the Spirit Heb. 12.9 1 Cor. 14.15 Rom. 1.9 1 Tim. 4.8 John 4.24 and God 〈◊〉 my Witness whom I serve with my Spirit For bodily Exercise profiteth little or for a little time but the constant Exercises of the Spirit are delightful to God Therefore it is the Desire of Bethania when they have spread a thing before the Lord in a few serious and weighty Words to keep their Minds stedfast in a Praying Posture Psal 40.1 Psal 39.7 Psal 103.1 waiting upon the Lord from whom is their Expectation until they obtain their Hearts desire the which being obtained is a great Experience of Mercy and engages the Soul in Songs of Praises But if at any time they have presented a thing before the Lord 1 Sam. 16.1 Ezek. 14.16 that doth greatly concern the Ease of their Soul or the comfort of their outward Life or have intreated for a Mercy for Mercy-Rejecting Sinners or have desired the Removing of some bodily Distemper or natural Impediments from Natural or Christian Friends and the Lord doth flatly deny them or long defer therein to answer them Luke 18.7 then they cast their Eye upon Jesus who hath taught them to say Our Father thy Will be done And in great Calmness of Soul Mat. 6.10 Heb. 2.7 quietly sink down into the Will or God subjecting themselves as is most meet to the wise disposings of the Father of Spirits Luke 11.8 Gen. 22.2 Luke 1.7 Isa 57.16 yet in some cases the Lord alloweth of restless Importunity And therefore Bethania will not hold her Peace but wrestleth strongly with great Jehovah until the Day-break of Mercy appears And he being of a wonderful condescending Spirit suffers himself oftentimes to be overcome in such cases that be of great weight about which he is importuned So then Prayer is a serious business and accordingly is very seriously performed Eccles 5.2 being mainly and chiefly the work of the Soul about which the Tongue is but little concerned But in great Babel and also in the Earthly Jerusalem Prayer is wholly another business and is mainly and principally the work of the Tongue in which these two Cities have many very skillful Artists Mat. 6. who like the Heathens seem to act as if they should be heard in their much speaking but their Sacrifice is but as the Sacrifice of Fools and like Smoak in the Nostrils of the Heart-searching God Eclces 5.1 Isa 65.9 Jer. 17.10 who is greatly wearied with the Words of Men Therefore Bethania is not rash with her Mouth neither is her Heart hasty to utter Words or any thing before God knowing that he is in the Heavens and she on Earth therefore her Words are weighty Mat. 6.11 but few TWELFTHLY The Gesture used in Bethania in the time of Prayer is such as becometh serious men Dan. 10.10 Acts 7.60 Ezra 9.5 Ephes 3.14 Josh 7.6 when they are talking with an immortal God. And therefore in that Divine Exercise they either bow their knees upon the Earth or fall down flat with their faces upon the ground or else stand upright upon their feet In all or any of which gestures they have the most glorious Majesty of God still in their Eye whom in every part of his Worship they desire to serve with great Reverence and godly Fear Heb. 12.28 Psa 89.7 But this last gesture of standing is most used in Bethania when they are giving Thanks or pronouncing Blessings upon Persons or craving them upon things they are to use But as for that unseemly gesture of sitting in the time of Prayer although it be in frequent use among the careless Daughters in these Flesh-pleasing times 1 Tim. 3.2 wherein men are Lovers of themselves It is a great stranger in the Charter of Bethania and therefore is but very seldom used there and if at all yet it is upon the Account of some Infirmity proceeding from Age or Weakness constraining thereunto neither do they usually kneel upon Cushions if ever at all in that Soul-Exercising time of Prayer For they know that Christ had none in the Mount when he continued all Night in Prayer to God nor had Solomon Luke 6.12 2 Chron. 6.13 Dan. 6.10 as yet appears when he kneeled before the Lord and before the Altar in the Temple Neither do we find that Daniel used Cushions when he Prayed in his Chamber upon his Knees three times a day with his Windows open towards Jerusalem nor is it likely that there were any Cushions in the Mount of Olives where our Saviour kneeled down and Prayed in the time of his Agony Luke 22.41 and it may be much supposed that Paul had none when taking his leave of the Ephesians he kneeled down and Prayed with them all And to be sure there were none on the Shore of Tyre Acts 20.36 Acts 21.5 when Paul and his Companions kneeled down and Prayed And it is very unlikely that James the Disciple of Jesus used to kneel on Cushions when his Knees were benummed like Camels Knees and