these essences did therewith mix Nâ— depravity in the Nature of sin was here infused Therefore this Birth may stand upon its royal freedom for to be born free from sin is a great and mighty thing Therefore know your New Birth-prerogative and come not under the power of what this holy inspiring breath is come to set at liberty from For the true Heir is a Son of Liberty in bondage to nothing when once he comes to know himself he will then assume that Sovereignty which shall make the corporeal life bow unto him Nay as this encreaseth and grows up to its princely greatness this Land will be too strait For out of Egypt God will call this his Heir through all terrestial Walls and Gates to come up unto that free City where the Trinity in Majesty will give out their sealed Commissions for what this Birth of might and excellency hath further for them to do in this low Region For that which hath been as the high builded wall of Perdition betwixt these Principles and the Mountain upon which the New Ierusalem stands by such strong Angels as these you shall see broken down without tool or weapon and passage made which the Eagle Eye of this Birth will spy and will be so skilfull as to know its way through the cloudy Air to mount Sion Hill the mystery of God in both Principles to fulfill April the 27th 1677. In the Morning after the Doctor had prayed I awaked and sunk down into the center of Life And there appeared unto me a pure azure blue streamâ— which was said in me was that Spirit and Breath of Life that must put the grosser Element to flight Then it was further opened to me that from this perfect thing would go forth an enriching Mist that should renew the face of all things in such whose inward ground was measured out by the Golden Reed of the Spirit Then was further shewed me the twofold nature and property of this Breath That as it could quicken and be a seed of Life in matter meetly prepared for it So likewise this Breath would extinguish that Life which worketh in contrariety against it According as it is written Oh Death I will be thy Death When all conclusions be tried for the expiation of the earthly birth there is no other that can so eternally anatomize it as the Body of Sin may be said to cease and not to be but by the Spirit of the Lord blowing upon the fleshly form of it which seemeth to be so goodly Verily this Life hath been too hard for all other weapons that have been tried upon it since the full outward death could not conquer this Life of Sin As Christ told the Iews if they did not believe on him as the resurrection of another Life they should die in their sins So as the mortal death cannot quit from that second death which follows that corrupt Birth-seed which was not in this Life demolished But then from hence this doubt will arise Who is it that hath left this Testimony behind them of all past Generations that before the mortal death did overtake them they had first cleared themselves of that vile and corruptible birth of sin Sure saith the objective Spirit if this be strictly examined how few or scarce any will be found but did mortally die before the inward body of sin was totally expired If so how then could they immediately pass where nothing that ever was of the polluted Nature of Sin could come in As to this obscure and deep Query of which I my self with others have been universally ignorant as not finding out the several reservatories that Spirits did pass into The letter of the Scripture not opening so positively what relateth hereunto as plainly to determine this doubtful matter But it hath been kept dark in the foresight of the most holy wise God Who hath left himself free to give the key of the knowledge hereof in what Age and to such in that Age as shall be worthy of such secret My Spirit hath been often solicitous with the Lord for this thing as in case my Body mightâ— break from my superior Spirit and the Mortal part die before the evil essences which are called Sinn be extinguished as to their very originality then into what Orb shall such a Spirit enter that may be almost but yet not quite got free from every relick of sin The Key of this unknown Door was hereupon put into the hand of my Guardian Spirit the mystery hereof to unlock that this great secret might be revealed and that hereby the Elect might be undeceived Who have nothing less believed but that though they should not come to see and feel sin finished through everlasting Righteousness coming in as a Conqueror Yet wheâ— got loose from this temporary life they should strait ascend into that principal City of the great King Which was once my belief according to that tradional manuduction that I was under But since of meer great and unparalled Love another deep is discovered from out of which a sure and pure word of Revealation hath sprung both as to this and other Obscure things And that the opening of this Truth might not go forth only in the authority of a private Revelation when indeed there is need enough for all Spirits to be tried that do take this Covering For this cause a Scripture foundation was given to confirm and ratifie what was so freely inspired into the mind As first that word was given to me to consider of as in the 14th of Iohn 2d verse In my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and when I have done that I will come and receive you to my self From which words it was given me thus to understand that by House the Spirit doth signifie the Locality of God's invisible Kingdom that hath various Regions for dwelling places as it is said there are many Mansions in which are degrees of Glory Solomon in the mirror of Wisdom had an account thereof when he had built that Magnificent House and Temple for the Most High Which made him as in a Spiritual Extasy cry out The Heavens of Heavens cannot contain thee So it is said of our Lord Jesus that he ascended up above ALL Heavens By all which we may conclude that there are degrees of Heavens and yet all within the Celestial Sphere For Adam before he had awakened the sinful essence was an inhabitant in one of the Heavens which had the Title of A Paradise because of its serene and fruitful soyl But yet God's local Habitation was not here but he sent forth his influencing mist and here did with Adam and Eve frequently commune while they were undefiled but they being once found in the depravation of this purity this Heaven could not bear their corruptible Image for the worm of mortality could not here live Upon which God said Let them out
will verily work it self through And the more wise and excellent in Spirit shall first see it and feel its rising effects upon themselves as their Birth-Star Which shall multiply unto the seventh Number which only qualifies to stand within the Circle Throne of the Most Holy The seven Stars which are mentioned to be held in the hand of Jesus your mighty Prince of Peace are to be distributed as the Badge or Inscription of such as shall be so perfected for a free pass into the Jerusalem-glory there to be in Oneness with him without robbery to their Kingly Priest in all his Thronely Principality and to be added to the enrolled numbers of the Ancients which are come to be Victorious over the World through great Tribulation So ye will be followers of him through this Rising Star Iuly the 17th 1677. The Seven Ascending Steps This Morning the Living Word spake in me Thou dost not yet sound the meaning and depth of that which is further to be understood of the Residue of the Spirit but I am come to search and give thee further knowledge herein As thus the Golden Cask of this Rich Oyl hath been in part let forth seven Pipes for the venting hereof are as an Emblem to present the seven Spirits that hereout do proceed Now well observe how many of these Spirits have been drawn out of the Golden Vessel which represents the Body of the Deity either in the foregoing or present Age and you will see what is come and what is yet more to come till the seventh Number be finished First consider the Prophecies and Promises how they run in the Scripture Roll. The Spirit is distinguished with seven Properties or Operations and Working-powers each of these Spirits hath their Office and Ministration as dividing to each one in the Body of the Spirit according to the measure of the Gift of Christ. As First The Promise of Grace and Supplication is to empty out it self Then a Spirit of Love Joy and Peace is the second Thirdly a Spirit of Consolation of Prophesie and Revelation Fourthly A Spirit of Councel and Sound Mindedness Fifthly A Spirit of Truth Wisdom and Knowledge Sixthly The Spirit of Faith for Heating Internally and Externally and doing thereby Miracles of all kinds The Seventh This is a Creating Spirit that goeth forth to give Being and Existency to what seemeth not to be it works on this hand and on that and yet nothing which is inferiour unto it self can it see It works all in a silent still way what it speaks it effects and what it effects speaks forth what it is It needs no Orator to go before it to declare from whence this Holy Breath of Almighty Power doth move it resteth where