THE TREE of FAITH OR The Tree of Life Springing up in the Paradise of GOD From which All the Wonders of the New Creation in the Virgin Church of the First-born of Wisdom must proceed By J. Lead Matth. 13.32 It is the Least of all Seeds but when it is grown it is the Greatest of Herbs and becometh a TREE LONDON Printed and Sold by J. Bradford in Jewen-Street near Crowder's-Well 1696. TO THE READER HAving given an Account of the Confusion of the Babylonish Forms being rejected by the Head Shepherd from whom an Angel is gone forth that hath sounded the Trumpet to proclaim That all Formal Worships set up by Man and constituted by Rational Inventions as a Shadow must pass away For nothing in this Day shall stand but the Power and Spirit of the Lamb that will cast up his Church into no other Mold but that in which he himself in his Resurrection-State did Appear So that the Gathering together of his Flocks from all Parts shall be for the making up this Resurrection Church as New born into the Faith For which Reason I have here superadded a Manifestation which some Years since was given me which I judge may now be of as General Vse to make Publick as it was first for my own Particular Information and Instruction whence it was never design'd to see the Light But seeing that this Church that hath been describ'd by the Spirit of Christ is to consist of the Branches of Faith growing up from the Root and Stock of Abraham it was found very Expedient that this should follow the foregoing Treatise Because the New Creation which is to be brought forth must have their Consistency of Life by the Faith of the Son of God that as he was in this World so may also his Bride and Spouse be acting in the Holy Ghostly Property to do the Wonders which the Last Age of the World is to produce For it is expected that mighty Deeds and Works shall be wrought by this New Risen Virgin Church such as have and such as never have been For the Patriarchs Prophets and most highly Spirited in the Faith and Love Power and Purity shall again descend to assume Persons that are of this Resurrection Life so to do all the Worthy Exploits according to the Lot in which each Antient Saint did stand All which shall be renewed again for the state of the Prophesies relating to Christ's thousand Years Reign which will overspread the Earth with the Kingly Prophetical and Priestly Train I had some thoughts of Obliterating the beginning of this little Treatise being only a Private Recollection of my Spiritual Travels which I have used to make from Year to Year but I quickly check'd my self herein for that it was mov'd upon me that it might be Vseful and Beneficial to some Souls and for a Pattern to excite them to the Recollection Wherefore I resolved to let it go without any Alteration according to its full and Genuine Sense J. L. THE Tree of Faith c. § 1. BEing come to the Conclusion of this Year 1686. recollecting and making Observation from one New-Year to another of what hath passed both in reference to the Internal Attainments Growths and Degrees arrived to in Spirituals and what hath happened by special Providence concerning the outward Bodily Man both which I have for some Years kept a Memorandum of for my own private satisfaction taking special notice how the Work of God hath gone on in order to the perfecting of what my Soul hath been these many Years in great travail for but in special for what hath been in sight and view through the Spirit of Prophecy declared unto me since 1670. in the which Year and so forward on to this time entring upon this New Year I have found the working Wheel from the strong Hand of the Most High and have driven hard on for the bringing back of my Soul into Eternal and pure Nature's Originalty again the which to be plain is no less then to be Born again into another World where this visible Birth in Sin with its world is as forgotten and shut out no otherwise remembred but to give occasion of the greatest Wonder and admiration of that great and infinite goodness that hath unfettered and set the Soul free to be born into a divine and spiritual Body so to dwell and inhabit in the high and heavenly World where my Correspondency hath been maintained much since the Year 70. gaining Year by Year some increase and higher degree of Wisdom and Understanding in the secret Mysteries of Eternity as to what doth lie hidden there which through our abstraction of Mind and watchful Attendance in new Varieties from that World do present themselves § 2. Now as to this last past Year many have been my Internal provings and secret Combates that have followed me hard to shake my Faith as to the great and wonderful Revolutions relating to the accomplishment of a full and perfect Redeemed State among Mortals here to be seen and known in order to which I have been followed with renewed Predictions and Promises for the keeping up and open the Springs of Faith which otherwise would have been stopped therefore I must proclaim the goodness of God who hath kept the stock of Faith going on in me for the hopeful consummating of what is yet behind which are great and weighty things worth waiting upon which if succesfully I may attain will quit all suffering loss of what ever can be called Earthly and Terrene in sensible things which are of this World only among Mortals seen from all which I have been much called from as finding every Year hath renewed upon me great abatements and weariness of Life and Love to all perishable things A good reason there is why because the Heavens do before me open stand by which my Mind and Spirit is so well entertained by the Objects there seen with all substantial Varieties that I need not care any more to look out for these § 3. When