The Types Unveiled, Chapter 10 – Chapter 11
CHAP. 10. I come next to conſider the nature of the Wilderneſs.
WHich was a place of Rocks and Mountains, Hills and Vallies a place which afforded few Springs of water, a land of droughts, a place where no Corn would grow, a land of doubts and fears, a place which produced great enemies, who would in a warlike poſture oftentimes fight the poor Iſraelites witneſs Og King of Baſham, and the …malekites; beſides their curſing-Baalam, which came up with his mouth full of Curſes, with an intent to overturn the poor Iſraelites if it were poſſi…le.
Likewiſe this Wilderneſs might be called a place of Wonders and Miracles, becauſe of the wonderous appearances which God did give out of himſelf in delivering of them from the hands of the enemies, and in bringing of them ſafe to their promiſed land of Canaan, as in Pſal. 78. where you may ſee at large.
Now do not our ſpiritual Wilderneſs condition mightily ſimbolize with this deſcription of the Wilderneſs of old.
O what Rocks of danger do the ſoul ſometimes meet with in his Pilgrimage here in this world, what diſmal providences doth the ſoul paſs under while on this ſide Heaven, what trials and temptations doth God exerciſe his people under ſometime in this world, which like mighty Rocks and Mountains ſtand up before the ſoul to his great diſcouragement
How much poverty doth God exerciſe ſome Godly ſouls under, what ſtraits and hardſhips do ſuch hearts paſs under becauſe of it, ſometimes what ſickneſſes and weakneſſes do others paſs under for many years together; what laſting Impriſonment do others of his people many times paſs under in ſome parts of the world. Thus God leads his people up and down amongſt the Rocks and Mountains of difficulty, and ſometime from thence into the Valleys of deſpair and horrour, inſomuch that the ſoul is made to cry out often times, My fleſh and my heart faileth me, Pſal. 37. 26.
Thus it was with David, a man who was led a great part of his pilgrimage over Rocks and Mountains of diſtreſſes, how did God ſuffer the hand of King Saul to go out againſt him, how did Saul purſue the life of poor David from place to place, which made him to cry out, I am purſued as a Partridge upon the Mountains, and that he ſhould one day periſh by the hand of Saul, 1 Sam. 27. 1. Then the men of Keilah ready to betray him at another time, 1 Sam. 23. 7. Then Saul comes out againſt him with no leſs then three thouſand men purſuing of him, 1 Sam. 24. 2. At another time his Ziglag burned, and his Wives taken captive, his goods taken from him, and his own ſervants ready to ſtone him, 1 Sam. 30. 6. And at another time his own Child raiſeth up in Arms againſt him, 2 Sam. 15. 14. You may take a farther view of the mans condition, Pſ. 73. 2. As for me my feet had well nigh ſlept, and my ſteps were almoſt gone, Pſal. 31, 4. with Pſal 30. 3. Pull my feet out of the not which they have privily laid for me, thou haſt brought my ſoul out of the grave, and thou haſt kept me alive; ſo Jonah 2. 2, 3, 4. I ſaid and cryed by reaſon of my affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me out of the belly of hell; for thou haſt caſt me down into the deep, into the midſt of the ſea, and the flouds compaſſed me about, all thy billows and waves paſſed over me, then I ſaid I am caſt out of thy ſight, yet will I look toward thy holy Temple.
Thus you ſee what Mountains and Rocks, Hills and Valleys the Children of God are led through in this world.
Uſe 1.
Then this ſhould quiet the hearts of Gods people, if his dealing be ſharp and hard with them, alas Chriſtians you muſt know you are in the Wilderneſs while in this life a place of Rocks and Mountains; if you are exerciſed underhand tryals, its but with you as it hath been with the deareſt ſervants of God, the people of God of old had their Wilderneſs; the Church in the primitive times had their Wilderneſs, and thou muſt expect to meet with thy Wilderneſs if ever thou intendeſt to ſit down in Canaan, St. Prul tells you that this is common to Saints, to be led up and down by the Lord in the Wilderneſs, 1 Cor. 13. 10. There is no temptation but what is common to Saints, ſo ſaith the Church, Pſal. 60 3. Thou haſt ſhewed thy people hard things, thou haſt made us to drink of the wine of aſtoniſhment.
Secondly, Have a care of murmuring and repining againſt the hand of God when upon you, or of calling God to an account for his leading of you in the wilderneſs. Remember what it coſt the Jews for giving way to a repining, murmuring ſpirit in the Wilderneſs, Pſal. 106. 24, 25, 26. Yea they deſpiſed the pleaſant land, they believed not his word, but murmured in the tents, and hearkned not to the voice of the Lord; therefore he lifted up his hand againſt them and overthrew them in the Wilderneſs.
O labour for a chearful ſpirit which will help you on in your Wilderneſs condition with the more comfort. O labour to ſing the high praiſes of God in the Wilderneſs, that's the way to ſing his Hallelujahs in the good land.
Laſtly, Have a care of grieving the ſpirit in thy Wilderneſs condition, in concluding thy ſelf out of Gods favour becauſe of his hard dealings with and this his leadings of thee, when ever ſuch a temptation ſhall come upon thee, read that good word often, Heb. 12. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
CHAP. 11. Few Springs of water in the Wilderneſſe.
The Wilderneſs afforded few ſprings of water.
THis ſhews us the barrenneſs of all beneath, things as to true comfort and refreſhment, for ſo the word Water doth ſometime ſignifie, (viz.) comfort and refreſhment, Pſal. 42. 1. Now there is little of this to be had in the Wilderneſs of this world, fix your eyes on what you will here below, here is nothing can afford you the leaſt comfort in ſpiritual trouble, it may be you have riches, honour, many friends, alas, what comfort can theſe yield the ſoul under ſpiritual trouble. This ſerves many times to help on trouble upon the ſoul, when the ſoul thinks upon the abuſe of the outward comforts which God gave him; but as to the allaying of trouble upon the ſoul, they are not to be accounted of; the Wilderneſs of this world is but an empty Well as to that water, which can refreſh the ſoul in a time of ſpiritual trouble; therefore ſaith David all my Springs are in thee O Lord, and ſaith Chriſt, it is I that can ſend you the Comforter. John. 16. 7.
Uſe 1.
Therefore ſoul if ever thou wouldſt have comfort in thy troubled ſeaſons, look not for it in any thing below Jeſus Chriſt, read that of Iſa. 50. 11. Behold all ye which kindle a fire, that compaſs your ſelves about with ſparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the ſparks that you have kindled, but this ſhall ye have at my hand, ye ſhall lie down in ſorrow. As Iſraels water ſprings lay altogether in their Canaan, ſo the believers ſprings lyeth altogether above in his heavenly Canaan, Rev. 22 2. Therefore if thy ſprings of comfort and refreſhment are but few, O conſider thou art in thy Wilderneſſe while here, a place which affords great droughts but little water; but it is enough that thou art travelling to a land of Rivers and Springs of water, and fountains of living pleaſures which are at the Fathers right hand that runneth for evermore.