and mighty as by its Conjunction with its Bride may out-spread into a wonderful fruitfulness more terrible then whatever hath been displayed to the check and rebuke of all and the best of those Mortals that yet are come no further than to a lame and divided Property of Will who nothing of Might can do February the 8th 1676 7. It was further discoursed to me the great and mighty Effects that would accrue to that Will which could from its Original Purity spring passing as a Golden Arrow with mighty swiftness nothing thereof touching by the way to spoil its force and with a fixed Eye dertermining to bring about that very thing which the Arrow of the Will is gone into Which verily will have the same success that our Lord had when he said I Will such and such to be made whole All those great and marvellous things which have been done in the World before and since Christ's time have been by the Act of the Will as delivered from the Poysonable Web of Mortal Self Oh then how free is it in it self to summon in the mighty Force which is laid up in God's strong Tower for the unbyassed Will to draw out to act and do upon the Holy Ones account as a just Steward entrusted with a power of so high a Nature as all Matters to determine in the Counsel of a simplified Will This was shewed to me as a great and wonderful Prerogative into which the holy Driver made me search and still further to pry into the Mystery hereof opening that Scripture to me in the Revelations Whosoever will let him come and take of the Waters of Life freely The force lay all in the Will taking and recovering by lawful Violences the Crown of Immortality and Life that hath during the Captivity of the Mind and Will been out of reach and sight But now our dear Immanuel in Spirit is come to unbind and set our Wills free revealing what the clog and stop hereunto hath been which hath prevented the going forth of the Will-Spirit in Soveraignty Who this more said Yet I will give thee a deeper Sight that ye may see what hath lain as upon the Mouth of the Cave which hath kept down the rising Power of the Will that it could do no mighty things February the 10th 1676 7. As I was Considering in my self to wing up in the Power of a Free-will according as it is said There is a willingness in the Day of God's Power and making an Enquiry throughout all the Regions of my Mind how in this matter it stood with me I found the Will deficient much after the manner as the Apostle Paul in the 7th of the Romans gives a Character in which is presented a divided Will in an uncertain Motion which argued great Strife Weakness and Imperfection Which by no means was to be found in us staying here For said the revealing Unction To this end I have manifested unto you the adjoyning Power of Supremacy Which must be looked after as the Bride-Mate of the Will which addeth the Dowry of all-sufficiency in the Lord's Work and Business to go forward uncontroulably carried up in the Chariot of the free willing Spirit that trampleth all down before it Upon this Word of Counsel I had a mighty Voice with it crying thus in me with many Ecchoings following upon it saying You now know the way why is it that you still stay with the viler sort try and see every day what force ye can raise for your Revenue to that Heavenly born Family where is nothing but Peace and Unity with Palm Trees of Victory and Wells of Salvation that so ye may come to tast that which is so sweet while you are yet but in your way The smell and sight of Paradise will you first entertain through the perfect Death of the mortal Life and a while must stay with those lower Inhabitants well viewing that native Place and Country for somewhat that was lost there shall be upon recovery as soon as you there appear Then the Tree of Life will invite you to eat of it that so Immortality may be regained Then your Souls and Spirits are with Bodies suited for a higher Degree to come up among the greater Dignities For Paradise is as your Bride-Chamber where ye must put on again your Virgin Body February the 11th 1676 7. After this Call to Paradise the Spirit presented that Scripture to me Mark 10. 28 29. and opened very powerfully to me every Sentence of it as shewing we both should sustain no Loss by acquitting all those Particulars there mentioned The occasion of our Lord Jesus giving forth the assurance of a better exchange upon the very fore-going of what was in present view and possession This Query was started upon the coming of the Young Man who had as he thought bid fair for the Kingdom of God supposing none could go higher then to observe and keep all the Commandments but our Lord had a more searching thing to try him withal which he was not aware of when he so confidently moved his question The Answer to which brought great Anxiousness that no doubt he repented him that he urged such a Discourse whereby as in a Glass he might see the impossibility of inheriting Eternal Goods till that he was stripped of all that whereby he was inriched from this lower state of things Which made our Lord to cry out of the great Hardship and Difficulty that would be to quit all to follow him to come to be no more of the World then he was but as a Stranger not having any dwelling place but to pass through it as a foreign Country only biding so long as to do the Lord's Message and perform his Work which ought to be our end and design For the whole drift of our Jesus in and by all his Life Example and Doctrinal Admonition was still to wind us off and ungraft us from out of the strange degenerated Vine from whence we so readily suck that Life from which a Death is to come upon But to come to what was opened to me from Peter's asking Christ so bluntly what they should have upon the account of forsaking of all for him Which seemed to be a pretty selfish Question but however our Lord overlooked that giving an high encouragement to whomsoever shall by forsaking of all give proof of their Love to him and esteem of the Heavenly Treasury above the Earthly Now upon the Call and Cry which I had follwed me to draw off and come away from what would make a Prey of us My Heart ecchoed back again saying Ah Lord how is it possible we should put off all so quickly when so deeply engaged and settled as House-keepers amongst the Inhabitants here below as not seeing our selves capable of passing into another Sphere because we do bear gross Bodies Upon which the Spirit brought those Words to me As first Whosoever shall forsake Houses that Word in Particular was thus interpreted
them and saw them in that place no more A voice saying None here shall henceforth come but such as can agree to walk with thee perfectly And so the Vision broke up The Interpretation Some Days after I did further enquire into the more full meaning of this Vision why such should so conspire against my solitary reserved Life but especially that one who was in my Eye of more value because of a known Life of Truth and Integrity I found this written upon my Heart Their Eyes must for a while be with-held they will not you know till ye can get the new Name engraven as of pretious Stones upon your Forehead For it was secretly whispered to my Spirit that in some there might be a refined and spiritual Emulation as in others a more Gross and Sensual Both of which I had councel and caution how to walk with so as no occasion of stumbling might be given justly to the gainsaying Spirits Whose pryings were to see how we would walk while in the Wilderness state Out of which we were not to come till our beloved Lord should bring us forth as in another form wherein me might be known as those who are to live in another Sphere where neither the hissing Serpent or biting Adder will adventure to appear in that High-way where nothing which is unclean can pass It is only for those who have held out the Wilderness probation waiting in Faith Love and Patience till the jubilee Year In which the Ransomed shall go forth out of their solitary Place into the New Sharon where the Glory and Excellency of their God as a circling Saphir-bow will be for their Defence March the 23d 1676 7. This Word spake with great Majesty Behold I come quickly hold fast that which thou hast Upon which