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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

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

to fill the face of the world with fruits ver 6. What canst thou that seest thy soul a wilderness desire more Now I beseech you mark if you would effectually take hold upon Christ for such a change from a thorny wilderness into a blossoming budding fruitful garden you must see Christ to be Gods strength no● onely to make peace for your souls but to work fruitfulness in your souls We have also another full Scripture Isa 51. God promiseth to turn the wilderness into Eden and the desert into his own garden now how shall this be effected verse 4. you have Christ represented as a light to the people verse 5. you have his plain names righteousness and salvation but now how shall the people share in such salvation as shall make them of a wilderness to become a garden of the Lord Why on mine arm that 's Christ shall the isles trust You must then discover Christ to be that strength yea that arm of God by which the Lord turns the desert into Eden or else though you be a desert you will not care for leaning upon Christ 3. Laying our burthens of barrenness c upon Christ Thirdly Leaning imports the casting of our burthens of barrenness and fearedness c. upon that strength whereon we lean If you would then so lean upon Christ as to come up from your wilderness-like state then you must lay the burthens of your barrenness your dryness your desolateness your leanness your wastness upon Christ and verily to encourage you you should know that Christ was for this very business sent into the wilderness of this world that he might bear all the burthens of poor bewildred broken-hearted sinners Lev. 16.21 Aaron shall confess all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions that 's their bewildrings their goings aside in their sins putting them upon the head of the goat and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness and the goat shall bear upon him their iniquities unto a land not inhabited and he shall let go the goat into the wilderness How and if we should expound it thus Christ in his resurrection was this scape-goat or his Divinity in which he could not see death and by which he was rai●ed after death though as man he was the sin-offering goat mentioned verse 15. Israels bewildrings what else mean you by transgressions are charged upon his score from Israel he is sent by a fit man that 's the Gospel-minister who should be apt that 's fit to teach this Gospel into a land not inhabited so ordinarily are the Gentiles in respect of the then ordinances of God represented and there even in this wilderness is he let go this salvation is free to us a poor wilderness in respect of the Jews as well as to them If I mistake in the place I am sure I mistake not in the thing you sinners saith my Text are in the wilderness and Christ the scape-goat saith that Text is there also if you meet him lay your burthens upon him I speak to such as are lost his business his errand in coming thither is to bea● your transgressions Isa 53.4 Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows yea upon him they are ver 5. yea upon him the Lord hath laid them ver 6. Art thou unable to carry thine own grievances and to bear thine own barrenness fear not 4. Receiving streng●h from Christ 〈◊〉 a change onely believe lay them in the humility of thy soul upon thy Savior he will he can bear them for thee Lastly Leaning imports a deriving of strength and power from that upon which we lean in order to that upon which we lean Would you then so lean upon Christ as to come out of your wilderness Take hold upon Gods strength so long till your bryars and thorns be rooted up and the word have taken a new root brought forth new buds new blossoms new fruit Isa 27.5 6. yea till thy whole conversation be filled therewith Oh! but saith the soul how shall that be Query that 's it I would have Oh! how should I so lean upon Jesus Christ I cannot see him I cannot finde him I would come out of the wilderness leaning upon him yea I sought him but I found him not Oh! saw you my beloved whither is he gone whither is he turned aside Poor soul thy beloved is gone down into the gardens Answ to the beds of the spices to the covenant to the promises the covenant is the garden the promises are the beds of spices Oh! thither is Christ gone there seek him and thou shalt find him Christ is engaged unto thee if the promises be improved by thee to make thee of a wilderness to become a ga●den In general you have many glorious promises of this importance Isa 51.3 The Lord shall comfort Zion how is that Oh! there is comfort indeed the Lord will make her wilderness like Eden this word be spoken unto you O ye wilderness-like souls and what can comfort you if this word do not Before you had Gods strength mentioned here you have it engaged lean therefore and take hold upon it Isa 35.1 The wilderness shall be glad it shall rejoyce even with joy and singing the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon how is that they shall see the glory of the Lord and what then strengthen then the week hands and feeble knees c. Who sees not that this is spoken to poor souls to wilderness-like souls so the Psalmist speaking of Gods turning the wilderness into a standing water and dry ground into water springs Psalm 107. cries out vers 36. and there he makes the hungry to dwell c. souls that are not onely lean but hungry not onely such as are in misery and lost but that see their misery there he makes them to dwell in happpiness and plenty