A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 7
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 (thats groſs darkneſs) that hea… 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 Moſe…, 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 multitude…, 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 the way, verſe 12. destruction and miſery are in their ways, verſe 16. 'tis as much as if he ſhould ſay, ſin firſt bewildreth and then deſtroyeth; verily there were multitudes that dyed in that wilderneſs; and that which killed them was this wilderneſs: God threatneth it, Numb. 14, I have heard their murmurings, ver. 27. your carkaſes ſhall fall in this wilderneſs, even all that were numbred of you, verſ. 29. which were Six hundred thouſand, and Three thouſand, and five hundred and fifty, able to go out to war (beſides the numerous tribe of Levi, which were not numbred (and yet periſhed) with the reſt, Numb. 1.46, 47) God brings it to paſs, Numb, 64.65. Amongſt all theſe, there was not a man that eſcaped, but Caleb and Joſhua; for the Lord had ſaid of them, they ſhall ſurely die in the wilderneſs: you have both it and the reaſon yet more expreſs, Joſh. 5.6. Iſrael walked in the wilderneſs, till all the people that were fit for war were conſumed, becauſe they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: You ſee what reaſon I have to ſay, 'twas this wilderneſs made that deſtructive: Zelophehads daughters confeſſion is very remarkable, Numb. 27.3. Our father died in the wilderneſs (in the beginning of the verſe) he died in his own ſin (in the latter end of the verſe) you have the ſame conjunction, Heb. 3.17. He was grieved with them that had ſinned, whoſe carkaſes fell in the wilderneſs, 1 Cor. 10.5. with many of them God was not pleaſed, for they were overthrown in the wilderneſs: It would ſeem uncharitable and rigid doctrine, if we ſhould now ſay, that as many as came out of Egypt, yet died in the wilderneſs, ſo many are born in the world, yea in ſome ſort come out of Egypt, get ſome knowledge, ſome light, and yet periſh and die in ſin; yet certainly there is a proportion of truth in it, that is, heaps upon heaps, multitudes, and thouſands upon thouſands that are called Iſraelites, that are named Chriſtians, do yet periſh in this wilderneſs; and there are but a few, one of a family, and two of a tribe; ſome Joſhua's, and ſome Calebs, that fulfil to walk uprightly, and that come ſavingly to enjoy a Canaan, ſo deſtructive is the wilderneſs of ſin: More particularly it appears to be ſo in theſe four reſpects.
The Famine of the wilderneſs is waſting and conſuming.
The Thorns of the wilderneſs are rending and tearing.
The Serpents of the wilderneſs are biting and envenoming.
The wilde Beaſts of the wilderneſs are ranging and devouring.
1. The famine of the wilderneſs is diſmul and deſtructive.Firſt then, You have heard before that the famine of the wilderneſs is diſmal, 'tis deſtructive alſo; therefore have you mention, not onelyonly of waſting, but of dying in the wilderneſs, they and their cattel, Numb. 20.4. for want of bread and for want of water, Numb. 21.5. you have mention alſo of a burning hunger, and bitter deſtruction, Deut. 32.24. the ſame thing is repreſented by the parable of the loſt ſon, Luke 15. you have his confeſſion, verſe 17. I periſh with hunger: Tis a burning hunger that poor ſouls undergo, that have not a God, a Chriſt, a Covenant to feed upon; they that are loſt, muſt needs periſh through this hunger. If David oppoſe an intereſt in God to all natural good to ſupport life, corn and wine, &c. Pſalm 4.6, 7. If onelyonly they that fear and ſeek the Lord are provided for, whilſt Lions (the chief beaſts of the wilderneſs) yea, yong Lions (the chief ſtate of thoſe chief beaſts) do lack and ſuffer hunger, Pſal. 34.9, 10. and that hunger be, as you hear, a burning hunger, an hunger that eats up the ſoul (as fire doth fewel) whileſt the ſoul hath nothing, no intereſt in God, no comfort from God to feed upon; ſurely ſuch loſt ſouls, ſuch bewildred ſinners, had need to make much haſte home: 'tis not a hunger unto drying, but unto burning not to leanneſs onelyonly, but unto death; you periſh with hunger, what ever food you have to feed upon beſides Chriſt; it will not be able, as we ſay, to keep life and ſoul together: 'tis chaff which prodigals may have, yet cannot fill themſelves with all; and though they feed upon it, they muſt yet periſh with hunger.
Secondly, The thorns of the wilderneſs are rending thorns,2. The thor… of the wilderneſs are deſtructive. piercing, wounding, killing thorns, as you may reade, Joſh. 8.7. and 16. you may meddle you think with ſin now, and not be pricked; but if ever God tend your conſcience, either in wrath or mercy, by theſe thorns; it will be, that God will teach you, as Joſhua did the men of Succoth, in judgement, and as God taught Saul afterwards in mercy: how hard it is to kick againſt the pricks, Act 9.5. 'tis ſaid, 1 Tim. 6.10. They erred from the faith, & pierced themſelves through with many ſorrows: Oh! what piercing, what thorow-piercing thorns are here? they are called choaking-thorns unto the word, Matth. 13.22. and therefore needs muſt they be choaking-thorns unto the ſoul; ſin ſeems blunt and ſmooth now, you will finde it ſharper another day: This I ſpeak of the guilt of ſin.
