A fountain of gardens watered by the rivers of divine pleasure, and springing up in all the variety of spiritual plants; blown up the pure breath into a paradise, sending forth their sweet savours, and strong odours, for soul-refreshing. By Jane Lead.

November the 4th. The Opening of this Parabo∣lical Vision.

IT was now given me to understand, what this did drive at. The first Angler that went, representeth the For∣ward and Willing Mind, that a Fishing would go to draw up out of the Broad River; wherein the Everlasting God is to be understood, who is said to be the Place of Broad Rivers; in which holy Spirits, as in their proper Element do live, and swim. Flesh cannot live in Water, but Fish is of another kind: which na∣ture the Holy Ghost doth present, as a Similitude for the New Creation, that will live and move much in the Watery Element, which is a Degree much be∣yond the Earth, though under Purga∣tions by Fire. Neither is Fish so gross or corruptible: but they are still under a Washing Stream, and therefore not

used for Sacrifices in the Old Law. Whereas all that is of Flesh is by that or∣dained for Burnt-Offerings, that it may pass through the Purgation in the Flames of the Altar. Now what the Sea and Rivers of this kind do feed and generate, must signifie a Generation of Creatures, that is nothing so course and bruitish as are the Earthly Beasts.

But from this it was shewn me, that this River figureth out God himself, and the pure Angelical Spirits, that move in God as in the Glassy Sea: wherein con∣tained are the vast Riches that none in Flesh can see, nor fathom; till they changed be into such a Body as in God their Watery Element to live, and there to swim, and dive for the unutterable precious Stones, to bring them up, ac∣cording as need doth require. It is not the Angling upon the Outside of the River, but the Adventuring into it will obtain the desired Prize. And consider what Bait is to be the attracting Matter, to draw both Spirits and Substances of this unto us. Now then it may needful∣ly be inquired into, what this Bait com∣pounded of is, for drawing Angelical Spirits, that will also soon draw us after

them? It was thus hereupon delivered to me, that it must be the Composition which consisteth of all those excellent Virtues, and Properties, that were and are in the Spirit and Nature of JESUS. For no other can attract and take in God, but what is so much like to God; who must be Signatured upon us. For else it will be as fruitless as when the Disoiples went a Fishing: till the Lord the true Angler come, no Draught could be fetched up. Even so this is to Instruct us, that we examin, whether or no we upon this High and Worthy Undertaking, do carry our full and compleat Bait with us, which is the precious smelling Spikenard of an humble, meek, and clarified Mind, that expresly answereth to the very Mind of JESUS. Then doubt we not, that we shall fail, of drawing to us Spirits sublime, that live in that pure Climate, where we shall with them most willingly back plung in, and in a pure Body swim always under the Stream of these Waterings. Jesus the Lord our Bait and Angle will be: Then in what Riches shall we excell? Oh this all∣worthy is of our Consideration, in the Element of this Water of Life how to

live, and appear for a while as Drowned and Dead; till that we shall arise and swim with the rich Pearl in our Mouths. Then will it be cryed, This the Christ indeed, that hath the great Draught brought up, through sinking down into Faith's Obedience. Who now venture will to walk upon these Living Waters, wherein the Healing Medicine is, but such Hero's in the Faith, as will not a∣fraid be, to dive into the Bottom of this River deep? For otherwise the Rich Prize, which is in the Fishes Mouth, can never be caught up. The Wise in Heart, who by the pure Spirit have been taught, will what is by the Parable meant well understand.