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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95609	A Scripture-map of the wildernesse of sin, and vvay to Canaan. Or The sinners way to the saints rest. Wherein the close bewildring sleights of sin, wiles of the Devill, and windings of the heart, as also the various bewildrings of lost sinners, yea, even of saints, before, in, and after conversion; the necessity of leaning upon Christ alone for salvation, with directions therein: as also, the evident and eminent danger of false guides, false wayes, false leaning-stocks, are plainly, and practically discovered. Being the summe of LXIV lecture sermons preached at Sudbury in Suffolk, on Cantic. 8.5. / By Faithful Teate, M.A. minister of the Gospel.	Teate, Faithful, b. 1621.	1655 (1655)	Wing T615; Thomason E839_1; ESTC R203761	372,945	489

make insurrections against the Apostles and this lies at the bottom of all Act. 19.25 that by this craft we have our living They thought it could not be that they should live if they should part with their Idolatry So say Sinners how shall we live if we leave sinning We live by selling Malt and then helping the Alehouses that have it from us to such Company as may again have it from them How shall we live if we leave our lying dissembling cheating flattering sinfull compliance with sinfull men How shall wee live in office except we be partiall sparing the great and pinching the smal sparing our Relations and pressing others How shall we bear up our Interest except we give some Countenance to every sort of men Do you wonder the silver-Smiths were angry with Paul why his Doctrine went about to take away their livelyhood Do you wonder a lame man should send a curse after you if you come and snatch away his Crutch from under him Why he cannot stand if you take away his prop from him do you take Michahs Gods from him as Judg. 18.24 and then do you ask him what he ailes Do you go to take a sinners sin from him which is his prop his pillar support and then do you wonder that he rails on you and reviles you Why he thinks you go the way to undoe him he can neither stand nor go without his sin let that sink and he sinks with it And this is the reason that powerfull preaching hath many Enemies few fast friends and how plain a conviction is this also that sin is indeed the sinners leaning-stock The second Positive Hindrance that keeps lost soules from leaning to Christ is their leaning to Satan This is 2. Pos hind Sinners lean to Satan Proof of it I think the fullest importance of that passage Isa 28.15 With Hell are we at agreement that is by a Metonymy with the Devills of hell when the overflowing scourge passeth thorough it shall not come unto us why what shall secure them for we have made lies that is Satan the Father of lies our refuge and under falshood that is under his temptations though deceitfull ones have we hid our selves Had not Eve as this Scripture speaks leaned more to the Serpent the Father of falshood and of lies then to the God of truth it had not been with us as it is this day In two particular I shall declare how sinners leane upon Satan for their work and for their wages 1. For their work First Sinners lean on Satan for their employment This our Saviour speaks out Ioh. 8 44. You are of the Devill and his lusts you will do Satan wills and they work Satan commands and they obey As much as the Son leans to the Father for Counsel and command in his Employments so much do you saith Christ to Satan for he is your Father and his lusts yee will do therefore he is called their Prince on whom else doth the subject depend in all his services for his Commissions He is the Prince that rules in the Children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 It would seem a strange Expression Rules in the Unruly Children But it is a true expression for their being ruled by Satan makes them unruly as to the things of God Children of disobedience unto God What doth this mean Even that as those that work constantly with some of you Tradesmen and depend as you call it or lean on you for their every daies work will not be taken off by any other unlesse upon discovery of eminent advantage so unlesse God draw them in by a thorough discovery of the reall gain of godlinesse they wil not obey Gods call or set their hand unto his plough though we call them and pray them and presse hard upon them yet sirs to which of these Masters God or the Devill they do lean for their work and the management of their affairs judge you 2. For their wages Secondly Sinners lean on Satan for their pay when according to his lusts they take paines and for their wages when they have done his work Therefore Isa 28.15 We are at a Covenant with Hell Now when a man hath made Covenants to do so much work for so much wages unto whom doth he lean for payment but to him whom he covenanted to serve You find Satan called the House-keeper amongst sinners when a strong man arm'd keeps his House or Pallace Mark 3.27 and Luk. 11.21 Now to whom doe all the Souldiers in a Pallace of Defence or servants in an House leane for their wages and pay but to him that keeps the House or the Pallace And assuredly if any thing may be drawn from these scriptures this may be one thing That foolish sinners vainly thinke that in doing the worke as Satan would have them Satan will give them such hire as they would have him and because they are punctuall in performing whatever his Precepts have been to them that he will also be as punctuall in whatever his promises have beene to them Oh! foolish people and unwise lies are your leaning-stock and the father of them your support CHAP. XXI Two other positive Hinderances leaning to World Selfe THird Positive hinderance that keepes lost soules from leaning on Christ is leaning upon the world 3d. Pos hind Sinners leane upon the world worldly Friends Conveniences Comforts and Estates c. That worldlings doe so I know not whether scriptures or our owne wretched experiences of our owne wretched hearts doe most fully or frequently confirme some trust in Chariots some in Horses Psal 20.7 Proofe That is in worldly and carnall accommodations What doe they doe use them that they should doe or may doe but they trust in them that they neither should doe nor may they do what if they should the sad inconvenience is hinted But we will remember the name of the Lord as who should say they cannot you can never trust in the Lord of Hosts while you trust to Horses and unto Chariots for war-provisions and as for peace-provisions see Psal 52.7 Loe this is the man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his riches That was the reason he leaned not upon God because he leaned upon the incomes of the world So then as to warre or peace strength in the former or wealth in the latter let the abundance be never so great there is no trusting or leaning to either if you would lean upon this beloved Heare Christ himselfe Luk. 16.13 No servant can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one what 's that but leaning and despise the other what meanes Christ by all this You cannot serve God and Mammon so Isai 31.1 Woe to them that stay on Horses and trust in Chariots because they are many and horsemen because they are strong but looke not unto the holy one of Israel nor

