BEAST I beheld the pleasant Field and fruitful Garden working up the form of what indured and continued patient under those fiery Tryals until they became past over though many therein did dwell on a barren Heath who could not see when good comes whereby they perished in the Night of Obscurity and worldly sorrow that overtook them in their way wherein the power of DEATH wrought and became strong in the WORLDS CXIII And in the place of the fifth Head of the Beast in the midst of four which I had beheld Wounded as it were unto death were sprung up three other Heads And the Horns on that fifth Head which had received that deadly Wound were increased through the healing up of the Wound wherein a little Horn that sprung up between the Eyes of the Beast received Voice and began to speak great swelling words against the God of Heaven and his SAINTS that dwell on the Earth and the little Horn waxed strong towards the four Winds of the Heavens wherein the BEAST appeared with seven Heads and ten Horns which had Power in in the Beast to reign with him as Kings for their hour CXIV And whereas after I had seen the fall of five Horns on that fifth Head of the Beast I beheld remaining four Heads from whence sprung up four Horns in the dispersing abroad the Kingdom and Power of the BEAST under the four Winds of the Heavens so in the reviving of his power that which became exalted in the reducing of four to its first subjection ruled over five in which the wound was received and wherein the Beast came forth first manifest and in the discovery of both the rise and fall of the BEAST though through the great Horn of the Hee-Goat who did not touch the ground until he had accomplished his design after he had power given him in the awakened fury of the West-Wind the two Horns of the RAM from the EAST were broken and stampt in pieces that great Horn was also broken when its fury was accomplished CXV Yet was the power of the four Horns on those four Heads of the BEAST bound down in the four Heads of the great River until the time of the loosing of their four Angels that stood on the four Corners of the EARTH to hold the four Corners of the WINDS from blowing on the EARTH while the little Horn was magnified whereby the third Head which sprung up in the midst of the seven recovered four Horns from that which was dispersed under those four Winds of the Heavens and on the other six Heads were manifest six Horns CXVI Thus was the BEAST more monstrous then all those other Beasts that passed before him with Iron Teeth by which he did break and stamp in pieces And his Face was like unto a Leopard with the form of a third part of the Stars in the constellation of the HEAVENS on his Back but he had the Feet of the great Bear and discovered his power through the four Heads of the great River EUPHRATES in the loosing of those destroying Angels who came first out from the WATERS but the reviving of his strength from those deceitful healings proceeded out of the Earth through the power of the RAM in Nature CXVII And in the time of the sounding of the sixth Trumpet this BEAST came forth through the loosing of those destroying ANGELS out of the great River and through those earthquakes and shakings that were come into the WORLD wherein fell that tenth part of the great City God had returned unto himself his Tenths to be eaten as a Teyl-Tree and as an Oak whose substance was in it these were the remnant of the Holy Seed who worshipped the Lord with a pure Heart even in Spirit and in Truth and whose Garments were washed White in the Blood of the Lamb. CXVIII For they came to pass through great tribulations and Tryals in their WAY because they could not Worship the BEAST nor receive his Mark but they were preserved blameless before the Lord in that hour wherein Iniquity was not found in their HEARTS neither was there guile in their MOUTHS to be uttered with their Tongue And I beheld until the sin of MANASSEH became ripened and was filled up and the high Altars in both Courts whereon had been offered Sacrifice to IDOLS and Incense burnt to strange Gods which neither we nor our Fathers have heard of were pulled down because of the God of FORCES who was worshipped neither was the desire of Women regarded CXIX And after I came to see the WOMANS deliverance from the rage and fury of the great Red DRAGON who had cast his floods of Water after her in the time and times wherein she had been helped by the EARTH and sheltered by the Wings of the EAGLE with which she had fled into the Wilderness as the Dragon came to give up his Power to this monstrous Beast the remnant of her Seed was persecuted in the World for the space of full forty dayes And wherein the Sun had gone back ten Degrees for the prolonging of Life in the Just after he came to discover and reveal the glory in which was his safety before Babylons King who wrought by subtilty and much craft whereby fifteen dayes were added to his dying state CXX Those dayes were again doubled in the renewed Zeal wherein the Favour of God was multiplyed to the purging his House and Sanctuary according to the fifty-five dayes wherein Manasseh had caused the Israel of God to err in following after Idols And for ten days the Devil had power to cast many