A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 4 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Diſcovers how ſoule-wearineſs fits for Chriſt; Opened and applyed.
2. Weary ſouls as well as weak.BUt you wil ſay, are there not ſome weak ones that reſt in their ever complainings of their weakneſſe, as well as ſome ſtrong ones that reſt in their ſtrength? truly I believe there are, of whom we may ſay as Paul of thoſe women, that were ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, 2 Tim. 3.7. So there are ſome, that are ever complaining of their weakneſſes, as to the things of God, which are never able (becauſe not truly willing) to grow ſtronger, or to come up to any ſtrength of grace. They feare that Chriſt will not break the bruiſed reed, they think that he ſurely wil pitty the weak, and ſuch are they; and here they reſt, taking neither due care, nor paines to grow any ſtronger: theſe ſome have entitled The whining Hypocrites. Now therefore
The weak and weary of their weakneſſe, are fit to be leaning ſouls.In the ſecond place, It is not onelyonly weakneſſe, but wearineſs, that diſpoſeth the ſoul for leaning effectually upon the Lord Jeſus. The ſoule that is weake, and weary of its weakneſſe: for indeed, as the ſtrength that we ſpake of, was the Phariſees weakneſs; ſo the weakneſs we ſpake of, the Hypocrite makes it his ſtrength. But now that ſoule that is throughly ſolicitous to be rid of its weakeneſſe, which can onelyonly be by wearineſſe, is fit to ſit down upon this well of living waters: for Jeſus himſelfe alſo being weary (according to the fleſh) ſat down upon the well, Joh. 4.6. Till Hagar was wearied, as well as weakened in the wilderneſſe of Beer-ſhebah, the Angel of the Lord never opened her eyes, nor diſcovered unto her the Well of waters, Gen. 21. from the 14. to the 19. So until ſouls be weary of the wilderneſſe of ſin, as well as weakned in it, & by it, the Lord wil never reveal unto them thoſe refreſhments that are from the preſence of the Lord, in the hand and diſpenſation of the Angell of his preſence, Firſt proved, after opened. Proofe. 1. In that God the fountaine is onelyonly open to the weary.the Lord Jeſus.
This I ſhall firſt prove, and then open. I prove it thus,
1. The Lord is the fountaine of all ſpirituall refreſhments, ſo ſaith the Scripture, Act. 3.19. The times of refreſhing come from the preſence of the Lord. Now this fountaine which experience ſhews us to be a fountaine ſealed to the reſt of the world, is a fountaine opened unto weary ſoules that they may drinke, and drink abundantly, Jer. 31.25. I have ſaciated the weary ſoule; that is, given them refreſhment unto ſaciety, viz. as much as they need.
2.2. In that the Lord Chriſt the diſpenſer of refreſhments The Lord Chriſt is the Conduit pipe of this refreſhment from God unto the ſoule: or rather thus, Chriſt keepes the lock and key of this fountaine, to him is committed the diſpenſation of theſe refreſhments: and upon this account there are theſe three things that the ſcriptures minde me of.
Firſt,1. Hath his inſtructions peculiarly to reſpect the weary. That the Lord Chriſt hath particular inſtructions from the Father, that gave him his commiſſion to diſpenſe refreſhments peculiarly to ſuch weary ſoules. Read, and be raviſhed with that expreſſion (which is plainly the Lord Chriſts) Iſai. 50.4. I cloath the heavens with blackneſſe, (ſaith he) ver. 3. Therefore it muſt be underſtood of Chriſt, not the Prophet. Now he goes on, ver. 4. The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I ſhould know how to ſpeake a word in ſeaſon (to weary ſouls) to him that is weary, he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine Eare to hear as the learned: As who ſhould ſay, the Lord doth renew my inſtructions every morning, leſt the weary ſhould want ſeaſonable refreſhment any time of the day. It followes, that he gave his backe to the ſmiters, &c. which makes it cleare, that it is Chriſt that ſpeaks of himſelfe principally, though ſubordinately it was the Prophets commiſſion, as it is ours in the Goſpel, to ſpeak in ſeaſon a word to weary ſoules.
2ly. Makes invitation to the weary.Secondly, In purſuance of theſe inſtructions, Chriſt directs his precious invitations to the weary; I mean his effectual invitations, though many be bidden to the ſupper that never ſit down at it, and many are called, but few are choſen; yet they that are truly called ſhall come, and be welcome when Chriſt invites them, Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour (as our late tranſlation,) all ye that are weary, (as other tranſlations) all ye that labour unto wearineſs, (as the Greek word foreign imports, for the ſame word foreign is uſed, Joh. 4.6. and tranſlated as you ſaw even now, Jeſus being weary) and I will give you reſt. This is Chriſts own invitation. Let weary ſoules make haſt and come away, they need not bring their ſtooles with them that are thus bidden.
