if you come to love this and live in this and walk in this your souls will come into Righteousness Unity and peace and so into a comfortable and happy being but if you gain-say resist and withstand the light of Christ when it testifieth in your consciences and love darkness rather then light your souls are in sorrow and heaviness whatsoever you may profess of Christianity in your judgement and opinion for there can be no sound judgement or opinion but in the Light and power of Christ Jesus and they that resist the Light they err in what they hold as to their Judgement and opinion in spiritual things for the ground of Error is ignorance and the ground of ignorance is darkness and then such as love darkness rather then light must needs live in Error and not in the truth whatever they profess and Righteousness unity and peace will never spring out of darkness and error for where ignorance maintains an error it usually maintains it by violence and force against such as hold the contrary and that will never do the thing that is right and so cannot be Righteous or bring forth Righteousness nor never will bring into unity and peace but provokes unto Wrath Envy and Strife and so it is plain that error in Judgement and opinion touching the way and worship of God is the veryground of persecution for as darkness vaileth the understanding from the true knowledge of spiritual things so it causeth ignorance and error in Judgement and opinion and then worketh violently against all dissenters or opposers of that which it formeth and setteth up to be observed as the way and worship of God and this breaks the harmony that stands in Righteousness Unity and peace and can never bring comfort and happiness to any Soul and is it the way and manner of Christians to practice the way of the heathens by whom they were first persecuted and many destroyed for did not the heathen Emperors cause the Christians to be persecured and destroyed for above 3 hundred years after Christ and doth it become Christians to walk in the heathens way of outrage and cruelty one amongst another or should they not love one another as Christ commandeth and live in Righteousness Unity and peace together and so judge the Heathens cruelty and not justifie them in it O that the Rulers of England would stand still and consider the beginning and end of persecution in matters of Faith and Religion for if the beginning of persecution be well pleasing unto God then Cains slaying his brother is no sin but that Cains action did nor please God is plain from the displeasure of God against him the judgment of God that came upon him therefore Cain slaying his Brother is a sin that did not go unpunished and so neither the beginning ofending of persecution that can in any wise be profitable to those that are exercised in it and the Innocent Quakers could not have believed that the King and great Counsel of Parliament would have put such an opportunity into the hands of violent persons to ruine their estates for worshipping the living God for it is the living God that those people do worship and they worship him in the spirit and in the truth which is peaceable whatsoever you do reckon their meetings to be in your natural eye seeing that such a violent use is made of the safe act as tendeth to the utter ruine of honest peaceable Subjects it can no way be dishonourable to your dignity to repeal it make it void which if you do not your agreement in the execution will 〈◊〉 in the consequence and that will fall hard upon your selves when the Lord makes inquisition after such as spoils his people but if you do repeal it and make it void as seeing how destructive it is to the Nation in the using and execution of it then you will manifest some tenderness of heart in your great assembly and also demonstrate that it was not by you enacted with that intention as it hapneth in the execution and this would be great satisfaction unto the Nation for what conclusion can you make to your selves by suffering such proceedings or do you conclude that it may be a benefit unto such as comes under the punishment by working their Reformation if there be neither benefit to your selves nor those you punish as offenders it cannot be beneficial unto any others for that by which any hath benefit must come as a clear thing or otherwise it is no benefit at all for if a man must answer as much or more in consideration of what he receives he hath no benefit but rather looseth by what he receives and if such amongst whom fines are to be divided must answer the receipt unto God with a greater consideration they will be loosers by what they receive for what doth it proffit a man to gain the whole World and loose his own Soul or what shall a man give â—n exchange for his Soul so if a man loose his own Soul in consideration or what he receives in such a manner for his benefit his loss is far greater then his gain and therefore no benefit at all unto him and that no benefit can come to the sufferer by working reformation is very clear for violence was never known to work a true reformation in any and seeing no benefit will arise to any party according to what may be expected then it is altogether an unproffitable thing which unto Christians should be detestable and however you may be incouraged by Prelates and Clergy in such a work upon a Christian account yet you will not find it to your Souls benefit and comfort and they that incourage you in any thing that will not bring comfort to your Souls you have good cause to let there counsel fall at your feet and not to make it a head to rule over you for indeed most men of that sort have sought for worldly preheminence honour and proffit for many ages past and the more you adhere to their Councel the more will they seek their own interest by you and good dominion over you for how doth the Pope exalt himself over Emperors and Kings who by the Emperor was first enstalled in his pontifical dignity and so experience may teach you that it is not altogether your safety to set up Prelares and Clergy above you or to follow their advice and counsel in things that properly concerns your own authority but rather mind your own power in all civil concernments and there is nothing further wherein either they or you are to concern your selves by the power of any outward law and as you mind the Light of Christ Jesus it will direct you to act in your proper places whereby your souls may have peace and comfort and that councel you are to receive by which you may come to allow to all tender consciences the just priviledge of liberty in things pertaining to their
