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
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
rather fear to offend as the Prophet Reeve saith That a true born Saint is afraid of his own evil thoughts much more of evil words or deeds against God or man Again we see by this Book of the Acts that these two Prophets were jointly chosen of God and made equal in Power and Authority for the Prophet Reeve saith That his Fellow Witness had as great power as he had himself And further said That he was the Lords last High-Priest If this be granted then it must follow that there can be no Salvation to such as shall reject him or his Writings altho' they pretend to own John Reeve Moreover the mighty sufferings that these Prophets have undergone for their Testimony sake are admirable yet notwithstanding all opposition providence preserv'd them so as that they both died in their Beds in peace and not only so but this last Prophet liv'd to see the downfal of many of his great Enemies and of his Persecutors and Judges Now to come to a conclusion of this Epistle When the Prophet had wrote this Book of the Acts he kept it by him not letting any to see it but about two Weeks before he died it was put into the hands of one of us that was his true Friend and ancient Acquaintance in order to be printed after his death Which now with the assistance of some Friends through providence it is perfected and is recommended to the whole houshold of Faith which I doubt not but it will be accepted of being a true Copy from the Original there being nothing here printed but what is really his own only you are to know that there are some things omited that are of a Temporal accompt as a dispute with Mr. Leader concerning Eclipses and the hight of the Visible Heavens with some other particulars which things are left out because of the greatness of the Charge for all cannot be Printed that is Writen for it is evident that altho there is above a Hundred Sheets of theirs in print yet is it not past a Third part of what is Writen by them two Witnesses for in the Year 1682 Mr. Delamaine did Transcribe so many of their Works and bound up in a Book as contained 1052 pages in Folio in which Book and in what is printed almost all the Scripture hath been Interpreted that are of concernment to Salvation But whether it may enter into the Heart of any that are Rich to be stirred up to Print the same or whether the Powers of the Nation may permit it We leave to Providence But before I conclude it is Requisite to give you an Acompt of the Prophets Death and Burial which was thus upon the First of March 1697. the Prophet was taken with an Illness and Weakness upon which he said these Words Now hath God sent Death unto me And presently after was helped to Bed and tho' he kept his Bed yet we could not perceive that he was Sick only Weak and he lay as if he slept but in such quietness as if he was nothing concerned with either Pain or Sickness So that it was meer Age that took him away which was the 14th day of March he then departed this Life with as much peace and quietness as ever any man did being about 88 Years of Age so that he had that Blessing to come to the Grave in a full Age like as a Shock of Corn cometh in at its Season Upon the 16th day his Corps was remov'd to Larsimus Hall and on the 17th day was from thence Attended on with two hundred forty eight Friends accompanying him to Bethleham Church-Yard where he was Buried by his Fellow-VVitness which was according to his own appointment And thus was the Lord's Last Prophet brought to his Grave in peace without noise or without tumult though thousands of Spectators beheld it and there they are both to remain until the coming of their Lord their King and their Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ the High and Mighty God and our God and blessed are they that know their Voice and wait for that day and are not offended with these things Farewel T. T. ERRATA PAge 18. verse 3. leave out the last single I. p. 95. v. 22. for yet and do read to p. 100. v. 5. for Reason read Religion p. 103. in the Contents for Argument read Arraignment p. 112. v. 25. for that read they p. 128. v. 17. for Reported read Reproached p. 140. v. 11 for maketh read make Idem v. 12. for probably read possibly p. 147. v. 19. for Law read Love p. 251. v. 19. for said read saved The Acts of the Witnesses c. The First Part. CHAP. I. The Prophet sheweth first That Moses and the Prophets did record strange and wonderful things As also their Revelations which we are bound to believe 1. THERE is and hath been Recorded many and several wonderful strange Things and Deeds of the righteous Fathers as Noah Lott Abraham Isaack and Jacob and of their Faith in God 2. And also how wonderfully God did appear unto them and strengthen them in their time when they were upon the Eearth These things are Recorded by the Revelation of Moses as God revealed it to him 