of the Law their wonderful Acts are recorded in Scripture 12. Besides the Revelation they declared as from God which the Ages following did not see nor hear yet many did truly believe and doth truly belive and are by Faith satisfied as those that did both hear and see 13. So that the Scriptures Record is a Record of spiritual and heavenly Things and of some of those wonderful and powerful Acts of Moses and the Prophets and the righteous Fathers manifesting their great Faith in God and being in favour with God 14. Which I by Faith have found their Record true and so have many more of the seed of Faith found their Record and Revelations to be true CHAP. II. The Prophet makes a Rehearsal of the Acts of the Apostles in the new Testament and of the Lord Christ and how that they were writen for the Comfort of the Seed of Faith After which he enters upon the third Record and shows the cause of his writing some of the most principal Acts of the Witness of the Spirit under this third Record 1. ALSO we find written in the New Testament many wonderful Acts and Miracles acted by the Lord Christ and his Apostles as Matthew Mark Luke and John doth declare concerning Christ that if all the things Christ spake and Acts he did were written the World would not contain the Volume 2. That is the verge of a Man's understanding could not retain the particulars so as to tell it to his Friend the particulars would be so many 3. So likewise the Acts of the Apostles that Book hath little else in it but wonderful Acts wrought by the power of Faith in the Apostles 4. And these things were written for the seed of Faith that they might have Comfort in believing the Record that is given of the Apostles how God strengthned them in Faith and Power as by the power of Faith to work Miracles 5. Because they were chosen of God to bear Record on Earth to the Blood of the New Testament or New Covenant 6. Thus did the Apostles bear Record on Earth to the Blood as the Prophets did bear Record on Earth to the Water which signifies the Law of Moses and the Blood signifies the Gospel of Jesus Christ 7. The Scriptures are a Record that sheweth many wonderful Acts that Christ and his Appostles did when on Earth besides the heavenly Revelation 8. And it is very comfortable to the Seed of Faith true Belivers to read of the Acts of the Prophets and of the Apostles as it is of their Doctrin Revelation Prophesies Interpretations or Epistles 9. These Things I having experience of and seeing it hath been the Practice of some of the Prophets and Apostles to leave a Record behind them for after Ages to peruse of some of the most remarkable Acts done by them when they were upon Earth as a remarkable Remembrance to their Prophesies and Epistles 10. So likewise I being one of the two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirt being the Third and last Record from God on Earth 11. I thought it convenient and expedient to leave some Record on Earth behind me of some of the most remarkable Acts and Passages that hath been done and acted by us and to us the Witnesses of the Spirit since we were chosen of God in the Year 1651. 12. That I may leave it as a Legasy to the Seed of Faith after me who shall happen to Read and Believe those Writings of ours after I am gon 13. They may know by the Doctrin therein declared who and what we were and what God we believed in 14. Also I thought it necessary to write of those Acts my self rather then any other being acted in my sight and perfect knowledge as other Profits have done before me as Moses and others CHAP. III. Of the Birth Parentage and Trade of the two Witnesses and how the Profits Nature led them sorth to all Sobriety hateing Drunkeness and of their inclining to the Principles of those Call'd Puritans and of their being perswaded from judging Cases of Concience before they new the truth 1. BUT before I write of the Acts I shall give the Reader a little to understand what we were before God did chuse us two to be his two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit 2. And of some Experince I had and Working within me before I was Chosen of God little expecting God would have chosen me for such a great Work 3. As for John Reeve he was born in Wiltshire his Father was Clerk to a Deputy of Ireland a Gentleman as we call them by his place but fell to decay 4. So he put John Reeve Apprentice here at London to a Taylor by Trade He was out of his Apprentiship before I came aquainted with him he was of an Honest Just Nature and Harmless 5. But a Man of no great Natural Witt or Wisdom no Subtilty or Pollicy was in him nor no great store of Religeon he had but what was Traditional only of an Innocent Life 6. I knew him many years before God spake to to him by Voice of Words to the hearing of the Ear three Mornings together as is declar'd in the Commission Book call'd a Trancesendant Spritual Treatise the first Book he writ 7. And I Lodwick Muggleton was born in Bishop gate-street near the Earl of Devonshire's House at the corner House call'd Walnut-Tree-Yard 8. My Fathers name was John Muggleton he was a Smith by Trade that is a Farrier or Horse-Doctor he was in great Respect with the Post-Master in King Jame's time he had three Children by my Mother two Sons and one Daughter I was the youngest and my Mother lov'd me 9. But after my Mother dy'd I being but young my Father took another Wife so I being young was Expos'd to live with Srangers in the Country at a distance from all my Kindred I was a Stranger to my Fathers House after my Mother was dead 10. But it came to pass when I was grown to 15 or 16 Years of age I was 〈◊〉 Apprentice to one John Quick a Taylor he made Livery Gowns and all sorts of Gowns for Men he made Gowns for several Aldermen and Livery Men of their Company in London 11. And he lived in this Walnut-Tree-Yard and knew my Father and Mother very well he was a quiet peaceable Man not crewel to Servants which liked me very well 12. For my Nature was always against Cruelty I could never indure it neither in my self nor in others living peaceably in my Apprentiship 13. I took my Trade well and pleased my Master better then any of his other Servants for they were bad Husbands and given to Drunkenness but my Nature was inclin'd to be sober hating Drunkenness and Lust in the time of my Youth 14. But when my time of Service was pretty far expired I grew to more understanding and hearing in those days a great talk amongst the vulger People and especially amongst Youth Boys and young Maids
