Rocks Improved, Part 5 – Conclusion
Miſcellanie Meditations of the fifth Kinde.
TO winde up all; Rockes to our Mindes preſent
Some other uſefull Thoughts, with great content.
1.
When we behold ſome e2 Chro. 2. & 3. 1 King. 5. 17. 18. c. 6. 7. 8. c. …. 3. 10. 11 2 King. 12. 12. c. 32 6.Stones with Tooles and Barres
Dig'd out of Rockes, and taken from the Quarres;
To build ſome Stately Church; whiles others ſtay
Still there, unwrought; though quite as good as they:
It mindes us of that common Rocke wherein
Mankinde corrupted lay, through Adams Sinne:
From whence God by fPſal 144. 12. Iſa. 14. 11. 12. c. 51. 1. Rom. 9. 11. to 31. c. 8. 29. 30. c. 11. 5. 6. 7. Epheſ. 1. 4. 5. 11. c. 2. 4. to 22 c. Pet. 2. 4. 5. 6 7. 2 Theſ. 2. 13. Mat. 24. 40. 4. c. 20. 16. Mal. 1. 2. 3. Ex. 33. 19. Jet. 18. 6. 2 Tim. 2. 9.Election and meete Grace
Culls out ſome Stones (though few) which he doth place
Within his Churches Buildings; where they lie
Faſt joyn'd to Chriſt, for all Eternitie:
When as all others (though as good as theyOriginall or Actuall.
And of the ſelfe ſame Rocke, Quar, Lumpe, and Clay:)
…ye ſtill unpoliſht, in the rotten Maſſe,
And State of Sinne, untill to Hell they paſſe;
Without Injuſtice, ſince Gods Grace is gHoſ. 14. 4. Mat. 10. 14. Rom. 3. 24. c. 8. 32. c. 11. 5. 6.free;
And none but for hMath. 25. 4…. 42. 43. Mark. 16. 16. Pſal. 51. 4. 5. L28am. 3. 59.ſome Sinne ſhall damned be.
2.
When I conſider that all iIſa. 22. 16. Mark. 15. 46.Tombeſtones, Urnes,
And Tombes, where Man, *Gen. 3. 19.meere Duſt, to Duſt returnes;
Are broken pieces of ſome Rockes; I then
Behold my Tombe-ſtone, in each Rocke I ken:
And ſay; Loe here's the laſting Monument
Wherein my Body muſt ere long be pent,
And ſhut Cloſe Priſner, till the kJoh. 5. 58. Rev. 20. 12. 13.Judgement day,
When all its Ruſt and Bolts ſhall fall away.
Which Thought digeſted, makes me ſtill amend
My Life; and fits me alwayes for mine End.
Let all revolve it oft within their Minde,
And they ſhall Treaſure, Honey in it finde.
3.
When I behold ſome people dwell, live, lye
In lJob 24. 8. Obad. 3. Jer. 48. 28.Caves of Rockes; I then thinke preſently;
He who a Cottage wants his Head to Hide,
Shall finde ſome Rocke, or Hole where to abide;
In which he may ſleepe freer from feares, Foes,
And Cares, than thoſe whom Caſtles, Guards, incloſe.
What neede we care then here for Houſe or Home,
If theſe ſhould faile, yet Rockes will give us Roome
To Lodge and hide in: Here m1 King. 17 1. 13. c. 19. 9. 11. 15. Heb. 11. 38. Gen. 19. 3…. Judg. …. 2. 1 Sam. 13. …. c. 24. 2. 3. 4. 7. Exod. 33. 21. 22.Gods deareſt Saints
Have liv…d, and bid oft times without Complaints;
And beene more happie in theſe caved Stones
Than greateſt Monarchs in their royall Thrones.
Repine not then though Clifts of Rocks ſhould be
Thine Houſe or Home, ſith there thou mayſt be free,
Safe, bleſſed, chearefull, and to God more nigh
Than thoſe who in the faireſt Pallace lye.
4.
