest in thy heart, this was never dis- 
 cerned by thee before I explained it ; neither dost 
 thou believe it was by any; then now I ask man- 
 kind, how they can discern to understand their Bi- 
 bles, to trace my footsteps through, from the foun- 
 dation of the world to this day, to mark the begin- 
 ning and the ending, and know how to place all 
 things ar:ght, what was my Wisdom and my De- 
 crees, that went through so ///any ages, if they can- 
 not understand my Wisdom in the Parables I 
 brought forward to place with the words I spoke in 
 thee at first ? If they cannot understand my mean- 
 ing and the manner of my working of what was 
 done in a few months, how can they explain my 
 meaning and my wisdom in the Scriptures, worked 
 through in so many thousand years ? So if the be- 
 lievers in my Visitation to thee say, these things 
 were too high for them to understand and bring toge- 
 ther, and did not deeply discern the beginning, in 
 what manner it was united together ; how shall the 
 professors of the Scripture, that pretend to believe
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 it the Word of God, be able to understand all the 
 mysteries there, when they do not pretend to weigh 
 it with the beginning, to judge how the ending 
 must come ? But this, I tell thee, like thy history, 
 there are many professors of religion who look to 
 my Gospel, but do not think it right to read through 
 all the Scriptures ; as they judge there are many 
 things that are but histories of the Jews, histories of 
 the Kings, that are not profitable for man to read, 
 without knowing for what ends all these things 
 stand on record, which I have explained to thee, 
 were Types and Shadows of the Etui ; and so are the 
 parables that thou canst not bear; and the very pa- 
 rable thou most despisedst is the deepest warning to 
 mankind * : for like the lady were the Jews, who 
 mocked me, when I told them of their dangers ; and 
 like the lady they went on, till destruction came 
 upon them, and every warning was slighted by them r 
 and now look around you, and discern the same ; I 
 have given warning upon warning, I threatened the 
 nations abroad that my severity would begin there, 
 that you may see the truth of my words, before I 
 bring the fatal stroke at home ; and these things, 
 th.it have happened abroad, are warnings to your 
 Nation, as the sound of the horn was to the lady, if 
 all my Warnings are despised, and all my Love 
 abused, and all is mocked by man, as she mocked 
 the warning : such may fear a sudden surf rise, as the 
 sudden surprise came upon her; for likelier must 
 the world be, if all my love be despised by them, 
 all my mercies and goodness be slighted by them, 
 for me to come and complete their happiness, if they 
 wish to unite their hearts to me. Let them know 
 my promises are great ; but if my love be despised, 
 when all is laid before them, let them know the sen- 
 tence is just, if I come to act like man; and like 
 man they must acknowledge I have acted in ages 
 
 * Sec { age SQ of Whit Manner of Communications are these.
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 past, when I shewed my love to the Jews, to deli- 
 ver them from Egyptian bondage ; and as a shadow 
 I promised them the promised Land that I should give 
 them, before they provoked me to anger. to destroy 
 them in the wilderness; and yet I fulfilled my 
 word to their children, before they went on to pro- 
 voke me the same. But now it is come to the nd, 
 the Types and Shadows are past, the Substance lies 
 bejore yoiij the promised Land, the promised King- 
 dom, the promised Happiness, that is in store for 
 Man, are .now before you, to be hastening on ; and 
 my love is made known toman, bow great my delight 
 shall be with men whose delight is to be with me : 
 but shall I shew this love to men, before their hearts 
 are warmed by my love, to long for my coming, and 
 wish to be freed from these evils of sin, that stand 
 as a bar to the happiness of men, and bolts 
 their hearts against their love to me ? This is the 
 evil that sin produces; and this is the evil I shall 
 destroy. And now mark the Parable wherein I have 
 shewn thee the wisdom of the wise, from the Master 
 and the Servant, who saw their dangers, and wisely 
 shunned them *; and this will be the wisdom of 
 every wise man; they will discern the dangers 
 abroad ; they will discern their dangers at home ; 
 they will discern in what manner my Gospel is penned, 
 and in what manner the whole is t.poken ; this they 
 will discern, and warn one the other, as the servant 
 warned the master ; and as the master directed the 
 servant, how to shun the dangers they were surround- 
 ed with, by fleeing for the strength that was stronger 
 than themselves ; and this will be the case with men 
 who have the wisdom to discern the whole ; they 
 will flee to the Rock that is higher than themselves; 
 and trust in the Power that is stronger than them- 
 selves ; and bein to discern the death of sin, and 
 what destruction the enemy would bring all man- 
 
 * Sec page "b of the Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( ^ ) 
 
 kind to. And these two Parables, if wisely consi- 
 dered by men, will shew them plainly the different 
 ends that are now before them ; of what will happen 
 to mankind, when I come to bring all dark sayings to 
 light ; as appeared in the Parable of the Sheep there 
 stood a mystery to be revealed ; and perfectly so 
 stands my Bible deep mysteries to be revealed ; 
 hidden things to be brought to light; and my just 
 judgments to take place ; and all my decrees to be 
 fulfilled ; as I shewed thee in the Parable of the 
 Knight. Though these parables thou couldest not 
 bear, and I know are a stumbling-block to many, 
 they are deep and weighty to shew you the end ; 
 every one shews my decrees, how all must be brought 
 to light in the end ; and all will find, that from the 
 beginning my decrees were fixed, like that of the 
 Knight, which never was discerned by man, how 
 unalterably they were fixed. But now come to the 
 Bees ; they gather honey from every flower, and 
 from the bitterest herb ; perfectly so will men of 
 wisdom, when they discern the truth of thy Pro- 
 phecies, and know these Parables were brought for- 
 ward by me, as types and shadows, to shew them 
 the end, they will begin to discern them deeply; and 
 like the bees, gather honey from them ; though they 
 may appear like a bitter herb, unpleasant to the 
 taste! as they all appeared to thee : but as too 
 much honey clogs the stomach, and too much 
 sweetness will not do, a mixture of food is good for 
 the body; and different appetites are in mankind ; 
 like things temporal are things spiritual ; therefore I 
 have brought forward all manner of things, in thy 
 writings, to shew them the end : And as foolish and 
 simple as thy life appears to thee, to stand in print 
 to the world, as foolish and simple must my life ap- 
 pear in the Gospel, should I stoop to the wisdom of 
 men *, and never go on to fulfil my words, and de- 
 stroy the works of the devil, as his works destroyed 
 
 * That meaneth, an answer to the world, who say all was finished 
 when Christ died ; and that he will not come again to fulfil hit Gospel,
 
 ( 25 ) 
 
 my life. So ponder no more of thy own folly, to 
 think thy life appears foolish and simple amongst 
 mankind ; but how simple must my life appear, to 
 suffer such shame and reproach of mankind, to bear 
 the malice of men and devils, and never come to 
 clear my honour, and fulfil the words I left on re- 
 cord ! But how can I clear my honour amongst men, 
 if I do not begin a way to reveal my love to men, 
 and draw their hearts in love to me ? If the goodness 
 I require in man, was only to shew charity one to 
 the other ; then to what purpose did I die for man? 
 or to what purpose was it my making myself known 
 amongst mankind, if it was not to shew my love to 
 them, that in the end my delight should be with 
 men, and their delight should be with me ? 
 For these are the people who will be preserved in the 
 end ; these are the people who are with me in glory, 
 and will come with me in triumph, when I come to 
 bring in my Kingdom, as I promised, to mankind ; 
 and from my Love coming amongst them, choosing 
 men as my companions, it shews them all my love 
 to the end. And mark the words I said in my Gos'^J 
 pel how I honoured the Father, and the Father 
 honoured me : and here let all men discern, how I 
 came upon the earth, to shew the Love of the Fa- 
 ther to mankind : Mysteries men cannot under- 
 stand I bid them leave; for, now I know thy pon- 
 dering thoughts : Is there a difference between the 
 Love of the Father and of the Sox ? or was it 
 the Son's Love to complete the whole, as I have been 
 speaking of my Love to man, what I went through 
 for their sakes ? In this, I tell thee, Love was equal; 
 united together in Love to man : but the mystery ye 
 ought not to dive into, in what manner the unity stands. 
 But these thoughts I worked in thee for the sake of 
 others : as the hearts of all men are known to me, 
 so I work their thoughts in thee ; but this know all 
 men, he that doth not honour his God, who created 
 man at first to be in his likeness, and after his Fall 
 
 D
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 laid a plan for his Redemption he that doth not thu- 
 honour his God can never honour the Son : so here 
 is a union that must be joined together, as I said in 
 my Gospel. Therefore let no one ponder, as thou 
 hast done, to look into mysteries ye cannot under- 
 stand ; but this know, it is the Love of Gov for the 
 Redemption of man, to bear the blame man cast on me, 
 or on his Creator united as One. And now set 
 thy heart at rest, as thou hast always united then^ 
 both together the Love of the Father must be 
 joined with the Son in union together, for me to take 
 man's nature" upon me, that man again may resume 
 our likeness: and with these thougts let all men 
 rest, that they may give glory to God. Nowmatk the 
 words in the Creation And God said , Let u s make man 
 in our own Image, after our likeness. Here are 
 the Twounited together in the Creation; united toge- 
 ther in Love to mankind ; and must be united toge- 
 ther in the redemption of man ; or the Heavens must 
 be divided. I ask thee, how the heavenly host can 
 praise their Creator, and be joined in love and unity 
 together, if they separate the unity of the Father 
 and the Son ? Yet these are errors that are in thou- 
 sands, to divide the Unity and the Love, the Wisdom 
 and the Power, the Mercy, the Goodness, and 
 Truth, that are centered together, in a way unknown 
 to men ; therefore it is divided by them ; because 
 they cannot look into the mystery of the Unity and 
 the Decrees in Heaven. But here I have shewed how 
 men's hearts and thoughts ought to be fixed, that 
 look for their Redemption in and through my Death 
 and Sufferings, how they ought to unite it in the 
 Love of God for mankind, united together for the 
 Redemption of Man : for the anger of a God pro- 
 voked, without being mixed with love, pity, and 
 compassion for the fallen race, must make him a 
 consuming fire ; but as his Anger is mixed with 
 Love to returning sinners, this makes him a recon- 
 ciling Father ; and this Love was spoken of by 
 the Prophets " Turn unto me, and I will turn unto
 
 ( 27 ) 
 
 you : Let the wicked forsake their ways, and the 
 unrighteous man his thoughts, and I will have mercy 
 upon them, and love them freely." Let them trace 
 the records of the Scriptures through and they will 
 find my Anger mixed with Love ; and this Love was 
 more strongly shexvnwhen I came in the Body amongst 
 mankind, which 1 have told thee was united toge- 
 ther. Bat this men do not discern, in what manner 
 it was fixed in the beginning; had there been no 
 love, pity, and compassion, in the Creator of the 
 universe, when he saw the disobedience of man, 
 after placing him in the garden, with every thing for 
 his comfort, and gave a command for his good, that 
 he should not break that command here might 
 Anger have been a consuming fire, if it had not been 
 mixed with Love : and the same I tell thee of Da- 
 vid ; after raising him to be a king, if Love had not 
 been mixed with Anger, his sins might have caused 
 me to have been a consuming fire. But these 
 things men donotdi cern, in what manner the Love 
 is placed ; therefore it is written, If God was strict to 
 mark every fault and every sin committed by man ; 
 then the trial none could bear ; but the sins of igno- 
 rance, for want of knowledge, were they not pardon- 
 ed, none would be saved. But these errors men must 
 be convinced of, before they can expect the King- 
 dom of God, or his Christ. And let them answer 
 the following questions Is the Son the Spirit of 
 the Father ? Is the Son the Spirit of God ? 
 Are they of one united Spirit ? If so, let them 
 answer, how the Son can be Love, and not the Fa- 
 ther j How there can be mercy, pity, and com- 
 passion, in the one, and not in the other ? or how 
 can they agree together for the Redemption of Man* 
 kind, if they are not united together in Love for 
 Man, of one Spirit, Heart, and Mind ? But these 
 things men do not discern, nor deeply understand 
 the Scriptures through ; and, therefore many errors 
 are amongst mankind, which I shall convince them 
 
 D 2
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 of in the end ; or, how could the Scriptures be ful- 
 filled Glory to God in the highest, and on earth 
 peace and good will towards men ? * 
 
 1 came to shew my Father's Love; 
 
 And now's the time the truth I'll prove, 
 
 And shew his Love is great to all, 
 
 That unto him for Mercy call; 
 
 And so his Love doth now appear. 
 
 With the Creation all compare, 
 
 How the Creation it was plac'd ; 
 
 And mark his Love when Man was cast; 
 
 And then the Mysteries all may see, 
 
 The way united Love in me 
 
 Did with the Father first begin. 
 
 The Mysteries deep are all unseen ; 
 
 But if you trace them at the first, 
 
 You'll see the way the Love was plac'd, 
 
 When first the Anger did appear. 
 
 Mark deep the lines; I'll say no more, 
 
 But try men's Wisdom, to discern 
 
 The way and manner I do warn, 
 
 To hringyour hearts in Love to God: 
 
 Discern the way the whole is shew'd 
 
 From the Creation at the first ; 
 Mark through my liible, how 'tis plac'd; 
 C Then the united Love you'll see, 
 (The way 'twas plac'd Mankind to free." 
 
 Friday % June 20, 1806. 
 
 " Now I shall answer thee further of the Parables. 
 I ordered thee to put these things in print to try the 
 wisdom that was in mankind, whether they could 
 deeply discern, for what ends it was done ; and whe- 
 ther they could clearly understand the true sense of 
 the explanation I gave thee at that time : and know 
 I told thee, I meant to try the wisdom of man ; and 
 that I should give thee a further explanation. 
 
 Then how canst thou marvel at these parables, 
 that are brought forward by me, more plain and 
 clear, to shew my firm decrees in the Creation 
 what I said when I created the Woman at first the 
 Promise that is made in the fall my being born of 
 the Virgin my promising to come again as the 
 Bridegroom, to free the fall of the Woman? or how 
 could I bring in the Redemption of Man ? Now if 
 men have wisdom to discern this Parable, being 
 brought forward by me to be placed a likeness of
 
 ( 2 9 ) 
 
 my Bible ; it is a parable clear to be understood, 
 how my decrees were fixed ; and how they will be 
 fulfilled ; and how the enmity of Satan will swell 
 the pride of men to prevent it *. So clear is this pa- 
 rable before you, consistent with my words, that 
 every man, endowed with reason, that weighs it 
 deeply with the beginning, and with my Gospel to 
 the ending, must clearly discern from the sense of 
 the parable, that it is the Promise made to the Wo- 
 man to bring in your Redemption, as I have said ; 
 and when men discern it was my command to have 
 it brought forward, as a parable to shew you the 
 end, then they would clearly discern my decrees, 
 when I laid the foundation at first, in what manner 
 I should fulfil them, when I come to give them the 
 Kingdom, in innocence, peace, and happiness, as it 
 was designed at first, before man fell. Bur then I 
 shall make his standing more secure, when 1 have de - 
 stroyed the power of the adversary, who began by 
 arts to betray the Woman, and seeked her murder 
 at the first : and so he is going on to the last ; but 
 my decrees he cannot frustrate ; and the end will 
 convince mankind how wrong hath been their ma- 
 lice, to try to shun my just decrees, which are for 
 the happiness of man. So let them weigh the para- 
 ble deeply, and call the whole to their remembrance ; 
 then they will see there is not a parable standing on 
 record more plain to shew them the end of my de- 
 crees, than that parable is. And let them know, it 
 never was a woman's wisdom to bring forward such 
 parables, to place with the Scriptures ; for if you 
 discern the Scriptures, it is a perfect likeness of the 
 end ; neither was it Satan's wisdom to bring forward 
 such parables, to shew you all that my decrees at 
 first, what I said in the Creation, I should fulfil 
 them at last, that they stood like the parables that 
 all arts were used in vain to break the decrees. Now 
 thus I have shewn thee plainly of one parable ; and 
 what I have said of one I shall say of all ; I sent 
 Parable of the Knight, in page 8 of the Flock of Sheep.
 
 ( 80 ) 
 
 them out to try the wisdom of men*; I gave an ex- 
 planation they did not clearly understand, to see the 
 (depth of the parables, and the sense of my words, 
 for what reason I brought them forward that ye 
 may see the likeness clear. 
 
 And now come to the Words I said in the Fall ; 
 and know what I said to the Serpent " I will place 
 enmity between thee and the Woman : and between 
 thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head." 
 Then now discern the parable I ordered thee to bring 
 forward of the gentleman who for a long time had 
 been a murderer of women, and his murders were 
 stopped by the hands of a woman, whose courage 
 went through to find out his villany, and bring him 
 to justice : what men might suppose no woman's 
 courage could go through ; would not every one 
 imagine her courage would too soon have failed her 
 to have staid a minute in the house, after she saw 
 the hands appear of those that had been murdered 
 by him ? But know from the parable what is said, 
 and how her courage went on to go through in the 
 inidst of dangers, with a fearful heart and trembling 
 steps, till she had discovered the whole and brought 
 the murderer to his final end, that he so justly de- 
 served ; and this man, it is known to thee, I have 
 compared as a type of the devil, as I told thee of 
 Pharaoh and his host of being destroyed. And now 
 let men weigh the parable deeply, with thy faith, 
 love, and courage, that thou didst go through, disput- 
 ing with Satan, with trembling heart and fearful 
 steps, in the house alone by thyself. But here I 
 know thy pondering thoughts : the lady did not dis- 
 pute with the gentleman in the house alone \>y her- 
 self, as thou didst dispute with Satan alone by thy- 
 self. Now this mystery I shall make plain before 
 thee. Satan was no more visible in the house to 
 thee, than the gentleman was to the lady ; yet see- 
 ing his murders alarmed her fears, like thy disputes'. 
 And know, she heard him return and go up the
 
 ( 31 ) 
 
 stairs, dragging her companion : so she heard hti 
 voice, as thou didst hear the words of Satan ; though 
 she did not dispute with him there. So now discern 
 the likeness ; and how she afterwards laid the whole 
 before him. Now here is the likeness of her and 
 thee ; the one with man, the other with the devil ; 
 and yet the devil was in the man. But from this pa- 
 rable I have shewed thee his end ; and this is what I 
 said in the fill I should put this enmity between 
 the Woman and the Serpent, that should surely 
 bruise his head ; and now I have brought forward 
 the parable plain to mankind, that they may see my 
 Bible clear, the way my decrees will be fulfilled. 
 And now mark the Parables in my Gospel, how I 
 brought forth the parable of a man planting a vine- 
 yard, and letting it out to husbandmen ; but when 
 he sent for the fruits of the vineyard, they beat one, 
 and stoned another, and wounded him in the head; 
 again he sent another ; and they killed him and many 
 others, beating some and killing some ; after that he 
 sent his Son, and they killed him likewise. Now I 
 ask thee, where is the difference of the parable of 
 the murderers ? All the difference there is in the 
 parables, is the different ends for which they are de- 
 signed. This parable I brought forward in my Gos- 
 pel, I brought it forward to the Jews, how they had 
 killed the prophets ; and plainly told them they 
 would put me to death ; but now discern the para- 
 ble I spoke of the end, when the Lord of the vine- 
 yard should come, he would destroy all these hus- 
 bandmen. Here the parable stands for the end, 
 when I come in might, majesty, and power, _to ful- 
 fil all my Father's just decrees, and claim the vine- 
 yard, which I mean the earth ; then will all those 
 be destroyed, that despise my Love, reject my Gos- 
 pel, and every Visitation of my Spirit, that I have 
 sent to warn them of the end. So here my parables 
 stand for mankind to warn them of the end, that do 
 despite unto my Spirit, when I come to fulfil my
 
 ( 32 j 
 
 Words. These are the parables I brought forward 
 to man of my Second Coming to fulfil my Gospel ; 
 but the parables I ordered thee to bring forward are 
 my fixed decrees concerning the Woman, to fulfil 
 the plan that was laid at first. So here the parables 
 are different, as the cause is different ; but the sense 
 and meaning is as strong in the one, as my parables 
 were in the other ; and all men will find in the end 
 that they were brought forward by the Wisdom of a 
 God, to make the crooked paths straight before you, 
 that ye may see my Bible clear. And now discern 
 how I spoke in parables through my Gospel : and to 
 them I likened the Kingdom of Heaven ; and so 
 from parables I have shewed thee and all mankind 
 what the end will be ; for every parable they will see 
 fulfilled in the end; and every parable is consistent 
 with the prophets, what parables I brought forward 
 by them ; for though they are not placed as para- 
 bles ; yet they were placed as signs to the people, 
 what I commanded the prophets to do. So, whe- 
 ther Parables or Signs, they were all things of men 
 that I ordered to be done, to shew signs unto the 
 people of what should hereafter come upon them. 
 And know, the visions were shewn to John to shew 
 them of the end. So if thou discern deeply, and 
 men trace my Bible deeply, they will discern, 
 it was from parables, types, and shadows, that all 
 these things were placed to mankind, and the like- 
 ness 1 have ordered thee to bring forward in thy 
 books. 
 
 And now I shall answer thee of the word " Adul- 
 tery." Bur first open thy Bible." 
 
 I opened to the 19. chapter of Jeremiah, and was 
 answered from these words. "Then shah thou break 
 the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee :" 
 and I was answered from verse 13. Ezekiel xxviii, 
 J 8. Thou hast defiled thy Sanctuaries by the mul- 
 titude of thine iniquities.
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 *' Now I shall answer thee from the place thou 
 hast opened to. Know I said, they should be defiled, 
 because they had seeked other Gods : and mark 
 the words I said to the prophet, before he should 
 break the bottle in the sight of the men, and say - 
 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, even so will I break 
 this people, and this city, as onebreaketh a potter's 
 vessel, that cannot be made whole. Now I shall 
 answer thy thoughts of my saying adultery hath been 
 committed in Israel, by Pomeroy and thee. These 
 were words thou couldest not bear to read ; and I 
 let them go out in this manner, to try what was in 
 mankind, whether they would seek into the things, 
 if they thought there was room to find fault, and to 
 come forward and reprove thee. I ordered it to go 
 out without a clear explanation. But now come to 
 adultery : and mark what is said by my prophets 
 They had defiled the sanctuary, because my com- 
 mands were not kept. And so had he adulterated 
 the truth, because he had kept it back. But dost 
 thou vainly suppose I ordered all these things to go 
 in print of him, for him only ? I tell thee, no : it 
 alludes to the whole race of mankind, who keep 
 back the truth, as he has done. And now mark 
 from the Scriptures I directed thy hand to open to, 
 the words that I spoke by the prophet, ordering him 
 to break the bottle before them, to shew them how 
 I should break the city, and defile the men that de- 
 filed my laws. Again I directed thy hand to shew 
 thee how they had defiled my sanctuary ; then how 
 canst thou marvel that I compared his deceit and 
 wresting the words to commiting adultery, when the 
 truth was adulterated by him ? Perfectly so are the 
 Scriptures adulterated by mankind: as he denied the 
 very things that he before had professed to believe ; 
 perfectly so do mankind deny the Scriptures they 
 profess to believe ; therefore I ordered these things 
 to go in print, to bring forward as parables to all men. 
 
 E
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 And now I shall*answer thee further. Thou sayest 
 within thyself, all thy writings at Bristol, from the 
 manner of my visitation, and ordering thee to bring 
 every truth forward, it now appears to thee as from 
 one in a confused state of mind ; but as great as the 
 confusion was in thee, and as simple as the whole 
 appear before thee, so simple will the whole appear 
 to the believers, when they look back and see their 
 folly of the wrong judgment they have drawn in 
 many things of thy writings : but much more sim- 
 ple and foolish will the wisdom of the unbelieving 
 world appear in the end, when they look back and 
 see their folly, in what manner they have placed the 
 Scriptures ; and much greater will their confusion 
 be in the end, than thine was at Bristol : but know 
 the words I told thee in the beginning that year 
 was a deep type of the end j and deep all men will 
 find it. But how could the parables appear so clearly 
 to shew you the end would be in a confusion, when 
 I come to bring in the happy deliverance ? Sorrows 
 and confusion, like the children of Israel, I have 
 always told thee, will be the end ; and then the 
 unbelieving world will see their folly much greater 
 than thou canst see thine, in the manner many things 
 were penned in the confusion of thy mind ; but know 
 the words I told thee before as the sun was too 
 strong for thy eyesight, so was the strong visitation 
 of my Spirit too strong for thy senses. And now 
 let the unbelieving world discern from the weak- 
 ness of thy own senses, and many follies they may 
 see in thee, when fears alarmed thee of disobeying ; 
 and when my visitation was strong, thy wisdom was 
 weak and thy fears were great. Now from this let 
 men discern how foolish will they appear in the end, 
 when I come to visit in power to fulfil the substance, 
 that have been ignorant of the whole, before shut up 
 in unbelief. Now judge for thyself, if no prophecies 
 had come to thee, no visitation of my Spirit, before 
 that wondrous visitation that happened at Bristol,.
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 thou wouldest have judged thy senses were entirely 
 gone, and thou wouldest not have known where to 
 place it ; and hadst thou been as a friend on a visit 
 to them as friends, all ignorant of any visitation of 
 my Spirit, ask them what their judgment would 
 have been, and how confused their thoughts would 
 appear. 
 
 Now I shall answer thee from their words, as they 
 have acknowledged they should have had fears of 
 thy being deranged, and of being with thee alone 
 by themselves, if they had not known of thy visita- 
 tion before; and thou hast confessed thyself that my 
 visitation to thee at Bristol would have made thee 
 judge thy senses gone, and some disorder had seized 
 thy head, if thou hadst never been visited before, and 
 judged from that from whence it came. Then now 
 ask tke unbelieving world, in what manner they will 
 stand the end, when I come to shake the earth, and 
 destroy with my power the root of evil and all its 
 powers, and begin strongly to visit mankind ? I ask 
 them how they will stand the day and the time of my 
 strong visitation, when I come to make an end of the 
 whole ? ff the believers like thee act fearful and sim- 
 ple, with senses half confused, scarce knowing what 
 they are doing, and the awful scenes are too great, 
 for them, though led on by my Spirit, and my di- 
 rections, and trusting in my protection ; yet if their 
 senses are confused, that they like thee should act 
 simply, I ask thee, how will the others appear, when 
 sudden surprises seize them all ? for these sudden 
 surprises will come in the end. Therefore, I tell 
 thee, bold and confident as the unbelieving 
 world may appear, to think they can stand the com- 
 ing of the Lord, without a Warning before, to pre- 
 pare them for the time, that they may know the 
 days of their Visitation ; but, with all their confi- 
 dence, no more than thou and thy friends could 
 have stood my Visitation to thee at Bristol, and 
 have known from whence it came, or what it meant, 
 
 E 2
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 if they had never heard of it before, no more would 
 the unbelieving world know in what manner I shall 
 come, or be able to stand the time, to know what 
 the visitation means, when I begin to shake terribly 
 the earth. So if thou ponderest in thy heart, that a 
 strong visitation of my Spirit overpowered thy senses, 
 and made thee act simply, that had had a know- 
 ledge of my visitation before ; how simply must the 
 unbelieving world act, if the day come upon them 
 unaware? For if the believers find the day too strong 
 for their senses, how will the unbelieving world 
 stand, when thine was but shadows of the end ; and 
 all these things were permitted by me, to be penned 
 in so simple a manner to shew mankind that a strong 
 visitation they cannot bear, without being warned 
 before ? I know there are many things that thou 
 wouldest never have put in print from thyself, in the 
 manner they stand, if my visitation had not been too 
 strong for thee ; and yet this was my Will, that in 
 this manner the whole should appear, that they may 
 discern the parable in the end, and look back to see 
 the whole. And now I shall tell thee another rea- 
 son, why I confined thy senses, so simply to put 
 the whole in print ; it was to confound the wisdom 
 of man, who had said before that thy writings came 
 from man, who had taken thy name. But where 
 are the men that will now appear and say, they be- 
 lieve these three Books were the wisdom of man ? 
 And yet, I tell thee, simply as they appear, there 
 are no books amongst all thy writings, wherein the 
 end is so clearly foretold as it is in these three Books, 
 which thou in thine own heart hast so much pon- 
 dered upon, and dreaded to read. Every truth of 
 the end is clearly foretold from the parables and 
 from the books. 
 
 And now read thy Book further. But first open 
 thy Bible." 
 
 I opened to the 1 Chronicles xiii. 3. u Let us
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 bring again the ark of our God to us ; for we en- 
 quired not at it in the days of Saul." 
 
 2 Chronicles xxxiii. 11. *' They took Manasseh 
 among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and 
 carried him to Babylon ; and when he was in afflic- 
 tion he besought the Lord his God." 
 
 1 Samuel xviii. 12. " And Saul was afraid of Da- 
 vid, because the Lord was with him, and was de- 
 parted from Saul." 
 
 '* Now I shall answer thee from these places. 
 The last time I directed thy hand to shew thee how 
 Saul feared David, because he knew the Lord was 
 with him ; and yet thou knowest how he hated him. 
 Now from this I shall shew thee that thou hust no- 
 thing to marvel, from the unbelieving world, or 
 from those that are enemies to the ways of the Lord. 
 When Saul's disobedience had made me to rend the 
 kingdom from him, which he was warned of by Sa- 
 muel that I should do, see how soon his anger was 
 kindled against David, when jealousy arose in him, 
 that David might come to the crown after him. 
 Now from these men you may clearly discern the 
 perfect enmity between mankind, that there will be 
 concerning my Kingdom ; for as the anger of Saul 
 was kindled against David, when the evil spirit work- 
 ed upon Saul, and he was departed from his God, so 
 will the evil spirit work upon mankind to be at en- 
 mity against those that are expecting my Kingdom 
 to come and be established. 
 
 And now come to David's bringing back the ark, 
 that they enquired not at in the days of Saul. And 
 now I tell thee from the ark, it stands for types and 
 shadows of the end, when I bring back the Ark 
 of the New Covenant to men, to give them the 
 Kingdom, as prepared for Man from the founda- 
 tion of the world. This is the Ark, and this is the 
 Covenant, and this is the Kingdom, that will cause 
 strife amongst mankind, as it was with Saul and Da- 
 vid ; for all these things stood for types and shadows
 
 ( 38 > 
 
 of the end. And now I ask thee, where is the man 
 who can answer, why I ordered all these things, all 
 the offerings and burnt sacrifices, and all the laws 
 that were given to Moses, and all the laws that 
 stand throughout, given to the prophets, that they 
 were ordered to do, and after that to suffer them to 
 cease and not be continued to the end of time? I 
 ask thee, why these things were done, and not al- 
 ways continued, if I had not ordained them for 
 types and shadows, as I have told thee heretofore? 
 Could the killing of a bullock, or a lamb, remove 
 the sin of a man ? or could it bring any honour to 
 me, that I could be glorified in these things ? or 
 did it make the heart of the man the better by 
 the blood of bulls and goats ? I tell thee, No : 
 they were done for types of the end, to shew you all 
 that the Beast must be slain ; and true obedience was 
 in them, which was the only merit in their sacrifice. 
 Then if I accepted such simple things from the 
 hands of men in their obedience, what hast thou 
 to marvel at the simple things I required in thee, 
 to have the simple truth appear, that mankind 
 may clearly see, when a man departs from the Lord, 
 as Saul did, how he goes on to envy David ? Here 
 I tell thee is the likeness of Pomeroy and thee, which 
 thou ponderedst so much in thy heart, why I ordered 
 the whole to go in print; but I ordered it to shew man- 
 kind how strongly Satan pursues him, when he begins 
 to depart from the ways of his God ; and yet thou hast 
 pondered deeply in thy heart, to what purpose is the 
 whole in print concerning him. And now I shall 
 answer thy foolish thoughts. Couldest thou vainly 
 suppose that thy writings came from me the living 
 Lord ? and by my command the writings were put 
 in his hands, for him to appear as a just jud^e, ac- 
 cording to his promise, to bring them forward to the 
 world and prove the truth of all that was put in his 
 hands ; but when he broke his word and promise, and 
 committed the whole to the fla'iies, and would not
 
 ( 3 9 ) 
 
 suffer the truth to appear ; canst thou vainly and 
 simply suppose the command was given to thee by 
 me, and I not find a way to have the Truth appear 2 
 And if he was so careless of my honour, dost thou 
 vainly imagine I should be careful of his? Because, 
 I tell thee, for my honour, and to clear the Truth 
 amongst mankind, if the things put in his hands had 
 not come true according to thy words, where was his 
 justice to God or inan, not to bring it forward and 
 prove it on the one hand ? But as the truth followed, 
 it was his duty to bring it forward to prove the truth 
 on the other, to do justice to God and man. Could 
 he vainly suppose he had power above his God, 
 thinking, as it was put in his hand he had power to 
 confound my wisdom ? Here is a type which stands 
 deep in him ; the way he went to save his honour 
 amongst mankind, and conceal the truth of my 
 words, he lost his honour, and the truth was made 
 clear ; but dost thou think this was done for him 
 only? I tell thee, No; it stands deep for all the 
 clergy in the end, who think they shall save their 
 honour amongst mankind, by being mockers and 
 despisers of the whole, and not seeking to have the 
 truth cleared up, tried, and proved, as I have com- 
 manded. By this neglect they think to gain their ho- 
 nour; andby this neglect they will alllose their honour 
 in the end, as he hath done. So he stands but a type 
 of the whole ; and I ask thee, how the ministers 
 will appear, when they see the threatened judgments 
 fall upon the people, and every truth brought to 
 light, as I have commanded all to be brought to 
 light concerning him ? Could the clergy see deeply 
 what a type he stands of all the careless and faithless 
 shepherds, who keep back the Truth of my Gospel, 
 by denying the visitation of my Spirit did they 
 clearly discern the whole, the type of him would 
 make them weep. So here, I tell thee, is one thing 
 in thy writings, that thou hast been deeply pondering 
 ii> thy heart, to what purpose the whole was ordered 
 to be put in print : all men will find it stands deep to
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 the clergy. For however they think to gain their 
 honour amongst men, by being careless shepherds, 
 and denying the visitation of my Spirit, which is de- 
 nying my words, and destroying the truth, it will 
 destroy their honour in the end ; but those who act 
 like David rejoice to see the ark brought back 
 rejoice to hear of the coming of their Lord ; they 
 will gain their honour, as David did, in the end, 
 though they may be mocked, as David was by the 
 Daughter of Saul ; and by such, men will be mocked; 
 as she thought it folly to see David dance before the 
 Ark. So many will judge it folly in the believers ; 
 and they will judge there is folly in the manner of 
 my directions, as thou thyself hast simply thought; 
 in many things thou hast taken in question, whether 
 it was my directions, or from a wrong spirit that had 
 deceived thee, before I made the mysteries clear and 
 plain before thee, for what ends all these things were 
 ordered to go in print to shew all men the end, 
 from the parables to the nations, and from Pomeroy 
 to the ministers. 
 
 And now come to Manasseh. Many, like Ma- 
 nasseh, will be taken among the thorns; many in 
 their afflictions will repent and turn, and do as Ma- 
 nasseh did ; then they will know that there is a God, 
 who is the same to day, yesterday, and for ever, to 
 warn by his servants, to warn by his prophets, who 
 is now come ro warn them of the end. This will be 
 deeply discerned by mankind, when they are taken 
 among the thorns, and heavy afflictions come upon 
 them." 
 
 The Communications thus far are concerning the 
 Parables ; and now I shall lay before the public a 
 Communication that was given me in answer to an 
 enquiry sent from Ireland, to know if there were any 
 books containing prophecies of any public event, 
 which were printed before that event took place ; 
 and whether there were prophecies yet to be fulfilled. 
 These enquiries were answered me by the Spirit,
 
 ( 41 ) 
 
 from my being ordered, in 1802, to take the four 
 first books, printed in 1801, in my hand, and I 
 should be told what was hastening on ; and the 
 pages are pointed out at the end of the Seventh 
 Book, printed in March 1802, as that was the se- 
 venth book of my publications at that time. The 
 reader must refer to the pages mentioned from the 
 first Book and go on to the fourth ; but it must be 
 observed from these pages, from what have been 
 fulfilled, that it is only in part ; the substance is to 
 follow. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 "Now I shall answer thee. I told thee when Peace 
 was proclaimed in 1802, that it was but for a while ; 
 the war was not ended ; neither was it begun ; the 
 war that I meant should bring in my Kingdom, 
 which was the spiritual war with Believers and Un- 
 believers, and a temporal war upon those Nations, 
 who were known to me would never turn, before 
 they were brought low, by all the judgments I said 
 in my Gospel, which I told them would be in the 
 end. And these things I said were hastening on, 
 that were not begun ; and this they must discern 
 from the words I spoke at the time of the Peace, 
 when they said the war was ended, which is known 
 to thee was at the ending of the year, that I first 
 ordered thee to publish to the world ; then they 
 must discern in what manner I ordered thee to take 
 thy first books in thy hand in the time of peace, 
 when it was affirmed by all that the war was over ; 
 and then I shewed thee what was hastening on. 
 
 And now let them discern deeply what is said in 
 these pages, that I said was hastening on : Page 
 8, First Book, Strange Effects of Faith That it 
 should be happy for the men who began and went 
 on to search into every truth, till the truths were 
 plain before them, and every curtain that stood be- 
 
 F
 
 ( 42 ) 
 
 fore them drawn back'; as ye cannot look into all 
 mysteries at once, I said they must go on till all 
 were drawn back. This I said was hastening on. 
 So now, if men have eyes to see, or hearts to un- 
 derstand, they will see that this was the first thing 
 which took place, after I told thee what was hasten- 
 ing on men's faith increasing more and more, 
 searching deeper and deeper, to come to the know- 
 ledge of every truth. 
 
 Then if they discern what I told thee was hasten- 
 ing on, in Page 27, same Book, they will discern 
 how all was foretold, of what was hastening on 
 pestilence and famine to go through the lands 
 men's hearts to fail them for very trouble ; because 
 they had not known the visitation of the Lord. So, 
 if they discern from this page, which I ordered 
 thee to point out, that was hastening on, they will 
 discern, that it was my first visitation to thee in 
 3 7p2, of what I told thee should come upon all 
 nations. For know, I told thee, it was but Sha- 
 dows that were past, the Substance was to come : 
 for now I tell thee of thy Prophecies, they stand 
 like the Prophecies of old, that prophesied of me, 
 and how I should come to die for man ; but these 
 were not fulfilled to be hastening on, before John 
 the Baptist appeared, to warn mankind, that my 
 Kingdom was at hand ; and yet he himself did not 
 understand what Kingdom was then at hand : it was 
 but Shadows of my being upon the earth, to be 
 with men, of what the Substance would be hereafter, 
 when I came to bring in my Kingdom. But John 
 the Baptist went before me, at the time I was upon 
 the earth ; and these things were but Types and 
 Shadows of the End : what John spoke of me, and 
 what I spoke of myself, was to be at another* time, 
 when I came in might, majesty, and glory, to bring 
 the Kingdom of God to man. And so in perfect 
 likeness I said of the prophecies I had given ta
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 t 
 
 thee all that had passed, before I ordered thee to 
 publish, were but Types and Shadows, to shew 
 that the Substance was to follow; as I told thee, 
 the whole was hastening on, when thou judgedst, 
 with the unbelieving world, that the war was over, 
 and all was fulfilled concerning the wars, as the Sha- 
 dows had appeared ; but let them discern that I 
 then told thee the Substance was to come. So if 
 men deeply discern what is said in these pages, that 
 I said was hastening on, then they will discern 
 how all was foretold, and put in print, before it took 
 place. 
 
 And let them discern Page 29, same Book. In 
 this page, let them understand, the wars and tu- 
 mults, by sea and land, that I said were hastening 
 on, should go on, till the Second Psalm was fulfilled ; 
 then they would judge from the past what is to fol- 
 low that I shall go on with the nations abroad, till 
 all are come to look unto me, from the ends of the 
 earth, to be saved : And let them mark my answer 
 to thy inquiry, to know if this was my Second Com- 
 ing to call in the Jews and that with the Jews I 
 must call all nations. If men have understanding 
 to discern my Bible, they will discern, from the 
 Prophets and my Gospel, how the whole stands to- 
 gether : And know I told thee thou hadst judged 
 aright of my Second Coming. And let them dis- 
 cern, at the time men judged the wars and tumults 
 were over, that I told thee, what was said in these 
 pages was hastening on ; then they will see how 
 all was foretold ; but if they cannot understand 
 things that are put so plain before them, they can- 
 not understand t lie Scriptures, nor the words of-the 
 Prophets ; neither can they understand my Gospel, 
 which I tell thee is more hid from the understand- 
 ing of man, than the Prophecies I pointed out to 
 thee, that I said were hastening on. 
 
 F2
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 And now come to Page 3Q, same Book, that I 
 said was hastening on in 1802, when you had peace 
 and plenty 
 
 ** That as the dreadful thunder from on high 
 Brings down the rain, and then clears up the sky j 
 So must the dreadful thunder of my Word 
 Sound first aloud the Coming of your Lord." 
 
 Now if men have understanding to discern the 
 words, which I said here were hastening on, and 
 discern how many are gone out to proclaim the 
 Coming of their Lord, since I told thee this was 
 hastening on, and mark the words at the end 
 
 ' But first my thunder must before me roll, 
 To break in pieces the most stubborn soul." 
 
 If men have understanding to discern the whole, 
 with what hath followed since ; then they would 
 discern what is to come, and be clearly convinced 
 that the end is at hand. 
 
 And let them discern from Page 46, same Book, 
 how I said I should go on, till all the earth was re- 
 prieved : and then as wives I would make them all : 
 for this was the Marriage of the Lamb, if men have 
 understanding to know what they read. 
 
 And now come to the Second Book, Strange Ef- 
 fects of Faith, Page 79, I said was hastening on that 
 I should bring on the storm, and that every danger 
 was near ; and let them discern what hath hastened 
 on since ; what storms and dangers have already 
 taken place ; as my visitation to thee was for all 
 nations ; then let them discern what hath happened 
 in all nations since 1 802, that I said, fatal scenes 
 were coming on ; and fatal scenes have been seen 
 abroad. Then now let them discern, from what is 
 said in the Communication, what is hastening on 
 further; and discern, from what has already fol- 
 lowed, what is to follow.
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 Page 87, same Book : and let them discern in 
 this page what I said of the wars 
 
 * That now my Sword it vhall in fury smolce: 
 The hearts of men I'll cither bow or bieak." 
 
 This I said was hastening on, to make way for my 
 Kingdom, which I was coming to establish. So let 
 them discern deeply what is said in this page, that 
 I said was hastening on ; then they will all discern 
 how all nations must bow or break ; they must bow 
 to my Sceptre, and bow to my Gospel, and look 
 unto me as their Prince and Saviour, to establish my 
 Kingdom in righteousness and peace ; or they must 
 be broke off from the face of the earth, as I said my 
 Coming was hastening on. 
 
 And now mark the words I said in the Third 
 Book, Strange Effects of Faith, Page log, that I then 
 told thee was hastening on : for the Second Psalm 
 was come to all ; that my sword should be drawn 
 and dipped in blood, till every nation should fall 
 down and worship me ; that every nation had to 
 fear ; and England should know that my Kingdom 
 was near. 
 
 These things I told thee were hastening on, when 
 men said the wars were over ; but know, I told thee 
 at that time as it was in 1792, peace and plenty, 
 and the war broke out in 1793 ; so I told thee in 
 1S02, when they said it was peace and plenty, the 
 same in 1803 they would see the wars break out 
 like the former. But to prove a prophet, there must 
 no likeness appear of the prophecies, that they will 
 be so, when they prophesy ; and so there appeared 
 no likeness to thee in 1792 of all the things hasten- 
 ing on, that I foretold thee ; neither did any likeness 
 appear to mankind in 1802, when ye had peace and 
 plenty, that all these things were hastening on, 
 which I ordered thee to point out to the world, from 
 these pages, that they were hastening on. So if
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 men have not understanding to discern these things, 
 which were so plainly pointed out before them, let 
 them not boast of their understanding to explain the 
 Scriptures. 
 
 And now come to Pasfe 1'20, Third Book, that I 
 then told thee was hastening on that it was with 
 the heathen nations I should next begin ; and now 
 let them discern what hath hastened on abroad al- 
 ready to these heathen nations, and mark what de- 
 struction hath been abroad ; then let them discern 
 what is to follow, that I said I should go on till I had 
 opened the benighted minds. So let them discern 
 from the past, of what hath happened in these few 
 years, and where the fatal destructions have begun ; 
 let them judge where they will end. If this nation 
 begin to be awakened, they will shun the destruction 
 that is in other nations. 
 