verse 37.38 1. Promises to the barren wilderness But more particularly thou complainest thou art a barren wilderness and thy souls desire is to be made a fruitful garden urge those promises Isa 35. the desert shall blossom as a rose there 's the quality it shall blossom sweetly ver 1. and as for quantity it shall blossom abundantly ver 2. and in the habitation of dragon where each lay shall be grass ver 7. Isa 27. whosoever take hold of his strength he shall cause them to take root to blossom to bud to fill the face of the world with fruit vers 6. Psalm 107. there that 's in the wilderness he makes the hungry to dwell ver 36. and sow fields and plant vineyards which may yield their increase 2. Promises to the dry wilderness Thou complainest thou art a dry and seared wilderness others can weep for their sins thou canst not others can mourn for the afflictions of Joseph thou canst not rivers of tears run down the eyes of others because men keep not

ver 12. And now friends what think you of dying in sin I may say to you and to my self what the prophet speaketh Amos 3.8 The lion hath roared who will not fear the Lord God hath spoken who can hut prophesie 2. Wilderness death a double death Secondly Dying in the wilderness doth best represent the double death of sin If a man dieth on his bed yea amongst his enemies yet doth he die but once his body is buried and returns unto the dust in peace from whence it came but if a man per●sh in the wilderness where body and soul are parted a sunder his carkase also is rent in pieces and being rent is devoured of wilde beasts and so findes as it were a living grave and do you not know that such a grave is hell The Lord threatneth it as a sad judgement upon the people that after death their carkases should be devoured of wilde beasts Jer. 7.33 Their carkases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven and beasts of the earth and none shall fray them away Therefore doth the Lord compare that which by Iohn is called the second death unto some beast of the forest opening his mouth and widening as it were his throat to swallow down the prey Isa 5.14 therefore hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure I tell you hell hath a wide mouth and open throat to receive the carkases the souls I mean of those that perish in the spiritual wilderness of sin 3. Wilderness death an eternal death Lastly Israels dying in that wilderness was a type of eternal death surely dying in this wilderness will be seconded with that Heb. 4.17 18. They that fell in that wilderness could not enter into his rest That rest was as it is there expounded a type of heaven so that falling short is expounded also a figure of eternal ruine Let us therefore fear least a promise being left us of entring into his rest any of you should seem to come short Heb. 5.1 Exhortation to lean upon Christ Secondly Be exhorted to lean upon the Lord Jesus that you may come forth of the destructive wilderness of sin If the famine the thorns the serpents the wilde beasts of the wilderness be so killing Oh! what need have we of a Christ Christ is Jesus and can be life unto us notwithstanding all exigencies First In this wilderness-famine Who is 1. Bread in this famine the Lord Jesus is Manna bread from heaven angels food bread of God what can a poor famishing creature desire more 1 Cor. 10.3 4. They did all eat of the same spiritual meat and drink the same spiritual drink and that was Christ Secondly 2. Healer of these rents and piercings If thy soul be pierced through or torn with the thorns of this wilderness the guilt of sin The Lord can binde up that which was broken Ezek. 34.16 as well as seek that which was lost in the wilderness therefore let us take their counsel in Hosea 6.1 Come and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn us and he will binde us up Thirdly 3. Curer of these serpents bitings If thy soul be bitten by the serpents of this wilderness you have heard of Israels cure Numb 21.8 't is also ours the brazen Serpent the Lord Christ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so was the Son of man lifted up that whosoever belived on him should not perish but have eternal life John 3.14.15 Lastly If thy soul once get an interest in the Lord Jesus 4. Rescue from these beasts devourings thou need'st not fear what all the beasts of the wilderness can do against thee This is that spiritual David that slaies both the Lion and the Bear 1 Samuel 17.36 and he verily that reads not Christ there misseth of the best part of the story First Then Christ is able to secure thee 1. Being a lion for he is the Lion of the tribe of Judah Rev. 5.5 therefore despair not onely believe Secondly 2. Able to bring honey and ●ood He is that Sampson that brings honey out of the Lions carkase Judges 14 8. tha● can make even Satans temptations thine advantage food for thy faith and matter of thy Christian experience for thy future support Psal 74.14 Thou brakest the heads of Levi than and gavest him to be food for a people inhabiting the wilnerness Thirdly He shall as a Lion arise for thy salvation 3. Able to make thee as a lion Psal 31 4 5. Like as a lion and a yong lion roaring upon his prey that will not be afraid of a multitude of sh●pherds so will the Lord of hosts come down for mount Sion and for Jerusalem as birds flying so will the Lord defend it defending also he will deliver it and passing over he will preserve it Thus wil the Lord Christ wil make thee through his strength prevail against all thy spiritual enemies be they never so many yea thou shalt be more then Conqueror through Christ that loves thee Mic. 