Post by Admin on Feb 2, 2024 12:02:56 GMT -5
Believers a Mystery,
with a Description of the their Travels from the Wilderness
of this World, to the Heavenly Canaan, Leaning Upon Christ
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon
her Beloved? - SONG 8:5
WE have been solemnising our souls' espousals to Jesus Christ, and
our consent to the gospel-call, saying in effect to us, "Wilt thou go
with this man?" Leave thy father's house, and thine own people, and
cleave to the King of Zion. We have before angels and men answered,
We will go with him, for he is our Beloved. Here we have an account
of the Christian life, which must be our life, if we will deal honestly
with him; it is a "coming up out of the wilderness, leaning on our
Beloved." These are the words of the daughters of Jerusalem, containing,
1. An inquiry about a party, whom they took particular notice of,
namely, the church of believers, the spouse of Christ; "Who is this?"
It intimates a kind of surprise, Who's that! The wilderness uses not
to afford such a sight as this. It imports an admiration as of some
hidden thing, a mystery; Who is this? This is a strange kind of
personage whom we see.
2. A character of the party inquired about. It is a woman, one of the
weak sex, as the church of believers is represented in scripture. She is
not one of the dwellers in the wilderness. She appears not to have
built her house there. She is but a traveller through it, and her head
is awayward from it; and she is set for another country. That is she
whom we mean, who is coming up from the wilderness. I make no
question but by the wilderness here is meant the world, as Cant. 3:6;
and 4:8; with a plain eye to the Israelites coming through the
wilderness to Canaan; the last of which, as it was typical of heaven,
so the former is of the world.
But for the further understanding of these words, it is necessary to
take notice of a custom among the Jews at their marriages, to which
there is here a manifest allusion, viz., The bridegroom used to take
his bride, and carry her out of the city into the fields, and there they
had their nuptial-songs; and afterward he brought her back again,
leaning on him, into the city, to his father's house, and there the
marriage was solemnized. Now we may be sure, however, that these
fields were not a wilderness or moorlands, no fit place for a
bridegroom and bride's walk together. This, then, increases the
wonder, What a bride is this that is coming up out of the wilderness
with her Bridegroom, leaning on him? Others use to be entertained
more softly and delicately; what a bride and Bridegroom are these!
However, here is represented the Christian life, the life of the church
of believers espoused to Christ. In which observe two things.
1st, Her exercise; she is travelling upon her road away with her
espoused husband, namely, Christ. The place she is going from is the
wilderness-world; the place she is going to appears, from what is
said, to be her Bridegroom's Father's house. Her way is upward, her
motion an ascending, as the word imports; and here should rather be
read "going up," than "coming up," as Judg. 20:21, since the decency
of the parable requires it, she being rather going from the place
where the daughters of Jerusalem were, than to the place where they were.
2dly, Her posture, her travelling posture; "leaning on her Beloved."
This is what in New Testament language is called the life of faith; for
that is the spiritual leaning of the soul, and imports a fiducial
persuasion. It bears, (1.) Her having her Bridegroom's company
through the wilderness. He leaves her not there alone; he bids her go
nowhere but where he himself will go with her. (2.) Her having his
help through the wilderness. She leans on him, as a weak woman on
a journey leans upon her husband.
Three doctrines offer themselves from the words.
DOCT. I. True believers, espoused to Christ, turning their back on
the world, and walking heavenward with him, are a mystery, a
strange sight in the world. Who is this!
DOCT II. The life of believers, as espoused to Christ, is a going up
from the wilderness of this world, with him, to his Father's house in
the heavenly Canaan.
DOCT. III. The way to get up from the wilderness-world to the
heavenly Canaan, is to go all along leaning on Jesus Christ by faith.
I shall illustrate and apply the first two of these doctrines distinctly,
and consider the third in a word of direction in the application of the second.
DOCT. I. True believers, espoused to Christ, turning their back on
the world, and walking heavenward with him, are a mystery, a
strange sight in the world. Who is this!
In discoursing this subject I shall,
I. Premise some things for right understanding the doctrine.
II. Shew in what respects believers are a mystery, a strange sight in the world.
III. Give the reasons of the point.
IV. Apply.
I. I shall premise some things for right understanding the doctrine.
1. Sin turned this world into an enemy's country in respect of heaven,
and so into a wilderness. It was originally the seat of the friend of
God, the confederate of heaven, innocent Adam; and then it was a
pleasant land. But sin entering, it changed masters, so that the devil
is become the god of this world, 2 Cor. 4:4, and it a wilderness
because the primitive communication betwixt heaven and it is
stopped, and a new one settled betwixt hell and this world.
2. All men by their first birth are natives of this world; their father's
house is in it, the people of it are the people that are theirs, Psalm
45:10. And home is home, be it never so homely; they love the
wilderness, they desire not to change, they know no better country,
and they seek none better. They are pleased with the place, the
company, and the manner of living; for they are all natural to them.
3. The Lord from eternity having set his love upon some of the
natives, in due time comes in the gospel into the wilderness-world,
and making love to them, gains their consent, and is espoused to
them in the everlasting marriage-covenant, according to Hos. 2:19, "I
will betroth thee unto me for ever, yea, I will betroth thee unto me in
righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in
mercies." Isa. 44:5, "One shall say, I am the Lord's." Thus he
becomes theirs, and they his, and they are engaged to follow him
whithersoever he goes. Not only are they obliged by their contract of
espousals to go with him, but their hearts are so set upon him, that
they cannot think of parting with him again, or staying behind him.
4. Though the espousals and the feasts of espousals are held in the
wilderness, yet the place set for the consummating of the marriage is
Christ's Father's house in Cannan above, to which he begins
immediately to carry his bride. She must no longer be a resideuter in
the world, a dweller in the wilderness, but must lift her heart and
affections off her own people, and her father's house, and be going
away homeward to Christ's Father's house, that the marriage may be
consummated.
5. This her going away up from the wilderness with her espoused
Husband, is a going away in heart and affections; it is the soul's
motion heavenwards in this life, the last step of which is made at
death. It is a gracious frame of heart shining forth in a holy, tender,
and heavenly walk. Every step in the way of holiness, in
mortification, vivification, and contempt of the world, is a step
homeward to Christ's Father's house.
6. Lastly. Christ's bride at her waygoing, and ongoing with him thus,
is a mystery, a strange sight in the world. Her own country-people
gaze at her, to see her undertaking such a strange journey, turning
her back on the beloved world, and setting out for a strange country.
Sometimes believers fall out of the exercise of grace, become
untender in their walk, and grow so like the world, that they do not
appear to be going up out of the wilderness, but rather pitching their
tents there. But when they are in the exercise of grace, holy and
heavenly in their walk, then do the spectators make the question,
"Who is this?" Like the Jewish rulers, who "seeing the boldness of
Peter and John, and perceiving that they were ignorant and
unlearned men, marvelled, and took knowledge of them, that they
had been with Jesus;" Acts 4:13.
II. I shall show in what respects believers are a mystery, a strange
sight in the world; the power of godliness appearing in their walk at
this rate, so that it is said of them, "Who is this?"
1. There is something very amiable about them, as we are told of the
primitive Christians; Acts 2:46, 47, that "they continuing daily with
one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house,
did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising
God, and having favour with all the people." There is a conscience
within worldly men, as well as corruption; and what their
corruptions will condemn, their conscience will approve as lovely; 2
Cor. 4:2. Men's corruptions may get the management of their tongue,
hands, and their whole external behaviour, and may set the man to
run down piety, and the party in whom it appears; yet in the
meantime conscience within their breasts will be applauding and
admiring the godly man, as one who has something very lovely about
him, as Balaam did in the case of the Israelites; Numb. 23:9, 10.
2. There is something very awful about them to beholders. Paul
stands at the bar and reasons, and Felix sitting on the bench
trembles; Acts 24:25. John Baptist lies in his grave beheaded at
Herod's command, and yet there he is a terror to Herod; Matth. 14:1,2.
The remains of God's image on man in point of dominion, has an
awe and majesty with it, that affects the brutes; Gen. 9:2. How much
more has the restored image of God in righteousness and holiness
shining forth in a Christian's life, a majesty with it, procuring an
internal reverence to them from beholders! They are to them like
men of another world, and every view they take of such writes death
to them; Heb. 11:7.
3. There is something very mysterious about them; Zech. 3:8 They
are like foreigners in a country, apt to become a gazing-stock, a
wonder, about which the natives cannot satisfy themselves. A
believer marching heavenward, away from this wilderness-world, is,
(1) A mystery to the men of the world, whether professos or profane.
They cannot comprehend them, for they are God's "hidden ones;"
Psalm 83:3, not hid from their bodily eyes; ver. 4, but from the eyes
of their minds. What a mystery is that man to them, who sets his feet
and treads on that, which they set their hearts on and adore? who
values, pursues eagerly, and by no means can be brought to part
with, that which they can see no beauty in? whose principles, aims,
and actions are diametrically opposite to those of theirs? They are to
them like men of another mould and make, which they cannot
understand. Nay, they are,
(2.) A mystery to themselves, ay, so great many times, that they know
not what to make of themselves, what class to rank themselves in,
whether of saints or sinners; Psalm 139:23, 24. A true Christian is
indeed a bundle of mysteries; he on earth, and his head in heaven,
yet really and truly united 1 John 15:5; crucified with Christ, yet
living; living, yet not he, but Christ living in him, Gal. 2:20; not
loitering, but labouring, yet not he, but "the grace of God with him;" 1
Cor. 15:10. He is a man of two leading contrary principles, having a
will and not a will to one and the same thing; he sins, and yet it is not
he; Rom. 7:17. He has many spots and stains on him, yet is all fair;
Cant. 4:7; "black, yet comely, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of
Solomon;" chap. 1:5; wanting many things, yet complete; Col. 2:10.
What wonder that such a one should be in way of admiration
inquired about, "Who is this?"
III. I shall give the reasons of the point, That true believer are a
mystery, a strange sight in the world.
1. Because they are so unlike the world, they are like speckled birds
among the rest, 1 Pet. 4:4. They are cast into the new mould of
regeneration, and are come forth nonconformists to the world, Rom.
12:2. They have got another spirit, than the spirit which all their
people and their father's house are acted by, which casts their whole
conversation into quite another shape than theirs, Num. 14:24. So
the unlikeness betwixt them makes them a strange sight.