bereft of the sense of feeling by reason of his continual kneeling in Supplication to God Euseb Eccles Hist Lib. 2. Chap. 23. And therefore it is concluded in Bethania that those things which are easy to the Body 1 Pet. 4.1 2. are not always profitable for the Soul. And therefore they used to suffer in the Flesh and through the Divine Spirit mortifie the Deeds of the Body Rom. 8.13 Psal 55.6 that the Soul being unclogged of sensual Delights may as with the Wings of a Dove hasten its escape and find rest in the Heavenly places But if any shall instance Moses and David Exod. 17.12 about sitting to Pray It is to be considered that Moses case was a case of Necessity Therefore Aaron and Hurr when Moses was tyred by reason of standing and continual spreading of his Hands took a Stone and sate upon it and they held up his Hands between them But this was when he could neither stand nor lift up his Hands nor spread them out any longer and as for David 2 Sam. 7.18 Verse 25.26 27. Psal 95.6 1 Cor. 13.15 he went in and sate before the Lord and then spake unto him and after that he Prayed in which most serious Exercise his Practice was to kneel as is said Psal 95.6 O come let us fall down and let us kneel before the Lord our Maker Therefore as Charity doth not behave it self unseemly neither doth it seek its own either Ease or any other delightful things Even so Bethania who is greatly possessed of Divine Vertue taketh great care according to the uttermost of her Capacity to avoid all superfluous Words and needless Repetitions long and tedious speakings with all unseemly Gestures in that most serious and Divine Exercise of Prayer THIRTEENTHLY Time in Bethania is accounted a very precious Jewel Eccl. 9.12 2 Cor. 6.2 Ephes 5.16 Tit. 3.14 and therefore she is very careful of
perfect Rest in Eternal Joy. ONE and TWENTIETHLY Fasting in Bethania is of great Antiquity and was first commanded in Eden especially from some things of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Gen. 2.17 and it hath run through all Dispensations from the Beginning until this time in which serious Exercise many Holy Men of God have been very famous yea those that have been filled most with God have often enjoyed the least of Creatures Moses fasted twice forty days yet in that time he was close with him Deut. 9.9 Verse 18. Exod. 34.30 1 Kings 19.8 2 Kings 2.11 Dan. 10.3 and came from him with a shining Face Elijah fasted forty days and at last God sent for him from Earth to Heaven Daniel he fasted three full Weeks though not from all kind of Food yet from that which was accounted pleasing and he was a man greatly beloved David chastened his Soul with fasting and he saith That his Knees were grown weak thereby Psal 109 24. yet he was a man dear unto God and sometimes enjoyed much of his presence Esth 4.16 Esther was a very Glorious Queen yet in a weighty case yielded her self unto three days fasting Jesus our Saviour fasted forty Days and forty Nights Mat. 4.2 in the beginning of his most Sacred Ministry So likewise his Apostles and approved Ministers were and are often in Fastings 1 Cor. 11.27 Luke 2.36 37 Hannah served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Christ gave Directions to his Disciples about fasting and the Disciples of John were Exercised therein It was not only found among Jews and Christians Mat. 6.16 but Heathens also were famous in it For King Darius passed the Night in Fasting Mat. 14. Mark 2. Dan. 6. Act. 10.30 and the Prayers of Cornelius were performed with it Therefore it is an approved and a dilligent observed Custom in the City Bethania who also for divers Ends and in divers Manners observeth the same Sometimes it is used for the chastening of the Soul Psal 69.10 1 Cor. 9.27 and beating down of the Body that the Flesh may become weak and the Spirit strengthned in Vertue At other times when they go about any weighty Undertaking or desire to obtain any special Mercy or to remove any sore Affliction all or any of these are attempted and managed by Prayer and Fasting Dan. 9.4 Esth 4.16 If there be a publick Design on foot then Fasting is publick also yet not made common to any but only those who are concerned in it Joel 2.12 These retire themselves into the greatest Retirement as possible may be and there with earnest Prayers and silent Groans with frequent Sighs of Soul to God spend their time in most serious manner Rom. 8.26 Ezra 9.4 little minding their own Ease or moving from place to place except in great Necessity suspending all other Actions but those only that appertain to the present Exercise else it is not Fasting Isa 58.4 for Fasting is an Abstenance Neither do they mind any business nor take any Food or Natural Refreshment but