at any time drawn and pluck'd away I am by strong motives from this World then great Wo Pain and Trouble do me possess for so it is when at any time I am out of the Heavenly Places where now only my Life doth lie within that secret Cabinet of Eternity preferring that as my chief and only Excellency So I resolve to go forward by the Power of the Most High this ensuing Year for what of this kind may multiply and prosper in my Hand mightily For the which all care and strict Watch I see must be that so I may not overslip my Day acting accordingly as Power doth move and rise the which is to be attended upon Day by Day as God shall clear up the way otherwise all Attempts are but in vain which set upon may be as I have proved by what hath been undertaken contrary to this all high and approving Eye Therefore Wisdom doth me teach in a passive brokenness of Will
me while the Eagle-Spirit is hatching her Young upon Faith's Tree § 9. Which Tree I find can grow upon no other Soil but a Ground all purely refined with oily Springs and Dews from Heaven which must its watering be Then will it spread and flourish all richly having fruitfulness in it self without any dependency Oh! this is the Tree that will us bless with Wisdom Strength and Righteousness for the which I find it in my Heart most earnestly to seek and pray that it may be most choicely kept and circled round about with the pure Love Fire blown up by the Holy Ghost Which may its shelter be from all the invading Spirits that so diligently do watch to break in to crop and suck away its strength For this O my God an holy awful fear is upon me because I do well know what damage and spoil it hath occured keeping it of low and little stature to prevent what might be the World's Conquest and great working Wonder Therefore now my God what is to be done for its preservation Make me privy in the Secrecy of acting so wise a part as few or none have in this later Age found out and why is it so but because no skilful Artist in this Mystery of Faith hath been made to understand the way for the preserving and cherishing this choice Golden Grain from whence this Tree of Faith might to its full growth attain § 10. For the which such Rules prescribed are and revealed unto me by the only wise Counsellor my Friend which if I can observe and obey I may then win the Dayâ— God's great working Powers thereby for to display much more then have been in former Days But the way is such an aversion to what in the whole Universe of Mankind is practised that it will be a difficult point to enter hereupon so as to hold on for here is required a crossing of the Tide and stâ—m of Nature in all its motions which do put forth and generate so aptly Against which resist in the Faith I must all stedfastly till Conquest be wrought out by the growth of this all-powerful Tree § 11. This hath been shewn me to branch forth it self in twelve rising Degrees for the Manifestation of the Antient Apostolical Faith which in this Age is to be recovered anew for the cutting short that Work which in thousands of Years many Holy Souls have been puzling and striving about while sticking in the weaâ— and low degrees of Faith From the consideration of which Relapse a mighty stirring up I feel so to press on as to reach to all of these twelve degrees which from that small Mustard-Grain Seed of Faith sown by the Spirit in me may to such a great and full increase spread out it self as may transcend the growth of all other Trees that in the Forest of this World do stand bound down with Iron Yokes and Bands now the twelve Degrees of this Tree in their distinct Properties were thus expressed unto me § 12. 1. The first degree of this Faith is to believe the apostacy and ruinous heap and matter of which the Body of Sin is contracted into 2. A second degree is to believe that this Degeneracy hath parted the Soul from God and made it a Stranger to all Knowledge and Possession of those high and precious and choice things which might have been the propriety of the Soul in God had it not gone out from him 3. The third degree is to believe there is left a Spark or Seed of Eternity in all Mankind which may incline and turn them in so to feel after God as to lament bitterly their own Apostacy 4. A fourth degree is to believe the Eternal Word was incarnated in Flesh for a Universal Redemption and Restauration out of this lapsed state through Faith in him for the begetting a Likeness and Conformity through an Essential Birth brought forth in Spirit all evidently 5. A fifth degree is to believe that there is an All-sufficiency in CHRIST thus conceived and brought forth in Spirit internally within the Soul 's essential part as may have power to purge refine save and cleanse the Soul from all its Sins 6. The sixth degree is to believe and expect the Holy Ghost to come to join and co-operate with this new begetting Birth for the bringing it up and securing it from all Assaults Peâ—â—â—â— and Temptations mainâ—â—ing an holy Clarification cheâ—â—â—â—ing and strengthning it till it be strong to go forth for Manifestration to shew it self to the World as thus regenerated 7. A seventh degree is to believe and witness that Christ his risen Life in the Soul doth become a death to the Body of Sin totally which we may call a Love Kiss whereby Christ doth sweetly and seceretly draw and part the Soul from all the dregs and relicks that appertain to a Lapsed Nature which is known by a power working supernaturally 8. An eighth degree is to believe that when all this is finished Christ will appear in the Soul without Sin and so present it unto the Father as a new created Wonder all compleated to be his Spouse and Bride rejoycing that the Marriage of the Lamb