Stone yet in the Earth again Who will open in some such first that in a seperated Mind and Spirit do wait herein as Virgins not as with a double Eye to look forward and backward up and then down no such unsteady Spirit will ever be taken in Therefore the Spirit of Jesus doth give you this seriously to weigh as a seasonable Caution who would that this Prophecy might be fulfilled on you Oh pray for Stability and constancy continually March the 8th 1676. A Vision which I saw I with another Person was walking and conferring about the things of God in a by-place where no resort of Creatures use to be nor any did we see But suddenly lifting up my Eyes upon a lofty Tree I saw an Eagle's Nest they bâ—ing fledged did all present themselves to view The old one was flown from them to bring Provision to them At which sight of these young Eagles we who walked together consulted how to take them and to bring them away as a Prize While thus considering how to climb the Tree we were on a suddain carried level with the Nest and did not know how we got so high But one Eagle I did see had fluttered out and hung by the Twig of a Tree all martyred the Legs and the Neck all Bloody and broke The rest suffered themselves to be taken though they were so strong and fledged as they might have flown from us But that other Person took the Number of them which were Six and I did receive them into my Apron and so as strangely we were let down from this high Place as we were drawn up to it After this I set the Eagles down and they did very tamely eat Bread which I did provide for them I did remember nothing further hereof March the 9th 1676. But when I came to call over this Vision with all the Circumstances of it much from the Lord was opened to me from it Whose Spirit did immediately open this as he did the Parable to his Disciples as when he appeared in Person upon the Earth For this Word did through me pass Thy Jesus is at hand in Spirit to give the meaning of these presented Similies that so a Teaching by and through all ye may obtain for the perfecting of what doth remain behind that so ye may be gathered up among the Eagle train with that mighty Throne Eagle to Reign The Interpretation of the Vision Then was the Vision which I saw thus Interpreted The lofty Tree which thou didst see in that desert Walk presents that living Tree whereto none can reach but such who be of an Eagle birth whose Eye is fixed steddily on high where that mighty she Eagle hath fixed her Nest as in the munition of Rocks there to hatch her Number Seven Who then is this that favour hath found and that leave should be given to build upon this Tree of Life where of the holy one hath given such charge to the watching Cherub In plainness of Speech then it is Eve her self that hath lain long as dead under the Tree of Good and Evil whose time of raising is very nigh But with what Body will she now be raised up Look and see what is Prophecied of her Then I was pointed to the 6th of the Canticles ver 8. Who is she that looketh forth in the Morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun terrible as an Army with Banners Then again ver 13. which was opened to me to be the Resurrection Call to lâ—psed Eve Return return O Shulâ—mite return return Thuâ— the lapsed Soul of the inward eternal Man is this fallen Eve here she is called to return to her Restoration State that we may again see her as bringing forth another more happy Generation a true Eagle Off-spring indeed But how and after what manner shall this be My Spirit was in deep Query as also when it should appear Then it was thus said Know ye not that Eve lost her Virgin Eagle Body and so hath long been sown into a slumbring Death in Folly Weakness and Dishonour But now the Life-Tree hath so fluently conveyed it self in this long Vacation as to raise Eves dead Body in the Strength and Honour of the Eternal Virgin Wisdom of God So as old Eve will now come forth as a mighty strong terrible Eagle And henceforth will more wisely build her Nest than at first she did through the Lord's permission For now she will be dignified with the Spirit of Virgin Wisdom to outvie the Serpents Subtilty according as it is written She now will build her House or Nest more sure to wit upon seven Silver Pillars Which do present the seven Eagle Birds which were seen in Vision they Wisdoms fiâ—st Brood shall be through Eves Wombs Restoration who will bring forth a most glorious Church in the Earth without Spot or Wrinkle Wisdom hath made choice of Eve for to be her Mate that is the lapsed Soul of the inward Man whose Hand must help to build this Nest for her Thus choice Eagle Spirits will be raised up out of old Eves Dust for this use and service to be Members of this perfect Church on Earth You may evidently see with an Eagle Eye that thus and after this sort a new Virgin Body must be raised up by Virgin Wisdom in this World for the Spouse and Church of Christ and so for every Member of that Body and so consequently for every lapsed eternal Soul to be cloathed upon with its new Virgin Body Oh! who then will strive first to mount and fly up in Spirit liberty hereunto being granted from the Power of the risen Body to prepare the First Matter for this Nest Because this Tree of Life is so pure that nothing but what is of its own must come upon it Which are the young sprouting Twigs and golden Leaves whereof the matter is to be which are no other then as in the Mystery Hereby they signifie a pure solid weighty Off-spring of holy Cogitations Words and Actions Which do ye skilfully unite for this purpose bâ—inging nothing out of the low â—â—ruâ—â—y Principle to enclose here Then your defence will be mighty and sure and your Bread and Waters will be serene The true Eagle Bird need not fly far the Tree of Life so nigh here are still fresh Fruits upon the Branches from it by no means start aside but keep close upon the Nest. You cannot yet be able to conceive what here by abiding close may be brought forth from this vertual Eagle Body to wit Throne Eagle Powers mighty to ascend to the number seven But if any shall look again downward into this Principle to descend before it is fully Feather'd great damage and hurt will necessarily accrue as in the Similitude I did see Therefore cauâ—ion take and let none trust themselves that would be of this Number to wander out before their time Ye had need to be strong as Eagles to encounter with what aversness you may meet withal from this
lower Orb. Therefore abide till full â—â—edged in Wing ye shall be able to fly and mount away when any creeping thing or hurtful Beast shall set upon you from this low World then fly to your munition Rock This is allotted for your more constant place of Dwelling for to be which so near bordering is upon the Heavens of Heavens where the immense Deity is Resident Who may appear while we keep oft to his Eagle Off-spring For when you come hither to Paradise there is still another Principle that must be passed through which will be very easy when ye shall bear this risen Eagle Body on you How suddenly will the ghostly Dove bring you into the very third Heavens there to see your Jesus with your Eagle Eye as Iohn Personally did when he upon the Wing of the Spirit was risen high Possibly somewhat of these Glories may be seen before ye actually enter in For blessed will they be called who are flying Angels that can declare what they have heard or seen in these higher Worlds These are they who shall bring down glad Tidings to the elect Number When any of these begin to sound the Tabernacle of God will out of the Heavens descend Oh what of Flesh shall live When the mighty Eagle shall call her own away to behold what she doth unfold within the third Principle The fight of the Eye and the hearing of the Ear in that eternal Sphere will so fill all with the Melody and Joy of the holy Ghost as nothing of the earthly Sence of things shall or can enter into this Eagle Brood Now hereby try your selves For the understanding of the foregoing Mystery you must then know every one of us have within our selves an inward eternal Man and an outward Man Now the inward eternal Man hath within himself his own eternal Adam and his own eternal Eve His eternal Adam is his own eternal Spirit within himself and his own eternal Eveâ— it is his own eternal Soul within himself This eternal Adam and Eve in themselves are now to be considered in their fallen and lapsed State as both being separated from their first true original Mate to wit from the eternal Virgin Wisdom of God who was united to both these in Paradise For they both sinned in Paradise then lost the Life of the Virgin Wisdom of God and their Virgin Purity in Paradise And therefore their true Mate being lost out of themselves in Paradise they were driven out of Paradise For when as before the eternal Spirit in Union with the eternal Soul both being united to their true Mate the Virgin Wisdom of God could and might have brought forth a holy Generation in their own Image and Similitude like unto themselves in Holiness and Righteousness and in Perfection But after that the eternal Spirit and Soul had sinned in Paradise that is after the eternal Adam and the eternal Eve belonging to the inward eternal Man had transgressed in Paradise and were ejected out then they lost their fructifying Power and then they could not bring forth a holy Off-spring Now this eternal Eve which is the eternal Soul belonging to the inward Man is called to return to her Restoration State and to return again to her first State in Paradise and to reunite her self again to her lost Mate to wit to the eternal Virgin Wisdom of God and then her Womb should be fruitful again and she shall bring forth none but Eagle Birds none but a holy Off-spring to make up a perfect Church on Earth without Spot or Wrinckle Here is now a Prophesie a Prediction that now the time is come that this eternal Eve which is no other but the inward eternal Soul in its lapsed State whose Womb hath been hitherto barren and unfruitful but now the eternal Virgin Wisdom of God will sow her Virgin Seed into her Womb and she shall be fruitfull and shall bear Twins and bring forth a perfect Eagle Off-spring and they shall make a perfect Church on Earth And now the Soul in her Restoration shall again be fruitful in Child-bearing in bringing forth Children to inherit perfect Justification and perfect Sanctification and Salvation but then this Eve must continue in Faith and Charity and Holiness with Sobriety as the Apostle mentioneth 1 Tim. 2. 15. The restored Soul by its Union with her true Guide and Mate the Virgin Wisdom of God shall bring forth a Royal Off-spring presented to be the strong Eagle Brood and this is the Work that Wisdom is about to do to reunite her self to the eternal Soul which is the eternal Eve as her true Mate and Guide and to sow her Virgin Seed into the Womb of Eve to break the Head of the Serpent then Eve shall be no more deceived but now shall become the Mother of Celestial and Heavenly Children all her Children shall possess Mount Sion and the new Ierusalem State of Glory This is the eternal Eve the eternal Soul which now shall be the Mother of all Living that is all her Posterity shall now feed upon the Tree of Life and thereby become all eternal immortal and incorruptible And all this shall be brought about by Wisdom's Art and Contrivance to wit by reuniting her self to the Soul and thereby becoming again the Souls true Mate and Guide This is the State of Restoration and this is that State that Wisdom is bringing forth upon the Earth and in this Figure of the Eagle birth Wisdom Prophesieth and Predicteth what is near at hand to be fulfilled and brought to pass to egg us forward in the belief of it to be done within our own eternal Man in the work of Regeneration But now there is belonging to the outward Man the mortal Man the immediate Product of the Fall a mortal Adaâ—â— and a mortal Eve The mortal Adam is the mortal Spirit of the outward Man and the mortal Eve is the mortal Soul of the mortal Man She is in her fallen State the Mother of all Living that is of all living mortal Spirits with mortal Souls and with mortal Bodies Her Womb in this state of Apostacy hath been very Fruitful She hath ever since brought forth in all Ages a mortal Off-spring subject to the death of Mortality who have only fed upon the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. She hath brought forth a fleshly Off-spring in her likeness and similitude and hath had a long Day in the World Now the Prophesie and Prediction is not concerning this mortal Eve belonging to the outward Man in relation to her Restoration but it is to be understood of the eternal Soul that eternal Eve that hath been so long barren in her lapsed state But now Sophia will once more espouse her self unto her and she shall bring forth a holy Issue a birth of Divine eternal Eagles to make up a perfect Church on Earth whereof Christ will be the Head and King to reign over This is only wrought for explanation sake that you might not
corruptible Flesh. As first for its Probation it cometh into such Bodies to exercise and to put forth its Superiour Might for Mortifying and to correct and check all the natural Propensity which the mortal Spirit would tempt that which is Eternal to joyn with it in The which not yielding to but maintaining its own Superiority in curbing and suppressing all of the earthly part God is hereby greatly pleased and highly honoured Therefore think not much that for the present there is such incongruousness betwixt that which is Intellectual and that which is Terrestial That which is Eternal may command and subdue all what ever is Temporary Therefore be not ignorant of your own Spirits Soveraignty but call up its true Authority for the Spiritualizing of what would be clouded with Sensuality For if you yield hereunto and are overcome then your Talent lies as dead and buried And what account can any such give to their Lord when he comes who are thus slothful Therefore that Parable consider of it about the Talents improving had a very deep meaning if you should not be faithful in the first stock of Life and Spirit you must not expect that more high and full Trust and latter Crop both Ghostly Spirit Body Celestial will be given Therefore be patient hold out and do the preseâ—t work of the day and know your Reward is not far from you Then was the Vision of the Holy Element to me opened as thus The bright Airy Cloud which gathered it self into a round compass and was mixed with flame Colours so subtle and pure this was said to be the Matter of all Celestial Bodies and those innumerable Stars which were veiled under the bright Cloud were naked Spirits that did ascend out of Bodies terrestial into this pure Element and put on Figurative Bodies bright and Aetheral corresponding to the Nature of the Star-like sparkling Spirits who did appear to be fixed in this pure Element Then further as to that Majestical Eye which did appear so terribly piercing it was shewn me nay the Spirit did plainly in a still Voice eccho in me that from this pure Eye all distinct Sparks of Life did proceed and did fly into mortal Bodies according to the hour of Life and did come piercing into the fleshly Womb there to unite with a corporeal Spirit which is naturally introduced from Adam's lapsed day Then was a Secret whispered into that Ear which open stood to hear what the Spirit dictated so uear saying Hast thou not read that one Star differeth from another in Glory and one Angel is more mighty and powerful and greatly dignified then others yet all of and from that pure Eye extracted Even so further learn and receive this That in the productions of Spirits there is great difference some greater and more deeply comprehensive and intelligent and strong to encounter with the averse matter to which they are united For know this prerogative of Will which with God the Fountain of all Spirits is to be left free is not here to be called to an account by his Creatures Who gives Spirits successively to Bodies according for what he hath for them more eminent and extraordinary work to act and do in the lower Region of this World Therefore God hath left himself this Liberty to give to one five Talents and to another but two or one But if to that one any shall be faithful to improve it while he lives in this Body doubt not but it is of very dear acceptation with their Lord to enter into his Joy though somewhat different according to the Spirits degree Thus Abraham and Lot were both from a pure righteous Seed yet Abraham's Spirit of Truth did much excell And so ye may recollect innumerable Instances throughout all Ages as Enoch Moses Ioshuah Elias who had answerably great Service to do for their God though so unsuitably matched by Bodies yet such was the greatness of their Spirits as they made their very terrestial Man to keep pace with their Spirits Nay such is the power and ability of an Eternal Spirit through piercing into its original center that it may attract and cloath it self with the inward Virgin Body which is the Matter of that pure Element which thou didst see and so for Times and Seasons the gross Nature sublimated and over-powered may be as oft of this kind as was formerly according to the might and potency of the Spirit existing in Bodies As this was shewn in your Lord Jesus both before and after his Resurrection Now what doth this Vision predict but the cloathing of some great Saints with this pure Element Who do often withdraw from the Corporeal Sense Oh who can tell What is here to be enjoyed but such as do slide away from this vile earthly Climate The Seven-Star Planets will be given into their Hands the Influences of which are all of pure Ghostly Inspiration to out-set and overthrow the earthly gross Element which so long hath prevented the Heavenly Community Now then dive into your own Celestiality and see with what manner of Spirits ye are endued for in them the Powers do entirely lie for Transformation From the fore-going Revelation it was fully cleared unto me for what cause pure Spirits which did proceed from the holy Being came to exist in mortal Vehicles It was not for any Sin or Transgression which they acted or did in the times of their pre-existency in any Etheral Region as some do believe being bare abstracted Spirits without any Figurative Bodies Only Adam and Eve may be considered as the whole Universe and all included in them as the representative Heads of all successive Generations who were mortalized after their similitude For which cause Sin and Curse and Death enter'd but none for Adam's Transgressions shall be condemned for shall not the Judge of all the Earth do and pass righteous Judgment Shall any suffer for what they could no way avoid God forbid as in Sin all Men and Women were conceived and born so likewise in a Seed of Truth and Righteousness which is invisibly introduced for to destroy and overpower the Serpently Seed both growing up together which of them doth obtain the mastership doth remain in each ones Principle The most wise God having laid in a sufficiency of Spirit who in the days of Noah said My Spirit in them was tired out striving still with them so God will clear and acquit himself of all that of this Nature can be charged upon him Then further it was opened unto me from that Scripture That as Sin hath abounded Grace shall much more abound This Grace was revealed in the Gift or Infusion of the Spirit of Christ as the promised Seed of restoring Life unto Adam and Eve upon their very degeneration that they might not be as without God in that corporeal Image which they now were changed into If the Eternal Word which was from the beginning had not been their Light and Life and so likewise generative
