A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Contains the ſecond, third, and fourth Particulars; that from the womb in the wilderneſs; boys and girls; yong men and maidens in the wilderneſs of ſin: proved and applyed.
2 From the womb in the wilderneſs.SEcondly, As in the womb and day of birth, ſo from the womb and birth-day, the unregenerate are ſpiritually bewildred.
Take your account from the very womb, the Scripture will begin as ſoon as you, which ſaith, Pſalm 58.3. The wicked are eſtranged from the womb, as ſoon as they be born they go aſtray. You uſe to ſay of little children, they have no hurt in them; verily as ſoon as they have any thing in them, they have hurt in them; as ſoon as they go, they go aſtray, and what's that but to be bewildred? Iſa. 48.8. Thou wast called a tranſgreſſor (that is) one turn'd out of the way from the womb: The very firſt ſteps that the childe can take, when it begins to go alone, are ſteps in the wilderneſs, quam primum ingreditur, tranſgreditur: Have you not obſerved rebellion, and the old Adam in the firſt geſtures, and looks, and broken words that your children learn? won't, won't, ſaith the childe, when't can ſay no more; and wrangles, and fights, againſt it's beſt friends: Surely 'tis not for nothing that the Holy Ghoſt ſo often joyns the character of our natural ſtate to the word children, thus; children of wrath, children of diſobedience, rebellious children, children that are corrupters, back-ſliding children, &c. I believe that though he ſpeaks unto men and women, yet by the phraſe he imports (as the former Scriptures aſſerted) that they began thoſe ways when they were but children: Friends, you delight in your children when they begin to go, O pity them herein, that now they begin to go aſtray.
Thirdly, as little children newly ſpeaking are ſpeaking lies,3. Boys and girls in the wilderneſs. and newly going, are going aſtray; ſo boyes and girls (I mean of bigger growth (playing in the ſtreets of your town, you may finde them ſporting in the pathes of the wilderneſs: In this ſenſe is thats too true, that God hath promiſed to fulfil in a better, Iſa. 6.7, 8. The ſucking, the weaned, the little childe playeth with the lion, and leopard, and lay their hands upon the hole of the aſp, and cockatrice den.
And verily the elder they grow in years, the farther they go into the wilderneſs: The Devil counts it not loſt labor to play with your children in the ſtreets, to teach them ſinful words, apiſh geſtures, and to tread out ſuch pathes in the wilderneſs for them, as their little feet may take pleaſure to trample in: But hearken little children, and I will (tell you a ſtory that may) teach you the fear of the Lord: If little children, even little children, you of five, ſix, or ſeven years of age, will be medling with the ſinful ways of the wilderneſs, the wilde beaſts of the wilderneſs will not be far off: Turn your children often to that ſad ſtory, 2 Kings 2.23. There came forth little children, and mocked the prophet, and ſaid, Go up thou bald head, go up thou bald head; (a buſineſs perhaps that ſome of you would rather ſmile at, then ſmite at in your children, and ſay, more years will teach them more wit, &c.) but theſe, though children, were under a curſe from the Lord, even a wilderneſs-curſe, as it was a wilderneſs ſin; and the Prophet turned back and looked on them, and curſed them in the name of the Lord, and two ſhe-Bears out of the foreſt came, and devoured forty and two children; and perhaps (though I would gladly be charitable) that the Bears no ſooner rent a ſunder their little carkaſes, then the roaring Lyon ſeized upon their ſouls: Children, take heed of curſing, and lying, and miſ-calling, and mocking, and ſtealing, and playing at prayers, &c. If you would keep out of the way of the Bear, keep away from the ſide of the foreſt, meddle not with ſin.
Let this affect the hearts of parents; ſay not of your children, as Paul of himſelf, 1 Cor. 13.11. When I was as a childe, I ſpake, and underſtood, and did as a childe; but when I became a man, I put away childiſh things from me:
What do you talk, ſay you, 'tis but a childe, and afterward it will it ſelf, as Paul did, lay aſide and forget theſe childiſh ſins: Truly Friends, 'tis well when it is ſo, but 'tis not well for you to truſt to this that it will be ſo.
Ʋſe. To parents to teach the way.You'l ask me then, What ſhould you do?
