Book IV. HEART oF A WICKED MAN coMPAltED To A ROCK. Soi VI. He is a poor Man that is in the Condition we have mentioned, and tha~ which acmravares his Poverty is this, he is not like eVer to be in a Condition to help himfelt~ n~~ to find a Friend or Brother to help him: A Man may be To-day miferable, helplefs, and triendlefs, but in a little Time pof!ibly it may be better with him, and he may fllpply his own Necef!ities, or get fome to relieve him. Now ungodly Men are in the State you have heard , and are never like to be in a better Condition, by any Means of their own, or by any Friend of theirs, and therefore poor and miferable. VII. He is a poor Man that is in the Condition above-mentioned, and not only fo, but is lick, wounded, and in Prifon, &c. Such fpirirually is the State of all wicked Men, viz . lick, wounded, blir.d, naked, and in Prifon, under the Power of Sin and Satan, and therefore poor and miferable, Ifa. i. 5· VIII. Some Mens great and miferable Poverty has come upon them, partly by the Pride, abominable Luft, and Extravagancy of their Parents, and partly by their own ldlenef.s, Luft, and Prodigality : Even fo the fpiritual Want and Poverty of Men was in part brought upon them by the Sins of our firft Parents, and partly by their own aftual Sins. This is the State of unregenerated Perfons, they are all even thus poor and miferable: And happy are they who fee this to be their Condition ; B11fed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heave~~, j\lfatt. v. 3· Thofe who fee their own Wants, Poverty, and Mifery., /hall out of the Fulnefs of J efus Chrift be fupplied with whatfoever they need: For though Man naturally be (o poor, that he hath_no– thin"', can do nothing, and hath no earthly Friend or Brother that can do any Thin"' for him ; and belides, he owes ten thoufand Talents, and is worth no regard nor pity~ yet the eternal God hath found out a Way, for the Manifeftacion of his own glorious Grace and Bounty, to enrich him, and make him happy for ever. He that was rich huame poor, that we thYough his Poverty might be made rich. D I S iP A R f T Y. pooR Men are full of Complaints, they commonly bewail their Poverty, and would gladly have all their Wants fupplied, and be made rich, if they knew but which Vvay it might be done: But wicked Men, though th'y are poor, fo poor and miferable as hath been /hewn, yet they are contented, being wofully blinded by the Devil, &c. So that though they are daily told how they may be m•de rich, yet they flight all Ad– vice and Counfel, and ftubbornly refufe the Riches of Grace and Glory. THE HEART OF A WICKED MAN COM.PARED T0 A ROCK. And like a Hammer that breaks the Rock in Pieces, Jer. xxiii. 29. And 1will take away thejlony Heart, &c. Ezek. xi. ' 9· And Jome fell upon a Rock, &c. Luke viii. 6. 'Ihey made their Hearts as an Adamant-Stone, Zecb. vii. I 2. NOTE, The Hear!s of Sinners are like Rocks; or, wicked Men have ftony and rocky Hearts. P A R A L L E L ~ I. A Rock is a barren and fruitlefs Place; what will grow upoA a Rock ? So the Hearts of wicked Men are barren and unfruitful to God; they bring forth no fpiritual Fruit to him. II. Rain cannot enrer nor foak into a Rock, bm as it falls, fo it glides off, and runs away: So the fpiritual Rain of Heaven, viz. God's VVord, though it falls never fo powerfully upon ungodly Men, it will not enter into their Hearts: il-'.(y Word bath no place in you, faith Chrift, &c. Good DoClrine, and heavenly Counfel glides off of thefe fpi– ntual Rocks, like Rain from a Rock, or high Mountain. Ill. Rocks and Stones are naturally rough, and unfit for Ufe, until they ate hewed and fquared, &c. So the Hearts of wicked Men are naturally rough, and unfit for any fpiritual Ufe, until they are hewed by the Ax and Hammer of the Word: I have hewed them by the P,·ophets, Hof vi. 5· IV. A little Thing will not break a hard Scone, or a flinty Rock, &c Matter will not break a ftony or rocky-hearted Sinner ; God llrikes often, So a little and ftrikes hard,
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