up in the Soul by the Love of God which is shed abroad into it this is the number of perfection and highest degree of Virtue it is the highest Stone in Zerubbabel's Temple who is a stranger to Babel and the bond of Perfection Zech. 4.7 Col. 3 16. it is that wherein Bethania enjoyeth her highest Communion with God and is the chiefest Street in all her City for there the Palace of Emanuel standeth as it is written John 4.16 He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him She hath many a Walk with God in this Street and while she walketh with him there she seeth nothing but Glory in his Face in this Street she is fearless of Men or Devils and the Terrors of God do not make her afraid 2 Cor. 4.6 for perfect Love casteth out Fear Psal 27.1 in this Principle of Love God moved himself in all Eternity and produced that Image 1 John 4.17 who is called the Son of his Love Light and Love are the pure Essence of the glorious God and in that Principle were the Angels of Light created whom the Father appointed to attend that Throne on which the Son of his Love sitteth who being the glorious Head of their famous Principality Col. 1.13 1 John 1.5 2 Cor. 11.14 Isa 6.1 2. Col. 1.10 Rev. 4.10 Psal 84.11 Job 38.7 was therefore by them most humbly worshiped and so the heavenly Host of resigned Spirits vail their Faces and cast down their Crowns when the Son and Glory of all these Morning-Stars ascends the Throne Out of this Principle of Light and Love issued forth that Light that was in the beginning before the Sun and Moon and Stars were created the which after they were created seized upon their Bodies as Fire seizeth upon an unlighted Candle when it is touched therewith whose Bodies being thus enlightned they carrylight from Heaven round about the Earth in twenty four hours In this Principle was the Soul of man breathed in his Nostrils in the day of his Creation Gen. 1.34 Vers 14. Gen. 2.7 therefore Man's Soul did bear the Image of God and God is Love yea the whole Creation was brought forth in this Principle of Light and Love therefore the Fruits do grow so quietly among the Leaves together upon the Tree and the great Multitudes of Flowers of so many several Colours Forms and Virtues all peaceably together in one Meadow so that nothing of Strife and Contention or any other Disorder did immediately proceed from God whose Essence and dwelling place was Light and Love from all eternity so that the contention that is now among the Creatures ariseth from some other remote Cause and though there be generation and corruption among those Creatures which are under the influence of the four Elements Gen. 1.31 yet in the beginning there was no contention for the Herbs and Plants and Trees with the Fruits in the vegetable Kingdom grew up by the influence of Heaven into the perfection of their own Nature and yielded up their Spirits into the sensitive Creatures and so live in a more excellent state in the Animal Kingdom than when they lived in their own These again when their Bodies are grown old and feeble resign their Spirits into the four Elements who according to the course of Nature produce new Vegetables and young Animals to possess the places of those who are gone into a formal decay therefore the first disorder of Nature began in the Kingdom of Lucifer who set his Seat above the Stars of God Isa 14.13 upon the Mount of the Congregation in the side of the North Isa 6.2 Rev. 4.1 Ezek. 28 6. Isa 9.6 and did not vail his face at the appearance of the Son of God's Love nor yet cast his Crown before his glorious Throne but would set his Heart as the Heart of God and so be like the most High this kindled Wrath in the Father of Eternity or or rather stirred up pure Justice in him which lay before as Fire is hid in the Flint until it be smitten upon and hence it is that God became a consuming Fire Heb. 12.28 but the next disorder began in the Garden of Eden where Man should have obeyed the Voyce of God Gen. 3.6 Rom. 5.12 Ephes 2.3 Gen. 1.28 Jer. 2.21 Gen. 3.17 Psal 82.2 and have turned to the Tree of Life and so have eaten of that Fruit without which he could not long securely stand but he turned the quite contrary way and Eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and so brought Sin and Death into his first Nature and in that Nature he is still a Child of Wrath Thus the King of the Creatures being degenerated the Earth is cursed for his sake therefore the whole Foundations thereof are out of Course and the Devil is become Prince of the World and so there is little but Confusion and Disorder in it Isa 24.1 John 1.18 2 Cor. 5.17 Dan. 9.24 for which cause the great Jehovah moved himself again in the Principle of Love and sent the Son of his Love out of his own Bosom to make all things new again even to put a final End to Sin and so take away the Curse and to turn out Death Rev. 22.3 Hos 13.14 Rev. 20.10 also to send the Devil into his infernal Den and to create Souls anew for Heaven into which New-Created Souls he infuseth the Spirit of Power of Love and of a sound Mind and in this Estate they become followers of God as Dear Children 2 Tim. 1.9 walking in Love so that all their things be done in Charity or Love and this Love fulfilleth the whole Law Ephes 5.1 1 Cor 16.114 Rom. 15.8 1 Tim. 1.5 Cant. 8.7 Rom. 5.3 1 Pet. 4.13 Mat. 11.29 and goeth to the end of the Commandment For the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and of a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned and where it is shed abroad in the Hearts of Christians it is more strong then Death and many Waters cannot quench it passing through all Tribulations very chearfully rejoycing therein because it is then in Communion with Christ being Partaker of his Suffering and walking with him in the Kingdom of his Patience John 5.3 John 6.6 Gal. 6.16 Rom. 8.37 Cant. 5.10 James 3.24 it counts his Yoke easie and his Commandments are not grievous and those things which to others appear as hard sayings are unto it as Words of Eternal Life It glorieth in the Cross by which 't is more then a Conqueror and nothing separates it from the Love of God It letteth out the whole Soul after Christ and counteth him the chief of ten Thousand and the only Portion of the Soul Cant. 2.5 Psal 71.20 Col. 1.3 so that if he go but behind the Curtain it is sick of Love but when he sheweth his Face again the Spirit is greatly revived and the Lips that were a
and a stamering Tongue it is too much to be doubted that others also are somewhat dull of hearing and from hence it might and yet may arise that our Mothers Children have had some occasion to be angry with me however I am greatly inclined to still them as well as I can so that I may keep Truth from falling in the Streets and a good Conscience from being violated by any means And you may plainly percieve that I have no end at my own glory in these things in that I have not attempted to beautifie it at all with humane wisdom but with great simplicity as becomes the Title it presents it self to view Neither do I mind mine outward profit by any thing that is now undertaken my mind being but little enclined thereunto ever since you and I have had to do one with another And by reason of many natural Impediments both pains and loss are like to be my present rewards and you are witnesses and God also that I have coveted no mans Gold or Silver or Apparel though I migt have had all these from you with right true desire but these hands for the most part through the good providence of God hitherto ministred unto my necessities and so what I have freely received I would freely give again desiring the Ever Blessed God to make all my poor endeavours as the wilderness-Feast of Barly Bread and Fishes which was blessed for the nourishment of very many Souls So not being willing to burden you too much nor too long to detain you from the things that follow I desire earnestly the continuance of your serious requests for me as I hope mine will be still for you Who am your unworthy Servant in what I can for your Souls Advantage W. P. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Courteous Reader THou art here presented with a little Treatise which meer Necessity forceth into the World being a Summary of the Faith and Practices in brief of the Christian Catholick Church which in her Militant Estate is rightly stiled Bethania and it was first occasioned by some Suspitions and Accusations cast upon the Author chiefly by some of his Mothers Children touching the Principles of his Belief who being known to be one that holdeth Vniversal Redemption hath been charged or at least suspected to hold many gross Opinions by them that are of a contrary Mind as Free-Will or Single Power in the Creature in the work of the Souls Conversion Secondly Of denying the Humanity of our Saviour and sometimes also his Divinity Thirdly Of holding the Mortality of the Soul and denying the Resurrection of the Body from the Dead or something equivalent thereunto sometimes suspected of Arianism of Praying to Angels and Justification by Works and such like things which suspicious minds could frame All which things he hath sometimes born with much calmness of Spirit thinking it sufficient that his own Conscience hath pronounced him innocent as to things of this nature and also rejoyceth in Divine Grace by which he hath been kept in such a state although full of imperfections as that occasion hath not been given to the accused or much suspected of an impious Life yet for the sake of the poor in Spirit his only companions and which are very dear unto him he hath given forth a brief declaration of the Christian Faith Order and Life in the which he himself expects to be saved and his design is to further the good and benefit of all serious Souls who in very many tossings to and fro have almost been tired and discouraged on the Mountains of Wandring but yet this is not all for he would fain awaken the Careless Daughters and give a Midnight-Cry to the Foolish Virgins that if possible they might see the Bed of Christian-Profession to be too short and the Covering of Church-Communion to be too narrow to rest secure in from that Heart-searching God with whom we all must shortly have to do But the Author did first intend to have left this little Treatise in Manuscript only to three Societies with whom he hath been more than ordinarily concerned the which though little in Bulk is great in Matter and contains that which might have been the Subject of many great Volumes it relating to the whole Mystery of Godliness from first to last the which without controversie is exceeding great and it is designed to be promoted by the Author as his poor Abilities will afford not only in the Theory thereof but also in the practical Part which is indeed the Substance of true Divinity and though it may come forth in a Name and Title somewhat strange at first yet when the Reason thereof is given it may not always appear a wonder for as the Church of Christ is sometimes in Scripture called a City as in Psal 46.4 There is a River the streams whereof makes glad the City of God the holy Place of the Tabernacle of the most High So Mat 5.14 it is said to be the Salt of the Earth and a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid and in Eph. 2.19 Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners but Fellow-Citizens of the Saints and of the Houshold of God. So also there are divers Cities and Towns in Scripture that do very much represent the same among which Bethania is no small representation according to the Hebrew signification of it And first it is represented by Zion which signifieth Driness and so indeed she is with respect to her own estate but that the Rivers of the waters of Life from the Rock in the weary Land Isa 32.21 flow unto her and is a place of broad Rivers and Streams therein Isa 33.2 Secondly Israel signifying the Vision of Peace and indeed this City where Christ the Prince of Peace dwelleth must needs be the elearest sight of Peace on this side Heaven it self and the Peace of God which passeth all understanding Phil. 4.7 doth keep the Hearts and Minds of them in perfect Peace who as the true Israel of God do stedfastly walk by the New Creature-Rule Gal. 6.16 Besides this City does not only see Visions of Peace from God but also Visions of Peace are seen from it to Men being a Kingdom which is not of this World John 18.36 Neither consisteth in meat or drink Rom. 14.7 but in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Thirdly Bethlehem which signifies the House of Bread and in the true Church of Christ this Bread of Life is the only food of Souls the which being the flesh of Christ our Life all the heavenly Off-spring live thereby John 6.57 He that eateth me shall live by me and from hence the Bread of Life is also ministerially tendered For the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that Heareth say Come and whosoever will let him come and take of the Water of Life freely Rev. 22.17 and so Prov. 9.5 Come eat of my bread and drink of the Wine which I have mingled So
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
Isa 42.4 Job 22.22 Jer. 15.16 Psal 119.24 Isa 44.4 Psal 119.98 99 100. Ephes 1.18 Psal 119.93 Cant. 6.11 Psal 23.2 John 6.45 Gen. 27.27 Isa 5.13 In which for that time all other things whether Actions of Soul or Body are suspended and laid in Silence That with great Retiredness of Spirit they may watch with Christ one Hour And like the little Islands of the Poor in Spirit wait for the Law from his Mouth to lay up his Word in their Hearts that it may be for good Counsel and Comfort for their Soulâ—â— By which means improved in this manner the House of the Poor groweth rich in Divine Vertue and deep Wisdons being Fortified also in their Soule with the exceeding great Power of God of which retired Spirits have sensible Experience and by which they are quickned yet farther unto Spiritual Things And so feeding in the Valley of great Humility by the still Waters of immediate and Ministerial Teachings they grow like Willows by the Water-courses and flourish like a Field which the Lord hath Blessed When the Inhabitants of Babel that discomposed Multitude and all the carelese Daughters are famished and dryed up with Thirst SICONDLY The Inhabitants of Bethania are very careful to observe those Hours Dedicated to Divine Worship Acts 3.21 Isa 58.3 Verse 13. as time that then is none of Theirs but the Lords and therefore they think it dangerous to steal away any part thereof from him and convert it to their own private use Acts 5.1.2 Verse 5. Verse 10. like Annanias and Saphira which stole away part of that from God which they pretended to give unto him but felt the dreadful Effects thereof by the loss of Life And for mocking the Lord and lying against his Holy Spirit is is greatly to be doubted also Isa 32.9 12. Ephes 4.30 they have lost their Souls And hence it comes to pass among the careless Daughters who suffer the Lord to wait for them till his Spirit be greatly grieved and fore wearied with their intollerable Delay That they have little else in their coming to Meetings but dry Breasts Hos 9.14 Jer. 17.6 Isa 24.16 Psal 106.15 Job 16.18 Isa 58.2 and a Barren Womb The Lord having withdrawn himself from their careless Souls and left them to inherit the parched places of the Wilderness in great leanness of Spirit as their wrinckles testifie to their Faces And notwithstanding They are frequently at Meetings and evi learning in the visible Temple sitting constantly in the place of drawing Waters 2 Tim. 3.7 Jude 5.11 Isa 65.23 yet they dâ—â— but labour in vain and bring forâ—â— Trouble because they observe not theâ—â— accustomed Meetings in the careâ—â— Spirit of Bethania THIRDLY It is the Custom of that little City when they come to their Meeting place and the Hour of Meeting being at hand remembring that the time is now the Lords to retire eaâ—â— to their proper Place or Seat for bearing to salute any though never â—â— dear unto them and there to betakâ— themselves to some silent Meditation or reading of the Holy Scriptures Luke so 4. 