The precious Jewels nProv. 2. 4. Job 3. 21. Mat. 14.44. Pſal. …. 14. Col. 2. 3.Treaſures, Stones which are
Lockt up and bid in courſeſt Rockes, declare
Gods deareſt Saints and Jewels common Caſe,
And State on Earth: who thruſt out with diſgrace
From Houſe and Home, enforced are to flye
To o1 King 19. 9. 1…. 15. c. 17. 4. 13. 1 Sam. 13. 6. c. 24. 2. 3. 4. Heb 11. 38. 39Cave… and Rocke…, where they impriſned lye:
Whence driven out againe by bloody Foes
(Like Gold or Jewels out of Rockes;) they cloſe
And locke them up againe in pPſal. 88 8. Jer. 31. 2. c. 33. 1. c. 3…. 5. c. 39. 15. Luk. 3. 20. Act 5. 18. 21. c. 12. 4.Priſons, Goales
Or naſtie Dungeons, amidſt filth, duſt, *Bonne… Impriſoned the Martyrs in his Cole-houſe in Queene Maries dayes.Coles,
The …mmon qHeb. 1…. 35. to 39.C…kets where theſe Gemmes, Pearles lye
Ʋnti…l … Fl…mes them into Aſhe… frie.
Ye… …rag… Noble S…ules, whiles thus you fare
It's a ſure Signe you pe…releſſe rMal. … … Iſa … Exo 19. …. Pſ. …. 4.J…wels are,
And God▪ Choyce Tre…ure, ſince you under Locke,
Thus lye, …ike Gold, Gems in ſome Casket, Rocke:
And that you ſhall be sPſal. 8…. 6. 8. 18. Ca…. …. …. 6. Jer 3…. 2 3. Act. 16. 23. 2… Heb. 11. 3….ſureſt kept of any,
Becauſe kept cloſeſt, and not ſeene of many.
The choyceſt Things Men ever cloſeſt tCant. 4. …. Pſal. … 14. Mat 13. 44. Job 3. …1. Prov▪ 2. 4. Col. 2. 3.Locke▪
And Wolves runne looſe, whiles God doth vEzech. 3…. 4. Joh. …. …6.fold his Flocke.
5.
Rockes love to xEzec. 26. 4. c. 24. 7. 8.ſhew, not hide their Nakedneſſe:
Adam and Eve yGen. 3. 7. 10. 11. 21. c. 9. 22. 23.bluſht at their Naked Dreſſe
When they beheld it, and did bide for ſhame,
Till they with Coates of Figge-leaves vail'd the ſame.
Thoſe wanton Females then that take delight,
Their zEzech. 16. 36. 37. Hoſea 2. 2. 3. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 5. Revel. 3. 17. 18. c. 16. 15. Gen. 9. 22. 23. Heb. 2. 15. Iſa. 47. 3.Naked Breaſts, Neckes, Armes, (like ſome ſtrange ſight)
To ſhew to others, without Bluſh or ſhame,
In ſpight of God, Men, who them taxe and blame:
Are rather ſhameleſſe Rockes than Adams Race;
And for the moſt part voyd of Sence, ſhame, Grace;
If not of Honour, and true aHoſea 2. 2. 3. 4. Ezech. 16. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. c. 23. 10. 11 18. 19. 23.Chaſtitie,
Sith moſt is common which doth open lye.
6.
When we behold Men with much Danger, Swet,
Paines, Trouble, vileſt wrack to gather, get,
And draw from Sea-Rockes, for to burne, or dreſſe
Their tilled Grounds, and mend their fruitfulneſſe.
Me thinkes it ſhould wring bPhil. 3. 18. 19.Teares from us, to ſee
What Paines theſe take for Dung, whiles they and wee
Doe not take halfe the Care, Paines, Travell, Sw…et
The richeſt Gems of Grace to digge, fetch, get
From Chriſt our Rocke, which would not onelyonly cheare
And warme our Soules, and make them fruite to beare;
But them cRev. 3. 18. Pſal. 45. 13. 14.adorne, enrich, ſtore in ſuch wiſe,
That they all elſe as vile Dung would deſpiſe.
For ſhame then henceforth let us take dLuk. 13. 24 1 Cor. 9. 25. 26. 27. 2 Pet. 1. 5. 10.more paine
Theſe richeſt Gemmes, than they baſe wracke to gaine.
