The Strange Effects of Faith.

As I have began to publish to the world, I shall
give some short account of my Life, which hath
been singular, from my youth up to this day. I shall
omit former particulars, and begin with informing the
Reader, that, in 17921792, I was strangely visited, by day
and night, concerning what was coming upon the
whole earth. I was then ordered to set it down in
writing. I obeyed, though not without strong external
opposition; and so it has continued to the present
time.

In 17921792, my Sister told me, I was growing out of
my senses. She said, “You say there will be a war.
Who shall we go to war with? The French are
destroying themselves. As to the dearth of provision
you speak of, you are wrong; for corn will
come down very low; I could not make 4s. 6d.
a bushel of the best of the wheat this year. As
to the distresses of the nation, you are wrong there;
for England was never in a more flourising state
than it is in at present.”—I answered, “Well, if
it be of God, it will come to pass, however
likely or unlikely it may appear at present. If not,
I shall hurt no one but myself by writing it. I am “the A3v 6
the fool, and must be the sufferer, if it be not of
God. If it be of God, I would not refuse for the
world, and am determined to err on the safest side.”
My Sister thought she should err on the safest side, by
preventing me from doing it; and said, I should not
do it in her house. However, I took advantage of
her absence; and, in 17921792, I wrote of what has since
followed in this nation and all others; but the end
is not yet.―I left my writings at Plymtree, and
came back to Exeter.

In 17931793, the war broke out; and in this year, three
remarkable things happened, which I had written of
in 17921792. These events strengthened my judgement that
it was of God; for it was said, “Whatever I put
into thy mouth, I will do upon the earth.”

In 17931793, I told the Rev. Mr. L. how I had been
warned of what was coming. After hearing me in
silence, he said, “It comes from the Devil; for not
one thing you have mentioned will come to pass.
You have the war in your favour, which is all that
will come true of your prophecies; and the war will
be over in a quarter of a year. It is from the Devil,
to disturb your peace: Satan hath a design to sift
you as wheat. Yet I believe you to be a good woman;
your friends speak of you in the highest
terms; but what you have said will never come
true. Besides, if it were, the Lord would never have
revealed it to you. There are a thousand in Exeter,
whom I could point out, to whom the Lord would
have revealed it before he would to you.”―Of
these observations, I have been warned, before I saw
him; yet it made a deep impression on my heart, tears
and prayers were private companions. But the
next day, I was answered, “Who made him a judge?
He neither knows thee, nor thy forefathers, who
walked before me with a perfect and upright heart.”
Thus the feeling of my heart was ceeply answered;
with further sayings used by him, which at present I
shall not mention.

Soon after this, I went to St. Peter’s Cathedral,
and heard the Rev. Mr. ......;Open note 1Back to note ¹ whose text was,
“Walk ye in the light, while ye have the light left
darkness come upon you”. He remarked on the neighbouring
nations abroad, and on the seven churches of
Asia, made application to the affairs of our own land,
and concluded with the words of Samuel, “Yet for all
this, God will save you, because ye are his people, if ye
obey him; if not――”―As soon
as his sermon was over, I was answered, “Thou must
say unto him, as our Saviour said unto Peter,
‘Blessed art thou, Barjonab’; for flesh and blood hath
not revealed it to him, but the Spirit of God. What
he hath this day preached is the will of God. If
L. give it up, go to him [the Preacher] for he
will not; for the laws of the Lord are written in his
heart.” I had been answered, that the truth of
my writings must be brought to light by one man;
either by the Rev. Mr. L. or the Rev. Mr. .......,
the Preacher above mentioned. This was at the end
of 17931793, not long after I had been with Mr. L. and it
was said to me, “I shall set signs before thee. He
that bringeth to light shall come unto thee; for that
shall be the sign unto thee, my servant. He shall
come; for I will so incline his heart, that my will
may be done.” But I was not to write to Mr. .......,
the Preacher, till Mr. L. gave it up. I told my friends
of the signs; but bound them to secresy, that no one
might be any way influenced by my writing.

The next summer, 17941794, corn grew dear, and distress
began in our land. Thus commenced the shadow of
my writings; and I was told the substance was behind.
I then sent another letter to Mr. L.; but he was not so
confident as in 17931793. He wrote to me as follows:
“The Lord may have revealed to you what he has “not A4v 8
not to me; but I am of opinion with many, we are
going to see good days.”—The substance of his
letter confounded me; and made me earnest in prayer.
I was answered, “He erreth in judgment, as well as
stumbleth in visions, to judge that the storm is
blown over.”—I took his letter, and the answer
to it, and sealed them up together, thinking time
would shew whose words were most true; those of the
Spirit that visited me, or those of Mr. L. and such as
joined him in opinion.

In 17951795, I sent him another letter, telling him, that
danger still stood before us; and that the truth of what
I had written in 17921792 was to be proved by 12 men.
Mr. L. wrote to me an answer, that he had taken my
important question into consideration; that all were
ready to serve me; and that the wisest way he could
think of would be to bring the 12 men together the
Monday following.—Before this answer reached me,
I was told, that he had not given it up; but that it
would not happen according to his words. The
thoughts of their hearts were laid open to me, and
I was told, they proposed this, in order to convince me
of my folly: So I was ordered to write him a short
reply, and to go and converse with him. I was told,
that it should be set before me as a sign, that Mr. E.
would come to my house, and invite me to his, where
I should meet Mr. L.—All this happened accordingly.
—The week after, it was said unto me, “If
Mr. L. come unto thee, thou hast nothing to fear
from him; but if thou go unto him, he will surely
stumble; for he that he doth obey will come; and
when he heareth, he will not condemn; But, O thrice happy is the man, That doth begin and will go on, Till ev’ry curtain be drawn back, To know, and prove, if I do speak. For happy then shall be the man, That doth obey his call: His talents five shall soon be ten, My Spirit so shall fall. “Him B1r 9 Him I’ll impower from on high My Spirit he shall feel; The sinners’ hearts he shall awake, The broken heart shall heal.”

This was spoken before I had seen Mr. L.. On the
Monday following, Mr. E. came to my house, and asked
me to come to his. Thither I went, met Mr. L. and
told him what reasons I had for believing my writings
came from the Lord. Mr. L. and all who were present
heard me in silence. When I had delivered my reasons,
I asked his judgment. He said, “What you know not
now you will hereafter. If it be of God, we shall see
more of it; if of yourself, your head is wiser than
mine.” I asked him, if he would give up enquiry
into its truth. He said, “No; it requires time to
consider of it.” The Monday following, I asked
Mr. and Mrs. L. to breakfast at my house; but they
did not come. That day, I was answered thus: “Now, tell him plain, he’s not the man; For ’tis by ....... it must be done. Back to the Church, the standard, all must come; For in the altar I was seen at first; And in the altar did the glory burst, Where Simeon did the holy child behold; And in the altar are the plates of gold.”

The week following, Mr. L. sent me an answer, that
he had given it up, and had resigned to the Minister,
who (as I have said) was chosen in his room. This was
at the close of summer, 17951795. At the end of the year,
I was to have together six men of the dissenting class,
to try their judgment. Four refused to attend, as they
thought it from the Devil, or judged me to be both a
knave and a fool: So I had other four in their room;
but was told, before I met them, that their judgment
would not be right, their wisdom was too weak; therefore
I must be the judge myself, If they believe, that hell below Such language e’er can speak: But back their footsteps all will trace, And marvel what they’ve done, And wonder that they could not go In things there were so plain.

