described are to be submitted unto and had in great Estimation as such who watch for Souls 1 Thoss 5.13 Heb. 13.17 who must also give an account thereof to Jesus the Prince of Shepherds Therefore Their Doctrine is to be belieâ—ed their Counsel to be regarded the Order to be observed and their Examples to be followed Matt. 9.37 38. Eph. 6.29 1 Pet. 2.1 Rev 1.20 Isa 62.6 who also are earnestly to be prayed for even for their increase in Number and Divine Excellencies That Bethania may have pleaty of Ministerial Bread and her little Children nourished with sincere Milk Her Star-light may be Glorious Her Vision Plain and the Gates of her City carefully watched against all the hurtful Spirits of Babel TWENTIETHLY And now forasmuch as we have already signified that the Holy Scriptures are the great and only Charter of Bethania by vertue of which she holdeth all her Priviledges and from whence she deriveth her whole Doctrine Together with her Discipline and Rules of Life We have also thought convenient to lay down in writing from whence she hath received this Divine and Ancient Charter First Then she believeth That there is an Essential and a Ministerial Word of God which Essential Word is that by which the Eternal and Invisible Deity doth utter his most Sacred Mind Heb. 1.1 Prov. 8.22 and reveal his Secret Counsels to his Creatures both Angels and Men. This Word is He who was with the Father before ever the World was made Jehn 17.5 John 1.12 Heb. 1.3 Col. 1.15 16 17. Psal 78.24 25. Mat. 4 4. Deut. 8.3 John 6.5 7. Chap. 14. Heb. 4.12 and by Him were all things made that were made Being the Word of His Eternal Power by which they are upheld and do consist He is the Food of Angels and immortal Souls of Holy Men by vertue of whom they live for-ever For in him is Life and this Life is the Light of Men This Word is Quick and Powerful and sharper than any Two-Edged Sword and pierceth into the deepest parts of the Soul dividing between the very Soul and Spirit the Joynts and Marrow and discerneth all the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart and there is no Creature that can be hid from his Sight Rev. 10.13 He will shortly be cloathed with a Vesture dipt in blood whose Name is called The Word of God This Word became Flesh and dwelt among us And we beheld his Glory the Glory of the only Begotten of the Father John 1.14 full of Grace and Truth From this Essential Word Mark. 4.35 springing immediately from the Eternal Deity proceedeth that Ministerial Word which Mortal Creatures are capable to hear Col. 3.16 Gal. 3.19 Acts 7.53 Heb. 2.2 Rev. 1.1 Gen. 18.19 which Ministerial Word was at first received by Angels and by them utered to Holy Men in ancient Times who carefully taught it to one another from Father to Son. And so the Gospel was Preached to Abraham long before the Scriptures were written Gal. 3.8 Heb. 4.4 Exo. 24 4 7 8. 1 Cor. 10.4 Chap. 5.7 This Word that was uttered at divers times and in divers manners by the Ministry of Angels was at last committed to Writing by famous Moses and so it lay hid in Types and Figures secretly couched in the Names of Men and things mentioned by him in those five Books which he hath written and these are they which we call the first part of Holy Scripture The which by the Spirit of Jesus were unvailed unto and by famous Prophets who wrote more clearer Visions out of Moses being Expounders of him then Moses himself before had discovered uttering many Divine Prophesies touching the Messiah Hab. 2.2 Neb. 8.8 Act. 10.43 who was the subject which all the Prophets pointed at or unto still making the Vision more plain and clear as they drew nearer the coming of Christ These also wrote fully of the State of those who kept and also of those who did transgress this Ministerial Word of God whose writings were designed also for our Learning and these are the second part of the Scripture Rom. 15.4 But at last John 1.14 1 John 4.14 Mat. 3.15 John 19.28 Mat. 5.18 Luke 1.2 Acts 1.1 2 Pet. 1.16 Mark 16.15 1 Pet. 1.12 Acts 26.18 1 Cor. 3.6 2 Pot. 3 16. The Essential Word was made Elesh and became visible and uttered himself by a humane Tongue to mortal Men and so fulfilled those things in clearness in his most Sacred Person which Moses and the Prophets had written of him The fulfilling of which together with his famous Sermons and mighty Miracles were written by those who were Eye-witnesses of what he did and taught whose Holy Apostles having received a Commission to preach the Gospel to every Creature were assisted thereunto by an infallible Spirit and so turned many Souls from Darkness to Light and Planted many famous Churches unto whom they sent certain Divine Epistles The which together with the Holy Evangelists makes the Third part of Scripture Rev. 22.18 and this altogether with the Mysterious Book of the Revelations is the Divine and Antient Charter of the little City Bethania which proceedeth first from the Eternal Deity by the Essential Word of his most mighty Power by whom it was committed to Angels and by them Ministred unto men and first written by Moses then Expounded by the Prophets fulfilled by Jesus further written and Exemplisied by the Apostles and Evangelists 2 Chron. 34.27 Acts 24.28 Psal 119.46 Rev. 12.17 Heb. 11.35 whose Authority maketh many impresses upon the Consciences of Mortals hath made Tyrants tremble and humble Souls to triumph hath remained firm and uncorrupted especially in its Essence in the midst of its very Enemies And they who have witnessed for it in all Ages have easily passed through inhumane Tortures it hath out-lived many Cities and all their firmest Charters and hath seen many Laws repealed that have been made against it Hath been frequenty pleaded for by the Inhabitants of Bethania Psal 19.110 Psal 119.72 Jer. 15 16. before high and mighty Mortals and is a marvellous Precious Jewel in the House of the Poor Discipline and Order Observed in BETHANIA Thus having briefly hinted at divers Points of Doctrine Held and Believed in the little City Bethania Of the Signification of which Word we have given an Account in our Epistle to the Reader and in our last Article have more plainly declared her Divine Charter And from whence also she hath received the same We hope now to give a Brief Description of the Discipline Order and Manner of Life Owned and Observed in the House of the Poor And FIRST THERE be Solmn Meetings for Divine Worship of the Holy God Heb. 10.28 and Instruction and Edification of Mortal Men seriously diligently and with great Reverence and Godly Fear Observed and highly Esteemed in Bethania Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 11.20 Heb. 12.28 Psal 89.7 1 Chron. 22.19 1 Cor. 7.22 Mat. 26.40
Isa 55.2 Why do ye spend your mony for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not But fourthly by Bethsaida the house of Fishing and in this City the Fishers of men do dwell who being crafty with a divine subtilty catch Souls of Men for Christ and bring them home to their Master 2 Cor. 12.16 From hence came that Squadron of Fishes of whom Merlin told Lucius that should enter upon his Territories unarmed with Sword or Spear unto whom all Nations should in time obey who shall destroy the Temples of thy Gods O Lucius and convert them to the service of their Eternal King. These are also skilful in Fishing in the great deeps and find in the Book of Scripture and the book of Nature many precious Jewels Fifthly by Timnath-heres Judges 2.9 signifiing the image of the Sun and upon this City doth the Sun of Righteousness arise and shine with great yet with invisible Glory to the World and to the careless Daughters Mal. 4.2 and is a Sun and a Shield unto it Psalm 84.11 for this City hath Truth in the inward parts Psal 51.6 and is all glorious within Psal 45.13 And as the natural Sun by shining through a little crevice into a House forms his own image on the wall or on the floor even so the glorious Sun of Righteousness shining into the hearts of the Inhabitants of this City 2 Cor. 4.6 forms his own most precious Image there Chap. 3.18 from whence the beams of divine vertue shine forth to the World by which they become a light to men