into Prison that they might be tryed and sifted by his cunning devices until their Garments became thus made white in the Blood of the slain Lamb of God CHAP. XI Describing the Form of the WHEELS in the VISION according to their MOTION wherein are numbred the dayes that the BEAST hath yet to reign and continue on the Earth CXXI AS to the form of the Wheels as they wrought and moved one within the other as a Wheel within a Wheel like unto the form of the Worlds which are moved the one within the other the WHEELS never rested but went streight forward towards Eternity wherewith they were tinctured and moved in the power thereof as though they crossed each other and yet there was no crossness in the Will and Wisdom of Eternity from whence they were moved in the power of him that first wrought and laboured in the motion thereof CXXII For all crossness that appeared in the motion thereof wrought in the Earthly ground wherein the World 's laboured to Center in a Glory below the power of Eternity from whence every thing first proceeded and was brought forth to a day of Tryal in the FRAME under which the Body of Nature was constituted to exercises from the Glory of the HEAVENS wherein the Will of the Creature was subjected to a change through vanity that entered the WORLD in a state of corruptible Glory which was
the Innocent shall take hold of his Feet in the Way he is walking when the wronged comes to be apprehended on a Hill that is higher than that on which the Enemy and Destroyer hath been exalted and into the Hands of the PURSUED is put a sharp Instrument the strength of that Reason whereof the World is robbed and bereft even the Sword of Goliah and Spear of their Adversary with which they shall wound the Head of RAHAB and the Dragon and thereby they shall do EXPLOITS XXVII Though they are kept from using it in a time of advantage yea I have seen I have seen while the Envious have been hunting abroad the Pursued have been led into the Tents of those that are Mighty in Battel and the Man of War hath been found sleeping over his Master until a Lap of his Garment with which the Envious hath covered the Cruelty of his Spirit is brought forth into open view and the Cruse and Spear at his Beds head can now be shown to his shame because the Blood-Avenger hath kept the Innocent from putting forth his Hand to touch Him that had once the Anointing Oyl on his Head that had the favour of a Lot in Israel when the Spirit of God rested on Him that made it a Proverb Is the Son of Kish also among the Prophets XXVIII But the Cry of the Poor is heard that hath been compassed about with Tormentors who hath said in his heat What shall I now do for behold here cometh a whole Army and I have no Sword but that of Goliahs and the Lord hath said Take it for there is none like it and it shall be known that a Stripling is engaged in the Lords Battel and is able to make war against Israels Enemies though he could not use the Sword in his own defence neither dares he be too bold in the exercise thereof abroad lest the bruised Reed should be broken and the smoaking Flax quenched before Judgment is brought forth into Victory at home where the War is begun by such that are engaged in the Lambs Battel XXIX Therefore in the Mystery of what is herein treated of is the depth of whatever hath relation to the concern both of SOUL or BODIES Welfare in the Knowledge and true understanding of its state and the universality thereof is a Testimony worthy to be heeded in the General or particular Concern because of the relation it hath to the true and right Information of the Mind of all that are capable of benefit therein through a pointing property at that which gives unto the Reader a sence of the Day in which many in old time were made Prophets and Messengers and have largely testified and prophesied thereof in the Restoration of all Principles of Nature it hath possessed and inhabited in the BODY into its first Glory which is the MYSTERY of the Second Resurrection in those in whom the Power of the first Death is weakened and over whom the second Death hath no power XXX For the Life of JESUS is manifest in their mortal Flesh discovering the Glory of which they are made Partakers in a Kingdom everlasting and World without End because of their Faith and Belief in the changing and renewing Power of GOD wherein the JUST do live and witness Redemption from the Sting of SIN and Strength of the LAW which is the Power of Death and the GRAVE hath not Dominion over the Soul therefore you that profess Scriptures contend not against the Verity and Infallibility of the Testimony hereof because for your sakes and satisfaction I am constrained in some cases to use such Words that the RECORD of TRUTH is sealed by in the Testimony of the PROPHETS of GOD in former Ages and Generations of the World XXXI Neither let it scruple any on the other hand that I use not an exact FORM and METHOD of Scripture-Terms but am oft constrained to apply the bent of my Spirit toward such significant terms as are brought to my Understanding in the exercise of the VISION for the Words are but an outward Sound and Declaration of what hath relation to an inward and invisible Work in the Heart of the Creature through the