A True Interpretation of the Witch of Endor

by Lodowick Muggleton

CHAP. XVI.

There is one thing more that would be necessary for the wise in Heart to know, which the Scriptures speak of in several Places; but I never heard any of the Ministry tell what that Satan is the Scriptures speak of, therefore I shall speak a Word or two to shew what Satan is, and so conclude. 1 Chron. xxi. 1. And Satan stood up against Israel; and Job i. 6. And Satan came also among them; and Chap. xxi. 22. And the Lord said to Sathan, From whence comest thou? And God said to Satan, Hast thou considered my Servant Job? Ezek. iii. 1. And Satan standing at his right Hand. Mat. xvi. 23. Get the behind me, Satan. Luke x. 18. I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven.

1 Chron. xxi. 1. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. This Satan that provoked David, it was the Motions of Reason in himself, being lifted up in his own Mind, in that he had overcome the Children of Ammon, he thought to make nothing of the Philistines; therefore the Thoughts of his Heart moved him to number the People, to know his Strength. And this Motion that did arise in his Heart, it was Satan, it is called Satan, because those Motions proceed from the Spirit or Seed of Reason in him. In 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. it is said, The Anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel: that is, the Lord suffered the Motions of Reason in David to be powerful and strong in him, that no Arguments should disswade him from it, but the People must be numbred; and this was that Satan in David, and no Spirit without him.

So Job i. 6. The Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. To this I say, the Book of Job is no Scripture, neither are Men to build their Faith upon it, because the Book of Job was written before Moses, therefore no Scripture; for Moses his Writing is the first Foundation of Scripture. Yet this I do confess, that Job was a good and faithful Man; and because he was afflicted by Satan, and Satan is spoken of in several Places of Scripture, yet none of them did declare what this Satan is, therefore I shall declare now what that Satan was, that came among the Sons of God.

I declare, the Sons of God they were the Sons of Job, who feasted their three Sisters, as you may read. They were called the Sons of God, because they were that good and faithful Man Job's Sons; as the Sons of Seth were called the Sons of God, and they looked upon the Daughters of Men, and saw that they were fair, &c. as you may read in Genesis. Now that Satan came amongst them when they presented themselves before the Lord, it was the Spirit of Reason in Job's seven Sons, when they feasted their three Sisters, they were moved in their Minds to Voluptuousness, Drunkenness and Lust, as the rest of the Heathen were where they lived; so that they did Wickedness in the Absence of Job their Father: And Job fearing in their Wickedness his Sons had cursed God in their Hearts, as you may see in the Verse before. So Job caused his Sons to present themselves before the Lord, and to worship the Lord, as it was the Manner for Job to do in those times, and Satan came with them, that is, the Spirit of Reason in his Sons came with them, reasoning in themselves; why should their Father Job reprove them for their Wickedness in their Feasts; this was that Satan that came amongst them, for he was in them, and no other Satan but what was within them.

And this is that Satan that goeth to and fro in the Earth, to tempt and destroy those that are faithful: So that this Spirit of Reason, this Satan, it goeth to and fro in the Earth, to tempt and destroy the faithful.

It was that Satan that did motion the Sabeans and Chaldaeans to take away Job's Oxen, and slay his servants as they were plowing; and fired the Sheep, and burnt up Job's Servants; and the Chaldaeans came with a Band of Men, seeing Job smitten and destroyed by the Sabeans; and they came with three Bands of Men, and destroyed the Camels and the rest of his Servants.

For this must be minded, that in those Times there was no Law to deliver or help the Innocent, but he that had the strongest Sword carried the Day. And the Lord for Trial of Job's Faith and Patience, and for a Pattern for the Ages to come, he suffered the Spirit of unclean Reason in the Sabeans and Chaldaeans to go to and fro in the Earth, to stir up their People to destroy Job and all his House and Cattle.

Also God suffered the natural Wind to blow down the House where Job's Sons were feasting, and destroyed them according to the Desire of the Spirit of unclean Reason in the Sabeans and Chaldaeans. For the Sons of Job were wicked Children, though called the Sons of God.

And last of all the Spirit of unclean Reason in Job's Wife was that Satan that tempted Job to curse God and die: So that there is no other Spirit or Satan without Man: But that Satan spoken of in Job, it was the Spirit of unclean Reason in the Minds of the Sabeans, Chaldaeans, and in Job's Wife and Sons; that was the Satan, and no other.

And as for those Disputes; God had with Satan, and Satan with God; it was nothing else but the Motions of Job's Heart passing through his troubled Soul, the Seed of Faith disputed in him for God, persuading him to be patient, and let that have its perfect Work, and so Hope did increase in him; and the Seed of Reason, which was Satan in him as well as in others, it pleaded against God, Reasoning in him as if God did not do well or justly by him, that had been so righteous in his Life, one who never did no Wrong to his Neighbour, but always feared God; yet that God should suffer the wicked to destroy his Cattle and Servants, and suffer the Wind to blow down his House, and destroy his Children; and not only so, but suffer his Body to break out with Boils and Botches most loathsome, as if he had been the greatest Sinner in the World; so that he thought that God dealt more cruelly with him then with any other Creature. And further, he thought God dealt hardly with him, that he would neither take away his Life, that he might die out of this troubled Mind and Pains of Body, nor restore him to Health. These and such like Reasonings and thoughts passed through Job's troubled Soul even from the Spirit or Seed of Reason in him, which is the Dispute of Satan: For as the Seed of Faith in Job disputed for God so did the Seed of Reason in Job dispute for Satan; for there is no other Satan but what is in Man, as I said before.

So in Zach. iii. 1. here Zachariah the Prophet saw in a Vision the Redemption of the Seed of Faith by Christ under the Type of Joshua the High-Priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. This High-Priest was Christ clothed with filthy Garments, when he became Flesh, when on Earth he appeared unto Men, to be clothed in filthy Garments, being so mean, and had not a Place to lay his Head yet professed himself to be the Son of God, the High-Priest that should offer up himself for to save his People; for High-Priests in former Times did appear to the People with rich and glorious Garments; but this High-Priest doth appear to the Seed of Reason, to be clothed in filthy Garments, not fit (as Reason thinks) to stand before the Angel of the Lord.

And this Satan that stands as his right Hand to resist him, it was the Spirit of unclean Reason in those People of the Jews when Christ was upon Earth, and when that Devil that tempted Christ, spoken of in Matthew, disputed with Christ, he resisted the High-Priest, and stood at Christ's right Hand at that time; and this Devil that tempted Christ, it was a Man endued with an high Pitch of Reason, and that Spirit of Reason, or Wisdom of Reason, in that Man that tempted Christ the High-Priest, it was Satan that strove to resist Christ in dispute, whereupon Christ said, Get thee hence Satan.

This Satan was a Man, and the Spirit of Reason in this Man is that Satan that always resisteth the Wisdom of Faith, which is the Wisdom of God. But this hath been more largely treated upon in our other Writings, so I shall speak no more of that Devil and his Temptations here.

So in Matth. xvi. 23. Christ said unto Peter, Get thee behind me Satan. Here you see Peter is called Satan, because it was the Spirit of Reason in Peter that said, Master, pity thy self: That is, the Thoughts of Peter's Heart they did savour of the fleshly part, that is, those Motions to persuade Christ to save himself from Death, they did arise from the Seed of Reason in Peter, therefore called Satan; for there was no new Spirit that came into Peter at that time to cause him to speak those Words, but those Words proceeded from the Seed of Reason in him, as aforesaid, therefore called Satan.

