Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 31 · Subpart 1
Wicked Men compared to Captives.
Iſa. 61.1. Proclaim Liberty to the Captives.
Acts 8.23. For I perceive that thou art in the Gall of Bitterneſs, and in the Bond of Iniquity.
Gal. 4.3. Even ſo we, when we were Children, were in Bondage under the Elements of the World.
Gal. 4.25. For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and anſwereth unto Jeruſalem which is, and is now in Bondage with her Children.
2 Tim. 2.26. And that they may recover themſelves out of the Snare of the Devil, who are taken captive by him at his Will.
Heb. 2.15. And deliver them, who through Fear of Death were all their Life time ſubject to Bondage.
2 Pet. 2.19. While they promiſe themſelves Liberty, they themſelves are the Servants of Corruption; for of whom a Man is overcome, of the ſame is he brought into Bondage.
COrporal Bondage or Captivity is as much as to ſay, Slavery and Thraldom under ſome Tyrant, or cruel Enemy, that oppreſſeth: And from theſe Scriptures 'tis evident, that wicked Men (or ſuch as are in the State of Nature, unconverted) are in a State of Bondage, they are ſpiritual Slaves or Captives. And in opening the Bondage-State the Ungodly are in, I ſhall ſhew,
1. To whom they are or may be ſaid to be in Bondage.
2. How they were brought into this Bondage-State.
3. The Nature of this ſpiritual Bondage.
1. They are in Bondage to Sin: He that committeth Sin, is the Servant of Sin. Joh. 8.35.Sin rules and reigns in wicked Men; they are overcome by their b…ſe and filthy Luſts, and of whom a Man is overcome, of the ſame is he brought into Bondage.2 Pet. 2.19 2 Tim. 2.26. Eph 2.2. Gal. 4 25.
2. They are in Bondage to Satan, taken captive by him at his Will; He rules in the Hearts of the Children of Diſobedience.
3. They are in Bondage to the Law: For being not able to perform the Obligation or Requirements thereof, they are brought under the Power and Bondage of that killing Letter.
4. They are in Bondage to Death; Death tyrannizeth over them,Heb. 2.15. and through fear of it they are ſaid to be continually in Bondage.
5. They are in Bondage to the Wrath of God,Joh. 3.36. they are under the Power of God's dreadful Wrath.
| Captive. | Parallel. |
| SOme that are in a State of Bondage were once Free-men. | ADam (and ſo all Mankind,How Mankind were brought into Bondage. conſidered as being in his Loins) while he flood in that State of Innocency, before he eat of the forbidden Fruit, was a free Man, he was not in Bondage to any of theſe Enemies. |
| II. Some are in a State of Bondage, by being the Off-ſpring of ſuch Parents as are Slaves; for if the Parents are born Slaves, their Children that are born in Captivity, are Captives likewiſe. | II. So all wicked Men are in Bondage, as they are the Off-ſpring of old Adam: Pſal. 51.5. All Mankind being born in Sin, Satan, Death, and Wrath hath Power over them, until delivered by Jeſus Chriſt. And hence they are ſaid to be by Nature Children of Wrath. Eph. 2.2. |
| III. Some are brought into Bondage by the Power and Force of an Enemy, they being ſurprized, and by reaſon of Weakneſs not able to withſtand them, are taken captive; as many of this and other Nations have been by the Turks. | III. Wicked Men are alſo actually taken captive, and brought into Bondage by Sin and Satan; as being ſurprized by the Power of theſe Enemies, they are overcome, and ſo brought into Captivity; Satan being ſtronger than they, he prevails againſt them.2 Tim 2… 26. And that they may recover themſelves out of the Snare of the Devil, who are taken captive by him at his Will. |
| IV. Some by Allurements are enticed by an Adverſary, and that way overcome, and brought into Bondage. Pirates oft-times put out falſe Colours, and pretend themſelves to be Friends, that ſo they may the better trapan and take poor unwary Perſons. | IV.Prov. 7.21 So wicked Men are by the Allurements and Enticements of Sin and Satan overcome, and brought into Bondage. Theſe ſpiritual Enemies by Policy deceive and trapan the Souls of Men. Satan, like a curſed Pirate, puts out falſe Colours, pretends himſelf a Friend; he preſents the Pleaſures and Profits of the World to them,1 Cor. 11.14. and thereby overcomes them, and carries them away captive. |
| V. Some Perſons, when they are taken captive by an Enemy, are ſtript naked; their own Robes being taken away, they have inſtead of them nothing but filthy Rags, to hide their Nakedneſs withal. | V. Adam, The ſad and miſerable Condition of Satan's Captives. when Satan overcame him by his Treachery and ſubtil Wiles, was ſtript naked: He loſt all his precious Robes, viz. his ſpotleſs and perfect Righteouſneſs, and ever ſince his natural Off-ſpring, while they remain unconverted, have nothing but their own Righteouſneſs to cover them, which is by the Holy-Ghoſt compared to filthy Rags. Some conceive by filthy Rags,Iſa. 64 6. the Spirit of God alludes to thoſe Rags that Chirurgeons take off of corrupt and filthy Sores, which we know are very loathſom; this ſhews that the State of Sinners is very deplorable. |