Compositors compound who was either too penurious of pains or too pregnant of phantasie Read into the Wildernesse and into sin Chap. 1. Contents so in the Wildernesse and in sinne Chap. 2. Contents and so toties quoties know also that in the first two sheets which indeed are worst done not only through the unaccustomednesse of the Compositor but even through mine own inadvertency who little intended those sheets for the Presse when I first wrote them and through providence wanted the opportunity of revisall before they passed the Presse my character for vers was mistaken and so Chapter put for vers where more vers●s than one of a Chapter are quoted after each other As also these two Scriptures Jer. and Isa compared are both translocated unto the end of the second Chapter where they should not be read Other Erratas such as trouble the sense are referred to their Table to be there inserted such as trouble not the sense with some pseudographies and mispointings of the Compositors to thine ingenuity to be overlooked Now if thou reap any fruit of my poor indeavours let God have thy praises who only deserves them and let mee have thy prayers than whom none can more need them who am The most unprofitable of the servants of Jesus Christ FAITHFUL TEATE ERRATA PAge 4 line 11. read self justiciaries most expressely p. 10. l. 15. r. Conviction p. 13. l. 27. r. hell bound p. 23. l. 4. after thereby insert Can. 5.1 p. 70. l. 31. r. desirous of p. 77. l. 10. r. by slacking p. 87. l. 26. for heart r. hour p. 112. l. 28. for word r. world l. 31. r. refuse my p. 136. l. 34. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 137. for a friend r. afraid p. 141 r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 10.11.12 Methods Managers Rulers p. 154. l. 28. r. cries the man did so and so p 148. l. 7 r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 201. l 4. r. viz. Declining of p. 229. l. 1. for r. est p. 260. l. 7. r. soveraign p. 264. l. 3. r. it is not p. 275. l. 12. r. leaving p. 279. l. 24. for shining r. sinning p. 337. l. 25. for waies r. naies p. 339. l. 20. dele if p. 355. l. 26. r. third Negative Hindrance p. 385. l. 24. r. beautiful p. 412 l. 25. for and r. that p. 430. l 30. r. Psa 49. p. 432 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 434. l. 2 r. carelessenesse p. 440. l. 9 r. is Pioner p. 445. l. 28. r. This therefore CHAP. I. Containeth the Preface sense of the Text reasons of the sense Inscription and parts of the discourse proofs of the first Doctrine Explication and Application of it in the first branch shewing the entrance into wilderness-sin to be fair and facile Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness Text. leaning upon her beloved the Text runs on I raised thee up under the apple-tree there thy mother brought thee forth that bare thee Cant. 8.5 THis Book is called The Song of Songs Preface then which is none more Rhetorical none more Spiritual teaching the soul to know Christ and it self its whole duty The whole business of the Canticles is to set forth what Christ is to the gracious Spirit what the soul is to Christ particularly what Christ is in himself what the soul is in it self what Christ hath done for the soul what the soul ought to do for Christ what affections there are in Christ to the soul what affections there ought to be in the soul to Christ This Scripture imports in what condition the soul is without Christ in what she is stated by Christ The sense of the Text. she is bewildred in her self she comes out of the wilderness leaning upon Christ That a sinful natural unconverted condition is here figured by the wilderness I urge from these three Particulars in the words First Reasons of the sense Her coming up from the wilderness is made the direct immediate primary result and effect of her leaning upon Christ I grant coming out of the wilderness of misery or affliction to be also the issue of leaning upon Christ but that is secondary and because of the former The holy Ghost allusively but lively expresseth our state of unconversion I raised thee up under the Apple-tree as if he said first Eve and after her Adam ea● of the Apple and fell down dead under the tree and so true was that In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die and there they must have lain to Eternity unless I who am the resurrection and the life had raised them up from under the Apple-tree 3. The holy Spirit doth interpret his intent to be the natural estate in which every son and daughter of Adam is born there thy mother brought thee forth there she brought thee forth that bare thee This premised You see my work is Topographical to draw out the Map of the wilderness in the Text the wilderness of unconversion The first thing will be to assign it an inscription Inscription before we give it a description you may finde the title of this Map Exod. 17.1 so Numb 33.12 The Israelites if they intend for Canaan must journey from the wilderness of Sin You 'l say that name was accidental I grant it but if Canaan represent grace why may not the wilderness represent sin It would be our wisdom to warm our affections with every Scripture even Historical though they do not all alike strongly binde our judgements I mean when the allusion is nothing contrary to the analagy of Faith I finde a place as accidentally called Salem as this wilderness Sin which yet the Apostle improves as high and higher then I do this even to prove Christ to be the King of peace compare Gen. 14.18 with Heb. 7.2 The wilderness of sin We have found out the inscription T is the wilderness of sin and so call it In the Maps that I have seen of the wilderness which the children of Israel passed from to Canaan these four things I have observed Parts of the discourse which God-willing I shall follow 1. You have a character of the place situation trees wilde beasts length breadth c. and this engageth me to describe punctually this wilderness of sin 2. You have lines describing all the circuitions windings turnings returnings crossings wandrings of the children of Israel in the wilderness before they could get to Canaan and this engageth to describe the souls wandrings while in this wilderness of sin 3. You have Moses described upon Pisgah turning his back upon the wilderness and pointing towards Canaan this engageth me to discover what concernment lieth upon the sin-bewildred soul to turn its back upon sin and set its face towards Heaven 4. You have Joshua succeeding Moses and leading the Israel of God quite from the wilderness into Canaan and that engageth me to tell you That what the Law could not do in that it was