2. Because they are so unlike themselves in former times. Saul
among the prophets was a strange sight, 1 Sam. 10:11. But the grace
of God makes a more wonderful change in a man from what he was
before, as appears in Saul among the apostles, 1 Tim. 1:12, 13. What
an observable change was there, that he which persecuted the saints
in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed! Gal.
1:23. Grace makes lambs of lions, casts out the dumb devil, that they
who cared not for praying, preaching, &c. but all these things were a
burden to them, they cannot for the world live without them. It
makes a new heart, a new life, a new man, all things new, 2 Cor. 5:17.
3. Because they are very rare in the world; they are but here and
there one for a marvel, Jer. 3:14. The multitude in the world prefer
the wilderness to Zion, and sit still in their native land, and will not
go away with Christ. They have the gospel-call, they are courted to
match with Christ; but they think gospel-invitations but idle tales,
and they have beloveds of their own in the wilderness, which they
will not part with for him. Some say with the mouth they will take
him, and subscribe with the hand at solemn ordinances; but it is not
a match, for their hearts were never truly for it; so they sit still too,
and go not up with him out of the wilderness, but their carcases fall
there. So that they who are going up out of the wilderness, being so
rare, are a strange sight.
USE I. of information. It informs us, that,
1. Serious souls need not think it strange, if they become a wonder to
many, Psalm 71:7. They are not meet to go up with Christ from the
wilderness, that are not content to become a world's wonder for him.
They must be fools for Christ that will be wise; Mark 8 ult.,
"Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be
ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy
angels." Worldly men wonder at seriousness now, what makes the
saints so nice in points of truth and holiness; but that wonder will
not last long, the world will soon see they had good reason for it all.
2. The world is no idle spectator of those who have given themselves
to Christ, and profess to follow him. They take notice of them, and
have their questions about them. Communicants, take heed to
yourselves; many eyes are on you, as to your after-walk; God's eye is
on you; the world's eyes will be upon you, they will take notice
whether ye turn your back on the world, the ways and; manners of it,
or even sit still with themselves as before.
3. Those who shall still walk after the course of the world, continue
sons of earth, not making away heavenward in the tenor of their life
and conversation, are not espoused to Christ; though they have given
him the hand, they have not given him the heart. The sincerity of
your covenanting with God is now to be proved by your after-walk. If
God be your Father, be setting homeward to his house. If Christ be
your espoused husband, make away with him through the
wilderness, and stay not behind. The friendship of the, world is
enmity with God.
4. Lastly. This world must be little worth, wherein, among such
multitudes, there are so few such travellers, that they are a strange
sight. There are many sad sights to be seen in the world, even after
communions, but few of this sort of persons turning their backs on
the world, and resolutely walking heavenwards. Take heed,
Christians and communicants, that one of these three questions be
not put concerning you, instead of this in the text.
(1.) Who is this standing still in the wilderness? like the door on the hinges, oft
moving, but never going forward, as proud, passionate, carnal, and
sensual, as before? Isa. 5:6.
(2.) Who is this going back from the wilderness to Egypt, to the flesh-pots there?
back again to their profane and licentious courses? better ye had never known the way
of righteousness.
(3.) Who is this sticking in some mire, fallen into
some pit in the wilderness; some gross and scandalous abomination!
Many such trophy gets Satan set up.
USE II. Of exhortation. O Christians, communicants, walk so as the
world may bear witness, that ye are going up out of the wilderness,
leaning on your beloved; that your faces and hearts are heavenward;
that ye have set off from them, and are no more theirs.
This would be much to the honour of Christ and religion, Acts. 4:13.
It would be a great kindness to the world lying in wickedness, as an
apt mean to bring others away with you, Zech. 8 ult. It would be the
safety and comfort of your own souls, Cant. 8:4.
Ye will walk so, if ye be habitually heavenly in the frame of you heart,
like Enoch walking with God. Also, if in your conversation ye
manifest a contempt of the world: Germana illa bestia non curat
aurum, was Luther's character from his enemies. Likewise, if ye be
just in your dealings in the world to a niceness, counting it always
safer to lose a pound, than unjustly gain a small penny. And further,
if ye be clothed with humility and with humanity, meek, ruling your
own spirit, doing good to all, even to those that wrong you; and are
patient under trouble, and living by faith.
DOCT. II. The life of believers as espoused to Christ, is a going up
from the wilderness of this world, with him, to his Father's house in
the heavenly Canaan.
In discoursing from this doctrine, I shall,
I. Take notice of some things supposed in it.
II. Unfold the believer's life, as a going up from the wilderness of this
world, typified by the Israelites going up from the wilderness to Canaan.
III. Make application.
I. I shall take notice of some things supposed in this doctrine. It supposes, that,
1. As soon as a soul is espoused to Christ, it is loosed from the world.
Its taking of him is a letting this world go, Matth. 13:44. The
unbeliever hugs and embraces this world as his portion, and pursues
it as the main thing; but when he closeth with Christ he saith, "Thou
art my portion," and the esteem of the world sinks, Phil. 3:8. Those
that are espoused to Christ, are,
(1.) A loosed people. The bands with which the world held them are
loosed; they gripe not it, nor it them, at the rate they formerly
grasped one the other, Gal. 6:14. While the sinner was without
Christ, the profits and pleasures of the world were strong bands,
which they could not get shaken off; but in the day of the power of
converting grace, these give way, as tow does when touched with the
fire. Then Christ says, "Loose him and let him go;" all is nothing in
comparison of Christ.
(2.) A separated people. Though before they made one body with the
world lying in wickedness, and were possessed with the same spirit
of the world; yet in the day of their espousals to Christ, they are fairly
separated from them, 2 Cor. 6:17, even as a married woman ceases to
be any more a member of her father's family, but becomes a member
of her husband's, Psalm 45:10.
(3.) A new people. They are no more men of the world, though in it,
Psalm 17:14, but heavenly men, 1 Cor. 15:48. They have another
spirit, Numb. 14:24, a new principle, ends, motives, and manner of life.
2. The soul espoused to Christ, being loosed from the world, is set in
motion heavenwards, away from the world, Psalm 84:5–7. That soul
has begun a new journey, is set off in the Christian race, that it may
obtain the crown. Those that are in heaven have come to a fixed
point of happiness; those in hell have come to a fixed point in misery;
as to those that are in the wilderness of this world some of them are
sitting still as in Sodom, till the fire of God fall on them and consume
them; others, even true believers, are making away, as Lot out of
Sodom, and as the Israelites out of the wilderness into Canaan.
3. The believer's journeying heavenwards is attended with many
difficulties. It is an up-going, and that through a wilderness. They
that mind for heaven must forego their own ease, and lay their
account with troubles and trials of many sorts. The way to
destruction is broad and easy; if men will but sit still, they will be
carried quickly down the stream into the ocean of an eternity of wo.
But if one minds for heaven, he must force his way, through many
difficulties, Matth. 7:13, 14, and 11:12.
4. The believer's passage to heaven is also a work of time. It is not a
leaping out of the wilderness into Canaan, but a going up out of it by
degrees. It cost Israel long forty years in the wilderness. And the
believer is longer or shorter kept in the wilderness, as seems meet to
his God. Some are not long set upon the way, when they are at their
journey's end; others it costs many a weary look to be at home.
5. Christ is with the believer in the journey. It is a weary land they
have to go through, but they are not alone in it, Cant. 4:8. In the day
the soul is espoused to Christ, he is united to him spiritually, and
that union once made is never broken again. So that wherever it is
the believer's lot to go, Christ is with him, if it were through fire and
water, Isa. 43:2. He is never so far from him, but that his faith may
get hold of him, and be may lean on him.
6. Lastly. The end of this journey is a most comfortable one. Though
the travelling be uneasy, the designed place of rest is most desirable,
being Christ's Father's house, where the marriage is to be solemnized
for ever, John 14:2. This is sufficient to bear up the heart of Christ's
spouse through all the difficulties of the road, Heb. 11:26, especially
considering that Christ himself goes all along with her, Heb. 13:5.
II. I shall unfold the believer's life, as a going up from the wilderness
of this world, typified by the Israelites going up from the wilderness
to Canaan. And here I shall shew,
1. How they are brought unto the wilderness.
2. How the believer is set into it.
3. How he is going up from it.
4. The hardships and inconveniencies of the road.
5. The advantages and conveniences of it.
First, I shall shew you how believers are brought unto the wilderness.
The world is not a wilderness to them and in their esteem, till they be
brought out of the Egyptian bondage of their natural state. Then, and
not till then, they enter into their wilderness-state, And here one may
remark these six things.
1. As the Israelites who came out of Egypt, went down into it in the
loins of their fathers; so the elect of God were brought into their
sinful and miserable state in the loins of our first father Adam, Rom.
5:12. And we are all born in that condition, and draw our first breath
in that unhappy region.
2. The natural state of the elect is a state of bondage and slavery.
Satan, as Pharaoh, is their prince there, and holds them fast at their
drudgery, Eph. 2:2, 3. They have many taskmasters there; as many
reigning lusts as there are in their hearts, so many taskmasters are
there holding them to their work.
3. As God, by the hand of Moses the lawgiver, and Aaron the high priest,
wrought the deliverance of the Israelites; so, by the law and
the gospel, he carries on the deliverance of the elect out of their state
of bondage. The law serves to awaken the sinner, and shew him his
danger; the gospel discovers the remedy; and the Spirit of God makes
both effectual.
4. There is no less opposition made by Satan to the sinner's
deliverance from his spiritual bondage, than was by Pharaoh to the
deliverance of the Israelites. He is loath to lose his subjects, loath to
let his prisoners go. How often does the field seem to be won, and a
fair appearance that the poor sinners shall be let go? and yet there
are new attacks to be made before he will surrender.
5. Ordinarily, whenever the deliverance is set a-foot, the bondage
becomes harder than ever before, Rom. 7:9. Satan then musters up
all his forces, and rages more than ever, that he may make the soul
despair of a delivery. Now is the soul hard bestead, duties are bound
on by the law laid to the conscience, under the pain of the curse, but
no strength afforded; so the soul sees it must make brick while no
straw is given. And by this means their corruptions are irritated, that
they appear more vigorously than ever before, Rom. 7:5.
