The Revelation

[Margin note: The Most Certain way of true Revelation.] BUT now I shall come to describe the true and more certain way of divine Openings and Revelations. Know then, where Holy Consecrations and special Separations, as the foregoing Preparation have been to this high Ministration, those are, such as may come to feel in themselves the one essential Birth of Life to spring: which is not to be catched in by verbal Comprehension, Knowledge or Understanding. No such thing. But the Spirit of Truth and Revelation openeth himself in the fiery Essence of the Soul, in a sweet silent stillness, where out all thoughts are excluded; then doth the light Ray of the Deity rise, and overshadow and fill the Temple of the Mind with Light and Glory; then will the Soul sink away deeper and deeper into the Abyssal Being. Where the greatest of Wisdom’s secrets are to be known. When the Spirit of the Soul can, after this manner steal and slide away from * Time and Mortal Day; then open stands that Gate that giveth entrance to behold the glorified Beings, and to hear the Language of that Light World, which none else can hear but them that are got out of the noise of all other hearings, into that still and silent Deep. Where most pleasant, joyful Voices and Sounds are heard, which entering in through the several Organs, as a fiery Breath: and nothing of vocal Words is either required or needed there. Now then by this you may judge, that pure and unadulterated Revelation and Vision of a true sight, is not so quickly rushed into, nor easily attained: It is a great and peculiar Gift; and also requires great watchfulness, and attendance upon it, if any would enjoy and hold it incorruptedly. And that there may be no Deceit in this Matter, when you come to try your Own and Others Spirits, take this Observation further with you, If any one brings out a Prophecy or Revelation, take notice what Defensive Power, and Guard it hath upon it. The beloved John, when he had all those Visions and Revelations, gives an account how they were seen and heard by him; for saith he, I was in the Spirit on the Lords day (and a good proof there was of it) as much as if he had said, That it was neither Mans nor Mortals Day that did rise and inclose upon him; but the one everlasting Day, or Antient of Days, in whose Light he had the glorious Prospect of Heavenly Things themselves. Thus he was in the Spirit, which was his Defensive Power and Guard, to keep out all other trifling Spirits. * How blind to Time, must that Eye be, Who sees the Glories of Eternity? Sure those who Heaven most desire, They from all of the Earth do most retire. Observe this further, it is a much different thing for the Mind and Spirit of the Soul to be caught up into the Spirit pure and abstractedly; for then it is secured from mixtures: but when the holy Spirit is come only into the Propertys of our Souls, giving forth lustrous Light and Revelation, and inspeaking fluently; yet it is hazardable to be twisted about from the self-promoting Essence, that ready and apt is to dash in upon the Divine Inspiring, as soon as it arise from its own Central Deep. This I speak knowingly; have traced through the deep Meanders, before I arrived to know the true and certain Way of Revelation: by which now I am put out of doubt concerning the true Oracle speaking in the Center of the Soul, as to my own particular; through watching thereunto with all heedfulness, for the keeping out all fluttering Spirits, that have both their Birth and Nourishment from the Astral and Elementary Region; and that can go in and out for proving, till we are got beyond their Kingdom. Now indeed when the Spirit of the Soul meets with such a pull up into the Spirit, as the beloved Disciple, then it is out of all fears: But this is very Rare; they are Heaven’s high Favourites, that do frequently meet with such transportations. The other is more Common; and frequent to Saints that lovers and enjoyers, are of That Ministration, for whose sake I have been impulsed to open these Secret Things: that they may exiled be to put on their impregnable strength of Defense, for the preserving this Great Immunity, as the choicest of all of Gods favours; and that incorruptedly, as from the pure spring of the Spirit. Then you will find every Faculty of the Soul tinged with the fiery Glance of the Holy Ghost; as you see by the dark and hard body of Iron: which being inclosed with Fire, is so penetrated therewith; as it becomes as it were one and the same Fire-flame. But you must keep and feed it there as the Salamander, which always liveth in the Fire. After this manner doth the Holy Ghost, with his invisible flaming Body, penetrate through the Spirit of the Soul; that it is encompassed with Light, as was the Angel, which is said to be (Rev. 19.17) standing in the Sun, or, all appearing as the very Sun of Glory. Therefore highly valuable it is, for any Saint to get such a clothing of the Spirit upon