And wheresoever that Expression is used, as Peter said himself in the Acts, Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost? that is, why hath the Motions of Reason in thee persuaded thy Heart to tell a Lie unto us, that have the Holy Ghost in us?

So the Reader may clearly see, there is no other Satan to tempt God or Man, but the Motions and Words that proceed from the Seed of Reason in Man and Woman.

So in Luke x. 18. And Christ said unto his Disciples, I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven. This Christ spake, because his Disciples rejoyced that the Devils were subject to them. The Meaning of Christ was, that he saw the Spirit of Reason, that was in the Rulers of the Jews, very high in the Righteousness of the Law of Moses, even as if they were in Heaven, thinking in themselves that none could be more happy and surer of Heaven and Peace with God, then they that kept to the Law of Moses.

Now Christ knowing that this Righteousness of the Jews, should be thrown down by the Righteousness of Faith, which his Apostles should preach, therefore he saw by Faith that the Spirit of Reason in the Rulers of the Jews should fall like Lightning from Heaven; and so it did, and the Disciples of Christ should, by the Doctrine and Righteousness of Faith, tread upon Serpents, and upon their Persecution, and upon their Righteousness of the Law of Moses, and upon all that which did fall like Lightning from Heaven; they should tread upon Satan, that is, upon the very Wisdom of Reason the Devil.

This is the true meaning of Christ, when he beheld Satan fall from Heaven like Lightning, and what Satan is so much spoken of in Scripture. Much more might be said to enlarge this Point, but I have spoken more already then I did intend; but I suppose there is enough written here in short to satisfy those, that can understand by a little what a great deal Means. And also People may know when they speak of Satan what Satan is, and when they speak of the Devil, they may know what the Devil is.

So much concerning the Interpretation of Satan, and the Conclusion of this Epistle, written by

Lodowicke Muggleton.

A Copy of a Letter written by the Prophet Lodowicks Muggleton, to Mr. Edward Fewterrill of Chesterfield, bearing Date from London March 29. 1660.

Friend,

I Received your Letter, wherein I perceive you are a Man that hath been led through several Opinions, yet not suffered to joyn with any, but have been made to wait upon Jesus Christ the only God for Satisfaction; and now it hath been his great Love, which he hath loved you, to let you have a Sight of those infinite Truths, written by the Hands of his two Witnesses, and Lawrence Claxton; which Writing of ours, I perceive by your Letter, have given you more Satisfaction than any that ever you read before.

Only this I perceive, that you did and do still much approve of Jacob Bemon's Works; and for this Cause, because you were as I perceive by his Writings, exhorted to resign your Will unto God's Will, and to come unto that happy State, neither to Will or Desire any thing, but to abide in the Will of God, which is Jesus Christ, into which Estate the Lord did twice bring you in some Measure.

Also you say, That it is a hard thing to cast out that Devil that is in us, nor can it be done as we say or think, but by that Resignation and Faith in the true God.

Likewise you say, that you were a great Disputant against all Forms and formal Worship, till the Lord silenced you, and did let you see it was but a vain Thing to wrangle and jangle with the Devil more.

But I shall pass by part of your Letter, and I shall answer you to those things that are of most Concernment.

You say, that there was that Portion of Scripture brought into your Remembrance of his Promise, I will send the Spirit of Truth, which shall guide you into all Truth, and there have you had your rest reposed.

In the last Place I find, that you would have some Answer to some Doubts, concerning that Devil that doth appear to Witches, and suck of their Bodies, and what that is that doth appear to Conjurers, and the Authors of lying Wonders of John Robins; though you do believe there is no Devil but Man, you do believe also that the Soul of Man is mortal, and must needs die, and so cannot appear, though you thought otherwise in your Reason.

You say, Whether is there a Spirit in Man that surviveth and is allured by them, or do they stir up awaking the Power of the first fallen Angel through their devillish Faith, or is these Things from their vain Imaginations. If so, how? if not, what it is, is your Desire to know of me.

To which I shall give you some Answer both to the first of Part your Letter, and also to the latter Part of it.

First you say, that you have been made to wait upon Jesus Christ the only God; for Satisfaction thereof, I would have you to consider, how could you wait and be satisfied in the Belief of such a God which you never knew. For the Letter of the Scriptures did never declare to you, that Jesus Christ was the only God, neither did God commissionate no Prophet nor Apostle for to declare it, though their Declarations was as necessary to be believed in their Time and Place, as this Commission of the Spirit; which Commission of the Spirit hath deeper Mysteries held forth in it, than the other two Commissions had: For God never did give to any Prophets or Apostles, the Knowledge of his own Form or Nature before he became Flesh. If they did know it, they did not reveal it. But he hath given it to his two last Spiritual Witnesses and Prophets, John Reeve's and Lodowicke Muggleton, who were those chosen Witnesses of God, which should have more Understanding of the Mind of God in the Scriptures, than all Men in the World.

Which Knowledge of God's Mind in the Scriptures, doth consist of these six Heads.

First, Of the Form and Nature of God before he became Flesh.

Secondly, Of the Form and Nature of the Devil before he became Flesh.

Thirdly, Of the Place and Nature of Heaven.

Fourthly, Of the Place and Nature of Hell.

Fifthly, Of the Nature and Persons of Angels.

Sixthly, Of the Mortality of the Soul.

Upon the Knowledge of these six Principles, depends the eternal Happiness of many. And the Knowledge of the two Seeds, is those two Keys that doth open those two, namely, the strait and narrow Gate that leadeth unto Life, and the broad and wide Gate that leadeth to Destruction. And those two Keys are given unto us two aforesaid, which hath the Commission of the Spirit given unto us.

So that there is no coming unto the Knowledge of the true God, nor the right Devil, but where the Declaration of this Spiritual Commission doth open the Doors or Gates of Mens Hearts, and lets them see what Seed they are of, and so Men come to know the true God and the right Devil. And then a Man may truly say, that he can resign his Will to God's Will, as you say Jacob Bemon in his Writings doth declare.

Yet this I would have you to know that Jacob Bemon had no Personal God at all not to resign his Will unto, but his God was an Infinite, Incomprehensible, Formless Spirit, as all the World hath.

Neither had his Devil a Person nor Form; neither had his Angels he speaketh so much of any Body or Form at all, but they were all Spirits without Bodies, which in the Conclusion was no more but so many Letters, that is, three Letters, G, O, D, and so of the Devil and Angels.

And yet this Man would resign his Will into God's Will, and yet his God had no Form nor Nature at all; therefore they could be no Will in his God, whereby any Man should resign his Will into God's Will; whereas there can be no Will in God, except he hath both Form and Nature.

And this is that Will of God which you call Jesus Christ, into which Estate the Lord did twice bring you, which Estate of yours in that Faith of Jacob Bemon's, could not be a true Estate, because there was not the Knowledge of the true God; and where there is not the Knowledge of the true God, there cannot be the Knowledge of the right Devil; without the Knowledge of these two, there can be no true lasting Peace in Man.

And as for your being a great Disputant amongst all formal Worship, I do not question the thing, because I know that the Wisdom of Reason, which is the Devil, doth love to be uppermost in Disputes.

But how can you say, that the Lord did Silence you, and made you to see the Vanity of all Disputes; whereas you did not know any other God, but what is generally believed on in the World; that is, an Infinite, Incomprehensible Spirit, not minding whether God had any Nature or Form at all.

Therefore it could not be the true Lord that did silence you, but it was something that did arise out of your own Seed, which did shew you the Vanity of all Disputes.

In the next Place you say, that there was brought into your Remembrance that Portion of Scripture concerning his Promise, that he would send his Spirit of Truth, which should guide you into all Truth, and there have you had your rest reposed.