Book he wrote the Title is called A Dialogue between Faith and Reason Which is in print at this Day 7. The forth Book he wrote is called A Wonder of Wonders Which is in print at this Day 8. After this he grew so Proud and Lording over the Beleivers saying That no body could write in the vindication of this Commission now John Reeve was dead but he And to that purpose he wrote another Book Intituled The lost Sheep found It is in print to this Day 9. Wherein he had proudly exalted himself into John Reeve's Chair exalting John Reeve and himself but quite excluded me in all the Book 10. So many of the Beleivers complained to me of his lording over them and that he had excluded me quite in this last Book 11. Whereupon I read the Book over and found the Report was true 12. Whereupon I put him down for ever writing any more and I wrote to the Beleivers in Cambridge shier and else where that he was put down for his Pride and Covetousness for ever writing any more upon that account 13. And the Beleivers did obey my Voice every where 14. He continued thus four Years after John Reeve dyed until the year 1661. and in a while after Laurance Claxton humbled himself to me and acknowledged his Fault and I forgave him and took him into my Favour but ty'd him not to write any more 15. So he continued several years afterwards justifying his Faith and Confidence in this Commission of the Spirit 16. But it came to pass when the Fire destroy'd the Citty of London he to get a Livelyhood did ingage to help Persons of Quality to borrow Mony to build their Houses again 17. But the Persons that had the Mony did run away and left Claxton in the Lurch the Debt was one hundred Pounds 18. So he only was Arrested and put in Ludgate Goal for this Mony He lay there a whole year and dyed there 19. But he gave a very good Testimony of his Faith in the true God and in this Commission of the Spirit and of that full assurance of eternal Happiness he should enjoy to eternity after his Death 2. Insomuch that all the Prisoners marvelled and were sorry they had opposed him so when he was alive CHAP. VII Shewing how the Prophet caused The Divine Looking-Glass to be Reprinted Of the Prophets printing a Book of the Interpretation of the 11th of the Revelations And The Quakers Neck broken Of his Travels to Nottingham and the Transactions that passed there And then to Chesterfield 1. THE first thing I did after Claxton was put down I caused the Divine Looking-Glass to be new printed 1661. Which was done very handsomly and is now to be seen 2. After this I wrote a Book containing Twenty four Sheets of Paper Intituled The Interpretation of the 11th Chapter of the Revelations by St. John and got it printed in the same year 1662. Which is yet to be seen Never was such a thing extant in the World before 3. After this I wrote a Book called The Neck of the Quakers broken containing Tenn Sheets of Paper and got it printed in the same year 1663. Which is yet to be seen 4. After this it came to pass that several in the North Country hearing and seeing these Books had a great desire to see me and especially one Ellin Sudbury at Notingham and one Dorothy Carter of Chesterfield in Darbyshier 5. These and others were very desirous to see me but they could not tell how for they thought it would be too much Charge and Labour for them to come to London to me so far for they were loath to put me to so much Charge to come to them yet Ellin Sudbury her desiers were so strong that she could not be satisfied except she did see me So she wrote a Letter unto me that I would come into those Parts and that the Sosiety should bare the Charge 6. Now I marvelled what that Society should be but it was the Beamonists mix'd with the Quakers as I found afterwards But this being in the Winter I sent word I would come and see her in Summer 7. And accordingly it came to pass that one Thomas Hudson a Friend of ours at London had occasion to see his own Relations in Lancashire and Notingham and Chesterfield being in his way he was willing to travel with me to see those Friends we had never seen before 8. And when we came to Notingham Elin Sudbury was glad to see us and so was her Husband also but at that time he was upon the Beamonist score so there came several of the Beamonists People to discourse with me and some of the Speakers of them and Mr. Sudbury he thought they would be able to dispute with me though he could not 9. But he saw they were more weak than himself to maintain their Principles of Religion so that he disliked them and said That their was no true knowledge of the Scriptures amongst them Also he heard me pass the Sentence of Damnation to eternity on four of them 10. And one of these was very much troubled and asked Elin Sudbury whether she did beleive he was damn'd because I had passed the Sentance upon him only to insnare her she being but weak and had never heard such a thing before 11. But I to free her from that Bondage in her Minde for I knew she had not Confidence enough at that time to say she did beleive he was damn'd And if she should say no then she would loose the assurance of her own Happiness in beleiving me to be a Prophet of the Lord and had Power to give Sentance of Blessedness to one and Cursedness to the other So I knew the Woman was in a strait what to say and he urged her for an Answer 12. But I said she shall not give you her Judgment at all to insnare her Mind I have passed the Sentance upon you and I do beleive without doubting That you are the Seed of the Serpent and will be damn'd to eternity and it matters not if all the People in the World should beleive to the contrary yet my Faith shall be stronger than all to keep you down 13. Then they grew angree and threatned to prosecute me but could not tell how to state a ground of Prosecution 14. After Thomas Hudson and I went from thence to Chesterfield which was Twenty Miles further to Dorothy Carter's House a Widdow she had one Daughter her Name was Elizabeth that was a true Beleiver and a young Maid that was Servant to Dorothy Carter her Name was Elizabeth Smith a true Beleiver also 15. And there was in that Town a Man his Name was Edward Fewterer a Chirurgeon that was a true Beleiver also These Four were glad to see me for they had never seen me before 16. But the Professors of Religion in that Town hearing of me there came several to dispute with me but some of them blasphemed and dispised what
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