Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
spirit_n abide_v able_a manner_n 24 3 4.7946 4 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A49866 A fountain of gardens watered by the rivers of divine pleasure, and springing up in all the variety of spiritual plants; blown up the pure breath into a paradise, sending forth their sweet savours, and strong odours, for soul-refreshing. By Jane Lead.; Fountain of gardens. Vol. 1. Lead, Jane, 1623-1704. 1696 (1696) Wing L783AA; ESTC R212811 225,353 601

There are 31 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

Good Upon which no Corrupter ever came or could come or with any of these Springing Essences was ever mingled hereupon By the Serpent no Poysonable Rays were ever here at all scattered it is a Place which ever from his Eye was hid by the Divine Constellations All which Plants here thou dost see from one Seed do after their kind thus multiply in this Variety Now for the Holy Ointment which I would give thee skill to make Go first to that Bed where the pretious Thyme is included and take there seven Handfuls thereof then take the like quantity of the Baulm of Hope and of the Sweet Majoram of Patience according to the same perfect number as the two former To these let there be also added the Spirit of Mints Power the Eye-bright of All-seeing the Rue of Fortitude and the Hyssop of Purity These do thou gather when the Sun-Beams are in their greatest heighth and Influence and extract the Juice out of them and so dissolve it with the Kidney-Fat of a choice Deer that must be slain on purpose for this use This thou wilt know is to be obeyed and yielded to though it be even thy dear Sensitive Life which for this Composition must be dissolved the Death of which is only Serviceable for so Secret an Use. Hereupon a soft gentle Fire from the Altar is to be taken and then diffuse in the Golden Vessel of the pure Humanity and thou shalt see what a fragrant Restorative Ointment this will come to be whereby all Cures shall be wrought Practitionally the Knowledge of this Art being engrafted in thee as a Natural Scyon co-inherent within thy inward parts to transmute and make all that which was of a divided Property to be of one pure and rarified Sort and Constitution as relating to the healing part which through the whole Manhood is to disperse it self to settle all again in its first Primitive Order Then again here is another secret greatly requisite to be learnt as the Spicy Oil which is the Spirit of Spirits extracted and drawn out from the Seven Spirits mentioned the Ingredients to this are deep and worthy of Inquiry which cannot be illustrated but by way of Metaphorical Description which the wise and apt under Wisdom's Manuduction will soon understand for that all the Materials are lying or growing so close about thee within this Physical Garden which may be called the Eflux of the Deity which evaporateth through every Plant and Tree which groweth here from and by which ye may understand the high and precious Quality of whatever you shall a Composition make out Hereupon did arise a Query Whether it might not be as effectual to take of these Plants and Trees as they naturally grow in themselves for an healing Balsom and Liquor for the restoring of Life without mingling them in a Confectionary way To this I was answered thus by the holy and profound Artist that said Through the uniting of many Spirits Powers and Vertues into one sublime Substance there is produced an Almighty Force and Strength which would not be while they continued in their separated Essences but through the Coagulation by the Hand of Wisdom into one Quintessence it would have its vigorous penetration as in the accomplishment hereof ye may witness if ye wax not saint but persevere with all diligence and not be turned aside though you do meet sometime with the Waters of Strife but hold out or all is lost which already is wrought For I would not that either of you who so voluntarily your selves to me have bound should grow weary till I your Work have crowned having chosen you out of my Olive-Ground to sprout that so ye may to each other empty forth what I your Fountain have blessed you with as a fruitful Womb to bring forth even that mighty Lordly Sprout which will make your Heavens and Earth to shout and all the Hosts of them to praise and celebrate the Rising Star from the East therefore with all fear and care go on and persevere till that all things shall be put under him who is born in you the King of Salem against whom great Conspiracies will be but as he in you shall grow up he shall them all defeat through the Crown of this anointing Oil which I am to shew thee how to make First then come with me into my secret Lebanon where the Beds of Spices are and take thee seven Ounces of the Mace of Grace of like quantity of the Spikenard of Love the Camphore of Peace the Heart-cheering Cloves of the Saffron of Joy the Noble Frankincence of all Faith the Myrrh of Triumphant Victory the Casst of a Sound Mind and Perfect Heart Take all these and put them under the grinding Wheel which maintaineth its uncessant working Motion within thee till they come to be an Oily Substance mixed into one perfect Lump then diffuse all in the Juice of the Pomegranat for a certain time adding hereunto the Powder of Gold of Pervilium which is to be mixed with the Magistery of Pearl and the Ruby-Spirit all which close in a pure Crystalline Bottle into which nothing ever before was put and set it constantly under the Sun-shine of thy Heavens for the perfect Clarification thereof Which at the tenth number will attain to the full height of a Life-quickning Spirit Having taken good notice of this Mysterious Receit I lay'd it up in me as a Precious Jewel resolving to follow the Rules of this Intrinsick one and to make an experiment hereof if by any means it might be brought to a Triune Body of such sublimity All which must be wrought in the Tent of the Virgin-Wisdom where no soiling thing must interfere while this Composition is in doing And only Sanctuary Instruments I did see must be used here Having then order to discharge all out of this Celestial Place no Servant which appertained to the old and first Tabernacle I durst to admit for my aid or help or in any service therein to imploy Now all that are to rest within this Place where the Glory of the Majesty does it self unfold with the first Balsam must be anointed thus to me it was declared Oh the great Purity that I did see was required in ministring about these Holy Things it cutteth off quite from all Intermedlings in a putrified Earthly State the Eye so single and clear is through this Ointment purifying it that it cannot bear any more to behold in it self either Spot Blemish or Wrinkle knowing well none else in the Tabernacle of God's Holiness with him can live Therefore in the Oil of Consecration I am appointed for to abide and to drink of this Liquor of Life which suddenly may ready be through the diligent Hand that prepareth it as I do both feel and see which maketh my Spirit so intent hereupon that while the great Artist is at work I know not how my Eye to take off that so I may be able and skilful after the same manner
Work for we should be tryed and if we were not perfect in One Accord it could not prosper in our Hand and then it were better to engage singly if not clear and cordial as one Then was brought before me something of a staggering which would be very hurtful if at any time it should in either of us prevail before we obtain the fixation in the Body of the Power for it was shewed me there would not want strong belingrings to weaken our Hands in the Work for the whole stress lay upon following and cleaving to our Guide and keeping to the Paradisical Laws which in the Ministration of the Spirit can only be fulfilled Now these things sinking deep upon my Spirit drew forth many Inquiries and Heart-searchings and Suspitions least the Work should in any wise be impeded for I saw the Dragon upon his violence to snatch at the Birth which made me cry O save it out of his Hands and carry us out of his reach Then Wisdom spake this Word No place out of danger but the Ark and Tabernacle where your Strong Hold is the Sanctuary which is provided foryour Refuge Then did I apply my self to ask how long it should be before we might herewith be invironed that so we might no longer be in Fear and Jepordy It was replyed That it is much in our Power both to hasten or to prolong it there was a possibility of a quick Work to be made of it if we would follow it fully intirely with all Might for it was of that nice difficult curious Nature that every Interruption detarded it God could make a Tabernacle to descend ready finished upon thee but it is his pleasure to give thee the Honour of the Workmanship and Building hereof that thou mayst hear and learn of Wisdom how to form and bring forth this inclosed Tent for the God of Jacob to dwell in Then this Query did rise up further in me But seeing the manner of this curious Work O Wisdom is to be effected by a Spiritual Magician who by a Vertual Power must do all in it how can we be capable hereof till we come to be made such For who can make themselves so sublime and perfect as to reach to so high a degree of Wisdom as is required in this Work Truth it is O impotent Spirit without me thou hast no sufficiency therefore this understand I do not insist or require thee to set upon this Matter of so great Consequence nakedly in thy own strength for then soon an abortive thou wouldst make This doth require as great a Skill and Power as the first Heavens and Earth with all the Hosts that did belong unto them which were generated through the deep Spirit of Wisdom's Understanding So know I do call upon this Original Breath infused from my Essential Power and Life which resleth in the Cell of thy Eternal Mind till it be awakned by my Voice sounding as a Trumpet saying Come forth and gird on thy Spiritual Powers and follow me where thou shalt see in what Holy Affairs and Spiritual Work I will employ thee knowing the Gift of Ability which already is given unto thee which now is required to be stirred up to the utmost sufficiency thereof to join the Chariot of thine Internal Spirit with me and so be the Wheel within mine doing only what you see me do who am risen out of thy deep Central Earth all things anew to create Seven Pillars hewn out in the first place here must be for this Perfect Sanctuary all Crystalline out from that Rock which is the Eternal Jasper-Stone Next is that fine-twined Linnen which for Curtains about this Tent is ordered to be imbroidered by the Golden Thread and wrought by the Needle of my Eternal Spirit In the third place it is to be paved all with Molten Gold from that Everlasting Mountain which thou didst see the Covering also of the same Orential Gold must be All which though Metaphorically I do them thus present to thee yet all shall be accomplished in a perfect Mystery as the Deity shall all over-shadow thee who long hath waited this Tabernacle to see perfected in thee that so the Covenant within the Ark might find a place of Security Here thy God will choose to put his Name only Where nothing must come near that is defiling And therefore appointed are over the Thronely Mercy-Seat flaming Cherubims this Holy Place to guard Whose cry is only Holiness to the Lord Most High who within this Tent defires with thee to dwell and with Power Majesty and Glory it to fill but know that here God will admit none into this seperated Court to come but the High-Priest which hath the Crown of the Anointing Oil therefore consider the wonderful Purity that is required when thou comest near to thy God to inquire who will from between the Flaming Seraphims commune with thee in all Matters and Things in which thou art to receive Commands For now the real sum of all that which is required in this thy approach is purity in the highest degree that can be extracted from that Original Sourse out from which floweth the Golden Streams of All-Holiness which will be found within thy self and in their rising so cleanse and sanctifie them all over as therefrom this Holy Tabernacle will it self form and grow upon thee till it shall have swallowed up all foregoing Tabernacles as Aaton's Rod did devour the rest of the Magicians Powers So know that God will be and live intirely to himself within thee as his perfect Tent enduring no Vessel or Instrument or Spirit to come here but what hath the Inscription of Perfect Holiness upon it For who may here ascend but what can dwell in a Flaming Pillar of Fire and not be consumed and be able to say Evermore let me in this sweet aimable pleasant Fire O God with thee abide till I know nothing within me stirring but the Ark of thy Strength and the Power of thy Omnipotency which will be and is the finishing Glory of thy Sanctuary Where unutterably and perpetually my Spirit may be folded up as in an unknown Reservatory within this Holy Place of Purity In order to the attainment of which Perfect State this Word I heard Abstain thou from all Meats which are offered unto Idols and feed upon nothing which is Common or Unclean which is not purged by the Fire that burneth upon my Altar a true Fast ye are to keep in your Spirits from the gross creeping Things and flying Fowls of Imaginations that are apt to flutter in the Air of your Minds and would feed upon that which is hurtful making ye Infirm and Weak for this Tabernacle-Work For as ye are called and chosen to the Order of the Holy Priesthood there to attend instantly Day and Night maintaining the Fire upon the Altar from the pure Spikenard which is to be made up of all Spices into a perfuming Oil this is thy Service to cast herein Fuel or
15. 26. were thus opened to me Here is a stock of Life to be given out in an absolute way of propriety but to whom is it but to the Royal Birth of such as are born into the Spirit Whereof ye who through strong travail are hither come are to be fellow-sharers in this Life with God the Son But ye are yet but young and do not understand what this Life will extend unto if preserved choicely you shall find in it the the root of that matter to work upon which is sufficient to create and translate according to the will and skill of thi●… Life-Operator Which derives a Power out of its own free Birth-center which hath no dependency out of its own Being Call to remembrance that saying Man is become like one of us and he would still have exercised the same authority as a God had the evil been only known and eschewed for which end Jesus hath sent his redeeming Spirit to clear off all your old Accounts as being found in the Debt-Book of Sin and also to convince you there is no necessity that you should run one Mite more upon that score ye being born of a free estate of Righteousness of your own which now you are charged to expend upon For in the time of Ignorance before you came to know what was sown in your Ground ye might be more excused But now I have revealed where doth lie the rich Revenues of the all-sufficiency ye need neither seek ask or borrow did you know ●…ow to stir up and awaken your own Magia Through which all wherein you have been taught must throughly ●…e wrought as the mighty Engineer to bring forth what hath lain under the Vail of Faith and Hope Plunge plunge ●…et deeper in within the Circle-Birth of ●…his pure thing October the 25th 1676. As I was considering of this Discoursive Opening of the Spirit it was immediately confirmed to me by a presentation after this manner The Word said Behold the Idea of another Paradisical Sphear I saw a Tree spring suddenly out of a great River with three laden great Branches then sprang divers more young Plants all sprouting from the Veins or Strings from this one Tree Each one with no more then three Branches but of different growths Some new budded others bearing Flowers in order to Fruits others grown to palpable Fruit. All round about this one Tree Upon which it was said to me These are as so many Gods which are ascended out of the Earth to replenish that which lay void and desolate Here each one hath and is growing up in a Life of Subsistency and Almighty Soveraignty deriving all this Power and Might from the Tree of Life Which sheds its Kernel-Seed into this River for such is the Nature of this Thron-River that it no sooner falls in but it springeth immediately into this threefold Form of the Deity O stagger not neither be confounded at this for except ye had been born again of this Water and Tree of Life that sheds the Golden Seed of the Spirit ye should never have known the existency of a Life-Sove●…aignty Therefore to you not only the ●…ight and Spring of Understanding is ●…iven but the everlasting Life-Line from his Tree doth run free because you have ●…rned in your Spirits and hearkened to ●…y Inspirations But remember your ●…ife hath many subtle treacherous ●…riends that pretend to it that will say ●…s Peter did far be it to thee to give up ●…e loss of all the old Life and only rest ●…bsist and alone depend on this But ●…ow this is but the tempting Voice of ●…e Serpent as in the days of Eve by ●…hose Fall be thou aware And now ●…hile ye are but Infants suck and draw ●…ightily from this Tree of Life and you ●…ill soon grow to be strong to have this ●…se trusted in your own management ●…o you whose Ears are so open to hear ●…e I do greatly delight to commune with ●…ou that if by any means I might encourage you to hold out and not slide back from my Precepts Which will assuredly entrust you in all Zion heights and Spirit depths of unfathomed Treasury Now haste haste to your covering Strength of Glory your Nazarite Hair while abiding in this Paradisical Sphear will soon grow upon you that so therein may be your defence from all Philistines Powers Now then in Jehovah Magnanimity abide with me his Spirit evermore to dwell and be So Amen dear Lord I pray thee October the 26th 1676. Being met together to attend the Manifestation of the Spirit by which we might profit each other in the Afternoon as the Dr. was praying this Word came to me Make use of the present Opportunity when ye have the King at the Banquet then is the time to prefer your Request Upon which wa●… brought to my remembrance the wise P●…licy of Esther to King Ahasuerus Which that Night was more opened enlarged and applied for our present and further Peace Joy and Encouragement to follow on to know the whole Counsel of our God concerning us who now revealeth all Secrets by the Spirit who presented Mordecai in the Person of himself being left to him as Orphans The whole trust care and charge being cast upon this faithful Mordecai to bring us up to that degree of Humility Meekness Courage Zeal of Life and to all sweet Spiritual Disposition of Mind that the King the Father might greatly desire us for herein consisteth our Beauty and Comliness which is so taking Vashti was refused because of Arrogancy and Disobedience but Esther finds favour being mild and pliable yielding to her Guardians Commands though to the peril of her Life So assuredly said this Comforter Be ye but wise and obedient to me who will put you upon nothing but what I do fore-see will arise for your great promotion and considerable advantage as ye my dictates shall obey Who do make use of this History of the Scripture yet that my Mind may be more easily understood you not being able to bear nor understand me in my own Tongue till further learned For which I am come down to your understanding through the Skreen of the Letter October the 27th 1676. Now this Morning it was set before me according to the Example of Esther that for a certain time it was expedient that we should sanctifie our selves by a true Fast in pure Abstinency from their Assembly-Feasts 2dly From tasting any thing that is ministred from this gross Element but to draw apart from all keeping our Internal part from being defiled shutting up from all reminding only the overturn of Haman's device That great subtle Adversary that had laid the Plot against the new introduced Life to cut it off before the King had put Honour upon it to bring it through the City-Royal upon his own Eagle-Body of Power Now seeing the malicious design of the Serpent with all his Confederacy was gone very far in this matter there was no other way to reverse the
Scripture And I dare say that your Learned Friend must own that how much soever it may be exploded it is yet a Doctrine more clearly to be found in the most Primitive Antiquity than the greater part of those which at this day so much divide the contending Parties of Christendom Now as for your Friend whom you dare to trust he is indeed a Disciple of Wisdom and a Son of the Prophets but he is yet but in a low Class and very young in this Heavenly Life But could he Experimentally declare more then hitherto he can it might not be very expedient upon many weighty Reasons so to do till the great Effusion of the Miraculous Powers do make the way clear for such a Declaration However he can say that he is not a Stranger to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost which is by Fire He has seen the Fulfilling of some Prophecies already and so is the better encourag'd to expect that of others His Tryals Deliverances and all the secret part of his Life both at home and abroad has been strangely singular and what God designs to do with him further he knows not but desires to stand entirely Passive to his Will Now it remains that I should answer your Last Request which concerns the distinguishing the Impetus of our own Imaginations from Divine Inspirations which contains in it two Questions 1st How the Persons themselves that are under them can distinguish them And 2dly How others that have them not are to judge concerning them But of all that relates to this you may expect a Particular Account by another way in Answer to some Queries that were proposed to me And in the mean time I recommend to you for your Guidance the very last Revelation in the Book I have this only to say to the First at present that the Imagination ought to be perfectly mortify'd the Death and Cross of Christ being the true Path to Illumination And to the Second That Care is to be taken neither too hastily to Approve nor too hastily to Reject but to Try all Spirits and to hold fast them that are Good suspending to pass Judgment on those that are not understood May the God and Father of your Spirit enlighten it in his own good time to his Glory by the Internal Revelation of his Son Jesus Christ through the Operation of his blessed Spirit that works in you that so by your own Experimental Conviction you may be able to Convince others and so by promoting that Divine Knowledge whose Increase is foretold by the Prophet Daniel you may shine as a Star in the Firmament of Wisdom So committing you with your dear Companion to his Gracious Protection I take leave to subscribe my self Your known Friend London Septem 9. 95. Query How are Spirits to be Discern'd IF this Query refers to the Persons themselves who are or suppose themselves led by a Good Spirit it is Answered That the Manner of Discernment is by Sensation which is not to be described This Sensation like the New Song the New Name and the White Stone they only who do experiment and while they do experiment are able to distinguish But then it may be Queried How shall they who suppose themselves to be led by a True Spirit and are not be enabled to discern aright in this matter since they are without this Spiritual Sensation by which the others are assur'd concerning the Truth of their Visions and Revelations Ans. They are to seek for it of God by a perfect Mortification of their own Wills and especially as to these very supposed Favours and by most instant and violent Prayer Thus some who upon the Commission of an evilthing have been depriv'd of the Good Spirit of God which they did enjoy and have been deliver'd up to a Spirit of Delusion for some time Satan all this while exactly Personating an Angel of Light giving forth false Oracles and opening a false Paradise upon them have been again restored to their former Enjoyments and Divine Sensation the Scenes of the false Paradise made to drop into pieces and the true One to Open and the Evil Spirit forced to stand before the Angel whom he had Personated If it be further Queried Whether and How do those that are truly led by the Holy Spirit discern the Spirits by which others are led The Answer will be That all are not able to do so but only some that are arriv'd to a very high Degree and great Experience in the Supernatural Life As for the Manner of Discerning it is the same with respect to others as to themselves there being no Mark so certain here as that of Internal Sensation Thus Spiritual Things are spiritually discerned felt and received and the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets But if in the last place it be demanded How then shall those who are Strangers to these Leadings of the Spirit and who desire alike neither to fall into any Errour nor to resist the Truth be able to govern themselves in this Matter To this the Answer is very easie That they are not to perplex themselves in this Inquiry so long as they remain either Carnal or Rational but to endeavour by all means according to the clear Path chalk'd out in the Scriptures to become Sdiritual To which State when they are arriv'd they need not fear being able to judge or themselves and if with respect to others they shall not be presently capable to judge they can be under no apprehension of any danger so they do but follow the pure Dictates of the Spirit to themselves and therefore they will desire this satisfaction no further then as it shall be given them from Above However even they who are not arriv'd beyond the Rational Life need not be much mistaken while they continue so For if that which is said to be Revealed be of weighty concern either to that Particular Soul or to the publick and if it directly tend to Purity of Life and to the Exaltation of God and the Humiliation of Man then if it be not plainly disagreeable with what has been for Certain before Reveal'd even they according to their meer Natural Reason ought not to slight it Two Testimonies for the Dispensation of the Spirit Revived I. The Testimony of Dr. J. P. the Author's Fellow Traveller Christian Friend NO other Foundation can be laid that what Christ hath laid for he hath laid himself in his Saints to be established upon whicn is the hidden Mystery of God But to know and to feel Christ in us in his Burning Flaming Heart of Love by way of Wedlock and Marriage-Union between the Soul and its Bridegroom This is a deep Mystery that few are counted worthy to comprehend But all these Feelings these foretasts of Divine Love with ravishing Joys do but leave us to the Warfaring State against all our Spiritual Enemies to conquor Hell Sin Eternal Death Dragon and all Hell-Devils together with the Beast and
