he would be bound in two Hundred Pound Bond for this Man's appearance He said he would 7. Then speak one of the Aldermen of the Town If it shall please your Honour Mr. Fewterer is not Capable to be his Bail why said the Judge said he Because he is an Excommunicated Person said the Judge What was he Excommunicated for said he For not coming to Church Said the Judge How long hath he been Excommunicated He said but last Sunday Push said the Judge that Signifies nothing Except it was for the cause of Adultry set him down to be Bail 8. Then the Maior Recorder and Aldermen all of them were Ashamed and vexed they could do me no further Mischeif than Imprisonment 9. And when I was Bail'd out of Prison the Maior and Constable and the rest were afraid I would trouble them 10. The Maior for Committing me to Prison without any Accusers and denying to take Bail for me and for not binding some over for to Prosecute against me which things he did not but was in danger to pay Five Pound a Day for false Imprisonment 11. And the Constable was like to suffer for Apprehending me without a Warrant 12. I was Councelled to sue them at the Law and so I would if they had put in any Indictment against me but they were afraid And did nothing but let it fall 13. So I was quit only it put me to a great deal of Charge but seeing they put no Indictment against me I let it pass and fall 14. Dorothy Carter and Mr. Sudbury were great Friends in this business both in Purss and Person because I was taken at her House and she brought me from Darby Goal to her own House again on Horse back which is 16 long Miles 15. I had the Love of all the Prisoners on that side I was put and they said they thought themselves Blessed for mysake 16. For they were every one of them that were with me free'd without any punishment only the Fees of the Prison I was in Prison in Darby Goal but nine Days but this falling out so quickly after I was Married to my Wife Mary it was some greif to her but being delivered so quickly she was pacified the better 17. This was a Year of great Trouble to me both upon a Spiritual Account as afore Written and upon a Temporal which I shall not mention 18. This was in the 13th year of my Commission and in the 54 year of my Life and in the year of the Lord 1664. 19. After this I Wrote a Book containing 32 sheets of Paper Called the Interpritation of the whole Book of the Revelations of Saint John the bigest volum of all the Books that were written by us 20. Also I wrote a Letter after that to Thomas Taylor a Quaker Containing two sheets of Paper And in the year 1665 I got them both Printed they are yet to be seen by many The End of the Third Part. The Fourth Part. From the Year 1665 to the Year 1670. CHAP. I. The Prophets Travels into Kent Of Judge Twisden and of the Prophet's Letter to him Of the increase of Beleivers 1. AFTER this I travelled into Kent to see my Wife's Friends and there I had like to have been apprehended by the Judge of the Town his Name was Twisden But I having intilligence of his wicked Intent I escaped away out of his Coasts 2. And I wrote a Letter to him forbiding him for persecuting any Man for his Conscience For tho' he was made a Judge of the Law in temporal Matters yet he was not the Judge of Conscience nor of Spiritual Matters 3. Therefore I advised him to meddle with those Things he knows as the Laws of the Land and not with those Things that belongs to God as the Conscience doth 4. For God only is the Judge of spiritual Things and them whom he doth chuse least you bring your self under the Sentance of eternal Damnation This Letter is large but not in Print but is yet to be seen in Writing 5. He was netled in his Mind at it but knew not how to help himself so he brought the Letter in his Hand to my Wife's Mother's House and asked her if she thought he should be ever the worse if he did persecute me on purpose to insnare her because she did not go to Church and was under his Power for he was the cruelest Devil to all Prophessors of Religion that did not conform to Worship as he did that was in all that Country Also he would have had a Book of her that he might have done me the more Mischief but I charged her before to let him have none nor none in that Town should let him have one 6. Also I told him in the Letter that if he would send to me at London and send Money I would let him have half a Dozen of Books several but without Money he should have none for they cost a great deal of Monies Printing But he never sent for any but threatned my Mother that if ever I came there any more to deceave People as he called it that he would do great Matters to me So he went his way and never came there more as I hear'd of 7. Now by this time there was many Men and Women that did beleive in this Commission of the Spirit and the Doctrin of the true personal God was received by several Persons of Quality so that many were aded to the Faith Some I shall name 8. First One Mrs. Feild who lived in Wales she was counted a Lady in that Country and one Mrs. Sharte a Draper's Wife in Cannon-street This Sarah Sharte she sent for me several times to speak with her but the Messenger missed of me so oft that she thought herself forsaken of God that she could not speak with me 9. For she had kept her House several years of a Weakness she had in her Body so that she could not go forth nor come to me herself So she seeing none of them she sent could meet with me she grew out of patience and could not sleep 'till she had seen me 10. So she desired her Husband to go himself in the Morning betimes before I was gon out so he did and he ingaged me to come to his Wife about Two of the Clock in the Afternoon the same Day for she had a great Desire to speak with me 11. So at the time appointed I went and she was glad to see me who had desired it a long time And when she had seen me and had discoursed with me about spiritual and heavenly Things concerning God his Form and Nature The right Devil his Form and Nature The Person and Nature of Angels The Place and Nature of Hell The Place and Nature of Heaven The Rice of the Two Seeds and of the Fall of Adam 12. And how every Man came to have two Voices or Motions speaking in Man These were all heavenly Secrets and hiden from the World which
Witchcraft which we have given them to drink 21. But the Answer in the Conscience will say Inasmuch as you fhrsake me the living God and creator of all things and said in your Hearts There is no God then you gave your selves up to natural Witchcraft diving into the nature of the Planits and Stars and into the Spirit of the Herbs of the Field so that you became absolute Witches your selves and you have caused Thousands of Men and Women to be bewitched by you both in their Bodies Souls and Estates 22. Therefore depart from me you atheistical workers of Iniquity into utter Darkness where is weeping and knashing of Teeth for evermore 23. And as for the Lawyers they keep the Keys of the Knowledge of the Law and will neither enter into Truth and Honesty themselves nor suffer others to enter in that would 24. For no Man can do anything in his own Cause but as his Lawyer instructs him for he is sworn when he enters into that Practice he hath a Commission to keep the knowledge of the Law from his Clyant so that the Clyant being ignorant how to proceed in Law Step by Step the innocent Clyant his Clause is many times put off and neglected by his Lawyer to the great Discontent and further Charge of the innocent and just Cause 25. And as for the Poor that can have no Law at all tho his Cause be ever so just no Judge will hear him nor no Lawyer will give him any Councel except he hath Monies in his Hand nor no Judge will do the Poor any Justice except he go in the way of the Law and that the Poor cannot do 26. So that if the Birthright of the Poor be ever so great or just it must be lost for want of Monies to fee Lawyers Besides where Monies is to be had let a Man's Cause be never so unjust yet Lawyers will undertake it though they know certainly that their Clyant will be overthrown before they took it in hand This is Wickedness in a high degree so contrary to the Law writen in Man's Heart To do as he would be done unto 27. But the Government of this World hath brought a necessity of the use of Lawyers but it is not expedient that any Saint should take that Practice upon them there is enough of them in the World it being the Devil's Kingdom 28. But when the Book of Conscience the Law writen in the Lawyer 's Heart is opened at the last Day what can they plead for themselves 29. They will say Lord we thought because it was the Government of the Nation and that learning of the Knowledge of the Law it made us rich and honourable among Men it made us Companions for the wise and great Men of the World the Knowledge of the Law it made us Atornies Councellors and Sarjants at Law honourable Places and by degrees we came to be Judges of the Land 30. So that Kings and Princes have asked Councel at our Lips we have Cloathed our selves with fine Scarlet and white Robes signifying Justice and Mercy to the People We have been as Gods upon the Earth and we have done justice to some in all our Degrees tho we have failed in others therefore hope for Mercy 31. But the Answer in the Conscience will say In as much as you have fed upon Riches and Honour all your Days and have not walked by the Law written in your Hearts To do as you would have been done unto had you been in their Condition and they in yours but you have the Penny of this World Riches and Honour your Hearts Delight Therefore depart you wicked Lawyers workers of Iniquity into utter Darkness where is weeping and gnashing of Teeth for ever more 32. This I know will come to pass in these Three sorts of Men in that Day when God shall raise the Dead 33. When the young Man heard these Things he left all Preferment that way for Truths sake and became a stedfast and true Beleiver and he being a Scholar was mighty able to oppose the Learned 34. Also there was one Robert Phare he was Governor of the City of Corke in Ireland he was inclineable to be a Quaker but after he saw me and had read our Writings he became a true Beleiver of this Commission of the Spirit and so did the Lady his Wife She became the chief Champion in this Faith of all the Women in that Nation 35. Also he had Four Sons and Daughters that were true Beleivers He was the cause of many Persons of Value in that Kingdom of Ireland that did truly Beleive as one Captain Moss and his Wife and Doctor Moss his Son and Captain Gaill and Major Denson and George Gamble and Mr. Rogers Merchant And several more which I omit to name because it would be too tedious that were true Beleivers in that Kingdom of Ireland 36. After this it came to pass that I wrote a Book in answer to George Fox Quaker containing Twelve sheets and a half of Paper and got it Printed in the Year 1668. and in the Seventeenth year of my Commission and in the year of my Life 58. 