Sixthly by Bethania which in several languages as skilful men observe signifies divers things as sometimes the House of Obedience and indeed the obedience of Faith is eminently found in this City Secondly the House of Affliction of which she is oft partaker as a state that naturally attends the Gospel Thirdly of the Grace of the Lord which is the only vertue by which this City Works and Reigns and Shines Fourthly the House of a Song from the new Song which by redeemed Souls is sung to Jesus their Saviour who came to save his People from their Sins But Fifthly the House of the Poor from the Hebrew by th and Gnania from this signification is derived and this is the true state of the Church of Christ with respect to humane excellencies being poor in Spirit but rich in Faith empty of guile but full of Sincerity is become a Fool for Christ in respect of Worldly Wisdom but wise in Christ with that Wisdom which is from above she is weak and feeble as the Conies a feeble folk Prov. 30 26. with respect to humane Power but full of might and Power by the glorious Spirit of the Lord Mic. 3.8 she is ashamed of all her own Righteousness both of nature and also that which is of the Law it being imperfect by reason of the fall and so she accounts it as filthy rags and as a menstruous cloth but is full of the everlasting Righteousness Christ first imputed to her and after wrought in her by his divine Power yet all her natural glory is wholly vailed for the Son of Righteousness hath looked upon her and she is become black and undone in her self because her eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Cant. 1.6 Isa 6.5 but this Poverty consisted not only in internal things but also in the things of this World in which she seldom flourisheth in uncertain Riches nor appears in that Pomp and State in which Babel shines she sets light by the unrighteous Mammon of this World it being the portion of men of earthy Spirits therefore she is often in Hunger Thirst Cold and Nakedness she hath been Destitute Afflicted and Tormented hath wandred from one kindred to another People and hath seldom any certain dwelling place oft-times this Abel is slain by this Cainish brood but like the Phoenix she springs again out of her own ashes and the gates of Hell do not prevail against her Babel hath Golden Chalices but Wooden Priests but she is contented with wooden Chalices and rejoyceth in her golden or shining Ministery Lo this is that little City which we call Bethania where also the poor wise man Eccl. 9.14 is content and delights to dwell who became poor for our sakes that we might be made rich by him he had not a hole to rest his head in this World that we might possess Eternal Mansions of Glory in the World to come he left Heaven that we might be redeemed from Hell came out of the bosome of his Father that we that were banished from it might return He was crowned with Thorns that we might obtain by him a Crown of Righteousness and Glory he was content to bear his Father's wrath that we might obtain an interest in his Eternal Love. In fine be died an accursed Death that we might live a Blessed Life so that visible poverty hath been incident to Christ and his little City and it is like to be the Estate of his espoused Virgin till the Marriage of the Lamb be come and she be instated in his eternal Riches But now Bethania was a certain City or Town almost two Miles from Jerusalem John 11.16 scituate on the Mount of Olives Mar. 11.1 and was a Place which Jesus often visited into Bethania he went out of Jerusalem to lodge after the Children had sung Hosannah Mat. 21.17 Near this Place stood the Fig-tree which he cursed in his return again into the City be-because it bare nothing but leaves ver 9. It was in Bethania where the Woman anointed Jesus's feet Mat. 26 6. and John 12.3 In this Bethania Jesus mildly reproved Martha and justified Mary in waiting rather for something from him than being cumbred with Martha in preparing something for him Luke 10.38 39 40 41 42. In this Bethania he raised Lazarus and wept for Sympathy John 11.35 43. In or near Bethania he blessed his Disciples Luke 24.59 and from thence was taken up into Heaven vers 57. Acts 1.9 12. And to this Mount of Olives where Bethania standeth Jesus for ought appears may come the second time as the first Place he will visit in his Return as being the last he left in his Ascent to Heaven according to that Prophecy Zech. 14.4 This Bethania therefore is a clear Representation of the true Church of Christ where his quickning Spirit revives the otherwise dying Souls of men here he mildly reproves those who do one good thing when another more weighty should be attended in this place and state of poorness of Spirit are the spiritual Blessings enjoyed from Christ our Saviour and here Souls sit with a weeping Mary in great humility at Jesus his Feet here Jesus seems to weep through Sympathy with his poor and afflicted People and will not forget the Congregation of his poor for ever 34.19 This City is indeed a true Communion of Saints according to that ancient Article of the Apostles Creed and
in the fulness of this Vnion Meum and Tuum are not the native Speech this Vnion is perfectly compacted and maintained by unfeigned Love the Bond of Perfection Col. 3.16 And where Love abounds Life and Goods and all will very easily go for the Brethren therefore we long greatly to see this Place and State and often express our Desires in this manner O that the Salvation of Israel were come out of Sion And Return Return O Shulamite return return that we may look upon thee for the Shulamite hath long time dwelt in the Clefts of the Rock and the secret places of the Stairs and our Church hath yet recovered but little of her Beauty nevertheless we have found out her Charter and out of it collected some part of her Divinicy and it is greatly desired that all the true Sons of Sion would leave all their Fury in which they have appeared like a wild Bull in a Net Isa 1.200 take poor Bethania by the hands that Sharon may be a Fold of Flocks and the Valley of Achor Isa 65.10 viz. a state of trouble for a door of hope Hos 2.15 That the ruines of many gener ations may be repaired and that the Divisions of Reuben may not fill the Souls of the Poor with the cup of trembling for whose sakes chiefly we have written this little Treatise and have likewise given an Account why we call it Bethania who though we have been born out of due time and very unworthy to be numbred among the Repairers of Breaches yet we have endeavoured and attempted to cast in our Mite in order thereunto and in all that we have done do really design the Glory of God the Benefit of the poor in Spirit the Satisfaction of all our Mothers Children the Advantage of Truth and Profit of our Fellow-creatures and desire herein to be judged by the great Charter of Bethania and so Courteous Reader I commit thee to the Father of Mercies desiring that the Wonderful Counsellor may be thine infallible Guide and keep thee from every crooked Path Even so Amen W. P. Ancient Christianity REVIV'D c. Principles of Doctrine believed in Bethania laid down in several Articles for the Removing of Doubts touching the Faith of the House of the Poor FIRST THERE is one only God acknowledged and believed in Bethania Joh. 17.3 Joh. 4.24 Col. 1.15 1 Kings 8.27 Heb. 13.8 Rev. 1.4 Jer. 23.24 2 Cor. 6.18 1 Joh. 4.16 1 Tim. 6.16 Jude 25. 