(The Revelation) 08 - CHAP. II.

[November 16.] THE Holy One, according to his friendly way and manner of Visitation, did after all this, exceedingly comfort, and strengthen me to maintain his right of Conquest, over all that which yet is left to vex, and awaken Anxiousness, or any Fear or Turmoil in the Soul. My Jesus thus spake, Consider, and know thou art to hold fast what I have purchased by the fore-passed Death in thee: as having assumed that Body of Sin to offer it up for a consuming Sacrifice, once for all, as was shewed in the Type of the Visible Body; which is now done again in the Invisible. So that you are to reckon and account your Sins virtually done away; they can claim no Law either to Arraign, or Condemn [Margin Note: Rom. 6:14]: Look upon all Motions of this kind to be at the check of the Spirit, who hath again quickned the Dead, and will no more give way to That which came in to flesh for to Destroy. And therefore let none pretend a necessity of continuing in That which hath brought in Confusion and Disagreement; seeing a Redeeming Spirit is come down to renew, and gather in the lost again to the divine Being, from whence they did proceed at first, pure as God is pure: To which degree of Perfection that we may be restored again, is the end of Christ’s Mediatorial Office, not only Without, but Within us; where the Body of Sin hath been yielded up for an Offering. This confirming Word, Christ the Lord, who is rising, left with me, for them who have been in the Death with him; that we henceforth may know our selves in him to be acquitted, and released from all Claims, which the evil Powers and Properties can make for upholding that Kingdom, where the Beast’s Throne is, which consists of Envy, Wrath and Strife; from all which, by an Eternal Decree of the Lord JEHOVAH, you are set free, and brought into the Harmony of that Kingdom, where the springing Joy, from the Peace of God doth run as a River that hath its Division through all the Properties, for to bring them to the Heavenly Unity: whereby the Creature is set free from the Bondage of Sin, and a Wayfaring Life, according to the Pattern seen in the Mount of Vision, to which my Spirit hath been oft taken up, to see the wonderful Plat-form of the New-Jerusalem. Which as the Day of God did break more clear, so it became more obvious. The Vision of the New-Jerusalem. THE Lord took me away from my mortal Part, and shewed me the Scituation of this great Glory [Margin Note: Rev. 21:10], and said, Behold, and see the Pattern of the Heavenly Houses and Mansions, which make up the New-Jerusalem, where the Glory of the One only God doth fill all with the Essential Light, and Splendor, of his divine Goodness. I shall, as I am able, describe what I did see in the Heavens of this Mother-City (for so it was named to me) who is to bring forth Her first and free-born to replenish the New Earth and Heavens. It appeared as a City founded upon one square Stone, whose Dimensions were very large; It was all paved with light flaming Colours, appearing like so many various sparkling Stones, inlaid on the great Foundation-Stone, which gave forth a Lustre, as if so many bright Suns had been there: Towards the Verge or out-side of this square Stone were seen many Seraphick Bodies, wreathing Arm in Arm, and several Rows of various spiritual Forms, of different Ranks and Stature: These Rows appeared like the Stories of a Building, which were carried up higher and higher in a square Figure, till it was wonderful high; and upon the Heads of the most inward glorified Bodies, a Covering was spread by One more Diaphanous, and of greater splendor than all the rest; the Height of his Person was higher by the head than all the other; who called to me, out of this most glorious Building, “To take good heed of all I had seen, for it had a further Meaning, which I was to have revealed, when driven by the Spirit into the Light-Mystery, where all deep things do open.” Oh my dear Lord! be thou an All-springing Testimony Within, [and from this New-Jerusalem.] [November 24.] My Spirit being drawn out for a further Inquiry concerning this New-Jerusalem State, what the Appearance of it to us did signifie for this present Time? the Foundation-Stone thereof gave forth this Word, That such a City the mighty Cyrus would himself be the Founder of, upon the visible Stage of this World, altho’ there be little appearance of it, as yet; because Elect Stones are at present lying amongst the Rubbish of Confusion; who in due time are to be linked together, to make up a strong City of Defence: Through the Gates of which no unclean Vessel shall pass, nor whatsoever is Lame or Blemished, according as was seen in the Pattern. This the Lord will effect by his Might and Spirit, and establish this City on Mount-Zion: at which the whole World shall Tremble. [November 25.] Whilst the Lord was communing with me about this Heavenly City, I saw it descend, and cover the whole Earth; and all those who were not prepared to enter, and who could claim no Birth-right freedom in this Mother City, did flee away by Multitudes, Heaps upon Heaps; to hide themselves from the bright Splendor of the divine Body, with the Anointed Head in the midst of it. The Glory was so great, that we can only give an Eclipsed account of what was seen. But as the Descent of this Magnificence did terrifie, and cause above three parts of the World to flee away, as having an irreconcilable Enmity to Spirits and Bodies of such Purity; so on the other hand, I saw a Numerous Company gathered to it, from all Quarters; the Trumpet-shout of Jerusalem’s great King calling them in from all Parts, they were all first-born of this Mother-City, who well knows her own; calling them by that Name, which is impressed upon them in flaming Characters of Love. Multitudes of this kind encompassed the Holy City: but few were admitted to the Seraphick Wreathe: even those only who had put on the Glorified Body. Whereupon I asked, Why those who were Call’d, and had the Name of the Heavenly City upon them, were not received in? And the Lord said, That those who were taken into the Glory, had finished their inward Transformation, to the utmost Perfection, waiting only for the Consummation of the Nuptial Glory; but that the rest, though far gone in true Regeneration, could not be admitted until their Redemption were perfectly wrought out: to the end that no flaw may be found in the Stones that are to constitute this diving Building; but as any shall arrive to this degree of Perfection, so this City shall descend and take them in. So it drew up out of sight.