c. 23. Then the high Priests rent their Cloathes and they all Condemned him to be guilty of Death so likewise I did perceive that if I had pleaded my self I should have Justified my Commission from GOD and that he gave John Reeve and my self that Power and Authority to give Sentance of Damnation to all that Blaspheme against the Holy Ghost as they did as are Writen in that Book 24. These Words would have Enraged the Judges and Jury and the People more then that Book so that they would have said by me as the Priests Scribes and Pharisies said by Christ as aforesaid The angrey and Malicious Judges and Envious Jury and Ignorant Officers and People in the Court would have rent their Hearts with Madness against me and said What need we to mind this Book or Indictment or Witness against him for you hear his horrible Blaphemy out of his own Mouth therefore what think you so that they all would have Condemned me to greater Torments than they did 25. Considering this I held my Peace and speak not one word which prevented the Expectations of Thousands which thought to have had a large Relation of the Matter 26. So that I left the Book that was Pardoned Act and Indictment and Witnessess for them to Judge and Condemn me by So they had no farther Matter from me at all which did frusterate their Expectations and Moderate their Punishment as the Reader may perceive by what doth follow CHAP. III. The Counsel against the Prophet Pleads with fear and horrour The Prophets Counsel Pleads and through fear did wrong his Cause 1. UPON the 17th of January 1676 after the Indictment was read my Counsel Pleaded to it proving that this Book the Indictment was ground upon it was Pardoned by the Kings Gracious Act being Printed 13 Years ago neither was this Book Published nor Sold in any Shop or to any Person in publick as can be proved but were locked up in Cheasts c. This with many other Words according to the Laws of England This my Counsel pleaded and my Counsel Sate under Judge Atkins 2. And their Counsel Sate under Judge Rainsford and he did hold up the Book in open Court which Book was the whole Volumn bound and Clasped He held one of the Claspes between his Finger and his Thumb up in the open Court in oppossition to my Counsel 3. And he expressed these Words and said with a loud Voice That he did Read one Leaf of this Book and turn'd over another But said he it was so full of Horrible Blasphemy that he durst not Read any further for the Blasphemy was so great that it made his Hair stand an end and his Heart to tremble with other Expressions of Dread and Fear 4. As if the very Reading of it would have caused God to have parted the Heavens assunder and have Rained down Vengance upon him for Reading it if he had Read any further For said he It was impossible for any Man to Write such a Horrible Blasphemous Book in Assuming the place of God upon him Except he went to the bottom of Hell for said he it is so cunningly contrived that it confounds all the Reason in Man with many other hedious expressions which I cannot remember 5. He spoke truth but knew it not for the Spirit of Revelation doth descend to the bottom of Hell else we could not tell others where it is and prevent others from falling into it and as Christ himself Descended into Hell and quickened again out of it so hath the Spirit of Revelation in me descended into the bottom of Hell a Thousand times and hath quickened out of it again and hath forewarned many from going into that Place but I know this Counseler shall go into Hell that hath no bottom called a Bottomless Pitt and he shall never come from thence to Eternity 6. Likewise indeed the Revelation of Faith in me hath confounded all the Reason in Man as to Spiritual and Heavenly matters 7. After this my Counsel pleaded again to the same purpose as he did before but he through extream Fearfulness did wrong my cause in two things First in that he made no mention of the Wardens breaking open four Doors contrary to the Laws of England which was by the Law absolute Burglary and the taking away the Books was absolute Fellony 8. This was in the Forefront of his Breviat and I had reposed the Business to him because I would not plead my self but he like a deceitful Knave and fearfull Fool did not speak one Word of it before the Court which if he had it would have put these Envious Judges and Jury to a Nonplush how they could have brought me in Guilty so he spoyld my Cause 9. For after he had Pleaded the Kings Act of Grace as aforesaid he said these Words that he had Pleaded so far as the Law would bear him out but as for the Words and cause of Indictment he was ashamed of it 10. Upon these Words did Judge Rainsford say unto the Jury You see that his own Counsel is ashamed of his Cause 11. Here the Reader may see those Words verified as I have Read for my Counsel did do at my Tryal those things which he ought not to have done and he left undone those things which he ought to have done for he ought to have Pleaded the Breaking open of so many Doors but he left that undone and to say he was ashamed of my Cause he ought to have left those Speeches undone and not to have spoken them being not forced by the Court. 12. And for a Man to take Forty Shillings to Plead a Man's Cause and to say he is ashamed of his Clyants Cause what Man that hath but Moral Reason and Sense in him but will say such a Counseler hath no Truth in him 13. But Judge Atkins siting over my Counsel might see the Breviat in my Counsels Hand which caused him to ask one of the Witnessess his name was Garat how did he come by those Books he answered that he did Seize them as they use to do the Judge asked how many there were of them he said a Porters Load The Judge asked him where the Books were he answered at the Bishop of Londons House 14. The Judge asked him again if they were all of a sort or all of a bigness he answered no some were great ones and some lesser some three or four bound together and some single He was asked how many of them great Books that were in the Court he answered Six of them he was asked what was the Price that great Book was sold for He answered Twelve or Fourteen Shillings 15 Now when the two Counsels had done Pleading and the Witnesses Examin'd the aforesaid Judge Atkins stood up and said Gentlemen of the Jury you see that the Book which the Indictment was grounded upon was Printed 13 Years ago and is Pardon'd by the Kings Gracious Act Therefore said he I cannot