7.
When I a Rent or Clift in Rockes eſpie,
It mindes me of the dreadfull Majeſtie,
And mighty Power of our God which make
The hardeſt e1 King. 19. 11. Nah. 1. 5. 6. Mat. 27. 51.Rockes for feare to ſplit fJoel. 2. 12. 13. 10.rent ſhake
And duely pondred would in peeces teare
Our Rockie Hearts, & make them quake for feare
8.
When I behold Men, Tempeſts, Waves, Raine, Winde,
Beate long on gMat. 7. 25. 26.Rockes, and yet no entrance finde:
It makes me ſee what hEzech. 11. 19. c. 36. 26.rockie hearts we have
At which though Chriſt (who ſeekes our Soules to ſave)
Doth dayly iRev. 3. 20. Iſa. 53. 1. 3. Joh. 12. 37. 38 39. 40. c. 1. 10. 11. Rom. 10. 21. Iſa. 5. 1. to. 7. Jer. 25. 5. to 8. c. 29. 19.knocke by his Word, Grace and Sp…rit,
Saints, Preachers, Motions; and oft times them ſmite
With ſundry Judgements, Tempeſts, Seas, Malles, Winds
To make them open, yet but kJer. 2. 20. Iſa. 1. 5. c. 3. 9. Jer. 5. 3. Amos 4. 6. to 13. Pſ. 95. 8. 1…. Deut. 8. c. c. 29. 3. 4. 5. Joſh. 5. 4. Heb. 3. 8. 9. 17. 2 Chron. 36. 15. 16. Jet. 25. 4. to 8. c. 32. 33. 34.ſeldome finds,
Or makes an Entrance: nay though many yeares,
He thus beates on them, yet no fruite appeares:
O Hearts more hard than any Rocke, Flint, Steele,
Which all theſe ſtrokes upon them never ſeele!
O l2 Pet. 3. 9. Rev. 1. 9. c▪ 3. 10. Rom. …5. 5.patient Jeſus! who ſo long canſt beare,
With ſuch hard hearts, which will not melt nor teare!
9.
When I behold Rockes, Stones, moſt ragged, baſe,
Rude and deformed in their Native place,
m2 Chron. 2. & 3. 1 King. 5. and 6. & 7.Hew'd out from thence, and poliſht by Man-Kinde
Turn'd into goodly Structures of each Kinde
And made rich Statucs, nZech. 9. 16. 2 Sam 12. 30.Jewels, Ouches, Gemmes,
Yea, ſet in Gold and royall Diadems.
I thence conclude, that God with much more eaſe
Speede, Art, can turne, when ever he ſhall pleaſe,
The oEzech. 36. 26. 1 Cor. 3. 16. 17. 2 Cor 6. 16. Epheſ. 2. 21. Mal. 3. 17.hardeſt, vileſt, rockie Hearts that are
Into rich Temples, Jewels, Gemmes moſt rare;
Yea ſet them in Chriſts very royall Crowne
Like precious ſtones unto their great renowne.
As he did p1 Tim. 1. 13 14. 15. 16.Paul, q2 Chron. 33. 12. to 20.Manaſſes, and all thoſe
Moſt glorious Saints which Heav'n doth now incloſe.
Let no man then though ne're ſo meane, vile, baſe,
Lewd, ſinfull, once deſpaire of Gods free Grace,
Which in a moment can rEpheſ. 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. c. 3. 20. 21.change and tranſtate
Him from his wretched to a glorious ſtate.
10.
When as I ſee the sJob 28. 10. Pſ. 105. 41.waters that doe ſtreame
And guſh from ſtony Rockes, me thinkes they ſeeme
A lively Image of thoſe t2 King. 20. 5. Job 16. 20. Lam. 2. 18. Jer. 9. 1. 8. Iuk. 7. 38. 44. Act. 20. 19. 31. Mat. 26. 75.Teares that flow
From Rockie Hearts, when they once tender grow.
