A Crystal Mirror, To the reader – Table of contents
TO THE READER.
Candid and Chriſtian Reader,
BEhold here a marvelous and myſtical Mirrour, or little Looking-glaſs (a portable Pocket-book) I preſent to you; a Divine Glaſs, better than the beſt Chryſtal-glaſs in the world, which can onelyonly diſcover the diſorders, defects, and deformities of the Outward man, and how to regulate all theſe in order to Acceptance with men; but this (through Grace) will diſcover all thoſe of the Inward man, and how to rectifie them in order to your Acceptance with God. This is not a Glaſs that makes a reſemblance of the bare ſuperficies and outward face of things onelyonly, but it diſcovers the ſpots, freckles, and ſmutches of the Hidden man, the Heart, 1 Pet. 3. 4. So that it is not onelyonly [foreign] Speculum, a Looking-glaſs, but 'tis alſo [foreign] Perſpecillum, a Perſpective-glaſs, which gives you a diſtinct proſpect into every cranny and corner of your treacherous Heart. 'Tis not a Glaſs that repreſents the bare Images of things (which can never be handled by the hands of any man) but the things themſelves, even ſuch things as your hands may handle of the Word of Life, 1 John 1. 1. 'Tis not a dark and aenigmatical Glaſs like that of the Law of Moſes, which was covered with a Vail, 1 Cor. 13.12. & 2 Cor. 3. 13. But this Looking-glaſs of the Meſſias, the Law of Liberty, Jam. 1. 23. is as clear as Chryſtal, Rev. 21. 11.18. & 22. 1. unto the man whoſe eyes are opened, Numb. 24. 3. with Chriſts ſpittle and clay, Joh. 9. 6. and with his Eye-ſalve, Revel. 3. 18. And 'twill plainly repreſent [pi al pi, Hebr.] mouth to mouth, and face to face, Prov. 27.19. even to the transforming of your Soul into the Image of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 3. 18. 'Tis not a Glaſs that gives falſe and flattering repreſentations (making foul things ſeem fair, or fair things foul) but according to their Nature, ſo is their Colour and complexion in a real Portraicture: 'Tis a Glaſs that propoſes to view the Anatomy or Diſſection of the Heart, wherein the many Fibrae or ſmall threads of its Treachery [foreign] lying open with their faces upwards, Hebr. 4. 13. are detected, Mark 4. 22. 'Tis a Glaſs, that, in the hand of a Mediator, Gal. 3. 19. will tell you all that ever you have ſaid or done, Joh. 4. 29. 'Tis a Glaſs that may ſerve you as an Oracle to tell you, what you ought to ſay and do at all times, in all places, and upon all occaſions, Iſa. 8. 20. 16. 'Tis a Glaſs that affords an entire Repreſentation of whole Man, from top to toe, from ſide to ſide, yea and his Inſide as well as Outſide: 'Tis a Glaſs, whoſe reflexive rays do not only ſcatter light (whereby you may diſcern what is the pollution of your firſt birth, and what ought to be the purity of your ſecond birth,) but it alſo ſparkles heat (to warm your Heart, Luke 24. 32.) and fiery flames to burn up corruption in it, Iſa. 4.4. They ſay Wizzards, or wiſe men (ſo called) can ſhew in their enchanted Glaſs (by their Charms and Sorceries) the very Idea's, or Images, of thoſe Thieves that ſtole away the Goods of them, (who ſo devoutly, not to ſay deviliſhly) do conſult with them to know it, that they may recover their loſt Goods again. This is done by Colluſion, one Devil diſcovers another for more Deviliſh ends, to wit, that their Devotioniſt may become a Diſciple to the Devil, and fall down (with Saul) to worſhip him, for helping him to finde his loſt Goods. But behold, this is a ſacred Glaſs that will make a divine Diſcovery of thoſe grand Thieves, (to wit, Satan, Sin, and Death) amongst which Man did fall as he was travelling (the wrong way) from Jeruſalem to Jericho, from the Tree of Life to the Tree of forbidden Fruit, and was ſtripped by them of his Garment of Innocency, ſadly wounded and left, not onelyonly half dead, but even ſtark dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, Luk. 10.30. Eph. 2. 1. Yea, this Glaſs diſcovers to you not onelyonly the Malady (in the caſes aforeſaid) but alſo the Remedy, how you may be quickened from your dead eſtate, how you may be healed of your ſpiritual wounds; and alſo how you may recover your loſt Goods, (as 1. The Image of God. 2. Favour from God. 3. Fellow-ſhip with God,) provided you give not a careleſs caſt of your eye upon this Glaſs, but take a ſerious, awful, and conſciencious Contemplation of the natural face of your Inner man in it; and ſo long, until you be metamorphoſed into Chriſts Image. That you may do ſo, and be ſo, is the hearty Prayer of
From my Study in Fleet-ſtreet, July 12. (79. Your Brother in the beſt Bonds, Chriſtopher Neſſe.
