swer-were Noah's senses deranged in warning the antediluvian world of their destruction, so many years before it came, and build the ark while they judged him an old fool for doing it? I may write of the long contentions of all the prophets; and how they were judged, and what befel their judges; but all this you know already.

I must now come to the purpose; you told Mrs. Boucher that I wrote blasphemy. I must entreat the favour, Sir, that you will be so kind as to tell her wherein I wrote blasphemy; and I am ready to answer for myself.-Yet I own it is generous and kind in you to say it, if you thought so; but my soul shudders at the thought, and much more of the act. I must beg to answer for myself, that there is not one, I believe, upon earth, who hath higher thoughts of the Holy Trinity than I have; and before I can judge them as low as I find mankind do, I must firmly believe the Bible is as strong enthusiasm as men judge my writings. Do mankind judge the Lord another such as theirselves? If so, they may judge me a good, mistaken woman, that have spent my time in fasting and prayers, to know the will of the Lord and obey it—and hath the Lord heard my prayers in silence, as the ministers receive my letters, and, when they broke silence, returned their answers in anger? But can I judge my Maker so? God forbid: the Lord judge be

tween man and me.

I require no favour of any man, but to tell me faithfully, as ministers of the Lord, what Spirit they thought hath so powerfully visited me, for eight years past. This petition they refuse: but their words, like swords, go through my soul; and f may say, with the prophet of old, "My heart is broken, and all my bones shake." I own, the ill treatment I have met with from men, is enough to make me deranged in my senses: and did I think I should receive such from the Lord,

I should say with Job, "Oh that my days were to an end!" and with the prophet of old, "Cursed be the day wherein I was born!" But I still hope to meet with a wiser judge than man; one that is clear when he judgeth, that he may be

just if he condemneth.

I return you thanks, Sir, for all the trouble you have taken on my account. I do not condemn the innocent with the guilty. I must own, you have acted, in every principle, as a minister who wishes to give just and true judgment, to prove the spirit, and try it. You have owned you were ready; and had other ministers done the same, my sorrows would have been at an end; but now I fear they will continue till I go down to the cold chambers of the grave, which my soul longs for, in hopes of meeting a better and a juster judge than man.

I am not ignorant of what I am doing; I do not marvel at the times, that our land is so bowed down with sorrow and distress on every side, seeing the unfeeling hearts of the ministers, to know there must be some cause, unknown to them, that hath laid so heavy a burthen on the land, and upon my mind and heart; and they will not give theirselves one hour's time nor trouble, to search out the cause and free the load that lies so heavy on my spirits. I may say with David, "Lord what is man, that thou regardest him! Could I be clear that my writings were not from God, I would never take my pen in hand to write more on that subject; and what I have already written I would commit to the flames. But my soul trembleth at the severe threatenings against myself, if I am disobedient to the heavenly calling: I must sin against light and knowledge."

I must conclude with saying, that I do not wish you, Sir, to trouble ministers any more on my account; I find I must bear my own burthen, till

the Lord is pleased to take the cause in his own hand, and undertake for me.

I must beg the favour of you, Sir, to send by the bearer, wherein you judge I have written blasphemy; for the Lord is my judge, at whose judgment-seat I wish to appear, sooner than the judgment-seat of men: for I see, man is but man; but the judge of all the earth will judge right; so I wish to fall into the hands of God, for great are his mercies; but let me not fall into the hands of men, in whom I find no mercy, justice, nor equity; but unjust judgment, judging as blind men do of colours-but what they know not now, they will know hereafter.

I remain, with the greatest respect,

Your humble servant,

JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. When I had ended the above letter, I was thus answered by the Spirit:

"Now thou hast ended thy letter, be thou comforted; I will not leave thee comfortless. I said his answer would determine the harvest, and perfectly so shall it come, as I shall shew thee in the night. Thou hast appealed to the judge of quick and dead; as man hath refused to judge for thee, thou must be a judge for thyself. This harvest is to determine thy judgment, that I am not a man to hear in silence, neither will I return thy petitions in anger. This harvest shall come perfectly like thy dream: the floor shall be scanty, that shall break down the hearts of men, if thy writings are not proved before the time. If they are, I will fill your barns with increase. It is not for thee to know whether they will or not."

The writings were not proved before the harvest; and it followed bad, as it was threatened; and was burnt up by the sun according to the threatenings; and when the writings went out the following year, then the three good harvests followed as promised.

A Communication given in 1801, in answer to the different Seals which the writings were sealed up with

"As different seals do now appear,

So different names I'll join them here;
And all shall find the marriage true,
By every seal brought to your view.
So let the learned judge the seals,
And then the mystery I'll reveal;
For when the King's Seal doth appear,
It proves to man his words are there;
And here they'll find my seals are come-
And judge it by the woman's hand,
That is more plain than any ring,
Such writings from her hand to bring;
Though all her lovers tried in vain,
Her hand nor heart could ne'er obtain;
The Serpent, twisted with the Dove,
Thought by such arts her heart to move;
The Lion and the Lamb appear'd,
To see if they her heart could share;
The ravenous Wolf and beasts of prey
Agreed to draw her heart astray;
The Vulture and the poisonous Snake
Judg'd they could make her heart to shake;
And there's no poisonous beast of prey
But hath been lurking in the way,
For to draw back her steady heart,
And tried to level there his dart.
But all these arts have proved in vain ;
"Tis I alone her heart could gain,
And prove the victory is the more,
As others tried her heart to share.

Then who shall pluck her from my hand?
Let men and devils silent stand,
And tell me if it is not true-

And all your words bring to your view;
Then all must cry, "we're guilty here;
"We know we tried her heart to share;
"Or else, to foil her in the way,
"By every thought to gain the day."
So here the simple sons of men
Thought with her Maker to contend;
And they as well might climb to heaven;
For now they've tried by words were given;
But all their speeches I'll confound,
And all their towers I'll soon throw down,

And give this challenge unto men;
And then their towers I'll own shall stand.
Let twelve together now appear,
And meet my chosen Shepherd here;
And of one mind let all agree,

And prove from hell thy writings be;
Then I to man will give it up,

If there's twelve shepherds thus should drop.
But if their speech be divided there,
And all their words alike don't bear ;
Then all their towers must sure fall down,
If they do vary in the sound:
And some will say it can't be from hell-
"We sooner judge it from herself.”
Then sure their building won't agree ;
For unwise judges they must be,
To think that e'er a woman's head
Such curious buildings ever laid,
As is as far beyond thy power,

As 'twas for them to build the tower.
Then will they answer, it came from man?
I ask them how their tower will stand,
When not one word he can make good?
I'll soon confound, if this be said;
But if together they'll agree,

Το

say, "we'll build another way,
"And all agree it came from heaven;
"To build our towers, can this be given,

"For us to climb so very high,

"And make our wisdom reach the sky."
Yes, there in wisdom you may boast,

And make the serpent lick the dust,

When you have prov'd your judgment clear,
That others may not foil you here.

So for the present this I'll end:

In print let all these lines be penn'd;
For I will try the heads of men,
And see what knowledge is in them;
And if there's any I discern,

My knowledge he will soon pull down;
For though the good fruit hung so high,
The knowledge sure was on the tree;
And as the woman pluck'd it first,
That way the Serpent must be cast,
When I hand down the better food,
Then she must give you what is good."-

The following communication was given upon my going to Bristol. Mrs. Taylor wished me not