to declare and speak as indeed from a Cloven Tongue that may tinge where ever it seaâ—…ters such high enkindleâ—… Breath abroad Ah Words of such aâ—… ouâ—…flowing Power will carry force to purpose upon the Hearts of the prepareâ—… Hearers to whom this last Trumpet by the Dove shall sound Blessed is that Ark where fresh she will out fly to pronouncâ—… Salvation Peace and Good-will froâ—… on high Fear not but believe such aâ—… Ministration may be nigh to those who in this new fram'd Ark do most closely and obscurely lie till the Birth-Doors shall come for to be opened by the strong Angel Know upon every Door here iâ—… a several seal to the number of seven to which belong the Seven Spirits Up pon every Opening thereto watch anâ—… stand still till Time's Number is finished for the going forth upon the broaâ—… Water-floats The glorious Lord thaâ—… hath been hidden under this Ark is now for to appear and unfold what the Seveâ—… Thunders hath foretold of Ages past For which saith the Alpha and Omega do hereunto call you whose Hearts are right and perfect to me not only these â—…hings to know and see but Eminent Inâ—…truments to be for me by the bringing â—…orth a new and more excelling Geneâ—…ation then yet have been existing November the 23d 1676. In the Night season I saw my self as â—…f I had been transmuted into a Bird of great largeness like to a Hawke and found all my sensible Faculties and Understanding in that appearance sluttering in an Airy Region and this Commission Word I had Go forth and take a Prey which attempting I found a whole Flight of Birds in some way of resistance I being alone they thought they should have encompassed me about and so out-mastered me Then I called for my Bird-Mate who was immediately as in a large flying Body with me and so we jointly commanded the whole Flight of the lesser Birds in that Region and then they voluntarily came to shelter under our Wings And methought it was a mighty Change which I did not know how I came into but all Care Fear and Sorrow were fled away I did feel during this time no low matters of an Earthly Sence at all to touch me I did during this time feel also another sort of Birds like Bats did us pursue which could not hold out their Flight because of the excessiveness of this Light Reigon but down again did fall and again would strive to rise blindly to trouble and hit against those who were winged for to obtain the Prize December the 4th 1676. Look back to November 23. 1676. and there is the Vision and here is the Interpretation of it THere was much from this Vision manifested to me first was that this shewed there must be a passing out of a gross ponderous heavy laden dark Image and Body for in the pure Airy Region only Aetheral Spirits in Winged Bodies of Power could live and swiftly move Such a Translation it became us to wait and look after that it might be really accomplished as the Figure doth call up to For it was said this must be till we come this Change to see all to be in the very Body by virtue of that Crystalline Stone that formed must be within who to its own Clarity must sublime us throughout before we can go forth like Eagles to mount and to take our Prey As to the resistency which I saw it was thus to be understood that at the first going forth though thus impowered and spirited yet it would not be understood by the very Elect who were to be gathered to that Region for something of Reluctancy there would be till further confirmed by another Witness that also should wing up in Spirit and Powers And should marvellously draw and gather in the Scattered who to Wisdom's Ministry do belong which must prepare for the state of Mount Paran and so for the New Jerusalem Then queried I further about the last Flight who were so few in Number yet very troublesome blindly lifting up themselves against us It was shewed me that there were dark sensitive Spirits whose center was in the dark Holes of the Earth that had some particular knowledge and relation to us while we appeared to walk with them after their Similitude but being herefrom changed and something being formed in us that hath given us a Winged Raise and so made the Separation and Alienation they would pursue to bring us down that they might know us in their own Likeness for in this Transformation they cannot without they could come to be as we are Which is impossible till the Holy Lump in them be made and they be separated for this state from all low things to live whereunto we are called and appointed to live in the Ghostly Body where we shall meet the Lord our Bridegroom in the Airy Region This Word much followed me The Birth in you is the Son of God but it doth not yet appear what it shall be when as it shall work quite through expect great alteration even unto Transfiguration At which I rebounded with this Answer Ah Lord how thick down do flow thy Prophecies but what makes the working Wheel so slack to effect this mighty thing Then said the Spirit in me Thou art in haste before the Earthly Mold be laid waste not considering that ye are but come unto the restoring Ministry that is preparing for the Birth of the Dove out to fly that carrieth all Wonders in its sevenfold Eye which is your Lamp within that getteth formation by degrees Therefore it is not to