A FOUNTAIN OF Gardens WATERED by the Rivers of Divine Pleasure And Springing up in all the Variety of Spiritual Plants Blown up by the Pure Breath into A PARADISE Sending forth their Sweet Savours and Strong Odours for Soul-Refreshing P. J. De Loutherbourg By JANE LEAD Cantic 4. 16. Awake O North Wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the Spices may flow out let my Beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant Fruits Chap. 6. 2. My Beloved is gone down into his Garden to the Beds of Spices to feed in the Gardens and to gather Lillies LONDON Printed and Sold by J. Bradford near Crowder's-Well 1696. A Bundle of Revelations United And to be Dispersed to such as are Impartial Seekers and Unwearied Searchers into the Deep Things of GOD Which are only Knowable to that Holy Spirit that diggeth into the Rich Mines and Treasury of WISDOM Of which the Author hereof was under a Powerful Driving for the Space of about Thirty Years keeping a Private Recollection to her self as they did from Time to Time open and come down as a Burning Shower not knowing whether they should have been made Publick in her Age but thinking rather they might be kept as a Garden Enclosed and as a Fountain Sealed PRovidence having opened a Door unexpectedly through the strong Instigation of an highly Worthy Person truly enobled in the Spirit of his Mind who having had a savour and Relish of some Foregoing Books that had been Printed did make a generous offer to have the Bank and Stock of what the Holy Unction had dropped in brought forth into Manifestation for the Universal Enlightening Leading and Refreshing for the Dove-Flocks belonging to the Great Shepherd to whom such Pastures lie open to be freely fed upon I think my self obliged to Publish for these Ends what can be recovered of the Process and Diary of my Life since I have been under these Love-Visitations from the Spirit of my Lord. The Time being now accomplished wherein the Hour-glass of the Spirit is a second time turned up for the which there is a Call from the New Jerusalem World that all Persons of every Quality Rank and Degree under what Denomination soever they be throughout all Nations Peoples and Languages do give eart and watch every Golden Sand that this Glass doth run that nothing of it may run wast For it is the Morning-Watch and Day-break of the Spirit that is to spread forth its Light and Glory whereby is to be enlightned the Dark Ignorant State of the World who have sat in the Region of Traditional and Literal Knowledge according to the Rational Wisdom of Man which through the Innundation of the Spirit must all be drowned and a New Earth prepared wherein the Sowing of the Spirit is to be with one pure Golden Grain that can admit of no mingling of what is from Man for another Time is now at hand wherein nothing but what is purely taught of God shall abide and stand Therefore as one that hath obtained through Infinite Love and large Grace to be Baptized into this Glorious Manifestation of the Spirit I do beseech and excite all to whom this Journal shall come that they do well observe and take diligent notice of the Method and Way which God took with me in order to the bringing me forward to the Arrivement at the manifold Degrees and Growths which is here in a most simple and undress'd manner brought forth without any Alteration but just as the Spirit was pleased to render it self in its own Cloathing So in obedience to the Call of Wisdom may the same Visitation of Immediate Divine Teaching as a Day-star in your Hearts appear which may your Souls greatly revive and chear Now give me leave to tell you the Beginning of my Way that the Spirit first led me into In the first place then after some Years that I had lived in some good Degree of an Illuminated Knowledge setting under the Visible Teachings of Men that could give no further Light than that they had arrived from others through all of which I traced as a wandring Spirit that could find no Rest but something still I found within my self that did open to draw in from a more pure Air then I could meet without me Whereupon I introverted more into my own Inward Deep where I did meet with that which I could not find elsewhere except it were with such as were brought under the same Dispensation of whom a few Names were made known unto me Wherefore I do give my own Experience that I would have every one that desires to be Sealed with the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation not to take in any Fears Jealousies or Prejudices concerning the Emanations and Manuductions that the Holy Ghost will dispense forth as any shall be found Lovers and Waiters thereupon For I my self found all other Grounds and Pastures dry and barren as a parched Desart until I came to this Fruitful Lebanon where all Variety of sweet scented Flowers did as another Eden flourish pleasantly Which were known and enjoyed by giving up to the Teaching of the Holy Unction which as the Waters of the Sanctuary will never cease springing till they become an Overwhelming River which is the true Baptizing Water of Life This you will find to be true as you seriously apply your self to this Way and Method of God's Immediate Teaching Which then you shall find to open in the Center of your own Soul And this way manifesteth it self in a various Dispensation Sometimes this is by Inspeaking from the Essential Word which giveth its own certain Sound as different Occasions do offer upon a Soul 's waiting thereupon For it would be a very deplorable Case if Christ should leave his Flock and seal up the Fountain of all Future Revelation that is no necessary to be Renewed in every Age of Time Therefore he brings us to lie at the Mouth of this bubling Well of his Spirit for to drink in what is New and Fresh which doth greatly delight the Soul that would otherwise be apt to faint and flag before it come to the end of its Race Wherefore he doth strow our Way wit●… fragrant Flowers all sweet and pleasant and of many and beautiful Colours as you may observe when you read the Similitudes and Visions which are here Published God many times coming down to unfold himself in this Figurative and Parabolical Yet more Essentially and Deeper above and beyond all Figures and Representations of which I shall give you some account as being under Command not to keep back or shun to declare the whole Purport whereinto I have been carried for the universal Refreshment and Benefit of such who are as meaned Children from every other Breast but that of their Eternal Mother whence all Wisdom and Understanding doth stream forth Intellectually which is the growing Nutriment as it doth pass Radically into the Soul as the Blood doth into the Veins Now here is a
Dispensation Which hereby is as the New and best of Wine that hath been reserved for this Last Time Whereby it may be understood that Christ has not forgotten to make good his Promise to renew the Spring of his Spirit by a continued Succession of it And as we see and hear the Fruitfulness of it doth more generally abound and find entertainment in the World by a New Generation of Apostolical Spirits so doth it presage a New Kingdom and State is near approaching Which is Argument enough to provoke all that would be Subjects of this Kingdom which the Lamb has only Right unto to be preparing and making Ready as the First Fruits that they may be Qualified to make up this New Jerusalem-Bride Therefore as my Fellow Denizens of this City which is from Above where-ever ye are hidden whether as Exiles or Captives scattered to and fro I beseech you let your Inward Ear he attentive keeping Watch and Ward in great Calmness and Stillness of Mind Then may ye bear the Love-Calls passing through that Horn which is filled with pure Oil that will gather and draw you into the High Celestial and Spiritual Pasture and Fold where our goodly Tents may be Pitched and of which we may go in and out to that rich Sharon which springs and flowers round about our Kingly Shepherd that so as his Sheep and Lambs we may be gently led from Fountain to Fountain and drink and feed together in the same Harmony and Unity as do the Saints in the Upper Fold so we in this Lower I shall now wind up all with a Caut●…n to two Ranks the First shall be to the Unlearned and Ignorant in this Method and Way of the Spirit 's Manifestation Which is that they do forbear Rash and Censorious Judgment upon those Things that are at present above their Reach For as they desire not to be prevented and bereaved of the Great Benefit of Divine Inspiration and the Assistances of the Holy Ghost my Advertisement to such is that they become Simple and Child-like and adventure upon the Conduct and Manifestations of the Holy Spirit then will they find another manner of fruitful Life will in them spring and no reason shall they have to repent for Acquiescing to the Divine Will herein The Second Caution shall be to that sort which are already Initiated into this our Mystick and Supersensual Wisdom that may have with me run deep into the Ocean of what is Mysterious and Wonderful for Knowledge First I must caution you with my self to keep very Low entring into a Self-Annihilation so as a Nothing to be with reference to the Creaturely Being that the All-Deifick Unction may arise as an overflowing Tide and never to think we have obtained by all that we have yet reached to what yet remains of those Immense Treasures which are yet further to be Revealed For there is still a growing Tree of Life that reneweth all Variety of Wisdom as you will in part find by this Present as well as by some Foregoing Books by me Published Thus having given you a true Narrative of the Several Removes and Risings from one Degree to another from Depths to Heights and from Heights again to Depths out of which hath been Brought forth very Marvellous and Wonderful Secrets which it was the pleasure of the Fountain of Spirits to distribute and communicate being such Mysterious Things as haply may be rarely found elsewhere which hath often me astonished that such Unusual and Strange a Method the Spirit should take with me opening such things But it hath been given me to know upon a Diligent Inquiry that there is an Age coming on the like to which hath not yet been to whom these Prophesies and Revelations do belong So that though the Day of my Life is far spent so that I may not see the full Harvest of what is by the Spirit sown here to be reaped yet assured I am that all is reserved for a Glorious Time wherein shall arise a New Generation that clothed upon will be with such a Mantle as is interwoven with Light Wisdom Knowledge and Flaming Power Among which there may be some that I may bear the Memorial of a Mother to as well Natural as Supernatural that may possibly succeed in the same Spirit which I shall pray may be as Wisdom's Key to go on to open in them the Golden Remains which are yet to be brought forth for the promulgation of the Priestly and Prophetical Kingdom upon the Earth So now I shall conclude requesting you as you shall draw in any Light or feel any Refreshment herefrom that you would join with me in Acclamations and Praises to the Antient of Days who hath put into the Hands of a Good-willer to these Divine Mysteries to bring forth into the Publick what might otherwise have been left in Oblivion and Secresie And it is my pecu●… Request which I this place leave that the N●…ons may bless and pray for such an Instrument that hath given a Proof of so Universal a Love to All. So that the Fulness of all Blessings and Showers from the Heavenly Powers may 〈◊〉 upon the Impartial and Single-hearted Readers and Good-willers hereof shall be the constant Invocation and Prayer of her who while living in the Body shall never cease to serve all her Fellow-Members in the Gift of God Universally J. Lead THE EDITOR TO THE READER THERE having been a Promise made in the Preface to the Ark of Faith that the Diary of this Author should follow the First Volume of the same is now accordingly Published for an Universal Good For ●…he Author or the Instrument rather ●…ade use of by the Divine Wisdom is known to be of so Universal a Spirit ●…hat nothing less hereby can be designed And howsoever what is herein De●…ivered as well as the Manner of the De●…ivery it self may come to be opposed either on this hand or on that I think I can say that I am more than Morally Assured That the All-wise God hath hereby Ends to bring about which the most Acute and Vulturous Eye of the Greatest Rationalist shall never be able to dive into and that all will serve but to a Fuller Breaking out of the Truth and the Divine Light that True Light which Enlightens every one that comes into the World so far as it is not Resisted and according to the Degree of Purity in the Vessel for the Reception and Reflexion of its Rays This is an Age that thinks it self to excel all that have ever went before it in the Discovery and Improvement of Truths and it cannot be denied but that of these late years Mechanical Knowledge hath been brought up to a very great Height which hath had both its Good and Bad Effects in the World But notwithstanding all the Fancied or Real Light in matters either Physical or Theological which the Present Age doth so much boast of it may perhaps not unfitly enough be said of those of that
hath seemed good to the Most Wise God and Father of our Spirits to raise up according to the necessity of this present day an Instrument by him fitted through many Fires and Waters and through all manner of Temptations both in the Heighths above and in the Depths beneath and immediately instructed at Wisdoms Oracle for so great a Work as the education of the King's Children and the leading them up step by step to their Fathers Throne that they may be Kings and Priests upon the Earth unto God and unto the Lamb for ever and may from the Righteous Virgin Earth spring up as Plants of mighty Renown in a well-watered Paradise and as Olive-branches continually empty the Golden Oyl out of themselves and drop their fatness for maintenance of a Perpetual Light in the Sanctuary that was before darkned This will easily be seen to be the Drift of these Writings by any one that is but a little skilled in their Dialect And it is no contemptible Providence of the All-seeing Eye of Et●…rnity that this Book after having laid so many years as in the dust should now come to be brought forth into the Light in such a Critical Juncture of Time and in this very Year which is full of great Expectations on this hand and on that To which nothing is given me in Particular to say but only this Word of Caution to the greedy Expectants and Waiter for some Outward visible Revolution in Church or State Let such be Sober in their Hopes and take good heed to themselves of their Observations or Calculations and let them not lay too great a ●…ess upon any external Deliv●…ance how great soever or upon the Rise or ●…ll of any Earthly Monarch Potent●… 〈◊〉 State neither let them seek for the Kingdom of Christ in their own Will nor according to certain preconceived Notion ●…d Images nor binding it down to any Sect or Party in the so called Christian World for they shall find i●… no where but in the Triumphant Resignat on of Jesus Christ. When therefore they shall be certain that they have drunk of the 〈◊〉 ●…me Cup which he did drink that they 〈◊〉 passed through the strait and wrestling Gate of Death that they are entirely passed from all their Own into the Liberty of the Divine Will and have broken down every Image and Boundary that Man as Man hath set up then let them know that the Kingdom of Christ is near to them and upon its very breaking forth in much Glory Majesty and Power And when they themselves are thus got without the Walls of the Great City Babylon then and 〈◊〉 before let them expect the Descent of the New Jerusalem out of Heaven For most assuredly to none but Virgin Souls to the true Nazarites that for the Hope of Israel do wait in the Inward Temple Day and Night with their Lamp-spirits ever burning that so they may be ready to go forth at their Bridegroom's Call to meet him to the Lillies of the Vall●…y who though they neither Reap or Spin for themselves are yet arrayed more gloriously than Solomon in the Immaculate Robe of the Lord their righteousness yea to none but the Undefiled Doves that are in him made all beautiful and fair and that having washed themselves seven times in the Pool of his Blood are thereby set apart and redeemed from the Earth to be His Companions will this Beloved City come down Of the Truth of which every one must necessarily be convinced that doth but consider seriously the Process that this Author hath been Led in according as the same from these ensuing Memoirs may be gathered in order to the drawing down the Powers of the Heavenly Worlds and the unsealing the Fountain of the Holy Ghost and the Book of the Refurrection Neither can this Jerusalem Glory be dis●…erned by any others or after any other method than is herein laid down from the Opener of that Principle let them look never so long about crying Lo here in the East or Lo there in the West For this High Promotion of Wisdom's Children cometh neither from the East nor from the West neither out of the North as some some are gazing after it at present nor yet from the South But the Lord cometh from TEMAN where the glorious Virgin Principle is Unlocked whence the warm holy Supernal South-wind doth blow upon the Gardens of Lebanon and cause the Spices to flow out whither the Patriarch Abra●…am always directed his Travels and where Jacob saw the Ladder of Heaven and the Gate thereof The Key of which Gate is there presented by the Hand of Divine Wisdom to all her Children to whom she crieth aloud standing at the entry of the Celestial City and proclaimeth the Joyful JUBILEE inviting them to return Now from their Captivity and Presently to come forth from the Tottering Babel which is founded upon the Sands and to enter with her Key into this City which hath Foundations For this She standeth in the top of the Heavenly Places and putteth forth her Voice to them at the coming in at the Doors for this She meeteth them in every Path layeth hold on them that having tried them with her Laws they may enter in Hereby and feast at the Table which she hath furnished for them But alas I see that the most even of those that have been enroll'd under Her Discipline will be not a little afraid to lay hold on this Key of the Kingdom when it is reached out to them and will shrink from it beholding how large it is and that it is made full of all Solid Gold even as this very Author did at its first Presentment as thinking it impossible for any ever to bear the Weight of it Besides this there is a Mercurial Serpent which twineth himself about it whose Life can be destroyed no otherwise but by the Royal Antidote of the Unicorns Horn. Let not any therefore think it a Light thing or easily Attainable to bear the Key of the Government on their Shoulders But let them examin thoroughly t●…e several Progresses and Steps of this Author in order to its Attainment that are Recorded for the space of about Six Years in This present Volume Of which it must be confessed that much has bcen Lost so that the Links of Wisdom's Chain may often seem to be broken But as the greatest Architect Statuary and Painter of these Last Ages is said to have become so Excellent meerly by his Observations drawn from a most Imperfect Maimed Statue or Bust being the Work of a most Exquisite and Masterly Hand so it is not at all to be despaired but that there may be found also in This Day some of Rare and Excellent Abilities of Spirit who notwithstanding any Imperfections or Maimings of this Spiritual Register or any Defects in its Exterior Habit of Languge or Style may by the assistance of their Supream Tutor ' draw forth even from the Disjointed Parts of This Work such an excellency
either to the Prophets or to the Apostles or should he make himself known to us by a Name whereby he was not known to them He is still the same let the Vessel be never so Different and is equally to be Adored and Believed whether he takes up an Honourable or Dishonourable Vessel Learned or Ignorant Noble or Plebeian whether the Instrument be a Priest or Levite Israelite or Proselite Male or Female Young or Old Some has he called from the Plow others from gathering of Sycamore Trees and others from their Drag-Nets whom he has set over the Nations and over the Kingdoms to Root out and to Plant to Throw down and to Build up by the mighty Power of his Spirit according to its various Operation and Manifestation It matters not what the Subject is into which the Divine Influences are receiv'd and through which they pass even though it should be an Heathen as in the Case of Jethro or a Brute Beast as in that of Balaam The Gradation nevertheless of these Influences may be computed according to the Scituation and according to the Proximity and Remoteness of the Subject which is to receive them from the Source or Center of Divine Light and according to the several Channels and Ducts that they must first pass through before they are therein received But the All-wise God is never wanting in the Preparation of such Vessels as may be suitable for the Reception of such Degrees of his Light as he designs to Communicate And this Beautiful Variety is in the Writings of the Old Testament and also in those of the New most Remarkable For it is one Degree of Inspiration that Moses had and another that Is●…iah had and third that Daniel had Neither is the Inspiration of the Writer of the Chronicles the same with either of these Three And yet both the one and the other are all from the True Inspiring Breath of God The Like may also be observed in the New Testament But to Treat of this would require a large Discourse What has been here already said will suffice for the Wise in Heart that they may understand the Voice of the Lord their Bridegroom when he shall call to them in the Cool of the Day and present himself walking in the Garden that they may not seek to hide themselves from him but may walk therein leaning upon his Breast and refresh themselves with its Flowers and Fruits that do there present themselves to be Plucked As for the Removal of that Great Milstone which is thrown in the way That God hath ceased to Reveal himself to Man since the Days of the Apostles and that all Pretensions to the same are but Illusions and at best but the Dreams and Fancies of a Natural Enthusiasm I am not very sollicitous as well knowing that the same God who hath already appeared in a most Wonderful Manner to give his Testimony to Souls concerning what hath been hitherto Published from the same Spirit and Instrument will not be wanting Now to give his Seal lo This or to what Hereafter may come to be Published and even in a more ample and fuller manner to Vindicate his Honour than he hath been yet known to have done since the Primitive Days of Faith But howsoever the Wisdom of God may with respect to these Particular Writings shew it self at present this Milstone must shortly be cast into the Sea Otherwise the Kingdom of God which we daily ought to pray for can never come And it is little better but a Mockery of his Name to sollicite him for the Calling of the Jews and the Fulness of the Gentiles and for Unity Peace and Concord to all Nations till this Beam be removed from before the Eye of our Spirits For which End there hath been some while since a Treatise writ to Prove not only the Possibility and the Expediency but even the Absolute Necessity of Divine Revelation both Private and Publick as in the Ancient Times so no less in the Present Time toward the Restitution and Winding up of All Things Which the Author of it undertakes to evince from plain and evident Principles not disputed by the very Deists and having done with them to Clear up many Passages throughout the Prophets and throughout the whole New Testament which are impossible as he holds to be Accounted for by any other Principles But how Successful such a New and Surprizing Attempt may be is entirely submitted to the Disposal of the Infinitely Wise God when he shall order it to come forth for his Honour alone and for no other Aim whatever And unless he gives this Order and by his Blessed Spirit do Accompany it let it never see the Day And whatever disagreeable to his Glory or Inconsistent with his Truth may have at any time been sent abroad of such a Nature let it moulder away in Perpetual Obscurity and let it not be remembred by Him when he maketh Inquisition or even known among Men. But whatever is consistent with his Eternal Truth and makes for his Glory upon the Earth in this Latter Day let that break forth with mighty and irre●…istible Power to the Confusion of all Flesh. Wherefore I do bow my Knees continually before the God of my Fathers that he would give me who Wri●…e and Thee who Readest This Wisdom that si●…eth by his Throne and reject us not from among his Children the Children of his Kingdom and of his Right Hand but ●…eal us against the Great Day of Temptation which is coming upon the Face of the whole Earth with the Spirit of Truth the Spirit of Jehovah the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding of Counsel and Might and of a Sound Judgement Which is the Testimony of JESUS That so by the Inspiration of this His Holy Spirit we being Preserved against all the Illusions of the False Prophet and the Subtilty of the twisting Serpently Spirit for the Day of His Appearance may Perfectly Love Him walking with Him as Enoch or as John in this Paradisical Garden the Entrance whereto that has been Shut up is setting Open and may Worthily Magnifie His Holy Name even as in Heaven it is Magnified by the High Principalities and Thrones and by the Harpers upon the Sea of Glass To which Burning Sea of LOVE these Secret Spicy Walks will lead thee while the Holy Angels and Perfected Saints will accompany thee all the way reaching out to thee such fragrant Immortal Flowers and such Refreshing Transforming and Transubstantiating Fruits as do spring forth from the very Root of the Deity Here therefore I would gladly leave thee If thou art not already Entred Wisdom calls unto thee Hereinto to enter and to pass quickly the Sword of the Cherub which she will assist thee to Break. But if thou art Entred then Here abide and Walk till thou art brought to the Shore of that Sea by this Experimental Traveller described which will w●… thee over to the New Jerusalem Where I with thee and with all
