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
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
Witchcraft which we have given them to drink 21. But the Answer in the Conscience will say Inasmuch as you fhrsake me the living God and creator of all things and said in your Hearts There is no God then you gave your selves up to natural Witchcraft diving into the nature of the Planits and Stars and into the Spirit of the Herbs of the Field so that you became absolute Witches your selves and you have caused Thousands of Men and Women to be bewitched by you both in their Bodies Souls and Estates 22. Therefore depart from me you atheistical workers of Iniquity into utter Darkness where is weeping and knashing of Teeth for evermore 23. And as for the Lawyers they keep the Keys of the Knowledge of the Law and will neither enter into Truth and Honesty themselves nor suffer others to enter in that would 24. For no Man can do anything in his own Cause but as his Lawyer instructs him for he is sworn when he enters into that Practice he hath a Commission to keep the knowledge of the Law from his Clyant so that the Clyant being ignorant how to proceed in Law Step by Step the innocent Clyant his Clause is many times put off and neglected by his Lawyer to the great Discontent and further Charge of the innocent and just Cause 25. And as for the Poor that can have no Law at all tho his Cause be ever so just no Judge will hear him nor no Lawyer will give him any Councel except he hath Monies in his Hand nor no Judge will do the Poor any Justice except he go in the way of the Law and that the Poor cannot do 26. So that if the Birthright of the Poor be ever so great or just it must be lost for want of Monies to fee Lawyers Besides where Monies is to be had let a Man's Cause be never so unjust yet Lawyers will undertake it though they know certainly that their Clyant will be overthrown before they took it in hand This is Wickedness in a high degree so contrary to the Law writen in Man's Heart To do as he would be done unto 27. But the Government of this World hath brought a necessity of the use of Lawyers but it is not expedient that any Saint should take that Practice upon them there is enough of them in the World it being the Devil's Kingdom 28. But when the Book of Conscience the Law writen in the Lawyer 's Heart is opened at the last Day what can they plead for themselves 29. They will say Lord we thought because it was the Government of the Nation and that learning of the Knowledge of the Law it made us rich and honourable among Men it made us Companions for the wise and great Men of the World the Knowledge of the Law it made us Atornies Councellors and Sarjants at Law honourable Places and by degrees we came to be Judges of the Land 30. So that Kings and Princes have asked Councel at our Lips we have Cloathed our selves with fine Scarlet and white Robes signifying Justice and Mercy to the People We have been as Gods upon the Earth and we have done justice to some in all our Degrees tho we have failed in others therefore hope for Mercy 31. But the Answer in the Conscience will say In as much as you have fed upon Riches and Honour all your Days and have not walked by the Law written in your Hearts To do as you would have been done unto had you been in their Condition and they in yours but you have the Penny of this World Riches and Honour your Hearts Delight Therefore depart you wicked Lawyers workers of Iniquity into utter Darkness where is weeping and gnashing of Teeth for ever more 32. This I know will come to pass in these Three sorts of Men in that Day when God shall raise the Dead 33. When the young Man heard these Things he left all Preferment that way for Truths sake and became a stedfast and true Beleiver and he being a Scholar was mighty able to oppose the Learned 34. Also there was one Robert Phare he was Governor of the City of Corke in Ireland he was inclineable to be a Quaker but after he saw me and had read our Writings he became a true Beleiver of this Commission of the Spirit and so did the Lady his Wife She became the chief Champion in this Faith of all the Women in that Nation 35. Also he had Four Sons and Daughters that were true Beleivers He was the cause of many Persons of Value in that Kingdom of Ireland that did truly Beleive as one Captain Moss and his Wife and Doctor Moss his Son and Captain Gaill and Major Denson and George Gamble and Mr. Rogers Merchant And several more which I omit to name because it would be too tedious that were true Beleivers in that Kingdom of Ireland 36. After this it came to pass that I wrote a Book in answer to George Fox Quaker containing Twelve sheets and a half of Paper and got it Printed in the Year 1668. and in the Seventeenth year of my Commission and in the year of my Life 58. 37. This Book caused the Quakers to be exceedingly angry at me and several Speakers of them to write cursed Letters unto me and some of them came to discourse with me and a woful Ephect did befal some of them a little while after as is expressed in the Writing following The Coppy of Thomas Loe a Quaker's Letter Dated London 16th of the 7th Month 1668. LOdowick Muggleton having seen some of thy Writings more especially thy Book Intituled A Lookinglass which I have looked in and do clearly see thy wicked abominable and antichristian Spirit and can do no less than cry Oh! thou Blasphemer thou Enemy of God and of all Righteousness thou Son of Perdition and Child of the Devil how hast thou Laboured to pervert the right Way of God in speaking of the blessed Truth And Oh! thou Seed of the Serpent and old Sorserer how hast thou belyed slandered wickedly and falsly accused and condemned the just And now be it known unto thee That thy false Judgment and wicked Envy both in speaking and writing against the Servants of the living God is returned back upon thy own Head and thee with it will God in his Fury and Indignation sink in the Pit of Darkness from whence it hath risen And in the great and mighty Power of God and Christ I Reprove Judge and Condemn thee which shall stand upon thy Head and thy Power thou boasteth so of shall not reverse it Oh! ignorant Sot how canst thou consider thy Blasphemies and not be ashamed This is a Testimony in the Power and Spirit of God against thee and all thy Wickedness by a Servant of Jesus Christ who am a Witness of the Spirit and Power of God with many others CHAP. III. The Prophets Answer to Thomas Loe's Letter His Sentance with the Ephects of it The Prophet's Dispute
Slanders and Judgments threatned against me I did not matter For this I know the Quakers do beleive that Loe and Cole's Souls is not dead but slipt out of their Bodies and gon you know not where and into a Power you know not what 10. But I said their Souls is where you laid their Bodies they both came into this World together they both dispised the Truth together they both Bodies and Souls received Judgment and Condemnation together and both dyed together and were both Soul and Bodies buried together and shall both rise again spiritual dark Bodies and Souls together 11. Every Seed it s own Body that Seed of Reason which was their Life which they thought was the divine Nature of God but it was the Nature of the Devil and Serpent 12. And the Law writen in their Hearts which you Quakers call the Light of Christ or Christ in you which is no other Christ or Light but the Law writen in your Hearts And the Light of the Law which doth accuse and excuse the Conscience of every Man you call the Light of Christ yea Christ himself 13. For this Light of the Law writen in your Hearts is that which doth cause your Thoughts to accuse when you do evil and to excuse when you do well And when God shall raise them again that Seed of Reason shall rise and bring a spiritual dark Body with it And that Law which was writen in their Hearts here in this Life shall quicken again in that new dark spiritual Body 14. And then shall they and you dispisers of a personal God know that your own Souls which you thought was the Life of God but it was the Life of the Devil and that your selves were Devils and that Law writen in your Hearts which you in this Life called the Light of Christ and that was no other God or Christ but this Light within you 15. But when this Law doth quicken again as I said before it will prove the only and alone Devil to torment you to eternity because you made the Light of this Law in your Hearts to be your only God and by this Light of the Law you do fight against the true personal God who created Man in his own Image and Likeness and hath trampled him under your Feet as Dirt. 16. These things may seem strange and as a Riddle unto you and as a thing impossible but with God all things is possible which his own Will moves him unto 17. And this I say as it was possible for God to write the Law in the Angels Natures and by his secret Determination suffer one of these Angels to become very Man and so the Angels Seed and Nature having conjunction with the Seed and Nature of Eve which was of Adams Nature and so by Generation the Law comes to be writen in every Man's Heart in that ever Man and Woman that is born into this World is partaker of the Angel's Nature of Reason and so comes to have this Law writen in every Man's Heart 18. Man finds it there accusing of him but knows not how it came writen there 19. So it is as strange for you Quakers to beleive that God will raise your Souls again that were dead how they should quicken out of Death by the Power of that God that made all Souls to live at the first In as much as he made all things by the power of his word in the Beginning 20. So by the same power of his word he shall quicken the Souls of Men and Women again out of Death to Life again at the last day and the Law that was writen in them shall quicken also and be alive again in you to torment you to eternity 21. For the Law and your Souls shall never part one from the other for as the Law is secretly writen in your Hearts but originally in the Reprobate So by Gods secret Decree and Power he will revive that Law again in that Reprobate Seed of Reason as in Thomas Loe Josiah Cole George Whitehead William Pen and many of you Speakers of the Quakers and others of your Bretheren who are under the Judgment and Sentance of this Commission of the Spirit You shall find my words to be true upon you and over you to eternity neither shall you be delivered from it 22. For if I had but