37. This Book caused the Quakers to be exceedingly angry at me and several Speakers of them to write cursed Letters unto me and some of them came to discourse with me and a woful Ephect did befal some of them a little while after as is expressed in the Writing following The Coppy of Thomas Loe a Quaker's Letter Dated London 16th of the 7th Month 1668. LOdowick Muggleton having seen some of thy Writings more especially thy Book Intituled A Lookinglass which I have looked in and do clearly see thy wicked abominable and antichristian Spirit and can do no less than cry Oh! thou Blasphemer thou Enemy of God and of all Righteousness thou Son of Perdition and Child of the Devil how hast thou Laboured to pervert the right Way of God in speaking of the blessed Truth And Oh! thou Seed of the Serpent and old Sorserer how hast thou belyed slandered wickedly and falsly accused and condemned the just And now be it known unto thee That thy false Judgment and wicked Envy both in speaking and writing against the Servants of the living God is returned back upon thy own Head and thee with it will God in his Fury and Indignation sink in the Pit of Darkness from whence it hath risen And in the great and mighty Power of God and Christ I Reprove Judge and Condemn thee which shall stand upon thy Head and thy Power thou boasteth so of shall not reverse it Oh! ignorant Sot how canst thou consider thy Blasphemies and not be ashamed This is a Testimony in the Power and Spirit of God against thee and all thy Wickedness by a Servant of Jesus Christ who am a Witness of the Spirit and Power of God with many others CHAP. III. The Prophets Answer to Thomas Loe's Letter His Sentance with the Ephects of it The Prophet's Dispute
of the Law their wonderful Acts are recorded in Scripture 12. Besides the Revelation they declared as from God which the Ages following did not see nor hear yet many did truly believe and doth truly belive and are by Faith satisfied as those that did both hear and see 13. So that the Scriptures Record is a Record of spiritual and heavenly Things and of some of those wonderful and powerful Acts of Moses and the Prophets and the righteous Fathers manifesting their great Faith in God and being in favour with God 14. Which I by Faith have found their Record true and so have many more of the seed of Faith found their Record and Revelations to be true CHAP. II. The Prophet makes a Rehearsal of the Acts of the Apostles in the new Testament and of the Lord Christ and how that they were writen for the Comfort of the Seed of Faith After which he enters upon the third Record and shows the cause of his writing some of the most principal Acts of the Witness of the Spirit under this third Record 1. ALSO we find written in the New Testament many wonderful Acts and Miracles acted by the Lord Christ and his Apostles as Matthew Mark Luke and John doth declare concerning Christ that if all the things Christ spake and Acts he did were written the World would not contain the Volume 2. That is the verge of a Man's understanding could not retain the particulars so as to tell it to his Friend the particulars would be so many 3. So likewise the Acts of the Apostles that Book hath little else in it but wonderful Acts wrought by the power of Faith in the Apostles 4. And these things were written for the seed of Faith that they might have Comfort in believing the Record that is given of the Apostles how God strengthned them in Faith and Power as by the power of Faith to work Miracles 5. Because they were chosen of God to bear Record on Earth to the Blood of the New Testament or New Covenant 6. Thus did the Apostles bear Record on Earth to the Blood as the Prophets did bear Record on Earth to the Water which signifies the Law of Moses and the Blood signifies the Gospel of Jesus Christ 7. The Scriptures are a Record that sheweth many wonderful Acts that Christ and his Appostles did when on Earth besides the heavenly Revelation 8. And it is very comfortable to the Seed of Faith true Belivers to read of the Acts of the Prophets and of the Apostles as it is of their Doctrin Revelation Prophesies Interpretations or Epistles 9. These Things I having experience of and seeing it hath been the Practice of some of the Prophets and Apostles to leave a Record behind them for after Ages to peruse of some of the most remarkable Acts done by them when they were upon Earth as a remarkable Remembrance to their Prophesies and Epistles 10. So likewise I being one of the two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirt being the Third and last Record from God on Earth 11. I thought it convenient and expedient to leave some Record on Earth behind me of some of the most remarkable Acts and Passages that hath been done and acted by us and to us the Witnesses of the Spirit since we were chosen of God in the Year 1651. 12. That I may leave it as a Legasy to the Seed of Faith after me who shall happen to Read and Believe those Writings of ours after I am gon 13. They may know by the Doctrin therein declared who and what we were and what God we believed in 14. Also I thought it necessary to write of those Acts my self rather then any other being acted in my sight and perfect knowledge as other Profits have done before me as Moses and others CHAP. III. Of the Birth Parentage and Trade of the two Witnesses and how the Profits Nature led them sorth to all Sobriety hateing Drunkeness and of their inclining to the Principles of those Call'd Puritans and of their being perswaded from judging Cases of Concience before they new the truth 1. BUT before I write of the Acts I shall give the Reader a little to understand what we were before God did chuse us two to be his two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit 2. And of some Experince I had and Working within me before I was Chosen of God little expecting God would have chosen me for such a great Work 3. As for John Reeve he was born in Wiltshire his Father was Clerk to a Deputy of Ireland a Gentleman as we call them by his place but fell to decay 4. So he put John Reeve Apprentice here at London to a Taylor by Trade He was out of his Apprentiship before I came aquainted with him he was of an Honest Just Nature and Harmless 5. But a Man of no great Natural Witt or Wisdom no Subtilty or Pollicy was in him nor no great store of Religeon he had but what was Traditional only of an Innocent Life 6. I knew him many years before God spake to to him by Voice of Words to the hearing of the Ear three Mornings together as is declar'd in the Commission Book call'd a Trancesendant Spritual Treatise the first Book he writ 7. And I Lodwick Muggleton was born in Bishop gate-street near the Earl of Devonshire's House at the corner House call'd Walnut-Tree-Yard 8. My Fathers name was John Muggleton he was a Smith by Trade that is a Farrier or Horse-Doctor he was in great Respect with the Post-Master in King Jame's time he had three Children by my Mother two Sons and one Daughter I was the youngest and my Mother lov'd me 9. But after my Mother dy'd I being but young my Father took another Wife so I being young was Expos'd to live with Srangers in the Country at a distance from all my Kindred I was a Stranger to my Fathers House after my Mother was dead 10. But it came to pass when I was grown to 15 or 16 Years of age I was 〈◊〉 Apprentice to one John Quick a Taylor he made Livery Gowns and all sorts of Gowns for Men he made Gowns for several Aldermen and Livery Men of their Company in London 11. And he lived in this Walnut-Tree-Yard and knew my Father and Mother very well he was a quiet peaceable Man not crewel to Servants which liked me very well 12. For my Nature was always against Cruelty I could never indure it neither in my self nor in others living peaceably in my Apprentiship 13. I took my Trade well and pleased my Master better then any of his other Servants for they were bad Husbands and given to Drunkenness but my Nature was inclin'd to be sober hating Drunkenness and Lust in the time of my Youth 14. But when my time of Service was pretty far expired I grew to more understanding and hearing in those days a great talk amongst the vulger People and especially amongst Youth Boys and young Maids