is come all things therefore being made ready 9. A ninth degree is to believe that Christ the Lord will not fail to perform the sacred Nuptial and Marriage-Union both for Time and Eternity with the Spirit of the Bride thus made ready and will own and confess her so to be his choice before his Father and the whole Assembly of Angels and Elders Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places and also here upon the Earth shall so owned be for her Excellency as shall be an all-amazing Glory 10. A tenth degree is to believe that hereupon will follow all mutual Joys and Pleasures in Love Festival Banquetting which she is so taken up and ravished in as all former Mournings and Sorrows are forgotten coming no more into Mind so ineffable are the Bride 's So lacements with the Lord her Bridegroom 11. The eleventh is to believe that Christ will settle upon this espoused Bride all that is his that she shall have a mutual Interest with him in what the Father hath put into his Hand which is all Power and Wisdom to manage that power which reacheth to a dominion in and over all created Beings and Things whatever herein for certainty she will be put into a Joint-possession with the Lord her Bridegroom as her Propriety 12. Twelfthly and Lastly as the â—â—m of all is to believe undoubtly that after this Representive Bride of the Lamb so declared in thiâ— World to be by her Ornamental Gifts and fruitful Powers that will generously go forth for the multiplying and making up of the pure spotless Virgin Church here on Earth will the Lord from Heaven descend in great and high state to fetch his Bride the Church up to his Fathers House or Royal City for the consummating and celebrating such a Tryumphant Glory in Unity with the
warring against the Law of Faith and next to this is the Law of Righteousness which the Apostle mentions And which must also give place unto the Law of Faith All Righteous Works must be excluded for only the Righteousness of Faith must here stand Now if we look in and examine how it hath been with us we shall find we have been in bondage to both these Laws which have carried it very severely towards us So that before Faith came to be revealed in what a dark imprisoned Life were we kept There was no Comfort nor Satisfaction in all strict Observation of the Law of Righteousness no more then in the Law of Sin and Carnal Sense so that it is time for us to look out for another Law which may redeem us out of both these which is this revealed Law of Faith Which will become a New Birth-Nature as is mentioned in the 26th Verse becoming all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus and so Born from the Virgin-Womb of the Jerusalem-Mother § 34. So that you may plainly understand the drift of God our Father is to bring us up in the Faith from the very Day of our being born into it so that we as little Children must learn the Rules of Faith like as in the first and natural Birth we were brought up habitually and inherently in the rational corrupt sensibility and indeed were bound by that Birth and under the Laws also of righteous Rationality and sober Sensuality Which although good in its kind and to be obeyed and subjected to till such time as the Royal Birth of Faith comes to be Born then is to be sounded the Jubilee Hour the Hour and Day of our Release is come then no longer are we under those Laws which was the manifestation of bondage curse sorrow heaviness to Death From this first Husband we are by the Law of Faith set free that so we may gradually come up to that Vnity of the Faith as to come to be in great solemnity married to him who is the full Body Life and Resurrection of this Faith so that by this divine Matrimonial Continuity fruitful Births of Faith may be that may bear the Name of God's Angelical Hosts For none else can ever be capable to do the great Works and Wonders which are to be manifested in him while under the covert of a Mortal form but such as have the Live Coal of Faith conceived in their Hearts and put into their Hands whereby they may go forth to tincture and to touch and leaven from the Vertue of the central Marriage-Union which may bring forth the flaming or blown-up-Coal of the Holy Ghost which always the Birth of Faith doth precede as a Forerunner By which all Miracles may then most easily be wrought which must the last redeeming part of Mankind clear up and finish For all Dominions and Powers in the Worlds of Death Darkness Wars and Strife shall and must evidently by the Holy Ghost in Faith's Power and Might be put under and to flight Even so let it be in Faith's Spirit pray we § 35. Waiting further in Spirit upon this High Matter the Oracle of Witness again open'd in me after Three Days and it said Go forward do not slack to promote and to draw forth for an United Body in the Faith together to stand For hereunto are ye called to Accord and Believe in the One only Saving Name JESUS and such as with thee so shall avouch the Everlasting God their God only to be the Blessings of Faith upon their Heads shall flow Then hold forth do ye mutually a clear Testimony hereof by giving up your selves in way of Pure Seperation as in a Silent Wilderness there to attend for what is yet to come from the Seven Fountain Throne Spirits Which way being to light such Precious and Unutterable Things as have been kept from all vulgar sight Therefore I say in Faith's Tent together abide and to no other Business your Minds apply that so a Praise ye may be to Elohim Great who will assuredly own and stand by you in the Work he hath appointed you to which followed is to be close and uninterruptedly O therefore Courage take my Called and Anointed Ones that hereby raise up ye may that Glory which under