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
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
with George Whitehead and Josiah Cole With his Sentance passed upon them both 1. WHO ever may read this Letter let them understand thus much that I never saw the Man nor he me but he reading the Book aforesaid he was moved by the Light within him to send this cursed Letter unto me Whereupon after I had read it I sent him an Answer to it with the Sentance of eternale Damnation for his cursed Blasphemy The Bearer staid for it 'till it was writen he being a Quaker would not go without it 2. But it came to pass that the same Night that this Thomas Loe received his Sentance in answer to his curled Letter he went to Bed sick and never did rise more till he was carried to the Grave which was almost Three Weeks after Which is a clear Testimony that the Curse of God the Man Christ Jesus by his Messenger doth take hold of the Quakers People and more especially of their Ministry 3. Because they are the absolute Spirit of Antichrist in this last Age which teacheth the People to deny both Father and Son to become Flesh and that the Father nor the Son hath no Person of his own distinct from Man but denyeth a personal God in form like Man his own Image 4. For which Cause hath the Wrath of this God overtaken several of these desperate Quakers even of their Ministers or Preachers hath been cut off this Earth that they might not deceive People no more nor incumber the Earth with their wicked Antichristian Spirit which defieth the living God who is in the form of Man who made Man in his own Image Lodowick Muggleton 5. Upon the Sickness and Death of this Thomas Loe Quaker after the Sentance sent him it caused several to discourse with me about it therefore I shall relate some of the most remarkable Passages and the Persons I discoursed with upon the 17th Day of October 1668. The Persons discoursed withal were George Whitehead and Josiah Cole both Speakers of the Quakers 6. Eirst The Words Cole spoke unto me are these saith he Thou sayest God is in form of a Man and thou sayest his Hand is not much biger than thine or mine and thou seest what a little this Hand will hold Yet saith he God is said to have measured the Waters in the hollow of his Hand and behold the Nations are as a drop of a Bucket 7. I answered and said Do you beleive God to be so big to hold the Waters in the hollow of his Hand That is spoken in Relation to his great Wisdom Power and Dominion as he is a Creator not relating to the bigness of his Hand but to the greatness of his Power being infinite 8. An earthly King may be said to be King of many Kingdoms and that he hath brought the People of those Kingdoms to Obedience to his Law By the strength of his own Arm for Power or Strength is the right Hand of an earthly King 9. Yet the King doth not hold all the People under his Arm nor in the hollow of his Hand but the People may be said to be under his Hand and that he holds them in the hollow of his Hand because his Power and Laws doth protect them and keep them within Bounds for a prerogative Power is great but the Hand of a King is no biger than the Hand of another Man that hath no Power at all 10. So it is Gods prerogative Power that is above all Law in seting Bounds to the Waters and keeping the Waters within Bounds in the deep Places of the Earth and so may be said that God doth hold the Waters in the hollow of his Hand that is they are confined to a little place of his Power in his Creation 11. Also I said that I that am but a mortal Man hath Power over such a great God whose Hand is so big for that God whose Hand is much biger than thine or mine I have Power to Condemn This was passed by and no Reply made by them 12. Then spake Whitehead and said He did hear that I had cursed a Man and he changing his Aparel came afterwards and did procure a Blessing and that this Man or some other did smite a Pewter Pot upon my Head 13. This I said was false for never did any Man strike me over the Head with a Pot in all my Life it was that reprobate Pope that damd'd Devil that hath reported that he was Blessed after he was Cursed It is a false Report and he hath reported it several times amongst the Ranters and Quakers 14. This Pope was a Ranter then when he was Cursed which was about fifteen Years ago in John Reeve's time and he is a worse Ranter now than he was then and that you Quakers know very well and what a wicked lustful Life he liveth now in and yet you will rather beleive the damn'd Devil and wicked lustful Person than beleive me who have been kept innocent from the breach of any Law from my Childhood to this Day 15. But I know you Quakers being of the same Nature and Seed of the Serpent as those Jews were in Christ's time who desired of Pilate that a Thief and a Murtherer should be delivered from Death rather than Jesus