 And let them mark from the Fourth Booh, Page 
 l60, that I then told thee was hastening on 
 
 " That Christ and his flock now together must stand, 
 And prove from these visions my Kingdom's at hand." 
 
 And now discern how many in heart and mind are 
 united together, to warn of my Kingdom ; then 
 they will see that the Shadows are begun in all, of 
 what I told thee in 1802, was hastening on. Then 
 let them know, I shall not stop till the Substance is 
 fulfilled : But let them know, the sun must rise, 
 before it sets; and the dawn of the morning appear, 
 before the day break from on high, and before the 
 sun is risen : and this they must discern, how the 
 Shadows come before the Substance. All my ways 
 are like the husbandman's grain : first sown and 
 buried down, before the blade appeareth ; tlien the 
 stalk, and the ear, shoot forth, with its blossom, 
 before it is ripened to the harvest ; perfectly so, all 
 men v. ill find, I am going on to fulfil my words : 
 and then, in the end, they will see my harvest ap-
 
 ( 4 7 ) 
 
 pear that I shall stand with my flock, as they stand 
 with ME. 
 
 And now discern the words I then told thee were 
 hastening on, in Page J 72, Fourth Book of the 
 destruction of the Turkish Nation, which must be 
 observed from the beginning ot the Communication, 
 that the Barren Heaths were in Turkey, who all 
 sleep together with the Beast ; but that I should 
 awaken them from that dream ; as all their minds 
 were barren there, I said their destruction was hast- 
 ening on ; and now discern what shadows are begun. 
 And now discern what is said further, of those who 
 were waiting for the Bridegroom, their names were 
 written ; and to make the truth appear plain before 
 all men, see how many names have been written, to 
 be waiting for the Bridegroom, that they may enter 
 into the joy of their Lord. Let all mark, this hath 
 been done since I told thee it was hastening on ; 
 then let them discern deeply what is said in the page; 
 and let them mark deeply what is the language of 
 mankind, and what is the different conduct of man- 
 kind ; then they will see the truth plain before 
 them all hastened on, as I foretold thee. 
 
 And now let them mark from the Sword of Gideon, 
 Page 180, same Booh 
 
 I said the Sword should be brandish' d all abroad ; 
 And every land should feel my glittering sword. 
 
 This I told thee was hastening on ; and let them 
 discern what hath followed ; and how I said my 
 sword should be drawn to conquer every land. But 
 then let them discern from the sword of Gideon's 
 accomplishing in the end it is the Sword of 
 Faith; the Sword op the Spirit, that must 
 conquer in the end, and gain the victory over all. 
 
 So here I have answered thee his inquiries, of 
 what I told thee was hastening on in 1802, when 
 all appeared unlikely to mankind, that these things
 
 ( 48 ) 
 
 were so near at hand, when I told thee they were 
 hastening on, and the war would break out again 
 in the following year. So let men not boast of their 
 understanding of the Scriptures, if they cannot un- 
 derstand these things, which were put in print and 
 published to the world ; and after the appearance 
 was gone of their being ful tilled, for thee to be told 
 that they were hastening on. If men cannotjudge 
 from what Spirit these things were all foretold, then 
 they can be no judges of my Spirit, or my Visitation." 
 Here I shall insert another communication, which 
 was given to me in answer to a Methodist in Ireland, 
 who said that himself and the serious part of their 
 Society believed, from the Scriptures, that the latter 
 days were at hand ; and inferred from it that my 
 mission was not absolutely necessary. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 cc Now I shall answer thee from his observation, 
 and begin with this inquiry : was it necessary that 
 my Heel should be bruised for the transgression of the 
 Fall ? If men say it was not ; then they must say I 
 died in vain; and did a thing that was not necessary, 
 to prove the honour and justice of a God, to bear 
 and suffer for the transgression of man, when he fell, 
 and cast the blame on his Creator. And this is 
 known to thee is judged by the Arians and by thou- 
 sands, it was not necessary that the Son of God 
 should come and suffer for the transgression of man ; 
 therefore they do not believe I was the Son of God. 
 So if they are like the Arians, who do not believe it 
 was necessary for me to suffer the one, then they 
 cannot believe it is necessary for the Promise to be 
 pleaded, for Satan to suffer the other ; but if they 
 believe it was necessary, consistent with the honour 
 and justice of a God, to fulfil the promise made in 
 the fall, to have my Heel bruised, and men to cla- 
 mour for my life, to have me put to death, and
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 given up to the malice of men, who were influenced 
 by the arts of hell if it was necessary for me to 
 submit to their malice, and die a shameful death 
 upon the cross, and given up to the petitions of 
 men ; then let them all know, it is necessary 
 for the Woman to plead the promise made in the 
 Fall, that Satan's power may be destroyed, and his 
 head bruised, by the desire of the Woman, as my 
 Heel was bruised by the desire of Man. So if it was 
 necessary that the Son of God consented to bear 
 the petitions of men, and resigned to their will, 
 when they clamoured for my Blood, and said, Away 
 with him ; crucify him ! So if I gave up my Life 
 to the will of man, let them all know it is necessary 
 to fulfil the promise, which was made in the fall, 
 that the Woman should clamour for Satan's de- 
 struction, who was her betrayer ; and to that will 
 and petition I shall come in power to fulfil the one, 
 as I at first submitted to the other. So here let 
 men discern deeply, how T gave up my Life to the 
 petitions of men ; then they will discern, it is by their 
 petitions I shall destroy their adversary; or how 
 could I, consistently with the honour of a God, sub- 
 mit my Life to the petitions of men, if I had not de- 
 signed at last to give up to their petitions to destroy 
 their enemy, to my honour and glory ? If I suf- 
 fered the one, to my dishonour, to die the shameful 
 death on the cross, let them be assured, it is for my 
 honour to give up to the petitions of men, to come 
 again in might, majesty, and glory, and bruise the 
 Serpent's head, that betrayed the woman at first, 
 and worked in Judas to betray me at last. But here 
 is a mystery which no man discerns, that my Heel 
 was biuised by man's request : and they that dispute, 
 let them answer, how the Serpent's head is to be 
 bruised, without the request of man ? For if the 
 first promise was fulfilled, of my Heel being bruised, 
 by man's request, let them all know, the Serpent's 
 head must be bruised by the request of man the same ; 
 or how could I be a God in whom there is no variable- 
 ness nor the shadow of turning, the same to-day, 
 
 G
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 yesterday, and for ever ? But let them know, it is 
 man that hath sought out many inventions ; and 
 this is an invention of man, to think my Kingdom 
 will ever come, to establish man in peace and hap- 
 piness, and destroy the works of the devil, before 
 they clamour for his destruction, as they clamoured 
 for my Blood. So here let these disputers draw their 
 judgment, and answer from the words I have said ; 
 then they will see what wisdom is in man to discern 
 the footsteps of his Lord ; for here I have put it 
 plain before them, that in seeing they may see, and 
 in hearing they may understand, how men cla- 
 moured for my Blood, before my Heel was bruised ; 
 and then they would judge of the other, and know 
 it was necessary for the Woman to appear, to have 
 the promise revealed to her, which was made in the 
 fall, how it was to be pleaded, before that Satan's 
 head was bruised. 
 
 And now I tell thee of professors of religion, thev 
 trust too much to their own goodness, thinking they 
 shall be saved by their own merit, that they do not 
 think there is any necessity for a visitation of my 
 Spirit, to give them more light and knowledge than 
 they themselves have received : and this was the 
 state of the self-righteous, when I came in the 
 6ody ; for though my Death was foretold by the 
 Prophets, that I should be wounded for the trans- 
 gression of man ; yet they could not see a necessity 
 for this to be done ; and therefore the Jews stand 
 out in unbelief to this day ; and perfectly so I tell 
 thee of thousands ; they will not see the necessity of 
 the Promise being pleaded before it is fulfilled ; 
 therefore, like the Jews, they will perish in unbelief: 
 and many religious men will perish from the right 
 way ; though I do not tell thee they will perish 
 everlastingly, where the hearts are right with God ; 
 yet they will depart from the true and living way, 
 that brings in your Redemption, when my King- 
 dom is at hand." 
 
 Here I shall leave the readers to draw their own 
 judgment : every thing is as clear as the noon-day 
 sun to me, of the wisdom of God in creation, and
 
 ( 51 ) 
 
 in preservation, the way the promise was made, and 
 the way it must be fulfilled. 
 
 As Mr. Mayer has printed a Book in answer to 
 mine, which was brought to me before this book was 
 finished, I shall here give my answer to the World, 
 that his folly and ignorance, mixed with falsehood and 
 lies, in the book he hath published, make the Wis- 
 dom of the Spirit that directs me shine brighter and 
 brighter ; and plainly prove the necessity of the vi- 
 sitation of the Lord, to throw open the mysteries of 
 the Bible, as from him I see the ignorance of man- 
 kind. Were there not ten thousand times more 
 wisdom in the Spirit that directs me, than there *s 
 in this man, I should not have followed the direc- 
 tions of the Spirit so many days as I have years. I 
 was ordered to open the Bible and put his book in 
 it with my eyes shut, and he should be answered 
 from the Scripture that I opened to. It was in the 
 third chapter of St. John; and these are the words of 
 our Saviour, which I am ordered to reprove him 
 with : Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man 
 be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God : 
 Except he be born of water and of the Spirit, he 
 cannot enter into the Kingdom of God : that which 
 is born of the "flesh, is flesh, and that which is born 
 of the Spirit, is Spirit. Marvel not that I say unto 
 thee, ye must be born again, or ye cannot sec the 
 kingdom of Heaven : for he is in the gall of bitter- 
 ness and the bonds of iniquity" are the words that 
 are spoken to me concerning him. Again " If I told 
 you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye 
 believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" So this is 
 the answer from the Scriptures I was ordered to re 
 prove him with. And now I am left to answer for 
 myself, to the false accusations he hath brought 
 against me. But seeing his falsehood and ignorance 
 so strongly mixed together^ that I should not have 
 given myself the trouble to answer him, if it was 
 not for the world at large, to shew them the blind- 
 ness and ignorance there are in my enemies. 
 
 Jn the first page of his book he says, my " Siren 
 G2
 
 ( 52 ) 
 
 tongue," "Satan hath of late used with too much suc- 
 cess to decoy them into the snare he hath spread for 
 their souls," alluding that this is done through me. 
 To this I answer, from the words of our Saviour, if 
 Satan rise up against himself and be divided, he can- 
 not stand, but hath his end. So if Satan is come to 
 plead his own destruction, that the Name of the Lord 
 may run and be glorified, then he must be divided 
 against himself, to have an end. But his arguments 
 are like those of the Scribes, who said of our Saviour, 
 that by the prince of the devils cast he out devils ; 
 so let him mark our Saviour's answer. 
 
 In page 5 he quotes the ninth commandment, 
 saying I have broken it; but I must return the charge 
 back upon his own head, that it is he who hath broken 
 that commandment, and not me : for I again affirm 
 that he hath not explained any sense or meaning of 
 the long-wishcd-for Revolution ; neither hath he 
 explained the meaning of Isaiah xxv, though he 
 hath brought it forward again. 
 
 In page 6 he refers to page 88 of my book, 
 saying, " She says I boast of my own wisdom, as 
 being superior to the wisdom of mankind ; and that 
 I assert that the Kingdom of Christ will . be esta- 
 blished by the destruction of Buonaparte ; what shall 
 we say of a woman who dares publish such impudent 
 and barefaced falsehood ? Surely she is capable of 
 any thing." 
 
 My books will answer for themselves ; and so to 
 his book I shall refer for the answer to this. In the 
 >14 and 45 pages of his book, entitled, Peace with 
 Prance, he has these words " Have the citizens of 
 Frankfort, and the principalities of Germany, who 
 have submitted to Buonaparte's dictates, by observing 
 a right neutrality escaped the iron rod of his oppres- 
 sive power ? or have tho.se that have been united to 
 his empire enjoyed the blessings of peace ? or can 
 they flatter themselves with the distant prospect of 
 its taking place, whilst the despotic tyrant lives and 
 reigns." 
 
 4t Britons, God calls upon you to arise and thresh, 
 to go forth to war for their defence, to break their
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 bands asunder by the sword, and to bring Buona- 
 parte's pomp down to the grave, who hath weakened 
 the nations ; then the whole earth shall be at rest, 
 and remain quiet; they shall break forth into sing- 
 ing The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely 
 as I have thought so shall it come to pass, and as I 
 have purposed so shall it stand, that I will break the 
 Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread 
 him under-foot ; then shall his yoke depart from off 
 them, and his burden depart from off their shoul- 
 ders. This is the purpose that is purposed upon the 
 whole earth. Isaiah xiv. 24, 25, 26. And the King- 
 dom, and dominion, and the greatness of the king- 
 dom, under the whole heaven, shall be given to 
 the people of the Saints of the Most High. Daniel 
 vii. 27." 
 
 Now here, from his own book, he has condemned 
 himself; because he denieth the things which he 
 hath published. For the 7th chapter of Daniel al- 
 ludes to the Second Coming of Christ, when he 
 shall come with the clouds of heaven, and have do- 
 minions, and kingdoms, that all people, nations, and 
 languages should serve him. So when that chapter 
 is fulfilled, to have the kingdom given to the saints 
 of the Most High, it is said, all dominions should 
 serve and obey him ; and this is what our Saviour 
 told his followers, that he should come again in 
 glory, to bring in the Redemption of Man, and the 
 Kingdom of God. So here he must display a won- 
 derful share of ignorance, that he neither under- 
 stands the Scriptures, nor what he reads, if he denies 
 his saying that the destruction of Buonaparte will, 
 bring in the Kingdom of Christ, when he affirmed, 
 that this would follow when Buonaparte is destroy- 
 ed. So it is his own pen that gives himself the lie, 
 in contradicting what he himself hath said : and I 
 may say, from his ignorance, he is capable of any 
 thing. 
 
 In page 7, he says, that I could not be sup- 
 plied with pens, ink, paper, and wax, for their 
 sealing, they being a great multitude which no man 
 could number. Here he hath forgotten what is said
 
 C 54 ) 
 
 in Revelation vii The Scaled Tribes were num- 
 bered ; but the others could not be numbered, that 
 stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, 
 clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. 
 So that he doth not understand how one alludes to 
 the church triumphant, which no man could num- 
 ber, and the other to the church militant of the 
 Sealed, who were numbered. 
 
 In page 13, he has these words, " In page I89, 
 Strange Effects of Faith, Joanna says, You are 
 not to suppose this dragon (the dragon in Revelation 
 xii.) meant the devil, Who then f Her malicious 
 enemies." 
 
 Now as he had my book to take it from, he hath 
 plainly discovered that he hath neither judgment nor 
 understanding of what he reads ; or he hath artfully 
 evaded the truth, to deceive mankind. The words 
 in my book are as follows : 
 
 You are not to suppose this dragon meant the de- 
 vil, that he could do it of himself; No : it is in the 
 heart of man he must do it. 
 
 Thus, if Mayer understood what he read, he 
 would have known I had said the dragon meant the 
 devil working in the hearts of men to do his work : 
 and in the hearts of men he is going on with his ma- 
 lice ; but he cannot come visibly upon earth to 
 write against me; yet he can work in the hearts of ma- 
 licious men to do it. So if this is all the judgment he 
 hath got to understand what he reads, let him not boast 
 of explaining the Scriptures, when he cannot under- 
 stand a thing that is as plain as the ABC line. 
 
 And now I shall come to page 2Q of his book, 
 in which he says, " The author's last letter to 
 Joanna Southcott, she did not answer, nor think 
 prudent to publish, and which terminated the con- 
 troversy between them." Now from this asser- 
 tion he must either prove himself a man void of un- 
 derstanding, that he cloth not know what he reads; 
 or prove himself void of all shame, in regard to his 
 own honour, if he did understand what he read; 
 because the letter he mentions, which he says I nei- 
 ther answered nor put in print, the reader will rind
 
 ( 55 ) 
 
 begins in page 32 of my book, and ends in page 
 88. For his letter is taken to pieces and answered 
 through ; but great part of his abusive language I 
 did not put in, as I thought that required no an- 
 swer. But from this letter being only in part put 
 in print, and he denying its being answered, because 
 the whole of his letter did not appear, I had the 
 following Communication given me : 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 " Now I shall answer thee of his letter, which he 
 says is not in print, because it is taken to pieces, 
 and answered separately ; therefore he hath denied 
 the whole, saying thou hast not thought it prudent 
 to publish or answer it. And to his folly I shall 
 answer. As his letter stands in print, by thee taken 
 to pieces, and answered in so many pages, which 
 he hath not discerned, perfectly so stand the Scrip- 
 tures, from the beginning to the ending, which he 
 hath no more discerned, in what manner my Bible 
 stands, than he hath discerned in what manner his 
 letter stands ; and for that reason he hath as falsely 
 explained the Scriptures, as he hath spoken con- 
 cerning the letter, which he says is not answered, 
 nor published. Some things thou didst leave out of 
 his letter, that the whole did not appear by thee ; 
 yet he hath brought the whole together, to have 
 the letter appear through ; but thou hast placed it 
 here and there, without publishing the whole. Now 
 perfectly so stands my Gospel, and perfectly so 
 stand the Scriptures, placed through, but not 
 brought together ; and many things were concealed 
 by me, reserved for the end, as thou hast con- 
 cealed some parts of his letter, which in the end of 
 his book he hath printed together. And now I tell 
 thee, out of his own mouth will I condemn him ; 
 for as his letter stands at the end, to bring all things 
 forward that thou hast kept back, perfectly so stands 
 my Visitation to thee, to bring all things forward, 
 that I kept back in my Gospel. I said the prince of 
 this woild should be judged ; but I kept back in 
 what manner he should be judged ; or for what he
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 should be judged. I said the prince of this world 
 should be cast out ; but in what manner, I kept back 
 before my visitation to thee, to bring the whole to- 
 gether. I said the Comforter, which is the Holy 
 Ghost, whom the Father would send in my name, 
 should teach you all things, and bring all things to 
 your remembrance ; I said the Spirit of Truth should 
 come and guide you into all truths ; but I kept 
 back what should be brought to your remembrance ; 
 and what truths should be laid before you, I then 
 kept from the knowledge of man, as thou didst keep 
 back many things in his letter. But as he had not 
 sense to discern that his letter was answered, and 
 therefore put the whole in print together ; perfectly 
 so I tell thee of my Gospel, men have not sense to 
 understand my words and meaning, nor for what 
 reason my heel was bruised-rr-to fulfil one part of the 
 promise made in the fall, that I should come again 
 in might, majesty, and power, to fulfil the other. 
 This men have no more sense to discern, than he 
 had sense to discern his letter ; and therefore I have 
 brought the whole together ; what I kept back at 
 first I have revealed at last. But now mark from the 
 man: he himself hath brought forward, to his own 
 shame and dishonour, what was kept back of his 
 letter, if he hath sense to understand in what man- 
 ner he has written. And now I shall answer thee 
 from what I said before : The way the prince of this 
 world should be judged and cast out, I said I con- 
 cealed and kept back, as thou didst keep back the 
 abuse in his letter in part; but now the man, to his 
 own shame, hath brought it forward ; and perfectly 
 so I tell thee of Satan ; what was concealed and 
 kept back by me, of saying he should be judged, 
 Satan hath brought forward, by his own disputes, 
 and concerning the Sealed Number, that like a 
 member of Parliament he would submit ; but now 
 it is known to thee and to all, like a member of par- 
 liament he hath not submitted ; but pursues to the 
 utmost of his power the Sealed People. So now I 
 tell thee, he himself hath called out the judgment of 
 mankind, to fulfil my words, that I said he should
 
 ( 57 ) 
 
 be judged : and all men will find there is not a word 
 in my Gospel that will fall to the ground. So what I 
 kept back of Satan's being judged, he himself, like 
 Mayer, hath brought forward ; though the sense 
 of the words was kept back by me, as part of his 
 letter was kept back by thee. And now I tell thee 
 this of Mayer : to men of reason or religion, he will 
 find he hath called out his own shame, and con- 
 demned in thee the very things he himself is guilty 
 of; and perfectly so is Satan's accusations : he con- 
 demned the woman in the beginning for the thing 
 he had tempted her to do; and now, I tell thee, as 
 an angel of light he is come to work in Mayer, un- 
 der a false pretence of religion. But thou sayest in 
 thy heart, thou canst not see any light in his book. 
 To thy thoughts I shall answer. The light that 
 shineth in darkness cannot appear as the light that 
 shineth in the day ; and yet, as light shineth 
 in darkness, 'so hath he, as an angel of light, pre- 
 tended to reprove thee, through religion. And 
 where a man makes profession of religion, he must 
 make a profession of what is good ; and without this 
 profession Satan cannot come as an angel of light. 
 Did he come as an angel of light to thee, when I 
 first visited thee in 1792 ? or did he come as an an- 
 gel of light in thy disputes ? In thy heart thou an- 
 swerest, No ; he appeared in his true colours. Then, 
 I tell thee, it is in a profession of religion he must 
 come as an angel of light, under a pretence to sup- 
 port the Scriptures: and in this manner he hath, 
 been working in Mayer ; but the end will shew you 
 all, how he will work to his own shame and confu- 
 sion in the man ; that meaneth, as Mayer is a strong 
 instrument in his hand, to abuse my Spirit, and 
 persecute me with a high hand ; so he will work his 
 own confusion in the end. But now I ask thee and 
 all mankind, if this man differs from the Atheists, 
 who abuse the Scriptures, saying, it was not con- 
 sistent with the wisdom of a God to create man in 
 the manner he did ; and permitted him to fall ? 
 All my Bible appears to them as thy writings appear 
 to Mayer, in the manner he hath pointed them 
 
 H
 
 ( 58 ) 
 
 out. And now take thy first books in thy hand, 
 and I shall point out to thee places in answer to his 
 words, where he says all thy writings are so diaboli- 
 cal, coming from hell. And I shall answer from 
 his own words. Doth he not say, God will cleanse 
 the earth by his judgments? Then out of his own 
 mouth will I condemn him, from my words to 
 thee in page 27, First Book, Strange Effects of Faith. 
 And now come to page 32. Will he presumptuously 
 say, it is from the devil, to say, All the earth shall 
 know the Lord, and sing his praise with one ac- 
 cord ? or will he presumptuously say, it is from the 
 devil, that the Second Psalm should be fulfilled ? 
 And mark the words in pages 37, 38 
 
 Some will believe, and eager wish for me, 
 And the desire of nations they shall see. 
 
 And now come to the page 43 
 
 If to my Voice you will but hearken, 
 And obey my strict command, 
 You shall know from what I've spoken, 
 This shall be a happy Land. 
 
 Mark the communication through ; and then dis- 
 cern the Second Book to page 52, and how it goes 
 on to the end of the communication. Now I tell 
 thee from these pages, it is nothing but the malice 
 of the devil, working in mankind, as he doth in the 
 Atheists, and much greater, to make them find 
 fault, to be filled with malice against my mercies, 
 and against my promises. And let them discern the 
 words in page 86, and go on to page 92, and an- 
 swer for theirselves, how they can prove such lan- 
 guage came from the devil. If so, it is time for 
 man to tremble, if Satan is come to speak more to 
 my honour and glory than man. And now mark 
 the words in page 94 
 
 That barren minds like barren soil, 
 Mock the cultivator's toil. 
 
 And perfectly so the barren minds appear. And 
 now mark the words in page 117, and see if men's 
 hearts are not grown dry in Satan's snares, as* I told 
 thee. And let them mark the words in page J 25, 
 and see if they can prove it is language fVom hell. 
 And now come to page 160, and will he say it is. 
 language from hell, That Christ and his flock should
 
 ( 59 ). ' 
 
 stand together ? Then now mark the following com 
 rnunication, what I told thee of the moon, and Sa- 
 tan's wisdom shining in man ; and so go on to the 
 following communications, what I told thee of the 
 fury of sinners, when the living waters gushed out. 
 So now' discern the truth of my words, and weigh 
 deeply the lines that I ordered thee to pen, of what 
 was spoken by me; then ye may see the truth in 
 every line, how every heart was foretold, and how 
 all their malice was foretold, being set on by Satan's 
 arts. And now I ask thee, where are the Atheists 
 whose hearts are so bad as this man's ? If a man do 
 not believe in a God, but judge the Bible the inven- 
 tion of men, his heart cannot be so black as he that 
 despiseth these pages I pointed out to thee, for the 
 gloty of God and the good of mankind. Therefore 
 I tell thee, their turning things up and down will not 
 do ; they put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter ; 
 they put darkness for light, and light for darkness; 
 they call evil good, and good evil. But I ask them, 
 how they will answer these pages, to piove.that Satan 
 hath this desire for my honour and glory, and to exalt 
 my Name, to set forth the happiness it will be to man- 
 kinvi, when all the power of evil is destroyed? Then 
 it is time for men to tremble, if they say Satan is 
 come to set forth the glory and happiness of my 
 Kingdom, that I may be the desire of every nation. 
 If they say this is done by Satan, I ask mankind, 
 how they will appear, who now rise in malice against 
 my Kingdom, and against my Coming ? Then they 
 must say it is just to be destroyed ; if Satan is con- 
 vinced of his evil, and is become my advocate and 
 friend, then it is man must become my enemy ; for 
 where is the man who can point out any blasphemy 
 in thy writings against thy Creator, against me, or 
 my Gospel ? This cannot be done by man. But 
 now I know the thoughts of thy heart. They say it is 
 blasphemy for thee to say thou hast any part to be a 
 worker with thy God ; but let them answer from the 
 fall, what they judge of the beginning ; then let them 
 judge the ending. Blasphemy stands through my 
 
 H 2
 
 ( 6o ) 
 
 Bible, by the judgment of such men. Can they say it 
 is more contrary to the mercies and justice of a God 
 to reward obedience than to punish disobedience ? 
 But here I tell thee is Satan's working, by every way, 
 and every art, and every instrument he can gain, to 
 chill thy love, and change thy mind, that thou 
 mayest not endure to the end. But keep my Gospel 
 in thy view, and judge how I was mocked by man, 
 and all the scorn that I went through. And know I 
 said, the servant must be like his master to suffer 
 the same reproach from man, as I had suffered before; 
 therefore let not these things discourage thee : but 
 know it fulfils my Gospel, and the words I spoke to 
 thee in the beginning, that this would be the mock of 
 fools. But now I know thy pondering thoughts. 
 There are some things in thy writings, which thou 
 judgest men may blame, who cannot look deep into 
 all mysteries, and know for what ends the whole was 
 done; perfectly so I tell thee of thousands; they stum- 
 ble at my Gospel, judging it was not consistent with 
 a God, that the Son of God should come down 
 from heaven, to bear the reproach of men : to suffer 
 myself to be tempted by the devil. All these things 
 appear to thousands to be as far from the wisdom of 
 a God as the simplest thing in thy writings can ap- 
 pear to mankind. But should I not come again in 
 the same simple way, when I come to fulfil my Gos- 
 pel, I ask thee, who would believe my Gospel, if the 
 servant was not like his master, to bear the mock of 
 fools, as I have done ? If all thy writings appeared 
 to the wisdom of man to be consistent with the wis- 
 dom of a God ; then the Scriptures could not be 
 fulfilled. But now I bid thee stand with courage, 
 and rely upon thy God, who hath safely guided 
 thee thub far ; and I shall guide thee safe to the end. 
 Let thy enemies answer thy Sixth Book> Strange 
 Effects of Faith ; then they will see thy love to God; 
 and if they say thou hast written blasphemy, they 
 must say it is against thine enemy, the great accuser 
 of mankind, that betrayed the woman at first. 
 There is no orher blasphemy in thy writings, which
 
 { 61 ) 
 
 man can point out. And now I tell thee, as Mayer 
 hath so boldly mocked me, by mocking thy attend- 
 ant Spirit, he will find thy attendant Spirit true, 
 and all his judgment fall to the ground, that he hath 
 drawn in his Book of, Peace with France : he will 
 find that peace with France, or Buonaparte's destruc- 
 tion, will not bring the nations to rest ; because they 
 know not what will follow, to bring all nations low, 
 and awaken their understanding to be longing for 
 my Coming. Then will the desire of nations come, 
 as I have told thee, and happiness flow through 
 every land. But this will not be done according to 
 the wisdom of Mayer : all his wisdom will fall to the 
 ground, as it hath fallen by his answer to thy book ; 
 because I tell thee, I shall awaken the nations by 
 other judgments, as well as war, till I have convinced 
 them of the truth of my Gospel, and the truth of 
 the words I have spoken by thee ; and then my 
 coming will be to destroy the works of the devil, and 
 all his power, and bring in my Kingdom of Peace 
 in a day and hour men think not of; for unaware 
 will my coming be to thousands ; and in a day they 
 look not for, by all ; because it is my Gospel I am 
 coming to fulfil, to bring in the Redemption of Man, 
 and the Kingdom of God, which I taught them to 
 pray for." 
 
 Here I have given the answer of the Spirit to the 
 judgment of Mayer. But now I shall make one 
 more observation from myself, in answer to his 
 book printed against me. He says, in page 28, 
 " Wishing for the destruction of Satan's kingdom, de- 
 ceives the ignorant and unwary ; throws families into 
 confusion ; and not only harrasses and disturbs the 
 mind of the timorous though real and humble Chris- 
 tian, but robs him of his comforts." 
 To his folly 1 shall answer, he cannot call any 
 man a Christian, that his robbed of his comfort in 
 hearing the time is at hand that Satan's power will be 
 destroyed ; for that is the meaning of his kingdom, 
 the power he hath to work in the hearts of men to do 
 evil ; and he hath always been working strongly in 
 men, to throw families into confusion, ever since he
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 caused the fall ; and not only families, neighbours 
 and friends, but nations and people, to set them at 
 variance, and cause strife and contention amongst 
 them. And this hath been through every age ; 
 therefore it is said in Revelation xii. that the Saint9 
 will rejoice when Satan is cast dovvn, and ihe King- 
 dom of God set up in every heart : for the earth is 
 the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. So a man must be 
 void of reason, if he judges cutting off Satan's power 
 and chaining him down, as is said in chapter xx. can 
 rob the Christian of his comfort ; because it is what 
 every Christian will wish for, that the evil power of 
 Satan may be destroyed, and God be all in all. Then 
 will peace and happiness, love and unity, be esta- 
 blished in all families, friends, and neighbours, na- 
 tions and people ; all will be united together in love 
 and harmony one with the other, and all delight 
 themselves in the God of their Salvation. So if he 
 understands the sense of what he writes, he is plead- 
 ing, under a pretence of religion, to have Satan's 
 power to remain. For as our Saviour said to his fol- 
 lowers, that the Kingdom of Heaven would be 
 within them ; and so in the heart of a Christian is 
 the desire of Christ's Kingdom placed the same. 
 On the other hand, of those that give themselves 
 up to the will and dominion of Satan, it may be said 
 his kingdom is within them, which they wish not to 
 have destroyed. But let him not judge the Christian 
 by his own heart : for his servants we are to whom 
 we yield ourselves to obey : so the heart of a Chris- 
 tian is for the kingdom of his Lord, as it is his king- 
 dom is his delight. 
 
 The following Communication is to shew how 
 man is answered from his own folly. 
 
 I was surprised with a letter I received from a 
 friend in Yorkshire, who said one of the Methodists 
 sent him word, that the God whom I served was like 
 a Cuckoo. This shocked me, as it appeared to me 
 the greatest blasphemy that can be spoken by a 
 tongue ; as I can appeal to God and my own 
 conscience, that mv trust is in the Creator of the 
 Universe, the God of Heaven and Earth, and in
 
 ( 03 ) 
 
 his Son J,esus Christ, who came to manifest his Love 
 to Man : and there is all my faith firmly fixed in the 
 Unity of God the Father and the Son ; and 
 no other God do I serve, or worship, and no 
 other power do I rely on. But as to a Cuckoo, it 
 is judged a fooliih bird, always in one note; and 
 the small birds are said to follow him and feed him. 
 I was answered ^ 
 
 " As thy heart is known to me, there is no other 
 God thou dost worship, and no other power thou 
 dost rely on, but the Lord, thou mayest well say 
 his words were blasphemy ; and blasphemy of the 
 deepest dye must his words be, if thy heart was 
 known to him, as it is to me. And now, from thy 
 observation, I shall answer, as thou hast judged he 
 took his observations from thy writings being in one 
 note, as they allude to one thing ; but now I ask 
 them, how much more they must make me appear 
 as a cuckoo, to shed my Blood for the transgression 
 of the Fall, and bear the shame and reproach of men, 
 and be despised by them, as my Gospel is despised 
 to this day by thousands of professed Christians in 
 your land, amongst the Arians, as well as by the 
 Jews ? Then how much more like a cuckoo must I 
 appear, if I never come again in might, majesty, and 
 glory, to destroy the works of the devil, and bruise 
 his head, as my Heel was bruised, and have the. 
 Kingdom I died to redeem, that my Name may run 
 and be glorified, and all my Words may be ful- 
 filled that in the world where I suiiered dishonour, 
 to come again and receive my honour ; in the world 
 where I submitted to the Cross, to come again and 
 receive the Crown; that meaneth, to receive the 
 Power, and claim the Kingdom all my own. With- 
 out this I must appear as he said, amongst the Jews, 
 and amongst the Arians, to shed my Blood, and that 
 is all : and in this note the professors of my Gospel 
 go on 
 
 '* Christ's Blood was shed," is all their plead, 
 
 And they will plead no more; 
 And so like cuckoos men go on ; 
 
 Tis all the notes they'll hear*
 
 
 * 
 
 
 1 \ 4 
 
 
 
 . . ' . 
 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 ( 64 ) 
 
 So from the man you may discern 
 
 The way they judge their God; 
 They judge that all my power is gone 
 , That way is all their plead. 
 So men appear, I teli tnee here, 
 
 And their own likeness draw; 
 But let these cuckoos all take care ' 
 
 Thy God they'll surely know 
 Did never come to die for man, 
 
 To have my honour lost, 
 And not my Gospel to fulfil, 
 
 Though man so proudly boasts, ~< 
 
 To judge the way that he did say, ;. N 
 
 ^ 1 in one note must stand; i 
 
 Because I know that is their cry, 
 
 By thousands in your land. 
 For all was finish'd, men do say, 
 
 When on the Cross I died ; \ 
 
 And so a cuckoo I must fall, 
 
 The way that man applied. 
 Ah! simple men, your thoughts are vain; 
 
 Your God you do not know, 
 The way that I shall come again 
 
 And prove my Gospel true. 
 But I'll end here and say no more 
 
 I've simply answer'd man ; 
 As his own folly did appear, 
 
 I know that is their tone ; 
 For in one sound they all abound ; 
 
 No different notes they'll see ; 
 Though in my Gospel it may be found 
 
 The way the end will be. 
 
 So here I tell thee, man hath drawn his own like- 
 ness, how they go on like the bird he hath menti- 
 oned, in one note, that my death finished the whole ;- 
 and so they go on to lead their flock, in one note 
 like the cuckoo, which is a true picture of man, as 
 I have told thee : he hath drawn the likeness of the 
 teachers and the hearers, which is too common in 
 your land." 
 
 Taken from Joanna Southcott's mouth by me, 
 
 Ann Underwood. 
 Witness, Jane Townley. 
 Wednesd ay, July 23, 1806. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED BV S. ROUSSEAU, WOOD STREET, SPA FIELDS; 
 
 And sold by E. J. Fiki.d, No. 139, near Bloomjbun/ Court, High Hoi- 
 bom; C. Abbott, opposite the London Apprentice, East End of 
 Old Street; Wv Toj^BR, Lambeth Road, St. George's Fields; 
 Also by W. Symonds, Gaudy Lane; and the Miss Eveleighs 
 <S7. Sidvcll's, Exeter; Samuel Hirst, Leeds; J. Middleton, 
 York; and James Light, Coventry Street, Stourbridge, Woras-' 
 ten hire. 
 
 [PRICE ONE SHILLING.]
 
 THE 
 
 TRIAL 
 
 OP 
 
 JQ*dJVJV*4L SQUTHCOTT, 
 
 DURING SEVEN DAYS, 
 
 WHICH COMMENCED ON THK 
 
 FIFTH, AND ENDED ON THE ELEVENTH, 
 OF DECEMBER, 1S04. 
 
 AT THE 
 
 NECKINGER HOUSE, BERMONDSEY, 
 *, NEAR LONDON. 
 
 ** There shall come in the last days scoffers, 'walking after their o-wn lust9 t 
 and saying, where is the promise of his coming P for since the fa* 
 titers fell asleep, all things continue as they were." 2 Peter iii. 3. 
 
 r * f We speak the -wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom^ 
 which God ordained he/ore the "world unt our glory." \ Cor. i. 27. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED BY S. ROUSSEAU, WOOD STREET, SPA FISLD6;. 
 
 fHD SOLD BY E. J. FIELD, NO. 2, HIGH STREET, ST. GILlS'Sk 
 TWO DOORS FROM THE ANGEL INN J 
 ALSO BY W. SYMONDS, GANDY LANE ; AND 
 Tilt M-U.- LVJU.EIGH S, ST. SlDWJKJ,fc'l>, K&ETKfc 
 
 1804.
 
 fftflf-tHy P*"' ' , , , , ,,. - ^ 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 X HE world at large has raised a variety of false 
 reports, and drawn many wrong judgments, con- 
 cerning the publications- of Joanna Southcott. Some 
 have gone so far as to say, that they are the works 
 of men with her signature put to them. Others 
 liave affirmed, that their contents are made up of 
 falsehoods, and not truth. Again, among a va- 
 riety of the like tales, it has lately been boldly as- 
 serted, {i that she makes a scribbling on some papers, 
 and delivers them to some of her followers, and 
 then, when any remarkable occurrence happened in 
 the world, from her being possessed of a great de 
 gree of head knowledge, with a retentive memory, 
 she has occasionally gone to these papers and pretend- 
 ed to read what his happened, in the same manner as 
 if it had been in them ; and then it is added, that 
 there i a person writes down what she pretends to 
 read, and then it is published :" This erroneous and 
 false assertion has even been put in print against her. 
 But all the#e things being known to the Lord, be- 
 fore Joanna could have any notice of them ; she 
 therefore sees his unbounded wisdom, in ordering 
 that every truth should be tried and regularly proved 
 by the testimony of credible witnesses. 
 
 And in order to ascertain the truth or falsity of 
 her writings, ail ranks of men have been invited, by 
 a variety of applications, to come forward to exa- 
 mine fairly into the^i. The hifhops, and clergy in 
 general, were particularly invited to sear; h into 
 ' these mutters > and she then expressed her willingness, 
 
 A %
 
 IV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 on every truth being laid before any twenty-fouf 
 'whom they might appoint from among themselves, that 
 if they could prove the calling to be from the De- 
 jpil, she then would cor. sent for every thing to be 
 given up to their judgment, as may be seen in "Let- 
 ters on various Subjects, from Joanna Sonthcott to 
 Miss Townley, published in June, 1804 ;" but they 
 declined coming forward to judge the cause. 
 
 After this it wa* offered to be given up to the 
 judgment of the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, in like manner, 
 if he could bring twenty-four to prove her calling 
 from an evil Spirit ; for he had written private let- 
 ters to her friends, to insinuate to them that she had 
 ipublished falsehoods against him. But her friends 
 being above deceit, they sent her his letters, which 
 she put in print, at the same time offering to give up 
 ill to him, if he came fonvard and proved his asser- 
 tions, as the reader may see more fully in her " Ex- 
 planations of the Bible," Part I. p. 44, published to- 
 wards the end of the same year; but well knowing that 
 he could not do so, he likewise refused to attend to 
 her invitation to do justice to her character. 
 
 And to shew the reader the last steps which were 
 taken, respecting that gentleman, previous to her 
 Trial, the following particulars are inserted : 
 
 DIRECTIONS FROM THE SPIRIT. 
 
 Wednesday, Nov. 23, 1804. 
 
 u Now, Joanna, I shall give thee directions. Know 
 all men, my Gospel was penned by my disciples ; 
 my friends and followers bore record of the truth : 
 for what truth could come from my enemies ? Now 
 I tell thee, it is my friends and believers that must 
 bear record of eveiy truth the same. Now, as the 
 days of thy departure draw near, I have ordered 
 thee to call all thy witnesses and friends together, to 
 ynake every trutli dear before them, and to convince 
 the unbelieving world, they have not built their 
 ftith on a sandy foundation ; they have not listened
 
 INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 fe any cunningly devised fables; they have not taken 
 thy bare word and record ; but have faithfully 
 searched into every truth. The witnesses must be 
 called and their evidence given in and penned, as 
 though it was a thing on life and death. All must 
 be penned, and all particulars looked into, to prove 
 to the world there is no deceit in thee or thy friends* 
 For I now tell thee, if thy friends believe every truth 
 thou hast told them, without bringing forward every 
 evidence to prove it, the world will not ; for clear 
 proofs must be made manifest, to prove a thing to 
 an unbelieving world. My disciples penned in what 
 a public manner my miracles were wrought, and in 
 what a public manner I appeared to them after my 
 decease ; and in what manner I arose again ; but 
 could this be done by the keepers, wfio were bribed 
 to conceal the truth * ? I tell thee, No : so let the 
 unbelieving world say the truth of all is proved by 
 thy friends and believers : for the truth of my Gos- 
 pel was penned the same, and the truth of my Bible 
 was penned the same. Now let the world be con- 
 vinced from Pomeroy, what truth can you know 
 from him ? Does he not use every art to conceal 
 the truth, as much as the keepers did to conceal the 
 truth of my resurrection ? Then know, vain man, 
 no truth can come from an enemy. See my Gos- 
 pel ; see my Bible ; see how Jehoiakim went to con- 
 ceal and destroy the words of Jeremiah; and see 
 through my Bible how it was penned by the pro- 
 phets, and made public by those who believed. 
 But was ever my Bible aifirmed by an enemy ? Let 
 reason take possession of every heart ; and now see 
 from Pomeroy's conduct, how he would sooner lose 
 his own honour, and bear the scandalous reproach of 
 the whole world, than come forward to acknowledge 
 the truth. Now let this be a convincing proof to all 
 men, that truth cannot be made known by an ene- 
 my ; truth must be made known by a believer, who 
 will not blind his own eyes, nor the eyes of others, 
 * Matthew, xxviii. 1?, 13, 1 1.
 
 \i INTRODUCTION. 
 
 but will do justice towards God and man, which the 
 enet'-ies of my Cross never would do; neither will 
 the enemies of my Crown do it now : for where Sa- 
 tan hath the advantage over men, to fill them up 
 with unbelief, he will have the advantage to work 
 in tuem deceit. Now let the world see from Pome- 
 roy, and thy friends, where the art and deceit lie ; 
 who is ready to come forward with every truth but 
 the believers r and who is ready to keep back the 
 truth and deny it but an unbeliever ? This was 
 do.ie at my first coming, and this is done at my se- 
 cond coming. Now let all men judge for them* 
 selves ; for I shall go on to make every thing clear 
 to men of reason and to men of sense. 
 
 " Now I shall answer thee : Pomeroy hath done 
 like th<; Jews of old ; he hath concealed the truth, 
 and will not appear to own the truth ; then go out 
 into thsi highways and hedges and compel them to 
 come in. Let the witnesses' words be taken ; and 
 k any opposers come that will come, that have not 
 returned the kites-, or, let the halting Jacobs ap- 
 pear, that are now halting between two opinions ; 
 let them come forward to the number that is men- 
 tioned. 
 
 Now I shall come to Pomeroy's words : he saith 
 let the truth be tried, but leave him out of the ques- 
 ts n, Now let Pomeroy answer me, which way the 
 truth is to be tried to leave him out of the question ? 
 I- not that a thing impossible? In thy heart thou 
 fev, st, Yes, it is a thing impossible'; then I answer, 
 he will find it in the end as much impossible for him 
 to regain his lost honour : for Ins name must ever 
 stand wit!) the n . . of the keepers that were bribed 
 to con . ed the truth. So whether he will hear, or 
 v.hrth -r he will forbear, write thou the words unto 
 him this day, and tell him to call to his remembrance, 
 
 " The eleven day? aie <ai!l in store, 
 
 T< ; a- my ' eavv hand ; 
 But if hesieej: fill th.' be o'er, 
 
 Then he may still sleep oa
 
 INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 Till all my threatened judgments come upon him. 
 Now tell him, for his sake I have deferred thy Trial 
 to the last day ; for seven days before November is 
 out, by the Old Stile, thy Trial must begin ; and if 
 he is not present then, or sends no friends to appear 
 in his behalf, he must trust to the judgment of them 
 that are present ; but as to his conduct, from first to 
 last, it will all go in print with the witnesses' names; 
 and let him know what an impossibility he hath re- 
 quired ; and the letter thou sendest him must go iro 
 print." 
 
