shall I get rid of this Body I would fain exist in that pure Essence with thee where nothing of this lump of Earth might prevent my constant Walks in those high Places with thee whose presence will make these outward Elements to flee away from the superior Spirit The Holy One replied Be not troubled at thy Binding Mortality for I will descend in this fiery Cloud into thee as a baptizing Fire which shall take away the gross Impurities of the Senses that thou mayst be clarified in order to thy Codeification which will manifest the out-spreading Name of thy Emmanuel whereby thou shalt receive Power to ascend through Fire and Air and continue that all-desireable freedom of Communion with the holy Trinity And though none in a Body of Flesh and Six can come up to me yet Grace Pity and Love do move to descend in the Spirits flaming Cloud to make the way free that such may have a Pass who account no Place their Rest or Dwelling besides me Wherefore pursue and watch to drink in of this pure Spirit of Burning which will clear and take out of the way whatsoever hath kept from ascending into the Holy City Whilst these Words were in spoken from the Anointing I felt a sensible rising and spreading over all my Heart Head and Body as if all were covered with a Cloud of Sun-heat giving out light by which I could soe what was inwardly done as well as feel it Then it was further spoke in me that I should take notice that this was also the bright Garment of the Sun Such is the Nature of this secret flaming Matter that it seeds strengthens and clarifies a naked Spirit all at once Then was I inquisitive to know the Substance or Ground of it but it was replyed Meddle thou not with that only receive it passively and Co-operate with it when it ariseth and then walk with and draw in the feeding Fire and Air and when it resteth in its own place rest thou with it and be assured it will not leave thee till it have concentred thee in the Deity This light flaming Cloud encompassing me gave this further Revelation to shew what the Holy One is about to do in order to the laying of the Foundation of this strong City in which the mighty God will pitch his Tabernacle and settle his Rest forever Many Types Images and foregoing Figures of this Jerusalem have been given through the several Ages of the World but the Heavenly Thing it self hath not been brought forth as no wt will be because the set time approacheth For the trying burning Furnace is kindled and the Wind of the Almighty forcibly blows up the Flames thereof in the center of the Soul of every one who are the Elect Members of this Holy Corporation Now is the time for the Spirit of Burning and Judgment to prepare each Stone which is designed for this super-excellent Glory No connterfeit Gold or reprobate Silver can pass through this Furnace which is ordained to prove whatsoever comes to be built on this Foundation The mighty King sends forth his Decrees to fulfil the ancient Prophecies concerning the return of the long Captivity of these who belong to this Mother-City that they may know their original freedom and no longer abide as Captive-Exiles among the Babylonians in Confusion and Reproach And what sign will the Lord give for this but by loosing the last Seal under which doth lie the rich Bank and vast Treasury of Wisdom Spirit and Power which shall so vigorously carry on this New-Jerusalem-Building that all the Powers which the Dragon and Beast can raise by their Agents visible and invisible shall but turn to their Shame and Confusion when the Lamb ariseth to open the Seventh Seal under which the most precious things even that fine transparent Matter lies hid to be manifested in due time for the beautifying of this divine Building But here an Objection may arise and question this revealed Grace and proclaimed Liberty to the Children of the Captivity who are now called to sit upon this heavenly Building which is this That the time is not yet and that the last Seal is not so near breaking open and who is it that can give a Sign for a Testimony that this Decree is already gone forth To all which the Spirit of Truth gives this Answer who best knows what he hath wrought in order hereunto in the Central Deep of some Elect Vessels who are not to make any out-cry until the Mystery be fully finished in them know that the time is at hand wherefore let none look afar off or run out from themselves and neglect their own Vintage at home but regard how near the Grape is to ripeness which contains the Wine that is to be drunk at the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb who charges it as a great over-sight upon those that are Regenerate that they have put this Day afar off not discerning the Lords Body who is quickned from the dead in them who are passed from Death with him and so are put in Subordinate Commission with the Lamb to break open all those Seals which shall make way for the descent of the Holy City For what in John's