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.

Iune the 3d. 1677.

Upon this Manifestation and Councel of the Spirit, I found all my internal Powers strongly knit together, to find out this more sure and all-sufficient Pro∣vidence. For there was somewhat in me of Infinite Being, that was too great to be kept under the tuition and law of that, which was earthly and terrestrial. From out of the bounds of which, my Spirit would break away, to live to obey that Law of Faith: which hitherto no Adeptist, that I know, hath arrived to. Which hath failed as to my own part, be∣cause so oft have I given place to self-reasoning; being by a Foster-Mother so long brought up in that way, that death it is therefrom to withdraw. But taught I am, not to favour my Life herein, though daily solicited hereunto by thou∣sands of Spirits. Who do cry, spare that delicate natural thing, which this world doth glory in. For indeed it hath car∣ried all in a forcible stream: but now, in Spirit I do see, this great Volative will be dried up. For this Night I did see

by way of Vision, a muddy Sea boyling as a Pot; but under it to my great mar∣vel, there was an invisible Fire hidden under the Mud and Water. Which I did view; thinking at first sight nothing less, but that the Fire would there be choak∣ed: but it did get the Victory. And in the Morning, as I was hereof consider∣ing, it was opened to me, that this Mud∣dy Sea was the natural rational Life, that must be purged by Fire; till all consumed it be in such, who like worthy Champi∣ons shall come to shew themselves, in the Life of Faith. I did also see a Clear Water separated from the Muddy Wa∣ter: which by the Fire was driven up∣ward, as if it had been a Spring. From whence it was given me to understand, That there was a pure Heavenly Matter, which when the Celestial Fire did work in any, it would separate from the gross and evil quality. This Muddy Sea was said to be the rolling Motions, that work from the common sense of earthly things, taken into the Mind: which makes it soul and muddy. Now what can purge this but fire, that lieth in the deep beneath: which gradually worketh through it, by virtue of an Eternal force,

and might, when once struck in, by the Saphire Stone of the Deity. Then it inkindles every property, and becomes a pure Fire Element, which suffers nothing combustible to mix with it. After this I did see, when the Fire had got the mastery of this pudled Sea, that it be∣came all as a bright Firmament, and there sprung up a wonderful Tree.