.Chap,t2. An Expofilial: upon the BoolZ,of JOB. Verl:i 5. 245 Thé brooks dryed up becaufe there wa, no rain in the land e Again, (J( 1 t,20.) The beats ofthe fieldcry alfo unto thee,for the rivers of.waters are dryedup , and thefire bath devouredthe paftures of the wildernefs. The fire bath devoured , what fire ? it was not ordinary elemental~fire that burn'd thepaftures, the fire was the fiezi, there being no rain to mollifie and mitigate his fcorching beams; the fun as a fire confumed the paftures of the wildernefs. So here, Hewithholdeth the waters and they dry ip , that is , the paftures (as well as the rivers) together with all vegetables, that are nurfed and nòurifhed by thole breaffs of Heaven diftilling upon them. Further, He withholdeth the waters and they dry up ; takes in the effe$ which follows,. the withholding of the waters, and the drynefs of the earth ; namely, barrennefs, andfanzine r and fo the caufe is put for the effect , and, he withholdeth the waters, is he caufeth famine in a land : He withholdeth the waters , and , q. d. Q inclo then corn, and grafs, trees, and plantsdry up. That three years twit pore)t rum famine Sam.2t.}etas from an extraordinary drought as is Ji`iitrrat m (2 g , tum cope fxm conceived : The fruit ofa di-Ought is famine ; and the fruit of rerurnorn um rain is abundance. Plenty defcends fromHeaven in fhowres : abundantram God takes away the fruits ofthe earth bytaking away thatwhich eiangiri. Bold, shouldnourilh and feed the earth in bearing fruit. I ¡hall but note two things from this briefly , referring the reader to the i3t.h. verfe of the t 5i:h Chapter, where the power of God in ordering rain and waters is more fully opened. Hence Obferve, Firff, The waters are at Gods command Hewithholdeth. them: He withholdeth them as it were by a law , or he withholdeth them as with a bridle. Therefhall not be dew nor rain the f years, . butaccording to my word, faith írlijah (i King.iy.i.) This fpake he in the power of God, for he prayed., and then the rain or the waters were withholden. God complained of his vineyard, (1Ia.5.) that he had beftowed much colt upon it,and yet had re- ceived little rent from it, unlefs fuch as was paid in bafe coin, He lookedfor Righteoufnefs, but beheldOppre¡feon, &c. well faith the Lord, Go to, Iwill tellyou what I will do,l will do thus and thus, and befides all this I. Will command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. The power of God andhis glory is wonderfully lifted up in this work ofprovidence (eXmos 9..7.) I have with- holden the rain fromyou, when there were yet three rnoneths to the I ; 3,; harti .
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