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
Go sell all and come follow me And Every one that is perfect shall be as his Master is oft pressed unto by the Apostles That I might prsent every man perfect in Christ Jesus whereunto I also labour according to his working that worketh in me mightily Col. 4.12 Ephes 4.13 2 Cor. 7 1. 1 John 4.17 That ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Unto the measure of the Stature of the fullness of Christ unto a perfect man Perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God. And herein is our love made perfect Phil. 3.15 EpheI 3.9 2 Cor. 3.18 because as he is so are we in this World Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded being filled with the fullness of God changed from Glory to Glory into the same Image with him even as by the Spirit of the Lord And he that hath this hope in him 1 John 3.3 2 Pet. 3.14 purifieth himself even as he is pure Wherefore Beloved Seeing ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without Spot and Blameless that he might present it to himself a Glorious Church Ephes 5.27 not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without blemish For Pure Religion and Undefiled before God is this James 1.27 To visit the Fatherless and Widdows in their Affliction and to keep our selves unspotted from the World many more Scriptures might be alledged to the same purpose But because it is an hard saying to the fleshly part therefore who can bear it Matt. 7.14 This is indeed the narrow way which Flesh and Spirit mixt together cannot walk in Therefore He that is Christs in Esponsed Union hath Crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5.24 John 3.6 1 Cor. 2.15 Gal. 5.25 Jude 24. Rom. 8.13 1 Pet. 4.1 2. and is born of the Spirit and so is a compleat Spiritual Man And therefore walketh in the Spirit hating even the very Garments spotted with the Flesh having through the Spirit Mortified the Deeds of the Body by the which suffering in the Flesh he hath ceased from Sin and liveth to God in Newness of Life Therefore do we begin Christianity in the Principles before written that we might finish it in Perfection 1 Cor. 9.24 Verse 25. 2 Tim. 4.7 and so our ruaning to end this Race and our fighting to accomplish this Warfare yea all our labouring tendeth to finish this Course And here at last the Reward will stand But while this Salvation is working out Phil. 2.12 Job 12.5 Gal. 6.1 Isa 30.26 1 Cor. 8.12 it is with much Fear and Trembling and many slips falls and wounds poor Souls receive in this difficult Passage and were it not for the Intercession of Christ the which to us in this Case is of an unspeakable Advantage we might uttecly despair of coming to our journeys end By Vertue of which in most true Repentance and right humble Confession looking to him in the true Nature of the Christian Faith who is Exalted at the Right Hand of his Father for this very end Heb. 9.24 Numb 21.9 the Soul is cured again from the Stings of Wilderness Serpents by which it was wounded in its Travels toward the Milkey Land and so in true Watchfulness walking in the Light as he is in the Light 1 Thess 5.6 1 John 1.7 receives Remission of its Sin and is cleansed from all Unrighteousness and thus being recovered he hasteth on his way again Psal 55.8 2 Pet. 3.14 Cant. 2.3 2 Cor. 10 5. performing his work with Diligence and Chearfulness till at last every thought is brought into Subjection unto the Obedience of Christ This Perfection is not pretended to in Bethania to be a Perfection in parts 1 Cor. 12.11 for that is the Gift of God and he distributeth thereof severally to every one as he will but it is a coming up to all the Requirements of God that are or can be known with diligent search John 15.14 1 Pet. 1.10 with a careful abstaining from all Actions and appearances pearances from Evil giving up the whole Heart and Soul to God 1 Thess 5.12 Prov. 23.6 Jer. 29.12 13. Rom. 6.19 Verse 22. Cant. 1.6 and yielding the Members of the Body as Instruments of Righteousness in his Service and to his Praise And so having the whole fruit of the Soul and also the whole fruit of the Body unto most pure Holiness the end will be Everlasting Life Let none of our Mothers Children be too angry with us though we go a little out of their Vineyards in this difficult point of Doctrine for if they will enquire further about it we readily shall in the best manner we can explain and confirm the same in all Humility and Meekness of Spirit Col. 3.15 which is the ruling