I considered what that thing was which was to be held so fast This Word then opened it self in great Force and Consequence to me for I was in great suspence among the many Gifts received what most primarily should be taken care of among those things which were intrusted with me Still my Spirit was harping hereupon waiting for a clear Resolve which this Morning was given to me by a distinct Word passing through me saying Hold fast that which is my Witness iâ— thee as the Gift of Revelation and Prophesy Which bind fast by the Girdle of Faith or else it may be wrested from thee for thou art not freed from the Serpent's Conspiracy Who by all subtlety would circumvent my anointed Prophets by mixing and casting in what is not of my Spirits pure intent Watchful then now be least that high spirited Wine which flows so readily from the eternal Vine should be either adulterated or stopped in its flowing Source Therefore from your holy Watcher take this following Rule and thereby you shall be able to keep the Crown of anointing upon your Heads in despite of the Serpent's Rage March the 24th 1676 7. To you then to whom this worthy portion of Prophesie and Revelation is given as what ye are to keep and hold fast till your Lord shall come it will be expedient to observe this Rule Take this Councel that Elisha gave the Prophet's Widow that had 〈…〉 all her living Furnish thy House and stock it well with choice Vessels of all kind that are fit for reception washed and wrinsed with the scented Water of Life Let no other Furniture be within the Mansion-house of the great Prophet but set all in Order ranck by ranck and expel every other thing Taking the Authority also to stop all of the nether sensual Springs and a way is to be found out to cut off those Pipes through which the muddy brackish Water of strong scented Reason issues out For if at any time while this pure Oyl is running this should happen therewith to mingle it would be like that Herb in the Pottage which made the Sons of the Prophets to cry there was Death in the Pot. Therefore obey this Councel when thou hast brought in all those Vessels that have been tried as Gold in the celestial Fire of God's Love Faithfulness and Truth then use thy Skill to suspend and stench the Bleeding of that old degenerated Vine Which when your Obedience herein is readily fulfilled then to you will be given that Precious Blood Ruby-Stone that will eternally put a stop thereto But at present all Care and Diligence is charged upon you that a restraint according to your present Ability may be put to all those sprouting Essences which are contrary to the Paradisical Nature Here is a Break for several Days in the Original April the 8th 1677. THis Word I was reminded of as a Prophesie to be fulfilled in this laâ—t Age of Time Rejoyce O ye Souls in what I am about to do which is to create new Heavens in your old Earth to change it into a spiritual Frame and Model wherein the holy Ghost that I will send down shall evermore abide and dwell Then shall ye bear the Name of Immanuel Now it is to be understood what the reason was why the holy Ghost could not transform the Soul before into its first Original Purity which was because the new Heavens were not yet Framed which do represent a Mind renewed and a Heart purified For that Scripture was opened to me If Christ be risen in you than hath Sin no Power over you but its Body sinks and dies away For till the Body of Sin be laid there can be no assuming of a celestial Body at least for duration Then again the great Prince and Shepherd had another design to gather up holy choice Spirits that had lived in mortal Bodies to come up after him to make up the Mount Sion Church in the invisible Heavenly Sphere And those that have kept fast the Word of Truth in Patience and have fought the good Fight of Faith if that they dye in the Warfare they shall loose nothing of what they have so far wrought there is a Reservation and a Place for such to perfect what is lacking For 1. Christ himself did not go out of the Body into the highest mansion of Glory but he first entred Paradise So likewise those whom the Father hath given to him must whether in the Body or out of the Body make their first remove thither to be fully made meet to be gathered up to the Fountain-head of all springing Wisdom and Glory A known Number here is to make up the Flock for this upper Fold whereof are the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles who are nominated to be Elders among that great Assembly who are moved out of Paradise to sit in heavenly Places with their head Prince and Mediatour To which holy Place there are some holy and perfect Spirits in every Age added as Saints breaking away from this Principle This now is a Dispensation of that Time mentioned of a gathering in of heavenly Spirits to Christ out of the reformed Paradise But there is yet a fuller Time and
Dispensation to come that shall answer to the Ierusalem above which is said to come down Here is a Mount Sion Church to be gathered out from among all Churches of Men by the preparing Ministry of an Elias Spirit who is to make ready against the Lord's return from that solemnized Wedding with the present triumphant Church Now what is meant by this Elias Spirit But such a Spirit as hath Power to transform and translate at pleasure This Elias is not an abstracted Ghost but is in Conjunction with a flaming Body of Light This was that which the Apostles eyed much in their Days and had the Revelation thereof but it was reserved for the latter Ages This pure abstracted ghostly Power did come upon them and did great things through their own Bodies but did not work to the height of a ghostly Body for then Mortality would have been over Cloathed with Celestiality Therefore it was reserved for a future Season This Apple is not yet fallen upon any one but is growing to the full golden Colour to give a full Body and Spirit to them For whosoever shall eat of this golden Apple shall be transmuted into a Body as of fine Gold And so who shall first partake hereof the Elias Spirit will soon operate to translate them from terrestial Things Then was this Question with me But who of all Flesh living now shall this great Elias personate Or ever come his Day to see Many various Visions and Prophesies and many Persons tending hereunto have been both in former and present times But oh dearest Lord when and how and upon whom shall this be accomplished seeing all so universally are slow of Heart to believe To know positively I dare not will lest I should grieve the holy Spirit remembring that Rebuke which Christ gave when his Disciples asked Whether he would at that time restore the Kingdom Who did not seem to be pleased that they did urge the thing so closely Which made me sober upon the like occasion though through the Vision and Revelation upon it I had some temptation to encroach upon that which is said to have the Mind of Iesus which had its Times and Seasons which waiting upon great things might be revealed And accordingly this Word in way of Answer sprang freely in me Go your way in that Measure and Portion of Spirit received and wait as Elias under the Iuniper Tree which signifies a Paradisical Preparation from which Tree all sweet Scents do flow as the holy Gusts thereupon do blow Which will send in that which will give a Rich and Pleasant smell to your God in order to somewhat else Oh who but those that are of an Elias Spirit that are weary and do make complaint of their mortal Terrestrial state and would know a Transmutation are fit for this which is here Prophesied of Then again this Word was spoken to me That the great Melchizedeck King who hath charge over the Houshold of Faith doth design before his own personal Manifestation in the World to depute and raise up some who shall be as the Seven principal Shepherds to go forth in the Power and Spirit of Elias to turn the Heart back again of the vagrant lost Prodigal Children to the Father of their eternal Spirits and thereby to reconcile the two different Principles That the Enochian state may be revived for a free walking with God by the Light of the one eternal Day to pass in and out not making reflect on upon this