A FOUNTAIN OF Gardens Vol. II. Being a Continuation of the Process of a Life according to Faith of the Divinely Magical Knowledge and of the New Creation IN Mutual ENTERTAINMENTS BETWIXT The Essential Wisdom and the Soul in her Progress through Paradise to Mount Sion and to the New Ierusalem By I. LEAD Isa. LVIII 11. Thou shalt be like a Watered GARDEN and like a Spring of Water whose Waters fail not London Printed and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster 1697. THE EDITOR TO THE READER IN this Second Volume of the Diary which is here Presented there are many Things very Considerable relating to the several Progresses of a Life of Faith with various Manuductions to this Mystick and Supersensual State recorded within the Space but of One Year wherein this Author was most plentifully Visited of God There are many Informations given concerning the Paradisiacal the Angelical and the Divine Life in the Gradual Augmentation and Operation of the Holy Seed of Faith within the Soul Many things concerning the Bank of Wisdom with her Laws of Merchandize which besides an Interiour do carry also with them an Exteriour Sense that will be made good to her Children many things respecting the Establishment of a Royal Order of the Melchizedeck Priesthood upon the Earth with the Return of Prophecy and Miracles in a more Extraordinary and Fixed Manner than ever hitherto They are all Great and Momentous Matters which are here deliver'd Concerning both the Church of Christ in general and each Member thereof in particular neither are they such as are at a distance but such as are near at hand and at the very Door they beginning already to be accomplished in some Persons in divers Countries even almost of all Ranks Constitutions and Manners of Living Whereof much could be said And if they be not only Great but also Uncommon and Strange though it cannot be expected that they should easily be Receiv'd yet it may that they should at least be admitted to a fair Hearing and candid Examination as to the Pretences which are made Whatever also the Method of Delivering them down may be and how liable soever to the Exceptions of the Eloquent and the Learned this will not be a Prejudicate strong enough to make the Wise and Prudent in Heart throw away a rich Treasure that may be put into their hands because of the many Coverings that may be put upon it And if the Matters be of the greatest Consequence though they be couched for the most part under certain Parables Similitudes and Visional Ideas it is not at all doubted but that Many will be found who may hereby be stirred up to dive into and comprehend what others will slight and despise as seeing nothing more in it than an Enthusiastick Jargon of Words But let the Thoughts of these be never so mean it is certain to me that Wisdom will be justified of her children and that her Children are Children indeed Children in the Eyes of the World in their own Eyes and in the Eyes of God No wonder then it is that the World despises them laughs at their weakness and with a sort of Disdain pities their Folly It has been so from the days of Christ and of his holy Apostles and it is no new thing for the Mystick Wisdom of God to be accounted Foolishness and those that are led by an higher Spirit than that of this World to be termed Mad or even possess'd with a Devil But if the World know them not a Greater than the World doth know them Hear then Oye Little Ones and rejoice Hear also O ve Despisers and mourn For a glorious Kingdom and a beautiful Crown even the Crown of Philadelphia is now set before you both Take heed that ye neglect not so great an Offer and deride not those who do Believe and consequently Accept it If so the Evil Day of Temptation that is to try the whole Earth will overtake you suddenly and then will ye be constrain'd to confess How are these whom we counted Mad numbred among the Children of God and how is their Lot fallen among the Redeemed out of the Earth who stand upon the Mount of Sion with Crowns and Palms in their Hands following the Lamb The Ascending Steps to which Mount you will find Here so described as could be by none but such as have went up by them in conformity with that process of the Regeneration and the Transformation which hath been expressed by the Ascension-Ladder sent down that was in the year 1681. set forth by the Author and in the Year 1694. Translated into High Dutch and soon after that into Low Dutch Wherein it is at large declared how the Actions and Passages of our Blessed Lord in the Way to Glorification are not only Representative and Imputative as to their Meritoriousness or Efficacy but are also Operative of the same in the Members of his Mystical Body Who must also pass through Death and the Resurrection before they can Ascend and be glorified with him in the Kingdom of Mount Sion or of the New Ierusalem Let us then as many as Love the Lord JESUS and his Appearance behold the Cloud now breaking wherein he will Descend into Us in like manner as he Ascended and having carry'd us through the Cross will lead us back into Paradise whence we came out by restoring again the bright and pure Image of God through his all-virtual Resurrection and from thence conduct us still higher and higher as we shall be herewith by him