| VI. Some Perſons who are taken captive, are put into a Priſon, nay, into a Dungeon, and remain under the power of a cruel Keeper. | VI. Sinners, whilſt they remain in a State of Nature, Captives of Sin and Satan, are in a Priſon, in a deep Priſon or Dungeon of Darkneſs,Col. 1.13. called the Power of Darkneſs. This Priſon is ſtrong, there is no Man can break through, and make an eſcape. 'Tis called a Pit, yea,Pſal. 40.2. an horrible Pit, or Pit of Noiſe. Some underſtand, David means the Depth of Afflictions; others, the horrible State of Unregeneracy, or deep Alienation from the Life of God, wherein is heard nothing but the fearful and hideous Noiſe of an accuſing Conſcience, and Wrath of an angry God. 'Tis a Pit wherein is no Water,Zech. 9.11 viz. no Soul-Comfort nor Refreſhment, &c. being under the Power and Tyranny of Satan. |
| VII. Some Perſons, when they are taken captive, and put into Priſon, and alſo bound with Iron Chains, or Fetters of Braſs, their Eyes alſo have been put out. Thus the King of Babylon ſerved Zedekiah King of Judah, 2 King. 25.7. when Jeruſalem was taken: And they ſlew the Sons of Zedekiah before his Eyes, and put out the Eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with Fetters of Braſs, and carried him to Babylon. | VII. Wicked Men are not only Captives, and put into a bottomleſs Priſon, but they are alſo bound. I perceive thou art in the Gall of Bitterneſs, Acts 8. and in the Bond of Iniquity. Hence the Prophet ſpeaking of Chriſt, ſaith,Iſa. 61.1. He hath ſent me to bind up the Broken-hearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Priſon to them that are bound. Every ungodly Man, whilſt he remains in Satan's Kingdom, is bound with ſtrong Bonds: Firſt, the Bond of a hard Heart;Jer. 5.3. Act. 26.18 ſecondly, the Bond of Ignorance; thirdly, the Bond of Unbelief: Which they are no way able to break aſunder, or get out of. And by this means they are fit for any Drudgery the Devil hath for them to do, the Eyes of their Underſtanding being darkned, or put out.Eph. 5.8. Ye that were ſometimes in Darkneſs, &c. |
| VIII. Some Perſons that have been in Captivity have been almoſt ſtarved to Death, having had little more than Bread and Water afforded them, nay, have been forced to eat ſuch things as were not fit for Food. | VIII. Wicked Men, who are the Captives of Sin and Satan, are kept at hard Commons; they never yet had the leaſt Taſte of that which is really good, but they ſpend their Money for that which is not Bread, and their Labour for that which ſatisfieth not. And therefore ſaith God,Iſa. 55.1, 2 Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your Soul delight it ſelf in Fatneſs. Pray obſerve what the Holy-Ghoſt compares the Food of ungodly Sinners to: Firſt, They are ſaid to feed on the Wind; ſecondly, to feed on Aſhes; and thirdly, on Gravel; and fourthly, on Husks.Iſa. 44.20. Hoſ. 12.1. Prov. 20.17. The Prodigal would fain have filled his Belly with the Husks which the Swine did eat. Should a poor Captive have nothing allowed him to eat, but Husks, Gravel, or Aſhes, all would conclude his Condition to be very miſerable: ſo miſerable are all ungodly Sinners. Alas! all the Pleaſures, Riches and Honours of this World, or whatſoever it is that they feed upon, or let their Hearts run out after, are, in compariſon of Chriſt the Bread of Life, and thoſe other good Things which Believers daily feed and feaſt upon, but as feeding on Husks and Gravel. If Men naturally have no Food to eat, they will pine away, and ſoon die: So were it not for thoſe earthly Comforts, that the Ungodly have to feed upon, and ſupport their Spirits with, (tho you ſee what the Nature of them is) they would ſoon pine away. Do but diſpoſſeſs them of any of theſe earthly Enjoyments,Pſal. 34.8. and their Hearts (like the Heart of Nabal) would preſently die in them; for they never taſted how good the Lord is, how ſweet Promiſes are, what it is to have the Love and Favour of God; never taſted of the Feaſt of a good Conſcience, nor of the Comforts of the Holy-Ghoſt. |