a Cloud of Apostacy hath lain and withal count it all Joy that ye who thus agreed are together to see and obtain that high Love-Prize which others have negligently lost and which a warning may be to hold out and to Conquer the Temptations of a Mortal State § 36. As this Word came in the Figure of a Crown was lifted up upon the end of a Scepter which cast from it a Glance of Transparency of Glory And then the Word came anew and said Behold and see this shall be the Reward of Unwearied Waiters in the Faith who for a Kingdom are seeking and deserting all Visibles Such as these who seek out and wait Believingly and who through this Belief are made to forsake all shall come infallibly to inherit and postess the Scepter and the Crown with CHRIST their Head Prince of Righteousness Wherefore gird up ye who are Lovers of and Waiters for the Lamb 's victorious Day to be revealed in you that so glorious Representatives in his Life ye may come to be in the Kingdom of Conquest and Victory The which holding out to shall and will endear you to the Heart of your God and Father actually who hath waited for to see who so Valiant could be as to break through every Cloud of Temptation and in no wise be prevented of the great Felicity which by this Victory of Faith is to be § 37. Then was I for some time afterward followed still with this Word saying Fear not but go on to perform what hath been in the Platform presenâ—â—â— to thy Mind For the Heart of thy God will strengthen and cojoin such with thee as of a Gideon-Might and Spirit approved are in Valiantness for that which undertaken is now to be Thus having been encouraged to stand up unmoveably in that Faith which is of Divine Operation and not to be afraid in the least or wavering in the Belief of the Promises which have been given of Old Times and which have powerfully been renewed to me I have been made to hasten from one Degree of Faith to another and to shoot continually Arrow after that so at last I might obtain the Prize by aiming at the Unity of it in hitting the Point which for these many Years I have been Aiming at § 38. Thus having râ—â—â—ved Line upon Line and Prophecy upon Prophecy for my Eucouragement I was still upon the most inward Debate with the Lord Christ or rather with his Agent the Spirit why the Word of Revelation and Wisdom in the Prophetical Sense opened should not be attended with Miraculous working Powers For indeed that is the great Thing that the Mystery of Faith moves hard for namely to bring the Eternal
for certain is the only thing that will bring the long expected Redemption to its finishing End § 46. After which as from a New Gust the Eternal Word open'd it self Expresly in my Heart's Center informing and declaring the High Prerogative of such a Spirit in whom the Power of Transmutation did lie For in whom ever this comes to be witnessed it is no less then the Seed of the Trinity retained in the pure Matrix of the Virgin Wisdom which driveth forth till it cometh into Transubstantiation Nothing goeth beyond this for as much as it is the Beginning Strength Might and Excellency of the Father of all Spirits who generateth in Nature this High Birth of Power the true Heir of Faith as it did appear in the Immaculate JESVS How great is this Secret and to whom hath it been Revealed or who hath found this Wonderful Stone True it is that in all Ages it hath had its Seekers but none have digged deep enough for it Every Arm for these many Hundred Years hath been too short to reach it Now unto thee who art duly upon the Inquiry and watching for the highly precious Gate to open while thou art knowing in thy self the Invalidity of all other foregoing Births and Powers that yet have been rested upon as if this had been attained to which thou art now pressing to find within the Borders of Immanuel where the Seven Baptizing Pools are to be passed through before this Transmuting Stone comes to its perfection of Colour And though several of them thou hast been plunged into yet know this that there remain Three Which were shewn me to be Blood Oil and Fire The Four that I had passed through were first the Pool of Conviction secondly Repentance thirdly Renovation fourthly passing my Spirit over by pure Dedication By all which I was made meet to enter upon the last Three Baptisms which would finish the whole Mystery of the Incarnation The Bloody Pool is the Dying with JESUS the Offering up thy self through his Spirit to which end the many Lives are to suffer Death without pity or sparing any one of them as they were allied and in concord with the sensitive Root from whence they all do spring haply thou mayest believe thy self to have pass'd through every Death I grant that thou hast done so in thy Will yet art thou not come to an actual open and Triumphant shew hereof perfectly so expiring as to a Total giving up the Ghost of that Birth which was out of the Womb of that which was from the Earth earthly and into which it must be again delivered up through Death Now no more would I have thee to draw any Breath of Life from that Principle which is the Gulf of Seperation but to pass undauntedly through this Pool of Blood which is the Fifth Cirling Pool that surrounds that Wonderful Tree of Faith and Life which thou hast seen § 47. Now having after some Years pressing forward since this last Manifestation passed through these Deaths in a good Degree as hath been witnessed the Lamb having been slain in me gives a Resurrection of a New Life which standeth clearly out of all that is of the Out-Birth and that consisteth of the Astral Reason and Animal Sense which the being dead to gains the wonderful Conquest that maketh way for the being plunged into the Pool of Oil. Which Oil