exalt the four destroying Angels of Strength that are loosed out of the great River EUPHRATES by which Europe hath been compassed about until the end of seven Months and five days though in the time of the sounding of those Trumpets the Winds have been suffered to blow on the Earth by those that have held their corners as four Angels standing on the four Corners of the same and the Spirit of God hath and doth yet strive with a Generation and Generations on whom the fierceness of Gods wrath in the Plagues of those Vials is to be poured forth and is come L. And the Creature Mankind imbodyed in this third Principle in which he is called the Microcosm or little World is that third part of the Macrocosm or great World as it standeth divided into its four parts or Quarters wherein the Eagle hath had Power over the North Quarter or fourth part of the Worlds where those Tryals are manifest under which the Lyon came first forth with four Wings of the Foul on his Back in which were Golden Fethers with the names of 36000. Men in each Golden Wing while the striving continued between the four Winds of the Heavens on the great Sea and from the loss of dominion therein in the plucking of the Lions Wings wherein came forth four other Beasts and took head in the Nature of that which separated the Man from the power in which he was first planted and placed the Kingdoms of the Earth and World became dispersed abroad the same LI. Until the great Bear or Leopard who hereby purchased the strength of those four Wings had them also taken away and the Man came to regain his dominion over all the Works of God's Hands as Lord in the substance of what is already communicated to his understanding and through those four first Beasts that now have taken unto them each of them the six Wings of the Cherubims every one in their order calling to come and see the Mystery of what is come forth to the Tryal of the Year Month Day and Hour over which they have Power and Dominion in their Angels the Glory of the Father is hallowed having in each Wing two thousand Fethers and names of Men which makes the Glorious Hoast of God in the Heavens Numerable in their Tribes and according to the Families of those scattered Nations over the face of the whole Earth LII Which are the dispersed Army of God and goodly company of that Mighty Hoast in the four Wings of the living Creature by which they stand figured forth 144000. of the first Body in which God hath his sealed Number of Instruments that are engaged in the Lamb's Battel as the MEMBERS of what hath continued like unto dry Bones in the Valleys And for the exalting their Angels in the Heavens their destroying power over the Earth and Worlds is loosed out of the great River over which the winds of the Heavens have striven and blowed while their destroying Power was bound LIII But now are the Winds in the Hands of the Angels to be with-held from blowing and the Spirit of God from striving any longer with the Creature Mankind by the Prophesie of the Witnesses or sounding of the Trumpets of God committed to the Angels and the whole Worlds shall be smitten with Plagues through that which is thus loosed out of the bottomless Pit wherein the Earth hath been covered with those Beasts called Locusts and they have overspread the same in its third part smitten by the sounding of the five first Trumpets and that which is awakened by the sounding of the sixth Trumpet hath command in and over those four Winds of the Heavens to with-hold them from blowing as oft as they please because God will not alwayes strive with Man who is but flesh LIV. And when the Earth is quiet and still according to the silence that hath been in HEAVEN for the space of half an hour and the Worlds begin to settle in the ease and content of the flesh then remember what I say for before this day there hath come Wars and rumours of Wars and the smoake of the torment of those Men on whom Judgment hath rested under the Power of the Beast shall be seen known to be the SEAT of the Beast in a fourth part of the great World that hath yet hitherto escaped Death in what came on that third part thereof in the little World Mankind like the fume of a boyling Furnace whence hath ascended the thick Cloud of Darkness that filleth the Heavens and the Power of the DRAGON who had delivered up his Seat and Throne unto the Beast for the time he remained bound in the bottomless Pit But that now is loosed in the sounding of the three last Trumpets is a Spirit working Miracles in the Earth in the execution of the three last WOES that are come thereinto for the awakening and rising up of three therein that do bear witness for GOD of what hath been crucified and slain in the Streets of the great CITY of the Worlds LV. And into those Kings of the East that have their Power again revived and their Heads healed which is a second Beast come out of the Earth with two Horns of a Ram pushing three ways to wit West and North and South shall enter those three Unclean Spirits of the Beast Dragon and Whore like Frogs through the drying up of the Waters in the great River EUPHRATES in the Worlds Sea they shall come over the same and into the place where God hath settled his glorious City and they shall strive to defile and overcome the Holy Land between the Seas but the end shall come with an over flowing Scourge and great Flood and out of the Mouth of the Dragon Beast and false Prophet shall great things be performed and done LVI Yea all these things have a lively Character of the Truth hereof recorded in the Heavens by the Verity of Just Measure in time and Place for God is not to be limitted to time and place in his Work or to the prescription of men but he hath a time and season for every work according to which he hath determined and decreed an order wherein they are all to be fulfilled and brought to pass according to the measure by which they are measured and weighed in their day and the times and Seasons of their fulfilling have been in the Fathers hands until the hours thereof became made known to the Son of Man who is in Heaven in that which communicateth the sence thereof unto and in the World in whose behalf he came to lay down his Life in the Body of Flesh which he took up for the reconciling of the World unto the good will and pleasure of the Father LVII And the Star that is fallen from Heaven as an Angel that hath the Key of the bottomless-Pit I have beheld and do see the returning of such torment come on those men that have the Beasts mark on his Seat