with great Watchfulness keep their Minds retired to the Lord waiting to see how he appeareth unto their Souls And all their time is not spent in speaking Words but mostly in the Exercise of their Soul and working of the Mind with the Lord. Verse 9.27 But private Fasts if it be to beat down the Body and bring it into Subjection that it may not be too strong for the Soul then that kind of Fasting is accompanied with Labour or any Exercise whatsoever But if it be for obtaining any special Mercy or for the removing of any sore Affliction or for Assistance against any dangerous Temptation or for the subduing of any prevailing Corruption â—hen it is performed in great Retirement 1 Cor. 7.5 And so Wives and Husbands withdraw themselves from one another during that time of Fasting the which if it be for many days then they take a little Food and a little Water and after enjoy each others Company again Dan. 10.3 Phil. 4.5 Amos 4.6 with such moderate Refreshments of Nature that will stand with Christian Sobriety But much Wine and strong Beer and dainty Meats and gorgeous Apparel with soft and pleasant Resting places being inconsistent with the state of Pilgrims Heb. 13.14 are therefore meer Strangers in Bethania TWO and TWENTIETHLY Singing of Psalms in Bethania is a certain Divine and Spiritual Exercise by which the Inhabitants thereof do celebrate the Praises of the most High God and it is mainly and chiefly an Exercise of the Soul being performed by the lifting up of the Soul and Spirit unto great Jehovah Psal 32.7 and this Divine Mirth springeth up in the Souls of those who are in Experience of some Spiritual Refreshments Psal 101.1 Therefore when any is merry they sing Psalms in which they teach and admonish one another with Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with Grace in their Hearts to the Lord James 5.13 Col 3.16 Ephes 5.19 speaking also to themselves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs making Melody in their Hearts to the Lord giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Verse 20. So Jesus our Saviour rejoyced in Spirit and then said I thank Thee Luke 10.21 Psal 25.1 Psal 103.1 Job 29.30 Isa 65.30 Jer. 31.25 O Father c. Even so David lifted up his Soul to God and then set his Soul to bless his Holy Name and Job caused the Widows Heart to sing Even so faith the Lord My Servants shall sing for joy of Heart for I have satiated the weary Soul and I have Replenished every Sorrowful Soul. By all which and much more that might be said it appeareth that singing is a Work of the Heart and Soul the which being inwardly refreshed calleth to the Tongue to awake and declare it Psal 57.8 And it is only proper to those and none but those who are in Communion with the Blessed Lamb in some of Sions Glory For none can learn these Spiritual Songs Rev. 14.3 Chap. 5.3 but such who are Redeemed from an Earthly State and have gotten the Victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his Mark and over the Number of his Name so that it be the Redeemed of the Lord whom he hath recovered from Spiritual Babylon that can say and sing Psal 107.2 Thy Mercy endureth for ever Therefore Singing of Psalms and Spiritual Songs 1 Cor. 12.4 Rom. 12.6 1 Cor. 14.26 Psal 40.3 Psal 137.4 is no Gospel-Ordinance neither is every individual Member of Gospel-Churches able to perform it But it is properly a Gospel-Gift and only belongs to those into whose Mouth the Lord hath put the New Song For who can sing the Songs of Sion while they sit by the Waters of Babylon who though they do often remember her and greatly desire to be there
Isa 42.4 Job 22.22 Jer. 15.16 Psal 119.24 Isa 44.4 Psal 119.98 99 100. Ephes 1.18 Psal 119.93 Cant. 6.11 Psal 23.2 John 6.45 Gen. 27.27 Isa 5.13 In which for that time all other things whether Actions of Soul or Body are suspended and laid in Silence That with great Retiredness of Spirit they may watch with Christ one Hour And like the little Islands of the Poor in Spirit wait for the Law from his Mouth to lay up his Word in their Hearts that it may be for good Counsel and Comfort for their Soulâ—â— By which means improved in this manner the House of the Poor groweth rich in Divine Vertue and deep Wisdons being Fortified also in their Soule with the exceeding great Power of God of which retired Spirits have sensible Experience and by which they are quickned yet farther unto Spiritual Things And so feeding in the Valley of great Humility by the still Waters of immediate and Ministerial Teachings they grow like Willows by the Water-courses and flourish like a Field which the Lord hath Blessed When the Inhabitants of Babel that discomposed Multitude and all the carelese Daughters are famished and dryed