is the Matter and Essence from which the Holy Ghost doth spring Then passing from this to the Pool of Fire which also opens it self from this being a Fiery Seed from the Deity and so coagulating together it makes up a Deified Body which only can be capable to live in the Supercelestial Air of the One Element This we may entitle the Divine Magical Body whose Motions and Operations are all subsisting going forth in pure Acts of Faith For that is the Life that the Risen in Christ are called to to live by alone for as much as by this they are always ascending above the Earth as if they had no more to do with it bringing down by Faith all needful Things out of the Store-house of Heaven while yet they are in Bodies Terrestrial Our Spiritual Merchandizing is only to be upon the Fruits of Faith's Tree which will bring in both for Food and Cloathing abundantly while there is need for it But there is an Age coming as this Tree of Faith grows up in Persons in their inward ground to its full ripeness when the Fruit being eaten thereof Magically will Transfigure the very Elementary Body and give it a Radical Ruby Glory so that Mortality shall be hid in Immortality which is the Garment that may last the Thousand Years Reign of CHRIST and may be said to be the First Resurrection Body whereby Death shall be swallowed up All this will be effected by the Mighty Operation of Faith which subdueth all things to it self and changeth this visible Body into the Likeness of the Glorious Body of our Lord JESUS For when this Faith shall be wrought up to its highest Perfection it will be such a Prospective-Glass through which the Glorified Person of our Lord and the Father in him with the Virgin Wisdom and all the Saints shall so appear before the Spirit 's Eye that according as it is written beholding the Glory of the Lord as in Glass we shall be changed from Glory to Glory for when we see him we shall be made like unto him Thus hath it been shewn to me what the wonderful Effects of Faith shall do in its Time and Age. But it may be said who shall live such an Age as this to see To which I Answer though this be Prophesied in me yet it is not Determinated whether as to my own Particular I may it in my Age of Time see For I rather think that I may pass into Faith's Mystery where with the High VVorthies of Faith who died in the Faith not having received the Promise but seeing it afar off rejoyced in Spirit as I do hoping that others in the succeeding Age or Ages may this Transformation of Bodies know which Joy will be so to me when I into the Heavenly World translated shall be having put on Glorification which I do now already see my Superior Angel in the Mount Sion Kingdom cloathed withal in which my Rest and Satisfaction in assurance hereof do remain not knowing whether it may not be my Lot with the Elders and Worthies of the Faith to descend with CHRIST again upon the Earth to Reign The 4th of January 169 A Continuation of what further hereupon followed § 48. THis divine Opening was with me holding me in converse for some Hours in my Spirit saying Though the staff of Time for an expected deliverance seemeth to be broke yet cast not off the work you are called to abide and stand together in and understand it is the prerogative of God to change Times and Seasons who under no bounds of Time will be that his depending Creatures may
never be off on their Knees as to Prayer and watchfulness Then after some large Conference with the Spirit which cannot be brought forth in words There was presented to me in sight a wonderful great Wheel which seemed to spread over the whole Earth the Colour was as a Ruby-Red and it was full of Eyes round the circle of it very piercing Then it was said to me This presents God the Almighty working Wheel of which there is no beginning or end so I saw a living Spirit moving in the Wheel hoisted up as between the Heavens and the Earth then saw I four small Wheels descend out of this one of the same colour and had Eyes also then I enquired Ah Lord tell me what this meaneth And it was answered These are the Charriot-Powers which pass through all things in Centers high and Centers low and to whom these Wheels shall be joined unto they only shall be able to act the great Wonders of time then saw I where they descended and rested for a while and then they went forth and were lifted up by the great Wheel which as a Loadstone drew them up and my Spirit was presently gone to them and presently the Angelical Center stood open and from thence my Spirit was carried by these Wheels into the Apostles Center then into the Son's Center then into the Father's deepest deep of all Centers where I was to center and abide till the Wheels went forth then my Spirit should go with them who would be Eyes to see what way and whither my Spirit was to go do and act for it was said to me Now no Creaturely Will can move here for the Holy Spirit assumeth all Will Power and Act here and then no defeat is to the high holy pure Enterprize which you together in the Faith and Love co-working with these Wheels it shall be as the spreading of the Net aright and casting it to the taking of a worthy and rich Prize so go forward on and prosper February 10. 