and Spirit upon Earth 2. He answered and said No he could not but desired me to interprit it 3. Then said I the Interpretation is thus the Record of Water upon the Earth it was Moses and the Prophets under the Law 4. They worshiped God with divers Ceremonies of Tipes and Offerings of Bulls and Goates and sprinkled upon the Alter their Blood and upon the Flesh of the Leapers and other distempered Persons that were unclean and much Washings and Purifyings with clear Water was used under the Worship of the Law 5. Which was the Record of Moses and the Prophets it being set up by Moses and practised by the People of the Jews many Generations And this Record of Moses upon Earth is that Record of Water answering and bearing Testimony to that one God the Father and Creator of all things both in Heaven and Earth 6. This is the Interpretation of the Record of Water upon Earth and this agreeth with the Record of God the Father in Heaven 7. Now you must understand that the Record of Water upon Earth it was acted by Men as Moses and the Prophets and the high Priests in the time of the Law They all cryed with one accord This is Truth 8. The Interpretation of the Record of the Blood upon Earth it was Jesus Christ and his Apostles In that Christ came to fulfil the Law and he is said to be the end of the Law to every one that beleives and to lay down his Life for many 9. Now in laying down his Life is understood that he shed his own precious Blood Therefore it is said his Soul was heavy unto Death and he power'd out his Soul unto Death and except you eat my Flesh and drink my Blood you have no Life in you 10. That is no Man hath the Assurance of eternal Life abideing in him except he doth truly beleive that Flesh of Christ that was Crucified upon the Cross to be the Flesh of God 11. That is the Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst Men and that Blood of Christ that was power'd out unto Death to be the Blood of God Except this be beleived there can be no eternal Life abideing in Man 12. For this Blood of Christ doth purge the Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God So that Christ which is manifest in Flesh as the Scripture saith did pass through Blood 13. And his Apostles after he had given them a Commission as in the Second of the Acts they bare Testimony and Record on the Earth that Jesus was the Christ 14. And they did witness that he shed his Blood and was put to Death by the Jews and did rise again and assend up into Heaven in that same Body he suffered Death in 15. For which Record of theirs they were put to Death and their Blood was shed and so were many Beleivers in their Commission put to Death and passed through Blood for bearing Record to this Jesus which they had crusified to be the Son of God 16. And this Record on Earth was acted by Men who lost their Lives for their Record therefore it is called the Record of Blood upon Earth 17. Answerable to the Record in Heaven in that the Word became Flesh and Christ is that Word that bare Record in Heaven and became Flesh and shed his Blood And those that bare Record unto him their Blood was shed also 18. So that the Blood of Christ and the Blood of the Apostles and the Blood of Saints is that Record of Blood on Earth And this Record of Blood on Earth it was acted by Men by Christ his Apostles and Saints 19. This is the true Interpretation of the Second Record of Blood here upon Earth is it not said I. 20. They all rejoyced and said it was true so far and that they never hear'd the like 21. Now the Interpretation of the Third Record of the Spirit upon Earth You see said I that there is to be Three Records upon Earth as there is Three in Heaven Now you see there is but Two acted upon Earth as yet to wit Water and Blood 22. Now the Water Record was to witness to God the Father the Blood Record witnessed to Christ the Son and you see they were Men like your selves that did bear these Records on Earth of Water and Blood 23. Likewise you see that these Two Records on Earth they did witness to one God in Heaven Did they not said I. He answered and said They did Yet said I you see they differ one from the other in point of Worship notwithstanding they did agree to bear Record to one God in Heaven 24. Now said I as these Two Records of Water and Blood were acted upon Earth by Men so likewise must the Record of the Spirit upon Earth he acted by Men also 25. And not as People do vainly imagiin That the Two former Records were acted by Moses and the Prophets and the High Priests which were Men And the Record of the Blood was acted upon this Earth by Christ and his Apostles and Saints which were Men. 26. But you cannot conceive the Record of the Spirit upon Earth is to be acted by Men as the other Two were But you conceive that God doth act this Record upon Earth himself only by inspiring his Spirit into every Mans Heart secretly giving the Knowledge of himself 27. Two answered and said Indeed this was their Beleif 28. But said I the Record of the Spirit upon Earth must be acted by Men as the other Two were else them Words be not true That there is Three that bare Record on Earth 29. For if God which is in Heaven doth act the Record of the Spirit himself and Men acted the other Two then there is but Two Records on Earth and Four Records in Heaven 30. When they heard this they rejoyced and said to the Man that disputed with me Mr. Benet We think you have met with one that is two harde for you now CHAP. XII The Interpretation of the Third Record on Earth the Record of the Spirit and who it is acted by THEN said I The Record of the Spirit upon Earth must be acted by Men as the other Two were Now said I there must be Witnesses of the Spirit upon Earth as there was Witnesses of Water and Blood 2. And some Men must be the chief Teachers or Commissioners as he did Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles these were chosen of God and happy was it for those that beleived them in their time 3. Now said I God chose John Reeve and myself by Voice of Words to the hearing of the Ear to be his Two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit and he gave us Understanding of his Mind in the Scriptures above all the Men in the World at this Day 4. And this I know to be true and many that can witness the same I spake not this out of any Pride of Heart but out of perfect Knowledge for
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
