A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 3 – Part 4
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, 'tis 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, g…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 onelyonly 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. 'twas 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. Its 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 thee look about all things, Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Lands, Houſes, Life; and Leave, Forſake, Hate them all, and then thou ſhalt be a Diſciple unto Goſpel-obedience: Is not this every whit as much, as go up to Mount Nebo, and dye there? ſurely he never yet found this way, that hath not found it to be an up-hil way.
4. Of Goſpell converſe in ſpiritual duties.Fourthly, The way of Goſpel-Communion or Converſe with God, with Chriſt, with Saints, in the Spirit, in an Ordinance: My Brethren, is not this an up-hil way? Is it not this that makes your hearts ſweat againe, to get up, or keep up your Spirits duly in this way? Our Saviour went up into a Mountaine to pray, and unleſſe thou canſt come up into the Mountaine, thou wilt very hardly come to pray. The Spouſe looked for Chriſt in the high-wayes; that is, (as I ſaid before) the Ordinances; but ſhe had not looked yet high enough for to find him, Cant. 7.5. The King is held in the Galleries. If thou be as the Spouſe, Cant. 2.14. In the ſecret places of the ſtayrs: I am come to meet thee this day, to tell thee that the King is above in the Galleries; his voyce then to thee is this, Come up hither: for I, ſaith Chriſt, do not uſe to come down lower, the King is held in the Galleries; that is, If you be in the Spirit whilſt you are in the Ordinances, you ſhal find Chriſt, and not unleſſe you be under ſpiritual Communion, Chriſt wil not ſhew himſelfe lower, the Hebrew word bears thus much, the King is bound in the Galleries. Chriſt hath bound himſelfe by promiſe, to be found in ſpirituality of duty; and hath as it were, bound himſelf that he will not be found lower, not in formality. I judge it may refer hither, that we read of the Mountains of Prayer, the Mountaine of Holineſs, the Mountaine of Praiſe, typing that the way of Goſpel-Communion is an Up-hil way.
Secondly, If you conſider the terms of the motion, 2. By conſ…deration of the terms of the motion.of the ſoule that comes from the wilderneſſe of ſinne to grace; the term from which, the term to which.
Firſt, The term from which is the Wilderneſſe,1. The terme from which is ſo low. and it it is ſo low a ſcituation, that you cannot poſſibly come out of it, but you muſt come up out of it. Paradice was a lofty ſtate, and as it were a lower Heaven, but in the day that Adam was caſt out of it, he went to inhabite ſo low a ſoyle, ſinne I meane, that it is ſaid of it, Prov. 5.5. Its ſteps take hold of Hell If the ſinner were but one ſtep lower, he would be in Hell. Nay, what if I ſhould ſay, that the wilderneſs of ſinne, is in a ſort as low as Hell: nay, in a ſort, an Hell, Pſal. 86.13. Thou haſt delivered my ſoule from the loweſt Hell. Sinne is an hell, but I can't ſay it is the loweſt Hell; the loweſt hell is the ſecond death. If thou be in the ſtate of ſinne, thou art in Hell already; underſtand it ſoberly. He that beleeves not, is condemned already, Joh. 3.18. Damned already: onelyonly the Grave-ſtone is not yet rowled unto the mouth of this Grave, the gulfe is not yet fixed, the way is yet open, and poor ſoules may come out by beleeving.
Secondly; The term unto which ſoules move,2. The terme unto which it is ſo high. when they come from the Wilderneſſe of ſinne, ſpeakes it to be an up-hil way. You have heard of an higher and lower hell, and you may hear of an higher and lower Heaven. As ſinne is the upper Hell, ſo grace is the lower Heaven, Phil. 3.20. Our converſation is in heaven. Pauls, and the converted Philippians converſations were in heaven, that was in the lower Heaven. Memorable is that paſſage, Heb. 10.22, 23. Ye (that is living Saints) are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jeruſalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the generall aſſembly, and Church of the firſt born which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, and to Jeſus, &c. If this way that ſhall lead hitherto be not up the hil, judge ye.