the Saviour of all them that beleive in him 16. So is it with you for you had rather beleive this Pope this notable Sinner than to beleive me who am the Prophet of the most High God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory and have Power given of God as Moses had to set Life and Death before you but I know you do say in your Hearts tho not with your Lips as those Jews did by Christ Away with this Muggleton let us have Pope that wicked lustful Man that we might hear and inquire of him 17. Then said Josiah Cole Thou saist thou art an Embassador in God's steed and thou standest in his stead said he I would willingly do anything that I might be saved 18. Then I answered him and said I will tell thee what I will say unto thee if thou wilt but deny and forsake the Quakers Principles and beleive me I will assure thee thou shalt as certainly be saved as ever any Prophet or Apostle ever was 19. Then Cole fell into a Fit and waited upon his own Thoughts what to answer and I waited for his Answer 20. But George VVhitehead perceived that Cole was in a strait he came unto me and spied a Knot of Ribon upon my Coat Sleeve and said unto me VVhy dost thou wear this Vanity and touched the Ribon with his Fingers 21. I answered and said I know a piece of Ribon is a great Sin in a Quaker's Eye But said I VVhy dost thou wear silk Buttons on both thy Coats He said they were necessary I said No thou mightest wear Hooks and Eyes Clapses or Eyletholes That was past by 22. But then I will tell thee why I do wear Ribon it is on purpose that I might not
be taken or thought to be a Quaker for I do hate the Quakers Principle 23. With that VVhitehead said Thou hatest all Righteousness and spake as if he himself Cole and Fox and others of the Quakers were writing a Book against me to make me manifest which in a little time after it was set forth by VVilliam Pen a Quaker And further said that they would post me up and he slighted my Power and my God and said he would trample my God and my Power under his Feet as Dirt and taped his Foot upon the Ground 24. Whereupon I did pronounce George VVhitehead cursed and damn'd Soul and Body to Eternity and that God within him which he trusted in was cursed also and so I ceased Discourse with him 25. All this while Cole was in his Fit and said not one word but immediately after he uttered these words saith he I have heard of several thou hast cursed but said he I did not beleive had I not heard or seen I could not have beleived that a Man could have spoken so presumptiously 26. Then said I dare you say that I speak presumptiously to George VVhitehead he said he did beleive it was Presumption 27. Then said I on the contrary I do beleive that thou art the Seed of the Serpent and wilt be damn'd and now see whose Faith will be strongest yours or mine for my Faith shall keep you down for ever 28. Under what said Cole 29. Under eternal Damnation said I. 30. Then said he Dost thou ground thy Sentance upon my Belief 21. Yea said I I do for you beleive I speak presumptiously and I do beleive you to be the Seed of the Serpent and will be damn'd to eternity 32. Then said he Dost thou judge this to be a final Sentance upon me said I Yea what should it else be 33. With that Josiah Cole rose up with great zeal for his God within him and said I told thee before that I would try thee and thy God saying that they were seting forth a Writing against me and withal Cole pronounced many Curses upon me with his Eyes dazled with the Witchcraft Power in him being disturbed with my Words it got up into his Head 34. So that VVhitehead and he both came near me with great Threatnings and Judgments upon me being both so full of Curses Cole cursed me into utter Darkness Pit of Darkness Chains of Darkness blackness of Darkness and that he would trample that God of mine that was in the form of Man under his Feet as Dirt and stamp'd his Foot upon the Ground as the other Devil did Cole's Curses were much what like Thomas Loe his Curses in his Letter to me 35. But when Cole had done cursing I said these Words unto him That this Sentance that I had passed upon him should stick by him for ever and that he should never put it out of his Mind neither should he grow Mad nor Distracted to forget it but should be sensible all the Days of his Life 36. And when my God whom you trampled under your Feet shall raise you again at the last Day which will not seem to you a quarter of an Hours time you shall remember afresh my VVords what I said unto you in this Life to eternity 37. Many more Words was between us at that time but these were the Words and Passages of most concernment at that time and a final Judgment and Sentance of eternal Damnation that I gave that Day upon Josiha Cole and George VVhitehead Speakers of the Quakers CHAP. IV. Of Cole's being sick unto Death immediately after the Sentance of