any thought of Compassion towards you in my Mind it was answered me That there is a necessity that there should be Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent which hardened my Heart against all Dispisers of a personal God in the form of Man Lodowick Muggleton 23. After this in the same year came another thundering Letter from a Lyon like Quaker being a learned Man brought up at the University his Name is William Pen Here is the Copy of it verbatim LOdowick Muggleton having had a deep and serious Sence of thy insulting Spirt over the Death of that valiant and painful Servant of the most high God Josiah Cole as if it were the ephect of thy solely Curse who alas for these Twelve Years hath in these Nations and Iles abroad in all Straits Difficulties and hard Sufferings been an incessant Labourer for the Lord and so impared his Health that within these Twelve Months or little more have I known him Five times sick and Three even unto Death before he had ever seen thy Face I say being sensible of thy Vaunts And it now being laid upon me Therefore once more I come in the Name and Authority of that dreadful Majesty which fils Heaven and Earth to speak on this wise Boast not thou Enemy of God thou Son of Perdition and Confederate with the unclean croking Spirits reserved under Chains to eternal Darkness for in the everlasting glorious Light thou dispiseth thou art seen Araigned Tryed Condemned and Sentanced for a lying Spirit and false Prophet who having counterfited the Commission and Sceal of that God whom the Heaven cannot contain hath bewitched a few poor silly Souls But their Blood Oh! Muggleton lies at thy Door and the Wrath of the Almighty is kindled against thee and his eternal Power in his Servants the Quakers came whom thou hast past thy envious Curse shall suddenly grind thee to Powder and as formerly so again on the behalf of the God of the Quakers whom I worship I boldly challinge thee with thy Six foot God and all the Host of lucepherian Spirits with all your Commissions Curses and Sentances to touch or hurt me practice your Skill and Power behold I stand in a holy Defiance of all your Enmity and Strength And this know Oh Muggleton with thy God art chained by the Spirit of the Lord and on you I trample in his everlasting Dominion and to the bottomless Pit are you sentanced from whence you came and where the endless Worm shall knaw and torture your imaginary Soul to eternity Written Signed and Seal'd by Commission receiv'd about the First Hour
over dead Clay so hath God a prerogative Power over all Life to make what Life he will a Vessel of Wrath for the manifestation of his own Power and Glory 18. For if all Life were made to be happy or all Mankind sav'd then where would Gods Honour appear But because the greatest part of Mankind are made Vessels of Wrath to bear eternal Torments therefore it is that God's Redeemed ones shall praise him 19. So that there is a perticular People to be sav'd but my Fear was that I was none of the Redeem'd 20. And it was said within me dost thou consider the nature of a prerogative Power that is above all Law who shall dispute with a prerogative Power that is above all Law and can do what it will with living Creatures even as the Potter doth what he will with the dead Clay CHAP. XI The Prophets further Reasoning in himself how hardly God delt with him and of his Reasoning against Adam And shews how a contrary Seed or Voice in him repeld his Arguments 1. WHen I consider'd this I wished in myself I had never been born then had I not been sensible neither of Joy nor Sorrow I did not so much seek after Heaven as to be freed from Hell 2. Again I Reasoned in myself wishing that I had dyed in my Infancy I thought if I were a Vessel of Wrath my Torments would be the less than now I am grown to maturity of Age. 3. But the Answer said to this Though thy Torment be less than others yet it is Eternal This Eternity struck a deep Fear in me which made me almost despair 4. Again I reasoned in myself saying in my Thoughts That God dealt somthing hardly with me that he should save Adam which brought me and all Mankind into this Condemnation so that I must be damned for original Sin which I received from my first Parents 5. And that God should save him that brought me into this Condition and Condemn me that could no way avoid it neither by Prayer towards God nor by Righteousness towards Man 6. So that right or wrong I must be damn'd by God's prerogative Will and which way to help myself I could not tell 7. Then I reasoned in my Heart with Anger against Adam saying within myself God made him upright and gave him Power to stand but he did not but did fall from that Innocency and Uprightness and so corrupted his Seed And so by this means do I come to be damned 8. Then was I answered in myself as it were with a Voice without me saying How wilt thou help thyself if God will save Adam and condemn thee shall not a prerogative Power do what he will 9. Then was brought to my Mind that saying Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated Before the Children had done either Good or Evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand So that it is not of him that willeth nor him that runeth but God that sheweth Mercy on whom he will have Mercy and whom he will he hardeneth 10. In this I saw that a prerogative Power and Will of God is not to be contended with 11. These Scriptures and Arguments upon them come so powerfully upon my Spirit that my Heart failed me and my Hope begun to turn to Dispair CHAP. XII The Prophet raiseth Arguments more to give him some Hope that he might escape Hell but another mosttional Voice gave Answer which quite frustrated all his Hopes again 1. AFter a while I recovered another Argument or two which I thought might give me some Hope to escape Hell Which was this I said in my Heart There can be no Hell till the Day of Judgment and except God doth raise me and others again I cannot be damned hoping there would be no Resurrection at all then should I ly still in the Earth for ever 2. Then Answer was made me to this Dost thou think that God would be so unrighteous as to deceave Abraham Isaack and Jacob Moses and the Prophets and Apostles and all righteous Men that believed and put their Trust in God in hope of the Resurrection And if God doth not raise them again then God hath made them suffer great Sufferings and loss of the Lives of many of them in hope of the Life to come and of the Reward hereafter which if there be no Resurrection of the Dead after this natural Death 3. And if God doth not raise them again they cannot enjoy any such thing as eternal Happiness Then to what purpose did God spake those Words and make such glorious Promises to Abraham Isaack and Jacob and to the Prophets and Apostles 4. That he would be the God of Abraham the God of Isaack and the God of Jacob for God is not the God of the Dead but of the Living for all live unto him 5. For said I in my Heart if God do not raise Abraham Isaack and Jacob again in the Resurrection then perhaps God may not raise me which would have gladed my Heart that I could have been sure God would never have raised the Dead 6. But the Answer said to me That God is powerful and hath Power to fulfil his Promise he hath made unto Man in that he can and will raise Abraham Isaack and Jacob and the rest at the last Day and will give them the Inheritance he promised them in this Life Consider said the motional Voice what an infinite prerogative Power can do 7. Because God doth not raise the Dead daily as he doth other visible Wonders And in this visible Creation thou doth think that God cannot raise the Dead when they are turn'd to Dust because thou never didst read he did 8. But this know That God can do that which he never did when his time appointed is come For there is a necessity that God should raise the Dead and that there is a Day or Time prefix'd in God's Will which none knoweth no not the Angels in Heaven but himself only 9 Also the Resurrection of the Dead is the last great Work God hath to do And he hath power to do this his last Work to put an End to this World as he had power to Create this VVorld and make a Beginning of it 10. So that God will perform his Promise in the Resurrection to all the Righteous in that he will give them everlasting Life in another Kingdom above the Stars and he will execute that Damnation upon the Seed of the Serpent wicked unbelieving persecuting Reprobates here upon this Earth where they acted all their Wickedness to Eternity 11. And that none that have lost their Lives for his Promise sake but it shall be given them Life everlasting that day Which if God do not raise them again then is he the God of the Dead and not of the Living 12. Then was Abraham Isaack and Jacob their Faith vain The Prophets and the Apostles Faith vain and their Condision in believing God would raise them again
Reason the Raven which goeth out of the Ark the Body of Man and liveth upon the Mountains of earthly Things 24. Also the Dove that Noah sent forth of the Ark signified the Seed of Faith 25. And when Faith sends forth her motions out of the Ark her Body they are innocent as a Dove humble meek and low 26. And when she findeth the Flood and Waters of Trouble of Persecution upon the Face of the Earth the Dove entreth into her Ark her Body again and is quiet and still till the Waters of Trouble be abated 27. For the Dove cannot fly upon the top of the Mountains of earthly things as Reason the Raven can 28. The Seed of Faith the Dove can find no Rest there but when the Waters of Trouble are abated and the dry Land appeareth and the Olive Trees of Joy and Gladness are to be seen 29. Then the Dove the Seed of Faith can go out of its Body the Ark and fetch an Olive-Branch of Peace and Joy in its Mouth and return into its Body the Ark again and there remain until it is turned out of the Ark by Death CHAP. XV. Shewing how John Reeve's Revelation gave him Satisfaction and full Resolution to sit still and be quiet never medling about Religion more But contrary to the Resolutions of them both a little while after where made the greatest medlers of Religion of all the World 1. TO this purpose as aforesaid did John Reeve declare his first Revelation with a many more Expressions which he uttered at that time with great Joy of Heart he not thinking in the least nor I neither that it was a Preparation for God to chuse him nor me neither to be his