5.8 The remnant of Jacob in the midst of many people shall be as a lion amongst the beasts of the forest as a yong lion amongst the flocks of the sheep who if he go through treadeth down and tears to pieces and none can deliver CHAP. IX Containeth the third Branch or Evidence of the first Doctrine showing that the coming out of the wilderness of sin is difficult and as to our own power desperate Third evidence The coming out of the wilderness difficult and desperate YOu have seen sin like the wilderness both in its first view and entry and in its further discoveries and progress We come now to the third Sin is a wilderness to the last as well as from the first Therefore Thirdly The coming out of the wilderness is difficult and desperate so is the coming out of sin I may say Facilis descensus eremi Sed revocare gradus Hic labor hoc opus est 'T is easie Friends to finde the way into the wilderness and into sin The Israelites were soon gotten into the wilderness Exod. 13.20 I believe they were not forty hours in getting into it but they were forty years in getting out of it Adam his posterity were in a few hours got into sin Adam and his posterity are not to this day got out of it There were not many hours from the Creation before we were all bewildred in sin Gen. 3.6 There are thousands of years since the Creation and yet are not we got out of sin The way of life is soon lost and mist of but it it is not so quickly found again There are these things considerable in the wilderness which make the coming out of it difficult and desperate and the same too truly hold in sin The wilderness is great this great wilderness is full of divers ways these various ways are perplexed these perplexed ways are uneven these uneven ways are

acquaintance as a new Creature that is spoken of Job 22.21 and that is as saith the Apostle by being in Christ As for any others The Lord that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Isai 27.11 It would be sad believing if poor souls have no better promises then this to leane unto Secondly 2ly Leaning upon the providence of God If thy leaning stock be onely some latter acquaintance with God in his outward providence And believe it with very many this goes very far What do you think that God that hath given me such prosperity will in the end damn me I have a faire portion of outward things shall all this love end in eternall hatred Nay when I was in great streights God gave me great deliverances when I was at deaths door in such a sickness c. and do you thinke he will now cast me into hell Verily for ought I know he may and if thou have no more to lean unto I know he will You have an eminent passage a providence to a miracle yea to heaps of miracles Psal 78.23 He opened the door of heaven gave them Corn of heaven vers 24. Angels food meat to the full vers 25. He rained flesh as dust and feathered foul as the sand upon the Sea shore vers 27. He gave them their own desire vers 29. Yet while the meat was in their mouths the wrath of God came upon them and slew the fattest of them verses 30.31 Mark First Whilst it was in their mouthes Secondly The fattest of them Ah! friends many times fair pasture is a foul sign You your selves litter and fodder those Cattel best that you intend for the slaughter soonest Go to therefore rich men lament and howl and let your joy be turned into weeping if you have nothing but this worlds good to lean unto as a token of Gods love for the present or your owne salvation for the future Thirdly If Civility be thy leaning stock 3ly Leaning upon Civility Of this I spake before as a way and therefore shall onely set a brand of it here that you may know it againe to be a rotten Pillar an house with a sandy foundation if you lean unto it will not stand All these have I done from my youth Mat. 19.20 saith the civil young man yet went a way with a sad heart for all he had his Crurch of civility and riches to boote to lean upon Fourthly 4ly Leaning upon religious duty If thy leaning be upon thy religious exercises of this also as some mens way before This sirs stood by the Pharisee and he thought he might stand by it Lu. 18.11 He stood and prayed Let such a soule read Isai 1. For all their duties and the multitudes thereof the Lord bitterly rejects them as the men of Sodom and people of Gomorrah vers 10. And tells them he is weary of their services verses 11.14 Calls them vain Oblattions vers 13. And sure if it be vanity to bring them then how much more vanity to lean upon them 5ly Leaning upon adventures for God or successes therein Fifthly If thou leane upon thine Adventures for God yea though thou hast had prosperous successes therein Many many lean here and with a great deal of confidence too Come see my zeal for the Lord saith Jehu Many that fight the Cananites c. the Lords enemies many that fight the Lords battels shall never come to possesse the Lords Canaan and truly we would thinke it great pitty that any should make such fair adventures and doe God such eminent service and that the Devil should pay them their eternal wages yet so too often it is in those that think themselves and indeed are eminent instruments in the Lords hand as Cyrus as Jehu as the Earth helping the woman against the Dragon Rev. 12. Nay perhaps eminent dispencers of the Gospel to others yet come themselves to be cast away My beloved I tremble to think what singular adventures they were engaged in what signal successe they had how confidently they leaned hereunto how miserably their Pillar shrunk from under them when they leaned upon it and easily gave way to their going downe into hell Mat. 7.22 Many shall