Revelation is mentioned concerning these things is very obscure and mystical and there is no fathoming of it to the utmost until the Lord himself come with the Plummet-Line of the Holy Spirit to measure out the meaning Though there are some who have been favoured with this Light of Revelation by means of which they understand what lies hid under those Allegorical Expressions and through the opening of the Seals have discovered those rich Jewels which were concealed under that dark Covert the opening of which Seals I shall set down in order according as it was acted in my own particular through my Soul 's waiting with the Lamb's-rising Power in a particular experience of my own in the divine Mystery At the opening of the first Seal the Spirit of Faith came forth to encounter with the fearful and unbelieving Spirits that set before me an Impossibility of ever reaching to a Paradisical Purity and Mount-Zion-Dignity and was kept under a great Fear and Perplexity under the dominion of Unbelief until this first Seal was broke open for thereupon the strong Lyon of the Tribe of Juda set me free to run the Race of Faith unto the end giving in this Caution to take care to be well mounted on this Horse of the Spirit of Faith and to hold fast to him who rides on it who hath the conquering Bow in his Hand to shoot his Arrows into those unbelieving Spirits that would still keep us in Doubts and Perplexity At the opening of the second Seal all Peace Pleasure and Joy were taken away from the Earthly Life and withal such a Light broke forth which made me see the vile Abomination of an earthly state compared with the Perfection of the Divine Life so that now I rejoyc'd in nothing more than
no defiled thing can ever enter it Its consistency is an invisible Body as thin as Air as piercing as a Flame an all-moving acting and vigorous Spirit of Power and Life that can go in and out as an invisible Breath which no mortal Eye can see only its force may be felt as a Seraphick Heat that burns as a Refiners Fire in our Corporality to the end that it may tinge it with the holy Ghost's property This is the true and faithful delienation of this perfect thing called by the Apostle Charity Where-ever this comes it makes all imperfect things flee before it but it strengthens and confirms every Plant that is sown by the Spirit and makes them appear above Ground which have long lain buried under it It is the King-flower of the whole Paradisical Spring that protects the whole transmuting all into one entire Body of Love that doth extend and give forth it self in all spiritual Bountifulness according to its high Nature and Property It is not shut up to it self upon any consideration as to what it poslesseth and enjoys for it holds nothing in Propriety whatever its Lot is but all is free to the Disciples of the same descent and birth with himself this Love cannot with-hold from any of their Necessities for it seeks not its own Then it hath also a virtual Power as made to inherit the best of Riches and Substance of the everlasting Kingdom to conveigh and freely distribute of this inexhaustable Treasury to impoverished Souls and to relieve them that are in great Distress which Power can pass in as an high virtual Balsom to heal the Wounded who are under the striking of the Scorpion-Sting of the Serpent For this Love is a ministring Flame where holy Passiveness and Humility are as the open-Door for its access and there cherish and feed it with what its present degree doth require Charity is furnished with all sorts and stores it is God's Steward upon Earth whom he dare trust with the Care of his Houshold who are in spiritual Hunger and Nakedness It is a most infallible truth that God will appoint such holy Overseers in his new-born Church that shall recover the Apostolical Spirit and Power that hath been lost out of the Earth and it shall rise as a more bright Morning Star and multiply it into a Generation that will be all lovely in which God may see himself For which end the Kingdom and Dominion is already come into some and prospering to this expected degree treasuring up now for a full Bank in store against that Day in which our Son of Man will again appear in the Heavens for the delivering up the Kingdom to the Father that so God who is Love may be all in all But in order to the accomplishing of this last and finishing Mystery there shall arise a Melchizedeck Priesthood which shall know the way into the Holiest of all concerning which we shall come to declare after this subject is finished for it springs out of Love's-Root in us For this is the most clear and undeniable witness of Truth when Light and Revelation and Life of Enjoyment meet together then Declaration carries Power and Authority with it But to return to the present thing what can be said sufficiently of it that so if possible the reign of Love might come to spread it self as a Net to gather in for the Priestly Kingdom Some other Motions