(C4 Chap. 29. An Expojition sepias the Book, of J o B. Verf. 23. to transform is into goodground, fit to be ploughed or planted for fpiritual ufes. And again, fecondly, whcrea+ natural rain drawes forth the weeds, and makes them profper, this rain kills and withers thcm,even all chafe fufls which daily grow out of our heares,and often (hew- themfelves in our lives: the rain of the word nouifhes nothing but our graces, and our holinefs. And therefore the Apoflle treating of thisfpiritual rain (Erb. 6.8.) concludes chat ground under rejealion, which being rained up- onbrings forth bryars and thorns, yea that it is nigh unto curling, and the end of it is burning. If they who are thus watered bring forth weeds, they have nothing, to exile& next but fire, they and their weeds (hall furely be bundled up together and ca(t into everlafling burnings. Secondly, fob being able and ready co give good counfel, they waited for it asfor rain, and opened their month wide, alfor.-thc.lat- ter rain. Hence observe ; All Gaod.counfel, efpecially the faving dotlrine of the Gofprii (honld6e as welcome to us as the rain , as the latter rasa. The word of truth andgrace is the moildcuireable thing in the world ; and they that know either the worth of ir, or their own want of ic,cannot butdefire ir,as the earth delsech rain; Owhat longings, what thiraings ,are there in poor humbled parched foules for the word of God ! they efteeçn it more then theex, peed rain, more thentheir appointed food, as was (hewed at the 2th verle of the 23d Chapter of this book. If a man be hungry, a little bidding will, ferve the turn to perfwade him to eat; Nature teaches men to eat when they are htngry,todrink when thitfty, and to look for rain when the earth is dry ; and doch not grace teach and provoke us to pray and wait for fpiritual food and rain, that our foules may live and fruecifie l How for- ward are we to pray for natural rain, in its feafon, and the Lord !cokes that we fhould ; he loves to be entreated for it : and (hall we be backward to receive fpiritual rain, which (though it be . fometìmes more) is at all times feafonable ! When .once we are fencible of our fpiritual drynefsand barrennefr, of our wants and weakneffes, we (hall as earnetilydelire and prize the good . ccun,els, the feeding rains of the word, as ever we did rain in.. the
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