Book he wrote the Title is called A Dialogue between Faith and Reason Which is in print at this Day 7. The forth Book he wrote is called A Wonder of Wonders Which is in print at this Day 8. After this he grew so Proud and Lording over the Beleivers saying That no body could write in the vindication of this Commission now John Reeve was dead but he And to that purpose he wrote another Book Intituled The lost Sheep found It is in print to this Day 9. Wherein he had proudly exalted himself into John Reeve's Chair exalting John Reeve and himself but quite excluded me in all the Book 10. So many of the Beleivers complained to me of his lording over them and that he had excluded me quite in this last Book 11. Whereupon I read the Book over and found the Report was true 12. Whereupon I put him down for ever writing any more and I wrote to the Beleivers in Cambridge shier and else where that he was put down for his Pride and Covetousness for ever writing any more upon that account 13. And the Beleivers did obey my Voice every where 14. He continued thus four Years after John Reeve dyed until the year 1661. and in a while after Laurance Claxton humbled himself to me and acknowledged his Fault and I forgave him and took him into my Favour but ty'd him not to write any more 15. So he continued several years afterwards justifying his Faith and Confidence in this Commission of the Spirit 16. But it came to pass when the Fire destroy'd the Citty of London he to get a Livelyhood did ingage to help Persons of Quality to borrow Mony to build their Houses again 17. But the Persons that had the Mony did run away and left Claxton in the Lurch the Debt was one hundred Pounds 18. So he only was Arrested and put in Ludgate Goal for this Mony He lay there a whole year and dyed there 19. But he gave a very good Testimony of his Faith in the true God and in this Commission of the Spirit and of that full assurance of eternal Happiness he should enjoy to eternity after his Death 2. Insomuch that all the Prisoners marvelled and were sorry they had opposed him so when he was alive CHAP. VII Shewing how the Prophet caused The Divine Looking-Glass to be Reprinted Of the Prophets printing a Book of the Interpretation of the 11th of the Revelations And The Quakers Neck broken Of his Travels to Nottingham and the Transactions that passed there And then to Chesterfield 1. THE first thing I did after Claxton was put down I caused the Divine Looking-Glass to be new printed 1661. Which was done very handsomly and is now to be seen 2. After this I wrote a Book containing Twenty four Sheets of Paper Intituled The Interpretation of the 11th Chapter of the Revelations by St. John and got it printed in the same year 1662. Which is yet to be seen Never was such a thing extant in the World before 3. After this I wrote a Book called The Neck of the Quakers broken containing Tenn Sheets of Paper and got it printed in the same year 1663. Which is yet to be seen 4. After this it came to pass that several in the North Country hearing and seeing these Books had a great desire to see me and especially one Ellin Sudbury at Notingham and one Dorothy Carter of Chesterfield in Darbyshier 5. These and others were very desirous to see me but they could not tell how for they thought it would be too much Charge and Labour for them to come to London to me so far for they were loath to put me to so much Charge to come to them yet Ellin Sudbury her desiers were so strong that she could not be satisfied except she did see me So she wrote a Letter unto me that I would come into those Parts and that the Sosiety should bare the Charge 6. Now I marvelled what that Society should be but it was the Beamonists mix'd with the Quakers as I found afterwards But this being in the Winter I sent word I would come and see her in Summer 7. And accordingly it came to pass that one Thomas Hudson a Friend of ours at London had occasion to see his own Relations in Lancashire and Notingham and Chesterfield being in his way he was willing to travel with me to see those Friends we had never seen before 8. And when we came to Notingham Elin Sudbury was glad to see us and so was her Husband also but at that time he was upon the Beamonist score so there came several of the Beamonists People to discourse with me and some of the Speakers of them and Mr. Sudbury he thought they would be able to dispute with me though he could not 9. But he saw they were more weak than himself to maintain their Principles of Religion so that he disliked them and said That their was no true knowledge of the Scriptures amongst them Also he heard me pass the Sentence of Damnation to eternity on four of them 10. And one of these was very much troubled and asked Elin Sudbury whether she did beleive he was damn'd because I had passed the Sentance upon him only to insnare her she being but weak and had never heard such a thing before 11. But I to free her from that Bondage in her Minde for I knew she had not Confidence enough at that time to say she did beleive he was damn'd And if she should say no then she would loose the assurance of her own Happiness in beleiving me to be a Prophet of the Lord and had Power to give Sentance of Blessedness to one and Cursedness to the other So I knew the Woman was in a strait what to say and he urged her for an Answer 12. But I said she shall not give you her Judgment at all to insnare her Mind I have passed the Sentance upon you and I do beleive without doubting That you are the Seed of the Serpent and will be damn'd to eternity and it matters not if all the People in the World should beleive to the contrary yet my Faith shall be stronger than all to keep you down 13. Then they grew angree and threatned to prosecute me but could not tell how to state a ground of Prosecution 14. After Thomas Hudson and I went from thence to Chesterfield which was Twenty Miles further to Dorothy Carter's House a Widdow she had one Daughter her Name was Elizabeth that was a true Beleiver and a young Maid that was Servant to Dorothy Carter her Name was Elizabeth Smith a true Beleiver also 15. And there was in that Town a Man his Name was Edward Fewterer a Chirurgeon that was a true Beleiver also These Four were glad to see me for they had never seen me before 16. But the Professors of Religion in that Town hearing of me there came several to dispute with me but some of them blasphemed and dispised what
Reason the Raven which goeth out of the Ark the Body of Man and liveth upon the Mountains of earthly Things 24. Also the Dove that Noah sent forth of the Ark signified the Seed of Faith 25. And when Faith sends forth her motions out of the Ark her Body they are innocent as a Dove humble meek and low 26. And when she findeth the Flood and Waters of Trouble of Persecution upon the Face of the Earth the Dove entreth into her Ark her Body again and is quiet and still till the Waters of Trouble be abated 27. For the Dove cannot fly upon the top of the Mountains of earthly things as Reason the Raven can 28. The Seed of Faith the Dove can find no Rest there but when the Waters of Trouble are abated and the dry Land appeareth and the Olive Trees of Joy and Gladness are to be seen 29. Then the Dove the Seed of Faith can go out of its Body the Ark and fetch an Olive-Branch of Peace and Joy in its Mouth and return into its Body the Ark again and there remain until it is turned out of the Ark by Death CHAP. XV. Shewing how John Reeve's Revelation gave him Satisfaction and full Resolution to sit still and be quiet never medling about Religion more But contrary to the Resolutions of them both a little while after where made the greatest medlers of Religion of all the World 1. TO this purpose as aforesaid did John Reeve declare his first Revelation with a many more Expressions which he uttered at that time with great Joy of Heart he not thinking in the least nor I neither that it was a Preparation for God to chuse him nor me neither to be his two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit 2. For said he unto me at that time Cousin Lodowick now I am satisfied in my Mind and know what Revelation is I am resolved now to medle no more with Religion nor go forth after any upon that account 3. But to get as good a Livelyhood as I can in this World and let God alone with what shall be hereafter 4. Now he had been with John Robins not many Weeks before he knew or had Revelation himself 5. For John Robins Knowledge and Language overpowerd John Reeve before he had this Revelation Therefore he said now he would not go forth after any upon that account no more 6. Thus when he thought to be most quiet and not to medle with any about Religion and so was I also then a little while after we were made the greatest Medlers in Religion of all Men in the World 7. Because our Faces were against all Mens Religion in the World what Sex or Opinion soever as will appear hereafter by our Writings and Speakings 8. John Reeve nor I little thought at that time that this Revelation we had given us did prepare us for a greater Work than for the Peace of our own Minds 9. But it prov'd that God prepared us for a Commission and that he did intend to chuse us two to be his last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit as will be seen as followeth 10. For after John Reeve had this first Revelation aforementioned it did continue and increase exceedingly that it grew very high in him for two Weeks together 11. And at the two Weeks end God speak unto him by Voice of Words to the hearing of the Ear three Mornings together as is more largely set down in his first Book he wrote Called A Trancendant Spiritual Treatis 12. Where the Words of God as he spoke to him are set down plainly as they were spoken to him the 3d. 4th and 5th Days of February 1651. and in the year of John Reeve's Life 42. and in the year of my Life 41. 