A dispute between the woman and the powers of darkness

3

The Lord, who said to the proud waves of the sea, "you shall come this far and no further," had set limits for Satan to go as far as he wanted in temptations, but no further. He was not allowed to appear or hurt me unless I gave up my faith in the Lord. I read these things, along with many strong promises made to me, to the three ministers and other gentlemen. These men saw things differently from those who thought it was wrong to argue with the devil at all. They said that whatever the Lord commanded was right, and they had no doubt that he would protect me according to his promise. They promised to be in earnest prayer for me the whole time. All my friends who knew about it said the same. So I went on the second day of August, accompanied by my friends, to a place prepared for me to be alone by myself. I was forbidden from seeing anyone for three days. On the third day, the ministers were ordered to come so that if Satan had anything to say for himself in person, he might appear then. They attended according to the directions given, but Satan did not appear, and therefore he was afterwards forbidden from doing so. If he would not come boldly before men, he would not be permitted to come in person before a woman alone. So I had nothing to fear from his appearance, but was commanded only to write down his words.

Now I shall inform my readers what made me stand so steadfast and firm in faith against the devil and all his threats. I knew well that if my calling was from God, as I believed it to be, and I had prophesied in his Name, He would protect me from the powers of darkness according to his word and not leave me in the hour of trial. I knew well that Satan's malice was greater than his power, for the Lord alone has the power that is almighty to save. And although I had been mistaken in a few things, which happened to keep me humble before the Lord and to test the talents of the learned so that we might walk by faith and not by sight, it is said to me in my sealed writings Southcott's unpublished or authenticated prophecies kept in a locked box—

“I mean to test the high wisdom of men,

And all of their conduct as well.”