3. Also Moses declared his own Birth and how he was preserv'd from being drown'd These things did he declare and how God appeared unto him and chose him and Aron for that great Work to lead that great People through the Wilderness and to be a Law-giver 4. Which was the first visible appearance of God upon Earth that is Recorded for all Generations to come For tho God did appear in a wonderful manner unto Enock Noah Abraham Isaack and Jacob and several other righteous Men yet we could never have known it had not Moses by his Revelation left it upon Record 5. How could the Generations to come have known any thing of the Creation of the World and how God made Man in his own Image and Likeness 6. Or that there ever was the Man Adam or Cain that slew his Brother Abel or that the World was ever drowned except eight Persons if it had not been revealed by Moses 7. So that we have nothing but Moses's bare Word for it for we did not live in his time to see the Wonders he wrought nor hear him speak 8. Yet we are bound to believe his Record and Revelation and Acts he did And blessed and happy were all those that did believe him when he was upon Earth when they saw his Acts and heard him speak 9. And more blessed are these now that understand and believe which have not seen his Wonders he wrought in his time not heard him speak forth those Revelations God revealed unto him concerning the Creation of the World as aforesaid 10. Also we read in Scripture of many wonderful Acts that was wrought and done by the Prophets in the time of the Law after Moses 11. As Samuel Isaiah Jeremiah Eljah Elisha and several other Prophets in the time
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
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
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
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
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
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
true Knowledge is never proud 5. For I would make nothing of the greatest learned Man that is upon the Earth if he will dispute of the Scripture in the English Tongue And not persecute with a Sword of Steel to overthrow him by the Scriptures that there is but one true God in the person of a Man who made Man in his own Image and likeness as the Scriptures saith And not Three Persons and one God as all Profesers of Reason do own at this Day 6. Also we being the third Record of the Spirit upon Earth we use no outward visible Forms of Worship But do Worship God in Spirit and Truth as Christ said 7. So that every Record on Earth doth differ one from another in Point of Worship 8. For it is not proper for every Record to Act one and the same thing over and over again And as there is a difference in the Three Titles called Three Records in Heaven of Father Word and Spirit Now these are Three Distinct Titles yet but one God 9. So it is with the Three Records on Earth of Water Blood and Spirit These be Three distinct Records And Three distinct Persons the head of these Three distinct Records And there is Three distinct differances in there visible Worships yet they all Three agree in one 10. In witnessing to that one Jesus Christ to be the very true God and Saviour of all those that believe in that the Word was God And God was that Word And the Word became Flesh and Dwelt among Men He that is called the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last The Begining and the End He that was Dead and is Alive for Evermore 11. This one God doth all the Three Records agree to witnâ—ss unto this one God though differing all of them in their Several dispensations of outward Worship as aforeâ—aid 12. For every Record Acts his part upon this Earth suitable to the Three Titles in Heaven Moses and the Prophets their parts in the dispensation of Water as being under the Title of God the Father and Creatour of all things 13. Christ and the Apostles Acted their Commission of the Blood under the Title of a Redeemer by his own Blood And he was that Word made Flesh And Dwelt among Men. 14. And now we the Witnesses of the Spirit do Act a Spiritual Record on Earth which is to Worship God in Spirit and Truth Answerable to the Title of Spirit in Heaven 15. In Witnessing to that one Personal God though Three Titles of Father Word and Spirit yet but one Personal God 16. So that the Three Records on Earth do agree in one though they differ in their outward dispensations of worship as aforesaid so that we the Witnesses do Act our part on Earth under the Title of the Holy Spirit in Heaven therefore our Worship is Spiritual and Invisible in the Heart only 17. And now you see I have prov'd by Scripture that the Commission of the Spirit is now Extant upon the Earth and Acted by Men like yourselves even by John Reeve And myself and those that beleive our Doctrin 18. Said I do you beleive me now I have prov'd by Scripture that I am one of the