1 Pet. 1.16 Heb. 13.20 Psal 145.9 Psal 103.17 Deut. 32 14. Exod. 34.7 Psal 103.2 who is purely a Spirit invisible incomprehensible eternal infinite omnipotent who is Love it self dwelling in light unto which no man may approach and is most wise most holy a God of Grace full of tender and Everlasting Mercies yet most just without iniquity and will in no wise clear the guilty knoweth all Secrets and filleth all places of whom are all things who is distinguished not divided into Father Son and Spirit SECONDLY II. 1 Cor. 8.6 1 Joh. 5.7 1 Tim. 3.16 Joh. 14.9 Heb. 1.3 Rev. 1.8 Phil. 2.16 Isa 43.10 1 Cor. 8.6 John 1.3 Rev. 3.14 Colos 1.15 Who that he might become manifest unto Angels and to men gave forth an express Image of his own invisible substance which Image is the First-last the very form of God before whom there was no God formed by whom were all things made that were made who is the beginning of the Creation of God and First-born of every Creature the Head of all Principality and Power The glorious Root of David and Upholder of the whole Universe in whom dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily and from whom the glorious Attributes and Properties of the absolute Deity do shine forth in full Perfection He is of the same Essence with the Father as firmly believed in Bethania THIRDLY III. Which glorious Image in fuilness of time Gal. 4.4 Heb. 2.14 Isa 7.14 Heb. 7.14 Rom. 1.3 Heb. 4.5 Luke 21.23 assumed humane Nature and was born of a pure Virgin A branch sprung out of David and made of his seed according to the Flesh and so in all things like unto us sin only excepted in which humane Nature he was nourished by and subject to Parents And in it was circumcised and fulfilled the whole Law who also about thirty years of Age was baptised to fulfill all Righteousness both Legal and Evangelical Mat. 3.15 In it he was tempted but overcame the Tempter Mat. 4.3 and then went out to preach to the lost Sheep of the house of Israel Act. 2.22 Luke 24.19 1 Pet. 2.21 Isa 53.4 Chap. 7. Phil. 2.8 Col. 2.15 Isa 53.11 Dan. 9.24 2 Cor. 5.19 John 1.29 Luke 1.77 Chap. 24.27 Exod. 34.7 1 Cor. 15.4 Dan. 9.24 Rom. 4.25 Acts 1.3 Chap. 1.11 Heb. 12.3 Mat. 15.18 John 5.27 2 Cor. 5.10 Mat. 1.21 23. In our humane Nature he wrought many famous Miracles and gave forth a perfect pattern of absolute Piety At last quietly endured the smitings of God and uttermost cruelties of men subjecting himself to the Death of the Cross by which he spoyled the Principallity of Darkness satisfied Divine Justice and so made Reconciliation between God and Man. And having obtained Eternal Redemption for us opened a way for the Remission of sins which before Divine Justice would in no wise admit of And then the third day in our Nature rose again from the Dead and brought in Everlasting Righteousness for our Justisication And after he had reigned forty days over Death in this World he ascended in our Nature into Heaven and sate down on the Right Hand of God and so hath all power in Heaven and Earth delivered into his hands who as he is the Son of Man will come again the second time to judge the Quick and the Dead and give to every one as his work shall be He is our Emanuel and our only Saviour in Bethania FOVRTHLY IV. Gen. 1.1 Exod. 20.11 Col. 1.16 Rev. 4.11 Psal 103.19 20. Mat. 18.10 Heb. 1.7 Verse 14. Ezek. 28.15 Verse 3. Eph. 21.22 Rev. 4.10 Chap. 19.14 Jude 6. 2 Pet. 2.4 Mat. 25.41 Touching the Creation in it glorious Elohim the number of whose Name is Three Created three sorts of living Creatures The first whereof were Angels unto whom Heaven was assigned for their Habitation These by Nature are Spirits and their Life is only rational and immortal of whom the first-born of every Creature was and is Soveraign Lord being the glorious Head of all their Principality and after whom they were to move in great Subordination Their Essence is immutable but their State in Creation subject to change Therefore many of them breaking the order designed by Creation and kept not their first Estate were cast down to Hell and are reserved under Darkness in Chains unto the Judgment of the Great day after which they are deeply involved in Gods Eternal Wrath out of which there is no Redemption The Second sort of
and Unspotted Virgin Chap. 6.9 2 Cor. 11.2 Chap. 6.16 Psal 50.2 Isa 60.8 Verse 1. Psal 87.30 This â—s Christs Holy Temple wherein he dwells and walks and the Perfection of Beanty out of which he shineth So that those who are fleeing as Doves to his windows may clearly see That the Glory of the Lord is risen upon Her This is Spiritual Sion of whom many Glorious things might be spoken But we must come into Bethania and be poor in Spirit to hear them But Her third Estate is Glorious Rev. 21.23 Verse 16. and every way Perfect In which the Light of the Sun Moon and Stars are needless Her length breadth and height are now equal for Soul and Body both are got beyond all Corruption Verse 9. and arrived at fullness of endless Glory in which She is become the Lambs Beautiful Bride who in Her Spiritual Estate was only Espoused to Him and therefore is Exalted with Him upon a Throne of Glory Rev. 3.21 Chap. 19.7 Mal. 4.2 Isa 60.20 Nah. 3.4 and all the Heavenly Host rejoyceth at it Thus the Lamb who was before Her Sun of Righteousness is now become Her Sun of Glory and will never more be Ecclipsed from Her. But Bethania hath heard of a well-favoured Harlot Isa 4.1 Isa 33.14 Rev. 18.7 yet delights not to have any Acquaintance with her who though she derives her Name from Christ yet in Nature is far different from Him But she will at last appear in her own Estate being stripped and made bare and unclothed of all her Forms of Godliness and so these Sinners in the visible Sion shall be afraid Isa 27.4 John 15.6 and that Fearfulness shall surprise the seeming Christian who being a fruitless Fig-tree and but a well-favoured Harlot must together with the pricking Bramble and Defiled Strumpet be Fuel for Everlasting Burnings NINETEENTHLY The true Ministers of Christ and such as are approved in Bethania Euseb Eccl. Hist Lib. 3. Chap. 21. are men of passing pure lives be-dect with every kind of Vertue Divinely instructed out of the great Charter of Bethania Tit. 1.6 7 8 9. Jude 3. 1 Pet. 5.1 Verse 4. Luke 22.32 by the Holy Spirit of Jesus keeping close to those Principles upon which Christian Religion is founded carefully pursuing those Principles by which it is carried on and contending earnestly for those Principles by which it is compleated These being inferiour Shepherds are to be guided by Eupoimenos the Prince of Shepherds And so being first Converted themselves are carefully to strengthen their Brethren and diligently to feed the little Children John 21 15. that so as their Ears do hear and their Eyes do see even so also their Hands may handle the Word of Life going still before the Flock in the difficult Passages of every kind of Suffering 1 John 1.1 Jer. 50.8 Phil. 4.9 Cant. 1.8 James 5.10 Act. 20.19 2 Cor. 6.6 Acts 6.4 2 Cor. 6.5 Chap. 11.26 27 Acts 20.20 Tit. 2.15 Prov. 28.1 1 Thess 2.10 Mat. 10.16 2 Cor. 6.4 1 Cor. 4.1 1 Tim. 1.11 Mat. 5.12.14 2 Cor. 8.23 Acts 1.1 and leaving the Print of their Feet in the narrow Path of Self-Denial giving them good Examples of great Patience Deep Humility and Divine Purity given much to Prayer Fastings and Watchings Often contented to be in Weariness and Painfulness in their frequent Journeys or Journyings taking care of all the Churches teaching also from House to House that the Guilt of Souls may not be upon them Being bold and undaunted in Reproving Sin in high or low like Lyons that turn not aside for any And yet in Nature Meek and Tender like Lambs and the harmless Doves of the Valley carefully encouraging the least Spark of Vertue and in all things approving themselves as the Ministers of Christ as such who are put in trust with the Mysteries of the Gospel That they may be a Light unto the World a Salt of the Earth and a Glory in the Christian Churches that so as the great Shepherd their Master whose work was both to Do and Teach They also may say What ye have heard and seen in us That do and the God of Peace shall be with you walking as we have given you an exact Example Phil. 4.9 Phil. 3.20 For our Conversation â— in Heaven be therefore followers of us as we have followed our Lord Jesus And so as every one hath received a Ministerial Gift 1 Pet. 4.10 Mat. 19.28 having first made Experimental Tryal of the painful Passages of Divine Regeneration Isa 50.4 â— Tim. 2.18 he is to minister unto others with much freeness having the Learned Tongue of Divine Teachings that he may rightly divide the Word of Truth Luke 22.32 Mark. 10.21 1 Sam. 24.24 Heb. 10.38 2 Cor. 2.14 John 3.10 1 Cor. 8.1 Heb. 8.12 13 2 Cor. 11.3 2 King. 4.40 Heb. 8.7 Job 15.2 Zach. 11.17 Isa 2.16 and speak a Word in Season to weary Souls Taking their own Purse till it was wholly empty and so giving Examples to