Salvation of the Soul from Death but I see it hard for many professing SCRIPTURES and the Knowledge of the TRUTHS of GOD therein declared to own it nakedly for its own sake and yeild and bend to the disposings of God in matters of such concern for then would it be consented to in what hath relation to the Minds Information without respect to the Persons of such that are found differing in Judgment concerning outward Circumstances in Gestures or PRINCIPLES in DOCTRINE while in the End and Aim there is a respect to Truth in the Heart XXXII And there will be a joyning in the Acceptance against whatever hath relation to Controversies in a state of disobedience against the Spirit of God in which the WORLD is endeavouring to settle a Rest and hence have I seen the Complainer vexed with Burdens of his unruly Passion but that God may more and more unseal the Fountain of endless Good and Happiness in the Knowledge of the Glory of his Kingdom that is everlasting is my Souls desire that Truth and Righteousness may be set up in the WORLD and the Glory of the ANTIENT OF DAYS proceeding in the increase of the Knowledge of GOD may run down like a River and cover the Earth like as the Waters cover the Sea XXXIII And as this hath its due acceptance in the Heart of the Upright and Unbiassed in Censure and Judgment for the sake of the Controversies among men about their Opinionatedness concerning the Truths of God contained in the Scriptures with which the World is filled they will more and more come to see into its service and the end for which it is given forth which will make way for the opening and discovery of many pretious Secrets pertaining to the Restauration of Nature in its depraved Body of infected Elements that are generated under a Power of Corruption that Creatures may come to see into the Mystery of what is contained in many words therein that hath a signification very intricate to the common sence of private Interpretations thereon which the limitting spirit of the WORLD is apt to tye up the Faith of their Communicants in because of the vulgar acceptance it hath in the Heart of a Multitude But the Encouragement I find for the prosecution of what is remaining in this Tract wherein I am taking view of my passage through those Forms of Nature in which I am imbodyed in time and place is centred in an higher Object than the Readers well or ill Acceptance XXXIV Though I am satisfied in the end thereof that coming to be seen into will cause many to say Now I know thou speakest no more unto us in PARABLES but hast plainly shewed us of the Father But among the Multitude how hard a thing is it to believe well of future Events
God I have a hand reached forth to the helpless towards whom my tender Bowels are moved that they may partake of this VISITATION which is given for the sake of many and great NATIONS This great Salvation of God being revealed to all them that are made partakers with him in the Faith of God's Elect in which the like pretious Promises do work V. To all the People of God whether gathered or ungathered my love reacheth forth though most especially to the scattered Nations over all the Earth that are the Houshold of Faith in which it is not only given them to believe but also to suffer for his Names sake whom they profess Love Mercy and Peace together with all fruits of the Spirit of God to the Brethren of him who is come to possess the Life of Patience under the sufferance of the Spirit of this World through the Revelation of JESUS the Son of God by whom the whole Glory of the TEMPLE of God was brought forth into which entered the Hoast of the Heavens the SEVENTH day wherein God came to rest in the finished settlement of that in which all labour ceased as to the working power of his Spirit in the frame of the Creature and Creation that is become the workmanship of the Father VI. I am filled I am filled with the motion of his Power in the workings up of his informing Spirit that sendeth forth its sound through an Earthen Vessel and in as much as its concern is Universal the peculiar relation and respect which it hath unto People of those Generations is the breathings of Life from a follower of the Lamb of God And the Life of the JUST in his Name that is faithful and true and full of long-suffering and that which is certified concerning these things is what will assuredly be fulfilled and shortly come to pass VII Therefore blessed are they that can read or hear and in whom there is a heart inclined to understand the MYSTERIES herein wherein the Testimony of TRUTH is confirmed amongst the CHURCHES in the Spirit of Jesus unto which Churches in the WORLDS in their divided quarters JESUS who is the Author and Finisher of the Faith of God's Elect whose Nature had glory in raising up that Body out of the Grave and from the power of Death and Destruction in three dayes is now dispersing bowels in which are the Fountains of all good that have been sealed and shut up but are now freely set open for sin and for uncleanness for Judah and Jerusalem VIII And thus saith the Antient of days the AMEN the FIRST and the LAST who hath glory in the Work of God through the Redemption of Souls up unto himself come wash and be clean for he that is faithful and