of blood yet at length sin shall sting like an adder and bite like a serpent of the wilderness Prov. 23.32 Vse To yong ones Now to come up from the the wildernes Hearken then you yong ones unto me and I will shew you an excellent way Youth I know is of all ages and states most desirous and indeed most free for travel but it pities me to think that so much gallant youth and the strength thereof should be spent in wandring up and down in the worthless wilderness of sin Encouragement 1. The fitness of youthful time for that travel rather if you will be traveling remember Canaan Oh! what a time is the strength of your youth to make out your way from the wilderness of sin Thou hast some strength to rush through the thickets more then an old man hath and if thou lose a little of thy flesh in breaking through the thorns thou art yong and thy flesh will come again if thou lose by repentance as to carnal respects there 's time enough before thee to have amends made thee I observe as the yong ones were those of the Israelites that got through the wilderness unto Canaan Numb 26.64 so at this day those that are converted are converted yong ten to one of those that live to be old and yet come to be new born If old men will have their old ways still and scorn to learn a new lesson being old yea if their joints be stiff and their knees feeble that they cannot travel yet let us yong men get up and be going and the Lord be with us This day the Lord calls you yong ones from the Lions de● and Leopards mountains if you refuse this call to day you will mourn at the last when your strength is consumed and say How have I hated instruction and mine heart despised reproof Prov. 7.11 12. Take a tree from the wilderness when its young set it in your Garden keep it and water it c. and little fear of its death but take an old tree from the wilderness and transplant it in your Orchard and do what you will there is little hope of the life of it if there be 't will cost much ado much weeping to water it c. hear David crying Psalm 25 6 7. Remember thy tender mercies remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions If thou have only thy youth transgressions or bewildrings to reckon for it will be work enough for thee though thou have thy youth strength to do the work in Secondly As this is the fittest time for thee 2. The acceptableness of youth herein unto God so is it the most welcome time to God young ones if you did but know how kindly the Lord would take it to see you come up from the wilderness such youthfull Spouses leaning upon the Beloved it would ravish your hearts within you I le give you a tast for God hath bidden me go and cry in your ears saying Thus saith the Lord I remember the kindness of thy youth the love of thine Espousals when thou wentest after me in the wilderness in a Land that was not sown Jer. 2.2 Oh Christ the Shepheard is come into the Wilderness to seek and to save that which is lost Oh if thou wilt in thy youth be so kind as to follow him till thou shall come to Canaan God will never forget this love of thine espousals say not that thou art too young to marry Christ the younger thou art the better Christ will like thee CHAP. III. A fifth particular to wit that mans estate is a bewildred estate the world is a wilderness proved generally proved particularly the first particular poverty a wilderness opened and applyed Fifthly Mans estate a bewild red estate FIfthly Men and women as soon as they enter upon the world as we say that is upon the heart of the world they enter upon the heart of the Wilderness The world is a Wilderness to the unregenerate for here grow those Thorns that choak the word of God The world is a wilderness here are the thorns Mat. 13.22 He that hath the word choaked by the Cares of this world is said to receive it among thorns When the Word meets with a worldly heart it is like good seed sown in a thorny wilderness Worldlings you that hear me this day I appeal to your consciences if it be not so In comes a note or an observation an advice or a conviction and up start the thorny worldly thoughts that are within thee even whilst thou art within the reach of the word and choak that good seed Here are the the entangling waies that it brings not forth Again The world is a wilderness to the unregenerate for here are those crooked and foul waies that are the entanglements of the poor soul the Apostle 2 Pet. 2.20 mentioning the pollutions of the world saith They are entangled therein and overcome The world is a thorny thicket and entangling wilderness to the unconverted My friends were it only your Babes and children They that enter upon the world enter the very midst of the wilderness and youth that were bewildred it were less to be feared you might hope that when they came to have experience of and to understand the waies of the world they might come to understand their own waies or at least if you were not your selves lost you might set them into the way But let me tell you what ever you think or speak of Men of the world know not what way they wal in or unto any man Oh say you I know well enough what I do and about what I go and what way I am in there is not an unregenerate heart amongst you but is so far bewildred as not to know the way that thy soul is in Prov. 20.4 Mans goings are of the Lord how then can a man understand his own way He that is a stranger from Gods waies is altogether ignorant of his own waies nay how can he understand them Mans goings are known of the Lord The interpretation of this Scripture may be according to Prov. 5.21 Mans waies are before the Lords eyes and he pondereth all his wayes T is Gods prerogative to understand not only his own waies but thy waies as it is the Saints prerogative that know God not only to understand their waies but Gods waies but it is thy misery neither to know Gods waies nor thine own Prov. 12.26 The way of the wicked seduceth him Seduceth that is his very way leads him out of his Way It seems a right way unto him but the end thereof are waies of death Prov. 14.12 The end of his way he thinks is thriving and riches and a comfortable life this thinks he will be the end of his grinding the faces of the poor and cheating the rich and this he thinks is a right way he may lawfully buy as cheap and sell as dear as he can But the end

shal have a set Mansion The Spouse bears pregnant testimony hereunto Cant. 5.18 Where she saith He is altogether lovely that is an Adequate entyre and full object for the affections to sit down upon and having this they have Rest Other things are not stayes for our affections because not altogether to be affected The world is not nor the things of the world Meat is to be somewhat affected for the nourishment of the bodyes sake and Cloathes for the warmth and Money for the service of the outward man in the world and Wife and Children and Friends as Helps and Comforts in the world but our affections may not nay they cannot though they would rest in these things but are still travelling farther and the reason is because there is not one of them that is altogether lovely Such is Christ and therefore a Center him for your affections as well as a Rest for your minds and consciences Lastly Leane upon Christ as the rest of your poore soules 4ly Your wearied soules I meane as to their whole state and well being when they shall be rent asunder from the Carkasses wherin they dwell Woe be to that soule of whom the world is weary and whom the house of its habitation I mean its body as weary of it throwes out of doors if it have not then a Christ to cast it selfe upon and be not able to say as David Psal 116.7 Returne to thy rest O my soule Go up to Mount Nebo and die there Believe it believe it that 's an high Hill and that 's hard worke you had need of a Staffe and an Arme to lean upon you had need of an eye of faith to look upwards Stephen when he dyed did so Act. 7.55 Leaning on Christ and leaving of the world had need goe together By faith Jacob when he was a dying as typifying this worshipped leaning upon his Staffe Heb. 11.21 