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. III. What an Enemy the Riches of this world is to Truth. And how all things are possible for God to do, which his

Glory moveth him to do. And how the Worlds Rich∣es is of the nature of a Loadstone.

1. AGain, all those that are willing to yeeld obe∣dience to Faith, whereby they may live in perfect peace in this life; they must be sure to with∣stand the grand Enemies of Truth, which are Riches and Poverty. Therefore doth St. Paul desire that he may fed with food convenient for him, neither with Riches lest he should boast, nor with Poverty, lest he should steal.

2. First, let no Saint strive for honour in this World, for that is a Cord which draweth many to destru∣ction, both in this life and that which is to come.

3. We see how hard a thing it is for any man to joyn with truth that is rich and in honour in this World, because he knoweth that he cannot keep his honour among the Great Ones of this World, if he wor ship God only in spirit and truth.

4. Therefore it is in vain for any that have received the truth in the love thereof for to think to keep his spiritual peace in this life, and yet strive to climb up to the top of Mountains in worldly honour; no that cannot possibly be, for before he getteth half way to that estate he aimeth at, he will pluck such stones up∣on his own head that will break his peace and make him wish that he hath been content to walk upon plain ground where he might have been in safety with peace in his mind.

5. Whereas now he findeth nothing but distraction and trouble with all those incumbrances wherewith he hath entangled himself to gain the Honor and rich∣es in this World, which is not to be regarded by a spi∣ritual wise man.

6. Because they break the peace of the mind and vex the pure peaceable spirit of truth, that envieth no man, nor coveteth after riches, but having where∣with to supply its wants is therewith content.

7. Therefore let no man that is a believer make him∣self a servant to iniquity which is vanity, when he is the Lords freeman and may live in purity.

8. Secondly, he that setteth his mind so much on this World that he cannot see himself happy without Riches and Honour in this World, though he know there is a Crown of Glory prepared for him hereafter in another World, its a wonder if he be not taken prisoner by those snares which his reason hath lead him into.

9. And if he be once taken Captive by the Riches and Honour of this World, which belongeth chiefly to the feed of the scrpent, then it will stop that current of faith, and break his peace with God, so great Ene∣mies are the Riches and Honour of this World to the Spirit of truth.

10. And I do believe there are very few but can witness this to be true, that so long as a man is pres∣sing forward to get Riches in this World, or so long as he delighteth to be in worldly Honour, his mind can∣not be at such perfect liberty to mind the things of E∣ternity, as those are who desire no more but so much as will keep them from want, and from being a bur∣then to others.

11. By Experience we have seen and known mul∣titudes of sorrows have fallen upon many that have striven to be great in the World.

12. And daily may see the many outward afflicti∣ons that fall upon them, because it appeareth pub∣lique

to us, but what inward grief and trouble there is for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their Honour or Riches when they are taken from them we know not.

13. Therefore let every believer strive to keep his peace with God, for to keep his peace with God, is the greatest Riches and Honour that a Saint can have.

14. And to lose that peace which is of more value than a thousand Worlds, how shall he be able to pur∣chase that peace again, when the breaking of it hath wounded his spirit, and a wounded spirit who can bear it.

15. Thirdly, do we not see by Experience that most of those that are rich and live in honour in this World, that they are in a miserable Estate in this World upon a spiritual account, for they are kept in so much slavery by their riches and honour that they must yeeld obedience thereunto.

16. Therefore when truth is declared to them, and they are convinced in themselves, that it is truth yet they will not imbrace it in love, for fear they should be converted by it, and so lose their Honour in this World.

17. So that we may clearly see what great power the Riches and Honour of this World have over them that have tasted so much sweetness by them.

18. The Riches of this World are so sweet and the perishing honour which belongeth to it so delightful to enjoy it longer, they will refuse that spiritual Wis∣dom which will lead all those that enjoy it to everla∣sting life, and Glory undeclarable.

19. When all those who despise truth shall have their reward, which is an ever-dying-death, which will never have an end.

20. Because then the fire of Gods wrath will be kindled in them, which will burn more fierce than a∣ny fire and brimstone in this World, for it will never be cooled or quenched to Eternity.

21. But if they did but know the worth of true Wisdom in this life they would not despise it; and there is no true spiritual Wisdom now in this World, but what is declared by the Witnesses of the Spirit.