True it is that thou lovest the Lord thy God with thy whole Soul and Spirit which is more then all Burnt-offerings or Worship though spiritually instituted yet this is not enough For Love as it may work in an ardent Spirit by and through internal flowings to the Object may stop again This many have reached unto and yet have doubted in it again Therefore God would have a pledge left in his hand something given him as a fruit of Love to wit Life it self must seal the Truth hereof as going along with it Christ was put upon giving this proof to his Father not only in bare love but by laying down of his Life for which saith he I am beloloved of my Father Iohn 10th So as God had this proof from him so he expects the same from you who if you love the Father and Him then his Commands will not be to you grievous Ye will then observe all the Antecedents belonging to this Law of Love Which Love rightly born carrieth a mighty force with it it cannot deny or keep any thing back from that which it is centred in as hath been evidenced by those great Saints before Christ's Manifestation and since As Abraham he did unfeignedly love God when he forsook his own People and Land of his Nativity to go where the Lord gave him a word of Command to go yet this was not sufficient but ye did see God would prove him further as in Isaac's death Which when God saw that he stopped not in that which touched the very Life nay then said the Lord Because thou hast done this thing in blessing I will bless thee I am now sure thou lovest and fearest me and therefore God will be thy exceeding great reward which the Patriarck did fully witness in his day Numerous instances might be added out of the Scriptures hereunto as also the late and private experiences of holy Souls that have been obedient to that true Prophet and Seer that daily giveth and maketh known the Councel of God Under which seal opening ye are come To which Spirit of Wisdom give now an obedient Ear saith the Holy and True Upon this I made my application in great earnestness according to that Power and Life that stirred in me being greatly distressed to know what was further to be given up and parted withal that consisted in the power of our own Wills having gone far in the self-abnegation suppressing and keeping under the earthly part that so sin could not reign but be kept under condemnation So as to this degree some are come As I was thus silently in the Spirit of my Mind parling this word was uttered to me All this is acceptable but the very giving up of the Life must be that my Name may be written in the very Blood thereof and be returned in a Life-quickning Spirit again Then will the property of that which was dull dark and corrupt become all light vigorous pure and Chrystalline as the Spirit of Christ was in the Corporeal Figure The same Mind which only respects things that are above in the Fathers Kingdom of Glory is to be in you as it was in Jesus your Lord. For this is the sum and head to which all Prophecies and Revelations tend even the finishing of this Mystery Christ the Light Wisdom Power and Righteousness of God Which can be brought to pass only by giving up and laying down our Life as to all sensitive properties which is the highest and most resolute act of the Will-spirit to give its Name up thus and to subscribe your Spirit Soul and Body in the Blood of that Life that must die that so Christ may be only alive in you And albeit while ye are laying down with great reluctancy that Life which is so agreeable to this terrestrial Life because of contempt and dishonour that it suffers hereby As your Lord in his Crucifixion went through so by your spiritual mystical giving up your Lives though as to this worlds eye in shame rebuke and weakness yet in Truth and Verity it shall rise in Strength Victoâ—â— and Power in Ghostly Majesty whereby ye will possess the Gates of your Enemies This is most wonderfully deep if it may be fathomed by the Spirit in you May the 11th 1677. My Spirit entred into a deep sense upon some occasion that was administred how apt it was for such who had taken upon them part of the Ministry to ingross and confine it to Persons and Sexes and to bring down the superior Spirit and Light under the inferiour Government of the low and mean Spirit that respecteth man and savours that Glory which is after the Flesh. For Christ told the Jews they loved the praise of men more than that of God in that they sought honour from one another as the great and learned Rabbies who in their high learning despised an illiterate Christ as they called him From whence I did observe that the leaven of such a Spirit might be ready to mingle with some in this present Age though partly illuminated in and through the knowledge of the Mystery of God in Christ As I was pondering I say and considering these things in my Mind and making request that nothing of the exterior might have wherein to glory but that God would appear in such as little and nothing were in their own account and that all Flesh might be silent that Spirit might only go forth in its own Power and Clearness Upon this I had a full gust come in upon me with this word speaking in me There is a Gospel that nothing of man shall mingle with that shall only be intrusted with such Child-like Spirits For which nothing of the Creatures Testimony will be needed for it will be the Breath of an irresistible Power of which none shall be ashamed Then was that Scripture the next Morning spoken to me Be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherited the Promises Which word was taken up by the Spirit and spoken audibly unto us upon the account of thatâ— which opened before in way of Prophecy as to that unmixed Ministration that should arise in some qualified for it Of which much was revealed in the discoursive way of the Spirit that there was now given to all an open Door that would look hereinto from that in the Heb. 6. v. 11. where Paul directs this word in general to the whole Body consisting of Men and Women And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end Here is none left out but both Sexes implied Whose work and labour of Love in Ministring to their fellow Saints according as they had tasted and received of the heavenly Gift God was not unrighteous to forget Therefore from hence he did incite them to go forward not excluding the Female but laying it as a weight upon both Male and Female as all one in the Spirit to shew the same diligence
as one entire Body of Glory Iune the 6th 1677. This Morning about four of the Clock awaking with a raised Mind ready to entertain discoveries from that invisible Orb to which my whole Heart tended to I found my self suddenly carried out of my animal sense and several idea's did open to me from the Upper Region I saw in the Firmament of the Heavens Bright Figures like Half Moons and great rolling up and down of the Starry Heavens which seemed to be in a troubled Commotion Then there were great fears at the sight hereof among the lower Spirits of this Region Then I saw somewhat like a Standard set up with a Writing upon it proclaiming War with all the Inhabitants upon the Earth And about these I did see Bows and sharp Arrows and because I saw this Piller or Standard at a distance I thought it was or might not be real and so I went to it and touched it with my hand and read the Writing which was Controversie with the Nations of the World Then after this I saw the Clouds of Heaven pass away and various Persons of great Majesty descended down to the place where the Standard was set and they appeared as those that were Judges of the Earth And two or three of them made towards me to have spoke with me and their Presence was terrible that I shrunk away For my mean Corporeity was very inconsistent to their Glorious Personalities And this word followed This is the Lord who after this Tribulation will come with his Ancients to raign over the Earth Iune the 7th 1677. Then this word did speak through me Haste and pass away from Paradisical Righteousness to Sion's Glory For let your Condition seem never so mean and low yet verily designed ye are to work through all vicisitudes till Palms of Victorious Glory in the hand of the great Alpha and Omega be given to you which will make you to be the admiration of all in the higher and neather Regions Then these Rules were given expresly in order hereunto 1st Suffer gladly the Transplanting Power to crop off all what it finds superfluous dry and sapless 2dly Permit no other Pruning Hook to come near any Branch of your superiour Life-trees but that flaming word of the Spirit that knows rightly to divide betwixt the dead and the living 3dly Seek and make application to the Most High for an impregnable fence while these Fruits are ripening there will be required an invincible gard or else the subtile Foxes and Beasts of Prey may get in for to make spoil In the 4th place Then again watch not only against the Invasions from what Ministers from this visible Principle but from a near and more inward Center whereout the Serpent may move and twist himself while yet you are but in the Paradisical Property For in this first Transplantation lieth all your danger Therefore if all the Fruits of this mystical Life-tree can but reach to a Golden Hue so solid as to become a fixed Seed then ye are out of all hazard and fear But cast this Seed into Earth Air Water or Fire it will attract to it self out of every thing a bright consuming Glory Then this word was added saying Weigh and consider this mystical thing for here lieth the highest state of Perfection Observe the Most Holy in all his removes within your Heavenly Plantation for every new ingraffing from the Mighty Arm of Power will be an evidence that he will not leave you till Scions ye are made as Branches of this Saphire glorious Tree Iune the 8th 1677. This Morning this word was given me to feed upon saying I the Most Holy will Tabernacle with with a Spiritual Mind My Life and Peace as a Spring will bubble there The carnal and earthly Mind is Satan's seat the pure Mind is God's Throne Now choose which of those you will give place to for accordingly your Mind must be ordered If for the high and most holy Society then all Spiritual Then was that Scripture repeated to me For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace Which life of Carnality is enmity to God who will be evermore a Stranger to such who shall know nothing of his Love Joy Goodness Power and Sweetness For if they commune with earthly Spirits and things of this terrestrial being then such dark influences are left upon their Minds as make them altogether unmeet to talk with God or to take in of those Species which tend for transfiguring the Soul into a bright body of Glory When the Mind is pestered and overcharged with thoughts that tend only for this gross elementary Life there is no room for the Holy Ghost that proceedeth and cometh from such a wonderful being of holiness as the Father of Spirits is Iune the 17th 1677. I saw a Ball of Fire and out therefrom went Flakes of Fire and fell amongst thorny Bushes so as they were no more being consumed by the Flame And it was said to me these are the particles and dispersive Powers that will go forth from the substantial God head to devour the Shrubs of the Earth Then after this internal sight I was as in a sleep where much combustion strife and spiritual Labour for the attainment of somewhat that was of Eternal Consequence And such was the clamorous onset of earthly Spirits that for a time I found my self sunk down into a dark Vally Upon which I awaked with great perplexity Then after this I saw in way of Vision a rich Golden Sledge set up and I was to slide down upon it And a voice cried Fear not for an end to all weariness and travel will come when this out of the Heavens shall descend Iune the 23th 1677. Sarah and Abimelech This Morning as I was recollecting my interiour Powers and Faculties which I found had been somewhat scattered by being let out and employed upon secular concerns and which I found was as going upon Thorns grievous and unsavory Upon this my Spirit made application with Soul-meltings for Life-recovery and restitution to those wonted familiarities and divine discoveries wherein consisted all my peace life and satisfaction Upon which my care now was how we who were under a peculiar obligation should discharge our selves of all and every weight that had beset us For it was presented to me that while we were gathering together what might accommodate our outward man as Paul did the sticks to warm him after his perilous voyage even so we upon necessary and lawful things being employed were in danger of the poisonous Vipers which would stick so close to our hands as we should be constrained to awaken and call up the Most Holy Adjuring Power of the Mighty God Whereby we might be able to cast them off before they infected our pure eternal Life-blood that so we might proceed forward in our Spiritual Work For this word was spoke why seek ye to dwell in ceiled houses and let the most holy in
Vile Body which is compacted all of putrefaction for this thou dost upbraid me that I do it not transform Now though I stand not liable to give any account to thee of my Will and Pleasure herein yet for the sakes of them who have been hereinto inquiring in fear and humility and have heard this thy severe Charge I shall Answer It is then Objected As to that ignominious form of Corporeity which the Fellow-heirs with me do bear upon which a transmutation hath been expected that yet no such thing doth appear but they do still expire in all things like others Answer There is good cause why it hath been so hitherto because the Fire-spark of the Deity hath not burnt through in any for the consumption of the drâ—ssy part meeting still with cold muddy damps that have often choaked the Life-flame which is cast in from thy ingendring property Who since Eves day art upon the revenge to slay and destroy that which remains of the Heavenly Matter Thou hast had thy inrode as a subtile Spirit for to prove and tempt all of her Race propounding this as an impossibility ever to see corruptibility made sublime Thou hast by thy craft thus raced out that grain of Faith that should produce this White Lilly Body For my way of redeeming proceeds from within the Heart-center Thereoâ—t my birth-Birth-Life springs and will ever display it self through Soul and Body in fiery streams It is a deceit to believe that I am come to redeem any other way I shed my Blood to purifie and cleanse the inward ground that so the godly Plant of Righteousness might grow thereout whose clothing is of unchangeable Glory For my own Life wrought it self thus through while I was found in the earthly mould the invisible Perfect thing could put transparency upon the elementary Body So no other way can I bring any to my own transfiguration but by the same inkindling and by the Spirit springing up gradually All of this kind will be understood when the Wheel of the Will stands free and unclogged of all the Serpents suggested incredulity tending hereunto Who would have the Heart-purifying work evaded and us to look for Redemption to come as a violent shower to wash away the Vile Body at once which is contrary to my working method Whose internal Operation is to set free that which is under great labour and strife to get up to a flower of rich scented Glory Against which O Satan great hath been thy despight But now as to the Second Charge That my Sheep are put to their shifts and how that I suffer them to be exposed to great necessities so as to have their maintenance out of the Store-house of thy Kingdom or else their corporeal Bodies could not be sustained I Answer It is true O Spirit of Subtilty that mine are exposed to great sufferings and trials or else how could they be conformable to me their Head There are also many considerable Reasons why for the present time it should be so But this Weapon of thy Charge will turn against thy self As First If they were not to be included with the universality in the effects of that Curse that came upon all Adam's Line Thou O Lucifer wouldest have had something to have alledged as to God the Righteous Iudge that he would be partiaâ— to a certain number in securing them from all of this Worlds Calamity Therefore the Father hath in wisdom permitted it that thou mayst have nothing to accuse the Just One. As in Ioh's Case thy envy was great because he was perfect and upright And being but in a flourishing state as to Honour and Riches and all fulness from this Creation What advantage didst thou take thereby Remember that word Does Job serve God for naught is there not a hedge made up of all plenty and good things about him So then if mine elect ones were not in common with thine to take their lot thou wouldst have whereof to glory in but now thy mouth must be stopped in that those who belong to me are more deeply exercised in all suffering necessities as daring to hunt after nothing of this Worldly Pomp. Whose Eyes see through all these contemptible things And as they live in me they are in-seeing into another manner of Sphere wherein their Portion is Yet know they shall lose nothing by their being humbled through manifold distresses and penury while they are in Child-like submission and have hereby accepted the chastisement that is due to their lapsed state All of which kind shall so operate as to work out their freedom when I have proved them by all the evil consequences of the Curse so as that I may say they have been tried through all Fires Fo so it doth become mine all for to be as weighty stones of Gold Then was this Discourse maintained in my hearing my Lord still taking occasion to resolve my doubts and satisfie my queries This Word was uttered But what thinkest thou O proud Prince of this exterior World who so many Ages hast by thy Agents lorded it over my Heritage If that thy time is near upon expiring In that I shall call thee to an account who hast abused thy Soveraignty For all who have been intrusted by thee have been cruel in their Arbitrary Government So that Injustice Oppression Pride Self-love and Vain Glory have born the sway to this day Therefore it is no marvel that those who are as the Pearl in my Eye have been in such distresses and oft-times forced to gather up the scraps which thy voluptuous Brood do let fall from their rich furnished Tables This hath been long permitted but now I am come to tell thee that thy Lease of Years is near worn out when thou must give up to me the Kingdoms of this World Who will seek out such as shall be after my own Heart that shall raign over thee and thy Hierarchy on this very Earth Know such I have this very day in my Eye Who are Meek Patient and Lowly and who have been proved Iob like suffering the loss of all that pleasurable has been as to this Worlds esteem These have stood against all thy malice and envy which hath been poured out by Instruments so assumed by thee These are those to whom the Dominion shall first come and so by degrees run through till this World shall be no more thy Region For the Kingdoms of this World shall be given to the Saints of the Most High Then thou and all thy sin-loyal subjects shall be ashamed and confounded gnashing their Teeth when they shall see thee put out of all power and authority And those who have followed the Lamb faithfully through the Kingdom of Patience and Tribulation shall be thus rewarded with Crowns each one as from the annointing Power consisting in the Holy Ghost Whose day of Almightiness shall here be to the chosen known August the 10th 1677. This Vision was shewn me I with another Person was ascending up towards
thou think to recover Immortality of Life with that Inheritour who doth belong unto it while there is a divided Eye and Ear which still open are to see and hear all those Charming Sensualities which for this Earthly Kingdom do plead and do engage you still here to be Traffickers from which ye are prohibited by Mount Sion Laws Is not Wisdom's Merchandize more worthy to be all in your Eye who will assuredly find you daily employ as to work off your selves from all those Habits and Customs as have been brought in Traditionally from the Fall From which ye are redeemed as ye do feed upon the true Mystical Passover which will â—orestall the Earthly Life giving way to that pure thing which ye do feel stirring from the light Region This hath greâ—â— sufficiency to clear that evil staining Nature from out of which strange Essences do so turbulently arise to annoy and disturb that which would be free from all Sins Casualties reigning in the Princely Spirit of what will become the absolute King of Righteousness Who hath already set a Foot upon your Heavens and Earth for this very end that his Throne and Dominion might be so fixed within the circumfering Powers of your Wills that so Time may be swallowed up from an entire Act going forth from this Soveraignty which in an intrinsical way will bring all into subjection that is within He will first begin with the Judgment for cleansing the floor make but the inside clean and pure then Power will soon be known and understood whereby a Body suitable to such a Spirit may come to be perfectly framed As thus if the Pith of a Tree be by its Life extensive it makes the Bark through which it riseth fresh fruitful and beautiful that so you may easily conclude that a Life-Sap is vailed under the Bark but it is not perceiveable till it shoots forth it self getting through every branch and twig even so it is in you considered as Trees of a new Plantation in whom the Spirit riseth as an essential Pith of Life and distributeth it self through every Property permitting nothing to mingle with it that should abate its vigorous penetration for to assimulate and qualifie the very outward Bark or Body into a Iustrious Appearance and palpable Fruitfulness The meaning of the Spirit as to fruitfulness is not only the first and second Birth-degrees of Regeneration and here to stop as in measures of Love Joy Faith Hope Meekness and Patience which are the first Fruits of the Spirit But hereunto are to be added Fruits yet more super-eminent as the product of these When so ripened as each one their Seed do shed into the pure Heart whereinto the Blood of the New-Testament is poured in From hence now it is saith the living Word that a Spiritual Body will be driven forth all in the Heavenly Form acting forth in another kind of fruitfulness then the foregoing As thus a Terrestrial Creature worketh and produceth acts answerable to his Animal rational Life which may be justifiable before Men and nothing beyond his Life-Sphere is expected But now from a new-made Creature that deriveth a Birth so high as nothing less then God's own Likeness is to be evidenced in it This must needs work like it self in various Powers of another sort of miraculous Fruitfulness by which Jesus through this Ghostly Spirit and Body is