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 29th. 1677.

As the Doctor was in Prayer, this word passed through me: Ye shall be marked with the Fathers Name; then no slaughtering weapon can harm you. Upon which word I much exercised my Mind; diving to know the Spirits mean∣ing, what that Mark would be, and af∣ter what manner it might be imprinted on us. And I as attended with all heed∣fulness, the rising Spring of pure Revela∣tion, it was thus given me to understand, That to be marked with the Father's Name, is no less than to be transformed into a Virgin Body. The bearing of this Name in the Forehead was shewn

to me, would be the putting on a visible Form of God, as considered in a glori∣fied Figure. Which may admit of such a kind of pure matter, as hath not been seen or understood: therefore it is well said, none can know or conceive what they may be changed into. Iohn in his Visions saw the Lord in several appear∣ances of Lustre and Glory. There are degrees of Celestial Clothing: Esaiah had a sight of God, that made him cry out, he was undone; seeing the dispro∣tionableness betwixt the brightness of a sparkling Glory, to a dark polluted Be∣ing. Likewise Ezekiel saw the flaming Majesty of Glory, that the very Sera∣phims covered their Faces at. Upon which the Spirit did set it home upon me, that we might not over-rate our selves, while the Lamp of our Eternal Spirits were but yet under the covert of a dark earthly Pitcher. For no Glory can shine out, till that be broken away from the internal Flame, that lieth hid within. Which is the true and right be∣gotten Spirit, who when it comes to call over its high and eternal pre-existency; considering what it was before it came into this Body, and taking in the Divine

Sense hereof, is not at rest, while yoaked and hanked with such course and putrified matter, as these fleshly Bo∣dies do consist of. Seeing therefore a Promise is left us, both in general and in particular for returning in, to such a refined corporeity, as may best agree with the pure Trinity; Let us draw up hereunto, with full assurance of Faith, that so we may hereby reach to this all-securing Mark: which will redeem us from among the Inhabitants of the Earth, and give us entrance to our own Hea∣venly Place. What is it that hath made all to die, and leave their Carcases un∣changed in the Region of this Wilder∣ness, but the resting satisfied in that cor∣ruptible form of Flesh in all its diseased properties? There hath been only a talk, and a belief concerning a Redemption, but all the highest have reached no fur∣ther, than a Regeneration in Part, and an illuminating of the Mind. But where is there, that fair Image of the Heaven∣ly, that shall never fade nor die, that our Lord verifies he would raise up in the last day? Which was declared to me, to be a Resurrection out of the Grave of that Mortal Body, which, at present, we

visibly carry as a Sepulcher: in which there may mistically lie hid, such a Spiritual Body, as only the Trumpet sound of all-powerful Faith can bring forth into visibi∣lity. That so to some it may be given to see the breaking through of that, which may resemble the Glorified Figure of him, who is the First-born from the dead. This is that Body, in which the Lord Christ did the Will of his Father: and we can never expect to go on to do it, but in the like Figure of all-powerful Spirituality. In which the Life-quick∣ning Spirit may have a suitable Organi∣cal Body to actuate it self, according to ••ts own original purity. Who by com∣ing into a terrestrial Form, that is only animated by a Life, which is from this visible Element, causeth the great contest and strife, so as the Spirit cannot do, or act, according to its own eternal pro∣perty. The which we now coming to understand, do see how by this animal Life of sense, we are bounded and limi∣ted from this we are made to seek after, our disappeared and paradisical Body. And truly, were it not for the provoca∣tion and strong instigation which I feel again from him, who would be unto us

altogether this immaculate body; I have enough strong Temptations from my sen∣sitive part, to acquit all such hopes and expectations, and to be satisfied with a mixed state, as to the one part heavenly, and the other part earthly the whole term of Life here. But having had so many remembrances by Voice and Vision, that constrained me to pry into this Mystery, and having many Testimonies from the Holy Scriptures to confirm what was se∣cretly revealed: which came in, and were opened to me, to prove the certainty and and lawfulness of such a Hope, as cannot make ashamed: I am not suffered to let go the Faith, and shall only in brevity men∣tion those, which were brought before me. As first, That of the 17 of Matt. Christs own Transfiguration, as the first fruits of this New Ierusalem state. Then that of the 3d of Iohn 6, 7, 8, verses, That which is born of the Flesh, is Flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit; though this hath been hitherto under∣stood only of the Birth of the Mind, and of the Souls Regeneration, yet a much deeper thing hath been manifested to me: to which I must give ear, to wit, the Fleshly Birth brings forth the Feshly Body, but the

Spirits Birth brings forth a Spiritual Bo∣dy. I am not ignorant of the many Ob∣jections, that will be made against most of these Scriptures by all such, as only do look through the vail of sense. Then again that of the 1st of the Cor. 15. be∣ginning at the 12th verse to the end of the Chapter; That whole Chapter is to be understood according to a transform∣ing sense. Then the 2d of the Cor. 5th. Chapt. 1, 2, 3, 4. all which shews the ex∣pectation of the Apostle in this matter. Then again, Rom. 8. 23. v. waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the redemption of our Body. That of Iohn 6th. Chapt. 49th. verse. Your Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness, and are dead, 50th. verse. This is the Bread that cometh down from Heaven, which a man may eat thereof, and not dye, 58th. verse. This is that Bread, which came down from Heaven, not as your Fathers did eat Manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this Bread shall live for ever. These pretious Scriptures did fully learn and satisfie me, that such an incorruptible state, that should never see death, was by us to believed in, Iohn 31. 26. And whosoever believeth in me, shall never die, believest thou this? Ma∣ny

more to this purpose were called over, and interpreted, which may come forth in their season; these for the present may suffice. These Holy Scriptures give us to know, That we, as to our visible Bo∣dies, are in a strange deformity; out of which, we may lawfully hope to be redeem∣ed. And whoever have Faith herein without wavering, may certainly see such a translation. For this word did sound in me, According as your Faith extends, so it will in this respect make an alterati∣on. Oh who, but such as are mighty in Faith, shall live to see the old Mark of of the Beast worn out, and the Fathers Name planted and engraven on us. Which will make us, as the sparkling Stones of a Crown lifted up, and as an Ensign, where the place of our Habitation, by the Most Holy shall be appointed.