September 24. 1678. the Passover.

From the open flowing Spring, as beholding in a Crystal Stream, how, and after what manner, Redemption is to be wrought out. (For which the piercing Unction doth bore the Ear for to hear, what is further to be yielded in order hereunto;) This Word in a pure soft Breath did run through, giving a charge, that no Leaven should be found within our Habitation. For the Lord's Passover is at hand, in which he will rise, and go before us. And his invisible Armies shall deliver that which hath been under secret Oppression. But then forbear we must of the old Leavening lump, any more to taste: since the Flesh of the Holy Lamb, is now to be our Meat, with the pure Blood of the Grape.

Whereby the strength of Spirit will feelingly increase.

[This is the Passover of the Philadelphian Church, whom a Trumpet from the Heavens doth now call, to go forth out of the Land of their Captivity, and out of this House of Bondage; wherein they have been so long made to serve after the manner of the rest of Mortals. The Voice of which Trumpet hath been frequently heard by this Author, as She doth elsewhere sufficiently declare, in the several Treaties by Her hitherto Published. And a Scheme of this Blessed State hath been given down from above, by the Hand of this dear Instrument, in order to a Figuration, or Formation of the same, that must of necessity precede its Vivification or Animation.

Accordingly as it was some Days after most expressly and emphatically shewn, in the manner following, by a Figurative Representation. And for this end the Divine Wisdom hath seen it expedient, and necessary, to call forth this Third Volume of the Openings of the Spirit into Light: that it may be a lively Portrait, Pattern, and Model, in this and the approaching Age, whereby to excite Faith accordingly, so that hence a Spirit entering into it, this may come to be perfectly Animated, in many who shall Read, and Believe, what is here delivered from the Revealer of these deep and mysterious Things; who also is the Worker of them.

And he cannot cease to Work, till all this be brought to pass, according to what is in the Idea, or Pattern, exhibited: that so the great Triumphant Passover may be Celebrated, and the Song of the Lamb be Sung; which none can Sing but such as shall hereby, through high Divine favour, attain to the Glorious Mark of the First Resurrection, as upon the Holy Hill of SION, where is to be the Seed of the Love-Kingdom: and upon which the Philadelphian first Fruits are to be gathered. This may suffice for the better understanding the Connexion with that which follows.]