be stirred before it comes to its full Age all that you are to do is to drink in what is brought to Hand by its Virgin Mother for daily succour as the Word of Counsel Caution and Direction which is at present all which ye are to expend upon for stay and strength till its Birth-Day shall in and through you break December the 5th 1676. In the Night in my Sleep the Accuser and watchful Enemy assaulted me hard upbraiding me with false and deceivable hopes that I had in this Ghostly Birth demanding why we should more then others in the World seek for it that were left in the same common Faith with others ever since the Holy Ghost withdrew which was not again to be born through any one in Flesh according as we looked for Then this Word was present with me to repel Oh get thee behind me thou Spirit of Pâ—…dition that goest about to pervert Truth and wouldst make void the Love's Election of God Knowing well thou standest not in his Counsel any more but art afraid nay it is thy terrour to see Faith risen so high in any one as thereby to conceive such a mighty Birth as this that will so rise as to overturn thy Kingdom and Reign that hath been so long in the Earth for hereby cast out thou wilt be Therefore we will not doubt nor throw away our Confidence because the Birth we
Dispensation Which hereby is as the New and best of Wine that hath been reserved for this Last Time Whereby it may be understood that Christ has not forgotten to make good his Promise to renew the Spring of his Spirit by a continued Succession of it And as we see and hear the Fruitfulness of it doth more generally abound and find entertainment in the World by a New Generation of Apostolical Spirits so doth it presage a New Kingdom and State is near approaching Which is Argument enough to provoke all that would be Subjects of this Kingdom which the Lamb has only Right unto to be preparing and making Ready as the First Fruits that they may be Qualified to make up this New Jerusalem-Bride Therefore as my Fellow Denizens of this City which is from Above where-ever ye are hidden whether as Exiles or Captives scattered to and fro I beseech you let your Inward Ear he attentive keeping Watch and Ward in great Calmness and Stillness of Mind Then may ye bear the Love-Calls passing through that Horn which is filled with pure Oil that will gather and draw you into the High Celestial and Spiritual Pasture and Fold where our goodly Tents may be Pitched and of which we may go in and out to that rich Sharon which springs and flowers round about our Kingly Shepherd that so as his Sheep and Lambs we may be gently led from Fountain to Fountain and drink and feed together in the same Harmony and Unity as do the Saints in the Upper Fold so we in this Lower I shall now wind up all with a Cautâ—…n to two Ranks the First shall be to the Unlearned and Ignorant in this Method and Way of the Spirit 's Manifestation Which is that they do forbear Rash and Censorious Judgment upon those Things that are at present above their Reach For as they desire not to be prevented and bereaved of the Great Benefit of Divine Inspiration and the Assistances of the Holy Ghost my Advertisement to such is that they become Simple and Child-like and adventure upon the Conduct and Manifestations of the Holy Spirit then will they find another manner of fruitful Life will in them spring and no reason shall they have to repent for Acquiescing to the Divine Will herein The Second Caution shall be to that sort which are already Initiated into this our Mystick and Supersensual Wisdom that may have with me run deep into the Ocean of what is Mysterious and Wonderful for Knowledge First I must caution you with my self to keep very Low entring into a Self-Annihilation so as a Nothing to be with reference to the Creaturely Being that the All-Deifick Unction may arise as an overflowing Tide and never to think we have obtained by all that we have yet reached to what yet remains of those Immense Treasures which are yet further to be Revealed For there is still a growing Tree of Life that reneweth all Variety of Wisdom as you will in part find by this Present as well as by some Foregoing Books by me Published Thus having given you a true Narrative of the Several Removes and Risings from one Degree to another from Depths to Heights and from Heights again to Depths out of which hath been Brought forth very Marvellous and Wonderful Secrets which it was the pleasure of the Fountain of Spirits to distribute and communicate being such Mysterious Things as haply may be rarely found elsewhere which hath often me astonished that such Unusual and Strange a Method the Spirit should take with me opening such things But it hath been given me to know upon a Diligent Inquiry that there is an Age coming on the like to which hath not yet been to whom these Prophesies and Revelations do belong So that though the Day of my Life is far spent so that I may not see the full Harvest of what is by the Spirit sown here to be reaped yet assured I am that all is reserved for a Glorious Time wherein shall arise a New Generation that clothed upon will be with such a Mantle as is interwoven with Light Wisdom Knowledge and Flaming Power Among which there may be some that I may bear the Memorial of a Mother to