A Scripture-map of the wildernesse of sin, and vvay to Canaan. Or The sinners way to the saints rest.: Wherein the close bewildring sleights of sin, wiles of the Devill, and windings of the heart, as also the various bewildrings of lost sinners, yea, even of saints, before, in, and after conversion; the necessity of leaning upon Christ alone for salvation, with directions therein: as also, the evident and eminent danger of false guides, false wayes, false leaning-stocks, are plainly, and practically discovered. Being the summe of LXIV lecture sermons preached at Sudbury in Suffolk, on Cantic. 8.5. / By Faithful Teate, M.A. minister of the Gospel.

The third Part of this Treatise, discovers the great con∣cernment of lost Soules. viz. to come up from the Wilderness of sinne.

CHAP. I. Containes two precious Doctrines. 1. That there is a way from the Wildernesse of sinne. 2. That it is an uphill way. The latter is largely opened and applyed.

ANd thus much of the second maine point in our Text; That every Christlesse, or unregenerate soule is a bewildred, and so a lost soule. We passe on to the

Third main Doctrine; That It is the great concernment of poore bewildred soules to come, even to come up from the wilderness of SIN. And so you have the third thing propounded in the draught of this MAP, viz. Mo∣ses on Pisgah, turning his back on the wilderness, and point∣ing towards Canaan.

Before I come to handle this point, I must minde you of two previous and implyed truths in these words, Com∣eth up from the wilderness.

First, That there is a way from the wilderness of sinne. [Doct. 1] The Spouse in the Text found that WAY, and so left, and came out of that WILDERNESSE.

But this point I shall but mention here, because I shal have occasion to explain it afterward, shewing Who is this way, viz. Christ, how he is, and came to be this

way? what manner of way he is? and what improve∣ment we ought hereof to make?

[Doct. 2] The second is this, and I shall a little speake to it; that The way out of the wilderness of SIN, is an up-hil WAY. Who is this that comes up from the Wilderness?

My Brethren, my businesse is to chalk out unto you, the best and truest, not the easiest way. You would have small cause to thank any man, that should lead you into the way of the valleyes, when your way is the way of the hills, and life and death depends on the dispatch of your journey. I had as live Christ should have no fol∣lowers, as such as will not follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes; so Rev. 14.4. Now the usual posture of the Lord Jesus is, Leaping over the Mountaines, skipping upon the Hills, Cant. 2.8. When God calls a soule by conversion, 'tis like his Call to Lot in Sodome, Gen. 19.14. Up, get you out of this place, for the Lord will destroy this City. Up, g••t you out of the state of sinne, for the Lord will set fire on the thickets of this VVilderness. Up, get you out, so saith Christ to the Spouse, Cant. 2.10. Rise up my love, my faire one, and come away. Himselfe was upon the Hills and Mountaines, v. 8. and therefore he calls her to come up thither, that (as his phrase in John is) VVhere he is, she may be also. Therefore I said, Christ had as good have no followers, as such that will onely follow in the way of the plaines.

Now that the way from the Wilderness of sinne, is an up-hill way, I shall labour to prove by induction of Par∣ticulars considerable in that motion, the terms of the mo∣tion, and remarkable circumstances, as to the motion of the soule in the way that leads from the Wildernesse of sinne.

1. By induction of particulars, I shall mention these four. 1. Repentance. 2. Faith. 3. Obedience. 4. Gospel-converse. And verily for proof of each these, I think I shall need little more then your owne ordinary expressions of your owne ordinary experience. Oh! what a-doe have I (saist thou)

to get up mine heart unto true Gospel-sorrow for my sinnes? Oh! what an hard worke is it (saith another) To bring my heart up to a beliefe of the promises? to trust God in difficul∣ties, &c. Oh! how difficult to get up the hil of Gospel-obedi∣ence? what pains must I take to get to Communion with God in the spirit? &c.

1. The way of Repentance is an up-hil way. This is the language of the repentant Prodigal, Lu. 15.18. I will arise, and go to my father: without getting up, no∣thing can be done as to repentance. Sin is asleepe, it is a death at the bottom of the hill, and there is no repentance without an awaking, an arising, a getting up to the top of the Hil. Thinke with your selves, and remember you that have been acquainted with repentance, whether mortification for sinne, mortification of sinne, dying un∣der it by the Law, and dying unto it by the Gospel, were an hard or an easie matter, an up-hill or an down-hill way.