two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit 2. For said he unto me at that time Cousin Lodowick now I am satisfied in my Mind and know what Revelation is I am resolved now to medle no more with Religion nor go forth after any upon that account 3. But to get as good a Livelyhood as I can in this World and let God alone with what shall be hereafter 4. Now he had been with John Robins not many Weeks before he knew or had Revelation himself 5. For John Robins Knowledge and Language overpowerd John Reeve before he had this Revelation Therefore he said now he would not go forth after any upon that account no more 6. Thus when he thought to be most quiet and not to medle with any about Religion and so was I also then a little while after we were made the greatest Medlers in Religion of all Men in the World 7. Because our Faces were against all Mens Religion in the World what Sex or Opinion soever as will appear hereafter by our Writings and Speakings 8. John Reeve nor I little thought at that time that this Revelation we had given us did prepare us for a greater Work than for the Peace of our own Minds 9. But it prov'd that God prepared us for a Commission and that he did intend to chuse us two to be his last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit as will be seen as followeth 10. For after John Reeve had this first Revelation aforementioned it did continue and increase exceedingly that it grew very high in him for two Weeks together 11. And at the two Weeks end God speak unto him by Voice of Words to the hearing of the Ear three Mornings together as is more largely set down in his first Book he wrote Called A Trancendant Spiritual Treatis 12. Where the Words of God as he spoke to him are set down plainly as they were spoken to him the 3d. 4th and 5th Days of February 1651. and in the year of John Reeve's Life 42. and in the year of my Life 41. 13. Thus I have given the Reader a little hint whereby he may see the ground of things and the rise how these wonderful things came to pass 14. Also what we were at first and how we were acted out in the time of our Lives and of the Experience I had in the Days of my Ignorance and of my Dispute with God and my own Soul 15. And of that great Revelation I had before John Reeve had any and of the Ravelation John Reeve had before God spake to him in the year 1651. 16. And now in the Treatis following I shall only speak of some of the most remarkable Acts and Passages which hath been acted and dun by us since we received our Commission from God 17. That after Ages may see some of the Acts of the two Witnesses of the Spirit as well as their Writings and their Doctrin now in this last Age. As they have read of some of the wonderful Acts of Moses and the Prophets and the Acts of the Apostles So there will be some remarkable Acts of the Witnesses of the Spirit left upon Record Which is as followeth The End of the First Part. The Second Part. CHAP. I. Of the Commission given the Prophet Mugleton's Children blessed by the Prophet Reeve the great Wisdom given unto Sarah Mugleton 1. THE first Morning God spake to John Reeve he came to my House and said Cousin Lodowick God hath given thee unto me for ever And the Tears ran down both sides his Cheeks amain 2. So I asked him what was the matter for he looked like one that had been rissen out of the Grave he being a fresh couloured Man the day before And the Tears ran down his Cheeks apace 3. So he told me the same Words as is writen in his first Book and said unto me That God had given him a Commission and that he had given Lodowick Mugleton to be his Mouth And said at the same time was brought to his Mind that saying That Aaron was given to be Moses's Mouth 4. But said he what my Message is he could not tell But said he if God do not speak unto me the next Morning I will come no more at thee 5. Which I was in good Hopes he would not for I was willing to be quiet 6. Also he said at the same time Cousin Lodowick Thy Children are all blessed but especially thy Daughter Sarah she shall be the Teacher of all the Women in London 7. She heard him say these Words as she stood upon the Stairs for she was afraid of him that he would rather have condemned her because he never did love her so well as he did the youngest Daughter 8. But he spake not then for Affection but as the Revelation moved him 9. And she was the first Person he blessed to Eternity after God spake to him the first Morning 10. It was the more marvelous because it was never heard this many Ages that a poor Man should have that Power to Bless and Curs Men and Women to Eternity 11. And she believed him and did grow exceedingly in Experience and in Disputes with Religious People and they marvelled that one so young should have such Knowledg and Wisdom to answer
was And she said Knock at that Window and my Lord will look out 10. So the Woman parted from us then John Robins put by a Borde of the Window and looked out and John Reeve put off his Hat and held it under his Arm and said Art thou John Robins He said to John Reeve Put on your Hat He said I put it not off to thee but to him that sent me 11. Stand thou 〈◊〉 and hear the Message of the Lord to thee He answer'd and said I will not except you put on your Hat This he said three times Said John Reeve the third time 12. I put not my Hat off to thee but to him that sent me Therefore I charge thee to stand still and hear the Message of the Lord to thee After the third time John Robins said speak on 13. Then John Reeve spake and said Thou maist remember I was with thee about Six or Eight Months ago and thou didst declare unto me That thou wert Adam Melchisadick that met Abraham in the way that received the Tithes of the Spoil and that gave Abraham Bread and Wine 14. Also thou saidst to me that thou wast the first Adam in state and that thou wert the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and that thou knewest the Names of all Angels and their Natures And that thou hadst Power over all Voices And that thou wast the Judge of the Quick and the Dead And that Christ was a weak and imperfect Saviour and afraid to dy but thou wast not afraid to dy 15. Also thou didst deceave many People in that thou madest them bring in their Estates and then gavest them leave to abstain by degrees from all kind of Food that should have preserved and strengthed their Natures But thou didst feed them with windy things as Aples and other Fruit that was windy and they drank nothing but Water 16. So that thou hadst full Power over their Bodies Souls and Estates and some were starved under thy Dyet and dyed Therefore look what measure thou hath measured to others must be measur'd again to thee 17. That Body of thine which was thy Heaven must be thy Hell and that proud Spirit of thine which said was God must be thy Devil 18. The one shall be as Fire and the other as Brimstone burning together to all Eternity This is the Message of the Lord unto thee 19. John Robins pulled his Hands off the Grates and laid them together and said It is finished the Lord's Will be done These were all the Words he spake I was both an Eye-Witness and Ear-Witness of it 20. After this it came to pass that about two Months after John Robins did write a Letter of Recantation of all his great matters unto General Cromwell and so obtained his Liberty out of Prison 21. And one of our Acquaintance went to him and asked him how he could do so And he answered and said That after those two Men had passed Sentence upon him he had a burning in his Throat as if he should be burn'd to Ashes and that he had a Voice within him which bid him deny those things he had declared of himself before and he should have his Liberty 22. And said afterwards he should come forth with a greater Power but he never came forth more with any Power at all to his dying Day 23. Thus these two great Heads John Tauny was the Head of that Mistery Babel the atheistical Ranters and Quaquers Princsiple And John Robins was the Head of all false Christs false Prophets and false Prophetesses that were in the World at that Day and there were many 24. Now John Robins was that Man of Sin spoken of in Thesalonians Neither will there come any so high after him to the end of the World 25. Thus the Reader may see that these two Powers were brought down in these two days Messages from the Lord. CHAP. IV. When the transcendant Treatis was wrote many People more offended with the Doctrin than the Commission Of the Letter sent to the Ministers and when How the Children mocked John Reeve called him Prophet Prophet and followed him slinging Stones at him and how a Woman hearing this followed the Prophet to his House and was converted to the Faith Of Sentence given upon one Penson and its Effets 1. AFter this there came a many People to Discourse with us and asked Questions about many things in matters of Religion and we answered them to all Questions whatsoever could arise out of the Heart of Men and some few were satisfied and beleived 2. And many dispised it calling it Blasphemy Delusion and Lys and we gave the Sentance of eternal Damnation upon all those that blasphemed against the Holy Ghost 3. After this in the year 1652. John Reeve wrote that Book called A transcendant spiritual Treatis wherein is declared the Words God spake unto him three mornings together to the hearing of the Ear and his Message to John Tauny and to John Robins Which is more largly set down with several Interpretations of Scripture concerning the true God and right Devil 4. Never so clearly made manifest by any as now in that Treatis 5. Many People were more offended at the Doctrine therein than at the Commission 6. After this John wrote a Letter to several Ministers in London and about London which was afterwards printed forbiding them to preach any more after the receipt of this Epistle upon pain of Damnation to Eternity 7. These Epistles were given to the most eminent Presbiterian and Independant Ministers in London and about London For they were in Power at that time 8. After this it came to pass in the same year that as John Reeve was going through Pauls-Church-Yard one that he had given the Sentence of Damnation upon said unto some Boys There goes the Prophet that damns People 9. The Boys hearing this run after him calling him Prophet Prophet and threw Gravel and little Stones at him so he made hast into Pauls and the Boys left him And a Woman named Elizabeth More seeing the Boys cast Stones at him and calling him Prophet she followed him into Pauls keeping a distance from him to see where he would go So she followed him and he came to my House in great Trinity-Lane London 10. And she desired to speak with him being a Prophet for she had a great respect for Prophets So she told those things she had seen and she became a true Beleiver of this Commission of the Spirit 11. After this it came to pass in the same year that I Lodowick Mugleton having occasion to go into Hounds-Ditch to see my Master's Son where I was Prentice as I went through the Minories London there I met with one Morgan Guilliam a Man that had been Prentice with my Master 12. And he would needs have me drink with him that he might have some talk with me for he said he heard strange Things of me So I went in with him into
