The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 52
Meditation LII. Ʋpon a Rock.
IT is the ſaying of the Moraliſts, That Accidents which befall Men have a double handle, by which they may be apprehended; So as that if they be rightly taken, they become not onelyonly leſs burthenſome and unpleaſant, but alſo of uſe and advantage to thoſe that ſuſtain them: like bitter Herbes that are by the skill of the Phyſician turned into a wholſome Medicine. The like may be ſaid of this preſent Subject, that it hath a double aſpect under which it may be repreſented to our Conſideration, each of which will ſuggeſt thoughts far differing one from another, and yet both have their riſe from Scripture. Doth not God bid us look unto the rock from whence we are hewen, and to the pit whence we are digged? And then what can it hold out to our view, but the miſery of our natural condition, our deadneſs, deformity, barrenneſs, and untractableneſs to any good? Is it not the complaint of the beſt, that their hearts are Stony and Rocky, and that they are apt to ſtand it out with God, and not to yield to the Work of his Grace? is there any evil that in their account is more inſuperable then a flinty heart? When did Moſes, who had faith to work many Miracles, moſt diſtruſt, but when he was to make the Rock to yield Water? though God commanded him to ſpeak onelyonly to it; yet, as deeming it inſufficient he ſmote it twice. And yet is it not the Promiſe of God to take away the ſtony heart, and to give an heart of fleſh? And is it not that which I beg, that God would mollifie both my Naturall and Acquired hardneſs, and preſerve me from Judiciall hardneſs; That ſo I may not reſiſt Pharoah. like his Meſſages, his Miracles, his Judgments, and his Mercies, and grow worſe in ſtead of being better. I would that God might be a Rock to me; but I would be as Wax unto him, that ſo I might be apt to receive Divine Impreſſions from him. It is my ſin to be as a Rock to God, unflexible and ſooner Broken then Bent; But it is my unſpeakable comfort to think that God will be a Rock to me, who ſtand in a continual need of his aide and power, to uphold me, who, if I be not built upon him, cannot ſubſiſt; and if I be not hid in him can have no ſalvation. I cannot therefore but give ſome ſcope and line to my thoughts, that I may the better take in the honey and ſweetneſs that drops from this Metaphoricall Name of God, who is often ſtiled in Scripture, the Rock of Iſrael; the Rock of Ages; the Rock of Salvation. But here I muſt uſe the help of the Schooles, who rightly informe us, that when any thing of the Creature is applyed to God, it muſt be, via remotionis, by way of remotion; and via eminentiae, by way of tranſcendent eminency.
Firſt, by way of remotion: All defects and blemiſhes whatſoever are not in the leaſt to be attributed unto him who is abſolutely perfect; as Heraulds ſay of Bearings, the reſemblance muſt be taken from the beſt of their properties, and not from the worſt. Is a Rock deformed, and of unequall parts? God is the firſt of Beauties, as well as of Beings, and all his attributes are equally infinite; his Juſtice is of as large extent as his Mercy; and his Wiſdom as his Power. Is a Rock unſenſible of the ſtraits of thoſe that fly unto it for ſuccour? ſo is not God, who is both a Rock and a Father of Mercies: Who can read the expreſſions of his ten…erneſs, and not be affected? How ſhall I give thee up Ephraim? how ſhall I deliver thee Iſrael? how ſhall I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
Is the ſtrength of a Rock intranſient, and fixed in it ſelf, not communicating its ver…ue to what lies upon it? So is not the ſtrength of Iſrael, who is a living, and not a dead Rock, and gives both life and power to thoſe that are united to him. I can do all things (ſaith holy Paul) through Chriſt ſtrengthning me. Is a Rock Barren, and can yield no food, though it afford ſhelter; So is not God, who is a full ſtore-houſe, as well as a free refuge; a Sun as well as a Shield.
Secondly, By way of Eminency, all perfections whatſoever, either for degree or kind, which put a worth or value upon the Creature, are to be found inſinitely more in God. Is a Rock ſtrong, and daſhing in pieces all reſiſtance made againſt it? God is incomparably more: He (ſaith Job) is wiſe in heart, and mighty in ſtrength, who hath hardened himſelf againſt him and proſpered? Is a Rock durable, and not ſubject to change, by the many revolutions of Ages that paſs over it? God is far more immutable, his yeares are throughout all Generations: he is the ſame yeſeerday, and to day, and for ever: In the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting ſtrength. Is the ſhadow of a great Rock deſirable in a weary Land, to bear off the ſcorchings of the Sun, and to revive the fainting Traveller? what a covert and hiding place then is God, againſt all ſtormes, and heates whatſoever, raiſed either by the rage of Men, or by the Eſtuations of a troubled Conſcience, and fomented by the Malice of Satan? Is a Rock of an awfull aſpect for its height, and apt to work upon the head of him that looks down from the top of it? How great then is God whoſe glory is above the Heavens? whoſe faithfulneſs reacheth unto the Cloudes, whoſe righteouſneſs is like the great Mountaines, and whoſe Judgments are a great deep? And now methinks I may ſay to my Soul, as David did unto his, Why art thou caſt down O my Soul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? Cannot God keep him in perfect peace, whoſe Minde is ſtayed on him? is not he a very preſent help in the times of trouble? what evil can befall me, under which his everlaſting Armes cannot ſupport me? What Seas of Tryalls can overwhelm when God ſhall ſet me upon a Rock that is higher than I? As I my ſelf cannot climbe it, ſo neither can my Enemies power ever reach it. A Believer can onelyonly be wounded by his own feares; as the Diamond is onelyonly cut by its own duſt. Peter ſunk not till his Faith failed him: if his confidence had riſen, as the Winde and Billowes did, he would have greatly honoured his Lord, as his Rock, upon whom he was built, and have been highly commended by him, as he was for the good Confeſſion he made of him.
But, O bleſſed Saviour, if Peter cry out, Save Maſter I periſh, how much more ſhall I, who fall far ſhort of his little Faith? and am apt to fear, not onelyonly in the deep Seas, but in the ſhallow Brookes: not onelyonly when the Waves roar, but when the petty Streames murmur? Do thou therefore, holy Lord, teach me to know what a Rock thou art, and cauſe all thy glory to paſs before me, as thou didſt before Moſes, that ſo I may ſee every attribute of thine, as ſo many Clefts in the Rock, to which I may run in time of danger, and rejoyce to find how I am compaſſed about, with thy power, wiſdome, faithfulneſs, and goodneſs, from whence more ſure comfort will ariſe, than if a numerous hoſt of Angells ſhould pitch their Tents round about me.