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.

CHAP. III. Discovers how soule-weariness fits for Christ; Opened and applyed.

BUt you wil say, are there not some weak ones that rest in their ever complainings of their weaknesse, as well as some strong ones that rest in their strength? truly I believe there are, of whom we may say as Paul of those women, that were ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, 2 Tim. 3.7. So there are some, that are ever complaining of their weaknesses, as to the things of God, which are never able (because not truly willing) to grow stronger, or to come up to any strength of grace. They feare that Christ will not break the bruised reed, they think that he surely wil pitty the weak, and such are they; and here they rest, taking neither due care, nor paines to grow any stronger: these some have entitled The whining Hypocrites. Now therefore

In the second place, It is not onely weaknesse, but wea∣riness, that disposeth the soul for leaning effectually up∣on the Lord Jesus. The soule that is weake, and weary of its weaknesse: for indeed, as the strength that we spake of, was the Pharisees weakness; so the weakness we spake of, the Hypocrite makes it his strength. But now that

soule that is throughly solicitous to be rid of its weake∣nesse, which can onely be by wearinesse, is fit to sit down upon this well of living waters: for Jesus himselfe also be∣ing weary (according to the flesh) sat down upon the well, Joh. 4.6. Till Hagar was wearied, as well as weakened in the wildernesse of Beer-shebah, the Angel of the Lord ne∣ver opened her eyes, nor discovered unto her the Well of waters, Gen. 21. from the 14. to the 19. So until souls be weary of the wildernesse of sin, as well as weakned in it, & by it, the Lord wil never reveal unto them those refresh∣ments that are from the presence of the Lord, in the hand and dispensation of the Angell of his presence, the Lord Jesus.

This I shall first prove, and then open. I prove it thus,

1. The Lord is the fountaine of all spirituall refresh∣ments, so saith the Scripture, Act. 3.19. The times of re∣freshing come from the presence of the Lord. Now this foun∣taine which experience shews us to be a fountaine seal∣ed to the rest of the world, is a fountaine opened unto weary soules that they may drinke, and drink abundant∣ly, Jer. 31.25. I have saciated the weary soule; that is, gi∣ven them refreshment unto saciety, viz. as much as they need.

2. The Lord Christ is the Conduit pipe of this refreshment from God unto the soule: or rather thus, Christ keepes the lock and key of this fountaine, to him is committed the dispensation of these refreshments: and upon this ac∣count there are these three things that the scriptures minde me of.

First, That the Lord Christ hath particular instructi∣ons from the Father, that gave him his commission to dis∣pense refreshments peculiarly to such weary soules. Read, and be ravished with that expression (which is plainly the Lord Christs) Isai. 50.4. I cloath the heavens with blacknesse, (saith he) ver. 3. Therefore it must be under∣stood of Christ, not the Prophet. Now he goes on, ver. 4. The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I

should know how to speake a word in season (to weary souls) to him that is weary, he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine Eare to hear as the learned: As who should say, the Lord doth renew my instructions every morning, lest the weary should want seasonable refreshment any time of the day. It followes, that he gave his backe to the smiters, &c. which makes it cleare, that it is Christ that speaks of himselfe principally, though subordinately it was the Prophets commission, as it is ours in the Gospel, to speak in season a word to weary soules.

Secondly, In pursuance of these instructions, Christ directs his precious invitations to the weary; I mean his effectual invitations, though many be bidden to the sup∣per that never sit down at it, and many are called, but few are chosen; yet they that are truly called shall come, and be welcome when Christ invites them, Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour (as our late translation,) all ye that are weary, (as other translations) all ye that labour unto weariness, (as the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 imports, for the same word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is used, Joh. 4.6. and transla∣ted as you saw even now, Jesus being weary) and I will give you rest. This is Christs own invitation. Let weary soules make hast and come away, they need not bring their stooles with them that are thus bidden.

Thirdly, In pursuance of this invitation, Jesus Christ makes Application of his refreshments to the weary, Isai. 32.2. And a man (when he had spoken before of the Kingdome of Christ in the first verse) shall raign in righ∣teousness &c.) shall be as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land. Look how weary those Eastlanders (to whom he then speaks) ever were under the scorching heat, of the Sun in their torrid zone at noon-day: look how weary Jo∣nah was even of his life, when his Gourd that shadowed him was gone, so weary must souls be of their burning lusts, and the scorching flames of their awakened Conscien∣ces, before they will care for Jesus Christ: but when they are once thus weary, his refreshments shall not be far off

from them: Christ is a shadow of a great Rock, but his shadow doth ever stretch forth it selfe upon the wearie Land.