Adorned into those Superiour States of Glorification in the Heavens above Paradise where he sits as at the right Hand of the Father in the Fulness of Majesty and Glory From whence he will Personally also descend to Judge the World according to Righteousness and Truth or Equity when he shall have thus prepared a Body of Saints made like unto him in the midst of whom he may pitch his Glorious Tabernacle Out of which his Edicts will be sent as on the Wings of the Lightning to the utmost ends of the Earth by Flying Angels who have liv'd in Bodies of Mortality but shall have then receiv'd the Immortal Crown and the Incorruptible Name O Blessed yea thrice Blessed are all those who through that Faith which in these Sheets is Discrib'd are made partakers of this First Resurrection and of the high Immunities and Prerogatives of the First-born But who is sufficient for these things And it may now again be said Alas Who hath believed our Report We are accounted as Liars all the day long for they sake O God of Truth Alas who will believe that thou hast remembred thy Promises of Old which all thy Holy Prophets have repeated from thy Mouth O Lord most Holy O Lord most True Or that thou hast spoken unto us out of the Cloudy Pillar and communed with us in the Silence of our Hearts How hast thou made us to bear thy Reproach O God and to be in
to be seen or known by us after the manner of what hath been so as without you follow this Example to go apart you will hardly dye away quietly but you will be disturbed to bring your Life back again so as it will be a lingring dying Death therefore well consider this impeding thing and that you might not be alone in a suffering dying state I have provided one that will be a dying-Mate with you to support and strengthen each other till a Dissolution is finished Then you may totally cast your selves upon your dying Beds there waiting for the Hour of your Change The utmost grievousness of it will be but as a slumbering Trance that will make you forget this Principle with all its good or evil Properties all things will be alike unto you because gathered unto your own People in the Land of Light where more transparent things will take up your Minds and satisfie your Sights There be certain measures and rules whereby ye may know whether or no your approaching End be near First Consider the Years and Date of your Age there is a set and appointed time for Spiritual Death as well as for the Natural The bounds thereof are determined though few or rarely any have tasted this Spiritual Death before their outward Man hath been broken by Natural Death Yet some known and some unknown Examples hereof have been as Enoch Moses and Elias with the Lord of Life who though he suffered Death yet rising in that Body again was with it for a certain time conversant in the Earth to testifie another Change was to pass thereupon or else he never could have stood upon the Sea of Glass without being changed into another Figure meet for Mount Sion Light More also have found this Translation though happily concealed But it is enough that you know by what means it may possibly be reached through the serious disposing of your selves unto this dying state Making observation by self-Examination of those Signs and Marks that you may certainly conclude that the time of your departure is at hand Secondly For the Bounds and Time without all controversie the Body of Sin is old enough to dyeâ— it is not few but many and evil have been its days which have been spent unprofitably therefore the Life thereof is not to be prolonged but to seek the cutting of it off as an unprofitable Member with all that do pertain unto it As the vile Body which through the corrupt Principle entring in changed the very Form into the like deformed Image which being brought back again unto a Nullification then the Eternal Life will spring and set all in order as to the very outward Vehicle again The Third Symptom you are to take notice of is this how your Life-Pulse beats weak or strong that is whether the Life and Vigour of the Heart be much deaded and spiritless to all whatever can be named that hath its Root from this degenerated Principle The Fourth Symptom is this do you feel your Stomach and Appetite fully gone that yon cannot digest any of the Fruits that is brought forth by the Sweat of the Brow and Toil of the Hands all which was the product of the Curse A Fifth Symptom is this nay more try your selves that to all which seems to carry a more refined excellency in it are you able to distinguish it as garnished only with somewhat out of Paradise but mixed with the wild and sowre Vintage of this World whether you do feel real disgusts and loathing hereunto The Sixth place this is another palpable Sign the Life-Breath is much pent and stopped The thick Air and unsavoury Fumes of this worldly Region have near stifled the very Life-Breath so as it will be unbearable finding nothing at all in this whole Universe pleasant unto you because of this your Spiritual Sickness which presageth Death to be so near Can you now but give a real Proof of such languishing Symptoms then may you hope and believe a glorified Translation is hereby working out where nothing more that is uneasie shall be felt Concerning some means to this perfect Death