me while the eagle-Eagle-Spirit is hatching her Young upon Faith's Tree § 9. Which Tree I find can grow upon no other Soil but a Ground all purely refined with oily Springs and Dews from Heaven which must its watering be Then will it spread and flourish all richly having fruitfulness in it self without any dependency Oh! this is the Tree that will us bless with Wisdom Strength and Righteousness for the which I find it in my Heart most earnestly to seek and pray that it may be most choicely kept and circled round about with the pure Love Fire blown up by the Holy Ghost Which may its shelter be from all the invading Spirits that so diligently do watch to break in to crop and suck away its strength For this O my God an holy awful fear is upon me because I do well know what damage and spoil it hath occured keeping it of low and little stature to prevent what might be the World's Conquest and great working Wonder Therefore now my God what is to be done for its preservation Make me privy in the Secrecy of acting so wise a part as few or none have in this later Age found out and why is it so but because no skilful Artist in this Mystery of Faith hath been made to understand the way for the preserving and cherishing this choice Golden Grain from whence this Tree of Faith might to its full growth attain § 10. For the which such Rules prescribed are and revealed unto me by the only wise Counsellor my Friend which if I can observe and obey I may then win the Dayâ— God's great working Powers thereby for to display much more then have been in former Days But the way is such an aversion to what in the whole Universe of Mankind is practised that it will be a difficult point to enter hereupon so as to hold on for here is required a crossing of the Tide and stâ—m of Nature in all its motions which do put forth and generate so aptly Against which resist in the Faith I must all stedfastly till Conquest be wrought out by the growth of this all-powerful Tree § 11. This hath been shewn me to branch forth it self in twelve rising Degrees for the Manifestation of the Antient Apostolical Faith which in this Age is to be recovered anew for the cutting short that Work which in thousands of Years many Holy Souls have been puzling and striving about while sticking in the weaâ— and low degrees of Faith From the consideration of which Relapse a mighty stirring up I feel so to press on as to reach to all of these twelve degrees which from that small Mustard-Grain Seed of Faith sown by the Spirit in me may to such a great and full increase spread out it self as may transcend the growth of all other Trees that in the Forest of this World do stand bound down with Iron Yokes and Bands now the twelve Degrees of this Tree in their distinct Properties were thus expressed unto me § 12. 1. The first degree of this Faith is to believe the apostacy and ruinous heap and matter of which the Body of Sin is contracted into 2. A second degree is to believe that this Degeneracy hath parted the Soul from God and made it a Stranger to all Knowledge and Possession of those high and precious and choice things which might have been the propriety of the Soul in God had it not gone out from him 3. The third degree is to believe there is left a Spark or Seed of Eternity in all Mankind which may incline and turn them in so to feel after God as to lament bitterly their own Apostacy 4. A fourth degree is to believe the Eternal Word was incarnated in Flesh for a Universal Redemption and Restauration out of this lapsed state through Faith in him for the begetting a Likeness and Conformity through an Essential Birth brought forth in Spirit all evidently 5. A fifth degree is to believe that there is an All-sufficiency in CHRIST thus conceived and brought forth in Spirit internally within the Soul 's essential part as may have power to purge refine save and cleanse the Soul from all its Sins 6. The sixth degree is to believe and expect the Holy Ghost to come to join and co-operate with this new begetting Birth for the bringing it up and securing it from all Assaults Peâ—â—â—â— and Temptations mainâ—â—ing an holy Clarification cheâ—â—â—â—ing and strengthning it till it be strong to go forth for Manifestration to shew it self to the World as thus regenerated 7. A seventh degree is to believe and witness that Christ his risen Life in the Soul doth become a death to the Body of Sin totally which we may call a Love Kiss whereby Christ doth sweetly and seceretly draw and part the Soul from all the dregs and relicks that appertain to a Lapsed Nature which is known by a power working supernaturally 8. An eighth degree is to believe that when all this is finished Christ will appear in the Soul without Sin and so present it unto the Father as a new created Wonder all compleated to be his Spouse and Bride rejoycing that the Marriage of the Lamb is come all things therefore being made ready 