are in the way of Reconciliation to God and their Brother and have their Sacrifice salted with Salt and do find Acceptance before God without any loud Cry to the World 's BAAL or Lord as did the Priests in Days of old and they awaken nothing before its time but are wayting on the Power of what is already kindled and awakened against Self which is Gods Displeasure wherein the ENEMY hath been strengthened for a time XIX Thus desiring if it be possible to live in peace with all Men no Spirits can be awakened in the wrathful Principle to their hurt because such things are not easily allayed again in their heat and sting for the Executioners of Gods Displeasure as destroying Angels in God rejoyce in the Power of Death taking occasion by Sin to tempt and then to accuse as sin hath taken occasion by the LAW once ordained in the hand of Angels to revive a strength of Condemnation under the Power of Death wherein the Devourer and Destroyer imployeth his Instruments in the Working of Concupisence like a roaring Lyon seeking to betray under his Baits and Snares as a ground of Enmity and Revenge in which he lurketh with accusations after he hath once conquered under the Power of his Dominion and to condemn before God that the Patient in Spirit may be delivered into his hand for torment the time he hath to sift and try them XX. For I have always desired of the Lord to keep out of the ground and Cause of Just Offence to any and to avoid occasions of Enmity which is so ready to spring up in the distempered and discomposed Mindes of Men of unruly Passions who have let in the SEED of Discontent against the Dealings and Proceedings of God either in Themselves or Others wherein many are both seeking and taking occasions unjustly against those they are out of Charity with because of a mind filled with prejudice and gainsayings though to me such things are no whit strange in that I know there is no temptation suffered to work against the life of God in any but what was common to the Saints in days of old who with the Temptation have found out a way to escape the evil and danger thereof XXI Yet am I clear herein that I have not sought to hide the Counsel of God from any by delivering forth the truth of what I have received from GOD in an UNKNOWN Tongue wherein I could keep my Conscience void of offence towards GOD and Man but there is a Spirit which is Worldly wise and subtil yet covered with Religious pretences which is at this day seeking Preheminence in the House and Temple of God and that is it which I desire to live and act out of the reach of in what form or by what name soever they may be called therefore from such I keep in the Clouds and from thence must I in the Truth hereof and the Truth in me descend to their Capacities as way is made therein through the fulfilling of the Prophecy XXII But though this is and hath been my Care and Conscience towards God and love to the Creation of him that formed his Workmanship in the Womb of Nature and curiously wrought the form wherein he rejoyceth in the Mothers Belly not to seek or give any just occasion of offence to Jew or Greek or cast a stumbling Block in the way of the Gentiles in which the House of Israel remaineth under sufferings yet as far forth as I am redeemed out of the ground of hurt which worketh in the excess of Love or Fear of the Creatures I question not but my LIFE will be preserved through all in my Way and out of the reach of evil Tongues in the bewitching faculty of prejudice that swelleth with Envy XXIII My Bow 's bent being wholly drawn against the persecuting Spirit of the World about Religion and Worship of God under what name or pretence soever such are covered who seek to keep the Innocent under the sufferings of Cruelty in the Holes and Dens of the Earth that are filled with a People more righteous before God than themselves though it was Israels Choice to have that Dominion established wherein they might be like unto other Nations of the Earth which is given them in the Ministration of Wrath and Fury and in all Forms of Government he hath come forth higher than the common People by the Head as King in Nature and though he hunt for his Prey as a Partridge on the Mountains yet doth God watch over and preserve his own through all conspiracies of ACHITOPHEL which shall come to nought XXIV Notwithstanding many are hereby given into the Hands of the Tormentor for the destruction of the Flesh whose Spirits are saved alive in this day of the Lord and they are now coming forth in that Power which hath conquered the strength of the old Deceiver which is ready to betray with a Kiss of Flattery and they are made able to trample on the Dominion of Death and Hell in the worldly Spirits Excommunications and Banishments and sensual Separations having not the Spirit of God in a patient suffering and bearing Principle that cannot rejoyce to see and behold any evil in others but mourneth over such that are left to themselves and the pernicious ways of that Will which is deserted by God in the ground and Principle of the Lifes operation though in his Sufferance they live and move and have their Being while they grow in that which is past feeling of his Love and are dead to the apprehension of his Power in the motion of which they were first quickned as given up to a reproved and reprobate sence XXV Therefore let the goodness of God to his Creature lead to Repentance as that which shall leave all Men without Excuse before him which is the only way to bring out of a perishing Estate under which the Worlds are fallen wherein his LOVE and MERCY maketh sensible of the Danger concerning which they are forewarned that as God cometh to leave any to themselves in the danger of their own Pernicious Ways so in like manner they be dealt withal by them that profess his Name and Truth and none to continue contending with the World in the wrathful Principle for it is not lawful striving with any People out of the Power of God in the Ministration of his Love because all wrathful furious drivings and strivings are under the Power of the Destroyer and it is the Devils strength to lead into the same though therein Divine Justice cometh to be exalted over the Creature in the execution of Vengeance that repayeth double to all the Rebellious XXVI Let the stiff-necked consider therefore why many have been given up unto Satan and delivered into the Tormentors hands for a season while Destruction and Contempt hath come on the Glory of the Flesh which is stained for the Hunter after mischief shall fall in his own Snare and Gin and the Trap he hath layd for
