I was present at the same time, and heard all that is here declared by Miss Mary Card. I saw the apparition, and heard her speak at the same time. M. MILLER.
TESTIMONY IV.
Testimony of Capt. Paul Simson.
January 3, 1800, I was at the house of Mr. Blaisdel. His son P. desired me to go with him into the cellar. I went down with him and his two sisters, and Mrs. C. M.
I heard a rapping, and asked in the name of Christ what it wanted. I heard a voice considerably loud, but could not understand it. But some who were present, told me that it said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make his paths strait. Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.”
After some silence it rapped again. I spake to it in the name of Christ, and said, if there was any thing it could utter for peace, to utter it. It answered, “I am not to be trifled with. I am not to be trifled with. I am not to be trifled with. Peace, peace, peace.”[36]
Then they all went up, except Lydia and myself, and I held her by the hand. She was much terrified, and said, “I feel so I cannot stay: I must go up.” Stay awhile, said I, perhaps it will speak again. “I cannot,” said she, and began to urge me away. I consented, and when we had come up, she told me what I had myself perceived, that the cellar began to grow light, where the voice was uttered and that she heard a rushing noise.
Sometime after I was in the same cellar with a number of people and heard a plain voice; clearly understood by others, but not at all by myself, though as near to it as others and free from deafness. The voice appeared to me inimitable.
August 8, I was there again with thirty others and heard the conversation of the Spectre with several persons. Mr. N. H. mentioned his desire to handle her. “Handle me and see,” said she, “for Christ tells you that a spirit is not flesh and bones.”
Mr. T. U. said, “if you are a happy soul, intercede for me.” The reply was, “None but Christ intercedes.” “There are among us,” said Mr. U., “several denominations of Christians: Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, and Methodists. Which of all these are right?” The voice answered, “There are good and bad of all these sorts for the elect’s sake.”[37]