Consideration nothing can be more grateful to us O my Lord then to have that New and Living Way revealed through which we may come to know after what Manner and Pattern thy Worship now is to be and who also â—he Worshippers are that be required § 15. Now as to this Virgin Church the Lord did shew me how and after what manner it was to be Constituted with the Invalidity of all that which hath been in a Formal Imitation thereof As first in Answer to an Objection which I made How such a Pure Church could possibly be in such a Polluted Region Which was Answered thus While I was plunged into deep Introversion in my Spirit call to remembrance spake the Holy One Abraham the Faithful unto whom I appeared and consider how that he became the first Root of that Visible Church which was Peculiar of all the Earth unto me And farther this observe that the numerous Offspring hereof did proceed from that one Seed for so likewise it will be again God will send out One and Another that shall be after his own Heart who shall be ordained as the principal Pillars of this New Assembly And the mighty Spirit of a CYRVS will be absolutely Required both for the first laying the Foundation thereof and also for supporting it in its progress § 16. Now from hence it was revealed to me that Abraham and Sarah were a Type of that which should be produced and manifested in the last Age of the World according to all the Prophecies that run pointing still to the Glory of Mouâ—t Sion that hath always been expected to be revealed in every Age since Christ. Immediately after Christ's Ascension it was looked for and believed in when the Apostles gathered several Branches relating to such a Church to their Day But this was not fixed for Substance because Corrupted since and so in the Confusion of Babylon as it is at this Day the ruines of which are yet to be raised up and a perfect Temple-Body answerable to the Head-Power Which now the Holy Spirit hath given the true Model of in the Figure of Him who was the Beginning of the Israelitish Church whom God chose and called from out of his own People and from the Land of his Nativity Who in the Spirit of Faith obeyed all and every Requiring of God Upon such a Spirit as this was God will found this Virgin Church who shall be as the First-born out of Wisdom's Womb of which Sarah was a Type who by Faith conceived him of whom came the great Increase as to the making up of a Visible Church Amâ—â—g the Genealogy of which CHRIST was born after the Flesh in which Human Property he was Despised and though he came to his own yet was neither received nor owned by them But now in and from the Spirit of Faith there will be brought forth as from the Dead a New Off-spring and Virgin Generation altogether after the purifying natuâ—e of Faith unto whom CHRIST will Personally appear the second Time a Body being for that purpose thus prepared Him § 15. This I can say I have received from the LORD that this cannot be until such an holy seperated Congregation be found who have absolutely denyed and come out of the Old Birth and all of that Nature's Property into what is of the Spirit of Faith's Property and into Love's Nature Till then it is but a a fruitless expectation to believe the Lord will appear from Heaven before the Church the Bride be found thus ready to receive him Now the approaching Day is near in which He is moving his Fiery Wheels for the finishing of that Mystery the Foundation of which was first laid in Human Property who doth not reveal this great thing by his Spirit that so some one or other may in a sweet sense and Spiritual Emulation hereof be the First-born of Wisdom if possible For a Mother there must be of this Virgin Church that will appear without Evil upon the Mount of Holiness whose Increase will be as great as what did spring out of the Loins of Abraham § 16. That Prophecy is yet to be fulfilled and accomplished which the Beloved Iohn saw Rev. 7. where the Twelve Tribes were first to be sealed before the Angels could hurt or destroy the Earth And as it is written the Number out of eveâ—y Tribe was Twelve Thousand which summed up makes up the Hundred and Forty Four Thousand who with the Lamb shall stand upon the Mount of Sion Now from hence let all be convinced that as yet there is not to be found such a Church as beareth those Characters that are expressed for Sealing Therefore it is time to awake out of this dead sleep and to see where we are in all that fair Appearance in which Church-Forms and Fellowships do yet abide