glorified Ianuary the 12th 1676 7. IN the Night there was presented unto me two Forms very displeasing to my Eye being Cloathed with a Hairy Goats-Skin where spots and botches did appear so unlovely as I was much disgusted at the sight of them But while I was viewing them first the one rent this outward Deformity in twain and likewise the other following the example of the first did also rend open And I beheld two sweet amiable Children came forth from within this deformed Figure but at first sight they were as Babes still-born Upon which I took up one and it soon revived with all motions of Life and answerably the same vigorous Spirit manifested it self in the other so as I saw them able to stand upon their Legs and so the Vision shut up in the Formality of it and opened it self in the Spirituality as I thereupon waited After a little season the Spirit thus spake within me What have you seen in these two strange pieces of Deformity but a rough and unclean Vestment that is so ignominious Behold and see your own vile Bodies thus pourtraied out while that ye do bear those uncomly Shapes which as a Vail shall rend away that so the truly begotten of the Ghostly Body may appear Who is as those innocent and all-beautiful Babes that have been shut up under a Covert as in a twofold Body As first that thick and cloudy smothering Body of Sin Secondly the very visible form of Corporiety which is but a disgraceful Image being the product of a degenerate Spirit Which with the other must be put off For corruptible Humanity in its fleshly Figure is too mean for the high Birth degree of the Eternal Spirit Though it may be suffered for a time as a disguised Cloathing till that which is born without Sin be strong enough to break through the rough humane and Animal Beast that was ever designed for a Sacrifice That so all brought in by the Fall might come to be anatomized that in the room thereof another Body might rise not only like what was in Paradise but one Degree yet higher according as your Jesus hath assumed a more transparent Body As these things were plainly discoursed of to my Spirit an Objection did arise How this twofold Body should come to be so demolished while we live in this visible Sphere as no more to appear in its sinful Frailty or Elementary Ponderosity Having not heard or seen any one that hath yet so put off the vile Body though hereunto incited and prophesied of that such a Change is upon the Inward and Outward Man to come but it hath not yet happened in this Orb. Nay our Lord Jesus himself did not alter his humane Figure to endure till he had ascended out of all mortal sight and though after his Crucifixion he did appear and disappear at pleasure yet he always assumed a body like to ours as bearable to the view of those whom he delighted to shew himself unto in and after his Resurrection Therefore though he had no Body of Sin to put off yet he had a Body of Mortality which was not put off to the humane Eye till he gave up the Ghost of his Animal Life upon the Cross. All which strengthning the Argument that our Corporeity hardly in this Region admitteth of such a Transformation as thereby to pass out by and through a sublime airy Body in and among the high enthroned Powers and Dignities resident in the New Ierusalem This Doubt lay much upon my Spirit importuning a clear resolve that the mind of my God herein might be expresly revealed through
Act of your own Wills into a slumbering Trance that so ye shall gradually dye away as all sensitive Operations shall be wonderfully suspended which must be done actually through the disposing and yielding up the Life of the corruptible Body That Life must dye because of the habitual course of Sin After that way of dying of which it is written I am dead and crucified yet I live through that Life which swallows up Mortality Even so likewise the Time shall come when ye shall reckon your selves dead and freed from the Body of Sin when you shall lie passive and still in the sweet and pleasant Trance as fled away from out of this Principle no more to be known or seen but as in the Heavenly Form of a Powerful Body to work the mighty Works of God your Father in It is true what Eye hath yet seen this the Ear hath only heard hereof but who hath come to believe the possibility of such a Transformation Oh but Faith gives a mighty heave hereunto now as it hath been your Cry Who and how shall ye be delivered from the Body of Sin and Death and get a thorough Pass from Death unto such a fluent Vehicle whereby ye may be able to say neither Heights nor Depths Light or Darkness neither Earth or Air shall be able to seperate you from the Love nor yet from those immediate accesses into the Heavenly Places as belonging to that Royal Priesthood Truly it is your Father's pleasure for to bring you hereunto not only in the flight of your Spirits without a Body adjoyning consonant thereunto because a naked Spirit cannot produce and effect such Effects and Acts as a Body adhearing thereunto Therefore see and believe it of necessity for to be turned into a sublime Body in which only you can be with your Jesus in Glory and thereof take and bring thereby to declare which whom you have been Come ye who are the blessed of the Lord that have united with one accord fall on hard and close this Work Continually give up your selves and lo I will break for you all the Bands of Sin and Death that so the pure Spirit which even was at work in you may assume its own Body of Spiritual ability to pass and enter where nothing of Corporeity can be admitted Your Priestly portion is for such a time reserved whenas you shall come into the most holy of all for then you will have Boldness to make all your own Demands Ianuary the 23d 1676 7. In the sobriety of a wise and understanding Spirit that shall be your Advocate to plead in the shining Face of a transmuted Body In which the Majesty of Glory will very well know you and hear all you have to offer by way of request because you bear no more the Image Mark or Name of what is accursed from the Mountain of Holiness The Situation of the Great King is seen of none till they have put on the high Priestly Garment upon which is written the New Name that is given in the Baptizing Water of the Holy Ghost who hath sprinkled us from all Consciousness of Sin Now then slack not but drive forward for this Verily is the Mark I your Death-conqueror do set before you For it would be my Crown of Rejoycing to meet you as translated out of this gross and Elemenâ—â—â—y state which while ye are ranging and pudling in I cannot be so clearly seen nor afford to give out those more eminent and choice things because you are not yet saperated from the vile Body that so ye may be redeemed from all that is of a hurtful Conversation For indeed I would wholly appropriate you for my self who being in a glorified state must of necessity glorifie you before I can shew my self in such a familiarity as is so desirable For when I was in the World for the accomplishing of the State of Humiliation then the human Figure was proper for to unfold suitably the Mystery of the Most High and to relate it as Bearable in that Age. But now as a Prince and Shepherd of a glorified Fold I set in Heavenly Places to call my own by Name to pass away out of their dark Cloudy Bodies and not to stay till they fade away and fall down as Houses of Câ—â—y as it hath been hitherto universally Because this superiour Change hath not been believed in nor the Foundation by a thorough Death been understood in order hereunto or surely laid whereupon the Rising Body that is to swallow up Mortality hath not been manifested but now observe those Deaths and Life-Rules which have been set so evidently before you and you may possibly be changed into such a vigorous Spirit and Body as to pass through that Glassy Sea which is so brickle which whoever can stand upon it are probationed indeed to enter into farther Degrees of Glory all in Light the God of Light to see without any other Medium Ah Lord even so let it be Ianuary the 25th 1676 7. Oh from hence I did see with what Bodies we must enter withal into the Mystery that is on the other side of the Glassy Sea for there the Thrones were shewed me that were placed for the Conquerors Who could be able to say with their Jesus I was dead and slain but now Life is rising evermore then also will follow the Keys of Death and Life to open and shut Heaven and Hell as the Hand of the Spirit will Thus having great and manifold Discoveries of what was to be possessed after Death we came easily henceforth to be reconciled to all the deep Demensions thereto beloning For the Lord had dealt with us and carried it much after the manner as he did with Moses who upon the Mount of Vision had shewn unto us the New Heavens with all their Privileges and Glories also with the New Ierusalem and King thereof and though Moses was prohibited entring into that which was but a Shadow of what he really passed into by Death's Transmutation yet God did him no wrong by all that thereby to translate him out of the Mortal Principle into that of Duration which he had often Sights Gusts and Tasts of while he was in the Corporeal Figure and he enjoyed the Image of good things to come as he passed through the Worldly Sanctuary Ianuary the 26th 1676 7. This Word came this Morning fresh unto me saying Now I have shewn you what Rewards the Death-Conqueroâ—s will have will you not desire and most freely obey as my Servant Moses did to go up and dye on Mount Nebo That is take leave of this Earthly Congregation and go apart from all that still would invite you to abide with them For if you do not withdraw out of their sight you will never be able voluntarily to dye while they do see any strength vigour or force to be in your natural Ability as the beloved Moses had They will be crying What need is there of such a dying as no more
to be seen or known by us after the manner of what hath been so as without you follow this Example to go apart you will hardly dye away quietly but you will be disturbed to bring your Life back again so as it will be a lingring dying Death therefore well consider this impeding thing and that you might not be alone in a suffering dying state I have provided one that will be a dying-Mate with you to support and strengthen each other till a Dissolution is finished Then you may totally cast your selves upon your dying Beds there waiting for the Hour of your Change The utmost grievousness of it will be but as a slumbering Trance that will make you forget this Principle with all its good or evil Properties all things will be alike unto you because gathered unto your own People in the Land of Light where more transparent things will take up your Minds and satisfie your Sights There be certain measures and rules whereby ye may know whether or no your approaching End be near First Consider the Years and Date of your Age there is a set and appointed time for Spiritual Death as well as for the Natural The bounds thereof are determined though few or rarely any have tasted this Spiritual Death before their outward Man hath been broken by Natural Death Yet some known and some unknown Examples hereof have been as Enoch Moses and Elias with the Lord of Life who though he suffered Death yet rising in that Body again was with it for a certain time conversant in the Earth to testifie another Change was to pass thereupon or else he never could have stood upon the Sea of Glass without being changed into another Figure meet for Mount Sion Light More also have found this Translation though happily concealed But it is enough that you know by what means it may possibly be reached through the serious disposing of your selves unto this dying state Making observation by self-Examination of those Signs and Marks that you may certainly conclude that the time of your departure is at hand Secondly For the Bounds and Time without all controversie the Body of Sin is old enough to dyeâ— it is not few but many and evil have been its days which have been spent unprofitably therefore the Life thereof is not to be prolonged but to seek the cutting of it off as an unprofitable Member with all that do pertain unto it As the vile Body which through the corrupt Principle entring in changed the very Form into the like deformed Image which being brought back again unto a Nullification then the Eternal Life will spring and set all in order as to the very outward Vehicle again The Third Symptom you are to take notice of is this how your Life-Pulse beats weak or strong that is whether the Life and Vigour of the Heart be much deaded and spiritless to all whatever can be named that hath its Root from this degenerated Principle The Fourth Symptom is this do you feel your Stomach and Appetite fully gone that yon cannot digest any of the Fruits that is brought forth by the Sweat of the Brow and Toil of the Hands all which was the product of the Curse A Fifth Symptom is this nay more try your selves that to all which seems to carry a more refined excellency in it are you able to distinguish it as garnished only with somewhat out of Paradise but mixed with the wild and sowre Vintage of this World whether you do feel real disgusts and loathing hereunto The Sixth place this is another palpable Sign the Life-Breath is much pent and stopped The thick Air and unsavoury Fumes of this worldly Region have near stifled the very Life-Breath so as it will be unbearable finding nothing at all in this whole Universe pleasant unto you because of this your Spiritual Sickness which presageth Death to be so near Can you now but give a real Proof of such languishing Symptoms then may you hope and believe a glorified Translation is hereby working out where nothing more that is uneasie shall be felt Concerning some means to this perfect Death consider these that follow Ianuary the 27th 1676 7. First Let your Bridegroom Spirit you who are thus truly dying and direct you wisely to put your visible Affairs into order as only using them as for a meer constrained necessity during the time of your sick mortal state always expecting that their Date is wearing out For a transformed Body will hereof have no need Secondly Then yet again take this Rule from your dear Comforter who would have you finish all things that may be in order to this accomplishment of what may make perfect and entire lacking nothing that may make comely The Third Place There is another Act as necessary to be performed as this in passing away and making a disposal as your last Will of all that you possess in and from the Spirit of this mutable Region that doth constitute and give forth to the fallen Ones their several Portions by and through the visible Constellations that work uncessantly in all the Rational and Sensitive Faculties as also from the subtle introducement of the Prince of Darkness who thereby holds the Life captive that it cannot so easily come to its total decease Therefore give up all as they have proceeded from the Earthly Rudiments let them inherit them as their own again For the Spiritual Birth and Body that is to take place upon the Remove of this hath more high graduated Intellectuals and Faculties supersensually engraven upon the Mind which will always generate from the Crystal Source of the Immense Being Ianuary the 28th 1676 7. This Morning the Spirit gave this Word of Counsel as also for a Caution in and upon this great Expectation Beware of the Tempter in relation to the Hope of Transmutation Who subtilly stands ready here to mingle who waiteth to see if you should hereby be exalted by any elevated aims that are not clear and justifiable in the Eye of the Holy Trinity Therefore keep down upon the sure ground of Deaths deep Humility make no terms or conditions what Body you shall come forth with leave that to him who is the Resurrection and Life Who will give every Spirit a Body as may answer to what for them is designed whether to appear or disappear in this Principle according as the most Holy shall see meet to employ you in new raised Bodies or to draw up into that Orb which is all invisible to officiate as an Eternal Sanctuary Only in this be watchful and purge out all high and self-ambitious aims testifying how great your Rejoycings are in the dying Marks and Signs whereby as it is said the World is crucified to you and you unto the same and hereby you shall lose no due Fame whether or no ye look unto the Reward that shall follow all this God himself hereunto will have respect for you upon whose Faithfulness and Truth you may well rest Who
rend and shake when ever it shall come to be displaced Hear now and consider ye whose lawful Objection is come before me it is granted to you that the everlasting Father through the Mightiness of the Spirit in the Lamb's Nature must displace for you the Root of this Oak that is so deeply rooted in the Ground of Nature But what Tool or Instrument will he take in his Hand but the Ax of your Wills Then a through stroak will he strike by the piercing Eye of his Spirit who seeth the very depth from whence its Essence doth proceed For without a discovery made where the Cause of this defect is nothing hereof could be made or for you wrought out Therefore the Lamb of God is come the Vail of Covering to unspread that so by the sparkling Fire of his Eye ye might see from the Depths beneath the Birth-Source of Sin which doth open wide Also with the same Eye ye may behold within the heights of Sion a flowing Ocean of molten Gold to this for healing do ye fly For no other Medicine can heal the Sâ—rpent's Sting within you These are the Golden Floods which by the Spirit are daily poured forth to drown the first Birth of Eve that so an end may be of that generating Source and her Womb for ever henceforth may come to be barren in you To which end Orders and Decrees are made in Heavenly Places that Virgin-Wisdom shall take place in her room and her Seed shall be destructive to the Serpent's and to all his Hierarchy and you shall see his Head-Power bruised to purpose when all Sin in its Originality shall be blotted out by the Hand and working Source of the Deity Who will give also to you the Key and Chain of Power that so in the Name and Authority of the Lamb ye may take hold on the Dragon and bind him and shut up his flowing Source of Evil and with the Seal of the Living God to seal him up that he may find no way to come out of his own Lake to corrupt or deceive you any more Then you will begin in all stillness upon the Earth the Reign of Christ within the pure Region of Wisdom's Climateâ— For in the Singular Number it will begin to work forth The Day therefore is near or far off according as ye are carried forth in Zeal Power and Faith hereunto giving up your selves totally to observe the Word of Wisdom In which whosoever are found so doing they shall all be Crowned with this Diadem of Power February the 22d 1676 7. This Word spake thus to me do ye joyntly put on the Body of the Love in which the Spirit of Jesus will make known the Father of Glory to you for an Everlasting Reconciliation as to Children new born February the 24th 1676 7. Feeling great Peace and Joy so long as I could restrain the moving acting Life of Sin then I did obtain near access to the most Holy during the seasons and times when I could reign over all the Region of Natural Sence Which the Interiour Spirit may thus keep upon its Watch-Tower so it would then be altogether a subject meet for the Holy Trinity to open the Depths belonging to their Immense Love-Being Which by reason of these Cloudy Vails are little understood for when I did measure my self at such a time when so raised as to desert all that might be called carnally rational then little enough I seemed to be so light and so free so purely sprightly to pass through the Glassy Gâ—te But while I am again cast into the Nature of a gross thick Body tinged with Sensibility then no Ability there is for me to pass where I would As the Day and Night be thus in a moment still of force to oppose each the other in the divided Property till the everlasting Day of the Spirit shall altogether dis-inherit the dark benighted Sense Whereof hopes given are by that Spirit who thus spake from my Lord Jesus putting this Question unto me saying How dost thou think it possible to know the Majesty who is encircled in such excessive Light whilst thou livest in so many Degrees below the Seraphick sphere For great is the remoteness that may be from hence to them Who altogether are confined to a Terrestrial state For in that Word is weight that divided hath the Spiritual in and from the Natural Who is uncapable to know discern or judge of any matter but what is his own that is which lieth within the Sphere of his understanding as a rational Man who is wise for himself Which Wisdom is all to protect and hold up and save what is to be cast down and be destroyed Thus the Serpently Birth of Wisdom will hold its own in opposition to the pure meek essential Being and Birth which is from the Spirit Who is a great Sufferer while he is so near adjoyned to the Natural Man who is a fit Recptacle for what this evil Principle can shake him withal which the Prince and great Commander of this World will enough of this trash and earthly stuffâ— load him withal to give the mind full employ to prevent that which is Sublime and Celestial Therefore in vain the Scripture hath not said None can know the Thoughts of a Man save the Spirit that is in him that is none can pry or reach into the subtlety of the deceitful Heart that is working and busie minding and Plotting to compass the heighth of earthly things to which his Life would wholly extend As desiring to know nothing more or above or beyond his Natural Sphere being satisfied with the sight of his Eye with the hearing of his Ear being wholly taken up with what is mistred from this mortal state which finds out a daily variety to hold this Life in Captivity Thus you see the Earthly Man made out he is distinct from the Heavenly He knows nor perceives nothing of the Spiritual Man's concerns but as living in one and the same Body hath great advantage to interfere and cast in many times his cloudy Reasonings This natural part as the Night doth cleave to the Day but yet they have their divided Court they may be possiby kept a part through the constant Watch and Calling in Wisdom's succour and aid Eve's Birth is yet permitted thus near Immanuel's Nature to live for probation For the Dragon must try successively upon every one his Temptation Which could not be if he had not recourse to Eve's depravity that hath lodged you in Elementary Bodies by which the Strife is occasioned For the Serpent doth make great claim to what he finds sticking and still abiding within the corporeal case Which hath so degraded you as to the Visibility of and from that God-like Image in which ye once were considered as now verily ye little differ from that low degree of the pure Animal Creatures but that your inward Mind is yet of a superiour Magnanimity that was still kept and preserved within
the interiour Faculties thought he outward Image of Glory did forthwith fade through the closing with the Temptation from whence Hope there is that the Stem of the whole and Eternal Matter being yet left for Attraction may assume again its lost Paradisical Body through the Gift of the Holy Ghost For if ye once come to recover your inward Spiritual transformed Might Power and Purity the outward at your pleasure will be for alteration For the way to the Tree of Life will be known by the Spiritual Man which being fed uponâ— will operate for another manner of Covert then a Goat-like Skin wherein is your deformity For the Spiritual Man born again will be so wise and knowing as it will lose nothing that doth belong to it upon Election though for a time Nebuchadnezzar-like driven out from his Paradisical Kingdom hath been to feed amongst the wild Beasts whose gross Body sucks in answerably what this low Element can afford him This is the earthly Mans Portion till he be Born again into the Spirit then he comes to a clear Understanding and sound Judgment and calleth over what Heavenly Revenue doth belong to him Another Heart and Spirit is returned which makes him for to see and loath that former Image wherein all of the Earthly was found conversing daily amongst Men in Beastly Shapes From which by the mighty Birth of the Spirit of Jesus you are returned to get establishment in your own Kingdom Who are true Heirs thereof through Love's Adoption but not being come to the full Age are not to have yet the Reins of Government wholly put into your Hand this is reserved for a full grown Spirit of Wisdom which will spring in you by degrees But this is now doing for you saith the deep searching Spirit a Catalouge is making out of what Goods and Spiritual Stuff do belong to you that so you may know what ye have to trust unto and so set your Heart thereupon Your Heavenly Father would not that you should be kept ignorant of what is your Eternal Dowry For the knowledge of this will act you forth answerably into all Deified greatness of Spirit as expecting such a Kingdom to come and such a Priesthood of the highest Order to be given to you All which is to make you for to bethink your selves how for to carry it while in this World ye shall be vied withal from mighty Powers and Principalities that Command all Delights and Pleasures that the visible Earth affords But these must be nothing available with you who do proceed from another Line therefore do you only mind the things of the Spirit none else can know them Therefore marvel not that they are despised by all other these special things are only registred in the Book of Life for you The deep searching Spirit may look here into who is privledged to take out of the Original Copy of your Father's Will what he hath alotted you in matters Eternal Upon this free Discourse and Conference which flowed as Oyl to make the Lamp of my Understanding for to burn bright that so I might be of a quick Sight in Spiritual Things yet more deep to see Who here could not be at rest till the Spirit would give to me a particular of those rich Immunities and Glories that so we who herein are concerned might wholly be taken up in a satisfying Joy with our own Spiritual things and mind nothing more of what is another's in Earthly things February the 25th 1676 7. IN the forepart of the Night I was moved to pray for the Priestly work to proceed forward in that the most inward Court might be manifested which was now upon the revealing Then said the speaking Word Lay aside all which now as a weight doth rowle upon you After this Word falling into a Sleep I saw the Doctor 's Figure cloathed in an Embroidered Robe like a Priest's Cope at which with great Joy I congratulated him hoping hereby he should come to have more open access into the most Heavenly Place For this Word was with me for him which was spoken to Ioshuah the High-Priest thus saith the most Holy if he shall walk in my Wayes and keep my Charge and abide in my Courts then shall he be a Priest over my House Even so Amen make thou him meet for it The Doctor and my self then being met at Prayer where we did feel the Life to move vigorously towards the Conclusion of the Doctor 's Prayer this Word spake in me Pray evermore and faint not for what my Spirit shall pray within you the same your Advocate doth convey to the Father with Incense February the 26th 1676 7. Somewhat before Break of Day I did see two Persons that were known to me in a Boat without Oars as upon a Sea Upon a suddain a great Wave of Water broke in upon them whereupon the Boat began to sink upon which the one unstripped himself to swim to save his Life and seeing it in absolute Peril leaped out upon which the other with her Cloaths took hold of his Arm and thereby plunged him into the Sea upon which I cried out saying Lord save him Upon which he did rise getting from that other who did take hold upon him Then a gallant Ship did him meet where on a suddain I found my self in and therewith great Joy did take in the Person that swam but the other could not be seen So after this we removed away with quick sayl to the desired Haven After which considering this strange Presentation to me what it should signify I had only this Word Take thou up this Parable and say How thou sawest Two in one Bed the One through great Favour taken the Other left March the 1st 1676 7. THis Morning this Word greeted me Oh! what of Flesh can live when the immense Deep shall be searched out by the Spirit therefore consider what it will be there to know the things of God apparently The anointing shewed now the great disproportionableness betwixt what was to be known of the things of God and that of Man who tho' he be degenerated and hath lost all Propriety in Spirituals yet is born an Heir to Terrestial things and hath such a Spirit as to understand how to contrive and make out for himself another Paradise to which he bends all his force and might to imitate what was lost and doth answerably effect great things by rational Wisdom and Industry as belonging to this Principle So that though he hath lost the Knowledge of God in things Celestial yet through Toyl and Care Sorrows and Fears he hath recovered temporal Revenues as his own to live upon and to take lawful Pleasure in Nay the Natural Man may go much further than all this who in the more sobriety of Morality from a Light within may be convinced of that Duty and Necessity and Fear that belongeth to that God in whom all Live and have their Being and therefore may shew by a kind of
upright moral Conversation the Law of God written in their Hearts according to the Letter As it is said their Conscience accusiâ—g or excusing according to Truth or Falshood acted by them for by Nature things contained in the Law may be done so that you may take in this higher degree of things into the knowledge of the Spirit of a Man as an earthly Man and yet not able to receive or comprehend the more high wonderful and deep things of God It is only possible to that which is the meer Birth of the Spirit distinct from the Earthly Now then said the most holy Anointing that ye may know that this Spiritual Man is born shall appear by what shall be revealed unto it March the 2d 1676 7. Now as to the things of God which are given only to the Spirit of a Spiritual Man to find out verily they are so great various and numerous as in times Volumâ— they can never be unfolded Only the Spirit for the use of this new Born Creature or Spiritual Born Man doth bring down a Breviate of those invisible Things that are in heavenly Places or rather that are in God who is the Original from whence all glorious things that are in Existency are brought forth which may be named as the Back-parts of God framed and stretched forth into a Light Seraphick Globe which God furnisheth with his own Majestick Forms which no one ever saw or therfore can take upon them to describe The Spirit only hereof can make report to the Spiritual Man while yet imprisoned in a corporal Shrine and Shape But you will say what more of the things of God are discoverable when you are wholly in the Spirit you need not thus Quere but in the mean time there is a Spirit which will take it's range for you to view the Fathers Goods Possâ—ssions and Eternal Lands because as Heirs ye are concerned thereunto To proceed then to the heights depths and bredths of what are yours in Reversion within the Circle of Mount Sion state Consider then what of God's is there they are all yours as ye stand engrafted into the Tree of Life Now what hath the Spirit found out in all the heights above this earthly Sphere First into Paradise it doth take its Flight where all things are in good Order and flourishing state as before Adam had lost his Virgin Mate Paradise is now stock'd again with such as have waded through the floating Sea of Sin and Mortality in order to the putting on that image of Purity where the least Guile or Fault may not be found in any there The Spirit doth see all in wonderful Harmony for this Voice was heard to say from the high and lofty One with Men risen from the Dead I will also dwell though it be alotted for a time to be a separated Mansion till all be gathered into â—that one superior Kingdom Thus you hear good News that is all rich and flourishing within the Paradysical Kingdom no decay since Adam's day but much encrease and augmentation is daily through the Resurrection of a Spiritual Man March the 3d. 1676 7. These things whereof an account has been given you may be defined as the local Place of Paradice whereinto Spirits separated in a natural Death putting off there mortal Bodies do enter into it and there put on their Virgin Body which doth prepare them to meet their Bridegroom who from thence fetcheth them up to mount Sion These are such who in this very time have fought the good Fight of Faith and had very near overcome this World What is lacking to make them fully perfect in this Paradisical Place they are appointed to stay here till all their Bridal Trimming be finished and they find that they can pass the way to the Tree of Life through the flaming Cherub who still is a Guard upon that figurative Tree In that place holy Angels do there also wait by their course to minister to those who do come here as designed Heirs of that more glorious State which in Sion is revealed This is some part of those good things which belong to your Eternal Father But to open to thee a further Mystery which is what may be entred upon in this very Life time know there is a mystical Paradise as well as a local which springs metaphorically opening from a pure magical Center this is a wonderful state to know and wittness it chiefly stands in divine Visions Revelations Ideas Presentations Manifestations in Sounds Trumpets Voices in Speakings in Powers Raptures Joys and sensible-Feelings I say all these Golden Springs do flow from out of the Bowels of the new Paradisical Earth This will amount to your present Peace and Joy Wait I say to feel that Now that your Spirits may give a Seal with me that ye have received the anointing and that you do walk with your Spiritual Man in this Paradise where you do often hear the Eccho of the Bridegroom's Voice calling to you still to hast the getting on all that which will make you look sweet and amiable and the fragrant Sweets that may you perfume and scent that so all your Garments may smell of these Beds of Spices upon which you may stretch your selves Here a while confined be to dwell after the manner of Spirits in Spiritual Bodies till you shall all of this visible Orb over-come and much excell all Creatures in it having the Tree of Life to live upon Which is that which will rarify and put upon you a more transparent Body for they who here do daily feed upon it shall be in good deed metaphorized Behold to you this Paradise Gate doth open stand and what of the things of God is there not only to know but them as your own to enjoy But this Word of caution to you who resolved are to tast more deep of these flowing Sweets take heed of the Laws of Paradise which once in particular were given to you remind and observe them For you must not be in the Quality halting between two Principles but here keep company each with other and your Jesus will most frequently talk with you and shew himself according to the Love's betrothment that is made a fresh with you in this Paradise March the 4th 1676 7. The GLASSY-SEA Now from hence the Spiritual Man must make another remove to see what doth lie for him beyond this among the pretious things that out-flow from that rich Ocean-Sea which is betwixt Paradise and Mount-Sion This is that Glassy-Sea spoken of which doth encompass the Beloved City where is the residence of God your King and the Throne of the Lamb and the Seaven Sealing Powers that do go forth from the most Holy One. Now this Burning Sea is for Probation who is able to pass through here but they who have got a thorough Victory over the Beast and his Image that nothing more of his Mark do bear They and they only can stand here because they are signatur'd from this
to their future Posterity they had been in the same condemnation with the fallen Angels but the Eternal Word did even then incarnate himself for their help and recovery and to save them from sinking into that horrible Lake which the Serpent had prepared for them Thus did the Eternal Love immediately move towards them to free them out of the Dragon's Power whose design was to make them of their own Hierarchy in their Princely power of Darkness out from which the Lamb of God did redeem them Who from the Foundation of the World was the Salvation of God so still going on to the Ends of the Earth But while this new thing sprang in my understanding which seemed to differ from what I had formerly received as Truth I besought the Lord my Teacher to answer this Objection that was raised thereupon That if so immediately upon Adam's Fall the Eternal Word who is the new Birth-Seed did incorporate with Eve whereby power and ability were given to bring forth wholly after the Spirit how was it then that she should and did bring forth after the fleshly Image as appeared by the first Man which she brought forth in the wrathful Property first awakened In Answer to this I found Light at hand to resolve me As thus it did not seem good to the Wise Creator to obliterate and so presently to wipe off the Stain with which they by the act of Disobedience had blemished themselves Some marks of Displeasure the most Holy did still include them under as a Terrestial Body and to bring forth in Travel and Sorrow what should have been by Magical Power and Joy 〈◊〉 Celestial Angelical Forms but now as the effects of disregarding the Command of God they brought forth a mean and despicable Image according to their own Likeness But then I further queried but this Corporeity might have been Sinless 〈◊〉 Original Righteousness was also infused by the immortal Spark of Life entring in to incorporate with the outward Elementary Birth That Spirit which had so pure an Existency and was in free Liberty should come into a necessitated thraldom as in Cain was manifested As to this I also obtained Satisfaction that Cain had the Eternal Light of Life with him that did fore-warn him and convince him of the end and danger of Sin and that he was under Probation and that the Serpent had liberty still to â—â—â—mpt a new sutably to the Condition he wâ—s fallen into Who had an absolute Liberty of Will and Sufficiency of Power to stand his Ground as God said to him by way of Reproof If thou dost well shalt not thou be accepted but if not Sin lieth at thy own Door Which plainly doth declare that Cain should not have yielded himself Sins Captive So that in all Temptations you may know whither to fly even to that eternal Word within you who is mighty to Save who Is and Was from the Beginning the First and the Last Visible and Invisible Deity in Humanity and Deity out of Humanity all making and tending to the fullfilling and Manifestation of the Mystery which hath been hid in the Trinity Which Arcanum will be daily revealing in this latter Age. Then arose a further Query to be answered If Christ as a Seed of Life was infused into every individual Birth throughout the Line of Terrestial Propagation whereby a Sufficiency was found to bear down and overcome what the Serpent had introduced of this Venome and Sting of Sin add Death What further need was there of Christ to assume a Body and to be proclaimed in the World as a Personal Saviour by and through the offering up himself a Propitiatory Sacrifice for Sin If it could have been expiated by the Production of Internal Light and Life thus originally Springing according to that Scripture Christ the Light of every one that cometh into the World As this is a weighty and considerable Question so resolved it shall be from That which seeth into the first Ground of what cometh to be manifested in time Now then for these Reasons it was expedient for him who was nominated the Second Person in the Trinity to be exhibited in a corporal Form upon this Account First To declare the possibility of bringing in and acting forth an everlasting Righteousness in â—rail humane Nature which every way was beset and assaulted with Temptations from all dark Powers which from their evil Center did conspire to overturn Truth and Fidelity in this Immaculate Lamb for had the Dragon prevailed upon him here Mount Sion and the Heavenly Ierusalem should never have been revealed Secondly Then again for this Cause Christ was to be manifested in Flesh in God-like Power as very needful to become that great High-Priest to attone and make expiation for the Sins and Defectiveness under the first Covenant which was given in Paradise all since having sinned after the similitude of Adam's Transgression The holy Seed in them being weak through the Body which is included and falling under the gross Element which hath and doth in some much more then others choak and smother the Life and doth greatly cloud and darken universally this pure Light whereby the good part doth rarely get the Victory in any till they attain to a good degree of Illumination and Purification For this Spring of Light doth get through but by degrees for tho in it self its of great Potency yet need enough there is for Sins committed in the times of Ignorance and Minority before the Spirit comes to make the Soul understand it self from whence it is relapsed I say for the Remission of these Sins past through the forbearance of God not less then such a Sacrifice was your Jesus for you to become In the Third Place Then as Christ fulfilled all Righteousness in his Humanity for an Example to his fellow Breathren so they might come to the unity of the same perfect Life by the same perfect Spirit which was in him through the dying Life For thereby your Lord Jesus obtained a super-additional force and power of Spirit to give and shed abroad into you for the working out a full Liberty and Salvation For seeing his pure Life-Seed was under oppression he also came into a Body of Flesh to relieve and free it from the Bondage of Sin and Evil and also the very Mortality antecedent thereunto according as it is written delivering them who through fear of Death were all their Life-time subject to bondage Which no way could be effected but by Death destroying Death First in the humane Figure of your Lord Jesus who hereby shewed you the way to do mystically that so thereby you might escape the Second Death through the Resurrection which is said to quicken Mortal Bodies Fourth Place Now then further consider that thâ—s was the very great and primary end of Christ coming into a Body of Flesh to transfigure and to shew the way of Immortalizing of it as he did his own after his Resurrection when he ascended into
