A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 4 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Containes three Negative Hinderances, few like Chriſts Port, Perſon, Diſcourſe, Carriages: and why?
THird, Negative Hinderance. 3d. Hindrance. Feweſt of all do like him.Of thoſe that feele Chriſt, ſome doe not like him. I meane of thoſe that come to have ſome kind of ſence of Chriſt: many there are that doe not like him, Its Chriſt crucified (not Chriſt glorified) that goes a woing in the world.that do not find in their hearts to marry him, or to make him their ſoules Beloved. You may perhaps thinke it ſtrange if Chriſt doe goe a wooing, that all the world ſhould not be won. But the Prophet Iſaiah before-hand tells us, Iſai. 53.2, 3. There is no form nor comlineſſe in him: when we ſhall ſee him, there is no beauty that we ſhould deſire him. Againe, That he is deſpiſed and rejected of men, and that we hid as it were our faces from him. As when he goes a woing, whom ſome coy Gentlewoman undervalews, ſhe forſooth will not ſee him, but chambers up, and concealeth her ſelfe from him. Thus Chriſt came to his owne, and his owne received him not, Jo. 1. So when Chriſt comes a woing to our carnall, or naturall hearts, and we ſee him out of the window (as it were) truly we hide our faces from him, we do not deſire to be married to him. And the reaſon he ſuppoſeth all along that Chapter, becauſe it is Chriſt Crucified that goes a woing in the world. I find that is in the day of his Eſpouſals (and not when he goes a woing) that Jeſus Chriſt puts on his Crown, Cant. 3.11. It is Chriſt Crowned that marries; but it is Chriſt Crucified that woes, 1. Cor. 2.2. I determined to know nothing among you, (being an Apoſtle, a Paranymph, a Spokeſman amongſt you for Chriſt) but Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified. Sirs, If you can not find in your hearts to love a crucified Chriſt, I dare not goe a wooing for Chriſt under any other Notion: We preach Chriſt crucified, 1 Cor. 1.23. and therefore to one a ſtumbling block, to another fooliſhneſſe: and this being ſuppoſed that it is a Crucified Chriſt that goes a wooing in the world: truly never was any ſuiter more univerſally undervalued by the proudeſt Dame, then Jeſus is by carnall hearts; for they neither like his Port, nor Perſon, nor Diſcourſe, nor Carriage, nor Eſtate.
1. Few like Chriſts woing Port.1. Ca…nall hearts are prejudiced at the Port of Jeſus Chriſt, when he goes a woing in the world.
When a Nobl…man comes a wooing to ſome great perſonage in the World, notice is taken of the Port that he comes in, what Chariots come with him, what Geldings, what Servants, what Retayners. If a man ſhould come a wooing to a great Lady upon the back of an Aſs, or with a beggerly retinue, were not this one thing enough to hinder all hopes of a match?
Now ſuch is the pleaſure of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that ſuch ſhall his wooing Port, ſuch ſhall his Retayners be.
Inſtead of Coach, or Sedan, or led Horſes, or Chariots, Chriſt rides a woing on the Foal of an Aſs, the fooliſhneſs of preachingſee Zach. 9.9. Rejoyce O Daughter of Sion, ſhout O daughter of Jeruſalem, behold thy King commeth unto thee, lowly, and riding upon an Aſſe; and upon a Colt, the Foal of an Aſſe. And if you will have the myſtery unfolded, 'tis this, It pleaſeth Chriſt, (whileſt he paſſeth by the enticing words of mans wiſdome, and the pompous port of humane Oratory) by the fooliſhneſſe (that is the plainneſſe) of preaching to wooe, and to win ſoules unto himſelfe, 1 Cor. 1.12. and this is the preaching of Chriſt Crucified, (in a Crucified ſtyle) to the Iews a ſtumbling block, and to the Greeks fooliſhneſſe, verſ. 23. Hence it is that the wiſe, the Scribes, the Doctors, the Diſputers of this world daſh, and ſtumble upon Chriſt, inſtead of leaning upon him: becauſe Chriſt is preached as Crucified, and ſo evidently (by plain preaching) ſet forth as Crucified amongſt us, Gal. 3.1.Note. I have obſerved but two dumb beaſts whoſe mouthes were opend, in the Scriptures, One by Satan, the other by the Lord; Satan he makes uſe of the mouth of the Serpent, the ſubtileſt, Gen. 3.1. God, he makes uſe of the mouth of the Aſſe, the ſimpleſt, Numb. 22.38. The Lord opened the mouth of Balaams Aſſe. If you would chuſe a Speaker, you uſually pitch upon the moſt eloquent, but God often ſpeaks by the Stammerer, and out of the mouths of Babes and weaklings ordaineth his praiſe, and by ſuch ſpokeſmen wooes home moſt ſouls many time, to Jeſus Chriſt.