Answer, That this Place of Scripture did not belong unto you, nor to any Man in the World at this Day; for that Promise was given only unto his Disciples; which Disciples of his to whom those Words were spoken, were afterwards made Apostles of Christ; so that the Promise which Christ did promise to his Disciples before his Death, was that of the Blood which was given unto his Apostles, which was called the Spirit of Truth, because they should witness unto the Truth; that is, unto his Death and Resurrection and Ascension.

Therefore take Notice of this, that that Promise was fulfilled upon his Apostles after he was ascended up to Heaven, as you may read in the second of the Acts, and to every Man that doth read the Promises, which God did make to his Commissionated Apostles, it doth not belong to every Man that doth read them, but every Man is to mind that Commission which he is under.

Therefore for you to repose your Trust upon such Promises as was given to other Men in their Commissions, that Peace will not endure to the End, but will vanish like Smoke in the Fire.

In the next Place, I shall give you some Answers to those Doubts, which you spake of concerning that Devil which doth appear to Witches and Conjurers, and how those lying Wonders were acted by John Robins.

Answer, There is a twofold Witchcraft, the one is Natural, the other is Spiritual.

Now this natural Witchcraft is acted by such as are called Witches and Conjurers. Now as for those ignorant Women which are Witches, their Witchcraft lies in their wicked Nature, by giving themselves up to believe, that there is no God at all but Nature only, and so by that strong Faith that they have in Nature, they have Power over those whose Understandings are of a lower Capacity than themselves, and so People being ignorant and fearful of them, doth many times disturb and search their Blood with Extremity of Fear, which they have of one that is suspected for a Witch, and so by their own Fear and Imagination, they come to be bewitched. As a Man being overcharged with extream Grief, or being prevented by one that he loves, he goes Distracted or runneth Mad, which is no other but his being bewitched. And so it is with all those that are ignorant, and over charged with Fear: and as for those Children and Cattle that are bewitched, it is by some other Sorcery which they do use with Herbs and Plants, and some other things of Nature, they having some small Knowledge of that Sympathy, and Influence the Stars have over those Bodies and Herbs, and so mix their Faith and Experience together, pretending to do all Manner of Good, but intendeth nothing but Evil. So that there is no such thing as People do vainly imagine as for Spirits to suck Witches, but all the Devil that is, is their own dark Reason; and that Spirit that doth bewitch any Creature, it doth arise out of their own Imagination: And as for Conjurers and Magicians, their Reason is more enlightened than the others is, because they do go altogether by the Figure, which is an Art by which the Reason of Man hath produced Characters and Figures for the several Stars and Planets, and so they came to imagine the Influence of those Stars and Planets upon the Bodies of Men, and many times they do hit rightly, yet it is still but Witchcraft. For it is nothing else but the Imagination of Reason, that doth pry into the Secrets of Nature. And the first Witchcraft that ever was, it was produced by learning of Numbers and Figures; I say, it was first from the Egyptians Arts, and from thence came Conjuration, and the Knowledge of the Influence of the Stars and Planets and the Knowledge of Physick, which are no other in the Original but Witches, only this their Witchcraft is more tolerated by the Power of the Nations; but I am confident that there is more People in the World bewitched with them, than there is with the other Sort of Witches, that is, they are deceived both in Body, and in Mind, and Estate. For when a Man is deceived in his Expectations and Faith which he had in that Art, he may very well be said to be bewitched: But as for raising Spirits without Bodies, there is no Witch, no Conjurer, or Magician, nor the greatest Artist in the World can do; neither can any Spirit assume any Body but its own. So much for natural Witches.

And for those lying Signs and Wonders which John Robins did act, it was by a more Spiritual Witchcraft; his was not by the Knowledge of the Stars, though he had some Skill in that too, but the Power of his Witchcraft did lye in the assuming and taking upon him the Title of the Great God, as you may read in our Books: And so that his Reason being more exercised in the Scriptures upon Spiritual Matters, because the whole Body of the Scriptures doth consist of Spiritual and Heavenly Matter; and he having more Knowledge in the Mystery of the Scriptures at that time than all Men in the World, therefore he had many that did fall down and worship him; because his Knowledge in the Scriptures, did surpass other Men, and so produced Voices in himself, and could present lying Signs and Wonders, unto all those that were deceived by him, or that where afraid of him; yet he did not deal with Spirits that, had not Bodies; but all that Wisdom and Witchcraft that he did shewn it came or arose out of his own Spirit of Reason, which was inclosed in his own Body.

And there is the Influence of the same Spirit of Witchcraft doth now remain upon those People called Quakers, notwithstanding there seeming Holiness, for they have many Times such fleshly Fits falling upon them, which doth seem as if they had the Falling-Sickness, and be as Men dumb, and will not speak a Word for three or four Hours together, and upon a Sudden they will break forth into strong Language, as if the Spirit did immediately move them to speak. This I say, it is nothing else but an Influence of John Robins's Spiritual Witchcraft, which is produced out of their own Spirit within them, and not from any Spirit which hath no Body without them. And all this is, they have no Knowledge of the true God or the right Devil.

Therefore it is that the greatest Part of the World doth lie under Witchcraft, either a Natural Witchcraft or a Spiritual Witchcraft, there is a very few that is delivered from being under one or both of them; there is none delivered but those that are come to have Faith in this Spiritual Commission, which is now extant in the World; for Faith in it doth lead Men to the Knowledge of the true God and the right Devil, with all those deep Mysteries which doth depend on them, the Knowledge of which doth free a Man from all Witchcraft whatsoever.

Therefore I would advise you to read the Books of ours called the Divine-Looking-Glass, for that you may see there, that there can be no Spirits without a Body, neither can any Witch or Conjurer raise any Spirit without a Body: But these Conjurers may do through the Ignorance and Darkness of Man's Reason, and that Fear and Belief that is in the Ignorant, they may by their ignorant Power raise a Shadow of things, as if they were real Bodies, or Spirits in the Shape of Bodies; as the Egyptians did before Pharaoh King of Egypt, they did seem to raise Frogs and Grashoppers in the Sight of Pharaoh King of Egypt; but I say, they were not real Frogs and Grashoppers, but Shadows of such things, which as soon as ever the Witchcraft Power or Art was over, their Frogs and Grashoppers were gone also, else would the King and his People been as much troubled at those Frogs which the Magicians did bring upon their Land, as they were with those which Moses brought up, which went into their Houses. And now if Moses had not raised Bodies as well as Spirits, or if he had raised Spirits without Bodies, they would have been as little troubled at those things which Moses did, as they were at those Shadows or seeming things, which the Magicians of Egypt did. There is something more in your Letter you sent to me, but I have not time at present to answer; So resteth your Friend,

Lodowicke Muggleton.

The Prophet Reeve's Epistle to his Friend, discovering the dark Light of the Quakers; written in the Year 1654 September the 20th.

Loving Friend, Calling to Mind the Letter thou readest to me, which was sent thee out of the Country, I am moved to present these Lines to the View of thy ponderous Spirit; for as Words of Truth flowing from a real Foundation, drew forth Humility and Love to God and Man, from that Soul that hath received an hearing Ear, so likewise thou mayst know the glittering Words proceeding from Man's Carnal Wisdom, is that which hath occasioned many Men to be exalted above Measure, and to imagine himself so essentially united to the Divine Glory, that at length that Man hath been so bewitched through the Adorations of Men and Women in deep Darkness, with high Conceits of his own Spiritual Wisdom, that he hath been willing to deny his creaturely Condition, and to embrace the Holy Titles and Honour of an infinite Creator. Yea, and to say in his Heart and Tongue also, that there is no Spiritual God or Personal Glory in the least, but what is in Man only, notwithstanding, as sure as the Lord Jesus liveth, both he and all that is in him must turn into silent Death and Dust for a Moment, yea, and would so remain unto all Eternity, if there were not a distinct personal Majesty living without Man to raise him again, to everlasting sensible Glory or Shame, according to the Royal Pleasure of that God, that neither will nor can give his Glory to another.