6. Lastly. But at the set time, over the belly of all opposition, God
brings his elect out of their spiritual bondage into the wilderness.
There is a set time in the purpose of God for the delivery of every
elect soul; and as at the appointed time precisely Israel was
delivered, Exod. 12:41, so are they, Jer. 2:24. And no sooner do they
comply with the gospel-call, and leave the spiritual Egypt, but as
soon this world turns a wilderness unto them. And young converts
may lay their account with a hot pursuit from Satan to bring them
back again, even as sure as the Israelites met with it from Pharaoh.
But they may be assured that they shall get such a deliverance as the
Israelites at the Red Sea, which shall make them sing.
Secondly, I shall shew how the believer is set into the wilderness.
When once converting grace has made a fair separation betwixt the
sinner and the world, presently he enters into a wilderness-state.
1. He cares not for the world as he was wont, Gal. 6:14. Grace
opening the eyes the world appears in its own colours, no more a
fruitful field but a barren wilderness. The most pleasant spots in it
appear lions' dens and mountains of leopards. Its best fruits appear
as the apples of Sodom, fair to look at, but being handled fall to
ashes, Psalm 4:6, 7. He sees there is no rest for his heart in it, and
therefore must look above and beyond it. The men of the world are
no more his choice; their way and manner of life he can no more
away with.
2. The world cares not for him as before, Gal. 6:14. No sooner does a
soul begin to look heavenward, but presently the world turns a
strange world to him, John 15:19. He must be content to dwell alone,
and not to be reckoned among the nations. He bears the image which
they hate, he is entered on a course opposite to theirs; and so the
friendship breaks up. And he may lay his account with all the
opposition they can make him with tongue and hand.
3. Then it becomes, by God's appointment, the place of trial for him,
as the wilderness was to the Israelites, Deut. 8:2. God could have
taken his people a nearer way to Canaan than the way he led them;
but for their trial he led them so long in the wilderness. So he could
carry each believer straightway to heaven after their conversion; but
he will have them pass their trials before they come there; so they
must be content to take up their cross and follow him, and so long
stand candidates for glory, while one trial is put to them after
another; trials that will prove the reality and strength of their graces,
the multiplicity of their corruptions and remaining vigour of them.
4. Lastly. It is no more his home or his rest; but the place of his
pilgrimage, of his sojourning, the place he must travel through in his
way home to his eternal rest, Heb. 11:13. He must look on himself as
upon a journey, one that is not to stay here, but must be going
forward to the heavenly country.
Thirdly, I shall shew how the believer is going up from the
wilderness; he is going up from it,
1. By the course of nature, which is swift as a post, a ship, and as an
eagle's flight. It is but a little time, and believers will be at their
Journey's end. Every day sets them a good way nearer their eternal
rest, Rom. 13:11. If the days be evil, they are but few, and will soon be
over. It is true that by this way the wicked are going out from the
world too, but they are not going up, but down into destruction.
2. In the habitual bent of his heart and affections. Believers' hearts
are turned off the world, and set on things above. Their face is
homeward, their heart is there before them; for Christ is there, their
treasure is there. Hence they are said to be those who love Christ's
appearing, 2 Tim. 4:8; and look for him, Heb. 9:28. So when the
carnal man is glued to this world, and desires no better heaven than
what is here, they are going away from it in affection and desire.
But it may be the case of some gracious souls, that they cannot say
they are thus going up from the world, nay, it is a terror to them to
think of going out of it. I answer, there is a twofold desire to be away
from the world, and to be with Christ.
(1.) There is an explicit desire,
like a rose full spread. Such was that of Paul; Phil. 1:23, "I desire to
depart, and to be with Christ." This is found in believers, when they
are not only in the exercise of grace, but have a full assurance of their
eternal salvation. This makes the soul go up with full sail out of the world.
(2.) An implicit desire which is like a rose-bud, where the
leaves are to be found, if it be opened, though in the meantime they
are covered, not being yet so ripe as to spread. This is found in
believers, if they be at all in the exercise of grace, although they be in
the dark as to their state. It is found in the groaning believer, who is
groaning under the remains of sin, and would fain be free from them,
groaning under want of communion with God, and would fain have
it, and that so as not to be interrupted any more, Rom. 7:24. The
Lord reads the language of these groans so, and there wants only a
full assurance of eternal happiness to make it plain language to the
soul itself. See 2 Cor. 5:4. And thus the believer is going up from the
wilderness, though with the wind in his face.
3. In progressive sanctification; Prov. 4:18. By faith the soul is set on
the way to Immanuel's land; it knits him to Christ the personal way,
it sets him to holiness of heart and life, the real way, or the walking
in the way; Col. 2:6. And the believer goes on while he goes forward
in holiness, especially when he is growing, adding a cubit to his
spiritual stature; 2 Pet. 3 ult. This going up appears,
(1.) In mortification, when the believer is dying to sin, getting his
former lusts weakened; Rom. 8:13. Mortification is the daily task of a
believer; the weeds of corruption in the heart are never so plucked
up, but they will be ready to sprout again. These Canaanites are left
in the land, that the believer may never be idle, but watch their
motions and bear them down.
(2.) In vivification, in living to righteousness, when the soul holds
forward in the way of duty over the belly of all opposition, especially
in a holy and heavenly frame, going on in them with vigour, whether
it be doing-work or suffering-work; Cant. 3:6. The soul married to
Christ is to be for him, according to the law of marriage, Hos. 3:3. As
we live by him, so we must live to him. This was Paul's practice; Phil.
1:21, "To me to live is Christ." More particularly,
4. In obtaining victory over the world; 1 John 5:4. The world is an
enemy to all that are set to go up from it. And many times it prevails
to retard their course; they are in it travelling in a stony, yea and
thorny way, where there are many things to take hold of them, and
hold them still; so that they are in hazard of being entangled in the
wilderness.
In this respect a believer goes up from the wilderness. And O but the
picture of a believer thus going up from the wilderness is a beautiful
one; Cant. 3:6, "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like
pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all
powders of the merchant?" I shall essay to draw it in a few
particulars. A believer espoused to Christ, and thus going up from
the wilderness-world, is,
1. One who is keeping off from mixing with the men of the world, the
natives of the weary land. Converting grace plucks them out from
among them, and sets them over to Christ's side; and establishing
grace keeps them from mixing again; Psalm 12:7. There is a
generation of God's wrath in the world, and they are labouring to
save themselves from them; Acts 2:40. They are deserters of their
company, shunning unnecessary fellowship with them; for they
know, that "a companion of fools shall be destroyed;" Prov. 13:20.
And they consort with those who are followers of the Lamb,
companions of those that fear God.
2. He is holding off from the ways of the world; Psalm 17:4. In the
wilderness-world there are many ways, all of them leading to and
terminating in some part of the wilderness; some to the world's
wealth, honours, peace, &c. But there is one way that leads out of it,
terminates in the heavenly Canaan. The throng of the world goes in
these many ways; but the believers, and they only, take the pilgrim's
way, which does but lie through it, neither beginning nor ending in
the country; and the grass may grow on it for the natives, and they
never set a foot on it; Isa. 35:8. The men of the world ply them to
turn them aside, and take their way; and if they catch them napping,
they readily get them off; but the traveller towards Zion says as Israel
to the king of Edom, "We will go by the king's highway, we will not
turn to the right hand nor to the left;" Numb. 20:17.
3. He has a low estimate of the world's wisdom, and holds off from it
as from a false light that would lead the traveller into a quagmire; 1
Cor. 3:18, 19. Carnal wisdom has often been the ruin of Christ's
interests in the church, and in the private case of Christians; leading
into a betraying of truth and purity; procuring outward peace, but
wounding one's conscience, and dishonouring God. But they that are
going up from the wilderness, will be no admirers of the world's
judgment in the matter of truth and error, sin and duty; for the
generality of men have ever been, and will be, in that case, blind men
judging of colours. And it is a dangerous thing to be carried away
with the stream; Eph. 2:2. A man that has no heart to keep off a way,
because it is a way that is in vogue in the world, and will always row
with the stream, is not going up from the wilderness. The fear of the
world's putting the fool's cap on one's head, makes many a carcase
fall in the wilderness.
4. He is keeping up a holy contempt of the world's good things; Heb.
11:24, 25. Its profits and pleasures are sinking in their value with
him; he "counts them but loss and dung, that he may win Christ;"
Phil. 3:8. To a gracious soul going up from the wilderness, the best
things the world can afford, are so lightly esteemed, that he will not
think them worth pains to go off the King's highway for them; Numb.
20:17, "We will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards,
neither will we drink of the water of the wells;" while others allured
with these baits, fall into one mire after another, and quit the
travelling company, as Demas did Paul.
5. He is resolute to make his way through the world's ill things, to
follow the way of God through good and bad report, Rev. 14:4. He is
neither to be bribed nor boasted by the world out of the way of his
duty; Cant. 8:7, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the
floods drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for
love, it would utterly be contemned." His feet are shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace, and blow what weather it will, he
must hold on till he be at his journey's end.
6. Lastly. His eyes are upon the other world; they are fixed on the
prize, and running that they may obtain it, Heb. 11:26. Their
conversation is in heaven; they are habitually minding heavenly
things; their affections are set not on things on the earth, but on the
things that are above. But I proceed to consider,
Fourthly, The hardships and inconveniencies of the wilderness-road,
which the believer must lay his account with, while he goes up from
the wilderness.
1. It is a weary land which the traveller has to go through, while he is
going up from the wilderness, Isa. 32:2. David calls the whole of it,
the house of his pilgrimage. However lightly the natives, the men of
the earth, may live in it, there is never one born from above that is
travelling through it, but it is a weary land to them. It was a weary
time the Israelites had of it in the wilderness; their patience soon
began to wear out. And there is never a child of God, but sometime or
other he has his fill of it, and being wearied, longs to be at home. The
Son of God himself, we find, wearied here, John 4:6.
2. It is a road that lies through a waste, affording no provision, Deut.
32:10. When sin entered into the world, a withering curse followed
on the back of sin, and turned the pleasant land into a waste, barren
place. There was a blessing in everything in it before, but now
everything is embittered in it. There is enough to raise the appetite of
lusts, there are husks enough for them to feed on; but there is
nothing in it to fill the soul, that is the produce of the country; and
therefore the natives, though they are always feeding, they are never
full. The Israelites would have starved in the wilderness, if they had
not been furnished from another quarter; for there was neither meat
nor drink there for them.
