THE TRIAL OF 'JO*AJ¥Jfv& SOUTMCOTT, WHICH COMMENCED ON THE JK1FTH, AND ENDED ON THE ELEVENTH, AT THE NECKINGER HOUSE, BERMONDSEY, : -' <—Mi "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking a fter their own lusts* ** We speak the -wisdom of Ood in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom^ LONDONi PRINTED BY S. ROUSSEAU, WOOD STREET, SPA FIELDS) AND SOLD BY E. J. FIELD, NO. 2, HIGH STREET, ST. GILEs'% 1.804. INTRODUCTION. J. HE world at large has raised a variety of false reports, and drawn many wrong judgments, concerning the publications of Joanna Southcott. Some have gone so far as to say, that they are the works of men with her signature put to them. Others have affirmed, that their contents are made up of falsehoods, and not truth. Again, among a variety of the like tales, it has lately been boldly as-, serted, -" that she makes a scribbling on some papers, and delivers them to some of her followers, and then, when any remarkable occurrence happened in the world, from her being possessed of a great de gree of head knowledge, with a retentive memory, she has occasionally gone to these papers and pretended to read what has happened, in the same manner as if it had been in them; and then it is added, that -there is a person writes down what she pretends to read, and then it is published:" This erroneous and . false assertion has even been put in print against her. j JBut all these things being known to the Lord, be*- fore Joanna could have any notice of them; she ( therefore sees his unbounded wisdom, in ordering "i that every truth should be tried and regularly proved f* by the testimony of credible witnesses. »" And in order to ascertain the truth or falsity of. ^ her writings, all ranks of men have been invited, by a variety of applications, to come forward to examine fairly into them. The bifhops, and clergy in general, were particularly invited to search into these matters; and she then expressed her willingness, A 2 on every truth being laid before any twenty-four •whom they might appoint from among themselves, that if they could prove the calling to be from the Deyil, she then would consent for every thing to be given up to their judgment, as may.be seen in "Letters on various Subjects, from Joanna Southcott to Miss Townley, published in June, 1804;" but they declined coming forward to judge the cause. After this it was offered to be given up to the judgment of the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, in like manner, if he ceuld bring twenty-four to prove her calling from an evil Spirit; for he had written private let-r ters to her friends, to insinuate to them that she had? published falsehoods against him. But her friendsbeing above deceit, they sent her his letters, which! she put in print, at the same time offering to give up; all to him, if he came forward and proved his assertions, as the reader may see more fully in her 'u Explanations of the Bible," Part L p. 44, published towards the end of the same year; but well knowing that lie could not do so, he likewise refused to attend to her invitation to do justice to her character. And to shew the reader the last steps which were*aken, respecting that gentleman, previous to her Trial, the following particulars are inserted: DIRECTIONS FROM THE SPIRIT;. Wednesday, Nov. 23, 1804. "Now, Joanna, I shall give thee directions. Know all men, my Gospel was penned by my disciples; rny friends and followers bore record of the truth; for what truth could come from my enemies? Now I tell thee, it is my friends and believers that must bear record of eveiy truth the same. Now, as the days of thy departure draw near, I have ordered thee to call all thy witnesses and friends together, to make every truth clear before them, and to convince the unbelieving world, they have not built their faith on a Sandy foundation; they have not listened to any cunningly devised fables; they have not taken thy, bare, word and record; but have faithfully searched into-every truth. The- witnesses must be called, and their evidence given in and penned, as though it was a thing on life and death. All must be penned, and-ail particulars looked into, to prove to the world there is no deceit in thee or thy friends. For I now tell thee, if thy friends believe every truth thoy hast told them, without bringing forward every evidence to prove it, the world will not; for clear proofs must be made manifest, to prove a thing to. an unbelieving world. My disciples penned in what a public manner my miracles were wrought, and in what a public manner I. appeared to them after my decease; and in:what manner I arose again;; but could)this be done by the keepers, who were bribed" to conceal the truth * ?• Ltell thee, Nor so.' let the unbelieving(iworld say the truth of all is proved by thy friends and believers: for the truth of my Gospel was penned the same, and the truth of my Bible was penned the same. Now let the world be convinced from Pomeroy, what truth can you know irom.:him? Does he not use every art to conceal the truth, as much as the keepers did to conceal the truth of my resun ectiotv ?< T«hen know, vain man, no truth can come from; an enemy. See my Gasgel; see my, Bible; see how Jehoiakim went to conceal and destroy the words of Jeremiah; and see through my Bible how it was penned by the prophets, and made, public by those who believed. But was ever my- Bible- affirmed by an enemy? Let reason take, possession of every heart .; and now see from Pomeroy's conduct, how he would sooner lose his own honour, and bear the scandalous reproach of the. whole, world, than come forward to acknowledge the truth. Now let this be a convincing proof to all men, that truth cannot be made known by an enemy; truth must be made known by a believer, who will not blind his own eyes, nor the eyes of others, • Matthew, xxviii. lci, 13/ 14. |