as it is in themselves though many have learned in this day to adde to their Faith Vertue and Patience and all good Fruits of the Spirit of God because of the Experience of the Work of Faith which through Patience they are kept in the sence of in the midst of Fiery Tryals and they hold fast the begettings of God thereby in a confidence of good in him XI And then as they increase in Knowledge it is on a good ground and foundation that hath learned them to rejoyce in the FLAMES of DEVOURING FIRE whose devouring QUALITY cannot reach their SENCE with any BITTERNESS of its Sting but through Patience and Submission thereto it is made sufferable and the Cross is made easie therein and the BURDEN light because of a quenching property in that love against whatever maketh the Judgement of God to be unsufferable Torment to his Creature for part of their Knowledge is that it is not only given them to believe but to suffer for the namesake of God though in the beginning of the Work of Faith the belief that was wrought by the Spirit of God in them is a Convincer of sin under which there was and is a suffering in the nature that hath contracted the guilt thereof on the Soul by unity of Spirit therewith even the Spirit and God of the World XII Further knowing and being perswaded in patience to wait for the perfecting of the Work of God in the Heart in that Faith and belief of the love of God therein shed abroad that they are kept sensible of a good experience of the Work thereof having the Testimony of a good Conscience to manifest the same in the World these can shew their Faith by its Works and have a birth thereof that makes not ashamed of a good CONFESSION among Men and the fained Humility and appearances of Love from the untimely Fruit of the Womb that can never come to see the glory of the Sun of this day withereth in its way for that which can indure and hold out to the End worketh by the love of God that hath begotten into a lively hope concerning the Resurrection from the Dead having a Life tinctured in the Souls reach after true Charity in God and Love unfained which is the highest attainment in a Christians state and the greatest Gift that can be attained by men under the Bond of Perfection XIII Sealing the Work in which God doth glory and delight in that which is made able to pass through the stroke of Death to leave an Earnest of the expectations of the Creature after the day of Redemption in that which is much more pretious than that of Gold that perisheth But how have I seen many in this day loading themselves with the Fancy and Imaginations of their disquieted Mind and then being burdened with a Fear and Jealousie that ariseth from the Unbelieving Heart and distrustful ground they are ready to cry out of the Burden of the Lord whereas their own words and thoughts are become their Burden who have taken that on them which God never layd on them and yet they make the concern for the Lords sake that lays no more on any than they are made able to bear in the Life of Patience XIV And in this ground stand all the several Separations and hasty receivings into Fellowships with sudden hands laid on Proselytes for herein is the ground of prejudice swayed by the creaturely affection yet in this mind may be maintained a fierce and fiery Zeal for the opiniatedness that may often call for fire to come down from Heaven and to have Vengeance and Plagues speedily executed on such against whom their Spirit is bent for having wished evil in their Hearts and mischief against the Persons of such towards whom they cannot admit of any CHARITABLE thoughts they proceed in a hasty Prophecy of their utter confusion and then would they rather that both Soul and Body of the subject over whom they seek to be avenged in that rejoycing should for ever perish than that they should be found False Prophets so evil a thing it is to be engaged in a Spirit of Enmity and Envy XV. But such Extremities many have this day put themselves on through rash censure and then run back to former Ages and Generations of the World for a President and Example to help them out as they think whereby they oft are ready to plead the lawfulness of cursing their Adversary who standeth not justified in their sight and approbation because ELISHA was once acted in that Ministration through the heat and zeal of his Spirit it being so far from their nature to live in that which is wayting for the Worlds redemption from sin and reconciliation to God that they rather strengthen their FURY in the expectation of utter Consumption and Destruction on all that cannot for wraths sake stoop to their perswasions and it is the end of such willings to see a People perish in their sins XVI Because of that mis-informed Zeal under which their Spirits are acted against the Enemies and Foes of that Cause for which they have found the life imboldened towards God according to the quickning of his Spirit as tinctured with that Power before which the Heavens have opened and do shut and in the like desire THEY are moved as was HE before whom Fifties were destroyed whose Spirit resteth Judgement on a Ground wherein God hath prepared Messengers to go before his face But considering the difference in Administrations that Zeal which runneth out after an Object to maintain the heat of Spirit against which it is enkindled is not now held and retained in the like Cause and Ground as that in which it first appeared XVII For God is gone out of that Administration as acted towards the Persons of Men in their Generations and cannot own any glory therein but as that which had a Testimony of his day in the Prophecy thereof wherein the Messengers went before his Face in a sence of that terror that was come on the Wicked World because such that wear the soft Cloathing are got into Kings Houses and they shall no more wear a rough Garment or prophesie in their Sackcloth Robes therefore whom would men go out to see since Times are come that the Sacrifice of the Rebellious savoureth of the Work of Death and there is not fire enough to kindle the combustible matter in the House on the top of which they are exalted while the Displeasure of God continueth unawakened in the Pleasure and Will of Men that bring Wood but where is the Flame of that other Spirit which God requireth even of Reconciliation to Himself in the Life of Forgiveness in that which is able to Appease and Quench the Wrath and Rage of the devouring Enemy and make Friends in the Well-Beloved Life XVIII Yet where is Love and Forgiveness enough to heap Coals of Fire on the Heads of Enemies the Gift hath been first left at the Altar and such