THE CONTENTS.
CHAP. 1. OF the Heart in general: how corrupted by the Fall, and how thoſe Corruptions (of a deep Dye) are to be ſeen in God's Looking glaſs. Sundry Motives to improve this Spiritual Glaſs. Page 1.
Chap. 2. Of the Hearts Treaſon againſt God. Some Heart-rowzing Conſiderations: as 1. Every one hath an Iſſue of Sin. 2. It begins betimes. 3. It runs long unſtaunched. 4. No Phyſician but Chriſt can heal it. 5. Man is naturally afar off from this right Healer. 6. Chriſt hath many Followers, and but few Touchers. Encouragements to improve this true, All-Heal, Jeſus Chriſt. 16
Chap. 3. Of the Hearts Treachery againſt Man's ſelf. How the Heart [was] treacherous in Jeremy's time, [is] ſo in our time, and [will be] ſo to the end of the world. Of the matter, manner, and meaſure of it. 35
Chap. 4. Of the meaſure of its Treachery. How 'tis more treacherous than all the deceitful perſons (both men and women) which weread of in the Sacred Scriptures, though never ſo deceitful. 56
Chap. 5. 'Tis more deceitful than all the deceitful things which the Holy Scripture mentioneth, though never ſo deceitful, as the Serpent, Sorceries, &c. 80
Chap. 6. 'Tis more deceitful than [All] as it puts a Cheat, 1. upon the higheſt Object; to wit, God. 2. upon the nobleſt ſubject; to wit, the Soul: 3. And for the longeſt time; to wit, Eternity. Several Objections againſt this Aſſertion are anſwered. 104
Chap. 7. Of the Hearts Treachery. 1. As to State. 2. As to Actions. The State is twofold: 1. Temporal; 2. Spiritual. The Temporal State is twofold: 1. Proſperity, whereby the Malady of the Hearts deceitfulneſs is handled, and the Remedy againſt it. 123
Chap. 8. Of the Hearts Treachery in Adverſity. Of the Malady wherein it conſiſts, and the Remedy whereby it may be cured. 136
Chap. 9. Of the Hearts Treachery, as to the Spiritual State, both in falſly conceiving what we are in Gods thoughts, and what we are in our own. 1. In Gods thoughts, that we are elected, &c. 2. In our own thoughts, where the grand Objection is largely anſwered; to wit, whether a man may be an Hypocrite and not know it. 159
Chap. 10. Of the falſe grounds of Self-deceiving; to wit, 1. Outward Peace and Plenty. 2. A good Nature or Diſpoſition. 3. Morality or Civility of Life. 4. Reſtraining Grace. 5. External Profeſſion. And 6. a reſting in Notional Knowledge. Helps for undeceiving, which do demonſtrate the difference. 1. Betwixt Nature and Grace. 2. Betwixt Civility and Sanctity. 3. Betwixt Reſtraining and Renewing Grace. 172
Chap. 11. Of the Hearts Treachery as to our Actions, eſpecially thoſe that are Religious. The Hearts Treachery, 1. as to performance of Duties in our undervaluing or overvaluing of them, &c. and what fit Remedies may be againſt thoſe Maladies. 196
Chap. 12. Of the Hearts Treachery in the exerciſe of Graces, eſpecially in miſtaking. 1. Gifts for Graces. 2. Falſe and ſeeming Grace, for true and ſaving Grace. And 3. That which is but common Grace, for that which is ſpecial; even the Grace of Gods Elect. Laſtly, How all thoſe differ one from another. 217