A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 4 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Few like Christs Eſtate, and why: Conſiderations oppoſed to the foreſaid hinderances, viz. How ſoules may come to the needing and feeling of Chriſt.
5ly, Few like his eſtate or the terms relating unto it: ſuch as theſe. 1. He muſt have your portion out of your own hand at his diſpoſe.FIfthly, Neither doth any carnal heart like the Eſtate buſineſs better then the former: for ſuch as theſe, and onelyonly ſuch as theſe are Chriſts Termes, as to matter of Eſtate.
Firſt, Saith Chriſt, If you will marry me, I muſt have all your portion ready down. Go and ſell all thou haſt, and come and follow me, Mat. 19.21. You ſhall not have a penny, ſaith Chriſt, but I will have the command of it. Leave your Onyons, your Aegypt, your Fleſhpots, if you expect I ſhould joynture you in a Canaan. And know, that whoſoever loves Houſes, and Lands, in compariſon of me, is not worthy of me.
2ly, Saith Chriſt, If you marry me,2ly, You muſt take your joynture upon truſt. You muſt take my word for your ſecurity, as to your joynture fom me: You muſt live by faith, not by ſence: The name of the Land I ſhall joynture you in, is Promiſe-land; I may perhaps, if you pleaſe me, give you ſome diſtant view of Canaan, from the top of ſome Piſgah, ſome Mount of tranſfiguration: but as for the frame of your life, it muſt bee by faith, Hab. 2.3. For the viſion (or ſight of it) is yet for an appointed ſeaſon, but in the end it ſhall ſpeak, if you will but tarry for it. Not I, ſaith the Worlding, let who will tarry for it, or truſt to it; here are terms indeed, part with all, and all upon truſt: for my part, I think it not ſafe venturing a portion upon this Chriſt, if promiſe, &c. be the beſt aſſurance he can give. Well then, if thou be ſo minded, ſtand thou alſo by. But
3ly, I have yet more ſaith Chriſt to indent,3ly, You muſt goe into another Country for poſſeſſion. if you will marry me, You muſt go beyond Sea into another Counry, another World, and then it is that I will make you Queen, for Jo. 18.36. My Kingdom is not of this world. My Lands lie on the other ſide of the ſtood: My Canaan on the other ſide of Jordan. And ſirs, this is moſt certain, that if you will be the Lambs wife, you muſt follow the Lamb whitherſoever he goeth. Yea, but ſaith a carnall heart, I know not how to ſtay for an Eſtate till I come at Heaven, therefore adiew to Chriſt, I hope to marry one that will joynture me nearer home. Yea but
Laſtly, Here is more yet, ſaith Chriſt;4ly, You muſt die by the way. If you will marry me, You muſt follow me into my Native Country out of your own Land, (as Abraham of old) and you muſt ſuffer ſhipwrack by the way, and be caſt away as to your fleſh and blood, for they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (which is my Fathers Country) 1 Cor. 15.50. Of a truth you muſt dye, before you can be poſſeſſed of my joynture, and live as my Queen: I will give you the title to it now, but your own life ſhall keep you out of poſſeſſion; My Country is Canaan, and the Red-ſea of death you muſt paſt thorow, before you can enter into my reſt: and theſe things I tell you, that you may know upon what termes I take you, and that you may not be offended in me, Joh. 16.1.
Now then as for thoſe, that when they ſee Chriſt, neither like his Port, his Perſon, nor Diſcourſe, nor Carriage, nor Eſtate, what hopes are there left, of wooing & winning theſe ſoules unto Jeſus Chriſt? and herein have I deſired to deale faithfully this day, that I might, (if it be poſſible) bring one ſober, and beat off wanton lovers, (and ſo leaners) from Jeſus Chriſt.
I have heard of ſome women, that have been in good earneſt engaged in affection to ſome, whom ſome of their Acquaintance, and Relations, have ſolicitouſly diſſwaded them from, that have ſilenced all with ſuch an anſwer, I will marry him, though I never have good day with him: And truly Chriſtians, it is ſomewhat ſad, if your love to the Lord Jeſus, doe not exceed the love of women. Jobs language is ſomewhat like this, Iob 13.15. Though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him: though he kill me, yet will I not be beaten from him. Though he ſpeak hardly to me, yet will I ſpeak humbly to him: though he ſmite me, I will love him: and though he ſlay me, yet will I lean upon him.