Through Gods ſweete Grace and Spirit, which can melt
The hardeſt Hearts to Teares, and them relent
As He did Rockes of Old, whence vPſal. 105. 41. Exod. 17. 6 Numb. 20. 11. 12.water guſht
By ſtreames when He them either ſmote or cruſht.
Bleſſed Lord Jeſus, ſoften, breake, relent
Our Hearts of Rocke, and cauſe them to repent,
And ſend forth Streames, nay Floods of Teares to waſh,
Our ſinnes away, and all their force to quaſh.
11.
xJob 39. 28. 29. Jer. 49. 16.Eagles in lofty Rockes ſtill breed and lye,
And from their Toppes their Prey farre off eſpie:
Gods choſen Saints whom Scriptures oft compare
To yPſa. 103. 5. Iſa. 40. 13. Mat. 24. 28. Luk. 17. 37.Eagles, upon Chriſt high mounted are:
(The talleſt Rocke) on whom they zEpheſ. 2. 20.build, lodge, ſtay,
And thence they ſeeke, finde, take their ſacred prey.
Lord make our Soules with Eagles wings to flye,
To this ſweete Rocke, and there to live and dye.
12.
When I contemplate how Rockes aJob. 28. 10. Pſal. 104. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.Chriſtall Springs
Which ſerve to moiſten, ſoften other Things,
Make trees, herbes, graſſe, plants, flowers ſpring and grow;
And queneh the Thieſt of all things here below;
Yet neither moyſten, ſoften, fructifie
The Rockes themſelves, ſtill barren, fruitleſſe, dry:
Me thinkes I view in them ſome Rockie Hearts,
Endew'd with rare, rich, profitable Parts
Of Art and Nature; which doe good to many,
Yet to their Owners good, they doe not any.
How many Preachers others helpe to ſave
Yet bMat. 22. 7. 1 Cor. 9. 27.damne themſelves? and whiles they others gave
The Food of life, have ſtarv'd themſelves to death:
Others made Fertile, themſelves barren Heath?
How many c2 Sam. 16. 23. c. 17. 23.wiſe to teach, rule, counſell all
Except themſelves, and ſo through folly fall:
Its hardly worth the Name of Good Art, Skill
That betters others, makes the Owners Ill.
13.
When I eſpie Rockes trampled on by all,
Chriſts and true Chriſtians States, to minde I call.
dIſa. 53. 2. 3. 4, Mar. 9. 12. Pſal. 1 18. 22. 1 Cor. 4. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 2 Cor. 4. 8. 9. 10. 11. c. 6. 4, to 11. Heb. 11. 36. 37. 38.Trod under feete, with all contempt, ſpite, hate
Throughout the world, and valu'd at no rate.
Complaine not then of any diſ-reſpect.
No greater Honour than Ill mens neglect.
14.
Each vaſte, high-towring, maſſie Rocke we eye
Preſents to us the ſtrength and Potencie
Of that Almighty God, whoſe eIſa. 40. 12: 10 18. Pſal. 89. 13.Potent Hand
Did in a moment, both by Sea and Land
Raiſe up ſo many vaſte high Piles, and Packe
Such Maſſie Rockes on one anothers backe;
Without an Engin, by his fPſal. 148. 5.Word alone,
And them ſo ſtrongly ſoder one to one
That all the Art, Wit, Strength, in Man's to weake
To raſe theſe Mounts, and them in Peeces breake.
We wonder much at *See Camdens Brittania. Willſhire.Stonedge, where there lye
A few large ſtones, pil'd vp not very high
On one anothers head, and thinke it ſtrange,
How men ſuch pondrous Stones eould reare and range,
In ſuch a manner, though theſe great ſtones be
But Pigmies, Pibbles to the Rockes we ſee.
How much more then with wonder and amaze
Should we upon thoſe Maſſie high Rockes gaze
Which them ſo far in Bulk, weight, height exceed,
And may true admiration in us breed
Of Gods Almighty Power, which could raiſe
Such grand, rare, laſting Trophies to his praiſe.
To which all Structures made by men doe ſeeme
But Mole-hills, Attomes, and of no eſteeme.
