Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach
Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 13
Saints compared to Pilgrims.
Heb. 11.13. They confeſſed, that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth.
1 Pet. 2.11. I beſeech you, as Strangers and Pilgrims, to abſtain from fleſhly Lusts, that war against the Spirit.
Note. The Saints of God are in theſe Scriptures compared to Strangers and Pilgrims.
| Simile. | Parallel. |
| A Pilgrim is one that travelleth from one Place to another, and is far from home. | THe Saints of God are ſpiritual Travellers, they are far from their Father's Houſe, Heaven is their everlaſting Home, and thither they are going. All the holy Patriarchs and Prophets confeſſed they were Pilgrims on the Earth. Jacob ſaid, The Days of the Years of my Pilgrimage, (rather than the Days of my Life, Gen. 47 9.) becauſe of the Uncertainty of his Abode here, and in reſpect of his removing from Place to Place. |
| II. A Pilgrim that ſets out in a long Journey, takes care to free himſelf of all manner of Weights, and unneceſſary Burthens, and whatſoever elſe may tend to weary, or unfit him for his Journey. | II. So the ſpiritual Pilgrim, when he firſt ſets out in the Ways of God, lays aſide every Weight,Heb. 12.1. and the Sin that doth ſo eaſily beſet him. It greatly behoves him ſo to do; for one Sin carried in the Boſom, or the inordinate Love to any Thing or Perſon of this World, will prove of dreadful conſequence to him. The young Man in the Goſpel had gone a great way, ſeemed to be a very zealous Pilgrim; but he had ſuch a cruel Burthen upon his Shoulders, that he tired before he came to the end of his Journey. Covetouſneſs, or an unſatisfied Deſire after the Things of this World, is compared to a Burthen, or Load of thick Clay: Who enlargeth his Deſires as Hell, and cannot be ſatisfied, &c. Wo to him that encreaſeth that which is not his; how long? Hab. 2.5, 6 And to him that ladeth himſelf with thick Clay. Would not a Man that hath a long Journey to go, be laugh'd at, ſhould he carry with him a heavy Burthen of Dirt and Rubbiſh? Such Fools are many Profeſſors. See Runner. |
| III. A Pilgrim in his Travels goes up-hill and down-hill; ſometimes he meets with good Way, and ſometimes with bad Way: Sometimes he paſſeth over Stiles, and through dirty Lanes; and then again through green Fields and pleaſant Paſtures, and delightful Paths, till he comes to his deſired Place. | III. So the Pilgrim that would travel to the New Jeruſalem, meets with various Ways and Paſſages. 1. He muſt go out of the horrible Pit of Prophaneneſs; that is Work enough for the firſt Day's Journey. 2. Through the Brook of ſincere Repentance, or true Contrition, (for every one that leaves open Prophaneneſs, is not truly penitent.) 3. Down the Valley of Self-denial, a very difficult Paſſage. 4. Over the Mountains of Oppoſition; for the Devil and all will ſtraitway make head againſt him. 5. Over the Stile of carnal Reaſon: Immediatly I conſulted not with Fleſh and Blood. 6. Into the pleaſant Ways of the New Covenant. 7. So upon the Top of the Rock of Ages, and there he may take a Proſpect of his own Country. |
| IV. A Pilgrim, that hath a long and difficult Way to travel, is very thoughtful how to find the right Way, being a Stranger in that Country through which he muſt paſs. And beſides, being told there are many croſs Ways and Turnings, and hard difficult Paſſages to find, he takes care therefore to get a good and skilful Guide, leſt he ſhould loſe his Way. | IV. So the ſpiritual Pilgrim ſpares no Coſt, omits no Study, to get the beſt Information imaginable, of the ready Way to the Land of Promiſe. He ceaſeth not to enquire of ſuch as pretend themſelves to be Guides, and ſuch as know the Way; but finding them to be ſhort-fighted, and ignorant of the Way themſelves, he ſeeks further. And as he goes along, one cries, This is the Way,Mat. 24.23 another, That. Some bid him believe as the Church believes, and he ſhall never go aſtray. Others bid him co…form to the Laws of Men, and do whatever the Supreme Authority of the Nation doth enjoin