9. A ninth degree is to believe that Christ the Lord will not fail to perform the sacred Nuptial and Marriage-Union both for Time and Eternity with the Spirit of the Bride thus made ready and will own and confess her so to be his choice before his Father and the whole Assembly of Angels and Elders Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places and also here upon the Earth shall so owned be for her Excellency as shall be an all-amazing Glory 10. A tenth degree is to believe that hereupon will follow all mutual Joys and Pleasures in Love Festival Banquetting which she is so taken up and ravished in as all former Mournings and Sorrows are forgotten coming no more into Mind so ineffable are the Bride 's So lacements with the Lord her Bridegroom 11. The eleventh is to believe that Christ will settle upon this espoused Bride all that is his that she shall have a mutual Interest with him in what the Father hath put into his Hand which is all Power and Wisdom to manage that power which reacheth to a dominion in and over all created Beings and Things whatever herein for certainty she will be put into a Joint-possession with the Lord her Bridegroom as her Propriety 12. Twelfthly and Lastly as the â—â—m of all is to believe undoubtly that after this Representive Bride of the Lamb so declared in thiâ— World to be by her Ornamental Gifts and fruitful Powers that will generously go forth for the multiplying and making up of the pure spotless Virgin Church here on Earth will the Lord from Heaven descend in great and high state to fetch his Bride the Church up to his Fathers House or Royal City for the consummating and celebrating such a Tryumphant Glory in Unity with the
THE TREE of FAITH OR The Tree of Life Springing up in the Paradise of GOD From which All the Wonders of the New Creation in the Virgin Church of the First-born of Wisdom must proceed By J. Lead Matth. 13.32 It is the Least of all Seeds but when it is grown it is the Greatest of Herbs and becometh a TREE LONDON Printed and Sold by J. Bradford in Jewen-Street near Crowder's-Well 1696. TO THE READER HAving given an Account of the Confusion of the Babylonish Forms being rejected by the Head Shepherd from whom an Angel is gone forth that hath sounded the Trumpet to proclaim That all Formal Worships set up by Man and constituted by Rational Inventions as a Shadow must pass away For nothing in this Day shall stand but the Power and Spirit of the Lamb that will cast up his Church into no other Mold but that in which he himself in his Resurrection-State did Appear So that the Gathering together of his Flocks from all Parts shall be for the making up this Resurrection Church as New born into the Faith For which Reason I have here superadded a Manifestation which some Years since was given me which I judge may now be of as General Vse to make Publick as it was first for my own Particular Information and Instruction whence it was never design'd to see the Light But seeing that this Church that hath been describ'd by the Spirit of Christ is to consist of the Branches of Faith growing up from the Root and Stock of Abraham it was found very Expedient that this should follow the foregoing Treatise Because the New Creation which is to be brought forth must have their Consistency of Life by the Faith of the Son of God that as he was in this World so may also his Bride and Spouse be acting in the Holy Ghostly Property to do the Wonders which the Last Age of the World is to produce For it is expected that mighty Deeds and Works shall be wrought by this New Risen Virgin Church such as have and such as never have been For the Patriarchs Prophets and most highly Spirited in the Faith and Love Power and Purity shall again descend to assume Persons that are of this Resurrection Life so to do all the Worthy Exploits according to the Lot in which each Antient Saint did stand All which shall be renewed again for the state of the Prophesies relating to Christ's thousand Years Reign which will overspread the Earth with the Kingly Prophetical and Priestly Train I had some thoughts of Obliterating the beginning of this little Treatise being only a Private Recollection of my Spiritual Travels which I have used to make from Year to Year but I quickly check'd my self herein for that it was mov'd upon me that it might be Vseful and Beneficial to some Souls and for a Pattern to excite them to the Recollection Wherefore I resolved to let it go without any Alteration according to its full and Genuine Sense J. L. THE Tree of Faith c. § 1. BEing come to the Conclusion of this Year 1686. recollecting and making Observation from one New-Year to another of what hath passed both in reference to the Internal Attainments Growths and Degrees arrived to in Spirituals and what hath happened by special Providence concerning the outward Bodily Man both which I have for some Years kept a Memorandum of for