the Innocent shall take hold of his Feet in the Way he is walking when the wronged comes to be apprehended on a Hill that is higher than that on which the Enemy and Destroyer hath been exalted and into the Hands of the PURSUED is put a sharp Instrument the strength of that Reason whereof the World is robbed and bereft even the Sword of Goliah and Spear of their Adversary with which they shall wound the Head of RAHAB and the Dragon and thereby they shall do EXPLOITS XXVII Though they are kept from using it in a time of advantage yea I have seen I have seen while the Envious have been hunting abroad the Pursued have been led into the Tents of those that are Mighty in Battel and the Man of War hath been found sleeping over his Master until a Lap of his Garment with which the Envious hath covered the Cruelty of his Spirit is brought forth into open view and the Cruse and Spear at his Beds head can now be shown to his shame because the Blood-Avenger hath kept the Innocent from putting forth his Hand to touch Him that had once the Anointing Oyl on his Head that had the favour of a Lot in Israel when the Spirit of God rested on Him that made it a Proverb Is the Son of Kish also among the Prophets XXVIII But the Cry of the Poor is heard that hath been compassed about with Tormentors who hath said in his heat What shall I now do for behold here cometh a whole Army and I have no Sword but that of Goliahs and the Lord hath said Take it for there is none like it and it shall be known that a Stripling is engaged in the Lords Battel and is able to make war against Israels Enemies though he could not use the Sword in his own defence neither dares he be too bold in the exercise thereof abroad lest the bruised Reed should be broken and the smoaking Flax quenched before Judgment is brought forth into Victory at home where the War is begun by such that are engaged in the Lambs Battel XXIX Therefore in the Mystery of what is herein treated of is the depth of whatever hath relation to the concern both of SOUL or BODIES Welfare in the Knowledge and true understanding of its state and the universality thereof is a Testimony worthy to be heeded in the General or particular Concern because of the relation it hath to the true and right Information of the Mind of all that are capable of benefit therein through a pointing property at that which gives unto the Reader a sence of the Day in which many in old time were made Prophets and Messengers and have largely testified and prophesied thereof in the Restoration of all Principles of Nature it hath possessed and inhabited in the BODY into its first Glory which is the MYSTERY of the Second Resurrection in those in whom the Power of the first Death is weakened and over whom the second Death hath no power XXX For the Life of JESUS is manifest in their mortal Flesh discovering the Glory of which they are made Partakers in a Kingdom everlasting and World without End because of their Faith and Belief in the changing and renewing Power of GOD wherein the JUST do live and witness Redemption from the Sting of SIN and Strength of the LAW which is the Power of Death and the GRAVE hath not Dominion over the Soul therefore you that profess Scriptures contend not against the Verity and Infallibility of the Testimony hereof because for your sakes and satisfaction I am constrained in some cases to use such Words that the RECORD of TRUTH is sealed by in the Testimony of the PROPHETS of GOD in former Ages and Generations of the World XXXI Neither let it scruple any on the other hand that I use not an exact FORM and METHOD of Scripture-Terms but am oft constrained to apply the bent of my Spirit toward such significant terms as are brought to my Understanding in the exercise of the VISION for the Words are but an outward Sound and Declaration of what hath relation to an inward and invisible Work in the Heart of the Creature through the Salvation of the Soul from Death but I see it hard for many professing SCRIPTURES and the Knowledge of the TRUTHS of GOD therein declared to own it nakedly for its own sake and yeild and bend to the disposings of God in matters of such concern for then would it be consented to in what hath relation to the Minds Information without respect to the Persons of such that are found differing in Judgment concerning outward Circumstances in Gestures or PRINCIPLES in DOCTRINE while in the End and Aim there is a respect to Truth in the Heart XXXII And there will be a joyning in the Acceptance against whatever hath relation to Controversies in a state of disobedience against the Spirit of God in which the WORLD is endeavouring to settle a Rest and hence have I seen the Complainer vexed with Burdens of his unruly Passion but that God may more and more unseal the Fountain of endless Good and Happiness in the Knowledge of the Glory of his Kingdom that is everlasting is my Souls desire that Truth and Righteousness may be set up in the WORLD and the Glory of the ANTIENT OF DAYS proceeding in the increase of the Knowledge of GOD may run down like a River and cover the Earth like as the Waters cover the Sea XXXIII And as this hath its due acceptance in the Heart of the Upright and Unbiassed in Censure and Judgment for the sake of the Controversies among men about their Opinionatedness concerning the Truths of God contained in the Scriptures with which the World is filled they will more and more come to see into its service and the end for which it is given forth which will make way for the opening and discovery of many pretious Secrets pertaining to the Restauration of Nature in its depraved Body of infected Elements that are generated under a Power of Corruption that Creatures may come to see into the Mystery of what is contained in many words therein that hath a signification very intricate to the common sence of private Interpretations thereon which the limitting spirit of the WORLD is apt to tye up the Faith of their Communicants in because of the vulgar acceptance it hath in the Heart of a Multitude But the Encouragement I find for the prosecution of what is remaining in this Tract wherein I am taking view of my passage through those Forms of Nature in which I am imbodyed in time and place is centred in an higher Object than the Readers well or ill Acceptance XXXIV Though I am satisfied in the end thereof that coming to be seen into will cause many to say Now I know thou speakest no more unto us in PARABLES but hast plainly shewed us of the Father But among the Multitude how hard a thing is it to believe well of future Events
