The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, Chapter 25
CHAP. 25.
Containing a Second conſideration of the Text, to wit, an Allegoricall interpretation of Moſes forſaking Egypt by Faith. Warrant for Allegoricall interpretations. Forſaking this world, renouncing our natural eſtate, a difficult work. Fourteen reaſons of it.
NOw having finiſhed the point in the Literal ſenſe, the going through that hard work which Moſes was ſet upon by God, Let us ſpeak a little concerning the Allegorical Senſe: Though that be not the thing which is eſpecially intended, yet we know many times the Holy Ghoſt makes uſe of Scripture in an Allegorical way: And before I enter upon it, I will name two or three ſcriptures to ſhew a warrant for what I do in handling this ſcripture in a way of Allegory.
The Holy Ghoſt doth make uſe of Scripture not only according to the primary ſenſe, but according to the Metaphorical and Allegorical ſenſe, as in Pſal. 19.34. There is no Speech nor Language where their voice is not heard, their line is gone through all the Earth, and their word is to the end of the world. This is apparently ſpoken of the Sun and the going forth of the Sun in the Heavens: The Heavens, and the motions in the Heavens, and the great teſtification of Gods power therein, are compared to a Language and a voice: And the inſtruments that are to be drawn from them, are gone through the whol Earth. But marke how the Apoſtle makes uſe of this in a far different ſenſe, Rom. 10.18. But I ſay, have they not heard? yes verily their ſound went into all the Earth, and their words into the end of the world. Having reference to this place he doth not go according to the direct primary ſenſe, but he applies it to the preaching of the Goſpel, And the going forth of the Apoſtles.
And again in Math. 2.15. When Chriſt was carried into Egypt that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by the prophet, ſaying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son. It hath reference to that Propheſie in Hoſ. 11.1. Which is meant of the calling his people out of Egypt And there it is applyed to Chriſt, and in that the Holy Ghoſt doth not only apply Scripture according to the primary ſenſe, but Allegorically, and Tipically we have liberty alſo to do ſo.
And now we ſhal ſpeak of this Text in an Allegorical ſenſe two waies: And that.
1. In regard of the bondage we are in by nature under ſin, and Sathan as the Iſraelites were in Egypt under Pharoah, And as Moſes by faith forſook Egypt, ſo we muſt be delivered out of this ſpiritual Egypt, from this ſpiritual bondage, that we are in by nature, under ſin, and Satan, by Faith.
2. The Scripture compares the power of Antichriſt, & the bondage that men are in under Antichriſt to Egypt Rom. 11.8. There it is called ſpiritual Sodom: and ſpiritual Egypt: And as the Iſraelites by Faith, were delivered from the Bondage they were in, in Egypt: So faith does deliver people from the bondage of Antichriſt.
I. Then for the forſaking of Egypt, we are al by nature bondſlaves to Sin and Satan as the Iſraelites were to the Egyptians. And Canaan was a Tipe of Heaven, and the promiſe of God unto them to bring them unto Canaan, was to ſet out the condition of Gods people how they ſhould be brought to heaven: All Gods waies towards the Iſraelites in this work, were Tipical to ſet out further things that were to be afterward. Therefore by faith this Egypt is forſaken, and the ſouls of Gods people are carried on to Canaan, through the Wilderneſs of this world to heaven by faith, as they were through that Wilderneſs to Canaan: It muſt be Faith that muſt carry through this difficult work.
This is the difficult work of all works; the Bondage is the greateſt bondage, And therefore the work is the moſt difficult work that may be. If we conſider,
1. The carnal reaſonings that are in mens hearts againſt the work of God in bringing them out of their natural eſtate.
2. If we conſider the ſelf confidences that are in men being confident of their eſtate, and no way ſenſible of their Bondage.
3. If we conſider the vaine hopes that are in the hearts of people concerning Gods mercy.
4. If we conſider the dangerous miſtakes that are in people, miſtaking the way of God, and the way of life, thinking they are in the way of life, when they are in the way of Death.
5. If we conſider the curſed prejudice that men have againſt the way of God naturally.
6. If we conſider the ſtrong ingagements that men have to keep them from returning.
7. If we conſider the many luſts that are in the heart, that can never be overpowered, but by an Almighty power.
8. If we conſider the ſtrong accuſations and Terrors that are in the conſciences of men and Women, when they come to be awakned.
9. If we conſider the woful Temptations of Satan following and daunting the Soul, when it would go from this Egypt, as Pharoah followed the Iſraelites.
10. If we conſider the wonderful diſcouragements that people have in their own thoughts, when they look into themſelves, and ſee their Diſability to do any thing that is good, any Unability to reſiſt any thing that's Evil.
11. If we conſider, the perſwaſions of the world from without, when they begin to forſake this ſpiritual Egypt.
12. If we conſider, how often times God himſelf ſeems to walk contrary to them, when they are forſaking Egypt.
13. If we conſider the difficulty of the waies of Religion, at this firſt entrance, and the long time that the Soul muſt have to go in through this wilderneſs before they come to Canaan.
14. If we conſider the great venture that the Soul muſt make to venture its eternal eſtate and all its good upon the way of God that is revealed to it.
Theſe things and Many others might be named, and inlarged, that make this a difficult Work.