described are to be submitted unto and had in great Estimation as such who watch for Souls 1 Thoss 5.13 Heb. 13.17 who must also give an account thereof to Jesus the Prince of Shepherds Therefore Their Doctrine is to be belieâ—ed their Counsel to be regarded the Order to be observed and their Examples to be followed Matt. 9.37 38. Eph. 6.29 1 Pet. 2.1 Rev 1.20 Isa 62.6 who also are earnestly to be prayed for even for their increase in Number and Divine Excellencies That Bethania may have pleaty of Ministerial Bread and her little Children nourished with sincere Milk Her Star-light may be Glorious Her Vision Plain and the Gates of her City carefully watched against all the hurtful Spirits of Babel TWENTIETHLY And now forasmuch as we have already signified that the Holy Scriptures are the great and only Charter of Bethania by vertue of which she holdeth all her Priviledges and from whence she deriveth her whole Doctrine Together with her Discipline and Rules of Life We have also thought convenient to lay down in writing from whence she hath received this Divine and Ancient Charter First Then she believeth That there is an Essential and a Ministerial Word of God which Essential Word is that by which the Eternal and Invisible Deity doth utter his most Sacred Mind Heb. 1.1 Prov. 8.22 and reveal his Secret Counsels to his Creatures both Angels and Men. This Word is He who was with the Father before ever the World was made Jehn 17.5 John 1.12 Heb. 1.3 Col. 1.15 16 17. Psal 78.24 25. Mat. 4 4. Deut. 8.3 John 6.5 7. Chap. 14. Heb. 4.12 and by Him were all things made that were made Being the Word of His Eternal Power by which they are upheld and do consist He is the Food of Angels and immortal Souls of Holy Men by vertue of whom they live for-ever For in him is Life and this Life is the Light of Men This Word is Quick and Powerful and sharper than any Two-Edged Sword and pierceth into the deepest parts of the Soul dividing between the very Soul and Spirit the Joynts and Marrow and discerneth all the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart and there is no Creature that can be hid from his Sight Rev. 10.13 He will shortly be cloathed with a Vesture dipt in blood whose Name is called The Word of God This Word became Flesh and dwelt among us And we beheld his Glory the Glory of the only Begotten of the Father John 1.14 full of Grace and Truth From this Essential Word Mark. 4.35 springing immediately from the Eternal Deity proceedeth that Ministerial Word which Mortal Creatures are capable to hear Col. 3.16 Gal. 3.19 Acts 7.53 Heb. 2.2 Rev. 1.1 Gen. 18.19 which Ministerial Word was at first received by Angels and by them utered to Holy Men in ancient Times who carefully taught it to one another from Father to Son. And so the Gospel was Preached to Abraham long before the Scriptures were written Gal. 3.8 Heb. 4.4 Exo. 24 4 7 8. 1 Cor. 10.4 Chap. 5.7 This Word that was uttered at divers times and in divers manners by the Ministry of Angels was at last committed to Writing by famous Moses and so it lay hid in Types and Figures secretly couched in the Names of Men and things mentioned by him in those five Books which he hath written and these are they which we call the first part of Holy Scripture The which by the Spirit of Jesus were unvailed unto and by famous Prophets who wrote more clearer Visions out of Moses being Expounders of him then Moses himself before had discovered uttering many Divine Prophesies touching the Messiah Hab. 2.2 Neb. 8.8 Act. 10.43 who was the subject which all the Prophets pointed at or unto still making the Vision more plain and clear as they drew nearer the coming of Christ These also wrote fully of the State of those who kept and also of those who did transgress this Ministerial Word of God whose writings were designed also for our Learning and these are the second part of the Scripture Rom. 15.4 But at last John 1.14 1 John 4.14 Mat. 3.15 John 19.28 Mat. 5.18 Luke 1.2 Acts 1.1 2 Pet. 1.16 Mark 16.15 1 Pet. 1.12 Acts 26.18 1 Cor. 3.6 2 Pot. 3 16. The Essential Word was made Elesh and became visible and uttered himself by a humane Tongue to mortal Men and so fulfilled those things in clearness in his most Sacred Person which Moses and the Prophets had written of him The fulfilling of which together with his famous Sermons and mighty Miracles were written by those who were Eye-witnesses of what he did and taught whose Holy Apostles having received a Commission to preach the Gospel to every Creature were assisted thereunto by an infallible Spirit and so turned many Souls from Darkness to Light and Planted many famous Churches unto whom they sent certain Divine Epistles The which together with the Holy Evangelists makes the Third part of Scripture Rev. 22.18 and this altogether with the Mysterious Book of the Revelations is the Divine and Antient Charter of the little City Bethania which proceedeth first from the Eternal Deity by the Essential Word of his most mighty Power by whom it was committed to Angels and by them Ministred unto men and first written by Moses then Expounded by the Prophets fulfilled by Jesus further written and Exemplisied by the Apostles and Evangelists 2 Chron. 