 Here follows a cepy of the Letter : 
 
 REV. SlR, London, Nov. 28, 1804. 
 
 In your letter to the Rev. Mr. Foley, you write 
 desiring to have the truth of my writings cleared up, 
 and tried by the test of Scripture, but leaving your 
 name out of the question ; then what truth can be 
 cleared up ? What an impossibility do you require ? 
 What sense and nonsense have you blended toge- 
 ther ? Doth not your own handwriting prove your 
 senses more deranged than mine? You say, it must 
 be tried by the tqst of Scripture 'truth, and by that; 
 let it stand or fall. Now, Sir, if we leave out the 
 truth of the Scriptures they must fall, and if I leave 
 out the truths that were put in your hands I must 
 fall ; for what use was it of my putting events in 
 your hands, from 179ft to tne 1801, if all these 
 things were to die and never to be named ? Then 
 you might judge I was led by a knave or a fool ; but 
 you will find in the end, 1 am not led by either ; but 
 that the Devil hath completely drowned your senses. 
 Yet still the Lord is waiting to be gracious, if you 
 appear to clear up the truth at the eleventh hour; 
 therefore 1 must call to your remembrance the 
 words I read to you in 1798, that by the dates being 
 different with God and man, it was said
 
 till IttTfcODUCTIOtf. 
 
 '*' Eleven days are still in store, 
 
 " To sray mv heavy hand ; 
 ** And if you sleep till this be o'er, 
 
 " Then you may still sleep on" 
 
 Till heavier storms come upon the nation, which 
 followed in the 1799 and the 1800. Now these ele- 
 ven days have been kept in store for you, that for 
 your sake my Trial is put off, to the last seven days 
 of November, by the Old Stile, so the mercies of 
 God endure to the end ; but not one day longer will it 
 be deferred. My witnesses from Exeter are now in 
 London, and every truth concerning you, and me, 
 will be given in to the attorney, and all put in public 
 print. Now I must call to your remembrance tire 
 letter I sent you 
 
 " Will you, like the Jews of old, 
 
 Keep seals upon the tomb ? 
 Or will you bribe the keepers here, 
 
 That truth should not be known!' 
 Then sure to others I'll appear, 
 
 In the highways I'll go; 
 And Pomeroy's words, without delay, 
 
 1 bid thee hasty shew." 
 
 And now your words, without delay, I shall r5ut? 
 hastily in execution, to have every truth tried and 
 proved ; but you shall no longer make me an offer- 
 ing for a word, to sign to subtilty, arts, and deceits ; 
 the naked truth shall now appear. I am sorry to tell 
 you, that your conscience hath been bribed like thd 
 keepers, that when they saw the angels appeared, 
 and the stone rolled away, and they rled for fear, 
 they were bribed to say the disciples stole him away 
 while they were asleep. Here, like you, they con- 
 tradict themselves, for what man could tell what was 
 done when they were asleep ? and what man can tell 
 which is right, you or me, if I leave your name out 
 of the question, and do not call my witnesses to clear 
 every truth ? In this, your senses appear no more 
 acute than mine; for I.arn.sorry to tell you^ that
 
 lXTHODUCTIOX. ' JX 
 
 there is suck sense an,j nonsense blended together 
 in your letters, that my senses are not so much de- 
 ranged but I can discern the depth of the whole. I 
 do not, .like you, boast of fo *..ud sense, that the polite 
 world l,o-st of, to drown, common ^ense^ but com- 
 mo^ji$e teaches, me reason and religion, that in 
 an arraj^Oj^ mine,, justice, equity, and. truth, must 
 take place, and none of the truth kept back. And 
 now I shall come to the purport of my letter: your 
 hiding , yourself shenreth yourself guilty* and c J*ou 
 are your o*n mtjrtfereV.* r- Si i j prolonged 1 on 
 
 your account, tha't yotf m i no'eicuse to jifeaif 
 
 but asijtknow con^cietifiigjtjjlt.keqps you back from 
 appearing : your seUv.-yjo*i..:'e at. liberty .to, send any 
 friend you think proper, to appear in .your, behalf. 
 You kn.o.v the la~t day is rnqj)K>ncd ; my Trial can- 
 not be 'd^err^ longer than tlie.la^t s;ven da\s in 
 " T ovember,. by.O^tfe ^^k^fjffi^f you may 
 
 claim rny pwpy&, [in . t^. l#Jr..,t^ ? jyas sent, you in 
 print, by the command o( the Lord ; but if you do 
 not appear, you prove yourself guilty, and must say- 
 as ^donibezek did, asj have done to others, so the- 
 Lord hath requited me.. Now. .Sir, I shall conclude 
 with, saying, this letter vdjji all the others, that have 
 a, will be put in print, if yon.. are absent ; 
 and you must say, the judgments of God. have now 
 overtaken, you ; but I wWii you to rail reason to your 
 assistance, jpefprc reason come too ktc. If I do not 
 receive an answer by the return of post, your silence 
 -.prove-: you would sooner have your character lost for 
 ever, py. your ill conduct, U\an acknowledge. your 
 .fault towards God and me, ar^d clear your conscience, 
 ;hat wherein you hag cjonc wrong to acknowledge 
 you no more. ; 'One thing I must ob- 
 
 serve,, -in; your let tor to^r. Foley, you, say, after a 
 full anil, patient in-, . n into my writings, .you 
 
 are of opinion they piocccd noma de^eiud imagi- 
 nation ot spiritual delibk-n ; then I miuJL a.k you, 
 why, Sir. after paving the. writings a fortnight. in 
 
 8
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 your hands, to pass your judgment thereon, before 
 they were put in print, that you delivered them into 
 my hands to put them in print, and said, you could 
 not blame me ? then why did you deceive me, and 
 not tell me your judgment then * ? So out of your 
 bwn mouth, you have tried every way to deceive me, 
 and now in the end you are deceived yourself. 
 So, I am, your much injured, 
 
 Joanna Southcott. 
 
 J P f , S. Please to direct to Mr. Sharp, No. 50, 
 Tnchfield Street, Oxford Street, London. 
 
 When the Rev. Gentleman paid no attention to 
 this offer, the following directions were given : 
 
 " Go into the highways and hedges and compel 
 them to come in. Now they are at liberty to in- 
 vite any twenty- four they choose, to stand in their 
 stead, that the house may be filled with the appoint- 
 ed number that is mentioned ; therefore, I ordered 
 my friends to come before the time, that the wit- 
 nesses might be examined, their evidence taken, and 
 slU laid before the public. So opposers that wish to 
 be present let them be present, for the complete 
 number must be made up. I choose no man ; but 
 let them be invited and come by their own choice; 
 and whether Pomeroy come or send, there shall not 
 be one turned back that cometh by invitation to make 
 up the twenty -four. If they had not been warned 
 by letters, had not been invited, had not been threat- 
 ened, they would have said, all was unjust, to call 
 forward all the witnesses to appear against them, if 
 they had not notice to answer for themselves ; and the 
 world would have said, as was said at Stockton, that 
 all was invented lies:* Every truth shall be cleared 
 up by evidence and by witnesses, before thou goest 
 hence to be no more seen ; then where is the man. 
 who can contend with believers, when every truth is 
 proved and tried ? where are the clergy who can con- 
 
 For a particular account of this see page 2 of Joseph Southcott 3 
 book, printed in 1804.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 demn them, when every offer hath been so freely 
 made them ? 
 
 Or.where liath Satan room to plead, 
 
 When justice is so clear ? 
 No ; I shall strike the rebel dead, 
 
 And make thy foes to fear." 
 
 As Joanna's enemies have been busy in spreading 
 false reports against her ; and all those who have 
 been invited to examine into the truth or falsity of 
 what she hath published, have also declined to inter- 
 fere. She was still ordered, however, to come forward 
 and call her witnesses together, who came from 
 distant parts ; and also the twenty-four persons who 
 had before judged her calling to be of God ; an4 
 they were to procure other twenty-four, who be- 
 lieved the Bible to be of divine authority, to join 
 with them, for the purpose of examining every evi- 
 dence regularly ; and this was to be conducted by 
 an attorney, who was-appointed to act in the strictest 
 and most impartial manner in the examination of the 
 witnesses, during her absence ; and he was desired 
 to act in every thing, as though he had been com- 
 missioned by his king and country, or by the bi- 
 shops and clergy, to act faithfully with God and man. 
 
 In consequence of this arrangement, the twenty- 
 four, who had before judged the truth of Joanna's 
 mission, endeavoured by every mean of persuasion 
 to induce individuals, among the clergy and others, 
 to come forward to examine into her calling ; but all 
 that were opposers, or unbelievers, of what she pub- 
 lished to the world, refused to listen to her friend^ 
 Many of them added insult and abuse to their re- 
 fusal to search into the truth, as may be seen by the 
 different answers, as given by several of them to 
 the gentlemen who made the applications to them. 
 
 Being then commanded to go into the highways 
 and hedges, accordingly the Rev. Mr. Webster 
 waited on three clergymen ; these were, the %v, 
 
 B2
 
 xii introduction/ 
 
 Mr. Hodgkihs, minister of St. Thomas's, irv the Bo- 
 rough, who declined attending, not caring to have 
 any thing to do with it ; the Rev. Mr. Grose, curate 
 of St. Gabriel, Fenchurch, who declined, fearing 
 his abilities were not sufficient for such an under- 
 taking ; and a third was the Rev. Mr. Draper, lec- 
 turer of St. George's, in the Borough. He declared 
 his decided opinion, and believed that he spoke the 
 'sentiments of the clergy ' at large, when he said, that 
 her writings were blasphemous ; and added, that he 
 could see but one place where she was spoken of in 
 Scripture, and that was by the appellation of Jezebel; 
 for she was a Jezebel in the church ; and as to pro- 
 phets and prophetesses, in the present day, he did 
 not believe!, that there were now any such characters; 
 though he must say thus much in her favour, this 
 v!tes a proof of the near approach of the latter day ; 
 for that we were taught previous to that period to 
 look for false Christs and false prophets. She was 
 evidently an instrument in the hands of the enemy, 
 to collect together a number of people and promote 
 a rebellion against the government; and we should 
 not be allowed to meet at the time fixed on, for our 
 assembling was known to them. 
 
 The reader will fix his attention to the fairness of 
 Joanna's intentions, in applying to the church mi- 
 nisters, for them to examine into every tiling ; for 
 they are part of the government of England, and 
 ought to stand between the king and his people, to 
 prevent a Jeztbel from being imposed on them. 
 
 THE ABOVE REMARKS WERE THUS ANSWERED 
 BY THE SPIRIT. 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I shall answer thee from these 
 three men. The first is what I said in the Revela- 
 tions, neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm ; there- 
 fore I will spue such out of my mouth ; for no rridfe 
 than thou canst digest thy meat, and that only one
 
 INTRODUCTION, xiil 
 
 meal a day, no more can I digest such men, to have 
 them settled in heart with me." 
 
 " And now I shall come to the second, whom I 
 call a prudent man, that boasts of his inriri'Vincs, 
 fearing of his wisdom to judge in so weighty a cause ; 
 and here let the prudent men keep silence ; whose 
 understanding is hid, let them not think of them- 
 selves more highly than they ought to' think, but 
 wait till they are clear in judging before they con- 
 demn." 
 
 '* And now I shall come to the other, who said 
 thou wert the Jezebel. Out of his own mouth will I 
 condemn him, for breaking, the laws of God and 
 man ; the laws of his king, the laws of his coun- 
 try ; and turning the laws of a civilized nation into 
 rebellion. Hast thou not appealed to thy king, and 
 to thy country, to have the laws of the nation put in 
 force against thee ? And if twenty-four can come for- 
 ward against thee, and prove thy calling not of God, 
 hast thou not promised to give up the whole ? Then 
 will he throw the laws of your nation aside, and bring 
 in laws of rebellion without justice, equity, or truth ? 
 Is he going to bring in the laws of the French, to 
 be a traitor to his king and country, to bring in 
 what laws he pleases ? When law-makers are law- 
 breakers, where are the laws of your land ? Is not 
 his heart joined with the Devil against all righteous 
 and religious laws ? Then how dare he say my just 
 decrees shall be prevented, that men may be clear in 
 judging before they condemn ? When they have re- 
 fused to try thee by the laws of t he country, I have 
 commanded- thee to be tried by. the laws of my Gos- 
 . pel ; I have ordered thee to put every truth in their 
 hands ;T have ordained so many witnesses to copy 
 off thy books, that it may be plainly proved to the 
 world that there is no art nor deceit jn thee ; I or- 
 dered thy pen to be thrown aside in the bnd> that in 
 the mouth of two or three witnesses every word 
 migHt be established, and that without books, or
 
 Xiv I2fTlU>DtJCTro.K 
 
 without inventions j for thy words flow faster than 
 they can pen them. How dare such a minister go 
 into the pulpit, who puts all my Gospel to defiance ? 
 Is it not written, be clear in judging before you con- 
 demn ? For who art thou, O 'man, that judgest 
 another ? Thou art no doer of the law but a judger : 
 but let him know the judge stands at the door, to 
 condemn him out of his own mouth, for breaking 
 the laws of God and man, and bring the laws of 
 other nations into this kingdom ; then like other 
 nations this kingdom must fall. He that is a traitor 
 to his God, is a traitor to his country ; the laws of 
 God command him to be clear in judging before he 
 condemn ; the laws of your country command a 
 clear judgment, by judge and jury, before any cri- 
 minal is cast. Then how dare he say, without the laws 
 of his country, he will take the law in hand without 
 acting according to the law ? Though the Jews un- 
 justly put me to death, yet they pretended to do it 
 by the law, and gained false witnesses to prove it 
 was done according to the law ; but now this man 
 says they will put a stop without the law, when they 
 refused to appear according to justice, equity and 
 truth ; then is not justice fallen in your streets, and 
 equity cannot enter ? Will men judge as blind men 
 in the dark, when I have given them eyes to see, if 
 they will see ? Will they judge without hearing, when 
 I have given them ears to hear if they will hear ? Now 
 let him come to a court of justice : where is the per- 
 son cast without evidence ? Now where is his evidence 
 to appear ? Where is his indictment to prove that 
 thou hast spoken against thy God, or against thy 
 king ? And is not my command given to be peaceable 
 with all men, as far as in you lie ? Is there a word of 
 rebellion in thy writings that I have ordered or com- 
 manded ? Have I not ordered the truth to be laid 
 before the public ? Did I not invite them to come 
 forward and judge for themselves ? Then where is 
 your justice, O vain men ? Have I not rightly spoken
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 of the shepherds, that they will neither enter them- 
 selves, nor suffer those that are entering to go in ? 
 Are they not blind leaders of the blind ? Do they not 
 judge of things they know nothing about themselves ? 
 and do they not teach others to do the same ? 
 Where can they bring my Bible to justify them ? 
 Can they deny my judgments just upon the land ? 
 Are not they the Jezebels themselves, who cover 
 with a covering, but not of my Spirit, who deny the 
 truth of my Gospel, that promised my Spirit should 
 be sent, and the Holy Ghost the Comforter should 
 come ? Now if man answer, et Yes ; we know this 
 " is the Gospel of Christ, and we believe him to be 
 " the God of truth, ihat what he hath said he will 
 {f accomplish ; but we will not receive it from the 
 " hand of a Woman." Then let man answer me, 
 why -he took the evil fruit from the hand of a Wo- 
 man, when I forbid it ? Why he cast the blame on 
 his maker for giving him the Woman ? 
 
 litre let man answer for man. 
 
 Why be obey'd at first, 
 But now the Trial will not stand 
 
 To have the evil cast ; 
 Then blasphemy in men I see, 
 
 My Name they do blaspheme -, 
 And so from hell their hearts do swell, 
 
 To keep on Satan's reign. 
 So they are come, to me 'tis known, 
 
 So tainted by the Fall, 
 My Bible now they do disown; 
 
 But I do tell you all, 
 In Spirit strong I now am eome, 
 
 Man cast the Wame on me ; 
 Back on their heads, it shall be shewn. 
 
 The blame is cast by mk , 
 JFbr I'll cast back the every stroke 
 
 Man cast on me at first. 
 Though now the Woman you do mock 
 
 In love to you she'th burst, 
 The Promise clear for to appear 
 
 To free vou of the Fall ; 
 And if you Tov'd your mak.fr here 
 
 .in love jcu now would fall
 
 .- 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 r)vrn 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 SLV1 INTRODUCTION-. 
 
 These words to say " we wish, like sjiff* 
 
 " To have it so appear ; 
 , * And if she dimply is decciv'd 
 
 " By an\ spirit here, 
 " We all must say another way, 
 
 " By ignorance slve is cast." 
 For if her writing through you weigk 
 
 And mark how all is plac'd, 
 In love to me they surely be, . 
 
 If now you judge her haujd, 
 *Tis all against the enemy 
 
 Her writings now do stand ; 
 On Satan's head is all her plead, 
 , To have the curse stand there, ' 
 And me to be the living head, 
 
 And ManV redemption clear. 
 And will you say, 'tis blasphemy ? 
 
 Then you must plead for hell. 
 I tell you men, no other way 
 
 You Jezebels can fall, 
 Only to say the blasphemy 
 
 Is against the tempter here ; 
 And you like Jezebels would be 
 
 Her prophets for to clear- 
 She saw them slain, I tell you men> 
 
 And so her rage did burn; 
 
 And now like she you shepherds be 
 
 Look deep and now discern : 
 Against your king you cannot bring 
 
 The lines that she hath spoke; 
 Against your God, it must be known, 
 
 Then how dare men to mock, 
 These words to say that blasphemy 
 
 Did e'er come from her tongue ; 
 Or she like Jezebel can be 
 
 To do my prophets wrong? 
 
 And now I shall answer thee in plain words. Thy 
 petition and request is, to destroy all the works of 
 the Devil, as my prophet destroyed the eons of Be- 
 lial *, who led men to worship strange gods, and not 
 to worship me, the true and living God, which 
 enraged the heart of Jezebel against him, though she 
 had seen the judgments I had sent before ; and just 
 like her are all thy enemies. Now, wher,e is there a 
 woman that would run the hazard thou hast, to 
 plead for the glory of God and the good of man- 
 kind ? or, where is the woman that could stand as 
 thou hast stood, to hold a controversy with all men, 
 
 * 1 Kiogf, xviii. 4t\
 
 INTRODUCTION'. XV11 
 
 if I the Lord was not with her ? Can they blame 
 the Jews, /or saying I cast out Devils through the 
 prince of Devils, when they say thou art pleading 
 Satan's destruction by the spirit of the Devil ? Did 
 I not truly prophesy of you, blind shepherds, that 
 ye were blind leaders of the blind ? Did I not 
 truly prophesy of the End, that ye would hear 
 my Gospel and keep it not ? that your houses 
 were built on the sand, and great would be the fall 
 thereof ? But how could the Fall be so great, if 
 blind guides did not appear, to blind their flock 
 when it came to the end, that they might not know 
 the days of their visitation, nor be able to stand in 
 the evil day ? Now, as he saith, false prophets are a 
 type of the last day, and that thou appearest as a 
 type unto him, out of his own mouth will I con- 
 demn him, if he doth not faithfully warn his flock 
 that my Kingdom is at hand, as he confesses from 
 thee my words are true. So he that will not see 
 from the sunshine and the daylight, because it is 
 too strong for his senses, let him come to the night 
 and see by the moonlight, and say, from the dark, 
 my Kingdom is at hand ; for my Gospel stands 
 every way to confound men in their own discourse, 
 that they might have no excuse to plead, that no 
 signs, nor warnings, were given them. So let him 
 take the sign the way he hath placed it ; and let all 
 such shepherds take the sign the same, that place it- 
 this way, to warn men to flee from the wrath to 
 come, lest the day come that shall burn like an oven, 
 and they are consumed and burnt up like stubble. 
 So he hath no excuse to plead ; and now let him try 
 to save his flock, by warning them that my words are 
 fulfilled, my Kingdom is at hand, or their blood 
 will be on his head ; for I shall require them by the 
 way he hath pleaded. And now I shall come to 
 those who see from the sunshine, that the sun of 
 righteous?: ess must aiise with healing in his wings, 
 to heal the Fall of the Woman, before man's re- 
 
 C
 
 XV111 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 demption can take place. Let them rejoice in the 
 God of their Salvation, join with her in the pro- 
 mise made in the Fall to destroy the evil, as Adam 
 joined with her to take the evil. And now let the 
 world see, how lively and how zealous these are to 
 go through every thing, and to he obedient in every 
 thing, who believe from the truth of my Pro- 
 mise that stands on record ; but how careless are 
 these shepherds, who say they believe the time is at 
 hand, from false prophets and false Christs ! Let 
 the world judge of the different men by their dif- 
 ferent conduct, who is for me, and who is against 
 me, who are the faithful servants waiting the coming 
 of the Lord." 
 
 " And now come to the other." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Foley, accompanied by Mr. Scott, 
 the solicitor, waited upon the Rev. Mr. Robson, of 
 Whitechapel. On his being asked, if he would at- 
 tend Joanna's Trial, as an opposer, (for the object 
 of it was to find out if there was any spiritual delusion, 
 or whether her calling was from the Spirit of the liv- 
 ing God,) he said, that he had destroyed the letter 
 he had received, from Miss Townley to the clergy ; 
 and added, that there was no occasion for such an 
 examination, as she had described herself as the se- 
 cond Eve, and that there was nothing to warrant such 
 an assertion. The discourse then turned upon the 
 bruising of Satan's head ; and he said, that that was 
 accomplished at the death of our Saviour. He then 
 indignantly broke off with saying, that he was sorry 
 Mr. Foley was of the church, for he was no Chris- 
 tian : and further told him to go home and get some 
 water gruel. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 " Now I shall answer thee of the other, who said 
 he had destroyed the letter : and I answer he hath 
 as much destroyed my Bible, or wrested it to his 
 own condemnation. Might I not well say blind 
 leaders of the blind ? Was Satan's head bruised at
 
 INTRODUCTION*. XlX 
 
 my Death ? Who then worked in the hearts of the 
 people to destroy my disciples ? Who worked in 
 the hearts of the Jews to harden them in unbelief? 
 See what followed my Death : were not people as en- 
 vious against my disciples as against me } Had they 
 not greater persecution after my Death than before? 
 Then how will he prove Satan's head was bruised, 
 and his power taken off from his tempting men to 
 sin, and hardening their hearts through unbelief?. 
 In this he is become an advocate for the 'Devil, 
 that no sin and blasphemy proceed from him ; 
 but all proceeds from mans ozvn evil heart. After I 
 had come to bruise Satan's head and redeem them 
 from the Fall, they went on as bad as before ; then to 
 what purpose was my Death and Sufferings? only to 
 bring the greater condemnation on man ; for if I 
 then bruised Satan's head and destroyed all the works 
 of the Devil, as it is written I died to destroy; then 
 what is Man ? A Devil by nature, and a Devil by 
 practice. Then to what purpose did my disciples 
 warn men to flee from the temptation of the Devil? 
 Why did they say, draw nigh to Christ, and he will 
 draw nigh unto you ; resist the Devil and he will fly 
 from you ? But if his head is bruised, and his power 
 destroyed, ye have no Devil to resist ; and so if Sa- 
 tan be in men's own hearts, that they themselves are 
 these Devils, what arc they redeemed from? You 
 cannot say they are redeemed from sin, when sin so 
 strongly abounds ; you cannot say my followers were 
 redeemed from sorrow, when in every age of the 
 world they went through persecution, tried and 
 tempted within and without; then, what redemption 
 has man obtained ? Will you say they are redeemed 
 from the law of Moses, or the law of the prophets ? 
 Then the Jews stand as a witness against you, and 
 with truth can give you the lie ; for they are under 
 the law, and not the Gospel. Then where are they 
 redeemed ? Will you say men are redeemed from 
 worshipping other gods? Then look abroad in foreign 
 
 C2
 
 XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 nations and see what they worship : but all souls arc 
 mine saith the Lord ; and is this the way you will say 
 J have redeemed them ? Then for what purpose is the 
 redemption ? Will you say I have poured out my 
 Spirit upon all flesh ? Then what do you make of 
 my Spirit ? Will you say they all know me from the 
 greatest to the least ? Then why are so many false 
 gods worshipped ? Oh, weak, foolish man ! thou 
 that sayest another wants water, thou thyself w ant- 
 est wine to make thy head stronger. But what hast 
 thou profited by my Blood ? by the wins thou drink- 
 est in remembrance of me ? what merit dost thou 
 make of my Death and Sufferings ? or my coming to 
 redeem man, and destroy the holy city where the Lord 
 was worshipped, and give it to the heathens that 
 called not upon my Name ? What do you make of 
 such Redemption ? Then you make your God ano- 
 ther such as yourselves : and is this the shepherd to 
 teach my flock, of the promises made in my Gos- 
 pel, that I died to reconcile the world unto God, 
 and yet in the wretched wicked state, when men 
 have been drinking iniquity as the ox drinketh water, 
 will they say God and man are reconciled ? Is this all 
 the travail of my soul, that I am to see to be satisfi- 
 ed ? my Name mocked, my Gospel despised, hea- 
 thens worshipping of any thing but the true and liv- 
 ing God ? and do you call this the Redemption of 
 Man ? Then to what purpose hath the Redemption of 
 Man taken place ? If so you must place all the evil in 
 me, that 1 have redeemed them to sin against me. 
 Oh ! ye blind shepherds leading your flocks into a 
 ditch ; leading your flocks as sheep for the slaugh- 
 ter ; calling them the redeemed of the Lord, and Sa- 
 tan's power destroyed, while sin is running with so 
 high a hand, and my Name is despised amongst 
 them ! Oh, ye blind, open your eyes ! Oh, ye fools, 
 that reject knowledge, and make me reject you ! like 
 the Jews of old, ye perish for want of knowledge ! 
 and worse is your faith of my Gospel than the Jews' ; 
 for the Jews do not believe my Death tended to the
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXl 
 
 Redemption of Man; and they know theirselves they 
 are not redeemed ; but ye profess to believe, through 
 my Gospel, that Satan's head was bruised, and man 
 was redeemed, while every sin, strife, and malice, 
 bitterness and contention, hardness of heart, and 
 cruelty, are amongst you ; then now see what you 
 make of me ! for know that the servant must be like 
 the master ; and know that I said, his servants ye 
 are to whom ye yield yourselves to obey : but if Sa- 
 tan's head was bruised, and your redemption took 
 place, and my Spirit was poured out upon all flesh, 
 you have but one master to obey : and to what pur- 
 pose did I tell you to pray for my kingdom to come ? 
 For when my kingdom is established on earth, then 
 my kingdom is come ; then ye need not ask for a 
 thing to be done, when it has been done. To what 
 purpose did I say unto them of the signs that should 
 take place, then they should lift up their heads, 
 for their Redemption drew near, if their Redemp- 
 tion was then ? 
 
 So now see men, how they are come, 
 
 As I did say before, 
 Blind leaders of the blind, 'tis known, 
 
 And so the ditch is near. 
 Such ignorant shepherds well I knew 
 
 There would be in the end ; 
 When 1 did bring all to their view, 
 
 I knew the way they'd bend. 
 Like water here doth he appear 
 
 His gruel let him see ; 
 Thouga for ray shepherd pointed here* 
 
 It is more fit for he. 
 Had Foley's head so weak beeulaid 
 
 I ne'er should chose the man; 
 And Satan would him soon betray 'd, 
 
 Had he so weak discern'd 
 My lVible here for to appear; 
 
 But from his words now see, 
 Fie said his Bible he could not clear, 
 
 Thou knows't he said to thee, 
 Nor understand for to command 
 
 The mysteries there were penn'd, 
 So in my wisdom he doth stand, \ 
 
 They'll all find in the end ; 
 Self-confidence gives all ofience. 
 
 In every age that's pastj
 
 
 
 XXli INTRODUCTION. 
 
 And now the same they're surely come, 
 
 Self-confidence is cast : 
 My Gospel here they cannot clear, 
 Like children to become, 
 , - If in their wisdom they'll appear. 
 
 My Gospel to condemn ; 
 In Spirit here I now appear 
 My Gospel I'll make good. 
 And every thing was spoken there 
 
 I'll now to man allude. 
 So Foley see was blam'd by he , 
 
 But 1 shall blame that man, 
 And from my Gospel all may see 
 
 He in no way can stand. 
 Did he, condemn an upright man, 
 
 My Gospel for to name ? 
 Then how a shepherd dare he stand ? 
 
 I'll put him now to shame : 
 The words from he to Foley see, 
 
 Back on his head I'll turn ; 
 As thou didst say by Pomeroy, 
 
 The end shall make him mourn ; 
 For sick like thee he 11 surely be 
 
 When I've went through the whole; 
 And then the gruel he may see 
 
 For his ownself to call. 
 A preacher here he cannot clear 
 
 He's worthy of that name, 
 No; Foley's passions did appear, 
 
 s And so the end I'll shame, 
 I say. the man, he cannot stand : 
 
 The blind men now you see, 
 How I have mock'd them Iroin their hand. 
 
 And all like fools did flee. 
 The wicked here, you now see clear, 
 
 Do flee when none pursue j 
 For righteous like the lions are, 
 
 That bow believe me true; 
 Because that here 1 shall appear 
 
 Their faith do judge them right 
 And in the end I all shall clear. 
 
 And make them men of might, 
 Now for the Foe, I tell them so, 
 That six they sure must meet, 
 That have no eyes the truth to know 
 
 The calling here is great. 
 But now I'll clear the mystery there, 
 
 No company was found 
 When the six men to thee were seen 
 
 Let all men judge the sound ; 
 Thou know'st that one his sightwas strong-* 
 
 Let men in sight appear ! 
 Bring me the answer of six men, 
 That have no eves to clear
 
 INTRODUCTION, XXlU 
 
 Their Bibles true before their view* 
 
 And then I'll clear the whole ; 
 The mysteries in the end they'll know 
 
 Why I did this conceal ; 
 For Satan's head in arts are laid, 
 
 If lie did know the way 
 I should go on to prove thy hand, 
 
 I knew what arts he'd lav : 
 JSo I conceal 'd and ne'er rexeaVd 
 
 The izay I'll clear the vholc. 
 But the blind men to thee were seen, 
 
 Waited to hear thy call ? 
 No man, thou'st know, to thee did shew 
 
 That he would leave his room, 
 Until the truth that he did know, 
 
 And then they'd know their doom. 
 So for the six I now shall fix, * 
 
 For Pomeroy he is one; 
 They've strove to win, by all 'tis seen, 
 
 But know his eyes are gone ; 
 And so five here must now appear, 
 
 For them to try the same ; 
 But know, with thee they never were, 
 
 But waiting for my Name, 
 The truth to see if 'twas from mej 
 
 But as to eyes they've none; 
 And from my Gospel you may see 
 
 The way the blind go on. 
 But know that one to thee was known, 
 
 Had eyes for to discern, 
 * And said again at thy return 
 
 That he should see thee come ; 
 But know the blind were all confin'd, 
 
 Waiting to see the end, 
 No step to go, thou well dost know, 
 
 They had no eyes to see 
 Then now di>cern how I do warn 
 
 The blind confin'd must be, 
 Till at the last the light doth burst ; 
 
 But thy friends now see ck-ar, 
 That blind they be, they cannot see 
 
 Thy guide hath brought thee here, 
 To see the whole before them fall, 
 
 And so the blind must come. 
 I do not tell thee to appear; 
 
 But their words must be known. 
 So I'll end here, and say ho more 
 
 Till 1 their judgment see ; 
 But let thy dream to them appear 
 Forgotten it may be." 
 
 The dream is thus related by Joanna : In the fall 
 of 1802, when at Mr. Bruce's at Paddington by my- 
 self, I dreamt that I felt an arm round my neck, and
 
 XxiV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 knew I was in bed by myself ; I turned round in the 
 bed to see who was there, and saw a well looking 
 youth spring off the bed in blue cloaths, and a child 
 was with him. I arose to follow him ; he went into 
 Mr. B's diningroom ; but still opened door after 
 door till he brought me to a room where there were 
 six blind men, who seemed to have no eyes in their 
 heads ; but one man was there who had his perfect 
 sight, and said, these men are blind, and so they 
 will continue till the truth of your writings are prov- 
 ed. One of the blind men spoke to me, and said, 
 when your writings are proved to be true we shall 
 receive our sight. The man that had eyes said, 
 they would not see before, but he should see me 
 again. The youth that came with me was my guide 
 to conduct me, and he was waiting to convey me 
 bask. I thought he stood as a footboy behind me, 
 but did not convey me back the way I came. 
 
 On an application made by Mr. Wilson to the mi- 
 nister of Clerkenwell and Long Acre Chapel, for him 
 to attend the Trial, he received the following note : 
 
 Sir, 
 As I consider Joanna Southcott a deluded impostor, 
 I shall have nothing to do with her ; and I am very 
 sorry that you, Sir, are carried away with her non- 
 sense. 
 
 I am, Sir, your's, &c. 
 
 Wilderness Row, Dec. 3, 1804. H. Foster. 
 
 On Saturday, Dec. 1, 1804, an application was 
 made by the Rev. Stanhope Bruce, to the Rev. Ba- 
 sil Woodd, of Bentinck Chapel, Lisson Green. He 
 shook his head and cried out with anger and con- 
 tempt, Stuff! stuff! he would have nothing at all 
 to do with it, and was very sorry a gentleman like 
 him should countenance such a cause as this.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXT 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 u Now I shall answer thee from Woodd. What 
 stuff is his religion? where is his love to God or 
 man ? Hath he not seen the thing once proved al- 
 ready, by what one of his own brethren said there 
 were three and twenty mad fools * ? and from his 
 own words, he judges them the same ; then where 
 is his wisdom ? where is his religion, not to step for- 
 ward when invited, that he may point out the errors 
 to them, and not let it go out in the world again, by 
 three and twenty more mad fools f So out of his 
 own mouth will I condemn him, as a blind man 
 without eyes ; for if he had eyes to see, or a heart to 
 understand, believing a thing gone out in the world 
 in my name, that he believed I had not spoken in, he 
 ought to come forward in love to me. to try to 
 convince those that are in errors; and if he could 
 prove it not of God, that he might be able to pub- 
 lish to the world against it, for the glory of God 
 and the good of mankind. So here is his wisdom 
 perished, his understanding hid, his love for me 
 gone. But he is boasting like Jehu see my zeal 
 for the Lord of Hosts ! while his eye is to his own 
 honour, that he might be exalted and worshipped 
 for his wisdom and preaching ; but where is his wis- 
 dom to judge of a thing without examining into it. 
 This is the r 
 
 Proud boasting Pharisee 
 
 For wisdom he hath none, 
 To judge the calling not from me, 
 
 And say he will not come 
 For to confound, in every sound, 
 
 The blind-men's names art here. 
 And perfect blind theirsclves they'll find, 
 
 When I have prov'd all clear. 
 So I'll begin thy thoughts within, 
 
 Call former things to mind, 
 
 * The Rev. Rowland Hill held up a paper one Sundav in his pulpif, 
 containing the names of Joanna's twenty-three friends who had 
 before examined into her writings, saying, here arc three and twenty 
 wud fools. 
 
 D
 
 SXvi INTRODUCTION 
 
 What, Parable 1 first did name, 
 
 And now the end you'll find ; 
 So let the Parable be penn'd i 
 
 That thou hast penu'd before, 
 And all shall find it in the end, 
 
 That say I shall appear, i 
 
 As they judge wrong wliat thou hast done, 
 
 I'll prove that love they've none; 
 So lc- the Parable be penn'd, . 
 
 I'll answer thee again. 
 
 The following is the parable, that was penned in Jo- 
 anna's writings years ago : " Supposing a nobleman of 
 great family and fortune gone abroad into a foreign 
 country ; and an harlot, as an impostor, was to 
 forge his name and title, that, she was his wife ; his 
 friends not believing she was his wife, but that she 
 had done it by arts in his absence, thinking if he 
 did never return she might lay some claim to his 
 testate. INjow what must that nobleman's friends be,, 
 if they believed the woman to be. an impostor, and 
 they would not call her forward and make her prove 
 in what manner she was honourably married, and by 
 whom, before she dared to make that public asser- 
 tion to disgrace a gentleman and his noble family ? 
 Would not this be done by men of the world ? 
 Would they give it up to be proved by her own 
 friends, and from them claim her right and title, 
 without his friends examining into the truth ? What 
 would the nobleman say on his return ? that he had 
 not a frieud to search into the truth. Would he not 
 blame them ? would he not condemn them ? But 
 if, on the contrary, her report was true, and his 
 friends had enquired into the truth, saying they 
 could not believe such a gentleman as him would 
 have been united with one so much his inferior ; 
 therefore they tried her to prove her marriage with 
 him, before they would own her, that they might 
 have some evidence of the truth ; could he then 
 blame them ? He could only say, their judgment 
 and his own were not alike : it was his chpice, if not 
 theirs."
 
 ifcfRODUCTlQlt. Wtf 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 Now thus to man I here shall come : 
 
 The Parable is plain, 
 That thou hast given out to man, 
 
 And I shall here maintain, 
 Was such a thing now done by marv> 
 
 His friends the cause would try ; 
 They'd say his honour must be gone, 
 
 If they hould let it die, 
 To let her say this perfect way 
 
 She doth h'is title claim ; 
 And so her friends they may agree 
 
 To vindicate the same 
 h But unto them shall never come, 
 
 " Nor will we thus submit ; 
 " No, no; the truth shall be made knoTO; 
 
 ' Her honour may be great; 
 .* If friends appear the whole to clear, ^ 
 
 " Then blinded they may be ; 
 " No ; we ourselves will now see .clear, 
 
 " His absence we will see; 
 * Then as his friends we'll now contend 
 
 ** To know if it be so; 
 " For nnto others we'll not bend 
 
 " Till we the truth do know." 
 Doth she appear to offer here, 
 
 To say she will it claim, 
 To say her marriage it is clear 
 
 If she can't prove it plain, 
 And bring the man by whom 'twas join!d 
 
 To make her marriage good ? 
 Would you not say that you would come 
 
 And sec if so it stood. 
 1 tell you plain, ye sons of men, 
 
 You'd do this for a man, 
 And for his honour you'd contend, 
 
 Or he might you condemn, 
 When he appear'd the truth to clear 
 
 " Why did you let it go 
 ** From words from her, that you did hear, 
 
 " Ne'er seek'd the truth to know f" 
 Could you confound, in any sound, 
 
 If you ne'er had sought it out ? 
 Then on her friends you must depend, 
 
 Though you say you did doubt 
 The truth was so, yet you'd not go 
 
 To see if it was clear. 
 Then now, my friends, I tell you so 
 
 My answer must appear; 
 No love for me was seen by ye, 
 
 Mv friends may say the same; 
 For if I never had return'd, 
 
 M y title she might claim. 
 So if deceit, and full of cheat, 
 
 You would not trv to know 
 D2
 
 XXVlil INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Bift here the mygtery it lieth great : * 
 
 You could not overthrow 
 The words of she ; now answer ML', 
 
 If absence aught can clear ? 
 But now to man I bold shall come, 
 
 They'd not keep silence here ; 
 To try the thing they'd soon begin, 
 
 What is of man- f know ; 
 But what's of God, (fear ye my rod !) 
 
 This love yon will not shew ! 
 So now, vain man, 1 must condemn, 
 
 You'd act so for a friend 
 What not for me! I now do see 
 
 Your hearts will never bend ! 
 For to the man I now shall come 
 
 To place a different way : 
 Had he been bound in wedlock's bands, 
 
 And children gain'd that way; 
 And absent gone, to all unknown. 
 
 And she the truth could clear, 
 His every friend he must disown, 
 
 That had denied her here, 
 If they'd not come and sec her hand, 
 
 To know if it was so ; 
 But let her children bastards stand, 
 
 And she a begging go, 
 To seek relief, and full of grief, 
 
 While I had gold in store, 
 And you her heart fill'd full of grief, 
 
 To say she was a whore, 
 And her oppress'd, and wound her breast. 
 
 While she did offer free 
 Her marriage here she'd make it clear, 
 
 And prove it true to be ; 
 For every hand she could command 
 
 Was witness to the deed; 
 That though she was too mean for he, 
 
 Yet with her he did wed. 
 *' Then, where's the friend that can pretend 
 
 " In love for to appear, 
 *' To see my wife, and children go 
 
 " In grief and deep despair ?" 
 Because that they would all deny, 
 
 Refuse to see her hand ; 
 To search the truth they'd not comply, 
 
 Then her own friends must stand 
 The whole to clear, I tell you here 
 
 But when he did return, 
 Aga'mst His friends he'd then appear 
 
 In anger for to burn 
 ** She offer'd free," the man would say, 
 
 " To prove to you the whole ; 
 " Unjustly you turn'd her away; 
 
 " Must she a begging fall i
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXIX 
 
 *AVhen rais'd by me to such de$re 
 
 " And justice you forbid, 
 ** To fill her heart with misery 
 
 A wife that I had wed; 
 ** And offsprings here from me appear, 
 
 " You all fill d with distress. 
 ** Then how your presence can I bear 
 
 When you refus'd rediess, 
 '* Her cause to see, and her to free, 
 
 * If innocent she's found ? 
 
 ' This thing you ought to've done forme, 
 
 " That justice might abound ; 
 For if abroad, it must be know'd, 
 
 * I'd died and never come, 
 
 41 My wife and children you'd disown, 
 
 " The truth might not be known." 
 So from such men, I tell you plain, 
 
 No justice can appear ; 
 You see the laws of God and man 
 
 Together I compare 
 And from the law I now shall go : 
 
 Thousands have lost their right, 
 That had not friends the truth to shew 
 
 And bring the truth to light. 
 So I'll end here, and say no more 
 
 But few friends I do see. 
 That wish the truth in all to clear, 
 
 And shew their love to me." 
 
 Mr. Sharp waited on another clergyman of great 
 literary talents, who declared her to be a foolish, ig- 
 norant woman ; and by what he had read from her 
 books, he could not understand them ; and had no 
 opinion of a Holy Spirit that could not write gram- 
 mar. But he further said, if he was a younger man 
 he might come forward ; and he added, that this 
 world would always go on as it was ; and by the 
 Death of Christ we should be made happy hereafter. 
 
 HIS REMARKS WERE THUS ANSWERED TO JOANNA. 
 
 " Now I shall answer thee of his saying, a foolish 
 ignorant Woman : if Adam, had refused listening to 
 a foolish, ignorant Woman at first, then Man might 
 refuse listening to a foolish, ignorant Woman at last ; 
 but as Man did not refuse at fifst, but as soon as h^ 
 had listened, cast the blame on me for giving him 
 the Woman, because he had listened to her; and now 
 I shall cast the blame on Man for not listening to 
 you. Know, Pilate refused to listen to his foolish wif*,
 
 SXXT INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and so by Man my Death came ; the Jcivs refused U 
 listen to the words of my Mother, and so I was judg- 
 ed an impostor. But know, Ahasuerus did not refuse 
 to listen to the words of Esther } and by a foolish wo- 
 tnan her people was saved ; then where is your wis- 
 dom, ye foolish men? and where is your wisdom in 
 my Bible ? Is it not written, with the simple I shall 
 deal simply ? Then how could my Gospel be true 
 if I should deal any other than simply with a simple 
 Woman ? Should I speak, in language unknown to 
 her, how could she understand ? Was you to bring 
 Latin and tell a child unlearned to read it, and pick 
 it out, and explain the sense, would not men laugh 
 at your folly, to expect a child to understand what 
 he had never learnt ? Then how shall a simple wo- 
 man, unlearned, yea, even in her own tongue, learn 
 things she never understood ? Is this your boasted 
 wisdom, vain man, to teach people things they do 
 not understand ? Yet, this folly I see in the church, 
 teaching people fine speeches, and learning, that the 
 poor do not understand ; but the plain truth of the 
 Gospel is thrown aside by men's learning ; the vi- 
 sitation of my Spirit is mockery ; the influence of 
 my Spirit is thought nothing of; the power of 
 the Holy Ghost is despised; the Revelation 
 of my Spirit is set at nought; my Spirit is quench- 
 ed ; Prophecies are despised ; and despite is clone to 
 the Spirit of God ! Then where is your boasted 
 grammar? where is your boasted learning, to teach, 
 men the wisdom of this world, that I have said 
 should perish and come to nothing ? Is my wisdom 
 counted foolisness unto you? then be assured it is 
 my wisdom ; for know that it is written by my 
 Apostles, the wisdom of God is foolishness with 
 jnen ; and so my wisdom appeareth foolish to the 
 worldly wise; but now tell me, Q vain men, if 
 -your wisdom is not foolishness to me, when you say -a 
 thing is not of God, and your friends are imposed 
 .upon, for want pf judgment, and you boa-at ot your
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXJU 
 
 wisdom and judgment ? Then why not appear to 
 point out to them where their errors are, and see 
 the truth cleared up? You say, you do not under- 
 stand the Books, then why do you exercise yourself 
 in things too Jiigh for you ? Never judge of a thing 
 you cannot understand. Now, simple man, you say 
 you are too old to come forward in the work of the 
 Lord ; for if her calling be not of God you cannot be 
 a friend to the Lord, if you do not come forward to 
 oppose it % and if it be of God, you ought to come 
 forward to support it, that you may bring your grey 
 hairs with honour to the grave ; for with, what con- 
 fidence can you come before him, to say you 
 have digged in the earth and hid away your 
 money, and never improved the talents tnat are 
 given you ? Is this the way you wish to appear be-* 
 fore me ? 
 