Two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit or last Record on Earth 19. He answered and said that he could not gain say any thing that I had spoken but did aprove of what I had said better than of any that ever he heard in his life but said he could not venture his Salvation upon my Words 20. Then said the Sheriffs Men and the Keeper of the Prison Now Mr. Benet you have met with your Match One that hath Answered you all things 21. Then said Mr. Benet suffer me to ask you one question more 22. What is that said I. 23. Why saith he I have been a long time of the Oppinion that the Soul of Man is mortal and doth dye But I cannot satisfie myself in it 24. I answered and said your Oppinion was true for the Soul of Man is Mortal and doth Dye For nothing doth Live but the Soul for it is the Soul that Eats and Drinks and Walks and Talkes And the Soul that Lives and Dyes For nothing can be said to Dye but Life for if the Body be Dead the Soul or Life is Dead also For the Body and Soul is all one being And if one be Alive both are Alive And if one be Dead both are Dead 25. For both Body and Soul came into the World together For the Soul is begotten by Generation as well as the Body so that they go both Body and Soul out of the World together For that Life that is begot by Procuration must Dye which all Souls are and not by Infusion from God but by that very Law that said Encrease and Multiply 26. Therefore the Soul or Life of Man and all things else that is begotten by Generation must Dye as well as their Bodies 27. When he heard this He was very much taken with my answer and seem'd very Respective to me and so did the Sheriffs Men they show'd themselves very Civil 28. This dispute was upon the Sunday before the Assizes For that began on the Monday following a matter of Four Hours in the Afternoon this dispute was CHAP. XIII The Prophets Argument And Examin'd by the Judge And he Required of the Judge to take Bail the Judge granted it The Maior Aldermen and Recorder that Committed him saw their Folly and Madness and were asham'd of themselves How the Prophet had the Love of all the Prisoners Of his Printing of the whole Book of the Revelation c. 1. AFTER this dispute aforesaid upon the Wednesday following being the last Day of the Assizes I was call'd before the Bar And when I came before the Bar. 2. The Judge asked me if I would be Try'd by this Note of Examination 3. I answered no and said I thought your Honour would have excepted of Bail for my appearance the next Assizes For Mrs. Carter had delivered the Judge a writing to that purpose of mine the Day before and the Judge his Name was Terral 4. The Judge answered and said that he would take Bail but had said to her he would see the Man So when I asked him at the Bar to take Bail the Judge said he would and asked me who they were 5. And I said one is Richard Sudbury He asked where he Liv'd I said at Notingham he asked what Trade I said an Iron-monger Then Richard Sudbury was call'd and the Judge asked him whether he would be bound for my Appearence the next Assizes He said he would then the Judge Commanded him to be set down for one 6. Then said the Judge There must be another then said I there is one Edward Fewterer where Liveth he said the Judge I said at Chesterfield what Trade said the Judge I said a Surgeion then the Judge Commanded Edward Fewterer to be called then the Judge asked him whither
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
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
Mall and William Picke they were Three inveterate Devils being incouraged by this rich man Yet notwithstanding I proceeded on in the Law and when they saw they were in danger to be overthrown they used all ways possible to defer the Cause 7. And when they Saw that would not do but that I would bring it to Tryal They consulted together and Summon'd me into the Spiritual-Court thinking to have me Excomunicated that I might not have the benefit of the Law against them But I spent Money in that Court and kept off their Excomunication and proceeded in the Common Law towards a Tryal 8. And when they Saw that would not do then they Conspired and Consulted with the Wardens of the Company of Stationers to Search my House for Unlicenced Books upon which the Wardens brought many Booksellers and Printers and Three of the Kings Messingers with them and because my Wife denied to let them come up Stairs they Immediately with a Weapon they had broke open Four Doors that were Lock'd and Boulted Contrary to the Laws of England and they took away Four Hundred Books great and small from me of a considerable Value 9. After they had done this they Consulted with the Bishop of London to put me into the Spiritual Court and Sue me there for Blasphemy and get me Excomunicated that I might not have the Benefit of the Law against them neither for breaking open my House and Stealing away my Goods 10. And for that purpose