say to me in that day marke 't is not a rare instance this is a common leaning stock Lord Lord there is confidence Have we not prophesied in thy name there is the adventure and in thy name have cast out Devils there is successe and in thy name done many wonderfull works there is the quantity of the adventures and quality of the successes And what followes vers 23. And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me you that work iniquity Ah! friends this may make the best hear● in our bosomes ake if we have no more to leane to then this to be able to say I have been in these many battels for God and Religion I have preached so many Sermons and done so much service in the Gospel when all the worke is done the Lord will not know us that is acknowledge us so as to pay us any other wages then the wages of iniquity Sixthly If thou leane unto thy Church-priviledges 6ly Leaning upon Church-priviledges If thou presume that thou art alive because thou hast a name to live and that surely God accepts thee because men thinke well of thee thou art judged worthy of Gospel-seales and to be admitted into Gospel-fellowship c. And is this that which thou leanest unto Verily this is but a rotten pillar Sardis had a name to live but was dead Rev. 3.1 And God saith expresly Jer. 7.4 Trust ye not in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these That is Leane not to this if you doe you will find it a lye it will deceive you vers 8. Behold ye trust in lying words that cannot profit Nay read that Tremendous passage Amos 6.1 Wo be unto them that are at ease in Sion that trust in the Mountain of Samaria that are named the chief of the Nations unto whom the house of Israel came c. Sirs It is priviledge unspeakable and blessed are they that dwell in the house of the Lord but if there be any of you that shall grow lazy and at ease because they are in Sion in a Church-way and therefore thinke they are wel enough leaning unto the Mountain of Samaria wo wo unto such a soul Seventhly Repentances and Reformations 7ly Leaning upon repentance some Reformations are but rotten supports if leaned unto They in Isai 58. Leaned so much to their humblings that they wondred God did not accept them vers 3. Wherefore have we afflicted our soules and thou takest no knowledge And in very deed they leaned so much that God wonders that they should once thinke that he would accept them ver 5. Wilt thou call this a

to soul-weariness as that of the body and to both as well as wee Tell me Christians you that know by experience what is the houre of your spirituall wearinesse is it not the houre of your spirituall travaile Read what is said of Sion Jer. 4.31 I have heard the voyce of a woman in travell the anguish c. the voyce of the daughter of Sion woe is me now my soule is wearied And minde what the Lord saith of Christ Isai 53.11 He shall see of the travell of his soule Here you have Christ in soul-travell and if any shall make doubt of his soul weariness at that time let them compare the language of travelling Sion with the voyce of her travelling King Mat. 26.38 He saith unto his Disciples My soul is exceeding sorrowfull even unto death sorrowfull unto death What is that but wearinesse of his life Hitherto refers all that former tyring travell of his pilgrimage on earth where you read of his groaning in spirit and trouble in spirit Joh. 11.33 and Joh. 13.21 Sirs what do you think of the travell of his soule when he cryes out My God my God whay hast thou forsaken me Think you that this was not a tyring travell for my part I believe that never was there any one soule that knew most of the terrors of the Lord those wearying woes and tyring terrors that ever came neare unto the sufferings of Christ in degree for hee drank the very dregs of the Cup of Gods wrath his Cup of Vinegar and Gall that he drank with his bodily mouth I reckon but a shadow and type of the tedious bitternesse of his soule and well therefore might that Patheticall Poet make it the burthen of his sad song when he personates the passion of lamenting Jesus in the language of lamenting Jeremy Was ever griefe like mine And you may say to your Saviour Was ever weariness like thine Surely if eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor heart understood the glory of that REST which Christ hath purchased by that travell neither have they perceived the wearinesse that Christ underwent in that travell we shall never fully know the one till we know both nor be able to conceive of that weariness till we be able to receive that rest Onely thus we may argue in our straightned understandings That if the terrors of one sin and the guilt of one soule be so wearying to us that nothing but infinite mercy can refresh us what tyrednesse must there needs be upon the soule of the Lord Jesus Christ 2ly He did imputatively bear the tyring guilt curse c. of our sins For as the next particular tells us The Lord Christ did though not properly and so as either to be involved in the guilt or depraved by the stain imputatively beare and takes upon himselfe the sinnes of many soules even of all the Elect to beare the weight of the sin and the Lords wrath for the sin in behalfe of their soules who is therefore said 2 Cor. 5.21 To be made sin for us not for all but for us or if for all yet but for all us Isai 53.6 The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all These are the many considered in themselves though they be but few comparatively whose sins he is said to bear vers 12. when he powred out his soul unto the death And this leads me to 2d Part It was to our weaknesses wearinesses and for our sakes