course material Body being supernaturally Cloathed upon with that which giveth holy Boldness to appear in that most pure Sphere Thus the Enoch and Elias Spirit are to arise upon some who will mutually together agree to break through this vile Principle though it be with Mountains rending and with Rocks breaking and Earth quakings All which make way for the dividing from that low terrestial state to incorporate with the very Body of God As to this query The Spirit hath only to say further thus Do not you put far away this Day through Fear and Unbelief but turn into the mystical Paradise and under the Iuniper Tree bemoan your disappeared Virgin Bodies which sweet unknown Solitude attend for its Restoration While you abide here the Angelical Powers shall minister spiritual Fare to strengthen you for what is further to be accomplished by you If you will hereunto fixedly wait then also given may be the deep magical Book in which Wisdoms Spirit will make you Skilful in the circling Planets appertaining to that invisible Element which governeth all belonging to the New Ierusalem with all its Inhabitants there Now then as any shall desire in Enoch's and Elias's Spirit to break away from this terrestial Globe let them faithfully Obey this deep Revelation â— with the Councel hereunto annexed April the 10th 1677. As I was in my Bed contemplating the unknown and invisible Orb of Glory longing for a Body with which I might have entrance thereinto While I was thus deeply mufing there first appeared to me a bright Cloud which gathered it self into a round Compass then it opened into various Colours wonderful Splendorous with numerous Stars which were only discernible as they did not so visibly appear because the brightness did overcloud them In the midst of this did suddainly break forth somewhat like the Figure of an Eye which did look terrible piercing through all with flaming Streams round it which were transcendently glorious Upon which I could not stedfastly look till I had closed my mortal Eyes which then for some space of time I did behold and then it vanished in the twink of an Eye then opening to see whether I could bear the glory of it it did retire out of sight with this Word What Flesh can live in this refining Element Then answered my Spirit True O Lord therefore the destruction of it I would see that I may come to live with thee in these New Heavens Why dearest Lord is this Crystalline Orb of Light let down only for view If we may not partake something of the Nature of it How is it that we have been so long lodged out of the sight of thee in this remote Principle if it must still be how can this vile Terrestial state be grateful to Spirits who did pre-exist in thee before all Worlds coming now to understand what is their true Eternal Dignity to live in such lucified Bodies free and unclogged of Corporeity After I had thus presented our deplorable Condition through the sight and sence of what was in the Idea of my Spirit I could not but move this Question to my Sovereign Creator Why such a pure Spirit generated out of the highest and super excellent Matter should unite with such course mean Corporal Forms acted by a mortal sensual rational Soul that governed it by the Starry Region To this deep Question the Spirit gave this Aaswer readily That the Immense Deity did hereby prepare high and worthy Ends in sowing pure Spirit into
World that may deliver from all the evils of it There is nothing but an Omnipotent Force will conquer the sinful Authorities that have been so long in Government over all the Creation Therefore what are ye to look and wait for but the Birth of this Mighty Prince Cyrus to arise in and to go before you for it is by meer strength that he must prevail to subdue all Nations whether they be within or without Many have been the forerunners of this by inferiour Births which ye have passed through As those of Regeneration and Divine Inspirations and Productive Revelations all in order hereunto But all these have been too weak and too short to deliver out of the Servile Spirit The Babylonish Power doth yet keep and serve it self upon you and will not let you go free till this Mighty Prince doth arise to remand you back unto your own Land and native Freedom again Thus I did evidently see nothing but the all-saving Arm could pluck us back again And moreover this word was with me and in me spoken Pray for the Cyrus Might to be joined with the Nazarite Wisdom of Purity for without Power ye cannot perform any of my Pleasure in subduing the Babylonish Power that hath enlarged it self over the whole universal state of things It is well for the elected ones in this World that their Redeemer is now a Mighty King over all Kingdoms And this day is drawing near for the revealing of this his shut up Power that hath been reserved with him in the Heavens By reason of which a sorrowful bondage and servile Life hath been upon the very Nerves of the New Ierusâ—lem Who are now sensible and do now cry unto this Mighty Cyrus to appear and to break for them this Babylonish Yoak which hath made them so long groan and mourn as being made to serve with rigour under the Prince of Darkness Who hath had a long Reign through his Agents in this Principle but his Time is â—igh worn out Of which this is an assured hope when a deep sense is upon any of the Children of the Captivity As upon Daniel and Ieremiah Ezra and Nehemiah who set themselves to enquire for that Messiah who is to restore and gather together the Stones for to build the Mystical Ierusalem Verily to such as do sigh and mourn for all the Abominations of Desolations which they see to be of Authority To such I say the Most High will have respect not only to reveal but to intrust the Scepter of his Kingdom with them Who he knows will sway all in righteousness according to his own heart They shall be his Kings and Savâ—ours upon Earth Yet once again they who are of a Daniel Spirit wholly addicting their Minds hereunto and in nothing else taking pleasure but in diving into the Secrets of the Most High that if by any means they might find out the Jubile-year of release when the Mourning Tribes might return again to their own possessions even they shall be chose hereunto Oh the wise in heart after this do look waiting in true spiritual abstinence as Daniel did that so eternal Secrets may be revealed unto them Know ye how beautiful would those be who shall bring news and glad-tidings hereof from the Most Holy to the Mourners in Sion That the Lord is indeed without delay coming for a full and perfect Redemption to the Groaning and Oppressed Creationâ— Even so Lord Jesus come quickly Iuly the 1st 1677. THIS Morning after some special Manifestations and intimate Communion with the invisible Trinity whereby my Spirit was as ingulphed into this sweet Celestiality of that which passeth all understanding This word uttered it self Is it not good to dwell here where the Covert is all Love and defensive Power Oh call in others with thee here to meal if you do delight to sip of this Cup of Divine Pleasure and then according to the vigour of Spirit felt herefrom dispence hereof And commend it to him who is a noted consecrated Vessel to take in of the same with the unknown Rarities which the Father doth â—rovide for his own Houshold that so no cause ye may have to wander out of his rich and fat Pasture While keeping here your Shepherd will you feed and by his Golden Crook will you guide and translate out of one glorious place to another till ye shall come into the beloved City This blessed winding in of my Spirit was an introduction hard usage of the King of this Bottomless Pit who would keep them evermore in bondage and would not that they should ever remember that once they had a pre-existency in that Paradisical World of Liberty Iuly the 2d 1677. But now the Ancient Records are brought to Light whereby it is given to the Wise among the Children of the Captivity to understand their high and eternal Nativity and that for the cause of sin they were brought into this dark and evil Region yet not so as for ever herein to be included till natural death doth release as they would persuade For no such Decree did ever go forth from