consider these that follow Ianuary the 27th 1676 7. First Let your Bridegroom Spirit you who are thus truly dying and direct you wisely to put your visible Affairs into order as only using them as for a meer constrained necessity during the time of your sick mortal state always expecting that their Date is wearing out For a transformed Body will hereof have no need Secondly Then yet again take this Rule from your dear Comforter who would have you finish all things that may be in order to this accomplishment of what may make perfect and entire lacking nothing that may make comely The Third Place There is another Act as necessary to be performed as this in passing away and making a disposal as your last Will of all that you possess in and from the Spirit of this mutable Region that doth constitute and give forth to the fallen Ones their several Portions by and through the visible Constellations that work uncessantly in all the Rational and Sensitive Faculties as also from the subtle introducement of the Prince of Darkness who thereby holds the Life captive that it cannot so easily come to its total decease Therefore give up all as they have proceeded from the Earthly Rudiments let them inherit them as their own again For the Spiritual Birth and Body that is to take place upon the Remove of this hath more high graduated Intellectuals and Faculties supersensually engraven upon the Mind which will always generate from the Crystal Source of the Immense Being Ianuary the 28th 1676 7. This Morning the Spirit gave this Word of Counsel as also for a Caution in and upon this great Expectation Beware of the Tempter in relation to the Hope of Transmutation Who subtilly stands ready here to mingle who waiteth to see if you should hereby be exalted by any elevated aims that are not clear and justifiable in the Eye of the Holy Trinity Therefore keep down upon the sure ground of Deaths deep Humility make no terms or conditions what Body you shall come forth with leave that to him who is the Resurrection and Life Who will give every Spirit a Body as may answer to what for them is designed whether to appear or disappear in this Principle according as the most Holy shall see meet to employ you in new raised Bodies or to draw up into that Orb which is all invisible to officiate as an Eternal Sanctuary Only in this be watchful and purge out all high and self-ambitious aims testifying how great your Rejoycings are in the dying Marks and Signs whereby as it is said the World is crucified to you and you unto the same and hereby you shall lose no due Fame whether or no ye look unto the Reward that shall follow all this God himself hereunto will have respect for you upon whose Faithfulness and Truth you may well rest Who
upright moral Conversation the Law of God written in their Hearts according to the Letter As it is said their Conscience accusiâ—g or excusing according to Truth or Falshood acted by them for by Nature things contained in the Law may be done so that you may take in this higher degree of things into the knowledge of the Spirit of a Man as an earthly Man and yet not able to receive or comprehend the more high wonderful and deep things of God It is only possible to that which is the meer Birth of the Spirit distinct from the Earthly Now then said the most holy Anointing that ye may know that this Spiritual Man is born shall appear by what shall be revealed unto it March the 2d 1676 7. Now as to the things of God which are given only to the Spirit of a Spiritual Man to find out verily they are so great various and numerous as in times Volumâ— they can never be unfolded Only the Spirit for the use of this new Born Creature or Spiritual Born Man doth bring down a Breviate of those invisible Things that are in heavenly Places or rather that are in God who is the Original from whence all glorious things that are in Existency are brought forth which may be named as the Back-parts of God framed and stretched forth into a Light Seraphick Globe which God furnisheth with his own Majestick Forms which no one ever saw or therfore can take upon them to describe The Spirit only hereof can make report to the Spiritual Man while yet imprisoned in a corporal Shrine and Shape But you will say what more of the things of God are discoverable when you are wholly in the Spirit you need not thus Quere but in the mean time there is a Spirit which will take it's range for you to view the Fathers Goods Possâ—ssions and Eternal Lands because as Heirs ye are concerned thereunto To proceed then to the heights depths and bredths of what are yours in Reversion within the Circle of Mount Sion state Consider then what of God's is there they are all yours as ye stand engrafted into the Tree of Life Now what hath the Spirit found out in all the heights above this earthly Sphere First into Paradise it doth take its Flight where all things are in good Order and flourishing state as before Adam had lost his Virgin Mate Paradise is now stock'd again with such as have waded through the floating Sea of Sin and Mortality in order to the putting on that image of Purity where the least Guile or Fault may not be found in any there The Spirit doth see all in wonderful Harmony for this Voice was heard to say from the high and lofty One with Men risen