the Ale-house to drink and there followed of his Acquaintance a Neighbour of his a Gentleman as we call them His Name was Penson and he sat down in our Company 13. So Morgan began to tell me that he heard that John Reeve and your self do say That you have Power to Bless and Curse Men that do oppose you to eternity He desired me to tell him whether these things were true or no. 14. So I told him the Words that God spake to John Reeve three Mornings together as is set down in that Book aforesaid But when I repeated those Words I have put the two edged Sword of my Spirit into thy Mouth that whoever I pronounce blessed through thy Mouth is blessed to eternity and whoever I pronounce cursed through thy Mouth is cursed to eternity 15. Then did he begin to fear and said for God's sake Lodowick do not say so Upon that this mr Penson said it was Blasphemy and that it was the Devil that spok those Words 16. Whereupon I did pronounce this Penson cursed and damned both in Soul and Body from the Presence of God elect Men and Angels to eternity 17. Whereupon this Penson his Spirit was struck into his Body so that he could not speak for a Season 18. And the Woman of the House hearing me give this Sentence upon him and seeing him in that Condition she was troubled in her Spirit and grew sick and went up to Bed And an old Man her Father being there and seeing this he railed exceedingly at me and grinded his Teeth at me 19. So in a little Season after this Penson had recover'd himself again and said unto me Wilt thou say I am damn'd to eternity yea said I thou art Then he rose up and with both his Fists smote upon my Head and after I had receiv'd a few Blows my Friend Morgan stood between us and bare off the Blows 20. And said For God's sake Lodowick let us be gon else we shall be killed So he paid for the Drink and we departed out of the House and went to another a little distance off 21. And immediately after came in the Woman's Husband and finding her not well he asked what was the matter and they told him all that was don He asked where the Man was They answered They went down that way 22. So he found Morgan and I together The Man knowing him asked If he knew me Morgan answered He did know me and said He did not speak ever a Word to your Wife or to her Father but that which he spake it was to mr Penson which did abuse him and smote him on the Head with his Fists and your Father kicked at him with his Feet and he did nothing to them again 23. So the Man went away quiet and satisfied and comforted his Wife that the Man said nothing against her to be troubled 24. But it came to pass that this Penson was sick immediately after and in a Week or Ten Days after he dyed much troubled in his Mind and tormented 25. Insomuch that his Friends and Relations sought to apprehend me for a Witch he being a rich Man but they could not tell how to state the matter so they let it fall CHAP. V. Of one Jeremiah Maunte a great Friend to this Commission And of a damn'd Man and his Fury and how John Reeve intreated the People that he might ly down and expose himself to his Fury with the ephects of that Submission And of one James Barker his Hipocricy to get the Blessing of John Reeve and how he was cursed by Lodowick Mugleton with the Ephects of that Curse 1. ALSO thus it came to pass in the same year that one Jeremiah Maunt a young Gentleman hearing that God had spoke to John Reeve and that he had damn'd several of his Acquaintance he came to us to discourse about those things and when he had hear'd an Answer to all his Objections he submitted unto us and did belive the Voice that God spake to John Reeve that it was the Voice of God and that the Lord Jesus Christ was the true God 2. Also there was one Captain Clark of his Acquaintance that did truly beleive in this Commission of the Spirit 3. Also this Jeremiah Maunte was the greatest Friend to this Commission and shewed the greatest Love to it of any all the days of John Reeve's Life 4. But he and Captain Clark their Acquaintance many of them were of the Ranters People who were at that time very high in Imagination like Capernahum exalted in their Knowledge up to Heaven as they thought but this Commission of the Spirit brought them down to Hell in a short time 5. These Ranters were the most Company we had at that time and they to have discourse with us did use to club their Twelve Pence a piece every Week that they might have Discourse with us 6. And it came to pass that one of those Ranters kept a Victualing House and sold Drink in the Minories London And they would spend their Mony there 7. So John Reeve and myself came there to discourse with them but there came in many more than was apointed to discourse with us and many of them dispised our Declaration and the Voice of God to John Reeve calling it Blasphemy the Voice of the Devil and such like 8. So John Reeve gave Sentence of eternal Damnation upon many of them for this their Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost we being the Witnesses of the Holy Spirit that sent us 9. But one of them being more offended at his Damnation than all the rest he was moved with such Wrath and Fury that he would be revenged of John Reeve and would fall upon him to beat him so that five or six Men could hardly keep him off his Fury was so hot 10. Then John Reeve said unto the People standing by Friends said he I pray you stand still on both sides the Room and let there be a space in the middle 11. And I will lay down my Head upon the Ground and let this furious Man tread upon my Head and do what he will unto me 12. Our Friends and the rest were loath to venter lest this furious Man should tread upon his Head and spoil him But John Reeve intreated the People to let it be so 13. And the People were perswaded and did stand of a Row on both sides and a vacant Place in the middle 14. So John Reeve pulled off his Hat and laid his Face flat to the Ground and the People stood still and John Reeve said with his Face to the Ground Now let the Man do what he will unto me 15. So the Man came runing with great Fury and when he came near him lifting up his Foot to tread on his Neck the Man started back again and said No I scorne to tread upon a Man that lyeth down to me And the People all marvelled at this thing 16. After this it came to pass in the same
place in the Minories London that several Ranters and Astrologers did come to talk with us And one Astrologer being more knowing in that Art than the rest would fain himself to be humble and desirous to be saved and would endeavour to get the Blessing of John Reeve 17. The Mans name was James Barker he was a Gun-Smith by Trade but very skillful in the art of Astrology There were many more People talking with John Reeve at that time 18. So this James Barker came near to him and desired him to tell him what it was that God spake unto him three Mornings together For said he I have heard much of you by others but now he was glad he had that opertunity to speak with him himself 19. So John Reeve related to him all the words God spake And when this Barker had heard it he said He did verily believe it was the Voice of God that spake unto him And further said that he did desire him to give him the Blessing 20. John Reeve answered and said If thou dost truly believe it was the Voice of God that gave me this Power He said he did believe it Whereupon John Reeve did pronounce him one of the blessed of the Lord both in Soul and Body to eternity 21. Immediately after he had got the Blessing he departed from him into another Chamber and said unto some of the Company I have got the Blessing of John Reeve but if any of you will but lay a quart of Sack with me I will go to John Reeve again and call him a false Prophet and say it was the Devil that spake to him three Mornings together and see if he will curse me again 22. There were several Men that heard him said unto him That he dar'd not do it He said But he would if any one of them would lay with him 23. So one Captain Clark a Friend of ours was afraid to lay with him without my concent so he came to me which sat at a distance from John Reeve and knew nothing of it and whispered me in the Ear telling me what Barker had said then said I Do you lay a quart of Sack with him to prove him 24. And when Barker saw that he would lay with him indeed he began to repent and was loath to stand to his word But the Company seeing him begin to flinch they scoffed and geer'd him and said We thought you durst as well he hang'd as do it 25. Yet rather than he would be geer'd for not performing his Words and loosing a quart of Sack besides He said he would do it 26. So he with the Company came towards John Reeve And Barker came with his Hat off and put it under his Arm saying these Words mr Reeve you have declared me one of the Blessed of the Lord both in Soul and Body to eternity But said he I do verily believe that you are a false Prophet and that it was the Devil that spake unto you three Mornings together that gave you that Power to bless and curse Men to eternity These were all the Words he spake 27. So I came to him and said Barker Thou hast acted the part of a Hipocrite both with God and with Man and with thy own Soul 28. Thou lyedst against thy own Heart when thou saidst to John Reeve thou didst believe it was the Voice of God that spake to him and that he had Power to give a Blessing to whoever beleived whereupon thou didst ask him to bless thee He said If thou dost truly beleive what I have said thou replyedst Thou didst beleive and said else why should I ask a Blessing of you 29. Whereupon he gave this Blessing both of Soul and Body to eternity And this I say though thou