3. By conſideration of this eminent circumſtance in the motion. viz. If your foot ſlip, you doe not get nearer to grace by it, but more back again into the wilderneſſe:Thirdly, If you conſider but the remarkable Circumſtances of the motion, as this now: Would you know whether or no the way out of the Wilderneſſe, be an Up-hil way, obſerve when thy foot ſlips, whether thou getteſt nearer grace, or nearer ſin by that ſlip. If thou get nearer ſinne, as thou doſt undoubtedly, then ſinne undoubtedly is the down-hil way, for we ſlip not up the hill, but down; we fall not upward, but down-ward: Now this Circumſtance is clear in ſcripture, in experience, and where not? and it is convictive hereof, viz. That the way from the Wilderneſſe of ſinne, is up-hil; for upon any ſlip our ſoules ſlip to ſinne, ſo that the Lord inſtantly cryes out, Returne ô backſlyding Children, &c. Jer. 3.22. &c. All the wayes of ſinne are backſlyding wayes, therefore they are down-hil wayes; and therefore the way from the Wilderneſſe, is to come up. Thus much for proof, and ſurely of this mind was Solomon, when he ſaid, that The way of life is above to the wiſe, that he may depart from hell beneath, Prov. 15.24. Whether you reſpect the hell of ſin, or of ſuffering for ſinne, which are both beneath: but the way of life, whether of holineſſe or happineſſe, is above to the wiſe, that is an Up-hil way.
Uſe. 1. Challenge. 1. That takes no pains, yet thinks to come out of the wilderneſs.From hence a word of Challenge, a word of Caution, and a word of Exhortation.
1. Hence let me challenge ſoules. Sirs, how is it that you dare hope of comming at length out of the Wilderneſſe, when you take no paines to walke in the up-hil way? ſurely to let repentance, and faith, and obedience, and the duties of holineſſe alone, is to reſolve to dwell in the Wilderneſſe yet ſtill, for that is the valley of the ſhadow of death, and theſe are the Up-hil wayes. Come up, come up, from the wilderneſs you idle hearts, that love to walke onelyonly in the way of the plaines. Oh! but ſay you, I have tryed to come out, but I have made no progreſſe, I can eaſily go in farther and farther; but why can I not as eaſily go out? no wonder at all, going in to it is down-hil, comming out of it is up-hil; therefore never think of coming out of it, unleſs thou take as much, nay more paines to get out of ſinne, then ever thou didſt in ſinne.
And by the way,2. That take paines to goe farther into it. let me further challenge poor wretches of very madneſſe, that in ſtead of taking paines to come up from the Wilderneſſe, take (as ſome do) much paines to go farther down into it: Alas, poor ſoules, 'tis 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, 'tis an up-hil way. Let vsus 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 'tis 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 Mountaines, there ſhall their fold be, &c. verſes 13.14. (Of this we ſpake in the laſt diſcourſe) I will ſeeke that which was loſt, and will bring again that which was driven away. I, even I, ſaith God. My friends, ſhall the Lord God make it his owne great buſineſſe to ſeeke thy loſt ſoule, and ſhall it not be thine? the Lord forbid. I would have thee know, if thy ſoule be loſt, and God ſeek it, and thou doe not thy ſelfe ſeeke it;And thy neglect a deſpight to him. if thou doe not cooperate, thou offereſt deſpight unto the Lord God. When God looks for loſt ſoules, and they would not be found, but the language of thine heart is as Ahabs to the Prophet, 1 King. 21.20. Haſt thou found me O mine enemy? Poor ſoules count God their enemy, when his Word or Spirit comes ſo near them, as to find them: why this is to offer deſpight unto God, yea, then when he is offering the greateſt mercy conceivable, yea more then can be conceived unto thee. Thou art ſcattered, God would gather thee; thou art loſt, but God would find thee; this is his challenge againſt Jeruſalem, under which it ſhould quite be ruined, Lu. 13.34. He would, but they would not. If a child ſhould loſe it ſelfe, and the father finding it, ſhould offer to bring it home againe, and the child ſhould wrangle, and refuſe his offer; what would you call this? or what would you account the child worthy of? Gods goodneſs is a leading goodneſſe, and if thou refuſe to be led by it, thou ſhalt be accounted a deſpiſer of it, ſo ſaith the Holy Spirit, Rom. 2.4.