out this Parable for here is Meat for the Strong November the 4th The Opening of this Parabolical Vision IT was now given me to understand what this did drive at The first Angler that went representeth the Forward and Willing Mind that a Fishing would go to draw up out of the Broad River wherein the Everlasting God is to be understood who is said to be the Place of Broad Rivers in which holy Spirits as in their proper Element do live and swim Flesh cannot live in Water but Fish is of another kind which nature the Holy Ghost doth present as a Similitude for the New Creation that will live and move much in the Watery Element which is a Degree much beyond the Earth though under Purgations by Fire Neither is Fish so gross or corruptible but they are still under a Washing Stream and therefore not used for Sacrifices in the Old Law Whereas all that is of Flesh is by that ordained for Burnt-Offerings that it may pass through the Purgation in the Flames of the Altar Now what the Sea and Rivers of this kind do feed and generate must signifie a Generation of Creatures that is nothing so course and bruitish as are the Earthly Beasts But from this it was shewn me that this River figureth out God himself and the pure Angelical Spirits that move in God as in the Glassy Sea wherein contained are the vast Riches that none in Flesh can see nor fathom till they changed be into such a Body as in God their Watery Element to live and there to swim and dive for the unutterable precious Stones to bring them up according as need doth require It is not the Angling upon the Outside of the River but the Adventuring into it will obtain the desired Prize And consider what Bait is to be the attracting Matter to draw both Spirits and Substances of this unto us Now then it may needfully be inquired into what this Bait compounded of is for drawing Angelical Spirits that will also soon draw us after them It was thus hereupon delivered to me that it must be the Composition which consisteth of all those excellent Virtues and Properties that were and are in the Spirit and Nature of JESUS For no other can attract and take in God but what is so much like to God who must be Signatured upon us For else it will be as fruitless as when the Disoiples went a Fishing till the Lord the true Angler come no Draught could be fetched up Even so this is to Instruct us that we examin whether or no we upon this High and Worthy Undertaking do carry our full and compleat Bait with us which is the precious smelling Spikenard of an humble meek and clarified Mind that expresly answereth to the very Mind of JESUS Then doubt we not that we shall fail of drawing to us Spirits sublime that live in that pure Climate where we shall with them most willingly back plung in and in a pure Body swim always under the Stream of these Waterings Jesus the Lord our Bait and Angle will be Then in what Riches shall we excell Oh this all-worthy is of our Consideration in the Element of this Water of Life how to live and appear for a while as Drowned and Dead till that we shall arise and swim with the rich Pearl in our Mouths Then will it be cryed This the Christ indeed that hath the great Draught brought up through sinking down into Faith's Obedience Who now venture will to walk upon these Living Waters wherein the Healing Medicine is but such Hero's in the Faith as will not afraid be to dive into the Bottom of this River deep For otherwise the Rich Prize which is in the Fishes Mouth can never be caught up The Wise in Heart who by the pure Spirit have been taught will what is by the Parable meant well understand November the 7th The Magical Journey § 1. IN my Spiritual Journey on to the Land of all Blessed Stores a Figure hereof was acted Magically before me I being carried to a Gate which was so narrow and strait that there was no getting through but by creeping upon the Knees and that with great Difficulty too And so led on was I still till at length I came to another Gate which was somewhat more easily to get through then the First but strait enough So passing on yet further there was a two Leaved Gate but the One Leaf opening was fitted exactly to my Stature in Heighth and Breadth which gave entrance into a Place where neither Beginning nor End was to be found And I said what make I here alone And the Invisible Guide that led me through these three Gates answered that There would be some others that would come after me when they did hear where such a vast Plantation was which was to be replenished with all sorts and kinds of good things and yet no Toil Labour or Care required is But know that it is appointed only for Wisdom's high Magicians to Act here their Powers that had passed through all her strait Gates § 2. This Presentation and the Advice attending it was very powerful which still I called over and searching deeper to have the Exposition of the Gates given unto me by and from the dropping Unction For though my Spirit saw nothing but an Infinite Space yet such a Perfuming Gale I felt as if all manner of Flowers were growing But this Word came also to me saying Here is the Place for Love's Kingdom to grow with its Natural Inhabitants that have left behind the gross selfish Love That must not come here for that it is that makes the Passage so strait § 3. For as much as none can come in till they be unstripped and uncloathed of the low sensual Nature For in this place all that counted worthy shall be to come in here with thee must put on Transfiguration and act in the Supercelestial Philosophy as holy Magus's that skilful are to work in the Furnace that maintained is from the One Burning Element which giveth the High Superelementary Matter the Composition whereof maketh up the Store of all Acting Wonders Here then on a sudden did I in my Spirit view several Persons so Divinely Modified in their Bodies that in this Mystery highly Learned were that would sound forth such a Spirit from themselves that might give an Existency and Being to whatever they pleased to will sometimes raising up Golden Tents to go in and out and at other times making some places which seemed all empty and bare to spring up with wonderful Plants that perfectly did yield their Fruit appearing in a Golden lustre of Brightness that was said to be Magical Food for the Inhabitants hereof to live upon In other Places they without digging or moiling did bring up Mines of all precious Stones and Golden Oar which was at the command and service of these Princely Spirits that did walk up and down here And whereas I thought at my first
Law of Sin hath Dominion so long as he liveth So from hence the Spirit did testifie that nothing less then a Thorough Death would put me into a Capacity of this Marriage with the Lamb. For he will match himself only to a Virgin Spirit incorporating and thereby changing into his own pure Humanity and this is a Begetting into a Living Substance which springeth through the Death of the Old Which as the Grain that dissolveth in the Earth and generateth a New Body so in like manner doth the New Creature spring forth which indeed is Christ our Life whose appearance will put an end to Sin in us Now what brought in the Curse the Care the Toil and the Impotentcies which distress poor Man in this his fallen estate but a Deviation from his God And while in this state he stands as a Debtor to Sin being under the Dominion of it this maketh him obnoxious to all the Calamities which do attend those that live in Bodies Elementary But now to hear of a Possibility of a Putting off of this Body of Sin this is good Tidings indeed and verily the Prophet which is risen in me hath prophesied that such a Day is at hand And that I shall be a Witness of Jacob's Star arising and shall see for my self and not for another Then shall that saying be fulfilled Death is swallowed up in Victory even the Death of that First Husband who so long hindred my Marriage with the Lamb. Who by a New Law from Mount Sion hath set me free from the Law of Sin and Death Be astonished O ye who are Wounders and Despisers of this Grace which I now see is near to be Revealed For the Garments of the Bride are making ready and it is granted to me to see in whose hand they be O Wisdom to thee is committed only the Ordering of this Wedding Garment which of divers Colours shall be that known from all others may be the King's Daughter who under thy Teaching and Discipline is committed April the 20th 1675. The Shulamits Debate Expostulation with Wisdom OH my Mother how is it that thou hast shewed me of the Glory of thy House and of the Honour Riches and Dominion of thy Kingdom and hereby hath allured and drawn the Spirit of my Mind that I cannot turn my Eye from thee my Senses being refined and with thy Life close touched that I altogether incapable am to join to Baal or to immerse my self with the druggy polluted Life of this outward Principle which hath no consistency with that transparent state where unto thou hast called me with thee to have my Conversation as one that hath obtained Grace to be sirnamed by thee and admitted into the secret of thy Counsel in order to some peculiar Service for thee If so why is it I am yet straitned in force and power What signal mark do I bear to demonstrate my holy and consecrated Calling to wait in thy Pavilion What Commission have I from thee to shew whereby all unbelieving and gain-saying Spirits may be convinced and put to silence true it is I have had free Communications through Transportation of my Spirit but what is this without fixation and Seal of the Power which may bear Record of its own Omnipotency working forth to redress all Maladies and Grievances seeing I have taken upon me to plead suffer me yet a little to empty and unload my self to thee whom I well know to have the tender working Bowels of a Mother and numbrest all my Complaints the first Argument is from thy free choice of me calling me out of all Nations Tongues and Peoples no more to know my Fathe'rs House or the Land of my Earthly Nativity but to renounce and seperate from all attending thy Appointments only at whose Knee I have been for some time brought up to hear and learn the manner of the worship of my God which is expected in a different Living All-Powerful Ministration which to know is indeed Life but to act forth from that Life brings the Joy Peace and Glory which will be the Renown of Wisdom's Nursery among whom I have thus far found favour as to have her Friendly Salutations with Word upon Word sealing Instructions to me but this is not enough Oh the Spirit and Breath that goeth forth with all Influencing Powers to create new Forms of things this I know will give the express signature of a Godlikeness putting forth through Nature's contemtible Appearance Here is surely a matchless Glory to break forth the highest Mystery which was ever unveiled the best and choicest of all Wisdom's Treasury yet to be brought out for such as pursue and make it their only one Interest minding and regarding nothing else Oh my Mother while herein have I busied my self in putting and throwing off all Weights that I might come a naked Spirit unto thee How have the pernitious Necessities cryed for the out-part to have Right done it to act and work and plot in Reasons Counsel-House as the manner is of all which live in the gross Animal Body is known to thy all-viewing Eye which runneth to and fro and what my Conflicts have been and still are while I have studied to evade and make my escape through the Throng of Worldly-Wise Reasons Guard who have by order of their great Prince watched me in every going out and in when with my only Friend I would my Time secretly in all sweetness spend contrivance hath not been wanting to draw me down to wear again the dark Linsywolsey-Gown I being well aware through divine caution These are the Pirats that have lain in wait for me to take what Substance is with me embarked So that Perils on all kinds do beset but this my Ark above all Waters doth keep floating a Man of War is within which will keep this Vessel from being a Prize to the subtil Man of Sin pitched within and without by Wisdom's Skill no fear of leaking while I thy bottom am so saith the Amen Thus encountring fresh with Temptations and strong Gusts from the cold North which I feel many times blow so sharp as if they would put back the Spring from coming on upon which only my Hope is entertained which keeps up my Spirit from fainting Thus while I was pleading and pressing hard for the finishing Power to come down that might put an end to all Strife whioh is from the Root of Sin Here is a Break by the loss of the Original Therefore O Shulamite do not thou judge thy Furnace to be too hot it well becomes thee the same with thy Lord in all things to be who in thee beareth and endureth and suffereth Were it not that hadst high Conjunction with the Deity thou wouldst not stand in that Enmity universally to what from the Root of Iniquity doth spring How much better is it to be numbred with thy Jesus amongst the Transgressors and to bear the Sins of others rather then thy own that the Evil One may
Spirit so divine as shall out-d●… all the Children of Time Now watchful be call over all my Charge obser●… my Word start not herefrom and lo I will abide still thy Friend and Bride May the 29th 1675. Wisdom's Pilgrim being ecchoed up setting her self as a Clock-Work upon its going motion still witnessing something strongly winding up the Eternal Springs thereof that Times number might not slack or stop urging still to one Gate after another the Hand of Power to unlock being raised up to a higher approach and nearness to the Allinfluencing Deity with whom in the Night Repose when deep Sleep had overtaken my Animal Part my Spirit was wrapped up in high Conjunction and Fellowship with the Triune Majesty the Joy and Pleasure of which was so great that when I awaked a Hymn of Praise was given me to land and magnifie the Love which had after this manner visited me drawing up out of the Body so wonderfully sweetly who lay here powerfully in Love's Arms arrested kept for some Hours in this warm Bosom-Harbour where the Spirit inquired further about these weighty and Heavenly Matters which with great pressing Urgency received this resolve as relating to those things manifold which by the Mouth of Wisdom have been foretold Who again encouraged me to hope and wait for the Day was not far off in which I might see the All-filling Body of the Glory which would be the end of former and latter Prophecy whereunto I yet did well to take heed because it was the Life's Food which for the present time might not only afford Support to me but others who with me shall wing up their Lord to meet all Crystalline having no Spot nor Stain to such he will appear and number them among the Holy Train to bear the Father's Name inspiring and shewing to me there was various Passages which yet I was further to venture and believe the entrance into which should yet be more amazing to the intellectual Mind which shall into its own Deep descend to bring up still what will Water the Garden that it may be always Summer and Spring Where I earnestly invocated this might also be the Portion of my selected Friends who in this Holy Ministry were choosing to wait with me that they might clear single and of a perfect Spirit appear before the bright All-piercing Eye of the Virgin Wisdom who to our God maketh nigh Further I did see into the Mystery of ascending Spirits what Qualifications thereto was required who are to be Spiritual Flames blown upon by a constant soft breath of Air from the Holy Power which letteth in nothing which putrifies or is gross and heavy none could mount up that had the least Weight hanging upon them the Word did express there must be a due Proportion Light and Purity answering to each other the Mind that would associate with God must carry a distance to drossy carnal Spirits and all of that Nature according to the high Birth of a Spirit you shall know it by the Holy Greatness which it will have not knowing how to be familiar with what is not of the same high extraction with it self Wisdom is very Jealous least any of her Family should walk out of her Order therefore that in her Love-Favour you may all abide to whom this Word of Counsel shall come that to the Virgin of the Lamb be you Loyal that in your ascending Prayers you may meet with no denyal July the 16th 1675. The Light Orb opened and all overspread me thereby dispelling every Foggy Mist so that it brought to my remembrance the Lord's Day which John saw and had all his Revelations in who was said to be in the Spirit And truly after such a manner must every one be seized that is drawn up into the Mount of Divine Vision to hear what God the Lord hath of his Mind to give forth Which will only be entrusted with such whose Spirits are fled and departed out of all Animal Sense which is gross heavy and ponderous But for a Spirit that would be All-seeing and intelligent in matters Supernatural to be uncloathed of all Earthly Materials it is certainly required as through great and free Love I have been a Witness of in all Conferences and mutual Society with the Fountain Sourse of all Spirits For never could I hear feel see or tast the Powers and Joys of the Light Kingdom till I was passed out of the Cloudy Pillar of mine own benighted Reason which many times set so hard upon me as I often feared that I should be violated out of all that which Divine Wisdom had presented to me for an Encouragement to those who shall by Faith overcome not in part but in whole triumphing over all Worlds Which is to be effected as hath lately been shewn to me upon some debate with the World of Wisdom my dear Counsellour who taking notice of some fresh Exercise that my Spirit was in animated me thus Be strong be resolute acquit thy Doubting Mind for therein lieth the danger for as much as no mighty Work can be effected either in by or through thee until there be a full close and joint Consent of all the internal Faculties and Powers Therefore are there all choice Ingredients requisite for the making up of this Almighty precious Faith and such as are not to be found in every Ground For thou art to know that there are different Soils in the Inward Heart of Man's Earth as well as in the outward some being for one Grain some for another and all making together for the Increase of that Treasury which is to be brought into the Eternal Granary Wherein every ones Work shall be proved and all Metals tryed of what sort they are Now as to this which is the most weighty of all Seeds and in Truth the Root of all there being no Fruit but what putteth forth from this Tree of Faith from which the Holy One can tast any Sweetness as it is written Without Faith there is no possibility of pleasing God thou must therefore dive and search deeply for in the Essence of the Deity this Grain of Gold is only to be found And if it should not drive forth it self in all its united Force and Powers it would never be reached to But in that Ground where this Plant is deeply rooted it will put forth as from a flowing bubling Fountain which Water of Life mingleth with the Golden Mould and so maketh the Composition of this high extracted Mineral which hath done and will yet do all the Miraculous Things in and through Nature but it will suffer no check nor contradiction from Nature Such is the absolute and uncontrolable Soveraignty hereof that it will not admit of any Questioning Spirit to set footing within its Gates Here must be no Asking How can This or That come to be If Abraham had made any of these kind of Objections he had frustrated all his Friendship with God who put him surely upon as hard
Food for this Holy Fire to Feed upon then all Offerings passing through this Fire are made acceptable because of the Perfume and Confectionary Art of the Most High and True Chymist that maketh this Eternal Composition giving it into thy Hand to maintain the Celestial Fire with Out from which expect the Cloven Tongue must issue forth for it is the Spicy Flame which inspireth with the Holy Ghost nothing goeth beyond or is like to this Oyl of Composition for it contains all the Soveraign Vertue of the Holy Godhead it is of the highest most subtil Tincturing Property that it can pass and penetrate through all things the Extraction being from the Arabian Spices of all sorts mingled with the Spirit of Gold which makes it of a wonderful sublime and vertual Power With this Oil the Tabernacle with all that doth appertain to it must be herewith anointed as the Testimony Altar and Ark. As in the Type so in the Anti-type look thou for it it being of that infinite value that a greater Gift cannot be given and as I have directed and given Wisdom to model out the Sanctuary and Ark of my Presence so likewise Skill and Understanding i●… this high and most wonderful secret to make thee a Confectioner which i●… the highest Art attainable whereby thou wilt become a Physician to thy●… self and others But this requires great Heedfulness Purity and Watchfulness with Love and Faithfulness to enter upon it with all Earnestness making it thy absolute Profession and Calling not regarding nor minding any one thing else but keeping close within the Rounds of my Sanctuary where the Basket of Blessing and Store is for thee to live upon Oh that there were such a Heart in thee as would believe rest and trust herein and not look out besides me then shouldst thou know the length and strength of Jehova's Arm what it should work act and do in defiance to all Reason's false Prophets which would not have thee break off from that rusty Canker-eating Chain which hath linked the whole Earthly Inhabitants together living upon one common Store not being able to trust to me beyond what their Eye of Sense doth see which is no less than a fine spun piece of Idolatry even among the Reformed Party My All-piercing Eye this doth see doth hereof still give Warning to thee and him that solemnly with thee in an Holy Convocation and Priestly Seperation hath engaged that in keeping of my Charge ye may my anointed Cherubs be on which my Tabernacle may rest in its All-flaming Glory and make your way up to Sion and the Free Jerusalem the City and Mansion-House of God your Law-giver and King All which may be witnessed from within as the diving still deeper within the Circumference of your own Heavens the pleasant Sea of Fire and Glass over to pass that ye may know the swift Sail through the forcible Power of the mighty Ark of my Strength within thee to cut off the flowing Tides of Sense with which in your Journey on ye may meet Therefore venture ye not one Step to set or one remove to make till you feel Power your Ark to raise which commandeth all whatever it be to obey For it is the Anointed of the Lord that is to go before his Way to prepare all Mountains in its way to level and to bring down and all Seas to dry up and all Worlds of Enmity to subdue O great is the Force Strength and Majesty hereof with whom it is as a Risen Body moving in its Oily Vertue It is thy impregnable Fort and Tower out from it do not thou go but as an Apprentice here Bind thy self for to abide and then in the High Spiritual Craft of the All-eternal Mystery thou shalt be taught and this unparallel'd Composition of the Physical Elixir and of the Ointment of Life how to make shalt be instructed But in the First place a Covenant of Secrecy thou art to enter into not to Reveal it to any except to thy Fellow Apprentices who called are with thee to work in the same Art Then Secondly Thou art to fulfil the Term and Time hereof in Truth and Patience unweariedly till thou comest to be as Exact and Perfect as thy Teacher is this Oil both to make and then to keep in the Alablaster-Box of perfect Nature Now I shall direct thee next how this is to be done and that by way of Similitude Know then that there is a secret hidden Garden within that Land called Beulah in which grow all Physical Plants which the River Pison doth Water It is a temperate Climate neither too Hot nor too Cold and the Sun never goeth down there For there is no Night but one perpetual Day in the borders of this Blessed and Beautiful Land And here do grow all sorts of Herbs that have such a vigorous Seed of Life in them that their Life never doth fade Here also groweth every kind of Spicy Trees which through the Exhaling Sun through the rest of the Divine Planets do produce a mighty strong Frangrancy infomuch that none into this Place can come but Seraphical Ones who are used to this pure Climate Here are hid within the Bowels of this Holy Ground the Veins of pure Gold with all Oriental Pretious Stones Behold I have now described to thee the Place out of which the Confection and Matter of this Magestery Oil or Ointment is to be made But thou wilt say This is a Sealed up Place none here can come it is a Garden so richly furnished that who is it amongst Mortals who with the Key may herewith be entrusted Although into Paradise my Spirit is admitted yet into this All lustrous Privy-Garden I could have no entrance True it is that hitherto it hath been concealed because it was not proper for thee herein to come until entred thou hadst to be Wisdom's Royal and Professed Physician withal taking the Degree of her High Philosopher to know the Nature of her Stone The Matter whereof within this Garden hath it self hid Come gird up thy Spirit put on the Sandals upon thy Feet cast over thee the pure Garment of the Cherubin-work and follow me into this Secret Place The Door-keeper here doth well know my Voice to the Call of Wisdom he will open thou shalt see Which indeed to me accordingly was made good for my Intellectual Spirit was hither presently moved and made to pass where in Reality though after a Spiritual Manner I did come with my Guide into thy unknown Plantation Where Magically I did espy Beds of Herbs and of Flowers in great order they did grow in a rarisied Beauty and their Lustre they did cast to attract mine Inward Eye Then in great and holy Awe I did to my Mistress of the Physical Art my self apply Who then said to me Take good heed and gather thou there where I shall express to thee for thou art come where the real and choice Simples do grow out of the All-Essential