my own private satisfaction taking special notice how the Work of God hath gone on in order to the perfecting of what my Soul hath been these many Years in great travail for but in special for what hath been in sight and view through the Spirit of Prophecy declared unto me since 1670. in the which Year and so forward on to this time entring upon this New Year I have found the working Wheel from the strong Hand of the Most High and have driven hard on for the bringing back of my Soul into Eternal and pure Nature's Originalty again the which to be plain is no less then to be Born again into another World where this visible Birth in Sin with its world is as forgotten and shut out no otherwise remembred but to give occasion of the greatest Wonder and admiration of that great and infinite goodness that hath unfettered and set the Soul free to be born into a divine and spiritual Body so to dwell and inhabit in the high and heavenly World where my Correspondency hath been maintained much since the Year 70. gaining Year by Year some increase and higher degree of Wisdom and Understanding in the secret Mysteries of Eternity as to what doth lie hidden there which through our abstraction of Mind and watchful Attendance in new Varieties from that World do present themselves § 2. Now as to this last past Year many have been my Internal provings and secret Combates that have followed me hard to shake my Faith as to the great and wonderful Revolutions relating to the accomplishment of a full and perfect Redeemed State among Mortals here to be seen and known in order to which I have been followed with renewed Predictions and Promises for the keeping up and open the Springs of Faith which otherwise would have been stopped therefore I must proclaim the goodness of God who hath kept the stock of Faith going on in me for the hopeful consummating of what is yet behind which are great and weighty things worth waiting upon which if succesfully I may attain will quit all suffering loss of what ever can be called Earthly and Terrene in sensible things which are of this World only among Mortals seen from all which I have been much called from as finding every Year hath renewed upon me great abatements and weariness of Life and Love to all perishable things A good reason there is why because the Heavens do before me open stand by which my Mind and Spirit is so well entertained by the Objects there seen with all substantial Varieties that I need not care any more to look out for these § 3. When at any time drawn and pluck'd away I am by strong motives from this World then great Wo Pain and Trouble do me possess for so it is when at any time I am out of the Heavenly Places where now only my Life doth lie within that secret Cabinet of Eternity preferring that as my chief and only Excellency So I resolve to go forward by the Power of the Most High this ensuing Year for what of this kind may multiply and prosper in my Hand mightily For the which all care and strict Watch I see must be that so I may not overslip my Day acting accordingly as Power doth move and rise the which is to be attended upon Day by Day as God shall clear up the way otherwise all Attempts are but in vain which set upon may be as I have proved by what hath been undertaken contrary to this all high and approving Eye Therefore Wisdom doth me teach in a passive brokenness of Will
Body of Saints that are in Heavenly Places before hand even such a Glory through the Spirit until we come there into the very same Glory as Christ had with the Father before the Worlds were which is too great to be known here § 13. Thus having had all the Degrees and Branches of Faith's Tree opened and set before me for Tryal Examination and Information not only in particular for my self but for such as do agree to ascend with me and go forward on to all these Degrees for the which God hath chosen some one or other that are made all willing to give up hereunto by waiting upon it until the great Operator shall bring forth this Tree in its full stature that the Eagle-Spirits may find all variety of Food for themselves and therewith greatly increase in all kind of Substance without being beholding to the World for it hath been testified unto me and that from a sure Hand that the Eagle and her Brood shall in all Worlds have command for the which I received an express charge to wait all believingly with such as hereunto are with me to agree for the full accomplishment of those Gifts and miraculous working Powers which so long have been silenced and laid asleep and by whom are these to be awakned but by the close setters and constant feeders upon Faith's Tree who are not to hitch off and on for if so the Work of Faith will never go on § 14. The Spirit of my God hath opened this Sense deep upon me for the bewailing of Faith's apostacy and how that the Jerusalem waiters in this Spirit have been along time scattered