the Throne of the Most High For after this dark grisled Globe with its natural Inhabitants all which like troubled whirling Wheels do grind the Faces of one another there shall another arise which shall set free from this Old Creation Captivity Upon which there was a mighty cry by some that here were sealed to the day of Redemption saying Holy Lord God of the Sabbath let us come to rest with thee For in six days labour we have been and now full weary we are of sinful thrall and cannot but remind thee of the promised Liberty which is for to be brought to pass by the travelling Daughter of Ierusalem Then was portraied before me a Mourners Zion-eye beholding a bright flaming Globe upon the rising of which the other Globe like a dark Stone sunk down before it into a bottomless depth And this was in the sight of the right-born Israelite who here was suddenly snatched out and translated into a higher and more quiet Sphere Oh here was indeed the Sabbath of the 7000 years all here were clothed in white lying down as Flocks by their Shepherd of all Princely Might all fastned together in a Golden Chain to shew there was no more to be a dividing for the Sheep never more was to be scattered out of this eternal Fold For nothing but Seraphical Pleasure is here with the highest Peace Joy and Rest from all former Toil Labour and Sorrow And the Law of God as a Gulf is here broke up and drowns all in its own Sea of Endless Love This is what was presented for the inforcement of our travel in Spirit for Sion deliverance out of the Babylonish servitude which now is throughout the whole World Iuly the 3d. 1677. Then was it with me to enquire with earnestness Oh my Lord when shall be this Zions Reign All things yet in visible view appear in a dull sluggish
wholly bend the force of their Spirits hereunto may attain to great Wisdom and Knowledge and so bring forth that which may far outshine what is now existent in this Creation For till such deep magical Spirits are born who come to make Projection through internal sight of what is in the first cause of things the Kingdoms of this World with the Potentates thereto belonging will be too hard for you For that Grand Prince that ruleth and hath such command in this lower Sphere hath since the first Age of this World raised ten to one his Magnificent Seat in the Heart of poor deluded man So that they whose lot it is to live in this latter day have greater provocations to overcome as it is truly said the last days will be perillous indeed through the devises of the Evil One who in and by his Agents finds out new inventions to enthral and busie the Mind withal to prevent the taking in the true sense of what was and might be again that blessed state of sinless Liberty For such hath been this Serpents subtilty as to be a Lying Spirit in those who are Teachers to make believe the impossibility hereunto By which he doth keep his Seat of Supremacy universally hereby in the Mind For so long as this is he knows no Power of Soveraingty will outvy his Therefore this Councel of my Lord was expresly given And further this word this Morning was added hereunto That we should drink in this Pure Doctrine from the Spirit who said Be ye found faithful to the interest of your Lord's Kingdom that it may through you while in the World be so manifested in Wisdoms Force and All-spiritual Might through studying out all Divine Arts as hereby you may pluck down the Proud and Lofty from their self exalted Spirit in the Diabolical Might Your true Labour herein shall have such success as you may bring great acclamation and renown to your Lord and Saviour through all Worlds and to your selves Peace and Joy Honour and Dignity because many hereby will flow in into my Great Name When they are convinced that you do bear the Standard of my Spiritual Might in Truth and Righteousness Now therefore be vigilant according to what hath been revealed for the Love that ye have for my Kingdom to appear so in this World as all of the Old Dragons may come absolutely to be shaken and overthrown thereby For whatever ye do think this Prince of Darkness can suppress he will Who is so Mighty in this Low Region till Great Michael doth arise to give Crowns to those who have been long in the War To whom yet no Kingdom hath been given but do wait here in expectation for it and do not start from their Standard Such Oh such be ye that yet ye may be trusted with great Command to magnifie Great Michael in your mean estate September the 10th 1677. THIS Day I was calling my self to an account being sensible of that usual Springing Light that was something shaded and Revelations restrained for the space of a Week occasioned by dispersing thoughts and letting in and busying my Mind upon inferiour things of this Worlds concern Whereby I was made suspicious of a greater loss sustaining than any thing of this World could repay me And although there was nothing which I did engage in but what might seem very just and reasonable to the Eye of all Creatures yet that could not be my justification Because we were under an unknown Nazarite Law that was in special given and therefore accordingly we are bound to obey it who are concerned herein Hereupon I descended down into the deep Region of the Spirit where I did attend to hear what would be answered Which was again through Grace renewed For thus I did the inspeaking word hear Did not I by my Spirit oft declare that it would be hard for any one to keep my charge who had not first cleared all scores of this Worlds Accounts that so ye might have nothing to do but to attend fully your Lord's business who hath called you for such a Principal End out from all this Creation Service Henceforth then cease to be the Servants of Men for since the day of your free assignment of your selves His you are to whom you did your selves bequeath Upon this word I found a great conflict in my self having a great desire to depart and to throw off every weight that would tie and engage my Mind For I did well see an absolute necessity to be alone the Lord's servant and to give my self up in constancy to that new revealed Ministery though I should hereby incur all Creatures enmity For my Lord by a secret voice doth follow me close so that from Loves Charms I can hardly get loose Yea he drives upon us so hard as plainly we might see the Holy Ones design is to make a breach betwixt this World and us as foreseeing that none till then can aptly be for his use and service And verily this is the Cup that is given us to drink of and to leave nothing thereof behind It was what our Lord proposed to the two Sons of Zebedee who were ambitious to be equal in the Kingdom with him Who told them They did not consider what they did ask For if they did come to understand what a Death-cup they must first drink of they would not have climbed so high in their desires Therefore he dealeth plainly with them and shews them both the necessity and possibility thereof but gives the disposal of those Throne-instatements to his Father only It was also at this time spoken in me that we had begun to drink of this Cup wherein the deadly draught was which would crucifie us to this world but as yet we had but drunk the Upper part of it the Portion being so bitter we indeed could never get it down at once Upon which the Spirit giveth this advice Not to let one day pass without imposing upon our selves a draught out hence to take till all be exhausted and drunk out For the Cup is very deep and at the bottom thereof doth lie that which will us from this Principle absolutely unty Therefore let us not herefrom cease to drink each one to whom this Cup is given and no time let us lose for through continual sipping we shall see it lessen and so by degrees the effects thereof upon that which is to die will be felt O who will be so valiant and worthy in this Age as to hold out to the very last as the bottom of this Cup to see Then was it said to me There was at hand immediately for such another Cup wherein was the everlasting Water of Life The operation of which is not expedient yet for to be uttered till some have of the first Cup drunk all O Lord Jesu be thou to us what thou wert when thou didst take the last part of this Cup. September the 11th 1677. Being in great agony in my Head and Teeth