live by Faith on him the savour of whose Knowledge they carefully manifest in every place but such as know not by most true Experience the very Nature of Divine Regeneration though as great Masters in the fleshly Israel they eminently flourish in the Gifts of Knowledge are still unskilful in the Word of Rigteousness and great Strangers to the simplicity of the Gospel Therefore They make indeed a Pottage like the Sons of the Prophets but there is Death in it and it doth fill the Head with Notions and the Belly with the East-wind These therefore are but idol-Shepherds setting up the pleasant Pictures of their own Excellencies and thereby forming lifeless less Images of an outward Profession in the Souls of men where the living Image of God should stand such as these may build a fleshly Jerusalem and engrave upon it a confused Babel But Bethania who is poor in Spirit desires them not in her Divine Corporation Prov. 14.1 least as the foolish woman They should pull down many Houses with their hands and turn the little City Bethania into the great Contused Heap of Babel Isa 28.7 Prov. 20.1 Jude 19. Psal 14.4 being very apt to err through Wine and to be mocked by Strong Drink having their Sences Stupified by fullness of Dainty Meats and other Flesh-pleasing Enjoyments by reason whereof They forget the Law and pervert the Truth of Christ and lay that upon others which themselves will hardly touch with one of their Fingers Mat. 23.4 Therefore The Ministers of Bethania do drink but very little Wine 1 Tim. 5.23 and that chiefly for their Stomachs sake and in case of often Infirmities and scarce any Strong Drink at all but in case of great necessity and to revive the Spirit when it is ready to faint through weakness Prov. 31.6 according to the usual Order and Gustom carefully observed in the House of the Poor whose Ministers as before
turneth to them the other and if they Magisterially take away her Goods she asketh them not again But yet further There is nothing in the whole Charter of Bethania from first to last that may in the least warrant her to Swear upon such a Book wherein Swearing is so flatly forbidden therefore she concludeth that the Root of this whole matter was Planted first in Babel and from thence sprang up as a custome in the Earthly Jerusalem but Bethania is a little City that hath little or no Affinity with any of these FIFTEENTHLY When Persecution ariseth against Bethania Act 14.22 John 16.2 2 Tim. 3.12 Psal 137.7 Ecles 9.14 Acts 20.24 Psal 121.4 1 Pet. 5.7 as often times it cometh to pass for great Babel cannot endure this poor little City and therefore the great King cometh oft against it yet when he cometh sitting upon a Seat of Violence they take but little notice of him for the poor wise man who is the Keeper of this City hath wit enough to cicumvent the greatest designs of Humane or Iufernal Enemies and Furies therefore they cast their whole care upon him who they know greatly careth for their Souls and their great care is on the other hand when they are brought before the Judgment Seat of men to beware of men Mat. 10.17 Psal 125.5 Rev. 12.17 1 Tim. 3.15 Rev. 12.17 Heb. 10.34 least by them they should be intangled in the crooked Paths of Error And in the next place to maintain a constant Testimony unto the Manifest Truths of the Blessed Lamb that so Truth may not fall in the Streets for want of Suffering Pillars to uphold it Then as for their Lives they love them not unto Death Rom. 8.28 Luke 21.17 18. Mat. 10.29 Luke 22.3 5. Joh 2.6 Luke 13.32 who also suffer joyfully the spoyling of their fading Treasures steadfastly believing that all things shall work together for the best and that there shall not one Hair of their Head perish and seeing that a Sparrow cannot fall to the ground without their Heavenly Father and that the Power of Darkness hath but one Hour and so is limited both to Time and Measure Therefore if it be told them as it was told to Christ That a cruel Herod seeks to kill them Yet they are ready to answer and say with him Behold We must Work to day and to morrow Prov. 11.6 and in the Morning of Prosperity must sow our Seed and in the Evening of Adversity must not withold our Hands For they know the Truth is sometimes planted in Blood and the Sufferings of some Christians Phil. 1.12 Heb. 10.25 have been the Conversion of others So that a sharp Winter may and doth oftentimes produce a fruitful Harvest Therefore the manner of Trading in this City Dan. 11.14 Esth 4.16 greatly differeth from the manner of Trading in other Cities for the Earthly Jerusalem when she heareth of a storm of Violence letteth fall much of her Trading is Truth and Vertue but Bethania increaseth hers the more And when the Robbers begin to Exalt themselves to Establish the Vision then this City bringeth forth the best of her Wares Their Prayers now are most Fervent and their Sermons most Divine their manner of Life most Circumspect and their Faith very stedfast Cant. 8.6 their Hope reacheth furthest within the Vaile their Charity is now more strong than Death and all their Graces takes the deepest or firmest Root So the Innocent stirreth up against the Hypocrite the Righteous also holdeth on his way and he that hath Clean Hands shall grow stronger and stronger At last Bethania cometh out of her Tribulation having washed their Robes Rev. 7.14 and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb and so she enjoyeth a Life which Death can never approach unto and a Substance that no Thieves can steal away inheriting a joy Mat. 6.20 Isa 60.20 which shall never more be Ecclipsed with sorrow in the glorious Morning of Bethania SIXTEENTHLY The frequent Discourse in Bethania is for the most part very savoury 2 Cor. 2.14 Ephes 4.29 and their Words do generally that are the Inhabitants thereof stand for something and they are very careful of avoiding Superfluity of Speech knowing That of every idle Word that men shall speak Mat. 12.36 they must give an Account thereof in the Day of Judgment Therfore their Words are very much seasoned with Grace designed in Spiritual Things namely for the Edification of the Hearers and in Natural Things to Express the Conceptions of the Mind touching humane Affairs otherwise they are very much given to Silence being swift to hear slow to speak carefully keeping the Bridle upon the Tongue James 1.19 Psal 39.1 least that unruly Member run headlong into Disorder and so the Heart be quite deceived and all their Religion prove to be a meer Vanity For in the Multitude of Words there wanteth not Sin Prov. 10.16 and he that restraineth his Lips is wise And they consider that God hath given unto men two Eyes two Ears two Hands and two Feet yet but one Tongue that the Actions of all these might be twice as much as the Tongue shall speak Therefore when any of the Inhabitants of Bethania meet together Job 32.4 1 Cor. 14.29 2 Tim. 2.7 and there be some Divine Matter about to be uttered they all wait and hear in Silence carefully avoiding all Interruptions and if any thing be wanting that ought to have been spoken another supplyeth that Defect when the first hath left off speaking and so all things are done to good purpose in much Decency and Order Job 32.11 15 16. For to speak two or three at once either in Humane or Divine Matters is counted ridiculous and a meer Confusion proper only to Babel But if they have no Divine matter to Communicate 1 Cor. 14.40 nor yet any Natural Thing that is needful to be spoken then they retire themselves into some serious Exercises of the Soul and in the Multitude of such thoughts within them they meet with great Consolation from the Father of Spirits Psal 94.23 whose Heavenly Vertue is a quickning Influence to every true Bethanian SEVENTEENTHLY Laughter in Bethania is counted madness Eccles 2.2 Rom. 8.6 Luke 6.25 and like the crackling of Thorns under a pot being a Vanity that springeth up in a carnal Mind and it is frequently found among such kind of Persons who are hastening into Eternal Mournings For the Triumphing of the wicked is but very short Job 20.15 and the Joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment Therefore saith Jesus Woe to you that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep This unseemly Vanity is none of the first Actions of innocent Age for some of the first Actions of a Child are to weep and after it hath lived about forty days in the World it then will begin to smile but it is a great while before it breaks out into plain