| IX. Some Perſons that have been taken captive, have been grievouſly wounded; they have not only been ſtript, put into Priſon, and almoſt ſtarved to Death, but alſo have lain there in a ſad, bloody, and mangled Condition, and their Wounds let alone to feſter, ſtink, and be very loathſom. | IX. The Wicked are not only Captives of the Devil, ſtript of all their firſt Righteouſneſs, in Priſon, in Iron Chains, almoſt ſtarved to Death ſpiritually; but alſo they are wounded from the Sole of the Foot to the Head, there is no ſoundneſs in it, Iſa 1.6. but Wounds, and Bruiſes, and putrifying Sores. Some conclude, that the Prophet ſpeaks of the Body Politick, or National Church of the Jews, which was under great Affliction, and ſo was that way ſorely wounded. But doubtleſs the Wounds and Sickneſs ſpoken of here, were thoſe Sins and abominable Evils that People were guilty of; which appears from what is ſaid by the Lord in the firſt Verſe, Why ſhould ye be ſtricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: And as a Proof of it, he ſaith, The whole Head is ſick, and the whole Heart faint. Sin was the Sickneſs, and the Wounds; and thoſe Afflictions that God had brought upon them, was the Cure. But why (ſaith God) ſhould I afflict or chaſtiſe you any more, or uſe Means for your Help and Healing, when under the Uſe or Exerciſe of that Sovereign Means I have uſed, you grow worſe and worſe? 'Tis ſaid of the Man that went from Jeruſalem to Jericho, and fell among Thieves,Luk. 10.30 that he was not only ſtript of his Raiment, but wounded alſo. My Wounds ſtink, and are corrupt, ſaith David; and in another place he cries out, Lord, Pſal. 88.51 have mercy upon me, and heal my Soul; for I have ſinned againſt thee. From whence it appears,Pſal 41.4. that a godly Man may be wounded by his Sin, and that ſorely too. Every Sin makes a Wound in the Soul; what a fearful Caſe are unconverted Souls then in? O that Sinners would but conſider this. See Sin a Wound and Sickneſs. |
| X. Some Perſons that have been taken captive, and brought into Priſon and Bondage, beſides other ſad Circumſtances they have been under, they have been brought under the Sentence of Death, nay, and for their horrid Rebellions, Treaſons, &c. under a fearful and painful Death, as to be torn in pieces, or burned alive. | X. The Ungodly, who remain Captives to Satan, being under the power of their Luſts, or abiding in the State of Unregeneracy, are not only under all the ſad Circumſtances you have heard; but to render them every way miſerable, (as in truth their preſent State is) they are under the Sentence of Death. Perhaps ſome would conclude, that Death to ſuch Perſons I have given the Character of, is better than Life; and, with Job, they had better chuſe it. Alas! it would be ſo indeed, were it to die the common Death of all Men. Death puts an end to all the external Miſeries of Mortals: but the Death of Sin's Captives is quite another thing: They are condemned to be burned, to be burned alive too; but this is not all, to lie burning in the Fire of God's eternal Wrath for ever, where they ſhall be always dying, but cannot die: Where the Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched. |
| Captive. | Diſparity. |
| CAptives, that are ſo only to Men, are but externally enſlaved. | BUt wicked Men, that are Slaves to Sin and Satan, are captivated in their Souls, notwithſtanding as to the Body they may be at Liberty, as to outward Thraldom. |
| II. Some Perſons may be free and at Liberty in their Souls, at the ſame time when they may be Captives as to their Bodies, and ſo their Captivity may ſeem leſs grievous to them. | II. But it cannot be ſo ſaid of a wicked Man; for whatever Miſery befalls his Body, 'tis abundantly aggravated by and from the Captivity and Slavery of his Soul; nay, in the enjoyment of his greateſt outward Liberty, he is in dreadful Thraldom by Sin and Satan. |
| III. Captives that are ſo only to Men, may and have been redeemed with Money. | III. But ſpiritual Captives, ſuch as are in Bondage to Sin and Satan, cannot be redeemed with Money. It is not Silver or Gold, that can purchaſe the Redemption of one of Satan's Slaves; for the Redemption of the Soul is ſo precious, that nothing can make a Compenſation for it, but the precious Blood of Chriſt.1 Pet. 1. |
| IV. If no other Means can procure the Liberty of Captives, that are ſo only as to their Bodies, yet Death ſets them free, and thoſe to whom they are in Bondage have no more to do with them. | IV. But wicked Men, living and dying in Bondage to Satan and their own Luſts, cannot be free by Death, but are thereby put into an irrecoverable State of eternal Miſery, from which there can be no Redemption, being delivered up to Satan. |