upright moral Conversation the Law of God written in their Hearts according to the Letter As it is said their Conscience accusiâ—g or excusing according to Truth or Falshood acted by them for by Nature things contained in the Law may be done so that you may take in this higher degree of things into the knowledge of the Spirit of a Man as an earthly Man and yet not able to receive or comprehend the more high wonderful and deep things of God It is only possible to that which is the meer Birth of the Spirit distinct from the Earthly Now then said the most holy Anointing that ye may know that this Spiritual Man is born shall appear by what shall be revealed unto it March the 2d 1676 7. Now as to the things of God which are given only to the Spirit of a Spiritual Man to find out verily they are so great various and numerous as in times Volumâ— they can never be unfolded Only the Spirit for the use of this new Born Creature or Spiritual Born Man doth bring down a Breviate of those invisible Things that are in heavenly Places or rather that are in God who is the Original from whence all glorious things that are in Existency are brought forth which may be named as the Back-parts of God framed and stretched forth into a Light Seraphick Globe which God furnisheth with his own Majestick Forms which no one ever saw or therfore can take upon them to describe The Spirit only hereof can make report to the Spiritual Man while yet imprisoned in a corporal Shrine and Shape But you will say what more of the things of God are discoverable when you are wholly in the Spirit you need not thus Quere but in the mean time there is a Spirit which will take it's range for you to view the Fathers Goods Possâ—ssions and Eternal Lands because as Heirs ye are concerned thereunto To proceed then to the heights depths and bredths of what are yours in Reversion within the Circle of Mount Sion state Consider then what of God's is there they are all yours as ye stand engrafted into the Tree of Life Now what hath the Spirit found out in all the heights above this earthly Sphere First into Paradise it doth take its Flight where all things are in good Order and flourishing state as before Adam had lost his Virgin Mate Paradise is now stock'd again with such as have waded through the floating Sea of Sin and Mortality in order to the putting on that image of Purity where the least Guile or Fault may not be found in any there The Spirit doth see all in wonderful Harmony for this Voice was heard to say from the high and lofty One with Men risen from the Dead I will also dwell though it be alotted for a time to be a separated Mansion till all be gathered into â—that one superior Kingdom Thus you hear good News that is all rich and flourishing within the Paradysical Kingdom no decay since Adam's day but much encrease and augmentation is daily through the Resurrection of a Spiritual Man March the 3d. 1676 7. These things whereof an account has been given you may be defined as the local Place of Paradice whereinto Spirits separated in a natural Death putting off there mortal Bodies do enter into it and there put on their Virgin Body which doth prepare them to meet their Bridegroom who from thence fetcheth them up to mount Sion These are such who in this very time have fought the good Fight of Faith and had very near overcome this World What is lacking to make them fully perfect in this Paradisical Place they are appointed to stay here till all their Bridal Trimming be finished and they find that they can pass the way to the Tree of Life through the flaming Cherub who still is a Guard upon that figurative Tree In that place holy Angels do there also wait by their course to minister to those who do come here as designed Heirs of that more glorious State which in Sion is revealed This is some part of those good things which belong to your Eternal Father But to open to thee a further Mystery which is what may be entred upon in this very Life time know there is a mystical Paradise as well as a local which springs metaphorically opening from a pure magical Center this is a wonderful state to know and wittness it chiefly stands in divine Visions Revelations Ideas Presentations Manifestations in Sounds Trumpets Voices in Speakings in Powers Raptures Joys and sensible-Feelings I say all these Golden Springs do flow from out of the Bowels of the new Paradisical Earth This will amount to your present Peace and Joy Wait I say to feel that Now that your Spirits may give a Seal with me that ye have received the anointing and that you do walk with your Spiritual Man in this Paradise where you do often hear the Eccho of the Bridegroom's Voice calling to you still to hast the getting on all that which will make you look sweet and amiable and the fragrant Sweets that may you perfume and scent that so all your Garments may smell of these Beds of Spices upon which you may stretch your selves Here a while confined be to dwell after the manner of Spirits in Spiritual Bodies till you shall all of this visible Orb over-come and much excell all Creatures in it having the Tree of Life to live upon Which is that which will rarify and put upon you a more transparent Body for they who here do daily feed upon it shall be in good deed metaphorized Behold to you this Paradise Gate doth open stand and what of the things of God is there not only to know but them as your own to enjoy But this Word of caution to you who resolved are to tast more deep of these flowing Sweets take heed of the Laws of Paradise which once in particular were given to you remind and observe them For you must not be in the Quality halting between two Principles but here keep company each with other and your Jesus will most frequently talk with you and shew himself according to the Love's betrothment that is made a fresh with you in this Paradise March the 4th 1676 7. The GLASSY-SEA Now from hence the Spiritual Man must make another remove to see what doth lie for him beyond this among the pretious things that out-flow from that rich Ocean-Sea which is betwixt Paradise and Mount-Sion This is that Glassy-Sea spoken of which doth encompass the Beloved City where is the residence of God your King and the Throne of the Lamb and the Seaven Sealing Powers that do go forth from the most Holy One. Now this Burning Sea is for Probation who is able to pass through here but they who have got a thorough Victory over the Beast and his Image that nothing more of his Mark do bear They and they only can stand here because they are signatur'd from this
True it is that thou lovest the Lord thy God with thy whole Soul and Spirit which is more then all Burnt-offerings or Worship though spiritually instituted yet this is not enough For Love as it may work in an ardent Spirit by and through internal flowings to the Object may stop again This many have reached unto and yet have doubted in it again Therefore God would have a pledge left in his hand something given him as a fruit of Love to wit Life it self must seal the Truth hereof as going along with it Christ was put upon giving this proof to his Father not only in bare love but by laying down of his Life for which saith he I am beloloved of my Father Iohn 10th So as God had this proof from him so he expects the same from you who if you love the Father and Him then his Commands will not be to you grievous Ye will then observe all the Antecedents belonging to this Law of Love Which Love rightly born carrieth a mighty force with it it cannot deny or keep any thing back from that which it is centred in as hath been evidenced by those great Saints before Christ's Manifestation and since As Abraham he did unfeignedly love God when he forsook his own People and Land of his Nativity to go where the Lord gave him a word of Command to go yet this was not sufficient but ye did see God would prove him further as in Isaac's death Which when God saw that he stopped not in that which touched the very Life nay then said the Lord Because thou hast done this thing in blessing I will bless thee I am now sure thou lovest and fearest me and therefore God will be thy