Antient Christianity revived being a description of the doctrine, discipline, and practice of the little city of Bethania : collected out of her great charter, the Holy Scriptures, 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.

TWENTIETHLY.

Watching,* 1.1 in Bethania is accounted of great necessity, and is the last work of a Christsan, being a constant Exer∣cise of the Soul; after the Warfare is wholly ended, it is to be a Compa∣nion with all Actions and Enjoyments, and to attend diligently on every State. The Bethanians divide it in∣to three Parts, and desire to be found always in that Posture, in which every one of them may be performed.

The first Part of Watching is an Abstenance from Sleep at some times,* 1.2 and to use as little thereof at all times as well you may: For they know that Sleeping began the Fall of man, and something else helped it forwards, but eating fully compleated it.* 1.3 Sleep is very near of kinn to Death, therefore hath the very same Name with it, and so is an unmeet Exercise for living Souls, for it consumeth much preci∣ous time; and the Excess thereof greatly stupifieth the sensitive Life,* 1.4 and maketh indisposed to the Exer∣cises

of Eternity. It extends no fur∣ther than the Animal Kingdom, and so wholly ends in Death, and is ne∣ver seen any more after the Resur∣rection. Both the Heathens and Chri∣stians have shunned it as much as they could,* 1.5 for it is in the Excess thereof, often reproved by an awakened Conscience. We read of very many Actions of Christ, but very little of his sleeping. Once he was found sleeping on a Pillow, while the Ship was tossed,* 1.6 and the Disciples terrified, but he quickly awoke, and wrought a Miracle. The Gospel-Ministers who are appointed by Christ to a∣waken Spiritual Sleepers, have been often themselves Exercised in Watch∣ings.* 1.7 So saith Paul, In Stripes, in Imprisonments, in Travels, in La∣bours, in Watchings, in Fastings; yet further, in Weariness and Pain∣fulness, in Watchings often, in Hun∣ger and Thirst, in Cold and Naked∣ness. Therefore, though Sleep be pleasing and incident to Nature, yet the Cross of Christ doth Crucifie the Superfluity thereof in all true Betha∣nians.

But the second Degree of Watch∣ing, is a careful observing of the out∣goings of the Soul in all its Exercises and Imployments;* 1.8 for there be Snares attending upon every State; yea Eden it self was not secure from them; and

seeing the Soul is so apt to wander, before it is fixed in the immutable State,* 1.9 therefore the Man of God is to be watchful in all things; and Pray∣er it self, that most serious Business, is carefully to be attended with it. For if the vigilant Enemy cannot di∣stract us by gross Corruptions,* 1.10 yet he will endeavour to do it by unseason∣able Exercises. The Soul that is dis∣possessed of an unclean Spirit, being swept and garnished with many Ver∣tues, may be Re-possessed again through want of Watchfulness, with Seven Spirits worse than the former. Decayes are incident to all unfixed things,* 1.11 therefore the Church of E∣phesus left her first Love, unto which she is advised again to return,* 1.12 and keep the same with Watchfulness. Blessed therefore is he that Watcheth and keepeth his Garments, least he walk Naked, and they see his Shame.

The Third Part of Watching, is an earnest Expectation of the Accom∣plishment of all Gods Gracious Pro∣mises;* 1.13 yet he that believeth, maketh not haste, but quietly waiteth till the Vision shall speak. Therefore Be∣thania is Porter at the Door of her own Heart, and watcheth to open to Christ, in all his Appearances, that she may answer him in all his Re∣quirements, and so become a Follower of the Lamb,* 1.14 whithersoever he goeth,

in all things expecting to be supplyed with that Grace,* 1.15 which is suffieient for every State, and so quietly endu∣ring the Burden and Heat of the day, watching dilligently for his Glorious Appearance, who then will call watchful Bethania into a perfect Rest, in Eternal Joy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mar. 13.37. Mat. 24.42. Ephes. 6.18. 2 Tim. 4.5.
• * 1.2

  2 Cor. 11.27. Chap. 6.5.
• * 1.3

  Gen. 2.21.
• * 1.4

  Prov. 6.9.
• * 1.5

  Rev. 4.8.
• * 1.6

  Mark 4.38.
• * 1.7

  Ephes. 5.14.
• * 1.8

  Prov. 4.23. Luke 21.34.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 119.10
• * 1.10

  2 John 8.
• * 1.11

  Mat. 11.43.
• * 1.12

  Rev. 2.5. Chap. 3.2. Chap. 15, 16.
• * 1.13

  Psal. 40.1. Isa. 28.16. Heb. 6.12. Heb. 2.3. Rev. 3.20.
• * 1.14

  Cant. 5.2. Rev. 14.4.
• * 1.15

  2 Cor. 12.9.