 So thus to all is now my call, 
 
 Blind shepherds you are come ; 
 When the good shepherd do appear, 
 
 My Gospel all discern; 
 I said that I alone must he 
 
 The shepherd that was good, 
 And now my words I hid yo\i see, 
 
 Let this be understood; 
 As four i'cre do now appear 
 
 Wise shepherds tor to he, 
 And wish the truth in all to clear, 
 
 In SriRiT drawn by me; 
 Then know, from them my word must come 
 
 To prove the truth 1 spoke; 
 I said the three a Type of me, 
 
 The fourth you know not, 
 That now appears the whole to clear, 
 
 Arid joined With the third ; 
 For I'oriuroy s letters must appear, 
 
 Or from his written word 
 Call thou to mind he was behind, 
 * For two did write before ; 
 And so from lie the shadow sec, 
 
 He did the third a; j ear. 
 And Eyre did come with him to join 
 
 The mystery there ^oes deep. 
 Another day I'll tell my mincl, 
 
 How God and Man must break 
 In unity in heart to he 
 
 All shadows I place first,
 
 XXXII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 But in the end, yon all wiH see, 
 
 The substance so will burst. 
 So thus to Man the shadows come. 
 
 The substance lieth behind. 
 I know the shepherds that are mine* 
 
 And in the end you'll find 
 They'll burst the same to know my Name, 
 
 When 1 have ail went through j 
 But those that boast of empty tame 
 
 They'll never wish to know ; 
 Because their pride will throw aside 
 
 The teaching of their God ; 
 Wiser than me they judge they be, 
 
 A rrd so my words are trod 
 Beneath their feet the mystery's deep, 
 
 As none do understand 
 These blind men here, how they appear 
 
 To bring all to your land ; 
 Thousands the same, I know they're come 
 
 And judge themselves as wise, 
 And think that knowledge they want none, 
 
 And so they blind your eyes. 
 Bnt I'll appear to answer here, 
 
 'That knowledge men have none ; 
 ^Tis faith in me, the wise do see 
 
 What is before them come: 
 No , simple maid, the wise have said, 
 
 Could bring such mysteries round, 
 If not from Heaven the lines were given, 
 
 Men's learning they'll confound, 
 That do begin just like the man, 
 
 The Woman's folly see, 
 They'll say " that A dam so should stand, 
 
 ** If she cowlemn'd must be: 
 ** If Man at first on her did burst, 
 
 * AnA blam'd his maker there ; 
 ' Then at the last Man might be cast 
 
 " If he this way appear. 
 " So God is just, and now we trust, 
 
 " If heth began with Man, 
 ** Upon the Serpent now he'll burst, 
 
 " And so fulfil his plan; 
 " Though ^weakness here doth all appear, 
 
 " Ami sown so at the first, 
 " The Lord in honour all can clear, 
 
 " And raise it at the last." 
 
 After meeting with a general refusal among unbe- 
 lievers, the twenty- four, who at first came forward to 
 prove Joanna's calling, were then obliged to get the 
 like number of friends to join with them ; and many 
 of these were such as had come from distant parts of 
 the kingdom to hear her Trial, not knowing but it 
 might be carried on by the clergy. Thus, by the
 
 iHtfRODUCTIOtf. XXXUl 
 
 refusal of the clergy and others, the other twenty- 
 four friends, thus chosen, who came from different 
 parts of the country, obtained an additional opportu- 
 nity to examine the truth of her mission, by being 
 present as judges at her trial. 
 
 The following extract is an additional explanation how 
 this Trial was brought for ward : 
 
 l< Now pen how many men came, that wish to be 
 clear in every truth, and took their journeys to see 
 the truth of thy visitation cleared up :" 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Eyre, from Bristol. 
 Mr. Nisbet, from Kent. 
 Mr. Hirst, from Leeds. 
 Mr. Senior, from Leeds. 
 Mr. Grimshaw, from Leedj. 
 Mr. Las key, from Devonshire. 
 Mr. Chanter, from Devonshire. j 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I shall answer thee : Seven wise 
 men, from different countries, went first to Exeter, 
 to enquire into the truth ; and now seven wise men 
 from different countries are come to see the trutl^ 
 cleared up ; so now thy seven stars are come to four* 
 teen ; and they may stand with the other twenty- 
 four ; their labour of love shall not be in vain. I 
 have called the great, 1 have called the learned ; but 
 my invitation they have all refused ; and now I shall 
 come to the simple and unlearned, to fuliil my Gos- 
 pel, that the pride of the great may fall, and be con- 
 founded by the simple and foolish, that are so judged 
 in their eyes : and he that speaketh against this judg- 
 ment speaketh against the truth of my Gospel . And 
 now remember what I said I thank thee, Father, 
 that thou hast concealed these things from the wise 
 men, from the learned and prudent men, and revealed 
 them unto babes. Now the wise men have been, 
 warned, and the learned, and the prudent, all have 
 been warned ; the wise men trusted to their wisdom, 
 the learned men trusted to their learning, and the 
 
 E
 
 XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 prudent men trusted to their prudence, thinking, if 
 they kept silence, all would die away, while the 
 simple and foolish men, as the worldly wise men 
 judged them, became as babes, or as little children, 
 teachable, willing to learn what they did not under- 
 stand : for the mystery of the Fall was never under- 
 stood by man ; so they, like children, are come 
 teachable to learn what they never understood. 
 Now let them see how my Gospel was brought in by 
 poor men and fishermen, men unlearned in the 
 world ; and by such my Kingdom will be brought 
 in : for now is coming the fulfilment of the whole ; 
 the meek shall be exalted ; the proud shall be abased ; 
 and the meek shall inherit the earth. Now weigh 
 the whole with my Gospel : Are not many called ? 
 Are there but few chosen ? Have not the wise and 
 learned men resigned their crowns to babes and 
 children ? For such they are judged by the bi- 
 shops ; bat know, such are judged by my Gospel 
 to become as children to possess my Kingdom, or 
 how could my Gospel be fulfilled ? How could the 
 wisdom of the wise men perish, if this was brought 
 forward by the wise and learned ? How could the 
 understanding of the prudent men be hid, if they 
 bad understood all these things ; the mystery of the 
 Fall ; and the manner my Gospel must be fulfilled, 
 to bring in your redemption ? 
 
 Now, Joanna, speak the word, 
 
 Dost thou my Promise claim, 
 That I have left upon record, 
 
 The Woman to redeem ? 
 
 Oh, my God ! with tears of joy, with tears of 
 thanksgiving, with tears of humiliation, if I am 
 now permitted, I claim the Promise, that Satan's 
 head may now be bruised, and his curse be above 
 every living creature, who first seduced the Woman, 
 and by arts betrayed her to fall from that happiness 
 thou created her for, and by his arts to disobey her 
 God ; and by the same arts he hath been working in 
 tnen to this day ; to be U enmity against their God.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXV 
 
 Oh, merciful Lord ! let that enemy be destroyed ac- 
 cording to thy Promise, that the world might be re- 
 conciled unto the Lord. As thy dear Son died for to 
 reconcile the whole world unto God, may I ask and 
 receive that our joys ma^r be full, to see thy blessed 
 Name run and be glorified, Satan confounded and 
 destroyed, and thou be justified in the works of thy 
 hands, by man whom thou hast created, for thy own 
 honour and glory. This is my petition, and this is 
 my request, if it be thy blessed will to grant me, 
 Oh, thou Lord God of heaven and earth ! then bless- 
 ing, honour, praise, and power, be unto the Lamb 
 for ever ! and all the earth shall praise thy Name 1 
 At the time when the twenty-four persons, includ- 
 ing the seven before mentioned, were chosen, meet- 
 ings were held for several days, according to orders 
 for the regular examination of the different witnesses. 
 
 The following extracts are inserted as heing further ex- 
 planatory oj Joanna s Mission and Trial. 
 
 Tuesday, Dec. 4, 1804. 
 
 A letter was received by Joanna from Mr. Wilson, 
 respecting of words spoken by a woman who is one 
 of those that call themselves the elect, belonging to 
 Orange Street Chapel, where Mr. Townshend 
 preaches " that the friends of Joanna will give her 
 a dose in order to put her to sleep and deceive the 
 public." 
 
 These words provoked Joanna to the highest ; nd 
 the said, if she had such wicked, deceitful, artful 
 people around her as that woman, she had not a 
 doubt but they would do it, and be her complete 
 murderers. If they were to mock God in this manner 
 to deceive man, they would soon deceive her, and 
 make her sleep the sleep of death : for if any one 
 was to give her any thing to draw her to sleep, she 
 is convinced they would close her eyes for ever, that 
 she should never awake more. So when she medi- 
 tates on all the arts, deceit, and lies," that are in un- 
 
 E 2
 
 XXXVI INTTRODUCTrOtf; 
 
 believers, she is truely convinced they are of the- 
 Devil ; and from such wretches no truth could come. 
 Here is the answer of the Spirit given to Joanna. 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I shall answer thee from this wo- 
 man. The language of her heart is the language of 
 thousands, that would say it, and would do it ; and 
 ivould affirm they had acted as she said : for as I told 
 thee before, I now tell thee again, nothing will con- 
 vince an unbelieving mind ; therefore it is written, 
 they perish through unbelief. And now to convince 
 the world that all was open, fair, and just, I ordered 
 every letter to go out that have ; but T well knew 
 such unbelievers, that nothing would convince them : 
 they would say, like the woman, thou hast designed it ; 
 thou and thy friends had agreed, without reason, in a 
 thing that need not be mentioned, if it was from her- 
 self, to say she should he in a Trance at all ; for then her 
 writings would have as clearly been proved without it. 
 But as this is now the report of the world, arid what I 
 perfectly knew before, from the trial of men in past 
 ages, I permitted this thing to go out in the world, 
 to see what judgment men would draw. Now r they 
 have drawn their judgment ; and to prevent their 
 future judgment no one shall know the time of thy 
 trance, no one shall know the manner of thy trance, 
 nor thou thyself shalt form any judgment how, or 
 when, before I come upon thee unawares ; lor all my 
 visitation to thee in this Trial shall be suddenly and 
 unexpectedly, like my visitation to thee at Bristol, 
 that I never warned thee of before it came, that no 
 man might say thou appcarest in the powe? of my 
 Spirit to fulfil thy prophecies ; and new I shall come 
 upon th.ee unawares the same, in all the working of 
 my Spirit zinhiovim to thee or them. So they may 
 be like my disciples of old, expecting tilings to come 
 to their own judgment, in a different manner than I 
 appeared : but had I told them every particular, and 
 come perfectly like it, the world would have said 
 they deceived them, to say I came as I told them
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXV 11 
 
 before ; but when I come in a different manner to 
 them, in a way they never expected, and they them- 
 selves confessed it so," no man could say they did it 
 by deceit, when they themselves confessed they 
 were deceived. And perfectly so it will be by thy 
 Trial : the day, the hour, the time, or the manner 
 of my strong visitation to thee, during thy Trial, will 
 not be known till my power appears. But I shall 
 make all things so clear to them, that they shall 
 never need of a Trial any more, to know from whence 
 thy visitation is ; but shall know it is I the Lokd 
 have spoken by thee. And now I shall tell thee, 
 though I knew thee and proved by thy witnesses that 
 no deceit is in thee, and called thee abroad 'in the 
 world to prove it to others ; yet, as the unbelieving 
 Jews did not believe in me, the unbelieving world 
 will not believe in thee, if I tell thee beforehand 
 every particular of what will happen. But thou say- 
 est in thy heart, were not the particulars of die clays 
 foretold ? tu this 1 answer, they were foretold, if 
 proved by thy enemies ; but now thou knowest it is 
 proved by thy friends: and if I act a different way, 
 to shew the unbelieving world that it did not come 
 as they expected, yet in a different manner and more 
 clear than they expected, let them not be disap- 
 pointed ; for I tell thee, if all things come in a re- 
 gular line rcithfjul, opposers, the world will say, there 
 is deceit in thee and thy friends. Therefore it is my 
 wisdom now to conceal from all in what manner I 
 shall clear up the truth, to make thy light break 
 forth as t[ie morning, and the tiuth as clear as '.lie 
 noonday sun ; and so clear shall the truth be now 
 made ; for the water shall now be made wine : and 
 let them not grieve if the best wine is reserved for 
 the last. 
 
 Upon conditions all my Bible stands, 
 Ami on oiiditioiis 1 have nlaeV :h\ hand, 
 And on conditions you will see the c n\. 
 The way thai 1 shall make the oihid men bend. 
 Thai by the idlers ti<c_\ have sen'. to thee. 
 They will confess they had no e\es tu see;
 
 XXXVlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 So all their werd> thou mtist with safety keep, 
 
 To shew the blind men how their eyes were sunk 
 
 Deep in their heads, where thou didst see the holes f 
 
 And full as blind they'll -find their naked souls: 
 
 So in their stead their letters must appear. 
 
 Then what impostor canst thou be to man ? 
 
 Let them discern and judge thy written hand, 
 
 If an impostor would the whole reveal, 
 
 And from their knowledge nothing would conceal. 
 
 1 know thy nature daily doth decay, 
 
 And so your nation now I say do lay j 
 
 They are decaying, as I said at first, 
 
 By dearth and burdens so upon them castj 
 
 And if by thy decaying thou dost fall, 
 
 By their decaying they may tremble all ; 
 
 Because thy heart they have so wounded here. 
 
 And back on them will surely come the spear. 
 
 But now believers boldly they mav stand, 
 
 And now my kingdom they may all command; 
 
 For if they live on earth they will it gain, 
 
 And if they die, with Mtthey sure shall reign, 
 
 That now in heart and soul give up to me, 
 
 Their only wish my kingdom for tosee. 
 
 Let men begin from my Gospel and shew how 
 close every word is brought to my Gospel, of the 
 Parables I mentioned of the Kingdom of Heaven, 
 and that not one that were bidden should taste of 
 jny supper. They have been bidden to come for- 
 ward and search out the truth ; and as they have re- 
 fused, I have refused them ; and those of the high- 
 ways and hedges are compelled to come in. Now I 
 shall tell thee what is meant by the highways and 
 hedges : those that work in the highways, and those 
 that work by the hedges, are labourers; so let the 
 believers conv in as labourers, that my house may 
 be failed; and that my visitation may be made ma- 
 nifest ; for now I tell thee, by thy Master thou must 
 stand or fall ; and now thou art judged by men, 
 whose faith is like thine ; then by one Master you all 
 Stand or fall." 
 
 The fallowing extracts areinseried to Inform the reader 
 respecting the mission of Joanna : 
 
 In Joanna's sealed writings, written in the years 
 17Q0' and 1800, are found these words: " I will 
 provoke them to anger and jealousy ; but when
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXXIX 
 
 this jealousy alarms the unbelievers, and they have 
 not judgment enough of their own, to know from 
 whence the writings come, but wish to be clear 
 themselves, if they will call forward the Trial, as the 
 Lord hath done, to see if every thing be true, as it 
 is put in print, and by their unbelief cannot be clear, 
 from whence it came, when friends and foes meet 
 together to clear up the whole, this sign is set before 
 them : By righteous and just judgment I have fixed 
 the Trial, and by the truth it shall be proved ; so 
 righteousness and truth will meet together, love and 
 peace will kiss each other ; that is, love will kindle 
 in every heart ; and those that are now angry will 
 then be as loving friends : so 
 
 Perfect harmony wi;i take place, 
 And every truth they ii then embrace j 
 For I shall throw thee in u Trance, 
 And every truth I'll then advance, 
 ^o Adam* here you'll a!; appear- 
 
 This is the Fall of Man 
 And paler than the whtted wall 
 
 Will every member stand; 
 Then Satan's tall, be U known to all, 
 
 Will surely follow next , 
 For Mau's Redemption now 1 call. 
 
 My standard so 1 fixt 
 It more secure tor to endure 
 
 Than 'twas before he fell ; 
 For all his foes I'll so secure 
 
 And triumph over hell. 
 So men may sec their destiny 
 
 These are the hVt redeem'd ; 
 Then follows on (for fast 'twill come) 
 
 The pure and living stream , 
 For thou'lt return, and man will mourn, 
 
 And tears of joy 'twill be. 
 The standard here will so appear, 
 
 That tears of joy they'll see. 
 So now at iast my word at first 
 
 I surely shall complete: 
 The Woman ne'er brought on the curse, 
 
 But did the Serpent cheat. 
 A Mystery, tliat man shall sec, 
 
 Will come so in the End ; 
 For the good fruit was on the tree 
 
 And Satan here must bend: 
 Pluckt by her hand let Satan stand, 
 * And the good fruit appear; 
 *yhe evil first, and Man was cast, 
 
 Ajid $aU9 must stop here.
 
 Xl INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Then she must bring again to Man 
 
 The knowledge of the good ; 
 Then Satan's arts must feel the dart, 
 
 When I fulfil his word : 
 To he as Gods it was- his word 
 
 [J is word I'll now fulfil ; 
 Then he must fall, be it known to all 
 
 But now I say, stand still, 
 And in the end, mark what is penn'd, . ' 
 
 The mysteries will come round. 
 There's always Hell where Satan dwells, 
 
 And there he must be bound : 
 My ways arejust, let sinners trust, 
 
 And judge me in the end. 
 So on the Tree look all to ME, 
 
 I died the sinner's friend ; 
 For now the Comforter will come, 
 
 I tell them, like a Ghost, 
 And tell the. simple sons of men 
 
 How Paradise w)s lost, 
 And how they may it all regain, 
 
 Wrought by a Woman's hand ; 
 For Paradise they shall obtain, 
 
 That now like men will stand, 
 And the whole armour now put on 
 
 The breastplate goeth before, 
 Then fast the deluge down will come > 
 
 This is the mention'd war. 
 J made the Woman at the first 
 
 For to complete Man's bliss ; 
 Then now by her it shall be done, 
 
 And make your jarring cease." 
 
 Since the conclusion of her Trial, Joanna received 
 one of the books published against her at Stour- 
 bridge, which was announced some months since. 
 After reading it she spoke of it thus : " I see the 
 unbounded wisdom of God, in ordering me to 
 proceed as I have done ; for I could not hrve 
 thought there had been so black a heart in man, 
 as to judge, that in spiritual tilings, any one could 
 have acted so deceitfully with God and man, as the 
 wretched author, who printed this book against me 
 hath done; but whatever may be the blackness of 
 his heart, my soul come not thou into his secrets ! 
 The Lord is my judge, and is witness against him. 
 And I admire the wisdom of the Lord, in having 
 the truth cleared, In the manner it "follows here, 
 from the depositions of the witnesses."
 
 T// TRIAL 
 
 OF 
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTl\ 
 THE FIRST DAY. 
 
 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1804i 
 
 The Trial of Joanna Southcott commenced at the 
 hour of eleven this morning, by calling over the 
 forty-eight names of the persons appointed to carry 
 on the proceedings. 
 
 According to the directions laid down, the letter* 
 sent by Miss Townley to the clergy, and by them, 
 returned, were laid before the meeting ; and also; 
 such letters as accompanied them from several cler- 
 gymen, containing their sentiments thereon. These 
 letters were read and examined, whence it appeared, 
 that their general tendency was mockery against the 
 mission of Joanna, and also a condemnation of pro- 
 phecy. But it is likewise necessary to mention, that 
 among the letters thus sent by clergymen, several ofi 
 them were of that indecent description, that delicacy 
 prevents their being at all brought forward to publiq 
 notice *. 
 
 The next point brought under consideration was, 
 the conduct of the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy to Joanna. 
 
 * When persons thus culpable; "wlio tserc not of the church, have 
 suffered pubjic degradation in the pillory, for daring to violate the 
 Laws of Christian societ\ and decency, the Society for the Suppres- 
 sion of Vice, in their zeal so often displayed, in being the means of 
 bringing offenders to justice, could not better exert such their zeal 
 than in exposing some oi'tbwe clergy tp jjubiig disgrace and shame* 
 
 F
 
 42 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 After this the evidences, to prove her statement of 
 the conduct of Mr. Pomeroy, and of her life and 
 character in general, and also the truth of her writ- 
 ings, were here entered upon and verified, in the 
 following order : 
 
 The Examination of Mr. John Trim let Sy- 
 mows of Exeter, respecting the mission of Jo- 
 anna. SOUTHCOTT. 
 
 Q. Are you acquainted with Joanna Southcott ? 
 
 A. I am. 
 
 Q. How long have you been acquainted with her ? 
 
 A. About ten years. 
 
 Q. Were you ever employed by Joanna South- 
 cott to copy letters, which she read to you from her 
 own writings, and which were addressed to Mr. Po- 
 meroy ? 
 
 A. Yes, many different ones. 
 
 Q. Were you in the habits of copying. from pa- 
 pers of Joanna's handwriting, and read by her to 
 you, and which were afterwards published ? 
 
 A. Yes, a great quantity. 
 
 Q. Were not the whole of those writings, which 
 you copied, comprized in four volumes, or books, 
 when published ? 
 
 A. Yes, the first four of Mrs. Southcott's works. 
 
 Q,. Did you not do all that with an unwilling 
 mind ? 
 
 A, In many respects I did. 
 
 Q. What were your particular reasons for being 
 unwilling to copy them ? 
 
 A. I did not at that time believe them the works 
 of the Lord, and it was perfectly indifferent to me. 
 
 Q. Did you write a letter to any minister, at the 
 request of Joanna Southcott ? 
 
 A. Yes, many; but one in parti cular to Chancellor 
 Nutcombe. 
 
 Q. Do you know the contents of that letter ?
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 43 
 
 A. I cannot recollect a sentence ; but I know in 
 substance it was to request of Chancellor Nutcombe 
 to search into Joanna Southcott's writings, and to 
 judge, whether or not they were from the Spirit of 
 the living God. 
 
 Q. What is your opinion of the general character 
 of Joanna Southcott ? 
 
 A. Her character in general is unblameable. 
 Q. Did you, in any transactions that you have seen 
 or known of Joanna Southcott, see anything of de- 
 ceit in her ? 
 A. Never. 
 
 Q. Did you, Sir, at any time have any general 
 conversation with Mr. Pomeroy, as to the writings of 
 Joanna Southcott ? 
 A. Yes, several times. 
 
 Q. I think you say, you have asked him several 
 times his opinion of Mrs. Southcott's works ? 
 A. Yes, in many conversations. 
 Q. Generally, Sir, what were his answers to your 
 questions, and his own opinions at that time, con- 
 cerning Joanna ? 
 
 A. Many and several times, in our shop at Exeter, 
 he has told me not to be afraid, for certainly her 
 works were very good, and horn the Lord ; and like- 
 wise he said, that no evil spirit would certainly work 
 against himself. 
 
 Q. At what period did Mr. Pomeroy hold that 
 opinion ? 
 
 A. At different periods in the year 1801, when 
 her first four books were printed. 
 
 Q. At what time did he change that opinion ? 
 A. About November 1803, when I copied a bill 
 from Mr. G. Turner, of Leeds, and had it printed 
 at Exeter, and carried one of them to Mr. Pomeroy. 
 I found Mr. Pomeroy at home, and he read the bill 
 and laughed at it, and told me I hud better have 
 nothing more to do with that mad woman. He 
 thought, he said, we had troubles enough in our 
 
 Fa
 
 ffc tftfB TftlAL of 
 
 family already, by believing in such nonsense, mean- 
 ing the accidental deaths of my two sisters in one 
 week. He at that time (and never before in my pre- 
 sence in the least) said her works were wrong, or 
 were from the devil. I asked him why, if they were 
 from the devil, he had first deluded me and many 
 others to believe in her ? He seemed very angry and 
 told me he wanted to get her to her senses. Before I 
 went, he still in greater anger said that it would be 
 better for me to believe in the Church of England, 
 and that only, and burn all the bills that I had print- 
 ed. I told him I shoukl not j he first instilled the 
 idea, and I retained it. 
 
 Q. Pray, Sir, did you know that Joanna South- 
 cott had said any thing of the death of your sisters 
 before it happened ? 
 
 A, Not directly, but only indirectly. 
 Q. What sort of indirect evidence had you ? 
 A. About ten months before the death of my sis- 
 ters, Joanna had attended the funeral of my brother: 
 she said, she was afraid this was not the only cala- 
 mity that would happen in our house, in the course 
 of twelve months, 
 
 J. T. Symons. 
 
 These depositions were taken by me, and signed in my 
 presence, 
 
 John Scott. 
 
 The Examination o/Mr. JosEPn Soutiicott, 
 respecting the Mission c/Joanna Southcott. 
 
 Q. You are the brother of Joanna Southcott ? 
 A. Yes, Sir. 
 
 Q. Of course you have known Joanna Southcott 
 from her childhood ?
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 45~ 
 
 A. Certainly I have. 
 Q. Of what age is Joanna ? 
 A. About 52. 
 Q. Of what age are you ? 
 A. About 47. 
 
 Q. When in your respective childhood, what 
 were your thoughts of the disposition of your Sister ? 
 A. I always thought her of a mild, placid dis- 
 position ; and, as she grew up, of a religious turn. 
 
 Q. Did you in your youthful infancy find any 
 disposition in your Sister to falsehood, want of 
 charity, or inattention to her God ? 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. Did you, in those youthful follies which 
 are incident to youth, find any thing in her which 
 was contrary to moral or religious precepts ? 
 A. I did not. 
 
 Q. Did you, Sir, ever remark whether she was 
 of a chearful or melancholy disposition ? 
 
 A. I found her to possess an even temper, and 
 a regular turn of mind. 
 
 Q. In her discharge of those duties, which be- 
 long to all persons in a moral and temporal point of 
 view, was she, or was she not, attentive to them f 
 A. She was so in the strictest terms. 
 Q. Did you and Joanna ever live together 
 when grown up, and in full possession of your reason- 
 ing faculties ? 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Now, Sir, when you did arrive at that 
 period, do you think you were capable of judging 
 her natural character ? 
 A. I do. 
 
 Q. Now, possessing that judgment, what were 
 your general thoughts, or your opinions, respecting 
 your Sister ? 
 
 A. I at that time thought my Sister so far 
 possessed of methodii-m, from her very strong propen- 
 sities for reading and perusjng the Bible, that I was
 
 40 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 afraid her intellects might be hurt. 
 
 Q Was she, or was she nor, at that time at- 
 tentive and careful to what we generally call our 
 worldly, or temporal concerns ? 
 
 A. Yes, she was particularly so. 
 
 Q. VVas she at any time concerned for you 
 in any individual capacity ? 
 
 A. Yes, she was concerned for me, and kept 
 my house at Mus-bury, ! n Devon shire. 
 
 Q. Wus she at your house in the year 1798 ? 
 
 A. She was. 
 
 Q. Did she at that time tell you of any of her pro- 
 phecies ? 
 
 A. She did. 
 
 Q. Did you, Sir, at that time say, you knew not 
 from what spirit her prophecies came ? 
 
 A. I did at that time say, I believed they did not 
 come from the Lord. 
 
 Q.. Did you also say, you would leave it to time 
 to say from what spirit they came I 
 
 A. Yes, I did. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect your Sister reading to you 
 the events of the harvests of 1799 and 1800 ? 
 
 A. I do not recollect, though possibly she might; 
 for she read a great many papers, that I forget the 
 contents of; amongst the number of things she read 
 that might be included ; at that time having no be- 
 lief, they made no impression on my memory. 
 
 Q. Were you ever in the habits of being angry 
 with your Sister, when she read those communica- 
 tions to you ? 
 
 A I was, because I wished to dissuade her from if. 
 
 Q. Were you ever asked by your Sister to copy 
 any letters, for the purpose of sending them to 
 Exeter ? 
 
 A. Yes, I was. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect being informed by your 
 Sister for whom those letters were designed ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 47 
 
 Q. For whom ? 
 
 A. One in particular I recollect was for Mr. Po- 
 meroy : it related to the harvests that were to ensue 
 the following years, if the people continued in the 
 unbelief of her writings, which letter I refused to copy. 
 
 Q. What were your particular reasons, for not 
 copying that letter ? 
 
 A. Because I thought she spoke in too harsh and 
 positive a manner of what was to follow, thinking 
 her too insignificant a character to send such a letter 
 to Mr. Pomeroy, as I understood that letter was to 
 be made public to the citizens of Exeter. 
 
 Q. Where did you live, before you went to the 
 city of Bristol ? 
 
 A. At Whitehall, about a mile frOm Bristol. 
 
 Q. Did your Sister ever tell you, that you should 
 be settled in the city of Bristol ? 
 
 A. She did. 
 
 Q. Had you, Sir, any expectations at that time of 
 being settled in the city of Bristol ? 
 
 A. No, Sir, I had not. 
 
 Q. Have you become settled in the city of Bristol, 
 according to what your Sister told you ? 
 
 A. Yes, I have. 
 
 Q. Did you believe then that your Sister knew 
 you were to be settkdin the city of Bristol ? 
 
 A. No, I did not. 
 
 Q. Did you ever attempt intentionally to deceive 
 your Sister, for the purpose of discovering by what 
 spirit she was led ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, I did. 
 
 Q. Were you ever successful in that attempt ? 
 
 A. I did succeed so far by telling her that I had 
 got an appointment to the West Indies, in which I 
 persisted until I had got an appointment, and was 
 absolutely sworn into the custom house at Bristol. 
 Upon shewing my Sister my appointment, and still 
 assuring her it was for the West Indies ; my Sister
 
 4$ THE TRIAL Ot 
 
 then replied, " Well, brother, if you do go to the 
 West Indies, I shall destroy all my writings ; for I am 
 told by the Spirit, you should settle in Bristol, and do 
 very well." 
 
 &. Pray, Sir, what effect had this prophecy of 
 your Sister upon your mind ? 
 
 A. It staggered me a little; but I said I would leave 
 the event to time. 
 
 Q. Did your Sister ever tell you, that you might 
 be present when her writings were proved ? 
 
 A. Yes, she has. 
 
 Q. Did you, Sir, or have you ever tried to deceive 
 her in the confidence of the Spirit, which' she pro- 
 fessed to have been led by ? 
 
 A. Not since the West India affair. 
 
 Q.. Did your Sister ever tell you, that a number of 
 people should be gathered together, for the purpose 
 of proving her writings ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, she has. 
 
 Q. Did you, Sir, ever believe that a number of 
 people should be collected together, for that express 
 purpose ? 
 
 A. I did not believe it prior to 1803. 
 
 Q. I believe, Sir, for a long continuance of time, 
 you did not believe your Sister was visited by the 
 spirit of prophecy ; but that you conceived she was 
 misled, either by derangement of mind, or by some 
 evil spirit ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, I did. 
 
 Q. At what lime was it that you first began to 
 think your Sister was visited by the Spirit of the liv- 
 ing God ? 
 
 A. In June 1803, Mrs. Foley and my Sister came 
 to my house in Bristol, and informed me what had 
 passedatthe time shewas all Iigh House, Paddington ; 
 when hearing the extraordinary things she related, 
 and of the very respectable characters engaged in 
 the work with hcr 3 induced me to read and peruse her
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 4Q 
 
 Writings with attention, and on comparing them with 
 the Scriptures, I had no doubt but they were i'rom 
 the Spirit of the living God. 
 
 Q. Before that information, had you ever read the 
 books published by your Sister ? 
 
 A. 1 never had. 
 
 Q. Was that your first inducement for reading 
 them ? 
 
 A. ft was. I had never seen them before. 
 
 Q. Did you, Sir, ever tell your Sister, or did you 
 believe, that a number of persons should never be 
 collected together, for the purpose of proving, or 
 searching into her writings ? 
 
 A. I believe I did tell my Sister so, and prior to 
 1S03, I never thought they would. 
 
 Q. Now, Sir, generally from your mutual child- 
 hood up to the present day, what is your opinion of 
 your Sister as to her character, for truth, justice, mo- 
 rality, and charity ; and for possessing a sound mind, 
 and general virtue ? 
 
 A. Unexceptionable in all those characters. 
 
 Q. Do you believe she is particularly distinguished 
 in those characters ? 
 
 A. I have every reason to think so, never having 
 heard her character traduced by her greatest enemies.. 
 
 Q. Now, Sir, there is an old observation, and a 
 scriptural one, that a prophet has no honour in his 
 own country ; do yon, Sir, in the face of that obser- 
 vation, and with all the prejudices, which you 
 formerly had against your Sister, now believe that 
 sjie is visited by the Spirit of the living God ? 
 
 A. Yes, I do. 
 
 Joseph Southcott/ 
 
 These depositions were taken by me > and signed in 
 my presence, 
 
 John Scott, 
 
 G
 
 50 THE 'J RIAL OF 
 
 The Examiuat'wji of Mr. Jones, of Exeter, re- 
 specting the Mission of Joanna South cott. 
 
 Q. Do you know Joanna Southcott ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir. 
 
 Q. How long have you known her ? 
 
 A. About five years. 
 
 Q. During the time that you have known her, 
 what is your opinion of her moral character r 
 
 A. That of a good, faithful, and nonest christian. 
 
 Q. In the year 1800 did you know that Jo- 
 anna Southcott was in the habit of prophesying ? 
 
 A. Very well., and before the harvest of that 
 year. 
 
 Q. In the beginning of the year 1S0O, do you 
 recollect Joanna's reading to you from a paper what 
 would be the event of the harvest of that year ? 
 
 A. Very well, and before the harvest. 
 
 Q. At the time that Joanna read to you the 
 prophecy, was it not the opinion of tne people in 
 general, that the harvest would be very good r 
 
 A. Yes, Sir. no; only in Exeter, but in all the 
 counties I passed through with ti e Mail Coach. 
 
 Q. Did the cent of that harvest turn out as Jo- 
 .anna had foretold ? 
 
 A. Exactly. 
 
 Q. Did you take from Joanna a copy of that 
 prophecy ? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. Have von been at other times in the habit of 
 writing copies of Joanna's prophecies from her 
 mouth ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, I have. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect going at the request of Jo- 
 anna to Mr. Pomeroy ? 
 
 A. Yes. Sir, 1 went to satisfy my own opinion^ 
 as well as at the request uf Joanna.
 
 J0A5TXA SOUTHCOTT." 51 
 
 O. For what particular purpose did you go ? 
 
 A. I went in person to receive an answer from 
 Mr. Pomeroy to a letter, which I had written to him. 
 
 Q. What passed between Mr. Pomeroy and your- 
 self, when you saw him ? 
 
 A. I began with begging his pardon for the li- 
 berty I had taken in writing to him the day before ; 
 he asked me to come in. I went into his back par- 
 lour, and had a great deal of conversation concerning 
 Joanna, the principal features of which related to 
 Joanna's Mission. He asked me, if I was a believer ? 
 I answered, how could I be otherwise, since I find 
 what she says comes true. Mr. Pomeroy told me, 
 Joanna had a great deal of shrewd sense. My answer 
 was, she knows no more of herself than this table. 
 His answers were so ambiguous that I did not under- 
 stand his meaning : so I came away dissatisfied. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect being present at Mr. Sy- 
 mons's, when the papers of Joanna were opened ? 
 
 A. Very well. 
 
 Q. Did you, with others, write your name on 
 the leaves r 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, I did. 
 
 Q. Were those signatures by Joanna's request ? 
 
 A. It was by her desire. 
 
 Q. Did you copy any of those papers ? 
 
 A. I copied some, as well as some letters to the 
 Ministers, which are published. 
 
 Ql, Do you recollect having possession of a letter, 
 in the year 1801, which was afterwards taken out of 
 your hands by Joanna to give to Mr. Po ..eroy ? 
 
 A. I had a letter in my po^ession, in 180J, 
 which I afterwards gave up to Mrs. Southcotr, to 
 put into the hands of Mr. Pomeroy; but before I 
 gave it up, I signed my name and dated it, the day 
 I parted with it, that 1 might know it was the same 
 letter which had been in my hands. 
 
 Q. Did you ever put any other letters in Mr a 
 Pomeroy's hands ? G 2
 
 52 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 A. I had another letter for him, and saw him in the 
 street at Bodmin ; I told him I should be glad to 
 speak to him. We went into a narrow court ; 1 told 
 him T hoped he would excuse the liberty I was tak- 
 ing with him, but had got a letter lor him. He an- 
 swered, what r is it from that, mad woman at Exeter ? 
 He spoke so loud that one or two people stopped 
 to hear. He said she was as mad as a March hare. I 
 then replied, that c mnotbe; there are so many persons 
 of respectability who support her. He then replied, 
 they are all mad. I did not like to say any thing 
 more to him for fear of a mob. I made an apology on 
 his finding fault ; to which he replied, I know you 
 do not mean to offend me ; if I thought that I would 
 not speak to you. I afterwards made up that letter 
 in a parcel, and sent it to him ; about six weeks after- 
 wards he sent for me, and returned the letter to mc, 
 which appeared to me to have been opened ; and 
 he desired me not to trouble him with such things 
 again. 
 
 Q.. Do you recollect copying, from Joanna's read- 
 ing from her own writings, any books, which were 
 afterwards printed and published ? 
 
 A. Yes, certainly. 
 
 J. Jones. 
 
 These depositions ijcere taken by me, and signed in 
 my presence, 
 
 John Scott, 
 
 'Examination of Mr. William Sharp, as 
 
 io the Books of Joanna Southcoii. 
 
 Q. Did you, Sir, write any books for Joanna 
 
 SoiltiifOtt ? 
 
 A. Yes.
 
 JOANNA SOITHCOTT. 53 
 
 Q. In what manner. Sir, did you write those bocks ? 
 
 A. She rend them to me from her own manu- 
 scripts, and I wrote from her reading. 
 
 Q.. How many of those books did you write, which 
 were afterwards published r 
 
 A. The first which I wrote was the conclusion 
 of the book entitled, "Dispute with the Powers of 
 Darkness," published in the year 1802; then the 
 book entitled, " The Answer of the Lord to the Dis- 
 pute with the Powers of. Darkness," published in 
 1802; part of the "Second Book of Letters," 
 published in 1802; part of the book entitled, *' A 
 Warning to the World," published in J S04 ; were all 
 taken by me from Joanna's reading to me from her 
 manuscripts. r I he book entitled, "' Letters on Vari- 
 ous Subjects, written by Joanna to Miss Townley," 
 published in June, 1804; the book entitled, <l Let- 
 ters and Communications," beginning with the pa- 
 rable of the Little Llock of Sheep, published in 
 June, 1S04 ; also the book of " Mr. Joseph Souths 
 cott, being a Vindication of Ins Sister," published 
 in August, 1804 ; were all received by post from 
 Miss Townley, and published by me * ; 
 
 William Sharp. 
 
 These depositions were take?! by me, unci signed in ??i/ 
 presence, 
 
 Joh\- Scott. 
 
 Ex animation of the Rev. T. P. Foley, as to the 
 
 Books of Jo A N N A S O UT II C O TT . 
 
 Q. Did you, Sir, write any books for Joanna 
 Southcott ? 
 A. I did. 
 
 * Two parts of the bonk entitled, *' The True Explanations of the 
 Bible" were also published by the same witness since tin; alxne, and 
 the third part is now in the press,
 
 54 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 Q. In what manner, Sir, did you write those books? 
 
 A. I wrote from her reading them to me from her 
 own writings. 
 
 Q. How many of those books did you write, 
 which were afterwards published ? 
 
 A. I wrote part of the IC First" and part of the 
 <( Second Book of Letters," which I copied from 
 the original ones sent to me, published in the year 
 2 801 and 1802 ; the book entitled, " The Eighth 
 Book," published in 1802; the book entitled, " An 
 Answer' to Mr. Brothers's last Book," published in 
 the year 1802 ; the book entitled, " Disputes with 
 the Powers of Darkness," published in 1802; the 
 book entitled, "The Sealed Prophecies," published 
 in 1803; two books of Visions, published in 1803; 
 and the book entitled, " A Word to the Wise," 
 'published in August, 1803 ; the book entitled, 
 ** Sound an Alarm," published in 1804; were all 
 Respectively copied by me, from the words which 
 she read to me from her own manuscripts *. 
 
 Thos. P. Foley. 
 
 These depositions were taken by me, and signed in 
 my presence, 
 
 John Scott. 
 
 Here the examination of evidence closed for this 
 day ; and then the directions were resorted to, and 
 a general discussion took place, upon the proceed- 
 ings of the day, wherein more particularly the con- 
 duct of the clergy was again resumed. 
 
 * There \yn-~ another hook published by Mr. Foley, in October, 
 istol, (i inn letters transmitted by Miss Townlev to him, ami which 
 was omitted in the examination, entitled, " Letters and Com- 
 munication'' of Joanna Southcott, the Prophetess of Exeter," and 
 called in Mi's Tow-nicy's evidence, " What Manner of Communica- 
 tions are thwe."
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 55 
 
 THE SECOND DAY. 
 
 THURSDAY, DECEMBER b, 1304. 
 
 The assembly having met about the hour of ten 
 this morning, near the house, received a message, 
 that Joanna was in great agitation, waiting for an 
 interview. The three clergymen and four other gen- 
 tlemen, who had been at Exeter first to examine 
 into the truth of her mission, followed by the rest 
 of the forty-eight, as their names were called over, 
 repaired immediately to the room where Joanna and. 
 her female friends were seated. After some time 
 passed in mutual congratulations, Joanna got up and 
 spoke until twelve o'clock precisely) at which time 
 the box of sealed writings was put upon the table, 
 and the different parcels of sealed papers taken out 
 of it. 
 
 It is necessary here to introduce a general account 
 of the beginning of these writing::-, as delivered to 
 the assembly : From the time o!" Joanna's visitation 
 by the Spirit, in 179 2, different papers were sealed 
 up, year after year, and deposited with her friends; 
 and the whole of these were put into a box together, 
 at the end of 1 794, after having been first sealed up 
 by her friends. The communications given in the 
 subsequent years were added to the former, at the 
 end of each year, and put into the box, and thus 
 remained in the possession of her friends, until the 
 year 1800. The writings were first cut open, by the 
 desire of the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, at the end of the 
 year 1800, in the house of Mr.Symons, at Exeter, and 
 in the presence of twelve witnesses, five of whom were 
 present this day, some of whose names were signed on
 
 6(5 tHE TRIAL OF 
 
 every sheet of' the writings , and some of the writings,, 
 thus signed, were delivered into the hands of Joanna, 
 in order to be copied and deposited with the Rev. Mr, 
 Pomeroy. They were again sealed up in the pre- 
 face of six witnesses, about two months after the 
 opening of them, or in the spring of I SOI, and were 
 left in the care of Mr. Symons, of Exeter. Hav- 
 ing been after that committed to the possession of 
 Mr. Sharp, of Titchfield Street, London, they were 
 cut open a second time at Paddington, on January 
 12, 1803, in the presence of forty-nine persons in 
 all, twenty-three of whom acted under the denomi- 
 nation of judges and jury. The writings were again 
 verified there, leaf by leaf, generally by the signa- 
 ture of three of those denominated judges and jury. 
 Some parts were read to the audience, and others 
 were given to be copied, from which the book called 
 " The Sealed Prophecies" was printed. At six 
 o'clock in the evening of May 2, 18<)3, the writings 
 were scaled up again, in the presence of six of the 
 judges, Joanna, and four or five others. Each of 
 these judges affixed their seals and signed their 
 names on each parcel, and Joanna put her seal 
 thereon. The bundles thus signed ai\d sealed, being 
 s ; x in number, were exhibited this day, December 
 (), 18^-i. and the signatures and seals on diem were 
 acknowledged, by the Rev. Stanhope Bruce, Rev. 
 Thomas Philip Foley. Rev. Thomas Webster, John 
 Wilson, Elias Carpenter, and William Sharp, as 
 their own respective signatures and seals. At the 
 conclusion of thus identifying the bundles of writings, 
 taken out of the box, agreeably to the directions oi 
 Joanna, that is about one o'clock, she became very 
 faint, and was helped out of the room, after signify- 
 ing that the writings were not to be cut open till she 
 had strength to be present.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 57 
 
 About tliree o'clock the evidence of the female 
 witnesses was entered upon, and verified in the fol- 
 lowing order : 
 
 The Evidence of Mrs. Ta y l or, 0/ Exeter* 
 
 Q. Do you know Joanna Southcott ? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. How long have you known her ? 
 
 A . About twenty years or more. 
 