they got the Lord Chief Justice Rainsfords Warrant for to take me he was a deadly Enemy to me as will appear in that he would have taken away my Life if he could but I defended the Spiritual-Court from being Excomunicated and from his Warrant being Executed or Served upon me until these two Tryals in the Common Law against these two Tenants of the rich Mad were ended 11. I was forced to be absent from my own House for above a Quarter of a Year I was Entertained by that ever honoured and true Believer that young Widdow Ann Hall I was Entertained by her as an Angel of God when other Believers durst not I was kept at her House in Obscurity from Friends and Enemyes not knowing where I was yet I Employed my Lawyers to manage my Business in both Courts and in my absence they overthrew my Adversaries in the two Causes aforementioned in the Common Law and I received again that which the rich Man had taken away with some of my Charges again 12. But the Wardens of the Stationers Company because they could not catch me though they hunted after me as Blood-Hounds but could not find me out to Serve their Warrant upon me then they pressed hard in the Spiritual-Court to get me Excomunicated they fearing I might Overthrow them in the common Law for breaking open my House and taking my Goods for they had committed an absolute Burglary and Fellony by the Laws of England 13. But I being pressed so hard upon in the Spiritual-Court that it came to this Resultation in the Court that if I did not Personally appear the next Court Day then I should be Excomunicated and being advised by him that managed my Business in that Court to appear he saying he thought there would be no Danger 14. Now by his words I was perswaded to appear though against my own Mind for I did fear I should be Trappan'd and as I fear'd it came to pass and it proved of woeful Consequence to me as will appear by what doth follow 15. To omit many Circumstances I shall Record the Heads and Substance of the whole matter and as I did appear in the Spiritual-Court to prevent my self of being Excomunicated The Court had little to say unto me only asked me if I did own that Libel which they knew I denied by my Procter before 16. This was only to Deliver me into the Temporal Magistrates Hand for the Wardens the Lord Mayor the Lord Chief Justice together with the Spiritual-Court were agreed together to Proceed against me this way otherwayes they could never have catched me while they Lived nor have brought me under their Law 17. Therefore the Wardens Merne and Clark they got the Lord Chief Justice of England's Warrant with a Constable ready and as soon as I was Discharged in the Spiritual-Court at Docters-Commons that curssed Court is meerly to betray People into the Hands of their Enemies and to ruin the Estates of the Poor People for it is of no more Consequence for the good of the Nation then to throw Stones against the Wind. 18. For the Wickedness and Envie of the Ignorant People is such because they cannot be revenged of the Innocent and Just by the Temporal Laws of the Land then they Cite the Innocent that cannot Bow Down to their Worship into the Spiritual Court which I have had great Experance of this curssed Court which did betray me into the Hands of wicked envious Magistrates as will appear 19. For as soon as I was coming out of the Court the Constable served the Lord Justice Rainsford's Warrant upon me Then was I delivered into the Hands of Satan to be plain into the Hands of Devils 20. And I was led to Guild-Hall before the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen the Mayors Name was Thomas Davis a Stationer by Trade a deadly Enemy to me and to all Moral Justice and a Man made up more of Mallice and Ignorance of the Law of the Land than Ntural Wisdom or Moral Knowledge And as to Spiritual Knowledge he was as Blind as a Beetle 21. The Constable gave Judge Rainsford's Warrant into the Lord Mayor's Hand and the Wardens gave the whole Book bound into his Hands and the Lord Mayor asked me whither I did own this Book I said I did 22. Then he commanded me to withdraw into another Room and I did so with an Officer with me I stay'd a little while and the same Constable brought my Mittimus from the Lord Mayor to carry me to the Geoal of Newgate until the next Sessions 23. So I being carried to Prison I was Bailed out until the 17th of January in the Year 1676 then did Merne and Clark draw up an Indictment against me but out of one of those Bookes they stole from me called The Neck of the Quakers Broken CHAP. II. Of the Bill of Indictment and of the Cruelty of the Judges 1. NOW followes the Bill of Indictment as I was Condemn'd for The Persons or Jury Sworn for our Lord the King gave in that Lodowick Muggleton late of London Labourer being a Man Pernicious Blasphemous Seditious Heritical and a Monster in his Opinions 2. Pretending that he the said Lodowick Muggleton is one of the two last Witnesses of Almighty GOD and devising and intending to Spread Abroad his Pernicious Blasphemous Seditious and Monstrous Opinions and to disturb the Peace and quiet of this Kingdom of England and dispise and debase the True Religion Established and Exercised therein 3. As also