Secondly, Faith is an up-hil way. Have you not heard of the fath of Abraham? (as the scripture saith of the pa∣tience of Job?) Now where was it, that Abraham was canonized for the father of the faithful? why you have the story of it, Gen. 22.14. 'twas in the place named Jeho∣vah-Jireh, In the Mount of the Lord it will be seen. Faith must get up to the top of the Mount, the Mount of the Lord, e're ever it can see what it would, what it should see; as we go to the top of an hil for a prospect, when we desire to see a great way round about us; and the higher the hil is, the more paines is it to get up, but when we are up, the farther we see. Prov. 18.10. The name of the Lord (which is that you know, that faith leans upon); is a strong Tower, the righteous running into it is safe. A Tower? why, that's usually scituate on an Hil, as there is Tower-hil in our great City; and if so, then he that wil into the Tower, must up the hill, and he that wil into the name of the Lord for security, must up the Mount of the Lord by beleeving.

Thirdly, Gospel-obedience is an up-hil way. Its hard to get a great weight up an hill; therefore when the A∣postle presseth Gospel-obedience, he bids us lay aside the weight, that we may runne with patience, Heb. 12.1. The old Adam is a clog to our obedience, and weights easily pull us down, and if down, to rise againe, it is up-hil work; such is obedience. Gods call for our obedience, is like his command to Moses, Gen. 32.49, 50. Go up to Mount Nebo, and dye there. So, go up into thy Closet, and kill thy Corruptions, let thy dearest lusts dye there, pluck out thy right eye there, and cut off thy right hand there. I had as live dye, (saith a stubborn spirit) as do such a thing, and such verily is our natural stubbornness against God. When God bids us up & do this, or that, flesh and blood had as live dye as do it. When the Gospel bids thee look about all things, Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Lands, Houses, Life; and Leave, Forsake, Hate them all, and then thou shalt be a Disciple unto Gospel-obedience: Is not this every whit as much, as go up to Mount Nebo, and dye there? surely he never yet found this way, that hath not found it to be an up-hil way.

Fourthly, The way of Gospel-Communion or Con∣verse with God, with Christ, with Saints, in the Spirit, in an Ordinance: My Brethren, is not this an up-hil way? Is it not this that makes your hearts sweat againe, to get up, or keep up your Spirits duly in this way? Our Savi∣our went up into a Mountaine to pray, and unlesse thou canst come up into the Mountaine, thou wilt very hardly come to pray. The Spouse looked for Christ in the high-wayes; that is, (as I said before) the Ordinances; but she had not looked yet high enough for to find him, Cant. 7.5. The King is held in the Galleries. If thou be as the Spouse, Cant. 2.14. In the secret places of the stayrs: I am come to meet thee this day, to tell thee that the King is above in the Galleries; his voyce then to thee is this, Come up hi∣ther: for I, saith Christ, do not use to come down lower, the King is held in the Galleries; that is, If you be in

the Spirit whilst you are in the Ordinances, you shal find Christ, and not unlesse you be under spiritual Commu∣nion, Christ wil not shew himselfe lower, the Hebrew word bears thus much, the King is bound in the Galleries. Christ hath bound himselfe by promise, to be found in spirituality of duty; and hath as it were, bound himself that he will not be found lower, not in formality. I judge it may refer hither, that we read of the Mountains of Prayer, the Mountaine of Holiness, the Mountaine of Praise, typing that the way of Gospel-Communion is an Up-hil way.

Secondly, If you consider the terms of the motion, of the soule that comes from the wildernesse of sinne to grace; the term from which, the term to which.

First, The term from which is the Wildernesse, and it it is so low a scituation, that you cannot possibly come out of it, but you must come up out of it. Paradice was a lofty state, and as it were a lower Heaven, but in the day that Adam was cast out of it, he went to inhabite so low a soyle, sinne I meane, that it is said of it, Prov. 5.5. Its steps take hold of Hell If the sinner were but one step lower, he would be in Hell. Nay, what if I should say, that the wilderness of sinne, is in a sort as low as Hell: nay, in a sort, an Hell, Psal. 86.13. Thou hast delivered my soule from the lowest Hell. Sinne is an hell, but I can't say it is the lowest Hell; the lowest hell is the second death. If thou be in the state of sinne, thou art in Hell already; understand it soberly. He that beleeves not, is condemned already, Joh. 3.18. Damned already: onely the Grave-stone is not yet rowled unto the mouth of this Grave, the gulfe is not yet fixed, the way is yet open, and poor soules may come out by beleeving.

