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
Body of Saints that are in Heavenly Places before hand even such a Glory through the Spirit until we come there into the very same Glory as Christ had with the Father before the Worlds were which is too great to be known here § 13. Thus having had all the Degrees and Branches of Faith's Tree opened and set before me for Tryal Examination and Information not only in particular for my self but for such as do agree to ascend with me and go forward on to all these Degrees for the which God hath chosen some one or other that are made all willing to give up hereunto by waiting upon it until the great Operator shall bring forth this Tree in its full stature that the Eagle-Spirits may find all variety of Food for themselves and therewith greatly increase in all kind of Substance without being beholding to the World for it hath been testified unto me and that from a sure Hand that the Eagle and her Brood shall in all Worlds have command for the which I received an express charge to wait all believingly with such as hereunto are with me to agree for the full accomplishment of those Gifts and miraculous working Powers which so long have been silenced and laid asleep and by whom are these to be awakned but by the close setters and constant feeders upon Faith's Tree who are not to hitch off and on for if so the Work of Faith will never go on § 14. The Spirit of my God hath opened this Sense deep upon me for the bewailing of Faith's apostacy and how that the Jerusalem waiters in this Spirit have been along time scattered and carried captive into Babylon and the most holy Vessels and Things prophaned so considered in a Spiritual Sense and the anointed Holy Place where the great High Priest's entrance should be is greatly demolished and made common for unclean and worldly Spirits to pass in and so hath brought in great confusion Now it is much set upon me to strengthen the feeble Hands of Faith 〈◊〉 the recovery of this All commanding and Powerful Life which may bring us back from so great a Relapse for the which end it is averred by the Spirit that there is to be maintained one continued Act admitting of no Cessation as to what may be agreed upon to have Faith in God either for binding up what hurtful and pernicious is to hinder the process or going on of those perfect things yet behind then again for the unbinding and loosning of those mighty great and Heavenly Powers that may make us terrible as an invincible bright Army of flying Banners which as light Flashes may go forth on this Hand and on that as directed they shall be for the securing saving and delivering those who sorrowing and mourning are under Sin 's oppression and the worldly captivity § 15. Now hereupon followed this Vision there being put into my Hand twelve Arrows and a Bow the Bow seemed to be of pure Gold and the Arrows tip'd with Gold and directed I was to make my aim at this Tree of Faith which was the Mâ—rk to shoot at Which keepâ—ng my Eye upon stedily the true Archer the Spiâ—iâ— in me did let fly one Arrow after another till I came to the ninth Arrow which all did well hit and then there was a stop and I could to no higher degree go but was commanded to gather up those Arrows and give them into the Hand of them who were to come up to the Unity of this Faith With the same Bow and Arrows one who designed in special was did follow on to try with great industry and did hit the first and second and then attempting the third Degree the Arrow fell somewhat short for want of a fulness of Faith Whereupon I standing by directed the holding of the â—ow so heeding and observing well she reached the third Degree Then the other one came on to try with the same Arrows appearing in great resolution and hit the first Degree and going upon the second was pulled away which made a present delay Then did the other that had shot to the third Degree stick to it and after one or two onsets got to the fourth Degree then saw I her stop and it was said Be not hereat dismayed for Strength will renew though the Arm too weak may be yet lay not down the Bow but hold it steadily and through constant Exercise the Arrow will not fail to fly from the Hand that diligent shall be till it do attain to all Degrees For it was testified unto me thâ—â— there must be a continual keeping up and bending the Bow of the Mind that so we may all of this Faith's Treasure find and although to the Eye of the World nothing of this is seen they looking upon the true Archers of Faith in great derision saying That they are come to be desperate indeed that have nothing to live upon but what Faith's Tree must bring forth for such are look'd upon as a forlorn hope Oh far be it that this any discouragement to us should be for the