2 Kings 4.29 Hab 2.20 Psal 104.34 Psal 94.19 Mat. 22.11 Chap. 18.21 1 Cor. 13.5 Eccles 3.1 1 Pet. 3.8 â—â— some other Spiritual Exercise the so when the Lord shall come to see the Guests and visit the Two or Threâ—â— that are gathered together in hâ—â— Name he may find none of theâ—â— distracted whispering dircoursinâ— or in any unseemly Posture foâ— there is a Time and a Season for everâ— lawful Custom and Salutations all in their proper Seasons with other friendly Discourse are convenient and comely in Bethania But it â—â— meet that the Lords work Phil. 3.8 the which also concerns our immortal Souâ—â— should in the first place be accomplished 1 Kings 17.13 Luke 10.42 and herein Mary was more approved of in sitting at the Feet of her Lord and waiting for his Divine Counsels then Martha was in making unseasonable Provision for him Therefore when the Disciples were sent forth in the work of the Lord they were commanded to salute no man by the way John 9.61 for he that would bid them of his house farewel when a greater Work was before him was judged unmeet for the Kingdom of God. Piety is to go before Courtesy the which being finished Courtesie follows in his right season Exod. 31.18 The Law was written in two Tables and though the second Table in which is contained our Duty to man have more Precepts in it then that which contains our Duty to God yet the Precepts of the first Table are to be observed in the first place Even so the holy Apostles first ended the Divine Matter of their Epistles Rom. 16.4 and then after saluted the Brethren Therefore Bethania when Divine Worship that appertaineth to God in the first place is performed then after they proceed in courteous Salutations one to another and not only to themselves neither like the Publicans Mat. 5.47 who will also salute their Brethren But likewise also to those besides themselves who do usually frequent their Meetings Rom. 12.9 10. all which Salutations are performed in unfeigned Love 1 Cor. 14.40 and without Diffimulation also in great Humility a decent orderly and serious Exercises in Bethania FOVRTHLY If in any of the Assemblies of Bethania Offenees happen to arise between Brother and Brother in a matter that is not simply a sin against God Then the offended goeth and telleth the Offender his Fault Mat. 18.15 16 17. who if he repent is readily forgiven and so all 〈◊〉 well but if he repent not then he is admonished by two or three and so it is done the second time If he still persist in stubbornness then the Church doth hear it and if he refuse to hear the Church it is plain Rebellion and so like that dreadful Sin of Witchcraft 1 Sam. 15.23 and such kind of Persons are in no wise sufferred to inhabite in Bethania Deut. 18.10 not be Freemen within the Corporation of it FIFTHLY Again if there be found any Person in the aforesaid Assemblies that is slothful Rom. 12.11 2 Tim. 3.18 1 Thess 5.14 and doth neglect his Duty either in natural or in spiritual things then he is seriously admonished unto it If he strive to amend although he cannot presently alter the in-bred Habits of an unconverted State it is sufficient for the present and he is counselled encouraged and comforted as one of the feeble-minded But if he be careless and giveth way to those evil habits 1 Tim. 5.11 he is suspended and noted as a Person not meet for Christian Communion yet in no wise exempted from friendly Admonition But if after all these manurings he still remaineth an unfruitful Tree Luke 13.7 John 15.6 and as a deyed Shrub in which there is no hope then he is cut up as a Cumberrer of the Ground and as a lifeless Withered Branch taken
quite away SIXTHLY But if any sin a Sin that is directly and immediatly against God such as Fornication Idolatry anâ— Murder 1 Cor. 6.9 10. is Effeminate or doth abuâ—â— themselves with Mankind is a Thiâ—â— or Covetous or a Drunkard or a Reviler or an Extortioner or such like then those to whom such things appear though it be their Father Deut. 13.6 Verse 8. James 2.1 Wife or Husband or any the nearest Relations whatsoever do bring theâ— things immediatly to the Church aâ—â— there testifie unto them without any respect of Persons which springâ— from Envy or Flattery and that iâ— the same Spirit in which they give wholesome Physick unto their dearest Friends 1 Cor. 16.14 1 Cor. 5.5 6 7. Josh 7.20 Verse 24.28 1 Cor. 4.19 2 Cor. 13.2 Phil. 2.3 2 Tim. 2.24 28. And if the thing become evident by sufficient Testimony theâ— notwithstanding all Manifestations of Repentance and free Confession of the sinning Party in a very grave and sober manner and with that Severity yet Lamb-like meekness which becometh the Executioners of Gospel-Discipline The Sinner is immediately cut off and excluded from the Christian Communion of Bethania By vertue of that Exclusion he is not only deprived of Communion at the Lords Table but also of being present within that place where Preaching and Praying Lev. 13 45 46. 1 Cor. 5.13 with other Divine â—xercises relating to the Worship of God are performed And though â—his little City be greatly enclined to Compassion and readiness to forgive Offences and very unwillng to be â—xercised in sharp Severities yet â—er Divine Charter will in no wise â—â—llow it in this case but that a visible â—mpiety must needs be corrected by a â—ublick Punishment 1 Tim. 5.20 Seeing the end â—f Discipline is not only the recovery â—f Sinners as some suppose but also â—he Vindication of the Purity of the Church of Christ against those that would accuse her of bearing with evil Rev. 2.2 Verse 20. 2 Sam 12.12 but this thing could not possible be done by any means if all Offences were forgiven upon Repentancè and Confession of the sinning Party without immediate Excommunication Therefore though God forgave the sin of David and Miriam upon Repentance and Confession Num. 12.13 14 15. 2 Sam. 12.14 Psal 38.5 Psal 39.11 yet though David were a Prophet and Miriam a Prophetess she must be put out of the Camp seven days and David endure many sore and greivous Chastisements for God will have it known both to Churches and also to the World That this little City is no harbour for Sin nor Sinners Yet after publick and severe Discipline hath been duly executed and tâ—â— Offender hath been put to opâ—â— Shame for his open Offences Thâ—â— is great Pity 2 Cor. 2.5 6.7 Mat. 3.8 and tender Compassâ—â— found in the Breast of Bethania aâ—â— from thence it proceedeth freely aâ— readily to the truly Penitent aâ— Broken-hearted Sinner and when thâ— Fruits of Repentance have sufficiently manifested themselves in him theâ— according to her usual and Ancient Custom they do with all Solemniâ—â— in one of their solemn Meetings rigâ—â— humbly confess the Sins and Offencâ—â— of the Penitent Soul Dan. 9.20 Ezra 9.5 6. Gal 2.9 Col. 3.17 with earneâ—â— Prayers to the Father of Mercies for the Remission of the same and theâ— the whole Society by one of hâ—â— appointed Ministers reacheth the Right-hand of Fellowship unto thâ—â— now recovered and absolved Personâ—â— and receiveth him again in the Name of the Lord Jesus into the Christian Communion of Bethania SEVENTHLY Rebuke in Bethania is a certain Divine Censure which springe from pure Justice Rev. 3.19 Job 33.17 Jer. 19.29 30. and yet Mercy is designed in its Execution It is the same Word with that John 16.8 where it is said The Spirit shall convince or reprove the word of Sin and though sometimes it is Excommunication it self which is the highest degree of Rebuke yet oftentimes it is found a degree below it 1 Tim. 5.20 and so is only in this degree a Publick Censure frequently Executed both by God and Man upon those Persons whose state doth not render them immediately Excommunicable being a cutting and piercing means designed mainly to chastise a present and prevent a future Evil and thus God correcteth man with Rebukes Isa 39.11 by reason whereof his Beauty consumeth like a Moth but his end is to bring back his Soul from the Pit to be enlightned with the light of the Living and it seemeth that David was content to be Rebuked by God for this end so that it might not be in Wrath and hot Displeasure Psal 6.1 Psal 38.1 ver 5. 