exceeding great reward which the Patriarck did fully witness in his day Numerous instances might be added out of the Scriptures hereunto as also the late and private experiences of holy Souls that have been obedient to that true Prophet and Seer that daily giveth and maketh known the Councel of God Under which seal opening ye are come To which Spirit of Wisdom give now an obedient Ear saith the Holy and True Upon this I made my application in great earnestness according to that Power and Life that stirred in me being greatly distressed to know what was further to be given up and parted withal that consisted in the power of our own Wills having gone far in the self-abnegation suppressing and keeping under the earthly part that so sin could not reign but be kept under condemnation So as to this degree some are come As I was thus silently in the Spirit of my Mind parling this word was uttered to me All this is acceptable but the very giving up of the Life must be that my Name may be written in the very Blood thereof and be returned in a Life-quickning Spirit again Then will the property of that which was dull dark and corrupt become all light vigorous pure and Chrystalline as the Spirit of Christ was in the Corporeal Figure The same Mind which only respects things that are above in the Fathers Kingdom of Glory is to be in you as it was in Jesus your Lord. For this is the sum and head to which all Prophecies and Revelations tend even the finishing of this Mystery Christ the Light Wisdom Power and Righteousness of God Which can be brought to pass only by giving up and laying down our Life as to all sensitive properties which is the highest and most resolute act of the Will-spirit to give its Name up thus and to subscribe your Spirit Soul and Body in the Blood of that Life that must die that so Christ may be only alive in you And albeit while ye are laying down with great reluctancy that Life which is so agreeable to this terrestrial Life because of contempt and dishonour that it suffers hereby As your Lord in his Crucifixion went through so by your spiritual mystical giving up your Lives though as to this worlds eye in shame rebuke and weakness yet in Truth and Verity it shall rise in Strength Victoâ—â— and Power in Ghostly Majesty whereby ye will possess the Gates of your Enemies This is most wonderfully deep if it may be fathomed by the Spirit in you May the 11th 1677. My Spirit entred into a deep sense upon some occasion that was administred how apt it was for such who had taken upon them part of the Ministry to ingross and confine it to Persons and Sexes and to bring down the superior Spirit and Light under the inferiour Government of the low and mean Spirit that respecteth man and savours that Glory which is after the Flesh. For Christ told the Jews they loved the praise of men more than that of God in that they sought honour from one another as the great and learned Rabbies who in their high learning despised an illiterate Christ as they called him From whence I did observe that the leaven of such a Spirit might be ready to mingle with some in this present Age though partly illuminated in and through the knowledge of the Mystery of God in Christ As I was pondering I say and considering these things in my Mind and making request that nothing of the exterior might have wherein to glory but that God would appear in such as little and nothing were in their own account and that all Flesh might be silent that Spirit might only go forth in its own Power and Clearness Upon this I had a full gust come in upon me with this word speaking in me There is a Gospel that nothing of man shall mingle with that shall only be intrusted with such Child-like Spirits For which nothing of the Creatures Testimony will be needed for it will be the Breath of an irresistible Power of which none shall be ashamed Then was that Scripture the next Morning spoken to me Be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherited the Promises Which word was taken up by the Spirit and spoken audibly unto us upon the account of thatâ— which opened before in way of Prophecy as to that unmixed Ministration that should arise in some qualified for it Of which much was revealed in the discoursive way of the Spirit that there was now given to all an open Door that would look hereinto from that in the Heb. 6. v. 11. where Paul directs this word in general to the whole Body consisting of Men and Women And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end Here is none left out but both Sexes implied Whose work and labour of Love in Ministring to their fellow Saints according as they had tasted and received of the heavenly Gift God was not unrighteous to forget Therefore from hence he did incite them to go forward not excluding the Female but laying it as a weight upon both Male and Female as all one in the Spirit to shew the same diligence
Posture The Prince of Might yet hath no Birth in the World for to bring into existency this New Creation Who then shall be the beginning of this Celestial World seeing that from some one or other the Birth of this Creating Power must go out Oh by whom shall Iacob's Star arise that is to bear the â—â—cepter of Power and Dominion that is to overturn the whole Scene of present things which hath been under oppression Iuly the 11th 1677. As to this some days after I was answered with good and comfortable words that we might not sorrow as those who do see nothing of this rising day For while my Spirit was groaning in the Kingdom of Tribulation and Patience I heard this sweet saying The Birth is Love That shall restore the Kingdom of Ioy and Power And as it doth grow near the Pangs of Love will flow upon you which will be Sions mighty deliverance Therefore revive when Loves throws do take hold upon you for it certainly foreruns the breaking forth of the Son of Ioy and Strength who will rule the Earth and ease the Nations of their Burthenâ—â— Griefs and Torments Then was somewhat opened to me of the Mystery of a great Key which I did see in way of Vision held out unto me which was so great and weighty that I made question in my self whether I could carry it and was loth to take the burthen of it not then understanding the intent why it was shewn and tendred But this Morning considering hereof a voice did sound through me This is the mighty Birth-Key which shall open the New Ierusalem Glory No terrestrial Being can it hold for it is all massy and refined Gold that will open the seven-fold Wonder and unlock every unknown Treasury which hath been sealed from the foundation of the World â— hen was it highly impressed upon me what this Key did further signifie unto us Then another word did swiftly put forth in me saying Those to whom this is given will have power to bind or loose to shut or open to kill or save alive and also to charge or discharge from the guilt of siâ— For it is the Key of Knowledge and sound Judgment and acteth absolutely in the express Power of the Most High to fulfill every jot and tittle of his Eternal Will God the Father will well satisfie himself in such whose propriety it shall be to possess this all powerful Key Ah my Lord is there any â—ow abiding in corporeity that is so eyed by thee to be an Instrument to act in the Power of this mighty Key Sure no Prohibition or Decree is gone forth but some one or other may be designed by thee hereunto in this Age. But then the Spirit said they must be such as are annointed with that high Composition Oyl which at once doth clarifie and perfume as an attoning Incense whose flame never goeth out till this Key be wrought out in the Fire Center Then was this word of Councel given unto me Set a work all your present force and might it will be worth the laying out all your cost and labour hereupon You have an all-skilful Guide that is master of this Mystical Science but he loveth not to have to do with any Spirit that is divided with one Eye looking forward and with the other backward He knows he shall never have Honour or Credit by such as are halting between two Principles sometimes rising up in the Fiery Wheel of Faith then sinking down in the Leaden Scale of Sense which bringeth back what Faith hath