I was ordered to meet the six men, and read to them
how some particular chapters of the bible were explained,
with a few prophecies, and some remarkable instances
of my life. Every man was to keep silence for
the space of an hour. This they did; and great is the
mystery explained to me, as the watch was laid on the
seals, by which were inclosed the names of the 12 men.
When the hour was past, I demanded their judgment;
and quitted the room, while they consulted. In some
time, they came to me, saying, they had agreed, and
must see the prophecies. I said, they should, if they
judged them to be of God. They came again, saying,
they must know who the ministers were. A third time
they came, and said, they must break the seals on the
ministers’ names. I told them, that should only be
done in the presence of the twelve themselves. But curiosity
made them break the seals; and (thus breaking all
their wisdom) they said, it was from the Devil or myself,
for they could not perceive it to be of God; and
therefore they persuaded me to give it up, forgetting
what I had read to them, and that they had fulfilled my
writings.—The meaning and mystery of this meeting
I shall explain another time.

Next day, I was persuaded to yield to their wisdom;
but I was answered, that it should be fatal for me; for
the Lord would not resign to their wisdom; therefore I
should not give it up to them.—Thus I ended with the
dissenting line.

At the end of 17951795 and beginning of 17961796, I was ordered
to write to the Church Ministers. At the time
of the general fast, I sent a letter to the Rev. Mr.....
(the Preacher before alluded to) on the gospel, “Suppose
ye, that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans,
because they suffered these things?” The Rev. Gentleman
sent me word by the bearer, that he would send an answer
by his servant. I waited nearly a week, and did
not hear from him. One day, I was above stairs writing,
and the last words I wrote were, “Go down and
see him.” I went down, and found him enquiring about B2r 11
about me. I asked him to walk in, and said, “I suppose,
Sir, my letter hath surprised you.” He asked,
“Was it you that sent it?” I told him, Yes, with my
reasons; and that Mr. L. had judged it from the
Devil. The Rev. Gentleman said, that nothing of what
I had said to him appeared likely to have come from the
Devil. As to the dangers, which I had said stood before
us, he did not seem to doubt them; but said, if
I was called of God, I ought to warn the public before
the rod fell, as it would be of no use afterward. Thus
finding the Rev. Gentleman’s conversation correspond
with what I had been foretold years before, I sent him
a letter.

My faith grew strong; and I sent a letter (as I was
ordered) to a Rev. Dignitary of the Cathedral of Exeter.
I was assured, before I sent it, he would not answer it.

I dreamt soon after, that I was in a room with a well-
looking Gentleman and Lady. On a sudden, the door
was burst open, and the Devil entered in disguise, and
attempted to seize the Gentleman, who fled to the farthest
part of the room. The Devil pursued him, endeavouring
to put his arm around his neck; but the
Gentleman pushed him off. The Lady and myself were
affrighted, and I awoke.―The next day, it was
answered me, “It is the Christian Minister; he will
come to thee in disguise.”―I said to a person,
“How differently is my dream explained from what I
expected!” I thought the above-mentioned Rev.
Gentleman Satan would try to deceive; and I was
answered, Thy thought of ....... is not wrong; For Satan will try there; But to the purpose he will come, And baffle all his snares: As thou didst dream her push’d him off, He Satan will defy. He will appear, the truth to clear, And steadfast he will stand, Be not surpriz’d at the disguise, That he may take in hand. B2 “So B2v 12 So now I bid thee to go home, And shew thy writings there; And, sudden as thy garden dream, I’ll make him to appear.
The last thing I had written was, that I should see him
the next day. Being then at work, Mrs. T. sent me
word, a Gentleman desired to speak with me. He was
displeased, and said, a man had been at his house, and
told him I had prophesied lies; that, if it were so, it
could not be from God; and I was committing the sin
against the Holy Ghost, and, he doubted not, I should
lose my senses. Mrs. T. said, she knew not of any
lies I had prophesied; but she knew, that I had told of
these things when there was no appearance of them.
He said, that was very surprising.——Such had been
their conversation, before I came.―When I came,
I found it to be the Rev. Mr........ whom I expected;
and he repeated his words to me. I told him,
he had been misinformed as to the sense of my words,
and explained particulars to him. He said, “Then
your prophecies were not false;” yet he reasoned
with me on the danger of my proceedings, if I were
not called of God. Finding he could not convince me,
it was not of the Lord, he said, “Then why don’t you
have your writings proved? You will wait till you
bring the sword, the plague, and the famine upon
us. If you cannot get twelve, get six. I will meet
with any.” I said, “Sir, it must be twelve.” He
said, “Then let it be twelve; but do not wait till you
bring the sword upon us.” I said, I would not, if
the Ministers would prove them.—I was convinced,
that he had disguised his real sentiments, and had thus
promited to examine my writings, thinking to convince
me of my folly. So, thou see’st plain, that he did mean, To stay thy writing hand. To please a fool, he’d anger rule, Till he could all command. That is to see the mystery, And then convince the whole, It was to lie thy follies by, Made him the cause upholduphold.

As these words were revealed to me, I admired his
wisdom, patience, and prudence; and thought Heaven
could not direct me to a wiser or better Minister; for
he that can conquer his own passions is a greater hero
than him who taketh a city. He must be a good man
that can so condescend to convince a fool of her folly.
But he knew not my strong reasons for judging my
writings to be of God.

The May following, two things happened, as had
predicted. I went to the above Minister’s house, and
put a letter into his hand, saying, “Sir, as you doubt
what spirit I am led by, be pleased to keep this
letter till the end of the year; you will then judge
of its truth.” This he consented to do.—At
the end of 17961796, what I had written of came to pass.
He then said to me, “Formerly, if it were asked
of a Prophet, how the wars would tend; he could
tell. Now, if you can inform me of what will
happen in Italy or England, I shall believe you.”—
The next day, I was earnest in prayer, that the Lord
would answer his enquiries; and they were so. I sent
him the answer, which was completely fulfilled, as to
Italy and England, in 17971797; but the three sheets of
writing, which I gave him, foretold affairs for years
to come, and spoke much of the present period.

The following spring 17971797, I sent a letter to a second
Dignitary of the Exeter Cathedral. His servant returned
it to me, saying his master would not be in
Exeter to receive it till the next week. I then sent it
again, and met the like disappointment; but the letter
was left. I was now answered, that I should have
the same dissatisfaction when he came to Exeter; and
that both Dignitaries would treat my letters with
contempt. Thus, both will thee deceive. But shall they laugh thee into shame, For what thou dost believe? If they agree to laugh at thee, Their laughter I shall turn; “And B3v 14 And in the end, thou’lt find these men, Life thee, will sorely mourn. Thou build’st so high, that none can fly, To rob thee of thy brood; The fowler’s net cannot come nigh; Nor can the shooter’s load Tho’ heavy charges men prepare, And point them from their breast, They are afraid to let them off, Lest they their aim should miss. Besides they fear, I may be there; And terror stops the blow: Thus I thee guard from ev’ry snare, And that they all shall know.

In this manner, from simple types and shadows, I
was foretold how every man would act; and that I
had nothing to fear, as no man should hurt me, if
the truth of my writing should provoke them to
anger.