13. Thus I have given the Reader a little hint whereby he may see the ground of things and the rise how these wonderful things came to pass 14. Also what we were at first and how we were acted out in the time of our Lives and of the Experience I had in the Days of my Ignorance and of my Dispute with God and my own Soul 15. And of that great Revelation I had before John Reeve had any and of the Ravelation John Reeve had before God spake to him in the year 1651. 16. And now in the Treatis following I shall only speak of some of the most remarkable Acts and Passages which hath been acted and dun by us since we received our Commission from God 17. That after Ages may see some of the Acts of the two Witnesses of the Spirit as well as their Writings and their Doctrin now in this last Age. As they have read of some of the wonderful Acts of Moses and the Prophets and the Acts of the Apostles So there will be some remarkable Acts of the Witnesses of the Spirit left upon Record Which is as followeth The End of the First Part. The Second Part. CHAP. I. Of the Commission given the Prophet Mugleton's Children blessed by the Prophet Reeve the great Wisdom given unto Sarah Mugleton 1. THE first Morning God spake to John Reeve he came to my House and said Cousin Lodowick God hath given thee unto me for ever And the Tears ran down both sides his Cheeks amain 2. So I asked him what was the matter for he looked like one that had been rissen out of the Grave he being a fresh couloured Man the day before And the Tears ran down his Cheeks apace 3. So he told me the same Words as is writen in his first Book and said unto me That God had given him a Commission and that he had given Lodowick Mugleton to be his Mouth And said at the same time was brought to his Mind that saying That Aaron was given to be Moses's Mouth 4. But said he what my Message is he could not tell But said he if God do not speak unto me the next Morning I will come no more at thee 5. Which I was in good Hopes he would not for I was willing to be quiet 6. Also he said at the same time Cousin Lodowick Thy Children are all blessed but especially thy Daughter Sarah she shall be the Teacher of all the Women in London 7. She heard him say these Words as she stood upon the Stairs for she was afraid of him that he would rather have condemned her because he never did love her so well as he did the youngest Daughter 8. But he spake not then for Affection but as the Revelation moved him 9. And she was the first Person he blessed to Eternity after God spake to him the first Morning 10. It was the more marvelous because it was never heard this many Ages that a poor Man should have that Power to Bless and Curs Men and Women to Eternity 11. And she believed him and did grow exceedingly in Experience and in Disputes with Religious People and they marvelled that one so young should have such Knowledg and Wisdom to answer
see that the Jews knew the Hebrew Language for the Jews said he called for Elias let him come and save him if he will have him 10. So that it is clear that Christ prayed in his Agony to his representitive Power in Elias 11. Then said the Recorder Mr. Reeve Mr. Reeve You have spoke enough let Aaron speak 12. Said John Reeve Scoff on Mr. Recorder 13. Truly Friend said the Recorder I do not scoff 14. Then said I I can say no more to that one Question than he hath said before but if you have anything else to aske I will answer you 15. But he asked never a Question more nor spake a word more because the Examination which they would not produce in the open Court had fully answered to all things they could object against us 16. But commanded us to withdraw and the Jury laid their Heads a little together and brought us in guilty of Blasphemy and execrable Opinions 17. So the Recorder gave Sentance upon us That we should be sent to Old Bridewell and be kept Prisoners there for six Months without Bail or maine Prise 18. So there we remained full six Months 19. And while we were Prisoners in Old Bridewell Jeremiah Mount got that Epistle to the Ministers printed which are yet to be seen and will be to the end of the World by some 20. After this while we were Prisoners there we wrote a Remonstrance of all the Transactions that had passed that was remarkable from the day of our Commission 1651. to this our time of being Committed Prisoners in Old Bridewell 21. And this Remonstrance was directed to General Cromwell and Jeremiah Mount got that printed at his own Charge also This Remonstrance is yet to be seen with some and will remain in the hands of some to the end of the World 22. This Jeremiah Mount was a great Friend to us in the time of our Imprisonment and so was John Brunte and his Wife and one Richard Russell There was very few Beleivers of us at that time this was in the year 1653. It was a year of great and many Troubles to us both but especially to me 23. And about the Month of April in the year 1654. after our seven Months Imprisonment we came forth of Prison 24. And after this John Reeve wrote Letters to several Men as to Esquire Penington William Sedgwick Minister and to the Earle of Pembrooke 25. And some of them sent Answers to him again but none of these Letters are in print 26. Also John wrote that Spiritual and heavenly Treatis Intituled Adivine Lookinglass And he got it printed in the Year 1656. Jeremiah Mount was at the greatest part of that Charge 27. But the Printer being knavish and covetous quite spoiled it in the Press he hudled it up so close together for want of more Paper that no body had any Delight to read it through so that it never yielded the Mony it cost printing CHAP. V. Of John Reeve's travelling to Maidstone in Kent where he met with Enemies and gave them the Sentance upon which they got a Warrant against him Of the Notice he had and departed Of his Treatis Called Joyful News from Heaven After the writing of which he died 1. AFTER this John Reeve went to Maidstone in Kent to see some Friends there 2. There was but Four Beleivers in that Country at that time 3. And he going to visit them having never been in that Country before after he had been three days there he met with Enemies enough 4. But they falling in Discourse with him they dispised his Doctrin and Commission so he gave Sentance of Damnation to eternity upon one or two of them 5. And they stur'd up others to persecute him so they got a Constable to apprehend him but having notice of it he departed out of those Coasts in hast and over heated his Blood with traveling to the Waterside which was Sixteen Miles And he went upon the Water at Gravesend at Night when he was all in a Sweat and cooled himself too soon 6. So he surfited his Blood and drove him into a Consumption which killed him He lived almost two Years afterwards but in a sick wasting Condition 7. That surfit he got then was absolutely the Cause of his Death else he might have lived many years longer 8. Yet notwithstanding his Sickness he wrote that excellent Piece a Book called Joyful News from Heaven or The Mortality of the Soul 9. This he did in the time of his Sickness and just as it was in the Press to be printed he saw the first Sheet printed but his Eyes were dim that he could not see the print not to read for he died in two days after 10. There was at that time three Sisters that were true Beleivers which he did oft resort unto The one was Mrs. Frances the eldest the second Mrs. Roberts the third Mrs. Boner 11. This Mrs. Frances closed up his Eyes for he said unto her Frances close up mine Eyes lest my Enemies say I died A staring Prophet 12. And she did so and he gave up the Ghost and said not one word more 13. And she took and cut one Look of his Hair to keep for a Memorial of one of the two last Prophets that God will ever send while this World endureth 14. He had a fine Head of Hair it was black waveing over his Shoulders 15. So he was buried in Bethlahem Church-Yard 16. He dyed about the latter end of July in the year 1658 in the seventh year of our Commission and in the Forty Ninth year of his Life 17. Thus I have given a true Account to be upon Record of some of the most remarkable Acts and Passages and Sufferings which we the Witnesses of the Spirit hath acted and suffered in this Seven Years of our Commission 18. Only for God's Cause in Obedience unto the Voice of God that spake to John Reeve the Third Forth and Fifth days of February in the year 1651. CHAP. VI. Of Laurance Claxton what Books he wrote of his exalted Pride The Beleivers complain of him The Prophet forbad him for writing any more How he humbled himself The Prophet forgave him And of his Death 1. AFTER John Reeve was dead there was one Laurance Claxton who had been a Preacher of the Ranters that came to beleive this Doctrin and Commission of the Spirit 2. And he owned it some little time before John Reeve dyed and afterwards he asked me to give him leave to write in the vindication and justification of this Commission of the Spirit 3. And I gave my Consent whereby several of his Acquaintance in Cambridge-shire were brought to the Faith of this Commission 4. The first Book he wrote the Title of it is Look about you for the Devil that you fear is in you It is in print at this Day 5. The second Book he wrote the Title is called The Quakers Downfall Which is in print at this Day 6. The third