 Q. Was she in the service of any one, when you 
 knew her first ? 
 
 A. She was in the service of Mr. Wills, of Exeter, 
 upholsterer. 
 
 Q. What situation was she in ? 
 
 A. She worked in his business. 
 
 Q. How long did you know her before she left- 
 Mr. Wills ? 
 
 A. About one or two years. 
 
 Q. After she left Mr. Wills, how long was it be- 
 fore you saw her ? 
 
 A. It might be about a year. 
 
 Q. What circumstance was it, that led you again, 
 to know Joanna ? 
 
 A. By her coming to our shop to purchase some- 
 thing ; Mr. Taylor then asked her, whether she had 
 not once lived at Wills's ? She answered, she had 
 once lived with them, but was now with Mr. Wolland, 
 at Heavitree, near Exeter ; Mr. Taylor then asked 
 her, if she meant again to go out to work at her bu- 
 siness ? she replied, if she, could get a place she liked, 
 she would. 
 Q. Well, Madam, what further conversation passed ? 
 
 A. I certainly had a great prejudice against Jo- 
 anna, (because she had lived with Mrs, Wills,) and 
 did not wish Mr. Taylor to hire her. 
 
 Q. Did Mr. Taylor hire her immediately ? 
 H
 
 53 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 A. He immediately hired her ; and I said, you 
 have hired a person I shall never like. 
 
 Q.. Did Mr. Taylor make any reply to your ob- 
 servation ? 
 
 A* Mr. Taylor replied, we want such a person, 
 and I dare say you will like her in time. 
 
 Q. Then, Madam, how soon did she enter into 
 your service ? 
 
 A. In a few days she entered into our service ? 
 
 Q. Was she completely a domestic servant? 
 
 A. She was. 
 
 Q. Then, Madam, after she came into your ser- 
 vice, did you observe any thing in her manner or 
 conduct, which led you to suppose she was deranged 
 in her mind ? 
 
 A. Not in the least. 
 
 Q. Was you in the habits of seeing Joanna doing 
 her duty in the business, in which she was employed ? 
 
 A. In the constant habit of working with her. 
 
 Q. How long did she continue in your house, af- 
 ter the first hiring ? 
 
 A. About a year. 
 
 Q. Then, Madam, during that time had you a 
 sufficient opportunity of judging, whether or not, 
 she was in possession of a sound mind ? 
 
 A. During that time, she seemed to be in more 
 complete possession of her intellects than any per- 
 son I ever met with, and more industrious than 
 any one perfon I ever met with. 
 
 Q. Then she left your service ? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Did Joanna assign any particular reason for 
 leaving your service ? 
 
 A. No; but all our family was sorry to part with 
 her. 
 
 Q. Then, Madam, after she left you, what situa- 
 tion did she get into ? 
 
 A She was aji upper servant to Mr. Burrow.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 5Q 
 
 Q. Did she ever come back into your service ? 
 A. She came back about two years afterwards, 
 and worked with us as a daily servant. 
 
 Q. Did you observe, when Joanna came back into 
 Your service, any change in her character or conduct? 
 A Just the same person for honesty, sobriety, and 
 a chearful disposition. 
 
 Q. Pray, Madam, how long did Joanna continue 
 in your service, before you observed any material 
 change in her character or conduct ? 
 A. About a year or two. 
 
 Q. What was the nature of the change, which you 
 observed in her character or conduct ? 
 
 A. She was not so chearful, but seemed rather 
 melancholy, and not so attentive to her business. 
 
 Q.. Did she at that time make any pretensions to 
 prophecy ? 
 
 A. She did not; but I thought the reason of Jo- 
 anna's lowness arose from the circumstance of our 
 having hired another person to accompany her in 
 the work. 
 
 Q. How long after that, Madam, did you observe 
 any symptoms in Joanna, of her pretensions to pro- 
 phecy ? 
 
 A. Between one and two years. 
 Q. Before you knew she assumed the character of 
 a prophetess, was she in the habits of communicat- 
 ing to you any dreams that she had ? 
 A. She was, and told me several. 
 Q. At what period was it that she left you ? 
 A. About the beginning of the year 1 /<)'- 
 Q. Did she come back again into your service ? 
 A. She did, about the latter end of the same 
 year. 
 
 Q. Did she, upon her coming back into your ser- 
 vice, tell you immediately that she had be^ n visited 
 by any Spirit ? 
 
 A. She did not immediately; but told me that 
 
 II 2
 
 CO THE TRIAL OF 
 
 there were troublesome times approaching ; and 
 though the necessaries of life were now cheap, every 
 thing would be dearer than ever was known in the 
 memory of man ; and advised Mr. Taylor to lay in 
 a store; for that she had wonderful writings at Plym- 
 tree. Mr. Taylor then said, iC Joanna, you are a 
 prophetess ?" to Which she immediately replied, with 
 great spirit and apparent sincerity, '* So I am ;" 
 which was the first information I ever had, that she 
 assumed the character of a prophetess. 
 
 Q. Did she, Madam, inform you of any particu- 
 lar circumstance, that afterwards took place, accord- 
 ing to her predictions ? 
 
 A. There was scarce any thing happened to the 
 nation, or to particular families, or individuals, with 
 whom she was'acquainted, that she, Joanna, did not 
 inform me would happen before it did, and all were 
 fulfilled as Joanna predicted ; and this continued for 
 two or three years. 
 
 Q. Did you believe Joanna was visited by the 
 Spirit of the living God ? 
 
 A. I did ; I believed Joanna to be so good a crea- 
 ture that she would not have said those things of 
 herself. 
 
 Q. Do you know the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, formerly 
 of Exeter ? 
 
 A. I do. 
 
 Q. Do you know, Madam, whether Joanna 
 thought it necessary to consult Mr. Pomeroy, as a 
 minister of the church of Lnpland, and to take his 
 advice as to what Spirit she was visited by ? 
 
 A. About 1 706, Joanna said, she was ordered to 
 write to Mr. Pomeroy upon the subject of her visita- 
 tion, and to inform him of the approaching awful 
 period. 
 
 CA. Did Joanna do so ? 
 
 A. She did. 
 
 Q. How do you know that she did so ?
 
 JOANXA SOUTHCOTT. 6l 
 
 A. Because part of my family wrote letters and 
 communications to Mr. Pomeroy, and they were sent 
 to his house, and conveyed to his hands. 
 
 Q. Do you know, of your own knowledge, these 
 letters, &c &c. came into Mr. Pomerov's hands ? 
 
 A. I do ; because he came to our house in conse- 
 quence of the letters. 
 
 Q. What did Mr. Pomeroy say to the contents of 
 the letters, &c. &c. 
 
 A. He came to our house to enquire out the cha- 
 racter of one Joanna Southcott. from whom he had, 
 he said, received a letter, and enquired particu- 
 larly -as to her character, and whether I thought 
 her in the possession of a sound mind and under- 
 standing. 
 
 Q. When you told Mr. Pomeroy your opinion 
 of Joanna's character, did he make any observations 
 upon the contents of the letters, &c. lie had re- 
 ceived? 
 
 A. Mr, Pomeroy said, a man had told him 
 that Joanna had prophesied lies. I replied, I was 
 sure she had not, for she prophesied nothing but 
 truth. Mr. Pomeroy then said, " I should be glad 
 " to see her;" and 1 accordingly sent for her. 
 
 Q. Did Joanna then come ? 
 
 A. She did. 
 
 Q.. What passed upon the meeting of Joanna and 
 Mr. Pomeiuv, in your presence ? 
 
 A. She read to Mr. Pomeroy communications ; 
 and after Joanna left Mr. Pomeroy, he sajd to me,' 
 **' she will be out of her mind aoou ; I should not 
 " wonder it it was in a few weeks; but that he should 
 " be very happy if he could do any thing for her. 1 ' 
 We then parted. 
 
 Q. How long after the last interview did any 
 other letters or meeting take place, between Joanna 
 and Mr. Pomero, ? 
 
 A. About two or three months, when Joanna re-
 
 62 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 quested an interview with Mr. Pomeroy, at Mr. 
 Taylor's house, which accordingly took place. 
 
 Q. Were you present at that meeting ? 
 
 A. Yes, I was ; for Joanna had requested of- me, 
 that I should not leave the room whilst Mr. Pome- 
 roy was there, and if I would not do so she would 
 not o into the room : for she said, she was ordered 
 not to see him without a witness. I accordingly did 
 so, and Joanna ordered our family not to call me 
 out while Mr. Pomeroy stopped ; I accordingly re- 
 mained the whole of the time that Mr. Pomeroy and 
 Joanna were together. 
 
 Q.. Do you recollect what particularly happened 
 at that meeting ? 
 
 A Yts ; Joanna told Mr. Pomeroy of what would 
 speedily happen in the world, and read to him some 
 of her communications ; and ar that meeting told 
 Mr. Pomeroy, that she was the Bride mentioned in 
 the Scripture, and particularly mentioned to him 
 : it Judas betraying our Lord. 
 
 Q.. Was there anything in the previous part of 
 the conversation, that led to the observation of Jo- 
 anna concerning Judas betraying his Lord ? 
 
 A. I ,io not know that there was. 
 
 Q. Was there any particular comment, made by 
 Joanna, concerning Judas betraying- his Lord ? 
 
 A. There was a great deal said, but I do not re- 
 collect what. 
 
 Q. Was there any observation, in your recollec- 
 tion, that was made by Joanna, that such a character 
 as Judas would again be found upon the earth ? 
 
 A. No, there was not: but Joanna particularly 
 described the character of Judas, to which Mr. Po- 
 meroy replied, k> I never understood it so." Joanna 
 then said, ''and looked at. him with particular earnest- 
 ness,) ' c I was ordered to tell you so, Sir." Mr. 
 Pomeroy then said, " Joanna, you have advanced 
 " things which make me shudder, and I do not know
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 63 
 
 tf but it is bordering upon blasphemy." She again 
 repeated those words, " I was ordered to tell you so, 
 " Sir." And in the course of the conversation re- 
 peated the same several times, and said, " I know 
 " what blasphemy is, but I was ordered to tell you 
 " these things." In reply to some observations made 
 by Joanna, Mr. Pomeroy replied, " it is impossible 
 " for me to tell that all your writings come from the 
 " Spirit of God ; I cannot do it ; but great part cf 
 tl them, I am sure, are; and I beg that you will 
 " make yourself happy, for I do not believe, that 
 <f one word of your's is from the spirit of the Devil ; 
 ^ and I shall always be happy to see you, Joanna, or 
 c< to receive any thing from you." But did not say 
 one word about Joanna being out of her mind. I do 
 not recollect any thing more that happened at this 
 meeting. 
 
 Q. Will you inform us, what you know of papers 
 and letters put into the hands of Mr. Pomeroy from 
 Joanna ? 
 
 A. I know that my children has copied the letters 
 of Joanna, and that they have been conveyed into 
 the hands of Mr. Pomeroy, by Mrs. Bird and our two 
 apprentices. 
 
 Q. Have you any reason to believe, that these 
 letters and papers were safely conveyed into the 
 hands of Mr. Pomeroy ? 
 
 A. I am certain, from the conversations that 
 passed between Mr. Pomeroy and Joanna, that Mr. 
 Pomeroy was in the constant habits of receiving 
 safely the letters sent to him ; and there was an al- 
 most constant correspondence, which passed be- 
 tween Joanna and Mr. Pomeroy, up to the period of 
 her going to Bristol, in the year 1 798 ; and from 
 there she wrote to me, that she would not return to 
 Exeter, unless Mr. Pomeroy would come forward 
 to examine the truth of her writings. 
 
 Q. Did you apply to Mr. Pomeroy ?
 
 (5>L THE TRIAL OP 
 
 A. I sent to him through Mrs. Bird, who returned 
 me for answer, that he was willing to meet any, to 
 prove Joanna's writings. I wrote to Joanna, and in 
 consequence she came to Exeter; but before she came 
 I received two letters from her, as to the harvests of 
 J 799 an d 1800, written in her own hand ; and after 
 she came home, she read me the two letters she wrote 
 from Bristol, which were literally fulfilled in those 
 two years. 
 
 Q,. Do you know what particularly happened af- 
 ter Joanna's return from Bristol, in 179S ? 
 
 A. She was in the habits of writing 10 Mr. Pome- 
 roy more frequently than before ; and he was in the 
 habits of coming to our house to see Joanna. 
 
 Q. Do you know of any disagreement, between 
 Joanna and Mr. Pomeroy, about putting his name 
 in print ? 
 
 A. I do. 
 
 Q,. Describe, as nearly as you can, the cause of 
 that disagreement ? 
 
 A. It was on the account of his name being in- 
 troduced in print, in the writings of Joanna; and he 
 frequently expressed great anger at Joanna, for having 
 so done, and said, he would rather have done any 
 thing than she should have done so, " and if you had 
 " set my house on fire, I would rather have forgiven 
 " you than for doing this." Joanna then replied, ' c I 
 <; was ordered to do so." Mr. Pomeroy then replied, 
 *' the Devil ordered you! and I believe you were 
 " born for my ruin." Mr. Pomeroy seemed verv 
 agitated and faint; so much so, that Mr. Taylor 
 requested me to go in and give Mr. Pomeroy some- 
 thing. I heard Mr. Pomeroy repeatedly say, "my 
 ( ' dear Joanna, do whatever you like, but leave my 
 " name out of the question." Upon another visit he 
 used soothing language to Joanna, and told her, 
 " you have injured me greatly in the opinion of the 
 il world." And he pulled out a paper out of his
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 65 
 
 pocket, and said, " I wish you to sign this paper, 
 " for the satisfaction of my friends." But he never 
 said it was to be put in print. Joanna said, " I am 
 " sure I am willing to make you any satisfaction, if 
 " I have injured you." Mr. Pomeroy said, " You 
 " know, Joanna, I said, that when you put my 
 t{ name in print, it was from the Devil." Joanna re- 
 plied, " I know you did ; but you never told me my 
 * f writings were from the Devil." Upon which Mr. 
 Pomeroy read the paper, taken from his pocket, 
 and asked Joanna and me to sign it, which we did, 
 considering it only to be an acknowledgment, that 
 Mr. Pomeroy had said, Ci that the putting his name 
 " in print was from the Devil." I did not read the 
 paper over before I signed it, because Mr. Pomeroy 
 seemed confused ; I was so also. I do not believe 
 that Joanna read it before she signed it. She seemed 
 in the utmost confusion, from the conduct of Mr. 
 Pomeroy ; and considered the paper as an acknow- 
 ledgment only, that Mr. Pomeroy had said, " the 
 " putting his name in print was from the Devil." 
 
 Q. Had you any reason to doubt the truth of the 
 prophecies of Joanna Southcott, in the autumn of 
 J 801 ? 
 
 A. I had, in October, 1801, because her father 
 did not die at the time she predicted ; I then asked 
 Joanna, why she had written to her friends, in Lon- 
 don, of the time of her father's death ? She replied, 
 " I wrote to them as it was given to me, and let it 
 " come as it will, I will deceive no man my God, I 
 " will deceive no man !"' I also had doubts, at other 
 times, when things did not come according to my 
 judgment. 
 
 Q.. After you had signed the paper of Mr. Pome- 
 roy's, what did you say to him ? 
 
 A. I said, Joanna's writings from the Devil, Sir? 
 I never heard ydu say such a thing ; but always said, 
 they came from a good Spirit. Mr. Pomeroy then 
 took me by the arm and said, " do not nuke your-
 
 6(5 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 " self unhappy for this, others have." I replied, "I 
 *" never heard you say so, Sir." That night I could 
 not sleep, I was so unhappy at what I had clone ; 
 the next morning I was preparing to go to Mr. Po- 
 meroy, when Joanna came and said, she had received 
 orders to send a letter to Mr. Pomeroy, which was 
 accordingly sent down by my nephew, which letter 
 contained a reflection upon his ungenerous behaviour, 
 in taking an advantage of them, by obtaining their 
 signatures through unjust representations. 
 
 Q. Have you, since that time, had any reason to 
 think the mission of Joanna Southcott not to be 
 from the Spirit of the living God ? 
 A. Not in the least. 
 
 Q,. Were you ever acquainted with any request of 
 Mr. Pomeroy, to have tiie events of the year 1 7Q7 
 put into his hands ? 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Was you present when the request was made ? 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. What was the consequence of it ? 
 A. He said, -' in days of old, when people wanted 
 < ; to enquire of the Lord, they went to the prophets, 
 " and they would tell them what would happen, 
 u Now,. Joanna, if you will tell me what will happen, 
 tc in Italy, England, or Spain, say three months, or 
 (t six months, then I will be your believer. 1 ' " I can- 
 ii not tell that; I cannot tell you*.*' Upon which 1 said 
 ' to Joanna, (after he was gone,) he gives you a great 
 deal of trouble, to have so much writing from you, 
 and if I was in your place, Joanna, I would not write 
 to him any more. I saw her two or three days after, 
 and asked her if any thing was given to her for Mr. 
 Pomeroy? She said, No, nothing had been given. 
 Some days after this, she brought me several sheets, 
 w'th a great deal or' writing, for Mr. Pomeroy, in 
 answer to the enquiries he had made. 
 
 Q. To your knowledge, were those papers or 
 writings deposited in the hands of Mr. Pomeroy } 
 * Meaning ihe could not tell from herself.
 
 JOANNA SOUTIICOTT. 6~ 
 
 A. They certainly were sent there. 
 
 Q. How do you know they were sent to him ? 
 
 A. Because Mr. Pomeroy acknowledged to have 
 received them, I think about two years ago. 
 
 Q. Did you ever hear Joanna say to Mr. Pome- 
 roy, that she had put the events of nations, and 
 particularly of England, Italy, France, and Spain, 
 into his hands ? 
 
 A. Joanna and Mr. Pomeroy were disputing of 
 the truth she had put into his hands ; they were then 
 talking of the events which Joanna had put in his 
 hands. She then said to him, that she had put certain 
 papers in Mr. Jones's hands. He said, " Joanna, 
 " if I am to be vour judge, why not put them into 
 tc my hands ? why into Mr. Jones's ?" 
 
 Q. What was the consequence of the observation 
 that Mr. Pomeroy had made to Joanna ? 
 
 A. She got them from Mr. Jones, with an inten- 
 tion to deposit them with Mr. Pomeroy, I desired her 
 not to take them from Mr. Jones, and said, if I was 
 you, Joanna, I neve>- would put any more in his 
 hands. At the very hour that she proposed going 
 with the papers to Mr. Pomeroy, such a heavy 
 storm of thunder, lightning:, and rain, took place 
 as I never remembered before or since, that the 
 waters ran do . n in the cellars of our house, which 
 never happened at any other time or since. About the 
 same time Mr. Porrerov siid to Joanna, "' so you 
 sa : d there will be a revclutron in Spain?" Joanna 
 said. " vSo I say now, before my writings are ended." 
 At other times she answered him so quick to .% at 
 he said, that he replied, " you have ;.;</t >ourBi: le 
 "at your finger's end ; you make the Bible your 
 " study." She again replied, " i have not studied 
 " the Bible these nine years." " How so ?" savs 
 Mr. Pomeroy. She said, " she had her living to 
 " get, and in all the spare time she was writing." 
 
 Q. Do you recollect Joanna Southcott's having 
 written a letter to Mr. Pomeroy, in I79O, respecting 
 
 I 2
 
 68 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 the bishop of Exeter's death, that was to happen b 
 
 that year ? 
 
 A. Indirectly, he had acknowledged to have re- 
 ceived a letter from Joanna, respecting the bishop's 
 death, winch he said, " was of trifling consequence 
 " to the nation." 
 
 Q. Do you know, that Mr. Pomeroy sent back 
 any letters or writings, in Joanna's own hand, to be 
 copied off for him, and each leaf with his signature 
 upon it ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, I do know it. 
 
 Q. Do you know the contents of those papers or 
 writings, which were sent back to Joanna to be co- 
 pied off for him ? 
 
 A. They contained the events of what was to hap- 
 pen to Fiance, Italy, and Spain. 
 
 Q. Have any of those events been fulfilled, which 
 were contained in those writings? 
 
 A. Many of those events happened that year, par- 
 ticularly in Italy ; and in England, the triple taxes 
 were first put on. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect, that Joanna ever told you, 
 that Mr. Pomeroy disputed with her, that her fore- 
 knowledge of her prophecies came from herself? or 
 did you ever hear of yourself, from Mr. Pomeroy, 
 that he entertained the same doubt ? 
 
 A. I have heard it from both. 
 
 Q. Did you ever, when you heard him say so, 
 say also, why do you not put it in print ? 
 
 A. I have heard him say so, and I ha\ e also heard 
 him say, at the same time, " you will wait until you 
 (i bring the sword, the plague, and the famine upon 
 " the land ; and if I was sure it was from the Lord, I 
 " would fear no man." He further said, ' ; if she 
 " could not get twelve to prove her writings, she 
 (i should get six; I will meet with twelve or six." 
 This was said in 179*3) in Mr. Taylor's dining par- 
 lour, in her presence, and at the end of 1 7[)6 he re- 
 peated the same words in Mr. Taylor's parlour.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 6() 
 
 Q., Do you recollect, that Mr. Pomeroy, or Joanna, 
 told you, that she (Joanna) was to give in the names 
 of them that should appear to prove the truth of lier 
 writings ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, I do recollect that Joanna told me so. 
 
 Q. Did she say, that a cros^ was to be put to 
 them that would not appear, and that he (Mr. Po- 
 meroy) would try to supply their places by the mi- 
 nisters ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, very well. 
 
 Q. Were those names put down, to your know- 
 ledge ? 
 
 A. Copies were made, and their names put down 
 to send to him. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect the names of those put down ? 
 
 A. I recollect the Rev. Chancellor Nutcombe, 
 ArchdeacorviVToore, Marshall, and Pomeroy, Mr. 
 Taylor, Mr. Wolland, Mr. Kidney, Mr. Thomp- 
 son, Mr. Mozey, Mr. Tucker, and Mr. Mannering. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect, in April 1800, that Mr. Po- 
 meroy desired Joanna to give him, in a si, or! com- 
 pass, what the harvest would be of 1800, if the un- 
 belief of the clergy did abound ? 
 
 A. I recollect it perfectly. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect any letter being put in the 
 newspaper, in 1801, mentioning the fulfilment of 
 the prediction of the truth of the harvest, in 1800, 
 spoken to Joanna in April, preceding ? 
 
 A. I do remember : it was put in the newspaper 
 then. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect Joanna's telling Mr. Pomeroy, 
 that a person had said, her writings were from the 
 Devil ? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Do you rcccollcct Mr. Pomeroy 's observation ? 
 
 A. I do. 
 
 Q. What was the nature of the observation ? 
 
 A. She should make herself perfectly easy ; there
 
 70 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 was nothing in her writings likely to come from 
 the Devil. I have heard him say so several times. 
 (Signed , ) Lu c y Ta y lor. 
 
 These depositions were taken by vie, and signed by 
 Mrs. lay lor in my presence, 
 
 John Scott. 
 
 The following Depositions o/Mary Bird, of Ex- 
 eter, Jpinster, were taken from her, in the pre- 
 sence of J. Jours, Sarah Dewdney, Fran- 
 ces Taylor, Robert Taylor, jun. and 
 Edward Laskey, by Mrs. Taylor, of 
 Exeter, wife of Mr. Robert Taylor, Up- 
 holsterer, and also signed by Mrs. Taylor. 
 
 The first time Joanna spoke to Mr. Pomeroy was 
 at my house *, where he ca ae and enquired her cha- 
 racter, and had some conversation with her, and 
 parted friendly. This happened about ten years 
 ago. In 1707, I went with Joanna to Mr. Po- 
 meroy's, to hear some writings read, which Joanna 
 had put in his hands before; but lie disputed with 
 her, that she might read any thing to him, as he 
 could not read it himself, which threw Joanna into a 
 passion, saying he must judge her worse than the 
 witch of l:n !or, if she was to put writings in his 
 hands to deceive him. Mr. Pomeroj immediately ap- 
 pealed to me, saving, lie always judged Joanna to 
 be a religious guod woman ; but if he believed her, 
 others would not. lie then gave consent for Joanna 
 to come the following week to read her writings to 
 him. Joanna, instead of going to him, desired him 
 to sign his mime on some sheeis which were in his 
 hands, of her writing, and send them to have them 
 copied oil", which he. -accordingly did, and I brought 
 
 * J< anna I<h!_:cc1 at Mrs. uiid's house.
 
 JOANNA S6UTHC0TT. 7 I 
 
 them to my house, and Miss Fanny Taylor copied 
 them off, and they were, sent back to Mr. Potne- 
 roy again. I have also repeatedly carried letters 
 from Joanna to Mr. Pomeroy, and he always re- 
 ceived them kindly, and in general, asked how Jo- 
 anna was. 
 
 When Joanna was in Bristol, I went to Mr. 
 Pomeroy, and said, that Joanna's friends were all 
 willing for her to come home to Exeter ; I asked 
 him, if he was willing to come forward, with others, 
 to examine Joanna's writing, whether they were from 
 the Lord or not ? Mr.' Pomeroy said, he was willing 
 to meet those she had wrore to, and if she had not 
 sufficient, he would get two or three, and he would 
 do any thing for her ; for he thought it much better 
 for her to come home, as it was the wish of her 
 friends. At another time he said, he would receive 
 any letters or papers from her at any time. I have like- 
 wise been to Mr. Ponieroy's, from Joanna, to know r 
 when it was agreeable for him to see her and talk 
 with her, and he appointee! the time., and said, let 
 her come, and I will talk with her. This hath hap- 
 pened many times; but Joanna was ordered, for 
 years, not to see him without witnesses. I have been 
 with Joanna many times, and never heard him say, 
 at any time, or even hint, that her writings were from 
 the Devil ; but always treated her with civility. 
 
 (Signed.) Mary Bird. 
 
 Witnesses to the above, and to Mary Bird's 
 signing it, 
 
 J. Jones, Lucy Taylor, 
 
 S A II A 1 1 D E V, u N E V , I ' R A N C E 3 T A Y L O 11 , 
 
 Kobe r t Ta'y lor, j tin . E i> w . L a s k i: v . 
 
 I, Sarah Dewdney, of Exeter, am authorised by 
 Mauv Bird to say, that this evidence is true, 
 (?rh January ; 1S04. 
 
 Sarah Dewdney^
 
 72 THE TKIAL OP 
 
 The Evidence o/*Miss Frances Taylor. 
 
 Q. Do you know Mrs. Southcott ? 
 A. Yes, Sir. 
 
 Q. Were you in the habit of copying any letters 
 to Mr. Pomeroy ? 
 A. Yes, Sir, 
 
 Q. Do you recollect a particular letter, written in 
 the year 1797, to Mr. Pomeroy ? 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q.. Do you recollect any thing of the contents of 
 that letter ? 
 
 A. I cannot say I can recollect the contents; I was 
 very young at the time ; but I have often heard it 
 mentioned. 
 
 Q. Who have you heard mentioning the contents 
 of that letter ? 
 
 A. My mother and Mrs. Southcott. 
 Q.. From them, what have you known to be the 
 contents of it ? 
 
 A. I have heard the events of Italy, in particular, 
 
 France, and other places. The events of Italy were 
 
 speedily fulfilled, of which I took particular notice. 
 
 Q. Was there any particular event immediately 
 
 fulfilled. 
 
 A. Yes, there was. 
 Q. What was that particular event ? 
 A. The conquest of Italy by France. 
 Q. Do you know any thing further of the parti- 
 cular contents of that letter ? 
 
 A. I only recollect, that generally, it referred to 
 the events of other nations. 
 
 Q. Did you copy that particular letter, written to 
 Mr. Pomeroy, in 1797 - ? 
 
 A. Yes, I did ; I am certain of it. 
 Q. Do you know, that the original and the copy 
 you made were sent' to Mr. Pomeroy? 
 A. They certainly were.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 73 
 
 Q. How do you know that they were sent to Mr. 
 Pomeroy ? 
 
 A. I know that some of my father's apprentices 
 carried them. 
 
 Q. Did you ever hear Mr. Pomeroy afterwards 
 speak of that letter ? 
 
 A. My mother would not permit me, being so 
 young, always to be present. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect a particular letter of Joanna's, 
 that your mother said should not be sent to Mr, 
 Pomeroy ? 
 
 A. Yes, I do. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect any observation, made by 
 Joanna, at the time your mother said the letter 
 should not be sent ? 
 
 A. Yes,. I do. 
 
 Q. What was the particular observation ? 
 
 A. I recollect, I had began to copy the letter, and 
 my mother came into the room and said, " Joanna, 
 " you are going to send this letter then ?" And she 
 said, " Yes." And my mother said. " I wonder that 
 " you should send him so harsh a letter, when he has 
 ii been so kind to you." Joanna replied, "I am ordered 
 " to send it, and I must." In that letter I recollect 
 it was said, if Mr. Pomeroy sought out the truth and 
 acted right, that every blessing would attend him 9 
 but if otherwise 
 
 ** A Judas he would be to me, 
 
 Ii' lie do. me deny ; 
 No comfort in this world he'd have, 
 
 And tremble for to die." 
 
 I further recollect these words 
 
 " lie will be found an empty sound, 
 
 And hollow all within ; 
 1 ask \ou how the Lord will look, 
 
 On such deceitful men r" 
 
 Q. Do you recollect copying other letters ? 
 
 A. I do; but not the contents, not only to Mr. 
 Pomeroy, but to other clergymen. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect any further observations, 
 made by Joanna, respecting Mr. Pomeroy ? 
 
 K
 
 74 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 A.Yes, Sir, I have heard Joanna say, " he would 
 " be a great man in her writings ;" and my mother 
 used to answer, " why then do you send him that 
 " letter ?" 
 
 (Signed,) Frances Taylor. 
 
 These depositions were taken by me, and signed in 
 my presence ', 
 
 John Scott. 
 
 The "Examination of Mrs. Symons, respecting 
 the Mission of Joanna Southcott. 
 
 Q. Do vqli know Joanna Southcott ? 
 
 A. Perfectly well. 
 
 Q. How long have you known her ? 
 
 A. Between 10 and 11 years; I am sure it is 
 ten years at least. 
 
 Q-. Did site work at your house ? 
 
 A. She came an entire stranger to my house ; she 
 was recommended to me to be a faithful, christian, 
 honest woman ; and as such I found her. 
 
 Q. Did she foretel to you the events of the har- 
 vests of 1/00. and 1S00 ? 
 
 A. I do recollect it perfectly well. 
 
 Q. Yv r ere these harvests fulfilled as she had pre- 
 dicted ? 
 
 A. They were. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect any conversation with Mr, 
 Pomei\>y, in his church, at Exeter, respecting Joanna 
 Southcott ? 
 
 A i do, in the church and out of the church. 
 
 Q. W hat were the particulars of that conversation ? 
 
 A. ! said to him " would thank you for your supe- 
 rior judgment on these wonderful writings oi Joanna 
 Southcott lie ask'd me then what I meant ; I told 
 him, to the best of my recollection, if they were right, 
 and from a true spirit, they ought to be proved by
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 75 
 
 ministers to go into the world. There was a further 
 conversation, and I recollect he asked me, why I 
 troubled myself so much about it ? I answered, my 
 son copied for her ; and if it came from an evil spirit, 
 and if he could prove it, and judged it was so, I 
 would not suffer him to do it for the whole world 
 He then laughed at me, and said " they were simple 
 creatures who said that ; there was nothing of it that 
 came from the devil, for it was good ; and in regard 
 to that, you have nothing to fear ; for I see nothing 
 but what is good ;" and he further said, " I have had 
 a good deal of conversation with her, and I find her 
 a good tempered woman ; but I am afraid she writes 
 some things from herself; and if she does, it will 
 soon come to nought, for she soon will be deranged." 
 
 Q. Did you at that time put a letter into Mr, 
 Pomeroy's hands from Joanna ? 
 
 A. I did. 
 
 Q.. Do you recollect going with Joanna to Mr. 
 Pomeroy's house ? 
 
 A. I do, Sir, perfectly well. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect Mrs. Boucher's telling you, 
 about the end of the year 1800, that Mr. Pomeroy 
 wished to have some writings cut open ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, I do recollect Mrs. Boucher's saying 
 so, that Mr. Pomeroy wished to have the papers 
 opened, and, "if Joanna could not get twelve, get six, 
 why not let the world know, and have: them pub- 
 lished, before the troubles and desolation came on." 
 
 Q. Do you recollect, whether Mr. Pomeroy desi- 
 red the letters and papers to be copied off and sent 
 to his house ? 
 
 A. Yes, Sir, and part of them were. 
 
 Q. Do you recollect the sealed papers being cut 
 open in your house, about the year 1S00 ? 
 
 A. Peifectly well. 
 
 Q. Were they copied in your house ? 
 
 A. All that she was ordered to copy, were copied 
 in my house. 
 
 K2
 
 $6 THE TRIAL O* 
 
 Q. Who were present at the time the writings were 
 opened ? 
 
 A Miss Fanny Taylor, George Taylor, Charles 
 Taylor, Mr. Jones, Sarah Taylor, Williams Symons, 
 Mary Symons, John Trirnlett Symons, William Rat- 
 cliffe Coomb, Elizabeth Boucher, Sarah Ware, and 
 myself, and others also. 
 
 Q. Do you know that the copies taken from 
 those writings were sent to Mr. Pomeroy ? 
 
 A. Part of them were, the writings being opened 
 only seven days ; and when the papers were opened, 
 twelve witnesses signed their names upon the writings 
 for their future identification, and were sealed up 
 again in the presence of witnesses ; and were in my 
 psssession until Monday, January the 4, 1802, when 
 Mrs. Boucher and Joanna carried them away. 
 
 Q,. Was Mr. Pomeroy in the habits of frequent- 
 ing your shop ? 
 
 A. At a particular period, when I was in the coun- 
 try for my health ; and on my return home I was 
 informed, by my family, that he had been in the 
 habits of frequenting our shop. 
 
 (Signed,) Mary Symons. 
 
 These* depositions were taken hy me, and signed in 
 iny presence, 
 
 John Scott. 
 
 The "Evidence of Miss Jane Town ley. 
 
 Q. Did you, Madam, write any books for Joanna 
 South cott ? 
 
 A. Yes, I did. 
 
 Q.'In what manner, Madam, did you write those 
 books ? 
 
 A. Up to the 1 ;th of Inst June I wrote fro i ma- 
 nuscripts of Joanna Southcott, and which she read 
 to me, the book entitled, " the Prayers of the Fast/'
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 77 
 
 published in June last; the book entitled, " What 
 manner of Communications are these," was partly 
 taken from manuscripts, read by Joanna to me. up 
 to the 17th of June last, and the remainder was taken 
 from the mouth of Joanna ; part of the book called, 
 " The Flock of Sheep," published in 1804, was, up 
 to the 17th of June last, taken from Joanna, from 
 manuscripts* read to me by her, and the remainder 
 from her own mouth; the book entitled. "Mr. 
 Joseph Southcott's Book," except the last commu- 
 nication therein contained, published in 1S04; the 
 first and second part of the book entitled, '' A True 
 Explanation of the Bible, revealed by Divine Com- 
 munications to Joanna Southcott," were taken by 
 me from Joanna Southcott's own mouth. 
 
 J A N E T O W N LEY. 
 
 These depositions were taken by me, and signed in 
 my presence, 
 
 John Scott* 
 
 The Evidence of Esther Elizabeth Bruce* 
 
 Q. Do you know Joanna Southcott ? 
 
 A. Yes, I do 
 
 Q. How long have you known her ? 
 
 A. Since the year 180'2 ; and I slept ifi the same 
 room with her, and lived in the same house with her, 
 from the 10th of January, 1803, until the 12th of 
 April of the same year. 
 
 Q. What was Mrs. Southcott's appearance and 
 conduct .luring that time ? 
 
 A. That of a religious, good woman, and conduct- 
 ed herself with the utmost decency and propriety. 
 
 Esther Elizabeth Bruce. 
 
 These depositions were taken by me, 
 
 John Scott.
 
 7* 
 
 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 The Evidence of Mrs. Mart BEACfcAPT. 
 
 Q. Dj you know Joanna Southcott ? 
 
 A. I do. 
 
 Q.. How long have you known her ? 
 
 A. Since the 1st of July, 1802. 
 
 Q. How long did she remain with you at Deeping? 
 
 A. Until the 18th of the same month. 
 
 Q.. Did you hear her, during that time., speak of 
 her prophecies ? 
 
 A. Yes, I did; and heard her also give several 
 communications, but particularly one, which Mr. 
 Beacraft took from Mrs. Southcott's own mouth, 
 that though the war was concluded, yet it would 
 again break out with more fury in 1803. 
 
 Q. What, Madam, was the conduct and beha- 
 viour of Joanna Southcott, during her stay at your 
 house at Deeping ? 
 
 A. That of a good, religious, sober woman, and 
 appeared in the lull possession of her intellects. 
 
 Q. Did she then tell you, that she would be in 
 a Trance ? 
 
 A. Yes ; she told me, that when her enemies 
 appeared and she took her Trial, she should then be 
 in a Trance ; in consequence of which, I bought oil 
 and flannel to anoint her feet and wrap them in. 
 
 Mary Beacraft, 
 
 These depositions taken hj me, 
 
 John Scot-i 1 . 
 
 The whole of the foregoing evidence being taken 
 into consideration, the following proceedings thereon 
 were had ;
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 79 
 
 RESOLUTIONS, 
 
 proposed to the 48 persons invited, by divine 
 command, for the examination of Joanna 
 Southcotts prophecies and character, as- 
 sembled at the Neckinger, Bermondsey, near 
 London. 
 
 First. It doth appear, by the conduct of the bishops 
 and the clergy of the church of England, that they 
 have refused to enquire into the truth of tli writi igs 
 of Joanna Southcott. 
 
 Second. // duth appear, by the letters examined 
 this day, of the clergy, who returned tin written let- 
 ters of Miss Touwley, that our censure oj than can 
 not be too strongly marked. 
 
 Thikd. The iLev. Mr, Pomerox's conduct dot I ap- 
 pear to he false and dec.ttful, respecting Joanna 
 Southcott. 
 
 Fourth. It doth appear to us, that in all instances 
 whatever, Joanna Southcott hath fulfilled her high 
 calling, and hath fuithjully cluimed (he promise in 
 the creation, for the woman to be the iulpma . /<? 
 man; and it appears to us, that her -zz hole life 
 (which has beta proved by living witnesses) ha,h 
 been innocently and faithfully employed in the dis- 
 charge of her duty towards G.d and towards man; 
 and- that she hath acted openly and -without any de- 
 ceit to Mr. Pomeroy, the church, and to the nation 
 
 at large. 
 
 Fifth. From the consideration of the above questions, 
 and the examinations of Joanna s writ.- je it doth 
 appear to us, that she is visited by the Spirit- p the 
 living G'jd. 
 
 These propositions were separably re;ul to 'he 
 the whole forty-eight persons, and unanimously 
 passed in the affirmative. 
 
 (Signed,.) John* Scott.
 
 SO THE TRIAL OP 
 
 In the course of the afternoon it was announced to 
 the meeting, that Joanna was laid on a sick bed, 
 being very weak and faint ; but that she was receiv- 
 ing a communication, which some time afterwards 
 was brought in and read ; and the following is a 
 copy of it : 
 
 Joanna met her friends, and was greatly affected 
 at seeing all her female friends ; but waited 
 with impatience, longing to see her friends in the 
 gentlemen appear, and felt a great agitation in her 
 spirits, which by some delay heightened her feel- 
 ings, and her heart beat, and seemed to swell too 
 big for her body ; the wind rose in her throat, and 
 she was obliged to cry out, or she should have 
 fainted away ; but her tears came to her relief. 
 When the gentlemen entered the room, the 
 clergy entering first, she felt her tongue tied 
 and was not able to speak ; and as her friends came 
 in her confusion en creased, and in her own mind 
 she thought she should have fainted away ; but to 
 her 2;reat astonishment, when all had entered, though 
 she felt herself as it were dving; before, she was then 
 as a giant refreshed with new wine, without pain, sick- 
 ness, or weakness; but stood up and felt the Spirit 
 of the Lord enter within her, to call them all to the 
 remembrance of the Fall : and when she told them 
 of the Promise made to the Woman to bruise the 
 serpent's head, every man in the room held up his 
 hand to join with her in claiming the Promise. Many 
 other parts of the Scripture they joined in the same : 
 that Christ must be the helpmate in the woman for 
 the man, to bring in his redemption ; to fulfil the 
 first, that in-: may establish the last; though these 
 words were not mentioned, but they were to the 
 same purport and meaning, what was spoken, that 
 as In Adam all died even so in Christ should all be 
 made alive ; so Christ is come to do away the first, 
 according to the promise made in the Fall, that he
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 81 
 
 may establish the last, to destroy him that hath the 
 power of death, which is the Devil. Joanna met 
 her friends in tears this day, and tears frequently 
 flowed from their eyes, which she saw in many. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE LORD. 
 
 ft Now, Joanna, I shall answer thee. This is my 
 Gospel : blessed are they that mourn, for they shall 
 be comforted ; it is better to go to the house of 
 mourning than to the house of feasting. And now 
 I tell thee, if this had been to you all as a day of 
 rejoicing, without a holy solemnity of tears and 
 mourning, it would not be a visitation from the Lord; 
 for, though it is written, you are to rejoice in the 
 God of your salvation, yet you must come before the 
 Lord with fear and trembling. And know how my Bible 
 stands, and what was said of Solomon, if he continued 
 in the steps of his father David, the house that he had 
 built unto me should stand ; but if he departed from 
 me, it should fall. He did depart from me, and 
 the house fell. Amljjie_sajrnej^anj^^ 
 the unbeliever ^ had appeared, thy life wo uld have 
 been taken a? snnp as f hey hqri enreredj^hf^r^l!!!,! 
 for how could I call forward these arguments, to ask 
 if every man wished to join with the Woman, to> 
 have the serpent's head bruised, and his curse be 
 above every living creature, if one half was for him, 
 and the other half against him ? Then an equal 
 number decides nothing; so if one half was for me, 
 and the other half against me, in this assembly, it 
 could not be decided by thy words ; therefore, it 
 must be decided by wonders. But as a ll hear ts were 
 united top ether jn. pne voice, like the Jew-, of old, 
 " Crucify him ! crucijk^him /" and so they now say 
 of the Powers of Darkness, as the thief said on the 
 cross, Christ had done no harm worthy of Death, 
 but that the Devil is the universal enemy to God 
 and man. This being the language of all hearts, 
 
 L
 
 82 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 which I knew, of them that were present ; therefore, 
 my Spirit arose strong in thee, to place these argils 
 ments strongly before them ; then after their uni- 
 versal voices were given, I left thee to shew them 
 my death ; how I withdrew from thsm and died for 
 their sakes. But I know the language of thy heart : 
 Thou left them fainting, but thou art not dead ; no, 
 I tell thee, I died once for all ; and there is no 
 more death to make atonement for sin. But thou 
 art as clay in the hands of the potter ; and without 
 me thou canst do nothing ; but when my Spirit is 
 strong in thee, thou canst propose the questions I 
 make unto them ; but the moment my Spirit leaves 
 thee, let them see thou art dust and ashes ; that 
 thou art nothing ; and without me thou canst do 
 nothing. And when thy Trial is over, let them all 
 Confess they stood as waterpots filled with water 5 
 and, like my disciples of old, let them all say, " we 
 verily thought the Lord would have acted a different 
 way than what he hath acted ;'" and yet, like the dis- 
 ciples, they will all say in the end, (i the Lord hath 
 acted to make every thing clear before us, in a way 
 and manner we, nor her, never understood ."But this 
 is the wisdom of God to confound the wisdom of 
 men, that they might not say, she acted by arts ac- 
 cording to her writings. But now let every man fix 
 his eyes to thy looks when my Spirit is strong upon 
 thee, and see the change when I leave thee. Nature 
 cannot change its feelings I know the thoughts of 
 thy heart, from the swelling of thy heart this day ; 
 for thou judgest tjiou shouldest fall immediately. How 
 then could I try the hearts of men, to have their 
 voices appear publicly united together for Satan's 
 destruction ? And now when thy writings are broke 
 open, thou wilt find in thy writings where it is said, 
 Sal an will not have so great a friend at thy Trial as 
 Pilate was to me. Now let them all discern in thy 
 writings, that all will come like Solomon's building
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. $3 
 
 of the temple to me ; if it do not come one way, i% 
 will come the other ; and they will find not a word 
 to vary. Now I shall come to reason with thee : 
 Adam first saw the Woman with silent joy, and after 
 that the communion burst between them ; but see 
 how soon she was left to herself, and Satan's arts 
 burst in upon her. Now let them remember, this 
 day in silent joy thou sawest thy friends, but wast 
 unable to speak ; but when the Spirit of the Lord en- 
 tered in thee, with what strength thou spakest unto 
 them ! but the moment my Spirit left thee thy 
 strength was gone: and now remember, that thou wast 
 assisted by a man * to help thee up stairs ; so by man 
 was Eve assisted in the Fall ; and by man wast thou 
 assisted, when my Spirit left thee ; but his assist- 
 ance was not to assist thee to fall ; for his assistance 
 was to thy support ; and for thy support have men 
 been this day, to join with thee in the Promise. 
 Now, as all together with an united voice have joined 
 with thee in the Promise made, so now, I tell thee, 
 they may all unite together in the words I told you 
 before. 
 
