A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Contains its further opening and improvement.
FOurthly, The Relations that Satan ſtands in,4. Head. His relations. to the men of the World do greatly advantage him as to their bewildring? what was't (think you) that perſwaded the little Ones amongſt the Iſraelites to adventure into that Wilderneſſe? ſure it was, becauſe their Relations went; Their parents went, and what made their Parents go? why? becauſe Moſes their Prince and leader went; and what was't that made Moſes go? becauſe God had told him that he would be with him, and go before him, as you may clearly obſerve in that ſtory. And verily one great advantage that Satan hath to bewilder ſoules, is the relations that he ſtands in to unregenerate ſouls.
1. He is a father to the World: therefore followed readily.Firſt, Satan is in relation of a Father to them. Suppoſe you ſhould chuſe to live in a deſert, doe you think your Children would not be willing to bear you Company? to do as you doe, and be where you are? ſurely moſt Children would. You would follow a Father even into a Forreſt, though it were a place of danger; you would bee loath your Father ſhould goe alone. Naturall relation teaches in ſuch a Caſe, to ſay as Ruth to Naomi, Ruth 1.16. Whither thou goeſt, I will go, and where thou lodgeſt I will lodge. And ſuch indeed is the language of our hearts to Satan, who as we are unregenerate, ſtands related as a father, to us. The very reaſon why men doe his workes, and walk in his waies, Our Saviour gives, Jo. 8.44. You are of your Father the Deuill, and his workes you will do. They do them, and they will do them, and what's the reaſon? they are of their Father. The young mans Father in the Goſpell bids him go into his Vineyard, and he cryes I go ſir. Satan your Father bids you drink and rail, and curſe, and revenge, &c. and the Lord knowes, you goe, ſirs, at his Command.
2. He is a Prince to the world.2ly, Satan ſtands related to them as their Prince, therefore they'l follow him into the Wilderneſſe. What hath beene the common voice of theſe times? What ſhall not I go after my King? ſhall not I follow my Prince? yea, that they would, though into a Wilderneſſe. You have mention of thouſands of murderers in the Wilderneſſe. Acts 21.38. and whence was it? oh? oh! their leader that Egyptian went before them thither. So in ſpiritualls. Eph. 2.1, 2, 3, You were dead in treſpaſſes (that is, in your goings out of the way) Wherein in times paſt ye walked according to the courſe of this world (and what followes?) according to the Prince of the power of the air, the ſpirit that now rules in the Children of diſobedience: among whom we alſo had our Converſation in times paſt. &c. By nature we all walk in this Courſe (that is, race or way) as long as we ſtand in relation to, and are under the power of this Prince.
Thirdly,3. He is the God of the World. Satan ſtands related as a God unto them. What gracious heart would not willingly follow God, though he ſhould lead them into a Wilderneſſe of affliction, and ſurely Satan being their God, they are ſoone perſwaded to follow him into this Wilderneſſe of ſin; you have mention made of ſome that are loſt ſpiritually. 2 Cor. 4.3. If our Goſpell be hid, it's hid to them that are loſt. If the light be hid, or the guidance be in vain, it is to thoſe that are loſt, yea, but how came they to be loſt? ver. 4. In whom the God of this world hath blinded their Eyes, &c. He is their God, hence it is that they are loſt.
Fifthly, Conſider Satans Experience:5. Head. His experience. He hath bewildred all meerly men, therefore hee may eaſily bewilder thee. it gives him great advantage to bewilder thee: Oh Satan is ſo old a ſerpent, that he knowes all the turnings of the Wilderneſſe; and he can ſoon tell when hee doth but ſee thee, which of them all will beſt ſuit with thee. It is not ſtrange Satan ſhould bewilder thee, that hath bewildred ſo many thouſands before thee.
There never was a meere man, but Satan both led him into the Wilderneſſe, and loſt him there. Avoid her waies (ſaith Solomon of the tempting harlot) Pro. 7.25. go not aſtray in her paths, for ſhe hath caſt down many wonded, yea, many ſtrong men have been ſlain by her, ver. 26. Take heed of comming near this Lyons Den, for he hath drawn as many, as ever paſs'd by, into it. And doſt thou thinke amongſt all the ſoules that Satan hath bewildred in former ages, there hath not been ſome one juſt of thy complexion and conſtitution? if there have beene, then as a laſt made for anothers, yet if it be of the ſame ſize with thy foot, it will fit thy foot: So the ſame temptation, the ſame way wil ſerve to wilder thee. David was a ruddy man of complexion, and the Devill knew by a look of him, what path of the Wilderneſſe would entangle him. The Devill hath bewildred paſſionate folks before, and proud folks before, and luſtfull ones before, and covetous ones before, &c. and it cannot be but (what ever the length of thy foot is) that Satan by this time ſhould have a way in the Wilderneſſe fitted for thee. (As an old cheat that will have more tricks then one, that if one fail, another may take, and that the young fool might not know all. So Satan, Pro. 5.6. leſt thou ſhouldſt ponder the path of life, his waies are moveable, ſo that thou canſt not know them.) And this is his great advantage; It may be thou art a young Chriſtian, a young Saint, but thou haſt to doe with an Old Serpent.