Secondly; The term unto which soules move, when they come from the Wildernesse of sinne, speakes it to be an up-hil way. You have heard of an higher and lower hell, and you may hear of an higher and lower Heaven. As sinne is the upper Hell, so grace is the lower Heaven, Phil. 3.20. Our conversation is in heaven. Pauls, and the converted

Philippians conversations were in heaven, that was in the lower Heaven. Memorable is that passage, Heb. 10.22, 23. Ye (that is living Saints) are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the generall as∣sembly, and Church of the first born which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, &c. If this way that shall lead hitherto be not up the hil, judge ye.

Thirdly, If you consider but the remarkable Circumstan∣ces of the motion, as this now: Would you know whe∣ther or no the way out of the Wildernesse, be an Up-hil way, observe when thy foot slips, whether thou gettest nearer grace, or nearer sin by that slip. If thou get nea∣rer sinne, as thou dost undoubtedly, then sinne undoubt∣edly is the down-hil way, for we slip not up the hill, but down; we fall not upward, but down-ward: Now this Circumstance is clear in scripture, in experience, and where not? and it is convictive hereof, viz. That the way from the Wildernesse of sinne, is up-hil; for upon any slip our soules slip to sinne, so that the Lord instant∣ly cryes out, Returne ô backslyding Children, &c. Jer. 3.22. &c. All the wayes of sinne are backslyding wayes, there∣fore they are down-hil wayes; and therefore the way from the Wildernesse, is to come up. Thus much for proof, and surely of this mind was Solomon, when he said, that The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath, Prov. 15.24. Whether you respect the hell of sin, or of suffering for sinne, which are both beneath: but the way of life, whether of holinesse or happinesse, is above to the wise, that is an Up-hil way.

From hence a word of Challenge, a word of Caution, and a word of Exhortation.

1. Hence let me challenge soules. Sirs, how is it that you dare hope of comming at length out of the Wilder∣nesse, when you take no paines to walke in the up-hil way? surely to let repentance, and faith, and obedience,

and the duties of holinesse alone, is to resolve to dwell in the Wildernesse yet still, for that is the valley of the shadow of death, and these are the Up-hil wayes. Come up, come up, from the wilderness you idle hearts, that love to walke onely in the way of the plaines. Oh! but say you, I have tryed to come out, but I have made no pro∣gresse, I can easily go in farther and farther; but why can I not as easily go out? no wonder at all, going in to it is down-hil, comming out of it is up-hil; therefore never think of coming out of it, unless thou take as much, nay more paines to get out of sinne, then ever thou didst in sinne.

And by the way, let me further challenge poor wret∣ches of very madnesse, that in stead of taking paines to come up from the Wildernesse, take (as some do) much paines to go farther down into it: Alas, poor soules, 'tis down-hil way, thou art likely to be at the bottome soon enough (even in the lowest hell) without running down: and if any take paines this way, how shall this condemne those that take no paines the other way?

2. Use. Caution. Is the way from the wildernesse up the hill? Take heed of fainting, take heed of falling, either of these will endanger your tumbling downe the hill a∣gaine.

1. Caution. Take heed of fainting. My Brethren, how conscious are we to our selves; how ready are the stron∣gest of us to faint in those forementioned up-hil wayes? Now it is not the pleasure of the Lord Jesus, that any should faint in the waies of attendance upon him, Mat. 15.32. I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. Let us also be careful, lest our hearts faint in any of the wayes of Jesus Christ, although they be never such up-hil wayes, For which cause we faint not, 2 Cor. 4.16. And as we have received mercy, we faint not, v. 1. We shall reap, if we faint not, Gal. 6.9. And this is the praise of Ephesus, Rev. 2.3. Thou hast laboured, and not fainted. In laborious up-hil services, they walked

without fainting. Now to helpe you herein, take these two Rules.