 Now regain, ye sons of men, 
 
 I'll make your mountains strong: 
 
 The sword 1 left in Paradise 
 
 Shall bring you back again. 
 
 With hands uplifted all shall see 
 
 What is for them in stoic; 
 
 As their desire" is now tor me, 
 
 My kingdom shall appear. 
 
 But know that 1 who dwell on high 
 
 Laid dowu my life for man ; 
 
 But see the shadow now in thee, 
 
 What different men are come, 
 
 Then sure the fulness of my words 
 
 Must now be known to all ; 
 
 There s no man takes my life from me 
 
 Now I in Spirit call ; 
 
 Tis 1 m>setf that lays it down, 
 
 That am m Spirit come) 
 
 And my believers 1 shall crown 
 
 Before the end is known. 
 
 Mr. Brandon assisted Joanna up stair*. 
 h 2
 
 $4 *HE TRIAL Of 
 
 But now this day, to thee I say, 
 
 Thou'lt see thy friends no more* 
 
 That is of man, I tell thee" plain ; 
 
 Thy seals must now appear, 
 
 Till the third day, to all 1 say, 
 
 Before tha*- one is broke ; 
 
 For thou no more wilt there appear; 
 
 And mark the words I spoke 
 
 Till the third day, to thte I say, 
 
 The lines go deep for man ; 
 
 And all together let them Aveigh, 
 
 How they lift up their hands 
 
 In praise to me, that they might see 
 
 The enemy be cast; 
 
 And so my Kingdom to appear, 
 
 And so their joys shall burst. 
 
 Now mark the word that first was said, 
 
 Thev all had sworn to Heaven, 
 
 That in thy Trial they'd not plead 
 
 With Enemies, that's given 
 
 Against my hand, if men did stand 
 
 Against my Spirit here, 
 
 That I no Helpmate should command 
 
 The Woman's guilt to clear. 
 
 So now you see fulfill' d to be, 
 
 Because you have not one 
 
 That now against me doth agree, 
 
 To say 1 shall not come 
 
 For to appear a Helpmate here, 
 
 Now for to free the Fall, 
 
 The Woman's guilt this way to free, 
 
 And Satan's ruin call. 
 
 In heart and mind they all seem'd bound 
 
 For me to free the curse; . 
 
 And so the end they now shall find; 
 
 For Satan shall not miss 
 
 The curse on he pronoune'd by me ; 
 
 For I'll bring on the whole, 
 
 As all these men in heart do join, 
 
 The Tempter down shall Fall. 
 
 But as thy weakness 1 do know, 
 
 I'm drawing to the end ; 
 
 But in one spirit all did flow, 
 
 And wish'd me to descend 
 
 In Spirit heie the whole to clear, 
 
 And clear'd it now shall be. 
 
 In the course of the day some communications giv- 
 en prior to the Trial, which were begun to be read 
 yesterday, were continued at different times this 
 day. Some time was occasionally spent also in the 
 discussion of various topics in the writings of Joan-
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 83 
 
 na, and comparing: 'hem with the Scriptures, till nine 
 o'clock in the evening, and then the proceedings of 
 this day closed, after reading a second communication 
 which was brought in, and which is inserted here : 
 
 Joanna went to sleep a little before five o'clock in 
 the afternoon, and slept till a quarter past six o'clock 
 and then awoke, and came off the bed ; and these 
 words were said to her by the Spirit : 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I say unto thee, though I have 
 foiled my disciples now, as I foiled themat my resurrec- 
 tion ; yet I tell thee I will not deceive them, but I 
 will make every thing clear before them ; for though 
 things shall not come to their judgment, according 
 to the manner they expected ; yet every thing shall 
 now be made clear before them. Thou hast asked, 
 and they have answered, that they believe I would 
 not deceive them : and now I tell thee, I will not 
 deceive them ; for though I have cast thee down I 
 will raise thee up, and thou shalt meet them on the 
 morrow, to have thy seals broken : for now I tell 
 thee every thing shall come to my Gospel ; as I foil- 
 ed my disciples, I have foiled them ; but as I made 
 everything clear to my disciples. I will make it clear 
 to them ; and ihey -hall confess to the world, as my 
 disciples did, things did not come according to their 
 judgment in the way and manner they expected; 
 yet it shall come* to convince the world clearly, thy 
 visitation is from the Lord. But the manner 1 shall 
 goon I shall conceal from thee, from clay to day the 
 manner I shall lend thee on ; yet when the end is 
 come, they shall see every truth clear before them, 
 and my powerful visitation in thee, and by thee. 
 But I have already told thee, and now tell thee again, 
 she ii id 1 lead thee en in a straight line, according to 
 their judgment, the unbelieving world would not 
 believe them, but look on all as a contrived thing ; 
 therefore let them wait with patience and see the 
 end of the seven days, and they shall sec thy calling 
 clear.
 
 86 THB TRIAL OF 
 
 Though on thy bed thou now art cast. 
 
 No one doth know the way I'll burst, 
 
 To prove th} tailing aXl is clear 
 
 I know the mocking world is near, 
 
 That may begm to mock the whole ; 
 
 Too soon their judgment they let fall, 
 
 But 1 shall foil them in the end ; 
 
 To bring all round 'tis my intend, 
 
 A way that they do not di-cern, 
 
 Wor do they know how I do warn, 
 
 Nor how tfie truth I shall make clear ; 
 
 I know the hearts of ali a<e near, 
 
 What miracles they wait to see 
 
 To be brought round, and work'd in thee; 
 
 Butl shall foil them in the end; 
 
 To try all hearts is my intend, 
 
 Before the mysteries I make clear 
 
 To prove to ali that 1 am here. 
 
 So on thy bed thou now ai t cast, 
 
 Just like the shadow of the first 
 
 That I did say to thee should come, 
 
 And by thy weakness leave the room. 
 
 But no one knows what lies behind, 
 
 That thou another day may'st find, 
 
 Nor in what manner I shall come 
 
 To shew my power in thy form. 
 
 1'veshew'd them all what is in thee; 
 
 A dying morta; all may see, 
 
 Before that I do raise thee up; 
 
 I know thy spirit ft doth drop, 
 
 To think thou nothing canst go through . 
 
 Thou know st not what's before my view, 
 
 To make such dying worm appear 
 
 The wondrous mysteries ail to clear; 
 
 For as this day they ail began 
 
 Wishing the promise for to claim, 
 
 In hand and heai 1 al! join'd with thee, 
 
 In hand and heart they '11 ail hnd me 
 
 To be hi unionjust the same, 
 
 And they shall know my every Name. 
 
 Though fillet with wa'er they are first, 
 
 They know not how the wine shall burst 
 
 To bring it to my (..jospel here ; 
 
 Fot now I'm come the whole to clear 
 
 In s ; h a dying worm as thee 
 
 But know, the, nail ci me to the tree, 
 
 And so i;ke death 1 11 now appear j 
 
 For weak like thee, 1 tell them here, 
 
 I siye must be to die for Man 
 
 The way that they have laid their plan, 
 
 Neve, to have Mi: to appear 
 
 To come again ihe whole to clear, 
 
 ho>- batan to eceive his cuise ; 
 
 Then sure the Promise must be lost,
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 87 
 
 And Man in vain did bruise my heel, 
 
 If Satan ne'er his curse do feci 
 
 But now I tell you he is cast, 
 
 Ag&inst him every man did burst, 
 
 And they shall find til burst the same 
 
 Thy Promise thou shalt ever claim ; 
 
 And I ray Promise will fulfil, 
 
 I say, by ray avenging heel. 
 
 And now I tell thee of this day, : 
 
 I spoke in thee their hearts to try, 
 
 To see what judgment they would draw, 
 
 If I'd deceive in things were so ; 
 
 And like their faith the end shall be, 
 
 I'll ne'er deceive, they all shall see ; 
 
 It was to try them I did come, 
 
 By words in thee to speak to them j 
 
 And from the Trial that was here, 
 
 They'll find the end to prove all clear, 1 
 
 That as thou spok'st the end will be 
 
 The Woman's Fall I now must free; 
 
 Ere Man's redemption he will gain; 
 
 For now to all I speak more plain, 
 
 While she is bound, can Man be free ? 
 
 The Bondswoman, vou all do say. 
 
 Must be cast out, when 1 do clear 
 
 To make the free, the perfect heir. 
 
 But now I ask, can she be free ? 
 
 From the Creation you must see. 
 
 She there stands tainted by the Fall 
 
 And can vou wonder at her call ? 
 
 That 'tis her Lord must her redeem. 
 
 And then her children may be seen 
 
 To be made heirs, and be made free, 
 
 And Man the ending all will sec, 
 
 It is by faith they'll be made so 
 
 But now this day, 1 well do know, 
 
 Hath stumbled many that are here ; 
 
 And so the ending will appear, 
 
 Expecting wonders at the first, 
 
 But ne'er discern how things are plac'd. 
 
 If thy opposers all had come, 
 
 I tell thee thou would'st not spoke to one; 
 
 But as they did not so appear, 
 
 I knew my friends, and tried them here, 
 
 That Satan he might know his doom, 
 
 To perish in the sinners' room. 
 
 So tarry all to see the end, 
 
 And then you'll find mk stand your friend. 
 
 So, for the present, I'll end here 
 
 I tried their hearts, I'll say no more, 
 
 But to their wisdom now I'll stand; 
 
 They judge it right, and right command 
 
 Satan be cast, and Man be free ; 
 
 This is the word lye said to thee j
 
 THE TRIAL OF - 
 
 And as in heart with thee they join, 
 They'll find the Promise to be" miue ; 
 And 1 my Promise wi' u fi 
 I left them all to try their skill, 
 That is, I mean to work in thee, 
 And by thv weakness thee call'daway, 
 But yet I tell thee, I am there, 
 Their words and thoughts I now see clear ; 
 And let them mark how thou dost come'; 
 For they must all be in the room, 
 Before I bid thee to appear, * 
 
 Then other mysteries I shall clear, ' 
 That they this day don't see nor know, 
 How thou with tears this day didst go; 
 But wait to-morrow for to see, 
 Whether Life or Death appears in thee, 
 Or, in what manner thou dost come, 
 The end's a mystery all unknown. 
 The curtain's drawn, the veil's unseen, 
 There's no man knows what stands between, 
 Till I the veil do take away, 
 And then they'll see where it did lay, 
 And every mystery I'll make clear, 
 Before that I have ended here/' 
 
 THE THIRD DAY. 
 
 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1804. 
 
 Tun meeting was opened soon after ten o'clock 
 this morning, by calling over the names of the forty - 
 eight persons who composed it ; and it was then an- 
 nounced, that Joanna was receiving a communica- 
 tion, which she would bring in as soon as finished. 
 She accordingly entered the room a few minutes af- 
 ter eleven, with the communication ; and she then 
 delivered a short discourse on the purport of it,
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT . 8Q 
 
 and particularly respecting the new light thus given, 
 as to her Trial and her Mission in general. After 
 this the communication was read, being as follows : 
 On Thursday evening, Joanna began to be very 
 chearfui ; and meditating to herself, how all the 
 shadows came before the substance in her writings, 
 so she was in hopes, the shadow of her being taken 
 faint yesterday would be the substance of throwing 
 her into the Trance to-day ; and she was longing 
 for the morrow ; so she told Underwood, that she 
 never longed more for a day, but did not assign 
 her reasons. In trm night she was earnest in prayer, 
 that the Lord would this day throw her into the 
 Trance. She was answered, she knew not what she 
 was praying for ; she had told them, that she had 
 not prayed for her death yet ; but if she prayed for 
 her Trance now, she prayed for her death ; for she 
 never would live long after it, only to return and tell 
 them what she had seen. " Therefore, the man that 
 dreamt of thy Trance might well say, he must buy 
 mourning ; for thy Trance will bring thy death. 
 And now I shall answer thee more fully : I have al- 
 ways told thee, from first to last, when thy enemies 
 come forward thy Trance shajl take place ; and 
 now call to thy remembrance what I told thee, the 
 beginning of the year, the stars would be sealed in 
 sorrow, and the clouds would keep. And now I tell 
 thee, one way or other, that must take place ; for I 
 must either grieve and disappoint them of thy 
 Tranee taking place now, or I must satisfy them and 
 take thee out of .the world, and bring on everyjudg- 
 ment that is threatened to England ; for if I now 
 throw thee in a Trance, thou wilt never see the end 
 of this year in this world; then the stars will be 
 sealed in sorrow indeed, when they see the effects of 
 their fatal curiosity. If all the truths that have been 
 laid before them, all the witnesses being called up 
 and proved, the changes that have taken place this 
 year, and all the things that have happened before, 
 
 M
 
 90 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 and the manner I have brought it close to my Bible 
 and to my Gospel, will not convince them, without 
 thy being in a Trance, then let them say, thy op- 
 posers are here ; for I have always told thee, and I 
 now tell thee again, thy Trance should never come 
 without opposers ; so if it now come, they must be 
 opposers ; for if thou hast no opposers now thy Trial 
 ends by my command ; but now I tell thee and them, 
 it will be brought on again by man ; therefore I have 
 told them to go to the bottom of every witness. Now 
 if man bring it forward man shall stand to it: but do 
 they simply suppose, that I shall prolong thy life, 
 to let thee be brought forward to a Trial by men, 
 after I have thrown thee into a Trance, and shewed 
 thee my decrees, which they would not believe, if 
 they were not present to see it ? For, now remem- 
 ber, as the opposers refused to come forward, the 
 unbelievers have refused also. None but the sealed 
 people do appear before thou meetest the public ; 
 but whatever way I now work, thou must meet the 
 public before the days are over ; for I shall give thee 
 strength to go through and be strong within thee. 
 Now let every one give their answer, what is their 
 will concerning my words ; for I tell them all, what 
 is begun by mk will end by man; a Trial by men 
 will surely come forward ; be called by the -great and 
 learned : but then they must sustain every cost ; fori 
 now charge my friends, never to go one journey by 
 the command of men, unless they are paid And thy 
 Trance is no more a secret, but must be made pub- 
 lic. That is my decree, if men call thee forward as 
 enemies. Now I have told thee my mind; and let 
 them answer it ; and I shall answer thee again. Let 
 them give their answer before the seals are broken ; 
 for I made thee faint the day that is past, to prevent 
 their breaking the seals, till I knew their mind. 
 Now if twenty-four stand out " without we see the 
 Trance, we will not believe;" then twenty-four op- 
 posers are present j and let their names be taken down^
 
 JOANNA SOtfTHCOTT. Ql 
 
 and I shall answer thee again. But if they say et we 
 want no further proofs: the will of the Lord be done, 
 and not ours; if the learned men call her forward, let 
 him then shew his wondrous works to confound them, 
 that when they see, they may believe ; but if we tell 
 them, they may not believe us, but say it is common 
 for people to be in a Trance before their death." For 
 now I have toid thee, thy death will soon follow thy 
 Trance ; and therefore I told thee, if thou wast tried 
 by such men as John and I, I should soon take thy 
 life from thee, and no man should have room to 
 take it. So, when the world breaks in upon thee, 
 then thy days will be to an end. But let no one 
 fear they shall not see the end ; for as they are now 
 called forward by me, so they will again be called 
 forward by men. Now if they are all satisfied with- 
 out thy Trance, let thy seals be broken this day. 
 And I have told thee what must be put* aside and 
 sealed up, and never broke while thou art alive ; but 
 all the others must remain never to be sealed any 
 more : but what is to be sealed must now be sealed 
 in the presence of the whole. And I shall learn some 
 one to read thy written hand, when thou art no 
 more : but thine is a hand no man can forge : all 
 that will happen, till my Kingdom is established, is 
 in thy writings ; but not to he known at the pre- 
 sent : but nothing shall be concealed from thee, 
 that I will do upon the earth.*" 
 
 After the reading of this communication, the as- 
 sembly instantly stood up, and with uplifted hands 
 one and all cried out " The will of the Lord be 
 done !" 
 
 At about half past eleven Joanna began to cut open 
 the sealed bundles containing her writings ; but re- 
 tiring soon afterwards, she appeared again at 
 twelve, when she entered into an explanation of the 
 nature of this Trial. She shewed that it is a Trial 
 to which she is called by the Lord, and not by man ; 
 that the assembly having lifted up hands, saying the
 
 92 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 will of the Lord be done, is the falling down of the 
 twenty-four elders before him ; and that speedily 
 she should be called to appear before man. She then 
 adverted to the period of fifteen years conditionally 
 added to her life from 1792 ; and then brought into 
 her recollection her former prophecies of being call- 
 ed before the great and learned ; and besides read- 
 ing various extracts from her writings, she read an im-r 
 portant communication thereon given in July ] 800. 
 Having concluded this discourse, Joanna began to 
 look over her writings, which were cut open, for the 
 purpose of selecting such as were to be sealed up till 
 after her death ; and to identify their being opened, 
 by putting signatures thereon. While Joanna was 
 thus engaged she announced, that for the conveni- 
 ency and satisfaction of all the sealed people, she 
 should meet them to-morrow at eleven in the meet- 
 ing-house. At four o'clock she retired; and in about 
 an hour afterwards a message was brought that she 
 was receiving another communication ; and when half 
 an hour more was elapsed she appeared in the assem- 
 bly with the communication, and having spoke on 
 the purport of it for about ten minutes, she then de* 
 sired it to be read, being as follows : 
 
 Friday morning a communication was given to the 
 judges, jury, and the four and twenty elders, to 
 know if any would be opposers, to bring on my 
 Trance ; but when the communication was read 
 through, all the men in the room held up their hands 
 for the will of the Lord to be done, and not 
 theirs ; that they were truly convinced my calling 
 was of God without the Trance. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE LOUD. 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I shall answer thee. I said, as 
 the days of Pentecost were to man, so should thy 
 Trial be to man ; and though thy awful Trial is not 
 begun, yet thy Trial is called forward by me. And 
 now I tell thee, if my Spirit had not been there to
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 93 
 
 guard the heart of every man, Satan's arts would 
 have worked strong upon them, to be thy final 
 death, and have brought on three years total famine, 
 to gratify their curiosity. This curiosity brought the 
 Fall at first ; and this curiosity was in the Jews, when 
 thy had seen all my miracles, saying, " let him 
 come down from the cross, and we will believe him.'* 
 But had I not worked greater miracles before, than 
 it was to come down from the cross ? And now I tell 
 thee, the truths of thy prophecies that have followed 
 are greater than thy being thrown in a Trance ; be- 
 cause Trances have been common without prophe- 
 cies. And now I tell thee, from their holding up 
 their hands, to say they are convinced the calling is 
 of God, and rejoicing to prevent the judgment, is 
 falling down before mk, is to resign to my wisdom, 
 trusting in my power, mercies, goodness, and truth, 
 to give glory unto my Name. Here they fall clown 
 before me, for me to act according to my own wis- 
 dom, mercies, goodness, and truth. Now who shall 
 blame them ? Who shall condemn them ? for it is 
 I that justifieth them ; but had they been as pre- 
 sumptuous as the Jews of old, to have said, " let our 
 idle curiosity now be gratified, if the whole nation pe- 
 rish, we care not so long as we are gratified in a fatal 
 curiosity ; for unless we see signs and wonders we will 
 not believe." Then I tell thee, it would have been fa- 
 tal for your nation ; and the world might have con- 
 demned these curious enquirers, if they would run 
 such a hazard as this. But now let every mouth be 
 stopped, and every tongue be silent ; and know how 
 these men held up their hands for the good of their 
 king and country, that no fatal judgments might 
 come by their idle curiosity. Then who is the man 
 that can condemn them r And know it was printed 
 in thy writings before, I would send three plentiful 
 harvests for the sake of those whose hands were lift- 
 ed up to me, to search out the truth ; and now for 
 the *ake of these whose hands were lifted up ibr the
 
 9-4 THE TRIAL 6P 
 
 sake of this nation, they shall see the famine remov- 
 ed from this nation ; but they shall see it in another 
 nation, to know that it is I the Lord have spoken it. 
 Then with what heartfelt gratitude will they fall 
 down and worship me ! they have already fell be - 
 fore me in faith ; they are desirous of my mercies, 
 and not of my judgments ; and of my protection to 
 the nation, that all may give glory, honour, and 
 praise to my Name : and in the end all men Will say 
 they are worthy to f>e called to so greet a calling. 
 And now I shall tell thee of the shadow of yesterday : 
 there was an enemy in the camp of Israel ; and when 
 thy enemies do appear, the substance will follow the 
 shadow ; but as I have ordered thee to keep from 
 thy friends, and the fluttering of thy heart was to meet 
 them, so I have kept thee from thy enemies. But 
 I do not tell thee, this will be always ; but as thou 
 couldest not speak when thou sawest the men first 
 appear, so I tell thee thou wilt not be able to speak 
 when thy enemies first appear ; for then will the ful- 
 filment bf thy writings come on. 
 
 Thy dying looks will soon be known ; 
 
 For as the shadow did begin, 
 
 The wind within thee strong was seen, 
 
 A trifling shadow did appear, 
 
 And so the end they'll all see clear ; 
 
 And on thy bed thou'lt surely lie 
 
 They'll see the substance in that day, 
 
 When all thy foes together meet 
 
 They'll see thee fall before their feet 
 
 If in the room there was but one, 
 
 I say, a foe to thee unknown, 
 
 That brought thy trcmblingpassions there; 
 
 When strong thy foes they do appear, 
 
 They'll surely see thee to fill down, 
 
 And all the truth will then be found, 
 
 When that thy Trial's call'd by man. 
 
 But now !*y ME t could not be done ; 
 
 For then thy writings were not true 
 
 Bring all is said before thy view : 
 
 I said thy foe* must first appear, 
 
 Before thy Trance I'd ever clear, 
 
 And men thy murderers they must be, 
 
 Though not the way they murdered me ; 
 
 For then I'll take thee to my home, 
 
 And they may grieve for what they've done j
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCCWTT. 95 
 
 For then they'll strike tke fatal blow, 
 
 That is of death, I well do know j 
 
 But shall I do it hy a friend ? 
 
 Then how in mercies can 1 send, 
 
 To say this Trial is from me, 
 
 And then call in thy enemy, 
 
 To be against thee in the law 
 
 That is of God ? you all do know, 
 
 Tis not consistent to my word ; 
 
 My yoke is easy, I have said, 
 
 And easy now I've made the whole 
 
 None but my friends obey'd the call j 
 
 And it was never my intent, 
 
 That from my calling foes should bend 
 
 To come against my every word, 
 
 And make thee tremble before thy Lord ; 
 
 No : this was ne'er design' d by me ; 
 
 My love is great from all thou'st see, 
 
 And great my love shall be to them 
 
 To bring my glorious kingdom dow 
 
 So here's the calling of thy God, 
 
 All fill'd with love to spread abroad 
 
 The visitation from on high, 
 
 And make the angry waves comply. 
 
 But when the whole begins by man, 
 
 Thou'lt see them act a different plan j 
 
 No love nor pity will they shew ; 
 
 Their angry hearts I well do know, 
 
 And say " the whole we will prevent; 
 
 44 Her heart in sunder first we'll rend 
 
 44 Ere we'll believe her every call ; 
 
 44 For to her doom we'll make her fall ; 
 
 " And to the words that she did say 
 
 44 We'll bring it near, and she may die ; 
 
 ** Because that we'll oppose the whole, 
 
 44 Until we make her down to fall ; 
 
 44 And if the Lord will then take care 
 
 ** To save her soul, she may appear; 
 
 44 For we care not how soon she die, , 
 
 * And in the grave forgotten lie." 
 
 Just like the Jews they'd hazard run, 
 
 1 know, some thousands, had they come, 
 
 They'd run the fatal hazard here, 
 
 And made the famine to appear - x 
 
 For as the Jews appear' d at first, 
 
 I tell thee, thousands now would burst. 
 
 To bring the Famine on their heads, 
 
 And unbelief would be their plead 
 
 44 How could we judi^c her words were true* 
 
 44 Till all was brought before our view? 
 
 44 And so the hazard we would run 
 
 44 To see the nation quite undone j 
 
 44 Because we had no eyes to see 
 
 41 The things before foretold by she;
 
 #0 THE TRIAL 0? 
 
 '? And so we judg'd the whole must.lmrsr 
 
 44 Upon this nation to be east ; 
 
 " Though well we knew that she did say, 
 
 " In France the Famine it must lay" 
 
 Jt'l diil let it miss this land; 
 
 And so thy Father's death did stand 
 
 And so the men do now appear 
 
 For to prevent the Famine here, 
 
 And so the Famine did prevent: 
 
 Though 1 do say 'twas my intent 
 
 In every heart for to appear ; 
 
 The Truth in all I mean to clear 
 
 Another day I'll tell thee more, 
 
 And open every perfect door." 
 
 After the reading of the above communication, 
 Joanna made some additional remarks thereon, 
 noticing what she had heard of the tyranny of Bona- 
 parte, which, if true, the French nation must be in 
 the most enslaved and degraded state, and may merit 
 the most heavy judgments; and therefore the lift- 
 ing up of hands in this assembly, for the will of the 
 Lord to be done, was a sign that the three years Fa- 
 mine was averted from England and to pass over to 
 France. She then gave an interesting detail of 
 the incidents of her life, which she concluded about 
 a quarter past eight in the evening, when she re- 
 tired in that high flow of spirits she had enjoyed all 
 day, so that she appeared a different being altogether 
 from what she was yesterday. The proceedings of 
 this day were then closed. 
 
 THE FOURTH BAY. 
 
 SATURDAY, DFXEMBER 8, 1304. 
 
 Agreeably to the notice given yesterday, Jo- 
 anna came to the public meeting-house at eleven 
 o'clock this morning ; and after a short time passed 
 in the religious exercises of singing and prayer, Jo- 
 anna stood up during an hour precisely to address 
 -the audience, which consisted of about 7 00 persons.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. Q7 
 
 The purport of this discourse was to give a compre- 
 hensive account of her mission ; and in the course of 
 it she desired the two communications given yester- 
 day to be read ; and the meeting closed a little be- 
 fore one o'clock, in the same order as it began, the 
 whole having been conducted with great decorum 
 and solemnity. 
 
 The proceedings of the Trial commenced about 
 four o'clock, at which time it was announced that 
 Joanna was obliged to be laid on the bed, owing to 
 a considerable depression of spirits in the morning, 
 and the fatigues of going through her duty in the 
 public meeting ; and a communication had been 
 begun, but was discontinued, to allow her time to 
 be refreshed. At seven in the evening Joanna came 
 into the assembly, and after some time passed in dis- 
 course, the following communication was read : 
 
 Joanna went to meet the public, which was the 
 day after her appearance ; she tasted nothing before 
 she went but a little wine and water, and that she 
 brought up soon after drinking it. When sha came 
 to meet the public she felt faint and dying, and 
 thought to herself she could not speak unto them, 
 but sat faint, and in meditation and prayer, that the 
 Lord would be with her ; for without him she was 
 nothing, and without him she could do nothing ; 
 and she was promised the Lord would be with her. 
 As soon as Mr. Carpenter came to the Lord's prayer, 
 she felt the Spirit of the Lord enter within her, and 
 when he had ended, strength arose in her, and she 
 began to address the multitude. After bringing them 
 to the Fall, how the Promise was then made, and 
 to whom it was made, and by whom it must be claim- 
 ed ; and goin^ through many passages of the Scrip- 
 tures, and some of her prophecies, she called tor 
 the communications that were given on Friday morn- 
 ing, and had them read to the public. She then 
 enquired of the whole meeting, if there was any 
 man present, that would wish to satisfv so fatal a 
 
 N
 
 f)S THE TRIAL OF 
 
 curiosity, as to run the hazard of gratifying it, for 
 her to be in a Trance, to convince them the calling 
 was of God, and by so doing bring on the Fa- 
 mine, that they would then speak ; and though 
 it was supposed there were about 700 people, 
 yet every tongue was silent ; and she never saw 
 a smile upon any man's countenance, but saw 
 tears in many eyes. She was a longtime coming out 
 of the meeting through the crowd, as she was stopped 
 by the people on both sides, holding out their 
 hands, to shake hands with her, as far as ever they 
 could reach her. When she came to Mr. Carpen- 
 ter's house she was followed by many, and was much 
 fatigued with talking with them; for when the Spirit 
 of the Lord leaves her, and is she left to her own 
 strength, she finds herself gone, and so she was oblig- 
 ed to lay. down on her bed. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE LORD. 
 " Now r , Joanna, I shall answer thee. This is 
 the third day of thy seeing the people, and deep is 
 the Type of this day : every tongue was silent, every 
 mouth was stopped, and no one seemed to speak 
 against thee. This is the shadow, and in the end thou 
 wilt see the substance. The heavenly joy thou felt 
 on the day that is past is a tvpe of what is to come, 
 of what thou wilt feel hereafter, when thv awful Trial 
 comes on. Lor now I tell thee, as it was with me, 
 it is with thee : know that I said I was daily with 
 them in the sanctuary, yet no 1 nan laid hands upon 
 Mil, for my hour was not. yet come ; and thou hast 
 been daily with them, thou hast been openly with 
 them, nay thou hast warned and invited them, but 
 no man hath laid hands on thee, for thy hour is not 
 vet come; but thy hour will come, when they will 
 seize thee, as they seized me ; though not in the 
 same manner ; yet they will seize thee by the law, 
 from thy own handwriting, which must go in print. 
 For know my wisdom was kept back for the end, to
 
 JOANNA. SOUTHCOTT. 9 
 
 keep thy Trance unknown to man, as a sign that 
 should appear ; but when that sign is made public, 
 and the learned see how thy writings are placed ; the 
 twelve stars upon thy head ; the jury joined together 
 to affirm it ; the four and twenty elders appear- 
 ing to cast their crowns before me : that meaneth to 
 cast their wisdom before me, trusting wholly in me 
 the pride of the learned will begin to swell, and say, 
 " we are convinced, that instead of our silence putting 
 " a stop to it, it hath only raised it much the higher : 
 " and they have brought the whole now to the Gos- 
 ie pel, to compare it all with the words of their Saviour, 
 " which we cannot deny; therefore we find no way 
 " to confound them, unless we come to confound her 
 " from her own words, and say, as the Jews said of 
 (l old, let her come down from the cross and we will 
 " believe her : for this impostor hath said she shall 
 '* be in a Trance, and in three days be restored to 
 " them again ; and now, out of her own mouth we 
 " will condemn her, if she will not verify her words. 
 Ci For now we have got a line to go by ; but before 
 " we had none ; for it was out of our power to tell 
 "whether her visitation came from the Lord, or 
 " from whence it came ; but now she hath told us 
 " the Trance is a Sign, we will try the truth of her 
 " words, and by them we will condemn her, if it be 
 " not so ; but if it be so, according to her words, 
 " then we must know the visitation i> from on high." 
 And from on high they shall all find it : for now I 
 tell thee, from these three days the shadow is begun ; 
 but the substance will end to its likeness. The first 
 day thou felt confusion, faint, and trembling, con- 
 fined to thy bed ; the second day a day of joy with 
 thy friends, in love and harmony ; the third day 
 thou went faint and trembling, though in good 
 spirits, supported by thy friends ; but when my Spirit 
 arose within thee, thou hadst strength to go through, 
 and tolet thy voice reach the multitude, to bring them 
 l^ack to the Fall, while every tongue was silent, and 
 
 N 2
 
 100 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 and every mouth was stopped. But know, when 
 thou returned home my Spirit left thee, thy strength 
 was gone. 
 
 And so the shadows do appear, 
 You'll find the substance drawing near ; 
 Thy trembling first thy death will be, 
 That men will judge, and they will see 
 That thou art laid upon thy bed, 
 And to appearance they'll judge thee dead; 
 And then in joy thy soul will go 
 With guards of angels, thou wilt know, 
 And be surrounded then above 
 With saints and angels full of love ; 
 For as thou past the second day 
 To meet thy friends with joy, 1 say, 
 .lust so in joy thy soul will be, 
 With saints and angels all to see 
 My books before thee, open there, 
 And how my sealed books appear. 
 Back to the world thou then wilt turn 
 After thy time is past and gone ; 
 But sick of it thou'lt surely grow, 
 dust like this day, I well do know ; 
 Thou didst taste the water and the wine, 
 And now thy sickness call to mind, 
 The mixture thoucould'st never bear: 
 The wine alone, 1 tell thee here, 
 Would not have made thee sick at all 
 
 And here's a warning deep for all ; 
 It is my Blood, that all must see, 
 
 Shall cleanse the whole; now tiust in me. 
 But as thy feeble steps went on 
 
 To meet the public, 1 shall come, 
 
 Because thou'lt meet them so again, 
 
 When thou return'st to make all plain; 
 
 But as the shadow did appear, 
 
 Then sayestin silence ail did hear, 
 
 And so in silence all will be 
 
 When thou return'st the crowd to see; 
 
 And by thee I shall surely stand, 
 
 As thou wast guarded here by man, 
 
 And strong within thee I shall burst: 
 
 1 gave thee strength to stand the first, 
 
 But then in ppwor I shall appear, 
 
 And strong my Bible I shall clear, 
 
 And tell them how the Promise stood, 
 
 That 1 at first made for their good- 
 
 So as the shadow did begin, 
 
 1 say, the substance it will end; 
 
 For as thou homeward didst return, 
 
 And felt thy strength from thee was gone. 
 
 And all thy appetite was lost, 
 
 And on thy bed wast quickly cast;
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 101 
 
 Soon thy bed thou'lt lie the same. 
 And say thy appetite is gone 
 From every tiling that's here hois*, 
 And with thy Lord thou'lt wish to go. 
 Now call to mind thy former dieam, 
 And how the words I did explain, 
 That thou didst wish to go with me, 
 Yet by thy friends kept back to be ; 
 And so they now have kept thee back, 
 For to prevent the fatal stroke, 
 It may not come upon your land 
 On every side behold their hands, 
 Uplifted they were all to me, 
 That they the Famine might not see 
 Nor did tbey wish thee to depart 
 Thy dream is written on thy heart, 
 How they did prevent on every side 
 The field for all is open'd wide ; 
 And so they'll see it in the end, 
 Just like the lines that here are penn'd; 
 But when the end it doth appear 
 Mark thou the feeling thou hast here ; 
 Thou know'st not how for to go down, 
 And yet thy love within is found, 
 To see thy faithful friends again, 
 Yet with them long thou'lt not remain, 
 Because thy weakness 1 do know, 
 
 And intheend they'll find it so: 
 
 After the Trance that thou hast seen. 
 
 And thou return'st to visit men, 
 Thy strength of nature will be lost, 
 
 And on thy bed thou'lt soon be cast, 
 
 To leave the world and bid adieu 
 
 And all will find my wouds arc true. 
 
 But, Oh, ye simple sons of men ! 
 
 You stand like water, I see plain, 
 
 To see a calling so divine 
 
 Could end before the Truth do shine, 
 
 As in thy writings all is penn'd, 
 
 And then you may discern the end; 
 
 And then the nations all will see 
 
 The weak and simple wise to be. 
 
 To prevent the Famine in your land ; 
 
 And by their wisdom it doth stand 
 
 To make your enemy to fear 
 
 They've chang'd (hesceneTII cast it there 
 
 So thus their wisdom all will see, 
 
 The end will prove the truth to he, 
 
 And then my Bible they'll discern, 
 
 it i> the simple keeps from harm, 
 
 For them I said I'd chuse before 
 
 Men's boasted wisdom 1 abhor, 
 
 Therefore 1 mean to cast it down ; 
 
 And ^o my Bible now is fouuti,
 
 102 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 It is the simple are the wise; 
 
 For I no longer shall disguise, 
 
 It was the wise and learned men 
 
 That on their wisdom did depend, 
 
 At first they nail'd me to the tree ; 
 
 And now the end, I here tell thee, 
 
 Had they been here thou would'st been cast, 
 
 And made the Famine for to burst : 
 
 But know I said, for fifty's sake 
 
 I'd spare the land, and would not break 
 
 To bring destruction in your land; 
 
 And fifty men's uplifted hands 
 
 Did in the room that day appear ; 
 
 And for their sakes the land I'll spare 
 
 From utter ruin here to bring 
 
 I've sav'd thy country, and thy king, 
 
 As thou before to me didst pray 
 
 Mark every link how they do lay, 
 
 Until 1 come to link the whole, 
 
 Then see the chain how it will fall, 
 
 As I have said, on every side 
 
 They'll find the truth in all's applied. 
 
 So for the present I'll end here : 
 
 But I shall go from door to door, 
 
 Till all are open to thy view, 
 
 And men shall know thy words are true; 
 
 Because they all are spoke by me ; 
 
 'Tis from the Lord they all shall see, 
 
 Who made the Woman at the first; 
 
 And in her now I strong shall burst. 
 
 Till every mystery I've made clear, 
 
 That I'm your Helpmate now in her : 
 
 But know the Woman is too weak, 
 
 For Satan's arts too strong do break, 
 
 Without my Spirit that's divine, 
 
 And in the end you'll see it shine. 
 
 So for the present I'll end here ; 
 
 Another day I'll tell thee more : 
 
 And so in days I shall go on 
 
 Till the seven are past and gonp." 
 
 After this was read, some time was passed in a ge- 
 neral discussion; it was then announced that the as- 
 sembly was to meet to-morrow at three in the af- 
 ternoon, so that Joanna might devote the morning 
 to the selection of such of her writings as were to be 
 sealed up till after her death ; and then the proceed- 
 ings of this day were closed at eight in the evening.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 103 
 
 THE FIFTH DAY. 
 
 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 0, 1804. 
 
 The proceedings for this day commenced at four 
 in the afternoon, by calling over the names of the 
 assembly, and Joanna entered soon after. The 
 reading of former communications, explanatory of 
 her mission, took up some time ; and then the ex- 
 amination of the writings was resumed, in order to 
 select those that were to be sealed up till after the 
 death of Joanna ; and this was followed by the read- 
 ing of a communication given this day, being as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I shall direct thee ; for the way 
 thou art going on to look through thy writings 
 thou canst not accomplish it by the days that are 
 fixed ; for know, I told thee, what is sealed not to 
 be revealed, must be sealed by the seventh day. 
 So let the parcel be cut that Sharp brought thee ; 
 and when it is cut, I shall tell thee what shall 
 be sealed up for good, in that and in the others : 
 and thy work must be done in haste ; for I have 
 other communications to give unto thee, before thou 
 meetest the public ; therefore thou hast but little 
 time to spend with friends. Let them have the 
 communications, weigh them together, and pass 
 their judgments thereon. So when the whole are 
 assembled together, let the seals be cut ; then bring 
 up the whole, and search them through ; place them 
 as I command thee, to be svaLd. And let them 
 draw their judgment from what is said of Jacob's 
 sons, and what is said of men's refusing my call, 
 but falling down by my wisdom. Now let them all 
 observe, my call hath been refused, my invitation
 
 104 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 hath been refused ; but my wisdom hath been con- 
 cealed //// now ; but now my wisdom shall fly 
 abroad; then let the learned see if they can overthrow 
 their God. 
 
 Forto keep life in thee, 
 I tell them, No; they'll find it so, 
 
 To see all in the end, 
 They'll find the truth of all to flow, 
 
 And I shall make them bend; 
 Because behind, hath heen my mind, 
 
 To make them all submit, 
 As they have all been so unkind, 
 
 A Calling thus so great, 
 Never to go the truth to know, 
 
 Whether the thing was true, 
 And so their learning they've let low, 
 
 Though boasting's in their view ; 
 But boast no more till all be clear, 
 
 For every tongue 111 stop, 
 Because the Trial must appear 
 
 To make their learning drop. 
 Can they contend like simple meH, 
 
 To speak against thy hand, 
 When I've told them all so plain 
 
 The way they may command 
 The whole to know, if it be so, 
 
 And in one day appear? 
 Becau>e thy Trance, they now shall know, 
 
 The way I'll end it here ; 
 But had it come by thy weak hand, 
 
 As thou wish'd it at first, 
 Thy Trial thou'dst not stand by men 
 
 When they against thee bur.>t. 
 Now from thy weakness I'll begin, 
 
 Thy nature so is here, 
 And so thy Trance will bring thy end, 
 
 And bring thy death-bed near. 
 So all too late they'll see their fate, 
 
 That grieve thee at the first, 
 And they will find thou art too weak 
 
 In words with them to burst; 
 S all thy foes they now may know, 
 
 And from thy weakness see, 
 It is too late for them to go 
 
 Then reconcil'd to be. 
 From what is past thy dream must burst. 
 
 The skivers do appear *, 
 That they are placing in thy breast, 
 
 And so thy end draws near, 
 To make the grave, behold the cave, 
 They make thy wounds go deep j 
 
 * See Joseph Southcott's Vindication, page :.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 105 
 
 Then can they in my favour live? 
 'Tis time thy foes should weep; 
 For as thy days are hastening on, 
 
 They'll find 'tis driving near ; 
 And fast thy foes, 1 say, will come 
 
 To prove if all he clear. 
 So now discern the way 1 warn 
 
 Inviting's all in vain ; 
 And they may fear the rising storm 
 
 But 1 shall all explain, 
 A mystery deep (they all may weep) 
 
 The Marriage of the Lamb. 
 My invitation they did break, 
 
 And so refits' d to come. 
 Now if they call, I tell them all, 
 
 Their calling will not do; 
 'Tis not from me, they now must sc&* 
 
 My journey I've gone through; 
 111 call no more for to appear j 
 
 My invitation's pa^t ; 
 My chosen men I now shall clear, 
 
 That here in love do burst. . 
 When I did invite they did not slight. 
 
 But all with joy did come; 
 And 1 must ill their love requite, 
 
 If I should cast out one. 
 "With fishermen I did begin; 
 
 They left their nets for me ; 
 An I now my Kingdom for to win 
 
 They do the same agree. 
 So on rem d , mark now my word) 
 
 Their names shall ever stand ; 
 I tell thee, all must fly abroad, 
 
 My Kingdom's nigh at hand ; 
 My Gospel see how \tduth agree 
 
 The twelve did first appear; 
 And 'tis thy Jury must agree 
 
 Their honour for to clear. 
 So for the ret 1 this shall fix, 
 
 They are the twenty-four 
 That must appear the whole to cleats 
 
 Then they shall feel my power. 
 So now discern how this is come 
 
 .lust like my Gospel penn'd ; 
 And all together you must weigh, 
 
 Then judge and see the end. 
 My wisdom here the whole shall cleai^ 
 
 And all must fly abroad; 
 And let the learned answer here, 
 
 When every truth is know'd, 
 How all could come, my Gospel stronj 
 
 Let all the likeness see, 
 The way that I have led theeoa. 
 
 My Gospel for to free. 
 
 o
 
 ]lG6 the trial of 
 
 Now mark the third, 'tis on record, 
 
 The leaven doth appear; 
 For the third leaven lumps the whole, 
 
 And so the end is here. 
 So mark what men from a distance came, 
 
 Mv Gospel to make good, 
 And men weie near that did appear, 
 
 And so my (jospel stood ; 
 And so 'tis come, discern it men ! 
 
 Could Satan bring this round! 1 
 To have the third fulfil ray word, 
 
 My Gospel so is found. 
 So all together you must weigh, 
 
 And let \our thoughts go deep, 
 Then see the dawning of the day, 
 
 The way that all do break. 
 For all together do appear, 
 
 rfyou do this discern ; 
 And now my Gospel it is clear 
 
 To bring thy Trial on; 
 For mark what's next 
 
 From man 'tis fixt : 
 Satan hath felt his blow, 
 
 When every man didjift his hand*, 
 And downward he shall go; 
 
 Tor he is cast, as all is plac'd, 
 He nee*\ now keep none back 
 
 The Revelations so arc plac'd ; 
 And now he'll feel his rack. 
 
