of them 21. Whereupon I pronounced him for his Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and for Preaching without a Commission from God cursed and damn'd both in Soul and Body from the Presence of God elect Men and Angels to eternity 22. Upon this he and the rest of them said They would fetch a Warrant from General Cromwell the Counsel of State or from the Parliament to prosecute us 23. And I said That if General Cromwell the Counsel of State or the Parliament should dispise those things we have declared and sin against the Holy Ghost as these Men did That General Cromwell the Counsel of State and the Parliament would be all damn'd as you are This I did say 24. This was set down by the Clerke 25. Then said the Maior You are accused for denying the Three Persons in the Trinity You say there is but one Person Christ Jesus you deny the Father 26. No said John Reeve we owne the Trinity more than any Men both Father Son and Spirit are all but one Person and one God Christ Jesus as is declared in that Book in your Hand 27. Then the Maior said Here is several Notes from the godly Ministers which you have forbid to preach the Gospel upon pain of Damnation 28. Said John We do own these Notes sent unto them and if any of them Ministers we sent these Letters unto have preached publickly since the receipt of them they are damn'd to eternity because they preach and are not sent of God Neither do they know the true God nor can they preach the truth unto the People 29. These Words were set down by the Clerke 30. Then said the Lord Maior unto John Reeve What was it that God spake unto you 31. John related the Words God spake unto him three Mornings together the same Words that are written in that Book in your Hand CHAP. II. Shewing John Reeve's Answer to the Lord Maior's Questions and John Reeve's Question to the Maior what his God was with the Maior's Answer And John's Replycation to it Of the two Witnesses Commitment to Newgate 1. THE Lord Maior answered John Reeve and said He did beleive it was the Devil that spake to him 2. Then to this I answered and said Sir you have sin'd against the Holy Ghost and will be damn'd 3. The Maior clapt his Hand upon his Brest and said God forbid 4. Yea said I but you have then said John Reeve to the Maior Sir you say you do beleive it was the Devil that spake unto me I pray Sir tell me what your God is 5. The Lord Maior lift up himself and laid his Hand on his Brest Oh! saith he my God is an infininite incomprehensible Spirit 6. What said I without a Body or Person 7. Said the Maior God hath no Body or Person at all 8. Why said I hath God that made man in his own Image who hath a Body and Person and hath made all other Creatures with Persons and shall he that made them have no Body or Person of his own 9. Doth not the Scriptures say That Christ was the express Image and Brightness of his Father's Person and had not Christ a Body or Person in form like Man Sin excepted 10. The said the Maior unto me must I beleive you 11. Yea said I That you must or you will be damn'd 12. Then there was a Gentlewoman in the Court called out and said Mr. Reeve pray tell me what the Devil is 13. John answered with a loud Voice and said Thy own Soul is the Devil 14. Then one of the Officers said unto the Woman I think he hath met with you now 15. Then the Lord Maior asked the Accusers if they would be bound in 40 l. Band a piece to prosecute against these two Men they said They would so the Clark bound them to prosecute 16. Then the Lord Maior called for the Act of Parliament which was newly made against Blasphemy So the Maior read this Passage in it That if any man should say that he is God and that God is no where else shall be guilty of Blasphemy and shall suffer six months Imprisonment without Bail or mean prise 17. Then said I unto him Sir What have you to do with this Act you are a temporal Magistrate and ought to judg of temporal Things between man and man 18. And you are to do Justice between Man and Man in all moral and temporal Affairs which concerns you to be the Judge of and you will do well to keep there for you are not to Judge of Blasphemy against God nor those that made this act neither 19. Why said the Maior must I beleive you 20. Yea said I That you must else you will be damn'd 21. For God hath chosen us two to be the Judge of Blasphemy against God and hath given us power to pronounce Sentance of Damnation upon all those that do Blaspheme against that God which is a Person which you do deny 22. Why said he again must I beleive you 23. Yea said I else you will be damn'd 24. Many things more than what is here written was spoke at that time but these were of most concernment to take notise of 25. And when this Dispute and Examination was ended the Lord Maior asked if we would put in Bail and we said No. 26. So he gave order to his Clark to make our Mittimus and send us to Newgate and he went away out of the Court into another Chamber and the Clark carried the Mittimus into him to set his hand to it So that he came no more into the Court. 