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.

September the 16th. 1677.

The Interpretation of the Vision of the Pearl seen in the foregoing Para∣graph.

I coming to consider of the Pearl, it was by word given unto me, saying, This figures out the pretious Pearl of Faith, that shall again be given to the Saints for to work miraculously by. Who in long Patience, and Hope, have waited for the Manifestation of such Powers and Gifts, as become the Glory of the New Crea∣tion to shine forth in. This is that good∣ly Pearl, that is the Stock and Merchan∣dise that Wisdom doth be queath to such, who have sought to be Traffickers on those Substantials, as are to be found in the other side of the Glassy Sea. For nothing, that can be gathered up here, out of all this Worldy State, we can make any Heavenly Merchandise of. Therefore our Lord doth oft commend unto us this pretious Pearl of Faith, as well knowing, this is a Gift worth seek∣ing and looking after. It is such prizable

Jewel, if once in our possession, that we may have any exchange for it; do but send it out, from whence it came, and it will turn to treble advantage. But when I considered, that this Pearl had not made of late years upon any one such rich return; hereupon I questioned whether to any it should be given in these latter Ages. So it was given forth to me from a true and certain record, That though this supereminent and all trans∣muting Faith was the meer Gift of God; yet there was required those inferiour Acts of depending Faith to be put forth; by way of persuance of this, which crowns all the lower degrees, that must be as the ascending Steps to this Throne∣dominion, which is called Faiths Victo∣ry. So that the lower degree of Faith in us must reach after the highest, by a rest∣less seeking, and improving the present Faith attained. For that Scripture was repeated by a secret Eccho of the Spirit, Faith is the substance of things hoped for: The Faith in God will forcibly draw into possession him, who is the Author and Spring of this Almighty Faith, that can do whatever it pleaseth. Therefore it is said, seek, and ye shall find, that is, we

must grow from one ground of Faith to another, and not give over as fainting and disponding, till we ascend from Faith to Faith; so near to the heart of God our Father, as to affect him with such Faith as worketh by Love: that so the grand mystery of t••••s all-effecting Faith may be both revealed and dispensed as a Gift unto us; and then we have the Substance of whatever hath been hoped for.