Spirit in Bethania EIGHTEENTHLY The Catholick Church of Christ it believed in Bethania according to the Scriptures Eph. 1.23 1 Cor. 10.16 17. Rom. 15.5 1 Cor. 12.27 Rev. 11.1 Psal 45.13 Ephes 1.19 Cant. 6.13 Isa 9.6 and that Ancient Article of the Apostles Creed to be a Communion of Saints or Holy ones Constituted by Divine Appointments and ordered by Rules from Heaven being richly adorned with Divine Vertue and possessed with exceeding great Power She is the Blessed Sbulamite deriving her Name and Divine Nature from Shulim for Shallom the Prince of Peace being his Sister and also his Spouse she doth and wiâ—â— appear in a Threefold State The first of which Mat. 5.14 is Formal I which she is as a City on a Hill from whence True Doctrine and Divinâ— Purity shines forth unto the World. In this Estate Her Worship is visible confisting of Forrus and Ordinance Goings-out Ezek. 43.11 John 10.9 and Coming in And â— this belongs those two Blessed Sacraments viz Baptism and the Lord Supper But Her formal State â— measured from Heaven and He whole visible Limits round about Ezek. 43.11 must be most Holy. Her Second State is Spiritual Wherein She is vailed and unknown unto the World John 3.2 Cant. 6.10 John 4.24 Phil. 3.3 1 Cor. 12.13 Rev. 2.17 John 6.55 Isa 32.2 1 Cor. 10.4 Cant. 8.13 Chap. 4.12 and in this Estate She Worshipeth the Invisible Father in Spirit and Truth Injoying a Baptisin which is inward and Spiritual and a Supper that every one knows not of For the hidden Manna is Her Divine Food and the Spiritual Rock giveth Her Water In this Spiritual Estate She is a close Companion with the Blessed Lamb and dwells within the measuring Line So is a Garden inclosed a Spring shut up a Fountain sealed and though Her outward and visible Limit be oft assaulted and sometimes trodden under feet by the Gentiles Isa 32.2 Psal 91.4 Cant. 2.10 Yet here She is secure under the Shadow of the Rock of Agess Even under the wing of Christ as his only Fair
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
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
another in this Spiritual state So Moses and Job though one circumcised and the other not by reason of which it was not Lawful for Job to eat the Passover nor for Moses to suffer him and therefore they could have no formal Communion one with another yet their Spiritual Communion was held firm together as their Souls were both Instated in the Divine Nature Acts 2.41.42 and though it be not Lawful for Persons Baptized and Unbaptized to have Communion one with another at the Lords Table because that is formal Communion and therefore they that would enjoy it in one part ought not to reject it in another yet so far as their Souls are Instated into the new Creature Life they have close Union with each other in this part of Communion of which we are now speaking Therefore the Baptized do keep their formal Communion at the Lords Table with baptized Persons only yet not reject from spiritual Union those who differ from them in that particular By reason of which Difference though there is not a perfect Agreement in all things 1 Cor. 19 1â— yet there is maintained a friendly Distance which is carefully observed in Bethania TENTHLY Sympathy in Bethania is a certain Divine Quality which springeth up in the Souls of the Inhabitants thereof by reason of their close Union one with another 1 Cor. 12.25 Verse 26.27 And so it is that by which one Christian doth feel another's Estate Therefore if any serious Soul in the House of the Poor by the Violence of Temptation at any time be overthrown and the Iniquity of his heels doth overtake him though he flee away from it Psal 49.8 but yet cannot escape it Therefore is forced to fall by it And so by this his fall his Conscience become wounded his Spirit become sorely broken Psal 31.12 Psal 16.3 his Soul sorely terrified his Peace even wholly extinguished his Joy fearfully ecclipsed insomuch that his State is now become an heavy burden Gal. 6.2 too heavy for himself to bear Then by vertue of this Sympathy the Inhabitants of Bethania make this Estate their own And thus they bear one anothers burdens Rom. 12.15 and so fulfil the Law of Christ Mourning for them that Mourn Praying for them Comforting of them Administring all relief unto them being even restless in themselves until they see their Brethren again restored Yea This Sympathy is so great in the House of the Poor that we have known some who have made the State of others so much their own that they have offered