up with Thirst SICONDLY The Inhabitants of Bethania are very careful to observe those Hours Dedicated to Divine Worship Acts 3.21 Isa 58.3 Verse 13. as time that then is none of Theirs but the Lords and therefore they think it dangerous to steal away any part thereof from him and convert it to their own private use Acts 5.1.2 Verse 5. Verse 10. like Annanias and Saphira which stole away part of that from God which they pretended to give unto him but felt the dreadful Effects thereof by the loss of Life And for mocking the Lord and lying against his Holy Spirit is is greatly to be doubted also Isa 32.9 12. Ephes 4.30 they have lost their Souls And hence it comes to pass among the careless Daughters who suffer the Lord to wait for them till his Spirit be greatly grieved and fore wearied with their intollerable Delay That they have little else in their coming to Meetings but dry Breasts Hos 9.14 Jer. 17.6 Isa 24.16 Psal 106.15 Job 16.18 Isa 58.2 and a Barren Womb The Lord having withdrawn himself from their careless Souls and left them to inherit the parched places of the Wilderness in great leanness of Spirit as their wrinckles testifie to their Faces And notwithstanding They are frequently at Meetings and evi learning in the visible Temple sitting constantly in the place of drawing Waters 2 Tim. 3.7 Jude 5.11 Isa 65.23 yet they dâ—â— but labour in vain and bring forâ—â— Trouble because they observe not theâ—â— accustomed Meetings in the careâ—â— Spirit of Bethania THIRDLY It is the Custom of that little City when they come to their Meeting place and the Hour of Meeting being at hand remembring that the time is now the Lords to retire eaâ—â— to their proper Place or Seat for bearing to salute any though never â—â— dear unto them and there to betakâ— themselves to some silent Meditation or reading of the Holy Scriptures Luke so 4. 2 Kings 4.29 Hab 2.20 Psal 104.34 Psal 94.19 Mat. 22.11 Chap. 18.21 1 Cor. 13.5 Eccles 3.1 1 Pet. 3.8 â—â— some other Spiritual Exercise the so when the Lord shall come to see the Guests and visit the Two or Threâ—â— that are gathered together in hâ—â— Name he may find none of theâ—â— distracted whispering dircoursinâ— or in any unseemly Posture foâ— there is a Time and a Season for everâ— lawful Custom and Salutations all in their proper Seasons with other friendly Discourse are convenient and comely in Bethania But it â—â— meet that the Lords work Phil. 3.8 the which also concerns our immortal Souâ—â— should in the first place be accomplished 1 Kings 17.13 Luke 10.42 and herein Mary was more approved of in sitting at the Feet of her Lord and waiting for his Divine Counsels then Martha was in making unseasonable Provision for him Therefore when the Disciples were sent forth in the work of the Lord they were commanded to salute no man by the way John 9.61 for he that would bid them of his house farewel when a greater Work was before him was judged unmeet for the Kingdom of God. Piety is to go before Courtesy the which being finished Courtesie follows in his right season Exod. 31.18 The Law was written in two Tables and though the second Table in which is contained our Duty to man have more Precepts in it then that which contains our Duty to God yet the Precepts of the first Table are to be observed in the first place Even so the holy Apostles first ended the Divine Matter of their Epistles Rom. 16.4 and then after saluted the Brethren Therefore Bethania when Divine Worship that appertaineth to God in the first place is performed then after they proceed in courteous Salutations one to another and not only to themselves neither like the Publicans Mat. 5.47 who will also salute their Brethren But likewise also to those besides themselves who do usually frequent their Meetings Rom. 12.9 10. all which Salutations are performed in unfeigned Love 1 Cor. 14.40 and without Diffimulation also in great Humility a decent orderly and serious Exercises in Bethania FOVRTHLY If in any of the Assemblies of Bethania Offenees happen to arise between Brother and Brother in a matter that is not simply a sin against God Then the offended goeth and telleth the Offender his Fault Mat. 18.15 16 17. who if he repent is readily forgiven and so all 〈◊〉 well but if he repent not then he is admonished by two or three and so it is done the second time If he still persist in stubbornness then the Church doth hear it and if he refuse to hear the Church it is plain Rebellion and so like that dreadful Sin of Witchcraft 1 Sam. 15.23 and such kind of Persons are in no wise sufferred to inhabite in Bethania Deut. 18.10 not be Freemen within the Corporation of it FIFTHLY Again if there be found any Person in the aforesaid Assemblies that is slothful