The Lord hath several times both by Vision and Voice shewn me all to be as an empty fruitless Vine much void of the Spirit and Water and Blood of Life And now again hath he set before me such Golden Candlesticks as he himself will walk in the midst of And I have heard this Cry saying Where shall I find Spirits that will go out of the Land of Pollution and walk with God perfectly as did my Faithful Abraham who never stuck at any thing required of him therefore he became Great and Mighty because he believed before he possessed From the same Spirit therefore of Faith Truth and Purity shall the New Covenant be established for an holy Priestly Convocation as the First Covenant was with him according to the Figurative Ceremony of things So where the same Spirit shall spring again they shall substantially bring their Priestly Offerings into the very Holy of Holies because the Mediation is now doing away § 17. O the great Blessing without all controversie that will be doubled upon them who shall put to their Hands to cut the first Stone out of this Mountain-Rock for the Foundation building of this unblemished Church which will be upon a daily Increase till that it come up unto Wisdom's Number Seven who hath built her Temple upon so many Pillars and calleth aloud for every one to come and enter into it And thrice great will be the Blessing of him who is chosen from the Womb to raise up this Temple and to be made such a siâ—gular Instrument in the Hand of his God A mighty Standard will be lifted up to which the Dove Spirits will flock apace and shelter themselves under it The Priestly Trumpets are now going forth to summon in the Children of the Captivity under this glorious Standard of the Great God and Saviour which shall be pitched in the Valley of Decâ—sion Many things further in order hereunto were shewed me and not without great matter of Encouragement unto any such who find their Hearts bent thereunto § 18. Then was it made known unto me that where this united Spirit of Faith and Love did find a fixed Birth in any
towards the Unsealing Opening and Discovering of the Seven Seals the Seven Thunders and the New Ierusalem State 4 to 1683. p. 130. The Enochian Walks with God found out by a Spiritual Traveller 4 to 1694. p. 38. The Laws of Paradise Given forth by Wisdom to a Translated Spirit 8 vo 1695. p. 69. The Wonders of Gods Creation manifested in the Variety of Eigâ—t Worlds as they were made known Experimentally to the Author 8 vo 1695. p. 89. The Message to the Philadelphian Society There will shortly be Published by the same Author Thâ— Tree of Faith or the Tree of Life springing up in the Paradise of God A MESSAGE TO THE Philadelphian Society Whithersoever dispersed over the whole Earth Together with A CALL to the SEVERAL Gathered Churches AMONG PROTESTANTS In this Nation of England LONDON Printed and Sold by I. Bradford in Iewen-Street near Crowder's-Well 1696. A Message to the Philadelphian Society c. § 1. A Voice from out of the Throne of the Majesty on High did â—hus cry saying Uâ—seal the living Testimony wherein new and Fresh things will be revealed For in as much as there are holy Seekers and loving Inquiâ—ers so accordingly my Spirit is at hand to open Seal after Seal â—ill the whole Mystery of a Total and Full Redemption shall be understood § 2. Now the same Voice did a second time cry saying Ye that have an Ear hear what the Spirit saith cast up and remove all stumbling-blocks ouâ— of the way For the Lord whom ye have waited for is drawing near to be revealed in and afâ—er a wonderful manner Therefore as my Dove-Flock do ye assemble and wait in the Unity of pure Love praying in the Holy Ghost who may go forth to multiply more Universally So shall my Kingdom upon the Earth spread as Plants of Righteousness in my own Likeness and so beholding my self in them my Joy shall be â—illed I am your Immanuel who am the Tree of Lifeâ— that with variety of Fruits will you feed and as ye are a Fountain of Gardens unto me so will the golden Floods from pure Deity â—low to water you throughout that in a distinct way ye may grow and spring as the Lily and Rosy Sharon In the midst of which I your Kingly Shepherd will walk and familiarly with you talk so as you shall not complain that I am as a Stranger to you and gone away to leave you as if ye were nothing more to hear from me Know it is far from me so to desert my Love-Inquirers who will not leave you to live upon an old and literal stock for I am that Antient present Rock that will still