CHRIST MET A PH 0 R. XI. RD"cks afford a very fweet and refrelhing Shadow in hoc Countries, to weary Travellers. XII. Rocks are dangerous to fiumble at, or to fall on, efpecially to fall from. When Men get up almoO: to the Top of a high and mighty Rock,and fuddenly through want of Care fall down, fuch are broken to pieces, and perilh inevi– tably. M E T A P I-I 0 R. I. ROCKS, though they abide and !aft long, yet are not everlal1ing. F 0 UN TA I N. Book II. PARALLEL. XI. Chrifl: is as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land; he keeps off all the hot fcorchino– Beams ·ofthe Wrath of God, and Hell. "' See ./lpple-'l'ree. XII. Chrifl: is a Rock of Offence, many £tumble at him, and fall on him, and fame fall from him all whofe State is very f.1d: For when Men fall from rhis Rock, having gotten up very high by a fpeculatrve Knowledge, and Profeffion thev fall fucldenly ro the loweft Hell. ' ' D IS PAR IT Y. I. CHRIST abides for ever and ever, he beinofliled the Rock of Ages. ·tO " .?- II. Chri£t, the ipirirual Rock, is very fruitful, and every way exceeding profitable. I!. Rocks in many Refpecrs are barren, ufelefs, and unprofi:able Things, yield no Fruit; Seed that falls upon a Rock comes to no Maturity: Somefell upon a Rock, &c. Ill. Rocks are Parr of the coarIll. Chrift is of rhe higheft and beft of Beings, feft and groifeft Element; they are He that made and formed the Elements, and c-ave but Earth, condenfed and congealBeing to all Creatures and Things, who, tho~rcrh ed into a maify fenfelefs Lump. called a Rock, yet is the Lord from Heaven, a~d a quickening Spirit. I N F E R E N C E ~ r. TAKE heed Chrifl: be not unto you a Stumbling-Stone, and Rock of Offence.- 2. Let the Godly, who dwell in this Rock, fear no Evil; their Rock is not like our Rock. 3· Get into this Rock, be like the Dove, that makes her Neft befides the Hole's Mouth. 4· When you are down in the Valley, and the Waters fwell, and threaten to over– flow you, get with David by Faith and Prayer upon the Rock that is higher than you. 5· Prize the Rock; precious Water, Honey, and Oil flow from it. r. It is a rich Rock. 2. It is a living Rock. 3· It is an invincible Rock. 4- It is a feeding and fattenina Rock. 5· It is a Rock of Pearls and Diamonds. 6. It is an eternal Rock. 6. \-VJ1en you fee a great Rock, think of Chrifl:. 7. Build all your Hopes of Happinefs·upon it; let your Anchor be fo ca£t, as to take hold of this Rock. C H R I 8 T A F 0 U N T A I N. '!'bey have forfaken me, the Fountain of livi11g Waters, &c. Jer. ii. '3· In that Day there J!'all be a Fountain opened, &c. Zech. xiii. r. A MONG the many Things Chrifl: is compared to in the ;10ly Scripture, to fer forth his rranfcender.r Excellency, Beauty, Ufefulnefs, and l erfecr10ns, thts of a Foun– tain is none of rhe lta£t, it being a moft profitable Metaphor. METAPHOR. I. A Fountain is the Spring and Head of a River; from thence Waters iffue and ftream forth : It is the Rife and Beginning of Springs andWaters, Gen. vii. n. PARALLEL. I. FROM GOD, as from a Fountain, that great and glorious River of the Spirit flows; it proceeds out of the Throne of Cod, and the L~mb, Rev. xxii. r. Hence Chrift is compared to aFoun– tain, as well as the Father, Jer. ii. '3· He is the Spring and Rife of all fpirirual Joy and Confola– tion the Head of all the Waters of Lrfe: ·Wtth tbie is theWell (orFountain) ofLife, Pfal.xxxvi.g. - - I!. Clmft
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=