400 Verf.29. Éxpf tion upon the Book of J o a. Chap. 3 6, things. ran any under/and The fpreading of the Clouds? mi Ito -Inn Here are, Firt+, the Clouds ; Secondly, the fpreadingof them. Expanfones The word which we rranflate,fpreading, hash a two-fold Cignifica- ve1dfferenttas Lion : Fier}, ( with the alteration only of apoynt upon one letter ) nubium, cum it fignifieth The difference of things in any kktnde : And then the atiæ flariles Text is read, Can any under and the difference of the Clouds that fnt, a1izp1ú- }' f , viam, eke is, the variethat is among the clouds. The clouds are not all grendtnemmit- of a li enefs, nor all of a bignefs ; there are clouds of many forts rant; Sed re. and fizes : there are clouds which breed fnow, and clouds which °eau expanf °- breed haile, clouds which breed raine, and clouds which breed nor verttrun thunder and Y lightning. Asome clouds are empty, called clouds 1ierc. without raine ó water, (Pro. 25. 14. Tilde, v. 1 2.) and other cloudsare full of water : There is a difference alto of clouds as to our fight and view, fome are black, fome white, fome red, fome are greenifh, others palifh clouds , front which various colours and appearances,Prognoflicksare made of the change of weather, as Chrift told the Pharifees ( Mat. 16. 2, 3.) Naturalifts obferve verymany differences in the clouds, nor is it without wonder, that the clouds which are made all of one matter ( vapours drawn frombelow) fhould produce fuch and fo manydifferent effec°cs, that ( according to this reading ) we have reafon to put the que- Ilion, Who can underRand the differences of the Clads ? We read it, and that well and full to the Hebrew Text, who can under/and the fpreadings of the Clouds, or their ex- panlion ? Themolt conning and knowing men in the tnyfteries of nature, carnor either tell how far_ the clouds will fpread, : or to what poynt and part of the world they will convey their water , and ( as I may fay) unburden themfelves. Thus the words refer back to the two former verles. The Clouds are fpread as aCur- tain, or as a piece of Tapeftry, or as a mighty Canopy ; who can underfland the fpreading ofthem ? The fpreading of them ; Firft, as they carry raine ; or, Secondly, the fpreadingof them (as fome expound the place) as they convey the Lighrening , which the Scripture faith, ( Math. 24. 27. ) Pafethfrom one end of heaven to the other, from the Eaft to the Weft ; who knoweth how far the
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