My Dear Friend, be not deceived with Mens crafty Words, who have no true spiritual Distinction in them; for if any mortal Man have dwelling in him the eternal Spirit, all the Motions, Thoughts, Words and Actions of that Man must needs be as pure, holy and powerful as God himself, because thou knowest they proceed from a pure, holy, and glorious Spirit: But of the contrary, if thou perceivest a Measure of Light only abiding in thee, which thou in Mercy hast received from an everlasting Jesus without thee, then thou often seest Darkness in thee as well as Light. For Light entred not into Sinners to make them spiritual Gods one over another, but it shined into them to discover their natural Enmity continually warring against a God of eternal Love towards them; and not only so, but to prevent also their former Darkness from tyrannizing in them for ever, yea and to consolate their elect Brethren by their spiritual Experiences.

Wherefore, from a Divine Gift which I have freely received from an unerring Spirit, I say unto thee, that those Men which labour to perswade their Hearers, that if they diligently hearken to the Light that is in them, they may attain to such a Power, as to be dead in this Body from all Kind of inward Darkness, Sin, or Evil, have uttered the falsest Doctrine that ever was declared to Men. Moreover, if the Light of Life Eternal be thy Guide, though must needs know then, it was neither the justifying Light of Christ within Man, no nor the Spirit of Christ without Man, that moved those Men to speak or write to the People; but it was their own lying Imagination which hurried them about to beget Proselytes to themselves in the Man Christ Jesus's stead, who alone is God over all Blessed for ever and ever. Amen.

He that is born of God sinneth not, that is he is not left to his own Heart to commit the unpardonable Sin of Unbelief in the true God, in despising the Spirit of Christ Jesus, to be the only Lord God of his Salvation. He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not is condemned already, not because he hath not believed in a God, or Christ that is within him, but because he hath not believed in a personal God or Christ that is without him, whose divine Majesty is crowned with such immortal bright burning Glory, that if he did not vail his fiery Nature within his own blessed Body, the Glory of it is so transcendently infinite, that he in a Moment would consume all created Beings to Powder. He that committed that Sin of calling God a Lyar, which is the Sin of not believing in our Lord Jesus Christ as aforesaid, or he that maketh glorious Pretences of unfeigned Love to Christ and his tender-hearted People, and yet secretly lyeth under the Power of carnal Filthiness; such a Man is not only of his Father the Devil, (cursed Cain) but he also is a very Devil himself. He that saith he hath no Sin in him, is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in him; that is, he that saith Christ is so powerfully risen in him, that all Motions, Thought and Desire of Sin against God or Man, is perfectly done away, that Man is an horrible Lyar, and a deadly Enemy to all humble and broken-hearted Saints; for their natural rebellious warring against the Light within them, and the Lord of Glory without them. Oh! my precious Friend, for whom my Soul spiritually travelleth, till thou art firmly established with glorious Things which are Eternal; not with empty Notions proceeding from an imaginary God or Christ within Men, only which with Syrenion Songs is very pleasing to the carnal Ear, which may delude some undiscerning Spirits for a Season, nor with Pharisaical Looks, Sighs and Groans, to be seen of Men, which is nothing else but the Effects of Mens crafty Words and Gestures proceeding from Man's fleshly Wisdom, which is abominable in the Sight of our God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ in the Eternal Heavens above the Stars.

My beloved Friend, give me leave a little to reason with thee, about Things of the greatest Concernment: What excellent Truths above other Men hast thou heard from the chief Speakers of the Quakers? Didst thou ever hear them speak to the Purpose? Or speak at all of any God or Christ, but what is in Man only? Or didst thou ever hear them speak of a bodily Glory and Misery to come sensibly to be enjoyed by the Saints in the highest Heavens, and to be endured by the Serpents in this World at the Day of eternal Accounts? Or dost thou see the Image or Likeness the true Jesus in that Ministry, the true and living Jesus, rejected not the Company of Publicans and Sinners, even when his Light appeared not in them; but on the contrary, do they not rashly condemn those Men that soberly oppose them, and shun the Company of those that are not of their Opinion, as Serpents; much like unto those Hypocrites of old, who said, stand farther off, for we are more holy than you. Moreover, in all their Speakings and Writings to the People, do they not make a grand Idol of the Word Light, and occasion Men to worship it as their only God; as if meer Words, were to be adored without a Person, or worshipped within the Bodies of sinful Man as a God: Or as if those that enjoy true Light in them, have such a Measure of God in them, that they stand in no need of any God without them in the least.

My Dear Friend, thou knowest Men of unstable Spirits, Child-like, or rather Fool-like, are easily taken with every Wind of Doctrine: But if thou hast a Spirit of true discerning in thee, thou wilt be made thorowly then to try the Spirits and Doctrines of Men, whether they be of God or no, before thou embrace them; having been in the Fire of the Devil already, I hope thou hast gained Experience. Wherefore for thy clearer Sight concerning of the Fallacy of all Speakers, which say, the Lord Jehovah, or Jesus sent them, I shall give some discovering Characters; he that saith the everlasting spiritual God or Father, became not a perfect Man of unspotted Flesh, Blood, and Bone, was never moved by the Spirit of God or Christ, to preach or speak to the People; or he that saith, that Spirit which is dwelling in the glorious Body of Christ Jesus, is not the alone everlasting Father, God and Man in one distinct Person glorified, is none of Christ's Messenger; or he that saith, God is not in the Form of a Man, but is an infinite Spirit essentially abiding in all Creatures, that Man is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in him; or he that saith, Christ's Godhead died not in the Flesh, and did not quicken and raise his Manhood to Life again, and in that Body of Flesh and Bone, did not ascend into a Kingdom of Glory in another World, the deep Things of God is utterly hid from that Man; or he that saith all Mankind proceeded from the Loins of the first Man Adam, is ignorant of the two Scripture Seeds (namely) the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent, therefore he is none of Christ's sending; or he that saith Mens Souls do not die with their Bodies, and sleep together in the Dust of the Earth, till the Lord Jesus by the mighty Power of his Word speaking only, do raise them unto Life again at the last Day, that Man is in deep Darkness, not knowing the Scriptures or the Power of God; or he that says Mens Bodies only perish (and not the Souls) will be saved at the last, that Man is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in him.

Dear Friend,

Thus far was I moved to write unto thee, as an eternal Witness between us, when the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened. If thou seest good, thou mayst present this Epistle to the View of those Men called Quakers, not that I can expect a good Issue from any of them, unless God hath endowed them with hearing Ears, unjudging, meek and patient Spirits.

Sept. 20. 1654.

Thine in all eternal Excellencies.

John Reeve.

An Epistle of John Reeve to Mr. Hill.

Dear Friend in the eternal Truth, my Love to you and the rest of our Spiritual Friends remembred.

Brother Hill,

It seems very strange to me, That you with the rest of former Friends, make no Enquiry after me whether I am dead or alive. What have the unnecessary Things and Cares of this World swallowed up your former Love to the Truth? Though I am moved in this manner to write unto you, I trust you have not so learned Christ.

Friend, The Reason of my not sending unto you this long Season is this, because my Wife and I were both very sick and weak, of which Sickness the 29th of March last my Wife died.