brought forward Which is the great Energy that giveth the formation to this all-sovereign Key that is prophecied of but none have been found here for worthily qualified of many Generations past Therefore neglect all things of this low Region that so you may make this your entire business From which let there be no starting as ye would enjoy the blessed Projection of this Key that will open for you and will unfold to you the 1000th Number in Wisdom's Roll. Iuly the 12th 1677. As my Mind was contemplating of the great advantages that an Eternal Almightiness would bring in to such who would thereby endeavour wholly to deâ—â—â—â— and make an end of sin There was suddenly a very fit similitude set before me in order to this to shew what would be effectual thereunto There appeared a bright Jasper Body or Person in the middle of whose Breast was set a Pipe of Gold Colourâ— and two more each one out of his side the one was of Scarlet Colour the other White or Glassy This was a very suitable Idea to the present concern of thoseâ— who did know themselves to be under a mourning state of indigency upon an eternal account For whose revivingâ— this word did further proceed Whoever there be who do thirst to drink out here in nakedness of Spirit let them draw near for only pure simple naked Spirits can suck here After this Voice the Intellectual Spring did freely run and made me capable of more deâ—p reception concurring with the tâ—â—e Inspiratour who did give me to understand the use and operation of these conveying Powers shewing what the Virtue of each Pipe was As first that in the midst of the Breast signified the sending forth the â—â—ction of Spirit The Scarlet Colour'd Pipe the Bloodâ— that is the Life of the Heavenly Body anâ—â—â—â—d to it The third Pipe was the 〈◊〉 Water which keeps and maintains all in an immaculate Life of Purity Out of these the Divine Nature is extracted And who ever do not lay their internal Spirits to suck out of these Pâ—pes can never arrive to any strong Spiritual Stature For what doth it avail to have the knowledge and revelation of this in Mystery and be at a spiritual distance herefrom If Jesus while iâ— visible Corporeity had not lain close to his Fathers heart drawing continually although highly Fssenced in Spirit yet he could never have grown if he had not derived fresh Infiniteness of Strength and Power to hold up the God head Soveraignity in the Manhood So likewise the Spirit herefrom did teach us that we should strive to reach to the heart of Iesus in Spirit Here did meet me this Objection But how shall we thus abstractedly have access in our Spirits to our 〈…〉 is in his Personalâ—â—y all 〈…〉 and we in bodies of 〈…〉 so that we know not how to meet him This Question was thus resolved me These Pipes like Iacob's Ladder were fixed for descending Powers to descend through them It is granted that we cannot reach up to our Lord till we have a full grown Spiritual Body Therefore this mystical way of conveyance is contrived to bring us up to that high degree of fellowâ—hip with the Trinity though no congruity there be as to the visible Body Yetâ— there is that Spirit in us which by the drawing down this Life sustenance may recover its ancient sublime and paradysical Body which consisteth not of Flesh Blood and Bones
their course to renew your strength through the mutual concurrence of your wills Which to me I your Lord do own you have given in Therefore my Spirit I am moving upon the Face of your inward Deep till the whole mystery of the Celestial Figure shall again be restored Therefore I am calling the Eye of your Minds inward that so ye may take knowledge how many steps you have gone up to this Throne and so be encouraged to pass forward You are arrived to the third measure which is the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation here is a pleasant standing because you have prospects of the unknown Scenes of Gâ—ory great advantage is from hence because you do live in the divine Idea's of what is contained in the invisible Sphear Yet far be it from thee to â—ake up rest here or like Moses for to die in journying to the Land where the New Ierusalem doth stand Yet four 〈◊〉 higher there are which have been seen in the Mount of Vision Who then now as high descended Spirits will in mighty Faith attempt them and renounce what ariseth of fear and doubt As Faith and Love are the Wheels that do hither bring so fearfulness and unbelief do the Wings of the Mind bind down Oh how flow of heart have you been to believe what of these Ministrations hath been so frequently prophesied by my Spirit Come forward on and put forth that little grain of Power which you have already in your selves and see what you can make hereof The more you act it forth the more it will encrease For as the Ministration of Immediate Revelation doth more clearly immerse you into the knowledge of what is unknown So the Mystery of the highest degree of Faith must necessarily therefrom begin to work and that in such a way as may be a sealing to what is revealed for manifestation For a let into invisible Species of things cannot but quicken up Faith and make it strong in God by which it may easily yea most naturally act and go forth in mirâ—culous Deeds for confirmation to others of what by a bare Testimony will not be believed in a residue of Spirit For this is also surely reserved which is the sixth step to Sions Glory But before this can be perfected in any one that do look Here for it they must be of a through grown experience in the Life of Revelation These Gifts will not come down by sudden rushing showers as it was in the Apostles times But henceforth they will be Consequents which will follow those who do gradually grow up from the very Birth-day of the Spirit into all the sublime perfections of Holiness as their constitution into a Christ-like Nature For it is the Root of that Heavenly Matter from whence Gifts of this kind do proceed and will in such pure and sanctified Vessels be inherent For they only stand in the Light Councel and Will of the Trinity ready to obey and execute his Will here on Earth as the Angels of the Presence who truly and faithfully do go forth in the Light Power and Force of the seven Spirits whose fortitude it is to secure from all the wrathful conspiracies which are in this evil World Iuly the 20th 1677. This day upon a foregoing Word which opened it self in me as we were met together to breath the Life to each other a superaddition thereof was given me The word was from that of Jesus crying in the great day of the Feast If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink then out of their Bellies shall flow Rivers of Living Waters speaking of the Spirit The Jews Feast being the Feast of Tabernacles was highly at that day solemnised from which the Lord did take an occasion to invite to another manner of Feast presenting himself as the principal Dish to feed upon and Well of Life to draw the Waters of Salvation from It was again revived to me in this word You are come to the festival day of the Spirit Set by it esteem it spare not to take your fill Tell me Oh ye that beloved are what from this Heavenly Table where all variety of Spirit is what is most relishable to your Heavenly Palate Had not I known you to have been in the vehement hunger and thirst after that Food which is all Spirit and Life you should never have drawn near to my Table For to others this kind of Fare has been little understood or tasted of and therefore not desired It is the pure Birth of the Spirit that can only live upon that which is Spirit as none can know the things of God but the Spirit so none can taste God but what is born of God What else did your Lord Jesus live upon during the time of his abiding in the humanity but the Essential Power of the Deity He still drew it in as the Invisible Bread of Life which he had to eat that the World knew not of Now said the Spirit unto me It will be to you according to what you believe or thirst for or after whether for the Milk or the strong Meat of the Spirit For this is called the Feast of the Spirit because it multiplies it self into Corn Wine Oyl Milk Hony Marrow and Fatness There is nothing that can