Now further on you must from Joel

go,

If deeper mysteries you do wish to know.
Your plough-shares into swords you all must turn,
And every weak man say, that he is strong:
Because that persecution will arise;
Darkness and sin will cover many eyes;
And True Religion men will sure pull down,
If they don't firmly stand to keep their ground,
A dreadful slaughter there will surely be;
But let not these things ever trouble thee.
So now remember your baptismal vow;
Which thing is right, as all men do allow ;
Under CHRIST'S BANNER you must manful fight;
(This thing's allowed by all men to be right)
Against the world, the flesh, against the devil-

These things were meant when days were coming evil.
Then as CHRIST's soldiers you must manful stand;
You know your MASTER gave this strict command,
That he which had no sword must go and buy;
The time to use it now is drawing nigh.

For CHRIST affirm'd his servants should have fought,
Had it been then; but surely it was not.
Therefore he did submit their frowns to bear,
And charged Peter to put up his spear;
But then he said his Kingdom was not here.
But when his Kingdom doth come here below,
My saints must fight, and they will find it so.
For JOEL's prophecies are drawing near;
Unto mankind I'll make them all appear."

A communication given to JOANNA, in 1794, concerning STEPHEN being stoned to death, and taken from her Sealed Writings, opened Jan. 12,

1803.

"Stephen was my disciple then of old;
And now the mysteries I'll to thee unfold;
For his RELIGION he was ston'd to death,
As now the record of the Scripture saith;
And with the zealous people there was PAUL,
When at his feet they laid their clothing all.

And now this mystery I will here unseal,
The meaning of it I'll to thee reveal:
The clothing of mankind I'll strip them all,
And lay their clothing at the feet of PAUL;
For in men's wisdom they do sore abound,
Until from Heaven they'll hear a different sound;
And then like Paul they'll suddenly obey;
Before his face I'll shew the perfect way;
And such a persecution will begin.-

Thy mind is puzzled, and thy pen's put down;
And this shall be a sure and certain sign;
They shall be puzzled, and their swords shall fall;
Or in mine anger I'll consume them all,
As Stephen, by the malice here of men,
Was stoned to death, and did his life lay down.
The Heavens were opened then for to receive
His dying spirit that to GoD he gave.
So now the things shall turn the other way-
Why art thou puzzled, and no more canst say?
Then if 'tis chang'd 'tis Hell must open now,
To such as do my judgments disallow ;
For I no longer will submit to man,
Unless it be such that truly fear my Name;
My patience is already wearied out;
My anger's kindled; 'tis too late to doubt--
For to dispute whether these things are true;
The time draws near, and they will find 'tis so.
Now from the GOSPEL thou begin to write,
What things afore-time were recorded there,
Were for your learning, now it doth appear;
That ye through patience might the Scriptures know;
And God's Salvation to you all I'll show.
Now be like-minded in this very thing;
TO CHRIST together all these glories bring,
That in thy writings I before have said--
Thy SAVIOUR CHRIST was truly circumcis'd;
And now the God of hope will give you peace
In this belief, and you must give him praise.
And now the Gospel read thou o'er to ME:
These are the words thy SAVIOUR he did say,
Signs in the heavens thou wilt surely see;
But surely further on thou can'st not say,†
Till I shall further on direct thy way.

The text of a sermon on the Fast Day-Luke xiii, 2. + Here the voice stopt speaking to her.

For when the fig-trees shoot their leaves most green,
The winter's past, the summer's coming on:
And then great joy may unto you appear;
Because that your salvation now draws near.
For then the Kingdom of Heaven's nigh at hand ;
Then sing for joy, O thou enlighten'd land.
Therefore I all these things have spoken in verse,
That you may sing it to your MAKER's praise;
And if your voices cannot reach the tune,
Let it be altered by the sons of men-
And from thy observation now begin
The Bishop bid the Minister to come,
Or sent his servant--that was just the same;
And soon the minister with blushes came;
And then he charged, that young Timothy
Should in his faith continue for to be;

As he was well assured from whom he'd learn'd,
He bid him to go on, and not return.*
So in like manner it will surely be ;
I'll send my Servants as I promis'd thee;
And then with faith and fear they'll hasty come,
And bid thee, like young Timothy, go on."

A communication given to JOANNA, in October 1794, in answer to a dream which she had, wherein she thought she had an engagement with Satan, and had overthrown him into a pit.

The Answer of the SPIRIT.

"So will it happen to the powers of darkness: they will be cut short. Satan, the great accuser of the brethren, will be cast down. Woe to the inhabitants of the land of sinners; for Satan will come down in great power and wrath, because he knows his reign will be short. Sin will abound, grace will

In Exeter, at St. Peter's Church, the minister continued so long in the vestry after prayers, that the bishop sent his servant for him.-He took his text from 2 Timothy iii. 14.

much more abound. The Power of Christ will be strong in believers; the power of Satan will be strong in sinners. As it was in Heaven; so will it be on earth. Michael and the dragon fought; but could not cast him out of heaven, till the SON of GOD came, and thrust him out. So will it be on earth, when Satan is chained down: persecution must first arise; saints and sinners must first fight. That time will be short and sharp. Then will the pillars of the heavens be shaken, and the foundation of the earth will tremble; the seas will roar and make a great noise; men's hearts failing them for very trouble, because they did not believe these things would be. Now let all men search the scriptures, for they testify of these things,

"The solemn midnight cry—

The BRIDEGROOM's voice you'll hear,
The SPIRIT and the BRIDE affirm,

His coming now draws near.

The heavenly pillars soon will shake,

And earth's foundation mourn;
Therefore 'tis time loudly to cry

To sinners, to return

While mercy waiteth at the door,

The SAVIOUR doth invite,

The following communication was given to JOANNA, in February 1798, and now taken from

her Sealed Writings, opened January 12th, 1803, in answer to a Jew, who said, it was presumptuous in her to say, that the Lord would reveal his secrets to her. His words were answered by the SPIRIT, in the following manner:

"What foundation had they (the Jews) to believe I ever revealed my Will to them? Was it for their goodness, or their merit? Did not Esau seek the life of his brother Jacob? Did not Jacob's sons seek the life of their brother Joseph? First, they conspired to take his life; next, they changed their intentions, and sold him for a bond-slave; and then deceived their father with lies. Was not David guilty of murder and adultery? Trace the life of Solomon, with all his wisdom. The prophets that were good men, they (the Jews) put to death. Let them trace back all the actions of their forefathers, and see, why they should be so presumptuous, to believe I ever told my mind, or will, to such a people. Are there any crimes their forefathers have not done? But did I condemn the innocent with the guilty? or the just with the unjust? If I made the Jews, I ask them, who made the Gentiles? Was I not the Maker of both? Then now let them look to the apostles and martyrs, who suffered death for my sake. Was it not a stronger proof of love, than ever was shewn by any nation, save the Jews? Then now let us reason together. If I conceal nothing from the Jews, why should I from the Gentiles, who owned ME for their Saviour, when the Jews denied ME? If they deny the oath which I sware unto Abraham; then let them deny the oath which I sware unto thee. If they believe the former; let them judge the latter. For my oath is made alike unto both; and I will no more forget the one than the other.