A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Adds four other Reaſons, and concludes the firſt Doctrine with Application; as alſo a word of Caution, what uſe ought not to be made of this doctrine, That ſin is a wilderneſs.
FOurthly, the ways of the wilderneſs are rough,The wilderneſs ways are uneven. crooked and uneven, and theſe obſtruct the coming out: therefore the ways of the wilderneſs muſt needs be ſtumbling ways; upon this account the prophet heightens the Lords mercy toward bewildred Iſrael, Iſa. 63.13. He led them as an horſe in the wilderneſs, that they might not ſtumble: It ſeems if an horſeman travel in the wilderneſs, he had need lead his horſe, and not his horſe carry him; ſo crooked, rough and uncouth are the ways of the wilderneſs: You have mention of deſert ways, Iſa. 40.3. they are called crooked and rough places, ver. 4. this makes them ſtumbling ways: And is ſin ſhort of a wilderneſs in this, rather then before? Compare ſcriptures, Prov. 2.13. Whoſe ways are crooked; and pray what means the word Iniquity, but unevenneſs? theſe are thoſe ways that are laid with ſtumbling-blocks. Rev. 2.14. and therefore as he that travels in the wilderneſs, and thinks perhaps now certainly to get out, but in the mean time ſtumbleth he knows not how, and by that ſtumbling loſeth that view which he had out of the thicket into the open field, and ſo falls into ſome pit of darkneſs; ſo ſaith the Holy Ghoſt of the way of ſin expreſly, Prov. 4.19. The way of the wicked is as darkneſs, they know not at what they stumble: O Sir! I would fain leave my ſwearing, but an oath drops out I know not when: O Wife, I would fain leave my drunkenneſs and gaming, &c. but when I am in company, I am drawn in, and overcome, and I know not how: I would fain (ſaiſt thou) leave my vain thoughts, but I am in the midſt of them before I know it; this is the way of the wilderneſs, and you fall in it, and yet know not at what you ſtumble. But of this more afterwards.
5. Wilderneſs ways dark ways.Fifthly, Theſe ſtumbling ways are alſo dark ways: The wilderneſs is full of thickets; wickedneſs ſhall kindle like fire in the thickets of the Foreſt, Iſa. 9.18. and theſe thickets muſt needs be dark and ſhady, when the trees thereof grow ſo thick together, and ſo interwoven with under-woods, with bryars, and brambles, that the very light of the ſun is hid away; and when the very brightneſs of heaven doth not break thorow, muſt it not be difficult for the bewildred paſſenger to break through? muſt it not be difficult for the be wildred paſſenger to break through, when he is not able to ſee any way before him, neither doth any light come to him? well may he be quite loſt: You have mention of the thick boughs, and ſhadowing ſhroud of Lebanon, Ezek. 31.3. And are there not ſuch thick boughs, ſuch ſhadowing ſhrouds in the wilderneſs of ſin? are not they, that being bewildred, want Chriſts guidance, ſuch as ſit in darkneſs, and in the ſhadow of death? then reade Luke. 1.71. Is not the way of the wicked darkneſs? then reade Prov. 4.19. Yea, are not thickets of this wilderneſs (I mean) Satans temptations, and natural corruptions ſo great, that the Sun ſhines upon the wilderneſs, yet cannot enter in? the light darts upon your ſouls, yet are your ſouls ſtill dark within, and the light of the glorious Goſpel of God ſhines not unto you? then reade 2 Cor. 4.4. Can you wonder now that the coming out of this ſpiritual wilderneſs is ſo difficult, when the coming in of the ſpiritual light is ſo obſtructed? This is thy miſery poor wilderneſs-ſoul! the light ſhines at top, and the ayr is full of it; thy head perhaps is full of knowledge, and yet thine heart that lies at bottom is ſhrouded over by the thick boughs; its no wonder thy works are darkneſs, for thy ways are ſuch.
Theſe wilderneſs ways are thorny ways.Sixthly, Theſe dark ways are full of thorns, and as you heard before that theſe make the wilderneſs way deſtructive, ſo they make the coming out of it exceeding difficult; for as one moves to the right hand, a thorn takes hold upon him; as he breaks from that, a left hand bramble catcheth him; you know what flow ſtirring there is in a thicket: and ſuch verily are the ways of ſin, thorny, as you heard before, and therefore ſuch as will catch hold upon you, on this hand to hinder you, on that hand to interrupt you, and all to ſtop your motion, and to make your coming out of ſin deſperate; and therefore as you would phraſe your hindrance by brambles, or thorns, or bryars, Oh! ſay you, they caught hold upon me, and as ſoon as I got off from one, I was preſently hung upon another on the other hand, and ſeldom could I get off from any without a rent; ſo the holy Ghoſt phraſeth temptations: So ſhe caught him, Prov. 7.13. and ſhe caught him by his garment, and he left his garment in her hand, Gen. 39.12. I appeal friends to your experiences, if temptations are not juſt like bryars unto your ſouls; even herein alſo, to retard your ſtirrings towards God, yea to rend you, if ſo be you yet get from them: Doth thy wife never catch hold upon thee, O good husband, do not strike the childe; good husband, be not ſo strict and rigorous in your office, you'l loſe your cuſtomers, and get nothing but hatred from your neighbors; are carnal friends never hindring thee in the ways of God, nor rending thee, if thou get off from the ways of ſin? theſe are the thorns of the wilderneſs, take heed of being laid hold on by them.