34.27 Acts 24.28 Psal 119.46 Rev. 12.17 Heb. 11.35 whose Authority maketh many impresses upon the Consciences of Mortals hath made Tyrants tremble and humble Souls to triumph hath remained firm and uncorrupted especially in its Essence in the midst of its very Enemies And they who have witnessed for it in all Ages have easily passed through inhumane Tortures it hath out-lived many Cities and all their firmest Charters and hath seen many Laws repealed that have been made against it Hath been frequenty pleaded for by the Inhabitants of Bethania Psal 19.110 Psal 119.72 Jer. 15 16. before high and mighty Mortals and is a marvellous Precious Jewel in the House of the Poor Discipline and Order Observed in BETHANIA Thus having briefly hinted at divers Points of Doctrine Held and Believed in the little City Bethania Of the Signification of which Word we have given an Account in our Epistle to the Reader and in our last Article have more plainly declared her Divine Charter And from whence also she hath received the same We hope now to give a Brief Description of the Discipline Order and Manner of Life Owned and Observed in the House of the Poor And FIRST THERE be Solmn Meetings for Divine Worship of the Holy God Heb. 10.28 and Instruction and Edification of Mortal Men seriously diligently and with great Reverence and Godly Fear Observed and highly Esteemed in Bethania Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 11.20 Heb. 12.28 Psal 89.7 1 Chron. 22.19 1 Cor. 7.22 Mat. 26.40
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
Antient Christianity Revived Being a DESCRIPTION OF THE Doctrine Discipline and Practice Of the Little CITY BETHANIA Collected Out of her Great Charter the HOLY SCRIPTVRES and confirmed by the same for the Satisfaction and Benefit of the House of the Poor By One of Her Inhabitants who desireth to Worship God after the way which some Men call Heresie Ps 132.15 I will abundantly bless her Provision and satisfie her Poor with Bread. LONDON Printed by George Larkin 1688. To his very much Esteemed Friends those three Societies of Leominster Worcester and Litchfield the Atthor wisheth whatsoever may conduce to their Spiritual and Eternal Felicity in this World and in that which is to come even so Amen Christian Friends ALthough the whole Israel of God are dear to me and after whose Consolation I am greatly longing yet you are the People above all others with whom I have been most concerned and unto whom I am most engaged and therefore to you chiefly do I dedicate these my small Labours who though I have been a long time in Congregational Union with one of you yet my growth in the most true Divinity is very small for when I was in the chief of natural Perfections and being of low Stature and climbing a Tree to see JESVS like Zacheus my feet slipping thereby I got a dangerous fall and you though you used all the means you could devise for my recovery yet it proved all in vain till at last Addressing your selves to the Father of Mercies after many Prayers and Tears were made and spent you obtained an answer of Peace but it was to me an answer by such terrible things in Righteousness that it left such deep impresses on my Soul the which lasting time can hardly declare yet I being very weak in my Spirit and unfit for action it pleased the wise Physician of Souls to retire me for almost Seven Years into a den of Darkness and a place of many dangers and difficulties where I lived by such Provisions as your earnest Prayers procured for me of the Father of Mercies at last after many a dangerous wound by the sting of the fiery Serpent the nature of which being known to God and me this longed-for Trumpet of Jubilee was graciously sounded in mine ears viz. Tell her that her Warfare is accomplished yet I abode in this retirement for some time after and then at length obtained a full release but much of the shining dross of this World together with the deforming Leprosie of Corruption was happily left behind me but then I could hardly leave that Society of Worcester with whom my Spirit was now so deeply intangled and having obtained leave of you I abode with them the issue of which was to me a state of joy and trouble for when I beheld you O ye my dear Friends of Worcester so strongly assaulted by the seat of violence I almost dispaired of your security and fell for a season into such a fainting state that I had but little natural strength left in my Body yet obtained help of God by strong assaults at the Throne of Grace and you and I came out of that Tribulation with little inward or outward damage But Satan began to work