These promises, and the proofs of the truth of my
writings, strengthened my confidence in the Lord;
but I have often marvelled, why I was ordered to send
to Ministers who would not give themselves the trouble
of searching out the truth; and, for this reason,
have often doubted whether the calling were of God,
or not. But the pondering of my heart was thus
answered: How can the fruit be ever try’d? How can the truth be e’er apply’d? The godly men will so decay, If I shall prove as weak as thee. I say, the fruit shall surely fall: Let ....... stand, and hear his call; And now a Moses let him be, Or else my judgments all shall see: Then all together you may feast And all together fast: I’ll bring a myst’ry in the end, That shall for ever last.

These words were delivered to me in 17961796, in answer
to a sermon, preached on the 1796-05-2929th of May, by
the first mentioned Dignitary to whom I had sent a letter. B4r 15
letter. I fancied, that he reproached me in his sermon;
and his words pierced my heart. I marvelled,
that a Gentleman, to whom I had appealed, should
decline seing me, to convince me of my error, if I
were wrong; and in solitary tears, I repeated the
words of David, “Since godly men decay, O Lord, Do thou my cause defend; For scarce these wretched times afford One just and faithful friend.”
I was answered, “‘Since godly men do so decay, And thou dost sore complain, Then the good Shepherd shall appear The sheep for to redeem: For faithful lab’rers now shall come And in my vineyard go: My harvest it is hast’ning on, Which ev’ry soul shall know.’”

After this, it was said to me, “As men increase
thy sorrows, I will increase their’s; and the general
burden shall increase, till men take the load
from thee.”—Yet I marvelled, how the 12th
chapter of Revelations could be fulfilled, of the woman
travelling in birth, and longing to be delivered:
But the wonders John saw in heaven must take place
on earth. What wonders then must here appear To an enlighten’d race, When ev’ry myst’ry is made clear, And seen without a glass. No veil between then being seen, No wonders you’ll behold; For all alike is clearly bright, As pearly streets with gold. Should wonders there to you appear, You’ll wonder then of all. To see them clothed with the sun, Could wonder none at all.
Such is the mystery to man—(that a woman should
be clothed with the Sun of Righteousness, who is now
coming with healing in his wings)—because they know not B4v 16
not the Scriptures, which indicate, that, to fulfil all
righteousness, the woman must be a helpmate to man,
to complete his happiness. This men marvel at, because
they never conceived what the Lord hath in store
for them, in fulfilling his promise given to woman. So men, I see, do stand in wonder, While angels also gaze: Satan broke man’s bliss asunder; Man wandereth in a maze. So, with amaze, you all may gaze: The angels wonder here, You cannot see the mystery, Nor find the Bible clear. There Eden’s tree you, all shall see, Preserved for your sake: The flaming sword is God’s own word, ’Twill break the serpent’s neck.
Thus, by types, shadows, dreams, and visions, I
have been led from 17921792, to the present day;
whereby the mysteries of the Bible, with the future
destinies of nations have been revealed to me, which
will all terminate in the Second Coming of Christ;
and the Day of Judgment, when the seven thousand
years are ended. Now, should men say, all this by thee is done, Thy head is wiser than each mortal’s son. And if they say, it cometh from the Devil, Then plainly tell them, that their thoughts are evil; For Satan’s wisdom never lay so deep; Yet to thyself thou must the secret keep. But if men say, it cometh from on high, My judges shall appear, the truth to try. Then in thy faith be stedfast still, With salt be season’d well. Remember thy baptismal vow, And triumph over hell. Your Captain too shall quickly come And bring all to an end, And fix his glorious empire o’er The wife, whose hearts will bend. As in a humble manger here, Kings did their Sov’reign fee; So my low handmaid doth appear; To all a mystery. “Now C1r 17 Now, can you longer make dispute, From whence you hear the sound? Thus Satan must henceforth be mute, Nor talk the faithful down. The reasons all are none at all Of those that won’t believe: Thus when the Bible forth I call, What answer will you give?

I omitted to mention, in the proper place, that, at
the end of 17941794, I had a strange vision—As soon as
I had laid down in my bed, a light came over the
room I looked at the window; but saw no light proceed
from thence. I looked at the door, to see if
any one was entering with a candle; but no person was
there. The room now appeared to me to be full of
lighted candles, hanging, in the candlesticks, on lines
crossing the room. Being astonished and frighted, I
covered my head with the bed-clothes, and then saw
a spacious room, a chandelier of many branches,
and lighted lamps sparkling with great lustre. In the
midst of the room stood a large table, with large
lighted candles thereon; so that the light equalled
the noon-day. I exclaimed, “What can this mean?”
I was answered, “‘Arise and shine; for the light
is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen.’”

The next day, (being perfectly awake), I was ordered
to write down my vision, which was thus explained
to me:—That my writing must be proved
by 12 men; and, when met for that purpose, that
the candle of the Lord would burn brightly among
them, and the spirit of wisdom and understanding be
given them; for as the day of Pentecost was to the
Disciples, so should that day be to them, and every
one present should see it was the Lord’s doing. The
names of the appointed 12 I put into the hand of one
of the 6 persons mentioned in p. 10, and charged them
not to break the seals upon them, till the 12 were
assembled. However, (as I said before) the watch
that was laid on the seals was removed, and the seals
broken thro’ unbelief, so that darkness came upon C the C1v 18
the minds of them. Thus is the mystery explained,
that this circumstance is set as a watch before
mankind.

The harvest of 17961796 was remarkably good, and
great plenty followed: And it was said unto me,
“As they [the men mentioned in p. 10] kept silence
for the space of one hour, the Lord hath withheld
the rain in time of harvest.”

Now, if this publication awaken the Ministers to
search out the truth, or the Rev. Mr. ...... (the
Preacher) return to the examination of my writings,
the next three following harvests are promised to
be plentiful. “Prove me now, (faith the Lord) and
try me, if I will not shower down blessings upon
you:” But, if the many truths laid before you,
with the threatenings put into the hands of Ministers,
do not awaken them to search out the truth, the Lord
will fulfil his words. If by the wise men I am mock’d now, Like Herod’s fury, I’ll fulfil my vow. Who my anger shall appease, If all deny my will; My thunderbolts shall loudly roll, And men’s proud hearts shall chill.

Now, let the Reader look deep into the mystery,
and behold what Divine Wisdom hath directed me to
shew to mankind. I was foretold how Ministers
would act, and that the truth would be brought
to light by one man. I was not ordered to have
my writings copied, and put into the Printer’s hand.
This I did; and the very day I had given them to
the Printer, the Chosen Minister returned to Exeter.
I thought, I would not send to him till the book was
printed; but was answered, “How weak is thy
judgment!” and was ordered to send to him next
day. I found he was offended by my putting his
name in the news-paper. He said, if I published
his name, he had done with me; otherwise, he
would comply with my request. Two friends of
mine wrote to him, of the truth of my writings; and C2r 19
and at his request, I waited on him with one of
my friends. He said, he found argument fruitless,
in persuading me to stop my hand, and should argue
with me no more. He bade me get the writings of
17921792 copied out, as he could not set the originals
before Ministers, who would not attend to manuscripts
which they could not read; and they would not trust to
what I should read to them: Therefore, he bade me
open the seals of my writings of 17921792, and send them
with the fair copy; and if the the Ministers he consulted
should judge them to be of God, I might have 12
or 14 afterwards.