 So I'll end here, and say no more; 
 To-morrow's hastening on ; 
 
 And as the music thou dost hear, 
 The end to all .shall come*. 
 
 About seven in the evening Joanna withdrew, after 
 having continued in the assemhly until then, bring- 
 ing 1 forward a variety of important passages in her 
 writings, relating to the Trial, in the course of a 
 chcar ul conversation, which tended to display her 
 wonderful simplicity of character. And soon after- 
 wards the meeting was adjourned. 
 
 * As the two last lines were penned, Joanna heard Miss Carpenter 
 playing on the pianoforte, accompanied with singing.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. lt>7 
 
 THE SIXTH DAY. 
 
 MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1804. 
 
 The proceedings commenced between ten and 
 eleven this morning, by taking into consideration 
 what had already been given, during the Tviil. 
 At half past three Joanna entered, b;i ii; ; np; i*'ith. 
 her a communication just received, which was a-ad, 
 being as follows : 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I shall direct thee. This is the 
 sixth day of thy Trial, and the fifth of thv appear- 
 ance ; to-morrow ends thy Tral called forward by 
 me ; and know, by this Trial every hin is b o : ht 
 to my Gospel, Here is the th rd time "f t e hide 
 leaven, and here thou seest dion i. is>t leavened r ' .. 
 whole : or I have leavened it tor th?e. So 
 
 Now let the learned men dispute, 
 
 mi answf i my demand, 
 Or i shall strike then learning mute 
 
 But can the .ilent - 
 To see a Woman thus arj ^ar 
 
 M> Gospel to b iny round ? 
 I tell them aLl 'tis t mo to I* ai. 
 
 To- now i shall lie f'ouu' . 
 Th.i. as in Adam ""ien did die, 
 
 1 ney now may live v.. 
 The Woman :. oice that d< obey, 
 
 My Sj it, they shall set,, 
 Is siirt-1 y tome to guide thee oil, 
 
 < . this could not ;>ear, 
 To I iy Ciosnel this f< nil 
 
 l> . ! wei lien : 
 
 T i . . : i . J'- let all discern, 
 
 The 151 cat :u\ .; \ fir , 
 But t'.'" iv.'ir-'d, iii n ! chus'd 
 
 Tin icwer cla^s to bin t. 
 In love 1 c >iij . i tis kno 
 
 lii did litue know 
 
 Thou ii;n on record so -hi 
 
 Throughout alla^e i;o 
 O 2
 
 10$ THE TRIAL OP 
 
 To be the men my Gospel penn'd, 
 
 When [ did come again 
 To bring the Kingdom of your God, 
 Your Saviour's love made known. 
 So like the first the end doth burst 
 
 The Cains and Abels see ; 
 But new 1 tell you, at the last, 
 
 It is the Cains must Hec; 
 For [ am come, it must be known, 
 
 My Bible all to clear ; 
 And 'tis the Cains I shall unthrone, 
 
 Before I've ended here. 
 Now mark the first, how all was plac'd 
 
 Her Promise for to claim ; 
 Between they two, you all do know. 
 
 It first was fixt for men, 
 To fix his curse above the rest, 
 
 As he did her beguile ; 
 And after that, you know 'twas fixt 
 
 The way I her should foil ; 
 That to her Husband she should come, 
 
 And her desire should be, 
 And over her he should rule strong j 
 
 In sorrow she would see 
 Her children here for to appear, 
 To bring them forth to man ; 
 And sorrow see in her to be 
 The way I've led her on. 
 But unto all this cannot fall 
 A prophecy made good; 
 For some no children have at all ; 
 
 Let this he understood ; 
 And some, see clear, that do appear, 
 
 Their husbands cannot rule 
 Their heart and soul, I tell you all; 
 
 So man must be a tool, 
 This prophecy, as it doth lie, 
 
 To place to Women all ; 
 Then unto one the thing must come. 
 
 When I in Spirit call. 
 But now within thou dost begin, 
 
 Thy pond*, ring heart I see 
 The Curse that was pronoune'd oh Man, 
 
 In all men cannot be: 
 W r hat labour here to some appear? 
 What toil do they go through r 
 Tso sweats from some can evci come 
 
 Th p se thoughts are in thy view ; 
 But I'll appear to answer here, 
 
 That furrow comes to all; 
 There's not a man on earth can stand. 
 
 To say no grief did fall; 
 Though labour here I now shall clear, 
 1 tell thee, 'tis but few
 
 JOANNA SOUTH^OTT. lt>9 
 
 But do in labour now appear, 
 All men mu- 1 own it true. 
 The husbandman, discern ftibiplau, 
 
 He labours to get bread ; 
 The wise and learned in your laiwi 
 
 They labour, as I've said ; 
 The counsellor here let him appear 
 
 His trials to go-through, 
 lie labours more than he can bear 
 Without some rain, I know j ^ 
 The clergy see, alike they be, 
 
 They labour all to gain 
 The livings that are given they, 
 
 And often feel mucn pain ; 
 Now to the king i next shall come, 
 
 lie labours just the same, 
 And oft with pain, i will maintain, 
 
 To guide andjjuard your land ; 
 In counc'l here for to an; ear 
 
 The parliament all sec. 
 How [n thcii heads they labour here. 
 
 For I do now tell thre, 
 They labour mo e for earthly store, 
 
 Or grandeur for to .bine, 
 Than the poor man that ploughs your land, 
 
 I tell tl.ee, in their minds. 
 So all a', ike the path is strait, 
 
 In sorrow men go on 
 To eat the bread of carefulness 5 
 And sorrows quite unknown 
 Conceal'd from all. I know they fall 
 
 Upon the >ons of men : 
 There's no* a man on earth cati como 
 
 To say lie ne'er felt pain; 
 The words are true before your view, 
 
 And let all flesb appear ; 
 There's not that man on earth can *!au<i 
 
 To say ' no pain I bear, 
 * No grief of mind 1 ever find, 
 
 " No labour for my bread ; 
 *' All toil from me was ever free, 
 
 " All grief from me is lied.'' 
 Now if such man on ea:tli can corns 
 
 To say his life went through 
 Without a sorrow to appear, 
 Or feeling pains to know : 
 Then he may say another wav, 
 
 The curse was never fixt 
 Upon all men, to sutler pain; 
 
 Then I shall answer next, 
 The pain on me xvasftxt tu U, 
 
 And I did feel it here ; 
 And mark me in Gcthsnuanc, 
 iVhui meats did then apnea/' J
 
 HO THE TRIAL OP 
 
 So on me all this load did fall, 
 
 If men do say they miss'd 
 This heavy burden -, now I call, 
 
 At first 1 felt all this, 
 Wlien in the Body I appear'd, 
 
 Man's nature to assume; 
 Mark all the sorrows I went through, 
 
 Till 1 came to my tomb. 
 So thus for Man 1 did begin. 
 
 For Man I all went through ; 
 But now, I tell you, in the end, 
 
 The Woman's in my" view, 
 In Spirit here for to appear, 
 
 To clear the every guilt ; 
 The blame no longer will I hear, 
 
 What 1 for Man have felt. 
 The blame at first on me was cast, 
 
 When Man receiv'd his Fall; 
 The blame again I did sustain 
 
 Oh, men, behold your call ! 
 The garden see, the sweats of me, 
 
 And all 1 then went through ' 
 And if for Man all this was done, 
 
 The Woman's in my view, 
 To come again, her cause maintain, 
 
 As she was so betray 'd, 
 And from the Promise I did make 
 
 To cast on Satan's head 
 The every guilt that she hath felt, 
 
 The sorrows she'th went through, 
 In Spirit here no man can clear, 
 
 But I her grief do know; 
 And unto me, you all may see, 
 
 Her strong desire- are plac'd; 
 And over her I've surely rul'd 
 
 Oh, men ! judge all the rest: 
 Her children here do now appear, 
 
 This way brought forth by she; 
 But know what sorrows she did bear, 
 
 The way led on by me.'' 
 
 And now I shall answer thee in plain words. If the 
 curse, that was pronounced on Man, hath not followed 
 every man that came into the world ; yet know, it 
 fell entirely on me; for mark my Life, from the 
 Manger to the Cro-s, if I did not go through the 
 whole for Man. Bur how can I bring in Man's Re- 
 demption, before J erne in the Spirit to clear the 
 Woman ? So if the Prophecy given to the Wo- 
 man is not fulfilled /// all women, which no man 
 upon earth can prove it is ; then know, it must be
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. Ill 
 
 perfectly fulfilled in me, to claim the Promise, 
 clear the Fall, and bring forth her children to the 
 Lord. And now let them see in what sorrow thou 
 hast brought forth thy children ; how strong thy de- 
 sire hath been to the Loud ; how much thou hast 
 been afraid of being deceived ; how often thou hast 
 been falling back, when my directions thou didst 
 not understand ; and how strongly have I ruled over 
 thee, //// I have brought all to the Fall, and all to 
 the Gospel. Now can men be so void of reason, to 
 think all this is done by the Devil, to seek and plead 
 his own destruction ? No ; here the wisdom of the 
 wise is perished, and the understanding of the pru- 
 dent is hid, who vainly imagine this is from the De- 
 vil. Blinder than the Jews they must now appear ; 
 therefore I said, ?nan was twice dead, twice plucked 
 up by the roots : the Jews were dead through unbelief, 
 plucked up and cast out, as having no root in me ; and 
 now I am come again in the Spirit, to fulfil my Bi- 
 ble, and clear the Fall, I find thousands dead the 
 same through unbelief, that will be plucked out, as 
 withered branches, having no root in me ! They pe- 
 rish for want of knowledge ; they die through unbelief; 
 and so they will be plucked up by the root, as branches 
 dead, cast out through unbelief, having no share or 
 lot in the matter, either to be united with the church 
 triumphant in glory above, or with the church militant 
 here on earth : for these are the churches that must 
 be united, who long to see my Name exalted, that 
 all that have breath may praise my name. 
 
 From East to West, from North to South, 
 
 My name shall ily alii' ad, 
 Ajndall the listening nation- round 
 'Shall praise their conquering Lord. 
 
 And now I shall answer thee from the words thou 
 hast spoken this day. Thousayest the kindness and 
 attention of thy friends come too late ; when thy ap- 
 petite is gone thou canst not enjoy it ; perfectly so,
 
 1.12 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 I tell thee, by mankind, thousands will become tfiy 
 friends, when thy life is gone, and thou canst not 
 enjoy thein ; for know I told thee in ninety- three, 
 thy death would convince more than thy life. But 
 it is happy for those that believe before thou die, 
 because they will feel a peace of conscience, a rejoic- 
 ing, ' hope to see thee again, while the others 
 will ' 1 ev are strangers unto thee ; and will re- 
 
 ilecr ; . ec.uted thee, as the Jews will that they 
 
 perst".-f.i . me: for I now tell rhee, both alike they 
 ar ; ' : the Spirit of God, and doing despite 
 
 to" rev -nd roorincss. Now mark what is said 
 
 tli>.3 v.'tht (vfth dav of thy appearance ; and let 
 th --ik (keplv vhat happens on the sixth, for 
 
 tiit,, th by me, to the Trials that I 
 
 haw .. !"he< iorv\ i called forward 
 
 by man. and then thou wilt find thy appetite is 
 gone 
 
 Thy s; * nature, and thy clays are pegtj 
 
 V 1-L-i lo against thee burst; 
 
 Km i .; i shall scan confound, 
 
 A" ' . ..'.!:" them ' emble at my every sound 5 
 
 'flit ;v<!<\ I carts in sunder I shall rend, 
 
 Am' 1 know I'll stand thy every friend 5 
 
 .A r.d ' :' the veil ill surely rend from man; 
 
 The ., ( v may open when they do discern 
 
 A d :, wo'in return to them again. 
 
 f?u> . tell thee, thou'lt not long remain ; 
 
 So a li y laboin thou must now do first, 
 
 ]Sef<- c by luan thy awful Trial burst, 
 
 And }:> !y seek th\ writings to go through, 
 
 T' . !i< u may'st lav tlie truth before their view ; 
 
 h . >c<>r.found them, 1 shall make ali clear, 
 
 At"! then thou'lt find thy awful Trial draws near ; 
 
 W l.( n liiou hast done the work design d by me, 
 
 l'il end thy life by man, they all will see; 
 
 LY .tuse thy aw ml Trial will come on 
 
 And know, thy fluttering heartto meet the me* 
 
 Tha* were 'thy friends, in love for to appear, 
 
 T o meet thy foes thy nature cannot bear ; 
 
 jS^ithei shall I permit it to be so, 
 
 h i thou to live, that they might kindness shew, 
 
 Because >n sorrow [ mean they shall mourn ; 
 
 It" ( :d they do it, if thou didst return 
 
 To dwell among them, kindness they mjghtsheV, 
 
 And think by wisdom they the vholc do know,
 
 JOANNA SOUtHCOTT. ]l3 
 
 .And for thy sufferings think to make amends, 
 Uv every act of kindness, like thy friends. 
 Hut then, I tell them all, 'twill come too late, 
 Thy dying looks W 'U bring thy dying fate, 
 And thc:i thy sufferings quickly will be o'er, 
 And thou with joy possess thy happy shore, 
 That in thy heart thou long hast wish'd to^ee, 
 To leave this World below and dwell with ml 
 And so, 1 tell thee, by the rage of man, , 
 Unto my kin. dom thou wilt surely come ; 
 Because by man thou 'it wounded at the first, 
 And so bv man thy glory now shall hurst ; 
 That is, ( mean to bring thee to my throne, 
 A s in thy heart so long they've piae'd the thni3; 
 And so the thorns shall bring thee to thy crown: 
 ' li< by the Cross thv glories must be found. 
 S.) by the Cross thy life will make an end ; 
 They'll find it deep in every line thus penn'dj 
 For like thy master now thy end must be, 
 Though not the way they nail'd me to the tree^ 
 Vet in like manner will thy death appear ; 
 1 know thy heart how long they wounded hcrej 
 Therefore I'll let them wound it to the end, 
 For that's the way that 1 the veil shall rend 
 From every heart, and so from every eye, 
 V. hen on thy bed, they see thee for to lie, 
 Repeat the Glories thou hast seen above, 
 Repeat the Will that I have made for Man, 
 Repeat my Promise that then shall come, 
 Repeat the dories they shall cc below, 
 When strong my Spirit on all flesh shall go, 
 And Satan's power 1 shall takeaway. 
 But all these tilings 1 havereveal'd to thee 
 And yet much stronger ! shall then appear, 
 What fiom my voice thou then .-halt see and hear,j 
 For now Isav'tis hastening to the time 
 I'll claim this kingdom, ami I'll make it mine J 
 Ami a!! my I'.i'hie now I will fulfil ; 
 to my Father now I'll reconcile 
 '1 he sons of men, in union with their Cod; 
 And Satan now shall feel my awful rod : 
 An 1 here's the ending every soul shall see ; 
 The <': luge is great, and great the change shall he, 
 ' :i< : Muti for what hehVt was made; 
 
 ; a:an tremble that he e'erbetray'd 
 ne-. .-o in the Woman place! ; 
 And now !,ke c: ! II make his grief to hurst 
 
 the sword went through her soul.} 
 And Co , ! now do tell you all 
 
 hall feel the every spear, 
 And I like \u the agonies she Ik. re; 
 Then Wan shall know I made her for his good, 
 When I in power do fulfil mv word. 
 So tor the present 1 shall end it here : 
 This is the fifth day, thou must now appear 
 
 P
 
 114 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 To be a Helpmate to the sons of men 5 
 
 And great they'll find the Helpmate in the end, 
 
 Because their Ilelpm ate they will find is me, 
 
 That strong in Spirit now do visit thee: 
 
 But of herself the Woman could be none 
 
 Tis 1 that died, and did for all atone ; 
 
 And now my dying Blood shall make an end 
 
 ] said I died to be the sinner's friend ; 
 
 And now the sinners' friend I'll surely be, 
 
 If they in heart will now look up to me." 
 
 After reading this Joanna entered into an interesting 
 account of many parts of her prophecies, which col- 
 lectively afforded a clear view of her awful Trial be- 
 fore men, as distinct from this Trial, to which she 
 has been called by the Lord. She then adduced 
 Scripture proofs of her mission being the fulfilment 
 of the prophecies of the establishment of the king- 
 dom of Christ. The manner of the Gospel dispensa- 
 tion coming round contrary to the judgment of the 
 disciples was also referred to, as a parallel to the dif- 
 ferent opinions formed by herself and friends, respect- 
 ing the ways of the Lord now through her. Joanna 
 then expatiated on the various reports that the publi- 
 city of the Trance would give rise to, and on other 
 particulars connected with her being brought before 
 men. Here she emphatically declared that she must 
 stand or fall by the voice of this assembly, by the 
 judgment n^vv passed concerning her mission. This 
 subjeci was further pressed to our attention, by saying 
 that we must give our decided opinion upon the 
 v hole of the proceedings to-morrow, and that in 
 writ! nir, with the respective signature of each indi- 
 vidual thereto, litre she then enumerated these 
 leading points touching her mission, which were left 
 for the decision of the assembly : That the calling 
 was of God The justice of it, in claiming the Pro- 
 mise made to the Woman in the Fall The justice 
 of castinrr the curse on Satan, so that his head should 
 be bruised' That Christ had not seen the travail of 
 his soul to be satisfied Had not seen accomplished
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 115 
 
 ithe day of vengeance in his heart That Christ died 
 unjustly ; therefore it was right for the author of all 
 evil to suffer, through the means of the Woman, and 
 by her enmity, for betraying her in the beginning. 
 She then pleaded her own sincerity, and drew this 
 general inference, from the manner in which the 
 Scriptures were explained to her, the agreement of 
 her writings therewith, the fulfilment of her prophe- 
 cies, and from other proofs, that the whole was the 
 work of the Lord. When Joanna had concluded 
 this address, the resolutions passed by the assembly 
 after the examination of the witnesses were read to 
 her. She then made a most eloquent, though simple 
 appeal, whether the Lord would let her go on in de- 
 lusion ; she then described her present weak state of 
 health, and her mode of life ; and having concluded 
 this interesting appeal to the judgment of the assem- 
 bly, Joanna retired in a high flow of spirits, at about 
 half past five. 
 
 When Joanna had nearly closed her discourse, she 
 was interrupted by a member asking, whether Satan 
 knew he was east by this Trial ? for then he would pur- 
 sue her and her friends with the utmost of his fury. 
 This was answered by the following communication, 
 given to her after she had retired, and sent in to be 
 read before the meeting was adjourned. 
 
 " Now I shall answer thee of Hows. His observation 
 was just, to say that Satan did not know his casting 
 would be before thy awful Trial ; but now he know- 
 eth he is cast ; and now he will come down in great 
 wrath, and stir up the people to come against thee ; 
 for he knows his time is short. And he is cast in the 
 manner I told thee, that he would not have a friend 
 present to speak for him, as Pilate did for me ; 
 but had unbelievers been present, they would have 
 pleaded against the Promise. Then how could the 
 Promise have been claimed ? But now they were 
 all united and joined together in hand and mind, 
 being informed by thee how strong the poison lay in.
 
 11 6 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 him ; and thou hast made it known unto all, that 
 they may turn it back upon him. So if thou hast 
 time let it be taken out before the book is sealed. 
 Extracted from the sealed writings, written in 1 797- 
 
 " So now look back and see the M ; 
 Mark the word, it was for Man, 
 That I died upon the tree ; 
 Now the sceptre I will sway j 
 Satan roust like me atone, 
 If he wish to save his own. 
 It was f that did make Man, 
 Breath'd in him the life that came, 
 In my image plac'd him there. 
 Now one Type I will fix more, 
 1 shall place it to a king * : 
 Now I'll do as he did then 
 Call the mysteries to thy view ; 
 Perfect like him I will do. 
 When the man did bring his deaths, 
 Poison in them then there was ; 
 This the king did know before, 
 Made the man the same to wear, 
 Till he brought him to his end- 
 Deep the lines that thou hast penn'd : 
 1 shall peril ct do the same ; 
 Satan he cloth poison men, 
 In as perfect strange disguise, 
 They know not where the poison lies 
 Careless they do put it on, 
 Till he hash tainted every vein, 
 .And their deaths they do not see, 
 Dying creatures still they be; 
 But I tell them now I'll come, 
 To act perfect like the king; 
 He that made the deaths shall wear > 
 Judge my fiends and now be clear, 
 If I mean to save my crown, 
 Satan must like him be found 
 To turn the cloathing on his back. 
 Tell me if the king was right - 
 Bight thou am.wer'st now indeed, 
 Just tiie cause was on his head, 
 Wisely sure lie acted there, 
 The deaths for him he brought to wear; 
 Wisely did the king submit 
 To cast the rebel at bis feet, 
 As mi friendly he began 
 To sit and reason with the man ; 
 It was his pleasure tl i is tosee, 
 Dow the doathsdid first fit he, 
 Though the man did tremble there, 
 Yet the cloaths he made him wear, 
 
 * See the Arswex of the Lord to the Powers of Darkness, page 5&
 
 JOANXA SOUTHCOTT. 1 17 
 
 Till the fire and the wine 
 Made the man his life resign. 
 I at first came like the man, 
 Satan's poison to put on ; 
 While that he did keep the crown. 
 Tire and sWord destroyed mine ; 
 Judas drank the wine with m ;:, 
 Satan's poison came to he , 
 As the bribe did then appear, 
 I the cloaths for Man did wear ; 
 Satan did his crown possess, 
 Wiiile the poison stungmy breast. 
 Now, I say, I'll go from him, 
 And another Type explain, 
 Then I'll make the mystery clear, 
 Tell thee how I'll end both here. 
 This is of another king *, 
 Sav'd his life by a simple man, 
 Pleas' d the simple words to hear, 
 On his plate he printed there ; 
 When a man in strange disguise 
 Saw the words it macie him wise, 
 Dropt the lance then from his hand, 
 Conscious j-uilt did him i<uidcmi), 
 On the floor the lance did drop, 
 He fear'd the end and tun him stop- 
 Then now the r, :id 'tis time to bar, 
 For like both kings ' .hall act here; 
 , Fearful Man 1 will ( n .-._. 
 
 Now ni) crown 1 mean to -ave. 
 
 Their employers ! do know, 
 
 Satan's poison first doth go ; 
 
 But he considers not the end 
 
 Deep is all that tho'i ha>t penn'dj 
 
 For the end must now appear, 
 
 Like the kings I've acted here: 
 
 In my Bible all is penn'd, 
 
 Man doth fear what is the end, 
 
 And in Man I see that fear 
 
 Drops the lance when (hath >-eems ne.j-; 
 
 Because his heart doth uiciy faint 
 
 Though too late some do repent, 
 
 For to sit on my ri;_;ht hand, 
 
 And like the goats may trembling stand ; 
 
 Satan haunts them for his prey, 
 
 But I'll act another away: 
 
 k This story is as follow-; : a man asked a king, what he would 
 irive for a piece of advice. The king answered, five bundled pounds. 
 The man then said it was, that he should do nothing without well 
 eon, id-ring the end. The king was ; leased with the advice and had 
 the wo uU engraved oh all his plate. It so happened, thai the king 
 wanted to be bled; and the surgeon who was to do it was bribed to 
 bleed with a poisonous lance; but as soon as the golden howl was 
 brought, lie cast his eye- on the words that were written thereon, and 
 let the lance diop out of his hand, and to the king saved hi* lite.
 
 118 THE TRIAL 0? 
 
 Now I'll come like the frst king, 
 Turn the poison back on him; 
 If he made it first for me, 
 It shall sure turn back on he, 
 For the coat he now shall wear ; 
 All the poison now I'll clear, 
 It is the guilt of every man, 
 On his back it now shall come ; 
 So I'd have him sec the end, 
 Mark the line* that thou hast penn'd ; 
 Prop the lances from his hand, 
 If he Iom;<v wish to stand, 
 And tempt n en f - sin no more, 
 Confess the guilt he'th done before ; 
 For if I vengeance took on Man, 
 Then on him it shall come on. 
 
 The application of the above, now given by the 
 Spirit. 
 
 Now from this fable I shall answer : 
 
 Mark the date that it was penn'd ; 
 
 Let men judge who is thy master, 
 
 Now they're come to see the end, 
 See the poison all discover'd, 
 
 See the way (hat ail do meet, 
 Then you may discern your lover, 
 
 I shajl make your bliss complete ; 
 Because like men they now are come 
 
 To drop their lance for me ; 
 And like the king 1 shall go on 
 
 To turn ti.e whole on he. 
 So all together you must weigh, 
 
 A;;d every thing compare j 
 Toy life is saved to this day, 
 
 To make all mysteries clear; 
 And clear they'll see the end to be, 
 
 For I shall turn it back; 
 And horn thy i'-.b.cr. all shall see 
 
 i hat so the end will break. 
 So now if men would wise discern, 
 
 They'd let their lances fall, 
 And sa;, (rem hell their iage did swell, 
 
 He wish'd to poison all. 
 So now see plain, ye sons of men, 
 
 How all things I've brought round ; 
 And all together in one chain 
 
 To Have the truth be found. 
 So I'll end here and say no more, 
 
 Bui let them this discern, 
 How many years 'twas wrote before. 
 
 Ana liow the end is come, 
 In ever) chain for to remain, 
 
 Alike in every word- 
 That 1 your King may victory brine 
 
 In wisdom as a God."
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 1\Q 
 
 THE SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1804. 
 
 Notice having been given at the last public 
 meeting, that Joanna would appear in the like man- 
 ner this day, it being a fine morning the assembly 
 accordingly met in the field, and was joined by Jo- 
 anna and her female friends precisely at eleven. Af- 
 ter a short time had been passed in devotion, Jo- 
 anna began to address the public, giving a brief ac- 
 count of her mission, and then she emphatically 
 warned her audience of the near approach of the 
 kingdom of Christ. In the middle of her discourse, 
 a multitude of people, who were not believers in her 
 calling, and who were admitted into the adjoining 
 ground, separated from us by a canal, found a paling 
 at the west extremity, which they broke down and 
 thus entered. Therefore a number of Joanna's friends 
 hastened to that point to prevent such intrusion ^ 
 but the stream appeared too violent to be effectually 
 stemmed, and all attempts to do so were relinquish- 
 ed, and many promising to be peaceable, the in- 
 truders quietly mixed with us ; at the same time, 
 the gate at the cast end was opened and the rest 
 rushed in, upon some of them promising to be or- 
 derly, but others were of evil intentions to produce 
 confusion and disorder. About half past eleven a few 
 drops of rain began to fall, and dark clouds rolling 
 on, the sun, which till then cheered us with his 
 beams, became obscured ; and at that moment Jo- 
 anna concluded her address with words to this ef- 
 fect : that she was then commanded to depart that 
 the sunshine was a token for her friends ; but for the 
 enemies of the approaching kingdom of Christ came
 
 i 20 THE TRIAL Of 
 
 tin 5torm. Thus the infernal intentions of the ene- 
 m^ -. , frustrated, and she departed with her 
 friends v-i the house; and the proceedings were re- 
 ed .u ai half past twelve, when the purport of 
 the re oluti ich are to terminate the Trial, 
 were taken :. ideration ; and soon after four in 
 the Jicrnoon. 1 I hem was read for further 
 re; sV >. \i ama brought in a commu- 
 jiieitu , : iven mswer to her account of the 
 mg in the rieio, and which was read, being as 
 follows : 
 
 1 his is the seventh day of Joanna's Trial, and 
 the sbcth day of her appearance, when she went into 
 the field to meet the multitude. On Saturday, the 3 : 
 8th instant, she ,. set them in Mr. Carpentei s meet- 
 ing where she told ihem she should meet them apa'n 
 on 1 he Tuesday; but was afterwards answered, if 
 the crowd was too great for the meeting she should 
 meet them in the open field. The crowd gathered 
 too great for the meeting, and she was obliged to 
 meet, in the field, that was enclosed, but in an 
 adjoining he'd that the canal parted, there were ga- 
 thered crowds of mockers ; and many broke into the 
 fu id. and Joanna's heart was deeply affected, as she 
 was ordered to call to her remembrance the vear 
 ninety-two, when the power of the Lord visited her 
 so strongly, that she could not abide in a house, but 
 wenrfj.it in the open field to dispute with the powers 
 t.'f darkness, and after they left her, she was sur- 
 rounded with a company of angels. This struck 
 deep upon her, and called to her remembrance 
 the different spirits there were in men; some had 
 the spirits of angels, to guard and protect her ; some 
 were filled with the spoil of the Devil, to destroy 
 her if they could. This she knew, and this she 
 felt ; but the Spirit of the Lord arose strong within 
 he-.-, and gave her strength to speak to the muhi.- 
 tu.'c. The ..veather, for the season, was remarka- 
 bly line, till she had nearly ended her discourse,
 
 J01HNA SOUTftCOTT* 121 
 
 then began drops of rain, and the clouds behind 
 looked very black ; then she dismissed the whole, 
 only telling them to fear the storm. Guarded 
 by her male friends she went safely through. The 
 mob behind her were very invective with their 
 tongues, but had not power to injure her, or her 
 friends. Some wished to trample her under their 
 feet, and others wished to throw her into the canal, 
 others said they hoped the constables had got her ; 
 the answer was by some man, he did not want the 
 constables to have her, if he could but get hold of 
 her ; a woman cried out, if this be religion it was 
 time to put a stop to it. These and many other 
 things were said respecting her, as we came out of the 
 field ; however she got safely through, without re- 
 ceiving any insult, as they did not know her. When 
 she came to the house in safety crowds of friends came 
 to the door, and though being fatigued, she went 
 out to shake hands with them, till the rain came the 
 tecond time. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE LORD* 
 
 " Now, Joanna, thee I'll answer, 
 
 From the shadow of this day, 
 Jah, Jehovah is thy masteu, 
 
 Let them hear what L do say, 
 On every side the field is wide, 
 
 The Type stands deep for Man; 
 - And ninety-two bring to thy view, 
 
 For so this day did come, 
 When strong my Spirit did visit thee, 
 
 In power for to appear, 
 The powers of darkness known to bt 
 
 Did strong oppose thee there ; 
 But in t he field thou mad'st him yield, 
 
 He could not stay thy hand, 
 As from his power 1 did thee shield, 
 
 And made my angels come 
 To guard thee through, thou well dostkUotf* 
 
 And so thou turnedst home. 
 Now to the purpose I shall come: 
 
 This day "twas done by man ; 
 The rage of hell in man did swell, 
 
 For Satan strong was there ; 
 The different spirits, you kuow wellj 
 
 Shew how 1 did appeal. 
 
 a
 
 122 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 Like angels men to thee were seen 
 
 To guard thee safely through, 
 And so no harm to any came 
 
 The End is in my view; 
 The rage of hell I know will swell, 
 
 But I'll my friends protect i 
 And from this day I all do tell 
 How that the End will break ; 
 As parted here my friends appear, 
 
 Shelter'd from every Foe, 
 They saw the storms and hasty fled, 
 
 And homeward all did go. 
 So homeward here my friends appeal', 
 
 But they my rain shall see; 
 For though the storm thou first didst fear, 
 
 It always frightens thee; 
 But it is rain that's hastening on 
 That thou hast seen this day; 
 And to the purpose I shall come: 
 
 The drops fell down on thee, 
 Which made thee fear the storm was near, 
 
 But it I soon dismissal ; 
 And so my friends have nought to fear, 
 
 That now in mi; do trust. 
 They're shelter'd in from every thing, 
 
 And all their foes shut out; 
 And so my friends 1 now shall screen, 
 
 They nothing have to doubt. 
 The time is come, 'tis hastening on 
 
 That L shall all divide, 
 As by the waters this was done, 
 
 Though some broke through the tide, 
 Like Pimroah here for to appear, 
 
 And this I said they'd do; 
 But now the mysteries 1 shall clear 
 
 Can they through Jordan go? 
 I tell thee," "No ; they'll find it so; 
 
 Like Pharoah they began, 
 Their chariot wheels, they "U shortly knew, 
 
 Will heavily drag on. 
 I said before they'd so appear, 
 
 Like Pharoah's haughty host; 
 But I my chosen men shall clear, 
 
 And lid them off the coast. 
 So now discern how 1 do warn, 
 
 And what was said before, 
 That Satan strong in man would come, 
 
 The e>id for all draws near: 
 My Bible see alike to be, 
 And this I did foretel, 
 The rage of Satan thou would'st see 
 
 In many hearts to swell ; 
 Because in man he now is strong, 
 As X have said before ;
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 12* 
 
 But to the purpose I shall come, 
 
 To open even door ; 
 My Bible's true before your view, 
 
 If you discern the whole 5 
 And all thy writings men may see, 
 
 How they alike do fall ; 
 For if thy writings they read through, 
 
 I told thee from the first, 
 As Satan*s malice th- u didst know, 
 It strong in man v ould burst ; 
 \ And so this day alike thou'st sec, 
 ^ But let them mark the end ; 
 ^ They had no power over thee, 
 ^ Nor could they hurt thv friends. 
 . So I'll kpep oft the coming stroke, 
 " And of m v fi iends take caic ; 
 
 For when the dangers they do break 
 * I tei! them not to fear. 
 
 Because this day, to ail 1 say, 
 *" The shadow's deep for all, 
 ^ How safe my friends 1 ii lead away, 
 ^ When dangers they do fall. 
 
 So here's a warning deep for man, 
 
 A warning deep /or all 
 For mark the sun ag.'in 'tis come 
 
 1 told thee 'twas MY i-.AlN ; 
 Though thou didst tear the rising storav 
 
 And soon began by men, 
 But f dimiss'd, ihcy could not hurst 
 
 With fury on th"e here ; 
 And so, 1 tell t! ee, at the last 
 
 I'll make them disappear. 
 So the sixth dav, mark what I say, 
 
 By this you'll see the end, 
 When Satan's mai.ee w irks with men, 
 
 The way i'l! creen ay friends; 
 And Mien no more my foes appear, 
 
 T ;ii in 'his hoit they're found} 
 And every jnysteiy 1 shali ocar, 
 How ali will t' i'n he . own'd. 
 Because this nUht ! >inj to tin sight 
 
 What J did bid thee Jo, 
 Into mu Spirit all ., 
 
 For J ska '' r't-c /: 
 So with my fiends''!! -ike m eiul ; 
 
 But teP '".'<-. '"in ,-: ., 1! -. , 
 As 1 h.iV" kep ! them l' 1 in fU .e foes - , 
 
 T 1 nd 11 all shu 
 F01 1 1 . ( are . V guaifi hem hei< 
 
 The' a'"-; shall ... .tin ;h 
 
 The m< '( :< 11 f ' ev i:e" ! ' ot " 
 
 'J'hougii 5at . w :. p. rsue , 
 But I'll di\ '. a on : en ,ide 
 The waters that stand i etwt. 
 
 a 2
 
 Ift4 *HE TRIAL O* 
 
 I'll smite the waves, I'll smite the tide, 
 
 My chosen I'll redeem ; 
 For Canaan's shore is now before, 
 
 The happy land they'll see, 
 But let the enemies take care, 
 
 For they des-troy'd shall be ; 
 Because from hell, they must know well, 
 
 The malice all doth burst ; 
 For where's the man on earth can stand 
 
 And see the Promise first ? 
 On Satan's head the curse was laid, 
 
 Can man wish it to free ? 
 I tell thee, No ; it is not so, 
 
 With hell they joined be ; 
 It is from hell their rage doth swell, 
 
 Or they would all submit, 
 To have the curse on Satan fall, 
 
 And tremble at my feet ; 
 As tears this day in some thou'st see, 
 
 So tears would be in all 
 *' Our Saviour's reign we long to see, 
 
 " And have the Tempter fall, 
 " Now above man his curse to come^ 
 
 " He was the root at first ; 
 " And now we wish to cut it down, 
 
 " And have our Lord to burst, 
 " In glory here for to appear, 
 
 " As he at first made man, 
 " We in his likeness might appear, 
 
 " And join the heavenly throng. 
 *' While angels praise, let men now gaze, 
 
 " And wish their conquering Lord 
 < His crown be found, his praise resound, 
 
 " And earth to praise his word." 
 Thus would begin the hearts of men, 
 
 If Satan was not there ; 
 And to his spirit they are bound, 
 
 Nor wish his chain to tear. 
 But now to men I'll reason strong, 
 
 And let them answer me; 
 For to the purpose I shall come 
 
 As men did so agree, 
 The blame at first on me was cast j 
 
 Then let men now appear 
 And tell me why that at the last 
 
 They blame the Woman here, 
 Her Promise claiming to redeem 
 
 Her from her every guilt; 
 That Satan may receive his curse, 
 
 That she so long hath felt ? 
 Oh ! every way. vain men, I say, 
 
 Your maker still you blame ; 
 Jlut soon you'll find there comes a day 
 
 I'll put mankind to shame.
 
 JOANNA 60UTHC0TT. 121 
 
 I tell you plain, you sons of men, 
 
 Man blam'd me at the first ; 
 But now I'm come to make an end, 
 
 The blame on you I'll cast. 
 Your fig-leaves here I'll surely tear, 
 
 And all I'll throw aside ; 
 Your nakedness I'll now make bare 
 
 The field for man is wide, 
 Because this day, to thee 1 say, 
 
 I parted by the storm ; 
 And so they'll find it in that day 
 
 When I do man redeem. 
 The Type's from me, they all must see. 
 
 The weather thou didst not know, 
 When 1 did bid thee to appear 
 
 And meet the people so ; 
 On every hand behold I'm come, 
 
 And every hand now see ; 
 Thy hand was freely oflfer'd here, 
 
 No hand turn'd back by thee 5 
 And so no hand was my command, 
 
 Thou know'ht I said before 
 With all to wed my hand was spread, 
 
 With those that did appear 
 In love to come with them I'd join j 
 
 But now the others see, 
 A gloomy band, by Satan's hand 
 
 A fatal end they'll see, 
 Unless they turn, in sorrow mourn, 
 
 Before it is too late. 
 Yet over some my heart doth yearn, 
 
 To see their awful fate 
 That must come on, to me 'tis known, 
 
 Where unbelief abounds ; 
 They said they wish'd to tread on thee, 
 
 Their end will so be found. 
 Thy labour here I now shall clear, 
 
 The six days thou'st went through; 
 But 1 shall make the mysteries clear, 
 
 And bring all to thy view. 
 When I at first the Woman plac'd 
 
 In the six days for man, 
 And as the evil she did taste, 
 
 His Lord he did condemn ; 
 And now the same, let all discern, 
 
 The six days thou'st went through. 
 And told the manner I do warn, 
 
 What I am come to do : 
 To fix the curse that first was plac'd. 
 
 And now they blame again ; 
 Then how can man the Trial .stand 
 
 Both causes to maintain ? 
 Jf 'twas not good, as first it stood, 
 
 I've cham/d a different way,
 
 126 THE TRIAL OF - 
 
 And to the Promise now allude 
 
 And will men still me blame ? 
 Then you must fall, I tell you all, 
 
 Out of my kingdom come ; 
 The day of vengeance known to all 
 
 You fast are bringing on. 
 So I'll end here, and say no more, 
 
 But let them weigh it deep : 
 For worse than Adam you appear, 
 
 And are more fast asleep , 
 If me you blame, if me you shame, 
 
 In Spirit for to come, 
 Fulfil the Promise that I made 
 
 Oh! answer me, vain men, 
 For Adam's Fall you cannot call 
 
 That you are in the sound; 
 If you refuse the Woman's call, 
 
 Which way will you be found ? 
 No Adams here you can appear, 
 
 But singly stand alone ; 
 The perfect man you ne'er can come, 
 
 Not joined v'dh the bone 
 I took from him, the Promise claim 
 
 Discern, the lines go deep : 
 No Adams here can you appear, 
 
 But you alone may weep." 
 
 At a quarter past five Joanna quitted the room, to 
 ask for directions respecting a point on which the 
 assembly was divided in opinion, which was the pro- 
 priety of inserting the names in the resolutions, un- 
 der the distinction of Judges, Jury, and Elders ; 
 and some time after the following answer was sent in : 
 
 After Joanna's writings went abroad in the world, 
 the first believers that were chosen to judge of them 
 were as follow : 
 
 Rev. Stanhope Bruce. 
 Rev. Thomas Webster. 
 Rev. Tiio. Philip Foley. 
 William Sharp. 
 George Turner. 
 John Wilson. 
 Peter Mori son. 
 
 E L I A S C A !l V E N T E R . 
 
 Wm. Roundell Wetherell. 
 Charles Taylor.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 1-27 
 
 Richard Foley the chilli, with 
 
 William Tooke Harwood. 
 William Jowett. 
 
 One being wanting a child was chosen in his 
 room ; but now a man is chosen with the child ; 
 so the whole make thirteen names. 
 
 The Men that were chosen to be as a Jury, to give 
 in the evidence of their belief, are as follow : 
 
 Charles Abbott. 
 
 Richard Law. 
 
 Elias Jameson Field. 
 
 George Stocks. 
 
 John Morrjs. 
 
 John Hows, in the place of William 
 Coy deceased. 
 
 William Belk. 
 
 William Owen, in the place of Wil- 
 liam Taylor absent. 
 
 John Young. 
 
 Wm. Layton Winter. 
 
 John Torin. 
 
 Thomas Stephens. 
 
 At the first proving all the Jury gave in their opi- 
 nion it was from the Lord ; but as their judgment 
 was condemned by the world at large, the bishops 
 and clergy were appealed to, for any twenty-four to 
 come against the aforesaid twenty- four ; and if they 
 could prove this calling not of God, it was to be given 
 up to their judgment. This being declined by the 
 bishops and clergy, and a report being giyen out 
 that the books came from other men, with Joanna 
 Southcott's signature, she was ordered to call for- 
 ward her witnesses, and have every truth fairly prov- 
 ed, and tried, that every thing came througli her, 
 that is gone out in the world in her name ; and if 
 the clergy refused to come forward, she was ordered 
 to go out hi the highways and hedges and compel
 
 12S THE TRIAL t 
 
 them to come in, that in the presence of an equal 
 number, as before, the truth might be established. 
 To sec this truth cleared up, men came from distant 
 parts of the kingdom ; and Joanna was answered, their 
 labour of love should not be in vain in the Lord ; 
 for as twenty-four ministers could not be obtained to 
 come forward to be witnesses of the truth, and judge 
 from what spirit it came, the following twenty-four 
 were chosen in their stead. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Eyre* 
 John Nisbet. 
 Samuel Hirst. 
 Thomas Senior. 
 John Grimshaw. 
 John Chanter. 
 Edward Lasket. 
 John Ingall. 
 John Middleton. 
 Wheldon Jones. 
 Abel Peplow Sharp. 
 John Crook. 
 Jedediah Holland. 
 James Spring. 
 Wm. Rea. 
 John Bedford. 
 Rich. Goldsmith. 
 Wm. Brandon. 
 John Bullen Pritchard, 
 John Mackay. 
 Robert Etre. 
 Abraham Crouch. 
 Wm. Booth. / 
 
 Rich. Messenger. 
 
 John Scott, Attorney. 
 
 And by their judgment I was to stand or fall, that 
 I might be freed by the laws of God and man ; being 
 told if it was not of God, he would have worked in 
 twenty -four men to come forward against the otfty-r
 
 JOANNA 80UTHCOTT. 1ZQ 
 
 twenty-four, and overturned the whole ; but as it is 
 of God, no man hath appeared to overthrow it. So 
 where is the man that can condemn mc now ? Un- 
 less he will come forth like the Serpent, and say, 
 thou shalt not obey the command of the Lord ; for 
 now I tell all men, worse than the Serpent men must 
 appear, that wish me to act contrary to my own 
 knowledge, faith, and conscience ; for where is the 
 man that can answer for me in the hour of death, 
 and in the day of judgment? Who can answer for 
 my soul ? or stand in my stead ? Do I not see, he 
 that began the work hath carried it on, and brought 
 the whole to the Gospel ? And no man hath come 
 against me ; the Lord hath been with me, according 
 to his Promise. When I look backward, and now 
 that I look forward, I see the wisdom of God shin- 
 ing bright in every line, in his direction and pro- 
 tection to me ; then where is my adversary that 
 wishes me to provoke my God, when he hath never 
 forsaken nor deserted me, but kept me in on every 
 side from the wrath of men and devils ? though 
 both with fury would seek my life ; but it hath been 
 hid with God in Christ. And now let men try to 
 put me to confusion by the Signs I shall set before 
 them ; for what hath been concealed shall now be 
 revealed of the Sign set to my enemies. 
 