c. 23. Then the high Priests rent their Cloathes and they all Condemned him to be guilty of Death so likewise I did perceive that if I had pleaded my self I should have Justified my Commission from GOD and that he gave John Reeve and my self that Power and Authority to give Sentance of Damnation to all that Blaspheme against the Holy Ghost as they did as are Writen in that Book 24. These Words would have Enraged the Judges and Jury and the People more then that Book so that they would have said by me as the Priests Scribes and Pharisies said by Christ as aforesaid The angrey and Malicious Judges and Envious Jury and Ignorant Officers and People in the Court would have rent their Hearts with Madness against me and said What need we to mind this Book or Indictment or Witness against him for you hear his horrible Blaphemy out of his own Mouth therefore what think you so that they all would have Condemned me to greater Torments than they did 25. Considering this I held my Peace and speak not one word which prevented the Expectations of Thousands which thought to have had a large Relation of the Matter 26. So that I left the Book that was Pardoned Act and Indictment and Witnessess for them to Judge and Condemn me by So they had no farther Matter from me at all which did frusterate their Expectations and Moderate their Punishment as the Reader may perceive by what doth follow CHAP. III. The Counsel against the Prophet Pleads with fear and horrour The Prophets Counsel Pleads and through fear did wrong his Cause 1. UPON the 17th of January 1676 after the Indictment was read my Counsel Pleaded to it proving that this Book the Indictment was ground upon it was Pardoned by the Kings Gracious Act being Printed 13 Years ago neither was this Book Published nor Sold in any Shop or to any Person in publick as can be proved but were locked up in Cheasts c. This with many other Words according to the Laws of England This my Counsel pleaded and my Counsel Sate under Judge Atkins 2. And their Counsel Sate under Judge Rainsford and he did hold up the Book in open Court which Book was the whole Volumn bound and Clasped He held one of the Claspes between his Finger and his Thumb up in the open Court in oppossition to my Counsel 3. And he expressed these Words and said with a loud Voice That he did Read one Leaf of this Book and turn'd over another But said he it was so full of Horrible Blasphemy that he durst not Read any further for the Blasphemy was so great that it made his Hair stand an end and his Heart to tremble with other Expressions of Dread and Fear 4. As if the very Reading of it would have caused God to have parted the Heavens assunder and have Rained down Vengance upon him for Reading it if he had Read any further For said he It was impossible for any Man to Write such a Horrible Blasphemous Book in Assuming the place of God upon him Except he went to the bottom of Hell for said he it is so cunningly contrived that it confounds all the Reason in Man with many other hedious expressions which I cannot remember 5. He spoke truth but knew it not for the Spirit of Revelation doth descend to the bottom of Hell else we could not tell others where it is and prevent others from falling into it and as Christ himself Descended into Hell and quickened again out of it so hath the Spirit of Revelation in me descended into the bottom of Hell a Thousand times and hath quickened out of it again and hath forewarned many from going into that Place but I know this Counseler shall go into Hell that hath no bottom called a Bottomless Pitt and he shall never come from thence to Eternity 6. Likewise indeed the Revelation of Faith in me hath confounded all the Reason in Man as to Spiritual and Heavenly matters 7. After this my Counsel pleaded again to the same purpose as he did before but he through extream Fearfulness did wrong my cause in two things First in that he made no mention of the Wardens breaking open four Doors contrary to the Laws of England which was by the Law absolute Burglary and the taking away the Books was absolute Fellony 8. This was in the Forefront of his Breviat and I had reposed the Business to him because I would not plead my self but he like a deceitful Knave and fearfull Fool did not speak one Word of it before the Court which if he had it would have put these Envious Judges and Jury to a Nonplush how they could have brought me in Guilty so he spoyld my Cause 9. For after he had Pleaded the Kings Act of Grace as aforesaid he said these Words that he had Pleaded so far as the Law would bear him out but as for the Words and cause of Indictment he was ashamed of it 10. Upon these Words did Judge Rainsford say unto the Jury You see that his own Counsel is ashamed of his Cause 11. Here the Reader may see those Words verified as I have Read for my Counsel did do at my Tryal those things which he ought not to have done and he left undone those things which he ought to have done for he ought to have Pleaded the Breaking open of so many Doors but he left that undone and to say he was ashamed of my Cause he ought to have left those Speeches undone and not to have spoken them being not forced by the Court. 