Soliciter to answer to it which wickedness of his cost me three Pounds 4. And my Lawyer went to Treat with him and this Knight was not very well very Cross and said he had turn'd his Business over to his Atturney And his Atturney was so full of Imployment that nothing could be done 5. So I hearing by my Lawyer that he was Sick I desired of God that he might never come down from that Bed of Sickness whereon he lay and in a few Days after it came to pass that he Dyed 6. So our Law Suite was ended I had been a quarter of a Year in Prison then now I knew this Man was the Seed of the Serpent a Devil and will be Damn'd to all Eternity 7. After this there was another great Enemy his Name was Garret he was one of those that broke open my House and Stole my Books and was a Witness against me in the Court He brought the Books to the Court for the Common Hang Man to Burn every Day I stood upon the Pillory my Wife Mary gave him the Sentance of Damnation to Eternity and he Dyed Six Weeks after 8. The third Person was Judge Rainsford Chief Judge of England he was an Implacable Enemy to me but in a little time after his Judgment upon me before I was delivered out of Prison he was put down from his Seat of Justice and all his Temporal Power was taken from him by the King and another put in his Place And the King would give no Reason for it but his own will 9. So that his great Power Honour and Glory was departed from him and he had not so much Power as a common Justice of Peace he was in the same Condition as King Saul was the good Spirit of Power of giving Righteous Judgment in Temporal Things according to Law was departed from him and an Evil Spirit of Shame and Disgrace was sent unto him 10. Which Troubled his Soul so that in a little time after he Dyed and went to the same place as King Saul did that did enquire of a Witch that was rejected of God and not of his Prophet Samuel And I am sure he shall be rejected of God even this Rainsford and rejected of me the last True Prophet of the Lord and that he will be Damn'd to all Eternity 11. And he shall Remember in the Resurection that his Damnation is the very same which he called horrible Blasphemy which he Judged me for and said he was sorry the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish me no worse than they did 12. And as he had no Mercy for me when he was in Power neither have I any Mercy for him and I am sure God will have no Mercy for him but hath provided a Law to Punish him for his Envy against me who did him no wrong 13. And his Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost which God hath said and made it a Law never to be altered that shall never be forgiven in this World or in the World to come This is the Law that God hath provided for us the Two last Prophets and Witnessess of the Spirit to Judge by so that I know the hottest of Hell Fire will be his Portion and Reward for his Sin against the Holy Ghost to Eternity 14. The Fourth great Enemy to me was Sr. Thomas Davis then Lord Mayor he being a Stationer himself he was Confedrate with the whole Company of Stationers and Booksellers and Jury To Fight against the Lord and his Chosen Prophet and Witness of the Spirit which did Incense the Court and Jury that I might Antidate that Book 13 Years ago and yet Publish it this August even against his own Conscience 15. Wherein he shewed himself of that wicked reprobate Seed of the Serpent a Son of the Devil and I certainly know him to be a Devil and that he will be Damn'd to all Eternity 16. And about two Years and a half after he Judged me he Dyed and passed through this first Death which is Natural into the second Death which is Spiritual and Eternal 17. These great Enemies I have lived to see them cut off from the Land of the Living with many others more Inferiour Devils which were my Enemies have I seen cut off by Death and some to Poverty 18. There is one more that is yet alive that I desire of God to have Executed some vissible Vengeance at my Tryal his Name was Jefferies Recorder of London He was the Man that sate in the Judgment Seat and gave Sentance against me He used several Scurrilous and Disdainful Expressions in the Sentance he gave upon me 19. He was a Man whose Voice was very lou'd but he is one of the worst of Devils in Nature for he is not only an Enemy to God and all Righteous Men but an Enemy to all Moral Justice and Equity 20. For if a Mans Cause be never so just except he be Imploy'd in it he will be sure to baffel and make quabbles and wrangle out the justest Cause that is and will make that which is unjust it self to be right by Law were it not for more juster Judges that have a more just Conscience then he hath else the Innocent would always loose his just right if he be against him 23. But that which I have against him is for his Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that sent me and his wicked Malice and Envy against me when he sate in Judgment against me That he said he was sorry the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish Crimes of this Nature he was sorry the Laws could not Impower him to give Sentance of Death upon me This I know was the Desire of his Heart 22. And as he was sorry the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish me so in like manner am I glad that the Laws of Heaven is always provided to Punish him with Eternal Torments which is a Living Death and a Dying Life it is well for me and all the Elect that Gods Laws are always provided to give Sentance of Eternal Damnation upon all such dispising persecuting Blaspheming Devils as this Jefferies 23. I knew he was a Reprobate and appointed of God to be Damn'd before But this Tryal of mine hath given Testimony to me and all that truely believe me that he is an absolute Devil in Flesh and his Sin doth cry to Heaven for Vengeance 24. And look what measure he would have measured unto me in that he would have slain my Innocent Blood unto Death the same measure shall be measured to him again because the Laws of Heaven are always provided and hath Impowered me to give Sentance and Judgment upon him for I know by Revelation of the Spirit of God that he is Recorded in the Tables of Heaven for a Reprobate Devil and he shall be Recorded here on Earth to the end of the World for a Damn'd Devil 25. For that Body of his which is now his Heaven which Cloathed it self
in Scarlet and sat on the Judgment Seat against me shall be in Hell And that lofty bauling Spirit of his shall be his Devil the one shall be as Fire and the other as Brimstone Burning together to all Eternity 26. And he shall remember in the Resurrection when he is Raised again that he gave Judgment upon me for Writing this Sentance to others and I am sure the God of Heaven will not deliver him from those Eternal Torments 27. There is a Necessity that these Men of all others should be Damn'd to Eternity For there was more Enemies against me then could be Numbered through the Occasion of these Five Men aforementioned 28. And I could freely forgive the rude Multitude for they knew not what they did but there is no forgiveness of these Five Men nor Jury nor Judge nor Officers that gave their consent to that Judgment that was passed upon me the 27th of January 1676. 