against us some other way by which both I and some of you were sore wounded in the house of our Friends the which I greatly desired might still be born with a Christian calmness but hardly obtained my desire herein as the event did shew therefore some of you giving way to the unruly Spirit of Belial he let in divers other Spirits into your Souls till some of you became dangerously intangled in the Spirit of Apostacy and others of you stood tottering in great dimness and sore discouragements which sunk me down into a second and more great dispair for when I saw the Weeds grow so fast and there was no way to root them out I sorely feared the whole Field would be forsaken for them but at last the workers of Iniquity began to go to their own place and so the little Children had a little relief And while we were thus entangled in Pihahiroth in the Mountains of Straits I was importuned and at last consented to write down the sum and substance of my belief about those things our Mothers angry Children had me in suspition but while I was exercised about these things some things fell out concerning some persons which made me like Moses break the Tables and so this ensuing Treatise lay almost asleep for a good while yet I had many fears in my Spirit by reason of my neglect herein both before and after I came to Leicester Prison where now by the Grace of God in the midst of some distractions I have at last finished this brief description of the estate of the true Church of Christ And forasmuch as it was by reason of you O ye my dear Friends of Litchfield that I was first cast into these parts by whose importunity also at last these Papers have been compleated you must needs be taken into the number of those to whom they are now dedicated for you have been and still are exceeding dear to me and concerning you I have had more than ordinary experience of the Mercy of the Holy both in natural and spiritual things even at all times and have felt great benefit by your Prayers as I believe both to Soul and Body therefore I cannot but esteem and prefer you with those Societies with whom I have had more long acquaintance unto whom all of you together do I present these the first fruits of my poor endeavours desiring you to make the best construction of it and carefully to weigh and consider before you approve or reject ought you find therein And now the heart-searching God that tryeth the Heart and all things knoweth my end in these Papers and I have declared it in part in the Epistle to the Courteous Reader and do yet again profess to you that I desire as well as I can the glory of God the advantage of Truth the benefit and satisfaction of Souls the which I beseech the Father of Mercies to bring to pass and though I have been as one of the feeble and as a Tree shaken with the wind among you yet have I not kept back ought that I had from you that I judged might have been profitable for the good of your Souls but like one of the little Children in the Market-place have been ready upon all occasions to talk with you touching those things which concerns our Fathers Kingdom the which being a land of distances unto many of us we have shewed our selves to be like that Man whose eyes Jesus had almost opened and so could see Men but seem to walk as Trees and we have yet need notwithstanding all our great confidence to be crying to the Lord for a second Touch that all the scales might fall from our Eyes and I do know well that I have but a dim Sight
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
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
Soul and Edifieth it which is the only Design of Divinity in all its various Operations So then Singing of Psalms is used in Bethania For the Song of Hosannah was sung very near it Mat. 21.9 but it is used there as a Gift of the Holy Spirit peculiar only to him that hath it and not as an Ordinance of God which respecteth all Yet nevertheless Praising of God is an Ordinance of God according to the Principles of Nature proper to all Creatures and so all the Works of God do Praise him but do not Sing unto him except only when their Spirits are Elevated and then the Trees of the Wood sing out and clap their Hands Psal 145.10 Isa 24.7 Isa 55.13 when the Celestial Influences have quickened them in the Spring and Summer and their Voice is uttered in their Leaves Blossoms and Fruit. But when those Influences are withdrawn then they retire and are silent all the Winter Season and so the Sun Moon and Stars Psal 148.3 do Praise the Lord by the Influences of his own Vertue that is in them yea Dragons and all Deeps Fire Hail Snow Stormy Wind Mountains Trees Cedars Beafts Cattle Creeping Things Flying Fowls all these Psal 148.7 8 9 10. in their proper Nature Praise the Lord and Sing unto him in that Season when he putteth the Song into their Mouth Bethania's Walks WITH GOD. Now last of all having briefly hinted