[355]. Eph. vi 16. βελη—πεπυρωμηνα.
And indeed, what are all uneasy Sensations, but the Venom of the old Serpent? thence, that long Train of Complaints and Groans. Remember from whence thou art fallen, is the Language of every Calamity, but no calamitous Impression so terrible, as that which alarms the Mind about the awful Futurity. Of Sin it is said, that at last, it will bite like a Serpent, and sting like an Adder[[356]].
[356]. Prov. xxiii. 32.
What fill’d Adam’s Mind with Horror and Consternation? What made him run with wild Confusion among the Trees to hide himself? What was he afraid of? He, who was Lord of the Earth, and Image of the Almighty? Was not he in Paradise, the Garden of God; whence then this sudden and mighty Panick? What produced this great and astonishing Change in one who had a friendly Intercourse with God a little before? Oh! ’twas Guilt, Guilt, Guilt. A Consciousness of his iniquitous Compliance with the Serpent. What were those anxious disquieting Thoughts that kindled the Fire in his Breast, but the venemous, fiery Darts of Satan?
JUDAS is another Example; a Person highly honour’d by Christ, who made him his Ambassador Extraordinary to the House of Israel, and Treasurer of his House and Privy Counsellor, on a sudden falls into Extremity of Anguish; and why? Guilt, Guilt ... struck with Horror of Mind for the Effusion of innocent Blood; was arraign’d, and sentenced by his own Conscience, and became his own Executioner: His Guilt was the Wound that bled within, and what Words can describe the Agony that made that wretched Man throw himself into Hell for Ease.
SECT. IV.
This gloomy Occurrence fell out in the last Year of their Pilgrimage. The Wilderness thro’ which they had travelled abounded with these venemous Creatures, but were under the Restraint of a kind Providence, and not suffer’d to distress the Camp of Israel till now. Deut. viii. 15. Who led thee through the great Wilderness, wherein were fiery Serpents and Scorpions.
Thus, for their repeated Provocations, they were pursued by divine Vengeance to the very Borders of Canaan.
Just as they were congratulating one another upon the glorious Prospect before them, an Army of venemous Serpents invade their Camp, and made a terrible Slaughter among them. Little did our first Parents suspect a Serpent in Paradise, nor Israel such a Visit from fiery Serpents upon the Confines of the holy Land, the western Border of Paradise.
This Plague in the Camp, was the last Punishment inflicted upon the House of Israel in the Wilderness. When they came out of Egypt, it appeared they were about six hundred thousand Men, besides Women and Children, and a mixt Multitude: Of that mighty Number, none but two, viz. Josua and Caleb enter’d into the promised Land; the rest, for their Unbelief and reiterated Offences, perish’d by the way[[357]].