244. Chap.i2. An'E,xpolition ;Jon the BookofJOB. Verf. 13 ) thenWye pray, &c. God locks the clouds, and prayer is a key ofGods own making to open them. This word is alto applied to the reftraint ofthat other element , the flopping and (hutting in offre (jer.2o.9.) Fireand water are head-ftrong elements, Theyaregoodfervants, but ill.Maflcrs. God puts a bridle upon the fire., a bridleupon the water. He withholdeth, The Waters. What waters ? It may be underftood, First, ofwaters under or upon theearth, there are fubterranean channel; of water Springs furnifh rivers,rivers are fupraterraneán channels,earthen veSfels, or rather vehicles and conveiances ofwater. He with- holdeth the waters, he withholdeth the.under- waters,he forbids thofe fprings tofeed the rivers, and then they are dried up. Se- condly, it may be underftood ofthewaters that are above the Empire of the Lord reacheth both ) waters hang in the clouds , there are feas ofwater above us it is the mighty power ofGod' which gives thofe aieryfponges the clouds,a retentive faculty, for elfe they would foon diffolve and overwhelm us. And it is from the anger and judgements of God, that thofe aieryfponges the clouds, are fometimes fo clofed up, that they yield no more wa- ter then Iron or Adamant. As he alwayes withholds thewater from drowning the whole earth fo he fometimes withholds it from refrefhingmany partsof the earth,he forbidsthe clouds to diftil a drop. Thirdly, it may be expounded ofthe waters of the fea, which feed the fprings,as fprings feed the rivers,(Nah. i.4.) He. rebukth the Sea and rnaketh it dry , anddryethup all the ri- vers. Where the fea is dried, the rivers mutt. The fea is grand_. mother to the rivers. The Prophet Zachary fpeaks the fame (chap.io,z a.) He (hall fmite the waves of the Sea,& all the deeps of rivers 1hall dry up. Thus alfo he withholdeth the Waters, And they dry up What dryeth up ? The rivers dry up, when the watersof the fea: are withholden, and the things that grow upon the earth dry up, when thewaters of heaven are withholden , and when they are withhoddtn very long, not oniy the fruits of the earth but therivers dry up too. In that great drought, (a King 17 17.)
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