Immediately after I had buried my Wife, the Lord our God called me to visit some of his People living near Cambridge, as he once called me to visit you; yea, it was in the very same Manner: For one of the chief Speakers of the Ranters being convinced by this Truth, who formerly had deceived them, took a Parcel of my Books and presented them to them, upon which they greatly desired me as you formerly did; I hope there is about half a Score of them that have received the Truth in Sincerity of Heart, they are Husbandmen and Tradesmen that Labour for their Bread as you do; they rejoyce in those that really possess this Truth though by Face unknown.

Christopher Hill,

You seem to forget your Engagement to your Father-in-Law, you know the Time is expired concerning your Payment of the Money, which was lent to you, and not to him; wherefore as you love the Truth, I desire you to send me the Money remaining behind speedily, that I may restore it to the right Owner.

Now concerning my own Condition it is thus; on May Day last, I was Senseless two or three times, insomuch, that if a faithful Friend had not been by me to relieve me with a little Cordial, I had immediately died. I still continue very sick and weak, so that of Necessity, I must either mend or end in a little Space. As for Relief now I have most need of it, it hath been very small of late; I wish it may not be a Burthen to the Conscience of some when I am gone; the Widow's Mite will be a Witness against all Carnal Excuses in those that own this Truth. It may be you may think, I have no need of your Charity now, because the Merchant for a little Season allowed me a small Matter Weekly; but if you think so, you are much mistaken, for I have had none from him a pretty while, neither do I know whether I shall have any more from him at all: For when he took Ship for Barbadoes, he had not wherewithal to leave his Wife and Children, through the unjust Dealings of unreasonable Men. Brother Hill, You may remember you sent me Word, that if the London Christians would contribute Weekly or Monthly to my Necessity, you would do the like, you will do well to keep your Covenant.

And so I commit you to the most High, and remain yours in all Righteousness,

John Reeve.

My Dwelling is in Bishopsgate-street near Hog-lane End, with three Sisters that keep a Sempstris Shop.

Direct your Letters to our Brother Muggleton, to be conveyed to me, and the Money to him for me, you know where he dwells; it is in Trinity-lane, over against a Brown-Baker's.

London June 11. 1656.

Another Epistle of John Reeve's to the same Person.

For his Loving Friend Christopher Hill, Heel-maker in Stone-street in Maidstone, in Kent. These

Brother Hill,

I Have received your Letter and your kind Token, for which I acknowledge your Kindness to Truth.

As for my Neglect in Writing to you, my great Troubles of Sickness and Mortality hath hindred it, I hope whilst I am able to write, for time to come, you shall not charge me with any such Neglect; in the mean Season, I do not desire your Charity unless you can spare it. Remember my kind Love to your Mother Wyles, to Tho. Martin, and Goodman Young, and I rejoyce in the Lord for you, that the Truth abides in you. As for the Money, I am glad of your Care for the Truths sake, because it was lent to me upon that Account.

No more at present, but desiring my God abundantly to establish you in all spiritual Excellencies, unto whose infinite Grace I commend you in all Righteousness,

London, June the last, 1656.

John Reeve.

Another Epistle of John Reeve's to the same Person.

Brother Hill, in the Eternal Truth,

My Love to you and the rest of our Friends; this is a Spiritual Love Letter that I am moved to write unto you, wherefore by Virtue of my Commission, I pronounce thee Tho. Martin, William Young, and Eliz. Wyles, the Blessed of the Lord to Eternity; the Remembrance of this the Lord's Blessing, will do you no harm when I am in my Grave; in the mean Season, our good God cause you to love one another more than your temporal Enjoyments, and that will become a Heaven upon Earth in your innocent Souls; Faith fetcheth Spiritual Comfort, the Fountain to each particular Soul; but Love fulfilleth all Righteousness both to God and Man. Oh! the transcendent Excellency of the Love of Christ in his new-born People, it is not to be express'd by the Tongues of Men or Angels.

John Reeve.

A Copy of a Letter wrote by the Prophet John Reeve to Mrs. Alice Webb, containing her Blessing and the Six Principles, on August 15. 1656.

Loving Friend,

Desiring your Eternal Happiness in that Place of Glory above the Stars, I am moved from the Spirit of the Lord to write these Lines unto your Serious Consideration.

This I know assured as God knows himself, that Jesus Christ from his Throne of Glory, spake to me by Voice of Words three Mornings together, which Speaking of his hath opened my dark Understanding to declare such Spiritual Light to the Chosen of God, as never was so clearly manifested before, especially in these Six Foundations.

First, What the Person of the true God is, and his Divine Nature.

Secondly, What the Persons of the holy Angels are, and their Nature.

Thirdly, What the Persons of the Devils are and their Natures, and what the Person of the Devil was before he became a Devil, and begot Millions of dark Angels or Devils, it being all one.

Fourthly, In what Condition the Man Adam was created in, and by what Means he lost his first estate and the Effects of it.

Fifthly, What Heaven and Glory is, and the eternal Residence of it.

Sixthly, What Hell and eternal Death is, and the Place where it shall be to Eternity.

This I know certainly, That before the Lord sent me to declare his Pleasure unto his People, no Man upon this Earth did clearly understand any one of these Six Fundamental Truths, which to understand is Life Eternal, and to be ignorant of them is Death Eternal. Now the Lord hath sent his two Messengers to declare them, I mean, to all those that may be informed in these Spiritual Things, and do reject us (that are the Lord's Messengers of these Things of Salvation) through the Love of carnal Things, they must all perish to Eternity.

Again, We know from the Lord by that infallible Spirit that he hath given us, of divers Persons that shall be eternally blessed with us: and all that we pronounce Cursed to Eternity are eternally Cursed, as sure as Jesus Christ the Lord of Life is Blessed, because it is his Curse and not ours.

Again, If the Lord Jesus do not bear Witness unto our Testimony, and make it evident that he hath sent us in a few Months, then you may conclude, that there never was any true Prophets nor Christ, nor Apostles, nor Scripture spoken from the Mouth of God to Men. But there is nothing but the Wisdom of Men and Nature their God. But this we know, that those that are joyned with us, are Partakers of those Truths, and shall be blessed for evermore, and shall in the mean time patiently wait for the fulfilling of our Prophecy, and shall have Power over their Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, purifying their Hearts by Faith in the Person of God even as he is pure, trampling all the Riches and Honour of this World, under the Feet of their Souls as Dung, because they have tasted of that Glory to come, that no Tongue of Men or Angels can express, and this makes them not only love one another in carnal Things, but for the Truth's sake they are ready if (need require) to forsake all Relations, and Life itself for one another; and is that Power of that one only Faith and Truth, declared from the Spirit of God, the Man Jesus by us, which none enjoys but those of this Faith.

Much more might I write, but speaking Face to Face, (if it may be) is far more profitable: Farewell.

John Reeve, the true Prophet, of the only true Personal God, the Lord Jesus Christ upon the Throne of immortal Glory in the highest Heavens.

An Epistle of John Reeve to a Friend, written in May 1657.

Shewing,

That Elect Angels are distinct from him who visibly beheld him Face to Face, and what that Reprobate Serpent-Angel was in his Creation, which by the secret Council and unsearchable Wisdom of God, fell from his created Glory like Lightning from the invisible Heaven above, to this visible Earth beneath; and through his super-seeming God like Counsel, he overcame innocent Eve; and she yielding unto him, he wholly entred into her Womb and naturally changed himself into her Seed, and so became the first-born Son of the Devil, and afterwards a cursed Cain, and the Father of all those Cananitish Reprobate Angels, spoken of in the visible Records of the Scriptures; Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his Brother, the 1st of John, the 3d Chapter, and 18th Verse. And the Tares are the Children of the wicked one, Math. 13th Chapter, and the 18th Verse. Also in what Condition Adam was created in, and how he come to fall from his created Estate, and what that sin was that Eve and he were guilty of, and how Sin came first in their pure created Natures.