I declared unto her so that she was very well satisfyed in her Mind and she desired that I would come often to her which I did always when she sent for me not else And she was a true Beleiver afterwards and lived in the full Assurance of her eternal Happiness after Death all the Days of her Life 13. And she had a Kinswoman a Virgin that waited upon her by reading of the Books her Aunt had of mine by stelth she became a true Beleiver her Name was Ann Loe and in process of time this Ann Loe married one William Hall a true Beleiver of this Commission of the Spirit 14. And she did grow in Wisdom and Knowledge in spiritual and heavenly Knowledge and Experience and strong in Faith more than her Aunt before her and she was a great preserver of me from the Hands of my Enemies when the King's Messengers sought after me as will more appear hereafter CHAP. II. Of one Captain Wildye an honourable Man And of one Mrs. Cowlye of her Faith and Obedience of her Husband and of her Son a University Scholar and of his Convinement by the Prophet both as to the Ministry Law and Phisick 1. ALSO there was one Captain Wildye he was one of the Masters of Trinity-House an honourable Place For that Trinity-House is a Court for the ordering of Shiping and Seamen This Captain Wildye became a very true Beleiver of this Commission of the Spirit and he shewed a great deal of Charity to several poor Beleivers of this Faith more than any perticular Person in his time 2. Also he was the occasion of bringing to this Faith one Ann Cowlye a Gentlewoman at Mile-End-Green She was carried through several Principles of Religion as Independant Quaker and Virgin-Life-People She was zealous in all things she clave unto being very desirous to be saved and afraid to be damn'd 3. She was in the Principle of a Virgin-Life and would not let her Husband know her in Twelve years before she saw me notwithstanding she had born several Children by this Man and had one Son and one Daughter living by him 4. But after she came to be acquainted with me I convinced her both by Scripture and Reason of the unlawfullness of a married Wife to live a Virgin-Life and that she could not possibly have Peace as to another Life in that Practice And I advised her to give herself up to her Husband else I could not give Judgment of Blessedness upon her to Eternity 5. She being troubled at this saying of mine was forced to yield to her Husband which thing she thought an Angel from Heaven could not have perswaded her to do 6. But the Words of a Prophet was of great Power whose Word she could not resit but obeyed his Voice and had Peace of Minde and the Blessing of eternal Life in her Self and she grew very zealous for the Commission of the Spirit and contended for the Faith very much and this thing wrought upon her by the Word of a Prophet 7. This caused her Husband to beleive also and he was a very Wife and Prudent Man of the Independant People who had been a Preacher among them he became a very knowing Man in the Faith also his Son and his Daughter became both true Beleivers of this Commission of the Spirit 8. His Son John Cowlye was well bread he was brought up at the University of Cambridge his Learning cost his Father many hundred Pounds and when he was to receave some Benefit or Livelyhood for the future for all the cost past the Benefice was to be ordain'd a Minister or a Doctor of Phisick or a Lawyer These Three be the most honourable Things in this World 9. But when he came to speak with me I convinced him of the Unlawfullness of all the Three for any Saint or Gods Elect to undertake that Practice 10. The Seed of the Serpent were the fitest Men to take them Practices upon them because all the Kingdoms of this World is given into the Hands of the Seed of the Serpent as the Devil said to Christ 11. And these Three sorts of Men are reputed by the Seed of the Serpent the most honourable Men of all and are reverenced and subjected unto both by Princes and common People yet the greatest Cheats that is in this World as will appear 12. First I shewed him how dangerous a thing it was to take upon him to be a Minister of Christ without a Commission from God it would be counted by him spiritual High Treason For Ministers are in more Danger of eternal Damnation than any other Men for going to Preach and are not sent of God 13. For when they shall say in the Conscience at that Day Lord we have preached in thy Name and prayed in thy Name and cast out Devils in thy Name 14. The Answer of God in the Conscience will say Depart from me you workers of Iniquity I know you not And why did not God know them because he did not send them So that preaching and praying as a Minister without a Commission from Christ is counted but a Work of Iniquity 15. And as for the Doctors of Phisick they are the greatest Cheats upon a natural Account that is in the World They cheat the People of their Money and of their Health for they are in the original but atheistical Witches and it would be good if there were never a Doctor of Phisick in the World People would live longer and live better in Health 16. For God never appointed any Doctor of Phisick but he appointed Nature to preserve Nature 17. But through the wicked intemperate Life of Man it hath brought a necessity of Doctors of Phisick 18. But those People that go to a Doctor of Phisick to get Health he goeth to a Witch to seek his Health even as a Man that is troubled in Mind seeketh unto a Witch that hath a Familier Spirit for satisfaction as did King Saul 19. But when the Conscience of the Doctor of Phisick shall be opened at the last Day he shall say Lord we did not think that there were any God at all but Nature only therefore our Minds fed upon Gold and Silver that groweth in the Earth that we might Cloath our selves in rich Apparel that might make us honourable among great Men of the Earth and reverenced by the Poor not thinking in the least that there was any better Heaven hereafter or any Punishment after Death for practiseing this Cheat that is Autherised by the Powers of the Nations 20. And tho' we have done a great deal of Hurt yet Lord we have done some good we have cast out many Devils in Drunkards and Whoremasters and Whores who by their Wickedness have procured that Pox which no righteous Man could cure we have made them leave off that Practice by our Medicines and Advice and from Drunkenness and have lived a sober Life afterwards and many divilish Diseases have we cast out by our Spirits of
with George Whitehead and Josiah Cole With his Sentance passed upon them both 1. WHO ever may read this Letter let them understand thus much that I never saw the Man nor he me but he reading the Book aforesaid he was moved by the Light within him to send this cursed Letter unto me Whereupon after I had read it I sent him an Answer to it with the Sentance of eternale Damnation for his cursed Blasphemy The Bearer staid for it 'till it was writen he being a Quaker would not go without it 2. But it came to pass that the same Night that this Thomas Loe received his Sentance in answer to his curled Letter he went to Bed sick and never did rise more till he was carried to the Grave which was almost Three Weeks after Which is a clear Testimony that the Curse of God the Man Christ Jesus by his Messenger doth take hold of the Quakers People and more especially of their Ministry 3. Because they are the absolute Spirit of Antichrist in this last Age which teacheth the People to deny both Father and Son to become Flesh and that the Father nor the Son hath no Person of his own distinct from Man but denyeth a personal God in form like Man his own Image 4. For which Cause hath the Wrath of this God overtaken several of these desperate Quakers even of their Ministers or Preachers hath been cut off this Earth that they might not deceive People no more nor incumber the Earth with their wicked Antichristian Spirit which defieth the living God who is in the form of Man who made Man in his own Image Lodowick Muggleton 5. Upon the Sickness and Death of this Thomas Loe Quaker after the Sentance sent him it caused several to discourse with me about it therefore I shall relate some of the most remarkable Passages and the Persons I discoursed with upon the 17th Day of October 1668. The Persons discoursed withal were George Whitehead and Josiah Cole both Speakers of the Quakers 6. Eirst The Words Cole spoke unto me are these saith he Thou sayest God is in form of a Man and thou sayest his Hand is not much biger than thine or mine and thou seest what a little this Hand will hold Yet saith he God is said to have measured the Waters in the hollow of his Hand and behold the Nations are as a drop of a Bucket 7. I answered and said Do you beleive God to be so big to hold the Waters in the hollow of his Hand That is spoken in Relation to his great Wisdom Power and Dominion as he is a Creator not relating to the bigness of his Hand but to the greatness of his Power being infinite 8. An earthly King may be said to be King of many Kingdoms and that he hath brought the People of those Kingdoms to Obedience to his Law By the strength of his own Arm for Power or Strength is the right Hand of an earthly King 9. Yet the King doth not hold all the People under his Arm nor in the hollow of his Hand but the People may be said to be under his Hand and that he holds them in the hollow of his Hand because his Power and Laws doth protect them and keep them within Bounds for a prerogative Power is great but the Hand of a King is no biger than the Hand of another Man that hath no Power at all 10. So it is Gods