And blessed are they that thus dye in the Lord for as much as my present discourse saith and so saith the Spirit They shall have rest from all their labours Rev. 14.13 And thus much of the second Question CHAP. VIII Containes Querie third what the saving leaning upon Christ is 1. As to the Object How Christ was prepared to be the strength of the weake and stay of the weary 1. By his estate of Humiliation COme we now to the third Question 3d. Quest What this leaning upon Christ is Answer in four Considerations 1. Of its Object viz. the Beloved And how Christ came to be the strength of the weak and the stay of the weary viz. What the leaning of a weak and weary soule upon Christ for strength and refreshment is In answer whereunto these foure Things fall under our inspection The Object the Originall or spring of the act the Notion the Nature of the Act. First For the Object The Texts tells you it is the Beloved that is Christ But how or in what respect is Christ or how comes Christ to be the strength of the weak and the stay of the weary bewildred soule surely it is not Christ any how considered that is thus the soules support and therefore Christ is not confusedly to be leaned upon but Christ so and so considered and understood and therefore there are distinct Notions under or in the which he is to be leaned unto Now the enquiry after these falls necessary and I hope usefully under this head For as it is not flesh that strengtheneth the body simgly considered but flesh thus and thus wholesomely drest and prepared whence that in the 23. Psal 5. Thou preparest a Table for me The Lord as it were condescends to dresse his meat for him especially you know that flesh must be well cook'd that is to strengthen the weake that is prepared for the sick And as it is not a Bed that will give refreshment to a sick and weary one but a Bed thus and thus prepared well made whence that Psal 41.3 The Lord will make all his bed in his sicknesse Mean worke you 'l say for the great God to dresse our meat and make our beds yet such as he pleaseth himselfe in because he delighteth in mercy So I say It is not barely the Lord Christ but Christ as I may say with reverence thus and thus drest that is the strength of the weak and Christ thus and thus prepared that is therest refreshment of the weary Take Christs owne account of this matter Io. 3.14 As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the Son of man be lifted up Marke must be It was not enough that he was incarnate and made flesh that he was the Sonne of man but being made flesh there is a necessity of his being drest and made ready for the food of soules The Brasse did not cure them unlesse it were thus and thus prepared it must be made in figure of a Serpent Neither did this Serpent cure them but it must be lifted up so Christ must be lifted up And this one word speakes Gods whole mind as to the preparation of the Lord Christ How Christ was prepared hereunto to be the strength and the stay of lost soules for this one word hath a double aspect as Christ had a double lifting up 1. He was lifted up to his Crosse so prepared for the souls support in his state of Humiliation 2. He was lifted up to his Crown and so prepared by his state of Exaltation and upon such account it is that Christs salvation for lost souls is called a prepared salvation Luk. 2.30 31. Mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared Unto each of these I must therefore speak a few words And 1. As to the estate of our Lord Christs Humiliation observe with me four Things 1. In his estate of humiliation The explication of it in four particulars 1. That Jesus Christ in the dayes of his flesh was subjected to all the weaknesses and wearinesses of poor soules sin onely excepted 2. That it was for our behoof rather then his own and for our sakes not his own that he was thus subjected 3. That hereby he became an apt and sutable support for the weak and the weary to lean upon And therefore 4. They may herein have strong consolation and encouragement to leane upon him For the first 1. Christ was therein subjected to all our weaknesses and wearinesses sin onely excepted 1. Properly to our naturall infirmities The Lord in the dayes of his Humiliation was subjected unto all our weaknesses and wearinesses sinne excepted Yea and to the sins of the Elect too but in a different kind 1. Then Christ did properly and in the plainest and fullest sence beare all the weaknesses and wearinesses appertaining unto and following upon our natures I mean our decayed natures sinne onely excepted for set sin aside Christ was a true man not like unto Adam before the fall and in the state of immortality Christ took upon

hope better things of you my Brethren O let us cry out in the language of the Spouse Cant. 2.3 As the Apple-tree amongst the Trees of the wood so is my beloved amongst the Sons 3ly It must not be forced of necessity 3ly A free and complacentiall Act. but of complacency and of choyce a leaning for love as we say and not for money Christ never intended in any civill Marriage that the golden wheele should be the first mover or that the silver Cord should draw the hearts together much lesse that we should love him primely for his loaves or marry him as some time amongst men we see it meerly to be maintained by him I have sadly in my thoughts compared a soul taking hold upon Christ in a death-bed when there hath been no other way left or under some strong fears of death and keepings under bondage thereby to a naked hand catching hold of a naked sword in a shipwrack not that it desires so to doe but for the present it must hold or sink Now let the man but come abroad or ashore and you shall quickly see him let his hold go and glad too Poore soules when there 's no other way but to dye and be damned O! then for a Christ What would you have a Christ yes I would fain yea I must have a Christ but Christ will mortifie your members and subdue your sinnes doe you desire that yes will they say Oh! you cannot beat them off from leaning upon a Christ now though you cut their Fingers but let them but come to shore to health and strength againe and you shall not need once to bid them to forego their hold upon Jesus Christ But the Spouse as you heard would not let her beloved go sure enough it was because she loved to lean as well as leaned where she loved Observe Gods prophesie of the Root of Jesse which is Christ and the believing Gentiles Isai 11.10 Unto it that is unto Christ the Sonne of Jesse shall the Gentiles seek and his rest shall be glorious Marke They shall take it to be their glory their joy and their Crown to come and sit down to stay and to rest themselves upon the Lord Jesus Christ thus rejoycingly must thou leane upon the beloved 4ly A close intyre Act. 4ly and lastly It must not be a broken and loose but a close and entyre leaning upon Jesus Christ This is called a being joyned to the Lord 1 Cor. 6.17 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is agglutinated as the Joyner fits piece to piece and then glues each piece to his fellow in order hereunto Thus much I have already proved that the intire or whole soul must leane upon the intire or whole Christ at least wise it is easily deducible from the description of that interest that must bottome this Act. That which I have more to say is