true hath yet a little while a gathering Hand and Arm stretched out towards you all the Bride saith Come as hath been the Voice of the Spirit of God which by many hath been rejected But yet hear what the Spirit saith unto the CHURCHES IX Unto the Churches of ASIA and the ANGELS of these Churches saith the Beloved of God O yet gather if it be possible and behold the Wing of Mercy and everlasting Salvation hovering over you your works have been tryed in the fire and hitherto they have not made weight in the Ballance of Gods Sanctuary neither are they able to stand before him but are like the STUBBLE in his way and are driven before the Bow of his Fury X. Yea unto thy PRINCES saith the AMEN of all Glory in Heaven and Earth bend your Necks to the Yoak and learn to Plow else sorrow wil be your portion To thy PRIESTS I say Howl Lament and be threshed upon the FLOOR by him that can handle the FLAIL to thy PROPHETS I say Take the Cup and drink a mighty draught for as ye have had your fills of Pleasure on the Earth so shall you drink your full Portion of sorrow howling and lamentation XI I know all thy works and thy doings for the secrets of thy Heart are not hid from me thou exalted HORN of ASIA PERSIA and MEDIA are the strength of thine ARM ye Daughters of K'TURAH therefore be ye wakened in time and behold how the ASSYRIAN is broken on the right Hand and on the left XII And unto the ANGELS of the Churches Mystically in AMERICA in thee are a People whom God will yet gather to his Praise but thou wilt be broken as a Potters Vessel and turned on a fiery Hearth Thou hast of the Captivated TRIBES and scatterd-broken-off-branches bound in Chains under thy quarter let them forth for the mighty Day of God is Proclaimed and come XIII Unto the Angels of the Churches in AFRICA write what is ready to befal them in the Day and Hour of their Exaltation Since thou wast lifted up thy day is measured and when thou wast cast down thou hast been warned Yet once more hear pitty the Captives and give of thy Bread to him that cometh under the smiting of the South Wind lest when the awakened North Wind returns its blown Breath out of the Bellows of the Almighty it make thy burthen more then thou art able to bear XIV Thy Feet must tread on Mire and Clay and in like manner will Feet be set over thee But thou the darkest of Countreys I have many NAMES to be gathered out of thee therefore hasten and return when thy WORK is done and remember that thou art warned of what shall come to pass lest on the one hand thou shouldst be heightned in the day of thy Exaltation or left without information of that which will befall thee when thou art cast down for as thou dost unto others to wit the Captivity of the North so will it be done unto thee in the return of measure and weight XV. Say not any more I am strong for one of thy PRINCES is strong above thee and the Daughters of thy Land that have made up thy agreement with the King of the North will not retain the ARM nor prevail in thy strength and Dominion though thou carry away Captive the Inhabitants of that Land whose King hath reigned more years then the King of the South XVI Repent therefore quickly is the Voice of the Angel lest I come and smite thee unawares and remember when that is loosed and awakened which hath been compassed about by PISON and GIHON he that invadeth a strange Land shall place his glorious Habitation between the Seas that the scattered TRIBES may behold the Glorious City which they have been seeking and come forth into the NORTH to see a place prepared in the Kingdom by the Father for ASIA hath faln and is turned to Idols and hath given heed to lying Vanities XVII But both of you shall be purged together in a fiery Furnace until your supplication for Mercy be made able to prevail therefore let thy Princes consider for whom the controversie betwixt two great Kings doth work and thou that wert
I do unto such a People as this And therefore let the German Princes prepare for he is come forth that hath measured thy day the glory of Imperial Support cannot any longer defend the PAPAL Throne on which Foundation thou hast been raised up in great Excellency and exalted in mighty Pomp. Oh! how hath thy practice clouded the Glory of thy Profession and because of a Spirit of Cruelty that hath possessed the strength of thy Zeal in a mis-informed mind how hast thou laid a stumbling block in the WAY of the simple and caused the Ignorant to despise the truth of sound Doctrine XI Dost thou believe Purgation of the Body of Nature from the cause that hath held it down under the Power of Death wherein the Souls of the Righteous have remained crying and groaning under the Altar of God Why then continue ye in the enmity and Spirit of Cruelty to the life of the Just both in your selves and others for where that Life is not refreshed and nourished it dieth for want of strength because it is the Souls strengh to be fed with the Bread of Comfort in God wherein it receives all blessing from him and the Body also without that Spirit is dead XII It is the living therefore that can praise God aright in that power that entereth the Ear of the Dead for whom they stand in Jeopardy every hour making their Supplications unto God in his Spirit