Which that you may the better be encouraged to, give me leave to ſubjoyne (as I promiſed) unto theſe Negative Hinderances, Conſidrations oppoſed unto thoſe Hinderances. 1. As to the firſt hinderance, viz. Few need Chriſt. 1. Help. Labour to ſee your need of Chriſt.ſome Conſiderations for Helps. And
1. As to the firſt Hinderance, viz. That few need Chriſt, though Chriſt be that one thing (when there is but one thing) needfull (as himſelfe ſaith, Luk. 10.42.) yet doth the world ſee their need of every thing, but of this one thing. Every one needs Food, and Rayment, Houſe-roome, and Fiering, Money and Friends, &c. but who needs Jeſus Chriſt?
Now if this be the reaſon, that few leane upon him, becauſe but few need him: then thoſe Conſiderations that may helpe us to become needing ſouls, may helpe us to become leaning ſouls.
Queſtion, How then ſhall a loſt ſoul come to need Chriſt for a leaning-ſtock.
Anſw. I anſwer, Let poor ſoules come into a ſick, ſhaken, ſinking condition; ile undertake for a ſoule in ſuch a ſtate, that it ſhall verily ſtand in need to lean upon Jeſus Chriſt.
Firſt, Labour thou that art a loſt ſoul, 1. by becomming a ſick ſoule.to become a ſick ſoul, that is the way to become a leaning ſoul, Mat. 9.12. The whole need not the Phyſitian, but the ſick: ſo the whole need not a Keeper, but the ſick: There are many things the ſame man wants, when he is ſick that he needs not when he is well. A man leanes upon his own skill as for his dyet, and all other accommodations, when he is well; but he leanes upon his Phyſitian and his skill, for direction for dyet, &c. when he is ſick: and the reaſon he leanes on him now, and not before, is becauſe he needs him now, and not before. Sickneſſe makes him need him, and therefore lean upon him; ſo there are many things that the ſame ſoule never needed (that is, ſaw no need of) before, that when it comes to be ſpiritually ſick, it comes to need in good earneſt, before it could truſt to its owne wiſdome, and leane to its own underſtanding, and order its affaires according to its own will; but now it needs a Chriſt as Phyſitian, as its Keeper, and now it will leane to Chriſts counſell, and to his advice, and to his preſcriptions, becauſe it is ſick of its own. There is a Twofold ſpirituall ſickneſſe, that will bring a ſoule to need Chriſt as a leaning ſtock.
Firſt, A ſickneſſe of hatred unto ſin: 1. Sick of hatred to ſin.for it is not every ſickneſſe that will make you need this Phyſitian. Many are ſick for ſin (I meane as the puniſhment of ſinne) for this cauſe we may ſay (as Paul, 1 Cor. 11.30.) ſay indeed, that many are ſick, but there are but few ſick of ſin. But where-ever there is a Sin-ſickneſſe, there cannot but be a provocation to vomiting; David cannot hold, till he brings up all: Sinne lies upon a ſick Conſcience, as undigeſted Meat upon a ſick ſtomack. You know alſo, that where ever there is a propenſion to vomit, there is a great deſire of ſomewhat to lean upon. Oh! what would a ſin-ſick ſoule, that cannot poſſibly be well, untill it hath (by broken hearted confeſſions) vomited up its iniquities, give, that it had freedome to leane its head in Chriſts boſome; ſo Pſal. 32.3. While I kept ſilence, my bones waxed old, &c. therefore ver. 5. I ſaid I will confeſſe my tranſgreſſions to the Lord, and thou forgaveſt, &c. and verſ. 6. For this cauſe ſhall every one that is godly pray unto thee: As who would ſay, when I was ſo ſin-ſick that I knew not what to doe: I did but leane my head in the Lords boſome, and bring it up again, and I had ſo much eaſe to my ſoul, that I would adviſe every troubled heart to lean where I lean'd, and to doe what I did.
2ly. Sick of love to Chriſt.Secondly, A Love-ſickneſſe unto Jeſus Chriſt. Many are alſo Love-ſick, (but as Amnon for his ſiſter) for a luſt, or for a corruption: but few are ſick for Chriſt. The language of Love-ſickneſſe, is ſuch as this, I muſt have him, or elſe I dye. Give me Chriſt, or none will content me. Thus thoſe paſſionate breakings forth of the Spouſe. Love is ſtronger then death: Mine heart failed when he ſpake: I charge you O ye daughters of Jeruſalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him, that I am ſick of love, Cant. 5.8. Now this Love-ſick Spouſe, will be ſure to be a leaning Spouſe: ſhe ſinks, ſhe ſwoones, ſhe dyes away, if Chriſt doe not come unto her, Cant. 2.5, 6. Stay me, comfort me, for I am ſick of love: His left hand is under my head, his right hand doth embrace me. O! how doth a poore ſtomack ſick Creature deſire to hold, and to be held, when it is ready to ſwoon away.