1694. § 49. This Morning the Vision of the Four Wheels appeared again which moved in the Four Elements each one being carried upward by a Spirit that was as a bright Flash of Lightning The which considering in my Mind with an inquiry hereupon made it was told me That they did represent the working Wheels of Nature that the All-powerful Spirit doth drive upward to reach the One Eternal Element which being touched with it would penetrate through the whole Bodily Man that was made up of the Four Elements Then did I see these Four Elements expire into one great terrible Flaming Wheel that spread it self over the whole Heavens and in the middle of the VVheel there were Seven Eyes § 50. Which I waiting upon was thus opened to me that the gross Earthly Part in the nature of the Four Elements should by the Spirit of Christ who took upon him the Elementary Body so come into ours as to wind them up by a strong Circling Motion as every Part may be so touched as to be tinged with and to partake of the Superiour Properties and Powers of this pure and unmixed Element and so be swallowed up in this Great Governing Wheel that ruleth over all the lower Wheels with all the Planets which thereto do coagulare and work For all by Outward Nature are under their Power and Empire till got free by ascending up to this upper ruling Wheel with its Seven Eyes Concerning which it was told me that they were the Seven Supercelestial Planets or Constellations that did govern and controll all in this lower World and its Planets This is that which will reach to Redemption of the Body § 51. Much more the Spirit of my Lord discoursed me upon this Matter which must be concealed till my Outward Elementary Wheels shall fully expire into the upper and superiour Wheel Only this I may declare for the present time that the upper Flaming Wheel with its Seven Eyes as a Loadstone is drawing mightily some known to me that have been touched therewith And it will not rest in its wheeling Motion till they shall be as to their weak Elementary Life changed into the One Superiour Element whereby the Heavenly Constellations shall predominate over all of these outward Ones which hitherto have reigned over the Elementary Part that yet lieth Unredeemed February the 12th § 52. This Day being much drawn inward in the Spirit of my Mind this word met me Arise and ride upon the Mule of Faith stand over all that is Elementary There is a Thing to be done by some that in the Crown Number do stand who shall the Land of Havilah command but Abraham's High Faith for this must spring February the 14th § 53. VVhile I was in a deep Introversion about this Matter this Word spake in me saying There is a Birth that is upon breaking forth that shall bring the Blessing of mighty Increase to present and succeeding Generations Sarah in her Old Age is near her time of bringing forth the Heir who must possess the good things of the Upper and Neather World Understand thou then what this meaneth the Old Age is an arrivement unto the Mystery of Faith Now excite thou those that are of Good will to encourage themselves with the Hope this good Old Age to see as mighty Hero's in this Faith that so ye may bring forth the Blessing to the weary and oppressed Gird up I say and take heed ye do not falter or turn out of Faith's way then shall ye bring forth a Nation as in One Day § 54. Now as some of us were hereupon waiting together and while one was in Prayer there appeared this Vision from the Light World From the which the Virgin descended and met an ascending Spirit that was pressing and expecting to come up to the Mount Sion Orb unto the Glorious Lord. But there was a stop by the Descent of the Virgin of that Orb who appeared to us in great splendour and congratulated us saying Thus I know whereto ye would in your Spirits have arrived but I am come from your Lord to make known the Thing which ye have long been in travail for And now I do appear to you for this purpose that you may be overshadowed with my Virgin Nature which may be the Womb all sanctified for the conceiving of the Holy Ghost which will be the Lordly Birth in Spirit And as he was brought forth in the Fulness of Time by a single Personal Virgin so now in Plurality in Virgin Spirits to multiply upon the Earth that so Evil Births may sink and dye as these Virgin Births shall rise And therefore to you who in holy Dedication are this Counsel is given Observe from this Day how this Birth in you shall go forward on and therefore watchful each one of you be And after this Saying she cast a wonderful bright shining Ray of Glory as we were sitting together upon each of us § 55. Now at her first Appearance St.
the Signs of the Superiour Heavens do signifie out as much that the Time is very near at hand for the Accomplishment of all these for which End there was shewn to me an Ark in the Figure but which was declared to me in the Mystery to be no less then the Substance of the whole Triune Deity who would suddenly send forth Ambassadours from themselves that are to be as the First Fruits and Representatives of the Bride to gather in all such as were to make up the whole Jerusalem Bride whose Habitation is prepared in Wisdom's Wonderful Paradisical Principle § 3. Wherefore it was not long after I had received the first Manifestation and Figurative Opening of Faith's TREE from the Spirit of Faith growing up in me before I had further Notice given me of an ARK into which Faith's Archers who had hitten the Mark were to be received in For in a little more then a Year after that I had this free Communication with my Lord concerning it which follows And notwithstanding the latter Part of this amongst many other of my Papers has been lost yet this which hath been by the All-wise Giver of it preserved for that end will I know be of some Service and Use and therefore have I been prevailed with to insert it here though I am not able to recal what either went before or followed after it February 21. 