Chap. 28. an Expofstion ttpon the Book, of J o a. Verf. 26, 33 t Lightning and tbrsnder calls tes to achnortledge the porger and pre - fence of God. The heathen gave this as a Title of honour to Jupiter ,The dpudpaerasap Tbundner. David confidcring this work of God invites us to e'lorur tupi- adore and woririip God, (Pjal, zg, r, z, 3.) give to théLerd, ter Tonmu, ll- ( O ye migbty.) civeunto the Lordglory ànd ffrengtb ; give unto tircndus &c. the Lord theglory due yarn hie name ; worfhip the Lord to the beau- tie z f bolinefs; Tho voice of the. Lord is open the waters, the Godof glory thundrtth, &c. As if hehad faid, when we hear the God of glory thundering, or becaufe the God of glory thundered.), we oughtto give him glory, and to worthip him in the holyetf man- mermen in the beauty of bolinefs, or (as the Margin bath ir.) in his glorious Sanîtuary. Epicurus of old (as Athiefis of a late date) argued, that co fear God or to have the awe and impref fion of a divine power upon our'Spirits whenwe fee the lightning and hear the thunder , Or feel the Thunderbolts, was childifh vain and grcundlefs,becaufe Thunder and Lightning proceed from natural caufcs ; But betides the wickednels and irreligion which alwayes lyes at the bottom, and is forne times held out uppermoll in there kind of arguing, it is eafie CO convince it of fenílefnefs and ir- rationality ; for may not the fame effet be afcribed to God, as the fuprearnor firff, and yet confeffed to have fubordinate and fecond caufes in nature, according to the lawand rule of its pro- , due ion by God originally let and affigncd ? And feting God is the Author of nature (as:fame have Peen by the common light of nature) is not God as much to be feared and honoured in thoce thins whichhe cloth mediately by natural mites , as in thoit which are wrought by his immediate hand and power ? and therc. fore though lightningand thunderbe a workof Nature, yet it is not only in part but chiefly to be afcrihed to Cod. Yea doubt - lets, as God ordered Nature foproduce thefe at'cooifhing eff,cis for natural ends, namely,firfl (as the learned 'Meteorolegtfts tell us) to purge the ayr and fpend chafe noxious vapours which are apt to taint the blood and bodies of menwish peRilential difea- fes ; and fecondiy, to fqucze thoCe fponges the clouds,and pro- voke them to give rain for the refre(hiug of the earth, as we fee in experience Rain following the Thunder. Now I fay, as God . bathordered Nature this work, for there and the like natural Vve end^,
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