it will yet unseen yet felt known tasted to good purpose where-ever it abides it being the head principle Spirit that governeth and sendeth out the foregoing Spirits and uniteth them into one entire Spiritual Body Now said the Most Holy Inspirator I have here shewn to you the seven Ascending Steps by which you must come up to your Mansion Glory to your Throne Dominion to be what you were designed for to be from before all Worlds Come now and see what process you have made hereunto and how many Degrees ye have taken Comforted ye may be who do ascend up here together in Faith though many attempts and that strong ones have been to pull you down and to prevent your further ascent But be strong and resolute this day from that power already received that you may go up and stand upon that last pâ—ved stone of Wisdoms strength and might Which will bring Majesty and Honour to you but Horror Confusion and Shame to what ever hath sought hence to draw and plunge you in with them into the dark center of this dismal Sphere The which evermore fear and avoid as the Dragon's Cell where he loves to dwell Iuly the 18th 1677. This day much refreshment from the bright beaming Countenance of my beloved Lord through free converse with him came thereby to my Spirit My Spirit being moved to plead propriety in what the Father had given unto him Whom after the way of Spiritual Sight I did behold a smiling Face looking through a ray like to the Sun and a voice spake I will see you Face to Face that you may hear my voice then will your Joy be daily full Then this word I did hear It is well you now do believe that all Spirit and Mighty Power is with me to provide for those whom my Father hath given me in charge I am no engrosser to my self of this Ierusalem treasury but do will that ye should be joint-heirs with me in the same Body of Glory But it is the vehement strong thirsty Ones who can draw out that Life which I now do live in and that in the highest degree of Perfection Which makes me stand up in the head fountaincapacity to impower gifts of great consequence according as you are able to partake of them Oh that you would lie close in your Spirits to that Breast which is in pain by reason of its fulness till it hath emptied it self with the sweet lusciousness of the Gospel Milk When tasted it will make you be always lingring and strongly desiâ—ous hereof The office of my Spirit is like a true and faithful Nurse to lay and to give the Mouth of your own Eternal Born-Spirit hereunto but then of it self it must draw and ye must not be discouraged though at first it doth not come so flush But some pains must be taken by you in this Spiritual Exercise before the Breast of Life will open fluently But when herein you have once got the victory the Bottles of Heaven will run free emptying forth the very marrow and strength of the Deity What else think ye can make great strong and powerful in the Divine Nature but this very Life-substance which by the Mouth of the Spirit highly magical is constantly attracting Then will ye be answered in what you have been so long in Soul-travel for Iuly the 19th 1677. This word was with me early in the Morning Pass on ye Worthies of the Lord through all measures of my Spirit till you come to all seven Degrees Rest not in the shallow parts or streams before ye come to float in the place of the Broad-waters where the Spirit will be to you unmeasurable For though it is an undiscernable strength yet in it lieth the whole omnipotent force both of saving and destroying creating and nullifying This Power will be inherent in them upon whom the seven united Powers shall rest and dwell Which indeed will make you excel the very Angels as to dignifying Power which never was their natural dowry as it was yours in the beginning but that you have lost through sin and earthliness entring in which hath made you thus feeble impotent and weak that you can do nothing till these my seven Spirits do come each one gradually in
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
corruptible Flesh. As first for its Probation it cometh into such Bodies to exercise and to put forth its Superiour Might for Mortifying and to correct and check all the natural Propensity which the mortal Spirit would tempt that which is Eternal to joyn with it in The which not yielding to but maintaining its own Superiority in curbing and suppressing all of the earthly part God is hereby greatly pleased and highly honoured Therefore think not much that for the present there is such incongruousness betwixt that which is Intellectual and that which is Terrestial That which is Eternal may command and subdue all what ever is Temporary Therefore be not ignorant of your own Spirits Soveraignty but call up its true Authority for the Spiritualizing of what would be clouded with Sensuality For if you yield hereunto and are overcome then your Talent lies as dead and buried And what account can any such give to their Lord when he comes who are thus slothful Therefore that Parable consider of it about the Talents improving had a very deep meaning if you should not be faithful in the first stock of Life and Spirit you must not expect that more high and full Trust and latter Crop both Ghostly Spirit Body Celestial will be given Therefore be patient hold out and do the preseâ—t work of the day and know your Reward is not far from you Then was the Vision of the Holy Element to me opened as thus The bright Airy Cloud which gathered it self into a round compass and was mixed with flame Colours so subtle and pure this was said to be the Matter of all Celestial Bodies and those innumerable Stars which were veiled under the bright Cloud were naked Spirits that did ascend out of Bodies terrestial into this pure Element and put on Figurative Bodies bright and Aetheral corresponding to the Nature of the Star-like sparkling Spirits who did appear to be fixed in this pure Element Then further as to that Majestical Eye which did appear so terribly piercing it was shewn me nay the Spirit did plainly in a still Voice eccho in me that from this pure Eye all distinct Sparks of Life did proceed and did fly into mortal Bodies according to the hour of Life and did come piercing into the fleshly Womb there to unite with a corporeal Spirit which is naturally introduced from Adam's lapsed day Then was a Secret whispered into that Ear which open stood to hear what the Spirit dictated so uear saying Hast thou not read that one Star differeth from another in Glory and one Angel is more mighty and powerful and greatly dignified then others yet all of and from that pure Eye extracted Even so further learn and receive this That in the productions of Spirits there is great difference some greater and more deeply comprehensive and intelligent and strong to encounter with the averse matter to which they are united For know this prerogative of Will which with God the Fountain of all Spirits is to be left free is not here to be called to an account by his Creatures Who gives Spirits successively to Bodies according for what he hath for them more eminent and extraordinary work to act and do in the lower Region of this World Therefore God hath left himself this Liberty to give to one five Talents and to another but two or one But if to that one any shall be faithful to improve it while he lives in this Body doubt not but it is of very dear acceptation with their Lord to enter into his Joy though somewhat different according to the Spirits degree Thus Abraham and Lot were both from a pure righteous Seed yet Abraham's Spirit of Truth did much excell And so ye may recollect innumerable Instances throughout all Ages as Enoch Moses Ioshuah Elias who had answerably great Service to do for their God though so unsuitably matched by Bodies yet such was the greatness of their Spirits as they made their very terrestial Man to keep pace with their Spirits Nay such is the power and ability of an Eternal Spirit through piercing into its original center that it may attract and cloath it self with the inward Virgin Body which is the Matter of that pure Element which thou didst see and so for Times and Seasons the gross Nature sublimated and over-powered may be as oft of this kind as was formerly according to the might and potency of the Spirit existing in Bodies As this was shewn in your Lord Jesus both before and after his Resurrection Now what doth this Vision predict but the cloathing of some great Saints with this pure Element Who do often withdraw from the Corporeal Sense Oh who can tell What is here to be enjoyed but such as do slide away from this vile earthly Climate The Seven-Star Planets will be given into their Hands the Influences of which are all of pure Ghostly Inspiration to out-set and overthrow the earthly gross Element which so long hath prevented the Heavenly Community Now then dive into your own Celestiality and see with what manner of Spirits ye are endued for in them the Powers do entirely lie for Transformation From the fore-going Revelation it was fully cleared unto me for what cause pure Spirits which did proceed from the holy Being