onely this that as the Agent and Object so must the Act it selfe be intire the whole soul must wholly leane upon the whole Christ Cant. 5.16 He saith the Spouse is altogether lovely and if so then altogether to be leaned upon for there must be some proportion between the Act and the Object Oh! many there be that will seeme to leane upon Christ but how may this word altogether startle us We lean not so much upon Christ for provision in the world as over him upon the shoulders of our own wit and care and industry or the shoulders of such and such friends If we leaned altogether upon Christ we should keep our faith as Habakkuk ch 3. ult Though all means should fail We leane not so much upon Christ in a sicknesse as over Christ upon the Physitians shoulders else should we think more of or send oftner to or consult oftner with Christ then we doe whilst we so much Asa-like think of send to and consult with the Physitians 2 Chr. 16.16.12 We leane not so much upon Christ in a duty as over him upon the shoulders as it were of the duty hence is it that we measure our acceptance by our enlargements when happily the heart hath been more humble and so better as I have noted when it hath been more straightned so that all these are more stay to us than Christ But oh when when shall we get close unto Christ Jesus lean adequately upon him to stretch our selves upon him as Elisha did upon the Childe that our eyes may be upon his eyes and our mouth upon his mouth and our face upon his face 2 King 4.34 Friends 't is only such neare immediate and adequate application of Christ to our soules or which is all one of our souls to Christ that can bring life into our dead hearts as into that dead Childe The Spouse would have none betwixt her and Jesus Christ no not so much as the dearest enjoyment in the world but his left hand should be under her head and his right hand should embrace her Cant. 8.3 Which embraces encourage her to re-imbrace her beloved and so to come out of the Wildernesse leaning upon him vers 5. And thus much in answer to the third Question viz. What it is to leane upon the Beloved Come we now to The Fourth maine Querie viz. 4th Querie What are the Hinderances of this leaning upon Christ Two sorts 1. Negative Whar are the hinderances that keepe lost soules from becommirg leaning soules I shall reduce them or at least wise the most principal of them unto these two Heads 1. Neagative 2. Positive Hinderances 1. As for Negative hinderances take these three 1. Few need Christ therefore few leane upon him Few need Christ fewer feel him fewest of all affect him 1. Hinderance is this That though all lost soules do need Christ yet there are very very few that apprehend their lost estate and so perceive their need of Christ comparatively but one lost soul one sheep of an hundred where there are ninty nine just persons that need no repentance Luk. 15.7 Oh! would it not make an heart bleed to think that when our poore soules are cast forth naked into the open field that there is none eye to pitty them no not so much as their own eye Ezek. 16.5 Soules are so lost that they have lost their pitty towards themselves they do not they cannot lament their own ruines Poor they are and wretched and miserable and blind and naked and yet aske these very persons how they doe and they will tell you they are in need of nothing Rev. 3.17 No not in need of Christ And therefore they care not for leaning upon him Come to some Widdow and mind her of such a man that would make a very good Husband for her why saith she I am well enough as I am and I live quietly and comfortably and need nothing Now that word quite stops your woing for a friend and how doth it obstruct our woing of soules for Jesus Christ when the most of soules live well

and pricks them even to the heart as he did those Converts Act. 2.37 Strange woing you will say yet is this alwaies the manner of Christs woing more or lesse CHAP. XV. Few like Christs Estate and why Considerations opposed to the foresaid hinderances viz. How soules may come to the needing and feeling of Christ 5ly Few like his estate or the terms relating unto it such as these 1. He must have your portion out of your own hand at his dispose FIfthly Neither doth any carnal heart like the Estate business better then the former for such as these and onely such as these are Christs Termes as to matter of Estate First Saith Christ If you will marry me I must have all your portion ready down Go and sell all thou hast and come and follow me Mat. 19.21 You shall not have a penny saith Christ but I will have the command of it Leave your Onyons your Aegypt your Fleshpots if you expect I should joynture you in a Canaan And know that whosoever loves Houses and Lands in comparison of me is not worthy of me 2ly Saith Christ If you marry me 2ly You must take your joynture upon trust You must take my word for your security as to your joynture fom me You must live by faith not by sence The name of the Land I shall joynture you in is Promise-land I may perhaps if you please me give you some distant view of Canaan from the top of some Pisgah some Mount of transfiguration but as for the frame of your life it must bee by faith Hab. 2.3 For the vision or sight of it is yet for an appointed season but in the end it shall speak if you will but tarry for it Not I saith the Worlding let who will tarry for it or trust to it here are terms indeed part with all and all upon trust for my part I think it not safe venturing a portion upon this Christ if promise c. be the best assurance he can give Well then if thou be so minded stand thou also by But 3ly I have yet more saith Christ to indent 3ly You must goe into another Country for possession if you will marry me You must go beyond Sea into another Counry another World and then it is that I will make you Queen for Jo. 18.36 My Kingdom is not of this world My Lands lie on the other side of the stood My Canaan on the other side of Jordan And sirs this is most certain that if you will be the Lambs wife you must follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Yea but saith a carnall heart I know not how to stay for an Estate till I come at Heaven therefore adiew to Christ I hope to marry one that will joynture me nearer home Yea but Lastly Here is more yet saith Christ 4ly You must die by the way If you will marry me You must follow me into my Native Country out of your own Land as Abraham of old and you must suffer shipwrack by the way and be cast away as to your flesh and blood for they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God which is my Fathers Country 1 Cor. 15.50 Of a truth you must dye before you can be possessed of my joynture and live as my Queen I will give you the title to it now but your own life shall keep you out of possession My Country is Canaan and the Red-sea of death you must past thorow before you can enter into my rest and these things I tell you that you may know upon what termes I take you and that you may not be offended in me Joh. 16.1 Now then as for those that when they see Christ neither like his Port his Person nor Discourse nor Carriage nor Estate what hopes are there left of wooing winning these soules unto Jesus Christ and herein have I desired to deale faithfully this day that I might if it be possible bring one sober and beat off