The point thus proved, I shall endeavour to open by shewing what we must be weary of, and how we may know whether we be thus weary or no.

1. What must we be thus weary of?

I answer, Of all that we have formerly leaned unto, be∣fore we can can leane unto Jesus Christ. More particular∣ly,

1. Of Satan, and of all his counsels and perswasions. This is the voyce of the daughter of Sion in her spiritual travaile, those wearying pangs of the second birth, Jer. 4.31. I have heard a voice, as of a woman in travaile, that bringeth forth her first childe; the voyce of the daughter of Sion, that bewaileth her selfe, that spreadeth her hands, say∣ing, Woe is me now, for my soule is wearyed because of mur∣derers. 'Twas a long time that she conversed with them, but now her soule is wearyed with them. Murtherers they are now, when the soul is in the throws of birth, it finds them so; before the pleasure Devil, and the profit-De∣vil w••re the best friends, the best companions: but now the soul is wearied with them all as so many murtherers. How weary of the company of Cutthroats would a man be, that should be surprised on the High-way, and in danger of his life, because of those that are with him, every step he goes? surely so weary of Satan and his company, must the soule be that comes to Christ? Or, how weary (if thou shouldst be taken by a Lyon of the Forrest, and kept for some space alive) wouldst thou be of the presence of the Lyon? and upon this, how glad wouldst thou be that some mighty man, some David should come and rescue thee? so weary of Satan must thou be, if ever thou woul∣dest come up from the wildernesse leaning upon the Be∣loved.

2ly. Of the World, and her projects and courses: these also we use to lean unto, and therefore must be weary of.

Wee must say of our selves, as God saith of Israel, Isai. 47.13. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy Counsels: thou hast laboured with them, even thy Merchants from thy youth, they shall wander every one to his quarter, none shall save thee, ver. 15. When you have been trading up and down in the world with the customes, or creature-vani∣ties of the world, whatever thy merchant from thine youth hath been, bid them farewel, let them goe to their quarters, expect not to be saved by any of them, come to be weary of them all, or else there is no true leaning upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, Of Selfe, and its glories and perfections. Some that have been converted, have been so proud of a fore-top, a lock, and garb, an attyre formerly, that they have thought they should never be weary of them, or of plea∣sing themselves in them: but now when they have come to draw neare to Christ, they have been soon weary of these, and most readily fling them from them. So Paul even of his selfe-righteousnesse, calling it dross and dung, away with it, Phil. 3. Thus Hab. 2.14. The people shall labour in the fire, and weary themselves for very vanitie. When God casts all our perfections into the furnace, and we come to see that there comes forth nothing but dross, we shall (as Paul) be weary of our selves, as well as wea∣ry our selves, because there is nothing in us but very va∣nity. And that Hab. 3.16. is very eminent; When I heard (saith he) my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice, (when God speaks conviction and terror to the soule) rottenness entred into my bones, and I trembled in my selfe, that I might rest in the day of trouble. Marke you, the onely way to have a sure support in a troublesome day, is to be as much weary and willing to go out of our selves, as a man would be that lodgeth in a very rotten house, when that winds and stormes are at the highest. Unless thou have trembling and weariness in thy selfe, thou wilt never have strength and rest in Jesus Christ.

Secondly, But how may we know, whether we be thus weary, yea, or no?

I answer, By our willing desisting from former labour, by our appetite after refreshments, by our glad acceptance of a convenient resting place.

First, By desisting from former labour, viz. the work that wearied us. You perceive that a man man growes weary, when he becomes solicitous to take up his Inne; and indeed, though all ceasing from labour at all times, be not an argument of tyredness in the worke, yet when ever thou art tyred in any worke, thy vote will be for surceasing from the labour; so though every leaning of sinne be not an argument of through-weariness, (because there may be as many occasions of a mans suspending the sin, as of the formers suspending the work that he delights in, though he be not weary of it) yet when the soul is thoroughly wea∣ried of sin, it will desist from sin: and if there be a ready and free sitting down from sinne, 'tis a good argument of the soules wearinesse. I think what Isaiah observes, concerning them that had wearied themselves with so often going down to Egypt, Isai. 30.7. Therefore I have cryed concerning this, their strength is to sit still: the s me may I say to poor sinners, that have wearied themselves in going down unto uncleanness, drunkenness, formality, &c. their strength is now to sit still; that is, to desist from their wearying trade of sinning. You know the language of a truly weary one is such as this, I will, I can go no far∣ther; and this is the language of a soule in conversion, Job 34.32. If I have done iniquity, I will do so no more: or in Jobs own language, when at length God had made him weary of his standing upon his own righteousn••sse, Job 40.5. Once have I spoken, but I will not answer; yea twice, but I will proceed no farther. There's the voyce of true wearinesse. Oh! that I could heare some drunkards of you this day crying out, so often have I been drunk, or so long have I been a drunkard, but I will proceed no farther; and so for every other sinne: Thus long have I

leaned upon my own performances, but I will doe so no more, &c.

