Chap. 36._ an Expoftian upon the Book of J o i$. Verf. 27. 389 ven, was fisti fetched from among us by the mighty power of God. Rain, according to natural Philofopby,is thus generated: The water and moiflure of the earth beingattenuated by the heat of the Sun- beams, become vapours , which being to ratified and refolved into an airy fubliance, are by the fame heat of the Sun drawn up to the middle region of the air, where being again condenfed or thickened into water, they melt down into rain, at the appointment of God. We may confider rain briefly in all the caufes of it ; Thus: Firft, The efficient caule of rain is God. Secondly, The inflrumental caufe is the heat of the Sun. Thirdly, The material caufe is the moiflure of the Sea and watery Land. Fourthly, The final caufe of it, is, i. Supream ; the glory of God. z. Subordinate; and that threefold. Fitt+, the benefit. Secondly, the punifhment. Thirdly, the infltu&ion of man. Secondly, From that other fignification of the word , as it notes withdrawing or keeping back, upon which forne infili much, Obfe rve God when hepleafeth can with-hold the water or therain. He can give a flop to the rain, and then the clouds yeeld us no more water than a flone ; Hewith-holds the drops ofwater. The _Lord threateneth the Vineyard with this flop (Ifa. 5. 6.) 1 will command the clouds, that they rain no rain repon it ; which is true . of a natural and proper Vineyard, and of proper natural rain ,. though it be meant there ofthe people of God, whom he meta phorically,or improper ly,calleth hisVineyard ; and the rain there intended, is the rain of inliruetion usually failing upon them.. Now as God doth often forbid the lhowers of the word, that they fall no more upon a people , as he fends forth a prohi- bition to flop the fpiricual rain ; fo he alto flops and prohibits the natural rain (Amos 4.7,8.) 1 have with-hilden the rain from you, when there was yet three moneths to the harvef ; and I caufed it to rain upon one city, and tailed it not to rain uponanother city ; one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rainednot wither- ed : fN two or three cities wandered unto one city to drinkwater, but wire not fatisfied. Thus in cafe of difobedience to his divine, Law,.
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