1. Look not much down-ward. 2. Look much upward. You have both these together, 2 Cor. 4.16. For this cause we faint not, v. 18. Whilst we looke not at the things that are seene, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seene are temporall, but the things (that he look'd at) that are not seen, are eternall. If a man you know, would go up a Spire-steeple, or Beacon of great height, it is ve∣ry dangerous, and dazeling to look down-ward; his way must be to look upward all the while.

1. Look not down-ward, look down and faint, and so fall down. Observe the Apostles opposition, he sets minding of earthly things (that is the looking down-ward that I speak of) against having our conversation in heaven, Phil. 3.19, 20. Carnal hearts that mind earthly things, will faint in the first steps of that way that leads out of the Wildernesse, for it is an up-hil way. Therefore saith the Wise man of riches, and things earthly. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not, Prov. 23.5. That is, Doe not so much as set thine eyes upon it. 2dly,

Look much upward. I will looke unto the hills, saith the Psalmist, Psal. 121.1. I will lift up mine eyes. The Apo∣stle comparing our lives to a race or journey, bids us, Heb. 12.1, 2, 3. To looke unto Jesus, &c. lest we be weary, or faint in our minde. It would extreamly helpe us, to have our conversation in heaven, to be often, yea, alwayes loo∣king thither, whence we looke for a Saviour, Phi. 3.20. This would keepe us from fainting in this up-hil way. If you be risen with Christ, (to the top of this hill, and would keep there, why then) set your affections upon things above, Col. 3.1, 2. For thus saith the Lord, Isai. 40.30.31. The Youths shal utterly faint, & the young men shall fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, (yea though it be an up-hil way) they shall mount up with wings as Eagles; they shall runne, and not be weary; they shall walke, and not faint.

2dly. Caution. Take heed of falling. Is it an up-hil way? beleeve it, it is very ill getting a slip, 1 Cor. 10. He minds us of the falls of the poor Israelites in the way to∣wards Canaan: he gives variety of instances from the 5. v. he brings all close down for our admonition, vers. 11. Wherefore let him that thinkes he standeth, take heed lest he fall, v. 12. How charily do men go up an hill in a frosty day, when the wayes are slippery? Oh! this is the dan∣ger, 'tis an up-hil way. Let vs therefore labour to enter in∣to that rest, lest any man fall after the ensample of their un∣beliefe, Heb. 4.11.

Thirdly, Exhortation in two words.

First, Is it an up-hil way? then pray let us up and be going; let us up and repent, up and beleeve, up and obey, up and pray, and read, and heare, and meditate, &c. and that leads me to the Third main Doctrine yet before us, whi∣therto I shall refer it.

Secondly, Is it an up-hil way? wherein is such likeli∣hood of faintings? such feare of falling? Oh! Then la∣bour to leane upon the beloved, whilst you come up from the Wildernesse, to repent and lean, to believe and lean, to obey and lean, to pray &c. and lean: and this would lead to the fourth main Doctrine, therefore we shall dismisse it for the present. We passe on to

CHAP. II. Containes the third maine Doctrine, That it greatly concernes lost soules to come up from the wildernesse of sinne, discovered and applyed with choice directi∣ons thereunto.

THe third maine Point, viz. That it is the great con∣cernment of lost soules, to come up from the Wildernesse of sinne.

The Spouse in the Text had been in the Wildernesse,

but now up she gat, and away she came; and this is thy great businesse. The voyce of the Lord unto such a soule, is like the voyce of Christ to his chosen ones in Babylon, Rev. 18.4. Come out of her my people, lest you partake of her plagues. Come out of the Wildernesse, my poor Creatures, lest you dye wlldernesse-deaths: and now must the answer of thy soule be, I come Lord. The Lords bewildred spouse, Hos. 2. takes up this main resolution, as her maine worke and businesse. I will return to my first husband, Hos. 2. v. 7. I will goe and return: so the Prodigal, I will arise, and goe to my Father: The bewildred Spouse, the lost Sonne: this is it that they make their great work & businesse, and 'tis not strange that it should be so, if you consider that the comming up of lost soules, is the very great worke and businesse of God himselfe, even God the Father, Son, and holy Spirit.