29. Therefore I have left these Five Men upon Record that the Age to come may see the wickedness of them and take heed how they Persecute Innocent Men that doth not break any Temporal Law And especially such Men that hath a Commission from God to give Sentance of Eternal Damnation upon them least they come under the same Condemnation as these Men are under 30. This I have left upon Record for the Age to come after my Death some of the most Remarkable Sufferings which I have passed through in the Year 1676. CHAP. VI. Of the Prophets deliverance out of Prison of the Price and Vallue that was made of him The Rewards to the two Seeds at the last Day 1. NOW having given an Account of my Sufferings it will be necessary to give an Account of my deliverance out of those Troubles 2. While I was in the Press-yard Prisoner the Sheriffs did send several times by the Goal keepers to see what I would do about the Fine but they were at no certainty what they required At last the Clerk of Newgate said they would take the 5th Part which was one Hundred Pound 3. I was unwilling to give so much I let it alone a quarter of a Year longer for some Reasons I had in my self after that time I sent a Letter to Treat with them about the Fine The Sheriffs Names was one Sr. John Peak Sheriff of London the other was Sr. Thomas Stamp Sheriff of Middlesex 4. But they were very high and would not abate one Shilling of one Hundred Pound and the cause why was because some of the Goal Keepers had Proffered one Hundred Pound for me to keep a Prisoner for ever or else to have a large Summ of Money for my Ransome 5. I perceive had not the Shreiffs Honour layn at the stake I had been Bought and Sold as Joseph was in Egypt for a Prisoner during Life or till such Ransome was Paid It would have been a great Disparragment to the Sheriffs if they had Sold me such as was never done in England before 6. But they having an Eye to Credit and somewhat to Conscience they would not do such Wickedness but however it caused them to abate nothing of one Hundred Pound neither would they give any time but Pay down presently 7. So We Borrowed an Hundred Pound the next Day and gave to them upon the 19th Day of July 1677 and the same Day at Night I was Released out of Prison and many of the Believers do keep that Day as a Feast Day every Year in Remembrance of my Deliverance out of Prison 8. For I was Prized at a goodly Price far Higher than the Lord of Life when he was on Earth He was valued at but Thirty Pieces of Silver the Thirty Pieces of Silver was Thirty Pound but they valued me at a Hundred Pieces of Silver for the Thirty Pieces of Silver they valued Christ at must be so much else it would not have Bought the Potters Field 9. Now the cause why they valued me at such a High Price above my Lord and Master it was because they knew I had some Interest in this World And many followers of me therefore they valued me at such a High Price as 100 Pieces of Silver 10. And as the Thirty Pieces of Silver was the Price of Innocent Blood therefore not fit to be put into the Treasury to be Expended upon any Holy use or to Relieve the Poor and the like but to Buy a Potters Field to Bury the Stinking Carcasses of strangers Thieves and Murderers insomuch that the Thirty Pieces of Silver was bestowed on the basest way suitable to the Purchase being the Price of Innocent Blood 11. So likewise the Hundred Pieces of Silver they valued me at it was the Price of Innocent Blood also tho' not unto Death as our Lord was a very Goodly Price 12. And this Money will not be put into the Treasury to repair Churches or Relieve the Poor but will be spent basely in Lust and Drunkenness and in Volumptiousness suitable to the Purchase of it being the Price of Innocent Blood 13. Thus I have left upon Record the substance of the whole matter as short as I can both of my Sufferings and my Deliverance out of all those Troubles that hath happened upon me in the Year 1675 and in the Year 1676 and 1677 and in the Year of my Life 67. 14. This is the 5th part of the Acts of John Reeve and Lodowich Muggleton the two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit from the Year 1651 to the Year 1677 I have been preserved and had Experience of the Truth of all these things 15. And wonderful Revelations and passages and Acts that are Writen in these Five Parts that I might leave it as a Legacy for the Age to come upon Record that the unbelieving World may be convinced when I am turned to Dust as my Father Adam is that I was Slandered Reproached Belyed Persecuted Imprisoned and Pilloried without a Cause 16. But I shall be raised again by the Power of that God the Lord Jesus Christ in whom I Believed that he was Dead even the Alpha and Omega and is Alive for Evermore 17. And it will not seem a quarter of an Hours time to me from my Death to my Rising again For there is no time to the Dead Time belongs to the Living 18. And this I know that as the 12 Apostles in the Resurrection shall Sit upon Thrones and Judge the 12 Tribes of Israel those that Believed them when they were upon the Earth They were Judged with an Eternal Blessing of Life Eternal and those that Dispised and Persecuted them when on Earth are Judged by them to be Cursed and Damn'd to Eternity which is a Second Death which is Eternal 19. So shall Reeve and Muggleton in the Resurrection Sit upon Thrones and Judge all True Believers of our Docterin and Commission of the Spirit when we were upon Earth to be Blessed both in Souls and Bodies that were Mortal when they believed us but now Immortal to Eternity 20. And we shall Judge all those Wicked Despisers and Persecutors of us when we were upon Earth with the same Judgment in the Resurrection as we did here on Earth 21. That is they are Cursed in that Soul and Body they shall have in the Resurrection to Eternity and shall remain in utter Darkness here upon this Earth Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth for Evermore Writen by Lodowick Muggleton one of the two last Witnesses and Prophets of the Spirit unto the High and Mighty God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory FINIS
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 Aire the Fish of the Sea I could not imagine how these things could give Being to themselves nor how they should come by Nature nor how they should Create one another Then thought I Man might as well Create himself and come by Nature as those Things 7. So I thought there must needs be some Original Cause or supreme Power that gave Being to these Things and hath placed a Law of Order in all Things sutable to its Nature 8. This supreme Power that made those Things That Power that is the Cause of Causes we call God but what he is in himself I knew not at that time But these Thoughts preserved me from saying in my Heart as the Fool doth there is no God Many of my Acquaintance did say in their Hearts and Tongues both That there is no God but Nature only 9. But notwithstanding I did not know that God that made all things and Man in his own Image and Likeness yet I considered that innocency of Heart and a just upright Spirit was good in it self if there were no God to Reward it 10. And that Unrighteousness and Lust after his Neighbours Wife and not to be of an upright Spirit it was Wickedness in it self if there were no God to punish it 11. Therefore I was loth to let go my Integrity but kept close to it for as I had been Innocent from my Childhood to this Day I was resolved to keep to it to the end if there were nothing after Death yet would I keep my Heart upright and would do nothing to wound my Consience 12. For I never had no Guilt of actual Sin that did ever trouble me 13. So with this Resolution I did resolve to live in to do just between Man and Man and to keep from all actual Sin as I ever had been and not to mind any Religion more for I saw all profession of Religion in all Men was vain and unsatisfactory to all Men as it was to me 14. So I gave over all publick Prayer and Hearing and Discourse about Religion and lived an honest and just natural Life And I found more Peace here then in all my Religion and if there were anything either