be named for refreshing and strengthning which the Spirit of Jesus doth not afford to the strong in Faith Then again a further Information was given concerning the Ministration of Revelation that though this Mount of Divine Vision was not to be for ever the fixed Rest of such who are under such a dispensation which must be owned as a high and rich Prerogative Yet warning I had this day hereupon still to wait For the Spirit did expresly speak that we were come but to the shallows of that unmeasurable Deep our Feet did but yet stand upon the Golden-sea brim and that we must yet abide a while upou this Chrystalline Stone till launched into the deep ocean of all Manifestation and Knowledge of what is within the Vail Where all things of the Temple Glory are to be seen not as in Metaphors or Figures but in their own express Beings as the heavenly things themselves Then through the Oracle-ear this word did sound to me Ye have not yet known what it is to be wholly contracted into the Spirit that is as if you were without a Body of animal sense and changed into an unmixed Body of Spirit For thus it was with Iohn when he saw and talked with the Alpha and Omega Then the word of Jesus was made good to him as one of them who did not see death till he had seen the Son of Man in Majesty coming in the New Ierusalem Glory But this he could never have beheld if he had not been changed for the time being into a Spirit Which had so penetrated through his gross material Body as that he knew himself only in a Body of Light Therefore he called it the Lord's Day such a
only to be had from the pure Altar-coal Which must alone feed and increase this Spirit of Fire-life which mutually co-works in order to the great design of a Christ-like Perfection which fallen man is to be raised again to the enjoyment of Now this word with great Power was spoke unto me Be ye whose Sparks of Fire are added to your Persons by the inspiring breath of Al-mightiness still so industrious as to recruit and gather in what hath been even before you were visibly existing unadvisedly run out and lost of this weighty Substance Which I the Spirit of Jesus am come to tell you is yet recoverable as you do stick and cleave to me in that all-furnished Heart of most purified Properties Then I your Golden Case as a defence will be to secure your springing Treasure within that Heart-excellency which will advance you to a much more higher state than that of the first Adam's degree Oh how will it make for the Praise of the Head-Power and Prince of this New Creation to rake out of the dark Embers of Terrestriality such sparkling Diadems of Glory Therefore ye holy Ones this is well worthy of your persuit For what a dignity will it be for you not only to recover in what your first Father Adam lost but to come into an Augmentation in a Spiritual State And as you are now sunk down so many degrees below the Paradisical Life to your shame and great debasement So by virtue of this renewed Heart annexed to the Golden Caul as its Habitation ye shall rise seven Steps beyond whatever your Predecessors knew in Paradise For had they stood but in this Innocent Hearts Unity they should have known greater tranquillity in a God-al-sufficiency and would have been more satisfied in an open Vision of Glory Oh my Lord thou bringest wonderful things to Light and hast added hereby a new Life to our Hopes therefore we will be encouraged onward to proceed this perfect Heart for to attain Which is to be separated from all Hearts that are centered in the gross sensuality and which are circled about with the Gall of bitter Enmity unto thy Nature which is all Gentle Meekness and Seraphick Purity August the 1st 1677. THIS Morning there was presented to me being the first of August with some other Idea's Three distinct Hearts The one was a dark stony Heart it looked like a piece of Flesh that was dead and rotten upon which did fasten many grievous Serpents that fed upon the flesh thereof Then I saw another Heart that had all the pleasant aspects of a Face with Wings fastned by the Ears wherewith it did fly away from the dismal Heart up to another Heart that was fixed in a bright Orb it being all in Charity sending forth streams like Gold to relieve the other Heart which did fly unto it And it was said in my hearing These are the Streams that shall for ever make glad thy Heart because thou hast from the Vile Heart fled away Here is Life-food for thy Heart everlastingly therefore with it stay August the 7th 1677. As I was casting up in my Mind the necessitous state that all mankind was plunged into and why it should be that that there was no difference made as to the Just and Unjust but it fell alike to both as to all external things Nay that the Unregenerate did much more abound with all this Worlds goods than those who were of the Spirits-birthâ— I found a great dissatisfaction in my self why Infinite Wisdom should so permit it seeing that those who are of a sober mortified and watchful Carriage Life and Conversation should not have the Soveraignty and Lordship over what in this Principle might serve their more superiour Life Hereupon I sunk down into the quietness expecting some Resolve might hereunto be given Which by a certain Dialogue betwixt two I was given somewhat of the mystery hereof to understand The One of these two appeared in a bright Aetherial Cloud in Person The other in a Humane Shape but all like putrified flesh unsound of an Egyptian hue or colour Oh see cried the Bright One into what a strange degenerate Life-being art thou become What makes thee come so near to face me who am in a clear Body that can have no fellowship with such dark Bodies Then spake that deformed One which was the Prince of this World I have assumed this Body of Deformity of which it was promised thou great Prince of Might Glory and Majesty shouldst set free out from the impâ—iring Element which hath brought all this uncomliness Then spake the high One What further hast thou to charge me with Go forward on For I know thou art come to upbraid the Son of God Then rowsed up the Accuser like a Lion bold and thus wise did speak Oh thou great Melchizedeck where is the effect of thy Râ—deeming Blood as to release from this Vile Body that is obnoxious to all Maladies as to Complaints of Penury and Distresses Even whereof those that are given to thee no more be exempted than the Children of my Kingdom Nay they are necessitated to come oftentimes for succour and supplies to relieve their exteriour part or else their very animal life might fail and die Entitled thou art indeed to be that Shepherd which careth for thy Sheep but they are found stragling and shifting up and down even for their temporary sustinance They are apt to crave among those of my Fold who do make no pretence to any thing which is brought in by the Spirit of Faith Such who are of my Lineage go upon a more sure way prospering by their industry day by day they as the Palm Tree do flourish and spring through all Toyl and do wait and so become Honourable and great in the World While thine as poor Abjects are the scorn and derision of all my Kingdoms Preferments debar'd from them they have looked long for the day of Jubilee when they should return to their great Lordships and Dominions but nothing hereof is yet seen Even they who obtain the greatest Friendship with the Almighty nothing hereof do yet come to know Where is now then if thou a Mighty God and Saviour art any thing signal for the Complainants that are in distress in Bodies yet so grosly Corporeal So that no distinction is made from mankind in common in any visible Power or Dignity As to this my Off-spring do much exceed thine Therefore I need not fear but my Kingdom will yet encrease while thy little Flock are kept so low poor and needy in this Region Here ended the Serpents expostulation with the Lord Jesus August the 8th 1677. The Reply of that Bright Spirit against whom the Charge was O Satan thy Nature is to vilifie and to strike with thy Scorpion Tail against my Head-soveraignty pouring out Floods of Contempt which do rebound back to thy self Now to answer thee in all particulars of thy Charge First As to thy assuming the Figure of that