A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 4 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Diſcovers poſitive Hinderances. The two first, viz. leaning to
Sinne.
Sathan,
Second ſort of Hinderances, viz. Poſitive.THe ſecond ſort of Hinderances are poſitive, viz. The leaning-ſtocks that we take unto our ſelves on this ſide Chriſt, doe abſolutely hinder us from leaning upon this beloved.
Two Farther Obſervations from the Text.Which that I may with more advantage inquire into, I ſhall take up from my text, two farther previous Obſervations, which I think are evidently lodg'd in the boſome of this expreſſion, Leaning on her Beloved.
The firſt is, That as that ſoul that will have Chriſt for its beloved, 1. The ſoule that leans on Chriſt muſt have none other leaning-ſtock.muſt have but one beloved, even Chriſt: ſo that ſoul that will have Chriſt to lean upon, muſt have nothing elſe to lean upon beſide Chriſts: For as the Text mentions but one Spouſe, viz. The Church of Chriſt, ſo but one Beloved, viz. Chriſt, and but one alſo to leane upon. To this the Apoſtle ſpeakes clearly, I have eſpouſed you to one Husband, even Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11.2. So unto us there is but one Lord, and one God, even Chriſt, 1 Cor. 8.6. But one to ſet our love as our Husband; but one alſo to lean on, as our God; but one to be beloved as our Husband, but one alſo to believed on as our Lord and God. But now to Chriſtleſſe ſoules, there are many lovers and beloveds, Jer. 3.1. Thou haſt played the harlot with many lovers, Hoſ. 2.7. She ſhall not find her lovers. A great number of lovers, an indefinite number of lovers, untill ſhee returne unto her firſt Husband; and therefore to others alſo there are Gods many, and Lords many, 1 Cor. 8.5.
A ſecond Obſervation is,2ly, The ſouls beloved will be the ſoules leaning-ſtock. That whatever is the ſoules beloved, that ever will be found the ſouls leaning-ſtock: what ever the ſoule loves beſt, on that it will be ſure to lean moſt: this is a cleare intimation from the Text leaning on her beloved. So that if there be any thing that the ſoule loves more, and better then Chriſt, upon that it will leane, and not upon Chriſt. Now upon this twofold Accompt, it is eaſie to diſcern in the generall, how lost ſouls are hindered from leaning upon Chriſt, becauſe they have many Gods to lean on, and therefore cannot leane upon the onelyonly true God manifeſted in the fleſh: yea, and they have many lovers and beloveds inſtead of Chriſt, which as they lye in their boſomes, where Chriſt onelyonly ſhould lie, ſo ſtand they under their armes to ſupport them, where Chriſt ſhould be to beare them up. When a ſoule is converted, we muſt with admiration ſing and ſay, Who is this that comes out of the wilderneſs leaning upon her beloved? but of others we may take up a lamentation, a Jeremies ſad ſong, and ſay, Who are all theſe that go farther and farther into the wilderneſs leaning upon their beloveds? And as for thoſe that goe downe into Aegypt, they have multitudes of Reeds to leane upon, many Gods, and Lords many, even as many as luſts: Onyons, Fleſhpots, Melons, Cucumers, Idols, any thing: but when God calls his Sonnes out of Aegypt, then thus, ſaith the Lord that brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, &c. thou ſhalt have none other Gods beſide me. Many hands we may have to help us forward (or backward rather) into the wayes of ſinne: But there's not one arme for a ſoule to leane unto while it comes from ſinne, but the alone arm of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Now as we ſay, the more of thoſe Gods, the farther from God; ſo the more of theſe leaning-ſtocks, the farther from leaning upon the Lord Jeſus.
The four uſuall leaning-ſtocks of loſt ſoules.There are particularly foure things which loſt ſoules doe generally more love and leane upon, then Jeſus Chriſt, Sinne, Satan, the World, and ſelfe. And it is to be marked, that ſcriptures charge our uſuall carriage towards, and in reſpect of theſe, with Idolatry, which is the ſetting of any thing up in Gods roome, to love or lean upon as God, which is not God.
1. Sinne.Firſt, As for ſin. It is hence evident that ſinners place that recumbency on it, which they ſhould on Chriſt, becauſe the Apoſtle enumerating the more notorious ſinnes of their unregeneracy, ſummes up all in this one word, abominable Idolatries: what were thoſe? why? Laſciviouſneſs, luſts, exceſs of Wine, revellings, drunkenneſs, and abominable Idolatries, Wines are the Drunkards Idols: Women the Wantons Idols: Prophaneneſs the Revellers Idol: Yea, every new luſt, a new Lord; yea, a new God: as hee takes up new ſin, he hath new dependances upon ſinne, 1 Pet. 4.3. Hence John writing to thoſe, that 'tis to be thought were farre enough from groſs Idolatry, concludes, Little Children keepe your ſelves from Idols. Amen. 1 Joh. 5.21.
