A True Interpretation of the Witch of Endor

by Lodowick 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.