of a seventh Man in his Nation wherein the Bow-man was concerned for he rode in the Chariot of NATURE as a great PROPHET who continued a just year and was not for God took him to himself in the Revolution of the Heavens until the times of Restitution came for the delivering up of what had been retained in a Mystery and through the loosening of the Angels in the great River Euphrates the Bow-Man came forth manifest in the house of the Angels Exaltation to wit the ninth House of Mansions in the HEAVENS LXXXIII And the eighth Day of the eleventh Month the Woman again conceived and brought forth an Eighth Man formed in his Nation who saw the end of the old and first Worlds And after the revolution of the Second Year I beheld the Moon regaining strength and glory from the course of the Sun from which she borrowed her light And on the second day of the fifth Month of the third year the Moon was strong in her own House of Exaltation whereby the Sun suffered a third Eclipse on his coming into the Heart of Nature which is the House wherein he glorieth as his own LXXXIV And the Woman was delivered of a ninth Man in his Nation for the bringing forth of whom the first seven were destroyed in their Nations yet in him was a Seed preserved to replenish the Earth anew and into the renewed Habitation of Wonders in the Translations of the Body of Nature working among the forms of Creation the substance was taken and gathered but from the Heavens was a Voice The young Mans wound hath cured my hurt CHAP. VIII Describing the wonderful operation of the Vision in the opening of the Heavens testified through the Judgement of God against what came forth imbodied in Form in those seven Nations LXXXV THrough the striving of three Nations from the Womb of Eternity two Generations of Men continued labouring under what was degenerated into the imbodied FORM for Generations-sake And between those three was two Months for the separation of each in their Revolution wherein the Virgin in Nature suffered by the power of Death that entred the Creation of God LXXXVI On the last day of the Seventh Month of the third year died the first Man that became imbodied in FORM from the Womb of Nature as the Virgin in Nature lost her Crown and the Woman also come to suffer Death in Two Generations of Men concerned in the contest in the Heavens but the cause of such pangs and sufferings that rested on the Body of Nature was a fallen ground in the Earthly Principle which stood in and out of the WATERS as a fourth part of the Elemental Worlds and it was the last FORM under the power whereof the Life of the Creature remained suffering LXXXVII For the Seventh FORM in Nature that became imbodied in the Creaturely being was exalted on the Earth which proceeded from the FIERY Heavens from whence the Man took his dominion who was taken up unto God and was not on the last Day of the ninth Month of the third Year And the THIRD that proceeded from the Man imbodied from the Womb of Eternity and that took being amongst the Forms in Nature died in that FIRST Principle after the conclusion of the Eleventh Month and was dissolved in the Earth LXXXVIII But those Two by whom the Woman in Nature came to suffer Death who were slain by the hard labour under which the Creature and Creation of God remaineth groaning died also in the Earth in the Fourth Year The One on the Sixteenth day of the Second month The Other on the sixteenth day of the Fourth month And a Fifth Man imbodied in Form died on the Thirteenth day of the Twelfth month The Sixth on the nineteenth day of the Seventh month of the Fifth year And the Seventh on the Twenty-fourth day of the Seventh month which from the finishing of God's Work into that wonderful frame in the Generation of the Heavens was the Seventeenth day of the seventh month LXXXIX For that which came Seven dayes and seven years Forward in the motion of the WHEELS was brought under five months tryal both by WATER and by FIRE being that which came forth manifest in five Dayes and grew up under the Revolution of Seven Months as the forms of Nature were moved backward under the power of Destruction that through the dissolution of that which came into being fallen under the power of Corruption that which is Heir of Immortality might arise and come to possess a Crown of Rejoycing in God through the work of Restauration of those forms in Nature into their Eternal Existence that have a substantial being in the first forming cause of an IMAGE to the work of Creation XC And while the VISION of God was on me and the ANGEL of God was talking with me I saw the Man that was driven out of the Garden of God which is the Glory of the World in its Paradise came again onward in the way from which he went towards the rest of SELFS Annihilation that had caused the bodily form to come under the power of death who notwithstanding that he remained imbodied in Principles fallen and sunk under the power of Corruption and Destruction in the forms of Nature did yet abide in the WORLD and the World in him until Paradise that was lost and died from him and he from it began again to spring up in the place and condition wherein he was put as considered in that state XCI And from the Heavens I heard a Voice Death and Destruction I am become thy Grave and O Grave I am become thy Plague But dread and fear compassed me about as with a Garment for the miraculous workings of the Power of God in the Vision had bended me until all faculties of my mind became subject to that invisible sence from whence my Spirit received the Illuminations of that which sought to come forth though for a tryals sake to my patience the understanding of that which came up in the MOTION was oft-times sealed before me after I began to write thereof XCII For as I was amongst a number of people assembled to wait upon the Lord I was taken in a TRANCE and my knees smote together trembling because of the fear of God in my Heart and the terror of his Judgments on my Spirit But on that same night as I lay on my Bed I saw the form of a GREAT MAGISTRATE and the Honour and Respect which he had was different from all the powers of the Earth for before him went the form of DEATH as a man walking on his Feet and about him were great Attendance sounding Bells on every side and they continued thus to ring these little Bells till he ascended a place of Judicature where he had great reverence and respect XCIII And amongst the crowd that bended to his power I was acted in the like posture and being otherwise convinced in my Spirit I was smote with great dread