yet they cannot sing her Songs But their going forth is with Weeping and they sow their precious Seed in Tears Psal 126.5 Phil. 2.12 Isa 9.3 Isa 35.10 working out their own Salvation with Fear and Trembling yet at last they rejoyce as in the joy of Harvest and the ransomed of the Lord do return and come to Sion with Songs of Deliverance Nevertheless there be some in Gospel-Churches who have both Power and Right to Sing and they do it partly to Express the joy of their own Spirits Exod. 15.16 Judg. 5.20 Rev. 19.9 Isa 27.2 and partly for the Edification of others In which Song they set forth the Glorious Acts of God his great Love to mortal men the precious things to come the Soul-refreshing Supper of the Lamb the Blessed Union between Christ aâ—â— his Spouse Chap. 5.1 and such like Therefore to these it is a peculiar Gift Aâ—â— that Spirit that giveth the Gift of Doctrine of Revelation of Tongueâ— of Interpretation doth also give thâ— Gift of a Psalm 1 Pet. 4.10 and as every 〈◊〉 hath received the Gift of any kind 〈◊〉 Nature whatsoever Rom. 12.6 7. even so he is 〈◊〉 Minister as a good Steward of the manifold Grace of God and to wait upâ—â— his proper Ministry with great Diligent for the Glory of God for the Edification of all that hears that all may learn 〈◊〉 all may be comforted 1 Cor. 14.31 So that every thâ—â—â— is done by Gift in Bethania Rev. 18.22 And 〈◊〉 for Art and Craft they leave it to thâ—â— Crafts-men of Babel Lev. 10.1 John 4.24 1 Cor. 14.21 Acts 2.4 for God 〈◊〉 not be Worshiped with strange Fiteâ—â— but is looking into the Churches for spiritual Worship and spiritual Worshippers and therefore Paul would Pray in the Spirit and Sing in the Spirit and the Preachers would Preach as the Spirit gave them Vtterance But if any say We have not such Gifts now and therefore cannot Act by them It is answered in Bethania That oâ—â— Cause is our being so full of Art. And so when the Crafts-men bid us sing Psal 40.3 then we sing and they put the Song into our Mouths when indeed the Lord should put it there And so when we should weep because by the Waters of Babylon we fall to singing Psal 137.1 according as men do teach us otherwise we could not sing our selves So that we may see that we be yet within the Limits of Babel but do not hearken to the Voice that saith Rev. 18.4 Mich. 4.10 Come out of her my People and again Go out of the City into the Field Therefore Bethania who is poor in Spirit and hath left Art and Craft to Babel and to the Earthly Jerusalem if any of them have a Gift to Preach Rom. 12.6 then he preacheth according to his Gift and all the rest are silent while he Preacheth and so it is observed also in Prayer and all the rest are silent only Act in their Spirits 1 Cor. 14.30 Verse 26. And so if any have the Gift of a Psalm then he only singeth to whom the Psalm is given but all the rest hold their Peâ—ce and are Exercised only in their Spirits and so are Edified For if all the whole Congregation should say the same Words 1 Cor. 14.23 after the Preacher hath said them it would be great Confusion and if all should Pray the same Words that the Minister prayeth it would appear Ridiculous Even so when one singeth by a Gift and all that are present sing the same things after or with him is it not great Confusion and Disorder For he only singeth by a Gift and all the rest learn of him and speak his Words and so are wholly guided by another Job 19.28 and there is nothing springeth from any Root of Matter in themselves and after this manner we may teach divers Birds to say what we have said to them Yea Prophane Persons and Carnal Professors that have nothing of Divinity in them may sing as well as the most Divine and Spiritual Therefore this cannot be Gospel-Worship which consisteth not in bodily Exercise 1 Tim. 4.8 but in Spirit and Truth anâ— therefore we are to observe a spiritual Method in the Management of it Aâ—â— did not sing in the time of the Law for there were Masters of the Musick who did instruct and order the Singeâ— in the Exercise of Songs 1 Chron. 15.19 Chap. 16.42 and 25.1 These were Asaph Heman Ethan and Jeduthan Asaph and Heman were Seers in the Words of God and These with their Brethren was set over the Song to instruct and train up Singers in that Divine Exercise and the Number of them with their Brethren that were instructed in the Songs of the Lord Alâ— that were Cunning was Two Hundred Fourscore and Eight 1 Chron. 25.7 Heb. 9.1 but this was during the time of the first Tabernacle and Temple which was called A Worldy Sanctuary And yet that Service of the Song was only peculiar to those who were instructed in it But we are now or should be at least under a more Spiritual Ministration Therefore all our Service should be done in Spirit Rom. 1.9 also in Newness of Spirit and not the Oldness of the Letter Chap. 7.6 Now when the Spirit of the Holy God hath inspired the Spirits and Refreshed the Souls of any of the Inhabitants of Bethania so that the Tongue of the Dumb is prepared to sing Isa 35.6 Psal 45.1 then the Hearts in which the Root of the Song doth lye Inditeth a good Matter and so they have liberty to use their Tongues for ought appears and sing in Metre or in Prose as the Song of Moses and Deborah Exod. 15. Jude 5. 2 Sam. 22.23 Luke 10.21 and David Also the Song of Jesus when he rejoyced in Spirit and said c. Moreover the Song of the Four Living Creatures and the Twenty Four Elders is in Prose both in English and Greek For they said Thou art worthy to take the Book Rev. 5.9 Chap. 15.2 3. and to open the Seven Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast Redeemed us to God by thy Blood c. So the Song that was sung upon the Sea of Glass is uttered in Prose for they sing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb saying Great and Marvellous are thy Works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy Ways thou King of Saints Even so also the Song at the fall of Babylon which is an Hebrew Song is in Prose and is concluded by the Four Living Creatures and Twenty Four Elders Rev. 19.4 in these two Hebrew Words Amen Hallelujah yet they sometimes and often use a certain kind of Metre not exactly according to the Method of the Poets which only Elevateth the Affections of the sensitive Life but in the Spirits Dialect and such that pierceth through the sensitive Life into the rational
perfect day in this famous street of Bethania she hath many a close walk with God Pro. 3.17 and there findeth great pleasure and profit for all the ways of Wisdom are pleasantness and all her paths are peace So also godliness is profitable unto all things 2 Tim. 4.8 having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come It signifieth a likeness unto God being a conformity to his Will in matters of Worship 3. Jo. 11. Eph. 5.1 Ja. 1.17 and also in manner of life and so it is God's likeness Now he is altogether good and ever was so even from eternity and when he created the Creation Gen. 1.13 it was also good yea very good and Lucifer himself was the anointed Cherub Esa 20.14 and was perfect in all his ways in the day that he was created till iniquity was found in him Jude 6. it was first found in himself through his own default and there it had its proper begining 1 Jo. 3.8 and he introduced it into man and by man it entred into the World and now hath infected all Mankind Rom. 5.12 Ps 82.6 and the whole foundations of the Earth are out of course and sin hath spoiled and brought disorder into that Creation which at first was good so that evil is not of God for he made things like himself and that was pure and very good yet he made no Creatures immutable in that goodness as they stood in their own single Essences for then he had made gods and not creatures so that all things went out from him and therefore must needs be good for a good Tree cannot bring forth evil fruit So