Rocks Improved, Part 4
Meditations of the fourth Claſſe, ſampling Rockes, and Rockie Hearts, with ungodly Men, together.
YEt more, me thinkes Rockes repreſent to all
Mans Rockie Heart, and Nature, ſince the fall,
In ſome Reſpects, wherein they well agree
With Stony Hearts; from which God make us free.
1.
Rockes are exceeding lJer. 5. 3.Shameleſſe, Impudent,
Nought will them daunt, or cauſe for to relents
So men of Stony Hearts, have mJer. 3. 3. c. 5. 3. c. 8. 12. Ezech. 2. 4. c. 3. 7.Browes of S…,
Faces of Rocke, which no bluſh, ſhame can feele.
No ſhamefull Sinne, Convictions, or Diſgrace
Will daunt, or cauſe them once to hide the Face.
It is their nPhil. 3. 19.glory to be voyd of ſhame,
And vaunt of that which doth them moſt defame.
2.
Rockes ſhew no mercy, but to oJoſh. 10. 10. Judg. 9. 53. 54. Zech. 12. 3. Luk. 13. 4. 2 Chron. 25. 12.peeces mall,
Breake, bruiſe, or hurt, all thoſe on whom they fall.
So men of Rockie hearts are p2 King. 8: 12. 13. Gen. 5. 7. Pſal. 71. 4. Prov. 12. 10. Jer. 6. 23. c. 50. 42. Pſal. 27. 12. Ezech. 34. 4.mercileſſe,
And breake, bruiſe, teare, cruſh, all they doe oppreſſe.
No Cries, Parts, Vertues, Merits can aſſwage
Their cruell Projects, nor divert their Rage.
O let me rather fall into the Pawes
Of qProv. 17. 12.Beares or Lyons, than an hard Hearts James.
3.
Rocks make thoſe rIſa. 47. 2.Milſtones which doe grinde, bruiſe, teare
The Corne we uſe, to make us Bread, or Beere:
So men of Rockie Hearts ſtill ſerve to sExod 1. 12. c. 4. Iſa. 3. 15.grinde,
Preſſe, bruiſe Gods Choſen, till they be refinde
From all their Huskes of ſinne, and made meete Food
For Gods ſweete Pallate, to their greateſt Good.
4.
Some Rockes burnt in the Fornace harder grow;
And nought but tDeut. 8. 9. Job 28. 2.St…ele, or Iron from them flow:
Which ſerves to breake, hew, poliſh, fit, and ſquare
Rude Rockes and Stones, and Stately piles to reare:
Gods fery Fornace Rockie Hearts makes more
vIſa. 1. 5. 6. 2 Chro. 28. 22. 23.Hard, and obdurate than they were before;
Yea all its ſcorching Heate the which they feele,
Serves but to turne them into harder Steele,
Or Iron; for to breake, hew, poliſh, pare
The Rockes and Stones which God layes in the rare
And choifeſt Buildings of his Church: whoſe walls
Are xExod. 1. 12. c. 4.built, not ras'd, with theſe hard Iron Malls.
And Tooles of Steele, though they no yAct. 8. 21.Part nor ſhare
Have in the Temples which they helpe to reare.
5.
The moſt miſchievous Inſtruments of war
Wounds, Bloodſhed, firſt from zJob 28. 2. Deut. 8. 9.Rockes extracted ar;
As Canons, Muſquets, Bullets, Sword, Bills, Speares
With other weapons, where with Man kills, teares,
Torments, Maimes, Stabs his Brother in deſpite,
As if he did in nought but Blood delight:
So from Mens Stony aMat: 15. 19. Gen. 6. 5. c. 8. 21. c. 27. 41.Hearts firſt flow and ſpring
All Miſchiefes, Murders, Warres, Sinnes, each ill thing:
Theſe were the Artiſts which did firſt invent
Each bloody, murth'ring, warlike Inſtrument;
The Shops in which they forged were, the Armes
That weild them ſtill, & work a world of Harmes.
O curſed Hearts of Rocke from whence doe flow
All Evills, Miſchiefes, woes we heare, ſee, know!
Lord free and ever keepe us from ſuch Hearts,
Which are the Cauſe of all our Sinnes, Ills, Smarts.