came to exist in mortal Vehicles It was not for any Sin or Transgression which they acted or did in the times of their pre-existency in any Etheral Region as some do believe being bare abstracted Spirits without any Figurative Bodies Only Adam and Eve may be considered as the whole Universe and all included in them as the representative Heads of all successive Generations who were mortalized after their similitude For which cause Sin and Curse and Death enter'd but none for Adam's Transgressions shall be condemned for shall not the Judge of all the Earth do and pass righteous Judgment Shall any suffer for what they could no way avoid God forbid as in Sin all Men and Women were conceived and born so likewise in a Seed of Truth and Righteousness which is invisibly introduced for to destroy and overpower the Serpently Seed both growing up together which of them doth obtain the mastership doth remain in each ones Principle The most wise God having laid in a sufficiency of Spirit who in the days of Noah said My Spirit in them was tired out striving still with them so God will clear and acquit himself of all that of this Nature can be charged upon him Then further it was opened unto me from that Scripture That as Sin hath abounded Grace shall much more abound This Grace was revealed in the Gift or Infusion of the Spirit of Christ as the promised Seed of restoring Life unto Adam and Eve upon their very degeneration that they might not be as without God in that corporeal Image which they now were changed into If the Eternal Word which was from the beginning had not been their Light and Life and so likewise generative
A FOUNTAIN OF Gardens Vol. II. Being a Continuation of the Process of a Life according to Faith of the Divinely Magical Knowledge and of the New Creation IN Mutual ENTERTAINMENTS BETWIXT The Essential Wisdom and the Soul in her Progress through Paradise to Mount Sion and to the New Ierusalem By I. LEAD Isa. LVIII 11. Thou shalt be like a Watered GARDEN and like a Spring of Water whose Waters fail not London Printed and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster 1697. THE EDITOR TO THE READER IN this Second Volume of the Diary which is here Presented there are many Things very Considerable relating to the several Progresses of a Life of Faith with various Manuductions to this Mystick and Supersensual State recorded within the Space but of One Year wherein this Author was most plentifully Visited of God There are many Informations given concerning the Paradisiacal the Angelical and the Divine Life in the Gradual Augmentation and Operation of the Holy Seed of Faith within the Soul Many things concerning the Bank of Wisdom with her Laws of Merchandize which besides an Interiour do carry also with them an Exteriour Sense that will be made good to her Children many things respecting the Establishment of a Royal Order of the Melchizedeck Priesthood upon the Earth with the Return of Prophecy and Miracles in a more Extraordinary and Fixed Manner than ever hitherto They are all Great and Momentous Matters which are here deliver'd Concerning both the Church of Christ in general and each Member thereof in particular neither are they such as are at a distance but such as are near at hand and at the very Door they beginning already to be accomplished in some Persons in divers Countries even almost of all Ranks Constitutions and Manners of Living Whereof much could be said And if they be not only Great but also Uncommon and Strange though it cannot be expected that they should easily be Receiv'd yet it may that they should at least be admitted to a fair Hearing and candid Examination as to the Pretences which are made Whatever also the Method of Delivering them down may be and how liable soever to the Exceptions of the Eloquent and the Learned this will not be a Prejudicate strong enough to make the Wise and Prudent in Heart throw away a rich Treasure that may be put into their hands because of the many Coverings that may be put upon it And if the Matters be of the greatest Consequence though they be couched for the most part under certain Parables Similitudes and Visional Ideas it is not at all doubted but that Many will be found who may hereby be stirred up to dive into and comprehend what others will slight and despise as seeing nothing more in it than an Enthusiastick Jargon of Words But let the Thoughts of these be never so mean it is certain to me that Wisdom will be justified of her children and that her Children are Children indeed Children in the Eyes of the World in their own Eyes and in the Eyes of God No wonder then it is that the World despises them laughs at their weakness and with a sort of Disdain pities their Folly It has been so from the days of Christ and of his holy Apostles and it is no new thing for the Mystick Wisdom of God to be accounted Foolishness and those that are led by an higher Spirit than that of this World to be termed Mad or even possess'd with a Devil But if the World know them not a Greater than the World doth know them Hear then Oye Little Ones and rejoice Hear also O ve Despisers and mourn For a glorious Kingdom and a beautiful Crown even the Crown of Philadelphia is now set before you both Take heed that ye neglect not so great an Offer and deride not those who do Believe and consequently Accept it If so the Evil Day of Temptation that is to try the whole Earth will overtake you suddenly and then will ye be constrain'd to confess How are these whom we counted Mad numbred among the Children of God and how is their Lot fallen among the Redeemed out of the Earth who stand upon the Mount of Sion with Crowns and Palms in their Hands following the Lamb The Ascending Steps to which Mount you will find Here so described as could be by none but such as have went up by them in conformity with that process of the Regeneration and the Transformation which hath been expressed by the Ascension-Ladder sent down that was in the year 1681. set forth by the Author and in the Year 1694. Translated into High Dutch and soon after that into Low Dutch Wherein it is at large declared how the Actions and Passages of our Blessed Lord in the Way to Glorification are not only Representative and Imputative as to their Meritoriousness or Efficacy but are also Operative of the same in the Members of his Mystical Body Who must also pass through Death and the Resurrection before they can Ascend and be glorified with him in the Kingdom of Mount Sion or of the New Ierusalem Let us then as many as Love the Lord JESUS and his Appearance behold the Cloud now breaking wherein he will Descend into Us in like manner as he Ascended and having carry'd us through the Cross will lead us back into Paradise whence we came out by restoring again the bright and pure Image of God through his all-virtual Resurrection and from thence conduct us still higher and higher as we shall be herewith by him Adorned into those Superiour States of Glorification in the Heavens above Paradise where he sits as at the right Hand of the Father in the Fulness of Majesty and Glory From whence he will Personally also descend to Judge the World according to Righteousness and Truth or Equity when he shall have thus prepared a Body of Saints made like unto him in the midst of whom he may pitch his Glorious Tabernacle Out of which his Edicts will be sent as on the Wings of the Lightning to the utmost ends of the Earth by Flying Angels who have liv'd in Bodies of Mortality but shall have then receiv'd the Immortal Crown and the Incorruptible Name O Blessed yea thrice Blessed are all those who through that Faith which in these Sheets is Discrib'd are made partakers of this First Resurrection and of the high Immunities and Prerogatives of the First-born But who is sufficient for these things And it may now again be said Alas Who hath believed our Report We are accounted as Liars all the day long for they sake O God of Truth Alas who will believe that thou hast remembred thy Promises of Old which all thy Holy Prophets have repeated from thy Mouth O Lord most Holy O Lord most True Or that thou hast spoken unto us out of the Cloudy Pillar and communed with us in the Silence of our Hearts How hast thou made us to bear thy Reproach O God and to be in