| V. Some that are Captives only in their Bodies, are ſo ſenſible of their Miſery and Thraldom, that they ſeek, and deſire to improve all Means imaginable for their Deliverance. | V. But ſome wicked Men are not only inſenſible of their Bondage to the Devil, and their own Luſts, but are lifeleſs as to any ways or means of Deliverance. Tho Means be uſed daily to convince them of the dreadful Danger of their Bondage-State, and of the Way and Means of their Redemption; yet through the Blindneſs and Hardneſs of their Hearts, they reſt at quiet in the Devil's Priſon, where they are ſhut up as Captives. And that which declares their greateſt Thraldom and Miſery is, they refuſe all the Tenders of Grace in order to their Redemption, nay, ſet light by Jeſus Chriſt, who came to proclaim Liberty, &c. |
| VI. Captives to Men only, may may be redeemed, and ſet at Liberty, and yet ſo captivated by them again, as that they may die in Slavery. | VI. But wicked Men, tho the ſaddeſt Captives imaginable, in reſpect of Miſery and Thraldom, yet if ſet free by Jeſus Chriſt, they ſhall be no more the Slaves of Satan:Joh. 8.36. For thoſe whom the Son makes free, are free indeed; free from the Dominion and Power of Sin and Satan here, and free from the Wages of Sin, which is eternal Death, hereafter. |
Inferences.
Queſt. SOme may ſay, If this be the State of unconverted Men and Women, they are miſerable Objects indeed. But is there no Relief nor Help for theſe poor Captives? muſt they periſh inevitably, and be damned for ever?
Anſw. God forbid! There is good News for theſe Slaves and Captives of Sin and the Devil, a Goſpel to be preached to them; God is full of Bowels; were there no Deliverance to relieve, it would be ſad beyond what any are able to conceive. But to prove that there is Salvation and Relief for the vileſt Sinners, conſider theſe three things following.
1. The Lord Jeſus hath purchaſed Deliverance for them, he hath laid down a ſatisfactory Price or Ranſom for thoſe Captives, who through Faith in him ſhall obtain Deliverance.
2. Chriſt is ordained and anointed to preach glad Tidings to them.Luk. 4.18. Iſa. 61.1. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, becauſe he hath anointed me to preach the Goſpel to the Poor: He hath ſent me to heal the Broken-hearted, to preach Deliverance to the Captives, and recovering Sight to the Blind, and to ſet at Liberty them that were bound.
3. Many who have been in the like State of Captivity and Bondage have been ſet at Liberty; Thouſands that have been Slaves of Sin and Satan, through the infinite Mercy of God are now in a perfect State of Freedom. Such were ſome of you, 1 Cor. 6.11.ſaith the Apoſtle, but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Sirs, what bleſſed News is this for poor Sinners! Suppoſe a Man who is a Slave or Captive, and ſuffereth juſtly for his Sin, were ſtript naked, and put into a Dungeon, bound with cruel and heavy Chains, wounded in a moſt fearful manner from Head to Foot, and only fed with Aſhes and Gravel-ſtones, and in this Condition were condemned to abide for many Years, and then to be put to the greateſt Tortures that Mortals can deviſe, where he ſhould ſuffer a long Time together, always dying, and yet cannot die; and that on a ſudden one ſhould come to him with the joyful News of a full and perfect Deliverance; would not this be the welcomeſt News that ever he heard? Sinners, may not the Tidings you hear, cauſe your Hearts to leap in you for Joy! Tho you have undone your ſelves by your wicked Works, yet God hath deviſed a way to deliver and ſave you for ever.
Queſt. How, by what means, and by whom (may ſome poor ignorant Soul ſay) is Deliverance brought about?
Anſw. Deliverance out of this Bondage-State is by Jeſus Chriſt, only by him, neither is there Salvation by any other. If the Son therefore make you free, Acts 4.12 Joh 8.36.ye ſhall be free indeed. But further to anſwer the Queſtion, I ſay, the Liberty is,
1. By a great Ranſom.
2. By a Conqueſt.
1. There was no other Way found out to bring Sinners out of this their miſerable Condition, but a great Sum muſt be laid down: Ye are bought with a Price. 1 Cor. 6.20. 1 Pet. 1.18But know this, We are not redeemed with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, &c. All the Gold and Silver in the World, and all the Riches thereof, were there Ten Thouſand Worlds more, could not redeem one Soul out of this State of Bondage and Slavery to Sin and Satan. The Redemption of the Soul is precious, Pſal. 49.8. Mic. 6.7.and ceaſeth for ever. Nay, if a Man ſhould offer up his Son or Daughter, the Fruit of his Body, for the Sin of his Soul, it would be utterly rejected, Nothing could redeem us but the Price of Blood, and that too the precious Blood of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.19as a Lamb without ſpot. [See Surety, Vol. 1.]