unto God the very Comforts of their own Souls for them and that with very great seriousness and earnest Entreaties till at last the the Lord hath accepted thereof and relieved the Afflicted Party but withdrew his Soul-refreshing Influences from the Sympathizing Person leaving the Sympathizer in right poor and low Estate Insomuch that some Complaints have been made to God for the which he hath given a mild and gentle Rebuke By vertue of which there hath been a sinking into great Patience till the former State hath been recovered again Moreover by vertue of this Divine Sympathy they are Partakers of one anothers joy Prov. 14.10 Acts 4.35 Verse 24. the which no Stranger unto it can intermeddle withal And so they rejoyce with them that rejoyce and are comforted in each others relief Therefore Bethania appears as one entire single Body and all the Members thereof are concerned in each others Estate Now as it is so in Spiritual things even so it is in Natural things Therefore these three troublesome Words Mine Thine and Our Own are seldom the Native Language of the House of the Poor Neither yet doth this Sympathy stand between themselves alone but also between Jesus our Saviour Hos 11.8 Isa 63.9 Heb. 4.16 and the whole Society of Bethania So that his Bowels are turned in him towards them and in all their Afflictions he is afflicted and taketh Pity on the distressed and sendeth them Grace and Mercy from the Throne of Grace to help in time of need Zeph. 3.17 Mat. 25.36 Chap. 10.40 Psal 44.16 Jer. 13.17 Psal 119.136 And then when they are restored he doth rest in his Love towards them and joyeth over them with Singing And thus when they are visited he is visited and when they are rejected despised and neglected he looketh upon himself to be concerned in it Even so they also on the other hand when they hear his most Sacred Name Blasphemed or taken in Vain see his Truth despised his Mercies abused or any Dishonour brought unto him are greatly concerned in it and it is wounds in their own Souls and pierceth more deep therein then any thing they feel in themselves in any Case But this Sympathy between Christians and Christians and between Christ and them Ephes 1.10 Rev. 21.16 Ephes 4.16 Isa 61.3 Heb. 11.40 Rev. 21.9 ends not only here For in the fulness of times when all things shall be gathered together into one and the length breadth and height thereof become equal as one entirely Compacted and perfectly compleated Body Then in this Estate poor Bethania shall put off all her Garments of Mourning and be cloathed with Perfection of Glory and so become the Lambs most Beautiful Bride being now taken into Personal Union with himself who is therefore Instated in his whole entire Possessions Rev. 21.7 Mat. 20.10 insomuch that every one inheriteth all things For there shall be no Inequality in the Reward of the Labourers when Union and Sympathy is fully compleated in the Glorious Day of Bethania ELEVENTHLY Prayer in Bethania is a Divine Discourse between mortal Men Gen. 18.27 Heb. 12.18 Mat. 6.7 Psal 19.10 James 5.16 and the immortal God and therefore is performed by the Inhabitants thereof as all other Divine Exercises are with great Reverence and godly Fear It confisteth not so much of the Multitude of Words and Excellency of Speech as in the Strength and Fervency of Desire Therefore the Prayers of Divine Men Rom. 12.11 Mat. 26.39 Rom. 12.12 1 Thess 5.17 Acts 6.4 Luke 18.7 Eccles 5.1 and also of Jesus our Saviour was usually short in the Tongue but very fervent and lasting in the goings forth of the Soul. And in this sense the Christians were exhorted to Pray continually and without ceasing and after this manner the Elect of God do cry day and night unto him But this cannot possibly be done by a continued Speech and constant Exercise of the Tongue For then all other Actions must in a manner be wholly suspended and so one Duty would destroy another Besides we should thereby greatly weary the Lord with our Words Mal. 2.27 Isa 49.4 and also send our strength for nought Therefore as the Soul of man is a spiritual Essence it only is most meet in the out-goingâ— of it self to make its Adresses to the Father of Spirits Therefore saith Paul I will Pray with the Spirit I will sing with
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
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
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
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
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