Secondly, It is the great buſineſſe of God the Sonne. We have had occaſion to ſhew that,2. This the great buſineſs of God the Sonne. though Chriſt were never bewildred, yet was he led into the Wilderneſs, that he might learn to looke after loſt ſoules. This he profeſſeth to be his buſineſſe, Lu 19.10. I came to ſeeke, and to ſave that which is loſt. This was the errand (as you have heard) that the Father ſent the Sonne into the world about, and this he purſues, as a light to them that ſit in darkneſſe, and a guide into the way of peace, Lu. 1.79. And now ſhall it be the buſineſſe of the Lord Jeſus,And thy neglect a deſpite to him alſo. to ſeek thy loſt ſoule, and ſhall it not be thine own? Why? Thou offereſt deſpight to Jeſus Chriſt. When Chriſt tenders himſelfe as a new and living way, and ſoules notwithſtanding reſolve to be loſt ſtill, this the Apoſtle aggravates by them that deſpiſed Moſes, Heb. 10.28. and calls it a treading under foot of the Son of God, v. 29.
Thirdly, It is the buſineſſe of the Holy Ghoſt,3. It is the great buſineſs of God the holy Spirit. 1. By our Miniſtry. to bring poor ſoules out of the wilderneſſe of ſinne.
Firſt, By our Miniſtry: the Holy Ghoſt is at the charge of ſending forth guides furniſhed with Gifts for the ſeeking of the loſt, and all that expence is hereunto: this therefore the Lord ſorely challengeth, and ſeverely reprehends them for, that were called Shepheards, that they ſought not that which was loſt, Ezek. 34.4. And his ſheepe were ſcattered; yet none did ſearch, or ſeek after them, verſ. 6.Deſpite done to Meſſengers herein, is done to him that ſent them. And truly in purſuance of this meſſage, whatever deſpite you offer unto any meſſenger, you offer it (as Chriſt ſaith) unto him that ſent him; that is, the Spirit. He that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me, Luk. 10.16. And ſhall the Spirit of Grace employ ſo many Miniſters to call thee from the Lyons Den, &c. to look after thy loſt ſoule? and doſt thou not make it thine own work? Oh! what deſpite is this unto him that ſent them?
2. By his own.Secondly, By his own Miniſtry, by the miniſtration of himſelfe, his light, his grace, his guidance, Io. 16.13. The ſpirit of truth ſhal guide you. The great buſineſs of God the Holy Ghoſt, is to be a guid to poor ſoules; and ſhall it be his work, and wilt thou have no care of thine own loſt ſoule? this is to do deſpight flatly to the Spirit of grace. So ſaith himſelfe,And to neglect this, is to do deſpite unto the ſpirit of grace. Heb. 10.29. Conſider, conſider; it coſt God the Father the loſſe as it were (for a time) of his own Sonne out of his own boſome, to help loſt ſoules. It coſt God the Sonne, the loſſe of his own precious blood out of his own heart, and veynes, to redeem loſt ſoules. It coſt the holy Spirit, the ſhedding abroad of his gifts and graces, the ſending forth of multitudes of meſſengers to ſeek poor loſt ſoules; and wilt not thou make it thy great buſineſſe alſo? Wilt not thou be at any coſt or charges to accompliſh it? if thou wilt not, at once, thou doſt diſpight (not onelyonly unto me, or any others, as poor meſſengers, but alſo) unto all the three, that are one God. Wo, wo, wo, unto ſuch a ſoul!