First At the Doctrine of Bethania And Secondly At some part of her Discipline and Order We hope now Lastly Briefly to lay down her Manner of Life and serious Walks with God and to what Place this Motion Tendeth CHAP. I. THe Conversation and Manner of Life in Bethania is very Divine and Heavenly Gen. 5.22 Chap. 6.9 being a serious Walk with God and a careful Imitation of the innocent and pure Life of Jesus so that as her Inhabitants are begotten by the immortal Seed of the Word of God and born of the Divine Spirit 1 Pet. 1.2 3. John 3.6 which Birth is from above even so their Conversation isin Heaven as the way of Life which is above to the wise Phil. 3.20 Prov. 15.24 Ephes 1.3 Col. 1.3 1 Pet. 1.4 to deliver from the Snares of Hell beneath in which place and State they are and shall be blessed with all Spiritual and Eternal Blessings in and by Christ Jesus And therefore their Affections are set on things above as things that are incorruptible and will never fade away The which being their Everlasting Treasure unto which they are begotten and born as right Heirs of the same even so their Hearts seriously incline towards that place where this Treasure is layed up for them Heb. 11.14 and their Life is framed here on Earth among men as becometh those who expect to live with God in Heaven among Angels and is such a life Phil. 1.27 which is proper and natural to the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus in which the Grace apeareth which teacheth us To deny all Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Righteously Soberly Tit. 2.12 14. and Godly in this present World looking for that blessed Hope and glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might Redeem us from all Iniquity and Purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works that they might shew forth the Praises of him 1 Pet. 2.9 Phil. 2.15 2 Cor. 4.11 Chap. 2.14 Mark 3.45 who hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light in which they shine as lights in the World and manifest the most pure Life of Jesus in their Mortal Flesh making manifest the Savour of his Knowledge in every place which Heavenly Off-spring are of near Affinity with most pure Jesus whose Divine Nature hath deeply Penetrated into their very Souls and changed the Properties thereof from Devilish and Beastial into Divine and Spiritual Tit. 3.3 1 Cor. 6.11 Rom. 8.28 John 3.1 2 Cor. 3.18 Ephes 2.19 Chap. 7.15 Heb. 12.13 Rev. 13.8 Gal. 4.25 and so he is but the first-born among these many Brethren as the glorious Son of God by Natural Generation and the Children of the same God with him by Divine Regeneration So that there is but one Nature Spirit Life and Image in Christ and Christians therefore they are called The Houshold of God and the Family in Heaven the General Assembly and Church of the first-born whose Names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb stain from the Foundation of the World and so are Fellow-Citizens with the Saints in that Spiritual Jerusalem which is above and is the true Mother of all real Bethanians CHAP. II. BUT now forasmuch as Bethania is scituate on the Mount of Olives and the Earthly Jerusalem is beneath it yet scarce two Miles distant from it and the direct Motion of the true Followers of the Lamb being still upward ascending from a fleshly Glory in a visible Profession Mat. 5.3 into Poverty of Spirit and Resignation to Jesus Ephes 3.8 and so through that Estate into Spiritual and Eternal Riches we shall a little consider the walk of Saints and the walk of the World as they are both hastening apace into Endless Eternity And forasmuch as the Soveraign God in whose hands is all Power and at whose dispose all things must be hath appointed Heaven Earth and Hell these three places to be the Habitation of all Creatures in time and Eternity according to their proper State. Eccles 3.1 It is Earth only that is allotted to Time and Heaven and Hell to Eternity so that Earth stands between Heaven and Hell equally distant and there are three steps by which men ascend from Earth to Heaven and three steps by which they descend from it to Hell. Now Bethania chooseth the way of Life which is strait and narrow Mat. 7.13 and ascendeth upwards but Babel imbraceth the way of Death Job 21.13 Isa 5.14 Rev. 3.16 which is broad and pleasant and descendeth downwards and the Earthly Jerusalem not well liking either of these yet having but a Luke-warm Spirit settleth upon her Lees just between but at last must sink down with Babel like a Millstone Rev. 18.21 Isa 33.14 into the Bottomless deep of Gods Eternal Wrath which the Sinners in Sion as well as the Sinners in Babel shall not be able to escape Now these three steps by which Bethania ascendeth upwards she hath learned of Christ our Lord who himself hath travelled the same way and they are First Deny your selves Secondly Take up the Cross and Thirdly Mat. 16.24 John. 21.26 Follow me and then Where I am there shall also my Servant be But those three steps by which Babel descendeth towards her Infernal Den are wholly of another Nature as they are layed down by the Apostle Phil. 3.19 And are First Their God is their Belly Secondly Their Glory is their Shame and Thirdly Who mind
