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.

April the 26th. 1677.

As I was considering of the openings which I had, of that Vision relating unto the Cherubim-birth, which was hatched under the Hand of the Power: This Query arose in me, how the Spirit of this New Creature was sustained? And

which way it could draw in that food, that constituted it to be of that strength and excellency of Body, and Spirit, that it could mount away, as a Dove into an unknown Orb? Ah, my Lord, what man∣ner of Birth is this? Shall such a Birth ever be known to have existency in this terrestial sphere? Sure such a Birth is only meet to be Born, where is a pure and unmixed Element, which may not be in strife against it. For verily it is hard and very difficult for such a Birth to be nursed and brought up to perfecti∣on, where all things work cross, rising up against it. Because it is a strange Child that beareth not this worlds Image; as for example in our Lord Je∣sus, his Birth being extraordinary, and marvelous, so soon as it was but noised abroad, Councel was taken for to de∣stroy him: nay he had much ado to live out his determined time; but as he pre∣served himself by his inward virtual Bo∣dy upon every storm and assault. The world that lieth in the evil of darkness, could not bear such a Light to live a∣mongst them, whose life was that which did reprove them; Therefore it is no needless question to ask of the most high

Wisdom, how in this Age such a Birth may be succoured and sustained, till it hath got a body of might and fortitude, which no weapon can destroy or hurt. The resolve must be fetched up from the deepest of all centers, as it is a matter of the most primary consequence to them, who have such a Birth in such a dange∣rous Principle for to bring up; a Birth which is from the power of the over∣shadowing hand. Hence then for satis∣faction to this Query, saith the all know∣ing Spirit, be it given you to understand, That every Birth of what kind soever, brings along with it, through the wise Provision in Nature its own nutriment. That which is of corruptible seed, hath what answers to it, of its own perishing Quality. What feeds on flesh, either as to its fleshly mind or body shall suffer loss to purpose; though all the care be to prop and nourish it to make it a well favoured piece of mortality. Which to the most holy is a strange Similitude, which he hath no delight to see, or know his own any longer in. Therefore he inciteth and calleth to look after another Birth, that may be all of Quintessential matter, of the very Nature of the Deity,

such a pure thing may have corporal hu∣manity a while, for its visible case. As your Immanuel had assumed, as the gar∣ment of Sackloath; in which he hum∣bled himself for the sins of the world, and for that end sacrificed it: Who, though he took it up again, it was for the manifestation of greater wonders by it, through various changes, which it was made the subject of. For in that some∣times he was known, and then again in such a figure unknowable to them, who were daily conversant with him. Who after that the pleasure and design of the Father was in that body finished, then the power of the inward spiritual body was manifested to anatomise the visible humanity, for that was not to pass into the Heavens. From all which learn we to discern, where the Christ like birth with his spiritual body is, though cloud∣ed with a corporeal figure. And that ye may not be mistaken, take these special signs, to know where it is truly fixed or impressed.

First then know, this overshadowing hand, through which this birth doth spring, incompasseth only, what is Para∣disical ground: there it drops in, its golden

seed. This ground in its true native Virgin pureness, must be separated from the common cursed matter, of what pro∣duceth the earthly birth. These two different soyles are to be found in the first Adam's generative off-spring, but it is so mingled and overrun with the dark muddy element, that great care, labour and painful industry is used for its reco∣very out, by the wise and learned Spirit in the heavenly Chymistry, rightly to prepare for this holy Birth. Which will be easily known from the course and ru∣dimental, that is in the image of the earthly.

For first, here is a pure conception, as from the high and pure radical infusive Spi∣rit, that quickens the Virgin soil, and so co∣operates it into a spiritual Body, that it may be all of one, and the same pure, clear, undefiled, subtile matter with the quickning Spirit: that you may know, what that is, which contributes to the Christ-like Births, wherewith it will be one and the same, that it may degenerate in nothing, from the first perfection and pattern of his Life. But only this hea∣venly man may be excused, from that personal suffering in the tragical part, as

an outward death. Which will not be required upon the same account, having finished the mystery of the mystical death, through this Birth taking place, and bearing dominion over the outward. But now to resolve that Question, What this Birth that is from above, which is coagulated into one unmixed matter must live upon in the house of humanity. Which for a time it must be brought up in, as Christ himself was, and tempted with the evil fruits, that will be daily proffered from the market of this world, but yet in no danger, though in minori∣ty. For it is left under the guardian Spirit, who warns it what to abstain from; whose nature and composition is of such heavenly essentiality, that it in∣clines naturally to obey the Paradisical laws. Which is the second character of this New Creature.

Then again in the third place, while but in its Infancy, it will suck of no other, but its Eternal Virgin Mother; lay it to any other, and it will be sick to Death. And if at any time contrary Food is forced upon it, it doth presently Vo∣mit it up. Then when grown to a fur∣ther degree of strength, not only

the pure Milk of Wisdom, its Mother, those living Precepts of her Word, but the very Body of the Deity, which is the spiritual Flesh Christ spoke of, and the Blood the Milk of the Word. But when come to that Age, as to be able to take and feed upon that Body, that is extracted out of the very Being of all Eternal Spirits, of what kind must this be brought forth? but even such a Ce∣lestial Body, as Christ told them, could never taste of Death. For as he did live by the Father, by feeding upon the very power of the God-head. So like∣wise that Birth, which was of this ex∣traction, should live eternally, by feed∣ing it self upon his divine Flesh. Your Fathers, saith he, did eat Manna, and are dead, but I the Bread of Life will sustain you, and thereby immortalize you, if ye henceforth do feed upon no other, but me the Tree of Life. It was further revealed to me, That the Mould and Paradisical Matter was found in us, and brought out of all dispersions into one holy lump, formed and quickned by that pure azure stream or breath, which did present it self by way of Visi∣on. And this in process of time might

come to be no less than God manifested in our fleshly forms of Corporeities; therefore let us be careful and watchful over it, and to hide it under the shel∣tering hand of the everlasting power; forasmuch as it is enclosed with a terrestrial form, as its house, where the light of the Sun, Moon and Stars of this Visible Region did break in, and there∣by would assume a government over it: which might bind, and keep it under, as upon the outward elementary Spirit. This was my fear and jeoperdy. Con∣cerning which, the everlasting Comfor∣ter did satisfie me, declaring, This was a free birth, not subject in any respect to the rudiments of this world, because, that nothing of these essences did there∣with mix. N•• depravity in the Nature of sin was here infused. Therefore this Birth may stand upon its royal freedom; for to be born free from sin is a great and mighty thing. Therefore know your New Birth-prerogative, and come not under the power of what this holy inspiring breath is come to set at liberty from. For the true Heir is a Son of Li∣berty, in bondage to nothing, when once he comes to know himself, he will

then assume that Sovereignty, which shall make the corporeal life bow unto him. Nay, as this encreaseth, and grows up to its princely greatness, this Land will be too strait. For out of Egypt God will call this his Heir, through all terrestial Walls and Gates, to come up unto that free City, where the Trinity in Majesty will give out their sealed Commissions, for what this Birth of might and excellency hath further for them to do in this low Region. For that which hath been, as the high build∣ed wall of Perdition, betwixt these Prin∣ciples, and the Mountain upon which the New Ierusalem stands, by such strong Angels as these, you shall see broken down without tool or weapon; and pas∣sage made, which the Eagle Eye of this Birth will spy, and will be so skilfull, as to know its way through the cloudy Air, to mount Sion Hill, the mystery of God in both Principles to fulfill.