History as well as of the Divine Mystery Here is nothing against the Ordinances of the of the Gospel when us'd in Spirit and in Truth nothing against the giving Hoour to whom Honour is due and nothing against the Unity of the Body of the Church under Christ the only Supreme and Universal Bishop and his Holy Spirit For as much as nothing is asserted for the setting up of any new Sect or Church but an Encouragement is only given for the Waiting purely in the unity of this Spirit with Prayers and Supplications that such an Holy Catholick Church may arise upon the Earth whereof Christ can say that my Dove my Vndefiled is One and that it is One Spirit with himself Wherefore also there can be no Objection as to any Uncharitableness in this Author Who is more blamed for the Height of Charity as stretchingit too far than for the want of it or contracting it But that Exact and Beautiful Representation of the Design and Import of our Saviour's Doctrine which is herein Deliver'd will be sufficient probably to prefer the same to all the Sober Inquirers after Truth when they shall have Thoroughly examin'd into it and compared it with those Lame and Imperfect Accounts of it which are given by the Writers of Systems and will be able to guard it self when clearly Apprehended against all Attacks whether on the right hand or on the left There are some Antient Truths conformable to the Gospel and to the Belief and Practice of the Apostolical Church which you may here find Reviv'd some not so generally Lost Confirm'd What is said concerning the Incarnation and Satisfaction of Christ the Resurrection of the body Christian Perfection and the Kingdom of God in the Restitution of Depraved Nature is so deep and so Fundamental and withal so agreable with that high Veneration which every Christian ought to have for the holy Scriptures as may reward the Worthy and Patient Inquirer Besides many other Great and useful Mysteries unfolded and Notions neither Wild nor Barbarous propounded but worthy of Acceptation by all Christians and all Men for the Humiliation of Man the Exaltation of God and the Promulgation of the Gospel of his Kingdom to discover more deeply our own Weakness and Unworthiness and to infuse into us a great Charity for others Condescention and Compassion towards all that bear the same Image and Nature with our selves and towards the whole Groaning Creation If any of which Ends be obtain'd by what is here Publish'd through the Divine Blessing upon it then hast thou O Reader who reapest this Benefit reason to Thank But if otherwise take heed how thou Condemn Thy Brother and Servant in the Lord Iesus TIMOTHEUS Aug. 5. 1697. THE EPISTLE OF The AUTHOR To the Inquiring and Impartial Readers WHereas it has been the Royal Gift of God's Grace to Visit the Lowly with the Day-break of his Light by Vnsealing the Cabinet where the Precious Iewels and Treasure of the Immense Goodness have laid hidden I am under an Obligation to discharge my Trust and Stewardship herein this that is here publish'd not having been given for a Private Vse but for an Universal Advance into deeper and higher Manifestations of the Mind of God Of which it was Foreseen that they should have their Acceptation and Improvement in this Age and Period by Many that shall be fitly qualified for their Entertainment who are found walking in the humble Valley of the Lilies These cannot relish or savour any thing but what flows from the Living Streams that proceed from the very Root and Head Lily who their Light and bright Covering will be For this is the Day for Increase and Multiplication of the Sharon Glory Who then would refuse among this Number to be where the Blessed Lord himself will appear and in the midst of them walk and Feed satiating them to that Fullness that there shall be no more Thirst or Drought For there is a River that from the Godhead doth flow which will make every Plant to Bud Flourish and bring forth Fruit like unto Apples of Gold that is Solidly and Substantially Good Much of this Kind and Nature you may Here find Discoursed of according to what was in some degree Known and Experienâ—'d by one who once knew herself to be as a Wild Olive cumhering the Ground or as a fruitless Shrub bearing only prickly Thorns Out of which uneasy State the Kindness and Love of God did appear to bring me forth when I was about the years of Eighteen my first Passage being through most terrible Conflicts I for same years walking through the Valley of Achor and through the bitter Dale of Baca till about the Year Sixty being Ten years afterward a Door of Hope was opened and Floods of refreshing came into me with some immediate Dictates that followed me from the Holy Vnction that taught me all things that were necessary for me Albeit I did not hereupon for sake the Outward Ministry but I still waited and sought out such as I judged to come nearest to the Apolostical Practice So keeping on my Course Outwardly with a watchful waiting Interiourly I must own and confess to the Glory of the Spirit 's peculiar Ministration that I found such Deeps broken up in the Center of my own Soul as open'd that Divine Wisdom and Vnderstanding relating to the Knowledge of God Christ and my self as I could not any where else meet withal The which still engaged me as a weaned Child to be that I might suck no longer from the Breast of this Worldly Principle or draw Water from any other Fountain then that which through rich Grace I had already tasted of For this Scripture always much followed me Whom shall he teach Knowledge and make to understand Doctrine but the weaned from the Milk and her that is drawn from the Breasts Which Observing and Obeying the Word was accordingly made good to me For the Springs thus opening did still arise to higher Degrees Though sometimes through the Multiplicity of Concerns wherein I was circumstantiated they would be discoulour'd and even mudded Which made me seek after great Abstraction and Solitariness that I might attend upon these springs to keep them pure and clear So that when God did cast my Lot to be a Widow which was in the year 70. this Change bringing me first into manifold Trials did drive me into a more Intimate Vnion with mine Eternal spiritual Husband upon whose Care I wholly cast my self And then I resolved to make the choice of Anna to wait in the Temple of the Lord day and night and to be a Widow indeed after I had been the Wife of a Pious Husband about five and twenty years Forâ— after his Decease I ceased as much as possible from all Business and Care setting my self free by all means for the Heavenly Calling only Wherein I found great Pleasure and Delight so 〈◊〉 â—o Worldly Promotions or Advantages though offer'd for my temptation could move me
from it or withdraw me from a dedicated and devoted Life Which I have till this Day persued and continued in and shall so do till I shall have finished my Course in the hopes of Entrance into the Triumphant Ioy of my Lord. Thus worthy Reader I have given you a Brief Narrative of the Beginning and Progress of my new born Life which is elsewhere more enlarged on in a Particular Treatise But this may suffice for an Introduction into the following Volume of my Journal Wherein as in a Glass you may see under what Leadings I have been where you may read the express manner and method of the Spirit 's Communications in which I can soberly avouch that I my self was wholly Passive and the Spirit altogether Active For my Creaturely Being was so bounded up as nothing to know or contribute hereunto all being laid in silence while God was to arise and speak forth himself through this Earthen and empty Vessel For the sake of which let no Contempt or Slight be poured out for it is what God in his Wisdom did reserve to bring forth for the Vse and Service of as many as are ordained to receive and take hold of these Divine Mysteries for improvement and growth to all those Degrees of Perfection which are herein made mention of Surely for this End Wisdom's Book of Secrets was opened that by this Divine Learning her Children might be brought up and made meet and ready for their Bridegroom the Lamb. For undoubtedly the Day hereof draws near whence these Writings having been kept in Obscurity these Twenty Years as taken by me for Private Memorandums according as they were given day by day forth they are now by a strange and unexpected Hand being a Person of great Piety and Worth brought out into the Light Whose Fame and Reâ—own shall out-live all Writings of Time and who perpetually shall wear Love's Diadem and Crown I have no more now but to beseech and entreat those to whom these Sacred Truths shall come to be Perused that as they would reap Benefit and Advantage herefrom they might fear and dread to pass any Iudgment or Censures in a gain-saying way to the Spirit the Opener of them And let me humbly give this my Advice that the Full-grown and the highly Advanced in all Rational Learning and Wisdom and in all great and honourable Acquirements do become as Children committing themselves to Wisdom their true Mother that they may be broughs up at her Feet Which they will find to turn to a thousandfold better Account than all that ever they have before learnt For I have made it my Observation that the Rashness of many Spirits in Condemning what they are absolute Strangers unto hath shut the Gate of Wisdom upon them Therefore this Caution accept of from your little and low Fellow Member O all ye that would be growing Plants under the Shadow of Christ the blessed Vine that ye refuse not to seek and draw from the Royal Grape continually the Iuice whereof is pure Spirit to strengthen you with the Balsam of Life All this the Child-like Spirit will come to Tast and Know and by obeying these Rules and Manuductions you will have occasion to adore bless and magnifie what of the Spirit of GOD shall hereunto move and drive you For the Commission is already gone forth to the Angelical Messenges that constrained are to sound the Horn of Salvation which is filled with the Ghostly Oil. Which will so abundantly flow as to heal all the Divisions and Controversies whereby the several Parties do wound each other Who would not Ambitious then be among these Shepherds to hold out the Love golden Crook to fetch in the torn rent and scatter'd Sheep and Lambs into Christ their Princely Shepherds Fold where they may quietly lie down in those refreshing Pasturâ—s that do Spring again as fast as they are fed upon The Door for Entrance hereinto stands open let none shut it upon themselves For a thousand times Thousands of Blessings are pronounc'd upon the Publishers and Promoters of this Glorious Ministration of the Spirit And a Cry there is now sounding from the Heavens unto all Preachers and Teachers of all Ranks and Degrees and whatever Titles and Denominations they do bear that in pure Vnity and Harmony they do together agree to Declare and Held forth the Everlasting Testimony of the Spirit of Jesus from the Springing Vnction that will be the Sealing Mark of the Apostolical Day that is now again to be Revived For which evermore Prayeth she Who in Incessant Travel is till all this shall be Accomplish'd I. Lead July 29. 