follow you to open and give forth the Poweâ— of All-acting Wonders that will gush out plenteously § 3. Then the Voice the third time cryed Blow the Trumpet and proclaim the beginning of the Lamb's Reign who is come to pitch his Throne in Virgin Minds Into which the Honey-Dews shall fall to keep them from all Famine and Drought for that the Fountainâ— of Life now stands open to refresh and cherish every Plant. § 4. For a farther Confirmation of this and in order to gather up prepared Souls to Mount Sion by the sound of the Trumpet which now blows forth from thence and to knit them in the pure Unity of the Virgin Philadelphian Church thaâ— they may be presented as one holy Bride without the least spot or deformity by the beloved Bridegroom to his Father I had a Representation shewed me of the several Gathered Churches belonging to Protestantism that came every one in their Order before the Head-Shepherd who was sitting upon the Throne of Judgment Which alluded to Iesse's Seveâ— Now â—ons that were called to pass â—efore the Prophet Now follows the VISION of the Seven Churches § 5. Fiâ—st came the Eldest which was the Prelatical Function with their National Church and Disciplin'd Members who would be owned as the Lord 's Anointed but they were refused and shutâ—out The Second were of a more refined Order nominated by the Name of the Presbytery these also were excluded as the former they could not enter nor have their Mission sealed Thirdly came up a sort that assumed the Apostolical Dispensation in a separated way in the Use of Ordinances more Purely called Independants or the Congregational Churches these were also excepted against and dismissed Then in the Fourth place another sort that imitated the former but such a Flock as came up all washed and linked in the Fâ—ith of Water-Baptism known by the name of Anabaptists presented themselves these also passed away Then Fifthly a Congregated Company that were in the outward formal Part wholly looking and gazing after the State of Christ's Reign and Monarchical Government upon the Earth in a visible manner not turning into or eâ—ing the foregoing Reign of the Holy Ghost as that which constitutes the Heaveâ—ly Corporation named the Fiâ—th Monarchy Church but these were also disowned Then did I see a Body greater then any of these come up with great Boldness as deeming themselves to have arrived to Perfection and so visibly distinguishing themselves from all the rest and said Now surely the Anointed of the Lord is before him But a Voice said Neither are these they for the Lord seeth not as Man seeth No Formal Temple shall henceforth be in the everlasting Church of Christâ— But of the Stem of David a Virgin Church which hath known nothing of Man is yet to be born into this Earth as to the Manifestation and Propagation thereof § 6. And it was farther shewn me that as David was one of the Seven yet least of all set by or accounted of so it will be also in the matter of the Anointed Church For the Spirit of David who hath derived from Abraham the Spirit of Faithâ— Love and Meekness as the Type of Heart-Perfection which though it be of no repute but lieth obscure and hid yet the Holy One will find out such to be the Blossoming Root to precede Solomon's Day will bring forth a blessed Offspring whose Train shall be lifted up to the Throne where no more Types or Shadows or Forms shall be For all of this kind shall flee away and dye no corrupt Figure can stand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion For to such a Celestial Degree will the Seventh be Anointed for the Tabernacle-Church that no other Form but God and the Lamb shall be therein seen or understood § 7. And it was evidently Revealed to me that this great Mystery is upon the Agitation now in this very time And it was thus cleared to me That as David in his Minority was Elected and Anointed in a secret hidden way by the Prophet of the Lord yet as to the outward possession of the Kingdom for a considerable time was not admitted Saul keeping up his Reign and David not regarded or the least looked upon in that Capacity but the Counsel of the Lord must not by Man be overthrown For the Election upon
