THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO RAIN. Book IIL MET A PH 0 R. VII. J{ain is moll: beneficial to the Earth, when there come tweet, warm Rays of the Sun with it, or as clear ihiningafter it, then Herbs, Flowers, and Corn, as alfo other Fruits, grow abundantly. VIII. Rain is necelfary at Seed– time, to make the Earth ready and fit to receive the Seed; 'Ihou vijitejf the Earth, and waterejf it ; thou greatly enrichejf it with the Riwr of God, which is full of Water: 'Ihou preparejf them Corn. 'Ihou waterejf the Ridges abundant– ly, thou fettlefl the Furro1vs there– of; thou makifl it foft with Showers, thou bleffifl the fpringing thereof, thy Paths drop Fatnefs, !fa. xxx. 23. Pfa!. lxv. 9, 10. This is call– ed the former Rain, and as it is neceff.u-y ar or about Seed-time, io allo it is needful at Earing– PARALLEL. VII. So it is in refpeCl: of the Gofpel, when the Sun of Righteoufnefs !hines upon the Soul, under the vVord and bleffed DoClrine thereof, 0! tbis makes a Believer, and all his Graces to flourilh exceedingly ! VIII. The Gofpel hath a two-fold Ufe and Benefit, it is necelfary as the former Rain at the beginning or firll: workincr of Grace upon the Heart ; fo it is needful afterwards, to ripen and prepare the Soul for Heaven. Beglad then ye Chil– dren of Zion, and rejoice in the Lordyour God, for he bath given you the former Rai11 moderately ; and he will caufe the Rain to come down, the former Rain and latter Rain, &c. We cannot be with– out either; we !hall foon decay in our Spirits, if v-e have not fpiritual Moill:ure of the Grace and Word of God upon our Souls; the Minillry of the Word is not only appointed to implant Grace in us, but alfo to perfeCt Grace fo rooted and implanted. time, to ripen the Corn, and to bring it to PerfeCtion ; both thefe are needful to pro– duce a good Harve!l, both the former and latter Rain. IX. Rain makes the Earth fofr IX. So the Word of God makes the hard and and tender, which orherwife wou.Jd flinty Hearts of Sinners very fofr and render; it is be very hard and dry, and unfruitof a mollifying fruftifying Nature, it makes the ful, as we fee in time of great Saints fruitful in Grace and good Works. Drought. X. After much Rain, fame– times comes a great Drought. X. So after great plenty of divine and fpiritual Rain, when People are glutted with a Fulnefs of Gofpel-Mercies, God fometimes fends a Drought, !huts up Heaven. Minill:ers are like Clouds without Rain. XI. Clouds let down the Rain XI. Minill:ers are the f{>iritual Clouds that God upon the Earth ; God makes ufe hath appointed to retain the vVord and laving of them as Velfels to retain the Knowledge of divine Things, fo that they may Water, and that alfo at his Pleaalfo at his Command let the Water of Life down, fure, they may let it out, and diftil or diftil it upon Men's Souls. See Clouds. it down upon the Earth. , XII. Rain bath been fent down from Heaven as the Anfwer of Prayer; Prayer hath as it were opened the Windows of Heaven, that it might rain upon the Earth. XII. Divine Rain bath been fent down as the Anfwer of fervent Prayer; the Prayer of the Godly hath prevailed with the Alrnighry, for fending of the Word and ~pirit down upon the World, aud Church of God : Hence Paul earneft– ly begs the Saints Prayers, 'Ihat he miJ;h_t open his Mouth boldly, to make known the M)jltry of the Gofprl, Eph. vi. 1 9· 2 'rhejj. m. I. XIII. Rain cometh down from XIII. So, faith the Lord, jhal! my 11/ord be Heaven, and returnerh not thither, that goeth out ofmy Mouth : It foal! not return unto wjthout anfwering the End for me void, but itjhal! accomplijh that which 1pleafe, which it is fent. and it jha!l profper in the 'Ihing wbereto I ftnt'lt, MET A PH 0 R. I. RAIN is not necelfary at all Times; there are Seafons when the Hufbandman craves none: He is fometimes afraid of a Shower, and prays for fair Wea– ther ; Rain in Harvcft is not wel– come. Jfa. lv. I O, II. D IS PAR 1 T Y. I. THE Word ofGod is neceffary at all Times: Preach the Word, be inflant in Seafoil and out of Seafon: There is indeed no Time, bm this divine Rain is needful, and we cannot fay we wane it not, for we cannot be without it one Day. Jl. But
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