and carried captive into Babylon and the most holy Vessels and Things prophaned so considered in a Spiritual Sense and the anointed Holy Place where the great High Priest's entrance should be is greatly demolished and made common for unclean and worldly Spirits to pass in and so hath brought in great confusion Now it is much set upon me to strengthen the feeble Hands of Faith 〈◊〉 the recovery of this All commanding and Powerful Life which may bring us back from so great a Relapse for the which end it is averred by the Spirit that there is to be maintained one continued Act admitting of no Cessation as to what may be agreed upon to have Faith in God either for binding up what hurtful and pernicious is to hinder the process or going on of those perfect things yet behind then again for the unbinding and loosning of those mighty great and Heavenly Powers that may make us terrible as an invincible bright Army of flying Banners which as light Flashes may go forth on this Hand and on that as directed they shall be for the securing saving and delivering those who sorrowing and mourning are under Sin 's oppression and the worldly captivity § 15. Now hereupon followed this Vision there being put into my Hand twelve Arrows and a Bow the Bow seemed to be of pure Gold and the Arrows tip'd with Gold and directed I was to make my aim at this Tree of Faith which was the Mâ—rk to shoot at Which keepâ—ng my Eye upon stedily the true Archer the Spiâ—iâ— in me did let fly one Arrow after another till I came to the ninth Arrow which all did well hit and then there was a stop and I could to no higher degree go but was commanded to gather up those Arrows and give them into the Hand of them who were to come up to the Unity of this Faith With the same Bow and Arrows one who designed in special was did follow on to try with great industry and did hit the first and second and then attempting the third Degree the Arrow fell somewhat short for want of a fulness of Faith Whereupon I standing by directed the holding of the â—ow so heeding and observing well she reached the third Degree Then the other one came on to try with the same Arrows appearing in great resolution and hit the first Degree and going upon the second was pulled away which made a present delay Then did the other that had shot to the third Degree stick to it and after one or two onsets got to the fourth Degree then saw I her stop and it was said Be not hereat dismayed for Strength will renew though the Arm too weak may be yet lay not down the Bow but hold it steadily and through constant Exercise the Arrow will not fail to fly from the Hand that diligent shall be till it do attain to all Degrees For it was testified unto me thâ—â— there must be a continual keeping up and bending the Bow of the Mind that so we may all of this Faith's Treasure find and although to the Eye of the World nothing of this is seen they looking upon the true Archers of Faith in great derision saying That they are come to be desperate indeed that have nothing to live upon but what Faith's Tree must bring forth for such are look'd upon as a forlorn hope Oh far be it that this any discouragement to us should be for the Lord hath said it again and again that if any can hereunto reach come to an all-full perswasion then the whole World could not contain the Treasures which this Tree of Faith for us should command that so proved it may be who are the wise in Heart who have made it their choice to learn and exercised be in the Art of Faith only § 16. At another time I was alarm'd out of my Sleep with a Voice that cried in me thus O the Restaurative Tree of Faith And when I came to consider of the Word and the Meaning of it Wisdom's opening Key was put into my Hand to unlock that Place where this Precious Tree doth stand It did now appear to be enclosed by it self and a most lovely fair Tree it was the Body whereof seemed to be all of sweet smelling Cinnamon and in the Hollow of it there was a strong scented Perfuming Oil which did produce Fruit of the same Kind all of a Spicy Nature the which was shewn me to be of Twelve Sorts But this Fruit appeared different and more various then what I had ever seen in all former Representations Which made me very Inquisitive praying that I might know the Mind of Divine Wisdom in that Surprizing Word which came so suddenly upon me For I could no way be satisfied with any Visions or Magical views of things barely and without Interpretation § 17. Which through a renewed Glance of Light from her Orb I obtain'd an Understanding of And it was thus said to me O Spirit what makest thou here How dost thou think to live now that thou art departed out from the Earthly Region where thy Sensitive Life was maintained through the industry of the Rational Mind From these pleasant Things of the Earth thy Soul is now gone out and thou must eat of them no more For here is quite another Way and Manner of Living which thou and
