A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. Containes two laſt bewildring Guides
ſeeming Grace,
wreſted Scripture.
7th Guidance, Seeming grace to turne us aſide from true grace. Inſtance.SEventhly, The next meanes of this ſort (that I ſhall name) is Satans plotting to lead us out of the way of true and reall grace, by the falſe guidance of ſeeming Grace. I ſhall give you one inſtance. There is not any Grace in the world, that doth better accord with, and more ſtrengthen another, then Faith and Humility doe mutually: Yet is there not any thing whereby Satan turnes poore afflicted ſpirits more aſide from the way of believing, then the falſe guidance of pretenſive humility. As now when the ſoule lyeth convicted under the ſence of its being in it ſelfe poore and wretched, and miſerable, and blind, and naked; the ſoule hath nothing to doe next, but to buy of Chriſt Gold tryed in the fire, and white Rayment, and Eyeſalve, &c. that is, whatſoever a loſt ſinner needs in order to ſalvation, Rev. 3:17. And Chriſt tearms are without monie, and without price, Iſai. 55.1. So then ſuch a ſoule is immediately enjoyned upon its allegiance to God, whoſe Commandment it is, That we ſhould believe, and upon righteous principles of Selfe-preſervation, freely to take as the waters of life are freely tendred, and by acting faith upon a promiſe, and with a bare hand to take hold, and to leane upon Chriſt, and ſo to come up from the Wilderneſſe. Wilt thou then, or wilt thou not? ſpeake thou that needeſt a Chriſt, wilt thou have one? Oh! ſaith the ſoule, I would faine have a Chriſt, I need him, I ſee I am undone without him; but I am naked, ragged, and aſhamed to come to him in this dreſſe; I am leprous, and filthy, my hands are not clean, and I dare not with ſuch hands take hold upon him: Humility forbids me; ſtay but till I have got better Clothes, (as ſome will ſay of their comming to Church) and have waſhed my ſelfe, and then i'le com, I am affraid and aſhamed to come before. And wilt thou ſtay from Chriſt till thou canſt fit thy ſelfe for him? even ſtay an eternity, ile warrant thee thou'lt ne're be fit. And is this humility? thou lyeſt Satan, 'tis Pride, and the height of it too, even of Goſpel-pride, to thinke that without Chriſts Sumpter, thou ſhalt be ever able to give Chriſt fit entertainment. Soules call it humility, to get ſomething for a preſent for the Lord Chriſt, as Jacob for his Lord Eſau; but this in thee is Pride, as in him it was Policy: Thou call'ſt it Humility, but God calls it Pride, Rom. 10.3. They have not ſubmitted to the righteouſneſſe of God; a ſad word. Its meere pride, and ſtoutneſſe, and high-ſpiritedneſſe, the wretched remainders of unbroken-heartedneſſe, (what ever Satan tells thee) that onelyonly is humility, that makes thee intirely cloſe with the Righteouſneſs of faith, with Chriſts Righteouſneſſe, upon Chriſts own tearms.
8th Guidance, miſtaken or wreſted Scripture.The eighth and laſt that I ſhall ſpeake to, is Satans bewildring us by the falſe guidance of miſt…ken Scripture, and this is now much in faſhion, and prevailing in the world. Time was, when ignorance was in faſhion, and for men to walke in blind purſuance of anothers ſuppoſed light: So in Popiſh times, many cared not for, nor at all enquired into the Scripture. Then for the Prieſt to doe as the Prelate did, and the people as the Prieſt did, was enough. But our times have ſeene the Scriptures brought more into uſe, and almoſt every one, at (leaſt in profeſſion) will ſay, as David (and as it's fit they ſhould) Pſal. 119.105. Thy word is a light unto my feet, and a lanthorn to my paths. Men will not now take things to bee ſo, becauſe the Miniſter ſaid it; but they will, as the Bereans did, ſearch the Scripture, and truly 'tis not onelyonly the uſe, but the faſhion now. Now marke, when Satan ſeeth that wee are ſo much for Scripture, and that the way to bewilder us is by preſſing Scripture; truly (as formerly hee laboured to ſuppreſſe it) now he will preſſe it, and oppreſſe it too;Note as a Tyrant by plain torture, to make the guiltleſſe Scriptures to ſpeake againſt themſelves: ſay you ſo, ſaith Satan? are you for light? i'le fit your turne by dreſſing my ſelfe as an Angell of light, Satan will quote Scripture.2 Cor. 11.13, 14. And thus by falſe glimmerings of the true, but miſrepreſented light, Satan turneth ſoules aſide into the ſhady Thickets of the Wilderneſs, even into Workes of darkneſſe. When Satan had once obſerved that our Saviour kept ſo cloſe to the guidance of ſcripture, Mat. 4.4. It is written, ſaith Chriſt, that man lives not by bread onelyonly. Truly now Satan himſelfe in the very next temptation will quote ſcripture too, but curtelized and abuſed; caſt thy ſelfe downe, for it is written, he hath given his Angells charge to bear thee up, &c. abuſe unſufferable … for hee leaves out that clauſe, that would have mar'd the logick of the temptation, viz. he ſhall keep thee in all thy waies; which caſting himſelf down from the Pinacle, could not be. You have mention of ſome that wreſt the Scriptures to their own perdition. 2. Pet. 3.16. They turne the Scriptures out of the way, that they themſelves may with more ſecurity and freedom turn aſide: and this trade they take up, as you ſee, from their father the Devill.