prerogative Power that is above all Law in seting Bounds to the Waters and keeping the Waters within Bounds in the deep Places of the Earth and so may be said that God doth hold the Waters in the hollow of his Hand that is they are confined to a little place of his Power in his Creation 11. Also I said that I that am but a mortal Man hath Power over such a great God whose Hand is so big for that God whose Hand is much biger than thine or mine I have Power to Condemn This was passed by and no Reply made by them 12. Then spake Whitehead and said He did hear that I had cursed a Man and he changing his Aparel came afterwards and did procure a Blessing and that this Man or some other did smite a Pewter Pot upon my Head 13. This I said was false for never did any Man strike me over the Head with a Pot in all my Life it was that reprobate Pope that damd'd Devil that hath reported that he was Blessed after he was Cursed It is a false Report and he hath reported it several times amongst the Ranters and Quakers 14. This Pope was a Ranter then when he was Cursed which was about fifteen Years ago in John Reeve's time and he is a worse Ranter now than he was then and that you Quakers know very well and what a wicked lustful Life he liveth now in and yet you will rather beleive the damn'd Devil and wicked lustful Person than beleive me who have been kept innocent from the breach of any Law from my Childhood to this Day 15. But I know you Quakers being of the same Nature and Seed of the Serpent as those Jews were in Christ's time who desired of Pilate that a Thief and a Murtherer should be delivered from Death rather than Jesus the Saviour of all them that beleive in him 16. So is it with you for you had rather beleive this Pope this notable Sinner than to beleive me who am the Prophet of the most High God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory and have Power given of God as Moses had to set Life and Death before you but I know you do say in your Hearts tho not with your Lips as those Jews did by Christ Away with this Muggleton let us have Pope that wicked lustful Man that we might hear and inquire of him 17. Then said Josiah Cole Thou saist thou art an Embassador in God's steed and thou standest in his stead said he I would willingly do anything that I might be saved 18. Then I answered him and said I will tell thee what I will say unto thee if thou wilt but deny and forsake the Quakers Principles and beleive me I will assure thee thou shalt as certainly be saved as ever any Prophet or Apostle ever was 19. Then Cole fell into a Fit and waited upon his own Thoughts what to answer and I waited for his Answer 20. But George VVhitehead perceived that Cole was in a strait he came unto me and spied a Knot of Ribon upon my Coat Sleeve and said unto me VVhy dost thou wear this Vanity and touched the Ribon with his Fingers 21. I answered and said I know a piece of Ribon is a great Sin in a Quaker's Eye But said I VVhy dost thou wear silk Buttons on both thy Coats He said they were necessary I said No thou mightest wear Hooks and Eyes Clapses or Eyletholes That was past by 22. But then I will tell thee why I do wear Ribon it is on purpose that I might not
of the Place nor of the Man 22. So all Intents were frustrated which caused trouble of Mind to us all for no People have greater Love to one another than those of this Faith 23. We were in this jorny going and coming and at Friends Houses about five Weeks CHAP. VII The Prophet's House searched for Books The Sercher's Civility The Prophet acknowledges their Kindness and after sent them a Gratuity A second search for Books where several were taken Of a great Rebellion that hapened upon the Prophet's Absence 1. AFTER this in the same year 1669. I wrote two Books the one of them was an Answer to Esq Penington a Quaker who wrote a Book against me And the other Book was the Interpretation of the Witch of Endor and other Witches and in the Winter I did endeavor to get them printed and had agreed with two several Printers 2. But it came to pass that the Answer to Penington was taken in the Press through some Neglect of the Printer when half a Sheet had been printed but the Searcher of the Press he being a violent Man he made a great adoe about it and troubled the Printer and put him to the Charge of Seven Pounds and me Five Pounds to pacify the matter But the Interpretation of the Witch of Endor escaped in the other Printer's Hands and is now in Print and giveth great Satisfaction to many in that Point 3. After this it came to pass in the year 1670. before Midsumer there came Fourteen Men to search my House for unlicensed Books these Men were informed by the Printer but they would not connfess who sent them There was Three or Four of the King's Messengers and the Warden of the Stationer's Company and Printers and Booksellers 4. The Warden was very surly when my Wife asked what he would have He bid her open the Door else he would break it open She said She would not unless he would tell his Business So he made no more adoe pulled the Hatch and wrenched open the Spring-Lock and came runing up Stairs so sudainly that no Door in the House could be locked 5. And being so many of them they ran into every Room in the House and they came into the uper Rooms where I was and there they seized upon Ten Poundsworth of Books and were binding them up to carry away 6. I said I hope you are civil Gentlemen there is nothing in the Books that is against King or State and some of them were printed before the King came into England and if you will be pleased to ask what Mony you will for your Pains and Civility I will give it you 7. Then said one of them Do you think we will be bribed Then said I Who is the chief among you that I may appeal to him for Relief when you have taken them away Said they here is Mr. White the Warden of the Stationers Company he hath the Warrant and is chief and he liveth in St. John's on Clarkinwell-Green Then said I take them away and I helped them to Strings to ty them fast 8. And when they saw this that I was so fair and gave them goodly Words not in the least charging them with Folly or Unrighteousness they went from me into another Room and whispered among themselves and said one to another These Books are most of them against the Quakers and some Printed long ago we had best only take one a piece single and one bound alltogether and leave the rest till we have read them over to see what is in them So they agreed thus among themselves 9. Then Mr. White the Warden came to me and said Mr. Muggleton you shall see that we will be civil we will only take one of these bound alltogether and of each single and let the rest be forthcoming when we shall call for them 10. I thanked him for his Civility So they departed away at that time only one of them took one of the Books bound altogether under his Coate more than was agreed by themselves and it was well I escaped so And about Four or Five Days after I sent a Letter to Mr. White the Warden praising him and the Gentlemen with him for their Kindness and Civility and withal I sent him Two Guinea Pieces of Gold by my Wife to drink with the Gentlemen and prayed him to accept of them and if I were a Man of Ability I would have given a great deal more 11. For civil Kindness ought to be respected for I know you had Power to have taken them away and that if you would be pleased to send but one of those Books bound again by my Wife that I might know by that you have accepted of that small Token of my Love for your civil Usage 12. The Letter was more large but Mr. White read the Letter twice and said to my Wife Indeed one of the Men did take a Book under his Coat but said he shall restore it again for it is your Husband 's and as for the Two Guinea's said he let them alone 'till you hear further from me for it doth not ly altogether in my Power to accept of them So he would not receive the Two Guineas 13. So my Wife brought them again and I waited expecting to hear from him but did not for I perceived he had turned the Power over to the King's Messengers as I found afterwards for I heard by one that belongs to the Law that saw my Name in a Warrant in the Office to take my Person and to bring me before the Councel of State so he gave me Intilligence of it 14. So I went from my own House and lodged at a Friends House in Waping Three Quakers of a Year and a Week after I was gon came the King's Messenger with his Warrant but I being not at home he lost his Labor He came Three times and saw he could do no good he gave over coming for a long time 15. After this in the same year no sooner out of one Trouble but into another about the Month of October a little before the Parliament sate there came Eight or Tenn Men of the Stationers and other Officers to my House to search for Books 16. But it hapened that my Wife was newly gon out else they would have taken away many Books to a considerable Value but she being not at home went away very angry saying they would take some other Course but after this I took and got all the Books out of my House By this means I prevented them from taking away any more for many years 17. These Troubles and many more I went through in the year 1670. and in the year of my Life 60. And in the 19th year of my Commission 18. And while I was in these Troubles and absent from my own House even as a Prisoner for Three Quarters of a year there did arise a great Rebellion and Conspiracy amongst the Beleivers of me which was like the Conspiracy and
