390 - Verf. z7, e/In Expofitiron upon tire Book of J o B. Chap. 36. Law, the Lord threatened to flop the common Law of nature,and to make the heavens brafs,and the earth iron (Dent. 28. 23.) And when theheavens are brafs, that is, when they yeeld no more moiflure than brafs, then the earth is as iron, that is, it yeelds na more food for the fuflentation of man or beaf4, than a bar of iron Both. Such flops the Lordhath often put upon the courfes of na- ture, and cando again when he pleafeth ; though I believe he ne- ver did ,nor ever will do fo, but when highly difpleafed and pro- vokedby the fin of man. Take two or three inferences from ir. Pi: fl, ifthe rain or drops ofwater come not in their feafon, let tas ackTowledge the hard of God. Ic is God that hath lockt up the clouds when-ever they are lockt up ; God bath forbidden the clouds to let down their rain when-ever they with-hold it. Men and Devils can no more flop the rain than make ir. Secondly, When we want rain, let t. go to Cjod for it. 'Tis the prerogative of God alone to help us in that (freight ;and therefore the holyprophet fends a chalenge to all other powers, or declares them difabled for this help (ter. 14. za.) Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles thatcan caufe rain, or can the heavens give j7owrs?neither the one nor the other can.The heavens cannot dif- pofe of a drop,though theypoffefle a fea of water. God muff hear the heaven, before the heavens can hear the earth, that is, anfwer the necefhities of theearth. And as the heavens cannot give nain rain, fo neither can the gods of mans making and placing there, fuch are all the vanities+or vain Idols of the Gentiles. Theprophet having {hewed us chat rhefe cannon, fheweth us who can give rain in the next words, Art n,t thou he, OLord, our God (finely thou art he ) therefore we will wait upon thee, for thou haft made all there things. Solomon, at the dedication of the Temple, puts this as one ft'ecral cafe wherein they were to apply to God by prayer (t Kings 8. 3 S .) When heaven is flout up and there is no rain, becaufe they havefinned agai thee,lf they pray,&c. then hear thou in hen - ven.The prophet fends the people inchat exigentto God (Zec, t o .)Askye theLord rain,in the time of the later ram. As if he had faid,if ye would have rain,you.mrid ask for ir,and be fure ye ask it of nOnc but him a k of the Lord. As iris God chat gives out or with-holds the rain, fohe gives it out or with-holds it at the voice of prayer. The Apefile faith of Elias (Jam 5. 17.) he was aman fubjec`y
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