Now you can never keepe your ſelves from Idols, except you keepe your ſelves from ſin. Sinne ever deales as Solomons ſtrange wives, tempting firſt from the truſting in the true God, and next, to truſting in the falſe.
2. Satan.Secondly, As for Satan. You have heard him call'd the God of this world, 2 Cor. 4.4. Therefore this world leanes upon Satan, and truſts in him as their God.
3. The world.Thirdly, As for the World. 'Tis plainly that which the worldling leans upon inſtead of God. Hence thoſe known paſſages? Ephe. 5.5. The covetous man who is an Idolater, and Col. 3.5. Covetouſneſſe which is Idolatry, &c. That is; he loves and leanes upon Mammon more then God.
Fourthly, As for Selfe. The ſelfe-pleaſer, 4. Selfe.that indulgeth his owne luſtfull genius, his belly is his God, Phil. 3.19. The ſelf-conceited, ſelf-confident, and preſumptuous ſinner. He ſets his heart as the heart of God, Ezek. 28.6. Strange expreſſions you will ſay, yet are they Scripture-expreſſions: you ſee they be; and though many things be imported by them, yet muſt this be a chiefe one, that while Saints lean on Chriſt, as their one, and only Lord; theſe leane upon Sin, Satan, Mamnon, and themſelves. Of theſe in their order.
Firſt Hinderance that doth in a poſitive way keepe off ſinners from leaning upon Chriſt,1. Soules lean upon ſin, and thereby are hindred from leaning upon Chriſt. Proofe of it. is their leaning upon ſin: for proof.
See Pſal. 52.7. This is the man that made not God his truſt, but ſtrengthned himſelf in his wickedneſſe. What could be more expreſſe for both? ſinners make their wickedneſſe their ſtay, and therefore it is that they make not God their ſtaie, ſo Iſai. 30.12. You truſt in oppreſſion, and perverſneſſe, and ſtaie thereon: It followes, verſe 15. Thus ſaith the Lord in returning, and reſt you ſhall be ſaved, but ye would not: and in quietneſſe and confidence (that is, in the peace of believing) ſhall be your ſtrength, and ye would not. No, no, they could have both a ſtay and a ſtrength in ſinning, and therefore they would none of Chriſts reſt in the way of repenting, or of his quietneſſe and peace in the way of believing. 'Tis no wonder, if ſinners can have Crutches in a ſinne, that they neglect to ſeeke legges in a Saviour.
Now that ſinners make ſinne their leaning-ſtock, Convictions of it. 1. The careful hold that ſinners keep of ſinne.I ſhall give you a two-fold Conviction.
1. The charie, and carefull, and cordiall, hold that they keep of ſin. Juſt as a lame man holds his Crutch, ſo doth a ſinner his ſinne. The head of it is bolſtered, and how neare is it to his heart? There art that ſpiritually ſow pillowes under their own and others arm-holes for wretched limping ſinners to lean upon, Ezek. 13.18. The lame man holds his Crutch faſt in his right hand, and will not by any means let it go, as you may ſee the Lord was Davids leaning-ſtay, for ſaith David, I have ſet the Lord at my right hand, therefore I ſhall not be moved, Pſal. 16.8. and that Chriſt was the Spouſes leaning-ſtay, for ſhe held and would not let him go, Cant. 3.4. And the Apoſtle requires the Saints to hold that faſt by which they may hold Chriſt faſt, viz. Holy confidence, and the rejoycing of hope, Heb. 3.6. By which is evinced, that Chriſt and nothing elſe, is the Saints leaning-ſtock. So ſinners have their lies in their right hand Iſai. 44.20. And they hold faſt deceit, and refuſe to return, Jer. 8.5. And this is a full Conviction, (your Conſciences beare witneſſe unto it) that ſinne is the ſinners leaning-ſtock, or that in the Prophets language, The wicked truſt in their wickedneſſe, Iſai. 47.10. It is ſtrange that a man ſhould dare to ſinne, and then to truſt in ſin; but oh! that it were not more true.