97. The CONTENTS OF THIS Second Volume A Commemoration on New-Years-Day pag. 1. Wisdom's Merchandize p. 2. 60. 233. 370. The Parable of the two Children p. 9. The Transfiguration p. 205. The Melchizedeck Priesthood p. 18. 100. The Marriage of the Lamb represented p. 20. The Death of Moses p. 30. The Crystalline Gate p. 42. The Altar-Stone p. 46. The Royalty of the Will or the Root of the Divine Word p. 48. An Opening upon Mark x. 28 29 30. p. 55. 63. Ionah in the Whales Belly p. 70. The Originality of Evil p. 73. The Spiritual and Natural Man compared p. 80. Of Natural Conscience p. 89. Paradise Local and Mystical p. 91. The Glassy Sea p. 95. Rules given how a Spiritual Man is to walk towards God and towards those that are Without p. 99. The Morning Star of Wisdom p. 102. The Eagle-Brood being as an Interpretation of 1 Tim. 2. 15. p. 103. The Wonder-Woman p. 121. Adam's Fig-Tree p. 139. Queen Esther p. 144. Seven Principal Shepherds p. 162. The Revelation of the Holy Element p. 164. The Necessity of a Personal Saviour p. 175. The True Shunamite p. 179. The Mountain of Faith and the City of Strength p. 191. The Cherubinical Birth p. 196. The various Mansions and Regions of Seperated Souls p. 207. The Vision of Christ p. 218. The Original Language p. 224. The Whole Sale p. 233. The Trial of Love p. 236. The Unmix'd Ministration p. 240. The Glassy Book p. 245. The Burning Wheels p. 252. The Cup of Eucharist p. 256. The Transmuting Fire p. 264. The Sapphire Tree p. 266. A Sight of the Wars in Christendom p. 269. Rules to be observ'd by the Passengers through Paradise to Mount-Sion p. 271. Sarah and Abimelech p. 275. The Birth of Cyrus p. 286. The Mystery of Babylon p. 287. The Holy Sabbath of the Church in the 7th Millennim p. 290. The Intellectual Fountain in the Breast of JESUS p. 293. The Spirit of Revelation not ceased p. 301. The Seven Ascending Steps or Seven Degrees of the Spirit p. 305. The Feast of the Spirit p. 314. The Magical Heart and its several Properties p. 319. 334. Meditation and Recollection p. 328. The Measuring Line in the Hand of a Child p. 332. A Dialogue betwixt Satan and Christ about the Redemption of the Body p. 341. The Cloud of Temptation p. 351. The
transparent form of God having no more Shadow of Mutation to prevent those higher Degrees of Glorification which but by the ascended cannot be known or felt Hereupon I called all in me to account to be judged by the Superiour Will and Spirit of Light which gave me to see what was in Bondage and what was free that would not now be any longer in Bondage to the Condemnation of Sin Having that Word brought to me to search and find out that Salt Stone that would make all perfectly sound and savoury which the Corrupter had most subtlely defiled For I saw for every Sacrifice to be salted with this Stone of Fire was absolutely necessary for in it lay hid all Perfuming Sweets Therefore an express Charge came down to re-assume it to our selves as the choice Altar-Stone where the unknown Superscription should be written Oh then said the Spirit of Truth ye cannot ask any thing fruitlessly as ye have done do but will and it shall be done Oh that the Most High could have such as were so fixed in Body Soul and Spirit to this all-seasoning Stone of Wisdom as to trust them with this Jewel of Superiority so as to leave all Matters whether great or small with them in whom his Heart might rest That all and every Circumstance of things might be managed for those Ends and Services which might agree with the In-written Name that as a Fountain of Oyl doth run into those Vessels which are seasoned by this Salt Stone of Fire For know in Verity the most Holy hath no pleasure to see his own in this World to live and walk up and down in so mean a Capacity unskilful to set a Foot or Hand to what lieth in the Divine Magia Root Which you may lawfully stir up since for you Christ the Lord hath made the Way by ascending on High for to subdue all things under him that so of the same Power he might subordinately pass away from himself unto you Who calleth you to draw out the Purchase of his Death by like dying and by like immortal Living according to the penetrating quality Which by stirring up may effect thereby great and mighty things answerably to the Wisdom and Soveraignty of Holiness which all as in Inclosure doth lie about this holy thing for you You little know what a Principality is nigh to you but your Superiour Will hath yet somewhat that doth clog its Wheel which is designed for to be the running Chariot whereunto the Spirit of Infinite Might must joyn Now then by all means seek the unthralling of your Will for could nothing mingle therewithal but what did fall from the pure Deity how would you find God all-active in and through you But herein lieth the great Nicety to keep the Will-Spirit untouched that nothing from the Bryery Root doth twist about it if this is kept spotless and free what may you not find Power to do with the Most Holy Observe and keep this great Secret it is from great and high Love that I have given an insight to thee that so all Offences may be removed who would you should come to Reign over all of the Earthly Further of this I besought the Lord might be revealed For the great Depravation was in the matter of the Will for it was shewn me it was unequally yoked and had married strange Flesh from which there must be a Separation by Death Had not the Royal Will yielded to the tempting Eve but had kept its Priority how great and mighty a Lord might Man have been in and over the whole Creation of God having absolute Power in himself But hearkening to the Dalilah that is still acted by the Serpent-like Spirit to this day it becometh successively despoiled of this Lock of Strength and Power and so hereby the Shame of our Nakedness doth appear as to what Cloathing we might have been made known in Had not Adam thus lost his Dignity and so hereby brought forth Fruit unto Death running through all his Posterity in and after the Similitude of his Sin Which hath brought Impotency deflowring us of all that Spiritual Might of this we need no other Proof then what we do each one carry about with us But the great Thing is Oh thou who art promised as the mighty Restorer of this Breach What must we do who are so unavoidably overtaken with the same Thral and come bound with the same twisting Cords which hath altogether weakened the force of our Wills To this great Query as I humbly pursued so I had my desire resolved February the 7th 1676 7. This know and well consider that your Original is from high extracted Matter which is so Eternal that it cannot dye but it stands at the pleasure of the Will what way it will drive forth it self into For now it is a distinct Essence and had it not been corrupted from that simplified Being of Purity you could never have fallen into such an dishonourable state wherein the Royalty of your Power is so withdrawn as ye have no defence nor can make against those numerous Circumstances of Evils that do conspire where they may find degenerated ground for to work upon Now then yet for a more clear and perfect Information what further on your behalf is to be done that the choice faculty of the Will may come to regain its Primary Liberty that so it may have all powerful success as before it was enthral'd by the tempting Eve No other way there is but for the Will to be born again that thereby it may recover its Virgins Might and Force then every right Essence will move and open from pure Nature's Center This Birth is not according to the Will of Man but God Who out and from an infinite Pity and Love is come by Water Blood and Spirit to recover and lift up your relasped Wills that so they may stand upon their true native Prerogative being also set free from the flattering Dalilah which includes the whole variety of all attractive Delights from this Principle that as with Cords hath bound the Will down Oh now then as beloved of your God for ever drink in this Word of Counsel and herein joyn and work with the Spirit of your Lord Jesus who is come to perswade and allure you to fuffer joyfully the breaking up of your whole Earthly Family Which only consisteth of what is indged but lawful and expedient by the false Seers who are Babylon's Merchants But to you I have other things revealed and do incite you to be at variance with whatever will not consist with the new-born Will Who is to be matched with her who is the real Bride and Heir to whom a great Retinue doth belong of which Family you are to bear the Name only Therefore let it not seem grievous to rend and divide from what is of this evil World for verily hereby as God is true ye shall sustain no loss For your Superiour Will will hereby be so free chast pure