that breaketh open the Prison Doors and is come to Preach to the Spirits in Prison comforting the sick and weak that lyeth languishing under the Power of Death and visiting the needy in the day of its distress and calamity through which the dead becometh again raised up to life and immortality in GOD. XIII Many things I have to say unto thee because thou mixest thy inventions with the Doctrine of Truth and hast exalted thy self in the superstition of those gain-sayers that perished before thee great are the Tryals that have overtaken thee and that which is come upon thee cannot be parallel'd because of the end of all things that is come up before the LORD Have I not seen the going down of thy Glory among the Stars of the Night surely it is set in the WEST and it hath a SOUTH Cloud over its Beam but from the EAST is the Morning broke forth and towards the NORTH doth the Star shine that hath burning flames mentained in the dissolution of such forms of Nature that have caused an exhaling in the excremental parts of the fiery Heavens XIV And unto the Angel of the Churches in the separated Islands in the North the transplantation of Europe thy Names are many and divers art thou in the perswasion of thy Judgement in the Doctrinal part of Truth And these are become the Horns on the Heads of the BEAST in Nature which shall hate the WHORE that hath exalted SELF in the destruction of the glory of two Tribes for ten Tribes shall return to behold that which hath been healed up deceitfully in the appearance of the RAM from the EAST whose coming forth is to ex lt his Horns wherewith he shall be found pushing three wayes to wit WEST and NORTH and SOUTH XV. And there will be striving in the EARTH until a HOLY PEOPLE cometh to sit down in their own Land for God is come down into the forms of Nature and will work as in the dayes of old and every on that seeeth him shall be affected with his LOVE and shall mourn bitterly over him as his beauty cometh to be seen in the Earth and overspreadeth the Worlds but none shall be able to awaken his displeasure against others though he will cut off great and strong Nations in his way in his own time and not for the sake of the Wishers of mischief that may inkindle a fire in the Center of the ground from whence their life doth spring XVI But the Angel of my BELOVED hath given in charge unto the Daughters of SION that they awake not Gods displeasure neither stir up the Beloved desire of the welfare of all Nations before he please for you that profess zeal against Superstition see that you stand not above the ground of Humility from whence charity doth spring unto the distressed which worketh the WILL of God in the manifestation of Glory through the LIGHT of his countenance that is lifted up over the Nations by the arising of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his WINGS XVII For I am well assured of the love of God to his despised Remnant and handful of little Ones trampled on by all and now set in the Front of the BATTEL in which Gods Cause hath engaged them though by the Mighty they are deserted as left to the rage and fury of the Devouring Enemy And I have beheld also such that have plenty in their own Houses yet are they found covetously lusting after one EWE-LAMB of the POOR And shall they prosper saith the LORD since his Sword which he hath not drawn in vain shall not depart from their House until Jerusalem become a quiet Habitation for evermore for an exercise hath sprung from their own Bowels through a Rebellious Seed that flattereth in the WAY XVIII But the ground of all this awakened Fury did break forth in the Spirit of the WORLD in the Nature of sensual Separations in the dispersed forms of the Apostatizing Spirit from its first Love by which the Faith of Gods Elect worketh But Gods intention is to purge his own House and Sanctuary first that his People may be white and clean from the Worldly Spirit of enmity and bitterness which springeth from the covetous Root that standeth in the lusting ground wherefore the BEAST hath power to exalt his HORN for a season XIX Therefore cease Oh cease ye MIGHTY of the EARTH to strive against the Lord for ye have been contending with one another in selfs concernment until your time of healing is well nigh spent in controversies and now hath God taken his own cause into his HANDS and hath it in consideration which he will plead for the Meek of the Earth in the Heart of their Enemies And notwithstanding many things are suffered for a Tryal of their FAITH to God who profess his Name and Truth yet is it not to destroy them but to purifie and refine them wherein Judgement is still strengthened against that part which hath given way to the power and work of the Enemy either in the Particular or General And I am assured deliverance will come in Gods time which is when his People are so sitted thereby that God can get himself a Name in their Salvation XX. And alas you Professors of Cristianity that are quarrelling with each other about the formal part of your Worship how have you lost your day until you are overtaken with a power of Darkness have ye not been afraid of those that should change your Laws and Customs and bring in contrary Orders wherein the ROMANS Power