may be further urged as these Would you be always in a serene quiet and peaceable Frame and Constitution of Mind so as no vicissitude working-Cross or Turbulency towards you whether from Gentiles Barbarians or Israelites all which may give nothing of Disturbance where Charity is predominant and why so This is very marvelous never to be perplexed and never to be put out of Harmony Objection But how can this agree When as our most perfect Pattern was said to be troubled and his Soul was sorrowful unto Death as also that Afflictions are not joyous for the present First We will Answer this main Objection as to Christ our Lord in his Agonies You must know that all this was on this side his Resurrection observe that and it was to shew that he had the sensible Passions of our Humanity and that he was on our behalf to feel a sinless Grief and Sorrow and to be really touched with these kind of Infirmities or else how could he make Provision through and by Love's Conquest If he had not been in Temptation and in Encounter with all Despite and Defamations but yet he maintained his own Peace which was the Fruit of Love through all and was reconciled to all the cross Dispensations that met him in the World For it was this perfect Love that carried him through to bear and suffer all things and was for our Example and Encouragement to express during the time of his humane Minority those sensible Dolours and Passions but he comes of a victorious Champion and tells us That he had overcome and assureth us That in him we shall have a most fixed and firm Peace though in the World exercised with Tribulation So from hence it is to be admitted and allowed that in the time of our Minority before Love is in its perfect degree risen it cannot be otherwise expected but we may be liable to Grief Sorrow Commotion Fears and Jealousies and so up and down in an uncertain Motion tossed to and fro in our Minds and all this because Love is but little weak and low of Stature it is not got up into the Throne of Dominion so as to govern all by the Law of Love yet such are not to be hopeless or of doubtful Mind as desponding ever to see the Resurrection of Love so as to possess its peaceable Immunities Know whoever you be that are made willing to venture the loss of all for to arrive at this Pearl of Charity that you shall most surely find it and great rejoycing there will be at the finding of this lost Groat Indeed the House of the Soul must be first throughly searched and the natural Self-love must be swept out For what is that which we must lose but even all Rubbish Filth and Dross that so our Hearts being emptied and cleansed from all these the King of Love may enter in with his full Train wherein we may know nothing but Concord Tranquility and a springing Treasury of all Goodness Wherefore let all holy and pure Minds be stirred up to wait for the dropping Dews which fall from the one eternal Element to bring this Plant of Loves Kingdom forward even unto its full height of Perfection and be tender of its first Buddings for it hath many subtil Enemies both at home and abroad It is the Heir and therefore is conspired against for can but the envious Spirits find out where its Birth doth spring they will attempt to kill it whilst it is but an Infant for which cause it must be hid in the Clefts of the
been understood All which shall be made good when the Soul shall be brought forth as a well tuned Instrument new strung and qualified in the deified man where the holy Spirit moves every Property according to the central Wheel in its new begotten Form which is set free to run its Races in the Sphere of Light where weak Mortality with its sinful Essences are out-run and left behind in the Fall Let not this seem strange or impossible for in the Deep a Mean is found for the bringing forth of this long buried Seed which hath long waited to arise in its original Body of essential Perfection and harmoniz'd Powers that it may appear that God is come to move and shew himself in the Covenant of his Love according to the Preordination in the heart of Christ for by him we do obtain this Resurrection in order to all the following Glories which the holy Spirit shall bring with him even so Anon. This Instruction being so immediately from the Lord carried great weight with it and made me resolve to wait upon the working Power in my inward Deep for the reducing of every divided Property to Unity for I was fully convinced that this Uniformity must be the Temple in which the holy Spirit will appear for the bringing of all working Powers to a heavenly Consort and Agreement I sate upon this day by day and as I found great drivings thereunto from the South Wind of Heaven so strong Storms were raised from the North with roaring Seas that lifted up their Waves to scatter and make void this holy Enterprize in injecting divers Temptations that such a thing as this could not hold or abide but would have its Overturnings and Changes