this to congeal and mix in its number weight and measure For indeed ambitious I am this choice Drink always to have by me that hereof I may take at pleasure and also give thereof to the Thirsty which in Wisdom's choice are thereof worthy And as I was thus spreading my Requests before the Holy Mercy-Seat within the new raised Tabernacle I heard a Voice from thence speak Anoint every Vessel within my Sanctuary that all may be sublimed and scented with that Ointment which Wisdom hath within thy Tent made Then in this interim I did feel somewhat break and fly as if a bundle had been untied Myrrh and Spikenard more pleasant to the Nostrils could not be then this Somewhat did diffuse it self so richly as if it would dissolve me into its own Balsamick Nature Oh how affected was my Spirit with that Oily Burning upon the Altar upon which the Seven Lamp-Spirits do draw forth Matter to feed upon the Tabernacle needed no other Light then what from hence did shine Thus surrounded in Love's Pavilion I did set refreshed from what here did flow in all throughout me warming This was a good requital for my earnest and all attentive waiting within the Sanctuary not out-departing therein meeting with all satisfying Provision which doth invite our Spirits here to abide till the Spicy Liquor be fully ripe which upon the preparing is against the Great Day of the Feast This made up is of such choice Rarities as may well provoke our Appetites having Intelligence before-hand at what a high rate our Table is to be furnished After the finishing of the Tabernacle-work an order from the Heavenly Court did come forth for a Convocation of a Seven Days separation to be held by us who are called lawfully for to strive to be Masters of the Divine Art according to Wisdom's high Philosophical Rules Therefore in order to the perfecting of this Balsamical Medicine and Restorative Elixer this Counsel further she did to me give forth saying Watch Pray and Wait within the Sanctuary gathering together as in one all the Spicy Powers to make a Perfumed Incense to offer upon the Altar from which Celestial Fire will arise which will make you Pray in the Holy Ghost with flaming Terrour which only will effect the Blessing upon this your so great Undertaking for which uncessant Invocations are breathed forth from the Cloven Tongue rising from the Altar-Fire which is the efficacious Spirit of Prayer that as a Flame inspired through the Ghostly Breath doth mount and pass through all things no Principle can bind or detain it but swiftly it pierceth and prevaileth when the Oily Incense after this manner is mingled with it therefore as ye would Prevailers strong potent and mighty be with your God for to ask and receive let the Flaming Incense still your Advocate be and then your Intercessions of like force will be as those of Moses and Elias in their Day as ye will see now then a set and an appointed time let there be for these Holy Offerings to be brought unto the Altar Draw near ye Holy and Seperated Ones and dedicate it with what is unblemished multiply seven times seven your pure Meat and Drink-Offerings till that you no more conscious are of Sins defilement within this Sanctnary dwelling where forbidden is all Servile-working during the time that this solemn Convocation is celebrating December the 28th 1675. An Understanding was now given to me to know and discern the Root and Seed of that growing Mystical Body into which the Kingdom of God was to descend which would finish and put an end to all imperfect things because it consisted of all Faith Power Purity Wisdom Strength and All-sufficiency to make compleat the comers hereunto that so their might be an absolute Dominion within our selves and a gathering into one Body all Spiritual Ghostly Operations which are of impregnable Force and Might till the Kingdom after this manner shews it self all lieth under the vail of Obscurity and is little perceived or owned in one more than another be they never so intirely Holy till the Deity springs and shoots forth it self into a Body that can naturally act like to its Omnipotent Being without limitation Oh who are hereunto yet come and what are all Attainments till hereunto we have reached our Measuring Line can it dive and search into the deep Abyss of the great Wonders of the Immense Being the whirling Wheel of my Spirit finding no sta●… for it self in all it had seen known possessed and enjoyed still stretched forth it s expatiated Mind after that which was still in reserve and kept by the strong Rock of the Almightiness to whom with a fresh on-set I resolve to make my Application as not to be put off with any thing less than the Kingdom and Reigning-Power of the Holy Ghost for which I had run thus hard and could not stop the Chariot-Wheel of the high graduated Will which would all Attempts make to grasp in with Love-violence this my fair wise rich and noble Bride well knowing her Dowry was so great as it would do more then ransom me●… from all Sins and Earthly-Tributes perfectly to set me free and also Enfeof me●… into that Estate to which pertaineth such Lordships and Dominions as are not subject to Times Chance or Fate all which are Motives sufficient indeed to make us press hard this Prize to take We need not murmur or complain that this matchless Dove and Oriental Pearl so hardly is obtained when well considered no less we can conclude her highly worthy the Lamb's Bride and Spouse to be only peculiarly reserved for being the Royal Princess and Queen upon whom the Crown is to be fixed including all Celestial Dignity and Throne-Powers thereby confered to make this Bride all-desirable from which lustrous Presentation of her perfect Comlines●… and Beauty into one Spirit I was all inflamed making complaint bemoaning our selves how we might possibly compass the obtaining this matchless Virgin-Dove for our Spouse and Bride who with her piercing fiery Arrow of Love had us wounded so deep as no Cure throughout the Circumference of this lower Sphere could be found though attempts and proffers numerous was not wanting to beguile and take off our Eye charging highly blaming us for aspiring to love so high far beyond what Reason could judge to be aquivelent with our mean Estate But all this nothing availed or could Wisdom's Lovers pacifie whose Quivers did daily upon us let fly thereby still to attract us more nigh Knot upon Knot through familiar communion was here tied as an assured Pledge that to her kind Intimacies we might arrive as we hard upon this worthy Princess did ply January the 3d. 1675 6. Upon whose Encouraging Aspects and Love-drawings I made my Address in the behalf of my self and that other distressed Lover that allowed I might be to ask so great a Boon as her Royal Self to be ours unitedly Oh dear Sophia how would this repair our
then in all former Ministrations whatever Oh now then to my Call and Cry within you take special Recognizance it is my Elijah's Voice that the Way of the Holy Ghost might be made plain and strait Take heed no Lyon or Wolf so much as once set their Foot on it Make your Watch still strong for slimy muddy Pits are on each hand the great Levia than there doth under Water lie waiting to see if here you do set your Feet awry For this subtle Serpent doth well know hereby all former and present Prophecyes will be prolonged if not cut off So that if by any means he could Ingulf you within this noisome Pit where all devouring Fish of Prey do lie which still would be eating out your Belief and Confidence in what do's lie beyond the Border of the Senses he will not fail to do so Because it is not for the gross but for the pure and immaculate Eye only to espy those Celestial Glories Whereof not only to the Sight I do here you my beloved Lambs invite but come I say and tast what in my upper Banquetting-House is to be found to which ye yet so high never ascended where the Ghostly Body upon the Crystalline Sea is set But stay yet ye must and ye must it not touch with unwashen Hands with strong scented Oil your Finger must drop while in this Dish ye them dip to give proof ye are a prepared Guest who have put on the Bridegroom your Robe this will be your Tickets Testimony that right you have to eat of this choice Mess which only for the Bride and Bridegroom are set forth Though with many sweet and pleasant Fruits I have out of my Paradisical Garden you fed and with the Spirit of the Vine I have your Thirsts often satisfied yet none like or to be compared to this Therefore it is reserved as the strong Meat which only those that are come to ripe and perfect Age can bear thereof to eat Therefore go thy way and be comforted that ye are entred into Love's Eternal Calendar and may assuredly of this last and great Gift partake as ye shall in the bright Temple grow reaching to the full Stature of your Jesus To which Coming fear not but your Father will equally dispence the Holy Ghost as his free Benevolence Grow grow get up to this high Nativity with all speed The Most High hath great need of such worthy high Disciplined Spirits to go forth bearing the Heavenly Trophy and Banner of Glory which may take away fallen Nature's reproach How much will it be the joy of Wisdom your Mother to see you come up through all Tribulations to inherit the Antient and Royal Seat near unto that Great King your Prince and Personal Saviour through the introducing of his pure Spirit and Nature without which ye never had been capable of so high a Calling as to have fellowship with him not only in the Knowledge but in the joint Possession without any defraud as ye shall see impartially when this Ghostly-Dove with her Cherubin-Wing doth with all Power upon you rest so as no more from you ever to flye or withdraw O run hard still cry knock and call I will assure thee from the Word of a God it shall abundantly answer to all A Memorandum March the 13th 1675 6. FRom the 6th of this present to the 13th I have been exercised in great Conflicts upon and through a sudden surprize upon the mortal part of my Companion and Fellow-Labourer in that Paradisical Husbandry he being smote and struck as with a Leviathian Dart upon his Animal and Vital Spirit the first time was on the Monday being abroad upon his returning home which went over again The next Day about the same time a Feaver took him and in great Violence ceased on his Heart and so he wrestled a good space of time in great Anguish which so affected me that I drew in and awakned a great Travel for his escape from these Sorrows of Death which had so ceased upon him I having had some warning of an imminent Danger and Peril which I saw the Night before he was first aff●…cted and came down to advertise him hereof before he went from home As thus there was a deep Pit with great Swelling Waters under which the sub●…il Levia than with his outstretched Jaws did lie to grasp in such as near there did walk Now the Doctor with my self being that way to pass I heard a word uttered Be ware come not too near it is a dangerous place Upon which I watchful was and took good heed and avoided it that the Doctor might not therein be ingulphed but draw off with all speed Which did predict there was some Danger nigh this being the Pit of Death as by the effect thereof soon did shew it self But the mighty Jehovah hereunto a Counter-check did give to reverse what the destroying Angel was upon executing For this second assault was very grievous being upon Tuesday which did abide on his vital Spirits from 4 in the Afternon till 10 at Night In which interim a Daniel's Spirit did come down which in us did Pray with mighty fervency winged up by Faith as knowing that in this ascending Power stood our help For after I had ceased and the Doctor began to Pray I saw a bright Star dance about his Bed and a Word came with it unto me I have heard and I will deliver for my own Name sake out of the present Jaws of Death This was a signal Evidence that Saving Health was near and that in this Hour of Exercise Jesus with his Healing Vertue would appear which soon after was witnessed So the Pains for that time were asswaged and he slept that Night and the next Day had respite So as we did hope this Storm was gone over But on Wednesday Night he found himself ill again So together we did seek the Lord for his Counsel whether or no he might venture upon some outward means to help to remove that violent Humour which by that strong Leviathan would have grasped away his Life For without permission from the Court and College of our Spiritual Physicians we dared not to adventure because we had committed the whole Cure of this deadly Wound to those All-healing Soveraign Powers While then we were supplicating and soliciting to know the Mind of Wisdom ●…erein this Word came It is suffered ●…n condescention to the instability of ●…our Faith however by Grace the corruptible Drugs shall be changed in their Constitution and Quality for else they in this case could not be available For know that my secret Medicine must be the Preparative Then after this the Doctor was free to take a Powder which gave him two or three Vomits and Purgations On Thursday Morning after which he was very cheerful and thought himself to be eased of his weight and talon which had so terrified him but after he had Dined it beset him again more fiercely and violently then at
the Prophet to that furious Avenger Here hath been attempt upon attempt against the Election cry upon cry for Fire to consume But be of good cheer and do ye fear nothing more hereof for your God hath Justified and the Prayer of the Humble and Penitent hath been heard and hath shut out the Accuser with all their Complaints whose Mouths are stopped Balaam doth now well see that he is under restraint and limitation finding no Might to effect what in his Eye did seem just and right Therefore he subjected is not willingly but forced by an uncontrollable Soveraignty and divine Spell as nothing from the dark Magick could nullifie Henceforth love and magnifie him that hath without shadow of change thus appeared to save secure and to deliver from all Plots and Charms whereby weaker and faint all Powers of this kind will grow because all Attempts shall still be frustrated while in the single Purity ye my Dove-Mates shall keep to your allotted One who is the fore-ordained Bridegroom who is worthy and will draw you into no Premunire ye may safely venture all the Stock of your Spirit to the utmost height of all Loves Joys Affiances and sow all these without fear into the Ground-Heart of the Immanuel and ye shall see what a fruitful Crop this will bring in March the 28th 1676. The Case of a Laban and Jacob was brought to me as having a special reference to the Doctor That as Jacob grew very weary of living in a strange Land and under servitude in Bonds now longed to be free a Spirit and to return to his Father's House with that Spiritual Stock and Riches of Life that Wisdom had blessed him withal and to provide for the sustainment of his own Family within himself of which the outward was but a shadow and type of So it was shewn me in like manner this was the time the full Experiment of the Doctor 's long and weary servitude in a strange Land and Country who was now called to separate and come away to his Father's House and to draw in all his Substance and Stock of Vital Spirit whenceforth the pure Virgin-Essences do spring that nothing thereof might be scattered or left behind for all will be little enough to supply and maintain that which is of pure Generation in him wherein will consist his true Joy and Pleasure to him to his Sons and Daughters his Men-Servants and Maid-Servants to grow up to Stature fat and flourishing in his own House In this saith the Spirit shall be his Blessing but while these things are upon the prosecution great Tribulations from the Laban Spirit must be expected for he will never consent to let Jacob go Therefore Wisdom did put it into his Heart to make the breach by stealing away for Laban with his subtle Entreaties would have plyed him as formerly Which to avoid he resolved to make his own way sore longing after his Father's House which made him run the hazard of all Laban's displeasure This wise understanding Spirit was now given to the Doctor to be couragious and so to resolve to take his Flight and Journey on having with him and for him Jacob's Angel that will not leave him till safe conducted into the inward Court of the Love and Joy-presence of the Father Now in the process thereto Laban raiseth an Army that are of the same Evil Eye with himself and these pursue hard to overtake but God disappoints the Evil intended and gives warning saying I warn and charge that ye let my First-Born go free touch not mine Anointed for he must now Ascend to me no Bonds or Cords shall evermore be upon him but as a free Denison in my Holy City is he to wait upon all my Commands For my Work is so great that all must be taken up in them Ye who hasten up your selves thereunto must be found in one entire Act working with the Spirit of my Might without sloath For which end I have now set you free that ye may stand obligatory to no other Commands but wait to receive Laws and Injunctions as Wisdom shall renew to you The Oyl will not cease to run empty your Vessels as fast as you can it will become in you a rising bubling Life till it hath made you pure without Sin By which you will give proof that you are the first Redeemed out of the Earth Go on to this Work my elected Ones the high Powers of Eternity are with you to effect what the Spirit of Wisdom doth direct unto April the 4th 1676. FRom the Love-circling of a mighty Seraphim-flame which I felt burn up in my Heart-Altar a soft sweet Breath moved as a Mist or white Cloud It all over-covered and filled the Sacred Tabernacle of the Mind as with a still silent Glory which included and comprehended its own Ideal Being in me coming to drink and suck up what of its own it could find scatter'd among the Ruins of Time and bundle of Mortality The head-Principality then calleth for all in to make up the Perfect Man Bone to its Bone and Sinew to its Sinew all jointed and set in lovely order which while divided and in piece-meals could be of no force but lieth as dead and useless till the forming Hand gathers ●…nd u●…ites them each in order to the ●…salem's Glory It was here shewed to ●…e that many Births have come forth ●…ismembred some have wanted Eyes others have wanted a Hand another ●…eet another an Ear. And while any one of these have been wanting as to ●…he inward spiritual Man no degrees of Ascending could be none could be ●…aken into the Courts of the Lord nor ●…e a work-man for the Lord without ●…he use of all these Spiritual Members wherein the full force of a Spirit doth 〈◊〉 This word of Advice and Cau●…ion came with a full gust to try and ex●…mine whether we who were set out and appointed to be Labourers in God's Har●…est and Priests to officiate and Mini●…ters in the most Holy Place were no way deficient but sound perfect and without blemish having all parts en●…ire making up a compleat Spiritual Body each one in our selves As also ●…ourished up to a strong full grown Man Otherwise saith the Anointing which knoweth all things ye cannot go Forward to dig and undermine twelve Foundations deep upon which my Holy City stands that doth command all Worlds with their Kingdoms Which ye are to do and search into as strong and mighty for this Service of the Lord who saith Come forth and stand before me that I may see whether or no ye be clear single pure and sound in every part and to no one Creature or thing pre-ingaged but aloof off in alienation from all dry earthly succours do stand Then will I link and ●…x you in and among my Royal Band who allotted are Foundation Stones of the Great City where my Name is writ upon This is the highest and last Service which I have for you to do and