I ſhall give you amongſt many,1. An inſtance in two ſorts of perſons. but a double inſtance the one of perſons, the other as to times. For the firſt,
There are two ſorts of perſons, both of which are bewildred.
Firſt, Such as either endeavour not at all, or
Secondly, Such as, if they doe endeavour, truſt to their endeavours. Now Satan do uſually pervert Scripture unto the ſeducing of them both.
Firſt, For ſuch as labour not at all;1. Such as indeavour not at all. Uſuall i… is for ſuch, though they will not ſtand to the guidance of other places of the Scripture, yet cloſe to follow thoſe which they miſtake, and careleſly to runne on in the waies of ſin ſtill. There are ſome that never frequent Ordinances, or take any paines either in publick or private with their own ſoules, and ask them why they are ſo negligent in the weighty things of God and their own ſoules? Why? ſay they, doe not the Scriptures themſelves teach as (Ioh. 6.44.) that we cannot come to God, except he draw us: we do but ſtay for his drawing. If we ſhould take never ſo much paines, all would do no good, Without him we can do nothing (as Joh. 15.5.) and would you not have us ſtay for his coming. If the ſpirit moveth us we ſhall pray, and if God turn us we ſhall be turned, and when God wills, we ſhall believe, and repent, and till God pleaſe, we by our endeavours can do nothing. This is the language of many hearts, and upon this, their practice is to ſit ſtill: and what is this other then to be quietly kept in the Lyons Den?2. Such as truſt to their endeavours.
Secondly, for ſuch as endeavour, but truſt to what they do; theſe are as far out as the other. Ask them, what will you make your prayers, your righteouſneſſe, your alms, your attendance upon the word, your duties, your Saviour? will you reſt there? why? thoſe as you have heard, are but part of the waies of the Wilderneſſe ſtill. Say you ſo? ſaith that ſoul, nay, but you ſhall never make me believe that: doth not the Scripture ſay: waſh you, make you clean, Iſa. 1.16. Caſt away your tranſgreſſions, make you a new heart and a new ſpirit, why will you die, turn your ſelves and live you. Ezek. 18.31, 32. Doth not the Scripture ſay, If you be willing and obedient, you ſhall eat the good of the Land. Iſa. 1.19. Why? I have done thus, and I have been thus, and why ſhould not I expect to live by what I have done, and to receive what God hath promiſed, as I have done what God hath commanded? And ſo when the forementioned ſoul ſhall come, and tell God that he is an auſtere Maſter, gathering where he did not ſow, if he bid them do what the Scripture ſaith they cannot do; as that wicked ſervant. Luk. 19.21, The later wil come, and boaſt, and glory in himſelfe as that wicked Phariſee. Luk. 18.11. God, I thank thee, I have been, and I have done ſo, and ſo. Now both theſe are out of the way, and yet they think that Scripture is their guide; as that blaſphemous Papiſt, who when he had vented his popiſh tenets, and as he pretended, and perhaps thought, managed them by Scripture, hee breaks out in a wretched rapture, If I (ſaith he) be deceived, decepiſti ô Petre, decepiſti ô Paule: Peter and Paul had deceived him, Scripture had deceived him, &c. but amongſt all the reſt forgets that which was trueſt, that the Devill transformed into an Angell of light had deceived him.
Querie, But in this caſe what ſhall we do? I confeſſe they are to be ſadly pitied, that erre and think they have the Scriptures company, and countenance in their Erring (although I believe there are many that pretend the Scriptures, againſt their own light, as Satan to our Saviour.
Anſw. I anſwer, Wee are not in the leaſt from hence to ſlight the true guidance of the Scriptures, no more then wee ſhould ceaſe to drink, becauſe ſome abuſe the good creature unto drunkenneſſe. But now that we may come at this true guidance, I ſhall entreat you to deal by Scripture, as the Apoſtle ſaith of the Prophets. 1 Cor. 14.29. Let the Prophets ſpeak two or three, and let the other judge, and ver. 32. The ſpirits of the Prophets are ſubject to the Prophets. Let's hear what the Scriptures can ſay, that put the ſoul upon working, as if it had a ſelf-ability: and lets hear what thoſe ſpeake alſo, that call the ſoul off from leaning upon its owne indeavours, as being when it hath done all, an unprofitable ſervant; and lets hear what a third ſhall judge of them both, and ſurely if both kinds of Scriptures ſhould ſeem to ſtrive (as I may ſo ſay) a third would come in and ſay as he ſaid (& vitulo tu dignus & ille eſt) both have wonne. Read but Phil. 2.12.13 Work out your own ſalvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and and to doe of his own good pleaſure. You muſt work it out, yet it is God that worketh in you. It is God that worketh in you of his own good pleaſure; yet you muſt work it out: yea, and therefore; for it is God, &c.
