Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

lived more than sixty years in the world, yet unknown to the world, that she still stands a wonder to mankind. Secondly, the world is a wonder to her, that she lives in a world unknown to her, and she to them. So here stand the two wonders, the MAN and WOMAN wondering at each other; but when five more wonders appear, then all their wonders

may cease.

JOANNA SOUTHCOTT.

This requires some explanation, why I say I have lived more than sixty years in the world, and yet unknown to the world: it is because they know not in what manner the Lord drew my heart to him in my early age; neither do they know what strength of faith the Lord gave me to rely upon the promises of God, which stand on record-that the gates of hell should never prevail against a true believer in Christ: for he that believeth in the SoN, must believe in the FATHER also. This is unknown to the world-the strength of faith that the Lord hath given me, to believe and rely upon all his promises, before I was visited by the Spirit of Prophecies; and how the Lord made himself known to me by small things, before he called me to great ones. Therefore they know not the manner of my Visitation: for this is unknown to the world-they know not the Master, nor the Servant : they know not the Father nor the Child: neither do they know the days of their own Visitation.

So here I stand unknown to man,
And to the world unknown;
And though believers I have some,
The world from them is gone.

As they are gone from the wisdom of the world, through faith, which the worldly wisdom cannot join in; because the world by wisdom knoweth not God: and if believers are joined with unbelievers, they think they are mad.

[ocr errors]

9

Now I shall come to the other observation, why I live in the world unknown to me: it is because I have been deceived by professors of religion of all sects and parties. I have found men professing to be my friend one day, and my enemy the next; I have found men professing a true belief in the Scriptures, but when put to the trial of their faith, I find they are weighed in the balance and found wanting. I have heard many from their pulpit preach the truth of the Gospel; but when I have brought them to their own doctrine, they have denied in conversation the very things they had been preaching. And this I have experienced among all sects and parties of religion; so that I may say, I live in a world that I know not what religion they are of; for when put to the trial, they deny the very things they profess to believe. This is one reason why I say I live in the world unknow to me; another reason is the different principles I have met with in mankind, from the sincere friendship I have met with in some, and the ingratitude and cruelty I have met with in others: and from my general observations of the world, from the different conduct I see in men, it makes me at a loss to account for it; as I have seen as much difference in mankind, as there is between the angels of glory and the angels that fell. Thus the world has been a wonder to me all the days of my life; but now it is revealed to me why this difference is in men, which causes all my wonder to cease.

The following Letters, sent to the ministers at Exeter, I was ordered to take out of my writings, opened at the Neckinger, and lay them before the public.

A Letter, which I sent to the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, July 11th, 1796.

Rev. Sir,

I will now give you the meaning of the mystery I told you of, in as small a compass as possible. You may think me simple in my manner; but the wisdom of God is foolishness with man; and the wisdom of man is foolishness with God: for as high as the heavens are from the earth, so are God's ways above man's ways, and his thoughts above man's thoughts; therefore we must become fools for Christ, if we will win souls to Christ, as counted fools, but making many wise in our foolishness, is the wisdom of God made manifest.

You may remember that I told you, my Father's House was a Type of the Nation; and in what manner I was sent to it. As I told As I told you the particulars I need not enlarge, but come to the purpose. The Lord will cut short his work in righteousness, and make bare his arm on his holy mountain; he will come as a refining fire, and as a fuller's soap; he will go on conquering and to conquer, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet: every proud heart must become humble, and every lofty look become low; for the lion and the lamb must lie down together: and till this is accomplished there will be wars and fighting among us. We are threatened with the sword, plague, and famine, that those who have shewed no mercy may have judgments without mercy: mercy is God's darling attribute, but judgments are his strange work: and strange are all his works here; for his wisdom is hid in the great deep, and his paths are past man's finding out. Be not faithless, but believe; for the heavens are gathering blackness; the thunder bolt of God's word is threatened us: the harvest of the

[ocr errors]

11

Lord is now approaching, and it is time for the ploughers to overtake the reapers, lest we say with the Jews of old, "The day is come, the harvest is ended, and we are not saved." The Spirit and the Bride say, come: let he that heareth say, come; for the end of all things is at hand. Let not men be mockers, lest their bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God a consumption, even a determination upon the whole earth.

Think not this Letter my inditing; for it is not. The Lord grant that you may be a MOSES in the gap, to make up the breach for the Children of Israel. I trust you will be a wrestling Jacob, till you become a prevailing Israel, to turn away the fierce anger of the Lord; for it is already kindled; for the cries of the poor have reached to heaven, and vengeance is threatened for the cruelty of man. All souls are mine, saith the Lord; and all souls alike will fear, till judgment is turned into victory. We are threatened with a fatal harvest: may the Lord in his mercies prevent these judgments! There is no time to be idle: may we not perish through unbelief! I have stronger grounds to build on for my faith, and fear, than ever I told any man: the Lord is a God hearing and answering prayer. The Lord grant you may awake, as one out of sleep. "Awake, my Shepherd, saith the Lord, lest I kindle a fire in my anger, and a wrath in my fury that shall burn to the nethermost hell." But if ye awake, O Zion, and put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem; then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your righteousness appear as the noon-day sun; and God, even our God, will give us his blessing.

These are the promises; these are the threatenings. I am clear of the blood of all men. There is nothing covered, but shall be made manifest there is nothing hid, but will be made known for what hath been done in the secret chamber will be

[ocr errors]

revealed on the house top. The night is far spent, the day is at hand, it is time to awake and be doing.

I remain, with the greatest respect,

Your humble servant,

JOANNA SOUTHCOTT.

When the above letter was copied off, the following answer was given me, which I added as a postscript to the letter:

"If by the wise men I am mocked now,

Like Herod's fury I'll fulfil

my vow

[ocr errors]

And trembling now expect the coming stroke,
Like Herod's fury, when the wise men mock'd,"

Rev. Sir, if you wish to know on what foundation I build, to write in this manner, I wil) conceal nothing from you. I have written as I was commanded, and trust to your goodness to weigh it deeply; for the Lord will be inquired of by the House of Israel.

The following Letter was sent to the Rev. Mr Pomeroy, February, 1797.

REV. SIR,

You said you could not believe that it was consistent with the wisdom of an all-wise God to foretel me the death of the Reverend Lord Bishop. In this you make good the Bible-" the wisdom of God is foolishness with men :" but I must come to the purpose. Will you trust a person whose honour or fidelity you had never tried? Would you entrust any one with a thousand pounds, that you had never tried with as many pence? He that is faithless in that which is least, will never be

« FöregåendeFortsätt »