When I returned home, I was ordered to follow his
advice, remembering what had been told me in 17931793,
“I will direct thee to a man, whose talents are
greater than thine; he shall have five talents; he
shall direct thee.” So I had my writings broken
open before witnesses, marked, copied, and some part
sent to him.

The week after, I waited on him again. He said,
what I had sent was not enough to convince Ministers,
and I must open the seals set in 17941794 and 17951795. The
next day (Sunday) I was ordered to have them opened
in the presence of 12 witnesses, who were set their
names on them. Three weeks were then allowed him,
to examine, to consult Ministers, and to judge whether
the writings were of God, or not.

Soon after, I was ordered to write to three Ministers,
[the letters will be hereafter given]; and I was told,
it would be fatal for me for time and eternity, if I did
not publish my writings, should these Ministers remain
silent seven days after. It was said to me, “I do not
need the Ministers to prove whether they be of God
or not; for that shall be proved by the truth:
But this I command thee to do, to keep thee from
the snares of men, who may charge and condemn
thee for imposture; saying, thou hast signed thy
name to what thou hast not written. I have so
ordered every truth to be made plain, that no man C2 “can C2v 20
can prove one false report in thy writings, or dispute
what spirit inspires thee. Thy writings must be
submitted to the judgment of learned Ministers of
my word. Let them be disputed before they be
proved; let Ministers be the judges, and common
men the witnesses and jury, to try the truth of
this ordination. All thou hast done, and all the
letters thou hast sent, have proceeded from command
of the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the
Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty
Counsellor, and the Desire of every nation.”

When I sent the letters to Ministers, it was said to
me, that if these things were not of God, their hearts
should be worked on to stop my hand in seven days;
and if they did not, I should wait no longer than
1801-03-25New Year’s Day (Old Stile) 1801, and then have it
printed, to be judged of by the world at large, to
try the wisdom of men, and to let them see what
wisdom there if in the Lord, of whom it is written in
the Psalms, “God in the great assembly stands, Where his impartial eye, In state surveys the earthly gods, And doth their judgments try.”

New-Year’s Day arriving, and the Ministers, to whom
I wrote, remaining silent, I consider their silence as
evidence, that they cannot prove what I said not to
be from the Lord; and have, therefore, published as
I was directed.

The following is a copy of the letter I sent to the
Rev. Mr. ......, at Heavitree.

The following is a copy of a letter sent to one of the
Dignitaries of the Cathedral of Exeter.

Here I add a third letter.

I shall now proceed to my own experience, which
hath truly convinced me the Lord is awaked as one of
sleep; and the voice of the Lord will shake terribly the
earth.

The beginning of the powerful visitation of the Lord
to me was on · · · · ·, 17921792.—“I no more intended
thou shouldst go to reprove the people, than I
intended Abraham should offer up his son Isaac. I did
it to try thy obedience. Now will I swear unto thee,
as I did unto Abraham. I will make with thee an
everlasting covenant; and save thee with an everlasting
salvation.”

When these words came to me, my soul was troubled
in the dust before God, and I began to cry out, “What
am I, or what is my father’s house, that thou hast thus
honored me unworth wretch as I am? My past life
makes me ashamed of myself.”—These words came
to me: “I will reward thy obedience; and in blessing
I will bless thee: And, as I kept nothing from Abraham,
I will keep nothing from thee. Thou shalt prophesy
in my name; and I will bear thee witness. What
I put into thy mouth, that will I do on the earth.”

Then these words came to me: “The Lord is awake,
as one out of sleep. The voice of the Lord shall shake
terribly the earth. Pestilence and famine shall go thro’
the lands. Men’s hearts shall fail them for very trouble;
because they have not known the visitation of the
Lord.”—As soon as these words came to me, I trembled,
and was afraid of his majesty and greatness. Tears
of humiliation ran down my eyes, and holy fear seized
my soul. I wept bitterly, and wondered at his divine
goodness to an such unworthy creature as I was.
But these words was answered me: “I have seen all
thy enquiries, to know my will and obey it; and now
I will reward thee. Dost thou believe it?”—I cried
out “Yea, Lord; if it be thy voice, I do believe it;
for I know thou art not a man to lie, nor the son of
man to be wavering. I have always found thee a God,
like thyself, faithful to thy word, and faithful to thy
promises.”—I was answered, “Dost thou think I
will now?”—I said, “Yea, Lord; if it be thy
word, I know thou wilt. Thou hast been faithful to
thy word throughout the Bible, in every age of the D2 world; D2v 28
world; a God, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.”
I was answered, “This thou believest, & this thou shalt
find me, faithful to my word, & faithful to my promises;
and next Sunday I will fulfil my promise at my table”
whichWhich, I bless God, I felt remarkable, and waited with
a holy longing for the blessed promise made by Jesus
Christ. I then made a solemn vow to God, to be
obedient to all his commands, as far as I saw his righteous
will concerning me; earnestly praying that I might
not be deceived by my own weak understanding, nor deceived
by arts of Satan; praying that the Lord would
keep me from every evil, and from the evil of sin; that
I may be kept, as Mary, humble at the feet of the
Lord.―I was answered, “If pride rise in thy
heart, Satan shall humble thee; but thou sayest, thou
hast found me a God like myself; and so thou
shalt.”―I said, “Lord, I believe it; and pray
thee, keep me the remainder of my life; and may I
drink deep in the spirit of my dear Redeemer; and,
far as the earthly can bear the image of the heavenly,
so far may I bear thy image.”―This was the
prayer and desire of my soul, that I may know this voice,
and obey it.