1. It is the great designe of God the Father, that poor soules should come up from this spiritual wildernesse, Deut. 32.9, 10. Jacob is his portion, he found him in the Wildernesse, and led him about, and instructed him; you have this explain'd, or (if you wil) seconded; Thus saith the Lord God, Ezek. 34.11. I, even I will both search my sheep, and seeke them out. They have been scattered in the cloudy and darke day, v. 12. (Of this we have spoken) I will feed them in a good pasture, on the high Mountaines, there shall their fold be, &c. verses 13.14. (Of this we spake in the last discourse) I will seeke that which was lost, and will bring again that which was driven away. I, even I, saith God. My friends, shall the Lord God make it his owne great businesse to seeke thy lost soule, and shall it not be thine? the Lord forbid. I would have thee know, if thy soule be lost, and God seek it, and thou doe not thy selfe seeke it; if thou doe not cooperate, thou offe∣rest despight unto the Lord God. When God looks for lost soules, and they would not be found, but the lan∣guage of thine heart is as Ahabs to the Prophet, 1 King. 21.20. Hast thou found me O mine enemy? Poor soules

count God their enemy, when his Word or Spirit comes so near them, as to find them: why this is to offer de∣spight unto God, yea, then when he is offering the grea∣test mercy conceivable, yea more then can be conceived unto thee. Thou art scattered, God would gather thee; thou art lost, but God would find thee; this is his chal∣lenge against Jerusalem, under which it should quite be ruined, Lu. 13.34. He would, but they would not. If a child should lose it selfe, and the father finding it, should offer to bring it home againe, and the child should wrangle, and refuse his offer; what would you call this? or what would you account the child worthy of? Gods goodness is a leading goodnesse, and if thou refuse to be led by it, thou shalt be accounted a despiser of it, so saith the Holy Spirit, Rom. 2.4.

Secondly, It is the great businesse of God the Sonne. We have had occasion to shew that, though Christ were never bewildred, yet was he led into the Wilderness, that he might learn to looke after lost soules. This he professeth to be his businesse, Lu 19.10. I came to seeke, and to save that which is lost. This was the errand (as you have heard) that the Father sent the Sonne into the world a∣bout, and this he pursues, as a light to them that sit in darknesse, and a guide into the way of peace, Lu. 1.79. And now shall it be the businesse of the Lord Jesus, to seek thy lost soule, and shall it not be thine own? Why? Thou offerest despight to Jesus Christ. When Christ tenders himselfe as a new and living way, and soules notwithstan∣ding resolve to be lost still, this the Apostle aggravates by them that despised Moses, Heb. 10.28. and calls it a trea∣ding under foot of the Son of God, v. 29.

Thirdly, It is the businesse of the Holy Ghost, to bring poor soules out of the wildernesse of sinne.

First, By our Ministry: the Holy Ghost is at the charge of sending forth guides furnished with Gifts for the seek∣ing of the lost, and all that expence is hereunto: this therefore the Lord sorely challengeth, and severely re∣prehends

them for, that were called Shepheards, that they sought not that which was lost, Ezek. 34.4. And his sheepe were scattered; yet none did search, or seek after them, vers. 6. And truly in pursuance of this message, whatever despite you offer unto any messenger, you offer it (as Christ saith) unto him that sent him; that is, the Spirit. He that despiseth you, despiseth me, Luk. 10.16. And shall the Spi∣rit of Grace employ so many Ministers to call thee from the Lyons Den, &c. to look after thy lost soule? and dost thou not make it thine own work? Oh! what despite is this unto him that sent them?

Secondly, By his own Ministry, by the ministration of himselfe, his light, his grace, his guidance, Io. 16.13. The spirit of truth shal guide you. The great business of God the Holy Ghost, is to be a guid to poor soules; and shall it be his work, and wilt thou have no care of thine own lost soule? this is to do despight flatly to the Spirit of grace. So saith himselfe, Heb. 10.29. Consider, consider; it cost God the Father the losse as it were (for a time) of his own Sonne out of his own bosome, to help lost soules. It cost God the Sonne, the losse of his own precious blood out of his own heart, and veynes, to redeem lost soules. It cost the holy Spirit, the shedding abroad of his gifts and graces, the sending forth of multitudes of messengers to seek poor lost soules; and wilt not thou make it thy great businesse also? Wilt not thou be at any cost or charges to accomplish it? if thou wilt not, at once, thou dost dispight (not onely unto me, or any others, as poor messengers, but also) unto all the three, that are one God. Wo, wo, wo, unto such a soul!

But now the Querie will be, what this comming up from the Wilderness meanes?

I shall briefly answer. 1. By shewing what it requires.