hitherto would not hereunto put you till Wisdom's Spirit in highest measure be grown up for the management and carrying on of so high and mystical a part which excels and transcends all Buildings whatever that have gone before your Temple and Sanctuary Purity all inferiour is to this That which was lacking in them must be perfected here in this by this descending and all-compounding Glory which meets all in one here where now are descried the Lame the Blind and the Halt none of whom are so much as to look within this high Mountain of Holiness upon which the Glory resteth Neither can any come hither who bring not their twelve tried Foundation-Stones along with them To which end the Spirit which revealeth all secret deep things doth give for the manifestation here of unto thee That thou mayst know what maketh thee further meet to inherit this City which hath such transparant Foundations For so unvariable is Wisdom's Heart of Love that hath moved the Chariot-Wheels of thy Spirit and brought thee thus far even to the Gate and entrance of this magnificent place as by no means here to be shut out where ye are designed Marriage If ye can all over conquering first ascend to the Rock where these wonderful Precious Stones are to be found ●…oth for Foundation and Garnishing See then here whether the flight of thy Spirit must be namely to Wisdom's Treasure-House whom all must be fetched down for the City building Here carried up thou must be in thy Spirit not only to see in Vision or in bare Idea's these Stones of Glory but to have them put upon thee as thy Breast-plate row upon row with the engraving of that new Name which giveth sound Judgment and perfect Sight and Understanding into all Visibles and Invisibles This is a great estate which I am now setting before you and also bringing into yo●… as ye shall be able to bear the Glory of it which will be all Consuming to the existency of your present Heavens and Earth Which can no longer abide but they must fall away and flee at the bright rising of this Sion-Beauty in Crystalline Appearance and Celestia●… Cloathing Rejoyce ye O my Dov●… Spirits in what I am about to create●… and to lay in you anew such Foundations as shall make my Name the Pran●… in these New Heavens and Earth upo●… which my beloved City shall be placed In order to this ye must suffer the Plum●…met-Line in the Guardian Angels Han●… to measure the height length an●… breadth of this walled City each on●… within your own New Earth The Du●… of which must be all fanned through th●… Sieve of immaculateness which will 〈◊〉 no mixture of old Earth pass throug●… The Heavens that now must be in yo●… circling Clarification continually must be pure bright and without mixture For consider for whom this City is prepared and builded is it not for one who is terrible in Holiness and Purity and that only can dwell with what is like himself Behold now and hear that Word again saying I decree all things in ye New as chosen Testators of this my will and as my front Battellers and primary Builders working according to the Law-giver and Rule-setter whose Eye and Hand shall prove it self great and mighty as ye shall thereupon rest immediately for all counsel and aid and shall thereto still ●…lye for Wisdom April the 5th 1676. In the Night-Vision I with another Person were to make a new remove to some place which we had no knowledge of being under a strict limitation thereto to hasten The way which we were to pass I saw as a fiery Oven which when we came at put us to a stop then waiting and looking on it a while the Flames died and soon were vanished Then the guiding Word said Pass on fear not the place is not now too hot to set your Feet upon which after some debate with our selves we ventured through Then was presented to our view a Knot of all Precious Stones as if they had been taken out of a Rock truly they were for Colours and Brightness and Sparkling so excelling so wonderful Transparent as all and the highest of what can be illustrated out from this Creation is but a gloomy shadow hereunto The glance was sudden and soon passed out of my view only pointing and leaving a great Impression as to the late Manifestation and the moving forward to the Jerusalem-Work Which yet required a higher and more Seraphick ascending up of our Spirits then hitherto hath been which I was in great Jeapardy about both for that others and also for my own sufficiency and spiritual ability to go forward and through paved Spirits to follow on For the Vision shewed me we should meet with hot work but that it would be allayed and overcome for us After which I saw our way made to pass through Waters before we could come to this City That Word still saying Only believe and I will pass on before you proclaiming my Name and opening to you the Foundation of it from whence your strength shall arise and your pregnant Power shall be known Who now then must be your Master-Builder to instruct you in this your Foundation-Work but that Wisdom which was with Jehovah from everlasting who gave Being and Existency according to the Spiration of the Eternal Will even so in like manner must this moving Will-power again go forth for the removing and undoing what the dark Fire enkindled Properties have done racing and pulling down that Babylonish Building to the Ground that its place may be found no more nor yet its turbulent Sea For I am making away for you out of all these first desolate part of things your Hands with me I require you to put and so you shall stop and prevent the Flood-Gates of the Beast and of the Serpent's fury Come now and I will shew you where all these Foundation-Stones do lie look see within the compass of your new Earth and of the burning Glassy Sea treasure-matter for this Foundation Building here ye may espy Therefore the Golden Plummet of my Spirit shall be given to you that so ye may be able not only to sound but also to bring up what lieth couched here beneath The first Stone which the Spirit drew up to view was a bright Saphir upon which was engraven the great Name Jehovah Shammah The second was an Onyx-stone with Everlasting Wisdom written upon it The third was a Beril presenting the Flaming and Ghostly Breath issuing forth in sparkling power The Second Row the first is the Jasper which is all Light sparkling like to the Diamond upon this is engraven the Express Word or Image of God The second Stone of this second Row is a Sardius it is a Sardine-stone which represents the Virgin Purity as meet to unite to the Jasper The third Stone of this Row is an Amethyst upon which is engraven the highest degree of Seraphick Love that cements all in one The third
If thou canst thus sow thy self singly and purely into me as into the Heart of Sion's rich Soil and there passively a while lie as in thy Tomb and unknown Sepulchre Where none after This method have of latter days been before thee not knowing or understanding the Mystery of This reposing Death then accordingly will an unmixed glorified yea deified Body arise with all rarified Senses Powers and operative Faculties meet for all Heavenly Employment and Service which can no more be drawn downward to mind inferiour matters or things These impressing Savings dropping from the Lips of my Jesus caught my Spirit into the pleasant dying and dissolving part For this kind of Death was not so grim nor terrible to me as what had formerly passed upon me Yet somewhat of a Spiritual conflict was awakened in me and the Powers of my Heavens were at strife about the laying down of this more refined Life For I found some sharp contest with an opposite Power who said What will you further dye and cease from now that the perfect thing is sprung in you Will you have all now of this Holy Nature sink down and bury it in Paradisical Ground sowing only in Hope that it will arise a Body and fair Lily in the Tower of sion This Objection met my Spirit as if I were herein to do a superstuous act but still to Wisdom's Word I adhered Which followed me all the Day long bringing a Scripture to me out of Isa. 26. Thy dead Men shall live together with my dead Body they shall rise Ver. 19. Awake sing ye that dwell in the Dust. From hence was shewn me the present sweet fellowship with my Jesus in this his own Body that is to be our Grave and embalmed Tomb whereby we are to be so Spieed with his Deified Humanity as to see no Corruptibility being called out to empty and spill our whole Life into him This being the publick Day of our Meeting my Spirit was with this new Matter filled but I quenched and stopped the going forth of it and spoke out little of this Secret Which I know would have gone forth with Mighty Powers attending it But some being there that would not happily have digested this new broached Matter I did for fear stop it though it stifled the Breath of Power and thereby was hurtful both to my self and to others Which verified to me that Word Quench not the Spirit despise not Prophecying Which I shall henceforth be cautious of and correspond with according to my Power and inspiring Breath Going afterwards to my Night's Repose I had a mighty disturbed Sleep being in a Place where I saw only the Doctor and my self where did arise out of a burning Lime-Pit a suffocating Smell which was so offensive that I told him we must make all hast out here or we should be stifled such great heaps of Chalk-Stones lay on every side as we could make but slow Pace out neither could I see what way to pass by till on a sudden a Gate opened and a Person called us to come and put forth his Hand ●…o help us over those great Stones that lay in our way so coming out into a Place where we met to worship and praise our God among our own selected Number But while we were in our Spiritual Exercise I saw one amongst us as a mocking Ishmaelite thrusting out a great pair of Lips and deriding our Powers with that I was stirred up in Spirit to go to that Party and give a rebuke and they became ashamed thereat and was Speechless for I was made to discover their Nakedness After this I fell asleep and about Break of Day I was awakened with these Words The Trumpet out of Sion soundeth to call forth the Dead in Jesus awake awake ye that sleep in Sion's Dust. This Alarm much eased my Spirit and drew it into an inward waiting for I know there would somewhat follow if watched thereunto keeping and abiding in the still Rest and waiting from under this Altar to be raised by that Life quickening Spirit that I do feel stir and eccho again to my Cry from under the Altar May the 8th 1676. This Morning being wholly attentive to my Lawgiver for further Manifestation Impowerings and Inspeakings I found Mary Magdalen's restless Spirit with me to attend the Sepulchre of my Lord from which I could not go Knowing well what I had sown into that Holy Ground from whence I expected a good Return While looking and expecting I saw nothing but a bare empty Tomb left here no Jesus was at present to be found Which brought a damp and heaviness upon me but mourning in Hope the Angel that rolled away the Stone did speak Comfort to me saying Though thy Lord into whom thou didst shed thy choicest Life-Seed and didst sow all thy Love-Spirit is now fled from thy sight and thou art hereat amazed be of good cheer he will not leave thee a restless Seeker here No sooner were these Words pronounced to me but I heard another Voice within me sound saying Hail O Mary why dost thou fear I know I know thou hast entrusted me with all thy Life-Treasury therefore in great Jeopardy I did see thee lest I should not again descend unto thee Then wouldst thou have counted me as a Thief and Robber to go away with all thy Life Spirit Power and Strength leaving thee void empty and distressed But now thou shalt know that I am returned again to thee to give thee a Resurrection with my self For I see thou canst not live without me therefore Ascend thou shalt in Spirit to be with me that thou mayst not only behold me in my Glory but know thy self also with me as a Partaker of the same Glory Only satisfie thy self that for a time some Intervals may be because of thine Abiding still in an Elementary Body which may be a Cloud upon thee But yet as often as it is possible allowing the Circumstances that do attend Corporeity exhale I will thy Superiour Part and Spirit up to me Therefore be not dismayed though there may happen many Assaults and Attempts that will make War against this Resurrection-State Which Offences will come in through the withdrawing of this inspiring Unction Whose Power is arising yet again for reforming all these Abuses and Ecclesiastical Disorders in my Visible Church Militant Therefore be not snipped in thy Hopes but be thou of good Courage who have for this Pearl of the Holy Ghost hard and unweariedly sought and art upon the growing Body for it For who so worthy thereof shall be as those who gradually shall through all Sufferings Dyings Risings Ascendings come up through all a Conqueror to me Verily I say if ●…ye shall in such a raised Spirit appear to me in Mount Sion you shall have free Liberty to take what you will out thence ●…s Co-partners with me in the Kingdom of the Father's Soveraignty whereto I ●…m by all this calling you up Therefore see see what
flye and nothing abide but what can live in this Eternal Eye as ministring Stars of Glory before the Throne of him who like to this Circling Eye which thou hast seen hath neither Beginning or End A. The Eye B. The Globe of Light C. C. C. C. C. The Flames D. The Rainbow E. The One Element F. The Supercelestial Moon After this Word it disappeared leaving its Flaming Influences upon my Heart And further of this secret Vision he did say he would it impart as I for its Manifestation did wait and the signification hereof should come to be witnessed by that rising Birth which is called up to this Globe among these Stars to fix in this more excelling Firmament July the 17th 1676. The Interpretation of the Vision or of the Flaming Eye This Vision of the Flaming Eye is given for to see that which is worth pondering for thy pure Mind continually For glorious Idea's will multiply that hereupon all thy Senses may be employed in such sweet Rarifiedness wherein there is no danger of Excess While this Vein from the Heart of God in thee doth run it will feed that which doth come from the pure Font and hereby stop the running issue of the Imaginary part Which I will assure thee will compleat the Victory because it strikes at Sin 's Originality which had its beginning from the Conceptive part of the Heart there it came it and there it must be banished out Then it will be a New Heart in which the Flaming Eye will fix Which in Vision thou didst see with its innumerable Stars in the Firmament which are generated from this Globe-Eye so unmerously will holy and pure Cogitations from hence arise and so habitual strong and forceable as to out-pass all strange Essences that would come therein again to lodge Therefore within this Circling do ye abide that so you may keep out all evil Motions which the Serpent knows are the Foundation-matter of his Kingdom and will sting you with them if ye do not fully exclude them Which ye no way can till ye hasten away and with your Spirit fly to this bright Firmament where this Eye all Dangers will for you espy and know all secret Mysteries making you wise in that one great needful thing which will make all strait that crooked and out of the way is For such is the property of this Fire piercing Eye that it will look through the Host of the whirling Imaginations and put them to a stop that so they may not persue as to overtake those that are upon Faith's flying Banner on which keep till it hath brought you within Zion's Gates This great and weighty thing concerning Cessation and Annihilation of all fruitless Imaginations was still the Call within me to come into the Believing Rest for that this was the true dying into Jesus which passive Life is the pure Mother out from which the Birth of the God-acting-Life is to be expected For the Faith of the co-operating Power worketh here all in all The New Heart being replenished with ministring Powers suitable hereunto that will perfectly bring things to pass as the Mystery is moved in its own Sphear driving on by the mighty force of this Birth of Faith Which produceth great and marvellous things according to the sublime Nature of it For it hath no other ground to go upon but the absolute Co-eternal Deified Will which Will willeth in the New created Heart as in its own Royal Seat July the 18th 1676. This Morning I was in great Heart-searchings about this precious Lily of Faith if I could by the sight reflecting from the Eternal Eye it any where espy Querying thus with my Lord Jesus Ah Lord if the right Plant be in me as it was found in thee why doth it not act forth Where are the Signs which should follow as the Seal of Believing What makes the Birth of it stick thus long whose going forth must make way for the Holy Ghost Tell me Oh thou inspiring Word why hath it had a Name to live and yet hath been as dead For it hath not been Justified by such mighty Heroick Works as in the foregoing Ages did bear witness to it And this hath made it as a Body without a Spirit actless and fruitless Thus I earnestly expostulated that if we had it existing in us then we might have skill to use and manage it for the reviving of this worthy and unknown thing which hath been a Stranger in the Earth but is now a stirring in our Heavens and a turning up the Mould that hath from our Eye this all-precious Grain hid Where then doth it lie said the blessed Alpha to me thou hast to the heights for it ascended and for it hast sounded into the Depths but thy Aim hath been too ●…ort to reach it and thy Eye too dim for to espy it though it is so nigh Yet not known to any till they do retain the bright glance of the Flaming Eye which hath not only the specious Faculty but the streaming Power of Might to bring back again this worthy Champion that hath been by the combining Powers of Reason put unto flight Which so soon as Tydings come that they are dead who so wickedly have conspired against Faith's life then it will return again and appear on the Earth mighty and supream to open the Door for the Holy Ghost to enter in Then this Mystery of Faith will be finished To which ye are directed that by contending for it ye may obtain it unto Victory July the 19th 1676. As we this Morning were in our Spiritual operative Powers each one bringing forth out of the Treasury the Doctor being much carried out upon the Subject of Faith it was spoken to me This is the Ministry which goeth before to make way for the Holy Ghost And I saw as a Confirmation hereof a Flying Banner passing swiftly by as a Trophy of Faith's Victory Which each one must bear before the Day in which the Holy Power will shower upon us till which in one Spirit of Faith we were directed to wait together After which also a Word run through me There is need enough to provoke each other hereunto For the Day is now nearer then when first ye did set upon this Believing Oh now let us go through that we may reach to all the Degrees of Faith which will assuredly make up our fallen Breach For this is the Power that will make us all whole as the true Weapon-Salve which is anointed by the Hand of our dear Jesus to smooth and make ready for the Flying Banner of the Holy Power for to descend into us who in this Faith do wait within the secret Gate of the New Jerusalem state where into by no means must we bring any Spirit that may make mutiny for to break the holy League which must be still maintained with him who is the Covenant Who hereby reneweth our Peace and Joy in believing without annoy or staggering which hinders the purchase
of the Field where the Pearl is found which Field is called Faith's Eternal Ground July the 24th 1676. In the Morning-Watch this was first cast up upon the Shore of my Mind by way of expostulation with my Jesus whom I felt hover over me with throng●…ng Powers of Love as an Invitation for Discourse after the manner of a Spirit without the noise of Words This thing 〈◊〉 say was with me to offer in way of Query How it comes to pass that after ●…uch mighty high winged Prayers and ●…trong Gales rushing in through them ●…s I had witnessed but the Night before in such ascending strong Center-Raptures and Powers coming down that yet the Gulph was not shot through That is the parting Principle which still shuts out the Spirit of the Bride from her native home where she may have power of Command to act and bring down what may make for renown to the Virgin Crown while walking up and down in these Earthly Bounds My Spirit took all boldness to know why it should be so fruitless in its Mediatorship now over what it was in foregoing times when Prayer of Faith was as a ready Messenger to fetch in whatever was wanting I did lay hard upon the Mighty One using the same Arguments as Dalilah did with her Sampson how O my Jesus can it be that thou dost love me without thou shewest me a●… that is in thy Heart that so I may know where thy great Strength lieth and this by coming thereto as thy loyal Bosom Spouse in whom thy Heart may rest in without any suspicion that ever I will betray so great a Trust if thou wilt but once reveal this secret thing unto me For I desire I seek I look only after this to be united to the Lock of thy Power and Might as a springing Plant from thy Godhead Which will give me all Power to answer to the present state requiring which is made up of nothing but Sin and Self original and Ill Consequences bundled up into innumerable Grievances So that verily I did see the whole visible fallen part of things all putrified unsound unstable weak low and poorly spirited therefore out of this deep sence I could not but cry Help Oh help thou mighty Prince and Saviour nigh For who do see themselves lie in this Golgotha state but are willing to take the Wing of the Everlasting Morning and herefrom fly to the Rock that hath the Clifts of Munition to hide all that are weary of this loathed Place Therefore with unutterable Sighs and Requests I did this our deplorable and defective state beseech my Jesus to read over and to take away the Reproach thereof For I argued with him that if thus Indigent we should still be it would sure reflect upon the Lord our New Covenant-Restorer who nothing was to leave short or imperfect in those for whom he became an Undertaker to his Father to bring them back again After all this on my part by way of Spiritual Parley this Word came unto me saying Arise arise yet and wait Why art thou jealous that Love is wanting or the Arm of my Power abated because I do not tell thee where the hiding of this Lock of Strength is I know I know thy sore Longings of it for to partake with me that it might free thee from the fallen state Which is in such Shame and Derision that thou canst not lift up thy Head with any Confidence because the Accursed Thing is every where in and about this lower Sphear where thy abode is yet for to be in Temptation and Fear but faint not thy Bridegroom is near who will the Shield of Faith anoint with the Oyl of the Holy Ghost which will be Joy unspeakable and full of Glory after all thy heaviness The reason why thy Praying as to matters of so high a Consequence hath wrought so little is because Faith hath been so dry for want of the pouring out from on High the Golden Streams out of the Oily Fountain of the one pure Deity which would make all Prayer mighty and operative when this Balsamick Oyl doth slow from the Fountain-Head July the 26th 1676. As my Spirit was Contemplating after some Breathings forth in Prayer these Words came to me To love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart is more then all Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices this is that which I prefer above all and to which I do look to in all that draw near to me with Love unfeigned and with a whole Heart transmitted over to me and no part kept back from him that calls for Incorporation of Hearts That so there may be but one Heart of Purity as with thy Jesus in his Humanity This Love is the Box of Spikenard opening therefrom whence thy God smelleth the sweet savour from which the Curse flyeth and will be no more found to hurt blast or destroy the springing Vine about the Walls of thy Mind From which the Wine of the Kingdom will flow to refresh the Heart then shall you find you are not far from the Kingdom that consisteth in Love Joy and Peace Then followed upon this that Scripture about the Ark being sent away by the Philistines It was shewed me it would not abide with the uncircumcised in Spirit but Dagon would be smitten and fall before it For in contrariety the Wrath-Vial opened and though the Philistines thought they had got the Blessing in regard they had heard and known what Victories and Salvations it had wrought yet it became a Curse where they held it in Unrighteousness and in an unhallowed impure Temple setting up other Gods equal and jointly with it which by no means would be endured God will be All or nothing at all to such as would retain his Ark-presence in the mixed unsanctified Mind there is nothing but Gall and Wormwood to be found instead of Sweetness The Ministration therefore that shall be afoot on Earth must be all upon a New Bottom which is figured out by that new Cart that the Ark was put into which represents a new Heart in which the immaculate presence of the Lamb will be retained No unconsecrated Uzzah must take hold thereof but only the Hand of Faith and the Flaming Spirit of Love that yoaked are together as strong and able without more addition of help to bring this to its own place within the Vail and Tabernacle where its Rest is to be For the All-seeing driving Power is with these two Kine upon whom no breach shall be as formerly when the rash Bethshemites that were not purified looked into it July the 26th 1676. Again this Word came to me from the Lord Up stay not here the Ark though in the House of Obed-Edom that is in a Nazarite Heart yea here the Blessing is not ever to rest and abide but it must move forward for there is yet much Land to be possessed which only the Eye within the Ark can spy Therefore be sure still to enquire at it who can tell