A Spiritual Prospective GLASS Through which the Rulers and people of England may plainly see those things which concerns their peace Being a manifestation from the Spirit of God in love to all people By one that desires the prosperity of truth and the peace of the Nation W. Smith In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men and the Light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not Jo. 1. 4. 5. For God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the fear of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. Printed in the Year 1670. To the Reader READER IF absolute necessity did not constrain to make a discovery of that which doth occasion desolation and to inform all concerned wherein they wrong both themselves and others and so to set the truth before the face of all people it would be more satisfaction to fit in stilness then in such a manner to appear in publick and though the innocent dwell in that Love which endureth all things yet where severity oppresseth their innocency it causeth them to manifest the truth on their own behalf and also for the benefit of such by whom they are oppressed and for this very end is the matter published which in this little book is contained for if any conclude that the Innocent Quakers suffer as evil doers they make there conclusion without a good understanding and none are to conclude a matter until it be fully cleared by sufficient evidence and whoever thou art into whose hands this little book may be ordered thou art desired to read it or hear it in meekness and to consider the matter in it as becommeth true Wisdom and sound Judgement and so by thy own temperance and moderation thou may reap proffit and do thy self good Farewell W. S. A Spiritual Prospective Glass c. IT is not to be questioned but the Rulers and people of England do acknowledge and confess that Christ Jesus is their Redeemer and Saviour that they are Christians through the Faith they have in his death and Resurrection and therefore to be hoped that the ensuing matter may meet with better respect and entertainment in Relation to Christ an practice for Christian practice is always an acceptable thing to a Christian Nature and life because nature is delighted in that which is in agreement with it and the first being stated as a thing not questioned the latter may be more fully opened and presented for the harmony will not break where the matter is substantial in its ground and nature for whatsoever breaketh harmony doth alter the course of Nature by malignity for Christianity is concurrent in all passages without any malignity in it self to let or hinder and in this Harmony the Lord God hath his glory and where it is not so it is but Christianity professed which wanteth the substantial ground and nature of a Christian Life and the Title of a spiritual Prospective Glass comprehends the whole matter by allusion for most people know that it is the property of a visible Prospective Glass to discover visible things plainly which otherwise are obscure and not to be clearly discerned and by that means many comes to be satisfied concerning a thing by beholding it so fully as to know what it is even so must all people come to know and be satisfied concerning spiritual things by beholding them in the Light and Spirit of God for spiritual things are spiritually discerned and the Light and Spirit of God doth discover spiritual things as they are in nature and Life and in that discovery there is no deceiveableness by any false presentation or object but a true discovery of the substance of spiritual things by which the Soul hath great benefit and comfort and with this blessed Light and Spirit Abraham see Christs day and rejoyced and with the same light and spirit Moses see to the beginning and rehearsed the mighty works of God in the beginning and he see Christ the great Prophet who was to be Raised up like unto him and commanded that he in all things should be heard and so â—â—ses see the beginning and the ending in the light and spirit of God and all the Prophets and holy men of God see the Heavenly and spiritual things in the same light and spirit of God and John see the Lamb of God and said behold him and some beheld his glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth and so in the light and spirit of God all the Holy men of God discerned spiritual things and then they did not look at things that were temporall but at things that were eternal and this were a true presentation or object which did not deceive the beholders and by believing in it according to the dispensation of God they came to witness Salvation and Eternal life and so people must come to the light and spirit of God in themselves if they would see spiritual things for flesh and blood doth not reveal spiritual things and they that expect to see spiritual things in that nature they deceive themselves and this hath been in ages past and is at this day the ground of error concerning spiritual things for what man can see spiritual things with a natural eye there is no testimony given by the holy men of God that they see the things of God with flesh and blood or a natural eye but said The natural Man receives not the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned and no Man knows the things of God but the spirit of God and here the natural man is to stop and stand still and be quiet he cannot see spiritual things nor receive spiritual things nor judge of spiritual things and so not fit to meddle with such weighty concernments for seeing by Scripture testimony that no man knows the things of God but by the spirit of God then all that would know the things of God are to mind the spirit of God in themselves and as the spirit is minded obeyed it teacheth and instructeth in the things of God which it knoweth and so the things of God are revealed by his spirit and taught by his spirit and they that receive the Spirit they know the things of God in it and here is the spiritual mind in which is life and peace and he that hath a spiritual mind is a spiritual man and that man is fit to judge of spiritual things because he sees them in the spirit and knows them in the spirit and therefore able to give sound judgement which the natural man cannot do for the natural man runs into error by believing in false objects which darkness presenteth to his view and as he receives it into his beliefs so he holds it in his judgement and opinion as if it was the truth for error is a mistaking of