1687. § 4. Being upon my Internal Watch in the pure stillness of my Mind this Word came to me saying The Ark of Faith which the Lord hath been these many Years in raising and building is yet not persued and as little understood although Warning upon Warning and Sound upon Sound have gone forth for preparing and building such an Ark which may flote upon the broad River of the Holy Ghost Then was I touched at this saying of my Lord as being conscious how he had opened to me this effectual Door and Mystery of Faith charging me to keep to the Rules of it which upon this Word I questioned whether I had kept up to so precisely as I had received command to do Whereupon the Spirit pray'd in me Lord God Omnipotent if I have been negligent shew it me with much more to that effect in which my Heart was enlarged to pray about it Then was it in this wise revealed and answered me Thou hast been learned and taught as another Noah to prepare and build an Ark of Faith in this Invisible World therefore slack not but go on forward and I will strengthen the Studs and Stakes thereof which shall be as stable as Gold that shall be laid in as a firm bottom Who further said to me That there was One known by Name that should have of the same Spirit of Faith to concur and build with me and so we should be mutually made able to strengthen one anothers Hands to carry on this great Work as Male and Female in one Person or Spirit to enter first this Golden Ark of the Presence when reared up for which we should receive further Advertisement as we should wait diligently hereupon § 5. Then it arose further in me by way of Query to propound some things relating to this Fabrick unto the Great Master and Builder hereof who answered me most freely to whatever my Spirit was made to Inquire But the Particulars of this matter being obliterated and passed away the same Divine Spirit that was then present with me and ready to dictate what was requisite by me to be known hath now after many Years revealed and brought again to my Internal Sight this Ark of Faith in the ensuing manner which I am commanded to declare and publish for the Information and Encouragement of all those that seek to be redeemed from the Earth and would enter into this Ark. February 18. 1695 6. § 6. The Virgin Wisdom founded a joyful Cry saying Come and see what an Ark is prepared for them that are Born into the Faith as mighty Hero's to act the Wonders of the New Creation which Ark is made in my New Paradise that hath not yet been inhabited whereupon great Floods came down from the Heavens as a Golden Rain which covered the Face of the Mountains as the Waters did in Noah's time drown the Old World So that there was a mighty Sea which was called the Love-Sea Yet did it not as yet universally cover the Earth Then after this did descend also this mighty Ark in which was Faith's great Conqueror Christ Jesus with Abraham Noah and all the High Elders of the Faith which floated upon this Sea This Ark was all of a most diaphanous fine Gold with Six Wings on each side branching forth from it so that it did Fly as well as Swim which Wings were full of Eyes Then was it said to me What dost thou think this Ark is sent down for but to take in and receive such as have looked for Redemption to be Saved from the Violence and Curse of the Old Earth and from the Malignancy and Venom of the Starry Kingdom A loud Cry and Call then came out of the Ark saying Come Hasten and escape for your Lives for here is a Shelter prepared for you while those that do slight this Call and have not Faith to fly away must in another Deluge be swallowed up which will be as the Waters in Noah's Day falling down upon them from the Starry Firmament while the Children of Wisdom's Kingdom who have obeyed her Voice shall here be kept having the Wings of Power which I had before seen given to them that they might fly into this Ark. Whereinto some Eminent in the Faith were received with great Acclamations and Embracements and these that first entred had great longings to attract in others after them which they waited here in hope to see February the 19th § 7. Then the Great Captain of the Ark of Faith Christ Jesus did steer the Ark which with flying Wings did swiftly pass and landed us in the New Paradise Where we were received by the Divine Magus's and Masters of the Faith who understood the Mystery of all Miraculous Faith This was a wonderful Place the like of which I had never seen for the Walks were all paved as with Transparent Gold and several Temples were here in which these Elders in Priestly Robes all glittering did pay their Homage to the Great and Mighty King by whom they did work all their great Works and give Existency to that which never had been Then were we led out to view the pleasant Trees and Groves for delight and recreation and the Trees did seem to be as of pure Gold and the Branches to be laden as with Diamonds and all the variety of Precious Stones Besides which there were Trees also laden with all sorts of precious Fruits for Food and Rivers with Fountains flowing with spiced Wine and Cups and Flagons round about the Fountain So we were called to drink at these Fountains and to eat of these Fruits being