3. It is an howling wilderness which they have to go through, Deut.
32:10, because of the wild beasts that haunt there, Cant. 4:8, devils,
and wicked men influenced by the devil. Sometimes the traveller
must hear them roaring, Psalm 74:4, threatening to devour and
swallow them up, and to make the name of Israel no more to be
remembered, as the Egyptian wild beast did, Exod. 15:9, "I will
pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil: my lust shall be
satisfied upon them, I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy
them." Sometimes he is entertained with their yellings, Jer. 2:15.
Their blasphemies, reproaches against God and his cause, their
contradicting of the truths of religion, what are they but yellings of
the wilderness, as ungrateful to holy ears as the yellings of beasts in
the night? Sometimes he must find them tearing him, his name,
reputation, substance, yea and his flesh sometimes, Psalm 35:15, 16.
4. They must lay their account with scorching heats in it. Such was
the wilderness to Israel, for which a cloud covered them by day.
While they are upon the road through the wilderness, they are liable
to fiery heats of desertion from heaven; to fiery heats of temptation
from hell, Eph. 6:16, fiery trials of persecution from men, 1 Pet. 4:12,
and fiery heats of contention and division, the fire coming from the
altar, Rev. 8:5. All which make travelling Zionward to be very hard;
and the more hard, the greater these heats are; which puts the
spouse of Christ to that prayer, Cant. 1:7, "Tell me, O thou whom my
soul loveth, where thou feeds, where thou makes thy flock to rest at noon."
5. It is a sickly place through which their way lieth. Many a groan was
in the wilderness while Israel was in it; sometimes there were fiery
serpents biting them, and sometimes a plague consuming them, so as
many carcases fell in the wilderness. No less sickly a place is this
world to the spiritual travellers. It is a heavy disease that is on them
there, even a whole body of death, Rom. 7:24. It affects and
indisposes the whole man. They are liable to frequent relapses; and
O the malignant influence it has on their journey, unfitting them for
it, and at best causing them to go up but very slowly!
6. It is a difficult way through the wilderness. The road the travellers
must go will try their patience, their strength, &c. They that must
needs have an easy way through the wilderness, must take the way
that leads down to the pit, not the way that leads up to Immanuel's
land.
(1.) It is all upward, which scares most men at it, Psalm 24:3, "Who
shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? The way to heaven is up the
hill, the way to hell down the hill.
(2.) It is a narrow way, Matth. 7:14. Multitudes walk in the broad
way, and there they get room enough, life-room, heart-room,
conscience-room. But the King's highway has no such room in it,
which obliges the travellers to take good heed to their feet, Eph. 5:15.
And considering how rash we are naturally, how weak-headed, false hearted,
how narrow the road is, how loose the ground about it is, it
is no great wonder that many of the travelers catch such falls, as
make them go halting to the grave, Psalm 51:8.
(3.) It is a hard and rugged way; and therefore they must have leg
hardness, as soldiers had to preserve their feet from stones and
roughness in the way of their march; Eph. 6:15. There are many
difficulties to go through, which will need resolution and undaunted courage.
(4.) It is a way wherein many snares are laid for them. In every lot in
the world, and in the most innocent things, there are snares
wherewith we may be caught. And sometimes men are busy making
snares for us in the way wherein we walk.
7. It is a very solitary road, there is not much company to be got in it;
Matth. 7:14. Israel travelled alone through the wilderness, save that a
mixed multitude joined with them, that they were much the worse of,
and whose carcases fell in the wilderness. See how Miciah complains
for want of company on the road, "Wo is me? for I am as when they
have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape-gleanings of the
vintage; there is no cluster to eat; my soul desired the first ripe fruit;" Micah 7:1.
In Elijah's days there were so very few upon the
road, that he thought he had been alone upon it; he had so little help
of the seven thousand, that he knew not of them; Rom. 11:3, 4. At
this rate the spiritual traveler has few.
(1.) To take a lift of his burden; Gal. 6:2. Alas! we are in a strange
world, where there are many to lay a load above the burden, but few
to take a lift of it.
(2.) To consult with when he comes to a difficult step. There are
many such steps that Christians will meet with in their way to Zion,
especially when a mist rises in the wilderness. And it is no small
mercy to have honest and tender men to advise with, and to have
their sympathy and prayers. But of all these there is great scarcity in
the wilderness.
8. Lastly, It is a road, wherein they must meet with armed enemies
come forth to attack them, and ruin them. Pharaoh and his army
pursued the Israelites in the wilderness; Exod. 14:3. Amalek fought
them, chap. 17:8, both types of the devil and his agents. The
Christian life is a fighting life; 2 Tim. 4:7. All is not done when they
are converted, they must fight their way through the wilderness to
Canaan, and so fight as to overcome; Rev. 3:21. The concluding of
their peace with God in Christ, is proclaiming of war against the
devil, the world, and the flesh; so they must put on their armour, if
they would make their way through the wilderness.
Fifthly, I now come to show the advantages and conveniences of the
wilderness-road. The people of God, while in the wilderness-world,
have as much allowed them from heaven as may balance the hardships of the wilderness.
1. The pillar of cloud to go before them in the wilderness; of which we
have an account; Exod. 13:20, 21, 22, "And they took their journey
from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead
them the way: and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go
by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day nor
the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." It was a type of
Christ. He leaves them not alone in the wilderness-world. Our Lord
Christ is upon the head of the travelling company, Cant. 4:8; and will
be so till he have them all home. And this is sufficient to compensate
the solitariness of the way.
The pillar seems to bare been a fiery cloud, Exod. 14:20; the cloud
representing Christ's human nature, the fire his divine nature; and to
have been but one pillar; Numb. 9:15, 16; Christ one person in two
distinct natures. A God vailed with flesh, is the believer's company in
the wilderness at all times; and even the man Christ travelled the
wilderness-road himself too.
It had a dark side to their enemies, but a light side to the Israelites,
Exod 14:20. Believers see a glory in Christ which the blind world sees
nothing of, and therefore will not go up with him from the
wilderness. The carnal world wonders at the believer's waygoing
from the wilderness; alas! they see not what he sees, the light side of
the cloud goes before.
Now the cloudy pillar had a fourfold use to the Israelites in the
wilderness, in a spiritual sense made good by Christ to his people in
the wilderness-world.
(1.) They had the signal for marching or halting from it, Numb. 9:17,
&c. Their motions were directed by its motions. Thus the travellers
from the wilderness-world are directed by Jesus Christ their Lord
and Head, on whom the trust of bringing them safe to glory is
devolved; Isa. 55:4, "Behold, I have given him for—a leader and
commander to the people." They must not stir till be give them the
sign, though all the world, friends or foes, should cry, March; if they
presume to do it, the cloud of glory will stay behind them, and they
will find themselves entangled in the wilderness. They must not sit
still when he gives them the sign to march, though all the world,
friends or enemies, should cry, Halt; if they do, they will find the
glory of the Lord will leave them, and their rest be blasted. Here lies
their safety in the wilderness, in observing the word from heaven.
(2.) It led them in the way, Exod. 13:21. They would soon have
missed their way in the pathless wilderness. So our Lord Christ leads
his people in their way through the wilderness-world, Isa. 55:4. In
the wilderness there are many by-ways, many to lead the travellers
off the way, besides a wandering disposition in their own nature.
They will never get through safe, who take the guiding of themselves;
but they who keep their eye on the cloud of glory before them, shall
get through the most difficult steps of the wilderness-road, Prov. 3:5,6.
He leads his people through the wilderness, (1.) By his word, which
they must take good heed to, as that which determines the way, Isa.
30:21. By his word he chalks out the path through the wilderness,
and whatever agrees not therewith is but a by-way, it is not the King's
highway, Isa. 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak
not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
(2.) By his example, which is the marks of his own feet upon the way,
1 Pet. 2:21. These we should narrowly observe, that we may follow
them; hence says our Lord himself; Matth. 11:29, "Learn of me, for I
am meek and lowly in heart." We are apt to follow example; whose
example should be so dear to us as his, who is our Father, Master,
Husband? &c. That we might know how to walk through the wilderness,
God himself came down from heaven, and in our nature walked through it.
(3.) By his providence, which, duly compared with
the word, contributes much to clear the way; Psalm 32:8, "I will
instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will
guide thee with mine eye." Ye are to be then careful observers of
providences, which are really waymarks in the wilderness, Psalm 107
ult.
(4.) By his Spirit, which renders all the rest effectual; John 16:13,
"When he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth."
He illuminates and causes to shine, the word, Christ's example, and
providences. He illuminates the traveller too, as well as the way;
disposes, moves, and efficaciously leads the traveller on his way.
(3.) It was a shelter to them from the heat of the sun by day; Psalm
105:39. And so Christ shelters his people from the scorching heats in
the wilderness; Isa. 22:2, and 4:6. Let the heat of desertion,
temptation, contention with men, and persecution, be never so great;
Christ looked to by faith will be a sufficient sconce; Cant. 1:7. Many a
time the gourds of created comforts are withered when the sun is
hottest in the wilderness. Sons of men are found vanity and a lie. But
Christ's shadow is ever broad and refreshing; Cant. 2:3, and the
traveller can never come amiss to it.
(4.) It was a light to them by night, Exod. 13:21. There is many a dark
night in the wilderness; and it is sometimes the lot of the people of
God to travel in the night, as well as it was that of Israel, Numb. 9:21.
But Christ is a light to them in the darkest hour of the night; hence
David could say, Psalm 23:4, "yea, | though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy
rod and thy staff they comfort me." Sometimes the sun shines fair,
and then there is no debate about the way: at other times a mist and
darkness sits down in the wilderness, and then many are put to a
stand; then is a time of wandering, stumbling, falling over this and
the other precipice in the wilderness. Many are lying fallen, and
others come up and fall over them; and all because of the darkness.
What way can one get through in such a time? Why, let them keep
their eye on Christ the pillar of fire, and they shall have light in the
midst of darkness, Job 29:3.