2. Wherein it is dispatched or attain'd.

1. Then what doth this coming up &c. require?

I answer.

[unspec 1] First. A life sutable to such a motion. The soul can

never come out of this Wilderness, as long as it continues dead in sin. You may call long enough to a dead Corps to come up from the Grave, except you put a new prin∣ciple of life into it; and as long upon a dead heart, to come up from sinne, unlesse God put a new life into it. The call of Christ to Lazarus, put life into Lazarus, and therefore he came up from the Grave, Joh. 11.44. The call of conversion to a sinner, puts life into the sinner, and therefore he comes up from the Wildernesse as the two witnesses, Rev. 11.11, 12. The Spirit of life entred into them, and then they heard a voyce saying, Come up hi∣ther. Hast thou heard the voyce of the Sonne unto life? if thou hast not, thou hast not yet stirred from the wayes of the wildernesse, which are wayes of death: thou must have a new life to walke in these up-hil paths, for this is a new and a living way, Hect. 10.20. Never think to be rid of a bewildred heart, until thou get rid of a dead heart. Our Text is pregnant: VVho is this that comes up from the wildernesse? How came that? I raised thee up under the Ap∣ple tree. God must raise thee up, or else thou canst not come up,: or rather God by raising thee up, makes thee to come up.

Secondly, A motion answering such a life. As the soul can never come up, unless it be raised, so say I, there was never any soule raised up, but was willing to come up; for that is raising up, when God raiseth up us, and our wills at once. My soule hates their prophane Notion, that teach soules to lye still as the beast in the ditch that cannot stirre, dawbing with such untempered Morter as this, if God will, and when God will, thou maist and shalt repent, and beleeve, and thou canst do no more then God will, and there∣fore trouble not thy selfe to take any paines, or to go any far∣ther: my Text saith not, VVho is this that was taken out of the wildernesse, but who is this that comes out, &c. though God raise up, yet she must come up. Gods motions herein may help, but must not hinder thine own motions.

But Secondly, Wherein is this comming up from the Wildernesse dispatched?

I answer.

First, In the getting of our eyes up. Oh! labour we to looke from the top of the Wildernesse, from the Lyons Dens, and from the Mountaines of the Leopards. Art thou going up the hil? Why? Prov. 4.25. Let thine eyes look right on. Oh! how doe Christians hinder their progresse to∣wards Canaan, for want of due observance unto this rule? We must be looking this way, and that way, (to this va∣nitie to day, to another to morrow) like fools and chil∣dren, and so trifle away our time, wherein we should dis∣patch our business, Psal. 119.5. Oh! saith David, That my wayes were directed, that I might keepe thy statutes. And what wil he doe to this end? v. 15. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy wayes. There he gets up the eyes of his soule. When I have respect to all thy Com∣madements, v. 6. More expresly, 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in thy way. Wouldest thou be quick in the wayes of God? Why? Turn away thine eyes from vanitie: please not thy selfe with it, medi∣tate not upon it: I perswade my selfe, that the reason why so few come up to the wayes of holinesse, is, because they never yet lifted up their eyes unto the beauties of holinesse, and have therefore thought that the onely pleasing waies are in the Wilderness, 1 Cor. 1.21. The World by wisedom knew not God. My Brethren, we must get up from our wisdoms, (to look higher then that) or else we can not get up from the Wildernesse: that is, We must come ve∣rily to apprehend, judge, and account the wayes of God to be the best wayes; and what carnal wisdome can doe so? Thus must you get up your eyes.

Secondly, In the getting up of your feet. i. e. your Will and Affections, Prov. 4.26. Ponder the path of thy feet, Psa. 119.101. I have refrained my feet from every false way, that I may keepe thy Word. Get up the feet of your soules, and you get up all; when you once truly

set your affections upon things above, then are you risen with Christ, Col. 3.1. Then are you come up from the Wildernesse leaning upon the beloved. Drunkards, get up your affections from drunkenness: you Worldlings, get up your affections from the world; if your affections were once truly up, 'twere easie, 'twere nothing to get your conversations up; Set your affection on heaven, ver. 2. And 'twere the ready way to mortifie your members which are upon earth; v. 5.

This Doctrine hath been Practical, instead of Use, this Querie offers it selfe.

But how shall I do to get up my feet from the Wilder∣nesse?

