43 ture of "A Methodist," who expresses himself to be the true Ephraim, wishing for instruction, and desirous of knowing whether my pretensions be a vain boasting of faith, upheld by applying the Scriptures to myself, or whether it be grounded on the Rock of Ages. These inquiries are just, therefore I shall answer a wise man according to his wisdom. I shall first say, as our Saviour did to John the Baptist, when he sent his disciples to know if he were the Christ. He said, go your way and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; and in like manner my answer is to Ephraim, that I have experienced the truth of the spirit, which visits me from the year ninety-two to this day, of both pri vate and public events, concerning this nation and the surrounding nations; and these prophecies were first put into the hands of ministers from the year 1796 to 1800, for them to be witnesses of the truth being foretold. In the year 1801, I published to the world at large. In 1802, during the time of peace, I published what was hastening on, of the war that hath since taken place. And I can prove from my writings, how these events were foretold, when there was no appearance of them. Therefore I may say with the woman of Samaria, behold the man that told me all things: tell me, is not this the Christ, who hath thus far fulfilled his words, in the past, and now given me strength of faith to insert prophecies in the public papers, of what shall happen in one year, according as men obey or disobey what is required of them? If they cannot judge from the past, they may judge from what is to come; therefore mine is no boasting faith, without knowing in whom I have believed, but a faith fixed on the Rock of Ages, with strong and sure ground to rely on, that no one knoweth of but myself. The world must judge me worse than mad, to insert such things in the newspapers, if I had not a full assurance that what the Lord hath said he will fulfil. I have shewn my faith by my works, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against me. Now I shall notice another observation made by "A Methodist," where he says-" Would to heaven that myself and my brethren were invested with the authority of the bishops, and we would soon search out the truth." To this I am answered 66 Let him try his brethren, and he will find them like David's brethren, to condemn the pride of his heart; and like Ephraim, the pride of Israel to testify to his face: for they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this: therefore, if he puts his trust in man, he will soon become like Ephraim, a silly dove without a heart; if he doth not put his trust in the Lord, and say with David, there is cause enough, (for he knoweth not what man is,) his brethren, like strangers, will devour his strength; therefore no trust can be put in man. But, if he be the true Ephraim, he will now apply himself to wisdom, and get understanding, and see that it is time to sow to yourselves in righteousness, to reap in mercy: break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you; then I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man, the Holy One in the midst of thee." This is a prophecy given me for the true Ephraim, who wishes to be clear in judging, before he condemns. JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1813, The following was sent to the Morning Herald, but the Editor objected to its being inserted, 45 Letters of Prophecy, by Joanna Southcott. The following are the words of the Lord respecting the conduct of the Bishops. "Two months thou hast been warning the Bishops; once by the private letter and book; to which they were silent; then I ordered thee to warn them in the public newspapers, and gave them liberty to come to thee; or they might have sent to Pomeroy, and ordered him to come to thee, to convince thee that thy visitation was wrong, if the language of his heart was different from what thou hadst been informed of by me; as then to his judgment thou must have given up; for this power I put in their hands. But, as they have refused either to come to thee, to judge for theirselves, or to send for him to decide the cause; I now tell thee, my appointed time is up; and my strict command is now to thee to call Pomeroy forward, to answer, between God and his own conscience, whether the words are true or not, that I told thee concerning him. For, as he said that the Lord would bring thee into judgment for injuring his character, he shall know it is I the Lord who bringeth him into judgment, to judge between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of the Lord. Know, he said it was through the persecution and persuasions of men that he was made to destroy the letters which I ordered thee to put in his hands. Then now let him look to the words of the Apostle. 1 Cor. i. 19.-" For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. The world by wisdom knoweth not God." He hath followed the wisdom of the world; thou hast rejected the wisdom of the world, to follow on to know the Lord: then know it is written, Ye shall know the Lord, if ye And now, by the difshall the truth of this stand or fall. There follow on to know him. ferent conduct of you two, Scripture be established; to fore my answer must go into the public paper, that, as the Bishops have refused to come forward to be any judges of my visitation to thee, as it was required, so I now forbid them all from coming to thee, till thou hast had Pomeroy's answer. For it must now be decided between him and thee alone; and when thou hast made every thing clear before him; then let him pass his final judgment.. And if he then say it is from the devil; then to his judgment thou shalt give up thy cause; and ask his pardon in the public paper, for disgracing his character, if he can prove that thou art wrong, and that he is right, in acting according to the wisdom of man. But this cannot be decided by letter: he must appear in person, and have every thing laid before him. But he will have none to contend with but thee only; and thou shalt have none to contend with but him only, until he hath decided, which is wrong, and which is right. And now, I tell thee, it will be fatal for him, if he now refuses to come forward, and judge for himself to decide between him and thee: for in this he is called to judge between God and man. So that I have laid no heavy burden upon him, to contend with the great and learned, be fore every thing is made clear before him.-And now let him call to his remembrance the Eleven Days, that I said were in store, to stay my heavy hand; but he must not stay till they are up. This is my command to him. Let him hastily prepare for his journey, as soon as he receives the newspaper, which I have ordered thee to send to him. As the Bishops have not called him forward, let him know, I the Lord have 47 called him, to decide the truth of the Prophecy, which I ordered thee to send to the Bishops." This warning is given from the Lord to me. JOANNA SOUTHCOTT Wednesday, Dec. 1st, 1813. A Communication given, November 13th, 1813, in answer to a Text preached by the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, in March, 1799. 1 Corinthians iii. 11. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." I was ordered to mark what follows the text, in the 12th verse-" If any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, stubble; every man's works shall be made. manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what, sort it is. If any man's works abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's works shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." The ANSWER of the SPIRIT. "Now I shall answer thee from this chapter, and begin from the building. See the different ways it is placed by the Apostle. GOLD is one thing; but know what is said of gold-dross may be found mixed with the gold, when it is tried by the fire; and so a nian's faith may be fixed upon the foundation of my Gospel, that no man can lay another foundation for his redemption, but by pleading my merit and mercies, to come and die for the redemption of man. Thus a man's faith may be built upon the Gospel, as gold; yet when it comes to be tried, like gold, by the fire, there is some dross may be found amongst it, unless it |