of Happiness or Misery after Death I left it to God which I knew not to do what he would with me 15. But I was in good Hope at that time that there was nothing after Death but all Happiness and Punishment was in this Life For I saw a temporal Punishment follow Wickedness in this Life to many 16. And I saw Prosperity to those that were Righteous even in this Life so that I was in good Hopes all Punishments and Happiness would end in this Life 17. So I was resolved to keep myself as I always had done unspotted of the World and not to defile my Conscience And I had a great deal of peace of Mind in this Condition And in this Condition did I continue some three Years until I was about forty years old and in the year 1650. CHAP. VIII The Prophet gives a Discription of John Tannye and John Robins being counted greater than Prophets and sets forth their Appearance and wonderful Actions 1. AFter this it came to pass in the year 1650. I heard of several Prophets and Prophetess that were about the Srteets and declared the Day of the Lord and many other wonderful Things as from the Lord. 2. Also at the same time I heard of too other Men that were counted greater than Prophets to wit John Tannye and John Robins 3. John Tannye he declared himself to be the Lord's High-Priest and that he was to act over the Law of Moses again Therefore he Circumcised himself according to the Law 4. Also he declared that he was to gather the Jews out of all Nations and lead them to Mount Olives to Jerusalem and that he was King of Seven Nations With many other strange and wonderful Things 5. And as for John Robins he declared himself to be God Almighty and that he was the Judge of the Quick and of the Dead and that he was that first Adam that was in that innocent State and that his Body had been Dead this Five Thousand Six Hundred and odd Years and now he was risen again from the Dead And that he was that Adam Melchisadick that met Abraham in the Way and received Tithes of him 6. Also he said he had raised from the Dead that same Cain that killed Abel and that he had raised that same Judas that betrayed Christ and now they were Redeem'd to be happy 7. Also he said he had raised several of the Prophets as Jeremiah and others and that he had raised the same Benjamin Jacob's Son that had been Dead so many Thousand Years now he was raised again 8. I saw all those that was said to be raised by John Robins and they owned themselves to be the very same Persons that had been Dead for so long time 9. Also I saw several others of the Prophets that was said to be raised by him and they did own they were the same for I have had Nine or Tenn of them at my House at a time of those that were said to be raised from the Dead 10. For I do not speak this from Hearsay from others but from a perfect Knowledge which I have seen and heard from themselves 11. Also they declared unto me That their God John Robins was to gather out of Englad and else where an Hundred and Forty Four Thousand Men and Women and lead them to Jerusalem to Mount Olivet and there to make them happy And that he would feed them with Manna from Heaven And that he would divide the Red-Sea and that they should go through upon dry Land 12. Also he said that those Prophets he had raised should be their Leaders and on Joshua's Garment should be the Moses Man that should be chief under his God John Robins And that all the Leaders should have Power by the clap of their Hands and a stamp of their Foot to destroy any that did oppose them 13. Also I have seen one of his Prophets that should have this Power to kneel down and pray to John Robins as unto God Almighty with such high and Heavenly Expressions which was marvellous unto me to hear 14. Those Things and many more lying Signes and Wonders did he shew to some as presenting the appearance of Angels burning shining Lights Half-Moons and Stars in Chambers and thick Darkness where it was Light to the Phantasies of People when they covered their Faces in the Bed 15. They said he presented Serpents Dragons and his Head in a flame of Fire and his Person rideing upon the Wings of the Wind. 16. Also his Prophets had Power from him to damn any that did oppose or speak evil of him they not knowing he was neither false nor true for this Rule he went by 17. That he or she that would speak evil of Things they knew not they would as
not I will lead them in Paths they have not known I will make Darkness Light before them Though this Scripture was fulfilled in Christ's time yet it was fulfilled in me now 17. For I was led by a Faith now which I did not know That was by the Revelation of Faith This was a Path I did not know for I never knew what Revelation was before 18. Also this Revelation of Faith it made that Darkness of the immagination of Reason be light before me to see the Truth of those Sayings of Scripture Matt. 4.16 The People that sat in Darkness saw great Light and to them which sat in the Region and Shadow of Darkness Light is sprung up 19. This Scripture also was fulfilled in me at that time for I sat in Darkness and in the Shadow of Death but the Day before 20. But in the Evening the Light of Faith sprung up in my Soul and the Revelation of it took me as it were by the Hand from place to place in Scripture and shewed me the meaning of it 21. Also it led me to that place of Scripture Luke 1.79 To give Light to them that sat in Darkness and to guide our Feet into the way of Peace 22. Here did I see that the Day before I sat in Darkness and in the Shadow of Death but now the Light of Life is risen in me and gave me Revelation to guide my Feet in the Path of Peace where no Fear nor Doubt should ly in my Way never to stumble more 23. These and many more places of Scripture was set before me and the Light of them shined clear about my Understanding and gave me the Interpretation of all Scripture and all Questions in Spiritual Things that could arise out of the Heart of Man was easy to me to answer CHAP. XIV Of the time of the Prophets Revelation his Satisfaction in it and his Resolution to fit still now and be quiet from Disputes about Religion Yet shews that Providence order'd it otherways Of the Prophet Reeve's Revelation of the Raven and Dove 1. THis Revelation aforesaid was upon me Six Hours it began about nine of the Clock at Night and about twelve of the Clock I got a little Sleep 'till three of the Clock in the Morning then it came upon me again and lasted 'till six of the Clock in the Morning And so it did in like manner for four Nights together six Hours in a Night 2. And I never was without motional Voices opening the Scriptures all Day long when I was alone for a long time after 3. So that I was so well satisfied in my Mind as to my eternal Happiness so that I was resolved now to be quiet and still and not to medle no more with Religion but to let every one go on in their own way for I looked at no Bodys Peace and Happiness but my own 4. So now I thought to get as good a Living as I could in this World and live as comfortably as I could here for I knew all things would be well with me hereafter Thinking that this Relvelation should have been benificial to no body but myself 5. For I lov'd for to be private and still for my Nature could never indure to be publick So I