Rom. 12.11 2 Tim. 3.18 1 Thess 5.14 and doth neglect his Duty either in natural or in spiritual things then he is seriously admonished unto it If he strive to amend although he cannot presently alter the in-bred Habits of an unconverted State it is sufficient for the present and he is counselled encouraged and comforted as one of the feeble-minded But if he be careless and giveth way to those evil habits 1 Tim. 5.11 he is suspended and noted as a Person not meet for Christian Communion yet in no wise exempted from friendly Admonition But if after all these manurings he still remaineth an unfruitful Tree Luke 13.7 John 15.6 and as a deyed Shrub in which there is no hope then he is cut up as a Cumberrer of the Ground and as a lifeless Withered Branch taken
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
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
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
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
spending any part thereof in waste for which cause the Inhabitants thereof are very much given to Diligence being exercised in maintaining good Works or honest Trades to such necessary uses by which they may not be rendered Unfruitful either in Church or State and so glorious Elohim moved himself in vast Eternity by vertue of which Motion the whole Creation was produced for it is written Gen. 1.2 And the Spirit of the Lord moved upon the Waters and so a moving and working God brought forth a moving and diligent Creation and so every thing therein except depraved from its natural state hath still some proper kind of Employment So the Sun Psal 19.5 6. Gen. 1.14 Moon and Stars in the Firmament of Heaven duly observe their Motion and Order and with great diligence exactly perform their daily and yearly courses Cant. 2.12 Psal 104.12 Ver. 17. The Fowls move and sing right Chearfully and swiftly in the open Air and painfully build their Nests provide their Food bring forth their Young and carefully feed them till they be able to help or feed themselves and then they seek their own Provisions Ver. 27. So also the Creatures on the Earth and in the Waters Universally observe and shew forth a natural diligence yea also in the Vegitable Kingdom among the Herbs Plants and Trees time and motion are carefully observed the Trees in their proper Season send forth their tender Leaves then their beautiful Blossoms and afterwards their desirable Fruit the which being once perfected in ripeness they deliver to whom they were dressed So also the Seed in the Field the Flowers in the Garden Heb. 6.7 Psal 104.14 are very diligent in their nature in the time that is allotted them until their Fruit and Glory is brought to full perfection But in Bethania there is far more diligence used then is among other Creatures Phil. 3.20 Col. 3.2 Gen. 15.24 Prov. 15.24 for when their Hands are busie upon the Earth their Hearts are more diligently employed in Heaven and while their Feet are walking among men below their Souls are walking with God above and herein they exceed all other Terestial Creatures whatsoever in that they can do many works at once 1 Cor. 7.29 Psal 55.6 Act. 22.16 1 The. 2.29 for they know that time is short and that their business requireth haste therefore they are constrained to labour night and day and have no time to spare for Idleness for this is accounted by them a Monster in nature and therefore they fly from it as Moses fled from his transformed Rod when it was turned from a Rod to a Serpent and though Sleep and Rest and Bodily Nourishment be all things very desirable and pleasing to nature yet they use as little of these as well they may and what they use of these needful things at any time their only design herein is to supply the necessities of nature and to assist it in the exercise of Humane and Divine Affairs But time though never so precious in it self is of little or no account at all in Babel for it is a City of Idleness and great Voluptuousness they live that they may eat not like Bethania Amos 6.4 who eats that they may live they spend their precious time in Fleshly Pleasures and call it Pastime and so live many of them as if they had not proceeded out of the Loyns of him Gen. 3.19 who in the Sweat of his Brows was to eat his Bread Rev. 11.18 Jam. 2.6 Jer. 8.20 These are they which consume the Creation destroy the Earth oppress the Poor and spend their precious time in Vanity till the Summer of time is past and the Harvest of Grace be ended who then will be forced to cry out too late And we are not saved but in Bethania Neh. 4.17 the City of Diligence there ye may see the Workmen building the Walls with a Tool in one Hand and a Weapon in the other working out their own