secure thee from all beleaguerings hiding thee within the Pavilion of his Power To this oh my Soul do thou enter and for ever rely for here is hiding from the Serpent's Eye August the 31st 1676. Upon these sweet Words of Counsel and Emanations I sprung out in Prayer renewing my Vows formerly made pouring forth the Oyl of Joy and Gladness upon Jacob's Pillar which is the standing Witness betwixt me and Jehovah Nissah Henceforth resolving to adventure only with Jacob's Staff in my Hand finding fresh Power animating my Faith so that I neither feared Famine Nakedness or any Distress that could happen Being resolved to abide where my Lot was cast and to go thro' with my Associate with whom the Spirit of Caleb was to proceed and to go forward unanimously with me till we might reach to the high Calling and Apostolical Power which I felt mightily impulsing to hazard the loss of all reckoning nothing of Validity or worth making Interest for but that which spoken of hath been yet reserved for us in the Everlasting Treasury Whereto upon all accounts I will apply my self for thereout will be given to that Eye which waiteth steadily Which was assured and confirmed to me from that Example of Moses his Hands being held up The Lord said to me if ye will be prevailing Conquerors over your deadly undermining Soul-destroying Foes your Hands of Faith must at no time fall down but when you find them heavy call in Aaron and Hur the Spirit of Prophecy and Prayer which props up and maintains the Affiance still to rest upon the Stone of Strength and Almightiness by which great Conquest and Success will come to be witnessed Thus happy shall ye be in holding out firmly because the Shield of your help shall tread down all strength for you September the 1st 1676. THe Doctor this Morning Praying with me the Word said while he was in Prayer Here is a Ship in full Sail directing to that Prophetical Blessing which was pronounced upon Zebulun whose dwe●…ing should be at the Haven where all rich freighted Ships should unload themselves September the 3d. 1676. This Morning considering of some Passages which were read to me of a Fore-runner who had wonderful things by Vision revealed unto him with which I was much affected they being so weighty much answering to what I did believe might be brought to pass according to the Spirit of Prophecy who did see into the same Mystery of Christ coming While I was Praying in my self for to see this wonderful Time a Pair of Ballances was put forth by a Hand as out of a Cloud where appeared a great Roll writ upon within and a Golden Ball or Globe These in each Scale were weighed The Golden Globe immediately carried the Scale down and thus it was said Vision is not so weighty as Fruition These Writings are as the Bonds of Obligation but the subsisting thing is from this solid Body which turns Vision into Fruition which set thy Heart chiefly upon September the 4th 1676. After this passed I considered how to be changed into this Globe of unmixed solid matter groaning after the contaction of his Heavenly material thing which in Vision I had seen Then heard I Wisdom's Word to cry within me saying Thy Mind must be cast into a new Mold of Imagination that so thy thoughts may come to answer mine That Scripture being brought to me Let the unrighteous Man forsake his thoughts and turn to his God At this Word I said Oh my Lord who can nullify and put a stop to his own thoughts which is a connexion to his Life For every sight of the Eye and hearing of the Ear doth stir up and awaken these Essences therefore there is no possibility of stopping the current of them but they will run their Course as the Sun Moon and Stars in their Order will Under whose Constellations while we are living such common thoughts wil●… arise which though not wholly evil ye●… because they are not holy and perfectly good they cannot be according to what proceeds from the Heart of God who would that our Thoughts and Ways should be like unto his This case I presented before my God and my Lord Jesus to be answered September the 5th 1676. Who the next day thus resolved me saying As thou hast desired that great sublime change which is the Transmutation into the pure solid Body so know thou that for the obtaining of this there must of necessity be a superimaginariness from which fanned are all chaffy Cogitations For such is the Man as the Conceptions of his Mind are Now this is only on thy part to do whereby the circulation of profuse Imaginations may be stopped when wisely and foreseeingly thou dost prevent all occasions which administer such hard matter for such a muddy Spring to generate it self into such Multiplicities as generally fill the whole House of the Mind I Jesus do therefore come to be thy anointed Eye that so thou mayst discern the thoughts of thy Heart what to imbrace and what to forsake For know that a thought is a more considerable thing then hitherto ye have understood for their Nature are most subtle swift Spirits who numerate as the Sand upon the Sea-shore so as they make a World invisible in every Creature From whence first come all Wars Insurrections and Mutations these being first inkindled from the Fire-flash which openeth from its own center which divideth it self part into the Evil and part into the Good For so it is now that two Sources are opened in every Creature his Will standing free being redeemed out of the necessity as adhering to the Earthly the treasury of the Heavenly being free to resort to But that part from whence the pure River doth bubble up and spring multipying divine Conception is a very deep Well into which the Will-Spirit doth launch s●…nking down into the Depths before it can fetch up those precious Thoughts which work from the Source of all pure Deity They will through an habitual Course so unite as to rise up like an Army of great Might able to put the other to flight Here is the great Conquest to subdue every Thought and first to bring down these high Towers of the imaginary part Demolish but these and you will do your work to purpose Now that ye may be wise to know how to stop this muddy Source observe these following Rules Rules for the Government of the Imagination First Wind out of all occasions which from this World may minister and present fruitless and unnecessary Objects and Things which will kindle Essences according to their empty and profuse Likeness Secondly Keep thy self much within thy Holy Temple and Holy Place of Silence where the Trinity with their whole train delight for to descend with whom being much conversant the sight of the Eye and the hearing of the Ear within this Heavenly Sphear will both beget nourish and maintain pure Cogitations Thirdly Thou wilt see feel and know
a fruitful Womb always bringing forth that which may grow up to the Ghostly Fountain-Body To which giving heed thou mayst at the Mouth thereof set and draw up Water of Life I say of Life abundantly Fourthly Oh then love to live within thine own Fountain which is blessed desire not to taste of any other which may be Salt or Sweet or of a Mixed property Fifthly Wait upon the Effusion of this rising Sanctuary-River which will run till it become broad all over Which is the right and true covering of the Spirit Under this no evil surmisings can dwell all of that Nature hereout will be expelled at the opening Source of the holy Ghost Sixthly This is the true and everlasting Sign that shall no more be worn out nor be cut off but it shall be a sure Nail fastened within for the more signa●… and lasting Impression That thou mays●… see all shadowy Ministrations of little use and service to the Substantial thing Which will grow from the pure rarified Mind that hath got victory from superfluous Thoughts from which do thou divide and then another Spirit within thee will reside Seventhly Having considered thus the Immutability and Unchangableness of this substantial Thing growing from the pure Mind and of all the Thoughts therefrom arising and also considering the great Mutability and Instability of whatever groweth and proceedeth from the Imagination it remaineth that thou wholly divide and seperate thy self from every vain superfluous mutable and Imaginary Thought looking up only to receive such Idea's into thee as are Solid Necessary Immutable and Spiritual According to which thou art to try examine and prove whatever would enter into thy Heart and accordingly to Acquit or Reject them if thou wouldst remember to keep a true and perfect Sabbath unto thy Lord rising in his Spirit from all that is Earthly Elementary and Imaginary September the 6th 1676. My Friend being at Prayer my Spirit ardently joyning therewith This Word in the Heavenly Orb was spoke What shall be done for these diligent Seekers and Heaven-violaters who for the Kingdom thus persue Upon which Word pausing and finding that within my self to Echo hereunto I waited to hear what Answer would follow hereupon I then in my Spirit saw there was a demurr or consultation thereupon but had not at that time any positive Answer from the Lord. September the 7th 1676. In the Night I awaked upon some Voice that was uttered but could not remember what it spake And then I saw a Book that was opened of an unknown Print that I could not read it which also passed out of sight Then was this Word sounded forth Here are the Children of the Bride-Chamber who to me do cry for stronger Meat they have weaned themselves from the nutriment of the Breast telling me they can digest Spiritual Flesh. Then was let down a Charger to me with a Lamb that had been slain and the Word said Take hereof and eat this is Paschal Meat Then said I Lord not so this is raw and undressed who can feed hereof Then this was drawn up and behold one as in the Figure and Stature of a Man but not in a fleshly Image only the fashion of a Man all bright as the Body of Heaven for clearness out of his Mouth went a white Mist or Breath having seven Pipes or conveying Powers one of each side and another at the Navel where somewhat was as the Form of a Belly but all after a very lustrous manner Out of his Mouth went forth pure Breath and Air then out of the Pipes that were fixed on the Breasts sprouted Milk Then from the Heart went forth Streams of Blood and upon one side grew out a Branch bearing Olive-Berries then a Stalk which did bear some kind of large solid Grain Then on the other side from the Navel-Pipe did spring clear Crystal-Water After this manner did this Spiritual Body appear and said to me Draw near for this is the great Day of the Feast where the Spiritual Body doth convey it self in variety Here is high spirited Blood and Flesh for the strong in Spirit to digest Whoever can on this my Body feed Of no perishing thing he will have need September the 8th 1676. The Interpretation of the former Vision The Representation of this former Conveying Body of my Lord Jesus did not only affect my in-seeing Eye but by it I found my life-Life-Spirit fed succoured and strengthned The very sucking down these Spiritual Sweets as compounded all at one draught had their operative Power for some hours after And again this Morning they did plentifully give out themselves after the manner of a Conduit that hath many Pipes at once springing yet all in their Order and as soon as one stops another opens Oh who can of these deep Manifestations judge but such as are overtaken with these Golden Floods that from the glorified Body do thus open for the nourishing up of every part till we answer hereunto in a perfect lustrious Body like to like Which my Spirit prayed vigorously for seeking also to have a clear understanding of this Vision waiting in great and pure awe for my Immanuel to give me his Mind herein Who said to me By this is shewn thee what the Counsel of the Trinity hath determined to do for you that have out-grown the Child's Food Here are new and fresh sprouting Powers which will make my imbreathed Spirit grow into a Body As a Nazarite it is to be who must wait continually hereupon and must be under a restraint so as only to take in what these Pipes shall give forth that so the pure Crystalline thing may live in you which will Leaven you throughout Whereby the Most High and wonderful Consubstantiation will be effected to the glory of the New Creation Then I further queried about the Book and the Lamb which was first presented to feed upon It was said as to the Book though opened none could it read because we were not come to such a growth of understanding as being such as are newly weaned from the Breast Then it was opened to me concerning the Lamb that it was the Dying Dispensation which did go before the rising Living Body which quickens and brings to Life again as it is written I am the Lamb slain that is risen and do live to feed my Flock for evermore from that Body wherein is the chiefest store Then it was revealed to me that the Book which I saw opened was and still should have been sealed up had not the Lamb in me over Death prevailed but now the Seals are undone and it is given to the Redeemed for to look into it though not learned yet high enough to comprehend those great and wonderful things which are reserved for the full grown Spirit Who understands all of the high Tongue and Seraphick Canaan Language in which we shall be taught as we are strong and have aptness of Ability to take in from this sevenfold Fountain-spring of which
perfumes the Breath of all your Prayers so that your God may smell that which may bring down Blessings according to your Will Being so compounded in every part with the Spikenard and Altar-Fire as to be one continual ascending Power and perfuming Pillar of sacred Fire With which my dear Lord do thou mightily shine upon those who appointed are hereunto and them more highly inspire September the 18th 1676. Having for some few Days met with some exercise of Illness upon my outward man whereby I was made sensible how great a disadvantage that was to the Spirit of the Mind to do its Office and Work in as to its House and Habitation where it displays it self making the very outward Animal Spirit of the Body intelligible of Divine Things which when depressed by Sickness is much otherwise for that then the receptable Comprehensive part is much shut up The feeling of which made me bewail the defectiveness of this outward Body because it was disproportionable to that high graduated thing which acted within it Upon which I sought the Lord with great earnestness to give such soundness to the Terrestrial Man as it might answer to the Spiritual Operator who was the moving Wheel After some little space of time I heard this Word run mightily through me I am thy Saving Health which shall arise and get the Victory over thy present Infirmities To which Word I gave credit and did see all the dark Magick Influence fl●… as a dark Vapour from me A hail Body is of a necessary connexion to a sound Spirit for the Lord's Service whereby the Heavenly Calling may be perfected Against which the working Powers of that grand Enemy are always at work by one wile or other still to prevent me running to and fro as a most busie Agent but to my God I did fly who said he would spread over me the healing Covering of his Soveraignty for my security Then I prayed for the Guardian Power to surround them who with me were obnoxious to the stroke of the Dragon's Enmity letting his Arrows fly every way upon the Heaven-Setters But it was said Fear not for on them also is set an impregnable Guard Thus I was comforted over all Fears Distresses and Tribulations being assured no Weapon should prosper against the Work which we were charged with For if on our parts we did not flag the Right Hand of Strength and Power did engage to be with us and for us even so Amen let it be O Lord evermore September the 20th 1676. The Expostulation of the Spouse I was in a Spirit of Mourning for the Personal Absence of my Lord whose Representations and Touches had awakened and drawn all the Virtual Powers of my Spirit after him insomuch as I took freedom to tell him whom my Soul thus loved that sith he had after such a high and total manner engaged my Heart unto him above all others that now it was but right and equal he should marry me and so in every respect answerably provide and settle me according to the greatness of that Marriage state Preferring also to him this Argument that it was his own free offer to Love first or I should never have presumed to have claimed such favourable Aspects or such kind of Spiritual freedom with one so much raised above me But verily now since my Lord made the first Proposal and thereby hath gained my Interiour Will with all its attending Affections it is now but reasonable that I should be answered in my Foundational Hopes and Expectations Which are not grounded upon old recorded general Promises but upon new and particular Words dropping fresh from the Mouth of my Jesus or else those deep Impressions had never took hold of me so as to make me set light by all Creatures and Things Believing I had made such a choice as was sufficient to answer to every requiring and to set me free from the Servile Bondage to these sort of Creatures that knew nothing of the Mystery of Faith I did set home these and many more Arguments upon my Lord with all ardency and I said that I did now look for Performance and entreated further that he would consider that the Honour of his Fidelity was herein concerned For I had declared to the World that I was his and he was mine by Covenant and Contract and therefore with what shame should I come off who had rejected all Loves and Lovers for to tye my Spirit in this Espousal Knot to this great Heir and Prince of Glory unto which Royalty I did believe er'e long I should be invested If my Jesus would be true unto me according to the various Promises left as an Earnest with me Who being so right and just a Person as I had no shadow of ground on his part to suspect neither would I knowingly act any thing defectively on my part or delay the mutual Nuptial Day which would make much for the Praise of such a restored Glory Therefore I was much importunate with my Jesus that he would do now and act according to the earnest Expectation of the New Creature and the Honour of his exalted Name that it might be no longer derided or defamed by those who would rejoyce to see wholly self-denying Spirits frustrated of their Bridal-Joy and Coronation-Day And that he would be pleased so to act as now to let them stand upon the visible Stage of Dignity as they have been of Reproach and Defamation despightfully used for their Bridegroom's sake As also to bring off all their disgraceful Calumnies who hath now the disposal of all Princely Majesty to put upon his present disguised Bride September the 21st 1676. I having after this manner unburthened my loaded Mind by way of Expostulation hearkening what answer herefrom would proceed to a suspended Lover I heard this Answer Here now follows the Bridegroom's Answer by his Spirit Oh thou desponding Lover I perceive thou art still upon the doubtful and questioning part suspecting my Truth and Loyalty lest I should despise and slight thee in thy mean estate First thou hast charged me to draw and steal away thy Heart not only from thy self but from all others so as thou sayest thou art as a lifeless useless actless Creature having emptied all into me so as now nothing will suffice but the Conjugal Knot to be knit or else thou thinkest thy self never sure of me Thus I have born thy Love-passionate Charges and thy unkind Surmises because I had deferred upon deep grounds best known to my self the publication of my determinate Marriage with thee But O Soul may it not suffice thee that I do maintain all intimate Friendship with thee and though I cannot as yet make a visible Personal Appearance for duration and for demonstration to the World Yet in and by that faithful Witness and true Unction I am still present with thee I am no Stranger to thy Affairs my Spirit gives an Account of all things unto me I have left all of thy
Concerns to be brought before me and administred unto as occasion requires by this Life-Breath which I have so secretly infused Where-ever I bestow this Gift it gives a sufficiency from it self to do and act all that is above and beyond a Creaturely Power For it is of an Eternal Almightiness proceeding from the Father of Spirits who generateth what is like himself essentially into me the First Born of this Second Creation That henceforth the Power of Donation might rest with the Principal Head to pass and convey my self in Spirlt And I see the way of Holiness made for this pure inspiring thing to walk in which must find an Habitation suitable to its own Purity that so all may be at an agreement Then in mutual Loves and Joys my Spirit conversant is and will take in the Sence of all the Grievances and report them unto me Who now have all that is the Father's infinite Stock of Life to enrich with Wisdom Honour and Dignity at my pleasure I long and wait to have it drawn out from me therefore now make use of this all-searching Spirit whom thou mayst make a Friend of that may advance thee to a high estate even in this present time wherein thou art spinning out as others Times Mortality which hitherto hath brought forth very little of this Life's Treasury No eminent thing hath yet been wrought for to illustrate and make me shine through the Cloudy Body where through I would manifest again the Name Jesus Come O thou Complainent rise out of thy fainting disponding Bed and stir up this Gift which is with you work and keep Pace with it All must be broght to pass by the diligent Hand of this Spirit uniting with thy Spirit and thy Spirit with this Spirit who will work all in all in thee September the 23d 1676. Being in deep Meditations I was saying in my self Oh that I were beloved of my Jesus with that Love with which he loved John To whom he did appear so as it is written by which his Spirit was drawn to hear and see those wonderful things that are to us reported of Ah Lord why wilt thou not give me to lie as near thy Heart as he and as close at thy Feet as the beloved Mary that I may drink in every Word which falleth down from thy precious Lips out from which are the very Issues of Life While I was thus pleading and invocating there was presented a Triangle-Heart clear as Crystal that you might see through them linked thus 1. The Heart of Love 2. The Heart of Joy 3. The Heart of Peace 4. The Heart of the Bride 5. 5. 5. The Golden Chain with Seven Links 6. 6. 6. The Communications of the Hearts 1. 2. 3. to the Heart 4. Then heard I this Word Here is place for a Pure Heart within this Triangle Heart of the Deity for to joyn Then I saw another Heart within the Circle to spring with many more which were still generated herefrom all White and Crystalline but they were without the Chain this only one was within Then I enquired what Heart this was which was so nearly admitted It was Answered It is that Heart which through mighty ardent strong force of Love hath broken through and got into this Secret Enclosure Where it hath great opportunity and advantage to search and know what from this threefold Heart doth flow Which have their several diffusions according to their Titles The first was under the denomination of Love The Second was Joy The Third Peace All which agreed to empty themselves forth upon this other Heart which had pressed in for Shelter And what-ever Heart can abide within this Circle may attract strong infusing Powers that are all pure and vital to act in the Triangle-Might From this Idea I had great and full Confirmation that the Heart of the Trinity was most free and ready to embrace and receive them who of one Spirit and Heart were together fixed to break through the Golden Chain so as none might be nearer to the Heart of the Trinity then such who have rent and divided from all Creaturely Hearts that so they might know what from this Triangle-Heart of Love Joy and Peace doth ever flow September the 24th 1676. This Morning I was much upon the Consideration when I should begin to work in the Name Jesus as I did believe in it and had Promises from it Now this was all in my Eye to have the Spirit manifested for Activity For I know this only would be profitable as it refers to the Glory of the Most High when Works do express the working Source that is opened from the Deity Being with my God very urgent on this matter according to the impulse upon me from the Expediency that I saw for the Life to work out this way in variety according to the measure of the Gift of the operation of the Power This Word of Counsel and Caution sprang Oh thou whom I see restless and tossed to and fro in thy Mind no rest thou art indeed to find till thou comest to the working Mines For there is the Tryal and Probation who can be skill'd to work in the Furnace of an hot burning Sphear which is not remote but very near Henceforth know O thou fluttering Dove-Spirit that I have not left thee without a weighty and rich Talent which is in thine own Custody though it lieth deep with a threfold Cover upon it which must be unfolded before thou canst see this precious thing The first is the gross dark Mould of this Earthly Climate which is very stifling to this pure thing The second is the strong binding Reason that lieth as a Mountain weight upon it The third is the low natural Senses which multiply as the Sand upon the Sea-shore flowing in to stop and discourage thee from this great Attempt and worthy Service Which if once fully set upon with a Resolution to go through these Three Removes thou wilt then come to the Golden Wedge which will make thee great rich and mighty in the pure Ghostly working Property I your Jesus do tell you faithfully where the subject matter doth lie to work upon Your Complaint hitherto hath been to me as if I had carried away all the Stock and Treasury and ingrossed it to my own proper use or reserved it only for you till you had slipped out of the Body But know it is otherwise do but knit and joyn all your Force and Power with my deep Fathoming Spirit which is given to you and he will find and also work out what concerns your Freedom and Investment to the high and self-same dignified Glory with me Hither towards ye have indeed prayed and sought and believed and hoped but ye have not wrought in the Furnace where this Golden Wedge is to be all melted down to run into every part of your Body as the Life-Blood doth in your Veins Then you will know that unquenchable and fixed Efflux of the Spirit that will