thought all was well now I had attained my Desire 6. But when I thought to be most Secure and most Private in a little time after it made me the most publick I not thinking that this Revelation was a Preparation for God to chuse me to be a Commissioner of the Spirit to declare the Mistery of the true God and the Interpretation of the Scriptures which is Life and Salvation unto Men whereby I was made the most publick Man in the World in spiritual Things 7. This Revelation continued with me all one from April to January in the Year 1651. and in the year of my Life 41. And in the same year John Reeve came often to my House 8. And he hearing me speak such high Revelation and giving such Interpretation of Scripture he was so taken with my Language that his Desires were extream earnest unto God which he knew not at that time that he might have the same Revelation as I had 9. His Desires were so great that he was troublesome unto me for I could not follow my Business quietly for his asking me Questions for if I went out of one Room into another he would follow me to talk to me 10. So that I was weary of his Company yet I was loath to tell him so because I knew he did it out of Innocency of his Heart and Love to the Things which I spoke 11. Thus as aforesaid John Reeve continued and came almost every Day to my House most part of that Summer and Winter And in the Month of January 1651. about the middle of the Month John Reeve had the Revelation of the Scriptures in a large measure 12. So he came to me very joyful the next Morning and said Cousin Lodowick now saith he I know what Revelation of Scripture is as well as thee Said I Let me hear what Scripture is opened unto you 13. He answered and said as he was thinking of several things there fâ—â—â—'d qâ—iet stilness upon his Mind and immediately there was presented to his Understanding this place of Scripture Genesis viij 7 8 9 10 11. verses Concerning Noah's Ark with the Raven and Dove 14. Of which Scripture this was the Interpretation 15. This Raven and Dove which Noah sent forth of the Ark saith he was a Tipe of the Two Seeds in every Man and the Ark was a Tipe of the Body of Man 16. For there is two Motions always speaking in Man Now saith he the Body of Man signifies the Ark of God or the Ark of Noah 17. The Raven that is sent forth of the Ark signifies the Motions of Reason in Man for the Motions of Reason goeth out of Man walking through dry Places seeking Rest but can find none 18. Also it was the Reason of Man that took Christ when on Earth up into an exceeding high Mountain and shewed him all the Kingdoms of the World 19. This Reason in Man is that Raven that goeth forth of the Ark the Body of Man to and fro and taketh Comfort in nothing but earthly Things 20. For as soon as ever the Tops of the Mountains of the Earth did appear the natural Raven never return'd into the Ark again as you may see in the 5th Verse 21. So is it with the Reason of Man That Raven when it goeth forth by its motions out of Body of Man the Ark It goeth to and fro the Earth 22. For the Reason of Man cannot indure to be inclosed or confined but will be flying upon the Mountains of the Earth or in the Air. Therefore it is called the Prince of the Air which ruleth in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience 23. Now what Ruleth in the Children of Disobedience Hearts but the Spirit of
high Priest sat for he was one of the Commissioners of the Ecclesiastical Court with the Maior and Aldermen of the Town and the Town Clarke and all the Officers of the Town were gathered together against me 17. My Examination before them was as follows the Priest's Name was John Gupe the Maiors Name John Allwood the Recorders Name was Needham and the Constables Name was Slater and the Aldermen one was Clarke and another his Name was Pinder the rest I did not know their Names 18. The first thing the Priest asked was what I came into that Country for 19. I said I came to visit some Friends at Notingham and Chesterfield and that I was sent for He asked me where I lived I said at London and what Trade I was of I said a Tailor by Trade and that I lived in Trinity Lane and had fined for most Offices in the Parish were I lived 20. Then he waved that because he thought I was no Housekeeper but a Lodger that hath no certain abiding place but as a Vagabond that goeth to and fro and hath abideing every where So when he saw he could do nothing here then he asked me whether I did beleive the Three Persons in the Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost 21. I answered No I did beleive there was three Names or Titles of Father Son and Holy Ghost but one Person the Lord Jesus Christ 22. He rejoyced at this before the Maior and said this was enough and caused the Recorder to set it down the same words 23. Then he asked me if I was one of the Two Witnesses spoken of in the 11th of the Revelations 24. I answered and said I was one of those Two Witnesses of the Spirit spoken of in the 11th of the Revelations then he commanded the Recorder to set these words down 25. Again he asked me if I had power to damn and to save 26. I answered and said I had power to give Sentance of Damnation upon those that dispised my Doctrin that I declare and to pronounce the Sentance of Salvation upon those that truly beleive it 27. And that you may know that I have Power I do pronounce you Cursed and Damn'd both Soul and Body from the presence of God elect Men and Angels to eternity 28. Then was the Priest struck dumb for a season and when he had recovered himself to his Sences again he said to the Recorder set that down but did not mention a word that the Priest was damn'd 29. Then said the Maior Mr. Mugleton we do not beleive you we do beleive the Apostles 30. I answered and said That will do you but little good now 31. Those words the Recorder was commanded to set down 32. There were many more Words and Circumstances in the Examination but these were the main things they made a Charge against me CHAP. IX Shewing that the Prophet proved before the Priest Maior and Aldermen that Christ was the only God The Priest made no Replycation against it but fauning upon him with fine Words to insnare him against the Government The Prophet's Wisdom discover'd it Of his Commitment 1. BUT this I observed that after I had given the Sentance of Damnation upon the Priest he was very meek and moderate and asked me Questions in the Scriptures concerning Christ being the only God 2. And I opened unto him the First of John In the begining was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst us 3. Now said I was not Christ the Word become Flesh and that Word that became Flesh was God And did any other God dwell among Men but Christ 4. And is it not said in Scripture That in him all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily Not a part or a piece of the Godhead but all the fulness dwelt bodily in him 5. Again doth not the Scripture say Great is the Mistery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels beleived on in the World received up into Glory 6. Now was not this Christ manifest in the Flesh Was not he preached unto the Gentles and beleived on in the World And was not he received up into Glory So that Christ must needs be God become Flesh