his Testimony against the Prophet Of his Death The Quakers God described with the nature of Reason and the Law that is writen in it Of William Pen's blasphemous Letter to the Prophet 1. NOW in some Four or Five Days time after our Dispute I heard that Josiah Cole was sick and going out of the Body For the Quakers do not beleive that their Souls do die but slips out of the Body 2. This caused the Quakers People to visit him very much to know of him whether Muggleton's Words had taken place in him wondering that he should go out of the Body so sudenly after Muggleton's Sentance as Thomas Loe did after his Sentance But he denyed very stifly that my Words had no Power over him but that he had left me in Chains of Darkness 3. Nevertheless he grew worse and worse so that the Quakers were not satisfied except he would go to the Peal in St. John's Street at their Meeting-place and give his Testimony against Muggleton before the People to satisfy the ignorant Quakers else they would judge that his Power in Loe and him was greater than the Ministry of the Quakers 4. So they led him by the Arms to the place aforesaid and Josiah Cole wrote his Testimony as followeth exactly word for word For as much as I have been informed that Lodowick Muggleton hath vaunted concerning my departure out of the Body because of his pretended Sentance of Damnation given against me I am mov'd to leave this Testimony concerning him behind me namely that he is a Son of Darkness and Coe-worker with the Prince of the bottomless Pit in which his Inheritance shall be for ever and the Judgment I passed on him when present with him stands sealed by the Spirit of the Lord by which I then declared to him that in the Name of that God who spans out the Heavens with his Span and measures the Waters with the hollow of his Hand I bind thee hear on Earth and thou art bound in Heaven and in the Chain under Darkness to the judgment of the great Day thou shalt be reserved And thy Faith and Strength thou bosteth of I defy and trample under Foot And I do hereby further declare the said Lodowick to be a false Prophet in what he said to me at that time who told me that from thenceforth I should be always in fear of Damnation which should be a Sign to me that I was damn'd which Fear I was never in so that his Sign given by himself did not follow his Prophecy which sufficiently declares him to be a false Prophet Josiah Cole 5. This was given forth word for word by Josiah Cole about Three Hours before his departure out of the Body the Fifteenth of the Eleventh Month 68. 6. Whoever doth read this last Testimony of Josiah Cole may easily see that the Curse I pronounced upon him by Commission received from the Man Christ Jesus the only wise God blessed for ever in the form of a Man whom he dispised and trampled under his Feet as Dirt. 7. For this very Sin did this Curse of this God pronounced by me take Ephect upon him and Thomas Loe immediately after their cursed Blasphemy against the true God 8. I was zealous in giving Sentance upon them in that I heard the true God was trampled under their Foot as Dirt. 9. As for their Reproaches Lyes
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
yet we shall be sav'd by believing in John Reeve's Writings now he is Dead 14. This is just like the Faith of all the World that believeth the Prophets and Apostels that are Dead many hundred Years before they where Born but would not have believed them when they where alive No more then their Fathers did For it is the Nature of Reason to believe dead Prophets rather then living Prophets and it is the Nature of Faith to believe live Prophets rather then dead Prophets for a living Faith believeth a living Man but a dead Faith believeth a dead Man and thus the Seed of reason dealeth by me 15. But to this I say this Faith will not save you nor do you little good in the Day of Trouble why because God did not chuse John Reeve Singuler but God chose us two Joyntly so that there could be no seperation but by Death and seeing God hath Honoured me to be the longer Liver he hath given me a double Power as he did to the Prophet Elisha when Ely's Mantle fell upon him 16. So that God hath seated and established the Commission wholy upon me so that the Prophet now alive doth stand in God's place and doth Represent his Person to make Peace with Men neither can any Man have true Peace in his Soul but by casting himself by Faith wholy upon the Prophet that is now alive 17. Now if it where possible for this live Prophet to disown the Commission of the Spirit but it is not possible then should he be found a false Prophet and will be Damned then all that believes him will be Damned also this must be ventured by all Men and Women that are saved by Faith in a Commission 18. But as Christ spake many hard Words which made many forsake him So likewise the Prophet hath spoken