Laſtly,7 The wilderneſs is encompaſſing. Therefore is the coming out of the wilderneſs difficult, yea indeed deſperate, becauſe the wilderneſs doth environ: This Pharaoh knew well enough, when he ſaid, as Exod. 14.3. The wilderneſs hath ſhut them in: And this laſt adds as much as all the reſt (as giving ſtrength unto the reſt) unto the exceeding greatneſs of the difficulty of coming out of the wilderneſs; were the wilderneſs Ten thouſand miles in length, and withal but very narrow, yea were it, when thou comeſt to any part of it, open to the eaſt, though it were wilderneſs Ten thouſand miles towards weſt, and north, and ſouth, thy recovery then were not ſo deſperate; but this is the utmoſt, and it is enough: the wilderneſs it doth ſurround, yea the wilderneſs hath ſhut thee in, and how ſhouldſt thou then get out again? And if it be not ſo with ſin, ſee Heb. 12.1. Let us lay aſide the ſin that ſo eaſily beſets us, and run, &c. There is no running, I'le tell you friends, till ſins ſurroundings be removed: It ſeems Sin uſeth to beſet us, and Satan when he ſeeth us ready to find a gap (through mercy) out of the wilderneſs, makes it his immediat buſineſs to ſtop that gap, and to environ us ſtill with Sin: as for inſtance, ſuch a Miniſter is like to do thy ſoul good; and Satan ſeeth thou beginſt to have a glimering of light, and a little to ſee the open field through the thickets; now will Satan, if he can, remove thee from his miniſtry, or raiſe ſome diſcontent, that his miniſtry may be unto thee ineffectual; and a thouſand ſuch waies hath he to hedge thee into the wilderneſs yet again, as faſt as God plucks up the brambles that hinder thee, Satan wil endevour to plant and ſet more; and ſurely, if God were not quicker at plucking up temptations and obſtructions, then Satan is in planting them, never could any ſoul get out of the wilderneſs of Sin. Thus deceitful are thy firſt appearances, thus diſmal and deſtructive are thy waies, thus difficult and deſperat are thy comings out, O thou wilderneſs of Sin!
Application. To thoſe that come up from the wilderneſs.Firſt Then to thee freind, whoſoever art come up from this wilderneſs, I have a great meſſage from this truth. Surely if if any truth in the world can heighten the thoughts of Saving grace unto thy ſoule. this very doctrin may do it in the higheſt kind: What ſhall I ſay! I am come to call for the expreſſion of that mercy which is beyond expreſſion, thoughts of grace beyond thoughts: Oh the height, and the length, and the depth, and the bredth of that love which brought thee up from a wilderneſs ſo long, ſo broad, ſo great, ſo terrible! I may ſay as Paul elſewhere, what ſhall we ſay then to theſe things? Thou wert a wilderneſs, a barren, parched, ſolitary, deſtitute, wayleſſe, waſte wilderneſs; thou art made the garden of the Lord. Thou wert amidſt the famine, thorns, Serpents, ſavage beaſts of this wilderneſs, ready to be devoured, doubly, irrecoverably, everlaſtingly: And yet are thou now come forth out of this wilderneſs, and thy life is given thee for a prey. Thou wert in the great, variouſly-pathed, perplexed, ſtumbling, dark, thorny, ſurrounding waies of this wilderneſs, and yet art thou now in the one, good, living way, the way of peace. Oh! mayſt thou ſay, when I was intangled in the wilderneſs, I did never think, or hope of getting hither? but the Lord hath found me, when I was loſt, the Lord hath led me when I was bewildred. Admire then, for ever wonder at the finding mercy, and the leading grace of God.1. Admire that God ſhould chuſe thee thence.