they had in that Faith is lost and another Faith sought after which Faith pitches upon the dead Letter of the Scriptures which yields no Peace at all without an Interpretor 31. Thus all Men in the World must and do pin their Faith upon some Man's Sleeve or other else there can be no Peace at all to the Mind of Man and in this sence the Saints must pin their Faith upon the Prophets Sleeve else they can have no true Peace at all CHAP. IX The Fourth Fifth and Sixth Assertions answered 1. TO this Fourth Assertion I say Who made any of you Saints but the Prophet only For as I said before no Prophet no Saint for though Men and Women be elected in the Seed in God's electing Power and may be saved by Election yet they cannot properly be called Saints as aforesaid because he must first come actually to believe in a true Prophet or true Minister of Christ for a Saint cannot make a Prophet but a Prophet can make a wicked Man a Saint as I have done several 2. Furthermore who gave any Saint in these our Days power to give Sentance upon any Man for Blasphemy was it not the Prophet now alive 3. God gave the Saints no such Power neither did John Reeve give any such Power to any Saint all his Days of his Life neither did any Saint give Sentance upon any all his Days 4. Now seeing the Saints receive their Power to give Sentance for Blasphemy from the Prophet now alive and not from God sure then there is a Power in that Prophet to take off that Sentance that any Saint shall give in case the Party so sentanced comes unto the Prophet and the Prophet deserns him capable of true Sorrow for his rash Speeches the Prophet can take off that Sentance that any Saint hath given and shall have perphect peace of Mind as if no Sentance at all had been passed upon him 5. There hath been an Example of this both in John Reeve's time and since for it came to pass that John Reeve had passed the Sentance upon a Man for writing blasphemous Words upon the Marjant of the Commission Book and when the Man read the Sentance he was exceedingly troubled all that Night so that no Rest could be found So that he came in the Morning with the Sentance in his Hand and besought us with Tears upon his Knees to take this Writing again for said he I have done foolishly and spoken rashly before he had considered with several other Words of Repentance 6. So John Reeve seeing his Sorrow for this Sin he took the Writing from the Man again and the Man was setled in Peace of Mind as at first 7. Now if the Prophet Reeve had Power to take off his own Sentance for Blasphemy then much more can he take off the Sentance that any Saint shall give against Blasphemy 8. Another Example since it was so That Claxton gave Sentance of Damnation upon Mrs. Masson and he was at that time as knowing a Saint counted by the Beleivers as ever any of you were yet when her Husband caused her to apply her self unto the Prophet I understanding the Cause I took off that Sentance he had given her and not only so but for that and other Things I took away his Power also so that no Sentance of his afterwards should be of any Value to any Man 9. So that Prophets have a prerogative Power as God above the Power of Saints because the Power of a Saint is at the second hand subordinate to the Power of a Prophet and therefore a Prophet hath power to take off that Sentance where and on whom he pleaseth c. 10. And as to the Answer of the Fifth Assertion this I say Who should uphold a corrupt natured Man but a Prophet in case a corrupt natured Man do beleive the Prophet then the Prophet's Faith shall uphold him from the Sensure and Judgments of those that looks upon their own Natures to be more pure and uncorrupt as to his Happiness in the Life to come the Prophets Love being in him he will uphold him 11. And whereas you say defraud and deceive all Men to this I say I do not uphold no Man to defraud nor deceive any Man it was always contrary to my Nature to uphold any such Practice in any Saint or Devil because I never did practice any such Things my self not in the Days of my Ignorance 12. But in case some Mens Natures are so corrupt as to practice such Things and yet are true Believers what shall the Prophet do with such Men shall he cast them out of the Kingdom of Heaven for ever because his Nature is corrupt surely no For this was not the Practice of Christ when on Earth But this I do allow and tollerate every Saint that if they cannot freely forgive the Defraud and Deceivings of such natured Men they may take the Law of them The Law is open to Right him self that is deceived or else let them trust such Men no more 13. But this I say I think you Fault Finders are the least defrauded or deceived by those corrupt natured Men of any Prophets cannot give Men honest Hearts that are not honest by nature and if they be honest by nature Prophets cannot give them Mony to uphold their Honesty 14. Neither can a Prophet change corrupt Natures for if the Prophet could I would have changed yours and have made you more Merciful to forgive the Trespass of your Brother of your own Faith and not to rake up the Sins of others and lay them as a Charge against the Prophet as if he were the cause of their Defraud and Deceit because I uphold them in Peace of Mind concerning the Life to come my Faith being in him it shall uphold him so that the fear of eternal Death shall not surprize him 15. Also if I could have changed your corrupt Nature I would never have suffered it to have broken forth into Rebellon as it hath done but would have upheld you in Peace of Mind and Hope of eternal Life notwithstanding your Nature is corrupt enough yet while my Love was in you I did uphold you in peace of Mind but now my Love is taken from you through your Rebellion your Peace Hope and Assurance will weather and dye in you And in this Sence will he uphold corrupt natured Men if his Love be in him 16. The Sixth Assertion answered which saith Tho' false VVorship be an Idol yet with the Prophets Leave he may go to that VVorship blameless As to this I never did forbid any Believer of this Commission of the Spirit from going to Church neither did John Reeve in his time they all went to Church or to Meetings John Reeve nor I never laid any Injunction upon any Believer not to go to Church 17. But since I wrote the Book of the whole Revelation I had occasion to write concerning Worship and the Believers reading of it their Eyes
to make and Excite discord between the King and his Subjects and to bring into Odium and Disgrace his said Majesty's Kingdom as to Eclesiastical Matters 4. He the said Lodowick Muggleton on the 30th of August in the 23d Year of His Majesty's Reign in St. Giles's Parish without Cripplegate London aforesaid by force and Armes did Unlawfully Wickedly Maliciously Scandalously Blasphemously Seditiously Scismatically and Heritically Write Print and Sell Utter and Publish a certain Malicious Scandalous Blasphemous Seditous and Heritical Book Intituled The Neck of the Quakers Broken 5. In which Book Written to Edward Burne are contained these Unlawful Blasphemous Seditious Heritical and Scandalous Sentences following viz. I Write these Lines unto you Edward Burne knowing you to be the Seed of the Serpent 6 There was repeated out of this Book much more as Page the 18 31 and 54. That whosoever Reads that Book may see those Blasphemies these Quakers did first Judge me with so that I had cause enough given me to Pronounce those sad Sentences of Damnation upon them and those Books was known to the Powers of the Nation many Years before and the Powers of the Nation took no notice of it because that and all others were Pardoned by the King and Act of Parliament till within three Years and that Book was Printed 13 Years before 7. Yet these wicked Judges and Jury and others Conspired together to perswade the Court that this Book was Antidated 13 Years ago yet Published this August 30th 1676 that it might come within the Act of three Years 8. Now these words that were taken out of this Book made some of the Judges Mad with Envie and grin'd their Teeth and their Counsel said it made his Hair stand on an End he was so Affrighted which caused one of the Judges to belch out of his Mouth saying it was to the great contempt and Scandal of their said Lord the King of His Crown and Dignity 9. When as that Book did not meddle with their Established Religion at all neither was it any dishonour to the King but rather an honour if he had but Read it over but Truth doth alwaies offend the reason of Man as is seen by what a Multitude of Hellish Expressions and Palpable lies uttered in their Indictment being patch'd up with Reproaches and Slanders against the purest Truth that ever was spoken by Prophet or Apostle 10. I shall now Record now unjustly Judge Rainsford dealt with me before the Tryal The Sessions before I was Tryed the Bill of Indictment was Read in Court and I answered not Guilty and said unto Davis then Lord Mayor that I would Traviss the Indictment and put in Bail to the Indictment 11. So Davis asked whither I could put in three Sufficient Men that could Swear they were worth Two Hundred Pounds a Man he would Accept of Bail thinking I could not have procured such great Security And Judge Rainsford Sate at the Right-Hand of the Mayor and I heard Judge Rainsford say to the Lord Mayor that it was pitty but I should be Burn'd I heard by his Words and saw by his Countenance that he was and would be a Deadly Enemy 12. But the Mayor could not deny Bail nor to Traviss the Indictment by the Laws of England so the Men were called and the Mayor being Envious asked one of them if they were of my Gang one of them answered and said thus Sr. We do not come