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.

March the 12th. 1676.

The Interpretation of the First Vision.

Concerning this Vision, the Thoughts of my Head were, for the space of time, much troubled, till the revealer of Se∣crets did expound to me the meaning hereof. As to the first, which was the Woman with the Crown upon her Head. This was declared to be the Virgin-Bride of the Lamb, who came to shew her self made fully Ready, all Bright and Fair, as the Queen and Princess of Heaven. Who hath her place at the Right-hand of the Immanuel; for so much as this Woman is the Glory of the God-Man, who out of this masculine Nature is ta∣ken, according to the Figure of the first Paradisical Man, who brought forth that Eve, that was the Mother of all that li∣ved in the mixed Property of Good and Evil. All of which Off-spring the pre∣sent

visible World doth consist of, which to this Day is under the denomination of the fallen Creation: which hath been upon Restoring ever since the Relapse, but not yet Restored. What then has made it stick so long? Where is that Woman whose Seed must bruise the Ser∣pent's Head? Is she not yet made mani∣fest? Yes sure, she hath been known as to the first Figure hereof, to whom it was said, That this Eve, or first Woman should bring forth her Seed in Sorrow. It hath been also generally concluded, That out of this earthly Eve that Royal Seed should come, by which the Serpent in Nature should be destroyed, which was so suddainly introduced both into Adam and Eve. True it is that the genaelogy did so run from them, to the Birth of Christ after the Flesh, but yet not to be rec∣koned for Eves Seed: though God said to the Serpent, that he would put Enmity betwixt his Seed, and the Womans. But how is that to be understood? Not in the Line of natural Generation. Nei∣ther was it said that from such a Wo∣man, who lies under the Curse of Sin and Sorrow, that this blessed Birth should spring therefrom. Though in

Truth and Substance, a mighty and wonderful Birth was made manifest, wherein a deeper Mystery hath been couched than to past Time, and past Generations hath been Revealed. But now the Hand of Love begins to move, and the Covering is turning away off from such, who are turned in to know the Treasures of eternal Wisdom. The Spirit of Truth is verily at hand to drive and guide the pure Mind jointly with it self, into the Ocean-Mystery, which is God himself in his abstracted Deity, where∣into separated Spirits may very deeply dive, when they are departed from their Earthly Senses. This deep thing, which is upon revealing, I found like a boiling Pot of Oyntment, so sweetly flowing into my Intellectual part. Upon which my Mind as all in a flaming Light was enlightned to see, what under the Mantle did lie. Who according to eternal Counsel, was hereunto fore∣ordained, typically to be brought forth in the Line of Natural Virginity, even a Man or Sorrows, and acquainted with Griefs, and subjected to Sufferings, hi∣ding and covering by a Terrestial Form, that sparkling Star of the Deity: Which

also would have been obscured, if he had not again risen from the Dead. Which gave the Church a mighty Remove in that day, from shadows, into that which was more Spiritual and Substantial, through the giving of the Unction. Which hath from that Age striven migh∣tily, but the Man of sin still hath been too strong: witness those Complaints, to the very breaking Hour of Mortality, in them that are highest in the Birth-Mi∣nistration of Jesus, as working through humane Properties. But then an Ob∣jection must rise herefrom. If all this be too short, what more is there yet to come? Things now have long stood at a stay, what may we from the mighty God and everlasting•• Father more yet expect? that so the Temple Body of Jesus, may not still lie unperfected. Well, what more forceable can there be? then Christ in the Flesh, and Christ in the Spirit? Ans. To this there is an Answer, by the All-searching Spirit prepared, there is yet a Virgin Woman to be re∣vealed out from the Heavens, whereof Mary that bro••ght forth Christ accord∣ing to the Flesh, was but a Type. For it was neither Eve, nor she to whom the