of Blessing but will seek to dispoil her from her greater more weighty and eminent Riches with her true Honours through the sub●…le Pretences that all these by her given are provided to gratifie the outward mans Exigencies who hath need of all these things Which smooth Arguments have deluded Multitudes ingulphing them deep into an irrecoverable Pit of Perdition Of which common Snare O ye that are called and culled out to live upon another Fount and Spring take good heed it is for such as you thereof to be aware It is for you not to be here caught but still to go to Jacob's Lot observe therefore and diligently enquire when you are to depart out of Babylon and when the set-time is that your Laban's Service shall expire Now my charge unto you is that when I your Jesus expresly alarm you to take your leave of all and from all things and to make a quick dispatch after me that you linger not out your time with so many Taking of Leaves and long Salutes whereby to express so hard a Come-off from this Evil World For my Spirit will hide nothing from me but doth give a true account how your Mind and Will stands towards me He is that impartial Spirit of Truth who on both sides is faithful who does as well take of yours and snew to me as of mine to you He cannot and will not make any force without the free consent of your own Will nor treat with you any otherwise then by Love's Entreaties and those many considerable Advantages set before your true Spiritual Eye which in this Light of the anointed One ye may spy without defraud or hindrance And as for thee O Shulamite what thinkest thou doth thy God and me more disgust then when my Spirit bringeth this Report to my Ear that thou canst not yet give full credit to thy Espoused Lord and Husband without wavering My Spirit tells me that Love is not grown so perfect yet in thee as to cast out every questioning thought which makes thee so oft in Jeopardy For couldst thou undoubtedly believe in my Faithfulness and highly great and all-sufficent Responsibility to answer to all and what-ever relates to thee as thou standest in thy exiled state I say if in this perswasion my Spirit could thee fix thou wouldst openly decry down the Beast and his great Benefactor who doth sit on him to give Rewards out of the false pernicious Magick Cup and thou wouldst only look to thy own Eternal Dowry from the Hand of her who is all over cloathed with Strength Glory and Majesty thereby to cover those who are lodged in the Bridegroom's Heart True it is ye have not only witnessed a good Confession with your Lips but have also in some degree given the Sealing Proof by bringing out the first ripe Fruits O know ye who are my Garden Plants for what end are all my Golden Dews to you conveyed through my Spirit Are they not that ye may see this fruitful Tree of Life within your own Lebanon to spring both for Food and Healing Whereto ye are brought by that Spirit and Power which is in mine Elect who are given by the Father to be jointsharers with me in the third great and blessed Lot of pure Breath and Heat from the everlasting Deity Even so to us my God do them this infuse richly according to thy Word October the 6th 1676. This Word came to me saying None but my Eunuchs who are seperated and have cut themselves off from all other People can know how to sanctifie to me a Sabbath of Rest whereby they may cease from the toil of their own Hands In this Day their Strength will be to sit still to feel the all-piercing Unction that hath such a high and wonderful slight as to effect all work without cry or noise This I tell thee Oh Soul as a Secret in thy Ear for in this lieth a deep Mystery which is only known where the Train is purely laid running as out of a Spout from the all-flowing God-head into the pure Eunuch Spirit Who hath suffered a dismembring for the Life of Holy Generations sake through the secret unknown way of co-operation and essential contaction by which the holy thing that is of Ghostly Authority comes in this manner existent in and through Nature's frame to get in such who are thus qualified to shine forth as Day-Stars in the Lamb 's Celestial Firmament After the Spirit had revealed this unto me it said Who but such potent and high raised Spirits pointing to some one or other known by Name should be called out to bear his Name and to shine in Wisdom and Power as Lights before the Gentiles that thereby the Sons of Strangers and Aliens may come to joyn themselves to the Day-Spring from on High which though in the Clouds of Mortality yet known may be by the fruitful operation of the Spirit of Jesus which worketh mightily in contradiction to Reason's Eye Reserve your selves therefore still to hallow my great Name in keeping within the Walls upon which the Guardian Cherubims are set for your defence that there ye may keep my Sabbath from polluting no Burthens must there be carried through And so you will know the beginning of my Eternal Rest. October the 7th 1676. Being upon some occasion interrupted in my Spiritual Calling by touching with that which was ungrateful to the pure Spirit of Jesus he told me That he was of that Seraphick Nature that he could not delight to be where any worldly trafficking Spirits did resort having a disgust to what-ever did spring from this fallen accursed Principle And therefore it was agreed that I must keep his Temple-Habitation pure for that no reception must be there but for the Holy Trinity The outward Court where the common Senses flutter up and down is sufficient to take in what is to be considered for the Mortal Man Who also might well be cast upon the Spirits care and firmly relied upon For such in whom this is so shall grow and spring as a Sabbatical Lily without any thought how their Food and Cloathing do come in Ah! upon this my Spirit cryed Lord I have been a long while getting up my Faith to this pitch but cannot come to the degrees of this all-conquering Faith which may thrust out every tittle of an Earthly Confidence Which I well know are as the miry Rushes that have been a stop to this rising Lily which groweth no where but out of Faith's unweedy Soil Thus by way of Expostulation in Prayer I presented what the Spirit shewed to me was short and defective and did impede the success of the Work going on jointly by the Lord's undertakers Who were thus animated and counselled by his Spirit After that I had supplicated and owned the good Hand of God in joyning me to one that had a good degree of Love Courage and Constancy to go forward with a fixed Eye to the Mount of Transfiguring Glory this Word spake to
Decree but by famishing the Earthly Life with all that pertains thereto casting out the disobedient Vashti that so such a Virgin might be sought out as might please the King and upon all occasions might have his Ear. Now Esther is only to speak what Mordecai the Divine Life puts into her mouth Words of Wisdom to out-do all the Serpent's subtilty This prudent Mordecai fore-sees for Esther all dangers that are like to accrue gives present notice that so Evils may be escaped before they do overtake Oh here through this Similitude how freely and plainly did the most Holy Spirit reveal what lay hid in the Mystery further advising us to prepare a Banquet after the touch of the Golden Scepter which gives the Token of Acceptance Mordecai contrives with Esther jointly what Provision to make only knowing what the Royal Court fare is bringing in those choice things which the King feeds upon So that this Banquet consists all of Fruits but not raw or gross ripened from this old Element but such as are preserved with all sweet restorative Spices fetched from the Land of Havilah where the Golden Liquor flows and the sweet Canes do grow The Wine to this Feast all answerable hereunto refined from the Lees served out of that one Golden Cup that none ever drank out of but the great Donor of the Feast who will only receive it from the Hand of the Bride Then said the Spirit to this Bride All things are now ready invite the King and your God unto this Supper Your Banquet thus ordered you need not doubt of the King's company and though the proud Haman-Spirit may here intrude yet fear not for his doom will be suddenly given Oh Esther who art in great favour with the King put forward and spare not to ask that now thy Life may be forthwith given unto thee in a Princely Subsistency All that is in thy Heart at such a time as this may verily be answered and thou go away with Joy of Heart not that only thy Accuser is cast out but thou art come near to the Scepter of the Kingdom to live without toil or bryarly Cares Thus did the Spring-Unction make it applicable to us by reiterating all this over again that so hereby we might be assured whereunto this Golden Scepter let down by the Hand of the King would bring us who in an Esther-like Spirit of Humility and Faith do draw near to it It was also further noted to me from the Spirit that when-ever we had these Tabernacle-Feasts and the presence of Glory in it we should not get only a Promise to alter the Hand-Writing that had gone out against us but to press such Arguments as thereby to overturn the whole state of our Captivity under the Babylonish Haman-Spirit and to get Letters written and sealed in the King's Name Which will give the Authority and Credit in this our Enemies Land to stand for our Lives and to have defence even the Omnipresence of Strength granted out of the King's Armory to do what we would in the Spirit of Mordecai that goes in and out in the presence of the King Who with Esther the Bride hath won the Day which is Light Gladness Joy and Honour to the Lamb and Bride October the 28th 1676. The Spirit of Jesus made this further Observation out of this History unto us from Mordica's great Princeliness of Spirit who knowing he was of the blessed Seed though at present under Captivity still maintained his Integrity trusting in the God of Abraham and would bow down to no other though Haman was great and potent having Power by permission from the King to save or destroy From hence the living Word i●… me said According to this Example follow ye this my faithful Mordecai Spirit from whom and into whom you are born though for probation suffered to be carried to dwell in Babylon where tempted ye have been because you have had no Power or Might to rule or deliver your selves while that Haman's insulting Spirit of Reason was yet alive within you who represents the Strength and mighty Fortitude of Reason that can plead such inducing Arguments as carry a mighty sway complaining of the strange and different Laws of my Spirit after the manner of Haman Whose Spirit is alive at this day to deceive with all subtilty and now his Wrath and Rage is the more enkindled against ye because ye have slighted and refused to bow and own his Lordliness Who does exalt himself in Name and Nature that so none must live in his Land but such as will worship him as God But you in whom my Life Mordecai hath stirred maintain your Heavenly stateliness in this matter stoop not though your Life is to be cut off with all the Comforts Privileges and attending Honours of it Fear none of these things remember Mordecai's Reward shall assuredly be yours The great King of Heaven like Ahasuerus hath given this World's Preferments into the Power of the great Haman's Spirit of Reason who is a Prince does reign over all that your God may see who will hold out in their Integrity in refusing to be under the Laws though none greater in this visible Kingdom then he Now this History I have taken up and applied to you to observe in every Tittle that you with me your Jesus may come to Royal Honour and Dignity by refusing the Beast and the Dragon's allurings from this visible Babylon And by adhering with Esther in all sweet Humility to the Masculine Spirit of my undaunted Mordecai Thus ye shall rise unto Strength Glory and Immortality October the 29th 1670. This Morning this Word so soon a●… I awaked saluted me saying Arise an●… call upon thy God who giveth the●… what to ask From which I preferre●… my Requests finding a pressure of a●… ascending Power that carried my spiri●… to view a Place that was with variety of Colours paved and there I saw a Woman standing of so amiable a Counte●… the Complexion so unutterabl●… pure for fineness and clearness of Skin as no mortal Image must compare therewith While I was in admiration hereof a Voice spake Oh Esther what i●… thy Petition thy Beauty hath ravishe●… my Eye Thy Place is to abide in my Royal Court. A little space after thi●… I found my self mounted upon a Horse●… to be carried whither I knew not bu●… I was not concerned at all for I was fu●…lly satisfied in my Guide I heard a Cry after me to detain and prevent my going forward but the Person that took me up said Be still and give no Ear. These are but the Screeh-Owls of the Night and Birds of prey which would stop and steal our Treasure from us So I was carried on with great swiftness into a secret solitary way from out of the sight and noise of all active Creaturely Inhabitants For it was said Thus it must be if you will see a New Creation with the replenished Life Plants that grow there all-flourishing and clear
according to the pure Element that is there At which offer and upon the terms specified I for my self and for my travelling Friend did perfectly agree on ●…o proceed as this our Dove-Mate should us bear upon her Wing of Power Not fearing to adventure through a Desert state and to draw off from all Communions which are of this visible Sphear For another Voice in my Ear did cry Depart and come out touch nothing neither mingle your Offerings with Korah or his Company who though they may appear with Censers in their Hands yet do you not them come near for the Earth doth close upon them as their most visible dark covering From whom Away with me your flying Horse of Power October the 30th 1676. Being in my private Ejaculations this Word sounded in me All Prayings Prophecyings Speakings are of no validity but what proceed from the Head-covering which is the Miter-Crown of Purity and Power which the Unction alone for you must draw down from him who holdeth in his Hand the Seven Star-Powers to encompass you round that so no nakedness may be more found upon you For what is more empty naked and void then Words that are not touched with the Altar-Coal that giveth Impregnancy where-ever it falleth Therefore hereunto watch and go not forth in any of these ministring Services without you wrap up close this Nazarite Covering of Strength about you for want of which your Labours have been fruitless and my Spirit hath been under reproach and derision to you which shame I am come to take off from you to whom this Caution I do give not to be too hasty to run out before you have put on your Garment of strength Better it is to wait in Secresie till thy Coverting is all finished by him who in his own method moveth and worketh all effectually into whose Mold being cast ye will certainly come forth a much more refined piece of glorious workmanship for the illustration of the Spirit 's Ministration Which Wheel hath by the decree of the Almighty begun to move Now see to it and keep it still going side by side with the Spirit that is the Life-motion of it who will plunge you in to know and see yet greater things as you can keep strait course with it Then may you dive into the Seven Star-Pool which will draw out the last Trumpet-shout of a God Omnipotent for a Covering throughout to thee Who but thee oh thou Spirit in the burning Wheel canst work which for us effect quickly October the 31st 1676. Towards the First Day in the Morning I saw the Dr. as in a publick Theatre bearing a high Testimony for the Spirit in a Youthful figure and Hair grown brown and bushy Who was acted forth that he bore down many that seemed to doubt and question what he from the authority of the Spirit witnessed to Upon which it was said to me This should be fulfilled in his season upon whose rising Day wait to the fulfilling Joy From this presentation it was given me to conclude that the D. should assuredly be made an able Minister of the Spirit in some signal proof of it Which I sought my God for in reference to the Glory that would be manifested through the lifting up the Standard of this mighty defensive Spirit Whom we do begin already to feel is so busie again in us as gives good ground of hope that somewhat is to be brought forth that shall make a free and clear place for the Holy Ghost to act forth his own Power in the Humanity November the 1st 1676. THis Day upon Mr. Bromley's account the Dr. was engaged to speak in Publick whose Sails were spread and filled with Breath from the Anointing Power After which I found my Spirit much called into an inward stillness to find out the original Wheel that turns the whole Creation about As seeing all things short though they are brought forth in Spiritual Appearances they pass away as yet too weak to bring forth the transfigured state Upon which consideration I went to my Nights Repose in some heaviness of Spirit mourning after the Life-working Power to deliver me from this every surviving Hour of Temptation importuning for a naked access to the Throne of Majesty where I might have freedom to open all in plainness of Speech and to hear without any other Medium but the Spirit 's Ear what God would answer to me Upon which I had presented four moving Wheels of Flame Colour As they turned they opened a deep in the ground which still dissolved and melted away where ever they went so they kept on their circling course having at last no more ground to move upon all being burnt up before them A Seraphim with six Wings all covered them only through every Wing an Eye was seen and then the Wheels were lifted up and did ascend Then a Voice came unto me saying Mark and see what you must be turned into if you will see the bare and naked Majesty of Glory Canst thou think to bear the presence of an Immense Light that is of such a transparency without a Cherub's covering upon all thy working Wheels If thou wilt come to the heights of Zion-Glory come prepare for to be undone in thy own sensitive Life the very Pillars of the House o●… Nature will be shaken the keepers thereof will tremple Man must cease whe●… God descends into his Holy Place these flaming Coverts of the Spirit will le●… nothing of the Flesh inherit with it Therefore till thou dost agree to thi●… there can be no possibility of coming in to that great Assembly where the Mos●… High doth over all Worlds reign wit●… his Train of glorified Spirits When had after this manner discoursed the result of my importunity was thus given to me I was convinced what such an access for continuation there would cost For it was shewed to me there must be down right Payment Words would not alone pass All our earthly Goodness and Godliness was to be given away for this Cherub's Covering and no longer in the Tents of Babylon to stay there to live in the midst of a People of unclean Lips Now the great thing is how this shall be brought to pass for who shall live when God doth this Yet seeing the all-knowing Spirit hath plainly hereof advertised that so to us it may not come as a surprize when these burning Wheels shall wholly undermine and consume what it finds of that putrified Earth in us Oh then I do see the six Winged Seraphim will be our Covering through which we shall behold the Lord the mighty King upon his Throne of Glory according as hath been foretold and there his mighty Voice shall hear which now sounds in our Ears from that Seraphick Sphear November the 3d. 1676. As I was introverted into my self this Morning calling over those things revealed upon the Representation of the four Wheels that eat out the Earth which it moved upon this Word moreover cryed in
trust to hath already upon it the Foundation-Seal being already named which cannot be obliterated without it be by yielding to thy daily renewed subtilties Which as in the day of Eve so again thou wouldst be prevalent storming high so much as thou seest the Day grow nigh of overturning the Babylonish Captivity Much contest I had of this kind both sleeping and waking One thing more I remember was his charge that he some proof would see of the Father's Almightiness from his Birth in us With that I roused up my Faith and said that thou mayst wilt unto thy perpetual downfal therefore away depart with all thy Wiles from me For I will no more give Ear to the underminings of such a Serpentine Spirit who would circumvent me in the process of my New Birth after the manner of Jesus After this I fell into Sleep again towards the Morning then I felt such bitter Agonies in my outward Man as if my Life had been just parting asunder and throws and pains as if my Back had been cleaving in two which awaked me And I was amazed when I came unto my self that I found all was so well with me for I perceived the Evil One had beleagered me in his dark Magick but could neither hurt me in Mind or Body The watchful Eye of my Jesus being vigilant to preserve me from his Fury December the 6th 1676. After this Conflict I waited to understand the meaning of this terrible on-set upon me and it was thus spoken in me Satan hath desired to winnow thee and watched his opportunity to surprize thee while the Animal Life was reposed and might he have been permitted he would certainly have undermined the Virgin Birth by overthrowing thy Faith Which is the very Life-pulse of this Birth for if that stop the Life soon grows weak therefore still maintain and keep up that Faith which is the material matter of this Birth that the Evil One hunts to destroy For could he make void Faith he well knows that is the very Basis of the New Creation-building and thereby would throw down all what ever hath been wrought Consider oh ye upon whom this Probation time is come which will be the Birth growing that you carefully provide and gird on this defensive Weapon oyling it well that no rust on it at any time be found As it is given you to believe so mind to stir up this Gift in you remembring what all precious Faith hath done in this World through the very mortal Case Nay as ye read the very Visible Creation was brought about by the Word of Faith and can be no otherwise Restored to its first primary Purity Liberty and Glory but through the rising Life of Faith Of which the Serpent's subtilty broke the Golden Chain and cut that Silver Cord which held up the Paradisical Creation by introducing his Temptation into Adam Who hereby broke his Faith and Covenant with his God Now then by one Man's disobedience to the Faith all became faithless by which then it was impossible to retain the similitude of God for hereby he lost the use of the most holy generating property and brought forth strange Births as ye at this day do find the sad effects thereof But now yet once again an open Birth-Door is set for Wisdom's Life-Seed to enter in at which shall bring forth a new Creation store much excelling all the Births that have gone before To which good thing so much prophesyed of give great heed Marvel no●… that the accursed Serpent's Seed is so enraged night and day his Venom to let out it is because he suspects thou art designed for some eminent use through that principal Birth that may be a means to ransome many out of Turkish thrall Therefore at this Animal Life he did strike by his wounding Dart but I thy Jesus stood with Faith the Weapon Balsom nigh thee to heal And will not fail thee still to guard against his Wiles keep but my Faith and from it do not shrink And so give charge to such as engage with you upon the same account and you will see certainly the issue of that Birth that shall most perfectly restore the fallen Creation in your selves and others in such a way as yet no late President hath been since Immanuel's Birth did descend December the 7th 1676. In the Night season after some rising Ejaculations had ascended and I falling into a Sleep I was suddenly awaked as if some Person had been in the Bed with me Which in some kind of fear I rose up to see but saw nothing so lying still in the consideration a little while I felt sensibly a Hand all over-spread upon me with an influence of great Heat at which I marvelled what it should signifie Then this Word spake saying Fear not this Hand is stretched out for to encompass the Birth and by the Heat to fix the Life's impregnancy that it might be past the Dragon's power any more for to slay Who cannot cease to watch it with an Evil Eye for which cause I have overshadowed thee with my Airy Body which may bring forth accordingly as Faith shall operate in its own Mystery which is the great thing whereby the Parad●…sical World shall spring again without toil and care For this cannot be until such a Birth be brought forth that hath all Faith to go forth with all Power as without guilt of Sin for that quencheth the Seal of Love and Bird-limes the Wings of Faith which is also a twisting Cord to bind down its Eagle-Body but it is able to free it self from all that brought it under the bondage of Evil. Now this renewing Birth set your Minds fully upon for it will be to you the Noah that will comfort you by restoring a New World from which the Curse will fly I your Jesus must abide in my Heavenly Reservatory till this Birth in you grow ripe for it is the Elias that will come in another and more perfect Ministration then ever yet hath been that must prepare for the Coming of me your Lord from Heaven Who left this Work to be accomplished by the Buth of the Holy Ghost which was to bring forth the most perfect Restoration that so you might come to know Elias track through the burning Chariot for Translation It will certainly fall upon the Lot of some one or other that are hereunto predestinated to bring forth this mighty Elias in Spirit as the first born in Wisdom's Day to go before and overturn and make ready for my absolute Reign yet to be in the Earth in order to the New Jerusalem descending Glory Therefore take heed be circumspect believing this Birth for to see wing up your Faith and Pray and travel mightily that ye may be those Worthy Ones to bear a Living Testimony for me For a great and weighty Government will be entrusted with you when Wisdom's Birth shall be fully ripened for a much more glorious state then that of Solomon shall be