Nature of Christ that as he was so they might be in this present Principle This was said to be the First Resurrection which breaketh the Bonds of Sorrow Hell and Death § 10. Then it was moved in me to make a Query to the Virgin Wisdom that had open'd in me all this great Mystery of the Church Whether it were necessary for this Body to be gather'd Personally into one Place for cohabitation together And it was Answer'd me That for as many as could with conveniency be so embodied together this would be greatly advantageous as to freedom of Fellowship and Personal Conversation while remaining as the present Case stood until that Corporeity had fully put on Incorporeity and this Church now in its Infancy had grown up to an higher Structure For then Faith will be so strong and omnipotent as to translate from the low Elementary Life into the Supercelestial Element and that as Christ put on his Body of Transfiguration so there should be Ability to do the sameâ— as occasion should require that admittance may be had into the Familiarity of the Supream Head and his Upper Fold when a bright shining Raiment must be put on which may be call'd the Immortal Robe For till such a time as this Earth shall be chang'd into a Paradisical Nature and Property the course of things mustrun after the manner of Corporeity both as to Feeding and Cloathing Then was it further given me to understand that though we cannot be at the beginning in one Family or Place yet we are to be of one Principle one Light one Love and one Faith and one in all the excellent Qualifications of Wisdom Humility Meekness Fortitude Righteousness Temperance and other Fruits of the Spirit which are the Golden Chain by which we are link'd together there being nothing to be out of the Unity and Harmony of this blessed Church § 11. Furâ—hermore it was noted to me what was requir'd of this Congregated Society as to their Calling and Employ wherein they were chiefly to be Exercised all Spiritually though as the present necessity of things requires an Allowance may be made for External and Outward Callings which followed may be until such time that the Heir of Faith in each one may be grown up to whom the Inheritance from a Supernatural Store doth belong Therefore this Câ—ution by Wisdom is given that none do rest and stick in the low rational way of making provision for the Outward Man as if nothing more were to be â—xpâ—cted â—hen what the Rational Spirit can provide for And the resting herein as if there were not an higher way of Living has not only among the Worldlings but even among the Illuminated themselves been the main stop and hindrance and prevented the Blessing from the Everlasting Mountains which would otherwise have come down upon â—hem For the further Confirmation of this there were some Scriptures brought to my mind as that Prophetical Passâ—ge in the 45th Psâ—â—m The Daughter of Tyre shall be there with a Giâ—t even the Rich among the People shall entreat thy Favour That also in the Prophet Isaiah Surely the Ships of Tarshish shall wait to bring thy Sons from far their Silver and their Gold with themâ— unto the Name of the Lord thy God Chap. 9. 9. It is there also promised That the Sons of Strangers would build up the Walls of Sion bringing their Forces and Riches to her and that their Kings should minister unto her That Promise was likewise brought to my remembrance Strangers shall stand and feed your Flocks the Sons of the Alien shall be your Plow-men and your Vine-dressers But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord Men shall call you the Ministeâ—s of our God ye shall eat the Riâ—hes of the Gentiles and in this Glory shall ye â—oast your selves Now it was shewn to me that these Prophesies do appertain to the New Modelled Church and will have their Fulfilling according as it shall grow up from the State of Childhood to that of perfect Manhood And iâ— this wise will be the beginning of it the Father should depute his Representative and the Eternal Virgin also hers to stand in the latter Day upon the Eâ—rth for the bringing forth a Virgin Offspring in Corporeal Figures that should multiply and increase to a numberless number And that the Propagation of such shall be conceiv'd after another and more holy manner then what the Ordinary way of Generation hath been which is in Sinful Lust who may be as Ieremiah and Iohn Baptist sanctified from the very Womb who as they grow up may be capable of an Enochs Translation § 12. Then secondly there is another way of Begetting no less real then the former which is in Spirit and of such as are to be converted to the Faith thus are there to be Spiritual Fathers and Spiritual Mothers which will be true Fathers and Mothers indeed in this Church of the First born that shall generate and bring forth Births in the Spirit and after the Will of God Thus the New Creation