Promise was made, concerning that Birth, which should bruise the Serpent's seven headed Power. There must be another Genealogy found out, from whence the Serpent-treader must also come. Look and see, and you shall find hereof is re∣corded, Rev. 12. To which place, I was by that Holy Ghostly Seer referred, as to a Foundation for this more Excelling Ministration. Iohn seeing this in Vision so long since, and nothing hereof yet produced, let not that seem so marvel∣lous in your Eyes, for Times decreed are in the Spirit, as known to God, in what Age in the World this Blessing will be most seasonably brought forth. Con∣clude ye may by Wisdom's Star, that hath appeared in your Heavens, that out-thence (if kept pure and clear) this great Wonder may follow, according as ye did see in the late Idea. But, ah my Lord, how is this to be understood? sure this Woman is not to be manifested in any one Particular, who is subsisting in a Cor∣poreal Substance. For she will come all arrayed in a Body Saphire-like, and not in the garb of the Mortal Creature, with the Globe of this World•• under her Feet. Therefore this Query meets with this,

Who living in this Principle, may expect such a Ray of Glory for to become a Co∣vering? And this was Answered, Where∣fore dost thou think, that it was cryed up for a Wonder, if it was not upon some extraordinary change, who though thus transformed into such brightness of Excellency, yet she is called a Woman: But the pure Heavenly Glory altogether, covereth the Creaturely Being. The sparkling Deity that was hid within, be∣comes the great and high amazement, a flaming Garment. This also will be ob∣vious to the right discerning Eye in this present Sphere, from whence will arise the admiration? and great questioning there will be, from whence this Woman did proceed? If any hereof shall make a doubt, how it can ever be on Earth? for Virgin Wisdom to draw over her Virgin Vail of Purity in some one or other, so as expresly to Personate her. Tell them from the Alpha and Omega, such a spotless Lilly will sprout out of the Immaculate Body, and shall be wa∣tered from the Heavens so fair and lovely, that she will be elected for the Lamb's Bride and Mate, who raised is to the high Eagle state, who may have Power

mount into the Heavenly Place, and a∣gain be sent therefrom, for such purposes and intents as here are premised. She be∣ing big with such a travelling Seed, as may break the Serpent's Head in de∣throning him, who hath got into the Heavenly Place. Where now expect, he will be cast out, as strong travelling Pow∣ers do take hold upon this Woman. These Pangs and Sorrows will differ much, from those that were in Eve's day; whose Sorrows greatly multiplied hereby, through a natural, vile, sinful Body: no hope whereof there is that ever it shall be destroyed, till this Birth of Births doth grow to ripeness in any such one. Who in Wisdom's Virgin likeness shall be bred up to the Wonder in Heavenly Places, from whence all Wonders shall go forth. For who, but this Man-child shall be the Ruler of Nations in all Soveraignity, no more under the Power of any Herod, or Pontius Pilate, to be arraigned unto Death? For he is immediately caught up unto God and his Throne, and from thence is to descend again; to bring up the Remnant of the Virgin-Seed, against whom the Dragon still makes War. But to each one, who belongs to this his King∣dom

of Priests, they shall be mightily born up upon his strong Eagle-Body, so as all the Dragon's Floods shall be too short to reach this high Eagle-Nest, which is prepared in the Heavenly Place. Up∣on this Rock of Strength, I, saith the Amen, will build my Virgin Church, who shall know no more any thing of the Number of the Beast, but shall be totally acquitted from Men of the earth∣ly quality. Therefore I give this Word to you in particular, that ye may know, there is somewhat of Grace to you pe∣culiarly by this Prophecy, which is upon renewing. Therefore consider hereof, and ponder it deeply: for to the pure chast Virgin Mind, much of this may happen suddenly. You daily from the Unction have received much in order hereunto; which Golden Talent I do expect should be improved, that so ye may further be trusted with more con∣siderable Dignities and Powers, tending to Wisdom's Star sparkling Crown, which to none is given, till they be quite driven out of the Worldly Principle. If now then ye can ascend with all your Might to this Tree of Life, you may find quick Removes to him, who is that Ghostly

overshadowing Power, who can impreg∣nate with this last all-saving Birth. O, saith the Spirit, that hereunto ye could give your selves without further debate, to the glorified Person of your Jesus; that the issue might be, to wit, a glori∣ous Son of Might, brought forth to all Wonderment.