nfidence, for fear of perishing. Here
doth it find a door in this rock to enter. And there is water to drink of,
"a fountain of living waters" comes out of it, and that is Christ.

Now, all these names of his praise rub so many marks of shame on his
people. O how sad is the secret reproof and expostulation contained in
this commendation of God! He hath been a rock to us, our refuge that we
fled unto, and found sure; for as, in our straits, we mounted upon his
power and were supported, when "the floods lifted up their waves," yet
have we left our rock, gone out from our strength. He offers himself a
rock unto us, his fulness and all-sufficiency for us, and yet we leave the
fountain of living waters, and dig broken cisterns, had rather choose our
own broken ships in which to toss up and down. He abides for ever the
same; though we change, he changes not. How may it reprove our
backslidings, that we depart from our rock! And where shall we find a
refuge in the day of indignation? Is there any created mountain, but some
floods of the time will cover? Therefore it is folly and madness to
forsake this rock that is still above the floods; "he is mightier than the
noise of many waters." It may reprove our unbelief,--we change our faith
according to his dispensation, our faith ebbs and flows as the tide of his
providence, and thus we are as sticks floating in the water, tossed up and
down. But would ye be established as mount Sion? Would ye be unmoveable in
the midst of great waters, that they shall not come near unto you? Then,
by all means get upon this rock, that abides unmoved in the midst of the
waves. Though they should beat upon it, and the wind blow, yet it is proof
of all tempests. All things might be driven up and down about you with the
Lord's dispensation, but ye should abide the same, and might look round
about you on the troubled sea of men's minds, of lands and estates. If you
come here, ye may make shipwreck, but ye shall not drown; though ye lose
the creature's comfort and defence, yet ye are on your rock, which is
established before the rocks and mountains. You may be sure of salvation.
He that made the rocks and winds and seas, is your rock.

"His work is perfect." As he doth not trouble himself when all is troubled
about him, so he keeps him also in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on
him; so also what he doth among men, though it cannot pass without man's
censure, yet it is in itself perfect, complete, wit