Jer. 23.29. — And like a Hammer that breaks the Rock in pieces.
Ezek. 11.19. And I will take away the stony Heart, &c.
Luke 8.6. And some fell upon a Rock, &c.
Zech. 7.12. — They made their Hearts as an Adamant-Stone.
NOte, The Hearts of Sinners are like Rocks; or, wicked Men have stony and rocky Hearts.
A Rock is a barren and fruitless Place; what will grow upon a Rock? So the Hearts of wicked Men are barren and unfruitful to God; they bring forth no spiritual Fruit to him.
II. Rain cannot enter nor soak into a Rock, but as it falls, so it glides off, and runs away: So the spiritual Rain of Heaven, viz. God's Word, tho it falls never so powerfully upon ungodly Men, it will not enter into their Hearts: My Word hath no place in you, saith Christ, &c. Good Doctrine, and heavenly Counsel glides off of these spiritual Rocks, like Rain from a Rock, or high Mountain.
III. Rocks and Stones are naturally rough, and unfit for use, until they are hewed and squared, &c. So the Hearts of wicked Men are naturally rough, and unfit for any spiritual use, until they are hewed by the Ax and Hammer of the Word: I have hewed them by the Prophets.
IV. A little thing will not break a hard Stone, or a flinty Rock, &c. So a little Matter will not break a stony or rocky-hearted Sinner; God strikes often, and strikes hard, gives many a Blow upon their Hearts, by his Word, and by his Spirit, and some∣times by Afflictions, before their Hearts will yield, or break in pieces.
V. He that will break a Rock in pieces, or hew Stones to make them fit for use, must have a meet and convenient Instrument: So God makes use of a right and fit Instrument to break in pieces the hard and rocky Hearts of ungodly Men, viz. his blessed Word, in the hand of the Spirit: Is not my Word like a Hammer, that breaks the Rock in pieces?
VI. A Man many times employs Workmen to break a Rock, and hew Stones: So God employs his Ministers, as Work-men in his hand, to break these spiritual Rocks, and hew these rough and ragged Stones, to make them fit to lay in his spiritual Buil∣ding: I have hewed them by the Prophets.
VII. Seed that falls upon a Rock, or stony Place, tho it doth spring up, it soon withereth away, (if the Fowls of Heaven do not pick it up): So the Word of God, if it be sown upon stony and rocky-hearted Sinners, tho it may seem to spring up, yet it soon withers for want of Root. They believe for a while, but in time of Temptation fall away.