1 Tim. 5.24 1 Cor. 11.32 Rev. 3.19 whose meer foolishness as himself hath said had brought these sharp Rebukes upon him and so some mens Sins go on before-hand to Judgment that being Judged and Chastned of the Lord they might not be Condemned with the World by this Censure therefore the Lord dealt with the Laodiceans that they might not be Spewed out of his Mouth for whom saith he I Love I Rebuke and Chasten be ye Zealous therefore and amend After this manner therefore Christ our Lord Rebuked Peter saying Get thee behind me Satan Mark 8.33 Prov. 9.8 Job 12.15 for thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things which be of Men even so also in Bethania if a wise man happeneth to slip with his feet he is quickly Rebuked and it is accounted as precious Oyl Psal 14.5 Prov. 27.6 open Rebuke being preferred before Secret Love and the Wounds of a Friend above the Kisses of an Enemy therefore if a Brother Trespass against a Brother Luke 17.3 Lev. 19.17 he is Rebuked and the Neighbour by his Rebukeâ— is delivered from his Sin so that wheâ— this Divine Censure is Executed in the Spirit of Bethania the effects thereof are of great advantage Tit. 2.15 for the very Doctrine of Grace it self is sometime to be fastned in the Minds of Professing Christians by Exhortations and Rebukes with all Authority 2 Tim. 4.2 therefore saith Paul to Timothy Reprove Rebuke Exhort with all long-Suffering and Doctrine And again to Titus Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the Faith for Correction Reproof and Instruction in Righteousness Tit. 1.13 are in order to make the Man of God perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 3.16.17 1 Tim. 5.13 1 Pet. 4.15 Tit. 2.13 Rev. 3.16.17 ver 19. therefore Bethania Executeth this Censure against busie Bodies in other mens matters against Vain Talkers and such as teach things they ought not for filthy Lucre sake as also against those of the Laodicean Spirit who sit down secure in a luke-warm Self-conceited State neither are they exempted from this Censure 2 Pet. 2.16 who too much encline to the things of this World conforming thereunto in Fesh-pleasing Vanities Rom. 13.14 2 Tim. 4.3 or
having itching Ears are therefore wandering after divers and strange Doctrines 1 Cor. 3.15 or any way behave themselves unseemly contrary to the pure Principles of Vertue Which Charity teacheth towards any either in the Church or in their Families or in the World. These and such like things as these being open and manifest Errors are therefore Rebuked before all that others may fear and avoid the like offences for that which is openly committed is not censured in a corner and they that are not ashamed to Sin must not be excused from the shame of Suffering seeing the Rebukes of God against his own People are of greatest Antiquity and remain in lasting Characters in sacred Scriptures EIGHTHLY Heresy in Bethania is counted a very noysome Weed 1 Tim. 6.4 5. 2 Pet. 2.1 that springeth up in a corrupt Mind and is evermore accompanied with an Impious Life and then it is of a very Damnable Nature and the way thereof very Pernitious the which also endeth at last in most swift Destruction 2 Tim. 2.17 it is a kind of a Canker-eating Mischief which men involved in it take much delight to promote and so are rightly called Hereticks But every Error is not properly called Heresy seeing many may be guilty of Error in their Judgment who are notwithstanding of Pious and Vertuous Lives therefore as there is a Body of true Faith the which also is contained in that Ancient Creed called the Apstles Even so also the direct contrary thereunto is real Heresy for to deny the only Lord God by whom all things were Created which is the first Article of that Christian Creed 1 Cor. 8.6 and our Lord Jesus Christ by whom all things consist Jude 4. which is the second is the ready way to overthrow all pure Religion and then the next thing that followeth is to turn the Grace of God into Lasciviousness and such as these are absolute Hereticks and are of old ordained to this Condemnation Besides to let pass all other Articles of the Creed aforesaid which are all sufficiently confessed before in the Articles of Bethania's Faith. The Catholick Church is declared in this Creed to be a Communion of Saints or holy Ones whose priviledges are the Remission of Sins Resurrection of the Body and Everlasting Life therefore to believe and maintain that to be the Church of Christ which is a Communion of Impious and Ungodly Persons whether we respect National or Congregational Societies is very near of Kin if not the very same with Heresy for to father Children on the most pure God which are not of his own Begetting and to cast a Spouse upon his Blessed Lamb that is of a different nature from him is a very high degree of Indignity therefore the Earthly Jerusalem as well as Confused Babel are in great danger of being guilty of Herely Now the way by which Bethania Executeth her Censures against Hereticks is such as is contained in her great Charter therefore when the Heresy beginneth first to appear and the direct Tendency thereof clearly fore-seen the Persons thereunto enclined are the first and second time carefully to be Admonished if they reform and so are reduced to the right Faith Tit. 3.10.11 Luke 15.11 then there is Joy in Bethania for the return of the wandring Sheep but if they perfist to nourish this noysome and poysonous Weed then they are finally Rejected Isa 59 5. Chap. 11.18 and so the Cockatrice Egg is not permitted to grow up into a fiery-flying-Serpent And thus the hole of the Wasp being delivered from the Viper the little Children in Bethania are secure from danger NINTHLY Communion in Bethania is threefold and first Formal which is that state of Communion wherein Persons are conformable to one another in External Principles Exod. 12.6.8 1 Cor. 11.20 Acts 20.7 Psal 55.14 Psal 42.4 Rom. 6.17 Eze. 43.11 ver 8. Rev. 11.2 and are United in the Forms and Ordinances that relate to Visible Worship This Communion is held only in the outward Court it is the right Visible way into an higher degree of Communion and is only bounded with a strong Wall but hath no Covering over it the Storms of Temptation and Persecution oft Times deface the Steps of this Communion Those who only Worship in this outward Court are liable to be troden under foot of the Gentiles Nevertheless this Communion is of great Estimation in Bethania Rev. 2.17 Heb. 9.4 John 10.9 1 Cor. 5.2 John 10.9 and those whose proper Food is chiefly the hidden Manna the which they also Eat in the most holy Place yet they have learned of their great Master to go out into the place of little Children and with them to Feed of those Crumbs which are suitable to the Capacity of the little Childish Nature and so they experience the true meaning of that Scripture viz. They shall go in and out and find Pasture The second state of Communion is Congregational by vertue of which 2 Cor. 8.5 Acts. 2.41 a company of Persons who have first given up themselves to the Lord in Vifible Profession of Truth Now secondly Give up themselves one to another in Congregational Union in which Estate they have a special and more particular Interest in each others Persons and Enjoyments then when they were only Members one with another in a formal Union and so the Pastors in this state of Union are more especially engaged to their Flocks Acts 20.28 Heb. 13.17 1 Thes 5.12 13. and they on the other hand are deeply enjoyned to submit to their Pastors as such who watch for their Souls and must give account thereof in the day of the Lord. But the third state of Communion is Spiritual 1 Cor. 10.17 Chap. 12.18 Rom. 12.15 which consisteth excellently in this In that many Bodies have but one Soul for by one Spirit Souls in state of Union are Baptized into one Body and so are all Members one of another and hence it is that the whole Church of Christ though consisting of many distinct Congregations Psal 46.4 ssa 27.2 3. Cant. 4.12 Chap. 2.14 Chap. 4.11 is notwithstanding in holy Scripture often spoken of in the singular number and is called a City a Vineyard a Garden a Dove a Virgin a Wife and so Christs Beloved is but one and their Communion in this state is Celebrated in and maintained by the Divine Nature 2 Cor. 11.2 Rev. 19.7 Cant. 6.9 2 Pet. 2.4 Jam. 1.18 2 Cor. 5.17 Heb. 12.23 Joh. 1.3 in which they are of one kind even a kind of first Fruits of Gods new Creatures and by vertue thereof we have Union and Communion with those we never saw and highly esteem of those who long since are departed out of this World as Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Moses and the Prophets Apostles and those holy Servants of God that succeeded them yea those that differed in form with each other now in the present time are notwithstanding in Union with one
