A prospective-glass for saints and sinners whereby may appear and be seen, 1. The authors life expressed in the first epistle, 2. That there is no true peace of mind in those that account themselves believers so long as they lead a corrupt life, 3. What great enemies the riches of this world, and poverty are to truth, 4. What that truth and true knowledge is, which giveth satisfaction to the mind of man in this life : and several other things necessary to salvation / by John Saddington.

CHAP. VI. Every true Believer is Heir to the Kingdom of Heaven, because he is free-born, and free by Redemption.

1. WHoever they are that are Believers, yet by that corrupted Reason in them have been overcome to commit evil in any sort whatsoever, they can witness the Torment belonging to it in themselves, and thereby they learn to do righteously ever after, ha∣ving by experience found the difference between do∣ing good and evil.

2. In the Apostles time there were some Believers, that through the occasion of sin had such operations in them knowing by experience the difference be∣tween doing good and evil, that they were able to de∣clare unto other Believers what afflictions they had undergone within themselves for doing those things that were contrary to the Spirit of Truth.

3. They having by Faith overcome those operati∣ons, were made the more able to withstand them af∣terwards; yet nevertheless lest any Believers should through the Temptation fall wilfully into sin, think∣ing thereby to be made stronger in Faith, St. Paul said, Shall we sin that Grace may abound? God for∣bid.

4. Therefore it is a greater comfort for all men, e∣specially Believers to live innocently all the dayes of their lives, than for them to fall once into sin, though by the forgiveness thereof they are made more able to withstand Temptations afterwards.

5. It is the best for all Believers to learn to be tem∣perate and wise, and well to consider the effects that will follow their actions, whereby there may be no cause of Repentance afterwards, then shall we keep our peace with God and man.

6. If we do not keep our peace, then are we in bon∣dage, and why should we suffer our selves to be carri∣ed into bondage by iniquity, when as our Faith and Knowledge leadeth us to live in purity.

7. We who are Believers are both Free-born, and Free by Redemption.

First, we are Free-born, because we are of the seed of Faith, called the Seed of Gods own body, which seed is Heir to the Kingdom of Heaven by birth.

8. Secondly, We are free by Redemption, because our God paid a great Ransome for us to redeem us from sin and iniquity.

9. Our sins, that is the sins of the Elect, were so great that no other price could satisfie that Debt, but the death of the Godhead only.

10. That God who created the World, so loved the World, that is the world of Elect; or the Elect in the world, that for their sakes alone did he lay down his Godhead-life for a moment in shame.

11. That is, he suffered that shameful death upon the Cross, betwixt two Thieves, whereby he was num∣bred among Transgressors, and all that was, that he might gain to himself power to raise all those to Eter∣nal

life and glory with himself, that had had faith to believe.

12. That according to his promise he would send his Son, or become a Child himself in Mortality, and all those that had faith to believe that he was the Messiah and Saviour of the world when he was come.

13. And all those that now can truly believe, that he is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in one Single Person Glorified, he laid down his Godhead life for.

14. And also by laying down his said life, and ri∣sing again, he purchased for himself a double Crown of Glory and Honour.

15. Before Eternity became time, and time became Eternity again, that is, before God became a pure mortal man, and afterwards immortalized himself a∣gain, which is a riddle too hard for the seed of the Ser∣pent to understand.

16. I say, before that blessed time God had the glo∣ry and honour of a Creator only; but by his death and rising again he hath now the glory and honour of the Redeemer and Saviour of the world; therefore accor∣ding to his own promise, as it is written in Isaiah, His Glory is not given to another.

17. And as he purchased a double Glory to him∣self, so likewise hath he purchased Eternal life and glory for us who do truly believe him to be the only and alone wise God.

18. And also by his Death and Resurrection he hath purchased for the unbelieving Reprobates everlasting Torments that will never end.

19. What manner of lives therefore ought we to live being we are sensible for what end and purpose

the Creator of Heaven and Earth laid down his life.

20. Therefore let us strive always to do those things which we know to be well pleasing to our God, be∣cause we only are the true believers of the Witnesses of the Spirit, which is the Lords third and last Commis∣sion or Testament, and so are a peculiar people in this Generation, knowing more of the mind of God, than any believers did in times past.

21. Wherefore let not us darken this great and mar∣vellous light by any unseemly carriage, but let us ab∣stain from all manner of evil that may any way break our peace, or beget a Civil war within us.

22. Which war will not be ended until we lay down those weapons, wherewith we fight against that Truth by which we have received the assurance of our Salvation.

23. And by Repentance make our peace again, and cease from all manner of evil, then by well do∣ing we shall not only keep our peace with God, but we shall also put to silence all those that shall speak evil of Truth.

24. They being ignorant of the power of Faith, which we have by believing Commissonated men, that had then Commission and Power given them from Christ himself.