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
with Angels The second of these Lives Col. 3.18 Job 14.2 is Sensitive in which he is in Union with Beasts and Fowls The Third of these is Vegetive in which Man hath Union of Life with Herbs Plants and Trees Thus God breathed into Man the Breath of Life when Man became a living Soul. Man is also to be considered â—nd to know himself in a Threefold State First His State in Creation Gen. 2.7 Col. 7.29 John 8.44 John 3.8 â—n which he was a pure man. Secondly His State in the Fall in which his Soul beareth the Image of the Devil and his Body hath the Properties of a Beast Thirdly His State in the Restoration in which only he is a Christian and his Soul beareth the Image of Christ Eccles 3.20 Col. 3.10 Phil. 3.12 Rom. 6.3 and in the Resurrection his Body also shall be changed into shining Immortality Thus man descended out of the Image of God into Sin and so through Sin into Misery Therefore his Ascent must be out of Sin into Holiness and so through that into Safety The great desire of God in his out-goings to man is to make him know himself Therefore the first Question that God asked Man after the Fall was Adam where art thou So also Gen. 3.9 Heb. 4.12 't is the Property of his most sacred Word to pierce between the very Soul and Spirit and to discover the very Secrets and Intents of the Heart The first work of the Spirit of God towards man John 16.8 is To convince him of Sin and to set it all in order before him that he may see himself to be unclean and miserable and so look for a Premedy but it is the Desire of the Devil to keep man from knowing himself that he might believe he is what he is not thus 〈◊〉 would perswade the Woman in Edea that they should be as Gods Gen. 3.5 2 Cor. 4.4 when he designed to make them as Devils For the God of this World blindeth the Minds and darkneth the. Understanding of those that hearken to him that so he might lead there Souls blindfold to Hell. Ephes 4.8 Gen. 3.7 John 3.20 Isa 29.21 Isa 5.14 Rev. 4.8 Psal 19.12 Psal 25.21 2 Cor. 1.12 Rom. 8.16 1 John 5.10 Heb. 10.34 Gal. 4.9 1 Cor. 15.4 Rom. 5.9 Luke 21.28 Man therefore cannot endure to see his owâ—â— Nakedness nor to have his in side made manifest but hateth him that reproveth in the Gate and striveth to pâ—â—â— out that light by which his Deeds 〈◊〉 made manifest and so covereth himself either with worldly Glory as 〈◊〉 Painted Mortal or else with Fig. leaves as a seeming Christian whâ—â— his Soul is full of Deceitful Hypocâ—sie But that Knowledge in which Bothania is walking with God is 〈◊〉 Knowledge that springs from an Eye within and this is still looking into the Secrets and searcheth into thâ—â— most inward State of the Soul and from hence ariseth all true Peace and Comfort when the Root of the Matter is found within the Spirit of God beareth Witness with mans Spirit so he that believeth hath the Witness in himself and the rejoycing of a Christian is the Testimony of his own Conscience The reason why men so much love the World is because they want an inward Evidence for Heaven Heb. 10.34 and no such Evidence can possibly be obtained 1 Cor. 15.1 but â—s the Soul appeareth in a New Creature-State To know that Jesus our Saviour was born of a Virgin and dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures Gal. 4.19 is a true and needful Knowledge but except his Image be formed in our Souls 1 Cor. 15.4 2 Cor. 4.11 and they quickned by his Spirit and beautified by his Grace so that his precious Life may be made manifest in us this Knowledge will signify but very little Salvation was begun by Christ in the Flesh Rom. 5.9 Luke 21.28 John 17.3 John 15.20 Jer. 9.24 Heb. 11.27 Exod. 3.14 Isa 9.6 1 Tim. 6.16 Job 11.7 Isa 5.7 15. Jer. 23.23 24. 2 Chron. 6.18 Col. 1.15 it is carryed on by Christ in the Spirit and fully ends when he shall appear in Glory The second part of Knowledge is of the only true God and his Son Jesus Christ the which indeed is the Substance of all Knowledge and in it consisteth Life Eternal but the most pure Essence of God is invisible and unconceivable for he dwelleth in that light unto which no man can approach In this sence therefore none by searching can find out the Almighty unto Perfection for as he inhabiteth Eternity even so also he filleth it being infinite and incomprehensible yea Infinity it self and no Finite Creature can possibly in its greatest Capacity comprehend or conceive of an Infinite Essence Heb. 1.3 Nevertheless it hath pleased the invisible God to give forth an express Image of his most pure and unconceivable Substance John 1.18 and by that Image