and God manifest in Flesh 7. Also was not this Jesus Christ that Alpha and Omega the First and the Last the Begining and the End he that was Dead and is Alive for ever more 8. Here you see the Alpha and Omega was dead And was not the Alpha and Omega God And you see by the Scripture that the Alpha and Omega was dead And was there any Alpha and Omega that dyed but Jesus Christ And was there any Alpha and Omega that quickened out of Death to Life again but Christ Therefore he is said to be a quickening Spirit 9. Therefore it must needs be that Christ is God become Flesh and manifest in Flesh and he it was that dwelt among Men and he was in the Person of a Man in all things like unto Man Sin excepted 10. So that God is but one Person in Form like a Man and not Three Persons as Men do vainly imagine 11. But when he heard these sayings of mine he replyed nothing against it but seemed to faun upon me and speak softly unto me tempting me And asked me secretly what I thought of this present Power that he might have had some what to accuse me of that the Law would have taken hold of 12. But I answered him and said That I never was concerned with no temporal Powers neither did I meddle with them at all 13. So when the Priest saw he could get nothing out of me concerning the Goverment of the Nation then he applied to the things before mentioned 14. And he caused the Recorder to read over the Examination before the Maior the things were but few 15. First denying the Three Persons in the Trinity Secondly That I said I was one of those two Witnesses spoken of in the 11th of the Revelations 16. Thirdly That I said I had power to damn and save And Fourthly that I said their beleiving the Scriptures would do them little good now 17. Those were the chief things I was charged with Then the Priest asked me if I would be Prisoner that Night at the Constables House at my own charge or at the Town charge 18. If I had said at the Town charge then I must have lain in the Cage all Night but I answered and said At my own Charge 19. But I said to the Maior Do you not take Bail in these cases The Maior said Yes But the Priest before the Maior had perfectly spoken said if you can put in Bail that are not excommunicated Persons 20. Then Dorothy Carter my Friend being a Widdow would have been Bail with one of her Sons and she pressed at the Door to come in but the Priest thrust her out and said She was an excommunicated
I declared unto her so that she was very well satisfyed in her Mind and she desired that I would come often to her which I did always when she sent for me not else And she was a true Beleiver afterwards and lived in the full Assurance of her eternal Happiness after Death all the Days of her Life 13. And she had a Kinswoman a Virgin that waited upon her by reading of the Books her Aunt had of mine by stelth she became a true Beleiver her Name was Ann Loe and in process of time this Ann Loe married one William Hall a true Beleiver of this Commission of the Spirit 14. And she did grow in Wisdom and Knowledge in spiritual and heavenly Knowledge and Experience and strong in Faith more than her Aunt before her and she was a great preserver of me from the Hands of my Enemies when the King's Messengers sought after me as will more appear hereafter CHAP. II. Of one Captain Wildye an honourable Man And of one Mrs. Cowlye of her Faith and Obedience of her Husband and of her Son a University Scholar and of his Convinement by the Prophet both as to the Ministry Law and Phisick 1. ALSO there was one Captain Wildye he was one of the Masters of Trinity-House an honourable Place For that Trinity-House is a Court for the ordering of Shiping and Seamen This Captain Wildye became a very true Beleiver of this Commission of the Spirit and he shewed a great deal of Charity to several poor Beleivers of this Faith more than any perticular Person in his time 2. Also he was the occasion of bringing to this Faith one Ann Cowlye a Gentlewoman at Mile-End-Green She was carried through several Principles of Religion as Independant Quaker and Virgin-Life-People She was zealous in all things she clave unto being very desirous to be saved and afraid to be damn'd 3. She was in the Principle of a Virgin-Life and would not let her Husband know her in Twelve years before she saw me notwithstanding she had born several Children by this Man and had one Son and one Daughter living by him 4. But after she came to be acquainted with me I convinced her both by Scripture and Reason of the unlawfullness of a married Wife to live a Virgin-Life and that she could not possibly have Peace as to another Life in that Practice And I advised her to give herself up to her Husband else I could not give Judgment of Blessedness upon her to Eternity 5. She being troubled at this saying of mine was forced to yield to her Husband which thing she thought an Angel from Heaven could not have perswaded her to do 6. But the Words of a Prophet was of great Power whose Word she could not resit but obeyed his Voice and had Peace of Minde and the Blessing of eternal Life in her Self and she grew very zealous for the Commission of the Spirit and contended for the Faith very much and this thing wrought upon her by the Word of a Prophet 7. This caused her Husband to beleive also and he was a very Wife and Prudent Man of the Independant People who had been a Preacher among them he became a very knowing Man in the Faith also his Son and his Daughter became both true Beleivers of this Commission of the Spirit 8. His Son John Cowlye was well bread he was brought up at the University of Cambridge his Learning cost his Father many hundred Pounds and when he was to receave some Benefit or Livelyhood for the future for all the cost past the Benefice was to be ordain'd a Minister or a Doctor of Phisick or a Lawyer These Three be the most honourable Things in this World 9. But when he came to speak with me I convinced him of the Unlawfullness of all the Three for any Saint or Gods Elect to undertake that Practice 10. The Seed of the Serpent were the fitest Men to take them Practices upon them because all the Kingdoms of this World is given into the Hands of the Seed of the Serpent as the Devil said to Christ 11. And these Three sorts of Men are reputed by the Seed of the Serpent the most honourable Men of all and are reverenced and subjected unto both by Princes and common People yet the greatest Cheats that is in this World as will appear 12. First I shewed him how dangerous a thing it was to take upon him to be a Minister of Christ without a Commission from God it would be counted by him spiritual High Treason For Ministers are in more Danger of eternal Damnation than any other Men for going to Preach and are not sent of God 13. For when they shall say in the Conscience at that Day Lord we have preached in thy Name and prayed in thy Name and cast out Devils in thy Name 14. The Answer of God in the Conscience will say Depart from me you workers of Iniquity I know you not And why did not God know them because he did not send them So that preaching and praying as a Minister without a Commission from Christ is counted but a Work of Iniquity 15. And as for the Doctors of Phisick they are the greatest Cheats upon a natural Account that