suffered to work in a hidden ground to manifest the deceit of the TEMPTER CXXIII And Nature had not a Will of its own to move about the Wheels in the Power of the Heavens that wrought on and over Creatures that took being in time and place according to the form and frame of the Worlds in which all Glory wrought without the ENEMY neither was the Enemies power any thing prevalent but through a subjection in the Will of the Creature in that Power wherein he was made able to resist him but time and place became measurable from the Heavens wherein the comprehensible course of all forms in Nature had their end come up in the World in that which was manifest through distinction CXXIV But Number and Order remaineth manifest among the forms in Nature in which every thing cometh forth into being according to the Figure of its Birth constituted in the power of the Heavens in respect to the dignification of the Mind in the thing wherein it delighteth through which the Man cometh to sow the Seed from whence he expecteth to reap Fruit answerable thereunto though in the flesh of Creatures there is that already sown and spred abroad which worketh in the Members against that which dignifieth the mind that remaineth as a Thorn in the flesh to make sensible of its pricking pangs when the Creature goeth forth into self-exaltation beyond or above the measure of power and ability which he hath received from God CXXV And this is to humble the Creature and make him sensible of the need he hath of the preserving Power of God in that which keeps open the Eye of the MAN at all times to see himself upon the Watch for every Principle of Nature hath a contrariety attending that which is formed in its Birth according to the Diurnal and Annual motion in the Wheels wherein that which causeth a change in the state of the Creature multiplyeth dayes and hours in the course through which it is manifest according to the sufferance or according to the delight of SPIRIT in which he is attended CXXVI This do I see in each Birth and moreover I observe how Nature ripeneth that which the Man reacheth after in the number of hours or dayes according to which the mind standeth afflicted thereby wherein nothing can exceed the number thirty in the course of Nature for that which is changeable returneth to the beginning of the WORK by which it is Judged to be manifest in its Birth And thirty years are the largest extent of motion in the Rings of the outward Wheel as thirty dayes accomplish the race of the swiftest motion in the Wheel's Rings according to their Orbs in the Heavens CXXVII And in like manner as in twelve hours a day in Nature is compleat in that which divideth it from the night so in twelve years that which moveth in the most equal ORB among the forms in Nature returneth to the Center from which it was moved though it be streight forward that the Wheels are moved in the Heavens for all that hath its Period in time Centereth and endeth its course in the Will and under the power of God in that which is suffered to labour and work up the form over which Death and Dissolution hath had power CXXVIII But the Inward Heavens being tinctured with the love and delight of God all BEAUTY and glory centereth therein and shineth therefrom as from the FIRE of Gods Jealousie whereby his honour is mentained in that which hath kindled and inflamed a desire burning after the highest good which hath its similitude in the WATERS wherein Nature is moved in its Principles according to the several ORBS and Sphears in which the Power of the Heavens doth labour and work CXXIX Wherein the Heart of Eternity inflameth through the forms of Nature in a yearly course under which the Heavens have doubled the effect of that which riseth up inkindled in the ORB which breaketh all essences in form and maintaineth War in the source in which the RAM hath taken Head distributing power under the four Winds of the Heavens in which the Elements of Nature stand divided and under the same came forth the faces of the four Beasts according to the third Ring in the Wheels through which the fourth BEAST is become exalted in his dominion over a fourth part of the WORLDS CXXX For the course of motion in this Ring of the WHEEL is forty nine Weeks to regain that which is lost in form through the Beauty Glory of what was finished in seven dayes from whence the Heavens have multiplyed all forms in Nature until the day and hour under which Death is dispossessed in its dominion for the separation of day and night in Nature met in the Power of the Heavens through that which discovereth the Period of all changeable Courses in which the Moon hath strengthened her Revolutions while Winter and Summer and Seed time and Harvest continue CXXXI And while I thus beheld the motion in the Wheels there came forth out of the Heart of FIRE in Nature an ANGEL of the Sun cloathed with the Rain-bow of the Heavens and he rode on all the Powers of Nature proclaiming with a loud Voice a Feast that was prepared for the Fowls of the Air which were gathered together under the conduct of the EAGLE and they were a great Multitude and very numerous and on my other Hand stood the ARK of God which was taken in BATTEL by his Enemies wherein Glory was departed out of the Tents of those that God had first chosen to be his own CXXXII For the Aged departed in Sorrow and the Old Man died full of Grief and pained in Heart until there came a Voice from the Heavens Behold the result of Israels deliverance from their Enemies Hands wherein the Servant in Gods House in his good Old Age hath his Eye open to see the Salvation of God and is inabled to depart in Peace And henceforth shalt thou no more count an Infant of dayes nor Old Man full of years because of the sinner that dyeth accursed but a Child shall die a hundred years old where the Hoary Head is not reverenced nor the tenderness of youth respected CHAP. XII Wherein the substance of the VISION is concluded in a PROPHECY of that which is yet to come to pass directed in an Epistle to all that are separated into several Fellowships concerning the third part of the Book CXXXIII AS I beheld the Ark of God's COVENANT which was made with many People and great Nations brought up from the Waters in the new Created HEAVENS wherein the forms of Nature stood MANIFEST in their Figure and order of Number Among three hundred URNS or earthen PITCHERS that were broken that Light might spring forth from the Power of the Heavens whereby the Enemies of God were discomfited there remained onely two of those Vessels in the forms of Nature wherein every thing in being was doubled and the Heavens were drawn both