One morning when I awoke, these words were founded
in my ears: “Wake, ye ministers; mourn, ye priests;
for the day of the Lord is at hand.”―I thought I
heard the found of preaching in my ears: “The Lord
is awake, as one out of sleep; the voice of the Lord will
shake terribly the earth. The sins of the nations hath
provoked the Lord to anger. He will go forth as a
flaming fire; he will be wroth, as in the valley of Giptha,
until he hath brought forth judgment unto victory.”
―These words were so dreadful in my ears, that they
made me tremble; and I was earnest in prayer to God,
to know if these judgments was coming upon the earth.
― I was answered, “I will shew thee in visions, this
night, what I will do.”―I went to bed; I dreamt
nothing, and thought I had listened to the voice of a
stranger, and not of God.―I was answered, “The night D3r 29
night is far spent; the day is at hand; lay thee down
to sleep again.” ——So I did, and dreamed I was on a
high mountain, and saw the sky as bright as noon day
sun, and two men come out of the clouds, with long
robes of purple and scarlet, with crowns of gold on their
heads and swords in their hands, standing in the sky.
Two men came out with heavy horses, and spoke to
those that stood the clouds, and soon after rode away,
the lightning in the air. Soon after, I saw the men on
horseback coming out of the clouds, as fast as they
could, till the whole skies was covered with men in armour
and spears glittering in the air. I thought, I
looked down, and saw the world in confusion, men in
armour riding fast. This dream alarmed me; and I
was meditating with what divine majesty and splendor
our dear Redeemer was coming into the world. Once
he came meek and lowly, persecuted by men; but now
he will come, as a prince and a king, conquering and to
conquer. Once he came meek and lowly, riding on an
ass; but now he will come riding in the chariot of his
everlasting gospel. But, who can abide the day of his
coming, or who can abide the day of his wrath? The
saints shall see it, and rejoice; for he will gather the
wheat in the garner, and burn up the chaff with unquenchable
fire.—Then I was answered this psalm: “‘Ask, and receive thy full demands; Now shall the heathen be, The utmost limit of the lands Shall be possess’d by thee. I’ll crush them every where, As massy bars of iron break The potter’s brittle ware.’”
This made me earnest in prayer to God, to know if this
was Christ’s second coming into the world, to call in thy
ancient people, the Jews. “Is thy last coming, when
thou comest to judge the world in righteousness?” ——
I was answered, “Thou hast judged right.” ——In
prayer and praises I spent the day. In the night, in
my bed, it was said to me, “I will shew a vision this D3v 30
this night, that shall make the cars of those that hear it
to tingle.” I went to bed, dreamed nothing. It was
answered, “The night is far spent; the day is at hand.
Lay thee down to sleep again.” I was restless and uneasy,
and did not believe the Lord had said it, and
thought it was the Devil to deceive me, and continued
restless from three to past five. I then fell asleep, and
dreamed. I had something in my hand. I let it fall,
and it turned into a cup, and whirled up and down the
room. At last it turned into a cat, which I kicked to
pieces, and grew angry in my dream, and said, “Satan,
this is thy miracles; this is the way thou deceivest the
world, by whirling them in empty air, that neither
touch top nor bottom.” When I awoke, I was grieved,
and afraid I had sinned in going to sleep; but I
might see Satan’s miracles, how he deceived the world.
This made the ways of the Lord appear more to be admired;
and I meditated on my past vision, with what
glory I saw the Lord in the air, and with what swiftness
the angels seemed to obey him. This set all my
soul on fire; audand I wished I could fly in the air to the
Lord, and fall at the feet of my dear Redeemer.--A
powerful voice called me, “Joanna, Joanna, the
angels rejoice at thy birth; thy Saviour embraced
thee. Dost thou think thou canst love him as he
loved thee?” These words went through my soul;
and I cried out, “No; it is he that drawed my heart
after him in strong faith.”

I went to bed, and was answered, “I will shew thee
in vision this night.” I dreamed, I was in an orchard
where was trees standing together, the branches was
joined one in the other, and the fruit was fallen. I
dreamed, I was going to take them up. I dreamed
the Lord said to me, “Open the shells; but
thou shall not taste of the first fruit; it is not good.” I
dreamed, I opened the nuts; for they was like French
nuts; but they was withered and dry, and a black veil
round them. The Lord said to me, “The first fruits are D4r 31
are fallen; they are not good. Look up, and thou
wilt see berries; and when they are ripe, they will be
good.” I looked up, and saw berries like the berries
of potatoes; and went to a house, where I saw the
Lord. He rose up, as one out of sleep, and told
me to go, and mind all I had seen. I awaked.

The same night, I dreamed, I was on the sea; and
I saw a large oven full of meat: and the stopper
broke, and the meat swam in the sea in abundance.
When I awoke, I was answered. “Thy dreams puzzleth
thee; but wars and tumults shall arise from
abroad and at home. The sea shall be laden with
ships shall break in pieces, and thousands shall launch
in the deep. As to the dream of fruit, could thou
look into the hearts of men, thou wouldst see them as
the fruit withered.”

Another night, I dreamed, I saw my Father sweeping
out of the barn’s floor clean, and would not suffer the
wheat to be brought in the barn. He appeared to me
to be in anger. When I awaked, I was answered, “It
is thy Heavenly Father is angry with the land; and if
they do not repent, as Nineveh did, they shall sow,
but they shall not reap; neither shall they gather into
their barns. There shall come three years, wherein
there shall be neither earing nor harvest.”

Another night, it was said unto me, “I will shew
thee in dreams of my anger against the nations.”—
I dreamed, I had a dish in my hand, with dirt in it;
and some one throwed honey over it; and the children
eat it, for the sake of the honey, which made me sick.
I awoke with my dream. I was answered, “So sick
is the Lord of the world. They eat the honey and
the poison together.”

Another night, I dreamed, I heard heavenly musick
sounding in my ears, and a flock of sheep was gathering
round it. When the musick ceased, the sheep leaped
for joy, and run together, shaking their heads; and
one shook his head almost off, and seemed to have
nothing but ears. I went towards them, and awoke I was D4v 32
——I was answered, “the“the sheep was the servants of
L[Gap in transcription—5 lettersflawed-reproduction] for they would be convinced, and trust no
more their own understanding, but be all ears, to hear
what the Lord saith.”

Another night I dreamed, I have a large bird, full of
large feathers gilded; and the bird flew down on the
room where I was. I thought to pluck some of the feathers,
but found it impossible to pluck one, or break
one. I could not think there was nay interpretation of
this dream; but I was answered, “It is the determined
will of the Lord, that cannot be altered, nor will not be
pacified without repentance.” I thought with myself,
“Why then did I dream I tried to pluck the feathers or
break them?” I was answered, “Thou hast strove to
alter the decrees of Heaven, concerning thyself, but to
no purpose. The will of the Lord must be done in thee,
and by thee.” This my soul would gladly obey.

The same night, I dreamed, I saw a little bird pecking
the feathers of the great birds; but this was not
explained. As I was in earnest prayer, to know what
all this meant, where it would end, a heavenly joy
filled my soul, as though a company of angels have been
singing in my ears these words; “What good news the angels bring! What glad tidings of our King! Christ descending from his throne, To bring his Father’s glory down. Saints shall see it and rejoice; Hell shail tremble at his voice. Saints rejoice, and sinners fears, When he brings salvation near. Jews and Gentiles shall agree, Join in Christian unity. Heathens, coming from afar, Worship at the florious star. All the earth shall know the Lord, And sing his praise with one accord.”

What follows, concerning the blasphemies of Satan,
was written before the prophecies came to me, with
many more extraordinary things, that I went through
from Good Friday to Midsummer.

As I was meditating on the unbounded love of Christ
to man, Satan’s blasphemy broke in upon me, “Christ’s
love was out of pride.” Here my passions grew high.
“Thou Devil incarnate,” (said I) “thou hast loft they honour,
and thou enviest his glory,
as thy proud rebellious spirit would not stoop to worship
him. But we have reason to love him; we have reason
to adore him. See what he hath done for us. When
thou seekedst our destruction, how did he leave the
heavens above, and come down in this lower world, to
suffer a sorrowful life and a shameful death, for our
sakes! How did he humble himself on the cross, to
make us happy, when thou, by thy proud rebellious
spirit, sought thy own misery and our’s! Thy pride is
envy and malice; but the pride thou speakest of God
and Christ is meekness and humility; and it is the condescension
of God to contain his honour. When a man
hath lost his honour, and none but fools will trust thee; but
Christ contained his; and every wife man will go to
him; because he knoweth he will not deceive him. It
is the wisdom of God, to contain his honour, that men
may trust in him, and rely on him. It is for our good
he contains his glory; but thou hast lost thy honour
with thy shame. Christ is worthy to be loved, worthy
to be adored, worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance,
and worthy to be honoured; but thou hast no
honour belonging thee.” Here Satan came in, with
dreadful blasphemy against God and Christ. Thus enraged
my passions, as I could not bear to hear any thing
spoke against God or Christ. I cried out, “Thou
Devil, wherefrom didst thou come? Canst thou dare
thus to trifle with God? Hast thou not sunk thyself
low enough already? Dost thou want to bring the
wrath of God more heavy upon thee than thou hast already?
Dost thou not know all power in heaven, E earth, E1v 34
earth, and hell, is in his hand? he filleth the heavens
with his majesty; and therefore we worship him. He
fills earth with his goodness; and therefore we ought
to honor and obey him, love and worship him. He
fills hell with his terrors; and therefore thou oughtest
to fear him.”