 Now if my foes will try the cause once more, 
 
 Then of themselves I bid them now appear, 
 
 And judge the calling by the following lines : 
 
 "1'is of my Trance 1 tell them of the Sign; 
 
 That if the clergy did against me burst, 
 
 Into a Trance 1 was told at the first 
 
 The Lord would throw me, when my foe^ did comr 
 
 So if my judges they do all condemn, 
 
 Then equal love 1 bid them now to shew, 
 
 And say; " the cause we'll surely try and know, 
 
 * Whether the Trance will unto her appear'" 
 
 1 gave my foes my leave to try me here, 
 
 If like my friends they will the whole go through. 
 
 Call all together as my friends did do ; 
 
 For now I've told them of the perfect Siijn : 
 
 The wisdom of the Lord stands still behind, 
 
 K
 
 130 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 To see in man what rtow there will appear, 
 When I've made public every Sign so clear. 
 When friends and foes do all together meet 
 To try the calling, if there is deceit. 
 
 And now I shall give the lines at large spoken in 
 ninety-four, when I was ordered to write to the clergy 
 at Exeter, that when they all came forward to try 
 the cause, friends and foes, it was said 
 
 " When thou seest the seals are all brought in, 
 
 The lighted candles in their sockets bum, 
 
 Then in thy wonder thou wilt stand aniaz'd, 
 
 And round the room thou'lt in confusion ga*e; 
 
 And then thou'lt say, these things are for thee too high, 
 
 And by thy weakness thou wilt faint away; 
 
 Rut then for colfins let them none prepare, 
 
 But change thy dream and now forbid it here." 
 
 Again in ninety- six when k was said that maft 
 would demand the truth of me 
 
 * And surely make thee brave the storm. 
 
 And m'md no fainting here ; 
 Then when my Jury all do meet, 
 
 Part of the time 'twill be 
 That 1 shall throw thee in a Trance, 
 
 And shew thee my decrees ; 
 And how the books are scald abov* 
 
 That thou hast seal'd below ; 
 And how my Spirit it doth move, 
 
 Then thou wilt better know, 
 And then thy Guide thou'lt surely sec, 
 
 That cloth with thee converse; 
 And every mystery thou shalt know, 
 
 That hath disturb'd thy breast." 
 
 Then it goes on to my return 
 
 " That likea ghost appear to most, 
 To bring the tidings down." 
 
 In all this my death followeth, only my coffin for- 
 bidden when I first fall away ; but this I shall put in 
 more regular order when I find it in my books : 
 but know before this comes, it is said in my writings, 
 I shall provoke them to anger and jealousy, to bring 
 on my awful Trial. 
 
 " And now, Joanna, I shall answer thee. To 
 singer and to jealousy will many be provoked, when
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 131 
 
 thy book goeth out in the world, that must be called 
 thy Trial: but know thy Trial must prove thy 
 Death, or how could these words be fulfilled ? 
 
 Canst thou be tried by such men 
 
 As John and I were here ? 
 Thou answerest, No; for thou should'it die 
 
 Thy nature is too weak ; 
 Then down thy life I'd freely lay 
 
 No man hath it room to take. 
 Such Trial thou shalt never bear 
 
 As John and 1 went through ; 
 I'd sooner take thee to my care, 
 
 And give mankind their due. 
 
 Now 1 shall shew thee, from these words, " tak- 
 ing thy life from thee :" I shall throw thee in a 
 Trance, when thy accusers come against thee, to 
 put it out of their power to abuse thee ; but for the 
 sake of thy friends and believers, and to make known 
 unto them my firm decrees, I shall return thee to 
 the world again. So friends and foes must be to- 
 gether, and the candles that are lighted burning in 
 their sockets ; and then know what is said, when 
 slidedup they will give a greater light ; but all this 
 will happen at thy death ; as I told thee thy death 
 would convince more than thy life." 
 
 After the above had been read, about seven o'clock, 
 wine and cakes were brought in, to be administered 
 to the company, in the manner that Joanna had 
 practised among her friends, and agreeably to the 
 following communication : 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I shall give thee directions, as I 
 am come to the fulfilment of the Scriptures ; and 
 they shall be fulfilled in thee, and by thee. These 
 that have not the Law, and do by nature the things 
 contained in the Law, are a Law unto themselves ; 
 now, by the conduct of the ministers ; and my Spi- 
 rit being a ministring Spirit to thee, thou hast for- 
 saken the Law of the Gospel of late, to meet in the 
 churches and receive the Sacrament from the hand| 
 of men ; yet thou hast been a Law unto thyself, in 
 
 R2
 
 132 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 drinking the wine in remembrance of me, with 
 these words in thy heart, and en thy tongue : 
 
 May I drink deep into the Spirit of Christ; 
 And may his Blood cleanse me from all sin ! 
 
 Now let all the believers join with thee in heart 
 and tongue ; let the wine be poured into one cup, 
 and let it be handed round by the ministers ; but 
 let the words be repeated by every one that drink- 
 eth. First begin with thee ; then follow with all 
 the women, as I am come to redeem the Fall of wo- 
 men ; then every man in his order, the ministers 
 first, then go on to the twelve that were chosen with 
 them ; then to the Jury ; then to the twenty-four 
 Elders ? then to the witnesses, every man in his or- 
 der, one after the other, as the calling hath been. 
 For though this is not a sacrament, yet let this be 
 the desire of their hearts, if they wish for a double 
 
 Eortion of my Spirit to be poured out upon them 
 ereafter ; for all that they have seen and heard, 
 and any joy that they have felt, is but a shadow of 
 what is to come ; and let them know, from my dis- 
 ciples, whatever power of my Spirit they felt in my 
 Life, they felt it much stronger by the power of the 
 Floly Ghost, after my Death; for then came the 
 days' of Pentecost. And after thy death, I shall 
 strengthen my disciples much stronger, when thou 
 art gone ; but while thou art living, all must come 
 to thee; all must come through thee; and thou 
 standest the Trial for the whole." 
 
 After every one had drank, and returned the cup, 
 Joanna pronounced these words : lt As we all have 
 drank, in one cup, may we drink into one faith, and 
 may that faith be in Christ !" This solemn and af- 
 fecting ceremony being concluded, Joanna delivered 
 a most impreffive discourse upon the general tenor of 
 tier mission, which brought her to this Trial. After 
 this, she spoke on the accomplishment of her mission
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 133 
 
 by her awful Trial before men ; and In so doing her 
 principal object was to impress on her friends a cau- 
 tion against entertaining any sentiments, which 
 tended to exalt her, or themselves, in consequence 
 of being called to this mission : For, said she " I 
 am but the clay in the hands of the potter." And 
 as to her being called the Bride " This is but the 
 shadow in one of what the substance will be to all, 
 when the Bridegroom cometh." She dwelt with 
 peculiar energy on this point; and which, it is 
 hoped, made a due impression upon the mind of 
 every one present. 
 
 At nine o'clock Joanna sealed up the writings, 
 which are to be kept till, after her death, and the 
 signatures and seals of several present were also add- 
 ed ; and the packet was then delivered into the 
 possession of one of the judges. 
 
 After this, as a part of the ceremony before de- 
 scribed, Joanna handed cakes to her female friends, 
 which they broke among one another in token of love 
 and friendship ; and the men helped themselves f - 
 the same purpose, and then all was a scene of joy i r. 
 mirth, in the midst of which Joanna took a final 
 leave of her friends and retired. 
 
 The proceedings were then resumed by taking 
 the ultimate Resolutions into consideration again, 
 when they were agreed to unanimously, and then a 
 fair copy having been prepared it was read at half 
 past eleven, being as follows : 
 
 Necklnger House, Bcrmondscy, ?iear London, 
 Dec. 11, ro04. 
 
 We whose names are hereunto subscribed, being 
 invited by Divine Command, for seven days, to the 
 examination of Joanna Southcott's Prophecies, do, 
 for the following reasons, individually and volunta- 
 rily avow, by our separate signatures, our firm be- 
 lief, that her Prophecies and other Spiritual Commit-
 
 \Zi THE TRIAL OP 
 
 locations emanate wholly and entirely from the Spirit 
 of the living Lord : and happily encouraged by this 
 belief pray, as we ought to do, that our Saviour 
 Jesus Christ may exercise his power on earth for the 
 destruction of sin, and the removal of Satan, who is 
 now cast ; and the Woman is now freed, by the up- 
 lifted hands of all present, being about seventy in 
 number, who cast their ****** at the feet of 
 their Lord *, wishing him speedily to bring in his 
 glorious Kingdom of Peace upon earth, that all 
 might worship him in spirit and in truth, that finally 
 he may triumph over death, hell, and the grave. 
 
 Because it appears to us, that that passage in the 
 Scripture is now fulfilled, where the kingdom of 
 heaven is likened unto a woman's having a little 
 leaven, which she was to hide in three measures of 
 meal ; and because this likeness is now accom- 
 plished, by Joanna Southcott's three Trials, called by 
 the command of the Lord : namely, the first Trial 
 held in Exeter, for seven davs, in the Christmas of 
 1801, when the word of God was leavened by the 
 Truth ; the second held at the High House, Pad- 
 ding-ton, for seven days, commencing January the 
 12th, 1803, when it was leavened again by the 
 Truth ; and the third held at the Neckinger House, 
 Bermondsey, near London, for seven days, com- 
 mencing December the 5th, and ending this day, 
 December the llth, 1804, when the word of God 
 was again leavened by the Truth. 
 
 Because it appears to us, that Man's temporal 
 Redemption can never take place, before the Spirit 
 of the Lord comes 'o clear the Woman from the 
 Pall, as is promised iu the third chapter of Genesis, 
 of her seed's bruising the serpent's head. 
 
 Because it appears to us, this must be fulfilled in 
 one Woman, first as a shadow, before the substance 
 comes to all. 
 
 Because it appears to us, this must be accom- 
 plished by the Spirit of the Lord coming to the 
 * Kcvela'tion iv. 10.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. )3$ 
 
 AVoman, to make her the perfect' Helpmate to Man, 
 as promised in the Creation. 
 
 Because it appears to us, from a close and candid 
 investigation of Joanna Southcotts Writings, com- 
 paring them with the Scripture of Truth, that she is 
 fully empowered, by the Spirit of Christ, to claim 
 that Promise made to the Woman in the Creation, 
 and now revealed to her, that her seed should bruise 
 Satan's head *. 
 
 Because this Prophecy must be accomplished, 
 that our Blessed Lord may see theTravail of his Soul 
 and be satisfied ; and may have that Day of Ven- 
 geance, which he had, in his heart, perfected. 
 
 Because with joy and gladness we join the Wo- 
 man hand and heart, to claim the above Promise, 
 aud wish it to be speedily and radically fulfilled, that 
 the Year of his Redeemed may come. 
 
 Because it appears to us, that Satan's head has 
 never yet been bruised, and that the sentence passed 
 upon him at the Fall hath never been accomplished. 
 
 Because it appears to us, that that Prophecy of 
 Bruising the Heel of our Blessed Lord hath been ful- 
 filled, when the Powers of Darkness worked in the 
 hearts of Men to murder our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Because it appears to us, that the great seducer of 
 the Woman's innocence at first, and in all ages since 
 the Fall, has been the cause of murders, lies, and 
 every crime; and now is revealed by the Spirit of 
 Christ to the Woman, to be the Man of Sin, and 
 the Son of Perdition, working in every human heart 
 to be at enmity against their God . 
 
 Because it appears to us, that the Promise made 
 at the Creation, for the Woman to be the Helpmate 
 to Man, is now fulfilling, through Christ, the Cor- 
 ner Stone of Human Redemption. 
 
 Because it appears to us, that the sufferings of our 
 Divine Master, who, for Man's sake, sweated drops 
 of bood, must have been as greatly beyond our hu- 
 
 No woman, from the Creation to this day, ever claimed such u 
 Prqraise as this, u>at is now claimed by Joanua.
 
 ' THE TRIAL OW 
 
 man comprehension, as was his spotless innocence; 
 j whose divine Love and Pity were superior to 
 v human affection. 
 
 Because it appears to us, that the Day of Vengeance, 
 which Christ had in his heart, must be to turn it 
 hack on Satan, who worked in the Man to cast the 
 blame upon the Lord of Life and Glory, and which 
 proves the justness of Satan's curse being above 
 every living creature. 
 
 And because it appears to us, that our dear Re- 
 deemer's mercy is clear in promising to send the 
 Spirit and the Bride, to invite that all who hear and 
 will may take of the Water of Life freely. And 
 thanks be to God, from the clearest and most de- 
 monstrative evidence, displayed before us, we are 
 fully convinced, that the happy time is now fast ap- 
 proaching. 
 
 Stanhope Bruce. 
 
 Thos. Webster. 
 
 Thos. P. Foley. 
 
 Wjllm. Sharp. 
 
 Geo. Turner. 
 
 John Wilson. 
 
 Peter Mori son. 
 
 Elias Carpenter. 
 
 William ]{. Wetherell. 
 
 Charles Taylor. 
 
 W. Tooke Ha R WOOD. 
 
 William Jowett. 
 
 Charles Abbott. 
 
 Richard Law. 
 
 Elias Jameson Field-. 
 
 George Stocks. 
 
 John Morris. 
 
 John Hows. 
 
 Wm. Belk. 
 
 William Owen. 
 
 JoTTN---N-h 
 
 W. Layton Winter, 
 John Torin.
 
 joanna southcott* 137 
 
 Thos. Stephens. 
 
 Saml. Eyre. 
 
 John Nisbet. 
 
 Samuel Hirst. 
 
 Thos. Senior. 
 
 John Grimshaw. 
 
 John Chanter. 
 
 Edward Laske* - . 
 
 John In gall. 
 
 .John Middleton. 
 
 Wheldon Jones. 
 
 A. P. Sharp. 
 
 John Crook. 
 
 Jedediah Holland. 
 
 James Spring. 
 
 William Rea. 
 
 John Bedford. 
 
 Rfchd. Goldsmith. 
 
 Willm. Brandon. 
 
 John Bullen Pritcjiard. 
 
 John Mackay. 
 
 Robert Eyre. 
 
 a r r a ham c 110 u c ii . 
 
 Wm. Booth. 
 
 Rich. Messenger. 
 
 These Resolutions and Reasons were read over by the 
 Rev. Thos. P. Foley, on the 11//; of Decem- 
 
 bt ?\ 1 SOJ , lo the persons whose names are here- 
 unto written and signed by them in my presence 3 
 
 John Scott. 
 
 The above Resolutions having been signed by the 
 .assembly individually, so that the whole was finished 
 a few minutes before midnight, the object of our 
 being called together \v.:s thus terminated within 
 the time appointed, and which completed the seven 
 days Trial of Joanna Southcott. 
 
 3
 
 138 THE TRIAL OF 
 
 The following Remarks made by Joanna on the pro- 
 ceedings of her Trial, and Communications there- 
 on, are, by her direction, inserted here, to conclude 
 the Book. 
 
 The Book of my Trial not being hastily printed, I 
 have had an opportunity of looking over my sealed 
 writings, wherein I can prove to the world, that in 
 the years 17Q(3 and 1 797, I was perfectly foretold of 
 the unbeliefof the Methodists in general; how they 
 would act like the unbelieving Jews, who believed 
 they were Abraham's seed, and had no need of a 
 Saviour ; and that just so were the self-righteous 
 Christians at this day, who believe they have an in- 
 terest in Christ, and wanted no warning of his com- 
 ing, but judged they were the righteous that it 
 should go well with ; and, like the Jews of old, they 
 would mock the warning. This astonished me at 
 the time ; but seeing the truth verified the more 
 astonishes me now ; how it is possible that men call- 
 ed Christians can see the judgments that have been 
 already in our land, and see the distressed situation 
 our country is now in, with the sword hanging over 
 our heads ; that men can be so bold and confident 
 as to mock in the midst of dangers, and professors of 
 religion now hardening men's hearts to tell them 
 there are none ! This appears marvellous in my eyes ; 
 yet it verifies and fulfils my prophecies. At the same 
 dates, I was told of the conduct of the clergy of the 
 Church of England, how they would be like the fruit 
 that was fallen with a black veil round them * ; and 
 yet it would come to the standard of the church ; 
 for by the church ministers the good fruit would be 
 brought in, and from them the good fruit would 
 spring \ 
 
 * See page 14 of my First Booknf Prophecies, and also page SO of 
 the same book. 
 | See pa^e y of the same book.
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. ] 3Q 
 
 *' Back to the Church the standard all must come." 
 
 Now if men weigh all the conduct of the church 
 ministers together they must see the truth of both : 
 though these are but shadows that are printed, to 
 what is in my sealed writings. Now it must be made 
 known unto all men, that my writings went first out 
 into the world, by the judgment of the Rev. Mr. 
 Pomeroy, in 1801 ; as he ordered me to cut the 
 seals, and have some copied out and sent to him ; 
 and his command I was ordered to obey, and write 
 to four ministers besides, for them to judge of the 
 writings ; but as they refused, they were put in print 
 by Mr. Pomerov's judgment alone, after he had them 
 in his possession more than a fortnight; he gave them 
 himself into mj- hands, as I before had told him they 
 must go in print ; and to which he made answer, 
 that he could not blame me. Then all must know he 
 must justify me ; for in a cause like this, if k is not 
 blameable it is justifiable. If it be of the Devil it is 
 blameable to go out in the world ; if it be from a 
 disordered head, or a farrago of nonsence, it is still 
 blameable; but if it be of God it is not blameable. 
 And this was Mr. Pomerov's judgment at iirst ; and 
 by his judgment they went out in the world, as I was 
 commanded by the Lord ; as no minister came for- 
 ward to condem them. Now the world might say, how 
 came Mr. Pomeroy to go from his first judgment ? 
 I answer, in so doing he hath fulfilled a prophecy 
 that was given to me in 1 7()7, that if he turned back 
 to deny like Peter, it would be for the fear of men 
 that would mock him. Now I can prove to the 
 whole world I have now found this in my sealed 
 writings, which in many places speak of his falling 
 back ; and he hath since verified the truth ; for he 
 told me himself, at the end of the year 1801, how 
 much he was mocked by the clergy, w Inch made h:m 
 deny all his former words ; and the truth about him 
 was all foretold. Now I shall come further to the 
 standard of the Church. After my writings went out m 
 
 S 2
 
 140 THE TRTAL OF 
 
 the world no preachers of any religion came forward, 
 but the three ministers of the established Church ; 
 though some men of other religions came after and 
 joined them, when they were assembled to prove my 
 writings. And now it is come to the fulfilment of 
 the Gospel : the third time that the Lord hath called 
 it forward, different sects and parties of religion ap- 
 peared ; but there was no minister of any religion but 
 of the Church, that joined the other twenty -four. So 
 here the church ministers stand at the head of each 
 Trial, according to the prophecies before given to 
 me. Now I shall appeal to every man's conscience, 
 if I had been an impostor, or if my writings came 
 from the devil, or any spirit that was not from the 
 Lord, would all have come so perfectly true ? and 
 the hearts of all men be foretold to me r or are they 
 all known to the devil ? I can assure them they were 
 not known to me, till revealed to me by the Spirit. 
 But had I been left to draw my own judgment, I 
 should have thought the Methodists would have 
 been the first that would have come in, because they 
 pretend to preach of the visitation of the Lord ; but 
 I was told they did not believe what they preached : 
 and true I have found it. Now I have another obser- 
 vation to make to man : Had my Trial been fixed by 
 the devil, that when friends and foes did meet to- 
 gether, that is believers and unbelievers, that he 
 would throw me in a Trance, as it is said in 17)^j 
 when they meet in this manner 
 
 " 1 shall throw thee in aTiance, 
 
 And shew thee my decree-, 
 
 And how the hooks are scald above 
 
 That thou hast seai'd below ; 
 
 And bow my Spirit it dctli move 
 
 Then thou wilt smicIv know, 
 
 And then tby (ii'iDic thou'lt surely tec, 
 
 That ''o h with thee o -liver, e ; 
 
 Then everv mvsterv thou -hr.lt know, 
 
 That hath distuib'j tin lma-t." 
 
 Now if this Trance was pbced by the devil, and 
 ^if six or eight strong opposers and unbeliever's v\e;e
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 141 
 
 present, do men vainly believe, that the Lord had 
 not so many men whose hearts he could influence to 
 come forward and confound the whole, by calling 
 the Trance forward ? and if that did not appear, 
 to publish to the world it was all a delusion, for 
 they had come to the standard of my writings, when 
 enemies, opposers, and friends, were all present to- 
 gether, and nothing had then happened to convince 
 the unbelievers, they must then have confounded 
 the whole. Now it cannot be said, the hearts ef all 
 men are in the hands of the Lord, if this calling 
 came from any wrong spirit, and the Lord could not 
 bring forward six or eight men to prove it so, lo con- 
 found the devil, and to prove this calling was not 
 from ihe Lord ; for the eye of the Lord is every 
 where present, and from whatever spirit my writings 
 ' came, he knew better how they stood than I did, 
 and hath acted in every way to make them perfectly 
 true, contrary to my judgment : but if men will say it 
 is not the Lord's doing, then they must put all the 
 knowledge and power of God out of the question, 
 and say, the whole world lieth in the wicked one, 
 the-devil ; but, as it is written " the hearts of all 
 men are in the hands of the Lord :" and, " it is I the 
 Lord that worketh in the hearts of my people to will 
 and to do of my good pleasure." Now I must ap- 
 peal to all men's consciences, who it was, that work- 
 ed in the hearts of men that came forward to fulfil 
 the Gospel, and make my writings so perfectly true, 
 that men should thus strengthen me to go on ? And 
 now I affirm to the whole world, my hand is 
 strengthened by believers, and much more strength- 
 ened by the unbelievers; as it is marve'lous in my 
 eyes, how the great professors of relgion can so de- 
 part from the Gospel, and so much from ti eir 
 own preaching, as they now do, so perfectly a-. I 
 was foretold. Now if they will say tins was from 
 the dev 1, they must say their hearts were known to 
 the devil, and that they are a people unknown to
 
 142 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 the Lord : but this prophecy is now fulfilled to my 
 astonishment; and all the conduct of these pretended 
 Christians is foretold, as well as the events of all 
 nations : for when I look to my writings, that have 
 been so many years sealed up, I find in them every 
 thing is so foretold. And now I shall come to ano- 
 ther observation : It was never my wisdom to keep 
 my writings sealed up ; but by the directions of the 
 Spirit, from whose revelations I have known all things, 
 they were ordered to be sealed up, and so many wit- 
 nesses placedto see the truth. Now when the world had 
 made so many false reports, that I was an impostor, it 
 was by the wisdom of the same Spirit, to have all these 
 witnesses called forward to clear my honour, prove 
 my upright dealings, and put all my enemies to 
 shame ; that is, to prove them liars, which shews my 
 enemies are led by the devil, and from him their 
 malice comes. Now I must be void of reason, and 
 so must every man, to believe that the devil would 
 so wisely and prudently direct me to go on to clear 
 my own conscience, and to confound all my ene- 
 mies ; for I now defy the learned world, and all the 
 boasted Christians upon earth, to prove from the Bi- 
 ble, that they have acted so consistent with the rules 
 of the Law and the Gospel, with the rules of God 
 and man, as I have acted by the direction of the 
 Spirit, that hath strongly visited me from 1792 to 
 this day ; so if men will say this Spirit is from the 
 devil, they must say there is more justice, more ho- 
 nour, honesty, and upright dealings in him than 
 there is in man. But it would be blasphemy in me, 
 of the blackest die, if 1 was to place this upright 
 dealing to the devil, in whom I believe there is no 
 honour, no justice, nor truth ; and I am sorry to 
 say, I see too much of his spirit amongst mankind, 
 save those who acted according to the Scriptures, 
 and like the disciples of old, made diligent search 
 to seek into every truth, and weighed the whole with 
 the tenor of the Bible, and drew their judgment
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 143 
 
 therefrom, believing God to be the God of Truth ; 
 that he would fulfil at last what he promised at first ; 
 and this belief was placed in the hearts of all the 
 men that were present. 
 
 But one thing more appears marvellous in my eyes: 
 ATany women were present who before were full of 
 unbelief, but the Lord shewed no wondrous work- 
 ing to convince them, nor ever promised to do it 
 to convince women, if forty had been present; and 
 yet he hath promised to shew his wondrous works 
 for the sake of ten men. This appears marvellous 
 in my eyes, more so than all my writings, that as 
 this visitation is to a Woman, that the Lord never 
 promised any wondrous working to convince the un- 
 belief of women ; but all his promises are to con- 
 vince the unbelief of men, if they come forward to 
 search into the Truth through unbelief. At this I 
 still marvel. 
 
 THE ANSWER OF THE LORD. 
 
 " Now, Joanna, I shall answer thee. I said, 
 when thou hadst drawn thy judgment, I should an- 
 swer thee again ; and now, from thy last judgment 
 thou hast drawn of women, I shall answer thee. 
 Know the woman was in the transgression ; know 
 she gave it to the man, and drew him in to fall witli 
 her ; and by the man the blame was cast on me, 
 for giving him the woman ; then know it is the 
 man, and not the woman, that my working is to 
 convince. If the woman obeyed the .serpent at first, 
 and knew the promise I made her, yet if she is still 
 determined to abide by her Fall, never claim the 
 Promise, never wish to have it fulfilled, but deter- 
 mines to abide in darkness ; as she was the trans- 
 gressor to go on in her transgressions against God 
 and man, what have T to do with the woman, to 
 work miracles to convince her ? Let women know, 
 it was not the man brought the Fall on her ; but it 
 was the woman brought the Fall on man. It was 
 not the man that was taken from the woman ; but
 
 14 i THE TRIAL OF 
 
 the woman was taken from the man ; then women- 
 must know, they are the transgressors, and not the 
 man. Now, as the man was betrayed by the wo- 
 man, and east his blame on mi:, for giving him the 
 woman, in justice to my own honour, and in jus- 
 tice to man, it. is to man I must clear myself, that I 
 did not give him the woman in -vain. But what jus- 
 tice have I due to the women, if they are determined 
 to stand out through unbelief ] and abide with the master 
 they first fell by ? They cannot say the man be- 
 guiled them ; they cannot say the Lord beguiled 
 them ; but the answer was, " the Serpent beguiled 
 me." So I eay once more, as I have said already, 
 if they are determined to abide by that master; if 
 they are determined to refuse the Promise, that 
 man might abide for ever under the condemnation 
 of the Fall, that she drew the man into, I have no 
 honour to clear there ; No ; my honour is to man, 
 who thought he should not have fallen, if it had not 
 been for the woman ; and thought he was robbed 
 both by Her and Mi: ; by my taking the bone from' 
 him. and making; the woman which caused his FalJ. 
 
 So let iliv pondering thoughts be o'er, 
 
 For thou mavest marvel more, 
 When 1 go on to shew thee plain 
 
 The ocean and the shore : 
 The ocean see, I now tell thee, 
 
 Did from the Woman burst; 
 Oceans of sin. and misery 
 
 IV, Satan's aits were cast. 
 So on the sea, I now do say, 
 
 Of sorrow, it was plae'd. 
 The Promise I did give to she, 
 
 Might like a ship be east 
 To have her anchor li.xt secure, 
 
 And to the Fuomisk stand ; 
 Then she may make her ship secure, 
 
 And bring her men to land; 
 But if she'll'say another way, 
 
 " I will no anchor cast 
 " I'll fear no temnest in the way, 
 
 ' The ships mav all be lost ; 
 " For 1 II go on as I've begun, 
 
 " First tainted by the Fait; 
 " I wan; no pro he now to claim 
 
 " Tu free, mankind at all."
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 145 
 
 Then here the Woman stands condemn' d # 
 
 If she this way 550011, 
 And say her Promise she'll not claim. 
 
 But now I'll turn to Man ; 
 So he and 1 the cause must try 
 
 With women that do claim 
 The Promise clear for to appear. 
 
 That you might all regain 
 The loss by she, complete in mej 
 
 But all must understand, 
 No Woman there can then appear, 
 
 When I reveal to Man 
 The perfect Fall, and clear the whole* 
 
 No Woman there can be 
 That doth not see her Promise clear, 
 
 And plead her cause like thee: 
 That it is just Satan is cast, 
 
 As I said at the first, 
 And now, 1 tell you, at the last 
 
 Thy Trial so must burst. 
 But in that day, I now do say, 
 
 If women should appear 
 In unbelief, they'd see their grief, 
 
 To fall in deep despair; 
 My answer strong to them must come, 
 
 As Satan would confound : 
 You listen'd to his poisonous tongue, 
 
 Now tremble at the sound! 
 Can you appear against me here 
 
 And .-.ay you him believ'd? 
 And now again for to maintain, 
 
 Your God will you deceive? 
 Satan at first that way did burst, 
 
 Persuade her I did lie ; 
 No death on her there should be cast, 
 
 But they as gods should be. 
 So here with him she did begin, 
 
 But own'd she was betray 'd; 
 Then next my words must now be seen, 
 
 To cast it on his head; 
 So here my word is on record, 
 
 M v Promise like the first ; 
 Bui ii again you mock your Lord, 
 
 And with the serpent burst 
 Again 1 lie doth Satan say, 
 
 And make you this believe, 
 Then you may stumble in the way, 
 
 And Satan doth deceive. 
 So if you come with him to join, 
 
 In unbelief appear, 
 You cannot answer, like the Man, 
 
 Twas 1 had foil'd you there, 
 The second time, call all to mind, 
 
 if I fonjat e the first. 4 
 
 T
 
 146 THfi TRIAL Of* 
 
 Then how to her can I appear 
 
 Jn honour to dispute; 
 The serpent he beguiled she, 
 
 And therefore 1 am mute, 
 If she goeth on with him to join, 
 
 And will not turn to ME, 
 To say, "thy Promise, Lord, I claim* 
 
 " hor thou to set me free ; 
 " I see my guilt, and it 1 felt, 
 
 " For to draw in the man ; 
 " But if thy Blood for me was spilt 
 
 " I trust 'tis not in vain ; 
 " Thon wilt nof scorn, as thou wast bora 
 
 " Of Woman at the first; 
 " Though Satan's arts were all unknown, 
 
 " And by them I was cast, 
 " But still in thee the strength must be>- 
 
 " That did in love appear, 
 " And of the Woman to be born, 
 
 " I see my help lie there." 
 Thus must begin the Woman's tongue* 
 
 And this she must believe, 
 That for her ransom here I come 
 
 To make her foe to grieve; 
 And on the herd that her betray' d 
 My avenging Blood must come; 
 And this must be the Woman's plead. 
 
 As 1 of her was born. 
 Another way, to thee I say, 
 
 I cannot t'vc.c their Fall, 
 In Satan's hand if they will stand, 
 
 No Promise plead at all, 
 Nor vet believe I shall reprieve, 
 
 According to my word. 
 From Parables I shall appear, 
 
 And then discern your Lord 
 How back to man T now shall come, 
 
 From Pomeroy I'll appear; 
 The way that fust he led thee on 
 Let ail men now see clear 
 ^o let them know lie was thy judge at first, 
 And from his judgment all believers burst, 
 And from his judgment let them all go on, 
 And from his judgment 1 shall answer man. 
 lie stood thy Judge, and said he would not blame: 
 So when he turu'd 'twas man put him to shame ; 
 But now from man his destiny thou dost see; 
 And now from man judge what thy end would be, 
 If thou for man, like him, had here drawn back: 
 1 ask, which way thy honour they'd protect ? 
 Or, how thy conscience they could ever screen; 
 Discern thv fall and see it in the man ! 
 Because a Proverb he stands deep for all ; 
 The fear of man brought on his every fall ; 
 And bad the fear of man been so in thee, 
 Thy final fall* thy ruin thou would'st *e :
 
 7 
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 1* 
 
 For^twould have been much greater than the man's 
 
 I say, his house was built upon the sand, 
 
 Where storms and tempests quickly threw it down ; 
 
 But on the Rock of Ages thine was found, 
 
 Because thy building was so strong in me: 
 
 A faithless God thou say'st could never be, 
 
 If that my Bible ever could be true ; 
 
 The Law and Gospel thou call'-t to thy view, 
 
 And all my Promises that were on record; 
 
 So from my Bible thou st believ'd my word, 
 
 - To be a God that will not man deceive ; 
 This is a faith that few men do believe ! 
 
 - Therefore their houses they are on the sand 
 -The unbelief in man can never stand ; 
 
 For when thy Trial men have read all through, 
 
 And see the Truth of all before their view, 
 
 And in what manner all is carried on, 
 
 They must confess the Lord to them's unknown. 
 
 If that thy writings ever come from hell, 
 
 And he that wondrous Sign to thee did tell, 
 
 And I'd no Friend to make him to appear 
 
 To prove his lies, if lies from him they were. 
 
 Then sure the hearts of none are in my hand I 
 
 If thou art blind, in blindness thou may'st stand. 
 
 And so in blindness all my Friends might be> 
 
 If I could work in none the Truth to see : 
 
 Then sure my honour truly must be lost, 
 
 And Satan still in wisdom he might boast, 
 
 If to his wisdom fools did give it up. 
 
 Let men observe the way thy Trial dropt, 
 
 And of their goodness let them boast no more, 
 
 For I shall answer, as I said before : 
 
 My Law and Gospel they have thrown aside, 
 
 And every truth I've said must be applied, 
 The hearts of all men I told thee before 
 Thou know'st the shell I bid thee open there, 
 Black was the veil andshrivell'd all within * j 
 Just so I said men's hearts to me were seen ; 
 But as the Trees in ranks did then appear, 
 I shew'd the fruit to thee that then was there, 
 And said, when ripen'd, it would sure be good. 
 And to believers I shall all allude; 
 And now I tell thee they may ripen fast; 
 The fruit is fallen, and the veil is cast, 
 To see their hearts are wrinkl'd so within. 
 They judge their God hath nothing known or seen 
 Of all the wondrous writings thou'st went through. 
 And now I'll bring it plainer to thy view : 
 If they believe my Eye is every where, 
 And yet let Satan make the Truth appear, 
 Then all my Bible they may judge the same, 
 And say from him then all tin* Truth did come. 
 And now he's come for to fulfil the whole. 
 If he could tell thee how all this would fall, 
 
 * See the First Book of Prophecies, page SO. 
 
 T 2
 
 148 THE TRIAL OP 
 
 And plainly shew thee all the hearts of men, 
 Before thou'st tried them how the end would come* 
 And say professed Christians thou would'stsee : 
 Just like the Jews of old did act with me, 
 The Gentiles now would act with thee the same, 
 And yet profess to love my every Name! 
 The Jews profess'd to love their Lord at first, 
 And thought it right against the Son to burst; 
 And now the Gentiles they are just the same, 
 Against my Spirit they in rage are come; 
 And all these things I told thee of before, 
 The hearts of men, the tumults and the war, 
 The dearth and scarcity that would abound 
 But now 'tis come to tremble at the sound, 
 Because the shadows all are past before, 
 You'll find the substance to be hastening near; 
 As from your conduct I do plainly see, 
 No man had love to try the cause for me, 
 But those that did believe it from their God ; 
 Then here's the fruit, it must to all be know'd, 
 That on the trees did unto thee appear, 
 And here's the fruit 1 in the end shall clear; 
 But how the fallen fruit can k now stand, 
 When I have brought the whole so plain to man ? 
 
 If that from Satan now thy writings be, 
 
 ^ I'd not one Friend come forth in love to me ; 
 -*v But if from me thy writings surely come, 
 ^^ I have but few that do regard my Name. 
 So by their mockery let them now to fear, 
 And from my Bible 1 shall answer here : 
 A controversy I've held out with Wan, 
 But to the purpose I shall surely come ; 
 Because, I tell them, 1 have long given ear 
 The words and arguments of men to hear; 
 So now, vain men, astonish'd you may be, 
 When 1 in anger break, my fury see. 
 
 I've done a thing I never did before; 
 
 1 chose a Woman that was low and poor, 
 Without a husband ever to protect ; 
 And for her father, he could not direct, 
 Because bis age and poverty was so, 
 Without assistance she alone did go, 
 But I did direct her to the Shepherds" care ; 
 And now I ask them, how they'll all appear, 
 To let a single Woman so go on, 
 If they believ'd that she was acting wrong ? 
 Will they, like Adam, in that day appear, 
 And say, "\vc judg'dthe Lord had foil'd herhere, 
 " To let the truth with all her words agree, 
 Though 'twas from Satan we did plainly see, 
 " And yet the truth we let Tt fly abroad ? 
 Then let them hear the answer of their Lord : 
 , The Woman I directed to your care, 
 _ And to your judgment, know, I told her her*
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. *4Q 
 
 That all her writings she should sure commit ; 
 And now 1 hid men answer, for 'tis gfcat. 
 The truth and judgment that d;d tr.cn appear, 
 When all my friends they were as embled there. 
 And to their judgment she did aii ubmil 
 And m the eud you'll find their jndgruent great 
 But now before me I ask how yo\. ii stand. 
 You bold impostors, to condetn 1 her hand, 
 And judge a thing you would not ! iww nor see? 
 I say, on men the blow turn'd bac'-; mus,t be , 
 For on their heads I'll now rurh back the blame, 
 Though .Man at first his Maklk. he did shame j 
 But now at last I'll surely shan : you ail 
 I chose the Woman for to shew your Fall, 
 And did direct her to the Shepherds' c^re 
 Once more I'll ask them, how they'll all appear? 
 ]None but mv Shepherds can with couragestand, 
 Because 1 gave the Woman to their hands, 
 And to their judgment she would all resign-, 
 And will they dare to say the hand's not liimc, 
 But she by Satan's arts was so led on, 
 And you refus'd ever to stop her hand, 
 When she had promis'd all for to submit 
 Unto your hands ? then tremble at her feet*. 
 For like the Serpent you must all appear, 
 To see her wrong and to encourage her,. 
 As by your silence you have surely done; 
 And by your silence you have led her on, 
 And by your silence you the whole support. 
 And will you say you did it to her hurt > 
 Then to your hurt the Woman shall appear: 
 Tremble you shepherds for to meet her here 1 
 If all these things you for iier hurt design'd. 
 Then for your hurt I now shall tell my mind: 
 As Adam first cast all the blame on me, 
 And after that men nail'd me to the tree ; 
 Then now at last I'll cast the blame on you. 
 And judge what ruin must be in your view, 
 If now I turn the whole back on the man, 
 
 * Because the Woman he doth here condemn. 
 Unseen, unheard, and know not why 'tis so. 
 To your weak judgment would you have her go. 
 And sav that blind men they shall lead her here ? 
 If she be blind, then they have room to fear. 
 Because like blind men they have led her on, 
 To judge of things they do not understand, 
 To judge of things they will not know nor see ; 
 
 > Then sure as blind men mm" these shepherds be, 
 That do pretend against her for to write, 
 
 >> And say 'tis wrong the way that I indite, 
 Because you sav the words are all too low ; 
 But now I say if higher 1 should ;o, 
 
 N To prove it plain the language come from Heaven* 
 
 . I ask which way mankind could be forgiven,
 
 150 THE TRIAJ, OF 
 
 Tf they went on to make my Bible true ? 
 And bring the Revelations to their view : 
 Against the Woman they their floods cast here, 
 The earth did help her, let all men see clear ; 
 But war against her friends there's surely come, 
 True are the words, if you can this discern ; 
 But if the truth you cannot clearly see, 
 Back on your heads the war turn a back shall be; 
 
 - Because my Kingdom I am bringing here, 
 
 - -* None but my friends shall then with joy appear ; 
 
 And now, I tell thee, thou'st not got a foe 
 
 ""' But comes from hell, and that they'll surely know ; 
 But if they wish ever to free his chain, 
 Then let them turn and set my Gospel plain, 
 Or else I tell them they "will surely fall ; 
 The Woman's Promise must your ransom call ; 
 For in all ages I mankind did see, 
 How they, like Adam, cast theblameon me, 
 And say the Woman she did cause their Fall. 
 M en's boasted wisdom now, I tell you all, 
 Must stand for ever to be more than mine, 
 Should I not finish what I first design'd ; 
 In every age I know the heads of men, 
 Thought that much wiser they culd lay their plan 
 Than ever I did lay it at the first ; 
 And how's the time their wisdom shall be cast; 
 Because the Woman I've plac'd simply here, 
 And gave her wholly to the shepherds' care, 
 Unto their judgment I did bid her stand ; 
 If she act wrong the fault must be in man ; 
 And where's the man in wisdom can appear, 
 To say that man can come himself to clear r 
 No, no, vain men, I tell you, you are cast, 
 Upon your heads you've brought the whole at last. 
 Unless 't be thosethat do her words believe, 
 And they like her do judge she's not deceiv'd ; 
 
 -~ And now I say deceiv'd she cannot be ; 
 
 She fell by Satan, but she stands in me ; 
 And now I tell you, by her I will stand, 
 
 --v And Man's Redemption now is nigh at hand - t 
 -s But first the Woman 1 must free her Fall, 
 'n Ere Man's Redemption I can ever call, 
 -"> Unless I now destroy the human race, 
 O And leave no Woman here for to disgrace 
 -% My Father's honour and his every word, 
 -- Blot out my Bible that is on record ; 
 
 Or else men's wisdom must be more than mine, 
 
 If to men's foolish judgment I resign, 
 
 To have my Kingdom be brought in by Man, 
 
 Before the Woman doth her Promise claim. 
 
 If so, I tell you, I'd ne'er come before 
 
 Worse than the Jews the Gentiles now do err; 
 
 For 1 must lose mv honour as a God, 
 
 By every wisdom they of jab have draw'd."
 
 JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 151 
 
 As I have been commanded to put all particulars 
 in print in my Trial, concerning the Rev. Mr. Po- 
 meroy and me, I must observe to the readers, that 
 he fell back, perfectly as I was foretold in 1797, from 
 his own words to me ; therefore I may say of him, 
 as our Saviour said unto Pilate, i: he that delivered 
 me unto thee, hath the greatest sin ;" and those mi- 
 nisters and gentlemen, who abused Mr. Pomeroy, 
 and mocked him for acting in the first place as a 
 worthy good minister, in my opinion, have a greater 
 sin than him. 
 Jan. 18, 1805. From Joanna Southcott. 
 
 TO THE PUBLIC. 
 
 In order that no part of my conduct may appear 
 inconsistent, I think it necessary to inform the 
 public, that as Mr. Pomeroy declined answering 
 my letter of October the 8th, 1804, which is print- 
 ed with other letters to him, in the Book entitled, 
 " Divine Communications/' I wrote to him a se- 
 cond letter, using every argument to induce him 
 to come forward, and informing him I should im- 
 mediately apply to Mr. Scott, an attorney, who, at 
 my request, wrote twice to Mr. Pomeroy, previous 
 to the Trial ; therefore his not appearing at the Trial, 
 and his silence in not answering any letter, to vindi- 
 cate himself, proved him guilty ; and as the witnesses 
 clearly proved that all Mr. Pomeroy's assertions, 
 to injure Joanna Southcott's character, were false ; 
 and by their evidences convinced me, and all 
 that were present, of the purity and innocence 
 of her character ; and since her sealed writings 
 have been opened, I find, in many parts of them, 
 his falling back clearly foretold ; any further trou- 
 ble, therefore, respecting Mr. Pomeroy, is un- 
 necessary. 
 
 Jen. 18, 1805. JaxeTownley.
 
 152 THE TRIAL OP JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. 
 
 Kerc ends the Trial of Joanna Southcott, ex- 
 amined and proved by twelve witnesses ; and here 
 begins the Trial of all men's wisdom, to prove 
 and see what is in Man. A public assertion has 
 been made by many, that some of her friends have 
 made her more than human, which she has forbid- 
 den, and ordered for no one to exalt her, any more 
 than as a simple woman, dust and ashes, having no 
 knowledge of her own, but that all is given her Jrom 
 the Lord. But she cannot prevent the tongues of her 
 enemies, who are daily making her more than hu- 
 man-, by ascribing all her wisdom and foreknowledge 
 to herself, which assertion, if true, must make her 
 more in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, 
 justice, equity, and truth, than ever was placed in 
 the fallen race, from the Fall of Adam to this day ; 
 and which every man of wisdom must allow, when 
 he hath weighed the whole together, and seen the 
 truth tried and proved by so many witnesses. But 
 some say, that her writings are from the devil ; how 
 then is Satan risen against himself! And this can 
 clearly be proved by the erroneous lies invented and 
 put in print by J. L. Garrett, minister of Sion Cha- 
 pel, Lant Street *. 
 
 * What tills man liath published against Joanna is too despicable 
 to claim any notice; ami would have been treated with deserved con- 
 tempt, but that it was in some degree necessary to bring his name 
 forward, to shew what sort of characters she has for her enemies. 
 
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