White loose Garment girt about her with a seeming White Silken Girdle who came near to me saying Behold and see what ye may arrive to be in me And so passed away Then after a while there was a Child all Lovely and Fair put into my Arms it was all naked of a smooth shining Skin I could not see who it was that disposed it to me but it was unexpectedly let down into my Arms. I thought it to be very Weighty though but little so passing to go away with it it suddainly slipped through my Arms unto the Ground at which I gave a great Screek and with great Fear and Concern took it up again without much Damage March the 12th 1676. The Interpretation of the First Vision Concerning this Vision the Thoughts of my Head were for the space of time much troubled till the revealer of Secrets did expound to me the meaning hereof As to the first which was the Woman with the Crown upon her Head This was declared to be the Virgin-Bride of the Lamb who came to shew her self made fully Ready all Bright and Fair as the Queen and Princess of Heaven Who hath her place at the Right-hand of the Immanuel for so much as this Woman is the Glory of the God-Man who out of this masculine Nature is taken according to the Figure of the first Paradisical Man who brought forth that Eve that was the Mother of all that lived in the mixed Property of Good and Evil. All of which Off-spring the present visible World doth consist of which to this Day is under the denomination of the fallen Creation which hath been upon Restoring ever since the Relapse but not yet Restored What then has made it stick so long Where is that Woman whose Seed must bruise the Serpent's Head Is she not yet made manifest Yes sure she hath been known as to the first Figure hereof to whom it was said That this Eve or first Woman should bring forth her Seed in Sorrow It hath been also generally concluded That out of this earthly Eve that Royal Seed should come by which the Serpent in Nature should be destroyed which was so suddainly introduced both into Adam and Eve True it is that the genaelogy did so run from them to the Birth of Christ after the Flesh but yet not to be reckoned for Eves Seed though God said to the Serpent that he would put Enmity betwixt his Seed and the Womans But how is that to be understood Not in the Line of natural Generation Neither was it said that from such a Woman who lies under the Curse of Sin and Sorrow that this blessed Birth should spring therefrom Though in Truth and Substance a mighty and wonderful Birth was made manifest wherein a deeper Mystery hath been couched than to past Time and past Generations hath been Revealed But now the Hand of Love begins to move and the Covering is turning away off from such who are turned in to know the Treasures of eternal Wisdom The Spirit of Truth is verily at hand to drive and guide the pure Mind jointly with it self into the Ocean-Mystery which is God himself in his abstracted Deity whereinto separated Spirits may very deeply dive when they are departed from their Earthly Senses This deep thing which is upon revealing I found like a boiling Pot of Oyntment so sweetly flowing into my Intellectual part Upon which my Mind as all in a flaming Light was enlightned to see what under the Mantle did lie Who according to eternal Counsel was hereunto fore-ordained typically to be brought forth in the Line of Natural Virginity even a Man or Sorrows and acquainted with Griefs and subjected to Sufferings hiding and covering by a Terrestial Form that sparkling Star of the Deity Which also would have been obscured if he had not again risen from the Dead Which gave the Church a mighty Remove in that day from shadows into that which was more Spiritual and Substantial through the giving of the Unction Which hath from that Age striven mightily but the Man of sin still hath been too strong witness those Complaints to the very breaking Hour of Mortality in them that are highest in the Birth-Ministration of Jesus as working through humane Properties But then an Objection must rise herefrom If all this be too short what more is there yet to come Things now have long stood at a stay what may we from the mighty God and everlastingâ— Father more yet expect that so the Temple Body of Jesus may not still lie unperfected Well what more forceable can there be then Christ in the Flesh and Christ in the Spirit Ans. To this there is an Answer by the All-searching Spirit prepared there is yet a Virgin Woman to be revealed out from the Heavens whereof Mary that broâ—ght forth Christ according to the Flesh was but a Type For it was neither Eve nor she to whom the Promise was made concerning that Birth which should bruise the Serpent's seven headed Power There must be another Genealogy found out from whence the Serpent-treader must also come Look and see and you shall find hereof is recorded Rev. 12. To which place I was by that Holy Ghostly Seer referred as to a Foundation for this more Excelling Ministration Iohn seeing this in Vision so long since and nothing hereof yet produced let not that seem so marvellous in your Eyes for Times decreed are in the Spirit as known to God in what Age in the World this Blessing will be most seasonably brought forth Conclude ye may by Wisdom's Star that hath appeared in your Heavens that out-thence if kept pure and clear this great Wonder may follow according as ye did see in the late Idea But ah my Lord how is this to be understood sure this Woman is not to be manifested in any one Particular who is subsisting in a Corporeal Substance For she will come all arrayed in a Body Saphire-like and not in the garb of the Mortal Creature with the Globe of this Worldâ— under her Feet Therefore this Query meets with this Who living in this Principle may expect such a Ray of Glory for to become a Covering And this was Answered Wherefore dost thou think that it was cryed up for a Wonder if it was not upon some extraordinary change who though thus transformed into such brightness of Excellency yet she is called a Woman But the pure Heavenly Glory altogether covereth the Creaturely Being The sparkling Deity that was hid within becomes the great and high amazement a flaming Garment This also will be obvious to the right discerning Eye in this present Sphere from whence will arise the admiration and great questioning there will be from whence this Woman did proceed If any hereof shall make a doubt how it can ever be on Earth for Virgin Wisdom to draw over her Virgin Vail of Purity in some one or other so as expresly to Personate her Tell them from the Alpha and Omega such a spotless
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
to their future Posterity they had been in the same condemnation with the fallen Angels but the Eternal Word did even then incarnate himself for their help and recovery and to save them from sinking into that horrible Lake which the Serpent had prepared for them Thus did the Eternal Love immediately move towards them to free them out of the Dragon's Power whose design was to make them of their own Hierarchy in their Princely power of Darkness out from which the Lamb of God did redeem them Who from the Foundation of the World was the Salvation of God so still going on to the Ends of the Earth But while this new thing sprang in my understanding which seemed to differ from what I had formerly received as Truth I besought the Lord my Teacher to answer this Objection that was raised thereupon That if so immediately upon Adam's Fall the Eternal Word who is the new Birth-Seed did incorporate with Eve whereby power and ability were given to bring forth wholly after the Spirit how was it then that she should and did bring forth after the fleshly Image as appeared by the first Man which she brought forth in the wrathful Property first awakened In Answer to this I found Light at hand to resolve me As thus it did not seem good to the Wise Creator to obliterate and so presently to wipe off the Stain with which they by the act of Disobedience had blemished themselves Some marks of Displeasure the most Holy did still include them under as a Terrestial Body and to bring forth in Travel and Sorrow what should have been by Magical Power and Joy 〈◊〉 Celestial Angelical Forms but now as the effects of disregarding