Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/226

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EXTRACTS FROM THE

table of gold, on which lay the word, and two angelsstood beside it. About the table were three rows of seats; the seats of the first row were covered with silk damask, of a purple colour; the seats of the second row with silk damask, of a blue colour; and the seats of the third row with white cloth. Below the roof, high above the table, there was seen, a spreading curtain, which shone with precious stones, from whose lustre there issued forth abright appearance as of a rainbow, when the firmament is clear and serene after a shower. Suddenly there appeared a number of clergy sitting on the seats, all clothed in the garments of their sacerdotal office. On one side was a vestry, where an angel, who had the care of it, attended, and within lay rich vestments in most beautiful and exact order. It was a council convened bt the Lord; and I heard a voice from heaven. saying, Deliberate; but they said, On what? It was said, concerning the Lord the saviour, and concerning the holy ghost; but when they began to think on these subjects they were without illumination; wherefore they made supplication, and immediately light issued down out of heaven,which first enlightened the hinder part of their heads, and afterwards their temples, and last of all their faces; and then they began their deliberation, and as they were commanded, First, concerning the Lord the saviour; the first proposition, and matter of inquiry was, Who assumed the humanity in the virgin Mary; and an angel standing at the table, on which the word lay, read before them these words in Luke, The angel said unto Mary, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus; he shall be great, and shall be called The son of the highest. And Mary said to the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answering said, The holy ghost