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 Jerusalem. By J. Lead.

Iuly the 24th. 1677.

The word of Admonition was given unto me: Take heed unto the Spirits Doctrine, and continue stedfast in the things, which ye have learned, and have been assured of, knowing of whom ye have received them.

From these words it was shewed me, that it was not sufficient that we were under the distillings of the Spirit-doctrine to drink it in, so as to let it pass away again; but this word of Truth was to dwell, and to be deeply rooted in us, as it is brought forth into a plain discove∣ry, by way of Precept. For in this day, the Word of the Lord coming to any one immediately, is so rare and pretious, that God looks that they whom he shall here∣with favour, should more than ordinari∣ly set by it: and wisely observe, and make great improvement of this more excellent Ministry. For every slight neglect, or disobedience is weighed over, as done aga•••••••• the Love, which not being answered by the fruits of Love again, will cause the Spirit to retire to its own

center. Therefore henceforth live by every word that shall proceed from the Spirit.

This Councel did very much reach my Soul, engaging all the Faculties of my interiour Mind, lest at any time I should let slip any word so expresly spo∣ken unto me from the Spirit; for it is love, and grace, worthy of all acceptati∣on. And I must own it is good dwell∣ing under the droppings of this Fruitful Bough, which is loaden with all sweet Hony-dewes; that no sooner are touch∣ed with the twig of Faith, but the Eye of the Heart is both enlightned, and is therewith highly refreshed, as with its true natural food. Therefore One, many Ages past, experienced this, when he cried out, Oh, how sweet are thy words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than hony un∣to my mouth. The respect that the Most Holy, and Worthy Ones will have for this Living Testimony, will be eviden∣ced by a disrespect and a real disgust to whatever, is not given out from a fresh annointing. For the Right-born Spirit trieth all by its tast; it can know old stores that has not that juicie Life and vigour in it: like Fruits that have been long plucked off from the Tree, or like

a Flower that hath lost its true Life-scent, by being cut off from the springing Root; and so both Fruits and Flowers, though once fresh and good in their proper time, yet when laid up, and their moisture gone, and dried up, are no longer so. And this is well known and discerned by such a Spirit, as has liberty to go into the Vine∣yard, and Garden of God to pluck fresh, and gather according to present spend∣ing. And although there has been a li∣ving upon an old Store laid up, yet know it is not to be so always. The seven years Famine of the Pretious Word, and Ministry of the Spirit is come to an end with some already. Who have made use of it for those ends designed: which was to sow their ground with it, and that by the hand of the true Seedsman, the Spirit, who hath made choice of good and well-prepared ground to cast in that, which will, bring up a fresh Crop of Spiritual Plants, and so still. As it was in an inward Idea shewn me, A Field of Corn, when ripe, it sheds it self into the same ground, out of which it sprang, and so renews Food again: Even so the Eternal Grain of the Living Word sowes it self, and thereby we have

it fresh in all its springing variety. Now who once have a Seed of a right kind, and a Ground or Holy refined Mould, choicely separated from all vile and earth∣ly mixtures, they may promise them∣selves such a wonderful rich encrease, as thereof not only to feed the Mouths of their own hunger, but may furnish others with this Life-bread, which springeth out from this Celestial Grain. Which will not come up barely as it en∣ters into the pure soil, but it will be still shooting up and altering it self till the gross Body of it be changed into a more excellent property: even so the Ce∣lestial Grain sown in good Ground will not come up bare Grain, but it will bring up with it the Stalk of Plenty and Fruitfulness with it self, even the one Stalk with sevenears; which number sig∣nifieth the seven Spirits before the Throne, in which subfists Perfection.