Again, what that heavenly Glory is and where it is, that God's Elect Wheat, which are the Seed of Adam, and not of Cain shall possess when time shall be no more, and what that shameful Eternal Death is, and where it is reserved for the Seed of Cain and not of Adam, who are either a Spirit given up to Persecution of Mens Consciences, or else they are left in Darkness to condemn the Things of Eternity, because they cannot comprehend them for want of a true distinguishing Spirit, which is a Gift of the Holy Ghost, unto him which is immediately sent by the Lord of Glory, that he may be distinguished by the new born of God, from all those counterfeit or deceived Preachers or Speakers in the World, who are apt and ready to judge Men in Darkness, if they soberly ask them needful Questions concerning things of Eternity; the understanding of those glorious Excellencies, which is the Saints Inheritance, being utterly hid from them, because they went before they were sent.

Friend and Brother in the Eternal Truth,

By this infallible Demonstration, you may know a Man that hath not a Commission from the true God, to preach and speak unto the People.

If a searching Speaker or Writer, deliver any thing unto those People that joyn with him, then for fear of his Weakness or Ignorance being discovered, he will counsel the Hearers to stick close to the Ordinances in the Word of God, or to hearken to them, or to that in their Consciences, and to beware of false Christ's and false Prophets, and such like borrowing Scripture Languages, to prevent the People of ever hearing the Glorious and Dreadful Things of Eternity from the ever-living God, revealed both by Voice of Words without, and Inspiration within, unto his two last despised true Messengers.

Thus it is clear, they have not the true Spirit of Paul in them, who gave the true Saints Liberty to try all Things or Opinions of Men, (for that was his Meaning) but to hold fast to that which was good.

Again, that Speaker or Preacher to People, whether publick or private, that declares against all Appearances that are contrary to his Way, discovers himself to a discerning Spirit, not to be of the Lord, unless he can demonstrate a Spiritual Commission received by Voice from Heaven, from the Mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that no Man can disprove him, though few from a true Understanding received him.

Again, he that preaches or teaches only of a God or Christ in Mens Consciences, doth he not question the Scripture Records concerning the Resurrection and Ascension of the glorious Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, who through Faith in his invaluable Blood-shedding, the Consciences of the Elect being sprinkled, are purified from the Power of all Unrighteousness of Flesh and Spirit, and so doth he not question the Resurrection of Mankind after Death.

Again if after Death there be no bodily Resurrection for the Spirit to possess an immortal God-like Glory, or to suffer an eternal Devil-like Shame, according to their Deeds done in their Bodies; is it not one of the vainest Babblings under Heaven, for Men to talk of a God or Christ, or of Righteousness, or Purity, or Mercy, or pure Love without Envy, or of any Spiritual Excellency whatsoever, unless it be for Gain or Glory amongst Men.

The eternal Spirit and alone everlasting Father, which essentially reigneth in the glorified Body of our Lord Jesus Christ his eternal Son, and spiritually, or motionally, or virtually liveth or reigneth in elect Men and Angels, bear Record between me and you for Everlasting, or World without end, whether this Witnessing be not sent unto you, and all the Elect that shall view it principally for the re-establishing of your tender Spirit, upon that spiritual Rock of all Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ God and Man, in one distinct Person Glorified and everlastingly Honoured, with all Variety of Spiritual new Songs and Praises, from his Redeemed or Elect Men or Angels, when all Time or Times is swallowed up into Eternity or Eternities.

John Reeve.

Another Epistle of John Reeve's.

SIR,

Your Replication to mine doth but still harp upon the same Matter as your former, and yet you suppose you have given such Arguments as may quite silence my former Assertions, were that there are no Spirits without Bodies, but such as mere Shadows; and that God is not a bodiless Spirit, but hath and ever had Form, Substance, and Shape, and that is no other but the Form of a Man.

This is contradicted by you, and so you affirm these Particulars following.

1st, You take at those my Words which said, that if a Spirit have no Body or Shape, then it is no more then a meer Shadow: This you deny, by saying, that a Shadow is only privative, but a Spirit, say you, is positive.

2dly, You further say, that there is such immaterial Substances, which have a separate Existence from such gross Bodies which we have about us; witness say you the Soul of Man, which is immaterial, and lives after the Body is dead, which is, say you, confirmed by Paul, 2 Tim. i. 10. which saith, that the Gospel brings Life and Immortality to Light.

3dly, This Doctrine, say you, was known by the Light of Nature to the Heathen Philosophers, and hath since been confirmed by Scripture of the New Testament to us, and so conclude it no ways repugnant to right Reason.

4thly, You charge me with quoting the Scripture falsly, when I said, that Christ reply'd to the young Man, saying, That no Man was good but one, which was God; therefore say you, it is false that the Scripture saith, that God is a Man.

To each of these take this particular Answer, 1. If your Spirit have neither Shape nor Substance, it is but a Shadow, and no more then what the Egyptians Sorcerers produced before Pharaoh, what Moses brought up were real Substances, but their's no other but Shadows, but therefore a Spirit without Substance is not positive; for that which is privative can have no Being without a positive, because that which is positive hath a Being or Substance: Now he that will not admit God to have a distinct Being of himself, his God that he worships is nothing but a Shadow.

2dly, Where you speak of Spirits being immaterial Substances; if they be immaterial, how are they Substances, and what Existence can they have, and how can a Soul be immortal in a mortal Body; it is said, the Soul that Sins, it shall die; yet say you, it is immortal and cannot die, and would prove it in 2 Tim. i. 10. when as that Place shews plainly, that it was Christ's Death and Resurrection which brought Life and Immortality Light; so that if there be not a Resurrection, then can there be no immortal Life.

Therefore it is, that the Scriptures doth affirm, that there can be no Salvation without a Resurrection, so that if the Dead should not rise, then were all Faith vain, and God the God of the Dead (seeing Death is not abolish'd) and not of the Living; so that there is no Spirit that can subsist or have any Existence without a Body, either Spiritual or Natural.

Again, doth not the Gospel bring Life and Immortality to Light, and is this Life and Immortality brought to Light without a Body, but it will have a Spiritual Body suitable to that mortal Spirit made immortal. And doth not the Scripture affirm, that it shall have a Body like unto God's own Glorious Body, and yet you say, God hath no Body, and a Soul hath no Body.

Do you not read also, that Christ had a Body, and that it was after the express Image of his Father's Person: Would you trace substantial Truth into an Allegory, and say Righteousness, Knowledge, and Holiness is the Image of God, and yet must have no Body to act for it self in. When God said, be ye holy, as I am holy, must we turn our Souls out of our Bodies, to make them like your bodiless God.

When we are said to worship God in Spirit and Truth, is this spiritual Worship performed without a Body, although there is a Mental, Privy, and Praise without a vocal Expression, yet it must arise from a Heart, and that Heart must be placed in a Body.

There is no Light without a Sun, no Stream without a Fountain, and no Spirit without a Body.

3dly. As to your third particular, this I must tell you, that no Light of Nature can discover Spiritual and Evangelical Truths, and it is very gross for any Man to subject the Spiritual Truths of the Gospel, to the heathenish Principles of Philosophers, making the New Testament no other but for the Confirmation of the Principles of Nature, which Nature you call right Reason, which say, you never repugns the Gospel, nor the Gospel it.