the Kingdom of his Father Then this was also noted to me from hence that had not Christ come down into a Body the highest Saint could have attained no higher State than Paradice though endued with all the internal Excellency from the Word of Life as a Seed incorporating with it For their highest dimensions was Adam's Paradise beyond which Region neither Patriarchs nor prophets did arrive before Christ's appearing in the World Therefore you see Christ imbodying himself in a Terrestial Form brought forth many considerable Advantages if they may now be considered of by the wise hearted so as to wait and expect the fruits of that additional Spirit that is some degrees higher than any Seraphick Flame of Light Believe it and know it that this Breath of Fire breathed and sucked in will melt away all your gross Metalline Corporeity April the 18th 1677. The True Shunamite As soon as I awaked in the Morning this Word spake in me What is to be done for thee Wouldst thou be spoken for to the King This Word I pondered often upon what should be the meaning hereof and for what intent it did so speak Which after some days was thus resolved that such who signatur'd are with Spiritual Generosity and Largeness of Love answerably to that Shunamite who was so careful of Elisha as to provide for his Entertainment even so grateful would Christ the true Spirit of Prophecy be unto them who have such a Proof of Love and Esteem for him as to furnish out a most holy separate Place for this Prophet still to turn in into First then it was given me herefrom to observe that this Shunamite as she did understand him to be a Man of God gave him great Reverence and would not lodge him in her own mixed Family as judging none there worthy of his Conversation and therefore did on purpose build a place of Apartment for vacancy that this holy Seer might have opportunity for enquiry with the Deity Therefore she took care he should not be disturbed Then further this Word came unto me as not only for Council but for Information that Knowledge was taken of such a true Shunamite who was in Council with her Eternal Mate that had prepared according to this similitude for this Spirit of Prophecy a most holy inward place with a true Spiritual furnishment of what was necessary to tempt this true searching Seer to take up here his abode Then was it shewn me what I did not know to be in my self so clearly thus figured out dstinctly by way of Allegory First a new Edifice on purpose was framed by the wise Master Builder in us Then a Table-Heart in which the Law of Love was written Then a Bed for to give ease and rest to our Beloved that he might not be as a wayfaring Man Know this in each of us so furnished out as his own home where we might retire to him in the Light and Spring of Understanding Which is the Candlestick and Candle fixed in us before-hand without which no comfortable abode for this Prophet would be in us Then again the Stool signifies a quiet fixation with us without weariness a blessed contentation In that there is but one Seat it shews that here is an excluding of all other out of this Place The Elisha Spirit admitteth none to sit with him in his Lodging for this sitting or waiting posture is proper for the Spiritual Diviner that night and day may minister hereupon Upon this I did receive an approbation or Sealing Word for good Hope and rich Consolation to us who could witness that large generosity of Spirit in Love to this Prophet before whom we are called to stand Who did put indeed and verify this Question a second time unto me saying What shall be done for you who have cared all this Care for me in giving me a place of Apartment where nothing might mingle with me Tell me now what I shall speak on your behalf whether to the King or Captain of his Host The King here represents God the Father the Captain your Lord Jesus the Elisha Spirit the Holy Ghost Either of them both can be heard at all times Therefore see that ye be free in Humility with your Prophet Now having such a Grant made to me I consulted how to act the part of a wise Shunamite though I could and might take herefrom great Liberty yet I am taught to weigh all my Request that nothing rash or unadvised may proceed from me Oh my Lord and great Prophet I cannot compare with the Shunamite in all things who said That she was in her own Land and People But we may be said to be on some account as exile Captives while living in Elementary Bodies also in a Land under Babylonish tribute which is very grievous to the Supernal part Who knows its own true Nativity as seeing through the Glass of Eternity what we once were in pre-existency But now as existing in Forms of Mortality it cannot be said that we need nothing further in the highest degree of this Terrestial state Therefore in blushing Fear and holy Modesty I did declare the Sense hereof to my Prophet If now my Lord will speak for this unto the great and mighty King and Captain of the Lord's Host that we may have release out of all Babylonish thrall and be brought back again to our own People to dwell in the Heavenly City What greater express of kindness can be compassed for us by the Prophet But the Spirit of Elisha replyed to me There is yet a greater thing then this of which thou hast made no mention that must go before it Which is the one pure Elementary Birth for that which is born from beneath of fleshly Corporeity can never be gathered among those Celestial Denisons till immortaliz'd with pure and Aethereal Bodies Ah my Lord if so what hopes can there he for us who are so united unto this out-Birth Then said the Prophet Be quiet and still and after a while this pure Birth that is all of Spirit may freely Spring in which you will pass where you so much long and desire for to dwell But then this was further revealed that many would be the cross workings of this Worldly Element therefore very wary we must be to avoid all Minglings with it For we stood here upon a very nice point therefore know and be only conversant with this God-Man from whom is diffused that which is of pure Birth Impregnancy that will excell in Perfection all of former Births Yet said the Prophet consider further this If you do attain to this Birth know while ye are in this Principle it is not out of all danger Hazards do attend it as in the case of the Shunamite while but in the Childish state The Four Elements may specially be in strife against the Life hereof when the Elisha-Power may be with-drawn away Therefore keep up all Love and sweet Correspondency with this Spiritual Prophet that ye may
Birth being extraordinary and marvelous so soon as it was but noised abroad Councel was taken for to destroy him nay he had much ado to live out his determined time but as he preserved himself by his inward virtual Body upon every storm and assault The world that lieth in the evil of darkness could not bear such a Light to live amongst them whose life was that which did reprove them Therefore it is no needless question to ask of the most high Wisdom how in this Age such a Birth may be succoured and sustained till it hath got a body of might and fortitude which no weapon can destroy or hurt The resolve must be fetched up from the deepest of all centers as it is a matter of the most primary consequence to them who have such a Birth in such a dangerous Principle for to bring up a Birth which is from the power of the overshadowing hand Hence then for satisfaction to this Query saith the all knowing Spirit be it given you to understand That every Birth of what kind soever brings along with it through the wise Provision in Nature it s own nutriment That which is of corruptible seed hath what answers to it of its own perishing Quality What feeds on flesh either as to its fleshly mind or body shall suffer loss to purpose though all the care be to prop and nourish it to make it a well favoured piece of mortality Which to the most holy is a strange Similitude which he hath no delight to see or know his own any longer in Therefore he inciteth and calleth to look after another Birth that may be all of Quintessential matter of the very Nature of the Deity such a pure thing may have corporal humanity a while for its visible case As your Immanuel had assumed as the garment of Sackloath in which he humbled himself for the sins of the world and for that end sacrificed it Who though he took it up again it was for the manifestation of greater wonders by it through various changes which it was made the subject of For in that sometimes he was known and then again in such a figure unknowable to them who were daily conversant with him Who after that the pleasure and design of the Father was in that body finished then the power of the inward spiritual body was manifested to anatomise the visible humanity for that was not to pass into the Heavens From all which learn we to discern where the Christ like birth with his spiritual body is though clouded with a corporeal figure And that ye may not be mistaken take these special signs to know where it is truly fixed or impressed First then know this overshadowing hand through which this birth doth spring incompasseth only what is Paradisical ground there it drops in its golden seed This ground in its true native Virgin pureness must be separated from the common cursed matter of what produceth the earthly birth These two different soyles are to be found in the first Adam's generative off-spring but it is so mingled and overrun with the dark muddy element that great care labour and painful industry is used for its recovery out by the wise and learned Spirit in the heavenly Chymistry rightly to prepare for this holy Birth Which will be easily known from the course and rudimental that is in the image of the earthly For first here is a pure conception as from the high and pure radical infusive Spirit that quickens the Virgin soil and so cooperates it into a spiritual Body that it may be all of one and the same pure clear undefiled subtile matter with the quickning Spirit that you may know what that is which contributes to the Christ-like Births wherewith it will be one and the same that it may degenerate in nothing from the first perfection and pattern of his Life But only this heavenly man may be excused from that personal suffering in the tragical part as an outward death Which will not be required upon the same account having finished the mystery of the mystical death through this Birth taking place and bearing dominion over the outward But now to resolve that Question What this Birth that is from above which is coagulated into one unmixed matter must live upon in the house of humanity Which for a time it must be brought up in as Christ himself was and tempted with the evil fruits that will be daily proffered from the market of this world but yet in no danger though in minority For it is left under the guardian Spirit who warns it what to abstain from whose nature and composition is of such heavenly essentiality that it inclines naturally to obey the Paradisical laws Which is the second character of this New Creature Then again in the third place while but in its Infancy it will suck of no other but its Eternal Virgin Mother lay it to any other and it will be sick to Death And if at any time contrary Food is forced upon it it doth presently Vomit it up Then when grown to a further degree of strength not only the pure Milk of Wisdom its Mother those living Precepts of her Word but the very Body of the Deity which is the spiritual Flesh Christ spoke of and the Blood the Milk of the Word But when come to that Age as to be able to take and feed upon that Body that is extracted out of the very Being of all Eternal Spirits of what kind must this be brought forth but even such a Celestial Body as Christ told them could never taste of Death For as he did live by the Father by feeding upon the very power of the God-head So likewise that Birth which was of this extraction should live eternally by feeding it self upon his divine Flesh. Your Fathers saith he did eat Manna and are dead but I the Bread of Life will sustain you and thereby immortalize you if ye henceforth do feed upon no other but me the Tree of Life It was further revealed to me That the Mould and Paradisical Matter was found in us and brought out of all dispersions into one holy lump formed and quickned by that pure azure stream or breath which did present it self by way of Vision And this in process of time might come to be no less than God manifested in our fleshly forms of Corporeities therefore let us be careful and watchful over it and to hide it under the sheltering hand of the everlasting power forasmuch as it is enclosed with a terrestrial form as its house where the light of the Sun Moon and Stars of this Visible Region did break in and thereby would assume a government over it which might bind and keep it under as upon the outward elementary Spirit This was my fear and jeoperdy Concerning which the everlasting Comforter did satisfie me declaring This was a free birth not subject in any respect to the rudiments of this world because that nothing of
these essences did therewith mix Nâ— depravity in the Nature of sin was here infused Therefore this Birth may stand upon its royal freedom for to be born free from sin is a great and mighty thing Therefore know your New Birth-prerogative and come not under the power of what this holy inspiring breath is come to set at liberty from For the true Heir is a Son of Liberty in bondage to nothing when once he comes to know himself he will then assume that Sovereignty which shall make the corporeal life bow unto him Nay as this encreaseth and grows up to its princely greatness this Land will be too strait For out of Egypt God will call this his Heir through all terrestial Walls and Gates to come up unto that free City where the Trinity in Majesty will give out their sealed Commissions for what this Birth of might and excellency hath further for them to do in this low Region For that which hath been as the high builded wall of Perdition betwixt these Principles and the Mountain upon which the New Ierusalem stands by such strong Angels as these you shall see broken down without tool or weapon and passage made which the Eagle Eye of this Birth will spy and will be so skilfull as to know its way through the cloudy Air to mount Sion Hill the mystery of God in both Principles to fulfill April the 27th 1677. In the Morning after the Doctor had prayed I awaked and sunk down into the center of Life And there appeared unto me a pure azure blue streamâ— which was said in me was that Spirit and Breath of Life that must put the grosser Element to flight Then it was further opened to me that from this perfect thing would go forth an enriching Mist that should renew the face of all things in such whose inward ground was measured out by the Golden Reed of the Spirit Then was further shewed me the twofold nature and property of this Breath That as it could quicken and be a seed of Life in matter meetly prepared for it So likewise this Breath would extinguish that Life which worketh in contrariety against it According as it is written Oh Death I will be thy Death When all conclusions be tried for the expiation of the earthly birth there is no other that can so eternally anatomize it as the Body of Sin may be said to cease and not to be but by the Spirit of the Lord blowing upon the fleshly form of it which seemeth to be so goodly Verily this Life hath been too hard for all other weapons that have been tried upon it since the full outward death could not conquer this Life of Sin As Christ told the Iews if they did not believe on him as the resurrection of another Life they should die in their sins So as the mortal death cannot quit from that second death which follows that corrupt Birth-seed which was not in this Life demolished But then from hence this doubt will arise Who is it that hath left this Testimony behind them of all past Generations that before the mortal death did overtake them they had first cleared themselves of that vile and corruptible birth of sin Sure saith the objective Spirit if this be strictly examined how few or scarce any will be found but did mortally die before the inward body of sin was totally expired If so how then could they immediately pass where nothing that ever was of the polluted Nature of Sin could come in As to this obscure and deep Query of which I my self with others have been universally ignorant as not finding out the several reservatories that Spirits did pass into The letter of the Scripture not opening so positively what relateth hereunto as plainly to determine this doubtful matter But it hath been kept dark in the foresight of the most holy wise God Who hath left himself free to give the key of the knowledge hereof in what Age and to such in that Age as shall be worthy of such secret My Spirit hath been often solicitous with the Lord for this thing as in case my Body mightâ— break from my superior Spirit and the Mortal part die before the evil essences which are called Sinn be extinguished as to their very originality then into what Orb shall such a Spirit enter that may be almost but yet not quite got free from every relick of sin The Key of this unknown Door was hereupon put into the hand of my Guardian Spirit the mystery hereof to unlock that this great secret might be revealed and that hereby the Elect might be undeceived Who have nothing less believed but that though they should not come to see and feel sin finished through everlasting Righteousness coming in as a Conqueror Yet wheâ— got loose from this temporary life they should strait ascend into that principal City of the great King Which was once my belief according to that tradional manuduction that I was under But since of meer great and unparalled Love another deep is discovered from out of which a sure and pure word of Revealation hath sprung both as to this and other Obscure things And that the opening of this Truth might not go forth only in the authority of a private Revelation when indeed there is need enough for all Spirits to be tried that do take this Covering For this cause a Scripture foundation was given to confirm and ratifie what was so freely inspired into the mind As first that word was given to me to consider of as in the 14th of Iohn 2d verse In my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and when I have done that I will come and receive you to my self From which words it was given me thus to understand that by House the Spirit doth signifie the Locality of God's invisible Kingdom that hath various Regions for dwelling places as it is said there are many Mansions in which are degrees of Glory Solomon in the mirror of Wisdom had an account thereof when he had built that Magnificent House and Temple for the Most High Which made him as in a Spiritual Extasy cry out The Heavens of Heavens cannot contain thee So it is said of our Lord Jesus that he ascended up above ALL Heavens By all which we may conclude that there are degrees of Heavens and yet all within the Celestial Sphere For Adam before he had awakened the sinful essence was an inhabitant in one of the Heavens which had the Title of A Paradise because of its serene and fruitful soyl But yet God's local Habitation was not here but he sent forth his influencing mist and here did with Adam and Eve frequently commune while they were undefiled but they being once found in the depravation of this purity this Heaven could not bear their corruptible Image for the worm of mortality could not here live Upon which God said Let them out