He who ſuch heavie Rockes could make, lift, reare,
gIſa. 40. 12. 15.Weigh, toſſe with eaſe, as if they feathers were;
With greater eaſe can lift and elevate
His humbled Saints out of their hPſa. 113. 7. 8. 1 Sam. 27. 8.loweſt State:
And in an inſtant into iPſal. 2. 9. Pſal. 107. 40.ſhivers daſh,
All who with Him or Them preſume to claſh.
15.
When we diſcerne the Sea, and Time to kJob. 14. 9.weare
The very Rockes, and them to waſte, eate, teare;
Thinke and contemplate then, how time, age, ſpace
All things conſume, waſte, weaken and deface;
But chiefely Men, compact of lGen. 3. 19. Eccleſ. 3. 10. c. 12. 7.Duſt, not ſtone
Who fade like mPſ. 103. 14. 15. 16. Pſa. 90. 5. 6. Iſa. 4. 6. 7. 8. Job 14. 1. 2. Jam. 1. 10. 1 Pet 1. 24.graſſe, are in a Moment gone.
How can meere Duſt and Aſhes thinke to laſt,
When time and age the hardeſt Rockes doe waſt?
16.
Thoſe who in lofty, fenced, ſteepe Rockes dwell
Are nObad. 3. ſer. 49. 16. c. 21. 13.haughty, proud, ſecure, and farre excell
Moſt others in theſe vices, ſlighting all,
As if no Miſchiefe could upon them fall.
Whence ſodaine Dangers, Ruines them ſurpriſe
(To quell their Pride) from thoſe they moſt deſpiſe;
Thus carnall Men advanc'd and fortifide
With potent Friends, wealth, Honours, ſwell with oEzech. 28. 2. to 29. Iſa. 47. 7. to 12. Rev. 18. 7. 8.Pride;
Deride all Dangers, Foes, grow ſo ſecure,
As if their Props and Stayes ſhould ſtill endure.
Whence God their Pride to puniſh and abate
Caſts them downe head-long by ſome ſodaine Fate.
Which ſhould make all, but great men ſpecially
Beware of Pride, and groſſe Security,
The ſad pProv. 16 18 Rev. 18. 7. 8.Fore-runners of a certaine fall,
Which them and theirs will ſoone to peeces mall.
17.
When as we ſee Men with muſt coſt and paine
To Mine the Rocks, and Treaſures thence to gaine
Of ſundry Sorts; where with they much increaſe
Their wealth, and make things meete for warre and Peace:
It forth-with mindes us how with farre more care,
Coſt, Paines, Sweat, Labour all who Chriſtians are,
Should dayly qProv. 2. 4. Col. 2. 2. 3. Mat. 13. 44.Search, and Mynefor richer Oare
In Chriſt their Rocke; in whom there is ſuch ſtore
Of peereleſſe Mines, and Treaſures of each Kinde
As well content, yea rEpheſ. 1. 23 Joh. 1. 16.fill the vaſteſt Minde;
And ſtore all Chriſtians with all Things they need
In Peace and War, Life, death! Let this then breed
A Reſolution in us, ſtill to Mine,
And draw theſe Treaſures from this Rock Divine.
18.
Whiles that we view Men Rockes to ſmite, pierce, rent
With Sledges, Axes, or like Inſtrument;
We then ſhould ponder, how we all each day
Our bleſſed Rocke Chriſt Jeſus sAmos 2. 13 Heb. 10. 29. c. 6. 6. 2 Pet. …1. Rev. 1. 7.ſmite, ſtab, ſlay
A freſh with thoſe accurſed Sinnes and Crimes
Where-with we grieve, pierce, wound Him at all times:
Which Thought ſhould turne the Edge, and Point of all
Our Sinnes from Him; upon our ſelves to mall
Breake, wound our Rockie hearts, becauſe we rent,
Abuſe Chriſt thus; and cauſe us to repent.
19.
