A Looking-Glass Discovering to all People what IMAGE they BEAR By which the True Jew is known from the false and the Christian in nature from him that is so in name only Likewise all people in some measure may know what spirit they are of and whether they are the Children of God or of the Devil With directions for such as live in Error how they may leave their Error and know the Truth which leads out of Error by which People are made free from sin which they run into and live in by following the spirit of Error With a few words to Informers who make it their work to Inform against their Neighbours for meeting together peaceably in the fear of the Lord to Worship him as he requires By a Follower of him who saith if you continue in my Word then are you my Disciples indeed And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free John 8.31 32. Edward Bourne Printed in the Year 1671. A Looking-Glass FOR All People to See Themselves whether they be what they ought to be and do as they ought to do or otherwise ALthough much hath been Written and Spoken to turn Peoples minds to the Light of Christ in them to the end that all may do what they ought in all things and be what they ought towards God yet but few have received the Report thereof though by obeying this Light which is that which leads to keep a Conscience void of offence towards God and Men true happiness is attained unto and contrariwise the neglect hereof is the cause of Peoples ruin and Eternal Misery But notwitstanding whether People will hear or forbear I know none on whom such a Work as this is laid by the Lord God can neglect the same but we must be Transgressors our selves in this respect And therefore to keep my Conscience pure towards God I thus proceed You that live in sin you know you should not live so and that which gives you this knowledg is the Grace of God which hath appeared unto you by which as in a Glass you may see your selves by which the Drunkard Tit. 2.11 12. sees he should not be Drunk and the Lyer he should not lie and the Envious Man he should not live in Envy and he that Persecutes his Neighbour whose Works are better then his and for that cause all these are doing what they should not do as they themselves many of them in their Prayers to God do confess And these though they do that which they know they should not do and leave undone that which they know they should not leave undone yet would they have the Lord to have Mercy on them although their daily practice is thus to Transgress They acknowledge they have Transgressed against Gods Holy Law and too much followed the Devices and desires of their own hearts c. And this is their manner from the beginning of the year to the end thereof But Mark you that are such can you believe that God will shew Mercy to you onely on this your Confession Are you so foolish and unwise as so to believe If you do certainly you will find it otherwise in the end Then your folly will appear though at the present you may account your selves wise and understanding and them foolish who are truely wise But I must tell you to be truely wise is to fear the Lord and to keep his Commandments though you may not account it so Object But some may say What are the Commandments of God that we are to keep Answ These Thou shalt love the Lord God with all thy heart Deu. 10.1 Luke 10.27 28. and thy Neighbour as thy self and whatsoever thou seest by the grace of God that hath appeared to thee thou oughtest to do it and it will be thy Transgression to neglect the same therefore do not deceive your selves with such a perswasion any longer if you do you will shew much folly and indiscretion therein for God will not be mocked with such lip Service This I am bold in the fear of God to assure you of you may draw neer him with your Lip 's but your Hearts are far from him whilst it is onely thus You must not onely confess your faults to God but must also forsake them if Mercy with him you would find And this is the Word of God unto you Let the Wicked Man forsake his way and the unrighteous Man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly Pardon him Isa 55.7 You pray that God would deliver you from all Envy and Malice and from all uncharitableness and from all the works of the Devil But if you were delivered from all these abominations happy would you be then God who delivereth his People from all these would be your God But your Teachers many of them are Envious themselves and uncharitable themselves c. Therefore it may be you are the more imboldened to commit all these Abominations But if you and your Teachers would take heed to the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation that thereby you may be guided you would know the Lord God to be your Teacher who teacheth his People to profit and so be delivered from all these Abominations and all the works of the Devil and then we should not suffer by you as we do for the Truth being your Guide and Teacher you will give us the same liberty to Worship God that you would have your selves and so do as you would be done by in this and in all things and so hereby you will do what you ought to do and be what you ought to be towards God and not before viz. you cannot do nor be as you ought till you be guided by the Truth which leads to meekness and lowlyness by which God will direct you in all your wayes then shall you be far from oppression and violence and spoil will be as it may be said banished from your Habitations that spirit which leads to unrighteousness not being harkened unto but the Voice of the Lord God obeyed and his Councel stood in Object But some may say you direct us to the Light within that by taking heed unto it we may forsake that which God requires us to forsake and do what we ought to do that so we may be what we ought to be towards him You also will acknowledge that that which mâ—â—es to unrighteousness and unholiness is within And seeing that it is so that both these are within how shall they be known and distinguished the one from the other How shall that be rejected and forsaken that ought so to be And that followed and obeyed that ought to be followed and obeyed Especially because that Principle which leads to unrighteousness sometimes appeares like that which moves unto Righteousness How shall we distinguish between the one and the other and follow that which we ought to follow and