from the Dead I will also dwell though it be alotted for a time to be a separated Mansion till all be gathered into â—that one superior Kingdom Thus you hear good News that is all rich and flourishing within the Paradysical Kingdom no decay since Adam's day but much encrease and augmentation is daily through the Resurrection of a Spiritual Man March the 3d. 1676 7. These things whereof an account has been given you may be defined as the local Place of Paradice whereinto Spirits separated in a natural Death putting off there mortal Bodies do enter into it and there put on their Virgin Body which doth prepare them to meet their Bridegroom who from thence fetcheth them up to mount Sion These are such who in this very time have fought the good Fight of Faith and had very near overcome this World What is lacking to make them fully perfect in this Paradisical Place they are appointed to stay here till all their Bridal Trimming be finished and they find that they can pass the way to the Tree of Life through the flaming Cherub who still is a Guard upon that figurative Tree In that place holy Angels do there also wait by their course to minister to those who do come here as designed Heirs of that more glorious State which in Sion is revealed This is some part of those good things which belong to your Eternal Father But to open to thee a further Mystery which is what may be entred upon in this very Life time know there is a mystical Paradise as well as a local which springs metaphorically opening from a pure magical Center this is a wonderful state to know and wittness it chiefly stands in divine Visions Revelations Ideas Presentations Manifestations in Sounds Trumpets Voices in Speakings in Powers Raptures Joys and sensible-Feelings I say all these Golden Springs do flow from out of the Bowels of the new Paradisical Earth This will amount to your present Peace and Joy Wait I say to feel that Now that your Spirits may give a Seal with me that ye have received the anointing and that you do walk with your Spiritual Man in this Paradise where you do often hear the Eccho of the Bridegroom's Voice calling to you still to hast the getting on all that which will make you look sweet and amiable and the fragrant Sweets that may you perfume and scent that so all your Garments may smell of these Beds of Spices upon which you may stretch your selves Here a while confined be to dwell after the manner of Spirits in Spiritual Bodies till you shall all of this visible Orb over-come and much excell all Creatures in it having the Tree of Life to live upon Which is that which will rarify and put upon you a more transparent Body for they who here do daily feed upon it shall be in good deed metaphorized Behold to you this Paradise Gate doth open stand and what of the things of God is there not only to know but them as your own to enjoy But this Word of caution to you who resolved are to tast more deep of these flowing Sweets take heed of the Laws of Paradise which once in particular were given to you remind and observe them For you must not be in the Quality halting between two Principles but here keep company each with other and your Jesus will most frequently talk with you and shew himself according to the Love's betrothment that is made a fresh with you in this Paradise March the 4th 1676 7. The GLASSY-SEA Now from hence the Spiritual Man must make another remove to see what doth lie for him beyond this among the pretious things that out-flow from that rich Ocean-Sea which is betwixt Paradise and Mount-Sion This is that Glassy-Sea spoken of which doth encompass the Beloved City where is the residence of God your King and the Throne of the Lamb and the Seaven Sealing Powers that do go forth from the most Holy One. Now this Burning Sea is for Probation who is able to pass through here but they who have got a thorough Victory over the Beast and his Image that nothing more of his Mark do bear They and they only can stand here because they are signatur'd from this
toiling Day into which all are fallen but can bear the Burthen as if it were indeed a Paradisical Sphere so lightly hath the whole Creation yet cared for its relasped state How choice and few are those that do seek herefrom to be released being of that Perswasion that the Earthly with the Heavenly must unseparably grow together as Twins Which is not so determined by the great God and Creator but he doth still expect that through the many depressions both in Spirit and Body some one or other are this long-run out time would be so weary of the Body of toil sorrow and Sin as to violate upon the Love Pity and Power of God the Father who cannot resist to send forth saving Succour to ransom such as still do fill his Ears with Cries and Groans for Redemption out of that which is the external Original matter of all and every kind of thraldom Hearken now and hear the Glad-tydings which is sent from your Father to you who hath taken notice of your travelling Sorrows while yoked with that Man upon whom Sentence is past that he might live by care and labour yet to you I say he shall not always and for ever be your clog There is a Birth of Strength upon the rising that will easily throw off this depressing Weight Yet a little while and the Iron-rod shall rule the Man of Sin so as to divide him from thee Many ways have been tryed to make him dye but all have been too short for he hath been a Warriour from his Original Sin-Conception and will keep the Field of this out-birth as he hath done from Adam's Day What hopes then say you that out of us he shall be thrown out for here I did object in Love Fear and Faith that many worthy Ones had striven hard to conquer by Death some of whom did go very far but scarce in any did this Death-Arrow so hit as to obliterate Sin altogether in its Root Then was it replyedâ— It is sufficient that one was perfect and just without Sin in a humane Figure then was that Scripture spoken in me Rom. 5. 