as well Natural as Supernatural that may possibly succeed in the same Spirit which I shall pray may be as Wisdom's Key to go on to open in them the Golden Remains which are yet to be brought forth for the promulgation of the Priestly and Prophetical Kingdom upon the Earth So now I shall conclude requesting you as you shall draw in any Light or feel any Refreshment herefrom that you would join with me in Acclamations and Praises to the Antient of Days who hath put into the Hands of a Good-willer to these Divine Mysteries to bring forth into the Publick what might otherwise have been left in Oblivion and Secresie And it is my pecuâ—… Request which I this place leave that the Nâ—…ons may bless and pray for such an Instrument that hath given a Proof of so Universal a Love to All. So that the Fulness of all Blessings and Showers from the Heavenly Powers may 〈◊〉 upon the Impartial and Single-hearted Readers and Good-willers hereof shall be the constant Invocation and Prayer of her who while living in the Body shall never cease to serve all her Fellow-Members in the Gift of God Universally J. Lead THE EDITOR TO THE READER THERE having been a Promise made in the Preface to the Ark of Faith that the Diary of this Author should follow the First Volume of the same is now accordingly Published for an Universal Good For â—…he Author or the Instrument rather â—…ade use of by the Divine Wisdom is known to be of so Universal a Spirit â—…hat nothing less hereby can be designed And howsoever what is herein Deâ—…ivered as well as the Manner of the Deâ—…ivery it self may come to be opposed either on this hand or on that I think I can say that I am more than Morally Assured That the All-wise God hath hereby Ends to bring about which the most Acute and Vulturous Eye of the Greatest Rationalist shall never be able to dive into and that all will serve but to a Fuller Breaking out of the Truth and the Divine Light that True Light which Enlightens every one that comes into the World so far as it is not Resisted and according to the Degree of Purity in the Vessel for the Reception and Reflexion of its Rays This is an Age that thinks it self to excel all that have ever went before it in the Discovery and Improvement of Truths and it cannot be denied but that of these late years Mechanical Knowledge hath been brought up to a very great Height which hath had both its Good and Bad Effects in the World But notwithstanding all the Fancied or Real Light in matters either Physical or Theological which the Present Age doth so much boast of it may perhaps not unfitly enough be said of those of that
of Knowledge and Skill in all True Learning and Solid Wisdom that they may be found ten times better and more Skilful than all the Magicians and Men of Faâ—… that are in the Universities throughouâ—… 〈◊〉 Europe For when Wisdom's Key is obtained and her Book unsealed in any according to the Process here described then may all the Depths of Philosophy as well as of Divinity and all the Hidden Treasury of Wisdom in All Worthy Arts and Sciences be successively broken up And thus as from one Foot of the Rhodian Coloss which is to This Day preserved every one that is but skilled in the Proportions of the Human Body can exactly Calculate what the Whole should be and Know thence how to frame one accordingly so every one to whom God has given some good degree of Understanding in the Symmetry and Proportions of the Spiritual Body will notwithstanding any Intervening Breaches or Abrupt Transitions be able hence to Frame some suitable Idea of the whole Design and Oeconomy of God in the Manifestation of his Kingdom to Separated and Virginiz'd Souls Now the Manifestation of this Divine Kingdom is Various in Several Persons and in the same Person at several Times Whence this Variety in the Descent of the Heavenly and Ghostly Powers whether in this Principle or in another and of the Joys of the World to come is here not unfitly Symboliz'd out by a Garden or Paradise as it was by the King thereof himself in his truly Gracious Answer to the Penitent Thief And yet more Expressively is this Flourishing State of the Lamb's Elect Bride Cipher'd to us by a Fountain of Gardens or Paradises planted with all Trees of Frankincense Myrrh and Alloes and with all the chief Spices out of which the Royal Ointment is prepared for the Consecration of such Priestly Kings as are to Reign upon the Earth in the Lamb's Nature and Name Which shall make all the Wild Beasts of the Forest to fly into Dens and Lurking Holes and every Venemous Creature to hide it self from the Great Attick Iomin in his Representatives and from the Fiery Stream issuing out of his Mouth by which the Spirit of Antichrist that Huge Leviathan shall be utterly Destroyed So will the Kingdom of Christ manifest it self by a Gradual but Total overthrow of that of Him who has Usurped all the Kingdoms of the Earth until all that which he has caused to be as a Wilderness by the Blast of his Poisonous Breath be again Renewed and made to be as the Garden of God filled with Wells of Living Water and Streams from the Upper Lebanon A Garden giving forth all the Variety of Flowers and Fruits of Life according to the Seasons and according to every ones Essential Ground and Internal Soil a Garden