of those Mansions that are near to me let them be driven out for the present Therefore let this suffice from the Scriptures themselves not to mention those particular Idea's and Manifestations that to some it hath been given to see these several Heavens which upon others cannot be imposed for to believe who yet have not those anointed Eyes given to see withal But surely there are some standing in the figure of the Body Whose Spirits have roved to and fro to see these several Mansions with Spirits of all sizes and degress who are herefor designed Only hereout excluding those who are for the Dragon's Kingdom Who do pass away in a reprobate sense out of the Body Those left-hand Goats have no portion within these Eternal Gates a deep Gulf is fixed It is only of the Sheep and Lambs that I am to treat who have found out this new and only Life path-way Who though they are not come to the top-stone of perfection before they see the dissolution of the body Yet having attained to a good degree they may come unto the very next Throne Region and there awhile stay till they have drawn and assumed a heavenly clarity that is such an Essential Body against which no exceptions by the highest Courts of Dignities can be objected These now are the highest degrees of those who before Perfection be wrought do cease out of the Mortal Body Then again there are of a lower degree of growth Now what reservatory is there for them who may be but young in the New Birth As to this it was clearly imparted unto my Intellect that such did enter into a more inferiour Mansion than Paradice for that was too pure and serene for such Therefore a lower degree is prepared for them till they do attain to an Increase of the Divine Nature They want not here their true Pastoral Teachers for the Spirit of Christ is every where with his own Therefore it was said that he went and preached to the Spirits in Prison that were disobedient in Noah's days For should all the old world have been cut off at once and sealed under a final condemnation the Attributes of God's Love Mercy Goodness Truth and Long-suffering would have been obliterated wherefore he must have yet had respect unto such after the dissolution of their bodies as had a sense in them awakened for compunction and sorrow for what Evils they had committed in their Bodies To confirm this that we might not be altogether out of hope for such as may die in the first beginnings of Regeneration it is given me to declare that if these pass out of the Body such cannot go indeed immediately to God For such will find it otherwise they must wait till they have got somewhat more then what they went out withall in this world and then shall they be admitted to see God Surely there is a Provision made for a perfect Salvation in another Principle besides this For which we have that word in Peter 1 Pet. 3. 19. by which also he went and Preached unto the Spirits in Prison Also these words seem to speak fully to this 1 Pet. 4. 6. For this cause was the Gospel preached to them which were dead which generally is applied to such as are living and yet dead in sins But by the foregoing verse it concerns the first Position verse 5. who saith the Apostle speaking of Christ is ready to judge the quick and the dead so that it implieth there is a Ministry belonging to the dead that are not here made perfect Much more might be enlarged upon some particular sights and manifestations that have hereof been given to some in the Spirit From hence ariseth this Objection If this be a Truth why was it not positively declared and clearly revealed as a foundational Doctrine To which it may be answered That the Infinite Wisdom did judge it meet to conceal this mystery because none might take advantage to turn the Grace of God into wantoâ—ness and thereby to neglect the present opportunity for working out their own Salvation in this present time which would make for a far and more exceeding weight of Glory Therefore left it was for the Worthy to have this Secret made known to them by the Spirit of Revelation who God foreknew would not take Liberty to continue in sin that this Grace after Death might be made manifest towards such as did stand in need hereof But now to great holy and aspiring Spirits these lower Mansions in their Fathers house are too mean who cannot be satisfied to be so many degrees remote any time after death from their God and Lord Jesus since Liberty is proclaimed to work through all while we are in this terrestrial Body For there will be more joy and acclamations in Heaven for one such as shall finish their work here so as to make a full conquest then for milions of Souls that in the invisible Regions must perfect what was lacking to compleat them here Oh said the Spirit it will be well worth your Labour and great Travel to break open this deep Gate and so to put on Christ your Lord as in his all-powerful body that ye may make hereof but one ascending flight This was the Mark that was after Christs ascending so eagerly aimed at and by some in that Age reached to For Christ could not lose the effect of his prayer in that he did make his request that those whom the Father had given him might be with him where he was that so they might see and possess the same glory which could not be till they had gotten the victory For to none else is the admission given into his Kingdom according to that in the Revelations to him that overcometh will I grant saith Jesus to sit with me in my Throne But this may be objected further Those who had the Holy Ghost poured down in such an eminent manner had their way made very easie who was as their fiery Chariot that cut their work short And if any now in this Age had such a high endued Power it might soon give them a translation out of all mortal impediments As to answer this The Holy Ghost in that day was given after a visible manner as a sealing Character displaying and acting forth himself in Gifts and Power and miracles but now the same Spirit works in its beginning after another manner where it falleth it doth all its mighty works Within before it will shew forth his power Without For if the Apostles had not been purified by the Holy Ghost and inwardly sprinkled with the Water of Life for Soul cleansing they could not have rejoyced in that assured hope of entring into the joy of their Lord and Master Then was it plainly opened to me by the Spirit that the Holy Ghost would not now in this latter Age act out his Mighty Deeds by any one till their Hearts were perfectly purified by Faith That Scripture being repeated to me who after believing were
and seek to be baptized by the Holy Ghost that ye may both know and be perfect in the Father and in the Son then may you see God in Christ apparently God in God sometimes in an immaculate Nature and sometimes in the essence of a Spirit out of Nature From hence learn to see your selves all fully in Christ as anointed by the Holy Spirit into him and then you will not make complaint for want of the visibility of his glorified Person When ye shall see your selves in him and know him in your selves as the express Image of the invisible God Then you cannot but walk in the constant sight of that which is all beautiful comely sweet and ravishing For then ye will never care to turn your Eyes nor set your Foot out of this pleasant Habitation when the Holy Ghost shall be ever in you the Tabernacle of God May the 1st 1677. The Original Language THIS Morning it was much impressed upon me that though all Watchfulness and pure Conversation are the product of a Spiritual Birth yet there must be something besides willed by him who is said to have received gifts to dispose of as a purchased possession for us He is ascended to the Fountain head where all diversity of Gifts are commandable that may be of great profit and use to his Mystical Body which thereby may come to the perfect Unity For it was given me to consider that our Lord Jesus though born into the humanity all immaculate yet was afterward signally anointed with the Holy Ghost before he went upon his Ministerial Function which gave him power to effect those great things in the World So that though he was born of the Holy Ghost yet there was a further Sealing Power contributed by the Father For when the Jews were offended that he made himself equal with God he confirmeth it by this evidence that the Father had shewed him all things that himself could do from which sight as a peculiar Gift he did work hitherto such works as did bear witness of the Supream Power of the God-head While my Intellectual Mind was exercised upon this Subject and withdrawing from my outward animal sense I did see in a paper figured out the forms of two Angelical Persons folding up a Vail or Covering which had been spread upon a Writing that was given me to read Which was plain and legible but I could not understand the Language it was said to be Seraphick This Writing which was so fair was turned into a Blank and then again appeared as in a manuscript which I was very solicitous to have read But it was revealed to me immediately that this was a high and peculiar gift that did belong only to that which was born out of the Lilly root Which mast be brought up where it must hear this Language spoken frequently till which no knowledge there is in the Divine Magia For Spirits who had these deep wonders to shâ—w could not make any intelligent hereof till they had learned this Seraphick Language both to hear and speak withall and so I was left in the demur hereof Only this Writing I saw taken by the hand of a Person to whom I said give it me for it belongeth not to you which I presently gave to the view of anotherâ— that was present but neither of them could find out the Language of the Writing By which my Spirit did conclude that we must proceed to a further learning for to know what is in the heights and depths wherein all lawful and allowable secrets are couched to be understood Had not Moses been taken up to God forty days and in that holy separated Mount been all new organised he could never have understood God's speech unto him so as to comprehend and know how to make an interpretation and how to bring it down unto the people by translating it out of the Seraphick tongue into the formal speech of terrestrial organical Creatures So from hence it was given me further to see that there was a New Ministration which I had not looked into that was of great expediency May the 2d 1677. This next day being the second of May waiting upon the further opening of this Vision and making my application for our enrichment with this heavenly gift it appearing to be of great use and consequence I presently found my self environed with a body of Light with a noise as of rushing waters which were called the Seraphick sounds for I felt a mighty sweet influence from them Finding my Spirit sinking deeper into this heavenly center whereout did arise gusts of Air and Flames of Celestial Fire with springs of Water as a fountain of Joy and dust of Gold all sparkling and herewith mingling and this was a wonderful presentation All which I did as sensibly feel to strengthen to quicken and enliven the inward as I often naturally felt the influences of the outward Elements upon the outward Body to cause Dulness Pain Grief and Sorrow And further there was a Voice that did distinctly eccho in me that all these influencing Powers from the heavenly Body did come down to enrich and make fat the Soil and Magical Ground in which the unction Birth was rooted For this Pure and Aetherial Body which hath commixed it self into such a high Essentiality is designed to feed revive strengthen and rejoyce what is of its own Elementary Body Therefore it is meet for such in whom this New Birth is raised that they do often bring and lay it where the warm beamings of our Sun may overshadow it that is that the quint-essential power of all things may send forth its strong spiritual influences upon it so hereby it may grow mighty and and strong to relieve the depressed Life from the grosser Element which hath enkindled whatever is of torment trouble and strife Therefore cryed the Spirit whatever ye do let this be chiefly minded For your liberty and redeeming Power lieth in this fair Lilly springing from the feeding Life of this bright Elementary Body Which your Lord said he gave for the Life of the World for hereby it can only be renewed again May the 3d. 1677. This Morning being the third of May something more did open to me of the Vision That whereas â— saw a Vail folded up by the two who were in long Garments girâ— about with Girdles which I omitted before to mention Who were figured out to be Angelical Messengers sent to draw away and to wind up the Covering that had overspread the Writing By this it was signified that there was one remove made in order to the understanding and knowing what was further therefrom to be revealed For already there was much of the Vail removed which hid the meaning of the Spirit in that visible Writing which alluded also to the Scriptures but was now upon the removing that so the true intent of the Spirit might come to be known And further it was moved in me why I could not read when the
Posture The Prince of Might yet hath no Birth in the World for to bring into existency this New Creation Who then shall be the beginning of this Celestial World seeing that from some one or other the Birth of this Creating Power must go out Oh by whom shall Iacob's Star arise that is to bear the â—â—cepter of Power and Dominion that is to overturn the whole Scene of present things which hath been under oppression Iuly the 11th 1677. As to this some days after I was answered with good and comfortable words that we might not sorrow as those who do see nothing of this rising day For while my Spirit was groaning in the Kingdom of Tribulation and Patience I heard this sweet saying The Birth is Love That shall restore the Kingdom of Ioy and Power And as it doth grow near the Pangs of Love will flow upon you which will be Sions mighty deliverance Therefore revive when Loves throws do take hold upon you for it certainly foreruns the breaking forth of the Son of Ioy and Strength who will rule the Earth and ease the Nations of their Burthenâ—â— Griefs and Torments Then was somewhat opened to me of the Mystery of a great Key which I did see in way of Vision held out unto me which was so great and weighty that I made question in my self whether I could carry it and was loth to take the burthen of it not then understanding the intent why it was shewn and tendred But this Morning considering hereof a voice did sound through me This is the mighty Birth-Key which shall open the New Ierusalem Glory No terrestrial Being can it hold for it is all massy and refined Gold that will open the seven-fold Wonder and unlock every unknown Treasury which hath been sealed from the foundation of the World â— hen was it highly impressed upon me what this Key did further signifie unto us Then another word did swiftly put forth in me saying Those to whom this is given will have power to bind or loose to shut or open to kill or save alive and also to charge or discharge from the guilt of siâ— For it is the Key of Knowledge and sound Judgment and acteth absolutely in the express Power of the Most High to fulfill every jot and tittle of his Eternal Will God the Father will well satisfie himself in such whose propriety it shall be to possess this all powerful Key Ah my Lord is there any â—ow abiding in corporeity that is so eyed by thee to be an Instrument to act in the Power of this mighty Key Sure no Prohibition or Decree is gone forth but some one or other may be designed by thee hereunto in this Age. But then the Spirit said they must be such as are annointed with that high Composition Oyl which at once doth clarifie and perfume as an attoning Incense whose flame never goeth out till this Key be wrought out in the Fire Center Then was this word of Councel given unto me Set a work all your present force and might it will be worth the laying out all your cost and labour hereupon You have an all-skilful Guide that is master of this Mystical Science but he loveth not to have to do with any Spirit that is divided with one Eye looking forward and with the other backward He knows he shall never have Honour or Credit by such as are halting between two Principles sometimes rising up in the Fiery Wheel of Faith then sinking down in the Leaden Scale of Sense which bringeth back what Faith hath brought forward Which is the great Energy that giveth the formation to this all-sovereign Key that is prophecied of but none have been found here for worthily qualified of many Generations past Therefore neglect all things of this low Region that so you may make this your entire business From which let there be no starting as ye would enjoy the blessed Projection of this Key that will open for you and will unfold to you the 1000th Number in Wisdom's Roll. Iuly the 12th 1677. As my Mind was contemplating of the great advantages that an Eternal Almightiness would bring in to such who would thereby endeavour wholly to deâ—â—â—â— and make an end of sin There was suddenly a very fit similitude set before me in order to this to shew what would be effectual thereunto There appeared a bright Jasper Body or Person in the middle of whose Breast was set a Pipe of Gold Colourâ— and two more each one out of his side the one was of Scarlet Colour the other White or Glassy This was a very suitable Idea to the present concern of thoseâ— who did know themselves to be under a mourning state of indigency upon an eternal account For whose revivingâ— this word did further proceed Whoever there be who do thirst to drink out here in nakedness of Spirit let them draw near for only pure simple naked Spirits can suck here After this Voice the Intellectual Spring did freely run and made me capable of more deâ—p reception concurring with the tâ—â—e Inspiratour who did give me to understand the use and operation of these conveying Powers shewing what the Virtue of each Pipe was As first that in the midst of the Breast signified the sending forth the â—â—ction of Spirit The Scarlet Colour'd Pipe the Bloodâ— that is the Life of the Heavenly Body anâ—â—â—â—d to it The third Pipe was the 〈◊〉 Water which keeps and maintains all in an immaculate Life of Purity Out of these the Divine Nature is extracted And who ever do not lay their internal Spirits to suck out of these Pâ—pes can never arrive to any strong Spiritual Stature For what doth it avail to have the knowledge and revelation of this in Mystery and be at a spiritual distance herefrom If Jesus while iâ— visible Corporeity had not lain close to his Fathers heart drawing continually although highly Fssenced in Spirit yet he could never have grown if he had not derived fresh Infiniteness of Strength and Power to hold up the God head Soveraignity in the Manhood So likewise the Spirit herefrom did teach us that we should strive to reach to the heart of Iesus in Spirit Here did meet me this Objection But how shall we thus abstractedly have access in our Spirits to our 〈…〉 is in his Personalâ—â—y all 〈…〉 and we in bodies of 〈…〉 so that we know not how to meet him This Question was thus resolved me These Pipes like Iacob's Ladder were fixed for descending Powers to descend through them It is granted that we cannot reach up to our Lord till we have a full grown Spiritual Body Therefore this mystical way of conveyance is contrived to bring us up to that high degree of fellowâ—hip with the Trinity though no congruity there be as to the visible Body Yetâ— there is that Spirit in us which by the drawing down this Life sustenance may recover its ancient sublime and paradysical Body which consisteth not of Flesh Blood and Bones