2. They have provision allowed them from heaven in the waste
wilderness. And that must balance the scarcity and want there. The
King's country affords them provision for their journey. Israel in the
wilderness were provided both with meat and drink; and so are they
that are going up from the wilderness of this world. In the wilderness
there is.
with a Description of the their Travels from the Wilderness
of this World, to the Heavenly Canaan, Leaning Upon Christ
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon
her Beloved? - SONG 8:5
WE have been solemnising our souls' espousals to Jesus Christ, and
our consent to the gospel-call, saying in effect to us, "Wilt thou go
with this man?" Leave thy father's house, and thine own people, and
cleave to the King of Zion. We have before angels and men answered,
We will go with him, for he is our Beloved. Here we have an account
of the Christian life, which must be our life, if we will deal honestly
with him; it is a "coming up out of the wilderness, leaning on our
Beloved." These are the words of the daughters of Jerusalem, containing,
1. An inquiry about a party, whom they took particular notice of,
namely, the church of believers, the spouse of Christ; "Who is this?"
It intimates a kind of surprise, Who's that! The wilderness uses not
to afford such a sight as this. It imports an admiration as of some
hidden thing, a mystery; Who is this? This is a strange kind of
personage whom we see.
2. A character of the party inquired about. It is a woman, one of the
weak sex, as the church of believers is represented in scripture. She is
not one of the dwellers in the wilderness. She appears not to have
built her house there. She is but a traveller through it, and her head
is awayward from it; and she is set for another country. That is she
whom we mean, who is coming up from the wilderness. I make no
question but by the wilderness here is meant the world, as Cant. 3:6;
and 4:8; with a plain eye to the Israelites coming through the
wilderness to Canaan; the last of which, as it was typical of heaven,
so the former is of the world.
But for the further understanding of these words, it is necessary to
take notice of a custom among the Jews at their marriages, to which
there is here a manifest allusion, viz., The bridegroom used to take
his bride, and carry her out of the city into the fields, and there they
had their nuptial-songs; and afterward he brought her back again,
leaning on him, into the city, to his father's house, and there the
marriage was solemnized. Now we may be sure, however, that these
fields were not a wilderness or moorlands, no fit place for a
bridegroom and bride's walk together. This, then, increases the
wonder, What a bride is this that is coming up out of the wilderness
with her Bridegroom, leaning on him? Others use to be entertained
more softly and delicately; what a bride and Bridegroom are these!
However, here is represented the Christian life, the life of the church
of believers espoused to Christ. In which observe two things.
1st, Her exercise; she is travelling upon her road away with her
espoused husband, namely, Christ. The place she is going from is the
wilderness-world; the place she is going to appears, from what is
said, to be her Bridegroom's Father's house. Her way is upward, her
motion an ascending, as the word imports; and here should rather be
read "going up," than "coming up," as Judg. 20:21, since the decency
of the parable requires it, she being rather going from the place
where the daughters of Jerusalem were, than to the place where they were.
2dly, Her posture, her travelling posture; "leaning on her Beloved."
This is what in New Testament language is called the life of faith; for
that is the spiritual leaning of the soul, and imports a fiducial
persuasion. It bears, (1.) Her having her Bridegroom's company
through the wilderness. He leaves her not there alone; he bids her go
nowhere but where he himself will go with her. (2.) Her having his
help through the wilderness. She leans on him, as a weak woman on
a journey leans upon her husband.
Three doctrines offer themselves from the words.
DOCT. I. True believers, espoused to Christ, turning their back on
the world, and walking heavenward with him, are a mystery, a
strange sight in the world. Who is this!
DOCT II. The life of believers, as espoused to Christ, is a going up
from the wilderness of this world, with him, to his Father's house in
the heavenly Canaan.
DOCT. III. The way to get up from the wilderness-world to the
heavenly Canaan, is to go all along leaning on Jesus Christ by faith.
I shall illustrate and apply the first two of these doctrines distinctly,
and consider the third in a word of direction in the application of the second.
DOCT. I. True believers, espoused to Christ, turning their back on
the world, and walking heavenward with him, are a mystery, a
strange sight in the world. Who is this!
In discoursing this subject I shall,
I. Premise some things for right understanding the doctrine.
II. Shew in what respects believers are a mystery, a strange sight in the world.
III. Give the reasons of the point.
IV. Apply.
I. I shall premise some things for right understanding the doctrine.
1. Sin turned this world into an enemy's country in respect of heaven,
and so into a wilderness. It was originally the seat of the friend of
God, the confederate of heaven, innocent Adam; and then it was a
pleasant land. But sin entering, it changed masters, so that the devil
is become the god of this world, 2 Cor. 4:4, and it a wilderness
because the primitive communication betwixt heaven and it is
stopped, and a new one settled betwixt hell and this world.
2. All men by their first birth are natives of this world; their father's
house is in it, the people of it are the people that are theirs, Psalm
45:10. And home is home, be it never so homely; they love the
wilderness, they desire not to change, they know no better country,
and they seek none better. They are pleased with the place, the
company, and the manner of living; for they are all natural to them.
3. The Lord from eternity having set his love upon some of the
natives, in due time comes in the gospel into the wilderness-world,
and making love to them, gains their consent, and is espoused to
them in the everlasting marriage-covenant, according to Hos. 2:19, "I
will betroth thee unto me for ever, yea, I will betroth thee unto me in
righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in
mercies." Isa. 44:5, "One shall say, I am the Lord's." Thus he
becomes theirs, and they his, and they are engaged to follow him
whithersoever he goes. Not only are they obliged by their contract of
espousals to go with him, but their hearts are so set upon him, that
they cannot think of parting with him again, or staying behind him.
4. Though the espousals and the feasts of espousals are held in the
wilderness, yet the place set for the consummating of the marriage is
Christ's Father's house in Cannan above, to which he begins
immediately to carry his bride. She must no longer be a resideuter in
the world, a dweller in the wilderness, but must lift her heart and
affections off her own people, and her father's house, and be going
away homeward to Christ's Father's house, that the marriage may be
consummated.
5. This her going away up from the wilderness with her espoused
Husband, is a going away in heart and affections; it is the soul's
motion heavenwards in this life, the last step of which is made at
death. It is a gracious frame of heart shining forth in a holy, tender,
and heavenly walk. Every step in the way of holiness, in
mortification, vivification, and contempt of the world, is a step
homeward to Christ's Father's house.
6. Lastly. Christ's bride at her waygoing, and ongoing with him thus,
is a mystery, a strange sight in the world. Her own country-people
gaze at her, to see her undertaking such a strange journey, turning
her back on the beloved world, and setting out for a strange country.
Sometimes believers fall out of the exercise of grace, become
untender in their walk, and grow so like the world, that they do not
appear to be going up out of the wilderness, but rather pitching their
tents there. But when they are in the exercise of grace, holy and
heavenly in their walk, then do the spectators make the question,
"Who is this?" Like the Jewish rulers, who "seeing the boldness of
Peter and John, and perceiving that they were ignorant and
unlearned men, marvelled, and took knowledge of them, that they
had been with Jesus;" Acts 4:13.
II. I shall show in what respects believers are a mystery, a strange
sight in the world; the power of godliness appearing in their walk at
this rate, so that it is said of them, "Who is this?"
1. There is something very amiable about them, as we are told of the
primitive Christians; Acts 2:46, 47, that "they continuing daily with
one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house,
did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising
God, and having favour with all the people." There is a conscience
within worldly men, as well as corruption; and what their
corruptions will condemn, their conscience will approve as lovely; 2
Cor. 4:2. Men's corruptions may get the management of their tongue,
hands, and their whole external behaviour, and may set the man to
run down piety, and the party in whom it appears; yet in the
meantime conscience within their breasts will be applauding and
admiring the godly man, as one who has something very lovely about
him, as Balaam did in the case of the Israelites; Numb. 23:9, 10.
2. There is something very awful about them to beholders. Paul
stands at the bar and reasons, and Felix sitting on the bench
trembles; Acts 24:25. John Baptist lies in his grave beheaded at
Herod's command, and yet there he is a terror to Herod; Matth. 14:1,2.
The remains of God's image on man in point of dominion, has an
awe and majesty with it, that affects the brutes; Gen. 9:2. How much
more has the restored image of God in righteousness and holiness
shining forth in a Christian's life, a majesty with it, procuring an
internal reverence to them from beholders! They are to them like
men of another world, and every view they take of such writes death
to them; Heb. 11:7.
3. There is something very mysterious about them; Zech. 3:8 They
are like foreigners in a country, apt to become a gazing-stock, a
wonder, about which the natives cannot satisfy themselves. A
believer marching heavenward, away from this wilderness-world, is,
(1) A mystery to the men of the world, whether professos or profane.
They cannot comprehend them, for they are God's "hidden ones;"
Psalm 83:3, not hid from their bodily eyes; ver. 4, but from the eyes
of their minds. What a mystery is that man to them, who sets his feet
and treads on that, which they set their hearts on and adore? who
values, pursues eagerly, and by no means can be brought to part
with, that which they can see no beauty in? whose principles, aims,
and actions are diametrically opposite to those of theirs? They are to
them like men of another mould and make, which they cannot
understand. Nay, they are,
(2.) A mystery to themselves, ay, so great many times, that they know
not what to make of themselves, what class to rank themselves in,
whether of saints or sinners; Psalm 139:23, 24. A true Christian is
indeed a bundle of mysteries; he on earth, and his head in heaven,
yet really and truly united 1 John 15:5; crucified with Christ, yet
living; living, yet not he, but Christ living in him, Gal. 2:20; not
loitering, but labouring, yet not he, but "the grace of God with him;" 1
Cor. 15:10. He is a man of two leading contrary principles, having a
will and not a will to one and the same thing; he sins, and yet it is not
he; Rom. 7:17. He has many spots and stains on him, yet is all fair;
Cant. 4:7; "black, yet comely, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of
Solomon;" chap. 1:5; wanting many things, yet complete; Col. 2:10.
What wonder that such a one should be in way of admiration
inquired about, "Who is this?"
III. I shall give the reasons of the point, That true believer are a
mystery, a strange sight in the world.
1. Because they are so unlike the world, they are like speckled birds
among the rest, 1 Pet. 4:4. They are cast into the new mould of
regeneration, and are come forth nonconformists to the world, Rom.
12:2. They have got another spirit, than the spirit which all their
people and their father's house are acted by, which casts their whole
conversation into quite another shape than theirs, Num. 14:24. So
the unlikeness betwixt them makes them a strange sight.