Firſt, Ever retain high thoughts of the electing mercy of the Lord: what, conſideration can raiſe it higher? when I was as a wilderneſs, and in a wildernſes, when I was barren, and when I was loſt, that is, when I was neither fit for ſervice, nor worthy of favour, the Lord was pleaſed to pitch his electing grace upon me: Surely, if we will but grant election, let ſchooles expound it what way they will, this cannot chuſe but lift it up beyond even admiration, that God ſhould chuſe us, when he foreſaw us under theſe Spiritual and ſoul bewildrings. This is that which in Iſraels caſe is noted (if I miſtake not, as I think, I do not) the whole Iſrael of Gods election, which are Gods portion, and the lot of his inheritance, (as you ſhall find Deut. 32.9.) now this I ſay, is that whereby he heightneth the thoughts of that mercy, in which he ſingles out Jacob for his portion ver. 10. He found him in a deſart land, and in the waſte howling wilderneſs. Surely, this is Spiritually to be laid to heart, though it hath its alluſion to Jacob's hiſtory in the letter; for neither was all that Jacob, Spiritually the Lords people, portion or lot of inheritance: Neither were all they that were the Lords among them, found in that viſible wilderneſs, being all the old ones of them brought out of Egypt into the wilderneſs. 'Tis as if the Lord ſhould ſay: Iſrael was a wilderneſs, and Jacob in a deſert; I found him in a deſert land, that is, he was forſaken, I found him in a wilderneſs which was waſt, that is uſeful unto none! I found him in a howling wilderneſs, that is, amongſt Lions, and Leopards, Beares, Dragons: and yet have I allotted him to be my portion and inheritance: ſo that this Scripture is in ſubſtance (in my thoughts) the ſame with that memorial of the Lords dealing with his people in their natural condition,2. Admire that ever God ſhould bring thee thence. and in ſin, Ezek. 16.3. &c. caſt out into the open field, &c.
Secondly, For ever wonder at the calling mercies of the Lord. Thou wert in a wilderneſs, that ever God ſhould ſend a Chriſt to call thee thence; wert a loſt ſheep in that wilderneſs, that ever Chriſt ſhould beſtow the pains to look thee out, and to take thee up, to lay thee upon his ſhoulder, and to bring thee home again: O what exceeding great mercy is here! God might have given thee for gone, and though he had found thee in the wilderneſs, yet might he have left thee alone, and left thee as he did ſo many of the Iſrael of old, to die in the wilderneſs; or (which is all one) ſo many of Iſrael afterward to die in their ſins, John 8.24. but having found his Jacob in the wilderneſs, and having choſen him thence for his own portion, he crowns his finding-mercy, with a leading-mercy; his directing, with a protecting mercy: He ſeconds his protection with proviſions, he ſupports and ſupplies: He found him in the howling wilderneſs, he led him about, he inſtructed him, kept him as the apple of his eye; as an eagle ſtireth up her neſt, fluttereth over her yong, ſpreads abroad her wings, taketh them, and beareth them on her wings, Deut. 32.9, 10, 11. Thus hath God dealt with thy poor bewildred ſoul; he hath taught thee the way, he hath led thee in the way, he hath protected thee from danger, and as in verſe 12. he hath made proviſion for thee: This is the Song of Moſes, and truly I am the bolder to make improvement of it to all converts, becauſe it is alſo the Song of the Lamb, Rev. 15.3. Now Friends, look to it, if after God hath found you thus like Jacob, and hath dealt ſo with you, and you inſtead of a thankful, humble, holy, and continual remembrance thereof, with Jeſurun wax fat and kick (that's rebel againſt him and grow carnal) and forſake the Lord, and lightly esteem this rook of your ſalvation; as ver. 15. know, that it will provoke the Lord to jealouſie, as verſe 16. as zeal is the height of love, ſo is jealouſie of indignation: jealouſie you know, follows upon miſcarriage after greateſt engagements: A man is fearful of his foe, but jealous of his friend; of his boſom friend, of one that he hath done moſt for, is he moſt jealous, if he begin lightly to be eſteemed. Take heed friends: The Lord tells you, Prov. 6.34, 35. Jealouſie is the rage of a man (and if ſo, ſurely it is the ſury of the Lord) and therefore he will not ſpare in the day of vengeance, he will not regard any ranſom, neither will he reſt content, though thou offer many gifts: It may be, yea (if God have ſet his love upon thee) it ſhall be that thou ſhalt be ſaved, but thou ſhalt yet pay dearly for thy ſin; thou ſhalt offer gifts, and yet not be accepted; yea, many gifts, and yet not finde thy ſervices regarded; thou wilt never finde the Ten thouſandth part of that ſweetneſs in ſin: Therefore if ever God have brought thee out of the wilderneſs, take heed of venturing in again: If ever God bring thee out, it ſhall be through the thorns and bryars.
Thus much for uſe of the point: I have but one thing more upon my thoughts, and that is the taking off the uſe; I would rather call it the abuſe, of ſuch a truth as this is, which ſinners make unto themſelves.