In this manner, I continued with Satan for ten days.
His answer and blasphemy was too shocking to pen;
till I was worn out with rage and malice against him,
I could not bear myself. When he would come in
upon me with blasphemies, my spirits rose as one in a
fever. My Brother hath sometimes took me by the
hand, and pitied my weakness, as he thought I had a
fever; for I told it to no one, for fear they would
blame me. I went out of the house, sometimes in
the garden; but the garden was not large enough to
contain me; so I went out in the open fields; and
went from field to field to dispute with the Devil till
I had got rid of him, and weared myself out with
passion. Then my spirit would sink low, and think I
had all Job’s troubles, and my friends like his; for I
had no one to complain to. But I said, “Why do I
complain? Who was grieved for the affliction of
Joseph? Who was grieved for the afflictions of
Job? Shall Simon bear the cross alone, And other saints be free? Each saint of them have got their own; And there is one for me. But now it is come unto my lot, Let it not keep me from. Lord, never let me be forgot, Till thou hast lov’d me home. But could I die with those that die, And place me in their stead, How would my spirit learn to fly, And converse with the dead.”

After I had thus sunk my spirits, a heavenly joy
would arise in my soul, with these words: “Grid E2r 35 “Gird thy loins up, Christian Soldier: ’Tis thy Captain calls thee out; Let the dangers make thee bolder; War in darkness; fear no doubt. Buckle on thy heav’nly armour; Patch up no inglorious peace; Let the dangers wax thee warmer, As thy fears and foes increase. Lo, when dangers closely threaten, And they soul draws near to death, When assaulted sore by Satan, Thy object then’s the shield of faith.”

After I had written the blasphemy of Satan, these
words came to me: “As thy spirit was enraged
and provoked with the blasphemy of Satan, so is my
Spirit provoked with the blasphemy of the nations:
And as thy Brother tried to hold thy hand from going
out of the house, and pitied thy weakness; so have my
Son tried to withhold my hand, and pitied the weakness
of his people. But, as thy spirit grew so high, that
thou couldst not bear it, but was forced to withdraw
from him; so shall I. And as the fire kindleth in thy breast,
and thou speakest with thy tongue: so will the fire
kindle in my breast, and I shall speak. I will not
always keep silence; neither will I be always chiding. I
shall awake as one out of sleep; And should my wrath for ever smoke, Their souls must shrink beneath my yoke.”

I shall add a few more words spoken in answer to
man’s blaming my following the commands of the
Lord; as he judged it to be foolishness, and could not
be the Lord’s direction. I seemed to be answered
powerfully, as if the Lord had spoke to me in love
and anger, that man should not direct the hand of the
Almighty. E2 In E2v 36 In thunder now the God the silence broke, And from a cloud his lofty language spoke: “Who, and where, art thou, O fond and presumptuous
man, That by thy own weak measures mine would span? Undaunted, as if an equal match for me, Stand forth, and answer my demands of thee: But first, let thy original be trac’d; And tell me then what mighty thing though wast. 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 aught?
Declare my loving kindness to the children of men; and
my faithfulness and loving kindness thou shalt not keep
back; for my loving kindness I will never take from
thee; and it is impossible for man to do it. I am too
full of majesty for man to attempt it.”

These extraordinary things have been now explained
to me. As she so boldly for her Master stand, Then now in thunder I will answer men: And first let thy original be trac’d And tell me now, what mighty thing thou wast, When first I took thee from thy native dust, And in the garden thou alone was plac’d, Couldst thou brought forth the word as she hath done? Or, like the woman, bear’d my only son, Without her aid, as she did without thine? I tell you, men, the myst’ries are behind. As from woman you did all proceed, Took from your side, man is pronounc’d the head; But you must know, you are not the perfect man, Until your bone is join’d to you again. So both together must in judgment sit: And tell me, men, if her disputes were right, To say my honor I had still maintain’d, And plead with Satan, as she hath began: Then both together you shall surely know, I have gain’d my honor by his overthrow; For if the woman stands to much my friend, You all shall find, I’ll stand her’s in the end. If E3r 37 If from herself this love and courage came, I tell you plain, she is the head of man. But it from me the spirit first did fall, I tell you plain, I am the head of all: And when her writings you have all went through, Much greater mysteries must come to your view. So by the woman now I will surely stand, As for my honor she so long contend. Ten days he held her with his blasphemy; Ten days a hero she held out for me. I’ll prove her words, and man shall see it clear, That every word was true what she had spoke: I’ll gain my honor, her words I’ll never mock; So if men mock them now, I’ll tell them plain, I’ll gain my honor, to destroy such men.