also it was according unto his unchangeable Decree Mat. 7.18 that the very principal of his Creatures Angels and Men should live in an absolute dependance upon him resigning their wills wholly unto him yielding most humble subjection unto the Sovereign Lord of the whole Creation that so through that resignation subjection and dependance they may be by him confirmed in that goodness Act. 17.28 Eph. 1.22 1 Cor. 2 8. in which they were first created so then God did not divide his Essence in the Creation of the most excellent creatures viz. Angels and Souls of Men Ja. 1.17 for then they must have been immutable in state and so could never have fallen but he produced a fruit Ja. 1.11 and left it in freedom of will not compelling it to any thing which lived by it self in that glory and purity in which God created it and did not resign its will to God as the Tree from whence it hath its being and nourishment and so like fruit fully ripe it fell because it was not made immutable and sunk into another change of state through its own default Thus the Creation lost its first and primitive glory and changed quite into another estate but the Creator is still the same even yesterday to day and for ever Jer. 4.23 and in the second Creation which produceth the new creature he maketh things good still and so like himself therefore those souls who are regenerated and made anew are regenerated into Christ's nature 1 Pet. 1.4.20.18 and formed in his Image quickned by his spirit nourished by his flesh and bloud that so it may be in the life of God and like him in all things Jo. 6.5 7. in which a Creature may be like its Creator and this is the true godliness Eph. 4.18 when the Souls of men are given up into the will of God to be holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1.16 and to serve him with reverence and godly fear cleaving to the truth which is after godliness Heb. 12.28 Tit. 1.1 2 Cor. 1.12 walking in simplicity and godly sincerity in that quiet life which is in all godliness and honesty Such godly men God the Lord hath set apart for himself who though they are godly in Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.2 Ps 4.3 2 Tim. 3.12 oftentimes suffer Persecution Yet the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of all adversity and to put an end to those light afflictions 2 P. 2.9 2 Cor. 4.17 which for a few moments attend upon a godly life so that Godliness is a strong pillar in the house of Wisdom and therefore if that be wanting in the power thereof though the form remain untouch'd there must needs be a great breach and where this breach is 2 Tim. 3.5 the house will quickly fall Luk. 10.39 Mat. 11.19 Heb. 7.26 2 Pet. 2.22 therefore Bethania chuseth to sit at Jesus feet and to enter into his Yoke learning of him with that diligence who is holy harmless undefiled meek gentle lowly and every way vertuous a perfect pattern of true piety who did no evil neither was guile found in his mouth and hath left us an example that we should follow his steps and this godliness springeth up in the soul by vertue of the operation of one of the seven spirits of God viz. the spirit of holiness Rom. 1.3 whose Divine tincture changeth their nature into its own even as Wine by entring into Water maketh the Water talte of it self So also their whole life savoureth of the spirit and tasteth of the vertue and grace of God which appeareth in the Soul teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts that the mind may be exercised in that godliness Tia 2.11 2 Tim. 4.7 by vertue of which the conversation may be as becometh the Gospel of our Lord Jesus In this street of Bethania standeth her place of Worship in which she performeth Divine service to the Holy God with great reverence and godly fear who is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints Heb. 12.28 Ps 89.7 and to be had in reverence of all that come about him CHAP. IX THE sixth Pillar in the House of Wisdom is Brotherly Kindness the which is also produced out of one of the seven Spirits before the Throne viz. the Spirit of Humility and is a very beautiful Street in Bethania in which she hath great communion by walking with God in the Brotherhood and fellowship of the Gospel 1 Pet. 2.17 Phil. 1.5 Heb. 2.11 Mat. 23.8 for as there is a very near relation between Christ and his Disciples even so there is also a Divine brotherhood between Christians and one another but there is a two fold brotherhood generally considered the first is natural wherein all mankind are of one blood and children of the first Adam Act. 17.26 and descended all out of his Loins and have all one kind of Soul 1 Cor. 15.48 and one manner of sensitive life and also one kind of humane flesh and have all equal interest in the Priviledges of Nature Jer. 38.16 1 Cor. 15.39 Psal 24.1 Rom. 5.18 John 2.2 Heb. 9.27 Acts 24.15 Chap. 17 31. Dan. 12.2 and are all equally involved in the Fall
and are accordingly concerned in the benefit of the Restoration for Jesus our Saviour is the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World and are all alike designed to Mortality and must be all equally concerned in the Resurrection and Eternal Judgment and so at last according to their proper State must be center'd in a woful or Blessed Eternity But the second Degree of Brotherhood is Spiritual and Divine in which Estate Christians are of the Second Adam being Members of his Body Ephes 5.30 of his Flesh and of his Bones John 16.57 and so are nourished by that Vertue which issueth out from the living Father unto them through Christ So that as he in Conjunction with the Father liveth in and by the Fathers Vertue and Fullness John 14.6 even so Christians by their close Union and Conjunction with Christ live by him and his Fullness and Vertue is the Life of their Souls according as it is written in the Holy Scriptures He that Eateth me shall live by me therefore all our Union with the Father is mediately not immediately and that through Christ unto whom it is only proper to enjoy immediate Union with the Father Chap. 10.30 John 14.10 Rom. 9.5 and by Vertue thereof the infinite Fullness of the Father dwelleth it him so that he is very God being the absolute and perfect Image of the Fathers Substance Heb. 1.5 and if we did live immediately upon the Father and had all the incommunicable Properties of the Divine Nature John 2.25 as well as those which are communicable which is impossible either for Angels or men Then we might be Gods and Christs as well as he but this is Blasphemy for any to imagine and also Lies for them to speak Therefore this Brotherhood or Heavenly Off-spring are Branches that grow upon Christ the Stock Rom. 11.17 who is in perfect and immediate Union with the Father who is the Root from whence the Vertue goeth into the Stock and so through him into the Branches from which Branches the fruits of Vertue springeth forth unto the World John 3.21 Hos 14.8 Acts 11.16 1 John 2.20 Verse 27. Ephes 3.14 and thus all their Works are wrought in God in whom also all their Fruit is found therefore these Souls are not Christs but Christians not the Anointed ones of God but the Anointed ones of Christ so that as he lives by the Father even so they also live by him and so being of a Heavenly Descent and born from above they are of the Family in Heaven and Brotherhood that is Divine and Spiritual between whom there is great Brotherly Kindness Therefore Heb. 13.1 as the Branches of a Tree do link themselves into one another and so support and help each other to bear the Burthen of their Fruit winding themselves for that Purpose into a certain kind of round Body by which the Tree is made comely to behold and so shewing a Natural Kindness one to another even so this Brotherhood all acts as one man Phil. 1.27 Rom 12.10 Prov. 31.26 and Charity being a Ruling Principle in their Souls these are kind one to another Be kindly affectioned as becometh Brethren in whose Tongue appeareth the Law of Kindness Now Kindness is a Quality that looketh not only to it self but goeth out of it self and emptieth it self to others imparting unto them somewhat of that which is its own for none can love themselves