the Spirit Heb. 12.9 1 Cor. 14.15 Rom. 1.9 1 Tim. 4.8 John 4.24 and God 〈◊〉 my Witness whom I serve with my Spirit For bodily Exercise profiteth little or for a little time but the constant Exercises of the Spirit are delightful to God Therefore it is the Desire of Bethania when they have spread a thing before the Lord in a few serious and weighty Words to keep their Minds stedfast in a Praying Posture Psal 40.1 Psal 39.7 Psal 103.1 waiting upon the Lord from whom is their Expectation until they obtain their Hearts desire the which being obtained is a great Experience of Mercy and engages the Soul in Songs of Praises But if at any time they have presented a thing before the Lord 1 Sam. 16.1 Ezek. 14.16 that doth greatly concern the Ease of their Soul or the comfort of their outward Life or have intreated for a Mercy for Mercy-Rejecting Sinners or have desired the Removing of some bodily Distemper or natural Impediments from Natural or Christian Friends and the Lord doth flatly deny them or long defer therein to answer them Luke 18.7 then they cast their Eye upon Jesus who hath taught them to say Our Father thy Will be done And in great Calmness of Soul Mat. 6.10 Heb. 2.7 quietly sink down into the Will or God subjecting themselves as is most meet to the wise disposings of the Father of Spirits Luke 11.8 Gen. 22.2 Luke 1.7 Isa 57.16 yet in some cases the Lord alloweth of restless Importunity And therefore Bethania will not hold her Peace but wrestleth strongly with great Jehovah until the Day-break of Mercy appears And he being of a wonderful condescending Spirit suffers himself oftentimes to be overcome in such cases that be of great weight about which he is importuned So then Prayer is a serious business and accordingly is very seriously performed Eccles 5.2 being mainly and chiefly the work of the Soul about which the Tongue is but little concerned But in great Babel and also in the Earthly Jerusalem Prayer is wholly another business and is mainly and principally the work of the Tongue in which these two Cities have many very skillful Artists Mat. 6. who like the Heathens seem to act as if they should be heard in their much speaking but their Sacrifice is but as the Sacrifice of Fools and like Smoak in the Nostrils of the Heart-searching God Eclces 5.1 Isa 65.9 Jer. 17.10 who is greatly wearied with the Words of Men Therefore Bethania is not rash with her Mouth neither is her Heart hasty to utter Words or any thing before God knowing that he is in the Heavens and she on Earth therefore her Words are weighty Mat. 6.11 but few TWELFTHLY The Gesture used in Bethania in the time of Prayer is such as becometh serious men Dan. 10.10 Acts 7.60 Ezra 9.5 Ephes 3.14 Josh 7.6 when they are talking with an immortal God. And therefore in that Divine Exercise they either bow their knees upon the Earth or fall down flat with their faces upon the ground or else stand upright upon their feet In all or any of which gestures they have the most glorious Majesty of God still in their Eye whom in every part of his Worship they desire to serve with great Reverence and godly Fear Heb. 12.28 Psa 89.7 But this last gesture of standing is most used in Bethania when they are giving Thanks or pronouncing Blessings upon Persons or craving them upon things they are to use But as for that unseemly gesture of sitting in the time of Prayer although it be in frequent use among the careless Daughters in these Flesh-pleasing times 1 Tim. 3.2 wherein men are Lovers of themselves It is a great stranger in the Charter of Bethania and therefore is but very seldom used there and if at all yet it is upon the Account of some Infirmity proceeding from Age or Weakness constraining thereunto neither do they usually kneel upon Cushions if ever at all in that Soul-Exercising time of Prayer For they know that Christ had none in the Mount when he continued all Night in Prayer to God nor had Solomon Luke 6.12 2 Chron. 6.13 Dan. 6.10 as yet appears when he kneeled before the Lord and before the Altar in the Temple Neither do we find that Daniel used Cushions when he Prayed in his Chamber upon his Knees three times a day with his Windows open towards Jerusalem nor is it likely that there were any Cushions in the Mount of Olives where our Saviour kneeled down and Prayed in the time of his Agony Luke 22.41 and it may be much supposed that Paul had none when taking his leave of the Ephesians he kneeled down and Prayed with them all And to be sure there were none on the Shore of Tyre Acts 20.36 Acts 21.5 when Paul and his Companions kneeled down and Prayed And it is very unlikely that James the Disciple of Jesus used to kneel on Cushions when his Knees were benummed like Camels Knees and bereft of the sense of feeling by reason of his continual kneeling in Supplication to God Euseb Eccles Hist Lib. 2. Chap. 23. And therefore it is concluded in Bethania that those things which are easy to the Body 1 Pet. 4.1 2. are not always profitable for the Soul. And therefore they used to suffer in the Flesh and through the Divine Spirit mortifie the Deeds of the Body Rom. 8.13 Psal 55.6 that the Soul being unclogged of sensual Delights may as with the Wings of a Dove hasten its escape and find rest in the Heavenly places But if any shall instance Moses and David Exod. 17.12 about sitting to Pray It is to be considered that Moses case was a case of Necessity Therefore Aaron and Hurr when Moses was tyred by reason of standing and continual spreading of his Hands took a Stone and sate upon it and they held up his Hands between them But this was when he could neither stand nor lift up his Hands nor spread them out any longer and as for David 2 Sam. 7.18 Verse 25.26 27. Psal 95.6 1 Cor. 13.15 he went in and sate before the Lord and then spake unto him and after that he Prayed in which most serious Exercise his Practice was to kneel as is said Psal 95.6 O come let us fall down and let us kneel before the Lord our Maker Therefore as Charity doth not behave it self unseemly neither doth it seek its own either Ease or any other delightful things Even so Bethania who is greatly possessed of Divine Vertue taketh great care according to the uttermost of her Capacity to avoid all superfluous Words and needless Repetitions long and tedious speakings with all unseemly Gestures in that most serious and Divine Exercise of Prayer THIRTEENTHLY Time in Bethania is accounted a very precious Jewel Eccl. 9.12 2 Cor. 6.2 Ephes 5.16 Tit. 3.14 and therefore she is very careful of
perfect Rest in Eternal Joy. ONE and TWENTIETHLY Fasting in Bethania is of great Antiquity and was first commanded in Eden especially from some things of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Gen. 2.17 and it hath run through all Dispensations from the Beginning until this time in which serious Exercise many Holy Men of God have been very famous yea those that have been filled most with God have often enjoyed the least of Creatures Moses fasted twice forty days yet in that time he was close with him Deut. 9.9 Verse 18. Exod. 34.30 1 Kings 19.8 2 Kings 2.11 Dan. 10.3 and came from him with a shining Face Elijah fasted forty days and at last God sent for him from Earth to Heaven Daniel he fasted three full Weeks though not from all kind of Food yet from that which was accounted pleasing and he was a man greatly beloved David chastened his Soul with fasting and he saith That his Knees were grown weak thereby Psal 109 24. yet he was a man dear unto God and sometimes enjoyed much of his presence Esth 4.16 Esther was a very Glorious Queen yet in a weighty case yielded her self unto three days fasting Jesus our Saviour fasted forty Days and forty Nights Mat. 4.2 in the beginning of his most Sacred Ministry So likewise his Apostles and approved Ministers were and are often in Fastings 1 Cor. 11.27 Luke 2.36 37 Hannah served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Christ gave Directions to his Disciples about fasting and the Disciples of John were Exercised therein It was not only found among Jews and Christians Mat. 6.16 but Heathens also were famous in it For King Darius passed the Night in Fasting Mat. 14. Mark 2. Dan. 6. Act. 10.30 and the Prayers of Cornelius were performed with it