A communion between the Saints above,

...go from strength to strength, each one appearing before God in Zion.

Now, I find this is to be understood in two ways, regarding the part of the person that is to appear before God in Zion. The first is while still in the physical body original: "body of Corporiety". The second is when one has stepped out of the body, never to return to it again. From here, I (yet not I, but the Spirit of my Jesus) shall lead you through the first part, knowing the way well and having taken its measurements with the measuring line in the hand of an angel referring to Zechariah 2:1 and Revelation 21:15, where an angel measures the holy city to show its divine proportions—an experience that cannot be explained to anyone except those who travel there themselves.

I shall lay down several main points and propositions in this order, so that our fellow travelers may not fail to find a sure footing:

The First is what preparation or qualification will be required for such intended travelers.

Secondly, what kind or manner of way they must take.

Thirdly, the several stages or rests along the way.

Fourthly, their arrival at this City of God.

And Fifthly, the welcome and entertainment the traveler meets with there from the entire Great Assembly of Mount Zion (the Court of God).

First, then, it must be considered what this traveler must be:

Not a heavy, physical body original: "Gross, tangible Body", but a spirit that must take up Enoch's walks original: "Enoch's Walks"; referring to Genesis 5:24, where Enoch "walked with God" so closely that he was taken to heaven without dying, separated and translated from a terrestrial life to a celestial one. This is our spiritual traveler's first transformation: an earthly creature turned into a spiritual one.

And now we come to enter upon the way, which looks at the first onset like the Valley of Baca original: "Valley of Baca"; from Psalm 84:6, traditionally interpreted as the "Valley of Tears" or "Weeping," a place of trial that must be passed through on the pilgrimage to God that opens the floodgates of tears. The traveler is now so surrounded by the light of the Spirit that their inward and outward deformity has been revealed—having lost the angelic image because of the root of sin growing in their nature. This causes a mourning and sorrow that leads to salvation original: "not to be repented of"; a reference to 2 Corinthians 7:10: "godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation". While in this first stage of the way, the soul will have many enemies to encounter and temptations from within and without. These assaults will increase because the soul is trying to tear itself away and leave the paths of this evil world to betake itself to this new and living way.

But let our fellow travelers not be discouraged; instead, gird yourselves and go forward. This day’s journey will have its end, though it may proceed heavily on this first day; the second will be more bright and refreshing if one only endures this trial and wrestles it out as Jacob did referring to Genesis 32, where Jacob wrestled with an angel until daybreak to receive a blessing.

Then the angels of God will meet the weary traveler and accompany it throughout its way.

There are seven angels (or they may be called seven spirits) that are appointed to be the guard of the traveling soul while in this danger-