Chap. 36. E Pojitioya upon the Bookof Verf. 29. 405 of God pardoning our fin (I fa. 44.22.) d have blotted, as a thick Cloud, thy tranfgre on, andas a Cloud thyfins. Falfe and faithlefs Minitiers are called Clouds without water (7udev.1 z.) And the faithful Minitiers of the Gofpel, flee asa Cloud to water Souls, as the converted Gentiles are faid, to flee as doves to the windows (Ifa. 6o. .) There are not onlynatural but fpirintal hies and improvements to be made of the Clouds, as often as we behold them ; and the Scripture in many places, leadsand points us to fuch medications. It is faid of Luther, that once beholding a great Cloud, that promifed, or had a great appearance of rain, in a time of drought, blown away and difpelled, without yeeldingone drop of rain to refrefh the earth; he turned to fore of his friends, rolesAnt Pro" laid, Such are the Promifes ofthe world. Men, faid he, make f great and fair promifes, pretending muchgood, and good-will to m;(jenesmandi. thofe to whom they are made, which yet vanifh andcome to no- thing ; and concluding his ob`ervation upon the deceitful appear- ance of the Cloud, added the words of Solomon ( Prov.2 5. 14. ) whof boaffeth hitosfelf of it fal fe gift, is like clouds without rain. Such efpecially are all falle teachers,they,if any,boafl themfelves of a falle gift, that is, they either pretend to agift which they have not, or they pretend their gift is of Chrifi, when it is not ; thefe are like Clouds without ra'n, or (as the text in the Epii }leof fude, even nowmentioned) calls them, they are Clouds without water, carried about of winds, that is, which way fo ever the wind of outward refpedis and advantages bloweth, they are carried. So much for anfwer to thofe three guef ions about the Clouds. Who can underhand thefpreadingof the Clouds ? Hence note; Pirfi, Even natural things exceed the reach of mans un- derflanding. Howmuch more do fpiritual things, the mvfieries of Grace 1 Nichodemus was a knowing man, a Mailer in Ifrael, yet how fin,- ply did he (peak when Chrifi propofed to him, andprefenred him with the n_ceffity of a new - birth .! Nor hash a natural man a clearer inlight in any other Gofpel myfiery (a C'or. 2. i4:) The natural man receiveth vot the things of God, neither can he know them, becaufe they are fpinitually difcerned. Bat he that isfpiritual judgetb (or difeerreth) all things; that is, he bath a piinciple of fpm
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