wanton lovers and so leaners from Jesus Christ I have heard of some women that have been in good earnest engaged in affection to some whom some of their Acquaintance and Relations have solicitously disswaded them from that have silenced all with such an answer I will marry him though I never have good day with him And truly Christians it is somewhat sad if your love to the Lord Jesus doe not exceed the love of women Jobs language is somewhat like this Iob 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him though he kill me yet will I not be beaten from him Though he speak hardly to me yet will I speak humbly to him though he smite me I will love him and though he slay me yet will I lean upon him Which that you may the better be encouraged to give me leave to subjoyne as I promised unto these Negative Hinderances Considrations opposed unto those Hinderances 1. As to the first hinderance viz. Few need Christ 1. Help Labour to see your need of Christ some Considerations for Helps And 1. As to the first Hinderance viz. That few need Christ though Christ be that one thing when there is but one thing needfull as himselfe saith Luk. 10.42 yet doth the world see their need of every thing but of this one thing Every one needs Food and Rayment House-roome and Fiering Money and Friends c. but who needs Jesus Christ Now if this be the reason that few leane upon him because but few need him then those Considerations that may helpe us to become needing souls may helpe us to become leaning souls Question How then shall a lost soul come to need Christ for a leaning-stock Answ I answer Let poor soules come into a sick shaken sinking condition I le undertake for a soule in such a state that it shall verily stand in need to lean upon Jesus Christ First Labour thou that art a lost soul 1. by becomming a sick soule to become a sick soul that is the way to become a leaning soul Mat. 9.12 The whole need not the Physitian but the sick so the whole need not a Keeper but the sick There are many things the same man wants when he is sick that he needs not when he is well A man leanes upon his own skill as for his dyet and all other accommodations when he is well but he leanes upon his Physitian and his skill for direction for dyet c. when he is sick and the reason he leanes on him now and not before is because he needs him now and not before Sicknesse makes him need him and therefore lean upon him so there are many things that the same soule never needed that is saw no need of before that when it comes to be spiritually sick it comes to need in good earnest before it could trust to its owne wisdome and leane to its own understanding and order its affaires according to its own will but now it needs a Christ as Physitian as

shall take hold upon him for God shall cast upon him and not spare though he would fain flie out of his hand You have this dreadfull judgement annexed to this sad sinne Jer. 13.35 This is thy lot the portion of thy measures from me saith the Lord because thou hast forgotten me and trusted in falsehood this is thy lot from me Oh! that 's a killing word It 's usually the lot of Saints to suffer from the World and to have all the loades laid on them that wicked men can lay yea sometimes 't is their lot to lie under all the loads that they can possibly lay upon themselves and their own Consciences can presse them down withall but all this is little to the other for all this while there is a God to take off their loads from them But now when God shall say this is thy lot from me and I will lay much weight upon thee because thou didst trust in falshood and lay as much weight upon thy sinne as possibly thou couldest and I the Lord will presse hard upon thee with mine owne hand of wrath and will not spare because thou didst leane hard upon thy sinne and sparedst not Heaven and Earth stand astonished and tremble O Hell at the Easelesse Endlesse and Remedilesse vexation that will surprise that Spirit Leane not to Satan 1. He is a knowne lyar 2ly Lean not to Satan for 1. If Sin be the web Satan is the Spider If Sin be the lie Satan's the lyer and which of these is to be leaned unto As for Satan he was a lyer from the beginning he hath continued a lyer ever since he got his Kingdom by lying he continues it by lying he manageth his whole Oeconomy and family-dispensations by lying and therefore he is called the Father of it Jo. 8.44 And is this thy Counsellor thy friend thy bosome-friend Is this hee that so many of the world lean unto Alas the foolishnesse of the children of men or madnesse rather of the children of the Devill alas the frequent bewitchednesse of the children of God! 2ly A sworne enemy Secondly Satan is not onely a known lyer but he is also thy sworn Enemie therefore what madnesse is it for thy soule to leane to him Will a man consult with his Enemie whose plot it is to take away his life or his estate how he may doe to save them Or will he which is much more lean to his Enemies counsell if he should entertaine a discourse with him What is said of the Unicorne Job 39.11 Wilt thou trust him because his strength is great I may much more say so to thy soule concerning Satan Are we ever the more confident in our Adversaries because they are the more potent Strength is the onely thing in Satan which might induce thee to leane unto those Principalities and Powers yea but that strength is in an Enemies keeping and therefore there 's lesse reason for trusting him Or dost thou thinke that he will lay downe his Emnity because he takes up a flattery Let the wise Man counsell thee Prov. 26.24 25. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips and layeth up deceit within him when he speaketh fair believe him not for there are seven abominations in his heart Thirdly You say of knavish Customers 3ly The more you leane to him the more he will presse upon you the more you trust them the more they trouble you and the more they have of your Confidence the more you have of their Companie the way to be rid of them is to give them no Credit neither to trust to their Promises nor to their Payments I am sure it is and will be thus with Satan Oh! how he loves to trade where he may bee trusted you complaine Satan's alwaies troubling you and who can helpe it you are alwaies trusting him Trust him lesse and hee will trouble you lesse In this sort resist him and in that sort he will flee from you Jam 4.7 Lastly Lean unto Satan and farewell all confederacy and correspondence with the Lord. They say 4ly Leane to him and God will leave you if our State will leane to the Portugall they must breake with the Spaniard for these are absolute Enemies I am sure if you leane to Satan God will break with you for there 's no reconciling Christ and Belial Thus resting on the Lord and covenanting with Hell are made termes of fullest opposition Isai 28.12 15. CHAP. XXIV Disswasives from leaning upon the World amplified Lean not to the world THirdly lean not to the World Or as the Apostles rule is where hee speakes of the highest of fleshly things Phil. 3.3 Have no confidence in the flesh 1. Not to the worlds promises First Lean not to the Worlds promises be they never so specious yet are they but like Satans to Christ when he shewed him the glory of the World altogether deceitfull and treacherous All these will I give thee or to our