By this your Discourse I find, that you own that Christ came, but to confirm the heathenish Principles of Nature, as, that God, and Spirits, and Angels, were all without Bodies, being immaterial Beings, and you know not what.

Now give me leave to be plain with you, and to tell you, that I could never read that the Gospel of Christ was ever sent to enlighten Nature, Nature or Reason hath no Interest in it at all. In the moral Law it hath, and therefore it is written, the Law came by Moses; and what to do, but only to enlighten Reason unto whom the Law was given: But as to the Gospel, it came by Jesus Christ, and particularly belonged to another Seed; namely, to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel; so that you can no more distinguish between the Law and the Gospel, than between the two Natures of Faith and Reason, it is all a Mystery to you. Do you know what right Reason is, if you do, you must ascend up into the Kingdom of Heaven, and view it in the holy Angels; for you will not find neither pure, nor right, nor uncorrupted Reason any where in this Orb below the Stars: For it is evident that Reason, Notion can never be capable to comprehend Spiritual Truths, as from the Power of its own Nature, it only serves to comprehend natural and temporal Things, it being but natural it self; but Gospel Truths are comprehended by another Light, according as it is written by David saying, in thy Light shall we see Light, &c.

So that from what is said, we need not fear (as the World have) of the Heathens rising up in Judgment against us, for maintaining Gospel Truths against their Darkness of Reason.

4thly, As to your fourth Point, where you charge me of fathering upon the Scripture those things that are not, and you make a Wonderment of it, that I should say, that God was a Man, and to quote Christ's Words for it, telling the young Man, that there was no Man good but one, which was God; this you tell me was false, for you say, the Text saith that none is good but one, which is God. Here your Ignorance appears very great, and may be wonder'd at, considering your great Learning and continual Study; but it appears, it is but in those heathenish Philosophers; for observe for better Instruction, did not that young Man call Christ Master, and own him to be a Man and no more: Now to this you may find that Christ's Answer did tacitely imply, that if he was but a Man, he was not perfectly good, and that no Man could be perfectly good.

And furthermore, for a more full Answer in the Old Translation, attending to mark it, is render'd thus Word for Word, that there is no Man good but one, which is God.

This is plain Scripture, and yet you are ignorant of it; I perceive you are not very conversant in Scripture, your Philosophy turns you out of all Scripture Knowledge. But to proceed farther, cannot you find by Scripture, that God was ever called a Man, did not you ever read that Scripture that saith, God was a Man of War.

Much more might be said of this, and several positive Proofs from Scripture might be produced to confirm it withal, but because it is not the general received Opinion, therefore it must be quarrelled with; for the Honour of this World must be both sought after and submitted to.

And whereas you farther say, that the Apostles of Christ did ever teach after they had received their Commission, that Spirits were immaterial and could subsist without Bodies, now answer to this:

It is most certainly evident, that the Apostles never taught, that any Spirit could subsist without a Body, but the contrary altogether; for their Doctrine was, that as the Soul and Body lives together, so it dies together, and at the Last Day rises together, and is ever without Separation.

When the Apostles said, That many Spirits were generate into the World, which denied that Christ was come in the Flesh, did he mean Spirits without Bodies: And when Paul said, that the Spirit speaketh expresly, that some shall depart from the Faith: Now what Spirit was that, but Paul's own Spirit of Faith, in his own mortal Body; for without a Tongue it could not be expressed.

And where the Apostles tells of the Doctrine of Devils, were those Devils bodiless, and teached damnable Doctrine.

So that the Apostles never taught that there was any Spirits without Bodies, but always Spirit and Body went together, and so makes Longitude and Latitude profoundly, as your Philosophical Notions teacheth, although you cannot apply it to any sublime or spiritual Thing, you knowing nothing of it, but all is nothing and of no Substance; and so in that your Darkness I leave you, seeing you are no Friend to the Light; and rest yours in all civil Respects,

John Reeve's, the only true Witness unto the very true God, amongst many pretended Spiritual Messengers in this confused Age.

An Epistle wrote by the Prophet John Reeve to Isaac Pennington, Esq; dated 1658. concerning an Answer to a Book of his, with several Mysteries and Divine and Spiritual Revelations declared by the Prophet, concerning God's visible appearing in the Flesh.

In your Self-return, you seem to mourn over the sunk Spirit of both Creations, so termed by you. Also you write as though many from a Satanical Spirit write most accurately, both of the Works of Creation and Mystery of Redemption by an immediate Gift of God from our Lord Jesus Christ. To this I answer, a little Season will produce Mourning enough in you, when you shall see your Angelical Motions like Lightning, cast down with Confusion of Fear from their former Perfection of imaginary Glory, rational Dreams and Visions, Revelations, Inspirations, Experiences, or Voices proceeding from an incomprehensible Spirit.

Again, I have both read and heard a Voice to say, that the Secrets of the Lord are his Choice Treasures, reserved only for Redeemed ones; but I never read or heard from any Spiritual wise Man before now, that any Satanical Spirit was able to intellect deceived Persons, exactly to write of the hidden Mysteries of the Everlasting God. Again, you pretend unto no such Revelations as I proceed upon, but say you, there is another Way more certain than Reason or Revelation, which whether as I presume you were led into, the Lord will one Day make manifest, from the true Light of Life Eternal. To this I answer, your Light as terming of the true Inspirations of the Lord Jesus Christ, written by me to you, is because as yet his Holy Spirit vails them from your Eyes; but as for your new Sound of teaching them from your God, more certain than Reason or Revelation, from the Divine Voice spoken in the Ear, through the Glorious Mouth of my Lord. I declare that in all Ages the Elect lost Sheep of Israel, did never read or heard of any more than two original Ways either Natural or Spiritual in Mankind, whether you call them Creature or Creator, Light or Darkness, Truth and Error, Revelation and Reason, Inspiration and Imagination, Truth and Unbelief, Flesh and Spirit, and such like.

'Tis confess'd, that visible Appearances of God or any else unto Mortals is teaching of all, but he that expects that kind of Teaching any more until Men are immortalized, lieth under at present as great an imaginary Deceit, as ever yet appeared in this Land. It is also granted that the most holy God speaketh to his Chosen Messengers by Voice of Words, even to the hearing of the Ear, unto which Truth for Ends best known unto himself, by his gracious Power only, can bear Record in this present Generation, unto the Grief only of all Angelical, Wise, Envious, Proud, Inglorious, Hypocritical Reprobates that hear of it.

Moreover, yet if your more sure way of teaching from God were Vision it self, yet it is impossible for you to enjoy any true and lasting Peace, unless it swallows up all your former Writings produced from your own Spirit, without an immediate Commission from God, and in the room thereof, perswade your Soul to pour in your Oil, into the natural Wounds of oppressed Persons, under what Opinions or Appearances whatsoever.

Again, you say, O Lord God, pity the Captivity of Man, yea, pity the Captivity of thy own poor Seed, hear the Prayers of that Spirit that interceedeth with thee for every thing, not according to any fleshly Imaginations, but according to Truth and Righteousness of thine one Ballance. From the God of Truth, to this I answer, concerning that Spiritual Captivity of the Elect, in Reference of a right understanding of the Creator, you need not trouble yourself about that, unless you think through much importuning the unchangeable God, may be perswaded to loose their Bonds before the decreed time thereof; but if you think that Glory of God's Eternal Love towards them, will provoke to their Spiritual Darknesses through the invisible Appearances of his own pure Light, then you may know, until his own Glorious Season, that all the Desires of Men or Angels are of no Effect, no nor of the Son himself, if you imagine a Father besides. 'Tis confess'd, when the Time draweth near of some great Deliverance of the Chosen of God, usually the Lord provokes his People to cry unto him with Sighs and Groans, which cannot be uttered but from the innocent Spirit of his Spiritual redeemed ones, as his Due, he may receive all Honour, Praise and Glory for their Deliverance out of their natural Darknesses, unto his marvellous Light.