I answer. Take these four Rules.

First, Let your occasions lye this way. If a mans occa∣sions lye an up-hil way, it matters not much how high the hil be: he must go that way, his occasions lie there, Ier. 2.24. In her occasion, who can turn her? When your occa∣sions are for London, though it be up to London, yet you wil goe, and who can turne you? My Brethren, some mens occasions lye in the Ale-house, as (Maulsters &c.) Oh! this is sad! who can perswade or turn them up∣ward, when their occasions lye down the hill, downe to hel-ward? yet I condemn not that Calling, but caution the men: labour thou to have occasions lying at the Throne of Grace, in the house of Prayer, &c. and then God shall have more of thy company.

Secondly, Accustom thy heart this way. Its little to him to go up to London every week, that is accustomed to go up: 'Twil be tedious to pray, if thou doe not ac∣custome thy selfe to pray. He that is accustomed to a way, can say as Paul, I forget what is behind, and presse forward to the price of the high Calling of God, Phi. 3.13.14. Though we be called to high duty, as well as high priviledges; yet on can the Saint go, that is accusto∣med to go. You read of some accustomed to do evill, Jer. 13.23. Get you the custom, as well as the conscience of do∣ing well.

Thirdly, Keep up-hil Company. I am a companion of them that fear thee, and that keepe thy word, Psa. 119.63. Oh! Company is a great solace in a wearisome way: if two walk together in one way, and the one fall, the other shall lift him up. Unchristian people know not the benefit of Christian communion; therefore it is that they do not prize it, and so missing of the company, they often miss of the way.

Fourthly, Above all, get a nature that may move that way. The stone naturally moves down-ward, but the sparks as naturally fly upward. If there be any sparke of grace in thee, it wil be soaring upward, 2 Pet. 1.4. That you might be partakers of the divine nature; That is, the nature I speak of: Oh! that will alwayes he mounting upward: if you press downe a flame, it will up againe: if temptation croud downe grace, as soone as ever it can get from under, will up againe, towards God again; what ever meanes else you use, nothing will be effectu∣al, unless you get a new nature, then (though it be up the hil) you will be able to go in the new way.

Notes

• 3. Part.
• 3d. Main Do∣ctrine, under which two previous Do∣ctrines.
• That there is a way from the wilderness.
• The way from the wilderness of sin, is an up hill way.
• Proofe of it.
• 1. By inducti∣on of particu∣lars.
• 1. The way of repentance is an up hil way.
• 2. The way of faith.
• 3. Of obedience.
• 4. Of Gospell converse in spiritual du∣ties.
• 2. By cons••de∣ration of the terms of the motion.
• 1. The terme from which is so low.
• 2. The terme unto which it is so high.
• 3. By conside∣ration of this eminent cir∣cumstance in the motion. viz.

  If your foot slip, you doe not get nearer to grace by it, but more back again into the wildernesse:
• Use. 1. Challenge.

  1. That takes no pains, yet thinks to come out of the wil∣derness.
• 2. That take paines to goe farther into it.
• 2d. Cautino.
• 1. Take heed of fainting.
• Rules to pre∣vent fainting. 1. Looke not down-ward.
• 2. Look much upward.
• 2. Take heed of falling.
• 3ly. Exhorta∣tion. 1. To come up.
• 2ly. To come up leaning.
• 3d. Maine Doctrine.
• That is the lost souls great business, to come up from the wilderness.
• For this is the great business. 1. Of God the Father.
• And thy neg∣lect a despight to him.
• 2. This the great business of God the Sonne.
• And thy neg∣lect a despite to him also.
• 3. It is the great business of God the holy Spirit. 1. By our Mi∣nistry.
• Despite done to Messengers herein, is done to him that sent them.
• 2. By his own.
• And to neg∣lect this, is to do despite un∣to the spirit of grace.
• Querie. What means coming from the wilderness. 1. It requires.
• A new princi∣ple of life. viz. raising up.
• 2. New moti∣ons. viz. com∣ming up.
• 2. It consists.
• 1. In the get∣ting up of our eyes.
• 2. In the get∣ting of our hearts.
• Rules to help us herein.

  1. Occasion our hearts the uphil-way.
• 2ly. Accustom we our hearts that way.
• 3ly. Keep we up-hil compa∣ny.
• 4ly. Get we a nature moving up-wards.