Uſe If Satan have ſo great advantage to bewiider you.And thus you have heard, what advantages on all hands, Satan hath to bewilder the ſoul. I ſhall deſire the improvement of it in a word or two. You have heard that our own hearts are Wildeneſſes of ſinne, and tempters too into the Wilderneſſe: that Satan by Legions, and their ageement being a ſpirit himſelfe, and and …n Angell, and a Devill, as alſo being a Father, a Prince, a God, to the naturall man, and laſtly being an old Serpent, experienced in all the windings and turnings of the Wilderneſſe, is eaſily able to bewilder ſoules, and if you be convinced: then
1. Caution in the choice of your way.Firſt, Be very carefull in the choice of your way. Would you cleanſe your way, then take heed thereto. Pſ. 119 9. My friends, as you would tremble at the thoughts of following Satan as your King, and God, and Father, in his way, bee very carefull in the choice of your own waies. I have obſerved that careleſneſſe of our waies is the adding of advantage to Satan, to all his advantages, and 'tis as if you ſhould ſay, Satan hath not enough already, Ile give him more. How many are there that goe on and on, and never conſider in what way or to what end? He that goes and conſiders not whither, is like to be loſt he knowes not where. Jer. 3.12. God calls Iſrael a back-ſliding people. It followes, ver. 13. acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou haſt tranſgreſſed (or gone out of the way) and and haſt ſcattered thy waies to ſtrangers. Mark that Thoſe that are inconſiderate and heedleſſe of what things they have, are they that ſcatter them. Here's a ſcattering of waies to this ſtrange temptation, and that ſtrange luſt, &c. now what is the way to keep from ſcattering, but by narrow looking to that which otherwiſe we ſhould ſcatter? As David ſaith, I ſaid I will take heed unto my waies! Pſal. 39.1. Thoſe then that are heedleſſe of their waies, are ſcatterers of their waies: and know it, ſirs, whatever waies you ſcatter, Satan will be ſure to gather. Scatter a Sermon out of your memories, and theſe fowls of the aire will pick it up, and carry it away. Scatter but a thought or any affection on a carnal or ſinfull object, the Devill will ſnatch it up and carry it away. This then is the deſperate folly of our hearts, that by heedleſneſſe wee ſhould ſcatter our waies to ſtrangers. Therefore ſaith the ſame Prophet to the ſame People, Jer. 6.16. thus ſaith the Lord, ſtand ye in the waies, and ſee and ask. &c. Surely many a man's bewlldred, becauſe when time was, he did not ſtand and ask. Oh that I could bring but ſinners to a ſtand this day! whither away ſo faſt, thou galloping drunkard, & ranting roiſter? What, wilt not once ſtop before thou lighteſt at Hell-Tavern? Wilt thou take all the wayes thou hitteſt upon, without once enquiring whether thou art in the right way? Oh! Pauſe a little, and aske and ſee: Perhaps there may be nere another houſe betwixt thee and the Wilderneſſe to inquire at: Perhaps thou maiſt never heare a Sermon more, or be at a publique meeting more, and therefore whileſt thou paſſeſt by the doore of this dayes diſcourſe, ſtand a while, and aske and ſee. What madneſſe is it to runne prepoſterouſly into any way, when a ſober inquiry might find a right? I am confident this is the undoing of many a ſoule, they are never brought to a ſtand, till Hell ſtops them. But let us take Gods counſell to day in Gods feare, to ſtand and ask, and ſee and chooſe. Two Expreſſions of David laid together, may engage Chriſtians hereunto, Pſal. 119.30. I have choſen the way of truth, I have ſtuck unto thy teſtimonies, verſe 31. And I will run the way of thy Commandements. Oh! ſirs, Chooſing Chriſtians will be ſticking Chriſtians. If you will walke in Gods wayes deliberately, and of choice, you'l find in your heart to ſtick to thoſe wayes; yea, though you mend your pace, yet to keepe your way; though you runne, yet to ſtick ſtill: and then though thou ſee the God, and King, and Father of the world, going another way, and all the world in courſe following after him; yea, though thy naturall heart had been accuſtomed too, and had loved the other way; yet having made ſuch a ſtand, and in thy ſtand ſuch a choice of this way, here thou wilt ſtick notwithſtanding all the other wayes.