here to be Examin'd whose Gang we are of but we came to be Bail for this Man for Six Hundred Pounds for his Appearance the next Sessions The Mayor said no more but Accepted it 13. And when the time drew near I did according to Law with my Lawyer go to this Judge Rainsford and got his Clerk to draw up a Sessarary which was to remove it out of that Court into the Court of Kings-Bench and this En vious Judge being Judge of the Kings-Bench-Court and we could not have a Sessarary in any Court else which he knew well enough which caused his Envie to act so wickedly and unjustly towards me 14. For when his Clerk and my Lawyer had Drawn up the Writing and had recived their Money near Forty Shillings they went into the Judges-Chamber for him to set his Hand to it to remove my Cause into his own Court which was but Law but he made them answer and said he would not set his Hand to it but would hear the Tryal himself at the Sessions 15. So I was Cheated of my Money by his Clerk and he knew it and he deprived me of it and of the just Law which is the Birth right of every free born Man of England 16. But now as to the Tryal I shall in the next place Record some of the most remarkable Words and Passages of the Judges and the Counselors and the Witnesses against me in the Tryal Upon the 17th of January 1676 first the Indictment was Read and the Cryer of the Court said Are you Guilty or not Guilty 17. I answred not Guilty but desired the Court to let my Counsel Plead the Cause because I knew they would have taken hold of my Words and made them a more horrible Crime then the Book it self which Judge Rainsford readily granted and asked Who was my Counsel I said Mr. Gener. 18. And he received a Breviat of the Cause shewing the Wrong I had received by their breaking open my House and taking away my Goods contrary to the Laws of England Also I gave into my Counsels Hands the Kings Gracious Act of Pardon That whosoever did Sue any Man for what was Pardoned in that Act afterwards that the Partie so Sued should Plead the General Issue and should Recover Ten Pound a Man of those his Adversaries 19. This Act was given into my Counsels Hands to Plead and that Book that stated the Indictment out of was given into his Hand which Book was Pardoned by that Act being Printed 13 Years ago all was Pardon'd till within Three Years 20. Also their Counsel I know not his Name had one of the Boâ—oks with the whole Volumn bound and Clasp'd which they stole from me in his Hand I saw the Chief Judges were bent upon Mischeif against me 21. Therefore I was resolved to follow the Practice of Christ when Examined by the high Priests Rulers and Counsel gave them no answer neither before Pilate for he knew they watched to catch Words out of his Mouth that they might have some what to Accuse him of to make his Cause worse then what his Enimies did Accuse him with as may be Read Luke 22.70 where Christ held his Peace and answer'd nothing 22. Then said they all Art thou the Son of God and he said unto them Yea say that I am and to this they said What need we any further Witness for we our selves have heard out of his own Mouth so Mark 14. and in verse 62 Jesus answered and said to his question I am the Son of God
were opened to see it was Idolatry to worship as the Nation doth so that many of them refrained from it and they found much Peace in it but some could not refrain because of Persecution but those that did refrain had much Peace in themselves and were better beloved with me than the other which did go to Church So that they that did go to Worship they had Shame and Trouble and Doubting in themselves and I let them bear their own Sin and never reproved them for it 18. And because I did not advise nor command them to the contrary they were the more incouraged but had not that Peace in themselves as those had that did refrain not because of my Dislike but because of their own Peace of Conscience But having no Command from us to the contrary some few took leave that were in high Places which could no ways uphold their Honour and Livelyhood except they went somtimes to Church 19. Now those not being forbid by the Prophet they were not disobedient to the Prophet nor to God but to their own Souls they brought Guilt upon their Conscience and Fear upon their Mind yet by the Prophets winking at them as God did in the Days of old at there Ignorance and not accuseing them of Evil but continueing his Law in them the Prophet Remembring their former Faith and Love to John Reeve They are blameless as to the fear of Eternal Damnation and why because the Prophet did never forbid them nor never did Condemn them for any thing they had done in that Nature 20. And in this Sence they are blameless of the Prophet and blameless of God for a Prophets Power is unlimited as God's Power is None is to call a Prophet to an Account but God only for if the Prophet will Wink at the faileings of some upon consideration of the Snares great Men are in and of other good they do and the Prophet will not Wink at others that are not under such Snars of this World nor can do no Good to others of their own Faith who shall againsay it none but Rebels 21 They will undertake to be more Righteous then the Prophet they would make all the Lords People Holy if they where in the Prophets place by Reproving and Exhorting and Judging the People some for going to worship an Idol and others for defraud and deceit but if we were in his place we would give Righteous Judgment upon all according to demerit without respect of persons this is Corath Dathan and Abiram like the practies of Rebels 22. And in this Sence those that go to worship an Idol may be said to be blameless of the Prophet and no other ways CHAP. X. The Seventh Eighth and Ninth Assertions Answered 1. HOW should Men that do Evil after the Blessing is given be supported if the Prophet should not support him suppose some that are under the Blessing may borrow Mony of his Brethren of the same Faith and never pay them again others perhaps are passionate hasty natured which wounds their own Souls others may sometimes be drunk others of a hasty wrashful Nature as you are 2. Those things are all Evil the one as well as the other and perhaps some of this Faith to whom the Prophet hath given the blessing are guilty of those things now to whom shall they apply them selves too to be supported in the trouble of his Mind he hath borrowed Mony but cannot pay it again so his Credit is lost he can borrow no more there neither will he forgive him freely but looks upon him though he be of his own Faith but a paltry deceitful Man and will have no more Dealing with him This is Punishment enough where an honest Heart is 3. And where shall such a Man be supported but by the Prophet for his Brethren will not support him and the World Condemns him for a base Cheat and his own Conscience Condemns him and makes him ashamed and where shall he go he cannot go to God for Relief but to a Man like him self a Prophet 4. And to this Prophet he can appeal unto and be supported under his Blessing he once gave him for a Prophets Word is as the Word of God him self in case the Mans Faith be in it For who hath need of Support but such for legal Righteous Men need no Support neither of God nor of the Prophet for it hath a Blessing in it self in the very deed doing 5. Therefore it is said that Christ did Justify the Ungodly but not the legal Righteous Man but rather Condemn him as the Proud Pharise who bosted of his Righteousness and did thank God that he was not like the Publican who deceiv'd all Men he delt with 6. And in this Sence it may be said that the Prophet doth uphold a Man though his Life and Conversation be counted Wicked by Rebels yet his Faith being stedfast shall be upholden by the Prophet 7. As to the Eighth Assertion my Answer is suppose Christ when he was taken and carried before Pilate and when he was examined by him whether he was the Christ the King of the Jews if Christ for fear of Death should have denyed and said No I am not the Son of God c. If this should have been said by Christ then he would have prov'd a False Christ and his Faith a False Faith 8. And so those that Believed him their Faith would be False and vain and the assurance of Eternal Life in them would have perished for a False Christ will be Damn'd then all that Believe in that False Christ will be Damn'd also 9. For it is by Faith that Men are saved now if a Man's Faith be pitched upon the true Christ and hold out to the end he shall be saved because the Christ he Believed in shall be saved 10. But if a Man have Faith in the true Christ for a while and afterwards his Faith whither and grow coul'd and not hold out this Man may perish to Eternity yet the Christ saved 11. Furthermore if the Prophet now alive should disown the Commission of the Spirit that is if he should deny and disown that God spoke to John Reeve and that God did not Chuse us two Joyntly to be his Two last Prophets that God will ever send to the end of the World now if it where possible the Prophet should disown this but it is not possible which way then can those that have believed in us possibly be saved but must be Damn'd 12. For a False Prophet will be Damn'd And again if a true Faith Justify a Man being pitched upon a true Prophet then a False Faith pitched upon a False Prophet it whither 's and dies and Condemns the Heart of Man 13. If it should be objected that we believe John Reeve that God spake to him and we believe his Writings and that he Dyed in that Faith But if the Prophet now alive should disown John Reeve that God spake to him c.