not his own The second Proposition That it was our weakness and weariness rather then his own that Christ tooke on him and for our sakes rather then his own This I passe over as being the full and plain importance of Isai 53. throughout the Chapter and as necessarily deducible from what I have here already proved and therefore I shall proceed to 3d. Part. That Christ thereby became a sutable support for us The third Proposition That the Lord Christ by being subjected unto our weaknesses and wearinesses is hereby become an apt support and leaning stock unto us I have before shewed that the 110 Psalm is by the Apostle expounded of Christ which closeth with this briefe prophesie of the sufferings of Christ and the issue of them verse 7. He shall drinke of the brooke in the way therefore shall he lift up the head It 't is not said then shall he lift up his head or therefore shall he lift up his own head though that were true but indefinitely the head that is as his own so the head of those that are bowed down because his owne head was bowed down to drinke of the brook of the waters of Marah that is therefore he is become a sutable Saviour to lift up the head that is to stay to strengthen to support the hearts of poore disconsolate ones because himselfe had his own head in the brook before us for two things are here imported which are both expressed by the Apostle to the Hebrews For 1. Thereby he gat skill as knowing our weaknesses and wearinesses experimentally First That because Christ himselfe was once subject to weaknesses and wearinesses like as we are therefore he hath skill to succour us as knowing our grievances indeed known unto the Lord God are all our sufferings sorrows sicknesses c. but it is Cognitione intuitûs with a viewing knowledge Known they are to the Lord Christ Cognitione sensûs with a feeling knowledge Thus Heb. 2.18 For in that himselfe suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted So in that himself was weary and had need of refreshing in his journeyings on earth and had need of strengthning in his Agony therefore he is an accomplished high Priest able to support the weak and to succour the weary 2ly Therefore also he hath will to succour 2ly Therefore he hath as good will also because of sympathy as well as ability Thou knowest the heart of a stranger saith God to Israel because thou wast a stranger in Egypt So Christ knows the heart of an afflicted groaning troubled weakned wearied soule because it was once thus with himselfe This Antecedent and Consequence the Apostle hath both together Heb. 2.17 Wherefore it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren in all things that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high Priest Hence is that sympathy of Christ in Heaven with sorrowing Saints on Earth whose language is as Pauls 2 Cor. 11.29 Who is weak and I am not weak take two Scriptures for it the one Isai 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted and Act. 9.4 Why persecutest thou me so saith Christ to Satan when he assaults a weak Christian Why temptest thou me He was in Himselfe persecuted before now in his Saints tempted before in his own soule now in his members weak and weary before is his naturall body now in his mysticall body therefore doth his fellew-feeling engage him to faithfulness and his communion in sufferings to commiseration on

that all the world should not be won But the Prophet Isaiah before-hand tells us Isai 53.2 3. There is no form nor comlinesse in him when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him Againe That he is despised and rejected of men and that we hid as it were our faces from him As when he goes a woing whom some coy Gentlewoman undervalews she forsooth will not see him but chambers up and concealeth her selfe from him Thus Christ came to his owne and his owne received him not Jo. 1. So when Christ comes a woing to our carnall or naturall hearts and we see him out of the window as it were truly we hide our faces from him we do not desire to be married to him And the reason he supposeth all along that Chapter because it is Christ Crucified that goes a woing in the world I find that is in the day of his Espousals and not when he goes a woing that Jesus Christ puts on his Crown Cant. 3.11 It is Christ Crowned that marries but it is Christ Crucified that woes 1. Cor. 2.2 I determined to know nothing among you being an Apostle a Paranymph a Spokesman amongst you for Christ but Jesus Christ and him crucified Sirs If you can not find in your hearts to love a crucified Christ I dare not goe a wooing for Christ under any other Notion We preach Christ crucified 1 Cor. 1.23 and therefore to one a stumbling block to another foolishnesse and this being supposed that it is a Crucified Christ that goes a wooing in the world truly never was any suiter more universally undervalued by the proudest Dame then Jesus is by carnall hearts for they neither like his Port nor Person nor Discourse nor Carriage nor Estate 1. Few like Christs woing Port. 1. Ca●nall hearts are prejudiced at the Port of Jesus Christ when he goes a woing in the world When a Nobl●man comes a wooing to some great personage in the World notice is taken of the Port that he comes in what Chariots come with him what Geldings what Servants what Retayners If a man should come a wooing to a great Lady upon the back of an Ass or with a beggerly retinue were not this one thing enough to hinder all hopes of a match Now such is the pleasure of the Lord Jesus Christ that such shall his wooing Port such shall his Retayners be Instead of Coach or Sedan or led Horses or Chariots Christ rides a woing on the Foal of an Ass the foolishness of preaching see Zach. 9.9 Rejoyce O Daughter of Sion shout O daughter of Jerusalem behold thy King commeth unto thee lowly and riding upon an Asse and upon a Colt the Foal of an Asse And if you will have the mystery unfolded 't is this It pleaseth Christ whilest he passeth by the enticing words of mans wisdome and the pompous port of humane Oratory by the foolishnesse that is the plainnesse of preaching to wooe and to win soules unto himselfe 1 Cor. 1.12 and this is the preaching of Christ Crucified in a Crucified style to the Iews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishnesse vers 23. Hence it is that the wise the Scribes the Doctors the Disputers of this world dash and stumble upon Christ instead of leaning upon him because Christ is preached as Crucified and so evidently by plain preaching set forth as Crucified amongst us Gal. 3.1 Note I have observed but two dumb beasts whose mouthes were opend in the Scriptures One by Satan the other by the Lord Satan he makes use of the mouth of the Serpent the subtilest Gen. 3.1 God he makes use of the mouth of the Asse the simplest Numb 22.38 The Lord opened the mouth of Balaams Asse If you would chuse a Speaker you usually pitch upon the most eloquent but God often speaks by the Stammerer and out of the mouths of Babes and weaklings ordaineth his praise and by such spokesmen wooes home most souls many time to Jesus Christ Againe Instead of P●inces and Rulers Christ brings his poor kindred and despised spokesmen with him and chief Captaines and Counsellors of the world for his Companions He chooseth to beare him company even in the view of the world and when he goes a woing not many wise not many Nobles 1 Cor. 1.26 But he hath chosen the poore of this world that they may be rich in faith and so beare him company though ragged in Cloathes Iam. 2.5 Fishermen Magdalens Lazars and these when they keep his sayings must be accounted his Mother and kinsfolk and Brethren Mark 3.35 Now even we our selves account her unworthy of a rich Husband who cannot find in her heart to acknowledge his poor kindred I have heard a Gentlewoman should say and I feare too many say so in their hearts that if it were not for Christs followers she could be content to follow Christ Ah! if it were not for Christs great Charge of Children and poore kindred many perhaps would looke towards him more then doe But if you be ashamed of them know that Christ will be ashamed of you I was naked saith Christ in my little ones and you cloathed me not hungry and you fed me not depart from me Mat. 25.41 42 43. 2ly Few like his person 2ly Carnal hearts are prejudiced at Christs person when he goes a wooing in the world Sirs I am sent to woe you to Christ but it is unto him crucified and consequently for His Rayment either he is naked they rent his Coat asunder and cast lots upon his Garments as Mat. 27.35 or clad with Garments dyed in the Wine-presse and red in his Apparel Isai 63.1 2 3. viz. Vestures dipt in his owne blood Rev. 19.1.3 which one would thinke were enough to frighten from Christ in stead of wooing to him And as for His Countenance 't is marred more then any mans and his form more then the Sons of men Isai 52.14 His Face instead of being washed with sweet waters as wooers wont to do is spit upon and instead of shaving is given to those that pulled off the hair Isai 50 6. As for His Head 't is Crown'd indeed but it is with rending Thorns Mat. 27.29 As for His Back 't is new-come as it were from the whipping-post and whealed with scornfull stripes of mercilesse men For he gave his back to the smiters Isai 50.6 As for His sides They are launced with Speares Jo. 19.34 And behold a mingled stream of water and blood As for His hands and feet they also are pierced as he himself recordeth Psal 22.16 Now friends can you find in your hearts as Joseph of Arimathea did Mat. 27.57 to make much of Christ in such a posture thus used thus abused if you cannot it is in vaine to perswade you to marry the Lord Jesus Christ therefore stand you by also 3ly 3ly Few like his woing discourse in general viz. Conviction Carnall hearts are as much prejudiced at Christs wooing discourse

I should bee never be able to hold out I should faint by the way and I have never heard of any good entertainment in the way Alas friend thou judgest sure of this way by thy Wildernesse But I tell thee thou judgest unrighteous judgement Go but with me to one knows the way well and hear what he saith of the entertainment Ps 84.5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are the waies of them ver 6. who passe thorough the vale of of Baca oh that 's a bitter vale the vale of tears how comes it then to be a blessed way why they make it a well the rain also fills their pooles what 's that hee tells you ver 11. that is no good thing is withheld from them What of this why ver 7. they go from strength to strength every one of that appears before God in Sion You that travell to London weary your selves haply and grow faintish before you come to such an Inne there you bait and get fresh strength from thence you travail to your lodging Inne there you lie by morning you are as fresh haply as when you set out first at length riding from Inne to Inne and from refreshment to refreshment you keep your strength and so come to your journies end You travail Christians towards Canaan towards Sion you fear fainting Bait at Christs Iodge at Christ go from Inne to Inne from Ordinance to Ordinance you shall go from strength to strength you shall renue your strength you shall run and not be weary you shall walk and not faint Isa 40.31 at length you shall come to your journeyes end that is appeare before the Lord in Sion Seventhly Christ is a profitable way 7ly Christ is profitable way The world stirres upon that now Let one tell you never so much of a pleasant cleane provision'd broad high-way but say you What is there to be gotten in it why this way answers these desires the best the greatest surest wealth is to be traded for in this way Psal 119.14 I have rejoyced in the way marke what he calls it of thy Commandements as much as in all riches This is the way to the rich Pearle more worth then all thou hast if thou hadst ten thousand times as much Mat. 13.44 Eighthly Christ is a peaceable way If you trade 8ly Christ a peaceable way and get by your journey neare so much and though Robbert are afraid of losing it all in the bringing home be the way never so cleane so broad so pleasant this damps all but Jesus Christ is a secure way Prov. 3.17 all her paths are peace this way is the living waie Heb. 10.20 This is the waie of peace Luk. 1.79 In all this Christ is the accomplishment of that promise made to the Wildernesse Isai 35. Of a way verse 8. No Lyon shall be there nor any ravenous Beast goe thereupon verse 9. Lastly Christ is the way home And so I draw to a CONCLUSION Our Saviour telleth us Jo. 14.2 3 4 6. Christ the WAY HOME In my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come againe and receive you unto my selfe that where I am there ye may be also And whither I go ye know and the way ye know I am the waie no man cometh to the Father but by me And this brings the first and the last together in the accomplishment of that to us that God did to Israel Who led them forth by a right waie that they might goe to a Citie for habitation Psal 107.7 And 't is the lesse matter how foule the weather be to such as have found a Christ for they have found the way home When Stephen was travelling through a storme of stones he knew how to house himselfe he calls upon the Lord Jesus to receive that is to take home his Spirit to himselfe end when he had thus spoken he falls asleep Act. 7.59 60. You use to say of a Winter-journey and stormy weather 't is tedious travelling but say you it is homeward where we may be bold and shall be welcome and the wearier wee are we shall sleepe the more sweetly when we come at home and get into our owne Beds and in this case say you Home is home be it never so homely Art thou then in Christ thou shalt be taken in out of the Rain fetch'd home out of the streets from the brow-beatings of those that were mightier then thou Thou shalt enter into peace thou shalt rest in thy Bed Isai 57.2 Thou that walkest in this right way Thou art hasting homeward not to an homely home but to an heavenly to thy Fathers house to Abrahams bosome to the new Heaven the Celestiall Canaan to the Saints Rest to Jerusalem which is above and is free to the Paradice of God to the Countrie of thy kindred to thine own people and to the seat of thy Christ Therefore fear not poore penitent though thou hast been a Prodigall Art thou in Christ thou art going homeward to thy Fathers house where thy Father will come forth to meet thee and thine Elder Brother so farre from grudging that he will come along with him to greet thee the Angels to welcome thee will become ministring spirits unto thee then shall one go for the meat another for the musick a third for the Ring and a fourth for the Robe even all that heaven can afford mean while Jonathan thy friend who is in Covenant with thee whose soule cleaves unto thee will put his own Robe upon thee and his Garments even to his Girdle and then shall heaven ring with an All things are readie the Spirit shall say Come and Christ shall say Welcome eat and drink O friend yea drink abundantly O beloved Fear not poore Lazarus whose Rayment is vile even sores on thy body and rags on thy sores Art thou in Christ thou art going homeward to Abrahams bosome to a new Heaven where old things are done away and all things become new Thy vile bodie shall be there changed and made a glorious bodie like unto Christs Bodie in an heavenly new fashion Thou shalt put off Mortalitie and put on immortalitie put off corruption and put on incorruption put off weaknesse and put on strength lay off the Cross and put on thy Crown Yea let me say more the Garments that thou hadst of Gods owne making and which were well enough to serve thy turne in the wildernesse of this world thou shalt then have out-grown them and there put them off and that which is in part shall be there done away and that which is perfect shall come in its roome Thou shalt then know as thou art known and love as thou art loved thou shalt put off Hope and Vision shall succeed it and put off Faith and put on fruition Feare not poore Israelite

though thou hast been an Underling in Aegypt an Inhabitant of the Wildernesse who hast wrought among the Bricks and lyen among the Pots and gone among the Thornes and trod upon Serpents Art thou in Christ thou and now going homeward to the heavenly Canaan the Rest of Gods people to the Jerusalem that is ABOVE and is TREE Above Aegypt its Brick-kiln and Fleshpots Earth and all its allurements and all their embitterments Above Pharoah and his Hosts Satan and his Instruments above he Wilderness windings and woundings of sinne And therefore thou shalt be FREE from feares from falls from sinne from sorrowes from the Death of the Body and from the Body of Death and from all the evill that is in the World and from the world of Evill that is in the heart The Gulfe shall be fixed and thou shalt be free'd and though these would passe over to thee they shall not be able The Aegyptians that followed thee thou shalt see them no more for ever They followed thee but shall never finde thee There 's a Jordan betwixt thee and them which though it were dryed up before thee yet shall not be so for them to passe after thee Thine old Aegypt is on the other side of the Sea and thine old Wildernesse on the other side of the Flood The Waters shall returne and thine Enemies be cut off Where the Serpent found thee thou shalt leave Him even in the Wildernesse and where thou leavest the Serpent thou shalt leave the poyson and the sting even Satan and Sinne and Death together The first is a Murtherer the next is a Lyer the last is a Dogge that will grumble and snarle at thee but cannot hurt thee and without are Murtherers and Lyers and Dogs but within are true Israelites Feare not poore Convert that are crucified with Christ though a Prisoner among men and condemned of the World where thy legges are broken thy supports taken away the way that thou art in is life as well as Way and the sooner men breake thy legges the more hast shalt thou make to suppe with Christ in Paradice Yea thou art a stranger and strangely dealt with as in a strange Land Art thou but in Christ thou art going homeward to thine owne Country and to the house of thy friends to the Spirits of thy dear deceased Relations that are now made perfect There is Eunice thy Mother and Lois thy Grandmother if thou be a Timothy Yea Jesus himselfe will doe the Right of a Kinsman unto and will owne thee in the Gates of Heaven and before the Elders of thy people Then shalt thou that wast afraid to glean after the Reapers possesse the whole joyes of the Harvest and thou that wast afraid to uncover his feet shalt lye then in his bosome and thou shalt be ever with the Lord. And now who is there among you that are in Christ as the way to this Rest and have Christ in you as the hope of his Glory can hear of this home without desire to be dissolved and to depart if the Lord would let you to this rest in peace And yet this is but a little of that that may be spoken and all that may be spoken is but a little of that that shall be made good unto you when you come at home This is but a short Pisgaprospect of the promised Land which your owne life keepes you out of possession of These are but a few of the clusters of Canaan that are brought you for a taste by a poore Spye lest any of you should have evill thoughts of the good Land and so take up on this side Jordan but who shall reveale unto you what is the fruite of the Vine in your Fathers Kingdom This is but your Provision sent you to support you by the Way but who can Divine without Josephs Cup what a Land is that Goshen whence these Provisions come This is but the Raine that filles your Pooles in the Vale of Baca but who can tell you how it shall bee with you when you appeare before the Lord in Sion This is but Mount Tabor 't is Mount Sion that is your dwelling place and there is the City of the living God there are the innumerable companies of Angells the Church of the first born and Jesus the Mediator And if to thinke of these things seriously while wee are at home in the Body make this home an Heaven sure it will be good for us to be where this Heaven shall be our home This is the Inheritance of the Saints in light the Inheritance incorruptible and that fadeth not away but is reserved in the Heavens for them This is their Habitation made but not with hands and purchased but not with money This is their Rest prepared by Christs travailes their life purchased by his Death the joy of the Lord dearely paid for by that Man of sorrowes their Glory bought by his shame their true Riches gained through his povertie the Kingdome wonne for them by his subjection the blessing obtained through his being made as a Curse for them Oh! thanks be to God for his unspeakable GIFT This is the HOME whereunto Christ is the WAY In and By whom whilest the Ransomed of the Lord come up from the Wildernesse they shall obtaine joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Wherefore you see deare Brethren partakers of the heavenly Calling that there is a promise left us of entering into his Rest .. Let us therefore feare lest any of us should seeme to come short Heb. 4.1 The Lord hath this day shewne you the good way and hath said unto you Walke in it and you shall finde Rest to your soules Jer. 5.16 But now if any of you shall answer as they in the next verse We will not walk therein Know of a surety that every soule that goes Christlesse goes both Guidelesse and waylesse and therefore shall never find this Heavenly habitation I cannot say but Christlesse sinners have got as many Guidles as there are SATYRS and as many waies as there are windings in the Wildernesse and they also make hast to their own home for Judas who hanged himself is said to go 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to his own place Act. 1.25 But alas as is the difference of the Waies so of the Homes the waies differ as Darknesse and light and the Homes as Hell and Heaven He that is in Christ goes home to be comforted but the Christlesse to be tormented he to his good things but thou O wretch from thy good things Hee dies to live thou diest to die He descends as to his body that he may ascend thou ascendest as to thy spirit which returns to God that gave it to give sentence on it that thou maist descend and go down into Hell for ever He may complain Abroad the sword bereaveth but thou shalt lament At home there is as death he cannot say so As death I say but worse thou death Where thou shalt