Salvation with fear and great trembling every on pressing forwards to the mark that iâ— set before them Phil. 2.12 Chap 3.12 and exercised in that proper calling to which he is designed some as Porters at the Doors some aâ— Watchmen upon the Walls Mark. 13.34 Isa 62.6 Rev. 11.1 Isa 57.2 Rev. 14.14 Psal 126.6 others laâ—â— bouring in the outward Court other again Worshiping in the Sanctuary and others Ministring before the Altar until all that is to be done in time is wholy finished and then Eternity opens it self and receives into her Bosome of everlasting Rest this Laborious and Painful City Bethania FOVRTEENTHLY There is no Swearing at all either Judicial or Prophane used in the little City Bethania for Jesus our Saviour in his most famous Sermon the which he Preached to his Hebrew Disciples Mat. 5.24 as he was with them in the Mount hath fully repealed that sometime a Lawful Custome and James a Disciple of Jesus in his Epistle also written to Hebrews among whom Swearing had been an usual Practise layeth a straight Injunction on them not to use it saying above all things My Brethren Swear not Jam. 5.12 neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your Yea be Yea and and your Nay Nay least ye fall into Condemnation so that as it was Lawful in old time to require an Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth to hate their Enemies Mat. 5.28 Deut. 24.3 Heb. 1.19 Chap. 9.11 and to put away their Wives for other causes then for Fornication yet now in the more perfect and more glorious Dispensations all these things together with that of Swearing are quite Repealed and so those Oaths the which in time past were carefully to be performed are not now at all to be made and therefore those Judicial Oaths which in time past were unto men an end of strife Mat. 5.27 and are used by them still for that end yet it is not to be so among Christians for it is not said An Oath for Confirmation is unto us an end of stife nor that we verily Swear by the greater but it is said Men verily Swear by the greater and an Oath for Confirmation is to them an end of strife Heb. 6.16 Mat. 28.29 John 15.14 and Christians are not to follow the Examples of men but carefully to observe the Precepts of Christ And there is no City in the whole World that is more faithful in their Allegiance to Princes then Bethania nor that hath lived more Peaceable under their Government in any Age then she 1 Pet. 2.18 Ver. 17. Mat. 5.41 Ver. 39. so that if they Magisterially compel her to go with them a Mile she goeth with them twain and if they Magisterially smite her on the one Cheek Luk. 6.30 Deut. 6.13 Jer. 4.2 Mat. 5.34 35. Jam. 5.12 Mat. 28.16.17 18 19 20 21. Jer. 10 3. Prov. 4.14 15. Psal 1.1 Amos 5.5 she
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
therefore every Herb Plant and Tree live and work by Vertue of a Vegetative Spirit so the Beasts Fowls and Fishes and Creeping Things live by Vertue of a Sensitive Spirit also all Angels and Souls of men live immortal Lives by Vertue of a rational Spirit Even so all real and true Christians live and move in a Divine Life by Vertue of that Divine Spirit which is the very Life and Vertue of Jesus our Emanuel which Vertue was in him in such exceeding Fulness that from his sacred Body Vertue issued out to cure by touching all the Impediments of Nature for by touching He cleansed the Leper drave away the Fever Mat. 8.19 Chap. 9.29 opened the Ears of him who had been Defective both in his Speech and Hearring raised the Widows Son as he was carrying to his Burial Mark 7.37 Luke 7.4 Mat. 9.20 21. stanched the Bloody Issue which the Physicians could not do yea by touching He Expelled Fear out of the Spirits of his Disciples when sorely surprised therewith in the Mount of Transfiguration Mat. 17.7 So that the whole Multitudes of People sought to touch him by reason that Vertue went out of him to cure all their Maladies Luke 7.19 Even so also the precious Faith of Christians that Divine Principle begotten in the Souls of God Elect goeth forth from thence as a touching Instrument Tit. 1.1 Mat. 15.2 Gal. 2.20 which reacheth into the very Heart of Christ and draweth forth that Divine Vertue which dwelleth there into its self and so by that Vertue it lives Divinely Acts 6.5 and walketh with God. Now according to the Greatness and Perfection of the Instrument even so is the Measure of Vertue obtained by it Heb. 11.33 Therefore in ancient Times when Faith in the Prophets and Apostles and Holy Men of God was strong and famous so accordingly their Souls were possessed with great Degrees of Vertue by which they wrought many famous Miracles Heb. 2.4 Deut. 2.1 and in which they flourished in a Life of Eminent Piety but as a