them. For nothing of Adam’s weak or impotent Nakedness can here be seen; but all glory, strength and power will be your Habitation. These are gifts to be much set by and desired; and not slighted or despised. Now having given a plain and experimental Account of this nice and difficult Point, which I hope may have reached to the satisfaction of the doubtful; I shall now, by virtue of an Heavenly Commission given me from the Lord, give counsel and caution, to three sorts and degrees of Persons. [Margin note: The first Caution to the Disputers and Infidels.] The First of this is to them that do question, Whether there be any Spirit of Prophecy or Revelation, given forth since the Apostles deceased? as believing all dyed with them. This would be a sad and deplorable thing, if God should since that Age cut off the spring of Revelation from its original, so that the Sheep and Lambs of Christ’s Flock should no more expect to be fed from the fresh springing Pastures, where no footing hath been, or to drink of those flowing Rivers of Life, that renew daily from the Fountain of the Godhead. Let such but call to mind and consider those many Scripture-Prophecies, and Promises, concerning the continuation of this Gift unto the very end of time; both in the Old and New Testament: I shall mention only some of the latter; John 14.16,17,18,21. 2 Cor. 4.6,13. I Cor. 2.10,11,12,13,14. John 3.27. Eph. I. 17,18,19. Heb. 8.9,10,11. I. John 2:27,28. Many more than these Scriptures could call up for confirmation of the continued Run of the Spirit throughout all Ages; Christ by his Spirit comforting us, saying, Lo he would be with His to the end of the World. Now, as from the Lord, I beseech you, not to Eclipse the Light of the Day-Star (2 Pet. I.19) in your own Souls, nor quench the Spirit, nor despise Prophecying; then may the Witness of Jesus rise in you, to confirm This most glorious Ministration, as a burning Lamp of Revelation. [Margin note: The second Caution, To the Initiated in the First Priestly Order.] A word of Love-caution is to another sort of Persons, who are entred into This Ministration, in its first degree, and are under the Spirits discipline and teaching: To such the Word of Counsel, from the Father of Spirits, is this, That they keep precisely to the Rules and Laws of the Spirit. For there will be expected from such more shining and singular Conversation, shewed forth in a self-denying Life: by dying to all of those mortal things, and sensual enjoyments, that strangle and choke the fiery Breath of the Holy Spirit; to stop it from kindling further, and deeper in the Soulish Essence: that so there may be a coming up to a mighty Increase in the nature of Christ, and Fruitfulness in the love and unity of the Spirit; having all tenderness to support, love and cherish each Olive Plant, that springeth out of this Eden-Garden. Which is watered by the holy Mists and dropping Dews of the Divine Spirit. [Margin note: The third Caution, to the Illuminated of the Second Order.] Now to the third sort: This Word of Wisdom and Counsel doth greet them, whom we discern to be of a high and lofty Stature, having shot forth their Branches in great lustre and glory, as having got beyond all declarative Revelations and Teachings, as not receiving or needing any but what their center of Light will supply them withal; and so here from inclining to slight what lies in bank and store, with their fellow Labourers for this same Treasure. To such this word is sent, that they carry it in great humility and lowliness of Mind, preferring each ones Gift before, or as their own, maintaining all sweet and lovely Fellowship, with those of lower or higher degrees, in mutual Concord and Harmony; for the maintaining a holy Fraternity, and spiritual Neighbourhood. Although each Saint may have a full Provision, and plentiful Portion of Spirit in themselves, so as they have no dependence on another; yet Love is freely communicative, and disperseth it self in great variety. So as what one Saint is gifted and furnished with, the other may want of that sort and kind: and so an Heavenly Traffick and Correspondency may be maintained; feeding and feasting with each other, on the various Fruits, as all springing from one Stock and Tree of Life. For it is experienced, that much increase of the holy Anointing hath flown forth, by the converse and declaration of divine Inspirations, from one Saint to another: the which hath begotten a new and spiritual Generation, as in former Ages, so in this; sending forth divine sparks of Light and Love, for the gathering in of the holy Priestly Train, that are to make up the Temple-Glory. Till the which shall come to be compleated, there will be all need of this holy inspiring Breath to be breathed from one to another, whether by vocal Voice, Inspeaking or Converse: according as the holy Spirit shall go forth in its various Operations; for the edifying of the Body of Love, for a holy Convocation to the Lord.