are manifested and the Children of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin c. And further he saith Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God see 1 John 3.9 10. c. Christ said to the Jews who were doing the Works of the Devil when they said God was their Father said he If God was your Father you would love me because I proceeded and came forth from him but said he You are of your Father the Devil and his Works you will do who was a Lyer and a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth c. These were Betrayers and Murderers of the Just and holy One and yet took on them to be the Children of God calling him their Father but made it appear that the Devil was their Father by doing the Works of the Devil which was to murder and betray the Righteous and these said that Abraham was their Father but were far from his Works So like them many that are called Christians that have the name but are out of the nature of true Christians they oppress the Righteous and perseture the Righteous who are the true followers of Christ and pertakers of his Nature and betrayes and murders them and yet would be counted holy and true Christians when it is quite contrary for such are altogether and wholly against Christ and so are followers of Antichrist who oppresseth and gainsayeth Christ and not the Followers of Christ Jesus and these would be accounted according to holy Church and Members of holy Church But whether they be let that of God in all consciences judge So away with these who say they are Christians and would be accounted truely so but are otherwise But the true followers of Christ Jesus have the Testimony in themselves that they please God as Enoch had who walked with God in his Generation Now these false Christians that have the name but are out of the nature of true Christians they want this Testimony For that of God in their consciences condemns them for walking contrary to it for if they did according to it they would bring forth fruit unto God which whilst they disobey the just by acting contrary to that of God in their consciences they are far from but are heaping up unto themselves Wrath against the Day of Wrath so though they take upon them to be true Christians yet do they want the Testimony of Truth in their Consciences to assure them that it is so as the Apostle who was a true follower of Christ and those who are such have who said We know we are of God and the whole World lyes in Wickedness and we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding whereby we know him that is true this is true God and Eternal Life see John 5.6 20. Which the true Christians know and are witnesses of Glory and Praise and Honour be given to the most high God who is holy and lives for ever So by what is brought forth may it be known what spirit People are of or by what spirit they are led and guâ—dâ—d and so whose Children they are whether they are the Children of God or the Children of the Devil the Children of God do like him who is righteous holy and Just and the Children of the Devil are like their father the Devil who was a Lyar and a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth and so like him dwell in darkness and have their habitation there and not in the Light of the Lord For how can they dwell in the Light whilst they are contrary to it and will not come to it to be guided thereby whosoever thou art that shall read these lines be serious in the consideration thereof that it may tend to thy good and not to thy harm Directions for such as live in Error how they may leave their Error and know the Truth which leads out of Error by which People are made free from sin which they run into and live in by following the Spirit of Error SO 't is the spirit of error this spirit of the Devil which too many are guided by who will not come to that which shews them their error that they may be led therefrom unto God You will not come to me said Christ to the unbelieving Jews that you might have Life Now 't is by following Christ that error is seen and the spirit of error shunned and avoided so who are in error and sees your error to that which lets you see your error which is the Light Christ Jesus hath enlightened you withall do I in the fear of God direct your minds that by taking dilligent heed unto it you may be led therefrom unto God who is holy and lives for ever So hereby you will know Truth the Spirit of Truth which makes free to free you from your Sins and Christ you will witness to be the Saviour of your Souls who saves from Sin and gives power over Sin and him who is the Author thereof viz. the Devil so you will be no longer in bondage to the Devil the Auther of Sin nor a Slave to your own corruptions but may to the praise of the most high God declare to others what God hath done for your Souls to your great joy and satisfaction So who can receive the report herein given of the Truth and in other Writings that are given forth therefrom let them that we may not complain as Isaiah did who said Lord Who hath believed our report c. see Isai 53.1 And consider of the same and what Christ spake by way of comparison of that Generation amongst whom he was before he suffered see Mat. 11.16 17 18 19 20. c. The Lord give the Reader an understanding herein and a Heart to do accordingly A few Words to Informers who make it their Work to inform against their Neighbours for Meeting together peaceably in the Fear of the Lord to Worship him as he requires COnsider what you are doing do you do the will of God herein or is it otherwise viz. do you do it because you hate that which is good and be at enmity against those whose Works are better then yours are Consider if it be your minds and your purposes not to amend wherein you have need to amend your wayes and your doings that you may be what you ought both in respect to God and all People doing to all People wherein you have to do with them as you would be done by your selves I say If the case stands thus with you whether your Sin will not be the less if you do nothing to the injury of them who desire to Worship God according to his holy will who is a Spirit and must be Worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth and be towards him and all People wherein they shall be concerned with them as they ought and as God requires them to be Certainly if you can refrain