entertained by these Magi to whose Care by the great Shepherd of this Fold we were committed Who were to usher us back to the Ark to bring in others and transport them hither Which accordingly was done § 8. After which it was said to me this Ark doth represent the Body of Faith of which the Lord Christ is the Head of whom the Church that is to be gathered into this is the Bride the Lamb's Wife Then did it float and fly with great force with outspread Banners and a mighty Angel that was in it did sound forth his Trumpet that all that would come out of the Babylonish Confusion should admittance have At this Alarm came divers in the mighty Spirit of Cyrus resting upon some the Spirit of Elijah upon others of Nehemiah and Zorobabel upon a third sort of Gideon Barak and Deborah upon others of Miriam Huldah Dorcas and Lydia upon some of Titus and Omesimus upon others with the beloved Mary Martha and Hephzibah with numerous others both Males and Females that were unknown of this and other Nations For they flocked from the utmost Parts of the Earth as Doves to the Windows of this Ark having heard the report of this Good Land from those who had been sent thither as Spies to seek it out And when thus the Ark was filled it was by a Principal Angel sitting at this Helm Steered to this Paradisical Land where they were Landed with a joyful greeting and had all their Tents here prepared for them this being said to be the Plantation for the Virgin Philadelphian Church which has in former Treatise been Desoribed § 9. And upon an Inquiry made whether all were now Landed It was by the Spirit of Wisdom answered No For that the Ark was not to rest but to Fly and Float for more to be gathered in till the Full Body of the First Resurrection state was compleated and brought hither to put on their Immortal Robes for the Triumphant Consummation of the Marriage of the New Jerusalem Bride This is a wonderful Mystery which in its Fulfilling Day will better be understood for which we are to wait in great clarity of Mind and sanctity of Heart in pure and perfect Dedication and Seperation from all that is gross and vulgar for that none else can have admittance into this Holy Ark but such as are fully and wholly Purified by Faith February the 20th § 10. Here I thought to have stopped as not knowing there should be any further Addition from the Spirit of my Lord but the next Morning February 20. all was opened to me again the Ark descending and a Commission given from the Lord to the Beloved John to steer it with some Few Names born into the Love and Practicioners of the High Mystery of Faith who were here with him to abide and as Heraulds to Proclaim the Love-Message and to call in such as were willing upon the Report made concerning this New found Paradisical Land to leave the Land of the Curse and to wind themselves out of the Sensitive Principle so as to be Disciplined into the Faith So accordingly as Report was made by these Persons of what they had seen in this New Paradisical Country the strength and power of Faith and Love did so manifestly appear and give such a Witness in those that were in this Ark that they did attract many from all Parts And when the appointed number was fulfilled the beloved Great Apostle spread out the Wings of the Ark in which were fixed the piercing Eyes that did see the way by which they were to move till they came to this goodly Land who then delivered up his Charge to the Princess and Governess of this Land Who received all out here with an amiable Reception telling them this Climate was of a Transmuting Property which would put another kind of Body upon them that should be of such Agility Purity and Clarity as the Old Body should in all its Infirmities be swallowed up into this Then was there given a Roll wherein there was written certain Rules which they were to Act and be Practioners in as the Laws of this Kingdom whereof the Kingly Shepherd himself did give them a Pattern and said Ye are to Act and Work as my self have done and acted as an obedient Son to the Father What ye have seen me do that are ye also to do as Followers of me for hitherto the Father worketh and I work and ye must be fellow-workers with me as risen with me and so must all your Works now be by the Faith of my Operation in you Then the Roll was Read to these that were now Landed as it had been to those that were before admitted to be Inhabitants The Laws of the High and Holy Calling that are to be Observed by those that are admitted into this Paradifical Land § 11. THese are the Particulars of that Holy Calling which all are in this Place to Profess I. The First of these is to learn of me saith JESUS to be Lowly and Meek in Spirit even as I am being contented with no lesser Degree For this is the first Fundamental Qualification for as much as my Lily grows only out of such a Ground as is all leavened and of an even Temperature neither too Hot or Cold Moist or Dry but found always in Contrition and Humility from whence Exaltation to Higher things will certainly arise II. The Second Degree which ye are to take from hence is to know how to understand the Manual Operation of the Haâ—d of Faith by which the goodly Tent must be wrought for Shem and Japheth to dwell together in great and full enlargement For through the Exercise and nimble Activity of this Hand all Provisions necessary will be brought in for the Bridegroom and Bride to live upon III. A Third Particular relating to your High Calling is to attend and officiate in the most Holy Inward Court there to wait and be at hand to receive evermore fresh Command as also to hear and learn what further is requisite to reach to the highest Accomplishment towards Natures most Perfect Restauration IV. The Fourth Particular or Law is to come to a putting forth of all the Essential Properties into Activity according to what ye have seen and been instructed in from the Father and me stirring up the Gift that so it may not lie useless in you in any Degree V. Ye are not to think it sufficient that ye have Learned Part of my Calling but ye are iâ—â—is Place to learn All even to the full Vnity according to the Example which I have set you Therefore come set your Hand of Faith to Work and Act as I your Lord have done who expect you should come up to those Measures I have set before you who am and will be to you the same flowing Sourse of Life-quickning Power if called out that I was when planted in your Likeness Behold I am at hand to do as great and mighty Works as ye