in which there is not any mixt Tree existing from the Root of the outward Elements containing Good and Evil Truth and Falshood Light and Darkness but all whose Trees are Trees of Life all whose Plants are Plants of Righteousness all perfectly Good and True All-beautiful and Lustrous How various the Manifestation of this Lebanon-Kingdom will be no Pen can describe no Tongue can express That is Various indeed but the Manifester all the while is but One and the Essential Word of God which is the Worker of all these things is most Uniform The Manuductions Illuminations and Inspirations are very different but still there is but one Way one Light and one Spirit one Lord and one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and of us all who in these last Days is about to appear yet more fully to us by his Son setting him Openly upon his Holy Hill Thus he who is the Abyssal Unity of all Beings clotheth himself as with several Names râ—… forth in several Powers weareth on his Head several Crowns and glanceth from his Eyes several Lights And yet there is but One Crown One Power and One Name as there is but One Light which diffuseth it self in all the variety of Colours Which Unity and Variety of Light is well to be heeded in the Reading of this Book and of all other Spiritual Treatises whatever of what Rank or Degree soever they be For God sometimes appears in the Darkness and yet in that Darkness there is Light again he appears in the Light and yet Darkness may be mixed with this Light till the Perfect Day do spring from on High Thus he appears to some at a distance as in a great and strong Wind to others in an Earthquake in both which Formes he eminently manifested himself through some about the Beginning of the Last Century Then after this approaching still nearer he apppears to a third sort in the Fire as at this very Day he powerfully doth to some that are known to Wisdom's Disciplehood And lastly he demonstrates his Presence to some as to this his Chosen Vessel in a still small Voice and in a sweet gentle lambent Flame Sometimes God manifests himself to the Eye or Ear of the Receptive Heart according to the several Properties Operations and Influxes of this or that Name which he puts on of this or that Attribute which he communicates of this or that Sphere in which the Living Wheels of the Creatures before the Throne of God do move Thus was he manifested to the Unregenerate Spirit of Balaam according to the eficacy of the Name Shaddai who saw the Vision of him in this Similitude or Vesture falling into a Trance And this is the lowest sort of True Divine Prophesie Then was he Manifested unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the Name of El-Shaddai which is a much higher Degree than the former as that whereby is expressed not only the Paternal Property in the Absolute Soveraignty of his Will but also the Meek Love-Principle co-joined with it in a Federal Rite After this he was manifested under the Law at sundry Times and in divers Manners by the Most Essential and Great Name of the Covenant Jehovah but still according to the variety of the Vessel and its fitness to receive the Emanations thereof either in a High or Low Degree Then lastly he was made known under the Gospel to the Apostles to the Evangelists to the Prophets and to other Ranks mentioned in the Apostolical Epistles by the Name of Jesus which Name doth Unseal and Open that of Jehovah whence the Miraculous Powers did so abound in the Early Days of the Church while there was Faith in this Name But still it is the same One Holy and True God that revealed himself both to the Vile Son of Beor and to the most Heroick Father of the Faithful though not by the same Name And he is nevertheless One and having Appeared after Manner and in that Name to the Proâ—…hets of Old and then speaking after another Manner and by another Name â—…n their Successors the Prophets Neither would he be the less so should he even speak to us after another Manner than he hath yet spoken
come to be in like manner Illuminated and Inspirited as they were laying aside This that besets us in the way to the ultimate Perfection of our Nature by the Union of it with the supream Good may run with Patience the Race of Faith that is set before us which they have already run And certainly this very Sin which so much hinders us in running this blessed Race and from obtaining the same glorious Privileges which they Here obtain'd is also a Sin that is easily to be avoided as some you know would have it translated if we can but reflect a little according to the direction here given us either upon Enoch or Noah or Abraham or Moses or David or any of those Worthies mention'd in the foregoing Chapter And still much more if we do as the Verse immediately following leads us to but look up to Jesus the Author and Finisher of this Faith who being the same Yesterday to Day and for ever will not be wanting to work it in us as he has wrought it in them but conditionally that we do look unto him with a constant and fixed Eye Upon which give me leave to say for your Encouragement as well as for my own that there is a certain Person well known to you and me whose Angel did lately appear in full Day in an upper Room where a few Names were met together to wait