Parents you shall be as Gods What more could be promised but though the second Adam was wiser then to be deceived yet is the first Adam yea and all his posterity a sad and sufficient proofe of the slender performance Much after the same sort doth the World pay what it promiseth Therefore as Job 15.31 Let not him that is deceived trust in Vanity for Vanity shall be his recompence Have you not often found this to be true of the World you very Men of the World Is not an high degree in the world a lye even as a low degree is vanity Read Psal 62.9 Yea let great Ones read their own Experiences in such or such a place of worldly profit or power c. Who were fairly promised much in it before they had it and then tell me Nor performances 2ly The Worlds performances are no more to bee trusted then its promise Leane no more unto what the World can do then unto what the World can say 1. Not to what the men of the world can do First Lean not to the Men of the World Jer. 17.5 Cursed be the man that trusteth in man or maketh flesh his Arm. 2ly Lean not to the Things of the World 2. Nor the things of the world Charge them that be rich in this world that they trust not in riches 1 Tim. 6.17 True may you say men are not to be lean'd to in whom we have no interest but such a man is my friend my Brother But trust not in a friend Mic. 7.5 And againe men will think small friends small forces are not much to be confided in Small means they that have them may live to wast them and too dye beggers notwithstanding them But think men if our friends or our Armies were so great or our Navies so strong or our Estates so many Thousands and that an Annuity then might I trust and that with boldnesse unto these things Therefore I wil go over again First Lean not to the men of

the World Not the great men of the world no not to the Ablest the Strongest the Greatest that is in the World Isa 31.1 Wo be to them That stay on horses and trust in Chariots because they are many and in Horsmen because they are very strong Psal 146.3 Put not your trust in Princes nor in the Son of man in whom there is no help It is better to trust in the Lord then to put confidence in man Psa 118.8 That you 'l quickly grant Yea but it follwes ver 9. It is better to trust in the Lord then to put confidence in Princes Secondly Lean not to the things of the Word Nor great things of the world No not to the greatest to the fullest to the certainest enjoyment of these things Trust not in Riches boast not of them lean not to them no not to the multitude of your Riches Psa 49.6 If riches encrease set not your hearts upon them Isa 62.10 That is lean not unto them for though wee ought not to set our loves upon them and that may be there forbidden yet I believe the speciall meaning is that we should not repose the trust of our hearts in them which I gather both from what goes before both in the eighth and ninth Verses Trust in him at all times why so why Men of high degree are a lie therefore if riches encrease set not your hearts upon them as also from what followes after ver 11. This God hath spoken twice have I heard it That power belongs onely to God Therefore set not your hearts on riches the Encrease whereof hath no power to support you And yet wherewithall shall I disswade you worldlings from leaning to the World Consider there is but little in all the World for your support should you lean upon it And that little strength that these Reeds have wil upon your leaning bee sure to break in pieces and then what were thy Crutches before shall then become thy firebrands Disswasives 1. There is but little in the things or men of the world to support for First There is but little in Worldly things to bee leaned unto which may easily appeare under these Considerations They are unsuitable uncertaine unsatisfactory unserviceable supports to thy poore soul 1. They are unsuitable supports First Unsuitable The actings of the soul which I here call leaning are the Outgoings of a spirituall substance therefore how improper an Object are Carnall things How unapt a leaning stock is a fleshly Arm for a spiritual hand God saith that he spake like a fool that said Soul take thine ease or rest O soul for I have laid up much goods Luk. 12.19 20. If he had said here 's a table to refresh my body here 's a bed to refresh my bones it had not been such height of folly But soul take thine ease this was the foolishnesse and perhaps is thine David was wiser then so Psa 141.8 O God the Lord in thee do I trust leave not my soul destitute Whatever of these things thou trustest to yea whomsoever of these Persons yet may thy soul be destitute for all them the Lord is onely my support let thy soul sing for Isa 49.6 7 8. They that trust in their Wealth and boast in the multitude of their Riches none of them can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a Ransome for him for the Redemption of the soul is pretious and ceaseth for ever Meat may support the outward man Money the outward Estate Physick may repair the strength of the Body but the soul is out of the reach of these things Secondly Uncertain Such are the things of the world 2. Uncertain therefore not to be lean'd unto 1 Tim. 6.17 Trust not in uncertain riches Such are the men of the World Psa 73.18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places Certainly they are in uncertain places slippery places their heads are a lost to day their heeles as high as their heads to morrow They are great men and thy great friends and thou leanest confidently on them great things and perhaps they intend thee so but between the writing of the Will and the subscription between the draught of the Commission and setting of the Seal hee is snatch away and thou remainest as thou wast Psa 136.3 4. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the Son of man in whom is no help How comes that Why his breath goeth forth he returneth to his Earth in that very day his thoughts perish But as for the beloved lean on him for as he was so he abides and so shall he abide for ever So Psa 18.2 The Lord is my Rock in whom I will trust the Lord is my high Tower A strong guard you will say both in Front and Rear a Rock before an high Tower behind and his confidence comes marching in the middle Among all things made by the Art of man nothing is more durable certain stable then a Tower of Defence Among all things visible made by the hand of God himselfe nothing more abiding stedfast and unmoveable then a Rock God is as both therefore wil David lean upon him here 's an unmoveable support a sit leaning-stock for an immortall soul Thirdly Unsatisfactory 3. Unsatisfactory They that labour for Carnall or for wicked things lay out their labour for that which satisfieth not Isa 55.2 and therefore they that lean upon them shall never have any satisfying support from them Which of you are more satisfied with your thousands then you were when you were worth but hundreds who of you saith I have enough to sit down upon and to rest fully contented with A Saint may say to another as Jacob Gen. 33.11 I have enough my Brother yea I have all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for I have the beloved who filleth all in al. Eph. 1.23 but who besides the Saint can say so Those of you that have much goods wax unwearied in getting more and they that have great Estates in getting greater and they that have good friends as to worldly account in procuring better yea they tire themselves on their beds of rest whereon they lean and this their way is their folly and yet their posterity approves their sayings 4. Unserviceable Fourthly And lastly Unserviceable When is it that we say such a thing would do us a great deale of service but when we have most need of it And if so Then are the men and the things of the World unserviceable supports to the poor soul As for worldly men Isa 49.7 None of them can by any means redeem his Brother c. And as for worldly things when we have most need have they least help for Riches profit not in the day of wrath but Righteousnesse delivers from death Pro. 11.4 In daies of health peace and prosperity when thou art able to help thy self friends thou hast many that are willing to help thee then Riches will proffer