12. And for a Man to take Forty Shillings to Plead a Man's Cause and to say he is ashamed of his Clyants Cause what Man that hath but Moral Reason and Sense in him but will say such a Counseler hath no Truth in him 13. But Judge Atkins siting over my Counsel might see the Breviat in my Counsels Hand which caused him to ask one of the Witnessess his name was Garat how did he come by those Books he answered that he did Seize them as they use to do the Judge asked how many there were of them he said a Porters Load The Judge asked him where the Books were he answered at the Bishop of Londons House 14. The Judge asked him again if they were all of a sort or all of a bigness he answered no some were great ones and some lesser some three or four bound together and some single He was asked how many of them great Books that were in the Court he answered Six of them he was asked what was the Price that great Book was sold for He answered Twelve or Fourteen Shillings 15 Now when the two Counsels had done Pleading and the Witnesses Examin'd the aforesaid Judge Atkins stood up and said Gentlemen of the Jury you see that the Book which the Indictment was grounded upon was Printed 13 Years ago and is Pardon'd by the Kings Gracious Act Therefore said he I cannot
see by the Lawes of England how you can possibly bring this Man in Guilty therefore Jury look to it 16. Then stood up Judge Rainsford and said That if it was not Law we will make it Law and further said who knoweth but this Raskal might Antidate the Book 13 Years ago and Publish it this 30th of August last past 17. The Envy of this wicked Judge made him speak against his own Conscience for he knew it was impossible for me to do such a thing as to get it Printed so lately for he knew it were those that Stole my Books published them 18. And further this Rainsford vented his Envy exceeding high and called me Incorrigable Rogue that should Assume to himself to be in Gods place a Man Pernicious Blasphemous Seditious Heritical and a monster in his Opinions Pretending himself one of the two Witnessess of Almighty God to the great Scandal and Contempt of our Lord the King his Crown and Dignity as also the Religion of this Kingdom rightly Established And further said he was Sorry that the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish Crimes of this Nature 19. And further he goeth on in his Rage against me and saith Gentlemen of the Jury if you do not bring this Man in Guilty you will be pertakers with him in all his Horrible Blasphemy and grand Apostisie 20. Many more hateful Words with the Fire of Hell that proceeded from his Heart and did appear in his Face his Zeal was great to have me Punished Nay he thought in his Heart that Hanging was too good a Death for me for said he This Crime of horrid Blasphemy as he accounted it was worse than Murder Fellony or Treason and was Sorry that the Laws was so unprovided to punish such Crimes 21. I was so moved in my mind to hear this Cursed Devil to Blaspheme against the Holy Spirit that sent me and gave me Power to give Sentance of Eternal Damnation upon such Blaspheming Devils That I could have wished that God would have Executed some vissible Vengeance from Heaven upon this Blasphemous Judge to have smote him with a natural Blindness for I knew he was Spiritually Blind for I had done wrong to no Man 22. Only I had Executed the Commission of God faithfully in giving Sentance upon all dispising Devils who sinned againg the Holy Ghost This was that Sin the high Priests and Elders committed in Christ's time against him in that they said he cast out Devils by Belsebub the Prince of Devils 23. I know this that Judge Rainsford would have said the same to Christ himself had he been in my place for his Blasphemy was great not only against me but against God that sent me which God he knew not 24. Therefore my Anger was kindled against him and desired an immediate vissible Vengeance from Heaven upon him that might have been a vissible Witness whither God did own him or me 25. But there was a secret Voice within me said thy Commission is Spiritual and hath to do with the Spiritual and Eternal Estate of Mankind and that all such Persons are the Seed of the Serpent and are to receive for their Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost their Punishment in the Life to come even Eternal Damnation which is the second Death where the Worm of