The Types Unveiled, Chapter 7
CHAP. 7. The next condition the Children of Iſrael was in after their Deliverance from the Red Sea, was their travelling through the Wilderneſs.
IN which we may take notice of theſe things:
Firſt, Their croſs motion up and down, ſometimes this way, and ſometimes that ways, ſometimes towards their good land, and ſometimes the quite contray way back again.
Juſt ſo are the dealings of God with and in the ſpirits of the people; that although they are fully juſtified from all their ſins, by paſſing through the Red ſea of Chriſts bloud; yet the after-dealings of God (many times) are very various with his people in point of comfort, what up and down leading (of God) many times do poor ſouls find within themſelves: Sometimes they are well-nigh Canaan as they hope within them, and they can rejoyce under the ſhinings of Gods love upon their hearts, and they come to conclude pretty well of their ſpiritual conditions, when they find their deſires to run forth after God, and their affections and love to move out after Jeſus Chriſt; then the ſoul takes to himſelf the wings of joy, and begins to mount upwards in the air of comfort.
But at another time the ſoul is wholly at a loſs, and knows not what to conclude of himſelf, or his condition, he ſees nothing but confuſion within, all things out of order; the ſoul can feel little affection or love working towards Jeſus Chriſt, little heart to duty, all the ſouls zeal is gone from him, his courage gone, his faith gone, his taſte and ſpiritual ſavour gone, and all ſeems to fail the ſoul, which makes his hope to die within him, and to cry out with the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 73. 26. My fleſh and my heart faileth me. Inſomuch that the ſoul cannot believe for one days comfort, and then the ſoul concludes that he goeth quite back again even to the borders of Egypt.
Thus it was with David, ſometimes he could ſay the Lord was his ſhepherd he ſhould not want; that he was made to lie down in green paſtures, and led beſides the ſtill waters, Pſal. 23. 1, 2. But at another time he is all off his hope and comfort again, and crys out his life is ſpent in grief, and his years with ſighing, his ſtrength fallen becauſe of his iniquity; his bones were conſumed, Pſal. 31. 10.
Again, take him at another time, and then you ſhall up upon the hill of comfort again, Pſal. 23. Laſts crying out, ſurely mercy and goodneſs ſhall follow me all the days of my life.
Look you into the 25. Pſalm 17. 18. And there you ſhall ſee him down on all four again, crying out, The troubles of my heart are enlarged, O bring thou me out of my diſtreſses, ſo in the 27. Pſ. 3. v. You have him up in the Mount with God again, crying out, Though an hoſt ſhould encamp againſt me, my heart ſhall not fear, though war ariſe on every ſide againſt me, yeti…n this will I be confident: Look you again into Pſal. 73. 26. And you ſhall ſee him tumbling at the hills foot in deſpair, crying out, My fleſh and my heart faileth me. Anon you have him ready to ſing, My heart is fixed, O Lord my heart is fixed, Pſal. 58. 7. But at another time, far from that condition, but gone quite back again many miles from his Canaan reſt, Pſal. 55 4, 5, 6. My heart is ſore pained within me, and the terrours of death are fallen upon me, fearfulneſs and trembling are come upon me, horrour hath overwhelmed me; ſo was it with the Spouſe, ſometimes ſhe ſeems ſhe was in the boſom of her beloved, Cant. 2 4, 5, 6. He hath brought me into his Banquetting-houſe, whoſe banner over it is love, stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am ſick of love, his left hand is under my head, a…d with his right hand he doth embrace me: Do but look into the 5th. Chapter ver. 8. And you ſhall hear other words uttered, ſaying, I have opened to my beloved, and my beloved had withdrawn himſelf and was gone, my ſoul failed when he ſpake, I ſought him but I could not find him, I called, but he gave me no anſwer. Thus it is with the gracious ſoul, led hither and thither, up and down, back and forth, like Iſrael in the Wilderneſs over hills and vallies, mountains and bottoms, ſometimes a ſoul meets with a great deal of courage and comfort in his way to his ſpiritual Canaan, and ſome other times the ſoul meets with but a little comfort, and ſometimes none at all: But is apt to cry out oftentimes as the Pſalmiſt did, Pſal. 77. 8, 9. God hath caſt me off, and hath forgotten to be gracious, and will be favourable no more, and that he is as a dead man caſt out of mind, Pſal. 31. 12. And it may be by and by up again ſo high that he comes to conclude, His mountain is ſo ſtrong that he ſhall never be moved, Pſal. 306.