Chap. 36. e,41 npoftian upon the &ookof J o B. Verf. 27. 39 fub c 1 to the like psefons that we arc,andbe prayed earnelly that it might got rain, and it rained not on the earth, by the fpaee of three years andfixmonths ; andhe prayedagain, and the heavens gave rain. At his word the Lord ltopt rain, and at his word he gee, rain. Let us therefore confefs that God is the author or father to the rain; He carsferh vapours to afcend from the endsofthe earth, he maketh lightningsfor the rain (Pf. i 35. 7.) He covereth the hea- ven withclouds, be prepareth rain for theearth ( 147. 8. ) God covereth the heaven with clouds, by drawing up vapours from the earth,whichare the matter of thefe clouds,and in chafe clouds he prepares the rain,&by the rainPent downmakes thegrafs togrow upon the mountains. The encreafe of vegetables is the effect of rain ;God bath the rain in his power,and to acknowledgehim in it is our duty. 'Tùa great part of ourfpiritualnefs to acknowledgeGod DerwfbiSoli in naturals as well asfprrrtuals ; or, that the key of the cióuds, a$ claverspluvtté well as the key of the heart, is in the hand of God, and in his on- refervat Tang. ly.. One of the Antients fpeaking to this point, Paid, Let us not Hero:o1.in afcribe rain to theSaints, much lefs to Witches. Papifts have their Cap. 3. Gen. Saints to whom they pray for rain,and Atheifts go to Witches for rain. The modeland moderate Heathen willrife up againit fuch in judgement ; they afcribed rain to their gods though falle gods ; they had Epethites or Titles of Honour for their Idols, te(tifying 1mhr'fert, fire- their faith in them and dependance upon them for the fhowers of natures° heaven, they calked themfhower-bringing gods, and fair-weather- makinggods. Ifheathens would yet afcribe the rain to their gods, not to men,not to any inlet iour powers, how abominable are they, who profefling the knowledge of Jehovah, the only true God, do not acknowledg him alone in this ! In times of drought many will fay, We hope we {lull have rain when the Moon ehangeth, or, when the Wind turns ; now though there be fomewhat in nature, both in the change of the Moon and turn of the Winds, as ro the change of weather, yet to fpeak much of, or exile& any thing from either, argues foiite withdrawing of the heart from God ; and God to Phew the folly of fuch, bath often with-held the rain, though the Moon bath changedmore than once, and the Wind turned to all quarters, andpa(fed through all poynts ofthe Coin- pafs. Thirdly, Let as takeheed of provoking the Lord ; he cangaickly flop our Comforts, thole common outward comforts, the rain and fhewr3-
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