19. As by one mans disobedience so by the obedience of one many shall be made righteous The Words were thus opened by the Spirit who said God revealed to Paul in his Day that nothing less was designed than a full and clear Acquitment from that first Man which did so naturally work in toyl and labour bringing only forth Fruit unto Death And who but that Man called the Branch shall answer to that defectiveness in abolishing the very Sperm of Sin that as nothing thereof could be found in himself so likewise in those who are elected for to be in joynt Heir-ship in the Kingdom of Mount Sion with him Whereunto he translates none till the old Adamical Life is laid in an everlasting Sleep of Death no more to awake for Contempt and Shame As often now it doth which hath stopped the New Ierusalem from descending down because once hath been perfect ready to meet this heavenly City Therefore saith the most Holy and True another manner of Church must be gathered from among Men who out of the Womb of that first Morning Star that is now upon breaking out a Star-like Off-spring is to proceed that shall go forth with the iron Rod of Power and dash in pieces every one of the Dragons Heads till this Church be born upon the Earth Who all are of Angelical Natures till then expect no Power over the Dragons and Beasts to reign To you who Numbred are to bear the Lambs Trophies stand to your Virgin Call fly not from her innocent White Colours whatever shall be here said against her If ye shall be the first born Star who shall shine upon Wisdoms Crown the Loves eternal Testimony for this end hath opened the clear Body of the Heavens that ye might understand what may be looked for in this Age. Therefore do you stand as mighty and immoveable Pillars for the Lamb and the Brides Church and great Indignation have against those that would it down decry Fear not those pushing Horns that war here against her she will make the glittering Sword of Power to be your defence against all your Enemies Be not troubled at the fewness of your Number for out of one or two that shall be perfect in their Generation a strange Generation may proceed who all mighty Warriours shall be for God and the Lamb to follow him in trampling down all earthly Powers Keep but up to your Leaders and ye need to fear no ill for invisible Seraphims shall still pitch a mighty Pavilion round about you March the 20th 1666 7. Thus ended this Revelation from the Vision I had seen which left a sweet perfumed Sence of Love Peace and Joy to feed upon Another Idea was presented to me from the History of Ahashuerus and Vashti his first espoused Queen Who by her act of Disobedience to her Royal Consort was banished his Throne This Word with great Power did through me sound A Virgin Queen among the Captives shall be found that shall be crown'd in the room of Vashti Then saw I one in the similitude of a Woman cloathed with Scarlet which was said This is one of Wisdom's Houshold who but she for the King of the New Ierusalem whose Garment is of an unstainable Dye From hence the Spirit made use of the whole literal Discourse Ahashuerus Vashti and Esther The most high Majesty hereby Figuring out himself having created and made for the Excellency and Glory of his Kingdom according to the state of so wise and infinite a Being That so he might take Pleasure in all the Glory and Riches of his Kingdom or Creation being all made perfect and good and high Princely Angels and Powers for Attendance As also Creating one more Noble Image as Male and Female who was in Election to be advanced to very high Dignity no ways inferiour to any Princely Spirit in the Angelical Figure But now the Sovereignty of the most High resolved to try this his new formed Creature with a Law of Restriction as from the Lord their Maker and Husband who might well expect a ready and punctual Obedience Who Vashti like was disobedient to the great King's Command and so thereby was turned into an earthly Eve and immediately banished out from the high Throne Presence For else it would have been an ill President if God should not thus have done the heavenly Hierarchy might have questioned God's immutability and thereby have taken advantage to deviate from those known Angelical Laws which the great Creatour had to them perfixed Thus much was opened of this Original Eve from whence the contradicting and slighting Vashti Spirit doth proceed The true Virgins Life which the first formed Man was once in is now as to him and all of his Posterity carried away as a Captive and sold for nought For this Virgin Nature was wholly taken away upon this act of Disobedience Who