will verily work it self through And the more wise and excellent in Spirit shall first see it and feel its rising effects upon themselves as their Birth-Star Which shall multiply unto the seventh Number which only qualifies to stand within the Circle Throne of the Most Holy The seven Stars which are mentioned to be held in the hand of Jesus your mighty Prince of Peace are to be distributed as the Badge or Inscription of such as shall be so perfected for a free pass into the Jerusalem-glory there to be in Oneness with him without robbery to their Kingly Priest in all his Thronely Principality and to be added to the enrolled numbers of the Ancients which are come to be Victorious over the World through great Tribulation So ye will be followers of him through this Rising Star Iuly the 17th 1677. The Seven Ascending Steps This Morning the Living Word spake in me Thou dost not yet sound the meaning and depth of that which is further to be understood of the Residue of the Spirit but I am come to search and give thee further knowledge herein As thus the Golden Cask of this Rich Oyl hath been in part let forth seven Pipes for the venting hereof are as an Emblem to present the seven Spirits that hereout do proceed Now well observe how many of these Spirits have been drawn out of the Golden Vessel which represents the Body of the Deity either in the foregoing or present Age and you will see what is come and what is yet more to come till the seventh Number be finished First consider the Prophecies and Promises how they run in the Scripture Roll. The Spirit is distinguished with seven Properties or Operations and Working-powers each of these Spirits hath their Office and Ministration as dividing to each one in the Body of the Spirit according to the measure of the Gift of Christ. As First The Promise of Grace and Supplication is to empty out it self Then a Spirit of Love Joy and Peace is the second Thirdly a Spirit of Consolation of Prophesie and Revelation Fourthly A Spirit of Councel and Sound Mindedness Fifthly A Spirit of Truth Wisdom and Knowledge Sixthly The Spirit of Faith for Heating Internally and Externally and doing thereby Miracles of all kinds The Seventh This is a Creating Spirit that goeth forth to give Being and Existency to what seemeth not to be it works on this hand and on that and yet nothing which is inferiour unto it self can it see It works all in a silent still way what it speaks it effects and what it effects speaks forth what it is It needs no Orator to go before it to declare from whence this Holy Breath of Almighty Power doth move it resteth where it will yet unseen yet felt known tasted to good purpose where-ever it abides it being the head principle Spirit that governeth and sendeth out the foregoing Spirits and uniteth them into one entire Spiritual Body Now said the Most Holy Inspirator I have here shewn to you the seven Ascending Steps by which you must come up to your Mansion Glory to your Throne Dominion to be what you were designed for to be from before all Worlds Come now and see what process you have made hereunto and how many Degrees ye have taken Comforted ye may be who do ascend up here together in Faith though many attempts and that strong ones have been to pull you down and to prevent your further ascent But be strong and resolute this day from that power already received that you may go up and stand upon that last pâ—ved stone of Wisdoms strength and might Which will bring Majesty and Honour to you but Horror Confusion and Shame to what ever hath sought hence to draw and plunge you in with them into the dark center of this dismal Sphere The which evermore fear and avoid as the Dragon's Cell where he loves to dwell Iuly the 18th 1677. This day much refreshment from the bright beaming Countenance of my beloved Lord through free converse with him came thereby to my Spirit My Spirit being moved to plead propriety in what the Father had given unto him Whom after the way of Spiritual Sight I did behold a smiling Face looking through a ray like to the Sun and a voice spake I will see you Face to Face that you may hear my voice then will your Joy be daily full Then this word I did hear It is well you now do believe that all Spirit and Mighty Power is with me to provide for those whom my Father hath given me in charge I am no engrosser to my self of this Ierusalem treasury but do will that ye should be joint-heirs with me in the same Body of Glory But it is the vehement strong thirsty Ones who can draw out that Life which I now do live in and that in the highest degree of Perfection Which makes me stand up in the head fountaincapacity to impower gifts of great consequence according as you are able to partake of them Oh that you would lie close in your Spirits to that Breast which is in pain by reason of its fulness till it hath emptied it self with the sweet lusciousness of the Gospel Milk When tasted it will make you be always lingring and strongly desiâ—ous hereof The office of my Spirit is like a true and faithful Nurse to lay and to give the Mouth of your own Eternal Born-Spirit hereunto but then of it self it must draw and ye must not be discouraged though at first it doth not come so flush But some pains must be taken by you in this Spiritual Exercise before the Breast of Life will open fluently But when herein you have once got the victory the Bottles of Heaven will run free emptying forth the very marrow and strength of the Deity What else think ye can make great strong and powerful in the Divine Nature but this very Life-substance which by the Mouth of the Spirit highly magical is constantly attracting Then will ye be answered in what you have been so long in Soul-travel for Iuly the 19th 1677. This word was with me early in the Morning Pass on ye Worthies of the Lord through all measures of my Spirit till you come to all seven Degrees Rest not in the shallow parts or streams before ye come to float in the place of the Broad-waters where the Spirit will be to you unmeasurable For though it is an undiscernable strength yet in it lieth the whole omnipotent force both of saving and destroying creating and nullifying This Power will be inherent in them upon whom the seven united Powers shall rest and dwell Which indeed will make you excel the very Angels as to dignifying Power which never was their natural dowry as it was yours in the beginning but that you have lost through sin and earthliness entring in which hath made you thus feeble impotent and weak that you can do nothing till these my seven Spirits do come each one gradually in
Prove me herein if I do not answer to that Conjugal Marriage-state after which you do make I will be yours as you are mine and free from all others No cause of jealousie shall be ministred on my part for as a sealing witness you may daily read me as ye are fixed with the pure ointment for to dip your finger in and therewith annoint your Eyes that so ye may have a right and clear sight of me and of all that is of a Celestial Nature and that is set out for your more pleasant and full rejoycing as you shall take up your living in me Oh here I do invite you as my Bride to make your abode Let all know who have their habitation in this World of distress and confusion that ye have found out a rest which is far more excelling being lodged in the Bosom of the Triune Soveraignty that can command all great and good things to satisfie you as ye remain in constancy Therefore over all this Worlds Temptations maintain victory that ye may inherit with your Bridegroom revenues of Crowns Princedomes Principalities over all universally in the Marriage Knot of Unity August the 27th 1677. Then there was presented unto me a fine piece of Wrought Work that was given one to take out and one said they could never learn it without going to some skilful one to teach them therein Then heard I a grave wise Person say No find it out of thy self Stir up the Gift which is within thee that is sufficient hereunto and thou wilt have the glory of it rest upon thee August the 28th 1677. An Interpretation was given to me of this Vision and thus it was interpreted That this Vision alluded to and did present the Workmanship of God renewed in Christ Jesus and so successively in those who are created again in him Now the draught without is Christ the Lord in all his holy and perfect Deportment as he lived without sin in this World in that he is become our example that according as it is written we might be as he was in this World Now this Pattern of Perfection was given to us but the curiosity and difficulty thereof put us to whom it was offered to a plunge not knowing how to take it out without a Guide And so likely we might spend and run out our whole time before we had attained half thereof always learning and yet not perfected Therefore while I was in this demur a word came to me This skill must spring from that New Birth within Yet it is in vain for any by imitation ever to attempt the Christ-like Life till they be born again As that grows up to the degree of Divine Capacity so it will be all perceiving and will aptly find out the Mystery of a God's likeness though incarnate in this terrestrial State Where Precepts and Patterns of Evil are continually inviting so that ye are in danger of taking a wrong Pattern out But this pure Birth in you will prevent that for it scents all what is of this Principle as a putrefactious life and therefore flies from it to its own express incorruptibility For which will proceed Gifts and Powers answerably to what your Head Pattern here acted marvelously Look to it for the Root of this Matter must rise from within your own inward holy ground Call up the Ghostly Power of Might that lieth hidden there and then ye may be able to produce the same wonderful working piece according to the form of the New Creation which must bear down and outdo all which came in by the fall Then was it further given me to know that there would be a trial and probation made of what ever was wrought it must be brought to the view of the Impartial Judge whose rejoycing it will be to pass the Sentence of Justification found in the imitation both of the Death and Life from the Birth Spirit which was in Jesus and is now entred into us to bring forth the same express Workmanship in all glorious variety as in the dying so in the rising conquering reigning Life Which is not to be manifested barely by Words but by mighty Deeds and Works from the Alpha and Omega Whose day of Love Light Peace and Joy is already working known and felt in the New Born August the 29th 1677. This Night I saw my self making hard towards a place wherein I was assured of all desirable good as relating to Company and Place And as I was striving to reach thereto there came a stubborn prancing Horse in a Cart and there was one went by to guide him but the Horse was so headstrong that he would no way be governed but would run in a hostile way towards the Gate that gave entrance into this secure place Seeing which I ran with all might and hast lest I should be stopped and just as I was entring in at the passage he came furiously upon me to grind me with the Wheels So that I was put to it hard but I passed through to great admiration as if I only had a Spirit without a Body so swift was my escape out of this danger For I saw it a perfect design to have prevented my going in then took I care of the well minded Person that would have otherwise ruled this head-strong Beast if he could have managed him but such was his inkindled rage that he would stand cross the Gate to hinder him that was to be his Governour from following after me But he wisely crept upon his Knees under the Cart and so got in and shut the Gate upon this tyrannical Beast This Vision had a considerable speaking in it unto us when we cannot but understand there is a foreseeing watchful Eye that does warn us of all evil occurrences that may ensue while yet we are but in our travelling way True it is we are running hard to enter within the everlasting Gate but much lumber and stuff there is which hath loaded the Cart of the Mind which is drawn by the prancing Horse of the Will that doth drive furiously and will not be under check or controul by that which doth see its danger This Principle with all its cares businesses and employs are dangerous to step in as a grinding Wheel to prevent our passing into that pleasant place Where not any of those Inhabitants are found in any working dress For they lived there by a Creating Breath that renews all fresh supplies There needed neither Building nor Planting nor Vine-dressing nor Seed-sowers for it was uttered by voice to me that passed through me This is the place of Iehovah's rest Who so can get through hereinto shall have cessation from all their works considered as they relate either to the Mind interiour taking thought or concern about its Salvation or to the Body exteriour for Food and Raiment Health or whatever else makes the Life worth living in it is to be here But then my Spirit objected Ah my Lord who ever could pass in here
possession him who is the Author and Spring of this Almighty Faith that can do whatever it pleaseth Therefore it is said seek and ye shall find that is we must grow from one ground of Faith to another and not give over as fainting and disponding till we ascend from Faith to Faith so near to the heart of God our Father as to affect him with such Faith as worketh by Love that so the grand mystery of tâ—â—s all-effecting Faith may be both revealed and dispensed as a Gift unto us and then we have the Substance of whatever hath been hoped for September the 29th 1677. As the Doctor was in Prayer this word passed through me Ye shall be marked with the Fathers Name then no slaughtering weapon can harm you Upon which word I much exercised my Mind diving to know the Spirits meaning what that Mark would be and after what manner it might be imprinted on us And I as attended with all heedfulness the rising Spring of pure Revelation it was thus given me to understand That to be marked with the Father's Name is no less than to be transformed into a Virgin Body The bearing of this Name in the Forehead was shewn to me would be the putting on a visible Form of God as considered in a glorified Figure Which may admit of such a kind of pure matter as hath not been seen or understood therefore it is well said none can know or conceive what they may be changed into Iohn in his Visions saw the Lord in several appearances of Lustre and Glory There are degrees of Celestial Clothing Esaiah had a sight of God that made him cry out he was undone seeing the disprotionableness betwixt the brightness of a sparkling Glory to a dark polluted Being Likewise Ezekiel saw the flaming Majesty of Glory that the very Seraphims covered their Faces at Upon which the Spirit did set it home upon me that we might not over-rate our selves while the Lamp of our Eternal Spirits were but yet under the covert of a dark earthly Pitcher For no Glory can shine out till that be broken away from the internal Flame that lieth hid within Which is the true and right begotten Spirit who when it comes to call over its high and eternal pre-existency considering what it was before it came into this Body and taking in the Divine Sense hereof is not at rest while yoaked and hanked with such course and putrified matter as these fleshly Bodies do consist of Seeing therefore a Promise is left us both in general and in particular for returning in to such a refined corporeity as may best agree with the pure Trinity Let us draw up hereunto with full assurance of Faith that so we may hereby reach to this all-securing Mark which will redeem us from among the Inhabitants of the Earth and give us entrance to our own Heavenly Place What is it that hath made all to die and leave their Carcases unchanged in the Region of this Wilderness but the resting satisfied in that corruptible form of Flesh in all its diseased properties There hath been only a talk and a belief concerning a Redemption but all the highest have reached no further than a Regeneration in Part and an illuminating of the Mind But where is there that fair Image of the Heavenly that shall never fade nor die that our Lord verifies he would raise up in the last day Which was declared to me to be a Resurrection out of the Grave of that Mortal Body which at present we visibly carry as a Sepulcher in which there may mistically lie hid such a Spiritual Body as only the Trumpet sound of all-powerful Faith can bring forth into visibility That so to some it may be given to see the breaking through of that which may resemble the Glorified Figure of him who is the First-born from the dead This is that Body in which the Lord Christ did the Will of his Father and we can never expect to go on to do it but in the like Figure of all-powerful Spirituality In which the Life-quickning Spirit may have a suitable Organical Body to actuate it self according to â—ts own original purity Who by coming into a terrestrial Form that is only animated by a Life which is from this visible Element causeth the great contest and strife so as the Spirit cannot do or act according to its own eternal property The which we now coming to understand do see how by this animal Life of sense we are bounded and limited from this we are made to seek after our disappeared and paradisical Body And truly were it not for the provocation and strong instigation which I feel again from him who would be unto us altogether this immaculate body I have enough strong Temptations from my sensitive part to acquit all such hopes and expectations and to be satisfied with a mixed state as to the one part heavenly and the other part earthly the whole term of Life here But having had so many remembrances by Voice and Vision that constrained me to pry into this Mystery and having many Testimonies from the Holy Scriptures to confirm what was secretly revealed which came in and were opened to me to prove the certainty and and lawfulness of such a Hope as cannot make ashamed I am not suffered to let go the Faith and shall only in brevity mention those which were brought before me As first That of the 17 of Matt. Christs own Transfiguration as the first fruits of this New Ierusalem state Then that of the 3d of Iohn 6 7 8 verses That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit though this hath been hitherto understood only of the Birth of the Mind and of the Souls Regeneration yet a much deeper thing hath been manifested to me to which I must give ear to wit the Fleshly Birth brings forth the Feshly Body but the Spirits Birth brings forth a Spiritual Body I am not ignorant of the many Objections that will be made against most of these Scriptures by all such as only do look through the vail of sense Then again that of the 1st of the Cor. 15. beginning at the 12th verse to the end of the Chapter That whole Chapter is to be understood according to a transforming sense Then the 2d of the Cor. 5th Chapt. 1 2 3 4. all which shews the expectation of the Apostle in this matter Then again Rom. 8. 23. v. waiting for the Adoption to wit the redemption of our Body That of Iohn 6th Chapt. 49th verse Your Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness and are dead 50th verse This is the Bread that cometh down from Heaven which a man may eat thereof and not dye 58th verse This is that Bread which came down from Heaven not as your Fathers did eat Manna and are dead he that eateth of this Bread shall live for ever These pretious Scriptures did fully learn and satisfie me that
Order who can behold with great freedom the Face of God and may have room to continue among that Royal Society Then search and try your selves hereby whether you have this Faith of Activity which will go forth in all Spirit and Life There hath been a great mistake about that which is called Saving Faith whenas there hath been no Salvation wrought by it because the old form of a sinful Body hath not been put off thereby the whole professing Number of Christianity hath very much dâ—ceived themselves in a dead actless Faith but to you it is given to search and seek that ye may find the quickning Spirit of Faith Which ye shall know by its working effects St. James in his Epistle gives a true Character of it when he speaks of Abraham 's Faith which was evidenced by Works by which Faith was perfected Henceforth saith the true Author of it Let mighty Works and Deeds justifie the Spirit of belief according to what degree it is risen Contend for the ancient prerogative which was with the Saints of old for it is that Energy of God by which all in you must be created new to the magnificency of your Saviour who will first appear to you by this Spirit of Faith that so you may raise your own dead and set at Liberty that which hath groaned under the first Adamical Birth This pure extraction of Spirit may have a hidden Birth in those who are in the Life of perfect Charity and they not know at first that this worthy Gift is there For the very hour and time of this Golden Balsom droping in may not be perceived by the Vessel or Person that receiveth it As Christ told Nichodemus that this Holy Breath none could perceive its coming in or going out so Christ in the Spirit doth again confirm this word And this Councel is given to you who are stirred up here for to wait seek and pray know it may be with you e're you are a ware Your Obedience will be fulfilled in sending up constant flames of Love to the fountain heart of the Blessed Trinity In which at one time or other the Breath of the Holy Ghost will mingle and then in pure humility you may try to excite its Power forth so as it may be brought into no derision But first find such ability as your Lord did when he said Lazarus come forth which was Faiths undeniable Seal which both lawful and expedient is for the Lambs followers to receive Be you now then such as need not be ashamed of this lively Hope and steddy Profession of this Faith of God as an Inspiring Breath which will certainly give a high and wonderful witness No impossibility in this Vocation will be understood because its Working Tool is the Creating Word After this free and open discovery let into my Mind I found Faith and Love winged up as a Twin Spirit springing that if possible this superexcellent Gift might be so given unto us that confession might be made to the Lord that this Spirit of Faith is truly risen therefore great and mighty things do shew forth themselves though for a long season it hath been hidden October the 9th 1677. The Interpretation of the Vision upon the first day of October As to this Vision the Interpretation thereof plainly is read in the Book Within which beareth the living Testimony hereunto signifying those living Acts of Faith which sometimes have carried our Spirits up to Elijah's Hill Where not only Batteries are from the potent King of this low Region but he doth make war with and by his Agents as taking notice we are those which do separate from his Kingdom Therefore we may expect nothing less but a Beleagering throughout especially when they perceive that we are such as would overturn that indeared Life of Sense that hath been maintained so long in its range in opposition to Faith's Sâ—veraignty But while here we stand like Elijah upon Faith's Mount we can command Invisible Bands Chariots and Horsemen of Fire that will come in to help upon Faith's Alarm and so shall all weapons of War be frustrated Therefore fear not ye who are upon Faith's Ground saith the Almighty But the word of his Councel thus spake in me rather beware of those more close and subtile Enemies that are within your own house which will every moment make war upon those lofty aspirings and ascensions of Faith they are more dangerous Enemies who can so swiftly raise indeed up the strong Forts of Reason and can display all their Faith-destroying Arrows to wound the Heart and Life thereof Threatning if ye still hold out and will not again descend into the gulf of Sense then ye must be liable to the peril of Famine Nakedness Poverty and all kind of Reproach If ye will not yield to the Laws of Reasons Kingdom such Destructions must necessarily befall you Now then for caution said the Spirit of Life cast up the Accounts of present and future times and in the clear Eye of Light thou both backward and forward maist make discovery that such Arguments as these have frighted down thousand thousands of Souls which otherwise would have kept Faiths Ground Therefore at this very day among the professing part of Christianity such a Faith is only of reputation as will not expose to loss shame and disgrace but can fall in and hold correspondency with what is agreeable to the animal Body But hearken ye who do so much search after this life consider if you will adventure up to this Hill what shots not only from the World below but what will break in as Floods from all dark Centers to bring you back to live in the warm habour of Sense and Reason Then this word further arose from the pure motion saying Therefore now that ye are diving for this pretious thing I would that no mistake should be upon your Mind if you would come to recover that Life that Adam had Which was indeed an unmixed Life of Faith before the relapse did take hold upon him I say if ye will fix your Minds to this Life then stay and lean your selves upon this Faith-alsufficiency and do not think to carry two Lives in one Body that are contrary to each other For this Spirit of Faith can only agree with what is willing to bow and be all friendly with it as a suitable Maâ—e unto it Canst thou saith the Spirit of Faith walk out as Abraham Isaac and Elias did with me they saw nothing before them as to the visible but Earth and Air and yet nothing mistrusted but confided in what was not seen who therefore were abundantly recompensed Such as these who have put out the Eye of their Sense and have thrown away the Crutches of Reason doth the Spirit of Faith seek to walk with that so they may live upon Hony out of the Rock October the 10th 1677. There was this Morning a place presented to me like a Garden where many sorts of Flowers were
