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.

THIRDLY.

It is the Custom of that little Ci∣ty, when they come to their Meeting place, and the Hour of Meeting be∣ing at hand, remembring that the time is now the Lords, to retire ea•••• to their proper Place or Seat, for bearing to salute any, though never •••• dear unto them; and there to betak•• themselves to some silent Meditation or reading of the Holy Scriptures, •••• some other Spiritual Exercise; the so when the Lord shall come to see the Guests, and visit the Two or Thre•••• that are gathered together in h•••• Name, he may find none of the•••• distracted, whispering, dircoursin•• or in any unseemly Posture; fo•• there is a Time and a Season for ever•• lawful Custom; and Salutations all in their proper Seasons, with other friendly Discourse, are convenient and comely in Bethania. But it •••• meet that the Lords work, the which also concerns our immortal Sou••••

should in the first place be accom∣plished; 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 ma∣king 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; 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. The Law was written in two Tables, and though the second Table in which is contain∣ed our Duty to man, have more Pre∣cepts 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, and then after salu∣ted the Brethren. Therefore, Betha∣nia, when Divine Worship that ap∣pertaineth 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, who will also sa∣lute their Brethren: But likewise also to those besides themselves, who do usually frequent their Meetings; all

which Salutations are performed in unfeigned Love, and without Diffi∣mulation; also in great Humility, a decent, orderly, and serious Exerci∣ses, in Bethania.

Notes

• 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.
• Phil. 3.8.
• 1 Kings 17.13. Luke 10.42.
• John 9.61.
• Exod. 31.18.
• Rom. 16.4.
• Mat. 5.47.
• Rom. 12.9, 10.
• 1 Cor. 14.40.