6.
Rocker make thoſe in them bObad. 3. 4. Jer. 21. 13. 14. c. 49. 16.careleſſe, Proud, Secure
From feare of Danger: Stony Hearts are ſure
To make all cIſ. 47. 7. 89. 10. 11. c. 5. 19.ſuch, in whom they a…e, and ſnare
Them in great Miſchieſes ere they be aware.
Rockes are dJob …1. 24 J…r 23. 29. Nah. 1. 6. …. 1. 3.exceeding Hard; and ſooner broke
Than ſquar'd or poliſht with the Axes ſtroke:
Mens Stony Hearts ſo hard and flinty are,
That all Gods A…es, Judgements e…. 1… 2 Chron. 2…. 2…. Exod. 5 to 13. I…r. 5. 3. c 2. 30. Iſa.. 9. 30 Amo. 4. 6. to 1… Rom. 2. 4. 5.cannot ſquare
Them to his Rules, nor cauſe them to amend,
And ſooner breake than rent, or make them bend.
He who in hardeſt fExo. 31. 1…. c 34. 1. 4. 29.Stones of old impreſt
His Sacred Lawes, upon a Rockie Breſt
Cannot ingrave them: Lord what Hearts of Flint
Have Men, whereon thy Lawes can make no Print!
Nought but Childs blood theſe gFaech. 11. 19 c. 36. 26. Jer. 32 39.Adamants can thur
And ſquare then to the Models if Gods Law
8.
No heate of Sunne or Fornace Rockes will melt,
But harden rather, and their Heat's not felt:
Gods hIſa. 26 1…. 1…. c. 1. …. c. 9. 3…. Jer. 5. 3 2 Chro. 36 14. 15 16. Jer. 25. 3. to 15 c. 29. 1…. c. 32. 33. A…. 4. 6. to 13. Hoſ. …. …. 5. Rom. 2. 4. 5.Sun-ſhine Mercies, and his ſweeteſt Grace;
His fiery Fornace, and his frowning fa…e,
Mens Rockie Hearts will neither warme, relent,
Affect, melt, change, nor more them to repent.
9.
Moſt Rock, … lEzech. …6. 4 Amos. 6. 12.…, yeelding nought for Back
Or Belly, that Mankinde or Beaſts doe lack:
Mens kEzech. 11. 19 Math. 13. 5. 6. 20. 21. Mar. 4. 5. Luke 8. 6.St…ni… Heart… as Barren: no good Thing,
No Fruites of Grace, Faith, V… in it ….
10.
Thornes, Thiſtles, lJudg. 8. 7. 16.Brambles, Weedes of Rocke of… grow;
All Stony Hearts with theſe, ſtill mHeb. 6. 8. Rom. 1. 24 to 22. c. 2. 4. 5.over-flow;
Fruitefull in nothing, but thoſe … of vice,
And ſinne, which barre them out of Paradiſe.
11.
Rockes Deafe and Senceleſſe are of good, and ill:
Hard nEpheſ. 4. 18. 19. 1 Tim. 4. 2. Proverb. 23. 35. Deut. 29 2. 3. 4. Iſa. 6. 9. 10. 2 Chron. 36. 15. 16.Hearts are ſo, and neither can, doe, will,
Gods Word, Law, Workes regard, Heare, underſtand;
Nor, feare his angry; kiſſe, his ſoothing hand.
12.
The fiereeſt Stormes, oMat. 7. 25. 26.Winds, Waves, on Rockes doe daſh:
Gods pDeut. 28. 15. to 68. 1. Sam. 5 7. 2. Chron. 21. 19. Ezech. 14. 21. Mich: 2. 10. Heb. 10. 29.Soreſt Judgements Stonie Hearts doe laſh:
And though they ſeldome feele Gods ſtroke or Curſe;
This nothing Mends, but qEpheſ. 4. 18. 19. Rom. 2. 5.makes their Caſe farre worſe.
13.
The pleaſant Showres, Drops, Dewes that on Rockes light.