Conscience shall never Dye nor the Fire of Hell shall never be quenched to Eternity 26. Then I was quiet and willing to bear all they could do unto me even to the loss of my Life CHAP. IV. The Prophet is brought in Guilty of his Sentance and Judgment with the nature of his Sufferings 1. AFTER that Judge Rainsford had made his Speech to the Jury then was the Goler commanded to take me away from the Bar and put into a little Room for a season and after a little space I was called for to the Bar again and Jefferies being then in the Recorders place that Bawling Devil was to give Sentance and Judgment upon me 2. And when I did appear before him a great Fire was between us where they did Burn those in the Hand which were Condemn'd to that Punishment but all that was over before I did appear 3. And this Jefferies Sate in the Judgment Seat as Pilate din against Christ and I stood a Prisoner at his Bar and when he saw my Face the first Words he speak he called me Impudent Rogue because my Countenance did not change nor look sad nor asked any Favour of the Court and said nothing to all their Threats Revilings and Reproaches whereby they Reproached me 4. Then he asked the Jury Is Muggleton Guilty or not Guilty They stay'd a little space before they speak Jefferies asked again is Muggleton Guilty or not Guilty the Jury said Guilty 5. Then he Proceeded in Judgment and said the Court is sorry the Laws of England are so unprovided to punish Crimes of this Nature therefore the Court hath thought Fit to give you but an Easie Easie Easie Punishment 6. You shall be committed and put to stand upon the Pillory in three of the most Eminent Places in the Citty That is one Day in Cornhil near the Exchange London Another Day in Fleet-street near the end of Chancery-lane and the Third Day being on the Market Day to Stand in West-Smith-Field London from the Hours of Eleven in the Forenoon until one in the Afternoon 7. On which said several Days a Writing Paper shewing your Offence to be put upon your Breast and also your Blasphemous Books in three Parts to be devided and with Fire before your Face near the Pillory aforesaid by the Common Hangman then and there to be Burn'd 8. And then to be returned into Newgate in safe Custody until your Fine of Five Hundred Pound be paid and then to put in good Security to be of good Behaviour the time of your Life but none of your own Gang as he call'd them shall be Security for you These are the Words of the Sentance that Jefferies passed upon me the 17th of January 1676. 9. The Paper that was tyed to my Brest every Day I stood upon the Pillory to shew my Offence and cause of this Suffering the Words were as followeth 10. Lodowick Muggleton Standeth hear for Writing causing to be Printed Selling Uttering and Publishing a Blasphemous Book 11. After this Sentance and Judgment was passed upon me I shall Record as short as I can the manner of the Execution of this Sentance and how I did suffer it and bear the Curse of their wicked Wills for they did make that Law which was not Law as Rainsford said before and as Judge Atkins when he saw me Condemn'd contrary to Law he went off the Bench and said there were no fair Dealings with me 12. This Sentance have I Suffered in every Tittle in the greatest Rigour that could be inflicted even beyond their own Law they made me Ride in a Cart as a Thief or a Murtherer Bareheaded without Hat or Cap which never
was done in England before I stood Bareheaded upon the Pillory which no Cheat ever did but were suffered to weare a Cap of Steel under another Cap. 13. I was set as a Mark for every one to Throw a Stone at me 14. My Books were offered up in Three Burnt offerings unto the Unknown God as Three Sacrifices before my Face the smoke of them asscended into my Nostrells which caused me to Cry to Heaven for Vengeance upon those Great Men of the Earth that were the cause of those Burned-offerings unto Devils 15. And my self was Offered up as a Sacrifice Three times to the Rude Multitude For the People came from the Four Winds or from the Four Quarters of the Citty and Subburbs round about they were for Multitude without Number 16. I was maul'd by the People some cast Dirt and Mudd out of the Kennel at me others Rotten Eggs and Turnâ—â—s and others cast Stones at me some Stones weighed a Pound and out of the Windows at the Exchange they cast down Fire Brands Pieces of Billits with Fire upon them at my Head which if they had lighted upon me would have done the Work as they desired 17. I was Bruised and Battered and my Innocent Blood was shed tho' not unto Death for Gods Cause for that the Blood of the last True Prophet and Witness of the Spirit hath been shed by this Bloody Citty for my Testimony to the Commission of God put upon me 18. And it was the wonderful Providence of God my Life was preserved for I was delivered into the Hands of unreasonable Men the rude Multitude by the Hands of Rainsford Davis and