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
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
THE Acts of the Witnesses OF THE SPIRIT In Five Parts By LODOWICK MVGGLETON One of the Two Witnesses and True Prophets of the only High Immortal Glorious God Christ Jesus Left by him to be publish'd after 's death In the latter days two Bright Stars shall arise raising up men being dead in their sins which shall resist the Beast and the Waters of the Dragon testifying and preaching the Law of the Lamb and the Destruction of Antichrist and shall diminish his Waters but they shall be weakened in the Bread of Affliction and they shall rise again in stronger force and after Truth shall be revealed and the Lamb shall be known After this shall be but a small Space Fox in his Book of Marters LONDON Printed in the Year of our Lord God 1699. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO all True Christian People that do or shall hereafter come to believe in this Third and Last Spiritual Commission is this ensuing Treatise directed with love and peace to you be multiplied It being a Legacy left you by the Lords last True Porphet for your further establishment in Truth As also it is left for a Convincement of the Seed of Reason when he is in the dust that by these Acts they may see how he hath been slandred reproached and belied persecuted and imprisoned without a Cause For how many Lying Reports hath been not only flung upon them but also upon the True Believers of them saying That we own neither God nor Devil Heven or Hell and all because they see us use no outward glittering shew in fruitless Forms of Worship whilst we worship an invisible Spiritual yet personal God in Spirit and Truth which the World knows nothing of For this we know and affirm that the Doctrine of this Commission of the Spirit is of as great purity and power as to Godliness as ever any was and as they were themselves ever kept innocent from the breach of the Morral Law as to Act Even so the Fruits of their Doctrine is of the like efficacy in the knowing seed of Faith by which they have dominion over Sin as in respect of Act. And altho' this last Prophet in his Answer to the Nine Assertions hath shewed his great mercy and clemency to some corrupt Natures yet it is but to such who act not so far as the breach of the Morral Law as to borrow Money and not to pay it again or to be passionate and hasty natur'd overcome with Strong Drink or the like and tho' these are evil yet reach but to the Borders of the Law being Frailties in Nature which disturb the peace of the Mind for in such things as the Apostle James saith We offend all But where there is true Faith it prevents the Act as this Prophet saith in one place among many his Words are these Faith saith he overcomes all Sin Death and Hell within a man's self and that none but such shall be admitted into the Kingdom of Heaven And the Prophet Reevâ—s Doctrine is thus saying All those that are led by the Voice of the holy Spirit of Jesus do work Righteousness in their bodies whereby they die unto Sin Again saith he in another place The Light of Christ in man doth convert from the Ruling Power of Sin And in a Third Place which is not yet printed saith That they that are led by the Spirit of Faith are kept from the commiting of sin I do not say saith he that they have no Motion to sin but the Spirit of Faith purifies their hearts giving them power against those Motions that they commit not the Act and from hence it is that all that are born of God know the Voice of God and hath this Power over Sin as I have declar'd said he These Doctrines of the Prophets are absolute and possitive and do give great light into several Scriptures as Matt. Chap. 5. ver 28. 1 John chap. 3. ver 9. and ver 15. in these places we are to distinguish between the Motion and the Action of Sin This may also give light into Rom. chap. 7. how that Paul spake there as to his state by Nature as also of the strife and strugle between the two Seeds of Faith and Reason until the Law of Faith was quickened and power by it attain'd and then had he dominion over Sin as Chap. 8. and so came to have peace with God and with his own Conscience and Assurance of Eternal Life And from hence comes the Grounds of true Worship and flows forth all spiritual Praise as David said O how sweet is thy Law This sweet Law is the Law of Faith and he or she that is truly possessed hereof can seal to those words of the Prophet Reeve which saith That he that is born of God his Language and Practice is such as speaks forth the Power of Godliness to the confounding of all glittering Tongue Hipocrites and Faithless Formalists Now let all True Believers know that under every Commission this is made the ordinary way of Life and Salvation yet to prevent an objection this is confessed by us That tho' there is this power in Faith as aforesaid yet the Lord for the Tryal of his Creature may suffer some of his Chosen Ones to fall in the time of a Commission and for the prâ—ise of his Free Grace may grant them our Repentance or sâ—â—â—nd Free Pardâ—n for thus writes the Prophet Reeve in a Writinâ— not yet printed The Lâ—rd saith he leaves some to their own strength through which he rebels against the Light that is in him to the wounding of his own Soul to the end that he may learn that the power by which he is preserved from the 〈◊〉 of Sin and so from eternal ruin is not in himself but in the Living God that made him Therefore the Scripture here and there pâ—iâ—teth fâ—rth one that the Lord hath left for a seas n to manifâ—st his Prerâ—gative Power ovâ—r his Creatures and afterwards doth his God head Spirit move him to a second Free Pardâ—n wherein he raiseth that Soul to a highâ—r and greater measure of Grace Wisdom and Humility than it had before which fulfils that Saying of Paul Where Sin abounded there Grace did superabound And this was fulfilled both by David and Paul Here we see that if an Elect Vâ—ssâ—l should once fall after his knowledge and belief in Truth that his second Pardon doth raise him to a higher degree of Grace Wisdom and Humility then he had before This by the Prophet is made a true Tryal to know whether a repentance or conversion from the Act of Sin committed be real or fained as also that a second fail or relapse will prove dangerous because it is rare to find a Third Pardon and a Third increase of Grace to that Pardon Thus it is made clear that the Doctrine of this Commission of the Spirit it hath power of Purity in it and n ne that is truly born of God can dispute against it but
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