2ly, Be carefull of your Way-markes.2ly, Since Satan hath ſuch advantage to bewilder you, be very obſervant of your Way-markes: you heard before of taking heed unto your waies, and this muſt be according to Gods Word, Pſal, 119.9. If a Father ſend his Sonne ſuch a dangerous journey, where there are many upon the Way, whoſe buſineſſe it is to turne the traveller aſide, that they might in a Corner make a ſpoile of him; the young man knows not the way, only the Father gives him a Paper of directions concerning it. At ſuch a place you muſt turne on the left hand of ſuch a ſteeple, and when you goe farther, you muſt turne on the right hand of ſuch a Wind-mill, &c. Now when he comes to ſuch a place, and ſees ſuch a ſteeeple, he perceiveth the marks to be true markes: a Robber enters diſcourſe with him, enquires his way, tells him his way lies right with his, they come neare the ſteeple or windmill, &c. The Robber tells him, he muſt turn one way, he lookes on his Note, and that ſaith he muſt turne another; upon this he ſeaſonably and ſecurely parts, and avoids the danger by due obſervance of his Way-marks. Therefore ſaith God to Ephraim his Son and deare Child, to repenting Ephraim, Jer. 31.21. Set thine heart towards the high way, ſet thee up Way-marks. My Brethren, leſt the lying Devill ſhould bewilder us, God hath given the Holy Scriptures for Way-marks unto us. Keepe your Markes, or loſe your way. God hath (bleſſed be his name!) ſet down in a Paper, which way we ſhould goe, and what way we ſhould turne from, both upon the right hand, and upon the left. And this uſe of the Scriptures is preſidented to us by Chriſt himſelf the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God. Satan leads him to the Wilderneſſe, with deſigne (could it have been) to bewilder him there: He would turne him as you heard before, into many wayes, preſumption, ſelf-murder, &c. but Chriſt, though he knew of himſelfe the evill from the good, yet (to direct us too, and to credit the uſe of the ſcriptures herein) He looks upon his writing, and turnes off all upon that account. No ſaith Chriſt, ſpare thy Counſels, and get thee behind me Satan, thy wayes, and my Way-marks doe not agree, Mat. 4.3. Go this way ſaith Satan, no ſaith Jeſus, verſe 4: It is written, &c. Then goe that way ſaith Satan; verſe 6. And becauſe he tempt… againe, Jeſus ſaid unto him, it is written again, &c. verſe 7. But then ſaith Satan, if thou wilt goe neither of the other, yet goe this way, and thou ſhalt get by it: All theſe will I will give thee, if thou wilt worſhip me, verſe 9. No, ſaith Jeſus, Get thee hence Satan, my writing ſaith I muſt goe another way: For it is written, Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and him onelyonly, verſe 10.
Note.You may ſadly obſerve in theſe times, how ſoone they that have flowne off from the Scriptures, have alſo flowne off from all the wayes of God: Theſe are the Way-marks whereunto you doe well if you take heed, 2 Pet. 1.19.
3ly, Take great heed unto your guide.3ly, If your enemy Satan hath ſuch advantage to bewilder, then take you great heed of your friend and guide, keep cloſe to Jeſus Chriſt. 1. To his footſteps. 2. To his voyce.
1. His footſteps.Firſt, Keepe cloſe to the footſteps of your Guide; His waies are all juſt and true, who is the King and leader of the Saints, Rev. 15, 3. Therefore thou canſt not goe amiſſe in keeping cloſe to his foot. In all the Hiſtory of Jeſus Chriſt, what waies you read that he walked in, thoſe wayes walke you in. I finde him much in the wayes of ſtrict Obedience to all Gods Commandements, of full beliefe in all Gods promiſes, of ſelfe-denyall, Righteouſneſſe, and ſobriety, as to the things of men, and his own things, and of exact carefulneſſe in all Gods Ordinances, and Worſhip publique and private, in thoſe wayes doe you walke. We may take up a lamentation for ever, when wee thinke how prompt and ready we have been, to follow the courſe of him that is God of the world, and how backward and unwilling to follow Jeſus Chriſt, who is the King of Saints. 'Tis ſaid of Abraham (and it muſt be ſo of you, ſirs) Iſai. 41.2. That God called him to his foot. Oh labour thou to keepe thee there.
2. His voice.2ly, Keepe cloſe to your Guides voyce. If you bee ſometimes as thoſe in Iſaiah, Walking in darkneſſe, and having no light; if you cannot ſee his footſteps, yet you may heare his voyce, and if you walke exactly after that, you may keepe your way at midnight, Iſai. 30.21. Thine ears ſhall heare a word behind thee, ſaying, this is the way, walke in it, when you turn to the right hand, or to the left. Though there be legions to bewilder thee on one hand, and the corrupt inclinations of thine heart within on the other: yet hath God promiſed a voice behind thee, he purſues thee with ſuggeſtions, and motions of his owne ſpirit. OnelyOnly grieve not that holy Spirit, by ſtopping thine ears againſt his wiſe charmings. Wh…re there is ſuch a word to ſay, this is the way, 'tis fit there ſhould be Ears to heare. He that hath Eyes to ſee the Guides footſteps, and Ears to heare his voyce, and writes down in his heart thoſe Way-marks, will doubtleſſe hold on in his way as the righteous, Iob 17.9. Yea, and as the Innocent, grow ſtronger and ſtronger.