[1.] The places from whence this water marvellously issued Thev were rocks that, in all probability, never had spring from the creation of tae world. Farther, they are observed to be rocks of flint, Ps. cxiv 8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a foun- tain of waters: soDeut.viii.l5. A rock into a pool, and a flint into a streani IS much beyond Samson s riddle of sweetness from the eater L-J liie abundance of waters that g-ushed out,-waters to satisfy hat whole congregation, with all their cattle, consisting of some mil- lions. Yea, and not only they, but all the beasts of that wilderness were refreshed thereby also, Isa. xliii. 20, "The beast of the field sfiall honour me, the dragon and the owl ; because I give waters in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen "
12) A MEMORIAL OF THE DELIVERANCE
The very ivorst of the sons of men, dragons and oiuls,fare the better for God's protecting providence towards his own}
And all this was in siicli abundance, that it was as plentiful as a sea. " He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the gi-eat depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers," Ps. Ixxviii. 15, 16. So also it is celebrated, Isa. xli. 18, xlviii. 21, Hos. xiii. 5, and in many other places. Great deliverances call for frequent remembrances.
Thus were rivers brought out of the rocks, and with or for these rivers God did cleave the earth; — that is, either he provided channels for those streams to run in, that they might not be wasted on the sur- face of that sandy wilderness, but preserved for the use of his people; or else the streams were so great and strong, that they pierced the earth, and parted channels for themselves. Great rivers of water, brought out of flinty rocks, running into prepared channels, to refresh a sinful, thirsty people, in a barren wilderness, I think, is a remark- able mercy.
(2.) As it was eminent in itself, so likewise is it exalted in its typi- cal concernment. Is there nothing but flints in this rock ? nothing but water in these streams? nothing but the rod of Moses in the blows given to it? Did the people receive no other refreshment, but only in respect of their l)odily thirst? Yes, saith the apostle, " They drank of that spiritual rock which followed them ; and that rock was Christ," 1 Cor. X. 4. Was not this rock a sign of that Rock of Ages on which the church is built? Matt. xvi. 18. Did not Moses' smiting hold out his being smitten with the rod of God? Isa liii. 4, 5. Was not the pouring out of these plentiful streams as the pouring out of his pre- cious blood, in a sea of mercy, abundantly sufficient to refresh the whole fainting church in the wilderness ? " Latet Christus in petra ; " — " Here is Christ in this rock." Had Rome had wisdom to build on this Rock, though she had not had an infallibility as she vainly now pretends, she might have had an infallibility (if I may so speak), yea, she had never qiute failed. Give me leave to take a few observations from hence. As, —
[1.] Sinners must be brought to great extremities, to mahe them desire the blood of Jesus; — weary and thirsty, before rock-water come. Thirst is a continually galling pressure. When a soul gaspeth like a parched land, and is as far from self-refreshment as a man from drawing waters out of a flint, then shall the side of Christ be opened to him. You that are full of yoiir lusts, drunk with the world, here is not a drop for you. If you never come into the wikkrness, you shall never have rock-water.
[2.] Mercy to a convinced sinner seems ofttimes as remote as ' " 'N'ir bonus commune bonum." — Gen xxxi. 3.
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rivers from a rock of flint. The truth is, he never came near mercy, who thought not himself far from it. When the IsraeHtes cried, We are ready to die for thirst, tlien stood they on the gi'ound where rivers were to run.
[3.] Thirsty souls shall want no water, though it he fetched for them out of a rock. Panters after the blood of Jesus shall assuredly have refreshment and pardon, through the most unconquerable dif- ficulties. Though grace and mercy seem to be locked up from them, like Avater in a flint, — whence fire is more natural than water; yet God will not strike the rock of his justice and their flinty hearts together, to make hell-fire sparkle about their ears ; but with a rod of mercy on Christ, that abundance of water may be drawn out for their re- freshment.
[4.] The most eminent temporal blessings, and suitable refresh- ment (water from a rock for them that are ready to perish), is but an obscure representation of that love of God, and refreshment of souls, which is in the blood of Jesus. Carnal things are exceeding short of spiritual, — temporal things of eternal.
[5.] The blood of Christ is abundantly sufficient for his whole church to refresh themselves, — streams, rivers, a whole sea..