Chap. 36. e4nExpofLion aril the look,ofJo 8'. Verf. 2y. paf,He bath eftablifhe d the waters which are above the heavens, aiwel as the waters below the heavens ; he hath eftabliCed theth by a decree ( like that of the 4edes and Perflans) which Call not be difanulled. So then, here's the anwer to this reccnd que- !lion, How it comes to pats, that the Clouds containing lush floods of water\(which is an heavy body,) do nor defcend ando- verwhelm the earth ? This is by the power and decree, or by the powerful decree of God, who hath caufed filch a weak and thin fubtlance, as the Clouds,made up only of Vapours, co hold thofe nighty waters close, and keep them prifoners, that not a fpoon- ful !hall !lied forth till himfelf pleafeth. The Clouds, as tome have well expreffed ir, are like fpunges filled wi;h, water, and till God layeth his hand upon the Clouds ( that is, till he gives a word ) and as I may fay, fqueezeth or prefleth them by his providence (as we fqueez a fpung full of water) the waters fall nor. Thus we fee the reafon, why Tlihumakes fogreat a matter of the fpreading of the Clouds, and why the waters fall not pre- fencly together, nor prefendy drop out of them, but in their feafon. A third Querie concerning the Clouds maybe this ; why art they placed above ? what ù their ufe ? I anfwer, The ufe of the Clouds may be confidered two ways; f rtl, there is a natural, fecondly, a fpiritual ufe of them. Firdl, there is a natural ufe of them, and that is twofold. Fitt+, That they may contain water in a readinefs tomoitlen and fatten theearth : Stores and creafuresof rain are kept in them to fupply the neceflities of all earthlycreatures. Secondly, The natural ufe of the Clouds is, to attemper the the heat of the air, and to be as a Curtain, or Screenbetween us and the Sun. If the SunMould al vayes Thine fully upon the earth, we were notable toabide it ; but the Clouds coming between, do exceedingly qualifieand moderate the heat and fiercenefs of the Sun. Thefe, befides others, are their natural ufes. And if we look into the Scripture, we. (hall find many fpiritual and gracious ufes, for w,hich God hash made the Clouds. Fitt+, God bath fet his Bow in the Clouds, as a token of his fa- vour unto mankind, as a token of his general favour, that he will not drown the \odd again (Gen. 9. 4, -I 5, ) And it fiatl come to pafs, when I bring a Cloud over the Earth, that the Bow feail be F f f 2 ea 403
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