is in the World They cheat the People of their Money and of their Health for they are in the original but atheistical Witches and it would be good if there were never a Doctor of Phisick in the World People would live longer and live better in Health 16. For God never appointed any Doctor of Phisick but he appointed Nature to preserve Nature 17. But through the wicked intemperate Life of Man it hath brought a necessity of Doctors of Phisick 18. But those People that go to a Doctor of Phisick to get Health he goeth to a Witch to seek his Health even as a Man that is troubled in Mind seeketh unto a Witch that hath a Familier Spirit for satisfaction as did King Saul 19. But when the Conscience of the Doctor of Phisick shall be opened at the last Day he shall say Lord we did not think that there were any God at all but Nature only therefore our Minds fed upon Gold and Silver that groweth in the Earth that we might Cloath our selves in rich Apparel that might make us honourable among great Men of the Earth and reverenced by the Poor not thinking in the least that there was any better Heaven hereafter or any Punishment after Death for practiseing this Cheat that is Autherised by the Powers of the Nations 20. And tho' we have done a great deal of Hurt yet Lord we have done some good we have cast out many Devils in Drunkards and Whoremasters and Whores who by their Wickedness have procured that Pox which no righteous Man could cure we have made them leave off that Practice by our Medicines and Advice and from Drunkenness and have lived a sober Life afterwards and many divilish Diseases have we cast out by our Spirits of
Slanders and Judgments threatned against me I did not matter For this I know the Quakers do beleive that Loe and Cole's Souls is not dead but slipt out of their Bodies and gon you know not where and into a Power you know not what 10. But I said their Souls is where you laid their Bodies they both came into this World together they both dispised the Truth together they both Bodies and Souls received Judgment and Condemnation together and both dyed together and were both Soul and Bodies buried together and shall both rise again spiritual dark Bodies and Souls together 11. Every Seed it s own Body that Seed of Reason which was their Life which they thought was the divine Nature of God but it was the Nature of the Devil and Serpent 12. And the Law writen in their Hearts which you Quakers call the Light of Christ or Christ in you which is no other Christ or Light but the Law writen in your Hearts And the Light of the Law which doth accuse and excuse the Conscience of every Man you call the Light of Christ yea Christ himself 13. For this Light of the Law writen in your Hearts is that which doth cause your Thoughts to accuse when you do evil and to excuse when you do well And when God shall raise them again that Seed of Reason shall rise and bring a spiritual dark Body with it And that Law which was writen in their Hearts here in this Life shall quicken again in that new dark spiritual Body 14. And then shall they and you dispisers of a personal God know that your own Souls which you thought was the Life of God but it was the Life of the Devil and that your selves were Devils and that Law writen in your Hearts which you in this Life called the Light of Christ and that was no other God or Christ but this Light within you 15. But when this Law doth quicken again as I said before it will prove the only and alone Devil to torment you to eternity because you made the Light of this Law in your Hearts to be your only God and by this Light of the Law you do fight against the true personal God who created Man in his own Image and Likeness and hath trampled him under your Feet as Dirt. 16. These things may seem strange and as a Riddle unto you and as a thing impossible but with God all things is possible which his own Will moves him unto 17. And this I say as it was possible for God to write the Law in the Angels Natures and by his secret Determination suffer one of these Angels to become very Man and so the Angels Seed and Nature having conjunction with the Seed and Nature of Eve which was of Adams Nature and so by Generation the Law comes to be writen in every Man's Heart in that ever Man and Woman that is born into this World is partaker of the Angel's Nature of Reason and so comes to have this Law writen in every Man's Heart 18. Man finds it there accusing of him but knows not how it came writen there 19. So it is as strange for you Quakers to beleive that God will raise your Souls again that were dead how they should quicken out of Death by the Power of that God that made all Souls to live at the first In as much as he made all things by the power of his word in the Beginning 20. So by the same power of his word he shall quicken the Souls of Men and Women again out of Death to Life again at the last day and the Law that was writen in them shall quicken also and be alive again in you to torment you to eternity 21. For the Law and your Souls shall never part one from the other for as the Law is secretly writen in your Hearts but originally in the Reprobate So by Gods secret Decree and Power he will revive that Law again in that Reprobate Seed of Reason as in Thomas Loe Josiah Cole George Whitehead William Pen and many of you Speakers of the Quakers and others of your Bretheren who are under the Judgment and Sentance of this Commission of the Spirit You shall find my words to be true upon you and over you to eternity neither shall you be delivered from it 22. For if I had but any thought of Compassion towards you in my Mind it was answered me That there is a necessity that there should be Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent which hardened my Heart against all Dispisers of a personal God in the form of Man Lodowick Muggleton 23. After this in the same year came another thundering Letter from a Lyon like Quaker being a learned Man brought up at the University his Name is William Pen Here is the Copy of it verbatim LOdowick Muggleton having had a deep and serious Sence of thy insulting Spirt over the Death of that valiant and painful Servant of the most high God Josiah Cole as if it were the ephect of thy solely Curse who alas for these Twelve Years hath in these Nations and Iles abroad in all Straits Difficulties and hard Sufferings been an incessant Labourer for the Lord and so impared his Health that within these Twelve Months or little more have I known him Five times sick and Three even unto Death before he had ever seen thy Face I say being sensible of thy Vaunts And it now being laid upon me Therefore once more I come in the Name and Authority of that dreadful Majesty which fils Heaven and Earth to speak on this wise Boast not thou Enemy of God thou Son of Perdition and Confederate with the unclean croking Spirits reserved under Chains to eternal Darkness for in the everlasting glorious Light thou dispiseth thou art seen Araigned Tryed Condemned and Sentanced for a lying Spirit and false Prophet who having counterfited the Commission and Sceal of that God whom the Heaven cannot contain hath bewitched a few poor silly Souls But their Blood Oh! Muggleton lies at thy Door and the Wrath of the Almighty is kindled against thee and his eternal Power in his Servants the Quakers came whom thou hast past thy envious Curse shall suddenly grind thee to Powder and as formerly so again on the behalf of the God of the Quakers whom I worship I boldly challinge thee with thy Six foot God and all the Host of lucepherian Spirits with all your Commissions Curses and Sentances to touch or hurt me practice your Skill and Power behold I stand in a holy Defiance of all your Enmity and Strength And this know Oh Muggleton with thy God art chained by the Spirit of the Lord and on you I trample in his everlasting Dominion and to the bottomless Pit are you sentanced from whence you came and where the endless Worm shall knaw and torture your imaginary Soul to eternity Written Signed and Seal'd by Commission receiv'd about the First Hour
of the Eleventh Morning of the Twelfth Month 1668. from the glorious Majesty of the most high God who fils Heaven and Earth that lives in his Servant William Pen junior CHAP. V. The Answer of Lodowick Muggleton to William Pen Quaker his proud presumptious and blasphemous Letter 1. WIlliam Pen I have perused your proud presumptious blasphemous Letter against the true God how hath your Learning lifted up your Heart with Pride to fight against the true God and to bid him Defiance to his Face and let him stand forth and see if he can deliver himself from your bodiless God that gave you a Commission as you say 2. You know that Reeve and myself have declared in all our Writings that the Lord Jesus Christ is our God and that the Worlds were made by him and that nothing was made in the Beginning but what was made by him as the Scripture saith 3. This Man Christ Jesus was in the form of Man a spiritual heavenly and glorious Body before this World was 4. And in the Beginning this glorious spiritual Body made Man in his own Image and Likeness the Form of Man else Moses's Words were not true do you disprove it if you can 5. Only the Man Adam his Body was earthly and made of the Earth but God's Body was spiritual and heavenly yet in Form like Adam And Adam was a Man which none can deny that owns the Scriptures 6. And in process of time this God became Flesh and dwelt among Men and that he took upon him the Form of a Servant and was in all things like unto Man Sin excepted and made himself capable to be put to Death by the Seed of the Serpent his own Creatures his Blood was poured out unto Death for the Redemption of the Seed of Adam to make good that Promise to Adam in Paradice That the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpent's Head Which was fulfilled when he suffered Death upon the Cross 7. And when he quickened out of Death into Life again then was that Saying fulfilled Oh Death I will be thy Death Oh Grave I will be thy Victory And that other Saying I am Alpha and Omega the First and the Last he that was dead and behold I am alive for ever more 8. This Alpha and Omega was Christ and he was God and this Christ was the Lord from Heaven a quickening Spirit And was there any other God or Alpha or Omega that dyed but Christ and did any quicken out of Death to Life again but he and did any God become Flesh and dwell with Man but Christ 9. And was not Christ in the form of Man when on Earth did not he retain the same form when he assended up to Heaven and doth retain the same Form now he is glorified and is in the same Glory which he had before this World was 10. Oh Pen How is it that you cannot understand that Eternity did become Time and Time is become Eternity again That is that spiritual and glorious immortal Body of God that was eternal before Man was made but in the fulness of time this glorious immortal Body became a pure mortal Body even Jesus Christ capable to dye so eternity became Time And in that he quickened out of Death into Life again Mortality became Immortal again and Time became Eternity again 11. This great Mistory That God became Flesh is hid from the Eyes of the Seed of the Serpent such as William Pen the Quaker is and revealed unto us unlearned Men. 12. And this is that God that Reeve and Muggleton hath declared in our Writings and this God we received our Commission from and that Power to Bless and Curse to Eternity 13. This God you have proudly and blasphemously defied and trampled under your Feet as Dirt also you have boldly challenged the true and living God that is in the form of Man to touch or hurt you and stand in a holy Defiance of me and my God's Strength and that me and my God is chained and on me and my God you trample and to the bottomless Pit you have sentanced us both me and my God And if this be not high Blasphemy Pride and Presumption against the living God there never was any 14. Oh Pen did you never read how Goliah defyed the living God the God of Israel and how David flung a Stone into his Forehead and slew him for defying the living God the God of Israel For David knew the God of Israel was in the form of a Man but Goliah his God was the same God as the Quakers God is a bodiless God so vast and so bigg that he cannot be confined neither to the vast Heavens above nor in this vast Earth below but he must fill the Aire also and all Places at one and the same time This is the Heathens God and the Quakers God also 15. Did you never read of Corath and his Company Captains of Rebellion and Conspiracy against Moses and Aaron and against God that chose them to teach the People neither would God suffer any other Men to do it but them he chose therefore it was the Earth clave and swallowed them all up alive 16. Now you Pen and many of you Quakers have practised the same thing against Reeve and Muggleton whom the God of Heaven hath chosen in perticular and no other Man upon Earth at this Day to set Life and Death before Men. 17. Now hath not you and your Captain Teachers of the Quakers Railed Reviled Reported and Condemned Reeve and Muggleton and our God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory because we had our Commission from him to open Hels Mouth and swallow up such Rebels as you are into those eternal Torments where the Worm of Conscience shall never dye nor the Fire of Hell never go out for your dispising the living God in the form of a Man which you Quakers have done and are more guilty than any People in the World 18. Neither are you sensible of the great Ephects that this Commission God gave to Reeve and Muggleton hath wrought How many of your valiant Captains and mighty Men of War have fallen by the two edged Sword of the Spirit put into my Mouth even the Commission God put upon me 19. Do not you miss many of your Captains and Leaders of the Quakers What is become of William Smith Samuel Hutton Thomas Taylor Richard Farnesworth and many more I could name here of late Years Do you not miss Thomas Loe and Josiah Cole These were valiant Men like your self to reproach and defy the living God 20. Are you not sensible how the Curse of God took hold of them sudainly after they had defyed the living God in the form of a Man 21. And now last of all you come like Goliah the Philistian with a Commission from a great bodiless God that can neither be found neither in Heaven nor in Earth nor no place else signed and sealed to defy the living God that
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