And now mankind have own'd it true, The judgments threatened heretofore, Now, my dear Miss Townley, you see the wisdom of God joined with his power in fulfilling the words that have been always said to me, that out of their own mouths HE would condemn MANKIND, You know how I was told, the shadow of judgments began in our land when the King was first seized with illness, in the very month that was mentioned that dangers would begin; but as no man would own the visitation of the Lord in it, you know I was ordered to seal up the Newspapers, and say the mark still stood in the dark for man. But now men have brought that mark to light themselves, by their owning the visitation of the LORD to our SOVEREIGN for the transgression of his people, which was in my Prophecies; for though I said, if the shepherds did not lay it to heart, the Lord would cut the land; but it was on the King the first stroke was to come; and now that they have owned it, the LORD hath publicly explained it. So I do not fear who seeth the letter; for if the Bishops have any love for their King and Country, and they have owned the cause, now let them try to remove the effect. Now what have you or I to fear, when we are guided by a God so wondrous in wisdom, so wondrous in working, so wondrous in council, power, and truth, that would not permit me to say, publicly to the world, the judgments were there begun, before the wise and learned had publicly confessed it? Now call to your remembrance the former words.-By the 29th of May men's wisdom I'll confound, and in June I'll prune the sons of men; and now in their own wisdom they are cut down; and where is the man who can withstand the wisdom and power of a God, whose footsteps are hid in the great deep and whose paths are past man's finding out? And though our weak sight cannot see how HE will bring all things to pass that is spoken in my writings; yet, I see that GOD, whose wisdom never has erred, is now shining brighter and brighter, to the perfect day. So we shall see the SALVATION of the LORD, if we are perfect in obedience to his Command. But I am clearly convinced of the truth of the words last year," that they all stood but as water pots, before the time was come that the Lord bringeth every truth to light; and we have seen things but as trees walking; yet, I trust soon we shall see all things as men.' Since I had finished writing my own judgment to you, from the wisdom of the Lord in this wondrous working, I was answered by the SPIRIT in the following man ner: 99 Now from thy words I'll answer here→ Before I prov'd it by their hand, To make them own MY JUDGMENTS TRUE, The hidden mysteries to find out— They'll see мY WISDOM shine more clear (Signed,) JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. Extract from the 5th page of the Prayers for the Fast. "Have mercy, we beseech thee, upon thy Servant our Sovereign, whom thou hast smitten for the transgressions of his people. We acknowledge that for our manifold sins, we are worthy of the severity of thy judgments, yet we beseech thee, incline thine ear to us, when, with penitent and contrite hearts, we turn unto thee, and remove from our Sovereign and from us this dreadful visitation. DEAR MISS TOWNLEY, I Shall send you the Communication that was given me, in answer to the Prayer after the Prayer D for the whole state of Christ's Church, that was to No follow, wherein are these words : "And to all those that may be ordained to suffer for thy sake, impart, O merciful Lord, such plentiful succours of thy Holy Spirit, pour into their souls such contempt of pain and death, kindle in their hearts such love of thee, and zeal for thy truth, fill them with such animating hopes of immortality, that after the example of the blessed saints and martyrs of the primitive ages, they may so stedfastly confess thee before men, that having glorified thy name, by their sufferings here upon earth, they may obtain of thee an everlasting crown of glory. And grant to us all, such a denial of ungodliness and worldly affections, that we may look forward with hope to the consummation of all things, and to the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ." Here is the Communication given in answer to it: "I now tell thee, it is those who are workers with ME to bring in my Kingdom of Peace, that are now suffering the reproach of man for my sake. Who else can they prove is suffering for my sake? Let them answer, who they are that are now suffering for my sake, but only those who are now persecuted for my sake? But I know the thoughts of thy heart thou sayest, that men will say, those that are called to the war are suffering for my sake. But is thy judgment so weak, to believe it, that they are suffering for my sake, when they are going to a war to defend their own lives, and the lives of others; and my Honour nor my Kingdom is not in their thoughts? Then how can they be suffering for my sake, that have no love for ME, nor any desire for my Kingdom approaching? Then how can they compare such men with my saints and martyrs? I tell thee, No: they cannot compare the soldiers with saints and martyrs; neither are they looking for the glorious approaching of the great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. These things are For on your heads their prayers shall ever rest, For all their Prayers I'll turn a different way: Or like the saints my Cause do undertake; And from thy heart I know thou answerest, none; N°6 |