The Way to the Sabbath of Rest

At this remove, therefore, the spirits of darkness exceedingly oppose, and use all their art and strength, to betray and weaken the soul's endeavours. Here then begins a new and great war in the soul, between the seed of the woman and the serpent. Michael and his angels fight against the dragon and his angels; Christ and antichrist strongly oppose each other. The wrath and love bring forth their mighty wonders, being both stirred and awakened afresh in the soul.

But the soul, being now sensible of its present state, and seeing that there is no safety where the devils have such access and influence, sinks down into the mercy and love of God, and flies to the cross—embracing and delighting in it—that so the blood of the cross may be shed in it, to cleanse it out, and to take away those stains which are the devil's mansions.

The objects and pleasure of the outward begin to be forgot, and to displease, instead of alluring and affecting the heart. For we bear the songs, voices, and harmony of angels, with the harpers upon Mount Sion, who there continually praise the Lord; we smell the perfumes of Christ's garments, and are often entertained with paradisiacal odours; we touch and feel the powerful tincture of Christ's body, which many times strongly affects the soul.

The soul… enters into the internal paradise… where Adam lived before his fall, and where Christ conversed betwixt the time of his resurrection and ascension. In this spiritual region the curse is not manifest, there being a perpetual spring.

Here are the ideas of all visible bodies in much beauty, and appearing lustre.

Now the soul, having attained to the state of this angelical garden, knows what it is to turn and become as a child, and to attain a secret and quiet life of innocency and pure love, free from those passions and evil affections it had formerly groaned under.

It fixes its sight upon that pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb.

The soul lives the life of spiritual vegetation, and grows like a willow by the water-courses, or a lily in the garden of the Lord; being continually refreshed with the dews of the eternal heavens, quickened by the beams of the Sun of righteousness, and cherished with the enlivening gales of the Holy Spirit.