A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 18
Christ a Rock.
2 Sam. 23.3.
The Rock of Israel spake to me, &c.
Mat. 16.18.
Upon this Rock will I build my Church.
1 Cor. 10.4.
And that Rock was Christ.
THe Lord Jesus is compared to a Rock.
Metaphor.
I. A Rock is a firm and an immoveable thing, good for a Foundation: I will liken him unto a Man that built his House upon a Rock, Luk 6.47. Mat. 7.24.&c. That which is built upon a Rock, stands sure in a tempestuous and stormy Season: The Rain descended, the Floods came, and the Winds blew, and beat upon the House, and it fell not.
II. Rocks in ancient Times were made use of for Habitations; People dwelt in them, as well as built upon them;Isa. 22.16. Isa. 42.16. Jer. 48.28. they hewed out Houses or Habitations in Rocks.
III. A Rock is Locus excelsus, an high Place; tho they have their Root low and deep, yet their Tops being high and soaring, are lifted far above the Surface of the Earth.
IV. Rocks being high, or eminent Places for Height, they are exceeding useful to take pleasant Prospects; from hence one may see afar off:Num. 23.9 From the Tops of the Rocks I see him, saith Balaam.
V. Rocks are strong, and were made use of for Defence; they are Cannon-proof; no Fortifications like some Rocks; they are impregnable:1 Sam. 13.6. David for Security came into a Rock.
VI. Rocks are durable, permanent and lasting; there is no removing a Rock; they grow not weak with Age, but continue the same from one Generation to another.
VII. Rocks yield Honey: Out of the Rock with Honey would I have satisfied them;Psal. 81.16 and elsewhere 'tis said, He gave them Honey out of the Rock.
VIII. Rocks yield the purest Water, most pleasant Springs proceed from them. No Water, says the Naturalist, is so clear, as that which comes percolated through Rocks.
IX. Precious Stones and Jewels are but as it were the Sperm, the Spawn, or (as Philosophers would have them) the Sweat of Rocks. All rich Mines of Gold and Silver (as is evident from that in Job) are in and among Rocks.
X. Rocks yield Oil: The Rocks poured me out Rivers of Oil, Job 29.6.saith Job. And in another place 'tis said, God made Israel to suck Honey out of the Stone, Deut. 32.13.and Oil out of the hard Rock.
XI. Rocks afford a very sweet and refreshing Shadow in hot Countries, to weary Travellers.
XII. Rocks are dangerous to stumble at, or to fall on, especially, to fall from. When Men get up almost to the Top of a high and mighty Rock, and suddenly through want of care fall down, such are broken to pieces, and perish inevitably.
Parallel.
I. THe Lord Christ is a firm and sure Foundation: VponUpon this Rock will I build my Church, &c. Behold, Mat. 16.I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone. — Another Foundation can no Man lay. 1 Cor.The Church being built upon Christ, the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. Whosoever lays the Stress and Structure of his Salvation upon this Foundation, the Powers of Hell, and Rage of Devils, shall never be able to subvert and destroy. This made the Apostle to break forth in that holy Triumph, Rom. 8.Rom. 8.36
II. God in Christ is a Believer's spiritual Habitation; they, like the Dove,Psal. 90.1. & 91.9. 1 Joh 4. make their Nest in the Clifts of the Rock. He that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God.
See Habitation, Dove, &c.
III. Christ, our Rock, is high in respect of the Dignity of his Person; He is the high God. He was lower than Men in the state of his Humiliation, yet far higher and more glorious than the Angels. He is high in respect of his Dwelling-place, being exalted far above all Heavens; high in respect of his Power and Sovereignty, having absolute Dominion over Devils, Angels, and Men.
IV. He that by Faith ascends upon the Top of this spiritual Rock, may take a better Prospect and Survey of Heaven, than Moses could of Canaan, when he stood upon the Top of Pisgah. He sees most of God, and the Glory of the other World, that stands upon the Rock Christ.
V. God in Christ is the Godly Man's Refuge. He that makes God his Defence, or flies to Christ for Refuge, needs not fear Devils, nor wicked Men,Psal. 89.26 & 94.22. nor what all the Powers of Hell can do unto him.
See Strong-Tower.
VI. The Lord Jesus hath the Stability of a Rock in him. He is the Rock of Ages; the same yesterday, to day, and for ever; He grows not weak; as his Years, so his Strength decays not.
VII. All sweet Peace and Comfort proceed from the Rock Christ: 2 Pet. 1.4. Psal. 19 10His Promises, are sweeter than Honey, or the Honey-Comb.
VIII. That celestial Stream, Spring, and River of Comfort, viz. the Spirit, proceeds from the Throne of God,Rev. 22.1. and the Lamb: From this Rock, saith a worthy Writer, the clear and crystalline Streams of living Water bubble forth.
IX. In Christ are hidden all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg, all the Graces of the Spirit, (which are compared to, but far more excellent than Gold, Pearl, or precious Stones) are only to be found in this spiritual Rock.
X. Christ affords us Store of precious Oil; the Spirit is so called, with which the Godly are all more or less anointed: We have received an Ʋnction from the Holy One. No Oil like that which comes from this Rock.
XI. Christ is as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land; He keeps off all the hot scorching Beams of the Wrath of God, and Hell.
See Apple-Tree.
XII. Christ is a Rock of Offence, many stumble at him, and fall on him, and some fall from him, whose State of all is very sad: For when Men fall from this Rock, having gotten up very high by a speculative Knowledg and Profession, they fall suddenly to the lowest Hell.
Metaphor.
I. ROcks, tho they abide and last long, yet are not everlasting.
II. Rocks in many respects are barren, useless, and unprofitable things, yield no Fruit; Seed that falls upon a Rock comes to no maturity: Some fell upon a Rock, &c.
III. Rocks are part of the coursest and grossest Element; they are but Earth, condensed and congealed into a massy senseless Lump.
Disparity.
I. CHrist abides for ever and ever, he being stiled the Rock of Ages.
II. Christ, the spiritual Rock, is very fruitful, and every way exceeding profitable.
III. Christ is of the highest and best of Beings, He that made and formed the Elements, and gave being to all Creatures and Things, who, tho called a Rock, yet is the Lord from Heaven, and a quickning Spirit.
Inferences.
1. TAke heed Christ 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 Nest besides the Holes Mouth.
4. When you are down in the Valley, and the Waters swell, and threaten to overflow 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. 1. 'Tis a rich Rock. 2. 'Tis a living Rock. 3. 'Tis an invincible Rock. 4. 'Tis a feeding and fattening Rock. 5. 'Tis a Rock of Pearls and Diamonds. 6. 'Tis an eternal Rock.
6. When you see a great Rock, think of Christ.
7. Build all your Hopes of Happiness upon it; let your Anchor be so cast, as to take hold of this Rock.