for that nothing less than a God can always be in an equal Temperature and that this was rather the full effect of the holy Spirits coming than a Preparation for it Thus was I puzled and tossed to and fro in my Mind as if I were put upon that which could never be brought about or carried through to the desired End But the Lords Word was mighty and powerful to press me forward to this sweet and well ordered Composure of Mind to abide in an equal Temperature notwithstanding all that might come in to discourage me whether from those visible things or from the dark Principality which is much more hurtful in regard that they as Spirits can shoot in their Darts before we are aware so that this bath been my watchful Exercise for some days to resist what would have done Violence to that which in Concord and Peace would ever unshaken remain The holy One according to his friendly way and manner of Visitation did after all this exceedingly comfort and strengthen me to maintain his right of Conquest over all that which yet is left to vex and awaken Anxiousness or any Fear or Turmoile in the Soul My Jesus thus spake Consider and know thou art to hold fast what I have purchased by the fore-passed Death in thee as having assumed that Body of Sin to offer it up for a consuming Sacrifice once for all as was shewed in the Type of the visible Body which is now done again in the invisible So that you are to reckon and account your sins virtually done away they can claim no Law either to reign or condemn Look upon all Motions of this kind to be at the check of the Spirit who hath again quickned the dead and will no more give way to that which came in to flesh for to destroy And therefore let none pretend a necessity of continuing in that which hath brought in Confusion and Disagreement seeing a Redeeming Spirit is come down to renew and gather in the lost again to the divine Beeing from whence they did proceed at first pure as God is pure to which degree of Perfection that we may be restored again is the end of Christs Mediatory Office not only without but within us where the Body of Sin hath been yielded up for an Offering This confirming Word Christ the Lord who is arising left with me for them who have been in the Death with him that we henceforth may know our selves in him to be acquitted and released from all Claims which the evil Powers and Properties can make for upholding that Kingdom where the Beasts Throne is which consists of envy wrath strife from all which by an eternal Decree of the Lord Jehovah you are set free and brought into the Harmony of that Kingdom where the springing Joy from the Peace of God doth run as a River that hath its Division through all Properties for to bring them to the heavenly Unity whereby the Creature is set free from the Bondage of Sin and a wafaring Life according to the Pattern seen in the Mount of Vision to which my Spirit hath been oft taken up to see the wonderful Plat-form of the New-Jerusalem The Vision of the New-Jerusalem The Lord took me away from my mortal part and shewed me the Scituation of this great Glory and said Behold and see the Pattern of the heavenly Houses and Mansions which make up the New-Jerusalem where the Glory of the One only God doth fill all with the essential Light and Splendor of his divine goodness I shall as I am able describe what I did see in the Heavens of this Mother-City for so it was named to me who is to bring forth her first and free-born to replenish the New Earth and Heavens It appeared as a City sounded upon one square Stone whose Dimensions were very large It was all paved with light flaming Colours appearing like so many various sparkling Stones inlaid on the great Foundation Stone which gave forth a luster as if so many bright Suns had been there Towards the Verge or out-side of this square Stone were seen many Seraphick Bodies wreathing Arm in Arm and several rows of various spiritual Forms of different Ranks and Stature These Rews appeared like the Stories of a building which were carried up higher higher in a square Figure till it was wonderful high upon the Heads of the most inward glorified Bodies a Covering was spread by one more Diaphanous and of greater splendor than all the rest the Height of his Person was higher by the head then all the other who called to me out of this most glorious Building To take good heed of all I had seen for it had a further meaning which I was to have revealed when driven by the Spirit into the light Mystery where all deep things do open Oh my dear Lord be thou an All-springing Testimony within and from this New-Jerusalem My Spirit being drawn out for a further Enquiry concerning this New-Jerusalem state what the Appearance of it to us did signifie for this present time the Foundation Stone thereof gave forth this Word That such a City the mighty Cyrus would himself be the Founder of upon the visible Stage of this World although there be little appearance