What you know not now you will know hereafter.
The first is last, and the last is first. The end of all
things are at hand; that Satan’s kingdom will be destroyed,
and Satan chained down for a thousand years,
and Christ’s kingdom established upon earth. It never
entered the heart of man, to conceive the glorious days
that are before those that wish Christ’s kingdom to be
established. But as the dreadful thunder from the high Brings down the rain and then clears up the sky; So must the dreadful thunder of his word Sound first aloud the coming of the Lord. Then all your swords to ploughshares you may turn, To plough with plenty year delightful land; And all your spears for pruning hooks may be, To prune with pleasure your delightful trees. No thistles then shall hurt the reaper’s hand; But peace and plenty flow throughout your land. No prickly thorns to hurt the binder’s care; For God will bind in bundle ev’ry tare; And all the foxes he away will take, That doth so spoil and hurt the tender grape; For now the singing of the birds doth come, That turtle’s voice must sound in ev’ry land; But first his thunder must before him roll To break in pieces the most stubborn soul; So E3v 38 So now Isaiah’s words are coming near; The day of vengeance I to all shall clear, And all shall know what I had in my heart; It was on mockers for turn the dart; Because by mockers I was crucified; And ’twas by mockers my disciples died. And now observe the gospel and the law; and they in sunder did Isaiah saw; Then now in sunder I will break the whole, And back on mockers shall my vengeance fall; But those that humbly for my coming wait, They all shall find my promises are great. I know the foolish virgins and the wise; I know the discord that will now arise. Some will believe, and eager wish for me; And the Desire of Nations they shall see; While others mock, and will my love despise, And when too late, they’ll wish they’d been more wise. This is the diff’rent conduct of mankind; And diffrent answers they shall surely find. The one shall find I am the sinner’s friend; But all despisers now I’ll tell their end. Like Herod’s fury, I shall all destroy; For all my friends on earth I will enjoy. And here, I tell you ev’ry line goes deep. Lift up your eyes; I’ll save my frighted sheep. Though unto some it seem a pleasant dream, Like Jacob’s sons, when I did them redeem. That was to free from long captivity, At first a pleasant dream it seem’d to be: But in the end, they found it was no dream; Nor is it now; for man I will redeem.
These verses were written in 17941794.―Now, I must
be candid with my Reader, and tell you plain, I have
not been one of them that build their faith on a sandy
foundation. I have been powerfully led by a Spirit invisible
for 8 years past; and though I was strongly influenced
to write by it, as a Spirit invisible, and convinced
in my own mind it was from God; yet knowing Satan
might come as an angel of light, made me earnest in
prayer, that the Lord would be my Director, my
Guide, and my Keeper; that I might not be permitted
to say, “The Lord saith,” if he had not spoken. In answer E4r 39
answer to my prayers, I had signs set before me of what
was to happen, to assure me it was of God; that, was
I to pen them all, it would fill a volume, and how true
they all came. Therefore, I have not imposed upon the
world with prophecies, till I was clearly convinced they
was of God, and not from the Devil. The truths of the
harvest I put in the hands of Ministers, for them to be
judges, if it came true. The war continued, as I was
told it would, in 17941794, continue till we were in war
with the Turks, and then our arms would be victorious,
as you will see in what was answered me in prayer; that
as a God the Lord would begin like man, make
the same promise to me that Herod did to the Damsel.
My petition and request was, if I had found favour in
the fight of the Lord, that he would defend us from the
foreign enemy, that the heathen nations might not say,
“Where is now the God in whom they trusted?” that
Satan might be cut off from the earth, as John the
Baptist was. I shall not mention all I asked in prayer;
but you will see the answer of the Spirit to it: But there
are storms arising; and those that clearly discern the
days that are come will shelter themselves against the
storm, and screen themselves when it comes; but thousands
will perish through unbelief, and many will perish
through want of knowledge; but very wise man will
be like Solomon, search out the mystery, to judge for
themselves; but fools will judge of things they know
nothing about, and stop their ears, like the deaf adder,
that will not listen to the voice of the charmer, charm
he never so wisely. By such I am sure to be cursed;
but thus it must be to fulfil the Revelations. The
Dragon was wroth with the woman and cast out floods
against her; and this he will do in the hearts of me:
So I may say, with David, “If Shimei curse, let
him curse: for the Lord hath bidden him.”—and as
our Saviour said to Judas, “What thou dost, do
quickly.” As to my friends, I love and esteem them;
and my daily prayers shall be for them. As to my
enemies, I forgive and pity, knowing this must be, to fulfil E4v 40
fulfil the Scripture: But they cannot hurt me; for I am
dead to the world, and the world to me. By my own
Master, I must stand or fall. Deep is the mystery of
my writing eight years, and keeping it sealed up, and
putting it in print the new century. This is a deep
type to the land, that I shall explain in my other
writings. Deep is the mystery of the tree of knowledge
being good and evil―I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the ending―the first
shall be last, and the last shall be first; so the knowledge
of the evil fruit came the first, the knowledge of the good
fruit must come last.

I shall add some that are mysterious at present;
but to me is easily known and the Reader will see it
clear hereafter. Could you see all my writings through
in one volume, you would be truly convinced it was
of God; but that I cannot take out in twelve-
month, how the Bible is all explained, and what shall
happen to every nation upon earth.

I shall now add the copy of a letter that I sent to a
Minister in 17961796, after he had disputed with me, that
the marriage of the Lamb was to take place in heaven.
I said, “No; the marriage of the Lamb meaneth
when he cometh to unite all nations, to be as one sheep
under one shepherd, and Christ to be the shepherd of
the whole. The Lamb’s wife meant a woman. That
all these things should be revealed, and readiness was
perfect obedience to all the commands of the Lord.”
He seemed at a loss to believe it. I was ordered to send
him the following letter: Now, this to him I bid thee write: If thou art not the bride, Tell him to bring one that is right; My Gospel’s so applied. For to the fulness cannot come, Until the bride be found Out of her closet she must go, With jewels deck’d around. For here’s the pearl of great price, And unto thee ’is given; And F1r 41 And in their jewels of no use; Then she shall enter heaven, In white appear before me there While you in grief will mourn; And all shall know his words are true, For vengeance fast shall come. In heaven the wonder first was seen, And you may wonder here. The woman clothed with the sun Shall make all nations fear, Then let the stars begin to shine, And publish my decree. If these refuse, I’ll others choose, Though fatal destiny To those that disobey their call. ’Tis me she hath obey’d. The woman stands condemn’d by all. Was man by her misted, Then now by her he must come back That paradise will regain. In her I’ll break the serpent’s neck, And will set free her chain. She poured the ointment on my head, And a good work she wrought; And with her tears she wash’d my face; Let man deny her not; For at the cross the woman stood, The sword went thro’ her soul, While my Disciples saw and fled, And so they left me all. No women in the company, When hands on me was laid; And Pilate’s Wife did pity me, When Judas had betray’d. When from the grave I did arise, I ask’d, who there was first. Then let the sons of men be wise, If women love me best. Have I her life and senses spar’d For to assume the bride, Then let the sons of men beware. That she be not denied. More fatal now than Adam’s fall ’Twill happen to the man. F For F1v 42 For in the dark the light doth shine; Your eyes are dazzled here; And will you shudder at the thought To see the mystery clear? Or will you like the Jews of old, Keep seals upon the tongue? Or will you bribe the keepers here, The truth may not be known? Then soon to others we appear, In the highway we go, And his command, without delay, I bid thee hasty do.