3. The Serpents of the wilderneſs are pdiſoning, and ſo deſtructive ſerpent…The Serpents of the wilderneſs are mortally poiſoning Serpents, thoſe eſpecially in the old wilderneſs do beſt ſuit with the ſerpent Sin: In the wilderneſs were fiery ſerpents and ſcorpions, Deut. 8.15. yea, Numb. 21.6. The Lord ſent fiery ſerpents amongst the people, and they bit the people, and much people of Iſrael died: Sin doth not onelyonly rend the ſoul, but envenom it too, and ſo makes the wound uncurable: You have the wicked going astray (that is) in this wilderneſs, Pſal. 58.3. You have mention of their poiſon, like the poiſon of the ſerpent, verſe 4. Their wine is the poiſon of dragons, and the cruel venum of aſps, Pſa…m 104 3. they have ſharpned their tongues like ſerpents; adders poiſon is under their lips; ſo that, as Job ſaith of the arrows of the Almighty, Job 6.4. That the poiſon thereof drinketh up his ſpirit: ſo muſt ſin, which ſharpned and envenomed thoſe arrows, much more be a ſoul-deſtroying poiſon; yea verily, what ever poiſon there is in death it ſelf, it is from ſin, 1 Cor. 15.56. the ſting of death is ſin; let not us therefore tempt Chriſt, as ſome of them tempted and were deſtroyed of ſerpents, 1 Corinthians 10.9.
4. The beaſts of the wilderneſs are devouring beaſts.Laſtly, The Beaſts the ſoul meets with in this wilderneſs, are as in the other, devouring wilde beaſts: The ſound of theſe beaſts makes the way of the wilderneſs (as you heard before) diſmal, meeting with theſe beaſts, makes it deſtructive: I'le bring lions upon him that eſcapes of Moa…, Iſa. 15.10. the beaſts of the field come to devour, yea, all the beaſts of the forest, Iſa. 56.9. ſee a full Scripture, Jer. 5.6. A lion of the forest ſhall ſlay them, a wolf of the evening ſhall devour them; a leopard ſhall watch over their cities; every one that goeth thence ſhall be tom in pieces, becauſe their tranſgreſſions are many, and their back-ſlidings are increaſed, Jer. 5.6, As long as we are, and continue in the wilderneſs of ſin, we can meet none but ſuch as like wilde beaſts will devour us, whether men or devils; they all will be found as deſtroyers unto our ſouls.1. Men devouring beaſts.
Amongſt men, I ſhal primely inſtance in two ranks, that of all others are moſt ſo, though all ſinful men, & wilderneſs companions in their kinde and degree are ſo (ſuch were the beaſts of Epheſus.)
Firſt, Sinful magiſtrates, ſinful great ones,1. Evil Magiſtrates. they are wilnerſs beaſts, and greatly deſtructive to poor ſouls; they lead men by precept, by practice into the lions den, and leopards mountains, they lead men to hell by authority, Prov. 28.15. As a ranging lion and a roaring bear, ſo is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
Secondly, Sinful and godleſs miniſters,2. Evil Miniſters. ſuch are ravening wolves, though clothed with the fleece in ſheeps clothing: I remember the Popiſh painters humor, who limning a Frier in a coul, with a wolves head, preaching unto a flock of ſheep, chooſing that Text of the Apoſtles with a little variation; God is my witneſs, how I long for you all in my bowels: Verily it is not far from the Lords own language, Ezek. 22.25. There is a conſpiracy of her prophets in the midſt thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey, they have devoured ſouls. Friends, let us Miniſters look to it, there can be but two kindes of us; either ſhepherds, or devouring beaſts, ruining the ſouls committed to us.
Secondly,2. Devils, devouring beaſts. Devils (whatever deluſions they carry the poor ſoul away with) will be found in the end, to be as Peter calls them, 1 Pet. 5.8. Roaring lions, going about ſeeking whom they may devour: therefore take heed of Satan, come he as an angel of light, yet is his buſineſs to carry you into the pit of darkneſs, the Lions den, whence there is no more return.
Laſtly, Chriſt will be found unto ſuch,3. God himſelf. the Lion of the tribe of Judah; and ſurely miſerably will that ſoul be rent, which God tears: terrible are thoſe expreſſions; I'le be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a yong lion unto the houſe of Judah: I, even I will tear and go away, Hoſ. 5.14 ſo Hoſ. 13. I did know thee in the wilderneſs, verſ. 5. they have forgotten me, ver. 6. therefore will I be unto them as a lion, as a leopard by the way will I obſerve them. I will meet them as a Bear bereaved of her whelps, and I will rent the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion; the wilde beaſts ſhall tear them, verſe 7, 8. you ſee, Men rend, Devils tear, God deſtroys; what can be more ſadly thought upon? yea the famine conſumes, the thorns pierce, the ſerpents poiſon, the beaſts devour, Is not this a deſtructive wilderneſs?