for the Promise of the Father in the Latter Effusion of the Spirit and these very Words were spoken by an Internal Speaking which are the second Verse of this twelfth Chapter and which therefore I the more heartily press upon you Now as to that little Book in particular I freely confess there may be several things in iâ—… which may appear to be beneath the Majesty of God or against the Truth of the Holy Scriptures before they are rightly and truly understood and so may be apt to offend all those that are possessed with contrary Preventions But if we have not Care our Zeal will carry us much too far and we shall soon effectually overthrow as to us that very Foundation which we would establish This Excess of Anti-Enthusiasm is truly a most compendious method of Moving the Boundaries of that we acknowledge Immoveable For if we should be for throwing away our Bibles presently when we are not able to answer all the Objections that a Sceptical Wit is able to bring against them as unbecoming the Divine Majesty I am afraid but very few would be able to keep them long Though indeed there be nothing in them but what when apprehended through and according to the Spirit by which they were written iâ—… most highly worthy of it this yet matters not And if I should stay to receive any single Book either of the Old or of the New Testament till I were so well furnished as to reconcile every Passage with all the rest it might be perhaps very long before I must admit some Books that are recognized to be Divinely Inspir'd None can be more firmly perswaded then I am of the Truth of Saint Peter's Word that the Heaven must receive Christ till the Times of Restitution but then I am not able to see how this does in any wise contradict his Internal Appearance and Speech to such Virgin Souls as he has wash'd and sanctify'd in his Blood Nay I do not comphehend why he may not manifest himself in this manner to Thousands of Persons in as many distant Places at the same time and never all the while come down from the Throne of his Glory in the Heavens I dare not limit the Operations of his Spirit which pierces every where I had much rather adore them and wait in a Child-like Disposition to be Disciplin'd by Him And indeed when I consider the utter Impossibility to explain any thing of the Soul's Nature without admitting his immediate Causality and Influence I do not think it so very strange to conceive that he should by opening the Inmost Center of that Principle or Life which is his own Inbreathing reveal himself to it as Present and hold therewith a very familiar Communication And seeing it is undeniable that Christ since his Reception into Heaven has actually both appeared and spoken to some Persons by the Sacred Records themselves it is no more difficult to suppose that he may do so again whenever he pleases and it will be certain that this can never be the meaning of that Text which this Gentleman seems to understand He that has appear'd to Saint Paul and to Saint John since his Glorification and shown to them things which they knew not and who has expresly declar'd Behold I am with you to the end can hardly methinks be supposed to have bound up himself for ever not to manifest himself in the same or like manner by Vision Intellectual Revelation or Extasie to any others while they are in these Mortal Bodies for the sake of some Great and Glorious Good Now what there is in all that Book so far as it is said to come from him which doth not directly tend to this end and which is not highly becoming the Majesty of God I most profess I am not able to find after the most curious Research it is possible to make As for those special and tender Endearments which are us'd by Christ to his Church and more immediately addressed to this holy Virgin standing in the Figure of it They are sufficiently warranted by Scripture and were they not very much might be said to vindicate them What-ever particular Objections he or you may have I shall be ready to consider with all Meekness and Sobriety when-ever they are produc'd But I tell you before-hand that it will be very hard to bring any which were not brought against the antient Prophets in their time and which may not be as easily remov'd from one as from the other As for those common Imputations mention'd in yours they have always been urg'd and always been despis'd by Persons under the Leadings of the Holy Ghost And I leave you to judge as a Physician whether all that is related in that Book can be accounted for by Fancy Vapours or Cerebrosity more particularly what you read in these Sections 11 27 31 33. For Mr. Mede I have indeed a very great Deference and too much ever to believe that he could intend to contradict himself or do it in such a great Point as this and not know it All the World who have but look'd into him or even but heard of his Name must needs know what was his Sentiment as to the Glorious Reign of Christ and if that Great and Judicious Man ranges the Milluaries amongst Hereticks and Apostates of the Latter Times it is easily to be gather'd that he could mean no others then such who by their gross and unworthy Conceptions corrupted that very Truth which he so strenuously asserted For if this be not a Truth I know not any one you can make out from