Is ſin a wilderneſs, may a prophane heart ſay,What uſe ought not to be made of ſins being a wilderneſs. are there thickets, dark and ſhady places there? That's it, ſaith he, that I would have; for my part, let who will love it, I hate the light, and care not for coming to it; then what care I though it come not to me? my works are works of darkneſs, my time is tempus tenebrionum, the times of Lions riſing for their prey, the twy-light, the evening, the black and dark night: Is't a wilderneſs? I am glad you tell me of it, 'tis ſo fit for my purpoſe: I love to go from ſin to ſin, and I was afraid I ſhould never have found ways of ſin enough; never enough cheating varieties, never enough diverſities of uncleanneſs: I am almoſt weary of tracing backward and forward the ſame paths: I am glad I can hear of freſh paths, there I can walk with new delight: I am glad to hear of ſuch thickets: Oh! there I can pleaſe my minde with ſecurity, and ſin with ſhelter: I am glad you tell me of theſe wiles and entanglements: I hope now you Miniſters ſhall never be able to finde me out; I was afraid of nothing, but leſt theſe thickets ſhould have been cut down, and leaſt the Sun ſhould then look in upon me; leſt a gap ſhould have been made into the wilderneſs, and all your Pulpit-terrors have made an inrode upon me, and either frighted me from my prey, as they have been ſometimes ready to do; or at leaſtwiſe, to have made me eat my prey in fear, and ſo to have ſinned with leſs delight.
Poor wretch! Is this it that ſo ſatisfies this prophane phanſie? That thou haſt now got ſhelter from the ſtorms, and light of God, and that thou ſhalt not now be found out? Thou might'ſt think that, though none could come in to thee to diſturb thee, yet are there enough within thy wilderneſs to devour thee: The Lions are but yet aſleep, not yet rouzed from their den, there's time enough for conſcience to awaken yet, and then what ſhall become of thee? but to let this paſs, Know that;
Though ſin be a wilderneſs unto thee, that thou canſt not finde a way to God, yet is it not a wilderneſs unto God, but that God can eaſily finde a way to thee: There are two things remarkable concerning God, with reſpect unto the wilderneſs wherein thou art.
1. The Lord can and will diſcover it, and what wilt thou now do?
2. The Lord can and will ſhake it, and what wilt thou now do?
Firſt, Though thou hide thy ſelf in the thickets of Carmel, yet will God ſearch and take thee out thence, Amos 9.3. God knows, and well obſerves all the ſecrecies, paſſages, windings and turnings of this wilderneſs of ſin: This is that which the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, Pſal. 29.9. The voice of the Lord diſcovereth the forests, and in his temple we muſt ſpeak this unto his glory: It ſeems the wilderneſs may for a time cover thee, but what wilt thou do when the Lord diſcovers that? The heart-ſearcher is, you ſee, a ſearcher of Carmel, and the heart-diſcoverer, is a diſcoverer of the wilderneſs. This is his glory, which (if you perceive it not in his Temple now) you ſhall reſt aſſured of it, whether you will or no, another day.
Secondly, Though thou lie ſecure at the bottom of theſe thickets, and think that no danger ſhall reach thee, yet even there (as his language is in Amos 9.4.) He ſhall commaud the ſerpent, and he ſhall bite thee: Thou goeſt into the wilderneſs for ſhelter, thinking to bear off ſtorms of wrath and conſcience, by farther ſining; but Pſal. 29.8. The voice of the Lord ſhaketh the wilderneſs, the Lord ſhaketh the wilderneſs of Kadeſh: What wilt thou now do? A man goes into a foreſt, or thicket, &c. to keep off the rain that falls in ſmaller drops, and it doth ſo for a ſeaſon; but by and by there riſeth a great wind, a ſhaking wind: Who hath the beſt on't now, he that's in the wilderneſs amongſt the thickets, or he that is in the open field? Now that that would have fallen before but in ſmall drops, and this winde would have dried again, falls upon him, nay rather is poured down upon him as it were full viols, and this winde drives it thorow him: Theſe are the direct iſſues of theſe ſhakings of the wilderneſs: Death is a ſhaking wind to all, but yet it is a drying wind to thoſe that are got out of the wilderneſs, that have an intereſt in Chriſt; but a drenching wind to thy ſoul, whoever art in ſin: Conſider this before the Lord ariſe, as he is determined, Iſa. 2.24. tearibly to ſhake the earth: I, but ſay you, we ſhall hold together, and chear one another for all this; therefore ſaith God, Iſa. 9.18. Wickedneſs burneth as the fire, it ſhall devour, and ſhall kindle in the thickets of the forest; yea, Nahum 1.10. Whileſt they be folden together as thorns, they ſhall be devoured as ſhubble fully dry: You ſee, the very thickets where the thorns are folden moſt together, ſhall be devoured: This is that which the holy Ghoſt otherwiſe expreſſeth; Though hand joyn in hand, yet ſhall not the wicked go unpuniſhed, Prov. 16.5.