their service to thee But when you shall be under the greatest want of help Then comes that cutting Question to bee stated against thee Luk. 12.20 then whose shall those things be That is if they were thine before they shall not now be thine when thou most needest some support But lean unto the Lord who is a present help in the time of trouble yea a very present help therefore let him be thy present refuge and thy very strength as Psa 46.1 Remember thine owne Experiences and trust in him yea what thy Fathers have said unto thee Psa 22.4 5. Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted 2. Leaning on them will break their shoulders and so they will lose the little strength they would otherwise have and thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded Secondly That proportion of strength that the Lord hath given unto any Creature to serve thee thou takest the most certain and ready course to despoyle it off if thou designest that it should support thee The Lord intended that these should in their degree bee thy comforts but never that they should be thy Confidences Ier. 48.7 Because thou trustedst in thy works and Treasures thou shalt be taken and the shall go into Captivity You may use them and still hold them but if you trust in them you sink them Of all things nothing is more serviceable to man then Bread and Water yet if you make bread the staffe of your life and doe not make God the staffe of your Bread the Lord threatens as Isa 3.1 That he will take away the stay and the staffe the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water He doth not say hee will take away the bread and water but the stay of them which he may do though he leave them with you You may eat as Pharoahs lean kine the fat and yet be never the more nourished untill you come to know that Man lives not by bread alone but by the word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Mat. 4.4 Note Sirs of all things that I know in the World I know none so heavy and weighty as sin and faith Sin is such a weight that would sink the whole Creation to hell and ruine did not God as well as Man undertake to bear the burthen of it Faith is such a weight that if it be not objected upon the Creator it can not but sink the most Potent Creature What is it that hath sunk so many Popular men and Eminent instruments in the Common-wealth but that they have beene the Common confidence Lean upon Parliaments Armies or Navies though the best accomplished and most hopefull in the World and you presently break their shoulders There 's not a readier way in the World to sinke the Minister in his abilities gifts or successe yea to sink his life also into the grave then to lean upon him Set thine heart upon thy wife thy friend thy child if thou wouldst fain love them to death and kill them with kindnesse If thou hast a desire to break thine Estate to pieces then set thine heart upon thy Riches This I have found and search thou it and know it for thy good That I have never been so near the grant or continuance of any of these enjoments as when the Lord hath brought mine heart to a kind I say not of listlesse carelesse but of yielding indifferency Lean thou not upon any of these things which are but Reeds lest the harder thou hold the sooner they break and the heavier thy fall be I have seen an heavy lad slide lightly over an Ice when a lesse weight hath broken it by pressing hard upon it Worldly places as you heard are slippery or Icy places and therefore take the Apostles Counsell 1 Cor. 7.29 30. Let those that have wives be as if they had none and those that buy as if they possessed not and they that use the world as not abusing it for the fashion of this world passeth away 3. If you make them your Crutches God will make these Crurches your fire-brands Thirdly If you make them your Crutches God will make these Crutches your fire-brands Isa 30.3 The strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame and the trust in the shaddow of Aegypt your Confusion Because you have had and have trusted for it is not the bare having that shall be thus punished unto your own good things here therefore shall you be tormented Luk. 16.25 and your Gold and Silver shall eat your flesh as fire Ja. 5.3 And that which you have called strong and made your strength shall be as tow and you the makers of it as a spark and you shall both burn together and none shall quench you Isa 1.31 Conclusion I have been the longer speaking to this last particular because I find not onely that this is the great sin of our times but even of Gods own people They dare not make Covenants plainly with hell yet dare they confederate with Earth and they that dare not lean to sinfull supports yet are they not so shie of carnall Confidences Even gracious Josiah leans to Garchemish though hee die for it 2 Chron. 35. and good Asah relies on the King of Syria 2 Chron. 16.7 rather then on the Lord and in his his disease seeks and trusts unto Physitians rather then the Lord. ver 12. But yet so far forth as the soul is Married unto the Lord 'T is a widdow to the world and so farre as it is a Widdow indeed it will be desolate that is as in a Wildernesse in it selfe and therefore trusting in the Lord 1 Tim. 5.5 CHAP. XXV Containes the improvement of the whole by way of Exhortation and Direction how to improve Christ as the onely Guide ANd thus have I done with the Obstructions Privative and Positive having endeavoured to hinder them from hindring leaning upon Christ There remaines but one Question the Resolution whereof let it serve as the Application of the whole The fifth and last Question is 5th Quest What advantage is to be had for lost sinners by leaning on Jesus Christ What advantage a lost or bewildred sinner may attaine as to its spirituall Estate by leaning on this beloved Even as much as heart can wish The soule that takes hold on Christ takes hold on the Way the soule that leanes upon Christ leanes upon the Guide that goes to God and leanes to Canaan and therefore that soule shall never perish in the Wildernesse Now therefore for APPLICATION Application Is it so that sin is a Wildernesse that a sinfull Estate is a bewildred Estate that it is the soules great businesse and onely needful concernment to come up from this Wildernesse and that there is no comming up but by leaning upon the Lord Jesus Oh! Exhortation If Christ be a guide to leane upon him If Christ be a way to walke in him then