27. For John Reeve intended to give the Sentance of eternal Damnation upon him both Body and Soul in the open Court it being full of People 28. But he came no more out until we were led away by the Marshal and his Men to Newgate there to remain Prisoners till the nex Sessions 29. This Commitment was the fifteenth Day of September 1653. CHAP. III. Shewing how the Prisoners brought Irons Required Mony of the two Witnesses they having none took one of their Cloaks for a Pledg How long they were Prisoners The Bordes were their Bed And of the Wickedness of some of the Prisoners which had a Design to have hanged them and how Providence preserved them 1. NOW we being Prisoners in Newgate Goal I shall speak of some Passages that hapend there 2. As soon as ever the Keeper had put us in and shut the Gate upon us the Prisoners brought to each of us a pair of Irons to put on our Leggs except we would lay them down three Shillings and Six Pence a piece 3. Also they said they must have Mony for Garnish which did amount to five Shillings a piece in all 4. I said we have no Money about us but however if they pleas'd they might put the Irons upon our Legs and I held out my Leg for them to be put on I was very free to wear them for Truths Sake though it was a
weighed it in my Mind and was loath to forsake it 16. Then I consider'd my Soul was of more value and what would it avail me to be rich in this World for a Moment and to loose my Soul for I was extreamly fearful of eternal Damnation thinking my Soul might go into Hell Fire without a Body as all People did at that time 17. And after much strugling in my Mind I came to this resolution in my self that rather then I would loose my Soul or be damned to Eternity I would loose the Maid And that way that would have made me Rich and that I would be zealous of the Law of God as afterwards I was 18. Here the two Seeds of Faith and Reason did work in me but I knew them not by Name nor Nature at that time nor many Years after 19. But as I did fear it came to pass for the Maids Mother seeing my Mind so changed and so zealous of the Laws of the Scriptures and that I would not keep that way as I thought to do before 20. She would not let her Daughter have me to her Husband so the Maid was perswaded by her Mother 21. And my Zeal to save my Soul perswaded my Mind to let her go so we parted 22. Thus I forsook the World and a Wife which I lov'd in the days of my ignorance for zeal to the Law of God which I thought to be Truth and the true way and so it was 23. But I did not know it till many years after but the Lord God of Truth had respect unto my Person and Zeal at that time and prevented me from falling into that Snare of being rich in this World CAP. V. The Prophet shews his Care his Fear and Zeal in the Law of God and of the working of his Thoughts and heighth of the Puritan Religion 1. SO after I had parted with the Maid and that way that did offend my Conscience I was resolved to live so upright to the Law of God and so just between Man and Man that I thought in time I might procure favour with God and to attain assurance of my Salvation 2. For I was fully possest that there was really Salvation to be attained unto by my Righteousness and that there was a real Damnation to all those that were unrighteous or did not demean themselves so strictly as I did 3. For I was exceeding fearful of Hell and eternal Damnation The very Thoughts of it made my Spirit many times fail within me 4. But by Prayer and my Righteous Practices I did many times recover some Hope and Peace again 5. All this while I did suppose my Soul might go into Hell without a Body and that Millions of Souls were in Hell-Fire without Bodies and that the Devil being a Bodily Spirit did torment those Souls that came there and that the Devil had liberty to come out of Hell to Tempt People here on Earth and go there again but no Soul that he had gotten there could come out of Hell more 6. These things wrought in my Mind exceeding great Fear and stir'd me up to a more exceeding Righteousness of Life thinking thereby that my Righteous Life would have cast out those tormenting Fears but it did not 7. Yet notwithstanding I did continue in my Zeal and was earnest in the Puritant Religion and Practice neither did I know how to find Rest any where else neither did I hear any Preach in those Days but the Puritan Ministers whose Hair was cut short 8. For if a Man with long Hair had gone into the Pulpit to preach I would have gone out of the Church again tho he might preach better than the other 9. But we Puritans being Pharisaically minded were zealous of outward Appearance and of outward Behaviour for we minded that more than their Doctrin 10. For we took it for granted that God was a Spirit without a Body and that Christ Jesus his Son had a Body in form like Man and that he did mediate to God his Father who was a Spirit without a Body and that for Christ's sake this Spirit without a Body did hear us and speak Peace unto us 11. Also I believed that the Devil was a Spirit without a Body and could assend out of Hell when God did give him leave and sugest evil Thoughts of Lust Theft Murther and Blasphemy against God not thinking that these Thoughts and Motions did arise out of Man's own Heart but from a Divel a Spirit without a Body without Man 12. Also I thought those Souls which God did Save were carried up to Heaven without Bodies and should be with God who was a Spirit without a Body and that we should see Christ Jesus in Heaven with his Body with our Spirits that were Saved without Bodies till the Resurrection and then Body and Soul should be United together again 13. Also we did believe that the wicked Spirits should be cast into Hell Fire without Bodies where the Devil and his Angels being Spirits without Bodies should Torment the Souls of the Wicked till the Day of Resurrection and then those Wicked Souls should be United to their Bodies again and be Tormented Body and Soul together with the Devil and his Angels who were Spirits without Bodies in Hell Fire for ever and ever 14. And we did believe that the Angels of God were Ministring Spirits without Bodies as God was a Spirit without a Body so were they and could minister Comforts unto Men without Bodies 15. And we did believe our own Souls to be Immortal and could not Die but did subsist the good Spirits with God in Heaven without Bodies and the wicked Souls did subsist in Hell without Bodies 16. These were some of the Fundamental Principles of Faith and Religion we Zealous Puritans did believe and practice and there is no better Faith in the World to this day in the generality of Professors of Religion 17. These Things was I very well versed in and I grew in great Experience and Knowledge in the Letter of the Scriptures and had a good Gift of Prayer and was very strong in Disputes because my Mind was extreamly perplexed with the fear of Hell notwithstanding my exact life to the Letter of the Law 18. But the fear of Hell wrought in me much Experience so that I did exceed several other Men in that Knowledge which was in those days and tho' I was judged a very godly knowing-Man and a happy Man by others yet I could not judge so of my self but the fear of Hell was oft rising up in me 19. For I never Conceited well of my own Knowledge but thought the Knowledge of other Men did far exceed me because they seemed to be better satisfied in their Minds than I was 20. Yet I thought in my self that in time by my Prayers and Righteousness and exact Walking and hearing of Preaching that I might heal that Wound in my Soul which was made and I knew not for what 21. For I
Person neither should the Maior accept of her 21. And I had never a Friend more in that Town but one Edward Fewterer but he was not in the way at that present so could not procure Bail 22. But was committed into the Constables Hands that Night and as soon as ever I was committed Prisoner into his Hands to be sent to Darby Goale the next Morning being Sixteen long Miles from Chesterfield 23. Then the Baylies of the Town seezed upon my Horse for the Lord of the Mannor and sent me to the Goal upon their own Horse 24. But I was more troubled for the Horse than for myself because my Friend John Brante at London was ingaged for the Horse else pay four Pounds 25. But my Friend Dorothy Carter she went to the Earle of Newcastle he being Lord of the Mannor and she told him what these Baylies had done 26. So the Earle sent for them and was angry with them and did reprove them and said Will you take away a Man's Horse before he be Convicted and Condemn'd I charge you said he that the Horse be put to Grass and that no Saddle be put upon his Back and let the Owner pay for his Meat if he be quit or otherwise 27. So it was done according to his Command CHAP. X. The Priest gave that Character of the Prophet of a wise and sober Man The Prophet gave the like Character on Pendor Of a Dispute between the Prophet and two of the Officers of the Town and the Keeper of the Person and the Sheriff's Men. The Prophet proves Three Records on Earth to answer the Three Records in Heaven All this in the Goal 1. NOW I shall speak of somthing of my Imprisonment in Darby Goal which is as follows 2. For all the Priest's Malice towards me yet he could say to the Aldermen when I was gone That this Man was the soberest wisest Man of a Phanatick that ever he talked with for he thought I had been like the Quakers 3. This did one of the Aldermen tell me for he was as Nicodemas his Name was Pendor he came to me by Night for he had a great desire to talk with me alone so that Night I was in the Constables House he had his desired Oppertunity 4. And when I was Prisoner in Darby Goal there came the Sheriff's Men and Two of the Officers of the Town and the Keeper of the Prison to talk with me 5. The Officers of the Town came to me thinking themselves wise and knowing enough in the Scriptures especially one of them for to talke or dispute with me 6. But the Sheriff's Men came on purpose to insnare me if they could so one of them the most surly angriest Man of them asked me saying Have you taken the Oath of Allegance and Supremacy 7. I answered and said That Prophets do not use to swear Did you ever read in Scripture that Kings have been subject to Prophets Words and those Kings were happy that were obedient to the voice of Prophets 8. Why said he are you a Prophet 9. Yea said I that I am a Prophet 10. Then said he do you go to Church to hear our Ministers At that time there was a Law to persecute Men that did not come to Church which caused him to ask that Question 11. I answered him and said That it is not the practice of Prophets to go to Church to learn of your Ministers the Ministers ought to hear Prophets and learn of them 12. For Prophets were always above Bishops and Ministers 13. When he heard me answer him so confidently and with Authority as from Heaven he said no more 14. And when the Officers of that Town heard me answer him so positive they were the more afraid to enter into a Dispute with me 15. Yet one of them being more Atheistical being of the Saduce Spirit upon whose Wisdom and Knowledge they all depended upon he was a moderate Man and asked his Questiens moderately as you shall hear 16. Saith he Mr Mugleton you say thers is Three Commissions or Records to be acted upon this Earth and you say your Commission is the Commission of the Spirit and the last Now saith he if you could prove this by Scripture I should be satisfied 17. I answered and said unto him will you beleive me if I do prove it by Scripture here before these People 18. Then said he truly I think I shall beleive you if you prove it by Scripture 19. Then the Keeper and all the Men were silent and speak not a word none but he and I. 20. Then said I you shall not be troubled with any more Scriptures than that in the Epistle of John the 5th Chapter and such Scriptures as do allude to the same purpose where it is said There is Three that bare Record in Heaven the Father Word and Spirit and these Three are one And there are Three that bare Record on Earth the Water Blood and Spirit and these Three agree in one 21. Said I here you see that there is Three Records to be upon Earth answerable to the Three Records in Heaven and as the Three Records in Heaven were but one God though called Father Word and Spirit 22. So likewise the Three Records on Earth of Water Blood and Spirit are said yet do agree in one as the Scripture saith do you beleive this 23. He answered and said he did and so they said all 24. Then said I you see this one God in Heaven is called Father Word and Spirit yet but one God yet said to be Three that bare Record in Heaven yet but one God 25. Said I how will you interpret this Scripture 26. He answered and said he knew not how but desired me to unfold it 27. Then said I these Three that bare Record in Heaven it was spoken in relation to the Three Records on Earth 28. For this one God bearing Three Records in Heaven would have signified but little unto Mankind had there not been Three Records on this Earth given unto Men to declare unto Men the Three Records in Heaven 29. That Men might understand that one true God that is in Heaven demonstrated by Three Titles of Father Word and Spirit 30. Which God cannot be known but by the Three Records on Earth and those Three Records on Earth must be acted by Men that Men and Women may come to know that one true God in Heaven which is distinguished by Father Word and Spirit and be saved 31. For it is Life eternal to know the true God and he is to be known no other way but by these Three Records on Earth of Water Blood and Spirit and these Three Records on Earth are acted by Men be they not said I. He said yea CHAP. XI Shewing the Interpretations of the Two past Records on Earth of Water and Blood being undeniably unfolded 1. THEN said I will you interprit who those Men were and are that have acted the Records of Water and Blood
true Knowledge is never proud 5. For I would make nothing of the greatest learned Man that is upon the Earth if he will dispute of the Scripture in the English Tongue And not persecute with a Sword of Steel to overthrow him by the Scriptures that there is but one true God in the person of a Man who made Man in his own Image and likeness as the Scriptures saith And not Three Persons and one God as all Profesers of Reason do own at this Day 6. Also we being the third Record of the Spirit upon Earth we use no outward visible Forms of Worship But do Worship God in Spirit and Truth as Christ said 7. So that every Record on Earth doth differ one from another in Point of Worship 8. For it is not proper for every Record to Act one and the same thing over and over again And as there is a difference in the Three Titles called Three Records in Heaven of Father Word and Spirit Now these are Three Distinct Titles yet but one God 9. So it is with the Three Records on Earth of Water Blood and Spirit These be Three distinct Records And Three distinct Persons the head of these Three distinct Records And there is Three distinct differances in there visible Worships yet they all Three agree in one 10. In witnessing to that one Jesus Christ to be the very true God and Saviour of all those that believe in that the Word was God And God was that Word And the Word became Flesh and Dwelt among Men He that is called the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last The Begining and the End He that was Dead and is Alive for Evermore 11. This one God doth all the Three Records agree to witnâ—ss unto this one God though differing all of them in their Several dispensations of outward Worship as aforeâ—aid 12. For every Record Acts his part upon this Earth suitable to the Three Titles in Heaven Moses and the Prophets their parts in the dispensation of Water as being under the Title of God the Father and Creatour of all things 13. Christ and the Apostles Acted their Commission of the Blood under the Title of a Redeemer by his own Blood And he was that Word made Flesh And Dwelt among Men. 14. And now we the Witnesses of the Spirit do Act a Spiritual Record on Earth which is to Worship God in Spirit and Truth Answerable to the Title of Spirit in Heaven 15. In Witnessing to that one Personal God though Three Titles of Father Word and Spirit yet but one Personal God 16. So that the Three Records on Earth do agree in one though they differ in their outward dispensations of worship as aforesaid so that we the Witnesses do Act our part on Earth under the Title of the Holy Spirit in Heaven therefore our Worship is Spiritual and Invisible in the Heart only 17. And now you see I have prov'd by Scripture that the Commission of the Spirit is now Extant upon the Earth and Acted by Men like yourselves even by John Reeve And myself and those that beleive our Doctrin 18. Said I do you beleive me now I have prov'd by Scripture that I am one of the Two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit or last Record on Earth 19. He answered and said that he could not gain say any thing that I had spoken but did aprove of what I had said better than of any that ever he heard in his life but said he could not venture his Salvation upon my Words 20. Then said the Sheriffs Men and the Keeper of the Prison Now Mr. Benet you have met with your Match One that hath Answered you all things 21. Then said Mr. Benet suffer me to ask you one question more 22. What is that said I. 23. Why saith he I have been a long time of the Oppinion that the Soul of Man is mortal and doth dye But I cannot satisfie myself in it 24. I answered and said your Oppinion was true for the Soul of Man is Mortal and doth Dye For nothing doth Live but the Soul for it is the Soul that Eats and Drinks and Walks and Talkes And the Soul that Lives and Dyes For nothing can be said to Dye but Life for if the Body be Dead the Soul or Life is Dead also For the Body and Soul is all one being And if one be Alive both are Alive And if one be Dead both are Dead 25. For both Body and Soul came into the World together For the Soul is begotten by Generation as well as the Body so that they go both Body and Soul out of the World together For that Life that is begot by Procuration must Dye which all Souls are and not by Infusion from God but by that very Law that said Encrease and Multiply 26. Therefore the Soul or Life of Man and all things else that is begotten by Generation must Dye as well as their Bodies 27. When he heard this He was very much taken with my answer and seem'd very Respective to me and so did the Sheriffs Men they show'd themselves very Civil 28. This dispute was upon the Sunday before the Assizes For that began on the Monday following a matter of Four Hours in the Afternoon this dispute was CHAP. XIII The Prophets Argument And Examin'd by the Judge And he Required of the Judge to take Bail the Judge granted it The Maior Aldermen and Recorder that Committed him saw their Folly and Madness and were asham'd of themselves How the Prophet had the Love of all the Prisoners Of his Printing of the whole Book of the Revelation c. 1. AFTER this dispute aforesaid upon the Wednesday following being the last Day of the Assizes I was call'd before the Bar And when I came before the Bar. 2. The Judge asked me if I would be Try'd by this Note of Examination 3. I answered no and said I thought your Honour would have excepted of Bail for my appearance the next Assizes For Mrs. Carter had delivered the Judge a writing to that purpose of mine the Day before and the Judge his Name was Terral 4. The Judge answered and said that he would take Bail but had said to her he would see the Man So when I asked him at the Bar to take Bail the Judge said he would and asked me who they were 5. And I said one is Richard Sudbury He asked where he Liv'd I said at Notingham he asked what Trade I said an Iron-monger Then Richard Sudbury was call'd and the Judge asked him whether he would be bound for my Appearence the next Assizes He said he would then the Judge Commanded him to be set down for one 6. Then said the Judge There must be another then said I there is one Edward Fewterer where Liveth he said the Judge I said at Chesterfield what Trade said the Judge I said a Surgeion then the Judge Commanded Edward Fewterer to be called then the Judge asked him whither