2. Because they are so unlike themselves in former times. Saul
among the prophets was a strange sight, 1 Sam. 10:11. But the grace
of God makes a more wonderful change in a man from what he was
before, as appears in Saul among the apostles, 1 Tim. 1:12, 13. What
an observable change was there, that he which persecuted the saints
in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed! Gal.
1:23. Grace makes lambs of lions, casts out the dumb devil, that they
who cared not for praying, preaching, &c. but all these things were a
burden to them, they cannot for the world live without them. It
makes a new heart, a new life, a new man, all things new, 2 Cor. 5:17.
3. Because they are very rare in the world; they are but here and
there one for a marvel, Jer. 3:14. The multitude in the world prefer
the wilderness to Zion, and sit still in their native land, and will not
go away with Christ. They have the gospel-call, they are courted to
match with Christ; but they think gospel-invitations but idle tales,
and they have beloveds of their own in the wilderness, which they
will not part with for him. Some say with the mouth they will take
him, and subscribe with the hand at solemn ordinances; but it is not
a match, for their hearts were never truly for it; so they sit still too,
and go not up with him out of the wilderness, but their carcases fall
there. So that they who are going up out of the wilderness, being so
rare, are a strange sight.
USE I. of information. It informs us, that,
1. Serious souls need not think it strange, if they become a wonder to
many, Psalm 71:7. They are not meet to go up with Christ from the
wilderness, that are not content to become a world's wonder for him.
They must be fools for Christ that will be wise; Mark 8 ult.,
"Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be
ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy
angels." Worldly men wonder at seriousness now, what makes the
saints so nice in points of truth and holiness; but that wonder will
not last long, the world will soon see they had good reason for it all.
2. The world is no idle spectator of those who have given themselves
to Christ, and profess to follow him. They take notice of them, and
have their questions about them. Communicants, take heed to
yourselves; many eyes are on you, as to your after-walk; God's eye is
on you; the world's eyes will be upon you, they will take notice
whether ye turn your back on the world, the ways and; manners of it,
or even sit still with themselves as before.
3. Those who shall still walk after the course of the world, continue
sons of earth, not making away heavenward in the tenor of their life
and conversation, are not espoused to Christ; though they have given
him the hand, they have not given him the heart. The sincerity of
your covenanting with God is now to be proved by your after-walk. If
God be your Father, be setting homeward to his house. If Christ be
your espoused husband, make away with him through the
wilderness, and stay not behind. The friendship of the, world is
enmity with God.
4. Lastly. This world must be little worth, wherein, among such
multitudes, there are so few such travellers, that they are a strange
sight. There are many sad sights to be seen in the world, even after
communions, but few of this sort of persons turning their backs on
the world, and resolutely walking heavenwards. Take heed,
Christians and communicants, that one of these three questions be
not put concerning you, instead of this in the text.
(1.) Who is this standing still in the wilderness? like the door on the hinges, oft
moving, but never going forward, as proud, passionate, carnal, and
sensual, as before? Isa. 5:6.
(2.) Who is this going back from the wilderness to Egypt, to the flesh-pots there?
back again to their profane and licentious courses? better ye had never known the way
of righteousness.
(3.) Who is this sticking in some mire, fallen into
some pit in the wilderness; some gross and scandalous abomination!
Many such trophy gets Satan set up.
USE II. Of exhortation. O Christians, communicants, walk so as the
world may bear witness, that ye are going up out of the wilderness,
leaning on your beloved; that your faces and hearts are heavenward;
that ye have set off from them, and are no more theirs.
This would be much to the honour of Christ and religion, Acts. 4:13.
It would be a great kindness to the world lying in wickedness, as an
apt mean to bring others away with you, Zech. 8 ult. It would be the
safety and comfort of your own souls, Cant. 8:4.
Ye will walk so, if ye be habitually heavenly in the frame of you heart,
like Enoch walking with God. Also, if in your conversation ye
manifest a contempt of the world: Germana illa bestia non curat
aurum, was Luther's character from his enemies. Likewise, if ye be
just in your dealings in the world to a niceness, counting it always
safer to lose a pound, than unjustly gain a small penny. And further,
if ye be clothed with humility and with humanity, meek, ruling your
own spirit, doing good to all, even to those that wrong you; and are
patient under trouble, and living by faith.
DOCT. II. The life of believers as espoused to Christ, is a going up
from the wilderness of this world, with him, to his Father's house in
the heavenly Canaan.
In discoursing from this doctrine, I shall,
I. Take notice of some things supposed in it.
II. Unfold the believer's life, as a going up from the wilderness of this
world, typified by the Israelites going up from the wilderness to Canaan.
III. Make application.
I. I shall take notice of some things supposed in this doctrine. It supposes, that,
1. As soon as a soul is espoused to Christ, it is loosed from the world.
Its taking of him is a letting this world go, Matth. 13:44. The
unbeliever hugs and embraces this world as his portion, and pursues
it as the main thing; but when he closeth with Christ he saith, "Thou
art my portion," and the esteem of the world sinks, Phil. 3:8. Those
that are espoused to Christ, are,
(1.) A loosed people. The bands with which the world held them are
loosed; they gripe not it, nor it them, at the rate they formerly
grasped one the other, Gal. 6:14. While the sinner was without
Christ, the profits and pleasures of the world were strong bands,
which they could not get shaken off; but in the day of the power of
converting grace, these give way, as tow does when touched with the
fire. Then Christ says, "Loose him and let him go;" all is nothing in
comparison of Christ.
(2.) A separated people. Though before they made one body with the
world lying in wickedness, and were possessed with the same spirit
of the world; yet in the day of their espousals to Christ, they are fairly
separated from them, 2 Cor. 6:17, even as a married woman ceases to
be any more a member of her father's family, but becomes a member
of her husband's, Psalm 45:10.
(3.) A new people. They are no more men of the world, though in it,
Psalm 17:14, but heavenly men, 1 Cor. 15:48. They have another
spirit, Numb. 14:24, a new principle, ends, motives, and manner of life.
2. The soul espoused to Christ, being loosed from the world, is set in
motion heavenwards, away from the world, Psalm 84:5–7. That soul
has begun a new journey, is set off in the Christian race, that it may
obtain the crown. Those that are in heaven have come to a fixed
point of happiness; those in hell have come to a fixed point in misery;
as to those that are in the wilderness of this world some of them are
sitting still as in Sodom, till the fire of God fall on them and consume
them; others, even true believers, are making away, as Lot out of
Sodom, and as the Israelites out of the wilderness into Canaan.
3. The believer's journeying heavenwards is attended with many
difficulties. It is an up-going, and that through a wilderness. They
that mind for heaven must forego their own ease, and lay their
account with troubles and trials of many sorts. The way to
destruction is broad and easy; if men will but sit still, they will be
carried quickly down the stream into the ocean of an eternity of wo.
But if one minds for heaven, he must force his way, through many
difficulties, Matth. 7:13, 14, and 11:12.
4. The believer's passage to heaven is also a work of time. It is not a
leaping out of the wilderness into Canaan, but a going up out of it by
degrees. It cost Israel long forty years in the wilderness. And the
believer is longer or shorter kept in the wilderness, as seems meet to
his God. Some are not long set upon the way, when they are at their
journey's end; others it costs many a weary look to be at home.
5. Christ is with the believer in the journey. It is a weary land they
have to go through, but they are not alone in it, Cant. 4:8. In the day
the soul is espoused to Christ, he is united to him spiritually, and
that union once made is never broken again. So that wherever it is
the believer's lot to go, Christ is with him, if it were through fire and
water, Isa. 43:2. He is never so far from him, but that his faith may
get hold of him, and be may lean on him.
6. Lastly. The end of this journey is a most comfortable one. Though
the travelling be uneasy, the designed place of rest is most desirable,
being Christ's Father's house, where the marriage is to be solemnized
for ever, John 14:2. This is sufficient to bear up the heart of Christ's
spouse through all the difficulties of the road, Heb. 11:26, especially
considering that Christ himself goes all along with her, Heb. 13:5.
II. I shall unfold the believer's life, as a going up from the wilderness
of this world, typified by the Israelites going up from the wilderness
to Canaan. And here I shall shew,
1. How they are brought unto the wilderness.
2. How the believer is set into it.
3. How he is going up from it.
4. The hardships and inconveniencies of the road.
5. The advantages and conveniences of it.
First, I shall shew you how believers are brought unto the wilderness.
The world is not a wilderness to them and in their esteem, till they be
brought out of the Egyptian bondage of their natural state. Then, and
not till then, they enter into their wilderness-state, And here one may
remark these six things.
1. As the Israelites who came out of Egypt, went down into it in the
loins of their fathers; so the elect of God were brought into their
sinful and miserable state in the loins of our first father Adam, Rom.
5:12. And we are all born in that condition, and draw our first breath
in that unhappy region.
2. The natural state of the elect is a state of bondage and slavery.
Satan, as Pharaoh, is their prince there, and holds them fast at their
drudgery, Eph. 2:2, 3. They have many taskmasters there; as many
reigning lusts as there are in their hearts, so many taskmasters are
there holding them to their work.
3. As God, by the hand of Moses the lawgiver, and Aaron the high priest,
wrought the deliverance of the Israelites; so, by the law and
the gospel, he carries on the deliverance of the elect out of their state
of bondage. The law serves to awaken the sinner, and shew him his
danger; the gospel discovers the remedy; and the Spirit of God makes
both effectual.
4. There is no less opposition made by Satan to the sinner's
deliverance from his spiritual bondage, than was by Pharaoh to the
deliverance of the Israelites. He is loath to lose his subjects, loath to
let his prisoners go. How often does the field seem to be won, and a
fair appearance that the poor sinners shall be let go? and yet there
are new attacks to be made before he will surrender.
5. Ordinarily, whenever the deliverance is set a-foot, the bondage
becomes harder than ever before, Rom. 7:9. Satan then musters up
all his forces, and rages more than ever, that he may make the soul
despair of a delivery. Now is the soul hard bestead, duties are bound
on by the law laid to the conscience, under the pain of the curse, but
no strength afforded; so the soul sees it must make brick while no
straw is given. And by this means their corruptions are irritated, that
they appear more vigorously than ever before, Rom. 7:5.
6. Lastly. But at the set time, over the belly of all opposition, God
brings his elect out of their spiritual bondage into the wilderness.