those that are with thee united must fashion your selves unto living only upon what Fruits this Holy Land which is by thee now seen doth afford Therefore did I call thee to come to this Tree of Faith not only it to view but having hit the Mark thereof to feed that so a Spiritual Body may to thee renewed be of an Incorruptible Nature and Kind answerable to the various sorts of Fruits which will restore Nature to its Antient and Vigorous Beauty that hath looked to be altogether withered and consumed § 18. Upon my Further Inquiry at Wisdom's Oracle what might be the Qualities Properties and Natures of these Fruits of Faith and how we might be enabled to take of them having a Right thereto as Natural Denizons that have a Dependence wholly upon what this Heavenly Country of Immanuel doth afford and produce that so we may have no Occasion to look back from whence we come or to be tempted to lust again after Mortal Fruits among the Fallen Spirits From which state we have been called forth to live on this Precious Tree of Faith the several Properties of which I will now open by Name according as they have been to me declared to the end that I and those that with me in the same Spirit cojoined be may here satisfie our whole Internal Appetite and in all Parts and Degrees be made compleat as we shall hereof Magically in our Spirits be able to eat Now the First Quality applicable to this TREE is Magestical Glory the Second is Fathomless Wisdom the Third is an Almightiness of Power the Fourth is Transparency of Light the Fifth is Perfection of Purity the Sixth is Soveraignty of Will the Seventh is an All-excelling Goodness the Eighth is Infinite Natural Knowledge the Ninth is an All-seeing through the Incomprehensible Eye the Tenth is an Essential Generating working Spirit the Eleventh is an Omnipotency of Creation giving New Existences where nothing did visibly appear the Twelfth is Immutability of Love which worketh in and through all these Thus have I given a true Dimension and Description of this Immense and Restaurative Tree springing up from the Seed and Root of Faith which will bring Dead Souls to Life again and do all the Wonders of the New Creation-Church by the Great Philadelphian Worthies when they shall be made to appear On it the First begotten Son of Wisdom did continually feed which made him a God-Man indeed who is not contented of these unknown Sweet to tast alone but cries and calls to his Sister and his Spouse hereof with him to partake that so it may have the same operation and effect on her Godlike to be according to the Pattern of her Lord CHRIST Whose Image lively drawn I may thus see Through Participation of this Spicy Tree § 19. Some considerable time afterward I was again call'd in Spirit to view this Tree of Faith and the Tree now seem'd to be enlightned with a bright Body which appeared standing in the midst of it and it bore all those several mentioned sorts of Fruits being therewith most richly laden but none were yet Ripe or fit for Eating But the Bright Body in the Tree said Go call such as willing are to wait for the Transmuting Power to act forth the Amazing Wonders of a God Let such with thee come and sit under this Tree till the Fruit into Gold ye shall see to be turned Then eat thereof ye shall and Power will be born suddenly to do and act in the Property and Nature of the Holy Ghost For this must Transmute and alter the whole Inward Part for that it will be no less then the Leaven of the Deity it self Whence this hath been frequently repeated to me that this kind of Power which we would have must proceed from a deep Ground and Root which is no less then the Godhead § 20. Also at another time I felt a mighty stirring Life of Faith get up which did overtop all Self-Reasoning whereby I found a Pass for my Spirit to enter nearer still to the Aimed Mark which is the Central Power And while I was in Prayer that my Bow might abide in Strength and that it might also be given to my Fellow Labourers to hold it out with me for Assurance of this there was shewn me the Bow in a Blew Cloud descending and it was put into my Hand All Crystalline the Bow appeared to be with Seven Golden Arrows belonging to it Then was it said to me Arise Arise now put on thy Strength for the Arm of the LORD in thee shall stretch the Bow and make the Arrows fly where the Invincible Power doth lie For the Work shall not be starved for want of Power to feed and strengthen it while two or three do stand in one Spirit knit Therefore to you each one this Bow of Faith is given with the Sevenfold Arrow Try and see whether at the Seventh Attempt it may not the Power hit and all the Twelve Degrees of Faith arrive at Now put thy Hand hereto and be very nimble and quick make the first Onset that those others who aiming are at the same thing with thee may also reach this weighty and worthy Prize That so in the