which is in the Bosom of the Father Angels and Men see him which otherwise is invisible Thus the Father in himself is God Concealed but the Son his express Image 1 Tim. 3.18 is God Revealed Therefore in the Name Jehovah 1 Tim. 3.16 Rev. 4.8 Mat. 1.23 he is beyond all Angels and unknown by them but in the Name Emanuel he is God with us and known by men God in his Eternal Substance is the only God in himself but in the Image of that Substance he appeareth to be the only God to his Creatures Thus the only Son of God Revealeth the Father who is the only good and maketh all the Goodness of God that concerneth Creatures to pass before them Mat. 19.17 Act. 3.3 19. Col. 1.19 Chap. 23. For it pleaseth the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell in whom also are hid the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge so he that causeth Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in the Hearts of those whose minds are turned to him and giveth them the Knowledge of his Glory in the Face of Jesus Christ and thus the invisible God through this Glorious Mediator maketh manifest his Unsearchable Goodness to the Sons of men 2 Cor. 4.6 Ephes 3.8 that he might engage them and encourage them to believe in him also to Love Fear and Serve him Psal 9.10 and to trust in him from whom they have received their Life and Being and whatsoever good they enjoy But till the minds of men be turned to God and so the Devil World and Sin be left behind they can know but little of his Goodness Ephes 4.18 Isa 5.20 therefore they call Evil Good and Good Evil and so hate the Good and say to God Depart from us Job 21.14 Isa 59.15 John 16.3 for we desire not the Knowledge of thy Ways Moreover also they hate and despise those men in whom the Image of Goodness appears and these things will they do because they know not God and his most
pure Image So then the World which lyeth in Wickedness 1 John 5.19 1 Cor. 1.12 by all its Wisdom knoweth not good For the Workers of Iniquity have no Knowledge and when the Sons of Ely became the Sons of Belial then they knew not the Lord Yea the Priests said not Psal 14.4 1 Sam. 2.11 Jer. 2.8 1 John 2.5 James 2.19 Where is the Lord And such as handled the Law knew him not Therefore he that saith He knoweth him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him so that to know God by a Speculative Knowledge signifieth little The Devil may be more Excellent herein then men But the saving Knowledge of God Job 42.5 which in Bethania is added to Vertue and it is an Experimental Knowledge by which he is known to be the only good Psal 73.26 Luke 10.42 2 Kings 4.9 John 14.21 Psal 73.24 Psal 121.8 and therefore is chosen to be the only Portion His Counsels are embraced as infallible his Way is chosen and greatly approved his Image is loved wherever it appears and Conformed unto with all possible Exactness Unto such as these he will manifest himself in his Wisdom to guide them in his Power to defend them in his Love to comfort them Cant. 1.2 Heb. 11.6 2 Pet. 3.18 Col. 4.5 Luke 12.5 2 John 1.2 in his Mercy to relieve them and in his Bounty to reward them so that as Persons grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus in this Experimental Knowledge it will enable them to walk in Wisdom with him to fear none but God to love nothing but for his sake Acts 20.24 Dan. 6.10 Lam. 1.16 Mat. 3.26 Acts 8.3 Psal 17.15 Cant. 3.4 to leave his Service for no Peril for they see him to be their only good and all things to be but empty without him Therefore Bethania entreth into the inside of Scriptures and looketh through all Ordinances and searcheth into the depth of whole Nature that she may know him who is her only good with whom her Soul is greatly satisfied and in whose Communion as her Soul is walking with him she enjoys unspeakable solace In this Street standeth the Schools of Learning and the Perfection of the Knowledge that is there attained to is for man to know himself and God. CHAP. VI. A Third Pillar in the House of Wisdom is Temperance and it is a famous street in Bethania it cometh from the Word which signifieth Strength Therefore when it dwelleth in the Soul every thing therein is subjected to Reason and Divinity Gal. 5.22 23. It is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit and a State wherein Heaven-born Souls walk with God it is meet to be observed in the Management of the Christian War he that striveth for Masteries is temperate in all things it is a Qualification that must be found in a Bishop and with great Diligence is to be added to Knowledge Sound Doctrine teacheth that Aged Men be sober grave temperate 1 Cor. 9.25 Tit. 1.8 2 Pet. 1.5 Tit. 2.2 Acts 24.25 sound in the Faith in Charity in Patience when Paul reasoned with Felix of Righteousness Temperance and Judgment to come that Doctrine made him tremble For Temperance is a great Enemy to Voluptuousness Where Temperance