3ly. Applyeth theſe refreſhments only to the weary.Thirdly, In purſuance of this invitation, Jeſus Chriſt makes Application of his refreſhments to the weary, Iſai. 32.2. And a man (when he had ſpoken before of the Kingdome of Chriſt in the firſt verſe) ſhall raign in righteouſneſs &c.) ſhall be as the ſhadow of a great Rock in a weary Land. Look how weary thoſe Eaſtlanders (to whom he then ſpeaks) ever were under the ſcorching heat, of the Sun in their torrid zone at noon-day: look how weary Jonah was even of his life, when his Gourd that ſhadowed him was gone, ſo weary muſt ſouls be of their burning luſts, and the ſcorching flames of their awakened Conſciences, before they will care for Jeſus Chriſt: but when they are once thus weary, his refreſhments ſhall not be far off from them: Chriſt is a ſhadow of a great Rock, but his ſhadow doth ever ſtretch forth it ſelfe upon the wearie Land.
The point thus proved, The opening in two Queries.I ſhall endeavour to open by ſhewing what we muſt be weary of, and how we may know whether we be thus weary or no.
1. What muſt we be thus weary of?
I anſwer, Of all that we have formerly leaned unto, 1. What we muſt be wearied of? 1. Of Satan and his counſels.before we can can leane unto Jeſus Chriſt. More particularly,
1. Of Satan, and of all his counſels and perſwaſions. This is the voyce of the daughter of Sion in her ſpiritual travaile, thoſe wearying pangs of the ſecond birth, Jer. 4.31. I have heard a voice, as of a woman in travaile, that bringeth forth her firſt childe; the voyce of the daughter of Sion, that bewaileth her ſelfe, that ſpreadeth her hands, ſaying, Woe is me now, for my ſoule is wearyed becauſe of murderers. 'Twas a long time that ſhe converſed with them, but now her ſoule is wearyed with them. Murtherers they are now, when the ſoul is in the throws of birth, it finds them ſo; before the pleaſure Devil, and the profit-Devil w…re the beſt friends, the beſt companions: but now the ſoul is wearied with them all as ſo many murtherers. How weary of the company of Cutthroats would a man be, that ſhould be ſurpriſed on the High-way, and in danger of his life, becauſe of thoſe that are with him, every ſtep he goes? ſurely ſo weary of Satan and his company, muſt the ſoule be that comes to Chriſt? Or, how weary (if thou ſhouldſt be taken by a Lyon of the Forreſt, and kept for ſome ſpace alive) wouldſt thou be of the preſence of the Lyon? and upon this, how glad wouldſt thou be that ſome mighty man, ſome David ſhould come and reſcue thee? ſo weary of Satan muſt thou be, if ever thou wouldeſt come up from the wilderneſſe leaning upon the Beloved.
2ly. Of the World, and her projects and courſes: 2ly. The world and her courſes.theſe alſo we uſe to lean unto, and therefore muſt be weary of. Wee muſt ſay of our ſelves, as God ſaith of Iſrael, Iſai. 47.13. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy Counſels: thou haſt laboured with them, even thy Merchants from thy youth, they ſhall wander every one to his quarter, none ſhall ſave thee, ver. 15. When you have been trading up and down in the world with the cuſtomes, or creature-vanities of the world, whatever thy merchant from thine youth hath been, bid them farewel, let them goe to their quarters, expect not to be ſaved by any of them, come to be weary of them all, or elſe there is no true leaning upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
3ly. Selfe and all its perfections.Thirdly, Of Selfe, and its glories and perfections. Some that have been converted, have been ſo proud of a fore-top, a lock, and garb, an attyre formerly, that they have thought they ſhould never be weary of them, or of pleaſing themſelves in them: but now when they have come to draw neare to Chriſt, they have been ſoon weary of theſe, and moſt readily fling them from them. So Paul even of his ſelfe-righteouſneſſe, calling it droſs and dung, away with it, Phil. 3. Thus Hab. 2.14. The people ſhall labour in the fire, and weary themſelves for very vanitie. When God caſts all our perfections into the furnace, and we come to ſee that there comes forth nothing but droſs, we ſhall (as Paul) be weary of our ſelves, as well as weary our ſelves, becauſe there is nothing in us but very vanity. And that Hab. 3.16. is very eminent; When I heard (ſaith he) my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice, (when God ſpeaks conviction and terror to the ſoule) rottenneſs entred into my bones, and I trembled in my ſelfe, that I might reſt in the day of trouble. Marke you, the onelyonly way to have a ſure ſupport in a troubleſome day, is to be as much weary and willing to go out of our ſelves, as a man would be that lodgeth in a very rotten houſe, when that winds and ſtormes are at the higheſt. Unleſs thou have trembling and wearineſs in thy ſelfe, thou wilt never have ſtrength and reſt in Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly, But how may we know,2ly. How we may diſcern our w…arineſs. whether we be thus weary, yea, or no?
I anſwer, By our willing deſiſting from former labour, by our appetite after refreſhments, by our glad acceptance of a convenient reſting place.