Why firſt, Are thou not bound to do as much for a childe, or an Apprentice of thine own, as thou art for an ox, or an aſs of thy neighbors? Art thou not bound to do as much for a childe of thy friends, committed to thee, or thine own childe, as for an ox or an aſs of thine enemies? Exod. 23.4. If thou meet thine enemies ox, or his aſs going aſtray, thou ſhalt ſurely (a ſtrait in junction) bring it back again: and wilt thou let thy childe go aſtray, and not ſet that into the way, but leave it loſt and bewildred ſtill? O the vanity of that phanſie of late growth, that children muſt not be taught the ways of God, becauſe not able to underſtand them! and tell me what old one is able without teaching? Was not Nicodemus, a Doctor, as ſimple as a childe? &c. Did he not propound as childiſh queſtions, as to the myſteries of the Goſpel? John 3.4. nay doth not God make old ones babes, and to become as little children, before he reveal to them the myſteries of the kingdom? Matth. 11.25. We deſpiſe not the broken language of our little ones, nor doth Chriſt the Hoſanna's that were ſung by the little children: But if we could ſay nothing, God hath commanded, and who dares pretend to a counter-wiſdom, Prov. 22.6. Train up a childe in the way wherein he ſhall go, or ſhould go; mark the words: In the way that imports, if it be not there, 'twil be in the wilderneſs, in the way wherein he ſhould go, or ſhall go when he is old, though he be not ſo prompt at it whilſt he is a childe.
Yea, but ſaiſt thou, I teach, but he will not learn; I point him the way, but he will not learn in it: In ſuch a caſe what doſt thou do with the ox or the aſs that thou findeſt aſtray, and when thou bring… it into the way, will ever and a non be running out again?
Therefore ſecondly, Haſt thou not a rod in thine hand?2. If they will go out or not keep in, to whip them into the way. if it will not come out of the wilderneſs by calls or perſwaſions, whip it out; if it will not keep in the way which thou leadeſt it into, whip it in: You think it is better to whip your beaſt, and ſo to bring it home, then that it ſhould miſs thoſe blows, but be loſt ſtill: And will you ſuffer the ſoul of a childe to be loſt for not gathering, or for not uſing a rod? Prov. 23.13, 14. Thou ſhalt not withhold correction, but beat him with the rod, and deliver his ſoul from death and hell: Though folly be bound in its heart (and it be by that folly in the wilderneſs) ſhall not the rod of correction fetch it out? Prov. 22.15.
Fourthly, Paſs we on to yong men and maidens,4. Yong men & maidens in the wildernes. they alſo if unregenerate, are bewildred: I deſire to ſpeak affectionately to you, wiſhing you well in the Lord, as being yong my ſelf, and expoſed unto your temptations; know, my friends, that (as the ſhoo-maker hath another laſt in his ſhop of another ſize, ſo) Satan hath another part in the wilderneſs for your growing foot: There's a road in the wilderneſs, and a broad one too, call'd by the name of the yong mans way, Eccl. 11.9. Rejoyce, O yong man, and walk in the ways of thine heart; ways there are fitted to the youthful heart, when childiſh ways are turnd aſide from; flee (ſaith the Apoſtle) youthful luſts, 2 Tim. 2.22. luſts fitted unto youthful feet, long hair, and fine locks, and naked boſoms, and fair-meetings, and drinking and dancing, and wantonneſs, and chambrings, ſuch are ways of the yong men and maidens wilderneſs; and you ſhall ſee them beaten to purpoſe on a Town-fair-day; yea, there are ways on purpoſe in faſhion for ſome fooliſh ones, ſuch as ranting for Sophiſtets, and clubbing for journey-men ſhoo-makers, &c. and they are not good Artiſts, unleſs they can loſe themſelves in theſe faſhionable pathes: Therefore what pains takes the wiſe man to keep yong ones right in the way? Prov. 5.7. Hearken, O children! remove thy way far from her, ver. 8. and he preſſeth it hard home from two Arguments.
The firſt, If thou go on (ſaith he) but a little further, thou wilt get into the midſt of the wilderneſs; for, ſaith he, I my ſelf following the ways of my youth; was almost in all evil, in the midst of the congregation and aſſembly, ver. 14. this is ſad; in the midſt of a congregation, and yet in the midſt of the wilderneſs ſtill; in view of men, yea perhaps in the midſt of a Sermon, and yet thine heart will be in the midſt of the wilderneſs of ſin; ſo ſadly will ſins of youth bewilder you.