in Matters of Faith and Religion. Others call upon him to be led wholly by the Light of his Conſcience, and that will bring him unto the Land of Promiſe, the Place he longs for. And at laſt he meets with another, that ſeems yet to differ from them all, and greatly to ſlight and condemn one grand Fundamental God's Word holds forth, under plauſible Pretences. He cries up Holineſs, and juſt Living, which all confeſs is required; but in the mean time ſtrives to perſuade him to caſt off the Satisfaction of Jeſus Chriſt, and truſt to his own Righteouſneſs, or to refined Morality, rendring Faith in Chriſt crucified little more than a Fancy; and that the main Deſign of Chriſt in coming into the World was, only to be a Pattern of Holineſs and Humility. But he perceiving the Danger great upon this account, and that none of theſe Pretenders could give any convincing Evidence why they ſhould be believed, and their Counſel followed, above others, he rejected all their Directions, and reſolved to be led by none of them, further than their Doctrine agreed with a certain Directory, which through the Grace of God he hath obtained, namely, the written Word of God; and that tells him plainly, The Way is Chriſt, viz. Chriſt, as a Prieſt, dying for him, to appeaſe the Wrath of God,Joh. 14.6. and make Atonement for his Sin, fulfilling the Law, and bringing in everlaſting Righteouſneſs. Chriſt, as a King, to ſubdue his Sin, and to rule and reign over him,Dan. 9.24. according to thoſe bleſſed and wholeſom Laws, Ordinances, and Inſtitutions, given forth by him, and left in his Word. Chriſt, as a Prophet, to teach and inſtruct him. Chriſt, as a holy Pattern and Example, to imitate and follow, ſo far as by the help of Grace he is able. [See Surety, Sin a Debt, The Word compared to Light, The Spirit to a Teacher and Guide.] He hath learned of Chriſt to be holy, and is helped therein by the Holy-Ghoſt to excell his Neighbour, and denies all his Ungodlineſs, and worldly Luſts; and yet caſts himſelf only on Chriſt, relying upon his Merits, labouring to be like him in all things, as the Apoſtle obſerves:1 Joh. 3.3. He that hath this Hope in him, purifieth himſelf even as he is pure. He lets his Sins go, nay, loaths that which is evil; he lives a mortified Life unto the World, and yet truſteth not to any thing that he hath done, or can do, for eternal Life,Acts 4.12. knowing there is no Salvation but by Chriſt alone. He is as godly as any Socinian in the World, and yet magnifies the Riches of God's Grace, and Chriſt's Merits, ſo as not to expect Juſtification any other way. |
| V. A Pilgrim often meets with Trouble, and great Difficulties in his Way, by Winds, Storms, and Tempeſts, hard Weather, Cold, Froſt and Snow, deep and bad Ways, and many Dangers, which he narrowly eſcapes. | V. So the ſpiritual Pilgrim is alſo expoſed to many Difficulties in his Journey Heaven-wards. Terrible Storms ſometimes ariſe, Winds of Perſecution and Temptation blow ſo hard, that he is ſcarce able to ſtand upon his Legs.Pſal. 73.2. My Feet were almoſt gone, my Steps had well nigh ſlipt, &c. He is often beſet with Croſſes and Afflictions, that he is as a Man in the Mire, and can hardly get out. |
| VI. A Pilgrim is a Stranger in the Country through which he paſſeth; and being not known, he is much gazed on, and ſometimes abuſed by the rude Rabble; all which he takes with patience, and makes no reſiſtance. | VI. So the Godly are Strangers in this World: — And confeſſed, Heb. 11.13 that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth. David breaks forth, Hold not thy peace at my Tears, Pſal. 39.12 for I am a Stranger with thee, and a Sojourner, as all my Fathers were. Hence they are made oftentimes a Gazing-ſtock to Men, by Reproaches and Afflictions.Heb. 10.33. And how grievouſly have they been abuſed by the wicked Rabble of the Earth, as Jeſus Chriſt himſelf teſtifieth: If ye were of the World, the World would love its own; Joh. 15.19, 22. but becauſe ye are not of the World, but I have choſen you out of the World, therefore the World hateth you. All theſe things will they do unto you, becauſe they know not him that ſent me. |