When we eſpie Rockes dart out Sparkes of fire
When ſmote, or cut with Tooles of Steele or I're:
It ſweetely mindes us, how the Hand of God
Smiting upon us with an tPſal. 2. 9. 10. 11. 12. Iſa. 26. 9. 11. 16. Hoſ. 5. 15. 2 Chr. 33. 12. 13. 2 Cor. 8. 2. 1 Theſ. 1. 6. 7. 1 Per. 1. 6. 7. 8. 9. Jam. 1. 2. 3. 12. c. 5. 13. Pſal. 119. 67. 71. 75 107.Iron Rod
Should from our Hearts of Rocke extract and draw
Such ſacred Sparkes, yet flames as ſhould them thaw,
Purge all their Droſſe away, and them inflame
With a moſt ardent Love, unto his Name.
Lord when thy Rod ſhall ever on us lite,
Let it ſuch Sparkes, and Flames in us excite.
20.
Springs, Quarries, Mines in Rockes, ne're drawne quite drie;
Preſent moſt ſweetely to each Minde and Eye
The vEpheſ. 3. 8. 10. 19. 20. Joh. 1. 5. 16. Col. 2. …. 8. 9. 10.inexhauſted, boundleſſe, Endleſſe Mines,
Springs, Treaſures, Stares, and vaſteſt Magazines
Of Grace and Goodneſſe, which incloſed lye,
Within the Boſome of the Deity.
To feede, feaſt, fill, enrich, each hungry, poore,
Sad, pined Soule, with all their matchleſſe ſtore.
The very thoughts whereof our Hearts ſhould fill
With ſweeteſt Solace, and delight them ſtill.
21.
When I perceive the ſmalleſt Pibble xExod. 15. 5. Neh. 9. 11. Jet. 51. 63 64. Mat. 18. 6. Rev. 18. 21.ſinke
In Floods, as deepe as greateſt Rockes; I thinke
How ſmalleſt Sinnes are deadly, and as well,
As ſoone almoſt, as Great, ſinke Men to Hell.
O then beware of all ſinnes, ſince the ſmall
As well as great to yRom 6. 23. c. 24. 25. Ec. 12. 18. Math. 12. 36. 37.Hell thus …nd and fall.
Let Papiſts talke of Veniall ſinnes, I trow
No ſinne is veniall, when all ſinke ſo low.
22.
The worthleſſe Rubbiſh in each Rocke exceeds,
And hides the Mines and Precious ſtones it breeds:
Yea, richeſt Mines have ever greater Store
Of droſſe and off all, than refined Oare.
Which pondred, learnes us, how each Place, zMat. 7. 13. 14. c. 13. 3. to 51. Luk. 13. 23. 24. Rom. 10. 16. c. 11. 4. 5.Church breeds
More Bad than Good: that Good Mens Ill, exceeds
Their Goodneſſe: that the Bad, Good Men obſcure
As Rubbiſh hides, Surmounts the Oare that's pure.
Hence Multitude, and viſibility
Appeare ill Markes a Churches Truth to trie.
23.
When aJoſh. 10. 11 Judg 9. 53. 54. 2 Sam 11. 21. Zech. 12. 3. Luk. 13. 4.Rockes or Stones fall on Men, and them daſh
To peeces, or at leaſt them bruiſe and quaſh:
It mindes us how our Rocke Chriſt bIſa. 8. 14. 15. Luk. 2. 34. Pſa. 29. Rev. 2. 27. c. 19. 15.grindeth all
To powder, upon whom be doth once fall.
O then beware how we pull on our backes
This Maſſie Rocke which Men to peeces crackes.
24.
cPſal. 41. 2. Pſal 61. 2.Rockes keepe from ſinking thoſe who walke or Stand
Ʋpon them, whiles ſuch, who on Bogges, Floods, Sand
Doe walke, dPſal. 40. 2. Pſal. 69. 2. 14. Mat. 14. 30. Jer. 38. 6. 20.reſt, ſtay, ſinke downe and mired are,
Yea oft times drowned without ſpeciall care.
Hence may we learne that thoſe who walke, reſt, ſtay,
Themſelves on Chriſt (the ſureſt Rocke) alway
Stand firme, ſafe, ſtable; never ſinking downe;
Whiles thoſe who on Bogges, Sands ſinke, ſtand, and drowne.
O let our feete on this Rocke ſtill abide
Then are we certaine not to ſinke, fall, ſlide.
25.