Querie. What means coming from the wilderneſs. 1. It requires.But now the Querie will be, what this comming up from the Wilderneſs meanes?
I ſhall briefly anſwer. 1. By ſhewing what it requires.
2. Wherein it is diſpatched or attain'd.
1. Then what doth this coming up &c. require?
I anſwer.
Firſt. A life ſutable to ſuch a motion. The ſoul can never come out of this Wilderneſs,A new principle of life. viz. raiſing up. as long as it continues dead in ſin. You may call long enough to a dead Corps to come up from the Grave, except you put a new principle of life into it; and as long upon a dead heart, to come up from ſinne, unleſſe God put a new life into it. The call of Chriſt to Lazarus, put life into Lazarus, and therefore he came up from the Grave, Joh. 11.44. The call of converſion to a ſinner, puts life into the ſinner, and therefore he comes up from the Wilderneſſe as the two witneſſes, Rev. 11.11, 12. The Spirit of life entred into them, and then they heard a voyce ſaying, Come up hither. Haſt thou heard the voyce of the Sonne unto life? if thou haſt not, thou haſt not yet ſtirred from the wayes of the wilderneſſe, which are wayes of death: thou muſt have a new life to walke in theſe up-hil paths, for this is a new and a living way, Hect. 10.20. Never think to be rid of a bewildred heart, until thou get rid of a dead heart. Our Text is pregnant: VVho is this that comes up from the wilderneſſe? How came that? I raiſed thee up under the Apple tree. God muſt raiſe thee up, or elſe thou canſt not come up,: or rather God by raiſing thee up, makes thee to come up.
Secondly, A motion anſwering ſuch a life.2. New motions. viz. comming up. As the ſoul can never come up, unleſs it be raiſed, ſo ſay I, there was never any ſoule raiſed up, but was willing to come up; for that is raiſing up, when God raiſeth up us, and our wills at once. My ſoule hates their prophane Notion, that teach ſoules to lye ſtill as the beaſt in the ditch that cannot ſtirre, dawbing with ſuch untempered Morter as this, if God will, and when God will, thou maiſt and ſhalt repent, and beleeve, and thou canſt do no more then God will, and therefore trouble not thy ſelfe to take any paines, or to go any farther: my Text ſaith not, VVho is this that was taken out of the wilderneſſe, but who is this that comes out, &c. though God raiſe up, yet ſhe muſt come up. Gods motions herein may help, but muſt not hinder thine own motions.
2. It conſiſts.But Secondly, Wherein is this comming up from the Wilderneſſe diſpatched?
I anſwer.
1. In the getting up of our eyes.Firſt, In the getting of our eyes up. Oh! labour we to looke from the top of the Wilderneſſe, from the Lyons Dens, and from the Mountaines of the Leopards. Art thou going up the hil? Why? Prov. 4.25. Let thine eyes look right on. Oh! how doe Chriſtians hinder their progreſſe towards Canaan, for want of due obſervance unto this rule? We muſt be looking this way, and that way, (to this vanitie to day, to another to morrow) like fools and children, and ſo trifle away our time, wherein we ſhould diſpatch our buſineſs, Pſal. 119.5. Oh! ſaith David, That my wayes were directed, that I might keepe thy ſtatutes. And what wil he doe to this end? v. 15. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have reſpect unto thy wayes. There he gets up the eyes of his ſoule. When I have reſpect to all thy Commadements, v. 6. More expreſly, 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in thy way. Wouldeſt thou be quick in the wayes of God? Why? Turn away thine eyes from vanitie: pleaſe not thy ſelfe with it, meditate not upon it: I perſwade my ſelfe, that the reaſon why ſo few come up to the wayes of holineſſe, is, becauſe they never yet lifted up their eyes unto the beauties of holineſſe, and have therefore thought that the onelyonly pleaſing waies are in the Wilderneſs, 1 Cor. 1.21. The World by wiſedom knew not God. My Brethren, we muſt get up from our wiſdoms, (to look higher then that) or elſe we can not get up from the Wilderneſſe: that is, We muſt come verily to apprehend, judge, and account the wayes of God to be the beſt wayes; and what carnal wiſdome can doe ſo? Thus muſt you get up your eyes.