and keep â—heir own that dwell in Kindness for that would be great Cruelty Prov. 5.27 the which consisteth not only in inflicting Misery upon men but also in detaining from them that by which Misery may be removed Kindness if it cannot help its Friend will therefore mourn because it cannot help him and evermore extendeth it self to them that have need of Succour Luke 10.34 Sometimes it respecteth the Body at other times the Soul sometimes in one way and then again in another so the Wounds of a Friend are better then the Kisses of an Enemy For when the Righteous smiteth it is in Kindness Prov. 27.6 and his Reproofs are as precious Oyl but when the Wicked smiteth Psal 141.5 Prov. 27.4 1 Thess 2.8 Zach. 4.12 it is in Wrath and their stroaks are full of Cruelty If kindness hath received any Spiritual thing straitway it desireth to impart it to others but Cruelty keepeth all to its self if it hath any natural thing that will profit its Brother it rejoyceth when it is accepted For that End Kindness doth divide not its Natucal or Spiritual Enjoyments between it self and others 2 Cor. 8.9 John 1.16 Rom. 5.10 but emptieth it self of all if the call so requires even as Jesus our Saviour who emptied himself both of Comforts of Soul and Body and became exceeding poor in that which was his own that we may be filled with that Fulness which by right is none of ours John 3.16 Kindness in him laid down his Life for the Brethren yet Kindness in Christians extendeth not it self only to the Brotherhood in the last Degree but also to the Brotherhood in the first Degree Rom. 12.20 Therefore when the Enemy is Hungry it feedeth him and when he is thirsty it giveth him Drink it cloatheth the Naked relieveth the Oppressed and succoureth the helpless Enemy 2 Tim. 2.25 Therefore there is no Cruelty nor Persecution in Bethania no Heart-burnings against any that will not in all things conform to her Charter Luke 13.34 In Meekness she instructeth them that oppose themselves and waiteth if peradventure God will give them Repentance Chap. 19.41 John 2.18 Mat. 13.30 Jer. 17.16 Isa 53.5 Jer. 4.19 Psal 33.15 1 Tim. 6.5 Rev. 18.24 She weepeth over the Earthly Jerusalem but will not set it on Fire and when she taketh a Whip in hand it is only to purge the Temple of the Lord and then it is made but of small Cords neither She will let the Tares grow in the World though not in the Church and by her Prayers doth not hasten the woful Day She cryeth out against the Spirit of Babel but not against those who are Baptized with it Her Heart is often bleeding for others but her Hands are dyed in the Blood of none so that sharp and proud Contentions are found in the Earthly Jerusalem and Blood and Cruelty dwell in Babel but Brotherly Kindness in both Degrees of Brotherhood taketh up its Habitation in Bethania Psal 112.9 Mal. 25.36 Heb. 13.2 James 1.27 In this Street standeth the great Hospital in which the poor are relieved the Sick are visited Strangers are entertained and the helpless succoured and there also she hath many a pleasant and comfortable Walk with Her Dear Emmanuel CHAP. X. THE Seventh Pillar in the House of Wisdom Gal. 5.22 1 John 4.9 Rom. 5.5 is Charity and it is produced by one of the seven Spirits before the Throne being a precious fruit of the Spirit and a divine Principle springing
Creatures was Man Heb 1.7 who was by Creation a little lower than the Angels but his Soul was a rational Being therefore of the same Essence with them not capable of Annihilation but only a change of State Gen. 3.22 Chap 2.8 His Body was immortal in which it was to be confirmed by Eating of the Tree of Life his place was Eden his State was Paradice Male and Female Gen. 1.27 Eccles 7.29 capable of producing an Off-spring He was made in he Image of God viz. in Holiness Wisdom Soveraignty and was Lord of all the inferiour Creation unto whom all the communicable Attributes of the Divine Nature were communicated as Mercy Justice Patience Bounty Love Humility and such-like He was naturally inclined to good but capable being as yet unconsirmed Gen. 1 3â— of being drawn into Evil therefore being tempted Chap. 3 19. broke that Righteous Law that was given him by reason of which his Body was designed to the Dust Eccles 12.7 Chap. 20.21 Jer. 2.21 his sensitive Spirit to extinguish as the Spirit of a Beast and his rational Soul to a change of State as having lost the Image of God and fallen into the Image of the fallen Angels sunk down with them into the same Wrath of God out of which neither by himself Eph. 2.2 Psal 49 7. nor yet by any other Creature there was no Redemption This point will be further argued and endeavoured to be cleared unto any sober Person that shall doubt thereof if he inquire further about it in Bethania The Third sort of Creatures were those that move in the Air in the Earth and in the Waters Their Estate was inferiour to mans as mans was inferiour to Angels Their Place or Habitation was and is in this World Gen. 1.26 1 Pet. 2.11 but since the fall man doth cohabit with them Heb. 11.13 Chap. 13.14 Job 1.21 Rom. 1.12 John 3.5 yet is but a stranger in it and hath no continuing City here he enters this World naked and mourningly lives in it sinfully and except he be Born again and so recover himself to his first Estate he must leave it miserably this third sort of Creatures have no Rational Life therefore their end is only anihilation there being no state after Death proper to them FIFTHLY Touching the Decrees of God Eph. 1.11 Jam. 1.17 Jud. 4. Mark 16.16 about the everlasting state of men it is concluded and believed in Bethania that they are eternal and unchangeable and that they do respect the Persons and not the Qualities of men Mat. 25.34 Mat. 3.10 Psal 50.22 Mat. 24.5 so that there is a state of Election and a state of Reprobation proper to men as they are found in a state of Regeneration to Christ which is the true estate of Election or remain in the Fall which is the true state of Reprobation Even so that Decree which is proper to that estate is executed upon them SIXTHLY It is concluded in Bethania Tit. 3.3 Eph. 2.3 2 Tim. 2.19 Esa 42 1. Rev. 5.5 Rom. 11.17 that none are elected but such as are in Christ who is the only Elect of God and the Foundation that standeth sure in whom the Lord knoweth them that are his So that he is the Elected Root and Heaven-born Souls are the Elected Branches 2 Cor. 5.19 2 Pet. 1.4 and there is no real being in him but what is by Regeneration Ephes 4.15 2 Cor. 2.18 Rom. 8.29 v. 30. Rom. 1.16 in which the New-creature-Soul is partaker of the Divine Nature being Ingrafted into him as a Graft into a Stock and so partaketh of his vertue from whence springeth up the Divine Nature and Image which is the Image of the first born among many Brethren unto a conformity to which Image God hath predestinated the Sons of men and into a conformity thereunto he doth call them by the Gospel of his Grace and in that consormity he doth Justify them and Glorify all those that shall be Eternally saved SEVENTHLY Bethania further believes Ephes 2.2 Rom. 3.11 Mat. 7.18 Luk. 19.10 Col. 1.13 Act. 26.18 John 15.15 1 Cor. 15.10 That man in the Fall is dead in sin and averse to every thing that is good and therefore though means be prepared of God for his recovery yet without the Grace of God to help him to lay hold on that means he is like still to continue in that lost Estate for deeply intangled in the Kingdom of Darkness he is therefore held by the Prince thereof in great Captivity and Bondage which being firmly believed it must needs follow that Free-will is a great stranger in the House of the Poor EIGHTHLY Therefore that Grace by which Christ our Lord tasted Death for every man Tit. 2.11 Heb. 2.9 Chap. 9.15 Ephes 2.4 Tit. 2.12 Rom. 2.4 and procured by the merit thereof Salvation for them hath appeared and doth appear unto all men reaching them the way and administring to them the power to deny Ungodliness and Worldly-Lusts For the observation of which appearance and for the complying with which power the Lord waiteth in long forbearance upon men and calleth upon them by the loud Calls of the Gospel striving with them by the frequent