| VII. A Pilgrim is a Man that ſtayeth not long in a Place where he comes; he is but a Sojourner for a Night, and is gone; his Heart is upon his Journey. | VII. So the Saints of God have here no continuing City, but ſeek one to come.Heb 13 14 This is not their Reſt; their Abode is here but as in a ſtrange Land, and therefore they go forth on their ſpiritual Progreſs towards that City,Heb. 11.9, 10. that hath Foundations, whoſe Builder and Maker is God. |
| VIII. A Pilgrim is not always in the ſame good Diſpoſition of Body and Mind, fit and neceſſary for his Journey, but ſometimes may be diſtempered, or grow dull and heavy, and out of Heart, upon the account of the great Difficulties that attend him, which when he is delivered and eaſed of, it much rejoiceth his Heart. | VIII. So a Saint is often attended with ſpiritual Diſtempers; his Heart is out of Frame, and in a very unfit Diſpoſition for any Duty; the Troubles and Incumbrances of this Life dull and deaden his ſervent Deſires after God, and make him go on heavily, nay, ready to tire him, and cauſe him to faint in his Mind: yet by the help of the Spirit, and ſerious Meditations of the Excellency of the Country to which he is travelling, he is ſoon quickned again, and gets freſh Strength and Reſolution. He expoſtulateth the Caſe with himſelf after this manner: Shall wicked Men purſue after the Vanities of this World with ſuch Pains and Unweariedneſs! and ſhall I be ready to faint, that have Aſſurance of a Crown of Glory at the end of my Journey! O how diſproportionable are their Labours to their Gains! Bluſh, O my Soul, at thy own Neglects! and be aſtoniſhed, either at their Diligence, or at thy own Sloth! Do they labour in the Fire for very Vanity? and wilt thou ſhew ſuch a ſottiſh, dead, and unbelieving Frame of Heart, as not to purſue with more Zeal and Diligence after that glorious Country, and endleſs Felicity before thee? Is not Heaven worth ſtriving for, and travelling to? |
| IX. A Pilgrim is glad when he meets with good Company in the Way, eſpecially other Pilgrims, ſuch as are travelling to the ſame Place to which he is going himſelf. What is more deſirable to a Traveller, than a faithful Friend and Companion? This makes (ſaith one) evil things little, and good things great; by this ſweet Society our Griefs are divided, and all our Joys are doubled. What Calamity is not intolerable, without a Friend, (a Companion)? And what Society is not ungrateful, if we have none to ſhare with us in it? We ſuffer not ſo much, when we have ſome to condole and ſuffer with us; and we rejoyce the more, when our Felicity gives a pleaſure not only to our ſelves, but to others alſo. If Solitude, and Want of Company, be ſo horrid, ſo dreadful a thing, it is not to be underſtood of the Want of Men, but of the Want of Friends, (meet Company) for it is a good Solitude, not to dwell with thoſe that do not love us; and a Man would chuſe ſuch a Hermitage, where he might not be troubled with them who bear no benevolous Affection to him. But for my part, I cannot think that Man to be happy, which hath no Friend to participate in his Pleaſures. A Man may more eaſily bear the hardeſt Calamity with his Friend, than the greateſt Felicity alone, &c. | IX. So a Saint, or ſpiritual Pilgrim, is glad when he meets with good and gracious Companions in his Journey to the Land of Promiſe. They that fear thee, Pſal. 119.74. will be glad when they ſee me, becauſe I have hoped in thy Word. I am a Companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy Precepts. What ſweet Fellowſhip have God's Children one with another! How much doth their heavenly Converſe and Communion refreſh and chear each others Hearts, under all their Sufferings and Hardſhips, which they meet with in their ſpiritual Pilgrimage? We took ſweet Counſel together, Pſal. 55.4. and walked unto the Houſe of God in Company. If earthly Society be ſo deſirable, how pleaſant is the Society of Saints, or Communion with thoſe we ſhall dwell with for ever! Chriſtian Pilgrims have great Advantage in their Journey, by travelling