Againe, Inſtead of P…inces, and Rulers, Chriſt brings his poor kindred and deſpiſed ſpokeſmen with him.and chief Captaines, and Counſellors of the world for his Companions: He chooſeth (to beare him company, even in the view of the world, and when he goes a woing) not many wiſe, not many Nobles, 1 Cor. 1.26. But he hath choſen the poore of this world, that they may be rich in faith, (and ſo beare him company, though ragged in Cloathes) Iam. 2.5: Fiſhermen, Magdalens, Lazars; and theſe when they keep his ſayings, muſt be accounted his Mother, and kinſfolk, and Brethren, Mark 3.35. Now even we our ſelves account her unworthy of a rich Husband, who cannot find in her heart to acknowledge his poor kindred. I have heard a Gentlewoman ſhould ſay, (and I feare too many ſay ſo in their hearts) that if it were not for Chriſts followers, ſhe could be content to follow Chriſt. Ah! if it were not for Chriſts great Charge of Children, and poore kindred, many perhaps would looke towards him more then doe. But if you be aſhamed of them, know that Chriſt will be aſhamed of you: I was naked ſaith Chriſt, (in my little ones) and you cloathed me not, hungry, and you fed me not, depart from me, Mat. 25.41, 42, 43.
2ly. Few like his perſon.2ly, Carnal hearts are prejudiced at Chriſts perſon, when he goes a wooing in the world.
Sirs, I am ſent to woe you to Chriſt, but it is unto him crucified, and conſequently for
His Rayment, either he is naked; they rent his Coat aſunder, and caſt lots upon his Garments, as Mat. 27.35. or clad with Garments dyed in the Wine-preſſe, and red in his Apparel, Iſai. 63.1, 2, 3. viz. Veſtures dipt in his owne blood, Rev. 19.1.3. which one would thinke were enough to frighten from Chriſt, in ſtead of wooing to him. And as for
His Countenance: 'tis marred more then any mans, and his form, more then the Sons of men, Iſai. 52.14.
His Face, inſtead of being waſhed with ſweet waters, (as wooers wont to do) is ſpit upon: and inſtead of ſhaving, is given to thoſe that pulled off the hair, Iſai. 50, 6. As for
His Head, 'tis Crown'd indeed; but it is with rending Thorns, Mat. 27.29. As for
His Back; 'tis new-come as it were from the whipping-poſt, and whealed with ſcornfull ſtripes of mercileſſe men: For he gave his back to the ſmiters, Iſai. 50.6. As for
His ſides, They are launced with Speares, Jo. 19.34. And behold a mingled ſtream of water and blood. As for
His hands and feet, they alſo are pierced, as he himſelf recordeth, Pſal. 22.16. Now friends, can you find in your hearts, (as Joſeph of Arimathea did, Mat. 27.57.) to make much of Chriſt in ſuch a poſture, thus uſed, thus abuſed? if you cannot, it is in vaine to perſwade you to marry the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, therefore ſtand you by alſo.
3ly,3ly, Few like his woing diſcourſe in general. viz. Conviction. Carnall hearts are as much prejudiced at Chriſts wooing diſcourſe. Chriſt followes not the vaine cuſtom of other lovers. Their diſcourſe is Complement, vain flattering (many times) lying Complements: Chriſts wooing diſcourſe, is heart-diſcovering, down-right Conviction. They that, heard Joſephs rough ſpeech to his Brethren, at their firſt comming, (whereof they complaine to their Father, Gen. 42.30. The man that is Ruler of the Land, ſpake roughly to us) would little have expected that ever Ioſeph would have proved ſuch a tender Brother to them afterwards: And they that heare how courſely (as fleſh and blood thinke) Chriſts wooings are worded at the firſt, know not how to believe that Chriſt will make ſuch a tender Husband afterward. His firſt Complements are no other then ſuch as theſe: Soul thou art, and haſt been as an arrant whore all the days of thy life hitherto; there's not a place, nor a time that thou canſt thinks of, wherein thou haſt not gone a whoring from me; therefore now return unto me, and I will marry thee. You have a large ſtory of Chriſts wooing-language, Ier. 3. And how begins he? verſe 1. Thou haſt played the Harlot with many lovers. And verſe 2. Lift up thine eyes, and ſee where thou hast not been lain with: Courſe Complementing, you'l ſay; but is this woing language? Why? read but the Chapter, and ſee your ſelves, this is the upſhot, verſe. 14. Turn O back-ſlyding Children, for I am married unto you. Nor the particular terms of it ſuch as theſeThus of his language in general, and as to any particular terms of Chriſts woing diſcourſe, they are altogether irkſome and ungrateful unto fleſh and blood; for they are ſuch as theſe.