will go on from which Root Christ's Reign upon the Earth will spring up and begin to be established and the Love-Kingdom from hence will open in the Spirit of Faith by which mighty Works shall be done to make the Kingdoms of this World submit themselves and bow down to this Rising-Sun of the Virgin Church § 13. Moreover it was shewn me that several Eminent Saviours and Supporters of this Church would stand upon the Mountain of Holiness from whom such a Power and Spirit shall go forth as all Nations People and Languages shall fly to the Body of this Resurrection Church as Eagles to the Carcass to be fed and nourished thereby and joyfully bring their Offerings of all precious things that may be necessary to set this Infant Church free from all care toil and labour paying their Tribuâ—e to this Royal Priestly House that is of the Tribe and Family of the Great Melchizedeck King § 14. Now then Hearken and Hear all ye Islands and give ear all ye Lands even from the utmost parts of the Earth from all the four Winds and from the Ends of the Sea ye are summon'd all by the Great Herauld the Archangel to come to the Brightness of Wisdom's Star that first ariseth in a Northern Islâ—nd This Word of Commission is gone forth by Wisdom's Representative to excite invite and stir up from all the wonderful Motives that have been mentioned that none to whom this Mâ—ssage shall come should make any Staggering or Delay for that this is the Lord Christ's Acceptable Day and a thousand times blessed will those be that do this Message Obey who shall be cloathed with the Rays of the Everlasting Sun For the Encouragement of which there is already a good Beginning from several Persons in Germany Switzerland and Holland as also at Home that have expressed their Living Testimony and have felt powerful Drawings to this Lifted up Standard of CHRIST in his Espoused Bride and Church Which will be the Crown and Glory of all Nations § 15. Before this Subject be concluded it will be necessary to answer an Obvious Question that may be made Whether this Representative of the Church as also of the Father's Power ought to be consider'd as in One Person or as in Plurality of Perâ—ons To which it is Answer'd that it may be both but in the Beginning it will fix in Two after the manner that iâ— did in the First Adam and Eve and so the travailing for the Birth of this Church will be by Virgin Spâ—rits that are joined in perfect Uâ—ity that will laboâ—â— together in the greatness of Iehovah's strength to bring forth the Man child from whom shall proceed an Innumerable Host. § 16. It may be here further Queried Whether these have a present Being and Existence I must hereupon say to you as Christ did to Iohn's Disciple Come and see For is there not a Star Risen which those that are of a wise Heart may see and understand the Time and Season when this expected Kingly Birth is to be brought forth Therefore come ye as Wise Men from the East fly ye as Clouds flock ye as Doves to the Windows to the Brightness of this Arising of the Day-Star from on high § 17. Thus have you had the Description of the True Perfect â—nd Catholick Church wherein Christ is risen as the First-born â—rom the Dead in his Members â—hat is the Quickâ—ning Spirit that will gather Persons out of all Forâ—alities into Power Life and Suâ—stance which as the little Stone cut out of the Mountain will dash to pieces the Image which is of a mixt and inconsistent Matter and then become it self a great Mountain yea the Top of all Mountains and the Fulness of the Earth which it shall fill with its Glory This is the Philadelphian Church which I must proclaim and which is already in some measure begâ—n and though at first it has but A little Strength and be comparatively as a Grain of Mustard Seed it shall spring up as a mighty Tree where the Lebanoâ— Glory under the Shadow of it will come to open in Power and Majesty This Lebanon Door is now opened by him that hath the Key of David and none shall be ever able to shut it there shall be continual going in and out through it to find the rich and undefiled Pasture such as none elsewhere is to be found Let none be offended at what the Trumpet of the pure Spirit hath sounded but fall in and submit themselves to the Ruling Scepter and Government of CHRIST in this Day of his Appearance as having alreadyâ— begun his Mighty Reign in Spirit The Bride and the Spirit can never cease to cry Come even so come Blessed Lord according to all that thou hast here Revealed and Declared Amen Amen FINIS