Lord hath said it again and again that if any can hereunto reach come to an all-full perswasion then the whole World could not contain the Treasures which this Tree of Faith for us should command that so proved it may be who are the wise in Heart who have made it their choice to learn and exercised be in the Art of Faith only § 16. At another time I was alarm'd out of my Sleep with a Voice that cried in me thus O the Restaurative Tree of Faith And when I came to consider of the Word and the Meaning of it Wisdom's opening Key was put into my Hand to unlock that Place where this Precious Tree doth stand It did now appear to be enclosed by it self and a most lovely fair Tree it was the Body whereof seemed to be all of sweet smelling Cinnamon and in the Hollow of it there was a strong scented Perfuming Oil which did produce Fruit of the same Kind all of a Spicy Nature the which was shewn me to be of Twelve Sorts But this Fruit appeared different and more various then what I had ever seen in all former Representations Which made me very Inquisitive praying that I might know the Mind of Divine Wisdom in that Surprizing Word which came so suddenly upon me For I could no way be satisfied with any Visions or Magical views of things barely and without Interpretation § 17. Which through a renewed Glance of Light from her Orb I obtain'd an Understanding of And it was thus said to me O Spirit what makest thou here How dost thou think to live now that thou art departed out from the Earthly Region where thy Sensitive Life was maintained through the industry of the Rational Mind From these pleasant Things of the Earth thy Soul is now gone out and thou must eat of them no more For here is quite another Way and Manner of Living which thou and
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
are able to receive So will I imprint not only the Image of Purity but of Power upon you that so ye may full out be made Partakers of my Profession Which doth not only consist in Love Meekness Gentleness Patience Wisdom and Soundness of Judgment but also in the Faith of the Omnipotency For in my Calling it is only requisite to have Light and Vnderstanding to find out the Mystery of this High Art but Strength and Might to Work out the same from the Eternal Magia Root from whence the Birth of Power doth proceed Now before ye can Proficients and Practitioners in all things answerable to your President herein be ye must come to be strong and find ability to turn about that which moveth the Creating Word by which all lost Dominion may be Renewed But what can draw forth that except it be somewhat that is Equal in Might with it self which will be found out if the Will-Spirit sinks deep into its own Central Root From whence the Life sappy-Power may spring which will do Miracles at Will This was the Principal Work and Business belonging to my Calling which on the Earth I did and yet do appear again to walk and to be admired through the raising again of this Mighty Power which in all of you shall wonderfully work that have ceased now to live promiscuously in that low Temporizing State which I have called you out of that so capable ye might be of this Worthy and Honourable Vocation exactly in and according to the Method that I have shewn to you That so not only in the Hopes circling about but coming to the very Manual Exercises themselves ye may reap and live upon the Benefits which this Pure Abstracted Calling shall and will abundantly bring in and not only bare Grain that is for and to your own Accounts which the least in your Eye must be VI. For Abel like ye are to bring the First Fruits of this high extracted Calling to sacrifice all in a flaming Oily Perfuâ—â— unto your Great Melchizedeck VII Further ye are Excited to feed upon no other Fruits but what the Tree of Faith doth give forth I am that Tree which ye must feed upon all other Trees forbidden are which cherish up the Life of Sensibility Therefore fix your Eye and center your Heart upon that which may nourish up this Birth of Faith till it reach to its full Maturity then will it come to understand what Sovereignty and Dominion it is entituled to as a King and Lord over all § 12. Then Queried I with my Lord What was meant by those Trees which I had seen all laden with Precious Stones and the Trunks of them of such fine Gold To which it was Answered me that those did run Parallel with the New Jerusalem representing the Bride of the Lamb that was thus to be adorned For it was shewn me that these Trees were Representative Figures of those that were brought into the Ark and here Landed whose Cloathing was to be in such variety of Sparkling Glory that from the Golden Sap of Faith should be always fresh and flourishing § 13. Then I Queried further of him that shewed