2ly, In that they think that if their ſinne fall, they fall alſo.2ly, In this it is too too manifeſt, that ſinne is the ſinners leaning-ſtock: in that the ſinner thinkes, that if his ſin fall, he ſhall fall too. The reaſon which makes lame perſons ſo loath to let their Crutches fall, is becauſe they know that then they ſhall fall too. Did they not leane upon them whileſt they ſtand, they would not be affraid of falling with them when they fall. Verily ſirs, If your Conſciences beare you this witneſſe, that the reaſon why you doe not let your ſinfull Alehouſe-maintaining, or Alehouſe-keeping, or Cheating fall, is becauſe you think that then you ſhall fall alſo; 'tis a plaine Conviction, that your ſin is your leaning-ſtock. That of Diana's ſilver-ſmiths, is a pregnant inſtance: 'twas a wicked craft that they had, and an helliſh gain that they made, viz. by making inſtruments of abominable Idolatrie, to that curſed vanity of the Epheſians: Now they make inſurrections againſt the Apoſtles, and this lies at the bottom of all, Act. 19.25. that by this craft we have our living. They thought it could not be that they ſhould live if they ſhould part with their Idolatry. So ſay Sinners, how ſhall we live, if we leave ſinning. We live by ſelling Malt, and then helping the Alehouſes that have it from us to ſuch Company as may again have it from them. How ſhall we live if we leave our lying, diſſembling, cheating, flattering, ſinfull compliance with ſinfull men? How ſhall wee live in office, except we be partiall, ſparing the great, and pinching the ſmal: ſparing our Relations, and preſſing others? How ſhall we bear up our Intereſt except we give ſome Countenance to every ſort of men? Do you wonder the ſilver-Smiths were angry with Paul? why? his Doctrine went about to take away their livelyhood? Do you wonder a lame man ſhould ſend a curſe after you, if you come and ſnatch away his Crutch from under him? Why? he cannot ſtand, if you take away his prop from him; do you take Michahs Gods from him, (as Judg. 18.24.) and then do you ask him what he ailes? Do you go to take a ſinners ſin from him which is his prop, his pillar, & ſupport? and then do you wonder that he rails on you, and reviles you? Why? he thinks you go the way to undoe him, he can neither ſtand, nor go without his ſin; let that ſink, and he ſinks with it: And this is the reaſon that powerfull preaching hath many Enemies, few faſt friends; and how plain a conviction is this alſo, that ſin is indeed the ſinners leaning-ſtock.
The ſecond Poſitive Hindrance that keeps loſt ſoules from leaning to Chriſt, is their leaning to Satan. This is,2. Poſ. hind. Sinners lean to Satan. Proof of it. I think, the fulleſt importance of that paſſage. Iſa. 28.15. With Hell are we at agreement (that is by a Metonymy) with the Devills of hell) when the overflowing ſcourge paſseth thorough, it ſhall not come unto us: (why? what ſhall ſecure them?) for we have made lies (that is Satan the Father of lies) our refuge, and under falſhood (that is, under his temptations, though deceitfull ones) have we hid our ſelves. Had not Eve as this Scripture ſpeaks, leaned more to the Serpent the Father of falſhood and of lies, then to the God of truth, it had not been with us, as it is this day.
In two particular, I ſhall declare how ſinners leane upon Satan for their work, and for their wages.
1. For their work.Firſt, Sinners lean on Satan for their employment. This our Saviour ſpeaks out. Ioh. 8:44. You are of the Devill, and his luſts you will do: Satan wills and they work: Satan commands and they obey. As much as the Son leans to the Father for Counſel, and command in his Employments, ſo much do you, ſaith Chriſt, to Satan: for he is your Father, and his luſts yee will do; therefore he is called their Prince: on whom elſe doth the ſubject depend in all his ſervices, for his Commiſſions? He is the Prince that rules in the Children of diſobedience. Eph. 2.2. It would ſeem a ſtrange Expreſſion, Rules in the Unruly Children. But it is a true expreſſion; for their being ruled by Satan makes them unruly as to the things of God, Children of diſobedience unto God. What doth this mean? Even that as thoſe that work conſtantly with ſome of you Tradeſmen, and depend (as you call it) or lean on you, for their every daies work will not be taken off by any other, unleſſe upon diſcovery of eminent advantage; ſo (unleſſe God draw them in by a thorough diſcovery of the reall gain of godlineſſe) they wil not obey Gods call, or ſet their hand unto his plough: though we call them, and pray them, and preſſe hard upon them; yet ſirs, to which of theſe Maſters, God, or the Devill, they do lean for their work, and the management of their affairs, judge you.
2. For their wages.Secondly, Sinners lean on Satan for their pay, when according to his luſts they take paines, and for their wages when they have done his work. Therefore Iſa. 28.15. We are at a Covenant with Hell. Now when a man hath made Covenants to do ſo much work for ſo much wages, unto whom doth he lean for payment but to him whom he covenanted to ſerve? You find Satan called the Houſe-keeper amongſt ſinners, when a ſtrong man arm'd keeps his Houſe or Pallace, Mark. 3.27. and Luk. 11.21. Now to whom doe all the Souldiers in a Pallace of Defence, or ſervants in an Houſe leane for their wages and pay; but to him that keeps the Houſe, or the Pallace? And aſſuredly, if any thing may be drawn from theſe ſcriptures, this may be one thing: That fooliſh ſinners vainly thinke, that in doing the worke as Satan would have them, Satan will give them ſuch hire as they would have him; and becauſe they are punctuall in performing whatever his Precepts have been to them, that he will alſo be as punctuall in whatever his promiſes have beene to them. Oh! fooliſh people and unwiſe, lies are your leaning-ſtock, and the father of them your ſupport.