2dly, As to times:2. In two ſorts of times. there are two ſorts of them as to Gods account, ſix daies he hath given us, the ſeventh he hath reſerved for himſelf.
Now then all the week the men of the World ſpend peaceably in ſeeking onelyonly after the World,1. Weekdaies. all the week-daies, I ſay, and they would not have you blame them for it; if they hear a Lecture now and then, they think that's more then they need to do, the Miniſter is beholding to them for their Company, and God for their attendance, and they'l have Scripture to follow too: Why? is it not written, Six daies thou ſhalt labour. 'Tis true ſay I, but again is it not written, therein thou ſhalt do all that thou haſt to do? and haſt thou nothing to do for a poor ſoul? haſt thou a Family to provide for, and many things, to do (as Martha) about them? and haſt thou no proviſion to make for a poore ſoule? of a truth this is exceeding ſad.
2. Lords-day.Again, when the Lords day comes, then ſome in the City or in the Town ſleep it, & eat and drink it almoſt all away, riſing that morning very late, (as having ſate up very late the night before at work) and goe that night to bed very early (that they may be up ſoon on monday morning to follow the World.) They take their penniworths out of the ſleep of their Apprentices all the week before, and they willingly ſuffer their Apprentices to take their penniworths out of the Lords day, morning and evening: and they will tell you they have Scripture for it too, why doth not Scripcall it a day of reſt?
Again, as for thoſe that live in the Country, and have other kind of affairs; they think if they wait but on the publick Ordinances they do hugely well, for, as for all their other time they ſpend it in foddering, or milkng, or looking after their Oxen, and ſwine, and ſheep and the like. And doth not Scripture tell them they may do ſo? they'l tell you that Chriſt allowes it them. Mat. 12.11. But doth not Chriſt that allowes thee to pull an Oxe out of a ditch upon the Sabbath: much more require thee to pull thy poor ſoul out of the fire with fear and trembling? Thou thinkſt it is fit to look after a dumb Creature that is gone aſtray upon the Lords day, and may periſh if thou looke not after it, and the Sabbath thoul't ſay, from Scripture, is a day of mercy. True, but doth the Scripture give thee leave in ſuch a day, to be onelyonly cruell to thine owne ſoule? that that may be loſt and wander in the Wilderneſſe, and never bee lookt after? Oh! take heed whileſt you pretend to be led by Scripture-guidance, leſt you become unrighteous Judges of the Scriptures in your own thoughts; though God hath ſaid: That he will have mercy and not ſacrifice; yet how canſt thou thinke, that in ſuch a day, God will have mercy ſhown to Beaſts, and to Bodies, and not to Souls?
And thus you ſee how Satan makes it his buſineſſe by Scripture-guidance, to bewilder ſoules; I could multiply inſtances.Inſtance in diſtreſſed Conſciences.
Alas! how doe poore diſtreſſed Conſcience urge Scriptures againſt themſelves, to hinder themſelves from laying hold on Jeſus Chriſt, and to the condemning of themſelves, and their courſes even to deſpair?
And how doe bold prophane ſinners urge Scripture for themſelves, and for their ſinnes,And bold preſumers. to hinder their ſoules from being humbled unto converſion, and to the juſtifying of themſelves and their courſes even unto that preſumption? I tremble to think, and I dare not ſpeake, what I have heard in this kind, leſt I ſhould put a ſword into any mad mans hand, whereby hee might kill himſelfe, unleſſe I had time enough (as to each particular) to take it out of his hand againe. I have heard Tipling, Chambering, long Haire, painting of the face, &c. defended, and pittifully too, by abuſing, and by wreſting holy Scriptures: But ſurely they that ſinne by Scripture-ſhelter, will have a miſerable Comforter of it in the latter end.
Now becauſe there's ſo much danger of being loſt under a miſtaken Scripture-guidance, I dare not leave the Saints without a word of ſerious Exhortation, that by frequent prayer they would effectually and frequently, put in ſuit that precious Scripture-promiſe concerning the holy Scripture-guide, Joh. 16.13. I will ſend the Comforter, ver. 7. and when he, who is the ſpirit of truth ſhall come, he ſhall guide you into all truth, for he ſhall not ſpeake of himſelfe, but whatſoever he ſhall heare, that ſhall he ſpeak. And thus much of Satans bewildring ſouls by falſe guidances. The