little Fire can give but a little heat and a little Candle can yield but a little light even so Faith since it became weak Miracles are for the most part ceased and Piety doth but meanly flourish Therefore Bethania who is poor in Spirit is letting out her whole Heart and Soul to Christ Isa 26.9 John 21.14 offering up her whole Will to him and so presseth after a great increase of Faith by which her Soul may be fast linked to her Saviour in which most Blessed Union she may obtain much of his Vertue Luke 1.75 and shine forth in it right gloriously before her fellow-Mortals in which most pure Life she liveth to the Praise of him who hath called her to Glory and Vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 Prov. 12.4 Chap. 30.10 and 29. and so this Vertuous Woman is a Crown to her Espoused Husband and when she can be found Her Price is above Rubies and though many have done vertuously yet she in that that is Divine hath Excelled them all Vertue is the Direct contrary to Vice and so is of God in whom dwelleth all good things but Vice is of the Devil Vertue maketh man like God James 1.17 Psal 119.68 Acts 10.38 and in it man is good but Vice maketh man like the Devil and in it he is a meer Monster Vertue is always profitable both in Church and State but Vice bringeth Ruine upon both It s Property is ever to do good even in Natural and Spiritual Things but is altogether a Stranger to Evil. Col. 1.10 Rom. 16.19 In either of these Vertue is of great Antiquity even from Eternity it self but Vice is but of yesterday and had a Beginning Mat. 10.16 Verse 6.16 Rom. 6.12 Rev. 21.25 and at last all Iniquity shall have an End. Vertue liveth in the whole Creation except in that part that is Degenerated from its first Estate and it a very Courteous and of good Behaviour always letting out it self for the good of others that it may transform other things into its own likeness It is very humble gentle and exceeding harmless helpful to all and needesh help from none It will shine before the Face of Tyrants Cant 3.16 John 2.14 Rom. 5.3 Rev. 15.4 Heb. 1.14 Rev. 12.11 1 Cor. 20.24 and stand in a modest boldness against the Threats of most furious Mortals Vertue is a Conqueror of the Devil and triumpheth gloriously over all Temptations it standeth in perpetual Friendship with God and Angels delight to become Ministring Spirits unto those who are Professors of it It maketh nothing of Death and Fear can never make it hide its Head yea those that hate it Gen. 39.2 3. and will not entertain it in themselves do yet desire to be served by it in others Dan. 2.4 hence Joseph and Daniel became famous in the sight of Heathens Psal 11.7 Acts 10.39 Psal 63.8 Rev. 14.4 for it is faithful in its Service both to God and Man. Vertue hath great Communion with an Holy God who also will own it wheresoever it appears for it keepeth constantly at his Right-hand and will follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth John 4.17 2 Pet. 15. It hath great boldness in the Day of Judgment and knoweth that it shall not be condemned and where the precious Faith is there it is also as a perpetual Companion and so those that have walked with God by Faith have also walked before him in a state of Vertue It maketh uncomely Bodies very Beautiful when Vice deformeth the most comely Creatures So then Vertue is a strong Pillar in the House of Wisdom and a Street in Bethania in which Bethania hath many a Walk with God. In this street standeth her Market-place from whence are dispersed many precious things Therefore O ye that pretend to Faith be careful to prove the Truth thereof James 2.18 by its Companion Vertue and whatsoever things are true whatsoever Things are honest whatsoever Things are just whatsoever things are pure Phil. 4.8 whatsoever Things are lovely whatsoever things are of good Report if there be any Vertue if there be any Praise think on these Things CHAP. V. THE Second Pillar in 〈◊〉 House of Wisdom is Knowledge in which there are two Party First Speculative by which we look at things without us Secondly Experimental by which we know things from within us It consistent mainly in two Things First In 〈◊〉 Knowledge of God. Secondly In the Knowledge of our selves and in both these Bethania desires to walk 〈◊〉 Wisdom Without all Controversy God is a great Mystery and so also is man Col. 4.5 1 Tim. 1.16 Psal 139.14 Mat. 13.33 Therefore saith David I am fearfully and wonderfully made Man is to be considered in a Threefold Life the which are the three Measures of Meal in which the Leaven is to be hid The first of these is Rational in which man is in Union of Life
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
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