unto you." _Question_--what do you mean by the Spirit. _Ans._ The Spirit
that spoke to the prophets in former days--and I was greatly astonished,
and for two years prayed continually, whenever my duty would permit--and
then again I had the same revelation, which fully confirmed me in the
impression that I was ordained for some great purpose in the hands of
the Almighty. Several years rolled round, in which many events occurred
to strengthen me in this my belief. At this time I reverted in my mind
to the remarks made of me in my childhood, and the things that had been
shewn me--and as it had been said of me in my childhood by those by whom
I had been taught to pray, both white and black, and in whom I had the
greatest confidence, that I had too much sense to be raised, and if I
was, I would never be of any use to any one as a slave. Now finding I
had arrived to man's estate, and was a slave, and these revelations
being made known to me, I began to direct my attention to this great
object, to fulfil the purpose for which, by this time, I felt assured I
was intended. Knowing the influence I had obtained over the minds of my
fellow servants, (not by the means of conjuring and such like
tricks--for to them I always spoke of such things with contempt) but by
the communion of the Spirit whose revelations I often communicated to
them, and they believed and said my wisdom came from God. I now began to
prepare them for my purpose, by telling them something was about to
happen that would terminate in fulfilling the great promise that had
been made to me--About this time I was placed under an overseer, from
whom I ran away--and after remaining in the woods thirty days, I
returned, to the astonishment of the negroes on the plantation, who
thought I had made my escape to some other part of the country, as my
father had done before. But the reason of my return was, that the Spirit
appeared to me and said I had my wishes directed to the things of this
world, and not to the kingdom of Heaven, and that I should return to the
service of my earthly master--"For he who knoweth his Master's will, and