Therefore it is an approved and a dilligent observed Custom in the City Bethania who also for divers Ends and in divers Manners observeth the same Sometimes it is used for the chastening of the Soul Psal 69.10 1 Cor. 9.27 and beating down of the Body that the Flesh may become weak and the Spirit strengthned in Vertue At other times when they go about any weighty Undertaking or desire to obtain any special Mercy or to remove any sore Affliction all or any of these are attempted and managed by Prayer and Fasting Dan. 9.4 Esth 4.16 If there be a publick Design on foot then Fasting is publick also yet not made common to any but only those who are concerned in it Joel 2.12 These retire themselves into the greatest Retirement as possible may be and there with earnest Prayers and silent Groans with frequent Sighs of Soul to God spend their time in most serious manner Rom. 8.26 Ezra 9.4 little minding their own Ease or moving from place to place except in great Necessity suspending all other Actions but those only that appertain to the present Exercise else it is not Fasting Isa 58.4 for Fasting is an Abstenance Neither do they mind any business nor take any Food or Natural Refreshment but with great Watchfulness keep their Minds retired to the Lord waiting to see how he appeareth unto their Souls And all their time is not spent in speaking Words but mostly in the Exercise of their Soul and working of the Mind with the Lord. Verse 9.27 But private Fasts if it be to beat down the Body and bring it into Subjection that it may not be too strong for the Soul then that kind of Fasting is accompanied with Labour or any Exercise whatsoever But if it be for obtaining any special Mercy or for the removing of any sore Affliction or for Assistance against any dangerous Temptation or for the subduing of any prevailing Corruption â—hen it is performed in great Retirement 1 Cor. 7.5 And so Wives and Husbands withdraw themselves from one another during that time of Fasting the which if it be for many days then they take a little Food and a little Water and after enjoy each others Company again Dan. 10.3 Phil. 4.5 Amos 4.6 with such moderate Refreshments of Nature that will stand with Christian Sobriety But much Wine and strong Beer and dainty Meats and gorgeous Apparel with soft and pleasant Resting places being inconsistent with the state of Pilgrims Heb. 13.14 are therefore meer Strangers in Bethania TWO and TWENTIETHLY Singing of Psalms in Bethania is a certain Divine and Spiritual Exercise by which the Inhabitants thereof do celebrate the Praises of the most High God and it is mainly and chiefly an Exercise of the Soul being performed by the lifting up of the Soul and Spirit unto great Jehovah Psal 32.7 and this Divine Mirth springeth up in the Souls of those who are in Experience of some Spiritual Refreshments Psal 101.1 Therefore when any is merry they sing Psalms in which they teach and admonish one another with Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with Grace in their Hearts to the Lord James 5.13 Col 3.16 Ephes 5.19 speaking also to themselves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in their Hearts to the Lord giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Verse 20. So Jesus our Saviour rejoyced in Spirit and then said I thank Thee Luke 10.21 Psal 25.1 Psal 103.1 Job 29.30 Isa 65.30 Jer. 31.25 O Father c. Even so David lifted up his Soul to God and then set his Soul to bless his Holy Name and Job caused the Widows Heart to sing Even so faith the Lord My Servants shall sing for joy of Heart for I have satiated the weary Soul and I have Replenished every Sorrowful Soul. By all which and much more that might be said it appeareth that singing is a Work of the Heart and Soul the which being inwardly refreshed calleth to the Tongue to awake and declare it Psal 57.8 And it is only proper to those and none but those who are in Communion with the Blessed Lamb in some of Sions Glory For none can learn these Spiritual Songs Rev. 14.3 Chap. 5.3 but such who are Redeemed from an Earthly State and have gotten the Victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his Mark and over the Number of his Name so that it be the Redeemed of the Lord whom he hath recovered from Spiritual Babylon that can say and sing Psal 107.2 Thy Mercy endureth for ever Therefore Singing of Psalms and Spiritual Songs 1 Cor. 12.4 Rom. 12.6 1 Cor. 14.26 Psal 40.3 Psal 137.4 is no Gospel-Ordinance neither is every individual Member of Gospel-Churches able to perform it But it is properly a Gospel-Gift and only belongs to those into whose Mouth the Lord hath put the New Song For who can sing the Songs of Sion while they sit by the Waters of Babylon who though they do often remember her and greatly desire to be there
Earthly Things the fearful issue of all which is Destruction in the end But Bethania's liketh not this way though seemingly pleasant therefore taketh her leave of Babel who on the other hand despiseth the way of Bethania Prov. 29.27 Zeph. 1.12 and so these two Cities turn back to back and leave the Earthly Jerusalem on her lees each one hastening in his proper Motion and never see one anothers Faces any more therefore we shall endeavour and desire to prosecute the way of Bethania and declare those things as the Lord shall enable us wherein she is said To be a Follower of the Blessed Lamb who is our Saviour Rev. 14.3 and the Prince of Peace and Life CHAP. III. THere is a right precious and most Holy Faith belonging to Christians as proper to the Elect of God of which we have spoken somewhat before 2 Pet. 1.1 Rom. 10.17 and it is a certain Divine Principle begotten in the Soul by the Word of God from whence springs that Vertue in which the Saints do walk the which Vertue is seven-fold as is noted in 2 Pet. 1.15 And it shineth forth in the Souls of Christians by the influence of that Grace which streameth unto them from the Seven Spirits of God which are before the Throne Rev. 1.4 2 Pet. 1.8 And where these things are and also abound that Soul is neither Barren nor Unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ But Entrance is administred abundantly into his Everlasting Kingdom These are the seven Pillars as it seemeth upon which Wisdom hath builded her House the Foundation of which House is laid in the Foundation-Stone of Sion Prov. 9. Isa 28.16 and by these Pillars it is exposed to open View and when any of these Pillars are wanting or out of Order there is a Breach and when they all disappear it is a total Ruine Now these Seven Spirits of God which are before the Throne are also the seven Pillars upon one Stone Rev. 1.4 Rev. 5.6 Zach. 3.9 the which seven Spirits are sent forth into all the Earth noted also to be seven Eyes and seven Horns possessed by that Lamb which was slain Rev. 1.18 but is now alive for evermore So that seven being a Number of Perfection it is proper to Christ who received the Spirit not by measure John 3.34 for in him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily and it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell By these seven Spirits are also seven Eyes Gal. 2.4 Rev. 15.6 and seven Horns signifying Power It pleaseth the Glorious God through Christ to look upon and finally to dispose of the whole Creation according to his own Will Now these seven Spirits are First Isa 11.3 The Spirit of Wisdom by which the Lord did first contrive the Creation which he made Secondly The Spirit of Power 2 Tim. 1.7 by which he formed and supporteth the same Thirdly The Spirit of Judgment Rom. 1.3 by which he ordereth and disposeth thereof Fourthly The Spirit of Holiness by which he gloriously shineth before and among his Creatures Fifthly The Spirit of Humility by which he vouchsafeth to behold the Creation as the Works of his own Hands 1 Cor. 4.21 Sixthly The Spirit of Meekness by which he is tender and pitiful to all so careful too of the Creation which cannot subsist without him Seventhly The Spirit of Love 2 Tim. 1.7 by which he delighteth in the things that he hath made These are the seven Spirits of Jehovah the which as seven Glorious Lamps of Fire do burn continually before his Throne Rev. 4.5 Rev. 3.1 by which seven Spirits the Glorious Lamb being also seven Eyes as we