2 Chap. 28. anExpofition upon the Book, of Jo B. Verf. a6. And if the Lord make a decree for the natural rain, cloth he not much moremake a decree for the fpiritual for the rainof the Gofpel ? Holy do&rive is often called rain in Scripture. And the fame word in theHebrew fignifies to rain and to infttu&; (Votes puts both together(Deut. 3' 2, 2.) My doarine fhalidrop as the rain, my fpeecb (ball dif#ill as the dew, as the[mall rainupon the tender herb, andat the (homersupon the grafs. Rain makes the earth ftuitful through the'bleflìng of God, and fo doth the word bur routes. Fie that :waters the earthand makes it fruitful, that it may"minifter.feed to the fower and bread to the eater, doth much more water the foul, that it may brin forth fruit meet foc his own ufe,or that himfelfmay come-into cheGardenof the Church, and eat his pleafant fruits. When the Apoffle had quoted that good old law of Mofe:, (a Cor. 9.9.) Thou fhalt not metz,zle the mouth of theox that treaded) out theCorn,prefently in- fers this queflion or rather reproof from ir, -dabGod take carefor Oxen ? TheLorddoth take care for labouring Oxen, but he takes care much more,that thofe labouringOxen, the faithfuÌandpain- ful 'Minifters of hisword (hould have food convenient for them. Sohere, doh the Lord take care to fend the (bowers of heaven in feafon upon the earth ? Surely he doth much more take care to fend (bowersof heavenly truth in feafon and out of feafon (as the Apofile:fpakes) upon the foulsof his precious fervants. He givesorder when and where and how todiftil word-rain upon us: and as we fhouid take"heed of bring untlllnkful for, fo of being uoftuful under it (Hib.6.7,8.)The earth which drinieth in the rain,that cometboft upon it,and bringethforth herbes meet for them by whom it isdreffed, receivethblef ngfrom God : but that which bearetb thorns and brper:, is rejetledand is nighunto curling, who fe end is to be burned.' Tis fad when Godmakes a decrceagatnft this rain, and faith to apeople as David to the mountains of Gilboa, (2 Sam. a. 21.) Let there 6e no dew, neither ler there rain upon you. 'But'tis more fad when after we have had many tweet Gofpel dews, and foaking-do&rine-raines, we either b, jog forth no ufeful fruir, or that which is hurtful, 'bryarsand thorny. He .made a decreefor the rain, Ande way for the: lightning ofthe thunder. Here lob gives another inflance of themighty power of Co. ir
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