Then ſecondly (ſaith he) If you keep not your way, you'l meet with the Leopard and Lion, &c. ere it be long; therefore (ſaith he) Keep thy ways far from her, leſt thou give thy years to the cruel, ver. 9. If you have a minde to have your years cut off, then get you into the wilderneſs; there are beaſts enough, and ſufficiently cruel to devour you: Say not you are yong, and have ſtrength, and ſhall out-wear; for Prov. 7.24. Hearken, O ye children! ver. 25. go not aſtray; many have been caſt down wounded, and many strong men have been ſlain there, ver. 26. It may be youl ſay you feel no harm; and it may be ſo to: Many are ſhot that feel it not till their blood be cold; and Prov. 7.23. A dart ſtrikes through the yong mans liver, and yet he knows not it was for his life: Youth is the heat of blood, and though you feel not the wound in this heat of blood, yet at length ſin ſhall ſting like an adder, and bite like a ſerpent (of the wilderneſs) Prov. 23.32.
Ʋſe. To yong ones Now to come up from the the wildernes.Hearken then, you yong ones, unto me, and I will ſhew you an excellent way. Youth (I know) is of all ages and ſtates moſt deſirous, and indeed moſt free for travel; but it pities me to think that ſo much gallant youth, and the ſtrength thereof ſhould be ſpent in wandring up and down in the worthleſs wilderneſs of ſin;Encouragement. 1. The fitneſs of youthful time for that travel. rather if you will be traveling, remember Canaan.
Oh! what a time is the ſtrength of your youth, to make out your way from the wilderneſs of ſin? Thou haſt ſome ſtrength to ruſh through the thickets, more then an old man hath; and if thou loſe a little of thy fleſh in breaking through the thorns, thou art yong, and thy fleſh will come again; if thou loſe by repentance (as to carnal reſpects) there's time enough before thee to have amends made thee. I obſerve, as the yong ones were thoſe of the Iſraelites that got through the wilderneſs unto Canaan, Numb. 26.64. ſo at this day, thoſe that are converted are converted yong, ten to one of thoſe that live to be old, and yet come to be new born. If old men will have their old ways ſtill, and ſcorn to learn a new leſſon being old; yea if their joints be ſtiff, and their knees feeble that they cannot travel, yet let us yong men get up, and be going, and the Lord be with us. This day the Lord calls you yong ones from the Lions de…, and Leopards mountains; if you refuſe this call to day, you will mourn at the laſt, when your strength is conſumed, and ſay, How have I hated inſtruction, and mine heart despiſed reproof? Prov. 7.11, 12. Take a tree from the wilderneſs when its young, ſet it in your Garden, keep it and water it; &c. and little fear of its death: but take an old tree from the wilderneſs, and tranſplant it in your Orchard, and do what you will, there is little hope of the life of it, if there be, 'twill coſt much ado, (much weeping) to water it, &c. hear David crying, Pſalm 25, 6, 7. Remember thy tender mercies, remember not the ſins of my youth, nor my tranſgreſſions. If thou have only thy youth tranſgreſſions, or bewildrings to reckon for, it will be work enough for thee, though thou have thy youth ſtrength to do the work in.
Secondly, As this is the fitteſt time for thee,2. The acceptableneſs of youth herein unto God. ſo is it the moſt welcome time to God; young ones, if you did but know how kindly the Lord would take it to ſee you come up from the wilderneſs, ſuch youthfull Spouſes leaning upon the Beloved, it would raviſh your hearts within you. Ile give you a taſt, for God hath bidden me go, and cry in your ears, ſaying, Thus ſaith the Lord, I remember the kindneſs of thy youth, the love of thine Eſpouſals, when thou wenteſt after me in the wilderneſs in a Land that was not ſown, Jer. 2.2. Oh, Chriſt (the Shepheard) is come into the Wilderneſs to ſeek, and to ſave that which is loſt! Oh if thou wilt in thy youth be ſo kind as to follow him (till thou ſhall come to Canaan) God will never forget this love of thine eſpouſals, ſay not that thou art too young to marry Chriſt, the younger thou art the better Chriſt will like thee.