out of thy Dissemulation and Hipocricy of thy Heart hath got the Blessing of John Reeve so that he cannot curse thee again 30. But I gave not my Consent unto it Therefore for this thy Hipocricy of thy Heart I do pronounce thee Cursed and Damn'd both in Soul and Body from the Presence of God elect Men and Angels to eternity 31. And not only so But thou art cursed in thy Estate in this World For Sins of this nature are to be punished with a double Curse 32. He was exceeding wrath and angry at me more for cursing his Estate than for his eternal Damnation he was so mad at that So that he knew not whether he had best fight me or take the Law of me as a Witch if he did not prosper 33. But my Words and Curse came to pass upon him even in this Life as many can witness even a poor miserable beggarly Fellow 34. Notwithstanding he was as cunning a subtil Serpent as most Men in the World But at last a Lawyer which he had cheated followed the Law so close upon him that he seaised upon all his Goods and took them away and put him into Prison besides and there he lay some years and dyed there miserably poor Which was the last End of him 35. Thus I saw the Ephects of that Curse upon him even in this Life and in the Life to come I am sure he shall indure those eternal Torments for that Act of Hipocrisy CHAP. VI. What the Ranters God was And how them and their God was damn'd by this Commission And of the Resolution of Three of the most desperatest to Curse the Prophet Reeve and Mugleton's God 1. AFter this it came to pass at another Meeting of the Ranters in Aldersgate-street London 2. There was many Ranters that heard what was done by James Barker so they consulted among themselves why they might not damn us as we did them 3. Now those that were to damn us were three of the most desperatest atheistical Ranters that had ever been in our Company as yet 4. And they thought nothing too hard for them but two of those Ranters which had been often in our Company and had seen the Passages that passed with and upon those we had condemned That their God they worshiped was damn'd with them for they had no other God but a Spirit without a Body which they said was the Life of every thing 5. So that the Life of a Dog Cat Toad or any venomous Beast was the Life of God Nay that God was in a Table Chair or Stool 6. This was the Ranters God and they thought there was no better God at all 7. This God did we damn with their Persons these two Men that had seen many condemn'd by us The one his Name was Proudlove a notable Ranter the other his Name was Remington 8. So this Proudlove he consulted with those three desperate Men which knew nothing of us So they asked him what they must do he said this you must do 9. You must curse them and their God and perhaps you may bring down their Power 10. They said they were willing to do that and that was but a small matter to curse them and their God
They made nothing of that 11. So the Time appointed came and there was prepared a good Dinner of Pork and the three came ready prepared to curse us and our God 12. So Proudlove and Remington went from us to those Men and Remington said unto them If you three will go up and curse them and their God you shall have a good Dinner of Porke 13. Then one the stoutest of the Three said unto him pray tell me what is their God that we must curse 14. Remington answered and said That the Lord Jesus Christ is their God and they own no other Father or God but he And now if you will go in they be there and curse them and the Lord Jesus Christ their God you shall have a good Dinner of Porke 15. When they heard this the most stoutest Man of them smote his Hand on his Breast and said If that be their God I will never do it if I might gain the whole World And said That he was sorry and troubled that he should conceive such a thing in his Heart So said the other Two We will do no such Wickedness So they departed without their Dinner of Porke 16. But he that repented himself could not be at quiet in his Mind until such time he had asked us Forgiveness 17. So we forgave him his Sin for that and he remained very kind to John Reeve all his days tho he did not beleive that we were the two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit 18. Also this Remington was called to an account by John Reeve as one in this Plot and he told the truth how Proudlove laid the Plot and that he did but go with him being an old Acquaintance So we forgave Remington and gave Proudlove the Sentence of Condemnation to Eternity CHAP. VII Of the Dispute with Mr. Leader a New-England Merchant and of the Prophet's convincing him how that God had a Body and how God is worshiped in Spirit and Truth with Bodys and that there is no Spirit without a Body 1. AFTER this in the Year 1653 there came a certain Man a Merchant and a great Travellor into many parts of the World and he was a religious Man but had somwhat declined the outward Forms of Worship because he could find no Rest there 2. So he applied his Heart more to Philosophy and the knowledg of Nature more than Religion for he thought he had seen the utmost of Religion and that there was nothing in it 3. Indeed he was a great Philosopher and a very wise Man in the things of Nature His Name was Richard Leader 4. It came to pass when he came out of New-England being persecuted there because he could not submit to their forms of Worship and when he came into Old-England again he heard there were two Prophets now risen up who called themselves The two Witnesses c. 5. So he enquired where he might speak with these Prophets so he was brought unto us and he was very sober in his talk and he propounded his Questions with great Moderation 6. The first Question was concerning God Whether God that created all things could admit of being any Form of himself 7. We answered and said That God made Man in his own Image and Likeness And if Man have a Form then God must needs have a Form himself even in the form of Man else them Words of Moses are not true That God made Man in his own Image and breathed into him the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul 8. Mind the Form of Man was the Image and Likeness of God before God breathed into him the Breath of Life 9. Therefore God must needs be in the form of a Man from Eternity Therefore it was that God said Let us make Man after our own Image and Likeness This was the true Sense and Meaning of Moses and it is dangerous for any Man to deny it 10. Besides said we there is no Spirit can have any Being without a Body neither God Angels nor Man And further that God that is a Spirit without a Body is no God at all 11. For we that are men that have Bodies have power over all Spirits whatsoever that have no Bodies For it is the dark Imagination of Reason in man that hath created to it self Spirits without Bodies which is none of God's Creation 12. When he heard this he considered the things of Nature that no Spirit could have any being without its Body 13. Then he marvelled and said Where have we been all this while that took God for a Spirit without a Body Oh! how have we been in the dark 14. But said he doth not Christ say God is a Spirit and God will be worshiped in spirit and truth And Christ said His Words were Spirit and Life 15. We answered and said Can a Man worship God in Spirit and Trust without a Body He said No. Then said I neither can God accept of any Mans worship except he hath a Body of his own For God hath a Body of his own as Man hath a Body of his own only God's body is spiritual and heavenly clear as Christial brighter than the Sun swifter than Thought yet a body 16. But Man's body is earthly and made of the Earth in the image and likeness of God's own body only Man's body is of the Earth earthly and God's body is the Lord from Heaven heavenly Yet Man's body is the image of God as well as his Soul as Moses did truly mean as he spake 17. For this I say that if Man's Body and Soul had been spiritual in its Creation then when Man's Thoughts do assend up to Heaven his body would assend with it in the twinkling of an Eye 18. For the Thoughts of Man are swift and if his body which is earthly do but put on Immortality then his body would assend with his Thoughts up into the Aire and so to Heaven 19. These immortal bodies can do and at the last day these vile bodies of ours that doth truly beleive shall be made like unto his own glorious body 20. For now our bodies are natural bodies but when these natural bodies shall rise spiritual bodies then shall Immortality take place and these vile bodies of ours that are now mortal yet made in the image of God's own glorious body shall be spiritual and heavenly bodies even like unto his glorious body 21. And because God's body is spiritual and heavenly and cannot be seen by the natural sight of the Eye therefore it was that Christ said God is a Spirit and will be worshiped in spirit and truth 22. Observe For as a Man cannot worship in spirit and truth without a body neither is that any God at all that hath no body of its own neither is a Spirit without a body of its own any Object of Faith or Worship for a Spirit without a body hath no substance And as for those words of Christ being Spirit and Life consider they