Lord ye may rejoice together in such a goodly Habitation and Golden Tent to celebrate the Praise of Great ELOHIM who hath this Power down sent to display and make way for the Gathering in of his Priestly Flock and Royal Train that shall no longer at the Worldy Spirits Gate knock and wait This came to pass in the 25th of the Month January in the Year MDCXC § 21. After seven Days being upon the First of the next Month the same Vision was renewed to me and I strongly felt the Impulses of the Spirit driving me forward towards the Mark which seemed to stand very fair to be hit as inviting us who in One Faith were knit to try and prove Where our Seven Nazarite Locks of Strength do lie which answer to the Seven Spirits and Powers of the Tri-Un Deity For the Seven Arrows specified in the former Vision do all of this signifie as that these are to be a Guard upon each Arrow according as from the Bow they shall be made to fly For with my Lord I discoursed this matter concerning the Thorough-Pass of these Seven Arrows Querying whether I or any one that principally aim'd at the same thing with me had shot them home to the very Center-Point Then upon this Inquiry the Spirit of my Lord told me that Five of them had already hit the Mark but that two yet remain'd which were to make the grand Breach and Onset where the Rich Prize was to be taken And the Spirit shewed me further what stopped the ascending Might of these two remaining Arrows which was a muddy Gulf that stood in the way which I beheld and it was said That this did signifie the Lake of Self-Reasoning Spirits which the Starry World from Without doth qualifie with what of
the Signs of the Superiour Heavens do signifie out as much that the Time is very near at hand for the Accomplishment of all these for which End there was shewn to me an Ark in the Figure but which was declared to me in the Mystery to be no less then the Substance of the whole Triune Deity who would suddenly send forth Ambassadours from themselves that are to be as the First Fruits and Representatives of the Bride to gather in all such as were to make up the whole Jerusalem Bride whose Habitation is prepared in Wisdom's Wonderful Paradisical Principle § 3. Wherefore it was not long after I had received the first Manifestation and Figurative Opening of Faith's TREE from the Spirit of Faith growing up in me before I had further Notice given me of an ARK into which Faith's Archers who had hitten the Mark were to be received in For in a little more then a Year after that I had this free Communication with my Lord concerning it which follows And notwithstanding the latter Part of this amongst many other of my Papers has been lost yet this which hath been by the All-wise Giver of it preserved for that end will I know be of some Service and Use and therefore have I been prevailed with to insert it here though I am not able to recal what either went before or followed after it February 21. 1687. § 4. Being upon my Internal Watch in the pure stillness of my Mind this Word came to me saying The Ark of Faith which the Lord hath been these many Years in raising and building is yet not persued and as little understood although Warning upon Warning and Sound upon Sound have gone forth for preparing and building such an Ark which may flote upon the broad River of the Holy Ghost Then was I touched at this saying of my Lord as being conscious how he had opened to me this effectual Door and Mystery of Faith charging me to keep to the Rules of it which upon this Word I questioned whether I had kept up to so precisely as I had received command to do Whereupon the Spirit pray'd in me Lord God Omnipotent if I have been negligent shew it me with much more to that effect in which my Heart was enlarged to pray about it Then was it in this wise revealed and answered me Thou hast been learned and taught as another Noah to prepare and build an Ark of Faith in this Invisible World therefore slack not but go on forward and I will strengthen the Studs and Stakes thereof which shall be as stable as Gold that shall be laid in as a firm bottom Who further said to me That there was One known by Name that should have of the same Spirit of Faith to concur and build with me and so we should be mutually made able to strengthen one anothers Hands to carry on this great Work as Male and Female in one Person or Spirit to enter first this Golden Ark of the Presence when reared up for which we should receive further Advertisement as we should wait diligently hereupon § 5. Then it arose further in me by way of Query to propound some things relating to this Fabrick unto the Great Master and Builder hereof who answered me most freely to whatever my Spirit was made to Inquire But the Particulars of this matter being obliterated and passed away the same Divine Spirit that was then present with me and ready to dictate what was requisite by me to be known hath now after many Years revealed and brought again to my Internal Sight this Ark of Faith in the ensuing manner which I am commanded to declare and publish for the Information and Encouragement of all those that seek to be redeemed from the Earth and would enter into this Ark. February 18. 