A Divine Looking-Glass

{{Essay-like|date=June 2025}}

{{Essay-like|date=June 2025}}

'''''A Divine Looking-Glass''''' was written and first published in 1656 by [[John Reeve (religious leader)|John Reeve]], an English [[prophet]]. A second edition, revised by [[Lodowicke Muggleton]], was published in 1661 and from this a fifth edition (with more modern scriptural quotations) was published in 1846.<ref>John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton "A Divine Looking-Glass" Clerkenwell:Catchpool & Trent (1846)</ref> It claims to be a work of [[religious texts|holy writ]] and is seen to be so in [[Muggletonianism]]. Specifically, it is part of the 'Third and Last Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ'. The first two testaments are the [[613 Commandments|Mosaic law]] and the gospels of Christ's apostles.<ref>Roughly, the Muggletonian canon comprises the Old and New Testaments less those books attributed to Solomon, plus Ethiopic Enoch [[Book of Enoch]] and the [[Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs]]. Reeve used a [[King James Bible]] of 1608 which preceded the Authorised version</ref> In the scriptural style, Reeve's book is divided into chapter and verse.

'''''A Divine Looking-Glass''''' was written and first published in 1656 by [[John Reeve (religious leader)|John Reeve]], an English [[prophet]]. A second edition, revised by [[Lodowicke Muggleton]], was published in 1661 and from this a fifth edition (with more modern scriptural quotations) was published in 1846.<ref>John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton "A Divine Looking-Glass" Clerkenwell:Catchpool & Trent (1846)</ref> It claims to be a work of [[religious texts|holy writ]] and is seen to be so in [[Muggletonianism]]. Specifically, it is part of the 'Third and Last Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ'. The first two testaments are the [[613 Commandments|Mosaic law]] and the gospels of the [[Apostles in the New Testament]].<ref>Roughly, the Muggletonian canon comprises the Old and New Testaments less those books attributed to Solomon, plus Ethiopic Enoch [[Book of Enoch]] and the [[Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs]]. Reeve used a [[King James Bible]] of 1608 which preceded the Authorised version</ref> In the scriptural style, Reeve's book is divided into chapter and verse.

"I, John Reeve, am the last commissionated prophet that ever shall declare divine secrets" (46.3). He received his commission from God "to the hearing of the ear as a man speaks to his friend" (23.22) in February 1651. There were no visions or ecstasies. This commission identifies Reeve and his cousin, Lodowicke Muggleton, as the [[Two Witnesses]] referred to in the [[Book of Revelation]] at chapter 11 verse 3. The context means that both men saw themselves as given ''a power'' from God to expound scripture, God now decreeing the world to be ready to learn more of the divine secrets as the end of time draws near. This contrasts with a more usual prophetic tendency of the 1650s to identify the prophet ''as messenger'', with the 'angel with a book' in chapter 10 of Revelation.<ref>Norman Cohn "The Pursuit of the Millennium" London:Granada Publishing, 3rd edition 1970 p. 316 - 330 (earlier editions do not have this section) cites Abiezer Coppe (1619-72) "A fiery flying roll" (1649) and also [[Laurence Clarkson]] who subsequently converted to Muggletonianism.</ref>

"I, John Reeve, am the last commissionated prophet that ever shall declare divine secrets" (46.3). He received his commission from God "to the hearing of the ear as a man speaks to his friend" (23.22) in February 1651. There were no visions or ecstasies. This commission identifies Reeve and his cousin, Lodowicke Muggleton, as the [[Two Witnesses]] referred to in the [[Book of Revelation]] at chapter 11 verse 3. The context means that both men saw themselves as given ''a power'' from God to expound scripture, God now decreeing the world to be ready to learn more of the divine secrets as the end of time draws near. This contrasts with a more usual prophetic tendency of the 1650s to identify the prophet ''as messenger'', with the 'angel with a book' in chapter 10 of Revelation.<ref>Norman Cohn "The Pursuit of the Millennium" London:Granada Publishing, 3rd edition 1970 p. 316 - 330 (earlier editions do not have this section) cites Abiezer Coppe (1619-72) "A fiery flying roll" (1649) and also [[Laurence Clarkson]] who subsequently converted to Muggletonianism.</ref>