many hard Words as those Assertions where by some that where his Disciples were offended at him and forsooke the Prophet and followed him no more this hath been the practice of some in all Commissions 19. But Woe will be to all that set the Hand of Faith to the Plow of Obedience to the Prophet and look back as Lots Wife did or draw back unto perdition whose Faith doth not hold out to the end that they might be said 20. And in this Sence if the Prophet should disown the Commission of the Spirit all those that believed him would be Damned 21. As to the Ninth Assertion in answer thereunto behold the Power of a Prophets blessing that though a Man walke contrary to the Commission his Faith is in Yet the Condemnation of his Conscience it shall not Reach unto Eternity but unto the Graves Mouth why because the Rememberance of the Prophets blessing is in him and doth uphold him else his Sin might make him despair of Eternal happiness and fear Eternal Torments 22. Also the Prophet cannot call back his blessing again though the Man doth walk contrary to the Commission whereby his own Conscience is Wounded and the Prophet Dishonoured Yet the Man keeping to the Prophets blessing not Rebeling against him the Prophets Faith and Love abideing in him will uphold him so that the fear of Eternal Death shall not surprise him 23 So that all his Condemnation he hath in his Conscience and disgrace he hath received in this World it shall end in Death and shall never be remembered in the Resurrection all his misdeeds shall be buried in the Grave and never rise again and that Faith he had in the Prophets blessing and the Prophets blessing shall be raised again to the Glorious Estate of Saints and Angels 24. And there shall be no Remembrance in the Resurrection of any Failings on this side of Death but the Faith he had in the Prophet's Blessing only shall uphold him and free him from eternal Torments and this is more than any legal righteous Man can attain unto though his Nature be ever so pure 25. So that a Prophet's Blessing is of no small weight nor of any small concernment but as the Blessing of Almighty God for whoever receiveth a Prophet that is true receiveth God and what is the Blessing of a Prophet but everlasting Life 26. And shall not this support and uphold a Man above all the Frailties of Nature 27. And in this Sence he that keeps the Prophet's Blessing tho he be subject to many Frailties of Nature which is contrary to the Commission yet his Condemnation of Concience shall extend no further than the Graves Mouth 28. Thus I have given Answer to all those Nine Assertions which VVilliam-Medgate hath drawn up as a Charge against me saying they are contrary to all Truth and against all Sober Reason The End of the Forth Part. The Fifth Part. CHAP. I. Of one Sr. John James's Opression of Widow Brunt and of her Death The Prophet left her Executor and how he would not sell his Birthright but Arrested Sr. John James's Tenants Of his great Troubles and Tryals 1. AFter this it came to pass that in the Year 1675 and 1676 that great Troubles did persue me both upon a Natural and a Spiritual Account through the Envy of wicked Men as will appear by what doth follow 2. There was a certain rich Man being covetous and cruel he was a Knight his Name was called Sr. John James he through his cruelty and covetousness did take away a matter of 30 Foot long and 4 Foot broad and a brick Wall that closed in this parcel of Ground and a Pump that stood in this Ground to considerable Vallue the Womans Name was Deborah Brunt and this he lett to another Tenant of his to make his Yarde wider 3. Also this Knight did lett another part of his Yarde to a Timber-Merchant and this Tenant of his did stop up the Light of the poor Widow's House with his Timber insomuch that it was a great Hindrance and Loss to the Widow in that no Tenant would live in it This rich Man did and she could no way deliver herself but her Right was clearly taken from her for ever for this rich Man had stated it upon his Two Tenants and they enjoyed it for a Season 4. It came to pass in a while after this Widow Brunt dyed and I was her Executor and I performed her Will in every particular according to the Laws of England and I knowing this rich Man had taken away these Things before mentioned from the poor Widow that was her Right which Widow I had been as a Father unto several Years before and did more for her than her Husband could do for her had he lived 5. So that I thought in myself I would not like prophain Esau to sell my Birthright for a Mess of Pottage but would gain that the poor Widow had lost wrongfully whereupon I did according to Law arest these two Tenants for Trespass and Damage 6. The Men I went to Law withal were Three one was Denis Swenye a notable wicked Devil the others were Charles
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