2. Deliverance out of this Bondage is by Conqueſt. Unleſs the Saviour of Mankind conquer thoſe cruel Enemies of the Soul, not one Sinner can be ſet at Liberty: For 'tis not the ba…e Ranſom or Price of Chriſt's moſt precious Blood, I mean the laying down of his Life, that could work a perfect Freedom for us; for tho that made a full Compenſation to the Juſtice of God, yet Sinners being under the Power of Sin, Satan, and Death, theſe Enemies take no notice at all of that Price; for our Saviour did not capitulate with them, neither will they give up their Priſoner till they are overcome, and (as I may ſay) are forced to do it: For as Chriſt ſaith, When a ſtrong Man armed keepeth his Palace, Luk 1….…1his Goods are in Peace: But when a ſtronger than he ſhall come, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his Armor, &c. Satan is this ſtrong Man armed, and Jeſus Chriſt the Perſon that is ſtronger than he; and 'tis our Mercy God ſent us ſuch a ſtrong and mighty Saviour, one able to ſubdue Sin, conquer Satan, overcome Death, that ſo he might deliver us, who were taken captive by them at their Will.1 J h. 3 8. To this end was the Son of God manifeſt, that he might deſtroy the Works of the Devil. He through Death, and riſing again from the Dead, hath deſtroyed Death, and him that had the Power of Death, that is, the Devil; and delivered them who through Fear of Death were all their Life time ſubject to Bondage. Heb. 2.14, 15. Joh. 16 33He bids us alſo, Be of good cheer, for he hath overcome the World.
This Conqueſt by the Lord Jeſus is twofold:
1. For us without us: When he aſcended on high, he led Captivity captive. He took him captive,Eph. 4.8. Col. 2.15. that had taken Mankind captive. Having ſpoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a Shew of them openly, (the Work is already done) triumphing over them in it.
2. This Conqueſt is wrought by Chriſt alſo in the Soul; for palpable it is, that every unconverted Perſon is under the Power of theſe cruel Enemies, (as hath been already ſhewn) and have they a ſufficient Power of their own to encounter with them? Is ſinful, weak, and depraved Man, a Match for Satan? Is he able to ſubdue and overcome him? Or can he by any inherent Power of his own deſtroy the Power of Sin, and change his own Heart? Can the Aethiopian change his Skin, or the Leopard his Spots? Iſa. 13.23.Is Man able to raiſe himſelf from the Power of the Grave? Any of theſe things are too hard for Sinners to do; and therefore it follows, Chriſt muſt conquer theſe Enemies in us, he muſt break our Bonds, and burſt our Chains in pieces, &c. Pray remember, Chriſt is a perfect and compleat Saviour, he alone doth the Work,Iſa. 63.5. he doth it for us, and alſo in us; His own Arm brought Salvation; He hath no Partner nor Competitor.
Secondly; As this may ſerve to humble Mankind, ſo alſo it may lift up their Hearts who are redeemed,Job 7.17. in Praiſes to the Almighty. O what is Man that God ſhould be mindful of him! What! regard ſuch a deplorable Rebel, Slave, and Captive of Sin and the Devil! And the rather, conſidering the Nature of that glorious Freedom procured by Jeſus Chriſt, which is, 1. A Freedom from the Guilt of Sin. 2. A Freedom from the Filth of Sin. 3. A Freedom from the Power of Sin: Sin ſhall not have Dominion over you. Rom. 6.144. A Freedom from the eternal Puniſhment of Sin; a Freedom from Sin, from Satan, from the Law, from Death, and from Wrath; and by this means made the Sons and Daughters of God, making them nigh to him, enjoying Union and Communion both with the Father and the Son, having Peace, and good Aſſurance of eternal Life.
Thirdly; It may cauſe the redeemed Ones of God to pity Sinners, pity their unconverted Relations; what a deplorable Condition are they in! How exceedingly are Perſons concerned for their Relations who are in Slavery, tho it extend but to the Body? and what Ways and Means do they with all diligence make uſe of, to procure their Liberty and Freedom! And by how much the Bondage of Sin and Satan exceeds all the Slavery that Man can poſſibly be expoſed unto; by ſo much the more ought that Means to be improved, that may effectually accompliſh their Redemption.