2. In the getting of our hearts.Secondly, In the getting up of your feet. i. e. your Will and Affections, Prov. 4.26. Ponder the path of thy feet, Pſa. 119.101. I have refrained my feet from every falſe way, that I may keepe thy Word. Get up the feet of your ſoules, and you get up all; when you once truly ſet your affections upon things above, then are you riſen with Chriſt, Col. 3.1. Then are you come up from the Wilderneſſe leaning upon the beloved. Drunkards, get up your affections from drunkenneſs: you Worldlings, get up your affections from the world; if your affections were once truly up, 'twere eaſie, 'twere nothing to get your converſations up; Set your affection on heaven, ver. 2. And 'twere the ready way to mortifie your members which are upon earth; v. 5.
This Doctrine hath been Practical, inſtead of Uſe, this Querie offers it ſelfe.
But how ſhall I do to get up my feet from the Wilderneſſe?
I anſwer. Take theſe four Rules.Rules to help us herein. 1. Occaſion our hearts the uphil-way.
Firſt, Let your occaſions lye this way. If a mans occaſions lye an up-hil way, it matters not much how high the hil be: he muſt go that way, his occaſions lie there, Ier. 2.24. In her occaſion, who can turn her? When your occaſions are for London, though it be up to London, yet you wil goe, and who can turne you? My Brethren, ſome mens occaſions lye in the Ale-houſe, as (Maulſters &c.) Oh! this is ſad! who can perſwade or turn them upward, when their occaſions lye down the hill, downe to hel-ward? yet I condemn not that Calling, but caution the men: labour thou to have occaſions lying at the Throne of Grace, in the houſe of Prayer, &c. and then God ſhall have more of thy company.
Secondly, Accuſtom thy heart this way. Its little to him to go up to London every week,2ly. Accuſtom we our hearts that way. that is accuſtomed to go up: 'Twil be tedious to pray, if thou doe not accuſtome thy ſelfe to pray. He that is accuſtomed to a way, can ſay as Paul, I forget what is behind, and preſſe forward to the price of the high Calling of God, Phi. 3.13.14. Though we be called to high duty, as well as high priviledges; yet on can the Saint go, that is accuſtomed to go. You read of ſome accuſtomed to do evill, Jer. 13.23. Get you the cuſtom, as well as the conſcience of doing well.
3ly. Keep we up-hil company.Thirdly, Keep up-hil Company. I am a companion of them that fear thee, and that keepe thy word, Pſa. 119.63. Oh! Company is a great ſolace in a weariſome way: if two walk together in one way, and the one fall, the other ſhall lift him up. Unchriſtian people know not the benefit of Chriſtian communion; therefore it is that they do not prize it, and ſo miſſing of the company, they often miſs of the way.
Fourthly, Above all, get a nature that may move that way.4ly. Get we a nature moving up-wards. The ſtone naturally moves down-ward, but the ſparks as naturally fly upward. If there be any ſparke of grace in thee, it wil be ſoaring upward, 2 Pet. 1.4. That you might be partakers of the divine nature; That is, the nature I ſpeak of: Oh! that will alwayes he mounting upward: if you preſs downe a flame, it will up againe: if temptation croud downe grace, as ſoone as ever it can get from under, will up againe, towards God again; what ever meanes elſe you uſe, nothing will be effectual, unleſs you get a new nature, then (though it be up the hil) you will be able to go in the new way.