Secondly, The weary will have a thorough-appetite unto refreshments. Thus Siserah was thirsty, Judg. 4.19. Being weary, ver. 21. Yea, Jesus himself being weary, asks for water of the Well, Jo. 4.7. So spiritually weary souls, will be spiritually hungry and thirsty souls. I have saciated the weary soul, Jer. 31. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, they shall be satisfied, Mat. 5.6. If thou be very much a thirst for the waters of life. 'tis an argument thou art weary of the Wilderness wayes of death. And if thou be thus thirsty, thou wilt have an heart to de∣sire, and a tongue to beg, yea, continue begging till thou get reliefe.

Thirdly, If thou be weary, thou wilt be glad to sit downe, and to close with a convenient resting-place; thus Jesus when he was weary, sat down on the Well, and thy soul, if it be weary, will be glad to sit downe on Jesus Christ.

My Brethren, if you were indeed weary, your soules would leap within you to heare the words that you have heard this day, concerning the refreshments to be had in the Lord Jesus.

But on the other hand, there are two things that too too plainly speak the most of the Children of men to be little weary of the Wilderness.

1. That they can come to the Inne where soules should lodge, and where there is as faire and convenient accom∣modations, as the whole heaven can afford for weary Spirits, and passe it by without turning in, that they may be refreshed. Ile never believe that man to be perfectly weary, who when he comes to a good Inne, and especially be solicited to alight, shall spur on, and say, no, let us ride an hour longer, or we will goe three or four miles farther. If an Ague take you by the way, and tyre you, oh! say you, When shall we get in sight of the Inne? Upon this account is the Lords challenge, Jer. 50.6. They have gone

from Mountain to Hill, they have forgotten their resting place. Ah! it's a slender signe that a Traveller is tho∣roughly weary, that passeth by, and forgets to take up his lodging at his resting place. Soules, you do but dally with God, if you pretend to be weary of the wayes of sinne and vanity; and yet can come by Jesus Christ in so many Sermons, &c. and forget to sit down upon him, or to lodge with him.

2ly. That they can pretend (as some do) to so much tyredness in the wayes of sinne to day, (whilst some strong convictions are upon them) that can be fresh a∣gaine for sinne to morrow. Ile never believe that hee was perfectly weary of any toyle, that can be so soone fresh for the same toyle. You are a little weary perhaps, that use to ride to London weekly, when you lye downe, but as fresh (you say) in the morning as at first setting out. Thus many an Hypocrite is a little weary of sinne for the present, but saith as the drunkard, Prov. 23.35. When I awake, I will seeke it yet again: and thus they re∣turn as the Dogge to his vomit, or the Swine that is wash't to the wallowing in the mire. You have heard, who they are that are fit to lean on Jesus Christ, the weak and the weary soules. Of both these I have spoken seve∣rally.

Notes

• 2. Weary souls as well as weak.
• The weak and weary of their weaknesse, are fit to be lean∣ing souls.
• First proved, after opened. Proofe. 1. In that God the fountaine is onely open to the weary.
• 2. In that the Lord Christ the dispenser of refresh∣ments
• 1. Hath his in∣structions pe∣culiarly to re∣spect the wea∣ry.
• 2ly. Makes in∣vitation to the weary.
• 3ly. Applyeth these refresh∣ments only to the weary.
• The opening in two Que∣ries.
• 1. What we must be wea∣ried of?

  1. Of Satan and his coun∣sels.
• 2ly. The world and her courses.
• 3ly. Selfe and all its perfecti¦ons.
• 2ly. How we may discern our w••ariness.
• 1. By desisting from our wea∣rying labour.
• 2ly. By our ap∣petite after spiritual re∣freshments.
• 3ly. By our willing close with Christ our resting-place.
• Two suspitions that few are weary.
• 1. That they can passe by Christ, and forget their resting-place.
• 2. That though they pretend tyrednesse through sinne one while, yet are they quick∣ly fresh for sin againe.