me these things Whether it were possible for Mortals whose dwelling was in this lower World to know such a Translation as this It was hereupon Replyed There is no less a thing designed the Time and Age for this is already come to some that in the Inward Figure as Representatives stand who are in Spirit transported into this Mystical Land But in obscurity they must be till the Hand of Power shall rend away the Veil that hath upon this Glory a Covering been but yet the Faith is growing and when to a full Body of Strength it shall reach then shall ye see the Wonders fly from each of these bright lustrous Trees which in 〈◊〉 New Paradisical Earth shall multiply numerously § 14. It was then further said To you that attentive are to these my Sayings and obedient shall be to my Rules I will put no other Burthen upon you but to hold fast the Faith that springeth from the Golden Stem of Love wherein your Strength shall be as Anointed Cherubs still to move your Rest to find in me where no Annoyance can ever be For this is a New Time in which the New World will appear therefore spare ye not it to declare and proclaim By this now let all understand what a wonderful Time is at the Door § 15. Upon which my Spirit was carried to cry O Mighty Alpha and Omega Arise thou and Gather in by thy great Power and Strength into this Ark such as are to make up the First Resurrection-Body to whom thou wilt be the Head the Crown the Joy and the Glory Verily this is the Time in which thou wilt send forth thy Messengers that shall sound the Jubilee Horn and pour out therefrom that rich Anointing Oil to consecrate a Priestly Race that shall no other thing mind but to pursue and follow after that which is highly Divine For which there is this Day great Travail O God let not the Lordly Birth which is the King and Heir of Faith any longer stick let thy Mighty Arm and Hand take hold of it that no more drawings back there may be but the Son of Joy and Laughter we may see For surely the Virgin Bride preparing is her self in expectation that her Kingly Bridegroom will no longer stay but make speed and come away that all Redeemed from the Earth may be that have waited in the Faith this Resurrection-State to see And in this New World do thou O great Shepherd plant us as Trees of Righteousness and Glory circling about thee who the over-spreaking Tree of Life and splendorous Bightness art under whose Shadow we shall grow most fruitfully § 16. Neither pray we alone for these First Fruits but that a plentious new Sowing of thy Spirit may go forth to bring in the rest of the Harvest that lieth yet as under Death and Barrenness For thou hast said thy Ark shall not take up its Rest till it hath made its flight to all Corners of the Earth The Trumpet of thy Love shall such a loud Cry send forth throughout all Nations that constrained they may be to fly as swift Dromedaries and bring their Offerings into thy sacred Ark. Even so Blessed JESUS let all these Prophecies fulfilled be both what hath been in past Ages given and hath been of late so plentifully Renewed through them whom thou hast for this end chosen though not worthy to be named yet known by Name in thy Book of Life which sufficient is who shall never cease or any Rest take up in until thou hast made a Glorious Spotless Church upon the Earth to appear as a Flying Ark with Banners whose Eyes as Lamps of Fire may go forth to gather in the whole Priestly and Heavenly Host from all Quarters and Parts of the Earth Even so with thy Triumphant Church Shall we the Song of our Redemption Sing Glory Glory Glory to the Triune King Even so Amen Amen FINIS ADVERTISEMENT WHereas some Things have been Scandalously set forth and Printed under the Name of this Author to the Reproach of Truth and the Dishonour of that which is Holy it is thought fit for the putting a Stop to such Impostures and the Evil which might thence ensue to give a Catalogue of the Books which the Author hath hitherto Published THE Heavenly Cloud or the Ascension Ladder 4to 1682. p. 40. The Revelation of Revelations an Essay towards the Unsealing Opening and Discovering of the Seven Seals the Seven Thunders and the New Jerusalem State 4to 1683. p. 130. The Enochian Walks with God â—ound out by a Spiritual Traveller 4to 1694. p. 38. The Laws of Paradise Given forth by Wisdom to a Translated Spirit 8vo 1695. p. 69. Thâ— Wonder of God's Creation manifested in the Variety of Eight Worlds as they were made known Experimentally to the Author 8vo 1695. p. 89. The Message to the Philadelphian Society whithersoever dispersed over the whole Earth together with a Call to the several gathered Churches 12ves p. 108. 1696. 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 must proceed 12ves p. 122. 1696. The Ark of Faith p. 33.