There is a set time in the purpose of God for the delivery of every
elect soul; and as at the appointed time precisely Israel was
delivered, Exod. 12:41, so are they, Jer. 2:24. And no sooner do they
comply with the gospel-call, and leave the spiritual Egypt, but as
soon this world turns a wilderness unto them. And young converts
may lay their account with a hot pursuit from Satan to bring them
back again, even as sure as the Israelites met with it from Pharaoh.
But they may be assured that they shall get such a deliverance as the
Israelites at the Red Sea, which shall make them sing.
Secondly, I shall shew how the believer is set into the wilderness.
When once converting grace has made a fair separation betwixt the
sinner and the world, presently he enters into a wilderness-state.
1. He cares not for the world as he was wont, Gal. 6:14. Grace
opening the eyes the world appears in its own colours, no more a
fruitful field but a barren wilderness. The most pleasant spots in it
appear lions' dens and mountains of leopards. Its best fruits appear
as the apples of Sodom, fair to look at, but being handled fall to
ashes, Psalm 4:6, 7. He sees there is no rest for his heart in it, and
therefore must look above and beyond it. The men of the world are
no more his choice; their way and manner of life he can no more
away with.
2. The world cares not for him as before, Gal. 6:14. No sooner does a
soul begin to look heavenward, but presently the world turns a
strange world to him, John 15:19. He must be content to dwell alone,
and not to be reckoned among the nations. He bears the image which
they hate, he is entered on a course opposite to theirs; and so the
friendship breaks up. And he may lay his account with all the
opposition they can make him with tongue and hand.
3. Then it becomes, by God's appointment, the place of trial for him,
as the wilderness was to the Israelites, Deut. 8:2. God could have
taken his people a nearer way to Canaan than the way he led them;
but for their trial he led them so long in the wilderness. So he could
carry each believer straightway to heaven after their conversion; but
he will have them pass their trials before they come there; so they
must be content to take up their cross and follow him, and so long
stand candidates for glory, while one trial is put to them after
another; trials that will prove the reality and strength of their graces,
the multiplicity of their corruptions and remaining vigour of them.
4. Lastly. It is no more his home or his rest; but the place of his
pilgrimage, of his sojourning, the place he must travel through in his
way home to his eternal rest, Heb. 11:13. He must look on himself as
upon a journey, one that is not to stay here, but must be going
forward to the heavenly country.
Thirdly, I shall shew how the believer is going up from the
wilderness; he is going up from it,
1. By the course of nature, which is swift as a post, a ship, and as an
eagle's flight. It is but a little time, and believers will be at their
Journey's end. Every day sets them a good way nearer their eternal
rest, Rom. 13:11. If the days be evil, they are but few, and will soon be
over. It is true that by this way the wicked are going out from the
world too, but they are not going up, but down into destruction.
2. In the habitual bent of his heart and affections. Believers' hearts
are turned off the world, and set on things above. Their face is
homeward, their heart is there before them; for Christ is there, their
treasure is there. Hence they are said to be those who love Christ's
appearing, 2 Tim. 4:8; and look for him, Heb. 9:28. So when the
carnal man is glued to this world, and desires no better heaven than
what is here, they are going away from it in affection and desire.
But it may be the case of some gracious souls, that they cannot say
they are thus going up from the world, nay, it is a terror to them to
think of going out of it. I answer, there is a twofold desire to be away
from the world, and to be with Christ.
(1.) There is an explicit desire,
like a rose full spread. Such was that of Paul; Phil. 1:23, "I desire to
depart, and to be with Christ." This is found in believers, when they
are not only in the exercise of grace, but have a full assurance of their
eternal salvation. This makes the soul go up with full sail out of the world.
(2.) An implicit desire which is like a rose-bud, where the
leaves are to be found, if it be opened, though in the meantime they
are covered, not being yet so ripe as to spread. This is found in
believers, if they be at all in the exercise of grace, although they be in
the dark as to their state. It is found in the groaning believer, who is
groaning under the remains of sin, and would fain be free from them,
groaning under want of communion with God, and would fain have
it, and that so as not to be interrupted any more, Rom. 7:24. The
Lord reads the language of these groans so, and there wants only a
full assurance of eternal happiness to make it plain language to the
soul itself. See 2 Cor. 5:4. And thus the believer is going up from the
wilderness, though with the wind in his face.
3. In progressive sanctification; Prov. 4:18. By faith the soul is set on
the way to Immanuel's land; it knits him to Christ the personal way,
it sets him to holiness of heart and life, the real way, or the walking
in the way; Col. 2:6. And the believer goes on while he goes forward
in holiness, especially when he is growing, adding a cubit to his
spiritual stature; 2 Pet. 3 ult. This going up appears,
(1.) In mortification, when the believer is dying to sin, getting his
former lusts weakened; Rom. 8:13. Mortification is the daily task of a
believer; the weeds of corruption in the heart are never so plucked
up, but they will be ready to sprout again. These Canaanites are left
in the land, that the believer may never be idle, but watch their
motions and bear them down.
(2.) In vivification, in living to righteousness, when the soul holds
forward in the way of duty over the belly of all opposition, especially
in a holy and heavenly frame, going on in them with vigour, whether
it be doing-work or suffering-work; Cant. 3:6. The soul married to
Christ is to be for him, according to the law of marriage, Hos. 3:3. As
we live by him, so we must live to him. This was Paul's practice; Phil.
1:21, "To me to live is Christ." More particularly,
4. In obtaining victory over the world; 1 John 5:4. The world is an
enemy to all that are set to go up from it. And many times it prevails
to retard their course; they are in it travelling in a stony, yea and
thorny way, where there are many things to take hold of them, and
hold them still; so that they are in hazard of being entangled in the
wilderness.
In this respect a believer goes up from the wilderness. And O but the
picture of a believer thus going up from the wilderness is a beautiful
one; Cant. 3:6, "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like
pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all
powders of the merchant?" I shall essay to draw it in a few
particulars. A believer espoused to Christ, and thus going up from
the wilderness-world, is,
1. One who is keeping off from mixing with the men of the world, the
natives of the weary land. Converting grace plucks them out from
among them, and sets them over to Christ's side; and establishing
grace keeps them from mixing again; Psalm 12:7. There is a
generation of God's wrath in the world, and they are labouring to
save themselves from them; Acts 2:40. They are deserters of their
company, shunning unnecessary fellowship with them; for they
know, that "a companion of fools shall be destroyed;" Prov. 13:20.
And they consort with those who are followers of the Lamb,
companions of those that fear God.
2. He is holding off from the ways of the world; Psalm 17:4. In the
wilderness-world there are many ways, all of them leading to and
terminating in some part of the wilderness; some to the world's
wealth, honours, peace, &c. But there is one way that leads out of it,
terminates in the heavenly Canaan. The throng of the world goes in
these many ways; but the believers, and they only, take the pilgrim's
way, which does but lie through it, neither beginning nor ending in
the country; and the grass may grow on it for the natives, and they
never set a foot on it; Isa. 35:8. The men of the world ply them to
turn them aside, and take their way; and if they catch them napping,
they readily get them off; but the traveller towards Zion says as Israel
to the king of Edom, "We will go by the king's highway, we will not
turn to the right hand nor to the left;" Numb. 20:17.
3. He has a low estimate of the world's wisdom, and holds off from it
as from a false light that would lead the traveller into a quagmire; 1
Cor. 3:18, 19. Carnal wisdom has often been the ruin of Christ's
interests in the church, and in the private case of Christians; leading
into a betraying of truth and purity; procuring outward peace, but
wounding one's conscience, and dishonouring God. But they that are
going up from the wilderness, will be no admirers of the world's
judgment in the matter of truth and error, sin and duty; for the
generality of men have ever been, and will be, in that case, blind men
judging of colours. And it is a dangerous thing to be carried away
with the stream; Eph. 2:2. A man that has no heart to keep off a way,
because it is a way that is in vogue in the world, and will always row
with the stream, is not going up from the wilderness. The fear of the
world's putting the fool's cap on one's head, makes many a carcase
fall in the wilderness.
4. He is keeping up a holy contempt of the world's good things; Heb.
11:24, 25. Its profits and pleasures are sinking in their value with
him; he "counts them but loss and dung, that he may win Christ;"
Phil. 3:8. To a gracious soul going up from the wilderness, the best
things the world can afford, are so lightly esteemed, that he will not
think them worth pains to go off the King's highway for them; Numb.
20:17, "We will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards,
neither will we drink of the water of the wells;" while others allured
with these baits, fall into one mire after another, and quit the
travelling company, as Demas did Paul.
5. He is resolute to make his way through the world's ill things, to
follow the way of God through good and bad report, Rev. 14:4. He is
neither to be bribed nor boasted by the world out of the way of his
duty; Cant. 8:7, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the
floods drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for
love, it would utterly be contemned." His feet are shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace, and blow what weather it will, he
must hold on till he be at his journey's end.
6. Lastly. His eyes are upon the other world; they are fixed on the
prize, and running that they may obtain it, Heb. 11:26. Their
conversation is in heaven; they are habitually minding heavenly
things; their affections are set not on things on the earth, but on the
things that are above. But I proceed to consider,
Fourthly, The hardships and inconveniencies of the wilderness-road,
which the believer must lay his account with, while he goes up from
the wilderness.
1. It is a weary land which the traveller has to go through, while he is
going up from the wilderness, Isa. 32:2. David calls the whole of it,
the house of his pilgrimage. However lightly the natives, the men of
the earth, may live in it, there is never one born from above that is
travelling through it, but it is a weary land to them. It was a weary
time the Israelites had of it in the wilderness; their patience soon
began to wear out. And there is never a child of God, but sometime or
other he has his fill of it, and being wearied, longs to be at home. The
Son of God himself, we find, wearied here, John 4:6.
2. It is a road that lies through a waste, affording no provision, Deut.
32:10. When sin entered into the world, a withering curse followed
on the back of sin, and turned the pleasant land into a waste, barren
place. There was a blessing in everything in it before, but now
everything is embittered in it. There is enough to raise the appetite of
lusts, there are husks enough for them to feed on; but there is
nothing in it to fill the soul, that is the produce of the country; and
therefore the natives, though they are always feeding, they are never
full. The Israelites would have starved in the wilderness, if they had
not been furnished from another quarter; for there was neither meat
nor drink there for them.
