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.

October the 26th. 1677.

The first part of the Night, I spent in recollecting and calling over this whole Weeks Transactions, which I had little satisfaction in. Because it was not upon such a Service, as it was meet, I should ever and always be found imploied in. For whatever of the necessary concerns of this temporary Life did call me off, from this Heavenly Calling, it became as Gall and Wormwood, and brought a heaviness upon me. So that I made my ••pplication in the deep inward sense hereof, that if possible, no more such Earthly matters should croud in upon us,

Who had so much avowed our selves the Lords Servants only to be, and therefore our Spirits could no otherwise be but troubled, when hurried by that, which was so great a Set-back to our Spiritual Profession, that is in imitation to our Lord Jesus in his Holy Priesthood. While I was considering the closeness of this Work, I was cast into a Sleep: and I was sud∣dainly awaked by one that called, and said, If you do not take good heed, and quicken your Pace, a dark Mist from the Earth will rise upon you, and then you will be prevented of entring into the Third degree, where is no Eclipse. Which Word I took hold off, for it came, very seasonably. Some space of time after in the same Night, I went in Spirit to One, that also was herein concerned with me, to give him a Spiritual caution, and be moaned with him the loss of time. And the same Person, whose Figure was named to me, appeared in a White Gar∣ment ••ullied with black dust: so taking notice hereof, it was advised to put it off, and another to be put on. But it was spoken in my hearing, That will also be de••iled, without you keep in that upper right-Hand way, where no miery Waters

overflow, nor Winds do blow to raise the dust below. Upon which W••••••d I considered, never to walk in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this World, and to keep our N••iz••••i∣tical Life unspot••ed, would be a mighty Victory, Having such ho•••••••• Provoca∣tions, to be herewith overcharged, and so our Minds corrupted. For we have but one Heart, which if it be chased as a Roe and H••r•• upon the barren Hills, and thorny De••••rt ••f this World, where will the most Holy find a rest for himself in us: who will no•• set one Foot into the door of our Minds, if we be par••ing with co••t••ary Spirit, that ••as••eth into us earth∣ly Fumes and Vapours? Thus I was made to see the bi••ing of the Serpent at our Heel, as we did walk in the Way of the Earthly Inhabitants. So my Mind was made serious and watchful herein, lest herewith overtaken, our Hearts invaded upon should be. Therefore this way of prevention was revealed unto me, that we might preserve the Virgin-Purity for her true Mate, in these fol∣lowing Rules.

The First Rule I had given, was to be true to the Solemn Contract, and Espou∣sal 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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Vow, which we had made, to wit, to be the only Bride to the Lamb.

2dly. To be found always at home in the Spirit, in a waiting posture, setting all things in order, minding only the entertaining of this our betrothed Hus∣band; sending out burning Floods of Love, to bring him into the close cen∣tre of the Heart.

In the third place, Be found in clean and whi••e Linnen; that he may be de∣lighted with your Innocency and Naza∣rite Purity. Then another sort of a higher degree, may be put upon us, as was shewed me.

In the 4th place, Have always that, which may be most pleasant to his tast: therefore bring forth those choice Fruits, which the Tree of Love and Life doth bear. And then it was testified unto me, that this holy Order maintained, would give us an escape; and no trouble should be in our Habitation, because the Lord Iehovah Shammah will dwell in us, and will cut off all, that attempts us to invade.