526 Chap. 6. 11n Expofition upon the Book efJ O$. Vere 24, and bring forth fruit, when watered with the rain. It cannot be denied, though it be much to be lamented, that many fouls upon whom much ofthis rain falls, are altogether barren and un- fruitful. But, Oh ! How barrenare thofe fouls, upon whom not a dropof this rain ever fell ! They that are deprived ofthefe fhowres areundera grievous curfe,even fuch a curie asDavid im- precates upon the mountains ofGilboa,2 Sam, r.21.Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let their be rain uponyou, &c. WhenGod faith unto a people, let there be no dew, no rain up- on you,no Moles to drop dodfrine upon, you no Paul to plant,no Appollo's to water you with the word,this is the faddeff fhowr of curies that can fall upon a people ; as without rain, fo without the word,ordinarily there can be no fruitfulnefs. You fee at this time how upon a little with -holdingof the natural rain, we pre- This was featly fear barrennefs and famine;the want of fpiritual rain brings prcace'd in a in a worfe barrennefs, though there are not many who fear it, or time of arc fenfible of it. drought. Fourthly, the word taught is like rain in regard ofthe difpen- fing of it. The rain comes not down alike at all times; fhowrs are very various, fometimes it raines foftly,then,we call it a (1í1l foaking rain ; fometimes we have a thong mighty rain;at another time rain is accompanied with thunder and lightning, while the fhowres defcend, the great Ordnance of heaven difcharge from the clouds and fill the air with terrour, Thus allo it is, or fhould be in teaching. Many fouls require a Llill, loft, quiet rain : O- thers muff have fironger tfhowres, mighty rain, you muft powre down upon them. A third fort mull have thunder joyned with rain, they need a Boanerges, a fon of thunder, a mixture of terrour with infirufion to bore their ears,and break their hearts. Thole teachers miflake their work, who inflead of raining are al- wayes thundring and lightning. As if their pulpit were let upon mount Sinai.And I beleive it is as great á mifiake to thinkTeach. ers need never thunder: The word of God ìnal parts ()fit, and in all manner ofdifpcnlations of it, is exceeding ufeful. A Mini - fler without teaching,is(as Jude £peaks) a cloud without water and he (hall do but little good upon Come, ifhe have nothing but water in his cloud; Fire fometime mutt mingle with the rain,and a tempeft come,aft,er or before the dewing, drflilling, fill voice. ,The word of God's compared to fire, as well as unto water. On- ly it mull be the wifdöm , and it is theduty ofevery Teacher,tö know
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