1695 6. § 6. The Virgin Wisdom founded a joyful Cry saying Come and see what an Ark is prepared for them that are Born into the Faith as mighty Hero's to act the Wonders of the New Creation which Ark is made in my New Paradise that hath not yet been inhabited whereupon great Floods came down from the Heavens as a Golden Rain which covered the Face of the Mountains as the Waters did in Noah's time drown the Old World So that there was a mighty Sea which was called the Love-Sea Yet did it not as yet universally cover the Earth Then after this did descend also this mighty Ark in which was Faith's great Conqueror Christ Jesus with Abraham Noah and all the High Elders of the Faith which floated upon this Sea This Ark was all of a most diaphanous fine Gold with Six Wings on each side branching forth from it so that it did Fly as well as Swim which Wings were full of Eyes Then was it said to me What dost thou think this Ark is sent down for but to take in and receive such as have looked for Redemption to be Saved from the Violence and Curse of the Old Earth and from the Malignancy and Venom of the Starry Kingdom A loud Cry and Call then came out of the Ark saying Come Hasten and escape for your Lives for here is a Shelter prepared for you while those that do slight this Call and have not Faith to fly away must in another Deluge be swallowed up which will be as the Waters in Noah's Day falling down upon them from the Starry Firmament while the Children of Wisdom's Kingdom who have obeyed her Voice shall here be kept having the Wings of Power which I had before seen given to them that they might fly into this Ark. Whereinto some Eminent in the Faith were received with great Acclamations and Embracements and these that first entred had great longings to attract in others after them which they waited here in hope to see February the 19th § 7. Then the Great Captain of the Ark of Faith Christ Jesus did steer the Ark which with flying Wings did swiftly pass and landed us in the New Paradise Where we were received by the Divine Magus's and Masters of the Faith who understood the Mystery of all Miraculous Faith This was a wonderful Place the like of which I had never seen for the Walks were all paved as with Transparent Gold and several Temples were here in which these Elders in Priestly Robes all glittering did pay their Homage to the Great and Mighty King by whom they did work all their great Works and give Existency to that which never had been Then were we led out to view the pleasant Trees and Groves for delight and recreation and the Trees did seem to be as of pure Gold and the Branches to be laden as with Diamonds and all the variety of Precious Stones Besides which there were Trees also laden with all sorts of precious Fruits for Food and Rivers with Fountains flowing with spiced Wine and Cups and Flagons round about the Fountain So we were called to drink at these Fountains and to eat of these Fruits being
to stand till my God shall come forth with the Express Word of Command that so the Heavenly Plantation may go on and nothing it withstand for lets and interposings have got in as I have from Year to Year seen and will be still I do find until the Spirit of Faith do get the upper-hand which in God the driver on is to be that so the long set back Work in Pentecost Day may after so many Years delay come forward once again For the which I have been a private and earnest waiter and diligent seeker where ever I might find Spirits that hereunto were inclined to wait in a pure Temple-mind unitedly for the great Dowry of the Holy Power again to rise but to this Day a scattering and dividing among the Holy People hath been who hitherto are scared and affrighted away from each other upon poor low and worldly Circumstances so as no Body of Saints can yet get together The which hath been very grievous unto me carrying a secret Sorrow and Mourning in my Soul here for I having according to the power given me made offers here and there but oh how little hath this Call been understood No not even by those who might become of the high and holy waiting Disciplehood so as that upon this account in long-suffering I have been looking this way and that way for the most holy Wind to blow some one or other in for a beginning into this great and Spiritual Gathering § 4. I have often seen my own Angel Spirit fluttering to and fro from Plant to Plant and so on to each Lebanon-Tree to find where the Eagle-Body might make her Nest her Young there 〈◊〉 Hatch and Brood in safety from the ravenous Birds of Prey but no sooner was I here alighted after many a long Flight