the Command of God they brought forth a mean and despicable Image according to their own Likeness But then I further queried but this Corporeity might have been Sinless 〈◊〉 Original Righteousness was also infused by the immortal Spark of Life entring in to incorporate with the outward Elementary Birth That Spirit which had so pure an Existency and was in free Liberty should come into a necessitated thraldom as in Cain was manifested As to this I also obtained Satisfaction that Cain had the Eternal Light of Life with him that did fore-warn him and convince him of the end and danger of Sin and that he was under Probation and that the Serpent had liberty still to â—â—â—mpt a new sutably to the Condition he wâ—s fallen into Who had an absolute Liberty of Will and Sufficiency of Power to stand his Ground as God said to him by way of Reproof If thou dost well shalt not thou be accepted but if not Sin lieth at thy own Door Which plainly doth declare that Cain should not have yielded himself Sins Captive So that in all Temptations you may know whither to fly even to that eternal Word within you who is mighty to Save who Is and Was from the Beginning the First and the Last Visible and Invisible Deity in Humanity and Deity out of Humanity all making and tending to the fullfilling and Manifestation of the Mystery which hath been hid in the Trinity Which Arcanum will be daily revealing in this latter Age. Then arose a further Query to be answered If Christ as a Seed of Life was infused into every individual Birth throughout the Line of Terrestial Propagation whereby a Sufficiency was found to bear down and overcome what the Serpent had introduced of this Venome and Sting of Sin add Death What further need was there of Christ to assume a Body and to be proclaimed in the World as a Personal Saviour by and through the offering up himself a Propitiatory Sacrifice for Sin If it could have been expiated by the Production of Internal Light and Life thus originally Springing according to that Scripture Christ the Light of every one that cometh into the World As this is a weighty and considerable Question so resolved it shall be from That which seeth into the first Ground of what cometh to be manifested in time Now then for these Reasons it was expedient for him who was nominated the Second Person in the Trinity to be exhibited in a corporal Form upon this Account First To declare the possibility of bringing in and acting forth an everlasting Righteousness in â—rail humane Nature which every way was beset and assaulted with Temptations from all dark Powers which from their evil Center did conspire to overturn Truth and Fidelity in this Immaculate Lamb for had the Dragon prevailed upon him here Mount Sion and the Heavenly Ierusalem should never have been revealed Secondly Then again for this Cause Christ was to be manifested in Flesh in God-like Power as very needful to become that great High-Priest to attone and make expiation for the Sins and Defectiveness under the first Covenant which was given in Paradise all since having sinned after the similitude of Adam's Transgression The holy Seed in them being weak through the Body which is included and falling under the gross Element which hath and doth in some much more then others choak and smother the Life and doth greatly cloud and darken universally this pure Light whereby the good part doth rarely get the Victory in any till they attain to a good degree of Illumination and Purification For this Spring of Light doth get through but by degrees for tho in it self its of great Potency yet need enough there is for Sins committed in the times of Ignorance and Minority before the Spirit comes to make the Soul understand it self from whence it is relapsed I say for the Remission of these Sins past through the forbearance of God not less then such a Sacrifice was your Jesus for you to become In the Third Place Then as Christ fulfilled all Righteousness in his Humanity for an Example to his fellow Breathren so they might come to the unity of the same perfect Life by the same perfect Spirit which was in him through the dying Life For thereby your Lord Jesus obtained a super-additional force and power of Spirit to give and shed abroad into you for the working out a full Liberty and Salvation For seeing his pure Life-Seed was under oppression he also came into a Body of Flesh to relieve and free it from the Bondage of Sin and Evil and also the very Mortality antecedent thereunto according as it is written delivering them who through fear of Death were all their Life-time subject to bondage Which no way could be effected but by Death destroying Death First in the humane Figure of your Lord Jesus who hereby shewed you the way to do mystically that so thereby you might escape the Second Death through the Resurrection which is said to quicken Mortal Bodies Fourth Place Now then further consider that thâ—s was the very great and primary end of Christ coming into a Body of Flesh to transfigure and to shew the way of Immortalizing of it as he did his own after his Resurrection when he ascended into
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
a Mount which was all green and we were discoursing if we could come up there how we should then have escaped what we saw cause to fear For I did see many Vipers lie in our way and one did seem to fasten upon the Heel of my Fellow-traveller which I set my Fooâ— on and so escaped from it And as we passing still on after some space of time there fell a Dark Mist so dismal as we could not see each other which was very rerrible to me for we had lost each other but I saw it dissipated and the lost found again Upon this was opened unto me in what danger we were And it was said Pray for there is Cloud of Temptation that hath already essaid that the work might be retarded Moreover this word was with me Rise O Abigail with Wisdom and Might and give out what thou art withal replenished and thereby stop the ensuing Flood For all things do conspire from the Dark Kingdom to keep you from finding the way to my Holy and Separated Choir Therefore those dark Fumes and Smoak will rise that so you might not find your way into that mâ—niâ—ion-strength where ye will be secured out of all peril August the 18th 1677. After this I had a word followed me crying still in me Turn not out of the way of the Spirit Which the Morning before was in the Scripture Phrase given to me Walk in the Spirit or else it will little avail you to have transient visits from the Spirit only to give councel and instruction if it be not in every jot and tittle obeyed For walking implies that primarily Then was it shewed to me where and what were the Walks of the Spirit First they were walks very high and remote and private The Region or Climate was so pure that no gross earthly Spirit could have any consistency with it Then it was said again to me that such Spirits could only live here that had their first inkindled breath from this pure Element And such as are born again out hence can well agree with no other Air. These pleasant walks of the Spirit are all very lofty and those who stand in the low bottom of this Principle cannot see into that pure Sphere nor yet be walkers there For they are among pure Spirits all of one sort such as Ioshua was to have the priviledge to walk amongst If he would walk in the ways of the Most Holy and keep his charge and abide in the Inward Court The Angel protested he would give him walks among those who stand by the Lord. Which was no small preeminence thus to be among the Triune Society Even so it was to me â—estified That if we would but keep within the circle-walks of the Spirit we should be conversant with the Trinity And hereby it was said we should escape the hurtful influences of those who walk and live after the fleshly Birth For what we are conversant withal such we are For whether Spiritual or Carnal according to either it 〈◊〉 its impression readily Therefore this word came expresly Know and keep Company with your Bridegroom's Spirit That will bring you into high and worthy acquaintance indeed Now then consider ye stand now betwixt two Cross-ways the one is on the Right-hand the other on the Left the one ascends the other descends into this Worlds deep Now there are those who would keep their walks in both these ways sometimes they would be soaring up to God's Holy Mount then descending into the Foxes holds and dens where all unclean Spirits are And such as are of this sort will never make any riddance up to the Mount of Glory Therefore this word of Loves advice I give saith he that is the way of Truth to you who are called out of the Worlds walks That you stedily keep your Eye where the Spirit doth make his Tract for you and that you do keep on your daily pace Follow still the Measuring Line that doth ascend strait upward For there is no admittance herefrom to turn aside because great loss will be sustained To go backwards and forwards can produce nothing but wo and ill For no progress can any such make in this Ascending State And as these walks are high so they are very private and reserved