Rockes thoſe who dwell upon them fence, eIſa. 33 16.defend,
But thoſe who Scale them, hurt, bruiſe and offend.
So Chriſt our Rocke fJoh. 10. 11. 14. 27. 28. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 5. c. 4 19protects his Choſen ſheepe
Who reſt upon Him, doth them ſafely keepe.
Yet hurts and breakes to gLuk. 2. 39. Mat. 21. 44 Pſ. 2. 9. 10.peeces all ſuch Foes,
Who dare preſume Him, and them to oppoſe.
26.
The ſight of Rockes, their hIſa. 2. 1…. 19. 21. Rev. 6. 15. 16. 17. Luk. 23. 30. Hoſ. 10. 8.Cliſts, Caves, Holes ſhould Minds,
All of the Day of Judgement, yet behinde:
So full of dreadfull Terrour and Affright
That i1 King. 19. 11. Nah. 1. 5. 6. Mat. 27. 51. Iſa 64. 1. 2. 3. Pſal. 97. 5. Amos 9. 13. 2 Pet. 3. 10. 12. Judg. 5. 5.Kings themſelves, and men of greateſt Might
Shall quake and ſhake for very feare; and call
Ʋnto the Rockes and Hills on them to fall;
And into Caves, H…les, Clifts of Rockes ſhall flye
To hide them from th… W…ath, S…ht, Maje…tie
Of Chriſt our Rocke, before …
The Rockes ſhall then melt, fill, quake, change their place.
And all the kIſa. 2. 10. to 18. c. 5. 15. 16. 2 Theſ. 1. 8. 9. Jude 14. 15.Stout, proud, Rockie Hearts of thoſe
Who did Himſelfe, Word, Grace, Saints here oppoſe.
Shall be ſo daunted, ſtoniſht, ſtrucke with feare
And Horrour, that they lPſal. 1. 5. 1. Pet. 4. 18. Mat. 25. 3… 31. 32. 42. to 46. 2 Thoſ. 2. 8. 9. 10. Dan. 12. 2. Joh. 5. 25. 29. Rev. 6. 14. 15. 16. 17. c. 20. 9. 10. 12. 14. 15.dare not once appeare;
Till drag'd perforce before Chriſts Barre and Face,
Where try'd, convict, condemn'd; with all diſgrace
They ſhall be caſt for all Eternity
Into Hels fiery Flames, there ſtill to fry.
O let the Terrour of this diſmall Day,
(Which now drawes neere, and we ſhould mJam. 5. 7. 8. 9. Rev. 22. 20mind alway;)
For ever ſcare us from all Sinne, and make
Our Stony Hearts to melt, bleed, ſigh, breake, ake:
And cauſe us now with ſpeed to flye and hide
Our ſelves within the Holes of Chriſts pierc'd ſide,
Who ſhall us o2 Cor 5. 10. 11. Rom. 14. 10. 11. 12. Rom. 2. 16. Pſa. 143. 9.judge: and then we boldly may
oLuk. 21. 28.Lift up our Heads, and Hearts in that great Day
With joyfull cheare, when others hang them downe;
And eke receive a Rich, Large, Maſſie p2 Cor. 4. 17. 2 Tim. 4. 8.Crowne.
Of endleſſe Glory, in the Heavens high(q) Rev. 22. 4. 5.
Where we ſhall reigne for all Eternity.
O Chriſt (our onelyonly Rocke) of thy free Grace
Advance, and bring us to this blisfull Place:
And let each Rocke, Cliſt, Stone we henceforth ſee
Inſtruct us thus, and bring us home to Thee.
The Concluſion.
VVIth theſe ſweete uſefull Thoughts, and thouſands more
The Barren Rockes, our Hearts, and Minds may ſtore
When we behold them: and if Natures Booke,
And Rockes, whiles we upon them dayly looke,
Can teach us Nothing which our Lives may mend,
Or cauſe our Hearts, Minds, Thoughts up to aſcend
To Chriſt their Rock, God, and the Things above,
Them to contemplate with the greateſt Love;
Our Hearts are Rockie; We, quite voyd of Grace;
And Rockes than we, are yet in better Caſe.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Rocks Improved (1641)