2ly, By becomming a ſhaken ſoule.So then, 'tis a ſad ſigne, that you are neither ſick of hatred unto ſin, nor of love unto Chriſt, when you ſee little need of leaning upon him.
Secondly; Labour th… that are a loſt ſoul, to get into a ſhaken poſture, that is the way to get into a leanin poſture. Whats the reaſon there's ſo little catching hold upon Chriſt by worldly men in their time of health? Oh! it is becauſe there is little ſhaking of worldly things in that time; but now Iſai. 2.20, 21. They ſhall one day caſt away their Idols of Gold, and Silver, which they have made each one for himſelfe, that they may run into the clefts of the Rock, when God ariſeth to ſhake terribly the Earth. Oh! you ſee by frequent experience in poore dying Worldlings, when God ſhakes their Earth, how ſolicitous they are then to take hold (if they durſt) on the God of Heaven. When they ſee by theſe ſhakings, what ſlender ſupports their golden Gods, and ſilver ſhrines are to leane upon: oh! then what would they give for Jeſus Chriſt, for to be their ſoules leaning ſtock? You read Act. 4.31. That the place was ſhaken where they met, before God ſent out upon them the Holy Ghoſt, to ſpeak the word of God with boldneſs: So this is the manner of his working, to ſhake ſoules before he powre out upon them the Spirit of believing, to apply the promiſe of God with boldneſſe. Thus did the Lord take Iob by the neck, (when he was at eaſe) and ſhook him to pieces, ſo ſaith himſelfe, Iob. 16.12. Now when God hath ſhaken our comforts, and enjoyments in the world, and ſcattered our duties, that they appeare broken poor crazy things, when he hath ſhaken to pieces our righteouſneſſe, and all our ſelfe-ſupports: then ſirs, then if ever will Chriſt appeare deſirable unto us; oh! then ſhall we long to leane upon him.
Memorable is that paſſage, Hab. 3.17. When I heard my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice, rottenneſs entred into my bones, and I trembled in my ſelfe, that I might reſt in the day of trouble. Here's ſtrange ſhaking, and as ſtrange eſtabliſhment, I trembled that I might reſt. The more ſhaking at firſt, the ſtronger leaning afterwards: for verily,Note. though God doth not ſhake all ſouls alike, before he make them leane upon himſelfe; yet have I obſerved, that the leſſe the heart hath beene ſhaken in the firſt ſtirrings of grace, the more feeble have the leanings been perhaps many yeares afterward, and the more eaſiely interrupted and diſturbed. Nay, though the Lord hath opened ſome hearts (as Lydias) without much manifeſt ſhaking at the firſt; yet have I known many (even ſincere ſoules) of them kept almoſt in an every day Ague, almoſt all their lives after their Converſion; I mean in continuall ſpirituall ſhakings. Therefore if God hath ſhaken thee, be not angry, but as ſoon as thou canſt, catch hold upon Chriſt, and leane hard, for elſe ile tell you, when we are greatly ſhaken, we may continue in great danger of falling, if we have not an Anchor of hope to take hold on, a Pillar of Chriſts Chariot to leane upon.
3ly, By becomming a ſinking ſoule.Thirdly, Labour thou that art a loſt ſoul, to get into a ſinking poſture, that is the way to get into a leaning poſture. This perhaps you will ſay is ſtrange, but this I know to be true, Mat. 14.30. Peter beginning to ſink cryed, Lord ſave me. Oh! ſinking ſouls, will be ſure to catch hold, if it be poſſible, and nothing ſhall diſcourage them, though Chriſt ſhould cut their fingers; yet will they hold, rather then drowne: ſuch a ſoule will take hold of Chriſt upon the moſt cutting termes of the Goſpell. A Boat! a Boat▪ a Boat! all that I am worth in the world for a Boat, ſaith a ſinking perſon, and will never leave looking, and crying, and catching, as long as it can either keepe hand or head above water. Thus David, Pſal. 69.1, 2. Save me O God, I am come into the deep, I ſink in deep water, where no ſtanding is. And he is at it againe, verſe 14. Deliver me leaſt I ſinke. Sirs, none can imagine, but thoſe that have felt, how welcome a Leaning ſtock Chriſt is unto a ſoule in ſuch a ſinking condition, but you who have ſounded the deepes of a distreſſed, As to the 2d. Hinderance. Help the ſecond.diſtracted Conſcience, can beare witneſſe.