Firſt, By deſiſting from former labour,1. By deſiſting from our wearying labour. viz. the work that wearied us. You perceive that a man man growes weary, when he becomes ſolicitous to take up his Inne; and indeed, though all ceaſing from labour at all times, be not an argument of tyredneſs in the worke, yet when ever thou art tyred in any worke, thy vote will be for ſurceaſing from the labour; ſo though every leaning of ſinne be not an argument of through-wearineſs, (becauſe there may be as many occaſions of a mans ſuſpending the ſin, as of the formers ſuſpending the work that he delights in, though he be not weary of it) yet when the ſoul is thoroughly wearied of ſin, it will deſiſt from ſin: and if there be a ready and free ſitting down from ſinne, 'tis a good argument of the ſoules wearineſſe. I think what Iſaiah obſerves, concerning them that had wearied themſelves with ſo often going down to Egypt, Iſai. 30.7. Therefore I have cryed concerning this, their ſtrength is to ſit ſtill: the ſ me may I ſay to poor ſinners, that have wearied themſelves in going down unto uncleanneſs, drunkenneſs, formality, &c. their ſtrength is now to ſit ſtill; that is, to deſiſt from their wearying trade of ſinning. You know the language of a truly weary one is ſuch as this, I will, I can go no farther; and this is the language of a ſoule in converſion, Job 34.32. If I have done iniquity, I will do ſo no more: or in Jobs own language, when at length God had made him weary of his ſtanding upon his own righteouſn…ſſe, Job 40.5. Once have I ſpoken, but I will not anſwer; yea twice, but I will proceed no farther. There's the voyce of true wearineſſe. Oh! that I could heare ſome drunkards of you this day crying out, ſo often have I been drunk, or ſo long have I been a drunkard, but I will proceed no farther; and ſo for every other ſinne: Thus long have I leaned upon my own performances, but I will doe ſo no more, &c.
2ly. By our appetite after ſpiritual refreſhments.Secondly, The weary will have a thorough-appetite unto refreſhments. Thus Siſerah was thirſty, Judg. 4.19. Being weary, ver. 21. Yea, Jeſus himſelf being weary, asks for water of the Well, Jo. 4.7. So ſpiritually weary ſouls, will be ſpiritually hungry and thirſty ſouls. I have ſaciated the weary ſoul, Jer. 31. Bleſſed are they that hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, they ſhall be ſatisfied, Mat. 5.6. If thou be very much a thirſt for the waters of life. 'tis an argument thou art weary of the Wilderneſs wayes of death. And if thou be thus thirſty, thou wilt have an heart to deſire, and a tongue to beg, yea, continue begging till thou get reliefe.
3ly. By our willing cloſe with Chriſt our reſting-place.Thirdly, If thou be weary, thou wilt be glad to ſit downe, and to cloſe with a convenient reſting-place; thus Jeſus when he was weary, ſat down on the Well, and thy ſoul, if it be weary, will be glad to ſit downe on Jeſus Chriſt.
My Brethren, if you were indeed weary, your ſoules would leap within you to heare the words that you have heard this day, concerning the refreſhments to be had in the Lord Jeſus.
Two ſuſpitions that few are weary.But on the other hand, there are two things that too too plainly ſpeak the moſt of the Children of men to be little weary of the Wilderneſs.
1. That they can paſſe by Chriſt, and forget their reſting-place.1. That they can come to the Inne where ſoules ſhould lodge, and where there is as faire and convenient accommodations, as the whole heaven can afford for weary Spirits, and paſſe it by without turning in, that they may be refreſhed. Ile never believe that man to be perfectly weary, who when he comes to a good Inne, and eſpecially be ſolicited to alight, ſhall ſpur on, and ſay, no, let us ride an hour longer, or we will goe three or four miles farther. If an Ague take you by the way, and tyre you, oh! ſay you, When ſhall we get in ſight of the Inne? Upon this account is the Lords challenge, Jer. 50.6. They have gone from Mountain to Hill, they have forgotten their reſting place. Ah! it's a ſlender ſigne that a Traveller is thoroughly weary, that paſſeth by, and forgets to take up his lodging at his reſting place. Soules, you do but dally with God, if you pretend to be weary of the wayes of ſinne and vanity; and yet can come by Jeſus Chriſt in ſo many Sermons, &c. and forget to ſit down upon him, or to lodge with him.
2ly.2. That though they pretend tyredneſſe through ſinne one while, yet are they quickly freſh for ſin againe. That they can pretend (as ſome do) to ſo much tyredneſs in the wayes of ſinne to day, (whilſt ſome ſtrong convictions are upon them) that can be freſh againe for ſinne to morrow. Ile never believe that hee was perfectly weary of any toyle, that can be ſo ſoone freſh for the ſame toyle. You are a little weary perhaps, that uſe to ride to London weekly, when you lye downe, but as freſh (you ſay) in the morning as at firſt ſetting out. Thus many an Hypocrite is a little weary of ſinne for the preſent, but ſaith as the drunkard, Prov. 23.35. When I awake, I will ſeeke it yet again: and thus they return as the Dogge to his vomit, or the Swine that is waſh't to the wallowing in the mire. You have heard, who they are that are fit to lean on Jeſus Chriſt, the weak and the weary ſoules. Of both theſe I have ſpoken ſeverally.