expected to befall NATIONS in such a Case though his displeasure may be AWAKENED against a People or Nation and in his sufferance are destroying ANGELS loosed out of the great River of the WORLDS Sea and often is he stirred up to that which he delighteth not in even to appear like unto a LYON roused up before he please and as a Giant disturbed from his sleep yet will great Alterations and changes come into the World and they will happen unto the secure like Events determined from an over-ruling Power THE THIRD PART CHAP. I. Wherein is opened the Mystery of what came forth in the Worlds in the form and frame of the Heavens from whence the Vision had power to work up its discoveries I. THE principles of ETERNITY in God or God in his eternal existence is the fire of Life burning in jealousie over his own Honour and Glory that gave being to Love in which remaineth â—he Original Center of all good from whence his preheminence is mainâ—ained in and over his Creature through that which he first inkindled â—n the Ground and Center of Nature in which is both a good and an evil But Waters are the first and all Principle in NATURE through the sinking frame of the WORLDS into and under palpability wherein EARTH took form as a third Principle in Nature separated into being on the third day from whence all Creatures became imbodied in the substantial form of Palpability II. And all separated qualities remain in the ground of substantiality while time place endureth wherein the Life of the Creature centereth in that which is come forth into its individual being among the forms of Nature according to the source it possesseth and inhabiteth for these beings are formed in and from the Earthly Principles which are separated from the Heavens in what remaineth sinking under a power of Corruption wherein threâ—… do bear record for God which are the glory of Terrestrial Bodies Essentially forming Nature into being in that which continueth breathing through the out-spread Firmament of the Atry Heavens under the Waters III. As also from the fiery Heavens from whence a third part of the Waters was dryed up from the Earth in their Principle on the third day and by a third dayes work of God therein manifest the three Glories of the Father do shine through all Celestial Bodies to wit one Glory of the SUN which is a great LIGHT to rule the DAY and another of the MOON which is the lesser LIGHT to rule the NIGHT and another of the STARS according to their differing Glories in which the over-ruling Power of the Heavens subjecteth the forms of Nature in their several Constellations that gives life to the Creatures being in the Earth IV. In this respect God is considered and become the cause of all causes in ETERNITY and ground of all being in NATURE as Palpability is the ground of Corruptibility wherein he is called a consuming and everlasting FIRE and yet as substantiality is not without the Creature he is absolutely the cause of nothing as well as of all things where nothing without God is God without Nature which is a cause of both good and evil wherein the Worlds do remain unmanifest but in Nature and wherein the work of God is comprehended in the forming qualities of that which is brought forth in the effect of labour in seven Natural days V. Therefore said the ANGEL of God these WATERS that thou sawest are those on which the multitude of the WORLDS and great Nations are moved and carried to and fro according to the course of time and tide the WOMAN remained exalted on them who allured many into those Vessels that begin to swim pleasantly over the streams of Corruption singing a Requium to their Souls that they might not remember the danger in their way wherewith they are daily beset and they are called the PEOPLE and Tongues and Nations of the Kindreds of the Earth that are divided under the four WINDS of the Heavens tossed up and down through the boysterous Storms and swelling Tempests that are again gathered together in HEAPS over the main Sea and Ocean of Trouble in which is the Lake and Bottomless Pit from whence all Monstrous shapes in Creatures are come forth to cover the Earth VI. And the Vessels that thou sawest carried thereon are those which were first built and erected from the Heavens into which the Patrons of all Earthly forms were gathered in one and were again distributed through many according to the Nature of the BEAST wherein wrought the confusion of Languages in the prevailing of the MOON over Woman in the changeable wayes and course of the WORLD under which the Heavens stand thus divided VII In seven they took Head and in ten was each Horn exalted over nine which is an intricate number among the Figures in forms of Nature wherein those seven that thou sawest come forth into the Creaturely being first imbodied under the power of Corruption are the seven forms of Nature subjected under a power in which the Heavens and Earth are multiplyed in and according to their Generations generating Nature and name to the being of each form Corporal CHAP. II. Describing the Nature of the degeneration of the WORLDS in those Principles wherein the Creature became imbodied in time and place VIII FOR answerable to the time and place wherein all Created Prinples in the forms of Nature remained sinking under a Power of Corruption working properties in the Heavens prevailed over the bodily frame to afflict it with labour according to the motion in the Wheels in which those Principles suffered and were acted and that which suffered the glory of the frame of the WORLDS to work up the gross form of Palpability in the way and course the Body of Nature became acted by a motion in the Heavens was subject to Corruption that came into time and place through the change of the frame in the Worlds IX And agreeable to the Name and Nature of those Men that were FATHERS in their Generations through whom palpability prevailed in the Waters whereby the Worlds were first overwhelmed in the deluge and overflowing scourge the glory of the World imbodied a form in Nature for the Seed of Life to work up the first Beauty of CREATION according to what was manifest in time and place wherein each day had its year multiplyed in Nature from the Heavens as each Month hath its Hour in what is divided to every particular state and condition of the Creature under which Death and Afflictions have increased their dominion over the ends of the Worlds X. And as from the Womb of Eternity the BEAST in the forms of Nature prevailed in a backward course under which the Heavens were subjected for the manifesting of each day in Nature wherein the Principles of the World were acted and wrought in a frame that discovered its revolutions so according to the years wherein the multiplicity of such forms increased the WATERS