together. If the one be poor, and the other rich, the one relieves his Fellow; or if the one be weak, and the other ſtrong, the one can take the other by the hand, and afford ſome help to him, when they meet with bad Way, or go up-hill.Eccleſ 4.9, 10. Two (ſaith Solomon) are better than one; for if they fall, the one will help up his Fellow. Moſt Travellers have found by Experience, how comfortable it is to have good Company in a long Journey. They very much ſtrengthen and encourage each other, and by this means the Way ſeems not ſo long and tedious, as otherwiſe it would. They will, if one be ſad or caſt down, enquire what the matter is, and often ask how each other do; and thus it is with Believers. Paul's great care was, to know the State of the Saints to whom he wrote, and with whom he converſed. |
| X. A Pilgrim ſometimes meets with Enemies, ſuch as ſtrive to perſuade him to go back, telling him, the Danger would be great, and the Difficulty ſuch, that the Advantage he expects at the end of his Journey to receive, would not make a Recompence for his Pains and Labour. | X. So a ſpiritual Pilgrim meets with divers Enemies in his Journey towards Heaven, who ſtrive to diſcourage him, and turn him back,Num. 6.14 like as the evil Spies ſerved the Children of Iſrael. Time would fail me to tell you all their Names, nevertheleſs I ſhall diſcover ſome of theſe Enemies to you, that ſo you who are bound for the holy Land, may avoid the pernicious Counſel they frequently give, and be ſtrengthned againſt the Diſcouragements they lay in the way of true Piety. 1. The firſt is Fear. This is a very dangerous Enemy; he ſaith, there is a Lion in the Way, a Lion in the Streets, and many other evil Beaſts, who will devour him, and tear him in pieces, if he proceed on in his intended Journey. There we ſaw the Sons of Anak, the Sons of the Giants, &c. 2. The ſecond is Ʋnbelief: I ſhall now one day periſh by the Hands of Saul.1 Sam. 27.1 This Adverſary ſuggeſteth to the Soul, That it is doubtful whether there is any ſuch glorious Land, or heavenly Country that he talks of, or no: or if there be, yet (ſaith he) it is not poſſible for you to find it; and that certainly you will fall ſhort of it, and faint, before you come to the end of your Journey; your Sins, ſaith he, are ſo great, that God will not forgive them. 3. The third is Sloth, a lazy Companion, that would have him ſleep and ſlumber away his precious Time, and not trouble his Head with Religion, but pleaſe his ſenſual Appetite, telling him, that Heaven may be had with good Wiſhes, and formal Prayer, by crying, Lord, have mercy upon us, and, Chriſt, have mercy upon us, &c. And if he have but Time, a little before he breaths out his laſt, on a Death-Bed, but to cry unto God after this manner, it will be ſufficient. Tho God's Word ſaith, The Soul that ſinneth, it ſhall die. And, Except a Man be born again, Ezek 18. Joh. 3.3. Heb. 12. he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God. And, Without Holineſs no Man ſhall ſee the Lord. It is only a holy Life, that is attended with a happy Death. 4. The fourth is one worldly-wiſe, a Perſon much in requeſt in theſe Days, whoſe Counſel many are ready to follow. What! ſaith he, art thou ſuch a Fool, to expoſe thy ſelf to ſuch great Sorrow and Suffering for Heaven, when thou mayeſt have it without half the Ado. Pity thy Wife and Children, ſave thy ſelf out of a Priſon, and hazard not thy Eſtate: For my part, I came into the World raw, and I will not go out roaſted; I will be of that Religion that is in faſhion, and ſet up by the Supreme Law of the Nation. Are you wiſer than every Body? You meddle with Things too high for you, &c. Chriſt ſaith, Whoſoever comes after me,Mat. 16.24, 25. and doth not deny himſelf, and take up his Croſs, cannot be my Diſciple; and that his Saints in the World ſhall have Tribulation. But this Man would fain make the Croſs of Chriſt to ceaſe. Come Popery, and what will, by this Argument he muſt and will conform to it; he will be of that Religion that is uppermoſt. And thus he renders the Apoſtles and Primitive Chriſtians, and all the holy Martyrs, Fools and Fanaticks, nay, worſe, Rebels, becauſe they did not conform to the Religion of their Superiors. 