THIS Book is an Explication upon the Apocalypse, very Different from All that have been Before. It contains in it many things Uncommon, some of which are indeed hard to be uttered; and therefore difficult to be comprehended, except perhaps by some Few that may have their Senses Exercised to Mystical and Spiritual Objects. Notwithstanding there are many other things herein declar’d, that may be of more General Edification to all the Sincere Waiters for the Kingdom of God; which is here shewn to consist Primarily in an Essential Manifestation of the Powers of the Holy Ghost within the Soul, really and effectually displaying those Wonders and Glories that are foretold in that Divine Revelation, which is the Testimony of JESUS to his Church. As such ought it to be Rever’d, and as a Book fit to make Wise as many as Read the same, with an Humble and Stedfast Dependance upon that Spirit, from whence it proceeded Originally: So far is it from having a Tendency to make any Mad, that come to it but with prepared Hearts, as some Despisers of this Sacred Book have not been Afraid, or Asham’d, Publickly to Avouch; to the great Reproach of that Holy Religion which they profess, and Despight to the Holy Ghost the Author and Inspirer. Whose Portion therefore, unless they Repent, is among Mockers.
But it is not at all to be wonder’d at, if there be many that Mock at the Mystical and Hidden Wisdom of God; and some that Scoff at the Promise of the FATHER concerning the Kingdom of his Son, as foretold by his Holy Prophets, with the Highest Contempt and Derision of them that Obey a most clear, express, and even inculcated Command of Christ (Rev. I.3 & 22.7) still crying out, where is the Promise of This his Coming, and of these Glorious Things which you tell us of? For they are Foolishness to the Natural and Carnal Man, and to the Wise of This World: but they are the Power of God to such as are taught in his School; and will not be Rejected, but Justified by all the true Disciples and Children of Wisdom. And let the Despisers say what they will, it must still remain an infallible and an unchangeable Truth, what the Holy Ghost hath said, Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the Words of this Prophesy [which is called the Apocalypse (or Revelation) of Jesus Christ] and keepeth those Things that are written therein. That this Blessing may be obtained, was the end both of Writing and Publishing this Prophetical Interpretation of It. Wherein a new way of Reading and Hearing the same is propounded, and the most effectual Method of Keeping and Benefiting by those Great Truths therein contain’d, is experimentally Deliver’d. And tho’ it be not after the Manner of a Commentary, yet the Greatest part of this Divine Book, as to what is most Essential, is sufficiently Commented upon in this so singular Way; for the Benefit of as many as seek to obtain the Blessing, pronoun’d upon the Readers and Hearers thereof in Spirit. Who also will not fail to be the Doers. Those will be Here found Describ’d under the Twelve Gates of Wisdom, and the Three Orders of the Priesthood.
The Rareness of this Treatise being such, as for some of the Copies to be Sold at a Very Excessive Rate, This Edition has been call’d for at this Time, with no small Importunity: Which hath some Advantages above the Former, that are not Inconsiderable. For by Revising it according to the Original some pretty Gross Faults have been Amended, some Defects Supplied, and others Rectify’d from the Authors Mouth: besides the whole is Distinguish’d into Chapters, several Transpositions duly Order’d, and an Appendix added for the Resolution of Certain Questions address’d to the Author, concerning some Difficulties, both in This and some other Late Publish’d Writings.
The Reader also is desir’d to take Notice that This Book is the First of all the Writings of the Author, that was Design’d for the Publick, having been also seen by her Spiritual Friend, of whom mention is made in the DIARY, before his Decease in the Year 1681. But that the Heavenly Cloud which was Written after it, was Publish’d before it by way of Introduction. And it is to be observ’d, that herein is laid the Foundation most clearly, of a certain Doctrine which the Author was then very little Acquainted with, and seems not to have been Establish’d in till about Fourteen Years after. And this not being so much as suspected by the Author, may be a stronger Motive for Consideration.
Lastly it is needful to Advertise, that this Spiritual or Mystical Interpretation of that Part of Scripture which is generally Agreed on to be the most Difficult of the Whole Bible, doth not preclude any other Sense or Interpretation which is more External, or more Universal: nor doth at all Derogate from the Divine Authority of It, by shewing how It hath need of a Divine Interpreter. For the Author acknowledgeth, that such only was the Talent given to Her: to another may be given another Talent, to Profit with all. And undoubtedly it will be found that all Human Literature and Wisdom are greatly too short, without the Assistance of a Divine Ray, to find out the Mystick Profundites of that Wonderful Prophesy. It is the Spirit of God which can only search out, and Reveal, these Deep Things of God; which is without all Peradventure the Best Interpreter of Holy Scripture. And if It be the Interpreter of the whole Scripture, or of the whole Will of God; surely there can be no Pretences for Rejecting it in that Part which is confessedly the most of all Abstruse. If it be True therefore which the Church of England Asserts, in conformity with other Reform’d Doctors, in her Second Homily of the Scripture, That the Revelation of the Holy Ghost Inspireth the true Meaning of the Scripture into us; nothing in the World can be more Absurd, than to condemn the Book which is Here Presented to Thee, O Reader, for pretending to be a Revelation, concerning the Apocalyptical Seals and Thunders, and concerning the Glorious State of the New Jerusalem upon Earth, therein Foretold; or to be an Interpretation Divinely Inspir’d, by an Internal and Experimental Manifestation of those Mystick Truths, in the Unsealing of those Seals in the Soul, opening the Voices of the Thunders, and Discovering of the State of Christ’s Kingdom; or for taking the Name thence of the Revelation of Revelations. Which has so much need of unvailing by the Divine Spirit, being indeed Veil’d from all but the Enlighten’d Eye; and most specially as to the Grand Mystery therein contain’d. Which Mystery, being the Hidden Mystery of the Light-Kingdom within the Soul, is the Main Subject of This Treatise. Let the Spiritual Reader Judge of what is Written therein, according to the Measure of the Spirit of Christ which he possesseth. Giving all the Glory to the Revealer Alone, who is the Great Teacher and Master of Souls; and leaving what he may not Understand, or Receive, to the Determination of Him who is Coming to set All things to rights in his Church.
Erasm. De Rat. Conc. lib. I
Erat vehementer qui credit se consequi posse verum Canonicarum Scripturarum intelligentiam, nifi afflatus eo Spiritu quo prodit sun.
Be the first to react on this!