see by the Lawes of England how you can possibly bring this Man in Guilty therefore Jury look to it 16. Then stood up Judge Rainsford and said That if it was not Law we will make it Law and further said who knoweth but this Raskal might Antidate the Book 13 Years ago and Publish it this 30th of August last past 17. The Envy of this wicked Judge made him speak against his own Conscience for he knew it was impossible for me to do such a thing as to get it Printed so lately for he knew it were those that Stole my Books published them 18. And further this Rainsford vented his Envy exceeding high and called me Incorrigable Rogue that should Assume to himself to be in Gods place a Man Pernicious Blasphemous Seditious Heritical and a monster in his Opinions Pretending himself one of the two Witnessess of Almighty God to the great Scandal and Contempt of our Lord the King his Crown and Dignity as also the Religion of this Kingdom rightly Established And further said he was Sorry that the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish Crimes of this Nature 19. And further he goeth on in his Rage against me and saith Gentlemen of the Jury if you do not bring this Man in Guilty you will be pertakers with him in all his Horrible Blasphemy and grand Apostisie 20. Many more hateful Words with the Fire of Hell that proceeded from his Heart and did appear in his Face his Zeal was great to have me Punished Nay he thought in his Heart that Hanging was too good a Death for me for said he This Crime of horrid Blasphemy as he accounted it was worse than Murder Fellony or Treason and was Sorry that the Laws was so unprovided to punish such Crimes 21. I was so moved in my mind to hear this Cursed Devil to Blaspheme against the Holy Spirit that sent me and gave me Power to give Sentance of Eternal Damnation upon such Blaspheming Devils That I could have wished that God would have Executed some vissible Vengeance from Heaven upon this Blasphemous Judge to have smote him with a natural Blindness for I knew he was Spiritually Blind for I had done wrong to no Man 22. Only I had Executed the Commission of God faithfully in giving Sentance upon all dispising Devils who sinned againg the Holy Ghost This was that Sin the high Priests and Elders committed in Christ's time against him in that they said he cast out Devils by Belsebub the Prince of Devils 23. I know this that Judge Rainsford would have said the same to Christ himself had he been in my place for his Blasphemy was great not only against me but against God that sent me which God he knew not 24. Therefore my Anger was kindled against him and desired an immediate vissible Vengeance from Heaven upon him that might have been a vissible Witness whither God did own him or me 25. But there was a secret Voice within me said thy Commission is Spiritual and hath to do with the Spiritual and Eternal Estate of Mankind and that all such Persons are the Seed of the Serpent and are to receive for their Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost their Punishment in the Life to come even Eternal Damnation which is the second Death where the Worm of Conscience shall never Dye nor the Fire of Hell shall never be quenched to Eternity 26. Then I was quiet and willing to bear all they could do unto me even to the loss of my Life CHAP. IV. The Prophet is brought in Guilty of his Sentance and Judgment with the nature of his Sufferings 1. AFTER that Judge Rainsford had made his Speech to the Jury then was the Goler commanded to take me away from the Bar and put into a little Room for a season and after a little space I was called for to the Bar again and Jefferies being then in the Recorders place that Bawling Devil was to give Sentance and Judgment upon me 2. And when I did appear before him a great Fire was between us where they did Burn those in the Hand which were Condemn'd to that Punishment but all that was over before I did appear 3. And this Jefferies Sate in the Judgment Seat as Pilate din against Christ and I stood a Prisoner at his Bar and when he saw my Face the first Words he speak he called me Impudent Rogue because my Countenance did not change nor look sad nor asked any Favour of the Court and said nothing to all their Threats Revilings and Reproaches whereby they Reproached me 4. Then he asked the Jury Is Muggleton Guilty or not Guilty They stay'd a little space before they speak Jefferies asked again is Muggleton Guilty or not Guilty the Jury said Guilty 5. Then he Proceeded in Judgment and said the Court is sorry the Laws of England are so unprovided to punish Crimes of this Nature therefore the Court hath thought Fit to give you but an Easie Easie Easie Punishment 6. You shall be committed and put to stand upon the Pillory in three of the most Eminent Places in the Citty That is one Day in Cornhil near the Exchange London Another Day in Fleet-street near the end of Chancery-lane and the Third Day being on the Market Day to Stand in West-Smith-Field London from the Hours of Eleven in the Forenoon until one in the Afternoon 7. On which said several Days a Writing Paper shewing your Offence to be put upon your Breast and also your Blasphemous Books in three Parts to be devided and with Fire before your Face near the Pillory aforesaid by the Common Hangman then and there to be Burn'd 8. And then to be returned into Newgate in safe Custody until your Fine of Five Hundred Pound be paid and then to put in good Security to be of good Behaviour the time of your Life but none of your own Gang as he call'd them shall be Security for you These are the Words of the Sentance that Jefferies passed upon me the 17th of January 1676. 9. The Paper that was tyed to my Brest every Day I stood upon the Pillory to shew my Offence and cause of this Suffering the Words were as followeth 10. Lodowick Muggleton Standeth hear for Writing causing to be Printed Selling Uttering and Publishing a Blasphemous Book 11. After this Sentance and Judgment was passed upon me I shall Record as short as I can the manner of the Execution of this Sentance and how I did suffer it and bear the Curse of their wicked Wills for they did make that Law which was not Law as Rainsford said before and as Judge Atkins when he saw me Condemn'd contrary to Law he went off the Bench and said there were no fair Dealings with me 12. This Sentance have I Suffered in every Tittle in the greatest Rigour that could be inflicted even beyond their own Law they made me Ride in a Cart as a Thief or a Murtherer Bareheaded without Hat or Cap which never
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