Jefferies Judges of the Law of Reason and Jury these were the Men that were Guilty of my Innocent Blood 19. I was willing to be stoned to Death by the rude Multitude and would have gone off the Pillory to be stoned to Death but the Officers would not let me come down when this was over my Wounds and the Blood stanched I was put into the Cole Cellar again the same Day at Night I went Three pair of Stairs high to my Lodging 20 And the next Day I would willingly have kept my Bed but the Keeper said If I would not come down into the Cellar in the Afternoon they would put me in the Common Side so I was forced into the Cellar who had more need to have kept my Bed 21. But there is no mercy in Prison therefore it may well be compared to Hell for in Hell there is no mercy but Justice only neither is there any mercy in Prison Keepers at all without profit 22. After I had suffered these things I was put into Prison again for the Fine of Five Hundred Pounds that was laid upon me to Pay but I did lye in Prison Six Months after I had suffered these things aforesaid 23. And now in my Imprisonment I considered that my sufferings were much like unto the sufferings of the Prophet Jeremiah Chap 11.19 he suffered for his Message from the Lord of Host the mighty God of Jacob. 24. And my sufferings was for my Commission received from the high and mighty God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory the only wise God my King and my Redeemer 25. And as his Enemies that caused him to suffer and would have had him put to Death were Princes and great Men of the Earth so likewise those my Enemies were great Men and as Princes on the Earth and they sat upon the Thrones as Gods on Earth in Judgment against me 26. And as it was with Jeremiah so it was with me for I was like a Lamb that is brought to the Slaughter and I knew not that they had devised devices against me if I had I could have prevented them They saying Let us destroy the Tree with its Fruite thereof and cut him off from the Land of the Living that his Name may be no more Remembered 27. That is let us destroy this Muggleton the Tree and the Fruit thereof his Doctrine of the True God and Right Devil in his Writings that none may receive his Writings more nor believe his Doctrin or Commission that he hath Power from God to Bless and Curss to Eternity any more This Reprobate Men have practised against me 28. So that I have had Cause to make my Complaint unto my God my King and my Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ as David and Jeremiah did 29. Oh Lord God of Truth that Judgeth Righteously that Tryeth the Reins and the Heart let me see thy Vengeance on them for thou knowest I have been Faithful in Executing thy Commission the Burthen of the Lord which thou didest lay upon me 30. And thou knowest the unrighteous unjust Judgments these wicked unjust Judges gave against me They were not only Enemies to me but thy Enemies Oh God for they have hated me without a cause and they have said let us smite him with the Tongue with Lyes Slanders and Reproaches 31. Therefore heed O Lord God of Truth and harken to the Vioce of these wicked Judges and Jury and all those that assented to that Judgment for harm that contended with me And let me see thy Vengeance on those thy Enemies for their Fathers did unto thee when thou was upon Earth as these do unto me 32. Thou hast saved me from Bloody Men For they laid wait for my Soul to Kill it had the Law been provided with Strength and not for any Transgression of any Law that I had broken but for thy Commission and Doctrine thou gavest me to declare 33. Therefore Oh Lord God of truth be not merciful unto any wicked Transgression that Persecuteth only for Conscience sake it being the Sin against the Holy Ghost 34. And God will let me see my desire upon my Enemies and bring them down Oh Lord my God 25. This was my secret Supplication unto my God when I was Prisoner in Newgate after I had suffered all those Corporal Punishments which they Sentanced me to Suffer CHAP. V. Shewing how that the Prophet in a short time saw his desire unto God in part fullfilled 1. AND a little while after these my Sufferings I saw my desire in part granted and several of my Potent Enemies cut off this Earth by Death As first that certain rich Man that took away poor Widdow Brunt's Ground as is aforemention'd he was call'd Sr. John James 2. And notwithstanding I had overthrown his two Tenants in the common Law yet when he saw that I was in Prison and Condemn'd for those Books and had suffered as aforesaid yet I being Fined Five Hundred Pounds he thought I could not be delivered out of Prison no more the Fine was so great 3. Whereupon he wickedly took advantage upon my sufferings for God's Cause and sent a Writt of Ejectment to my Tenants to Eject me out of Possession so my Atturney Read it and said I must answer to it else he would Eject me out the next Term so I was forced to Imploy a