But I would like to tell my Young Readers something more about this Great “Refuge from the storm”—this Great “Covert from the tempest.” Let us seat ourselves for a little in the Alpine valley, under the brow of the Rock of Castello; it may help us to some thoughts of the better “Rock of Ages!” I dare say many a poor Waldensian, when taking shelter in this earthly refuge, would be often reminded by it of the Rock that can never be shaken!
First, The Rock of Castello is very High. So is Jesus; so High, that He is called the Son of the Highest—“The Ancient of Days!”—“God over all.” “The heaven of heavens can not contain Him!”
Second, The Rock of Castello rises from the Valley: so Jesus rose from poor parents in this valley of tears. He “humbled Himself,” to take upon Him our nature; so that “although he be HIGH, He might have respect unto the lowly!”
Third, The Rock of Castello was quite close at hand; though lofty, it was always near for fleeing to: so is Jesus, the “Rock of Ages.” We have not to say, “Who shall ascend into Heaven to bring Christ down?” “He is not far from any one of us.” Indeed, He is so very near, and so very accessible, that the only wonder is that there should be any found who do not “flee to Him for refuge!”
Fourth, The Rock of Castello was wont to shelter many children and helpless infants; many poor mothers, driven from their homes, carried their babes thither in their arms. Jesus, the living Rock, does the same. He delighted, when on earth, to fold children to his bosom, and say, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not!” It was neither His nor His “Father's will” that so much as “one of these little ones should perish.” He was so HIGH that angels adored Him; so meek and lowly, that infants smiled in his arms!
Fifth, The Rock of Castello has a large cleft or opening in it, which admits into the cavern. Jesus is a rent and smitten Rock! You can enter by faith into Him only through His opened side. Oh! what a smiting that was, by the rod of God's justice! and yet, had there been no such smiting, you and I, Dear Children, must have perished!
Sixth, The Rock of Castello was a Secure Hiding Place. No other spot in all the valley could have afforded shelter but this. On any of the surrounding mountains there would have been certain destruction to the exiles, from the Alpine snows, and fierce hurricanes and storms. But here, in their cavern, nothing could touch them, and if the storm raged, it spent its fury on the Rock!
Jesus is, indeed, a safe Shelter, while every other refuge will prove “a refuge of lies!” The tempest of God's wrath, and the curses of God's law, are still raging fiercely all around. But what matters it? They can not touch You, my Young Friends, if sheltered in the Rock! Upon that Rock, eighteen hundred years ago, they exhausted all their fury. Jesus shelters and delivers you from that fearful storm of Law-curses, by himself being “made a curse for you!” The tempest may smite Jesus the Rock, but it can not touch those who have “won Him, and are FOUND INHim.”
Seventh, The Rock of Castello has a Fountain in it. Jesus, the Living Rock, has opened a Fountain not only “for Sin,” but “for Uncleanness.” He does not wish only to justify you, by sheltering you from the Storms of the Law,—but He wishes also to sanctify you, and fit you for glory. He does not only wish to make you Safe, but to make you Holy. The Holy Spirit is this Fountain in the Rock. Oh! Dear Children, bless God for this “Well of Water, springing up unto everlasting life.” It washes, and cleanses, and refreshes you. Without it, your naturally unholy hearts could never be fitted for the holy, happy heaven, of a Holy, Happy God.
Eighth, The Rock of Castello remains as it was to this hour, while all its brave inmates of past generations are no more. Jesus is an Everlasting Rock, unchanged and unchangeable. This is still “His name, and still His memorial,” “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever!” For six thousand years, sinners have been crowding in, and “still there is room!”