Make them not fruitfull, nor in better plight:
But glide away forthwith, not ſinking downe
To make them Mellow, good, or ſinne to drowne:
So Rockie rHeb. 6. 7. 8. c. 3. 13. 8. Mat. 13. 5. 6. Iſa. 28. 10. 13. 2 Chro. 36. 15. 16 Jer. 23. 34. c. 35. 15.Hearty, though they receive the raine,
And frequent ſlowres of God, bleſt Word; remaine
Still Barren, Hard, and Senceleſſe; nought will ſtay
That drops upon them, but all ſlides away
That's Good or Sacred; onelyonly Flouds of sJoh 15. 16.ſinne,
Sinke downe with ſpeede, and freely enter in.
14.
None craggie tLuk. 8. 6. 13. Amos. 6. 12.Rockes will Till, Plough, Plant, or Saw;
Their Labours loſt who doe it, nought will grow.
Obdurate Hearts few uſe to Plough or Till
With Godly Precepts, Counſells; ſith they ſtill
v2 Chron. 36. 15. 16. Jer. 13. 3. 4. Mar. 7. 6. Prov. 9. 7. 8.Neglect, deride, contemne them; ſo at all
The ſeede is loſt which on the Rockes doth fall.
15.
Rockes blunt, and hurt the edge of Tooles that ſmite,
Or ſquare them for good uſes; yea in ſpite
Their Chips and Shivers daſh againſt the Eyes,
Face, Shins of thoſe that hew them. Loe the guiſe
Of Rockie Hearts, which xPro. 9. 7. 8. Mat. 7. 6. Prov. 15. 12. 1 King. 13. 4. c. 18. 17. 18. 2 Chron. 24. 19. 20. 21. 22. c. 36. 15. 16. Mat. 23. 37. Gal. 4. 16.hurt and malice thoſe
Who checke their ſinnes, and hate them as their Foes.
Yea, let their Paſtors in their Miniſtry
But touch their Sores, into their Face they flye:
So zealous are they for thoſe Sinnes, which end
In hell, when they will not Gods cauſe defend.
O that our zeale for God were halfe ſo much
As for our darling Crimes, when Men them touch:
Then would we let them yPſal 141. 5. Pſal. 139. 23. 24. Prov. 8. 9. c. 29. 25.ſtrike, wound, lance, yea Slay
Our deareſt Sinnes; and thanke, not them gaine-ſay.
16.
Rockes Cold and Heavie are, and zJob. 18. 4.never move
Out of their Places; nor mount up above
Unleſſe perforce; and then they ever aRev. 18. 21. Jer. 51. 63. 64. Neh. 9. 11. Exod. 15. 5. 10 Matth. 18. 6. Mark. 9. 42. Luk. 17. 2.bend
Downe to the Center; whence they did aſcend
So bRom. 2. 4. 5. c. 1. 23. to 32. Ephe. 4. 18. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 10. 21. 22.Rockie Hearts are Cold, and lumpiſh ſtill
To all that good is; prone to nought but Ill:
No Love, Heate, zeale to God within them flame;
His Cauſe they'le not ſtir in for Love, nor Shame:
Their Thoughts, Minds, Cares are fixt on cPhil. 3. 18. 19.things below,
And never upwards Soare to view, mind, know
The things above; unleſſe ſome dIſa. 26. 11. 16.ſodaine Feare
Of Death, Hell, Danger up them ſcrue or reare
Againſt their Wills: which paſt, to Earth they hie
With greater poyſe, and there ſtill groveling lie.
17.
Rockes eHab. 2. 19.Dumbe and ſilent are: So Hearts of Stone
For good Diſcourſe have neither Tongue, nor Tone
Sitting ſtill fIſa. 56. 10. Job. 15. 3.Mute like ſtones without voyce, ſence,
When any fall to godly Conference.
18.
Rockes gEzech. 26. 4.bare and naked are; whence all may ſpie
Their Nakedneſſe, and groſſe Deformitie.
All Stony Hearts, are hEzech. 16. 3. to 15. Rev. 17. 18.naked, poore, and bare;
Their Bareneſſe, vileneſſe, wants expoſed are
To all Mens view; till Chriſts rich Robes of Grace
Cloath or Adorne them, and theſe wants deface.
19.