but the flying Serpent hath with great sury come forth to prevent and demolish what was prepared for this intent and so hath often permitted been hitherto to keep off a selected gathering as a Heaven-Born Society which by coming together may make up the holy Priestly Body whom God may give witness unto by pitching with them his Tabernacle-Presence in great Power and Glory O for this how hath my Soul and Spirit been carried forth to seek and wait upon it and still must it pursue till my God shall it fulfil as decreed it is in his Will § 5. Now as to what hath passed this present Year relating to the outward Being with all Circumstances thereunto relating it hath been very considerable and worth taking notice of Wherein my God hath appeared greatly for my support answering all Bodily Necessities which hath been brought in by a signal Hand of renewed Providence as occasion hath required Although great plunges and difficulties with Temptations thereupon attending for my proving did meet upon me for the tryal of my Faith Which the Power of the Most High did still maintain and uphold invisibly and thereby brought me forth out of all most victoriously My Tribulations and Distresses were known to God only For I saw it in vain to complain to any Creaturely Being but still in all I did apply my self to that Name Great JEHOVAH whom I found a Refuge at all times very nigh procuring deliverance oft-times unexpectedly For the which great goodness from my God thus by me proved I have so much to say and make mention of by way of thankfulness and praise that the number of Times and Days are far too little to rehearse and proclaim the Bounteousness of this great Love that hath thus minded me in a desolate Widowhood state But what I may be short of in Time let Eternity while in Time and out and beyond all time for ever celebrate one Everlasting Sabbath of Laud with pure and powerful Praises to thee oh Holy Holy Holy Infinite Almighty whom my Soul doth so greatly adore that Silence must speak much more with a Life that must excel both § 6. Now waiting still upon thee O God for what may further produce this Approaching Year in order to the accomplishment of what hath been the main drift and whole Scope of my Life's attendency since the unsealing of the Heavenly Mystery By which the obligation hath pressed in so deep upon me that hath made me to relinquish all impeding Multiplicities which possiby I could wind my self off from that so I might follow on in pure Heart Spiritual-mindedness that so I might be a partaker and a possessor of what is to follow as hath been accordingly made known through the Spirit of Revelation unto me which have raised all the powers and forces of my Soul for the giving up it self to this high and heavenly Calling which is the Holy Profession of Faith which now my Life that I am henceforth to live must wholly consist of for so my Lord hath averred and established his Word renewedly unto me § 7. The Spirit doth hard upon me for this ply declaring unto me that upon Faith's bottom I must stand and go forward on all steadily the Work is great which I do stand chargable withal for the which oh God my own strength is but small therefore to thy Omnipotency I do call for that must be my all in all to make me a Practitioner in this high and Heavenly Calling The Matter which I have to work upon is only from that Word of Faith which did create all Worlds the which doth greatly support and satisfie and support me as a stock of strength and power that will carry on to Victory keeping my Eye always staid hereupon as the Priestly Portion which is set out for me who no Propriety have among the Tribes whose Inheritances are of another kind and therefore the Lord will still my Portion be in full for all things that shall needful be The Vision of the Tree § 8. Now in order to this there was shewn to me a Tree that should all suddenly spring up in me which spread forth its Branches for increase and fruitfulness and that no dependency would have upon any other Tree but it self Which was intituled to me to be Faith's Tree on which without fear the Eagle-Bird may build her Nest and not be disturbed while she is hatching her most holy Priestly Brood who from the Fruits of this Tree are to be fed and nourished till unto such strength arrived as to take their flight transcendently up unto their own Priestly Thrones near to CHRIST their Priestly Head there to meet that Company which of their own Royal sort and kind in sacred and pure White Robes all cloathed are So that here a mutual fellowship betwixt the lower and higher Worlds all agreeably will be which is the great Wonder that in the Heavens hath lately been opened to me not for Speculation only but for Provocation to set upon this Work with such as shall hereunto added unto me be For the which a pure bright attractive Eye is gone forth to fetch in such as are numbred to stand with