Secondly, As to the ſecond Hindeoance, viz. Few feel Chriſt, and therefore few will leane upon him. I ſhall leave a word or two with you, to help your ſouls in this alſo.
Firſt, If you be deſirous to feele Chriſt,Labour to feel Chriſt by feeling ſin. labour to feel ſin: I believe never did any come ſavingly to feel Chriſt, that have not come ſeriouſly to feel ſin. You never knew a ſoule earneſtly complain for a Chriſt, that could not earneſtly complain of ſinne. When Chriſts own ſpirit is ſent forth into our dead benummed Conſciences and ſenceleſſe hearts, how doth it make us feel righteouſneſſe, but by making us feel ſin, and judgement, the ſence of all muſt goe together, where Gods Spirit is indeed at worke, Jo. 16.8. Sirs, how can we be ſenſible of the good of light, of peace, of health, of plenty, better then by feeling the evill of darkneſſe, warre, ſickneſſe, poverty? or the light, peace, or ſaving health that is by Jeſus Chriſt more effectually, then by the darkneſſe, horrour, and damning miſery of ſinne? I mean, when we ſee one by the other, Iſai. 54.5, 6. 'Tis a woman forſaken and grieved in ſpirit (in the remembrance and ſence of ſinne, the ſhame and the reproach of ſinne, as is intimated verſ. 4.) I ſay, a woman thus grieved in ſpirit, that God will call a wife of youth unto himſelfe, and her maker will become her Husband; that is, Chriſt will take that ſoule into the neareſt intimacy with himſelfe, to lie (as a wife of youth) in his boſome, to feele his ſtripes, to put its hand into the wounds of his ſides, to feel the ſtirrings of his heart towards ſinners, that have had the neareſt and cloſeſt ſence of ſin, that have laine, and can moſt feeling groan under the heavy load and burthen of ſin. Many there are that ſpeake of the evill of ſin, but not feelingly; and as for theſe, if they ſpeake of the good of Chriſt, you may eaſily diſcerne 'tis not feelingly. When Paul feels ſin kill him, Rom. 7.9. And as a ſtinking, troubleſome, tyring dead Carkaſs, cleaving to him, ver. 24.2ly. By converſing much where Chriſt is to be found, viz. in the Ordinances, & with the promiſes. Then preſently comes he to feele the law of the Spirit of life in Chriſt, making him free from the law of ſin and death, Rom. 8.2.
Secondly, Would you feel Chriſt? make then after his hand, and after his heart. Get you thither where theſe are to be found, and keep you there.
Now Chriſts hand is in his Ordinances. And Chriſts heart is in his promiſes. There, if any where; there, and no other where feele for them, and you ſhall finde them.
How often doe you read in Scripture, that Chriſts hands are ſtretched forth in his Ordinances? if you have not done ſo,You may feele Chriſts hands in his Ordinances. turn to Iſai. 65.1, 2. I ſaid, behold me, behold me, I have ſpread out my hands all the day; (and how is that but in the Ordinances?) unto a rebellious people which walked in a way that was not good. This is otherwiſe expreſſed by his deſire to gather them under his wings, Luk. 13:34. Sirs, would you feele for Chriſts Hand to leane upon, or his wing to be ſheltred under? Be much in the Ordinances.
And Chriſts heart in his promiſes.Againe, Chriſts heart is in his promiſes. Could you but get into the heart of a promiſe, it would be like Thomas his putting of his hands into Chriſts ſides; you might feele Chriſts heart, and how it works towards poor ſoules. What living heart can ſurvey the Promiſes, without a lively ſence of Chriſts hearts tenderneſſe? Sirs, doe you not feele how his bowels are turned, and his repentings kindled within him, when he ſaith, not onelyonly, how ſhall I give thee up Ephraim? (as Hoſ. 11.8.) but alſo, I will not execute the fierceneſſe of mine anger, I will not return to deſtroy Ephraim (as he ſaith verſe 9.) And I will heale their backſlydings, and I will love them freely, (chap. 14.4.) And I might tranſcribe a great part of the whole Bible, to lead you to a ſence of all thoſe promiſes that plainly lead the Generation of them that ſeeke the face of Jacob, to a ſence of Chriſts heart, though now himſelfe be at reſt, towards poore Iſrael in the Wilderneſſe.