Rockes Liveleſſe are; and Stony Hearts are iMat. 8. 22. Joh. 5. 25. 19. Epheſ. 2. 1. 5. c. 5. 14.Dead;
No life of Grace was ever in them bred:
Yea, all who now draw breath, muſt ſhortly k…. …. 9. 27. Pſ… …9. 48.dye,
(Who knowes how ſoone) and dead as Rockes ſhall lye.
20.
Rockes till by force they broken be, and ſlit,
l2 Chron. 2. 2. 18. 1 King. 5. 17. c. 7. 9. 10. 12.Hewd, poliſht, for all Buildings are unfit:
Thus Rockie Hearts till God them mEzech. 36. 26. Joel 2. 13. Hoſea 6. 5.rent, hew, ſquare;
To build his Houſe, Church, Temple, uſeleſſe are.
21.
Rockes make Men nIſa. 8. 14.fall and ſtumble, to their Paine
And Hurt: That oRom. 2. 5. Eph. 4. 18. 19.Rockie Hearts doe thus, tis plaine;
Since all our Slips, Falls, Bruiſes, Sinnes proceede
From Stony Hearts, which make us take no heede.
22.
Rockes pAct. 27. 29.Shipwracke thoſe, who doe too neare them ſayle;
And ſunken Rockes to ſplit Ships moſt prevaile:
Thus Rockie Hearts unleſſe we from them fly
Will qRom. 2. 4. 5. Epheſ. 4. 18. 19. 1 Tim. 6. 9.wracke us all; but yet eſpecially
When neither Felt, nor Seene: for then we run
With full-ſaile on them, and are quite undone.
23.
Rockes feele no Burthens, weights that on them lie;
So Rockie Hearts doe never rEpheſ. 4. 18. 19.ſigh, groane, cry
Ʋnder the Weights and Burthens of their Crimes,
(Though sPſal. 38. 4. Matth. 11. 28. Joh 6. 3.heavier than the Sands a thouſand times)
And why? becauſe they never feele their poyſe
Till it them ſinke to Hell, and quite deſtroyes.
24.
Not all the Men on Earth, with all their Art
Can make one Rock, or Stone; much leſſe an Heart;
But onelyonly tJoh 1. 3God himſelfe: yet Men alone
Are the vPſal 95. 8. Exod 8. 15.Creators of all Hearts of Stone,
Not God: O wonder, that Men ſhould create
Nought but Hard Rockie Hearts which God doth hate:
Such Hearts can none elſe but Men, Fathers call,
Which ſinke ſtill downewards, till to Hell they fall.
25.
O then when ever we a Rocke ſhall ſee,
Let theſe thoughts to our Mindes recalled be:
Yea, ponder what Old xEzech. 11. 19. c. 36. 2…. Pſal. 51. 10. 17.Rockie Hearts we have
By Sinne and Nature: then New, ſoft Hearts crave,
With fervent Prayers, Grones, Sighes, Teares; ſo we
Our Hearts of Rocke, to fleſh transform'd ſhall ſee.
And if we finde, feele, know by ſignes moſt ſure
Our hearts thus changed, and made ſoft, and pure;
Let us forever in Word, Deede, Life, Thought,
Extoll and (y) praiſe Him who this Change hath wrought;
Keeping a narrow zAct. 2. 40. 47. Eph. 3. 20. 21.watch both night and day,
Over our cheating Hearts; for feare leſt the:
Should by degrees freeze, or grow aHeb. 3. 13. c. 12. 1…. Pro. 4. 22.hard againe,
Yea turne to Rockes, and ſo for aye remaine.
26.
Sweete Jeſus bEzech. 11. 19. c. 36. 26.take our Stony Hearts away,
And give us hearts of fleſh, we humbly pray;
And of all other Plagues, from us avert
This as the greateſt, an obdurate Heart.
And ſince of all our Parts Thou doſt require,
Seeke, prize our cProv. 23. 25.Hearts moſt; grant us we deſire
Such broken, contrite tender Hearts, as may
Delight Thee moſt; and never from Thee ſtray.
Such Hearts Thou onelyonly canſt dPſal. 51. 10. 17.create, not we;
Make our Hearts ſuch; then happy ſhall we be.