5. The fifth Enemy is one Moraliſt, a very honeſt Man, but that Ignorance and Blindneſs of Mind hath got ſuch Rule in him. He ſaith, It is ſufficient, and no more is required of us, but to do as we would be done unto, and pay every Man his own: and that if a Man can but get out of the deep Ditch of Senſuality, and fleſhly Debauchery, and lead a ſpotleſs Life towards Man, he need not doubt of Heaven, nor trouble himſelf about Faith in Chriſt, and Regeneration. Tho our Saviour expreſly ſaith, Except your Righteouſneſs exceed the Righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, Mat. 5.20. ye ſhall in no wiſe enter into the Kingdom of God. And Paul ſaith, That he accounted his own Righteouſneſs, and all other external Privileges and Attainments, (that he once thought Gain to him) but Dung, for the Excellency of the Knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt; Phil. 3.8, 9, 10. 1 Cor. 2.1, 2. and that he deſired nothing more, than to know Chtiſt, and him crucified. If a Man could be ſaved by his own Righteouſneſs, Chriſt came into the World, and died in vain; and the Law, which was a perfect Rule of Righteouſneſs, had then been ſufficient to bring Men to Heaven: Beſides, how do we come to be delivered from the Curſe, Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law, to do them? 6. The ſixth Adverſary is Preſumption, a bold confident Fellow, that cries, Caſt your ſelf upon the Mercy of God in Chriſt, the Lord Jeſus died for Sinners; trouble your Head no more, you ſhall be ſaved. Tho I am a Sinner, and am now and then drunk, and let flie an Oath ſometimes before I am aware, yet I doubt not but it will go well with me; my Heart is good, and Chriſt died for ſuch as I am. This Man ſins becauſe Grace hath abounded, and forgets that Chriſt came to ſave Men from their Sins, and not in their Sins; and that that Faith that juſtifies,Acts 15.9. 1 Joh. 3.3. is attended with good Fruits, and purifieth the Heart and Life of him that obtains it. 7. The ſeventh Enemy is Vain-Glory. If Satan cannot enſnare the Soul by any of the other Ways, he ſtrives to puff it up with Pride and Self-conceit. Now Vain-Glory is a deadly Enemy, therefore take heed of him. It becomes Chriſtians to be lowly-minded: Learn of me (ſaith Chriſt) for I am meek and lowly in Heart; Mat. 11.28, 29. and ye ſhall find Reſt to your Souls. |
| XI. A Pilgrim is glad when he comes at laſt to his deſired Place, and forgets all his former Trouble and Afflictions, which attended him in his Way. | XI. So a Saint, when he comes to Heaven, or hath obtained the End of his Hope,1 Pet. 1.9. viz. the Salvation of his Soul, greatly rejoyceth, and forgets all the Sorrow and Trouble he met with in this World. They ſhall return, and come to Zion with Songs, Iſa. 35.10. Iſa. 51.11. everlaſting Joy ſhall be upon their Heads. They ſhall obtain Joy and Gladneſs, and Sorrow and Sighing ſhall flee away. |
Inferences.
THis may ſerve to inform God's People, what their State and Condition is, and will be, whilſt they remain in this World. This is not your Reſt, &c.Mic. 2.10. Heb. 13.14 Here we have no continuing City, but we ſeek one to come.
2. Therefore it ſharply reprehends thoſe Chriſtians, that ſettle themſelves as Inhabitants and Dwellers here below, like other People. Alas! Sirs, ye forget that ye are Strangers and Pilgrims, and but Sojourners as it were for a Night. Why do ye ſeek great Things for your ſelves, and ſeem to be ſo much taken with the Pleaſures and Profits of this Life? Ye are not of this World. Let ſuch as regard no higher things,Joh. 15.19 take their Fill here, and delight themſelves in their Portion, for 'tis all the Good they are ever like to have; but let them remember thoſe diſmal Sayings of our bleſſed Saviour: Wo unto you that are rich, for ye have received your Conſolation; Luk. 6.24, 25, 26.wo unto you that are full, for ye ſhall hunger; wo unto you that laugh now, for ye ſhall mourn and weep; wo unto you that all Men ſpeak well of, &c.