No evil Eye can espy the Roads of the Spirit What of gross Corporeity can pierce into this bright burning Element where the pure in heart walk A strong enclosure here is so as no Beast of Prey can break in to disturb the solacements of â—â—rene Souls that have got in here they are secured by Cherubims who hold out for their Guards Flaming Spheres that so they may rest void of fear Then as to the pleasantness of Walks they are all smooth and plain A sound bottom they tread upon being all paved with solid Gold which is so transparent that its very reflexion gives light to walk by Then again of each side such Plants do grow as are known by Name They be most odoriferous sending out such sweet perfumes each Flower spinging out of the Spirits Root such as Joy Peace Love Meekness Gentleness and Faith with all tender Compassionateness encreasing to all perfect Good You may easily know when you are in the right Walks by these springing Fruits on either hand of you and by the high Throne Powers here greeting you with fresh and new discoveries of their Kingdoms Secrets None that have walked here can ever more desire to turn aside because they can see taste and feel in their degree what the very Trinity can make them blessed in from what they possess in themselves as immense Ioys that are unknown of which some daily droppings ye will still meet with For as ye do abide in the Spirits habitation Worthy things ye may expect which your Father doth secretly keep in his own Breast as ye are made meet for them To which end I will open a burning Spring within you which through a soft breath of Celestial Air shall maintain heavenly clarity Then will your God walk absolutely with you and will be henceforth no stranger to your habitation But then watch to it that when he come he may find you waiting there within that pure and all-indurable burning Sphere sucking and drawing still in the fresh gusts of Endless Love which may work up to a refining Element Whereby Paradise that hath fled away from this Principle may now again bud forth and recover you out of the Curse This is the very way hereunto therefore saith the Just One take all heed to keep in the Spirits Walks as you would see that renewed state of Liberty yet once again revealed in you August the 19th 1677. There appeared to me two Trees the one in a Field the other grew under the shadow of a mighty Tree as in an enclosed place with a Wall about it that was all set for Fruit the other was all blossomed but on a sudden a shaking Wind came and blasted the whole Tree
the Eyes of many and even of our Brethren as we still esteem them as the Dung of the Earth and as the Offscouring of all the present Forms of Religion because we have believed they Word and have listened to thy Voice calling unto us in the Evening of this Sixth Day Wherefore dealest thou thus with us O Lord our God Surely thou answerest us Why are ye so jealous of mine Honour as if the Times were not in mine Hand and the Seasons ordained in my Counsel Arise and hold not your Peace though ye be but the Offscouring of the Earth and lie as among the Pots Blow ye the Trumpet and cease not till I shall appear Suffer me to plead my own Cause and at my own time Remember my Servant John that I sent to prepare my Way how he wrought not any mighty Deed yet was sound faithful in his Ministration and prevailed abundantly Think not that I am slack in performing my Promises of destroying the Adversary that Man of Sin by the Ghostly and Miraculous Powers going out of my Mouth as streams of Fire For 〈◊〉 my Promises are at hand to be fulfill'd Hold but fast unto the Endâ— and rejoice greatly that ye are counted worthy to suffer shame for my Name Wherefore we shall not be Solicitous what may be Said or Thought of us by Any Our Part is Defensive not Offensive and so Only but with respect to the Honour of God and the Immutable Truth of his Word And therefore it will be incumbent on those who would oppose us to shew the Invalidity of that Charter which we pretend to have from the Mouth of Christ himself Luke 11. 10 13. Matth 5. 48 compared with 1 Cor. 13. Iohn 16. 10 12 13 14. compared with Chap. 17. 20 21. and Acts 2. 17. 39. Or to produce but any one Testimony either out of the Old or New Testament which they themselves dare to rely on for the Final Cessation of Revelation and Prophecy in the Church of God either with the Apostles or shortly after or even after several Centuries of Years as the more Moderate and Learned do Assert Or else to shew that what we do profess to have thus learnt when rightly understood is Clearly contrary to what is conâ—â—'d in the Law or in the Gospel or to some thing deliver'd by the Holy Prophets or Apostles Either of which if these Gentlemen can prove they will do much towards the Sapping and Overturning the whole Foundation upon which we stand But till this shall be done all this other Labour will be but in vain and instead of retarding will but serve more Vigorously to promote the Work that is undertaken and carried on by some that are of a Nehemiah Spirit and not to be daunted with big and terrifying Words If there be then any Dissatisfied as to the Contents of this Volume or of the former or other Writings hitherto Printed of this Author let them if their Dissatisfaction be out of a Zeal for God and the Truth of Religion consider with cool and sedate Thoughts whether there be not as good a Ground in Scripture for the Expectation and Belief of such a Kingdom of Christ to come as is herein expressed and said to be revealed by the Powers of the Holy Ghost as there is for many of the Opinions in Religion which they do receive and Articles which they have subscribed to Let them consider what is the Sanctification of the Divine Name on Earth to be daily Pray'd for and therefore to be believ'd in what the Coming of the Kingdom of our God on Earth and what the Doing of his Will on Earth in like manner to be Pray'd for and Believ'd in as to the very same degree that it is in Heaven that is both with the same Oneness of Spirit the same perfection of Purity and the same Vniversality of Extent with respect first to the Name of the Father to be sanctified by such as shall have receiv'd the Seal of the Adoption of Children secondly to the Kingdom to be manifested which must be in the Power of the Father and thirdly the Will to be performed which must be by the Holy Ghost ministring in the inward Sanctuary which he fills Let them consider what other Systems do say as to these matters and then let them examin what a System may be drawn out of this Book when well digested and fully comprehended After which let that which is hence drawn be compared with those and both together be compared with the Sacred Scriptures taken in their easie plain and natural Sense without running to or depending upon the Glosses Interpretations or Comments of any whatever Let them further consider whether in these Scriptures there be the least Footsteps to be found for such a prevailing Opinion as is at this day grown in a manner Universal amongst us that the Prophetical and Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit were design'd by Christ for the establishment only and Foundation of his Church and not for its Building up and Perfection in the Work of the Ministry till all should be brought hereby into the Unity of the Faith and the Knowledge not only of the Mysteries of Religion but a full conformity to the Stature of Christ in the most perfect and stable Model of it concerning which much is spoke both here and in The Message to the Philadelphian Society It is to be confessed that there are indeed several things that will be apt to shock the Readers at the first view who have not had any such Experiences in themselves but chiefly through the Strangeness of this Parabolical and Mystical way of Writing which is fallen under as great a Disreputation in this present Refin'd Age as it was of Esteem in the first Ages of the Church But upon a most nice and accurate Examination these Stumbling Blocks will either all or for the most part moulder away of themselves And whereas it is generally Objected against every one that steps out of the Vulgar and Ordinary Road and speaks but of any Divine Favours above what are common That all proceeds from the Root of Pride in them variously transforming it self you may be Here assured that there is the most Solid ground Established by what you shall read in these so Peculiar Memoirs for the Humility of the Cross without making it to interfere with Faith or Hopeâ— or to impede the Progress of any Generous Design for the Good of this Nation of Christendom and of the whole World And no where better you may find what a vast distinction there is of a True and Christian from a False and Beggarly Humility Another thing that may recommend this with the other Treatises of the same Author is that there will not herein be found any vilifying or reproaching the Sacred Customs among Christians any Lessening or Derogating from any Institutions either of Christ or of his Apostles as is usual unto Some but a just Deference to the truth of the