stands firm in the Soul as a stable Pillar Lust and Self-will are conquered for Temperance is to overcome our selves Tit. 1.7 and so all the Affections to Creatures as Creatures are Crucified in true Temperance and the Soul is kept in a quier Calm Gal. 6.14 Lam. 3.26 1 Thess 4.13 and is not discomposed either by Love or Fear Where Temperance is a ruling Principle joy and sorrow appear in a great Modesty When Temperance guides the Stern and stears the Course there is no Natural Object so delightful nor Cross so distasteful Gen. 22.16 Heb. 11.35 but it can freely leave the one and quietly bear the other Where Temperance is a constant Walk of the Soul Anger and Passion are meer strangers for Temperance is very Meek but Anger i◠very Outragious Therefore saith Seneea Prov. 27. Chap. 25.2 Anger and Frenzy are but tu◠several Ways of a mans losing 〈◊〉 Wit but the temperate man that ruleth his own Spirit hath that Evi◠Passion in Subjection Prov. 16.2 1 Tim. 6.8 and so is better than he that taketh a City Temperance is contented with Food and Rayment though both but mean and maketh no Provision for the Flesh at all but only to supply the Necessities of Nature Rom. 13.14 but Lust and Envy are never satisfied who having obtain and one thing straitway desireth anoter and like the Horse-leach cry Give Give Prov. 30.1.5 Temperance manageth strife both with Men and Devils in great Sobrieties and to the one it saith The Lord forgive thee Luke 25.34 Isa 59.11 and to the other The Lord Rebuke thee But Railing and Immodesty spring from Lust and are never found in Temperance Temperance beareth an Ecclipse from God with great Submission and only mourneth like a Dove not roareth like a Bear so Jesus our Saviour in his great Agony ruied his Spirit with much Modesty saying If it be thy Will Luke 22.42 let this Cup pass from me Therefore Temperance is a pleasant Walk in Bethania and most of the discourse of her Spirit there is not my Will but thine be done and so the whole state of the Soul Act. 26.14 and all the Affections of the sensitive Life are ordered and composed by Temperance John 2.10 and in this Estate she walketh with God and findeth no Occasion of stumbling Isa 28.17 Thus Judgment being laid to the Line and Righteousness to the Plummet a Narrow Path is marked out by these to be a constant Walk of Bethania CHAP. VII THE Fourth Pillar in the House of Wisdom is Patience the which is also divided into three Parts The first of which Luke 21. Numb 12.3 Isa 28.16 is that by which we quietly endure Adversity The second is that by which we bear with great Provocations and Reproaches But the Third is accounted waiting for the Accomplishment of all Promises till their proper Season this is a long Street in Bethania and she hath many a walk with God therein whose mind being firmly fixed there her State is always comfortable and her Soul is kept in perfect Peace Isa 26.3 But as a curious piece of Work is formed out of Iron by Fire and Blows even so also Patience is wrought out by Suffering Rom. 5.3 as it is said Tribulation worketh Patience He that will turn a Withered Tree into shining Glass must first burn it to Ashes and as a Silver or Golden Vessel is made by melting in the Fire so Patience in the first Degree thereof springeth out of Afflictions and therefore he who will have it firmly Rooted in his Soul must dig deep therein for Patience will grow no where but there and
is like the Rainbow Gen. 9.13 never seen but in the Clouds that is no Patience which seemeth to be so when it hath nothing to endure therefore when Patience is begotten by Adversity then it begetteth Experience and at last a Deliverance out of them worketh Hope Rom. 5.45 and Hope encourageth the Soul against future Adversity and setleth it self in God and so the expectation of the Soul is not cut off neither is it exposed to shame Pro. 23.18 Jam. 1.4 Patience therefore is to have its perfect Work if we intend to have Experience and Hope for both these are formed by Patience in the Fire that the Soul may be entire and want nothing Patience taketh up the Cross willingly not like Simon of Cyrene Mat. 27.32 who was compelled to bear it and quietly endures the same Heb. 12.2 despising the shame and reproach thereof only sometimes these words may possibly be uâ—â—ered viz. This is a Grief Jer. 10.9 but I must bear it Jesus our Saviour was condemned in Gabatha the Pavement a place of walking for the Feet but he suffered in Golgotha Joh. 19.16 the place of a Scull with a Crown of Thorns upon his Head and so Head and Hands Side and Feet were all concerned in the Cross yet Patience in him did quietly endure it but at last he went from Golgotha to the Grave thence again ascended to Mount Olivet Luke 24.50 Acts 1.12 Eph. 4.10 Heb. 12.2 Eph. 1.11 22. 