This publication that I have made to the world, is
to convince mankind the Bible is fulfilling and near to
the end; and I must bring you to the Apostles words:
“When the fullness of the time is come, God sent his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law, a mystery no man
can explain.” But the Reader will be ready to say,
“What makest thou thyself.” I answer, “I make
nothing of myself.” I give myself up to judgment of
men; for so it must be, to fulfil the Scripture. In
ages past, men was tried and condemned for prophecies,
until our Saviour and his Disciples put an end to that
prosecution with man; for prophecies have ceased in
so strong a manner ever since with man, as not to
bring persecution on them. Again, but be it known
unto all men, if it begun with the woman at first, it
must end with her at last; and now I must stand the
trial of what I say, as I am ordered to put in print.
The woman in the 12th chap. of Revelations is myself,
the 19th and last. Therefore, it was written by Isaiah,
“Rejoice, thou Barren that does not bear;” and it is written,
“All her children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall
be the peace upon the earth.” This chapter is hid from
man’s understanding, as well as well as all the others I have
mentioned, now all men must know, the man cast the
blame on the Lord for the fall; and the Lord of life
and glory beared it on the cross for man and by man.
The woman must cast the blame on the serpent; and in
the end the woman must cast the blame on him; and he F2r 43
he must bear it, as the Lord of life and glory did for
man. Here I must appeal to men’s conscience, if the
sentence is not just. When the Lord cometh to reason
with man, and it is written, “I will gather them together
at the Valley of Jehosaphat, and plead with them there”;
that meaneth, that he will bring all nations low together
as a valley is low, and plead with them by his
Spirit; and by his Spirit he will reason with man, and
make plain all his Bible to their view; but although I
say, it is explained to me by the Spirit, it must be
judged by man, and by the truth they must be adjudged
from whence it came; but all these truths cannot be put
in print for the present. Little do men know what is
hasting on. The dreams and visions, that was shewed
me the end of 17941794, and explained to me, cannot be
put in print at present; neither was half of them ever
shewed any man; but what I can print of my prophecies
deeper I shall in my next part. But to shew my
Readers how I have been led on by Ministers, from
17921792 to this present day, hath taken up so much of my
time in the first part, so I have given you a short account
of many things; but, if faith increase in the
Readers so that many are desirous of judging for
themselves, the books will come much cheaper. Let
no one think me vain, in believing these wonderous
things are of God, and is come to me. I tell you all,
it is but a mark of all men to walk by, to know the
end is at hand. The record of the Bible are now fulfiling
as it was first written, as revealed to a woman
that do not think so high of herself, as others might
think, if it had been them be assured his heart was
never prepared for such a calling; but to convince
you, what is the shadow to me is the substance to all,
I shall give you the following lines in verse. 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. F2 Like F2v 44 Like Jehosaphat be doing; Never fight but with my word. Do you know what I am pursuing, To make all men know the Lord. By the heavens (I’ll swear no greater) Mark the words I say to thee; I have indited every letter That was sent, they all shall see. ’Tis the wood that next shall kindle, And I will make it for burn, Plain as thee didst hear the sermon, Full as plain shall I return. If first appear’d a mystery, Yet the next, thou know’st was plain. Perfect so, I now do tell thee. I will make it to all men; For the truth shall come before them, And I will tell them who I am. By prophecies my Bible stands By every age was past; By prophecies I’ll make them good, And prove them in the last. And let them be as low as thee Think of themselves no more, And put their faith as strong in me, Then all alike you are; For if one star doth now appear, The other soon may shine. The firmament fix’d it here, That all may know my mind. I said the servant was the chief, But not above the rest; Before nor after cannot be, But with her followers blest: And who they are, it shall appear, That like her do believe, And humbly stand with faith and fear, I will not one deceive. But as in order things do come, The heavens do shew the sign, To what confusion all would go, If I should tell my mind To every one as things do stand. Your hearts was not prepar’d. And would you do as she hath done, When I first warned her here? F3r 45 You’ll answer, No; the truth is so, You would it not believe; For higher wisdom you would shew, And therein be deceived Because your wisdom you would trust, And would not trust in me: Then sure felt wisdom must be cast, And think as low as she, That in the man was merit none And she had none to boast; But free my promise was to all That in me put their trust. So now then come, as she hath done; Believe my Bible true, Then now as Brides you all shall be; The Bridegroom all shall know. Like David, first I’ll be the last, And have more wives than he. And Solomon did wisdom show, And with them I’ll agree. But when began it was with one, Was all together wed; Then let my hundred wives become My royal palace made. To take you all alike, I call; My hand and hear resign; And now the marriage I’ll read o’er To those that will be mine: Wedded to sin you all have been, Ever since Adam’s fall; And ’twas from Eve, you do believe, That brought it on you all: So one was curs’d, the rest was cast; There was moreover one; Then now the myst’ry comes at last, And so turn back again; For Satan came; the strong man arm’d And bolted every door, That scare a virgin could be found That was not tainted here. This hath run thro’ every vein, Till now the strong is come. I’ll make him tremble now like Cain, And bring you back again So now, like Eve, let all believe, The Bridegroom is at hand; F3v 46 That all the earth I shall reprieve, The stronger now shall stand; For Satan’s reign hath been to strong With thousands he did clear; ’Tis time for David now to lead. With his ten thousands clear. Your Mighty Counsellor, I’ll begin, Your Advocate and Friend; Then I will come, your Priest and King, Your Brother in the end. Your Husband too you all shall know; For I shall all protect; And if by one you all came down, By one then all come back. Then all will be as wise as she, Or yet as simple here; Then wives alike you all shall be; The marriage I shall clear.

Now I shall begin with the 19th chapter of the Revelations.
―After I had seen the truth of my writings
come on, and my faith began to grow strong, in 1794-01January
1794, I was powerfully visited with these words: “I will
say to the south, Give up; and to the north, Keep not
back. I will call my sons from afar, and my daughters
from the ends of the earth.”—I was earnest in prayer, to
know the meaning and was answered. “Knowest thou
not the words of thy Saviour, ‘The kingdom of heaven is
like unto a woman having a little leaven, which she hideth
in three measures of meal, until the whole be leavened.’ And
now I will open to thy view the Revelations; and when
thou hast leavened it, thou shalt leaven the whole lump;
for, as I kept nothing from Abraham, so I keep nothing
from thee; for the Lamb is come, and the Bride hath
made herself ready. By thy obedience thou hast done it;
and the end of all things is at hand.”―These words
threw me in a flood of tears. I put down my pen, and
was silent. I thought it too high for me, and would not
write it: But I was answered, “The marriage of the
Lamb meaneth the uniting of all nations together. As
marriage unites two together, so the marriage of the
Lamb unites all together, to be as sheep under one shepherd;herd; F4r 47
and Christ to be the shepherd of the whole. By
the Lamb’s Wife was meant a Woman, that all this
should be revealed to; and she should be in perfect obedience
to all the commands of the Lord. Readiness is
obedience; and for thee to conceal these things would
be as wrong, as it would be in Mary to conceal the nativity
of Christ, so fear men should think it was pride
and vain glory in her. Fear not the judgments of men.
The Lord is thy judge, and knows thy heart. To conceal
the secrets of a king is honourable; but to himself.”
―These arguments made me pen them, unworthy
as I am to receive them. But, knowing it is not
our merits, but Christ’s mercies, that we are what we are,
I was answered. “None is before, nor after another;
none is greater nor less than another; but he that is
greatest amongst you let him be your minister, he that
is chiefest amongst you shall be a servant to you all.”—
Deep and weighty reasons were assigned to me, why I
had gone through so strange and singular a life, as my
Readers will see hereafter. Then was explained to mes
the 7th chapter of our Saviour in the Mount—“The
winds blew, and the storms descended, and it fell not, for it
was founded on a rock; but be that that built on the sand, the
storms came, and the wind blew, and it fell, and great was
the fall thereof.” The meaning of these words is, “The
powers of darkness that hath strongly assaulted thee,
and all the powerful persuasion of thy friends that
hath tried to prevent thee: But thy faith fell not; for it
was founded on the Rock of ages; and the words of our
Saviour shall be made manifest in thee and by thee: But
those that build in the sand, are those that build in their
own wisdom; and when the winds blow, and the storms
descend, (that is, the truth of all come upon them) their
wisdom will fall, and great will be the fall thereof, for
man’s wisdom will all fall together.”

When I had written these things, I was reading, one
Sunday, in the Bible, the 20th chapter of Revelations, Come F4v 48
“Come hither, and I will shew thee the Bride, the Lamb’s
Wife; and be carried me away in the spirit unto a great
high mountain, where I saw the New Jerusalem ascending
out of heaven.” Hearing these words, I blushed, though
alone by myself, and began to doubt by what spirit I had
written, or what I had believed. I went up, and was
earnest in prayer, and was answered, “Thou wast in
the spirit, when thou sawest the New Jerusalem ascending,
with all the host of heaven; and thou wast on a
high mountain, where John saw the Spirit. The Spirit
is the Spirit of God that hath visited thee. What do
they make of the Spirit and the Bible? What do they
make of their Bibles”―But the explanations of
these chapters I shall defer to a future publication.

End of Part First.