A Looking-glass for Good Women, Title page – Dedication
A LOOKING-GLASSE FOR GOOD WOMEN,
Held forth by way of Counſell and Advice to ſuch of that Sex and Quality, as in the ſimplicity of their Hearts, are led away to the imbracing or looking towards any of the dangerous Errors of the Times, ſpecially that of the SEPARATION.
As it was lately preſented to the Church of God at Great-YARMOUTH, BY JOHN BRINSLEY.
2 COR. 11.3.
I fear leaſt as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his ſubtilty, ſo your mindes ſhould be corrupt from the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt.
Octob. 9. 1645.
Imprimatur
JA: CRANFORD.
London, Printed by John Field for Ralph Smith, at the ſign of the Bible in Cornhill, neer the Royall Exchange, 1645.
To all the well affected, but ill adviſed of the weaker Sex, who are either turned, or turning from the way of the Church of Chriſt in Old England, to the refined Error of ſeperation, Specially thoſe in the Town of Great Yarmouth.
Daughters of Jeruſalem,
TO you is this Glaſſe preſented, with a Requeſt, That you will vouchſafe to look into it, and that with an Eye not prejudiced againſt it. Poſſibly you may here ſee more of Satan, and your ſelves, his wiles, your weakneſſe, then before you were aware of. If any ſhall herein eſpy ſome ſpots and blemiſhes diſcovered, not becoming the face of profeſſion, let them not blame the Glaſſe, which repreſents things as they are, but themſelves, or others, who have given the ground to theſe Reflections. For my own Intentions, in holding forth this Glaſſe, they are ſuch as I can approve unto God, ſincere and candid. As for aſperſing of Religion, diſparaging the weaker Sex, diſcouraging of any in their holy indeavours of going before others in the profeſſion and power of godlineſſe, ſadding the ſpirits of any that are truly godly, or opening the mouthes of any that are profanely wicked, my heart ſmiteth me not with the guilt of any of them. That which firſt put this ſubject into my hand, was chiefly a tender reſpect to the peace and welfare of this place where God hath caſt me. Where I could not without a deep reſentment take notice how many of the weaker Sex, being by degrees diſtaſted with the publike Ordinances, came at length to be quite weaned from them: No more owning that Miniſtery, or thoſe means which to ſome of them had been heretofore the avowed and acknowledged power of God to their ſalvation. For your ſakes were theſe meditations firſt conceived; And for your ſakes are they now brought forth to a more publike view: That ſo what you would not vouchſafe to heare with the eare, you may yet have opportunity to ſee with the eye. May the eyes of any of you be hereby opened, ſo as you may ſee the error of theſe your wandrings, and be perſwaded to returne againe to the fold from which you have ſtrayed, I ſhould account it an acceptable ſervice both to God and You. However, I ſhall acknowledge it no ſmall recompence, that ſome others may be ſtayed from following after you. In the experience, and hopes whereof, with my hearty prayers unto God for them and you, I ſit downe, and reſt,
Yarmouth. Yours in the ſervice of Chriſt, JOHN BRINSLEY.