Again, I declare from the true Light of the true God, that the Spirit which entereth with the Creator for all Mankind, upon the Account of his Eternal Happiness, was never principled upon a Spiritual Foundation of Truth, whatever subtile Expressions of God's righteous Ballance proceedeth from him. Moreover, is it not the new heavenly Glanses of Christ Jesus in Man's dark Soul, which upon an immortal Account, becomes all Light, Life, or ravishing Glory in him; and of the contrary, is it not the absenting Voice or Virtue of the uncreated Spirit of the Lord Christ Jesus, that occasions Mens Spirits to be full of Satanical aspiring Wisdom about the Creator; and whence think you cometh this to pass, or possible could be of the Spirit, if the Creator were, and Angels were essentially living in one another there.

Again, if your literal Request unto the Lord God, as in Reference unto the miserable Captivity of poor Mankind, lying under the miserable Yoak of unmerciful rich Tyrants, especially over his own innocent Seed or chosen People, then this will most necessarily follow; nay, you cannot deny it, if there be any Light in you, that all your conceived Spiritual Speakings, or Writings, or Prayers, in the Great Day of the Lord Jesus Christ, will become but fiery burning Death in you of utter Darkness, according to the true Saying, If that Light in you be Darkness, how great is that Darkness. Unless as before said, answerable to your Profession of Love unto God, and Pity unto Man, you are a bountiful Reliever of his oppressed Ones, according to his Bountifulness towards you, then mind the Virtues of Christ Jesus thus shining in you, will occasion from the refreshed Bowels of his own Seed new Spiritual Acknowledgments, and a loving Return in the Lord for you, why because it is rare to find a merciful rich Man.

Friend, I certainly know that if you are one of God's Elect, you cannot be offended with me for writing the Truth, though at present, I be contrary to you in Spirit. Again, you write that you would beg unto the Lord for me, both with Tears and Blood, and you would speak somewhat concerning me, but you are afraid to open the Spirit before the Season thereof. Friend, As to that if ever the Lord of Life and Glory manifest himself to your Soul, then you will see clearly the Vanity of those Words.

Moreover, if I should tell you, that in the pure Eyes of the Lord Christ Jesus, that one Handful of your Silver Tears, are of more Value than a Horse Load of your Tears and Blood, you might account it a very strange saying from me; truly I unfeignedly believe it will be found a principal Truth, when our Lord Jesus Christ shall say in the Day of Judgment, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, for when I was a hungry, ye fed me; Go ye Cursed into everlasting Fire, when I was an hungry ye fed me not. So that without Controversy, there is nothing in Man comparable to Love, Mercy and Forgiveness, even to his greatest Enemies.

Again, It is a marvellous thing, if you or any other Man, should have a Spiritual Gift to distinguish between Divine and Diabolical Appearances, and yet defer the Examination thereof to another Season, or did the most wise God ever Commission any Man or Angel to make a Discovery of any Spiritual Counterfeits, and yet that Messenger remaineth dark in his own Understanding, concerning the Creator that sent him. I remember such a like Scripture Saying as this, him whom you ignorantly worship, declare I unto you. Moreover, if the most wise Creator, either visible or invisible by himself or Angel, hath appeared in your Spirit, whereby unto your thinking, I was clearly discovered as a deceived Person among the rest, is it not a strange thing that you should have Power over that Light above Men or Angels, before you for the producing of it at another Season, the Creator himself will visible make it manifest, even so come Lord Jesus Christ, for thy glorious Namesake, come quickly, and in the visible Sight of Men and Angels bear Record whether thy Holy Spirit sent me (as I have declared almost these three Years) or no. Again, when the Lord made Choice of such a simple poor Man as I was, as many can witness in the City of London, that have known me about these twenty Years, that I might instrumentally discover the two principal Heads of mischievous Darkness in the Land; as namely, John Robins past, and John Tawney almost spent, truly I had no Power in me to put by his Message until another time; why because (whether you can believe it or no) his Voice was so Glorious in me, that it shun as the Sun, and it was of Motion swifter than Thought, and so pleasant to be declared by Tongue; yet for all that Godlike Glory piercing in me, and through me, there arose a Desire in me to be eased of that Burden of the Lord committed to my Charge, because of that sharp Sentence that I was to declare against any Man that should despise it; then the Lord spake again unto my Soul, Words of turning Death, of sensible unutterable Darkness, answerable to that Jonas-like Rebellion in me, against so great convincing Glory; and truly I was compelled immediately to cry unto him for Deliverance from the Wounds or Anguish of my Soul, that I might presently obey his Word that shined in me with such Light, and Majesty, and Glory in whatsoever it should command me.

Wherefore Friend, happy are you if preserved from slighting an Appearance, that is contrary unto your Light, though it strike at the Foundation on which is built all your Spiritual Enjoyments; for alas, you know in the End, all false Lights will be made manifest unto those that possess the true Light of Eternal Life in them; Blessed therefore are those, that in Obedience unto the Creator from a purified Spirit are compassionate to all Men, but especially to those innocent Appearances, in the Name of the Lord, though they all differ in their Declaration for them. If there be but one true Messenger from the Lord among the rest, they shall as formerly, receive an Angel of God unawares, and with him be Partakers of the Glorious Secrets of the everliving God, to their eternal Consolation: For this I know, from the Spirit of Truth, that those that are left under a Spirit of rejecting and despising of false Appearances, coming forth in the Name of the Lord, they not clearly knowing them to be so, they will as readily despise a true Messenger of the Lord to their eternal Hurt; wherefore are all those, that neither Honour nor Life it self is dear unto them, but upon an Account of Spiritual Wisdom amongst wise Men, when the Glorious Things of Eternity, though in base Appearance presented unto them, from that Spiritual Rock of all Ages, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, God and Man, is one distinct Body or Person glorified; for whatsoever Men dream from their imaginary Gods, of two or three Persons, or a vast incomprehensible Spirit, essentially living in all Things and Places; from an immediate Voice from the highest Heavens, I positively affirm against Men or Angels, that there neither is, nor ever was any other God or Creator, but that God-man Christ Jesus, which was nailed to the Cross, the which Glorious God will one Day visibly appear with his mighty Angels, to the Everlasting Terror of those that reject his Person, as to love a thing for an infinite God to dwell in or to be; yea this very true God in Opposition to all other Gods, Men, or Angels, is already come with his invisible pure piercing Light, to make an everlasting Distinction between the imaginary notional Mysteries of Men in rational Darkness, and the Spiritual Mysteries of his everlasting Kingdom, by true Inspirations from an holy and unerring Spirit. Even so come Lord Jesus Christ, visibly also according to thine own Word, come quickly. Amen.

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Yours with all the Elect, in that only wise very true God, which in the Sight of Men and Angels visible appeared in Flesh, and in that very Body of Flesh and Bone, is ascended far above all Gods, Heavens, Angels, or Men, and there to remain until the Resurrection of all elect Things, or the Judgment-Day, whose uncreated Spirit of fiery Love, is all Variety of immortal Crowns of new ravishing Glories, prepared for all those that long for his visible appearing, to make an everlasting Separation, between the merciful Elect, and unmerciful Reprobate.

John Reeve, the only true Witness unto the very true God, amongst many pretended Spiritual Messengers in this confused Age.

FINIS.

Transcriber's Notes:

Archaic and colloquial spelling and punctuation was retained.

Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected.