the Wildernesse take as some do much paines to go farther down into it Alas poor soules 't is down-hil way thou art likely to be at the bottome soon enough even in the lowest hell without running down and if any take paines this way how shall this condemne those that take no paines the other way 2. Use Caution Is the way from the wildernesse up the hill Take heed of fainting take heed of falling 2d Cautino either of these will endanger your tumbling downe the hill againe 1. Caution Take heed of fainting My Brethren 1. Take heed of fainting how conscious are we to our selves how ready are the strongest of us to faint in those forementioned up-hil wayes Now it is not the pleasure of the Lord Jesus that any should faint in the waies of attendance upon him Mat. 15.32 I will not send them away fasting lest they faint in the way Let us also be careful lest our hearts faint in any of the wayes of Jesus Christ although they be never such up-hil wayes For which cause we faint not 2 Cor. 4.16 And as we have received mercy we faint not v. 1. We shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6.9 And this is the praise of Ephesus Rev. 2.3 Thou hast laboured and not fainted In laborious up-hil services they walked without fainting Rules to prevent fainting 1. Looke not down-ward Now to helpe you herein take these two Rules 1. Look not much down-ward 2. Look much upward You have both these together 2 Cor. 4.16 For this cause we faint not v. 18. Whilst we looke not at the things that are seene but at the things that are not seen for the things that are seene are temporall but the things that he look'd at that are not seen are eternall If a man you know would go up a Spire-steeple or Beacon of great height it is very dangerous and dazeling to look down-ward his way must be to look upward all the while 1. Look not down-ward look down and faint and so fall down Observe the Apostles opposition he sets minding of earthly things that is the looking down-ward that I speak of against having our conversation in heaven Phil. 3.19 20. Carnal hearts that mind earthly things will faint in the first steps of that way that leads out of the Wildernesse for it is an up-hil way Therefore saith the Wise man of riches and things earthly Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not Prov. 23.5 That is Doe not so much as set thine eyes upon it 2dly 2. Look much upward Look much upward I will looke unto the hills saith the Psalmist Psal 121.1 I will lift up mine eyes The Apostle comparing our lives to a race or journey bids us Heb. 12.1 2 3. To looke unto Jesus c. lest we be weary or faint in our minde It would extreamly helpe us to have our conversation in heaven to be often yea alwayes looking thither whence we looke for a Saviour Phi. 3.20 This would keepe us from fainting in this up-hil way If you be risen with Christ to the top of this hill and would keep there why then set your affections upon things above Col. 3.1 2. For thus saith the Lord Isai 40.30.31 The Youths shal utterly faint the young men shall fall but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength yea though it be an up-hil way they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not faint 2dly Caution Take heed of falling 2. Take heed of falling Is it an up-hil way beleeve it it is very ill getting a slip 1 Cor. 10. He minds us of the falls of the poor Israelites in the way towards Canaan he gives variety of instances from the 5. v. he brings all close down for our admonition vers 11. Wherefore let him that thinkes he standeth take heed lest he fall v. 12. How charily do men go up an hill in a frosty day when the wayes are slippery Oh! this is the danger 't is an up-hil way Let vs therefore labour to enter into that rest lest any man fall after the ensample of their unbeliefe Heb. 4.11 Thirdly Exhortation in two words 3ly Exhortation 1. To come up First Is it an up-hil way then pray let us up and be going let us up and repent up and beleeve up and obey up and pray and read and heare and meditate c. and that leads me to the Third main Doctrine yet before us whitherto I shall refer it Secondly Is it an up-hil way wherein is such likelihood of faintings such feare of falling Oh! 2ly To come up leaning Then labour to leane upon the beloved whilst you come up from the Wildernesse to repent and lean to believe and lean to obey and lean to pray c. and lean and this would lead to the fourth main Doctrine therefore we shall dismisse it for the present We passe on to CHAP. II. Containes the third maine Doctrine That it greatly concernes lost soules to come up from the wildernesse of sinne discovered and applyed with choice directions thereunto THe third maine Point 3d. Maine Doctrine viz. That it is the great concernment of lost soules to come up from the Wildernesse of sinne The Spouse in the Text had been in the Wildernesse but now up she gat That is the lost souls great business to come up from the wilderness and away she came and this is thy great businesse The voyce of the Lord unto such a soule is like the voyce of Christ to his chosen ones in Babylon Rev. 18.4 Come out of her my people lest you partake of her plagues Come out of the Wildernesse my poor Creatures lest you dye wlldernesse-deaths and now must the answer of thy soule be I come Lord. The Lords bewildred spouse Hos 2. takes up this main resolution as her maine worke and businesse I will return to my first husband Hos 2. v. 7. I will goe and return so the Prodigal I will arise and goe to my Father The bewildred Spouse the lost Sonne this is it that they make their great work businesse and 't is not strange that it should be so if you consider that the comming up of lost soules is the very great worke and businesse of God himselfe For this is the great business 1. Of God the Father even God the Father Son and holy Spirit 1. It is the great designe of God the Father that poor soules should come up from this spiritual wildernesse Deut. 32.9 10. Jacob is his portion he found him in the Wildernesse and led him about and instructed him you have this explain'd or if you wil seconded Thus saith the Lord God Ezek. 34.11 I even I will both search my sheep and seeke them out They have been scattered in the cloudy and darke day v. 12. Of this we have spoken I will feed them in a good pasture on the high
Ceremonies are gone as John to those in his time when the Gospel I believe had dispelled those grosser Egyptian darknesses 1 Joh. 5.21 Little Children keepe your selves from Idols Amen 3d. Consid Thirdly Consider what ever strength thou hast on this side the strength of Jesus Christ it is an Artichristian as well as an Idolatrous strength Your Christlesse strength is Antichristian And wilt thou hope to be saved by an Antichrist Rom. 10.3.4 The Jews going about to establish their own righteousnesse that is plainly to make their righteousnesse their strength They have not submitted themselves to the righteousnesse of God for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to them that believe Who sees not what I say they have not submitted If thou make thy strength thy righteousness this is very rebellion against the Lord and Antichristianitie even the setting of thy self in battel aray against the righteousnes of faith and the strength that is to be had in the Lord Jesus Christ Precious is that language of Davids Psal 21.13 Be thou exalted O Lord in thine own strength so will we sing and praise thy power Mark that if we pretend to exalt the Lord but we will do it in our own strength as Arminians in their own free-will c. When we come to the matter of praise we shall quickly confer it as I observe them to do upon our owne power and not the Lords O the noble Principles cry they of the understandings and reasons and minds of men which the scriptures whilest unregenerate call darkness and foolishness and enmitie against God and say they O that noble principle of free-will which the scriptures call an heart of stone and declare it to be to every good word and worke of it selfe Reprobate Let us arise in the might of our own principles say they c. But Let God arise and then his Enemies shall be scattered say we Yet will we also say When the Ark ariseth it is not a time for Israel to sit still It is not their working but their working in their own strength that I plead against Let me leave then this word with tender Consciences which I am not afraid of declaring as the sence of my soule unto the world although it be a sad apprehension Let a poore creature go a begging to two doors the Master of the one house takes a knife and cuts a piece of victuals and gives it as an Alms to the begger and thinks when he hath done that for this he is more in the books of God I meane as to the merit of favour and acceptance and goes away priding and pleasing his owne heart in what he hath done and concluding from the bare act that he offered to God a sacrifice such as thereby to make him his Debter And the Begger comes to an others house where another man in a passion takes a knife and cuts the poore wretches throat and by that act his own Conscience is wounded and his heart struck dead that he now comes trembling and astonished before the Lord whilest the other boasting cryes out God I thank thee I cut him bread but this man cut his throat But the murtherer cryes out The Lord be merciful c. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God c. I believe this Murtherer way be nearer Heaven then that Alms-giver The former hath murthered the Begger the other hath murthered the Lord Jesus Christ Our Saviour resents it thus and thus expresseth it to the face of the Pharisees Mat. 21.31 Verily I say unto you that the Publicans and the Harlots goe into the Kingdom of God before you For they believed vers 32. Those that were uncleane Harlots are saved when often-washing Hypocrites are damned Those that were oppressing Publicans are justified when Beleeving Pharisees are condemned And thus much be spoken in order to the weakening of your strength CHAP. V. Containes farther improvement by a designe to weary you notwithstanding your Christless refreshments 2ly To weary you notwithstanding all your Christlesse refreshments SEcondly I shall labour to weary your Christless soules even under any of your Christless refreshments know therefore from the Lord that these are truths and such as you shall find to be so sooner or later First That whatsoever the matter be that thou be not weary yet notwithstanding there is enough in all your wildernesse wayes and refreshments too to make you weary Secondly That this being so it is the saddest symptome in the world and of the most dangerous importance not thus to be weary First Whatsoever the reason is 1. There is enough in all your wilderness-wayes to weary you however it comes to passe you are not wearied that you are not weary there is enough in the wayes and pleasures of sinne too to weary your poore soules Surely as Noahs dove that could find no rest till it came to the Ark from whence it came so can no soul find any rest after all its wearinesse but by returning to the Lord from whom it at first departed and if the Lord be as Noah Jesus Christ is as the Ark there 's no returning to the Lord but by returning to Jesus Christ I shall evince what I am a saying Evinced from Scripture testimony reason and experience First For Scripture testimony 1. From scripture testimony The Holy Ghost tells you Isai 40.30 The youths shall be weary and the young men shall utterly faint but onely those that waite upon the Lord shall renew their strengeth The young men that are the likeliest to continue fresh or to find refreshment in the wayes of sinne even all that can be found they shall faint and utterly grow weary Thus saith God concerning Israel Thou art wearied Isai 47.13 And so Jer. 9.5 They weary themselves to commit iniquity so Ezek. 24.12 She hath wearied her selfe with lyes that is saith God they sinne till thy tyre themselves and commit iniquity unto wearinesse onely here is the sad difference As there are many humbled that are not humble so many are wearied that are not weary they are humbled indeed against their will by punishment but yet they are never the more humble so are they wearied by continued acts of sinne and 't is against their will it should be so but yet they are never the more weary of it Secondly For Scripture Reason It must needs be 2ly Scripture reason that there should be all manner of wearinesse in the wayes of the Wilderness if you consider either what you walke upon or what you sit down upon 1. Wearying wayes to travell in First All the wayes or works that are on this side Christ are very wearying The waies of the wildernesse are thorny waies as you have heard and 't is tyresome travelling upon thornes either wonder then at thine owne lethargy or dead palsie or else expresly deny that Scripture Iob 15.20 The wicked man travelleth with paine all his dayes for if thou
Gods law yet run none down thine though thou thy self keep it not thou groanest under a hard heart a dry eye a feared conscience and fain thou wouldst it were otherwise with thee poor soul lean thou also upon Christ in the urging of those promises Isa 35.6 The tongue of the dumb shall sing for in the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert waters of sorrow for sin streams of affection towards God if as I said in the other thy soul be hungry it shall be made fruitful if now thy soul be thirsty it shall be made springs of water and the parched ground shall become a pool see the Lords promise Isa 44.3 I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon dry ground that is saith he My spirit which shall make him spring you whose soul God hath turned can witness hereunto by your own experience 3. Promises to the solitary wilderness Thou complainst thou art a solitary wilderness that thou hast none of Christs company no communion with the Spirit no acquaintance with God urge those words of grace Isa 35.1 The wilderness c. the solitary place shall be glad though thou have been solitary Christ will if thou act faith upon these promises come to thee and be with thee and thou shalt be glad so that the voice of joy gladness thanksgiving and melody shall be found in thy soul though thou hadst been a wilderness Isa 51.3 Rev. 3.20 I will come in to him yea Isa 42.16 These things will I do unto them and not forsake them Thou complainst thou art a wilderness 4. Promises to the provisionless wilderness destitute and provisionless and art ready to say Can God spread a table in this wilderness for thy soul Is it possible that even thou shouldst be made fat and flourishing in the ways and things of God that art so lean Yes God can do it yea he hath said he will do it Those that are thus removed out of the wilderness and transplanted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God they shall still bring forth fruit they shall be fat and flourishing Psalm 92. 13 14. Isa 49 9 10. Mic. 7.14 He shall feed the flock which dwells solitary in the wilder as the Gene. Rev. 3.20 He shall sup with me Look what provision Christ hath the same shall be set before such a soul It is remarkable Psalm 105. The people asked and he satisfied them with the bread of heaven He opened the rock c. and the reasons rendred for he remembred his holy promise vers 40 41 42. poor soul art thou hungerbitten be Gods remembrancer of his promises and thou shalt have bread from heaven Thou complainst thy soul is bewildred 5. Promise to the wayless wilderness thy condition is wayless and thou knowest not on which hand to turn thou art in the wilderness where there is no way Hast thou not heard poor soul hast thou not understood the voice of one crying in the wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make streight in the desert an high way for our God John Baptist was his prepater Christ was this way Isa 40.3 with Matth. 3.3 and this in pursuance of that promise made to poor souls in the wilderness Isa 35.8 and an high way shall be there c. Thou complainst that thy soul lieth waste and not husbanded like a desert land 6. Promises to the waste wilderness and thou art afraid that the Lord hath deserted thee and thy God forsaken thee know that the Lord hath said The desert shall rejoyce and blossom Isa 35.1 I will make her desert like the garden of the Lord the Lord will comfort all her waste places Isa 51.3 Here 's comfort indeed her judgement her will her affections her conversation all were waste there came up nothing but briars and thorns and nettles c. and thereefore justly was she desert and forsaken but now all her waste places are comforted how 's that Why her very desert is made as the garden of the Lord now is she the Lords vineyard and the Lord will husband her he will keep it and water it every moment Isa 27.3 And thus is Christ given for a covenant to the people to cause to inherit the desolate heritages therefore they shall feed in the ways and their pastures shall be in all high places They shall not hunger not thirst because he that hath mercy on them shall lead them and by the springs of water shall he guide them and he will make all his mountains a way and his high-ways shall be exalted Isa 49.8 9 10 11. Could you wish that God should speak more encouragingly to you Behold you have a strength to lean upon that can that will that stands engaged to make you of a desolate heritage such as you desire to be before the Lord. CHAP. VII Containeth the Explication of the destructiveness of the progress in wilderness-sin because of famine thorns serpents wilde beasts c. 2. Progress in the wilderness destructive YOu have heard now of the dismalness of the wilderness and so of sin We come now to speak of the destructiveness of both Therefore Secondly The way of the wilderness is destructive so is the way of sin The wilderness through which Israel journyed toward Canaan is not a more lively representation of sin in any thing then in this Multitudes of people came into the wilderness multitudes came out of Egypt yet exceeding few of them came out of the wilderness but were destroyed there multitudes of poor creatures come into the world into sin yea multitudes come out of Egypt that 's gross darkness that heaâ— of Canaan and come as many Israelites almost in sight of it almost in sight of heaven that yet perish through the destructiveness of sin The Israelites complained much of the destructiveness of the wilderness then and I presume they complain more of the destructiveness of sin now Numb 20.4 they cry to Moseâ— Why have ye brought the congregatin of the Lord into this wilderness to die there Oh! Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness Numb 21.5 More sadly wilt thou complain of thy parents thy sinful companions c. Oh! why did you lead me why did you bring me into sin to die in sin you have much people perishing there together Numb 21.6 you have them dying by Fourteen thousands and Seven hundreds at once Numb 16.49 what more you have them complaining and saying Behold we die we perish we all perish Numb 17.12 were sinners consciences awakened by multitudeâ— you would have them much more crying out by multitudes we die we perish we all perish they would all agree in this language if we could hear them all crying out in hell The ways of the wilderness are destructive and are the bewildring ways of sin not so Rom. 3. They are all under sin verse 7. gone out
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 deâ— 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
for all him or any of his commands while he is without but now if once he enter the City then they must goe whither soever he drives them some to Prison some into the Water others to the Gallowes others into the Wildernesse so though there be legions of Devils without us yet till they enter us our hearts may keepe their own motions yea though they be round about us but you 'l say They must needs go whom the Devill drives though it be into Water as the herd of swine into the halter as Judas in the Wildernesse as Legion and the Devill may easily drive when he enters and indeed may easily enter because hee is a Spirit Sirs What can possibly keep out a Spirit shut downe your Windowes lock your doores yea though your Gates were Iron and your Barres of Brasse yet will a Spirit enter and that without penetration because it s not a body 'T is said Luk. 22.3 That Satan then entred into Judas From henceforward trace him and where ever he goes you may plainly see the Devill drives him It followes immediately verse 4. And he went his way He goes Christs wayes no longer but his owne and his owne are but Satans for first he goes and betrayes his Master and then he goes and hangs himselfe He must needs goe the Devill drives him Drunkards you little thinke who drives you to the Alehouse he that drives you is got within you and therefore though you cannot see him yet you goe with him whithersoever he would have you to goe so it is with all sinners Satan's a Spirit and therefore he can enter he enters and therefore he can drive hee can drive and you must therefore needs go and hence you are driven of the Devill into the Wilderness as hee was Luk. 8.29 2ly He as a Spirit is akinne to the soule 2ly Satan is a Spirit and therefore he is as it were akinne to the soule You know the proverb concerning Birds and I may say in some sort Satan is of a feather with our soules and one wing one way Hence it is that when our soules see Satan goe before we are so mad of fluttering aftrr Beloved Satans suggestions are so alike our owne hearts motions that wee sometimes shall finde it very hard to know his footsteps from our owne Now marke If a man be in a Wildernesse and there be never so many tracts of this and that and th' other wild beast if the man light upon a print but of one mans foot oh that 's the way that he will be sure to take and Satans footsteps are so like ours that who can sometimes know the print asunder You have Peter disswading Christ from suffering Mat. 16.22 And 't is said Peter began to rebuke him and I verily thinke that Peter thought it it was his owne way and an expression of his owne hearts love to Jesus Christ and I believe the other Disciples thought it was a print of Peters feet of Peters tender affections to his Lord and Master But it seemes it was not so or primarily so 't was Satans footstep rather then Peters for Jesus turn'd him and said unto him Get thee behind me Satan verse 23. We are often going Satans way when we think we are going but our own way Therefore with ease may Satan lead you into the wildernes when wee may so easily perswade you that is your own way Thirdly Satan is a spirit 3. He as a spirit is able to converse reason with the soul and therefore able to Converse with the soul as to look our spirits as I may say in the face in their own likenesse so also to speak to them in their own language As Hannah spake with her heart when shee spake not with her lips so can Satan speak to our hearts and they to him without any opening of the lips for both are spirits As are wee so Satan is a discursive rationall spirit and as at first he disputed out the businesse with Eve and prevailed so ever since in the serpents voice though not in the serpent skin hee maintaines a like argument in our soules and this hee can do because a spirit You shall therefore finde that the same that is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 6.11 the bewildrings of Satan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 2.11 the devices of Satan so we read it but the word is that which signifies the reasonings and arguings of our hearts So then Satan seduceth us into the Wildernesse by pressing upon us our own arguments he perswades us by our own logick in the naturall language of our own hearts A Lyon may roar long enough before a man that is without the Forrest and hears him would come in to him But if instead of a Lyon a man were there calling and so the other should hear one crying in his owne voice and language that might perhaps perswade him It were vain for Satan to roar men into sin though hee be a roaring Lion but he must flatter them into it by secret whisperings in their own language to their soules If the Devill should appear and speak to the drunkard in the morning in a dog or a toad as he doth to some witches sure the Drunkard would be affrighted for that day But he speaks in the mans own hearts language Go to such a place there 's such company and such ber c. Therefore that Scripture is sadly to be thought up Ezek. 11.21 Their heart goes after the heart of their dete stable things and of their abominations Here 's one heart going after another the heart of the tempted after the heart of the temptation Our hearts in sinning going after Satans heart in tempting He projects and we prosecute his heart designes and our heart pursues the designe The temptations of Satan are destable yet they are after his heart and our heart goes after the heart of the detestable things that is after Satans heart you see the same word that signifies our Cogitations the Holy Ghost useth for Satans devices and this is because hee is a Spirit Secondly As he is a Spirit so he is an Angell and this gives him yet far greater advantage 2dly He is an Angel and therefore can present all his temptations specious and angelicall God tells them Exod. 23.20 that he would send his Angell before them and that encourages them to venture upon that Wildernesse So Satan sends his Angell before poor souls and so gets them into this spirituall Wildernesse He is an Angell and therefore all his temptations shall be guilded temptations beautified with Angells feathers Though he be a Devill yet his Apparitions to the soul shall be as an Angell even as an Angell of light 2 Cor. 11.14 'T is said of some that they draw iniquity with Cords of Vanity and sin as it were with Cart-ropes Isa 5.18 and what are these drawing Cords ver 20. they call evill good and put light for
man of complexion and the Devill knew by a look of him what path of the Wildernesse would entangle him The Devill hath bewildred passionate folks before and proud folks before and lustfull ones before and covetous ones before c. and it cannot be but what ever the length of thy foot is that Satan by this time should have a way in the Wildernesse fitted for thee As an old cheat that will have more tricks then one that if one fail another may take and that the young fool might not know all So Satan Pro. 5.6 lest thou shouldst ponder the path of life his waies are moveable so that thou canst not know them And this is his great advantage It may be thou art a young Christian a young Saint but thou hast to doe with an Old Serpent Use If Satan have so great advantage to bewiider you And thus you have heard what advantages on all hands Satan hath to bewilder the soul I shall desire the improvement of it in a word or two You have heard that our own hearts are Wildenesses of sinne and tempters too into the Wildernesse that Satan by Legions and their ageement being a spirit himselfe and and â—n Angell and a Devill as also being a Father a Prince a God to the naturall man and lastly being an old Serpent experienced in all the windings and turnings of the Wildernesse is easily able to bewilder soules and if you be convinced then 1. Caution in the choice of your way First Be very carefull in the choice of your way Would you cleanse your way then take heed thereto Ps 119 9. My friends as you would tremble at the thoughts of following Satan as your King and God and Father in his way bee very carefull in the choice of your own waies I have observed that carelesnesse of our waies is the adding of advantage to Satan to all his advantages and 't is as if you should say Satan hath not enough already I le give him more How many are there that goe on and on and never consider in what way or to what end He that goes and considers not whither is like to be lost he knowes not where Jer. 3.12 God calls Israel a back-sliding people It followes ver 13. acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed or gone out of the way and and hast scattered thy waies to strangers Mark that Those that are inconsiderate and heedlesse of what things they have are they that scatter them Here 's a scattering of waies to this strange temptation and that strange lust c. now what is the way to keep from scattering but by narrow looking to that which otherwise we should scatter As David saith I said I will take heed unto my waies Psal 39.1 Those then that are heedlesse of their waies are scatterers of their waies and know it sirs whatever waies you scatter Satan will be sure to gather Scatter a Sermon out of your memories and these fowls of the aire will pick it up and carry it away Scatter but a thought or any affection on a carnal or sinfull object the Devill will snatch it up and carry it away This then is the desperate folly of our hearts that by heedlesnesse wee should scatter our waies to strangers Therefore saith the same Prophet to the same People Jer. 6.16 thus saith the Lord stand ye in the waies and see and ask c. Surely many a man 's bewlldred because when time was he did not stand and ask Oh that I could bring but sinners to a stand this day whither away so fast thou galloping drunkard ranting roister What wilt not once stop before thou lightest at Hell-Tavern Wilt thou take all the wayes thou hittest upon without once enquiring whether thou art in the right way Oh! Pause a little and aske and see Perhaps there may be nere another house betwixt thee and the Wildernesse to inquire at Perhaps thou maist never heare a Sermon more or be at a publique meeting more and therefore whilest thou passest by the doore of this dayes discourse stand a while and aske and see What madnesse is it to runne preposterously into any way when a sober inquiry might find a right I am confident this is the undoing of many a soule they are never brought to a stand till Hell stops them But let us take Gods counsell to day in Gods feare to stand and ask and see and choose Two Expressions of David laid together may engage Christians hereunto Psal 119.30 I have chosen the way of truth I have stuck unto thy testimonies verse 31. And I will run the way of thy Commandements Oh! sirs Choosing Christians will be sticking Christians If you will walke in Gods wayes deliberately and of choice you 'l find in your heart to stick to those wayes yea though you mend your pace yet to keepe your way though you runne yet to stick still and then though thou see the God and King and Father of the world going another way and all the world in course following after him yea though thy naturall heart had been accustomed too and had loved the other way yet having made such a stand and in thy stand such a choice of this way here thou wilt stick notwithstanding all the other wayes 2ly Be carefull of your Way-markes 2ly Since Satan hath such advantage to bewilder you be very observant of your Way-markes you heard before of taking heed unto your waies and this must be according to Gods Word Psal 119.9 If a Father send his Sonne such a dangerous journey where there are many upon the Way whose businesse it is to turne the traveller aside that they might in a Corner make a spoile of him the young man knows not the way only the Father gives him a Paper of directions concerning it At such a place you must turne on the left hand of such a steeple and when you goe farther you must turne on the right hand of such a Wind-mill c. Now when he comes to such a place and sees such a steeeple he perceiveth the marks to be true markes a Robber enters discourse with him enquires his way tells him his way lies right with his they come neare the steeple or windmill c. The Robber tells him he must turn one way he lookes on his Note and that saith he must turne another upon this he seasonably and securely parts and avoids the danger by due observance of his Way-marks Therefore saith God to Ephraim his Son and deare Child to repenting Ephraim Jer. 31.21 Set thine heart towards the high way set thee up Way-marks My Brethren lest the lying Devill should bewilder us God hath given the Holy Scriptures for Way-marks unto us Keepe your Markes or lose your way God hath blessed be his name set down in a Paper which way we should goe and what way we should turne from both upon the right hand and upon the left And this use of the Scriptures is
more strength then the cracklings of thornes under a pot Eccle. 7.6 Upon the matter the same is the expression in the one and the other 2ly 2ly As the strength of all that thou dost Leane upon Christ as the alone strength of all that thou doest or wouldst do as well as of all that thou hast or wouldest have Make Christ the strength of thy dutyes Surely as Jesus Christ was the strength of the Jewish Sacrifices so must he be of Christian duties Alas what was there in the blood of a Bull or of a Goate to take away sin or reconcile to God The Apostle shews this Heb. 10.1 4. They were never able saith he to make the commers perfect never able to take away sins They were poore weake impotent unable things therefore he brings in Christ as their strength and fulnesse ver 7. Then said I I come to do thy will O God And truly what is there in our teares what poore things are our prayers how weak how weak are all our services unlesse Christ become their strength what strength alas what strength is there in my preaching an houre or your hearing in order to the conversion of any soule But now when Christ fell a preaching there was might in his preaching he spake with authority yea at his word there goes forth strength The blind see the deafe heare the dumb speak the sick are healed the dead are raised believe it there is power in such speaking So when Christ fell a weeping and praying you read they were strong crying and tears Heb. 5.7 Christs crying was strong crying Now then if thou wouldest get much of strength into thy duties labour to get much of Christ into thy duties I strive saith Paul of his Ministry to present every man perfect Of thy preaching according to his working which worketh in me mightily and Col. 1.29 The more there is of Christ in thy Ministry the more might is in thy Ministry Yea When all men forsooke me saith Paul 2 Tim. 4.16 The Lord stood with me and strengthened me that the preaching might he fully knowne So wouldest thou get strength unto any other performance I say unto thee as Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 2.1 Thou therefore my Son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Mark the grace that is in Christ Think not if thou wouldest be strong in prayer to be strong in the grace that is in thy self Of thy praying but in the grace that is in Christ As when himselfe was in prayer as Man Luk. 22.43 44. And there appeared an Angell from heaven strengthening him then he was in an Agony and prayed saith the Text the more earnestly So if thou be in prayer and canst by believing get helpe from heaven to strengthen thee Oh! thou wilt easily perceive more strength in thy sight more agony in thy groanes more earnestness in thy prayers And as that Angell Rev. 8.3 Puts Incense on the prayers of all Saints so must this Angell put strength whereby they might ascend up before the throne of God Of thine hearing So when thou hearest a Sermon or receivest the Word thou receivest no strength by it unlesse thou receive Christ by it When the word of God is received as the word of man barely it hath no more strength in it then the bare word of man Gal. 4.14 15. When the Galathians received Paul in his Ministry as an Angell of God yea even as Christ Jesus it was so mighty in them that he bears them record that they even would have pulled out their eyes c. Oh! when soules come to receive Christ in the Word they have strength to doe any thing for that 's the meaning of it to cut off right hands pull out eyes c. any thing for Christ he is so deare unto them but as for those that receive the Word but not Christ in it you may sadly and easily perceive how little strength they have from it for it is little or nothing that they will doe for it What part with an hand or an eye for Christ No scarce with an handfull of that pelfe that they should not set their eyes upon Prov. 23.5 Thirdly 3ly As the strength of all that thou art thine whole soule Leane upon Christ as the onely strength of that thou art I meane of thine whole soule Eph. 3.16 17. I pray saith Paul That ye might be strengthened with might in the inner man that Christ might dwell in your hearts by faith No strengthning at all for the inner man but by Christ indwelling and no indwelling but by faith by beleeving therefore say I leane on Christ that according to Davids phrase Psal 138.3 Thou maist be strengthened with strength in thy soule that is in thine Vnderstanding Memory Will and Affections 1. As the strength of thine understanding First Leane upon Christ as the onely strength of thine Understanding 1 Cor. 1.30 31. He is made unto us of God wisdome that as it is written He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. There 's no man in the world of judgment and wisdom strong enough to reach the thingâ— of God but he that fetching his wisdome from the Lord. Christ payes his tribute of glory not to himselfe but to the Lord Christ Isai 29.24 They that erred shall come to understanding and they that murmured shall learn Doctrine when they shall sanctifie the name of God and magnifie his holy One. They that erred that is that were of a weak understanding And they that murmured that is That were more depraved in judgement and this is a more wilfull weaknesse yet such through Christ is the gracious promise of the Lord but herein they must sanctifie his name and magnifie his holy One that is His holy Child Jesus You have multitudes of promises also of sight to the blind knowledge to the ignorant understanding to the simple of guidance by Gods counsell enough to lead them to his glory but all through his Christ 2ly Of thy Memory 2ly Lean upon Christ as the strength of your Memory hast thou a weak one to complaine of Why doe but believe and thou shalt have a strange memory if thou have not a strong one thou shalt have a memory to carry away more of a Sermon then he that carries away all his memory is in his head but thy memory shall be in thine heart he may write it by his memory when he comes home down in a book but thou writest it in thine heart and life and there it is knowne and read of all men I meane whilst another carryeth away the words thou remembrest the power he hath the expressions of the minister but thou hast the impressions of the truth Such a mrmory as this at least wise thou shalt be sure to have by leaning on Jesus Christ and this i 'me sure is the best memory and truly a convenient portion for thee of the other too is plainly held forth to them
that trust on Christs name Jo. 14.26 The Holy Ghost whom the Father shall send saith Christ in my name shall teach you all things and shall bring all things to your remembrance even whatsoever I have said unto you If young Preachers that know what beleeving meanes could but lean more upon Christ in this promise they need not lean so much as themselves complaine to their Notes Hath not Christ said that his Spirit shall bring to our remembrance what soever he hath said And what have we to say more If we have for ought I know our memory may be indeed most faithful to us wherein it may seem most to fail us whilst we forget against our wills what we should have omitted with our wills And how can it harme us or spoyle our Sermons if we be content to forego our fancies that we may act our faith The former may please and advance our selves the latter shall advance Christ and please the Lord. 3ly Leane upon Christ as the strength of your Wills I le grant to the Arminians that our wills are strong enough for Rebellion and too strong too even as an iron sinew but alas alas as to the strings of God even a Ephraim 〈◊〉 heartlesse Dove Wouldst thou now be strengthned there also Read Psal 110. Which is evidently spoken of Christ to whom it is affixed Heb. 1.13 ver 2. Send forth the Rod of thy strength out of Sion and then mark vers 3. Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power If ever thy Will get any sanctified strength it is onely in the day of Christs power and by the sending forth his strength Fourthly Leane 4ly Of thine affections one Christ as the strength of your Affections Sirs God will never be contented with your affections unlesse he may have the strength of your affections Thou 〈◊〉 love the Lord thy God with all thy soul and with all thy strength Luk. 10.27 Now unlesse thou have Christ in thine Affections as their strength they will be too weake for God or the things of God Now if you could lean more you would love more and feare and desire and hope and joy and put forth every other affection in more strength You have the Spouse leaning upon Christ in my Text which is verse 5. And as soone as she leanâ— see how she strengthens affections you would wonder there should be such suddain virtue in leaning for veâ—â— 6. she breaks out Love is strong as death the Coals there as the Coals of fire with a most vehement flame many waters cannot quench it neither can the floods drown it if man would give all the substance of his house for love 〈◊〉 would utterly be contemned If Satan saith she should uâ— never so much meanes if the Serpent should cast his golden Apple before me it would not allure me if the Dragon should send all the floods of his mouth after me it would not affright me but that I should still zealously ardently vehemently and unto death affect the dearly beloved of my soule such was the strength of her affections and this she gat by leaning on Jesus Christ CHAP. VII Containes Answer 2d Lost soules are to leane on Christ for all their rest 2ly You must lean on Christ for all your Rest SEcondly Leane upon Jesus Christ for all your Rest Sirs There are times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord for repenting and converted souls Act. 3.19 but those are onely by the sending of Jesus Christ verse 20. Till God send Christ to thy soule never looke he should send refreshings to thy soule Observe that of the Apostle Heb. 4.3 We which have believed do enter into rest and then verse 8. If Jesus that is Iosuah had giâ—â—â— them rest c. From which it appeares that there 〈◊〉 true and spirituall rest but of Christs own giving Iosuah brought them to Canaan but it is onely Christ Jesus that could give them rest And againe that there is no way for poore bewildred soules for of such is the Apostles discouse there to come at this rest but by leaning that is by believing But more particularly leane on Christ as the resting place of your Understandings Consciences Affections whole soules when wearied with the wayes of the wildernesse of sin 1. As the rest of your understands Fiâ—st Leane upon Christ as the resting place of your Understandings he is the great Prophet of his people Secondly Consciences Leane upon him as the resting place of your weary Consciences He is the great high Priest of his people Thirdly Affections Leane upon Christ as the resting place of your tyred affections he is the Lord and Husband of his people Fourthly Leane on Christ as the resting place of your whole soules Soules he is the God and Saviour of his people For the first viz. Our Understandings I shall lay down these two Propositions First 1. Of your understandings Two Propositions 1. Proposition That there is no resting place for our understandings in the knowledge of any other thing That there is no rest for them in the knowledge of any other object but the Lord Jesus Christ I shall prove it by the most eminent instance that any age in the world could give of it and it is Solomon who gave his heart to know wisdome and to search out all things by understanding as himselfe saith Eccle. 1.13 He had moreover all Opportunities and helpes which other working heads have wanted I am come saith he to a great estate and great experience of wisdome and knowledge verse 16. And what shall the man do that commeth after the King 2.12 such a King so great so wise so studious This wisdome of his reacheth so farre as to excell all the Children of the East and people of Egypt the wisest quarters of the world yea he had knowledge of all the Trees and Plants from the Cedar of Lebanon to the Hysop of the wall yea also of all Beasts and Fowls and Fishes He had exceeding much understanding and largenesse of heart and wisdome as the sand on the Sea shore 1 King 4.29 30 33. And yet this Solomon saith of much study though undoubtedly as easie to him as to any man 'T is a wearinesse to the flesh Eccle. 12.12 And in much wisdome is much griefe and he that encreaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow Eccle. 1.18 So that both wearinesse to the flesh and toyle to the spirit is the onely rest to be expected in the confining of our understandings unto any other speculation save onely the knowledge of Jesus Christ 2d Propos That there is sufficient and ultimate refreshing to our understandings in knowing Christ But secondly Jesus Christ and the knowledge of him is the resting place of a tyred understanding Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou correctest and teachest him out of thy Law Though God take the Rod into his hand to teach him his lesson by yet blessed is
he and wherein is he thus blessed that comes to learne in Christs Schoole why verse 13. That thou maist give him rest from the time of trouble this will make thee a goodmends for the soarest whipping if thou learn the lesson of Christianity to day thou shalt have rest to morrow Thus God expresly speaking concerning this knowledge Isai 28.9 10 11. saith of it verse 12. This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest and this is the refreshing And it must needs be that the knowledge of the Lord Christ must be a refreshing knowledge to the soule upon three accounts For 1. It is a spirituall First It is a spiritual therefore a refreshing knowledge to the Spirit 't is a knowledge of spirituall things and after a spirituall manner The understanding of things carnall or spirituall things in a carnal sort cannot indeed satisfactorily refresh the Spirit The soule that knowes Christ knowes him not after the flesh but spiritually and whosoever to knows him knowes the things that God hath prepared for them that love him and what are the things prepared but Mansions adequate and eternall rest which things being revealed by the Spirit and spiritually discerned by the soule are ravishing and refreshing to the soul your hearts bear testimony hereunto compare 1 Cor. 2.9 10 14. with Jo. 14.2 2ly It is an experimentall 2ly An experimentall and therefore a refreshing knowledge They that know Christ feele Christ and the feeling of him must needs be refreshing to them 1 Jo. 1.1 Our hands have handled the word of life this experimentall knowledge the Apostle communicates as being abundantly himselfe refreshed that their joy also might be full ver 4. Thirdly To know Christ 3ly A soule Centring knowledge must needs afford rest to our understandings because Christ is the very Center of all knowledge knowing him you need go no farther knowing him you may well sit down and rest and refresh your your selves for you know enough you know all 1 Cor. 2.2 I determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and him crucified so Phil. 3.10 That I might know him and the power of his Resurrection and fellowship of his sufferings If Paul as learned as he otherwise was could but reach unto this knowledge he doth not once entertaine a thought that his wearied understanding should travell any farther 2ly 2ly Of your wearied Consciences Come and leane your weary Consciences upon Jesus Christ Oh! how do some complaine of tyred Consciences and how falne would they sit down but know not where to rest themselves This was Davids sad out-cry Psal 38.3 There is no rest in my bones because of my sin Now what shall such a soule do in such a case I le tell you in Isaiahs words Thus saith the Lord God the holy one of Israel Isai 30.15 In returning and rest you shall be saved in quietnesse and confidence shall be your strength that is return to Christ and lean upon him and you shall have rest and strength from him unto the quieting of your wearied and distracted soules But how shall weary Consciences doe to refresh themselves by leaning on Jesus Christ Question How that shal be Answer I answer Bring all your Conscience fraught and laiden and unburthen it upon Jesus Christ Christ doth not bid weary and loaden Consciences to lay downe their burthens 1. Lay downe thy burthens upon Christ and then to come unto him but come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden which undoubtedly and peculiarly refers to Conscience-loadings and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 That is bâ—ing your burthens to me and I le take them down 1. Vnlade the acknowledgements of your sins into Christs bosome First Let weary Consciences unlade all their acknowledgements and disgorgings of sinne into Christs own bosome immediately Thus David in the fore quoted Psalme 38.18 He resolves upon acknowledgement of his sin and this he empties into the Lords own bosome verse 9. 1. Your sinne-sorrowes Secondly As you bring your sin-acknowledgements so bring your sin-sorrowes to Christ let your faith put the Lord Christ to the same worke whereunto he is called by the Father to carry our griefes and sorrowes So Isai 53.4 Thus David Psal 38.6 When he was troubled and bowed down greatly going mourning all the day long he had immediate recourse to the Lord Christ 3ly Your wearying sighs and groanings Thirdly Let us also disburthen all wearying sighs and tyring groanes of our troubled minds into the bosome of Jesus Christ Thus David Psal 38.9 Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee Wouldst thou pray down the guilt or groan down the power of any Corruption that clogs thy poore Conscience even to the making of thee weary of thy very life then leane on Jesus Christ and thou shalt find rest Yea this I would Note unto you before I leave you that Christ doth not bid weary soules to go to the Father Note but to come to him with their heavy loadings believe it 't will be ill leaning of a tyred Conscience upon God the Father with Christ the Advocate If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2.1 Come not to the Father first but to the Advocate and by the Advocate to the Father If a man have a Creditor to speak with he will speake with his Surety first and if he can but engage him he can with boldnesse look his Creditor in the face But woe woe to that Conscience that comes sinful and Christlesse unto the great and righteous holy and sin-abhorring Majestie of the Lord God 2ly 2ly Take up Cordials from Christ Let thy weary Conscience take from Christs hand his Cordials as well as lay downe thy burthen on his shoulders 'T is true I am the chiefe of sinners so let repentance speak in thy soule yea But this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation so let thy faith speak viz. That Christ came into the world to save such I shall oâ—e day fall by such a strong Corruption if Conscience-trouble say so let faith say nay but Christ came into world that he might destroy the works of the Devill c. And thus in any other case of Conscience the way to have an heart sprinkled from an evill Conscience is to draw near in the full assurance of faith unto Jesus Christ having him as an High Priest over the houshold of God Heb. 10.21 22. 3ly 3ly Your wearied affections Leane your tyred affections upon the Lord Christ and in him let them rest themselves As to know Christ is the only true stay to the understanding so to love him c. is the onely true stay to the affections Set your affections on things above where Christ sits Col. 3.1 As who should say else will they flutter about as the wandring dove without any rest at all but in Christ they
not thinke onely of standing at his right hand and of receiving honour by him but also of doing homage and giving of worship to him If you must come up to Sarahs example in calling and and counting him your Lord. Thus David that Kingly Prophet takes him for his King and his Prophet whom he takes for his Saviour Psal 25.5 Lead me in thy truth there 's the first and teach me there 's the second for thou art the God of my salvation there 's the third So then since true faith doth ever take hold upon an whole Christ who is King Priest and Prophet whether it be granted that this Faith doth justifie as it receives Christ under the precise Nosion of Ruler and Teacher as well as of Priest which some affirme or onely of Priest and Surety as others doe judge that is solely as presenting his righteousnesse to God for us and as putting that his righteousnesse upon us and not as working that righteousness in us that is most usually called Holiness which seems chiefly as to respect the Princely and Prophetical office of Christ so to relate to that purifying or sanctifying act of faith spoken of Act. 15.9 rather then that justifying act of faith spoken of Rom. 5.1 Yet must I assert that no faith doth justifie but that which takes Christ for King and Law-giver as well as Saviour Isai 33.22 Faith justifies si non quâ totum saltem quae totum recipit respicit Christum Take heed soules of distinguishing here between LORD and JESUS as Judge Cook used to do by laying off of his Gown between Judge and Cook If Christs Coat be seamless surely Christ himselfe is divisionless And it is farre safer for me and you to be careful in uniting practically what God hath certainly joyned together then to be over-curious in distinguing notionally where if we divide practically we are undone everlastingly Yea are there not some Pilats that aske what is truth that even question Justification it selfe because some raise so various so dubious Questions about it and whilst these contend so much about the Cement they call into question the very Foundation and say the Builders shall agree before we build with them Yea and a receiving of him upon his owne termes Lastly I say a receiving of Christ upon his own terms Perhaps some guests would come to the Marriage when their Oxen are proved and their Farms managed c. and if they might first go and bury their Father Mat. 8.21 And thus would we be indenting with and thrusting our own terms upon the Lord Chrst but if we marry him we must marry on his own terms with him and what those are we shall have occasion to speak in the Hinderances and therefore thither we refer thee for the present Now therefore that soule that thus Assents and Consents unto Jesus Christ both in Vnderstanding and Will both in the knowledge and love of the truth the soul that thus Conceives and Receives of such a soule may we say in the language of Rev. 19.7 The marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready This is the soule that may and ought to lean the soule that may and must apply How to improve this interest this soule hath an interest And now let me call for the improvement This is the soule that should be much in meditating 2. By often meditating of this strength rest with Christ what strength and rest her Head and Husband hath received or her Psa 45.1 My heart is enditing a good matter what was that Why Things appertaining to the King and what are those a Throne and a Scepter vers 6. that is Rest and Strength and for whom Why For the Queen at his right hand vers 9. Now sirs doe we believe this that our soules are marryed to the King of glory Oh then O then why is it that we have such base and sordid familiarity and fellowship with this World surely the reason why there is so much Earth in our lives nay may I say so much Hell in our lives is because there is so little heaven in our thoughts Phil. 3.20 whereas our Conversation should be in Heaven whence we look for a Saviour 2ly 2. By often speaking of it to others This is the soule that should be much in relating what a gainer she hath beene by making Christ her beloved What Zeresh what Wife amongst you could hold your peace if your Husband should be promoted to be second man in the Land Let thy soul make her boast in the Lord To Christ himself and speak thou the things that thou hast meditated concerning the King Psal 45.1 Yea speak much of it unto Jesus Christ and say I am thy Spouse O Lord I am thy Spouse and thou hast received gifts for me therefore give strength give refreshings to me the language of Psal 68.18 speaking to Christ in the second person will warrant such pleas at the Throne of grace 3ly 3ly By enlarging affections towards Christ hereupon This is the soule that should improve her interest in Christ by enlarging her affections towards Christ Hast thou an interest in Christ for thy stay and strength say as David Psal 18.1 I will loue thee O Lord O my strength And indeed the stronger the love is the stronger the leaning will be Lastly 4ly By living the life of faith This is the soul that whose life should be made up of faith and of obedience Of Faith For saith David My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed and upon what is is fixed Why trusting in the Lord Psal 112.7 And obedience in the sence hereof Of Obedience Be the work never so crosse to flesh and blood never so great and difficult though fighting with Beasts though wrestling with Devils because she is strong in her Lord and in the power of his might Ephes 6.10 12. Never so tedious and tyresome though reaping in his Harvest even all the heat and under the burthen of the day because say the Apostles such a soule shall have rest with us yea even with Christ for when his Spouse hath wrought with him all the day of her life she shall lie down with him in the night of her death and rest from all her labours because she is interested in the Lord for so saith the Spirit Reu. 14.13 Thus the Church of Philadelphia when she had but a little strength improves it unto faith and obedience she kept Christs word there 's obedience she denyed not his name there 's faith therefore Christ will keep her from the hour of temptation and give her Victory over Satan and his Synagogue Rev. 3.8 9 10. And thus have I done with the Object viz. Christ prepared and the spring of the Act viz. An Interest or Christ appropriated I come to 3d. Consid What this leaning act in the notion of it doth import More remotely The third thing propounded in
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
is good seeking and great hopes of finding your lost soules Possibility of being found The lost Sheepe lost piece of Silver lost Prodigall were all three of them found Luk. 15.6 Rejoyce with me for I have found my Sheepe which was lost vers 9. Rejoyce with me for I have found the Piece which I had lost vers 24. This my Sonne was lost and is found Therefore though thy soule be lost yet seeke it for there is comfortable hope that it may be found Querie But maist thou say How shall I do to seek my lost bewildred soul Answ I answer The way to seeke your soules is to seek God find him and you find them for he is the God of your soules I would at once have you to charge your soules to seek God and to begge of God to seek your soules Take you paines as they did in seeking the Asses and as they when they had done all went to the man of God for them 1 Sam. 9.6 So when you have taken or shall take all paines and use all endeavours to find your lost souls go out of your selves and beyond your own labours go to God that he may find you thus David goes to God and saith Psal 119.176 I have gone astray like a lost sheepe seeke thy servant Art thou gone astray is thy soule lost Oh! seeke to God to seeke you Gods way to seek thee is by making thee to seeke him In this God works by making thee to worke with him It is safer thus to joyne the Notions then to make too nice distinctions in Theory 't is I thinke undoing to make distinctions in practice If thou say thou wilt stay till God seeke thee thou maist never be sought and if on the other hand thou trust to thy owne seeking thou maist nere be found therefore as it were quicken and stir up God to quicken thee Be exhorted hereto 1. For your own sakes Yours the loss say unto God Lord seeke my poore lost soule Let me beg this of you 1. For your owne sakes Oh! friends 't is you 't is only you that can properly be said to have the losse if thy soule be lost surely it is thy losse If thou lose thy owne soule mark those appropriating terms Mat. 16.26 Alas thy damnation will not hinder either Gods being glorified or thy faithful Ministers being saved but thine own salvation thine owne glory this is lost lost eternally Secondly For Gods sake for Heavens sake 2. For God and heavens sake Heaven loseth Although not properly yet in some sort 't is losse to Heaven when a soule is lost for 't is joy in heaven over any soule that is found The Angels rejoyce yea God saith Let us be merry for this my Sonne was lost and is found Luk. 15.32 3. For the Gospel sake for your Ministers sake 3. For the Gospels sake That loseth You pretend to love the Gospel and to love your Ministers Oh! then look after your lost soules Friends if your soules be lost 't wil be in a sort the Gospel's loss 2. Cor. 4.3 If our Gospel be hid 't is hid in those that are lost thy losse is an Eclipse a kind of hiding to the Gospel Yea if you be lost 't wil be in a sort our losse also 1 Cor. 3.9 Though I rather take this Text to be meant of the building up of Doctrines then of Hearers yet give me leave to allude unto it You have Ministers called labourers with God the labour is building Christ is the foundation v. 10. The materials are Gold Silver precious Stones these you know will abide the burning Hay Wood Stubble these are combustible v. 12. Some are Saints and precious Soules some Hypocrites some wretched Creatures Now every mans worke shall be tryed by fire of what sort it is v. 13. Whether you be rotâ—â—n or sound that day will manifest Now if any mans worke abide he shall receive a reward if your soules be saved your Preacher shall be a gainer v. 14. But if any mans worke be burnt he shall suffer loss yet himselfe shall be saved yet so as by fire v. 15. When God comes to look over a Gospel Minister and finds him faithful though soules have perished under his Ministry himselfe shall be saved yet though he be saved if they perish he shall suffer losse for those that convert many to righteousness shall shine as the Starres of Heaven Dan. 12.3 Think of this you Formalists in whose profession there is no more substance then hay or stubble no more durableness then in wood before the devouring flame Encouragement hereunto Christs office is to find lost soules Now for the encouragement as to a search after your lost soules I shal say no more but onely tell you where you may heare of them If you lose a Book or any thing else in the Congregation you go to the Clark to enquire for it because it is his office and businesse to take up that which you have lost and to save it for you Oh! goe to Jesus Christ 't is his very office Luk. 19.10 To seeke and to save that which is lost If you would heare of your long-lost soules go to Christ he can tell you tydings of them Indeed it cost Christ dear before he could take them up but you may have them againe at an happy rate He that understands the value of his soule or believes what I have said this day wil not thinke it an ill bargain to redeem his soule upon any terms Come to Christ and welcome you have lost your selves in selling your selves for naught as it is said Isai 52.3 But you may be redeemed without money and without price Use 2 Secondly From hence a word to those that were lost but are found To those that were lost but are found Art thou found Why welcome friend I am glad to see thee onely labour henceforward to follow close after that God that hath found thee The spouse was once bewildred but now she is found therefore she will lean upon her beloved That you may so do Rules 1. Be shie of the wayes of sinne 1. Be exceeding shie of thâ— wayes of sinne and of your owne heaâ—ts Oh! how cautelous is that Caution Prov. 4.14 15. Enter not into the path of the wicked and go not in the way of evill men Doe not goe do not so much as enter And then in the next verse Avoid it passe not by it turne from it and pass away He cautioneth as if he could never enough caution us surely there is great danger in having the least to do with those wayes 2. Be very observant of the true light Be very observant of the true light Psal 119.104 Through thy Precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way 3. Be watchful over thine Affections the feet of thy soul Thirdly Be very watchful over thine Affections the feet of thy soule Psal 119.101 I have refrained my feet
from every evill way that I may keepe thy word Keepe the Word and it shall keepe thee If so be that the Lord have graciously found thee Keepe thy feet and thou shalt keepe the word The third Part of this Treatise 3. Part. discovers the great concernment of lost Soules viz. to come up from the Wilderness of sinne CHAP. I. Containes two precious Doctrines 1. That there is a way from the Wildernesse of sinne 2. That it is an uphill way The latter is largely opened and applyed ANd thus much of the second maine point in our Text That every Christlesse or unregenerate soule is a bewildred and so a lost soule We passe on to the Third main Doctrine That It is the great concernment of poore bewildred soules to come 3d. Main Doctrine under which two previous Doctrines even to come up from the wilderness of SIN And so you have the third thing propounded in the draught of this MAP viz. Moses on Pisgah turning his back on the wilderness and pointing towards Canaan Before I come to handle this point I must minde you of two previous and implyed truths in these words Cometh up from the wilderness First That there is a way from the wilderness of sinne Doct. 1 The Spouse in the Text found that WAY and so left That there is a way from the wilderness and came out of that WILDERNESSE But this point I shall but mention here because I shal have occasion to explain it afterward shewing Who is this way viz. Christ how he is and came to be this way what manner of way he is and what improvement we ought hereof to make Doct. 2 The second is this and I shall a little speake to it that The way out of the wilderness of SIN The way from the wilderness of sin is an up hill way is an up-hil WAY Who is this that comes up from the Wilderness My Brethren my businesse is to chalk out unto you the best and truest not the easiest way You would have small cause to thank any man that should lead you into the way of the valleyes when your way is the way of the hills and life and death depends on the dispatch of your journey I had as live Christ should have no followers as such as will not follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes so Rev. 14.4 Now the usual posture of the Lord Jesus is Leaping over the Mountaines skipping upon the Hills Cant. 2.8 When God calls a soule by conversion 't is like his Call to Lot in Sodome Gen. 19.14 Up get you out of this place for the Lord will destroy this City Up gâ—t you out of the state of sinne for the Lord will set fire on the thickets of this VVilderness Up get you out so saith Christ to the Spouse Cant. 2.10 Rise up my love my faire one and come away Himselfe was upon the Hills and Mountaines v. 8. and therefore he calls her to come up thither that as his phrase in John is VVhere he is she may be also Therefore I said Christ had as good have no followers as such that will onely follow in the way of the plaines Proofe of it Now that the way from the Wilderness of sinne is an up-hill way I shall labour to prove by induction of Particulars considerable in that motion the terms of the motion and remarkable circumstances as to the motion of the soule in the way that leads from the Wildernesse of sinne 1. By induction of particulars 1. By induction of particulars I shall mention these four 1. Repentance 2. Faith 3. Obedience 4. Gospel-converse And verily for proof of each these I think I shall need little more then your owne ordinary expressions of your owne ordinary experience Oh! what a-doe have I saist thou to get up mine heart unto true Gospel-sorrow for my sinnes Oh! what an hard worke is it saith another To bring my heart up to a beliefe of the promises to trust God in difficulties c. Oh! how difficult to get up the hil of Gospel-obedience what pains must I take to get to Communion with God in the spirit c. 1. The way of Repentance is an up-hil way 1. The way of repentance is an up hil way This is the language of the repentant Prodigal Lu. 15.18 I will arise and go to my father without getting up nothing can be done as to repentance Sin is asleepe it is a death at the bottom of the hill and there is no repentance without an awaking an arising a getting up to the top of the Hil. Thinke with your selves and remember you that have been acquainted with repentance whether mortification for sinne mortification of sinne dying under it by the Law and dying unto it by the Gospel were an hard or an easie matter an up-hill or an down-hill way Secondly Faith is an up-hil way Have you not heard of the fath of Abraham 2. The way of faith as the scripture saith of the patience of Job Now where was it that Abraham was canonized for the father of the faithful why you have the story of it Gen. 22.14 't was in the place named Jehovah-Jireh In the Mount of the Lord it will be seen Faith must get up to the top of the Mount the Mount of the Lord e're ever it can see what it would what it should see as we go to the top of an hil for a prospect when we desire to see a great way round about us and the higher the hil is the more paines is it to get up but when we are up the farther we see Prov. 18.10 The name of the Lord which is that you know that faith leans upon is a strong Tower the righteous running into it is safe A Tower why that 's usually scituate on an Hil as there is Tower-hil in our great City and if so then he that wil into the Tower must up the hill and he that wil into the name of the Lord for security must up the Mount of the Lord by beleeving 3. Of obedience Thirdly Gospel-obedience is an up-hil way It s hard to get a great weight up an hill therefore when the Apostle presseth Gospel-obedience he bids us lay aside the weight that we may runne with patience Heb. 12.1 The old Adam is a clog to our obedience and weights easily pull us down and if down to rise againe it is up-hil work such is obedience Gods call for our obedience is like his command to Moses Gen. 32.49 50. Go up to Mount Nebo and dye there So go up into thy Closet and kill thy Corruptions let thy dearest lusts dye there pluck out thy right eye there and cut off thy right hand there I had as live dye saith a stubborn spirit as do such a thing and such verily is our natural stubbornness against God When God bids us up do this or that flesh and blood had as live dye as do it When the Gospel bids