or Iron with Gold The Spirit of this Heart is most subtle penetrating bubling and still flying upward above all low things As its Birth is from the Heart of the Deity so there again it will live Truly at the consideration that there is such a Heart to be given my Spirit is in an astonishment Therefore I call all ye Throne-Angels and Seraphims to be with me in wonderment that such a Heart shall come in any one to be fixed substantially For what less will this come to but the making good of that saying of the Lycaonians who said to Paulâ— The God's are come down in the likeness of Men. For as the Heart is so is the Man a Godlike Heart overturns the whole Course of Nature and changes all into another Scheme answerable to the first moving Cause Which sends forth Life and heat into all parts as naturally so spiritually for the existency of the divine Nature And further it was given me to know that it was a renewed act Creation A drop let fallen from the Heart-blood of God for Life inkindling into such in whom the Virgin Crystal Mold is formed that here for hath been making way in preparation through many Washings and Cleansings and Heart-relinquishings For this Word came closely unto me from the Lord and home to me Suffer and endure ye must who are looking for the gift of this New heart Such a breaking up of the Old as a dying man when his heart-strings are loosening This is the true mystical Death this is to be a dead man indeed which many have sought but could never find Because they did not strike at the heart-root for so long as there is life remaining it will Send forth it sin-reviving Effectâ— For what if thou shouldest cut off this that member yet life may be at heart still and then what avails hewings and hackings and suppressing the root of the evil life being still there The work is never done because the life of sin is still sending forth one bitter â—ume or other to pain and afflict what would be at ease and rest Now what remedy can for this be considered said the Holy One but the plucking up and breaking the very heart-strings that its Life may be a Sacrifice to divine Justice for so it must be both a passive and an active Offering for the Sin that hath been commited in the body of the flesh Which mystery hath not been understood but know it for an everlasting Truth Let not the Sentence of this Death be grevious because it will certainly usher in some what that will be Equivalent to the deep springing heart of the Deity whereout issues of Life Love Joy and Peace will flow They thou shalt know no more strife sorrow or pain because the root of all this is by death taken away Therefore Repent not that ye are entring into the very way Fear not to fail the old heart melting for when that faileth another heart and Spirit will be given Which is of that strength courage and perfection as that ye shall be spirited for the great and primary business and for the work of trust for God and the Lamb. So all may see what the effect of this New Heart will visibly produce in you November the 23d 1677. This Morning I was in a very deep and secret consultation with the holy inspiring Word concerning this great Change For this is but yet known in us how that every motion and thought springs from the mixed heart But now great searching thoughts were how we if possible by any means might attain to this perfect Heart which was all clean within For it was made equivalent that hereby would be the whole overturning of the old Creation making way for the new in each one in working a through demolishment For which this Word of advice was given Let it not seem incredible unto you that the old Heart shall fall away though it is as thy Life-Essence where that Law is engraven which hath brought all into perdition At the release of which a wonder working Heart shall be planted in its place in great renown Therefore watch daily hereupon for believe affuredly that this Covenant will be made good as ye have Faith to believe that the old stony Heart shall be rolled away which only hath kept and would still prevent this Heart rising far Where new Laws according to the new frame of things shall be understood by such a chosen Priesthood as all of Spirit shall be compacted and by Gods own Heart-strings of Love stand everlastingly together tied as Christ's perfect Spouse and Bride Now then hoist up your Sails of Faith and keep upon the broad Waters of Love's deep that spring from the silent Desart till all full Treasures of Joys and Peace shall upon you meet November the 24th 1677. This Morning after much sweet Communion had in a Contemplative way with him who is invisible I saw of a suddain a Rock fashioned out like an Arch whereinto a way was made to pass and it was pretty spacious At the first it seemed to be somewhat dark which made me fear to enter in but presently a Table was there upon which was a blazing Light and it then became all shining and exceeding lustrous to invite into it But about the Light there did appear a company of dark coloured Flyes which flâ—ttered so about it as that they would have obscured the Light but as they came up to it they were consumed by it So considering these divine Idea's the Word came saying Enter ye hereinto whom the sacred Vow of Separation is upon For here is a Munition-Rock for your Security Oh that here you may be hid and hope and quietly wait for the Birth of the pure and perfect Heart In which ye shall see the Face of God whose Voice may be frequently heard in this secret place therefore Love here to abide for here is the Heavenly stillness November the 26th 1677. The whole employ and exercise of my Mind was now to have the old Heart transmitted into a new one according as it is meet 〈◊〉 because therefrom the perfect New Creature is formed with all new and fresh Organical Senses and Affections proper for Communion with the highest purity and goodness As it was shewn me that the Heart and Spirit that movâ—th and acteth the old Creature is capable to comprehend nothing higher then what lieth within the circumference of its own Sphere and low Birth of Life that only reacheth to things that are seen and knowable by the highest graduated Life of Reason which is altogether to seek in matters Celestial and Eternal Now that we might come to know the Invisible only wise and everlasting God our Father it must be through the medium of such a Spirit as may be the very conceptive part of the New Heart From which springs a clear Light that giveth understanding in the mystery of God and in what relates to the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Which
safety though the whole Earth be laid in desolation Oh thou mighty Shield of Faith bear us up upon thy Wing Let thy Word oh Jesus which saith Come to me be sufficient to make us tread upon the Sea keeping off every boisterous Wave that would make us doubt Now then upon the broad Rivers oh mighty God let us come to thee and be afraid of no Flesh that would hurt or oppress Let thine who are environed with the Spirit 's Might make that only their Anchor-hold evermore December the 13th 1677. Do ye wait and expect the Word that was made Flesh fully to imbody in Spirit that so an engrafted Word may come to spring in you to Create new things and to command all old to depart away All this the Word God must do that is after a Creating manner December the 14th 1677. This Morning there was brought to my internal sight a Ring or Circle which was like a Jasper-stone for Light and sparkling Glory and within the Ring or Circle a Face of great splendour and Majesty did shew it self as in the twink of an Eye and withdrew again But this Word followed This is the Door that hath neither beginning or ending through which ye must enter Consider now and consult with what manner of Body it must be for nothing of a corruptible Form can ever pass here December the 16th 1677. As we were waiting together this Word came The Lord himself is come forth to serve you with the Bread and Wine as the great High-Priest to communicate and his Body to break which accordingly was experienced Therefore it is good at the Altar still to attend that so the holy Breath may there kindle the pure Flame through which may open his precious Name December the 18th 1677. An Interpretation of the former Vision In the Night my Spirit was carried inward taking in several Ideas of Heavenly things into my mind pressing hard to pass into the Circle-Door of Life But a sweet still Voice did eccho in me saying That pure thing only which through this Circle-Eye of Eternity did come down into Nature can be the Door of Entrance again as it circleth in its Blood-Life and thereby raise up it self and quicken it self into such a Spirituality as ye need to ask no leave to enter back to your own proper Place from whence your immortal part did proceed For now the Eye that is fixed in you will be both your Guide and Entrance hereinto if ye in Union will ever more with it keep and concur with it Then it shall carry and lodge you in the Bosom-Circle of Eternity as in a fiery Chariot The four Wheels upon which this Chariot doth move are Faith Hope Joy and Peace These will bear away the Lilly Branch to be planted where it may green and never fade because the River of Life runneth there evermore Oh when shall we be severed by this Chariot who would see it gladly that we may conclude thy Heart dear Jesus is towards us and that thou wilt live no longer without us For seeing none can enter into this Circle-Eye but in this Flaming Chariot that doth move upon four Wheels Let not the principal Agent be wanting but that all may concur together in us by that Ghostly Might that may give a suddain Flight to see that all satisfying Face which will make us feel everlasting pleasure And that no mortal things shall sever us from thee or come any more as a Vail between the Spouse and her everlasting King to hide the entring Door of Life December the 20th 1677. Great eagerness of Soul was renewed for the passing in through the Needle-Eye of the Glorified Humanity The Zeal and Love did wonderfully hereunto concur so as to devour and eat up all those strong Reasonings of Contradiction that else would be working in the Mind From which being in a good degree cleared through the Mystery of Faith working by the Spirits operation great calmness of Mind was known In which time the Circle-Eye did open again encompassing me round with waving white Clouds and one did descend and did pass through the bright Circle as an Arrow for swiftness in the Figure of a clear Body with a Branch in his Hand the Leaves whereof were shining as Gold the Fruits were as a Cluster were in variety of Fruits were growing together It was reached out and a Voice did after the manner of a Spirit speak saying This is Fruit from the Tree of Life that is now planted in the Land of Beulah Eat hereof and give forth and be blessed in it for ever Presently I did feel sensibly a little strengthning Virtue come in which I would have conveyed to another after a Magical and Spiritual way that was at a distance While I was in thoughtfulness hereupon the same Person was presented to me as if he had already hereof partaken for there was strengthning Meat given into his Hand wherewithal I did see him feed a Bird that flew gaping to him being all craving and hungry chirping still as it was fed at his Hand December the 21st 1677. After all which I was to attend the Effects of every such presentation This Morning I found my Mind wholly disposed for Introversion Upon which the Vision was more opened unto me For the Spirit did talk with me telling me that this was a manifestation to shew the Care Love and Friendship of our mighty Throne-Prince who does as truly convey the transmuting fruit invisibly from himself as the Tree of Life That so the introduced Birth of Spirit might grow and encrease it being its own natural nourishment without which it cannot live till it come up to a strong mans degree For that which is born of God doth feed only upon what may transform into a God-like Being Which is the Lord Christs office and business to heigten up to that that so there might not be any loss sustained by the fall of the first Adam in those who by this living Word are quickned again unto Life For it was opened unto me that none could be capable of this high kind of feeding but those in whom Christ was spiritually formed For this was all spicy and sacred virtual power to bring forth such Celestial new Creatures as may ascend up with the same swiftness as that Seraphim which did come down For it was said to such who are changed all Spiritual that inviting Word doth stand for ever good whosoever will to them the Door stands open to come themselves and take of the Tree of Life most freely And they will have the honour to bring down and give forth Heavenly Tasts and from their divine Bodies will go forth the healing Virtue As it was opened to me that these Golden Leaves had in them the Balsamick Cure to restore to a perfect divine Body where from all Soveraign Power should proceed immaculately according to that high state which our Lord is now in in the Body of Glory Therefore this Counsel and Word
of Comfort was given that we should here cast the Anchor of Hope for the passing through every Door of our own Senses till we had got beyond the Vail of Flesh into the circle-Circle-Body of the Holy Ghost which is appointed for our present Mansion and Dwelling Where no more working Source shall open to disturb our Peace and Joy Our Life sustainment shall be effected by the holy Seraphim day by day till the half time shall fully be expired Then it is given me to see and to believe that guarded along we shall be out of the Wilderness by this Angel of God's presence who hath promised he will not leave us but see us safe within the Everlasting Gate This is only the charge that is left us to observe at present that we keep the Inward Court of our Minds from all polluted things and as hollowed Vessels to take in what from God's own Table as a daily portion is sent in Who will never fail to give what shall seal us for the day of this full redeeming Power Therefore upon this promise we are to hope and quietly wait for he will come with the shout of a King to the pure and Virgin-Spirit wherein Love and Faith have looked for him Therefore be not weary not faint in your minds for to you the Son of Righteousness will appear for full Salvation December the 22d 1677. This Morning I saw a Hand with a Pen writing upon a little Square like Steel or Slade which was repeated to me saying Despise not that holy degree to which my Spirit hath wrought you Know ye not that the Holy thing which is rising out of the Center must have time to work through all that dark matter which doth lie in the vail of Flesh. Therefore patiently give way to that which will go its own pace for the Spirit doth well know its own tract And if you wholly trust him for your guide he will bring you to the right Door which shall never more be shut upon you December the 23d 1677. I was invaded in my Mind with that which would have awakened a distrust concerning the Consummation of that perfect degree into which I have been thus far wrought up unto through Internal Purity attained Yet finding the Waves of Sense apt to break in upon this I was made to pray with all vehemency lest the Spark of Faith should hereby be quenched So after much strife this Word came in for comfort saying thou shalt yet Honour the Lord thy God with that substance that will open out of Wisdom's treasury Abide but firm and unmoveable in the Heavenly Calling from which expect the Blessing of the encrease for the bringing in of that which will assuredly bring joy and ease to the heavy and oppressed in Mind December the 24th 1677. My Spirit deeply sympathized with one that was in travel with me for the Revelation of Christ's Heavenly Kingdom Who in bindings and spiritual droughts famine passing often through with me therefore obliged to be fellow-helpers of each other in every Hour of Tryal and Temptation I besought the Lord and made enquiry on his behalf and this Word on his behalf was given in saying I have heard the bemoaning of Ephraim against whom a Confederacy of Spirits have been working but they shall all be broken as a Potters Vessel while he in Love and Faith adhereth fearingly to my living Word Then know that he the Ephraim may of the Righ-hand Blessing come through all Tribulations to stand in Victory with the Lamb upon the Mount of Joy and Liberty To which dear Lord bring him through all that which would hold him under and depress him Oh that oily Pool that can soon the dark stone dissolve let it rise and spring that we may find our way made free and clear up unto thee forever to be conversant in Spirit with thee all Heavenly One December the 25th 1677. This Word visited me saying How great is the goodness that is treasured up for those that love and long for the mighty God and the everlasting Saviour Therefore dress and trim your selves every Day for your Bridegroom who doth take great pleasure to find you all comely sitting at the deep Manifestation Gate and there waiting Oh sweet Jesus if thou wilt this Gate open and give us out thy Love from thence then we will not remove because of the sweet and pleasant savour that do's issue forth from thee Oh come with all pulling force that as a bright Cloud we may be of a dissolving Nature for all Love's impressions from thee that we our selves may be one with thy Celestial Nature unchangeably December the 26th 1677. This Word was opened in me this Morning saying After all knowledge and believing in him with whom your superiour Life lieth hid Now your great business and concern is to travel for its manifestation in and according to redeeming Power By which it may appear in its own native liberty and act for it self in Soveraignity as having put on the Lord Jesus as your Cloathing of Power For nought else will commend you in the sight of Men. December the 29th 1677. Upon the Consideration of A. W's Prophecy it was advised me that we should have no part with her in divine Justice nor be Agents in the avenging property in desiring Plagues and Vials of Wrath to come so immediately upon the Formal Churches It was shewn me that it was not the Time nor the Manner revealed yet how they should be overturned God had permitted her though a Lamb of Christ's Fold to be sifted and tryed through the opening of a Center from whence Spirits did strongly thus prophecy as to the time and manner and did upon her Spirit impress the time and so deceived her herein The Lord restore her and give her a more distinct discerning of Spirits from the several Centers from which Sounds and Voices do proceed The Kingdom of Love cryed the Voice in me is that which will open and be strong to prevail Even that Ministration of Love shedding abroad by the Holy Ghost is to drown and quench the Wrath and Angels that are strong and powerful in the Compassionate Love the Lamb of God will raise up to be eminent for trust in the agitating and managing of the great Spiritual Affairs belonging to his Priestly Kingdom that is upon its revealing to be more visible and shall mightily prosper in the hand of such who are the pure and meek of the Earth Who thereby do open the Love-Center whereout the Unction of Prophecy and true Revelation do's infallibly proceed for their direction December the 30th 1677. Upon some Considerations which were weighty upon my Mind concerning the daily expectation of that Kingdom which by the Holy Ghost comes to be manifested And calling over many foregoing things which as to this might usher in the Temple-Glory which is so beautiful and desirable to Spirits that are waiting here for it This was shewn me from hence that Vision