things as to the truth that is in them and that was the Sadduces condition concerning the Resurrection and Christ said unto them ye do err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God for if they had known the Scriptures and the â—ower of God they would 〈◊〉 understood the truth of the 〈◊〉 and not erred in 〈◊〉 judgement and opinion for it was their judgement that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no Resurrection and that 〈◊〉 their Error or mistake 〈◊〉 Christ opened the truth unto them saying God is not the God of the dead but of the living so truth is not to be concluded as to what men hold in their judgement and opinion seeing Christ reproved it 〈◊〉 error in the 〈◊〉 but that which is revealed in 〈◊〉 and spirit of God may be safely concluded to be the 〈◊〉 which is no error for he that is the light and truth did see the Sadduâ—â—â— error in what they held in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and opinion concerning the Resurrection and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there be for people to give up their belief to the judgeâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 opinion of natural men as to spiritual things there can be no â—ore safety in so doing then for one blind man to be led or guided by another that is as blind as himself therefore I shall speak in plainness to the Rulers and People of England for their information in the things of God if happily the light may shine out of darkness in such where it shines in darkness and by darkness not comprehended that if it seem good to the Lord the day may break in them and the Sun of righteousness may arise with healing under his Wings Friends unto you all that are striving against the blessed appearance of Christ Jesus the Lord of Life and Prince of Peace this matter is offered in love to your souls and to the whole nation and though I well know that judgement lingreth not where wickedness aboundeth So I also know that God would not the death of a sinner but rather he would turn from his wickedness and live and this I deliver as a testimony for God and in this matter I shall not appear like Tertullus the flourishing Orator but like Paul the plain and true Apostle for in such weighty concernments the Fear of the Lord is to be minded and his counsel and wisdom to be obeyed and followed and in that I shall speak to the witness of God in all your consciences 1. The Almighty and Everlasting God created all things good man in that state was blessed and happy in the paradic of God and there his Soul enjoyed the benefit and comfort in the life and power by which it was nourished 2. The good and blessed state in which man was created he loss by disobedience and so was driven out of paradice to his Souls sorrow and heaviness and that is the state of all people in the first Adams transgression 3. The Almighty and Everlasting God promised a seed to break the Serpents head that tempted man forth of his good and blessed state in which he was created that man might be again restored into his first being of life 4. The seed promised was Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God who by the arm of his power is able to destroy the Devil and his Work and to bring Man again unto God and the good 5. The holy men of God in all ages did bear witness of the power of the seed in working deliverance from the power of the Serpent by which they came to witness Gods promise fulfilled and to live in the joy of his Salvation 6. There is no nation people or Language unto whom the seed doth not give light for the 〈◊〉 is Christ and Christ lighteth every one that comes into the World and his Light is a Witness in every ones conscience unto that which is good â—nd against that which is evil 7. Man believing and obeying the testimony of the Light of Christ in his conscience it worketh in power for his deliverance out of darkness where his Soul is in bondage sorrow and heaviness and restores into the good again where the Soul comes into peace joy and happiness and so Christ is the restorer of 〈◊〉 to dwell in Now as you profess your selves to be believers in Christ and so to be Christians it is necessary that you consider how far you can witneâ—s the promise of God fulfilled in you by the power of Christ and that you may fully examine your own conditions these following questions may be useful to you 1. Do you believe in the Light with which Christ lighteth you 2. Do you obey the Testimony of Light in your own Consciences 3. Do you witness your sin done away and the serpents head broken 4 Do you witness deliverance out of darkness and the house of bondage 5. Do you witness liberty in the power of an endless life 6. Do you witness the righteousness of Christ to be made your righteousness 7. Do you witness unity and peace in the righteousness of Christ. 8. Do you witness the goodness of God to satisfie your Souls 9. Do you follow peace with all men and holiness 10. Do you feel the peace of God rule in your hearts 11. Do you love your enemies and do good to those that hate you 12. Do you serve God in Fear and Rejoyce before him with reverence Examine your selves and your condition by these few questions for these good and holy things are witnessed by such as are regenerated and born again and except you be regenerated and born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God and can your Souls be satisfied out of Gods Kingdom and is it not the greatest concernment to know an entrance into the Kingdom of God where the Soul comes to be satisfied in rest and peace and comfort and happiness and so there is a coming out of the first Adams transgression as the light and power of the second Adam is obeyed in manifestation and operation for the operation of the light and power of Christ Jesus the second Adam makes a new creature and they that receive Christ in his light and power to come into Union with him they are new creatures and new creatures are Christians in Nature and Life and the Spirit beareth witness with their spirits that they are the sons of God and in such all old things are done away and all things are become new and so they are in the New Covenant with a new heart and a new spirit which God gives them and puts into them and these are the people who now worship God in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh and so they answer the life and practice of new creatures and Christians in times past and this keeps the harmony and doth not break it for the same righteousness Unity and Peace runs as a natural stream in the same light spirit life and power that is in Christ Jesus and