have said before looked into the state of the seven Churches and knew the lifeless state of the Church of Sardis and the self-conceited yet Luke-warm Condition of the Laodiceans Rev. 3.17 Rev. 1.20 and by his Spirit of Judgment will render unto them and to every one else according as their Works shall be From these seven Spirits John saluted the seven Churches whose Operation upon the Souls of Christian Men form therein those seven Glorious Excellencies which are Essential to pure Christianity before mentioned in the 2d Epistle of Peter chap. 1.5 6 7 Verses by which it may evidently appear that they are walking in the Spirit And First From the Spirit of Wisdom that is in Christ is formed true Knowledge in the Souls of men Secondly From the Spirit of Power that is in him is produced that Vertue that is in them And Thirdly From his Spirit of Judgment proceedeth the Temperance in which their Souls do live Fourthly From his Spirit of Holiness springeth forth that Godliness in which their Souls do live Fifthly From his Spirit of Meekness is begotten that Patience which is famous in Christianity Sixthly From his Spirit of Humility it sheweth forth the Brotherly Kindness that becometh Gospel-Professors And Seventhly From his Spirit of Love naturally ariseth that Charity in which all Bethania's things are done These are the seven Pillars that Wisdom hath hewn out and by Vertue of which 1 Cor. 16.4 Prov. 9.1 Christianity is made to appear in which also the Saints do walk in their Ascent towards their Everlasting Inheritance and by which they do shine as Glorious Lights in the World of which we shall speak particularly And first of Vertue CHAP. IIII. VERTUE is the inward Essence and Life of every living Form and is that by which those Forms become profitable and delightful unto those by whom they are used Vertue is of two kinds The first is Natural the second Divine and Spiritual Natural Vertue is that by which the Flowers in the Fields yeild forth unto men a Pleasant Savour and also a Medicinal Profit By Natural Vertue The Fruits of the Fields and Trees do nourish and feed the Bodies of Men and Beasts And besides by Natural Vertue the Needle in the Compass being touched with the Loadstone turneth always towards the North in which the Rocks of Loadstones lye even so also the Vertue of Fire penetrateth into whatsoever things cometh near to it and changeth the Properties thereof into a Similitude with its own Nature it causeth cold Water to become hot so that the Flesh that is boyled therein 1 Cor. 6.17 John 8.12 is made savoury Cold Iron is changed into a burning State and therein is capable of being wrought into divers Forms it is not the Form nor Colour of Salt for Snow hath both these but the Vertue thereof which maketh it to be so useful to the Sons of men Water hath the same liquid Form as Wine but not the same powerful Operation Therefore the Bodies of men are in that Estate in the Excess of Wine unto which the same Measure of Water will in no wise reduce them So every living Form subsisteth and worketh by Vertue of that Spirit which is proper to its own Nature
sleep begin to speak This Divine Charity being the Head Stone of all is still looking upwards and setteth its Affections on things above Heb. 11.24 so that all Earthly things are of a small Esteem with it therefore if it lose all its worldly Possessions for Jesus sake it grieveth not If it have but one Isaac and he also a Child of Promise yet Love will give its first-born to God who did not with-hold his first-born from men Nevertheless Charity loveth every Creature yet not for their own but for the Creators sake and so it loveth the Earth and all that groweth upon it because Gods Vegetative Spirit is the Life thereof it also loveth the sensitive Creature because Gods sensitive Spirit dwelleth in them it loveth all Angels and Souls of men John 21.16 John 4.2 because Gods national Spirit hath inspired their Essences it loveth Christ and the Saints most dearly because God by his Divine Spirit liveth in them it loveth the Sun Moon and Stars Rom. 1.20 Job 31.27 Rev. 5.13 with all the whole Host of Heaven because they possess the light of God and shew forth his Eternal Power and Godhead to men Yet it will Worship no Creature whatsoever God and the Lamb are the only Objects of Divine Worship with it 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. therefore Charity envyeth not but suffereth long and is not easily provoked yea it thinketh no evil but is kind and beareth all things endureth all things vaunteth not it self is not puffed up seeketh not her own neither doth it behave it self unseemly it rejoyceth not in Iniquity but rejoyceth in the Truth Verse 8. Verse 13. it standeth firm and unchangeable when all Prophecies fail and Tongues do utterly cease yea it out-liveth Faith and Hope and will at last swallow up all the Heavenly Off-spring into it self and become their Glorious Habitation in Endless Eternity this is the longest Street in all Bethania and we have not yet travelled unto nor yet seen the End thereof Therefore cannot give so full a Description of it as we would and possibly as many also may desire yet all the Free-born Citizens of Bethania often walk in this Street and all other Streets have a Dependance upon it CHAP. XI THese are the seven Pillars of the House of Wisdom Prov. 9.1 Ephes 5.2 Verse 15. 2 Cor. 2.14 Ephes 5.1 Rev. 14.4 and upon them pure Christianity most firmly standeth and so is thereby exposed to open View The savour of the Knowledge of Christ being manifest by these things in every place they are the seven famous Streets in Bethania wherein she is carefully walking with an holy God and is a faithful Follower of the Blessed Lamb and in this Path of the Just which is as a burning light shineth more and more to the perfect day John 14.23 John 15.11 Isa 26.3 2 Cor 4.4 Job 29.3 4. She experienceth great Communion with God and in that Communion is often filled with Divine and lasting joy And being stedfast in Spirit in these Paths of Vertue their minds are kept in perfect Peace and the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ shineth in and round about their Tabernacle by which many famous Mysteries are plainly discovered for unto these it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God who are therefore enabled in the Spirit to speak Mysteries Mat. 13.11 1 Cor. 14.2 1 Tim. 3.9 Rev. 5.5 1 Tim. 3.16 Mat. 11.27 and also to hold the Mystery of the Faith in a pure Conscience for 't is the Lamb whom these do follow that openeth the seven Seals of the Mystery of Godliness which without Controversie is exceeding great and it is his proper Work to reveal the Father and in his times to shew who is the Blessed and only Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Heb. 1.3 Acts 5.19 Lev. 25.9 10. Rev. 14.14 who only hath Immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach to whom no man hath seen or can see but by the Revelation of him who is the express Image of his invisible Substance which are the times of refreshing which will shortly come from the presence of the Lord Ephes 1.10 Rev. 10.7 being the glorious Jubilee and Year of Rest for all labouring and painful Christians in which Dispensation of the fullness of times all things in Christ will be gathered together in one both which are in Heaven and Earth These also being the days of the Voice of the seventh Trumpet in which the Mystery of God will be fully finished and the Eternal Light and Love of the Father 1 John 1.7 Chap. 4.16 in which he moved in all Eternity most gloriously Unvailed the which Divine Brightness and the Everlasting Love will then be the State and Habitation of all Holy Souls who have walked in light and dwelt in Love while they were strangers in this World and so God shall be all in all and the Eternal Admiration of all Divine Creatures both Angels and Men who now in these times through the glorious Son of Righteousness see the Face of the invisible God Rev. 22.4 and have his Name written in their Foreheads CHAP. XII EVEN so also to such as Walk with God in these Divine Paths Luke 24.22 Isa 16.11 Psal 25.14 The Lamb openeth the Mystery of the Holy Scriptures and sheweth unto them the Paths of Life making manifest the Secret of the