established upon the Ghostly Nativity Instead of a Terrestrial there shall be a Celestial greatness of Dominion from this Birth-Lily springing that hath like the two Witnesses been long slain in the Seed and buried over with Earth so as forgotten in the World But now expect the raising of them up in each of you who shall stand as Olive-Trees before me still naturally flowing out with your Golden Oyl it shall not be as formerly by way of Gifts now and then but this Fatness and Olive-Sweetness shall spring out of your own Root being hereinto fully changed Then will you know the constant and fixed state and no more want your Eternal Bride and Mate December the 9th 1676. A mighty Saying was ecchoed to me brought forth out of the Counsel-deep pronouncing it should be our Lot to live by the Sword and Bow of Might by which Jacob of old took great Spoil out of the Hand of the Amorite Which was thus opened unto me that this Word came to me to let me understand that our Blessing and Portion would come in by meer Conquest For thus said the Holy and True Behold and see here is the Gift that I give to you as a Father's Blessing which is the Sword of my Spirit and the Conquering Bow whose Arrows are all of Gold with these expect ye must get your Living and also bring into me your God your worthy Prey Now therefore gird on this Sword that is so richly oiled with the purest of Unction and go forth all prosperously It is not only a defensive Weapon but it will cut down and destroy and resist every Balaam Spirit which standeth in your way None ever was possessed of this Sword but that strong Potent Will-Spirit that knew the Way to the Golden Pool of Oyl there still to bath it whenever occasion is for it to burnish and display The sight hereof will cause all about you to stand in fear and awe when they shall see you are so God-like armed with strength of Power which is so commandable that all resistency will fly away against it Oh this is that Spirit Weapon which makes riddance first within thy self it will suffer no Amorite or Cananite near its Borders to dwell But Gideon-like make havock hew and cut down every Grove where false Worships hath by blind Zeal been set up But verily the Day is near for the Sword of the Lord in Gideon's Hand to appear which will make a quick riddance in the Earth The Lamp of my Spirit in your Earthen Pitchers is now seated though the time hath not yet been for them to shine out by reason that the Olive-matter of the Holy Ghost is not yet come to that Perfection to sound forth the Trumpet for the total Victory over all Centers and Worlds which shall certainly be conquered by this out-going Birth But while this is perfecting here is Conquering Work that ye may not sit idle but now to go on every day somewhat to effect Therefore another Weapon is given into your management which is my Covenant Rain-Bow which will be to you of great consequence if you have skill rightly for to use it The use of an Eagle Eye that may this great Birth-mark espy Here lieth the grand deep-sighted Wisdom to shoot forth such a Golden Shaft as may hit and thereby make way for Wisdom's first-born to come forth through sending out this mighty Arrow of all precious Faith Nothing like this you will find will be of travelling force to help you out in your Births Agonies which upon you will come before you can imbrace this Ghostly Body imbodied with a Soul and Spirit That will spring all a new from the creating Word imbodied in a corporeal shape Which for a time shall remain a high degree of Wonder For to see the Ghostly Power to send forth through contemptible Humanity that high scented Breath of Air which may be felt tasted and smelt with whom it is resident Then this Question in me arose Ah my Lord when shall these Powers be set awork so as the doubtful in Heart may somewhat hereof see and we thereby from all upbraidings be set free I was thus answered The Day is not to be put far off for now is the acceptible time for Salvation to be wrought There is conquering work still to be done within the Flaming Sword must cut down every Briery Root and burn up every Thorny Thought which do near this Lily Birth spring and vanquish all vaporous Clouds that thicken the Heavenly Air with all the gross Animal Life of Sense which is the greatest of Impediments It is that Esau that holds Faith's Birth by the Heel that it might not break forth Therefore in the strength of Jacob's Angel do you strongly wrestle for by his Sword and Bow you must make your way and Conquest gain that so you may command both the Heaven and earthly store For Heirs of all Worlds ye will be then gird up and go forth all armed the munition of the Spirit is with you so as nothing can harm you who carry the precious and essential Root of Life in you Even now while but in it its Younglings day it is yet it will be a defence of Glory that now and then will sparkle through by which it may be known that in you is intombed a Precious Stone a White Stone that hath the Virgin 's Name engraven on it which must be for the Lamb a Spouse and Bride Therefore the Cry of the Spirit is Prepare make ready and Pray fervently for your Everlasting Birth-Door to open that the Heir of Glory may enter therethrough Even so let it be December the 10th 1676. The sweet living Pool this Night was mightily opened and stirred by the holy driving Spirit that brought choice and super-eminent good things out of the high Kingdom 's store saying also to me Come tast and see how you like the Heavenly Country-Fruit that is ripened from that unmixed Element Draw up unto my Table for you shall sit with me after the manner of a Spirit and eat such things as are set before you For I your Lord must take special care to feed and nourish those that are with Young with the highest of Birth degrees And indeed I did according to this Salutation find a sweet and pleasant tast to my Spiritual Appetite and a satisfying fulness Hereupon followed an occasioned great enlargement of Soul-magnifying in Prayer which at this time was more then usual mingled with an oily Incense Which feeling I took all advantage to put forward for the holy Birth-issue in each other who were noted in the Life-Book as was at this season asserted to me with many other Words of signal Favour that so we might have no cause to repent our Choice in being professed Traders for Wisdom's Merchandize which would turn to that account that we should not be ashamed of though now for it under disrepute as not understood or known but God will reveal us in his
same no transmutation came upon her no more then upon others only living a holy Virgin Life but no matter of Wonder after Christ's Birth wrought a●… by or through her have shone forth but all still by the Birth that proceeded from her Who in that Day gave proof by Miracles of the pure Deity working through Humanity This great Question was thus resolved me through the Word of Life opening which testified as followeth True it is that in the humane Birth of thy Jesus there was a visible shew of distinction because of the Corporeity which then was needful to be born but in this case it will be otherwise For this is a Birth of meer Spirit without any commixture of Humanity only it will pass and act sometime through this Virgin Humanity which it hath chosen to be its Birth-Womb or Temple-Body whereby it may act its Deeds of Wonder answerable to its Birth-Deity So that here the Mother of the Virgin Birth will be more dignified and honoured then the foregoing Ministration in the Birth of Jesus was Therefore an oriental bright flaming Garment is allotted her with a Crown beset with Stars plainly declaring that to her is given the Command and Power to bear sway within the Celestial Region and by and through that near relation and conjunction with this mighty Birth when born to go forth to seal and save the Nations that shall bow to its Soveraignty For this Birth consisteth of marvelous Power none can its mystical Being sound or find out for it operates in every Creature and thing after a Magical manner And in this one pure Virgin she will first unseal that everlasting Source of ●…reasure and therefrom distribute according to the degrees and measures of the Holy Ghost who shall give his quickning Powers first in them who for this successive Birth have their Minds purified and refined For this a touch-flaming Stone there is that will inkindle Life in each one as its pleasure shall to introduce it self most free For by way of Birth it will grow in all that hereof shall participate and after like manner generate But oh here will be the great thing who shall be counted worthy to be the first of this Ghostly Generation for him to begin withal December the 15th 1676. This Word came Behold yet and see here is Birth-prize within your most pure Womb-Hearts now laid there is no prohibition but all Love-Emanations and Incitations by Spirit-provocations to put you upon the believing the possibility thereof And know for a truth that this Birth will go forward and grow mightily if you do but keep to these two Rules and observe them nicely The first is to eschew drinking out of that Cup wherein is mingled very subtlely Red Wine that is sugar'd with all sweet sensibility that flows readily into this Wine being from the strange and Wild Vine Therefore it must be refused in regard of the evil Consequences that do attend it For the Poyson of every earthly Essence is mingled here withal●… which contributed doth feed up that ol●… Life-Birth by which this is warned to depart out for what doth feed up the one doth starve the other they cannot be Twins in this sanctified and holy Vehickle which only is allotted for the Nazarite For whom a choice and particular provision is appointed by the Father of it Now charge in special to yo●… is given who herein may be concerned that you henceforth refuse to tast an●… of their delicious Fruits that do sprin●… from the neathermost part and lowe●… Region for they are all crude and sow●… for want of that kind way of ripening from the everlasting warm heat of th●… one blessed Element which by givin●… proof of your Fear Love and Ca●… herein lest thereby this Holy Thi●… should suffer ye must faithfully abstai●… from all her crude earthly Fruits the may ye hope firmly and claim bold●… Stores and Supplies out from the Tre●… sury of a God all-sufficiency that wi●…l most marvellously excel all of this earthly growth millions of degrees for Vigour Strength and Pleasantness That for the nutriment of this holy Birth-Stone shall be conveyed though unseen yet tasted and felt by them that shall carry this Birth in them till it cometh to its full Number and Date The second Rule that was given us strictly to observe was this alluding to the Woman in the Revelations that was cloathed with the Sun before she brought forth signifying to us that Clarity and Virgin-Purity was the signal mark of such as should her personate in the Heavenly state Therefore what less will become us then Garments of Light having no streaks of the Night of Darkness upon them as it is written all Light in the Lord. Who is our fine Linnen-Righteousness to exercise the simplified Nature of the Virgin-Spirit who this Birth is to bring forth in the World Then also I had this further Advertisement that it would be very requisite for us who carried this living Birth-Stone within us for to seek a Desart solitary Place void of all the commixed Solaces of this World who would envy and hate and chase such as should apply themselves hereunto as Noted Ones who do wait for this great Birth refreshing Therefore be wise and wary said the holy Guide and make no mention yet what the Lord is for and in you doing Remembring that Word Let not him that is but putting on his Armour boast or glory as he that putteth off having given proof of Victory So ye are to consider that your Walks here in this dark Valley and amongst the Dead is very slippery and unsavoury and may well offend the holy pure conceived thing within you Now then fly to a solitary Wilderness where you may preserve your selves and Birth from the Dragon's Eye that awakeneth and stirreth up every where against it For as much as he with his piercing Eye doth see who nearest the Birth-mark are now then up and away take flight with that Wing which is a strong resolved Will that carries swift as an Eagle into that Path and Way which the Vultur's Eye shall not espy during the time of your most secret hiding in this Wilderness Which to you shall be as a Lebanon for the Angel of my presence shall here walk with you if herein you shall obey then will I feed and nourish you with that which is choice and primary Food indeed such as the gross and sensitive Life never understood I do only require the act of your flying Will to abide where you will see nothing grow that can feed your earthly sensitive Appetite Here is no other Life to be known or exercised but that of Faith which must fetch in all Provision belonging hereunto Therefore my Spirit doth allure you who are justified and nourished by the outflowing Acts of Faith which through a constant exercise will be of that predominancy as to eat out and swallow up the mutinous Essences which strive so hard to make void this Life
henceforth to you is to be a standing Rule For all other ways and means for Information and Discourse with the most Holy are now ceased God used and took up outward Figures to reveal his Mind by in former Ages and Times as by the Ministration of Angels and then by his Son who came to reveal what was meet to be known and understood in that day of his visible Appearance in the World Who could hardly bear to hear what was reported by him who would have had as little credit in the World as any now if there had not been the Sealing Power of the Godhead by which the World was convinced for Obedience to the Faith which then was required But this Ministration of Jesus shutting up what must the Just now live by in these last times Your Jesus doth not turn you over to a dead Stock to live upon as to what was done and written in his Day but transferreth you over to a lively Manifestation and fresh Openings from his Spirit 's Birth in you Whose leadings and drawings observed it will further point you to what may still be generated from Spirit to Spirit Yet in a higher Birth-Degree for that which is at first but a Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation will turn it self into a fixed Body All which proportionably is to ascend into the New Jernsalem for to bring it down in the transparent Ghostly Power For when Spirit and Body do mutually agree together and knit after the manner of that secret Formation then it seeks its own Region to dwell in For if the Trinity will appear among these low Inhabitants then a Body must for them be prepared Oh then see what the Light and Life-quickning hath yet in you to do to wit a travelling Work still that as Jesus hath had his Birthformation so now the Holy Ghost may be fully formed that so ye may not need to have a Star-Leader or depend upon this way of Revelation that now you are waiting upon For you shall know in the first Root of knowledge as God himself knoweth But in the present time the Spirit measureth out according as you are able to bear which are but as Sprinklings to what the broad Waters shall co●…er your Earth withal However hereunto ye do well to attend as unto the sure Word of Wisdom that shall drop in the all-healing Gold to make ready for what hath been fore-told One thing more in order I do require that seeing I have made choice of you to bear my Name mystically upon your Breast or Table-Heart where I do answer all your Enquiries that you reserve for me that most Holy Place to commune with you there alone suffering no polluted thing to enter in for to raise any fume or dark Vapour upon the Breast-Plate Stones which will ecclips the lustre of them so as no Light they will give to you for further proceeding And if they should be clouded through cold earthly Damps your way would soon be dark and at a loss ye would find your selves Therefore beware of darkening your Foundation-Light for witho●… great heedfulness ye may cast a Shadow upon 〈◊〉 then no certain discovery or resolve ●…an be given though ye make never so ●…rict an Enquiry This was the cause ●…nd ground of all Apostatizing in former ●…nd present Ages having stifled the ●…peaking Oracle by crouding earthly ●…uff into that which should be the se●…arated and consecrated place for the ●…iving Testimony thereout to open for ●…aily Instruction and Guidance Which ●…s of absolute expedience in such a dan●…erous state where so many cross false ●…nd by-ways do offer themselves to the Eye But keep you to your own Breast-Plate of light sparkling Stones and they will give to you sound Judgment and Sion-Laws and as need is still Renew you till you in all things shall be perfected for Jehovah Shammah to fill up your Temple-Body with Glory December the 28th 1676. In the forepart of this Night I was much pondering and considering the weightiness of the Ghostly Formation how difficult a thing it was and hard to be by any brought forth though many have hard ●…ravelled for it yet there wanted both Strength and Perfection of Righteonsness which I saw we also were deficient in Therefore not sufficient to carry through such a wonderful Restorative Birth of Life But as I was complaining and owning our impotencies and unmeetness hereunto this Word came My Grace can make strong where sence of the greatest Weakness is therefore hope and believe down all Discouragements Which Word much comforted and quieted me and I fell asleep In which I saw a young Elephant that was to be bred up and it was presented to be my care and charge to feed it When I awaked it was said to me That as this Elephant for strength so we should grow to be And no burthen o●… weight what ever cast upon us should cause any shrinking or bowing under it For such a strong Elephant-Power should by degrees grow upon us if careful we would be here to feed up thi●… young Elephant which was by this Figure presented to us The Mystery hereof lying hid in us for its appointed time A Letter of Resolution in Answer to some Objections sent from a Learned Physician to the Publisher hereof upon occasion of the English Edition of The Letter to some Divines concerning the Question and may for the like reason refer to this present Work Whether God since Christ's Ascention doth any more Reveal himself to Mankind c Dear Sir I Do not at all wonder at the Difficulties that are made by the excellent ●…rson your Friend to credit those more Secret and Extraordinary Favours of God which some are Witnesses to in these Latter Days and ●…e might be were they but qualify'd to receive them For it was not but after much doubting and long Examining as I have said that I came my self to be satisfy'd in this matter and therefore I can with the less difficulty allow it in others I 'm indeed made truly sensible that Unbelief is that Sin which doth so easily Beset us and having found it to be so in my self I know how to pity it in any one else and can't but think the Warning of the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews against it to be as highly seasonable as it is little regarded It s plain enough that no other then this can be there understood as well from the Context and whole Design of the Apostle as from the entire History of the Old and New Testament For this very reason it is that we are encompassed about with such a Cloud of Witnesses who exercising the most Heroical Acts of Faith were admitted to a more immediate Conversation with the Divine Being during their Pilgrimage on the Earth and to a more illustrious Communication of his Light Love then the Presumptuous and Incredulous Spirit of Human Reaso●… can ever dive into that we seeking to tread in their Steps might
come to be in like manner Illuminated and Inspirited as they were laying aside This that besets us in the way to the ultimate Perfection of our Nature by the Union of it with the supream Good may run with Patience the Race of Faith that is set before us which they have already run And certainly this very Sin which so much hinders us in running this blessed Race and from obtaining the same glorious Privileges which they Here obtain'd is also a Sin that is easily to be avoided as some you know would have it translated if we can but reflect a little according to the direction here given us either upon Enoch or Noah or Abraham or Moses or David or any of those Worthies mention'd in the foregoing Chapter And still much more if we do as the Verse immediately following leads us to but look up to Jesus the Author and Finisher of this Faith who being the same Yesterday to Day and for ever will not be wanting to work it in us as he has wrought it in them but conditionally that we do look unto him with a constant and fixed Eye Upon which give me leave to say for your Encouragement as well as for my own that there is a certain Person well known to you and me whose Angel did lately appear in full Day in an upper Room where a few Names were met together to wait for the Promise of the Father in the Latter Effusion of the Spirit and these very Words were spoken by an Internal Speaking which are the second Verse of this twelfth Chapter and which therefore I the more heartily press upon you Now as to that little Book in particular I freely confess there may be several things in i●… which may appear to be beneath the Majesty of God or against the Truth of the Holy Scriptures before they are rightly and truly understood and so may be apt to offend all those that are possessed with contrary Preventions But if we have not Care our Zeal will carry us much too far and we shall soon effectually overthrow as to us that very Foundation which we would establish This Excess of Anti-Enthusiasm is truly a most compendious method of Moving the Boundaries of that we acknowledge Immoveable For if we should be for throwing away our Bibles presently when we are not able to answer all the Objections that a Sceptical Wit is able to bring against them as unbecoming the Divine Majesty I am afraid but very few would be able to keep them long Though indeed there be nothing in them but what when apprehended through and according to the Spirit by which they were written i●… most highly worthy of it this yet matters not And if I should stay to receive any single Book either of the Old or of the New Testament till I were so well furnished as to reconcile every Passage with all the rest it might be perhaps very long before I must admit some Books that are recognized to be Divinely Inspir'd None can be more firmly perswaded then I am of the Truth of Saint Peter's Word that the Heaven must receive Christ till the Times of Restitution but then I am not able to see how this does in any wise contradict his Internal Appearance and Speech to such Virgin Souls as he has wash'd and sanctify'd in his Blood Nay I do not comphehend why he may not manifest himself in this manner to Thousands of Persons in as many distant Places at the same time and never all the while come down from the Throne of his Glory in the Heavens I dare not limit the Operations of his Spirit which pierces every where I had much rather adore them and wait in a Child-like Disposition to be Disciplin'd by Him And indeed when I consider the utter Impossibility to explain any thing of the Soul's Nature without admitting his immediate Causality and Influence I do not think it so very strange to conceive that he should by opening the Inmost Center of that Principle or Life which is his own Inbreathing reveal himself to it as Present and hold therewith a very familiar Communication And seeing it is undeniable that Christ since his Reception into Heaven has actually both appeared and spoken to some Persons by the Sacred Records themselves it is no more difficult to suppose that he may do so again whenever he pleases and it will be certain that this can never be the meaning of that Text which this Gentleman seems to understand He that has appear'd to Saint Paul and to Saint John since his Glorification and shown to them things which they knew not and who has expresly declar'd Behold I am with you to the end can hardly methinks be supposed to have bound up himself for ever not to manifest himself in the same or like manner by Vision Intellectual Revelation or Extasie to any others while they are in these Mortal Bodies for the sake of some Great and Glorious Good Now what there is in all that Book so far as it is said to come from him which doth not directly tend to this end and which is not highly becoming the Majesty of God I most profess I am not able to find after the most curious Research it is possible to make As for those special and tender Endearments which are us'd by Christ to his Church and more immediately addressed to this holy Virgin standing in the Figure of it They are sufficiently warranted by Scripture and were they not very much might be said to vindicate them What-ever particular Objections he or you may have I shall be ready to consider with all Meekness and Sobriety when-ever they are produc'd But I tell you before-hand that it will be very hard to bring any which were not brought against the antient Prophets in their time and which may not be as easily remov'd from one as from the other As for those common Imputations mention'd in yours they have always been urg'd and always been despis'd by Persons under the Leadings of the Holy Ghost And I leave you to judge as a Physician whether all that is related in that Book can be accounted for by Fancy Vapours or Cerebrosity more particularly what you read in these Sections 11 27 31 33. For Mr. Mede I have indeed a very great Deference and too much ever to believe that he could intend to contradict himself or do it in such a great Point as this and not know it All the World who have but look'd into him or even but heard of his Name must needs know what was his Sentiment as to the Glorious Reign of Christ and if that Great and Judicious Man ranges the Milluaries amongst Hereticks and Apostates of the Latter Times it is easily to be gather'd that he could mean no others then such who by their gross and unworthy Conceptions corrupted that very Truth which he so strenuously asserted For if this be not a Truth I know not any one you can make out from