Glory became manifest in the WOLDS while the STUMPS thereof remained bound down in the Earth with an Iron BAND after seven times had passed over his HEAD which was wet with the Dew of the Night V. Wherefore from the time wherein the dayly Sacrifice was made to cease after the restoring of that breach on the Walls of Jerusalem to the finishing of the outward Court of the Holy City which was given into the hands of the Gentiles to tread under foot those forty two months or an hundred and forty two days being the concluding of a time times and the dividing of times which is seventeen hundred and fifty days wherein the Woman hath been nourished in the place that is there provided for her for the space of one thousand two hundred and threescore days that the two Witnesses have appointed them to finish and fulfil their PROPHECY in sackcloth in which time the Earth doth help the WOMAN It is now eighteen days since the Commandment of God came forth for the rebuilding and restoring those outward Courts of the CITY TIME on a Prophetical account wch is the Language of the holy Scripture is five hundred years according to the life of Noah before he began to build his Family in the EARTH which was saved in the Ark of God and so long is accounted the days of Shem after the Flood of Waters as the mystical Number in which is contained ten Jubiles of years under the Law VI. And after thirty one days it shall be finished then shall be a WEEK to renew the Zeal of God and expiate sin to the sealing and binding down the power of the WICKED for evermore and in the midst of that Week those Witnesses shall seal their Testimony concerning the Life of the Lord of all Glory in Heaven and Earth who hath been crucified and lain slain in the streets of that great City spiritually called Sodom and Egypt but after three days and a half which is the concluding of the 1290 days they shall be seen to ascend up into Heaven in the sight of all their ENEMIES VII For it is now eighteen dayes since the WOMAN hath regained a sence of her deliverance from her great Captivity in that WILDERNESS-State in which the forty two months of her travel are expired and the Birth is brought forth in the EARTH which hath been preserved and delivered from the fury and rage of the great red Dragon by the Floods of Water which he hath cast out of his BELLY after her in the one thousand four hundred and forty and four thousands that are found standing on Mount Zion with their Harps harping but until the end of two days the Judgment of God set up in ISRAEL shall quicken the sealed number of Gods chosen and holy Ones who have remained as dry Bones in the Valley of Jehosaphat where the spirit of God hath breathed on the slain that from the third day will be found to live in his sight to seal the testimony of that birth which hath thirty days more to accomplish its growth into the power by which it is anoynted to finish that great Work in that Week wherein the dead are made able to stand on their Feet by the sound of the seventh and last Trump VIII And he that hath WISDOM let him count the time and number those days from whence the number of the BEAST which is the number of a MAN is compleat DCLXVI for from that day will the four destroying Angels of God stand loosed out of the great River EUPHRATES according to the hour day month and year for which they were prepared which after a month wherein those five months will be expired will leave seven months for the Dead to bury their Dead in the concluding of the year wherein Destruction is come forth against the WICKED IX Therefore count thou from the year 1656 wherein the Devil did exercise his power for ten days by casting many into Prison since the expiration of the WOMANS Tryals and sore TRAVEL that the forty days wherein the Seed of the Woman was left to be persecuted and tried by the fury and rage of the Devourer and his Angels that great Red DRAGON will make way for the power of God to be glorified after the third day in ten thousand of his SAINTS for from the expiration of those months wherein the striving continued between two Nations the King of BABYLON who had looked into the Glory of the Temple which God hath built in Israel wherein are many goodly Vessels of Gold and Silver hath been letted from spoyling and laying utterly waste the HOUSE in which are appointed those rich Treasuries about his Sanctuary X. Yet the Daughter of the NORTH suffereth Oppression under a strange KING unto whom the QUEEN of the SOUTH is joyned to corrupt their Seed though unto them the Mystery of that which pertaineth to the KINGDOM of GOD is opened in those that run to and fro to increase in knowledge and from the extirpation of the fifteen years from whence the WORLD hath been warned one hundred and twenty days and wherein the EXECUTION of that which was detained from the Earth and WORLDS in their third part to the prolonging of Life in the Government of Nature in which ISRAEL had their choice is to be MANIFEST the substance of what standeth in the end of time and place which is near to be revealed XI Therefore for the purging forth the Sin of MANASSEH through whom the HIGH ALTARS were erected in both Courts of the City for those fifty five days wherein the number seventy was accomplished in the concluding of fifteen years which discovered the Judgement that revived and was come on the Worlds that on whom the Image of JEALOUSY came forth manifest forty five days are yet determined from the midst of the WEEK wherein the Testimony of GOD will receive its everlasting Seal and it shall be the Joy of many to understand the Mystery of what is concluded in one thousand two hundred and ninety days but blessed are those that live attain to the end of those eighty five days which are the concluding of one thousand three hundred thirty and five dayes from those ninety five days before the Sacrifice was offered up wherein the ROMANS obtained their Conquest over JUDEA and throughout ASIA in which the Jews were scattered which was sixty two days before the BABE was brought forth through whom it became accepted XII For from the Conception and Birth of the MAN-CHILD through whom the LIGHT of GOD broke forth with which the NATIONS of the EARTH and REGIONS of the WORLDS that have sat under the SHADOW of Death are ENLIGHTENED on whom is come the GLORY of GOD to the GENTILES Their number is fulfilled and compleat wherein TIME and TIMES are past and HALF A TIME is divided in those Figures 1750 and yet the EXPIRATION of those SIXTY TWO Weeks wherein the GENTILES had power to erect their GLORY in the