1 Pet. 3.22 as if he would bid Bethania farewel and thence he proceeded in ascending and never left till he was gotten far above all Heavens where he sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Angels and Principalities being subject unto him So then Patience tho' its Root be in Adversity and may be troden under foot of Men and Devils Job 39.18 yet its Fruit groweth out of the reach of both and like the Ostrich despiseth the trampling Horse and all his furious Riders Patience proceedeth from one of the seven Spirits of God viz. The Spirit of Meekness and that 's the quality of a Lamb Isa 53.7 who though he be slain like a Swine both for Food yet he is not like a Swine in crying being wholly dumb and not opening his mouth while the Life is taken away Those who will follow Christ in good earnest must expect to have Self World and Hell all against them therefore they have need of Patience Luke 21.17 Heb. 10.36 Phil. 1.4 and that will help them upwards in the right-hand passage out of the reach of all these and at last set them in a quiet Repose in the quiet and perfect peace of Bethania But a second degree of Patience is long-suffering under great provocations and reproaches Rev. 5.6 so he that looks through the seven Eyes Rom. 9.22 which also are the seven Spirits endureth with much long-suffering the Vessels of wrath almost fitted for destruction therefore be would not destroy the Old World Gen. 6.3 Zach. 7.13 Gen. 15.16 till he had given them an hundred and twenty years warning in which he waited with the strivings of his Spirit which yet will not always strive with man till Mercy was out of date So also the Iniquity of the Amorites was four hundred years in ripening till at last Lev. 18.28 Deut. 32.19 the Land which they had defiled with their Iniquites spewed them out of its possession So also he waited upon the City Jerusalem 2. Chr. 36.16 Vers 15. because he had compassion upon his People and upon his dwelling place till by reason of the provokings of his Sons and Daughters wrath seized upon them at last when there was no remedy Patience in God is like a Dove with wings Isa 65.2 Nah. 1.3 Hos 5.4 always flying swiftly with the Oâ—ive-Branch of Peace in his mouth still inviting provoking Souls to Mercy but Justice followeth it like a Snail yet those which it overtaketh 't will tear like a Lion. God is flow to Anger but when the Day of wrath is come who shall be able to stand Patience in Bethania standeth against many an Affront Rev. 7.6 and if he be smitten on the one cheek yet it will turn the other also it blesseth them that curseth it and prayeth for them that despitefully use it Acts 7.60 Stephen looked more at heaven whither also he committed his Spirit and from whence he called for Mercy for his enemies than at the Stones that flew about his ears So also James when he was thrown from the Pinacle of the Temple made more haste to his knees that he might pray for his Enemies than to his feet to fly from the Fuller's Club which while he was praying beat out his Brains The Reproach of Christ in Bethania is counted great Riches and she is content to go with him out of the Camp to bear it Heb. 13.13 she careth little for an evil Name seeing she hath obtained a divine Nature there is a time for the rebuke of Christians to be taken quite away Isa 25.8 but there must be a time first to bear it We got shame and reproach to our selves Isa 54.4 by sin and it must be endured a time by suffering Est 6.13 but when Sin is gone shame and reproach will quickly follow it it is time enough to be honoured in Heaven and that honour is eternal but the Honour obtained in this world beginneth to decline like that of Haman before it be come to full perfection therefore provocations and reproaches are but little minded nor yet credit and estimation lightly regarded 2 Cor. 6.8 and so good report and evil report are passed through much alike in the patient Spirit of Bethania But the Third Degree of Patience consisteth in the waiting the accomplishment of Promises Heb. 6.12 Prov. 13.12 and herein Patience is often exercised and though Hope deferred makes the Heart sick yet Patience is an effectual Medicine He that believeth maketh not haste Hab. 2.1 and the just shall live by his Faith therefore Patience sinketh into the Will of God as well for the obtaining of Mercies as for the removing of Afflictions and after it hath patiently waited it inheriteth the Promises C. 7.9 In this Street are the working-houses of Bethania and here she is often labouring in the Fire Mat. 20. and endureth the burden and heat of the Day nevertheless when she passeth through the Fire the Lord is with her Isa 43.2 visiting the Labourers in the Vineyard and in the form of the Fourth which is the Son of God he walketh with her in the midst of the burning fiery Furnace Dan. 3.28 and she with him in this Divine Principle of Patience CHAP. VIII THE fifth Pillar in the House of Wisdom is Godliness Prov. 4 18. and is also a glorious Path even the Path of the Just as a shining light shineth more unto the