22. Therefore all of the seed of Faith, or of the Woman, are hereby exhorted, that as they are ac∣quainted with as pure truths as ever was declared by quainted with as pure truths as ever was declared by and unto men, and many have sucked therefrom so much sweetness as hath given them assurance of their salvation.

23. Let us all far more esteem of that Glory and Honour which we shall enjoy with our God, his Pro∣phets and Apostles, the holy Angels, and our fellow-Saints in the Heaven of Glory to Eternity, (having thus in our Eye the Recompence of Reward) than to any Dignity or Honour that can be presented to us in this World.

24. And let us slight the Preferment of this World, because we know if we do enjoy it, it will endanger (for the Reasons aforesaid) to break that peace we have with God, which is of far more value than a thou∣sand Worlds.

25. Again, shall the seed of the Serpent be willing to lose all the enjoyment of the Glory to come on the other side of death to enjoy their pleasure, or their good things (as they are called) in this life? because they are not certain, or believe not any Resurrection.

26. And shall not we be willing to be without the pleasures of this World (which for the most part

are but the pleasures of sin for a season) being we are fully satisfied that there are Crowns of Glory pre∣pared for us to wear in the Kingdom of Glory.

27. Where we shall be in the Presence of our glo∣rious God Christ Jesus who purchased those Crowns of Glory for us, with the death of his most precious Soul, as it is written, He poured out his Soul unto death.

28. Again, it is written, The second Adam was a quickning Spirit; and therein did Christ make it plain∣ly appear that he was that quickning Spirit, because he did quicken his most pretious Soul out of death to life again by his own power, as he had often said, That he had power to lay down his life, and power to take it up a∣gain.

29. And as sure as his words were spirit and life, so sure did he rise again by his own power, without any additional power from any other God, for there was no God besides himself.

30. But I know these will be counted hard sayings to the seed of Reason, who are the seed of the Ser∣pent.

31. Although they will professingly say, all things are possible with God, yet they cannot believe that it was possible for God to die; but it was possible for God todie, because it was for his Glory, and there is nothing unpossible with God that his glorious Wisdom moveth him to do.

32. I am sure they whose God could not die, they will never be redeemed from sin; for there was no∣thing but the blood of God himself that could wash away the sins of his Elect.

33. Therefore they only that do feed on Christ, by

their true believing that be did lay down his Godhead-life for them, will be saved when he cometh to judge ••he World.

34. And for a man to know in this life, that his sins are forgiven, and that he shall dwell with Christ to E∣ternity is riches indeed.

35. But for the riches of this world, we see by Ex∣perience that they are not only vanity, but they are also the greatest ensnarements that are to deprive men of Eternal happiness.

36. And they have so much as it were of the nature of the Loadstone in them, that if the heart of man be but once touched affectionately with them, it is drawn away with them, and by the strength of them it is hol∣den so fast that it seldom parteth with them, until death by force taketh it away.

37. Therefore let none that know the nature and danger hereof suffer themselves to be taken Prisoners by those Powers from which seldom any are released. And you all know that Christ himself said, It was ea∣sier for a Cammel to go through the eye of a Needle, than for a Rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Hea∣ven.

38. Again. I know that as People in Christs time said, But which of the Rulers have believed in him; so do people now cry, What Noble or Learned men do believe in the Witnesses of the Spirit, when they them∣selves are not ignorant what is written, That few of those that are called Wise, Noble, or Learned are cho∣sen.

39. But if any of the Rulers of this City of Lon∣don, or any one that is in any other place of great Au∣thority should have a desire to be acquainted with the

Witnesses of the Spirit, or with some of the Believers of them, it must be done secretly.

40. Or else they must come by night as Nichode∣mus did to Christ. For those that are in Power and Authority dare not be seen to have any love for that Doctrine which is not allowed by the Supreme Pow∣er of the three Nations for fear they should be brought in Question for their Faith, and so should be put out of their places of Honour in this World.

41. I doubt there are many that are Rulers in these Kingdoms that know no more what the true God is, than Nichodemus did know how he should be born a∣gain though he was a Master in Israel.

42. And it is now as it was in former Ages, if the truth be not declared to be truth by the Rulers and Chief Magistrates, then the Generality of the people will not suffer it to be spoken before them, without cal∣ling it Blasphemy, Heresie, Delusion, or a Lye, or such like Expressions, wherewith they corrupt themselves; Because they speak evil of those things which they know not, as it is written by St. Jude.