1. You muſt forſake all your old friends.Firſt, Saith Chriſt, If you will marry me, you muſt forſake and forgo all your old friends, kindred, and acquaintance, you muſt come at home no more. Oh! ſaith fleſh and blood, who would marry an Husband to be thus tyed in? yet is this Chriſts expreſſe term, Pſal. 45.10. Hearken O daughter and conſider, encline thine are, and forget thine own people, and thine own fathers houſe: why? where didſt thou learne this wanton word, or that garb, or that ſuperſtition, or this vanity? ſaith Chriſt to the ſoule: Why? in my Fathers houſe, I had it from the Cradle, what hurt is in it? I am ſure my Father before me uſed them, and all my Fathers houſe; yet you muſt forſake it (ſaith Chriſt) or forſake me: Nay, if I muſt be ſo ſtrickt, and tyed up, even farewell Chriſt, will moſt of the world ſay; and yet Chriſt himſelfe perſiſts, and tells you, that ſhe that (in this caſe) hates not Father, and Mother, and Brother, and Siſter, &c. cannot be his Diſciple, Luk. 14.26.
2ly. You muſt expect many a ſad day.2ly, ſaith Chriſt, If you will marry me, you muſt reckon to have many a ſad and ſorrowfull day. I muſt be often from home, and out of ſight, and then muſt the Children of the bride Chamber mourn. Therefore when the world ſhall rejoyce, Verily then ſhall you mourn, and lament, and be ſorrowful: yea, as the travaile of a woman when her hour is come; Verily, verily, ſaith Chriſt, it ſhall be ſo, Jo. 16.20, 21. Yea ſoul, though thou be as David, yet muſt thou water thy Couch with thy tears; though thou be as Peter, yet ſhalt thou have ſeaſons of bitter weeping: yea, though thou be as the Spouſe, even as a ſeal on Chriſts arme, his love, his dove, his undefiled one, yet muſt thou be as a Dove in the clefts of the Rock (mourning) and in the ſecret places of the ſtaires, Cant. 3.14.
3ly. You muſt never look for an idle day, but be alwaies carrying his yoke and burthen.3ly, If you will marry me, ſaith Chriſt, never think to have an idle time of it, never look to have a loytering life on't. Aſſure your ſelfe, I marry you to work, and not to play. You muſt take my yoak, and my burther, Mat 11.28. And you muſt bid farewell to all your play-dayes, in your Marriage-day, and never looke for one idle day more, Luk. 9.23. If any will come after me, let him take up his Croſs daily (Marke, daily) and come and follow me. Nay, then ſaith the world, let who will have Chriſt, if he tell us ſo before he be ſure to us, what will he ſay afterward?
4ly, If you will marry me, ſaith Chriſt,4ly, You muſt diſowne your own will. you muſt reſolve to lay down your own will: You muſt rule your ſelves no longer, for I will be your Lord, and worſhip you me, Pſal. 45.11. And that not onelyonly in what pleaſeth you, but alſo in what croſſeth your humour, and thwarteth your Will. Not a lock not a look, not a luſt, nothing more then what I will give way to, Luk. 9.23. If any come after me, he muſt deny himſelf. Nay, then ſaith the pride and ſtubbornneſſe of carnall hearts, Marry Chriſt, who will? we will not have this man to rule over us.
5ly. If you will marry me, ſaith Chriſt,5ly, You muſt part with any thing, your very limbs at his command: You muſt be ſo much mine, and ſo little your own, that if I call for an hand, or an eye, or a foot, you muſt part with it; yea, though it be a right hand, or a right eye, Mat. 5.29, 30. A cuſtom, a courſe, a faſhion, a fancy, a luſt, a ſin, ſeeme it never ſo ſweet, pleaſing, profitable, uſeful; yet away it muſt bee thrown, though it ſit never ſo cloſe, and neare, if I and it cannot keepe houſe together. And thus he that forſaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my Diſciple: Yea, and if he do not hate his own life alſo, Luk. 14.26, 33. Nay, now fleſh and blood will ſtop their ears. This is indeed (ſaith Nature) an hard ſayi…g, and who can hear it? yet muſt you both hear and hearken to it, or elſe there's no talke of a match with Jeſus Chriſt.
4ly,4ly, Few like Chriſts woing carryages. Carnall hearts are yet more prejudiced at the woing carriages of Jeſus Chriſt. You never heard of another that uſeth ſo to woe: Chriſt doth not onelyonly ſpeake hard words, but withall ſtrikes as hard blowes; and indeed you ſhall find him but a word and a blow, when that he takes the firſt acquaintance of any heart by way of woing. He takes one ſoule out of one wilderneſſe, viz. The wilderneſs of ſin, and allures it into another, viz. The wilderneſs of affliction in ſpirit, and there he ſeemes both to leave it, and loſe it, before ever he ſpeake comfortably to it, Hoſ. 2.14.
Another ſoule he takes, and binds faſt under the ſpirit of bondage, Rom. 8.15. as Joſeph bound Simeon before the eyes of his Brethren, Gen. 43.24.
Another he takes, and beats it blind, and throwes it downe to the Earth, and keeps it both without meat and drink, &c. and that many dayes together, as he did Saul, Act. 9.4, &c.
Others he takes and wounds them, as the Keepers of the wall did the Spouſe, Cant, 5.7. and pierceth them, and pricks them even to the heart, as he did thoſe Converts, Act. 2.37. Strange woing you will ſay, yet is this alwaies the manner of Chriſts woing more or leſſe.