Lord to them that fear him teaching the humble his most pure Way and guiding the Meek in Judgment Isa 42.16 Chap. 29.18 Psal 119.99 Mat. 13.2 for he will bring the blind by a way they knew not and make them see out of great Obscurity so the humble and holy Souls in Divine Wisdom oft excelleth their very Teachers and grow so skillful in the Word of Righteousness that as Scribes greatly instructed into the the Kingdom of God Wisdom 2. they can bring out of their Treasures things both New and Old and thus the pure Wisdom which in all Ages entereth into Holy Souls still maketh such kind of men Friends to God Psal 63.5 and Prophets by whom the inside of Scriptures and Divine Ordinances are clearly discerned and invisible things which are signified by External Forms are the satisfying and Nourishment of the Soul for the Soul of Man heing a Spiritual Essence cann't be perfectly satisfied by a Corporal thing therefore as it is tinctured by an Heavenly Influence it still looketh into inward things and through the pure Humanity of Jesus our Saviour it spyeth out his glorious Divinity and through the Ministerial Word the Holy Scriptures it searches into the Essential Word which was before the Scriptures were written and through the Baptism of Water which concerneth the Body it reaches into the Baptism of the Spirit which concerneth the Soul and through the Bread and Wine which nourisheth the outward man it discerneth the Lords Body which is the Life of the Spirit
Therefore it is the Desire of this Author that all his Fellow-Travellers who are seeeking and walking in the way of Life that they would turn their Minds into themselves and carefully weigh the State of their own Souls to see that the Root of the Matter is in themselves neither casting off any Truth of Christ nor yet resting therein till they have found the inside thereof neither yet to satisfie themselves until the inside of Truth be firmly setled in the inward parts of the Soul For the All-seeing God looketh for Psal 51.6 Psal 19.11 Jer. 15.16 Psal 119.105 and desireth Truth in the inward parts and there only it is profitable unto men and will stand them in great stead in their greatest and deepest Necessities For it will be a light in the Land of Darkness Psal 119.143 Psal 9.4 Mat. 4 4. Isa 32.2 Psal 25.21 a Comfort in the time of Trouble an hiding place in the Hour of Temptation a Shield and Buckler against the storms of Violence it will be for Food in the time of Famine and Refreshing Water in the Land of Drought For Integrity and Uprightness will still preserve those who really possess it and cause them to lift up their Heads before the Face of the most insulting Adversary Psal 19 6. Verse 14.6 Heb. 10.34 neither shall they be ashamed before Kings that have respect unto all Gods Righteous Judgments Truth in the inward parts fortifieth the Soul against the Fear of Men and Devils and possesses it only with the pure Fear of God it sealeth unto it an inward Evidence for Heaven Psal 17.14 Mat. 13.21 and where that Evidence is Earth and its Fullness are easily forsaken but where this Evidence is wanting the Mind is frequently filled with Fear and all the known Portion being the things of this World the Thieves are suspected to be likely to steal and the Moths to corrupt that which is within the reaches of their Power and many a time through want of Truth in the inward parts with which also the inward Evidence stands divers Souls desist the Service of the holy God and through the Fear of Mortal men Isa â—1 12 13. when it can but kill the Body and deprive us of the Comforts of this outward Life they wander into a Spirit of Apostasie and forget the fear of him which is able to kill Mat. 10.28 Verse 29. Luke 12.20 Prov. 14.26 Acts 20 24. and Eternally to torment the Soul and hence it cometh to pass that by seeking to save the Life of the Body we lose the Eternal Life of the Soul by possessing our selves of Earth for a few Moments we lose Heaven to all Eternity but the pure Fear of God driveth away all other Fear and causeth the Soul to pass through all Difficulties with much chearfulness keeping it clean from all Impurity but while men possess themselves only with the outside of Truth and have the glorious Forms of Godliness shining forth in a visible Profession this being but the outward Court of Gods holy Temple and Suburbs of his little City Dan. 8 12. Rev. 11.2 will not secure in the hour of Temptation nor be a shelter from the Storms of Violence For Men and Devils can invade this place and cast down this part of Truth to the ground and tread under Foot those Persons who have their Habitations only here Therefore our Safety consisteth not in Forms only but also in the Power of Godliness yet the greatest Contention among men is about the Wall and outward Court of the House where also many poor Souls have been sore wounded and discouraged by Reason of the Divisions of Reuben Judg. 5.15 16. Numb 32.5 who chose to dwell on this side Jordan where his Possessions lie open to divers kinds of Dangers but when this out-side of Truth is used only as Spectacles to help us to the light of invisible things then it standeth in its right place and so every part of Truth is very precious when observed in that Order whereunto the Lord appointed it and when the visible things have done their Office and the time of Figures is come to an End then the light of this Sun Moon and Stars will disappear and Prophecies fail Rev 21.23 1 Cor. 13 8. and Tongues shall cease and Faith and Hope have a final End and so those who have rightly used these Spectacles shall see no more through a Glass darkly but shall see as they are seen and know as they are known For in the glorious Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.44 the very Bodies of men shall be made Spiritual so that which is perfect being come that which is in part shall be done away Therefore have I endeavoured according to my weak Ability to hint at things through these Papers both in their Formal and Spiritual Natures that so none might despise the one or miss the other but if it be possible might be brought to conform unto the Walk in the whole will of God and it is very much to be supposed Col. 4.12 that I shall be censured by many not understood by all yet I hope quietly to bear the one and carefully to inform the other according to my utmost Capacity and I commit these Writings which have been Composed in the midst of many Distractions to the disposing of the most wise God beseeching him of his great Mercy to perfect all my Imperfections that in them appear and to guide the serious Reader by his most pure Counsel that in the use thereof he may attain to greater Wisdom then that which at present is my little Talent and when he hath found any thing in the use of this short Breviate of things that he be as ready to impart to me as I have now at last been to communicate these things to him and though I have used divers Allegories and Figurative Speeches in these Writings Hos 12.10 Psal 1.8 1 Cor. 4.34 yet I know how to excuse my self therein and intreat that I may not be too fiercely condemned before I come to Judgment And forasmuch as our Brethren called Particular Baptists were the principal and only Occasion of the first part of these Papers I intreat them to consider that both of us might come nearer the Truth as 't is in its own Nature if we did not set our selves too much to wander into extreams by reason of which we have been smiting each other in the dark and so weakning each others Spirits while Piety and Vertue the Substance of all true Religion doth but meanly flourish on either side and though we should share alike among the rest Isa 33.18 1. Cor. 4.1 in the outward Knowledge of outward things yet in the end it will signifie little for it is Charity only that edifieth and Contention and Vanity are all or very near the Earthly Spirit but Unity is from above and nearly related to the only wise God whose Name is One and to our Lord Jesus Christ whose Work is together in One Unto whom who is the most Glorious and Blessed Lamb 1 Cor. 4.3 with the Eternal Father The only Wise and Invisible God be all Glory Might Majesty Dominion Love Service and Obedience throughout all Ages Ephes 3.21 and to all Eternity Amen FINIS