3. It is an howling wilderness which they have to go through, Deut.
32:10, because of the wild beasts that haunt there, Cant. 4:8, devils,
and wicked men influenced by the devil. Sometimes the traveller
must hear them roaring, Psalm 74:4, threatening to devour and
swallow them up, and to make the name of Israel no more to be
remembered, as the Egyptian wild beast did, Exod. 15:9, "I will
pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil: my lust shall be
satisfied upon them, I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy
them." Sometimes he is entertained with their yellings, Jer. 2:15.
Their blasphemies, reproaches against God and his cause, their
contradicting of the truths of religion, what are they but yellings of
the wilderness, as ungrateful to holy ears as the yellings of beasts in
the night? Sometimes he must find them tearing him, his name,
reputation, substance, yea and his flesh sometimes, Psalm 35:15, 16.
4. They must lay their account with scorching heats in it. Such was
the wilderness to Israel, for which a cloud covered them by day.
While they are upon the road through the wilderness, they are liable
to fiery heats of desertion from heaven; to fiery heats of temptation
from hell, Eph. 6:16, fiery trials of persecution from men, 1 Pet. 4:12,
and fiery heats of contention and division, the fire coming from the
altar, Rev. 8:5. All which make travelling Zionward to be very hard;
and the more hard, the greater these heats are; which puts the
spouse of Christ to that prayer, Cant. 1:7, "Tell me, O thou whom my
soul loveth, where thou feeds, where thou makes thy flock to rest at noon."
5. It is a sickly place through which their way lieth. Many a groan was
in the wilderness while Israel was in it; sometimes there were fiery
serpents biting them, and sometimes a plague consuming them, so as
many carcases fell in the wilderness. No less sickly a place is this
world to the spiritual travellers. It is a heavy disease that is on them
there, even a whole body of death, Rom. 7:24. It affects and
indisposes the whole man. They are liable to frequent relapses; and
O the malignant influence it has on their journey, unfitting them for
it, and at best causing them to go up but very slowly!
6. It is a difficult way through the wilderness. The road the travellers
must go will try their patience, their strength, &c. They that must
needs have an easy way through the wilderness, must take the way
that leads down to the pit, not the way that leads up to Immanuel's
land.
(1.) It is all upward, which scares most men at it, Psalm 24:3, "Who
shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? The way to heaven is up the
hill, the way to hell down the hill.
(2.) It is a narrow way, Matth. 7:14. Multitudes walk in the broad
way, and there they get room enough, life-room, heart-room,
conscience-room. But the King's highway has no such room in it,
which obliges the travellers to take good heed to their feet, Eph. 5:15.
And considering how rash we are naturally, how weak-headed, false hearted,
how narrow the road is, how loose the ground about it is, it
is no great wonder that many of the travelers catch such falls, as
make them go halting to the grave, Psalm 51:8.
(3.) It is a hard and rugged way; and therefore they must have leg
hardness, as soldiers had to preserve their feet from stones and
roughness in the way of their march; Eph. 6:15. There are many
difficulties to go through, which will need resolution and undaunted courage.
(4.) It is a way wherein many snares are laid for them. In every lot in
the world, and in the most innocent things, there are snares
wherewith we may be caught. And sometimes men are busy making
snares for us in the way wherein we walk.
7. It is a very solitary road, there is not much company to be got in it;
Matth. 7:14. Israel travelled alone through the wilderness, save that a
mixed multitude joined with them, that they were much the worse of,
and whose carcases fell in the wilderness. See how Miciah complains
for want of company on the road, "Wo is me? for I am as when they
have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape-gleanings of the
vintage; there is no cluster to eat; my soul desired the first ripe fruit;" Micah 7:1.
In Elijah's days there were so very few upon the
road, that he thought he had been alone upon it; he had so little help
of the seven thousand, that he knew not of them; Rom. 11:3, 4. At
this rate the spiritual traveler has few.
(1.) To take a lift of his burden; Gal. 6:2. Alas! we are in a strange
world, where there are many to lay a load above the burden, but few
to take a lift of it.
(2.) To consult with when he comes to a difficult step. There are
many such steps that Christians will meet with in their way to Zion,
especially when a mist rises in the wilderness. And it is no small
mercy to have honest and tender men to advise with, and to have
their sympathy and prayers. But of all these there is great scarcity in
the wilderness.
8. Lastly, It is a road, wherein they must meet with armed enemies
come forth to attack them, and ruin them. Pharaoh and his army
pursued the Israelites in the wilderness; Exod. 14:3. Amalek fought
them, chap. 17:8, both types of the devil and his agents. The
Christian life is a fighting life; 2 Tim. 4:7. All is not done when they
are converted, they must fight their way through the wilderness to
Canaan, and so fight as to overcome; Rev. 3:21. The concluding of
their peace with God in Christ, is proclaiming of war against the
devil, the world, and the flesh; so they must put on their armour, if
they would make their way through the wilderness.
Fifthly, I now come to show the advantages and conveniences of the
wilderness-road. The people of God, while in the wilderness-world,
have as much allowed them from heaven as may balance the hardships of the wilderness.
1. The pillar of cloud to go before them in the wilderness; of which we
have an account; Exod. 13:20, 21, 22, "And they took their journey
from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead
them the way: and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go
by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day nor
the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." It was a type of
Christ. He leaves them not alone in the wilderness-world. Our Lord
Christ is upon the head of the travelling company, Cant. 4:8; and will
be so till he have them all home. And this is sufficient to compensate
the solitariness of the way.
The pillar seems to bare been a fiery cloud, Exod. 14:20; the cloud
representing Christ's human nature, the fire his divine nature; and to
have been but one pillar; Numb. 9:15, 16; Christ one person in two
distinct natures. A God vailed with flesh, is the believer's company in
the wilderness at all times; and even the man Christ travelled the
wilderness-road himself too.
It had a dark side to their enemies, but a light side to the Israelites,
Exod 14:20. Believers see a glory in Christ which the blind world sees
nothing of, and therefore will not go up with him from the
wilderness. The carnal world wonders at the believer's waygoing
from the wilderness; alas! they see not what he sees, the light side of
the cloud goes before.
Now the cloudy pillar had a fourfold use to the Israelites in the
wilderness, in a spiritual sense made good by Christ to his people in
the wilderness-world.
(1.) They had the signal for marching or halting from it, Numb. 9:17,
&c. Their motions were directed by its motions. Thus the travellers
from the wilderness-world are directed by Jesus Christ their Lord
and Head, on whom the trust of bringing them safe to glory is
devolved; Isa. 55:4, "Behold, I have given him for—a leader and
commander to the people." They must not stir till be give them the
sign, though all the world, friends or foes, should cry, March; if they
presume to do it, the cloud of glory will stay behind them, and they
will find themselves entangled in the wilderness. They must not sit
still when he gives them the sign to march, though all the world,
friends or enemies, should cry, Halt; if they do, they will find the
glory of the Lord will leave them, and their rest be blasted. Here lies
their safety in the wilderness, in observing the word from heaven.
(2.) It led them in the way, Exod. 13:21. They would soon have
missed their way in the pathless wilderness. So our Lord Christ leads
his people in their way through the wilderness-world, Isa. 55:4. In
the wilderness there are many by-ways, many to lead the travellers
off the way, besides a wandering disposition in their own nature.
They will never get through safe, who take the guiding of themselves;
but they who keep their eye on the cloud of glory before them, shall
get through the most difficult steps of the wilderness-road, Prov. 3:5,6.
He leads his people through the wilderness, (1.) By his word, which
they must take good heed to, as that which determines the way, Isa.
30:21. By his word he chalks out the path through the wilderness,
and whatever agrees not therewith is but a by-way, it is not the King's
highway, Isa. 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak
not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
(2.) By his example, which is the marks of his own feet upon the way,
1 Pet. 2:21. These we should narrowly observe, that we may follow
them; hence says our Lord himself; Matth. 11:29, "Learn of me, for I
am meek and lowly in heart." We are apt to follow example; whose
example should be so dear to us as his, who is our Father, Master,
Husband? &c. That we might know how to walk through the wilderness,
God himself came down from heaven, and in our nature walked through it.
(3.) By his providence, which, duly compared with
the word, contributes much to clear the way; Psalm 32:8, "I will
instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will
guide thee with mine eye." Ye are to be then careful observers of
providences, which are really waymarks in the wilderness, Psalm 107
ult.
(4.) By his Spirit, which renders all the rest effectual; John 16:13,
"When he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth."
He illuminates and causes to shine, the word, Christ's example, and
providences. He illuminates the traveller too, as well as the way;
disposes, moves, and efficaciously leads the traveller on his way.
(3.) It was a shelter to them from the heat of the sun by day; Psalm
105:39. And so Christ shelters his people from the scorching heats in
the wilderness; Isa. 22:2, and 4:6. Let the heat of desertion,
temptation, contention with men, and persecution, be never so great;
Christ looked to by faith will be a sufficient sconce; Cant. 1:7. Many a
time the gourds of created comforts are withered when the sun is
hottest in the wilderness. Sons of men are found vanity and a lie. But
Christ's shadow is ever broad and refreshing; Cant. 2:3, and the
traveller can never come amiss to it.
(4.) It was a light to them by night, Exod. 13:21. There is many a dark
night in the wilderness; and it is sometimes the lot of the people of
God to travel in the night, as well as it was that of Israel, Numb. 9:21.
But Christ is a light to them in the darkest hour of the night; hence
David could say, Psalm 23:4, "yea, | though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy
rod and thy staff they comfort me." Sometimes the sun shines fair,
and then there is no debate about the way: at other times a mist and
darkness sits down in the wilderness, and then many are put to a
stand; then is a time of wandering, stumbling, falling over this and
the other precipice in the wilderness. Many are lying fallen, and
others come up and fall over them; and all because of the darkness.
What way can one get through in such a time? Why, let them keep
their eye on Christ the pillar of fire, and they shall have light in the
midst of darkness, Job 29:3.
2. They have provision allowed them from heaven in the waste
wilderness. And that must balance the scarcity and want there. The
King's country affords them provision for their journey. Israel in the
wilderness were provided both with meat and drink; and so are they
that are going up from the wilderness of this world. In the wilderness
there is.