have the Name but are out of the Nature They want the Nature of true Christians and so are like them who said They were Jews But did lye see Revel 3.9 The true Christians are guided by Christ's Spirit which leads them to love one another and their Enemies also and to bless such as curse them and not to overcome evil with the same but to overcome it with that which is of a contrary Nature to it namely that which is good and not to swear at all but to spake the truth without swearing in obedience to Christ Jesus who saith Swear not at all but their Yea is Yea and their Nay is Nay without an Oath as Christ teacheth so they are such as hear his sayings and do them and so differ greatly from them who call Christ Lord and yet do not the things which he saith and so the true Christians are subject to Christ Jesus in doing whatsoever he commands them the Spirit to Christ is that which they be led and guided by that holy Spirit which calls to follow peace and holiness with all men without which no man shall see the Lord though he be called by the best name and do profess never so much of Christianity Thus in shore I have shewed what it is to be a true Christian Object But it is commonly objected that things can never be well in Church or State which People who are contrary the one to the other in their Worship may have liberty to Worship God in their particular manners every particular sort of People viz. The Papists The Episcopal men Those called Baptists and those called Quakers c. Which must all have liberty to follow that which they think best This cannot do well say They We shall never do well until all are brought to one Uniformity in their Worship c. Answ Can you do better herein then the Apostle and Servant of Christ Jesus councelled in such Cases as these Who said Let every Man be fully perswaded in his own Mind in what he doth For whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin Now as the Papist would have liberty to Worship God in that Way which he judges best so the same liberty he would have must he give to another The Episcopal Man must do the same and so the rest And lay aside all Forcing and Compelling and Persecuting about these things and who are in the right Way let them make it appear by their Meekness and Gentleness and Patience c. And so let them by their sound Doctrine and good Conversation convince them that are contrary minded if they can so long as all these are peaceable and do nothing that tends to the disturbance of the Common Wealth nor to the injury of any Person but do onely Worship God as they judge they ought What shall Men take on them to judge in such cases and to Punish in such cases if such err in their Worship seeing it belongs to God to judge and Punish for the same Now if Men take this upon them do not they do what they ought not seeing the thing belongs to God and not to Man to do thus If any err herein they ought to be admonished that they may desist from their error and close which the Truth by which they see their error Christ said who is to be heard in all things If thy Brother offend tell him between him and thee if he hears thee thou hast gaind thy Brother see Mat. 18.15 16 17. if he do not hear take one or two more with thee if he do not hear them then tell the Church if he do not hear the Church then let him be as the Heathen or the Publican he doth not say Persecute him Burn him for a Heretick but let him be as the Heathen or the Publican Further Christ speaking of false Prophets said Believe them not But did not bid his Followers to Persecute and Destroy them And further consider Christ's Parable concerning the Tares which the Enemy sowed while Men slept and what the Housholder said to his Servant thereupon that informed him of the same see Mat. 13.24 25 26 27 28 29 30. Which plainly shews that such should be left to God who err in point of Religion and Church Worship to be judged by him for the same who is the judge of all the Earth and will do right So let all have liberty to Worship God as they are perswaded in their own Minds they ought and not be barred therefrom so long as they be peaceable and do nothing that tends to the disturbance of the Common Wealth or injury of any Person viz. Whilst these things cannot be justly charged upon them and this is Gospel liberty and till this be given viz. Liberty of Conscience in things relateing to the Worship of God it cannot be well in Church nor state Now if any err herein not willingy but do it because they judge they ought and are sincere herein towards God doubtless God will when he sees it best for such discover their error to them and lead them therefrom and guide them in the right Way by his own Spirit which doth not nor cannot erre so here is no liberty desired for People to live in drunkenness or in stealing from any or to offer violence to any Person c. if any do after this manner let them be restrained and punished as God by his holy Laws has appointed which answers that of God in all Peoples Consciences Here is shewed how People may know what spirit they are of whether they be the Children of the Most High God or the Children of the Devil c. THis must be by what is brought forth by them for by the Fruit is the Tree to be known whether it be good or otherwise For a good Tree saith Christ Bringeth forth good Fruit But an evil Tree evil Fruit c. So by what is brought forth may it be known or judged of what spirit People are or by what spirit they are led and guided Now the Children of God are led by his Spirit also the Children of the Devil are led by the spirit of the Devil The fruits of the Spirit of the Lord are these viz. Love Joy Peace Gentleness Goodness Faith Gal. 5.22 23. Gal. 5.19 20 21. Meekness Temperance c. And the fruits of the spirit of the Devil or the Works of the flesh are these viz. swearing upon any occasion whatsoever when People know by that of God in their Consciences they should not swear at all Drunkenness Lying Fornication Envy Malice Persecution Fraud Dissimulation Idolatry or any thing else that a Man may set up in his Mind and love more then the Truth whether it be Covetousness or whatsoever it be for all these are Idolatry and all these are evil fruits So who are in these things they cannot be said to please God nor to be of God who is the Author of all good in this said John The Children of God