high Priest sat for he was one of the Commissioners of the Ecclesiastical Court with the Maior and Aldermen of the Town and the Town Clarke and all the Officers of the Town were gathered together against me 17. My Examination before them was as follows the Priest's Name was John Gupe the Maiors Name John Allwood the Recorders Name was Needham and the Constables Name was Slater and the Aldermen one was Clarke and another his Name was Pinder the rest I did not know their Names 18. The first thing the Priest asked was what I came into that Country for 19. I said I came to visit some Friends at Notingham and Chesterfield and that I was sent for He asked me where I lived I said at London and what Trade I was of I said a Tailor by Trade and that I lived in Trinity Lane and had fined for most Offices in the Parish were I lived 20. Then he waved that because he thought I was no Housekeeper but a Lodger that hath no certain abiding place but as a Vagabond that goeth to and fro and hath abideing every where So when he saw he could do nothing here then he asked me whether I did beleive the Three Persons in the Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost 21. I answered No I did beleive there was three Names or Titles of Father Son and Holy Ghost but one Person the Lord Jesus Christ 22. He rejoyced at this before the Maior and said this was enough and caused the Recorder to set it down the same words 23. Then he asked me if I was one of the Two Witnesses spoken of in the 11th of the Revelations 24. I answered and said I was one of those Two Witnesses of the Spirit spoken of in the 11th of the Revelations then he commanded the Recorder to set these words down 25. Again he asked me if I had power to damn and to save 26. I answered and said I had power to give Sentance of Damnation upon those that dispised my Doctrin that I declare and to pronounce the Sentance of Salvation upon those that truly beleive it 27. And that you may know that I have Power I do pronounce you Cursed and Damn'd both Soul and Body from the presence of God elect Men and Angels to eternity 28. Then was the Priest struck dumb for a season and when he had recovered himself to his Sences again he said to the Recorder set that down but did not mention a word that the Priest was damn'd 29. Then said the Maior Mr. Mugleton we do not beleive you we do beleive the Apostles 30. I answered and said That will do you but little good now 31. Those words the Recorder was commanded to set down 32. There were many more Words and Circumstances in the Examination but these were the main things they made a Charge against me CHAP. IX Shewing that the Prophet proved before the Priest Maior and Aldermen that Christ was the only God The Priest made no Replycation against it but fauning upon him with fine Words to insnare him against the Government The Prophet's Wisdom discover'd it Of his Commitment 1. BUT this I observed that after I had given the Sentance of Damnation upon the Priest he was very meek and moderate and asked me Questions in the Scriptures concerning Christ being the only God 2. And I opened unto him the First of John In the begining was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst us 3. Now said I was not Christ the Word become Flesh and that Word that became Flesh was God And did any other God dwell among Men but Christ 4. And is it not said in Scripture That in him all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily Not a part or a piece of the Godhead but all the fulness dwelt bodily in him 5. Again doth not the Scripture say Great is the Mistery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels beleived on in the World received up into Glory 6. Now was not this Christ manifest in the Flesh Was not he preached unto the Gentles and beleived on in the World And was not he received up into Glory So that Christ must needs be God become Flesh and God manifest in Flesh 7. Also was not this Jesus Christ that Alpha and Omega the First and the Last the Begining and the End he that was Dead and is Alive for ever more 8. Here you see the Alpha and Omega was dead And was not the Alpha and Omega God And you see by the Scripture that the Alpha and Omega was dead And was there any Alpha and Omega that dyed but Jesus Christ And was there any Alpha and Omega that quickened out of Death to Life again but Christ Therefore he is said to be a quickening Spirit 9. Therefore it must needs be that Christ is God become Flesh and manifest in Flesh and he it was that dwelt among Men and he was in the Person of a Man in all things like unto Man Sin excepted 10. So that God is but one Person in Form like a Man and not Three Persons as Men do vainly imagine 11. But when he heard these sayings of mine he replyed nothing against it but seemed to faun upon me and speak softly unto me tempting me And asked me secretly what I thought of this present Power that he might have had some what to accuse me of that the Law would have taken hold of 12. But I answered him and said That I never was concerned with no temporal Powers neither did I meddle with them at all 13. So when the Priest saw he could get nothing out of me concerning the Goverment of the Nation then he applied to the things before mentioned 14. And he caused the Recorder to read over the Examination before the Maior the things were but few 15. First denying the Three Persons in the Trinity Secondly That I said I was one of those two Witnesses spoken of in the 11th of the Revelations 16. Thirdly That I said I had power to damn and save And Fourthly that I said their beleiving the Scriptures would do them little good now 17. Those were the chief things I was charged with Then the Priest asked me if I would be Prisoner that Night at the Constables House at my own charge or at the Town charge 18. If I had said at the Town charge then I must have lain in the Cage all Night but I answered and said At my own Charge 19. But I said to the Maior Do you not take Bail in these cases The Maior said Yes But the Priest before the Maior had perfectly spoken said if you can put in Bail that are not excommunicated Persons 20. Then Dorothy Carter my Friend being a Widdow would have been Bail with one of her Sons and she pressed at the Door to come in but the Priest thrust her out and said She was an excommunicated
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
and Spirit upon Earth 2. He answered and said No he could not but desired me to interprit it 3. Then said I the Interpretation is thus the Record of Water upon the Earth it was Moses and the Prophets under the Law 4. They worshiped God with divers Ceremonies of Tipes and Offerings of Bulls and Goates and sprinkled upon the Alter their Blood and upon the Flesh of the Leapers and other distempered Persons that were unclean and much Washings and Purifyings with clear Water was used under the Worship of the Law 5. Which was the Record of Moses and the Prophets it being set up by Moses and practised by the People of the Jews many Generations And this Record of Moses upon Earth is that Record of Water answering and bearing Testimony to that one God the Father and Creator of all things both in Heaven and Earth 6. This is the Interpretation of the Record of Water upon Earth and this agreeth with the Record of God the Father in Heaven 7. Now you must understand that the Record of Water upon Earth it was acted by Men as Moses and the Prophets and the high Priests in the time of the Law They all cryed with one accord This is Truth 8. The Interpretation of the Record of the Blood upon Earth it was Jesus Christ and his Apostles In that Christ came to fulfil the Law and he is said to be the end of the Law to every one that beleives and to lay down his Life for many 9. Now in laying down his Life is understood that he shed his own precious Blood Therefore it is said his Soul was heavy unto Death and he power'd out his Soul unto Death and except you eat my Flesh and drink my Blood you have no Life in you 10. That is no Man hath the Assurance of eternal Life abideing in him except he doth truly beleive that Flesh of Christ that was Crucified upon the Cross to be the Flesh of God 11. That is the Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst Men and that Blood of Christ that was power'd out unto Death to be the Blood of God Except this be beleived there can be no eternal Life abideing in Man 12. For this Blood of Christ doth purge the Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God So that Christ which is manifest in Flesh as the Scripture saith did pass through Blood 13. And his Apostles after he had given them a Commission as in the Second of the Acts they bare Testimony and Record on the Earth that Jesus was the Christ 14. And they did witness that he shed his Blood and was put to Death by the Jews and did rise again and assend up into Heaven in that same Body he suffered Death in 15. For which Record of theirs they were put to Death and their Blood was shed and so were many Beleivers in their Commission put to Death and passed through Blood for bearing Record to this Jesus which they had crusified to be the Son of God 16. And this Record on Earth was acted by Men who lost their Lives for their Record therefore it is called the Record of Blood upon Earth 17. Answerable to the Record in Heaven in that the Word became Flesh and Christ is that Word that bare Record in Heaven and became Flesh and shed his Blood And those that bare Record unto him their Blood was shed also 18. So that the Blood of Christ and the Blood of the Apostles and the Blood of Saints is that Record of Blood on Earth And this Record of Blood on Earth it was acted by Men by Christ his Apostles and Saints 19. This is the true Interpretation of the Second Record of Blood here upon Earth is it not said I. 20. They all rejoyced and said it was true so far and that they never hear'd the like 21. Now the Interpretation of the Third Record of the Spirit upon Earth You see said I that there is to be Three Records upon Earth as there is Three in Heaven Now you see there is but Two acted upon Earth as yet to wit Water and Blood 22. Now the Water Record was to witness to God the Father the Blood Record witnessed to Christ the Son and you see they were Men like your selves that did bear these Records on Earth of Water and Blood 23. Likewise you see that these Two Records on Earth they did witness to one God in Heaven Did they not said I. He answered and said They did Yet said I you see they differ one from the other in point of Worship notwithstanding they did agree to bear Record to one God in Heaven 24. Now said I as these Two Records of Water and Blood were acted upon Earth by Men so likewise must the Record of the Spirit upon Earth he acted by Men also 25. And not as People do vainly imagiin That the Two former Records were acted by Moses and the Prophets and the High Priests which were Men And the Record of the Blood was acted upon this Earth by Christ and his Apostles and Saints which were Men. 26. But you cannot conceive the Record of the Spirit upon Earth is to be acted by Men as the other Two were But you conceive that God doth act this Record upon Earth himself only by inspiring his Spirit into every Mans Heart secretly giving the Knowledge of himself 27. Two answered and said Indeed this was their Beleif 28. But said I the Record of the Spirit upon Earth must be acted by Men as the other Two were else them Words be not true That there is Three that bare Record on Earth 29. For if God which is in Heaven doth act the Record of the Spirit himself and Men acted the other Two then there is but Two Records on Earth and Four Records in Heaven 30. When they heard this they rejoyced and said to the Man that disputed with me Mr. Benet We think you have met with one that is two harde for you now CHAP. XII The Interpretation of the Third Record on Earth the Record of the Spirit and who it is acted by THEN said I The Record of the Spirit upon Earth must be acted by Men as the other Two were Now said I there must be Witnesses of the Spirit upon Earth as there was Witnesses of Water and Blood 2. And some Men must be the chief Teachers or Commissioners as he did Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles these were chosen of God and happy was it for those that beleived them in their time 3. Now said I God chose John Reeve and myself by Voice of Words to the hearing of the Ear to be his Two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit and he gave us Understanding of his Mind in the Scriptures above all the Men in the World at this Day 4. And this I know to be true and many that can witness the same I spake not this out of any Pride of Heart but out of perfect Knowledge for
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
made Man in his own Image and Likeness 22. As first you have proudly challenged me and my six foote God with our Commissions to touch or hurt you Secondly You say you stand in a holy Defiance of all our Strength And Thirdly You say Know Oh. Muggleton with thy God art chained and on you I trample and to the bottomless Pit are you sentanced where the endless Worm shall knaw and torture your Soul to eternity 23. For those wicked proud presumptious blasphemous Speeches not only against me but against the living God as your two Brethren did before you Therefore in obediance to my Commission from the true God I do pronounce William Pen Quaker cursed and damn'd both Soul and Body from the presence of God elect Men and Angels to eternity 24. I thought good to leave this upon Record that the Age to come may be instructed and take heed how they dispise Prophets and that God that sent him Written by Lodowick Muggleton one of the two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit unto the high and mighty God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory March the 16th 1668. CHAP. VI. Of the Prophets Travels into Cambridge Leicester Notingham and Darbyshire to visit Friends there 1. AFTER this it came to pass in the Year 1669. and in the year 1670. In these two years I had a great deal of trouble both upon a spiritual and a temporal Account but in the beginning of the year 1669. in the Month of April before my Troubles began I had a desire to travel into several Countries to visit Friends there 2. And there was one James Whitehead who lived in Brantry in Essex a true Beleiver and a Man of an Estate in this World he was of the Independant People before he came to beleive in this Commission of the Spirit he had a desire to visit Friends of this Faith in other Countries because he had never seen them so he was willing to bear me company 3. I went this Jorny in secret and let no Beleiver in London know of it but my Wife only 4. I appointed James Whitehead to meet me at Ware and so he did and we went from thence to Cambridge and we stayed there three Days with Friends at William Dickmson's House for I had many Friends in that Town and Country about and they were very glad to see us and intreated us kindly 5. So we departed after three Days from thence to Leicestershire which was forty Miles from Cambridge and in two days we came to some Friends in Leicestershire where were several Beleivers which I had never seen before 6. And we lodged at one John Hall's House a Farmer where was kind Entertainment both for our selves and Horses and the Mother of this John Hall was a true Beleiver and she had three Sons that were true Beleivers of this Commission of the Spirit but they knew nothing of my Jorny beforehand 7. But they intreated us exceeding kindly and was exceedingly rejoyced to see us because they had never seen us before though much desired and coming upon them unawares they having no Inteligence it did amuse them the more 8. Also there was one John Sadington a true Beleiver had a Sister hard by there named Lidiah Brooks that did truly beleive and she rejoyced to see me because she never saw me before nor none of them there tho they had heard of me by the hearing of the Ear the Towns name was Arnsby in Leicestershire 9. We stayed there but two Days and departed and jornyed towards Notingham there we came unawares to Mr. Sudbury's and his Wife and Mary Parker a Sheriff's Wife of that Town There were but those three Beleivers in that Town and they kindly received us with much affection 10. And James Whitehead departed from thence in two Days and left me there for to meet him at Chesterfield in Darbyshire which was twenty Miles from Notingham because he was to go forty Miles further about other business and was to call at Chesterfield as he came back 11. Likewise he was to see if he could enquire in his Jorny for one Thomas Tomkinson a true Beleiver and a great Writer in the vindication of this Faith he lived at Sladehouse in Staffordshire 12. He did in his Jorny enquire for Sladehouse and the Name of our Friend but could not hear neither of the place nor of the Man nor could not hear that any knew Sladehouse or Thomas Tomkinson he not travelling within twelve Miles of the place 13. So he missed of him which was a greet Trouble to us all when he came back to Chesterfield and told it to us we were much troubled 14. For I did fully expect he had found him because he stayed two Days longer than was intended 15. But it was an exceeding great Trouble to him that he should miss of the Sight of us being so near and many more in that Country had an earnest Desire to see me for I had not then ever been in that Country 16. And when it was too late he did hear by one Alexander Delamaine a true Friend at London and a great writer in vindication of this Commission of the Spirit for as soon as ever he heard that I had stolen away out of London into the Country and none in London knew of it for it was above a Week afterwards before he heard I was gone for he heard from some in the Country where we had been 17. So he sent Thomas Tomkinson word by the Post that I and my Friend were some where in those parts of the Country so Tomkinson went immediately to Bakewell a Market Town where one of our Friends saw me at Chesterfield his Name was William Newcome a Bookseller who lived at Darby but was every Saturday at Chesterfield Market and at Bakewell Market on the Monday 18. And he told our Friend Tomkinson that I and my Friend Mr. Whitehead departed from Chesterfield that Monday morning and that he saw us take leave of Mrs. Carter and her Daughter as also Elizabeth Smith and other Friends at Chesterfield for to go by Notingham and from thence on Tuesday they said they would go for London the same way they came and call of the same Friends 19. And when our Friend Tomkinson heard this and that it was too late to meet with us neither at Chesterfield nor Notingham neither he was exceedingly troubled and lift up his Voice and wept and could not tell who to be angry with himself or with us 20. So that he could not be passified in his own Mind 'till Patience had possest his Soul until he heard from me the Cause of that Misfortune 21. For I depended wholy that Mr. Whitehead would have found him out but it was such a cross Rode that no Letter could be sent unto him but from London except it were on purpose so that I made no question but my Friend would have brought him along with him to Chesterfield for he enquired but could not hear
Soliciter to answer to it which wickedness of his cost me three Pounds 4. And my Lawyer went to Treat with him and this Knight was not very well very Cross and said he had turn'd his Business over to his Atturney And his Atturney was so full of Imployment that nothing could be done 5. So I hearing by my Lawyer that he was Sick I desired of God that he might never come down from that Bed of Sickness whereon he lay and in a few Days after it came to pass that he Dyed 6. So our Law Suite was ended I had been a quarter of a Year in Prison then now I knew this Man was the Seed of the Serpent a Devil and will be Damn'd to all Eternity 7. After this there was another great Enemy his Name was Garret he was one of those that broke open my House and Stole my Books and was a Witness against me in the Court He brought the Books to the Court for the Common Hang Man to Burn every Day I stood upon the Pillory my Wife Mary gave him the Sentance of Damnation to Eternity and he Dyed Six Weeks after 8. The third Person was Judge Rainsford Chief Judge of England he was an Implacable Enemy to me but in a little time after his Judgment upon me before I was delivered out of Prison he was put down from his Seat of Justice and all his Temporal Power was taken from him by the King and another put in his Place And the King would give no Reason for it but his own will 9. So that his great Power Honour and Glory was departed from him and he had not so much Power as a common Justice of Peace he was in the same Condition as King Saul was the good Spirit of Power of giving Righteous Judgment in Temporal Things according to Law was departed from him and an Evil Spirit of Shame and Disgrace was sent unto him 10. Which Troubled his Soul so that in a little time after he Dyed and went to the same place as King Saul did that did enquire of a Witch that was rejected of God and not of his Prophet Samuel And I am sure he shall be rejected of God even this Rainsford and rejected of me the last True Prophet of the Lord and that he will be Damn'd to all Eternity 11. And he shall Remember in the Resurection that his Damnation is the very same which he called horrible Blasphemy which he Judged me for and said he was sorry the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish me no worse than they did 12. And as he had no Mercy for me when he was in Power neither have I any Mercy for him and I am sure God will have no Mercy for him but hath provided a Law to Punish him for his Envy against me who did him no wrong 13. And his Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost which God hath said and made it a Law never to be altered that shall never be forgiven in this World or in the World to come This is the Law that God hath provided for us the Two last Prophets and Witnessess of the Spirit to Judge by so that I know the hottest of Hell Fire will be his Portion and Reward for his Sin against the Holy Ghost to Eternity 14. The Fourth great Enemy to me was Sr. Thomas Davis then Lord Mayor he being a Stationer himself he was Confedrate with the whole Company of Stationers and Booksellers and Jury To Fight against the Lord and his Chosen Prophet and Witness of the Spirit which did Incense the Court and Jury that I might Antidate that Book 13 Years ago and yet Publish it this August even against his own Conscience 15. Wherein he shewed himself of that wicked reprobate Seed of the Serpent a Son of the Devil and I certainly know him to be a Devil and that he will be Damn'd to all Eternity 16. And about two Years and a half after he Judged me he Dyed and passed through this first Death which is Natural into the second Death which is Spiritual and Eternal 17. These great Enemies I have lived to see them cut off from the Land of the Living with many others more Inferiour Devils which were my Enemies have I seen cut off by Death and some to Poverty 18. There is one more that is yet alive that I desire of God to have Executed some vissible Vengeance at my Tryal his Name was Jefferies Recorder of London He was the Man that sate in the Judgment Seat and gave Sentance against me He used several Scurrilous and Disdainful Expressions in the Sentance he gave upon me 19. He was a Man whose Voice was very lou'd but he is one of the worst of Devils in Nature for he is not only an Enemy to God and all Righteous Men but an Enemy to all Moral Justice and Equity 20. For if a Mans Cause be never so just except he be Imploy'd in it he will be sure to baffel and make quabbles and wrangle out the justest Cause that is and will make that which is unjust it self to be right by Law were it not for more juster Judges that have a more just Conscience then he hath else the Innocent would always loose his just right if he be against him 23. But that which I have against him is for his Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that sent me and his wicked Malice and Envy against me when he sate in Judgment against me That he said he was sorry the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish Crimes of this Nature he was sorry the Laws could not Impower him to give Sentance of Death upon me This I know was the Desire of his Heart 22. And as he was sorry the Laws of England were so unprovided to Punish me so in like manner am I glad that the Laws of Heaven is always provided to Punish him with Eternal Torments which is a Living Death and a Dying Life it is well for me and all the Elect that Gods Laws are always provided to give Sentance of Eternal Damnation upon all such dispising persecuting Blaspheming Devils as this Jefferies 23. I knew he was a Reprobate and appointed of God to be Damn'd before But this Tryal of mine hath given Testimony to me and all that truely believe me that he is an absolute Devil in Flesh and his Sin doth cry to Heaven for Vengeance 24. And look what measure he would have measured unto me in that he would have slain my Innocent Blood unto Death the same measure shall be measured to him again because the Laws of Heaven are always provided and hath Impowered me to give Sentance and Judgment upon him for I know by Revelation of the Spirit of God that he is Recorded in the Tables of Heaven for a Reprobate Devil and he shall be Recorded here on Earth to the end of the World for a Damn'd Devil 25. For that Body of his which is now his Heaven which Cloathed it self
in Scarlet and sat on the Judgment Seat against me shall be in Hell And that lofty bauling Spirit of his shall be his Devil the one shall be as Fire and the other as Brimstone Burning together to all Eternity 26. And he shall remember in the Resurrection when he is Raised again that he gave Judgment upon me for Writing this Sentance to others and I am sure the God of Heaven will not deliver him from those Eternal Torments 27. There is a Necessity that these Men of all others should be Damn'd to Eternity For there was more Enemies against me then could be Numbered through the Occasion of these Five Men aforementioned 28. And I could freely forgive the rude Multitude for they knew not what they did but there is no forgiveness of these Five Men nor Jury nor Judge nor Officers that gave their consent to that Judgment that was passed upon me the 27th of January 1676. 29. Therefore I have left these Five Men upon Record that the Age to come may see the wickedness of them and take heed how they Persecute Innocent Men that doth not break any Temporal Law And especially such Men that hath a Commission from God to give Sentance of Eternal Damnation upon them least they come under the same Condemnation as these Men are under 30. This I have left upon Record for the Age to come after my Death some of the most Remarkable Sufferings which I have passed through in the Year 1676. CHAP. VI. Of the Prophets deliverance out of Prison of the Price and Vallue that was made of him The Rewards to the two Seeds at the last Day 1. NOW having given an Account of my Sufferings it will be necessary to give an Account of my deliverance out of those Troubles 2. While I was in the Press-yard Prisoner the Sheriffs did send several times by the Goal keepers to see what I would do about the Fine but they were at no certainty what they required At last the Clerk of Newgate said they would take the 5th Part which was one Hundred Pound 3. I was unwilling to give so much I let it alone a quarter of a Year longer for some Reasons I had in my self after that time I sent a Letter to Treat with them about the Fine The Sheriffs Names was one Sr. John Peak Sheriff of London the other was Sr. Thomas Stamp Sheriff of Middlesex 4. But they were very high and would not abate one Shilling of one Hundred Pound and the cause why was because some of the Goal Keepers had Proffered one Hundred Pound for me to keep a Prisoner for ever or else to have a large Summ of Money for my Ransome 5. I perceive had not the Shreiffs Honour layn at the stake I had been Bought and Sold as Joseph was in Egypt for a Prisoner during Life or till such Ransome was Paid It would have been a great Disparragment to the Sheriffs if they had Sold me such as was never done in England before 6. But they having an Eye to Credit and somewhat to Conscience they would not do such Wickedness but however it caused them to abate nothing of one Hundred Pound neither would they give any time but Pay down presently 7. So We Borrowed an Hundred Pound the next Day and gave to them upon the 19th Day of July 1677 and the same Day at Night I was Released out of Prison and many of the Believers do keep that Day as a Feast Day every Year in Remembrance of my Deliverance out of Prison 8. For I was Prized at a goodly Price far Higher than the Lord of Life when he was on Earth He was valued at but Thirty Pieces of Silver the Thirty Pieces of Silver was Thirty Pound but they valued me at a Hundred Pieces of Silver for the Thirty Pieces of Silver they valued Christ at must be so much else it would not have Bought the Potters Field 9. Now the cause why they valued me at such a High Price above my Lord and Master it was because they knew I had some Interest in this World And many followers of me therefore they valued me at such a High Price as 100 Pieces of Silver 10. And as the Thirty Pieces of Silver was the Price of Innocent Blood therefore not fit to be put into the Treasury to be Expended upon any Holy use or to Relieve the Poor and the like but to Buy a Potters Field to Bury the Stinking Carcasses of strangers Thieves and Murderers insomuch that the Thirty Pieces of Silver was bestowed on the basest way suitable to the Purchase being the Price of Innocent Blood 11. So likewise the Hundred Pieces of Silver they valued me at it was the Price of Innocent Blood also tho' not unto Death as our Lord was a very Goodly Price 12. And this Money will not be put into the Treasury to repair Churches or Relieve the Poor but will be spent basely in Lust and Drunkenness and in Volumptiousness suitable to the Purchase of it being the Price of Innocent Blood 13. Thus I have left upon Record the substance of the whole matter as short as I can both of my Sufferings and my Deliverance out of all those Troubles that hath happened upon me in the Year 1675 and in the Year 1676 and 1677 and in the Year of my Life 67. 14. This is the 5th part of the Acts of John Reeve and Lodowich Muggleton the two last Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit from the Year 1651 to the Year 1677 I have been preserved and had Experience of the Truth of all these things 15. And wonderful Revelations and passages and Acts that are Writen in these Five Parts that I might leave it as a Legacy for the Age to come upon Record that the unbelieving World may be convinced when I am turned to Dust as my Father Adam is that I was Slandered Reproached Belyed Persecuted Imprisoned and Pilloried without a Cause 16. But I shall be raised again by the Power of that God the Lord Jesus Christ in whom I Believed that he was Dead even the Alpha and Omega and is Alive for Evermore 17. And it will not seem a quarter of an Hours time to me from my Death to my Rising again For there is no time to the Dead Time belongs to the Living 18. And this I know that as the 12 Apostles in the Resurrection shall Sit upon Thrones and Judge the 12 Tribes of Israel those that Believed them when they were upon the Earth They were Judged with an Eternal Blessing of Life Eternal and those that Dispised and Persecuted them when on Earth are Judged by them to be Cursed and Damn'd to Eternity which is a Second Death which is Eternal 19. So shall Reeve and Muggleton in the Resurrection Sit upon Thrones and Judge all True Believers of our Docterin and Commission of the Spirit when we were upon Earth to be Blessed both in Souls and Bodies that were Mortal when they believed us but now Immortal to Eternity 20. And we shall Judge all those Wicked Despisers and Persecutors of us when we were upon Earth with the same Judgment in the Resurrection as we did here on Earth 21. That is they are Cursed in that Soul and Body they shall have in the Resurrection to Eternity and shall remain in utter Darkness here upon this Earth Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth for Evermore Writen by Lodowick Muggleton one of the two last Witnesses and Prophets of the Spirit unto the High and Mighty God the Man Christ Jesus in Glory FINIS