working of his holy Spirit Gen. 6.3 that so they may come into that Estate in which this Salvation may be obtained by them NINTHLY So that the first moving cause of mans Conversion is God Ezek. 16.6 Gen. 3.9 Heb. 12.2 Act. 14.27 Phil. 1.27 Act. 11.18 Isa 65.2 Prov. 1.25 Luk. 13.34 Matt. 22.9 who is the Author of their Faith and openeth the door thereof and giveth power to believe and granteth unto men repentance unto Life stretching out his Arms of Mercy unto the Stubborn and Rebellious and to such as set at naught all his Counsels seriously desiring to gather in all those who in the end are not gathered inviting to the Feast and that in good earnest those that do not come marveling at their unbelief and reproving their wilful and careless refusal Hos 11.4 but his manner of working in the dispensations of Grace is to perswade not to force the will of man theresore it is concluded in Bethania that the power to repent and believe are the Gifts of God Mark. 1.15 but the Acts of Believing and Repentance are the Acts of men TENTHLY And seeing Bethania hath been suspected in her Doctrine about the great work of Christs Satisfaction She seriously professeth and hath fully concluded Heb. 7.27 Rom 5.10 2 Cor. 5.18 Heb. 10.12 Verse 14. that by the sufficiency of Christ the work of Reconciliation of God to men was fully wrought and satisfaction for all sins past present and to come was compleatly made and justification and remission of sins by that means was effectually procured so that he needed to suffer no more his Sacrifice being every way sufficient for those ends for which it was designed John 16.2 John 5.22 Mark 16.16 upon
which satisfaction made by Christs sufferings the Father delivered all Flesh into his hands that he might give Eternal Life or dispose to Eternal Torments such as conform or remain Nonconformists to the gracious Terms of the Gospel Rom. 3.25 So that in the first Acts of Repentance and Faith men do only receive Remission of sins that are pasto according to the riches of the Grace of God through Christ and in case any truly converted Soul be overcome by the violence of Temptation Heb. 4 15. Chap. 7.15 Joh. 1.9 2 Cor. 7.10 1 Tim. 2.5 and slip and fall and thereby be bruised very sore yet if he readily confess his Sins and enter into most true Repentance for the same Jesus our Saviour as a Mediator between God and man by vertue of his Intercession is able to recover them and to save to the uttermost those who thus come to God by Him Hos 14.4 Isa 57.18 Heb. 9.22 so pardoning and healing the wounded but Penitent Soul and into this capacity he was put and entred into the Holy place for this end by his own blood without which there is no Remission of Sins so that the work of Reconciliation was only wrought by the death of the Son of God but the Salvation of Reconciled Souls is fully compleated by his most precious Life Rom. 5.9 Heb. 7.25 as may clearly appear by Christian Principles professed and believed in the little City Bethania And thus having laid down in certain Articles The sum in brief of the Doctrine of Bethania as it respecteth God to Man I shall as the Lord shall assist briefly hint at her Doctrine as it respecteth Man to God. And ELEVENTHLY There are six things believed in Bethania to be the Foundation upon which Christian Religion is to stand And they are written Heb. 6.1 2. The first of which is Repentance from Dead Works Act. 3.19 1 Thes 1.9 2 Cor. 7.10 Eph. 4.18 Isa 14.29 Col. 1.21 Eph. 5.8 Joel 2.13 14. Psal 51 17. James 4.10 Job 42.6 which is a true turning of the whole mind to God without which turning it is impossible that men should walk with him the which turning is not only a change of Judgment but also a change of Life For from a mind estranged from God proceedeth as from the Serpents Root an evil Judgment and a wicked Life but when the mind is wholly turned to God a Right Judgment and a New Life presently ensues Besides Repentance is an hearty sorrow for Sins that are past which sheweth forth it self in great brokeness of Heart and deep humblings of Soul before the Father of Mercies abhorring it self in Dust and Ashes in that it hath lived so long in sin against him from whom all its good proceeds Act. 9.11 Psal 109.22 Job 31.1 Chap. 34.32 and this godly sorrow worketh Repentance unto Salvation not to be repented of and further appears by earnest Prayers and frequent fastings and careful Circumspection with stedfast Resolutions through the Grace of God for time to come to lead a Holy Life In this Estate the Soul is received into Mercy Luke 1.77 and through tender Mercies obtains Remission of Sins TWELFTHLY The Second thing Joh. 6.29 is Faith in which there are three parts The first of which James 2.19 is Credence by which we believe the things reported of God and Christ Salvation and the way thereof to be true Secondly Adherence By which we believe the things reported to be good John 12.42 excellent and very profitable adhering to them in our Affectionate Desire Thus far went the Rulers and many others in the way of Faith believing the things reported by Christ Mark 6.20 to be true and adhering unto them as good things Mat. 25.10 Act. 8.21 Chap. 11.23 Ephes 1.13 Ephes 4.2 Mark 7.29 Hos 11.8 Act. 15.9 John 1.16 Psal 97.2 Psal 66.9 but yet for all this came short of Salvation which stands at utmost end of Faith. The Third and last part of which is Compliance By which the Souls of men comply and become one with the things of God. And herein Faith arrives at his Maturity and Fullness being now compleated in all its parts in which compleat state it reacheth unto the very Heart of Christ in whom all fullness dwells and draws that vertue from him by which the saving health of God is brought into and also maintained in the believing Soul. THIRTEENTHLY The Third thing is Baptism in which also are three parts Heb 6.2 Acts 10.42 Chap. 38. Rom. 6.4 Mat. 28.19 And therefore in this place called Baptisms The formal part of which is Water in which the whole body is dipped or plunged in every part and this done in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit By this formal part of Baptism Acts 8.13 we are baptized into the Name and Profession of Divine Christianity which outward washing is a true figure of the inward washing of the Soul by the Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 Heb. 10.22 Tit. 3.2 Rom. 6.5 Isa 1.6 Acts 15.9 and Sanctification of the Holy Spirit and is the laver of Regeneration but not Regeneration it self It is a sign of our being dead unto Sin and burial with Christ in the likeness of his Death and of our Resurrection with him into Newness of Life And therefore as every part of the Soul was defiled by Sin and is actually cleansed in its turning to God even so also as a true figure hereof after Repentance and Faith is professed every part of the body is to be washed John 13.10 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Cor. 12.13 2 Pet. 1.4 2 Tim. 1.7 John 3.6 shewing thereby the Universal Defilement of the Soul before its cleansing and that after its cleansing it ought to be universally pure The Second part of Baptism is that of the Spirit by which cleansed Souls are baptised into the Mystical Body of Christ 2 Cor. 2.15 Gal. 5.16 Isa 30.11 and into the Nature Power and Vertue of Divine Christianity This Baptism is Effected when the whole Soul is Spiritualized and Regenerated into the Divine Nature of Christ and formed after his own Image that as in outward Baptism the whole Body is covered over with Water even so also in this Baptism the whole Soul is covered over with the Spirit of God in which it is to live and walk and act in Divine Things and this is true Regeneration of which the other part is but the Laver. Blessed therefore are those Souls who are born not only of Water John 3.2 but also of the Spirit The Third Part of Baptism Luke 20.20 2 Tim. 1.8 is that of Afflictions and into this the Spiritual Soul is deeply plunged for the Gospel sake and as Christ our Lord was straitned in himself until this part of Baptism was also accomplished even so the spiritual Soul desires to confirm his Love to him Rom. 5.3 by great and overwhelming