ttpon the EpifUeof J A M I _S . the latter rain that fell fomewhat afore harvefr , was a rain that came feldom in chat c_oumry , but was much d:eGred for the re– freOling of theCorn, and other fruits and bleffings of the earth. From that [ Behold the hufb,zn-.,1man,] J:Ve muff behold out- ob[er-r/at. ward obje[/s to an heavenly purpo/e; and every or4inary fight lhouldJ:,e improved; fo do th Chrill: in his Parables; fo el[ewhere he fendeth us to learn of the Lillin, as Jitmes dmh to the h.ufband- ·miUt: So [ob biddeth us to confer "'ith the 6eajfs, and ask.. of the fi/hes , Job 1%. 7, 8. That is by·meditation to draw ufeful colle– ttions from them : but you will fay, how !hall we improve com– monobjecb? IAnfwer,two waies, in an Argumentative, a_nd Reprefentative way, by reafoning from them, by viewing the re– femblance between them, and Spiritual matters ;. as in the prefent cafe and limilicude of the ApotHe. I. In Meditation argue thus : " If111n hujbandman upon ordinary prinnples of ret!tfon, can wait "fortheharveft:fhallnotlw'*itforthecomilig of the Lord, the "Jay ofrifrefhing? The Corn h precirm&Jo him, and fo u the "co,mingofChrift to me; foal/ he be fo p{jtient,and endure fo much "for aIm le Corn, and not I far the KhtgdDm of Heaven ? He u "willing to Pay till a{I CllN{es hi!lve had the operation, and he bath '' recehml the fo:·mtr and the1.'4tter rain:~ndfoa/1not I till the di– u vi~ae decrees be accomplifoed? z. In Medication mlke the re– fe,mblance and difcourfe rhus within your felves. "This is my ''feed time,Heaven is the bllrveft; here I muft labour and toil,~md "there reft: I feet·hehufbandm.tns life u agreat toil: We can ob– '' tai11 no excellent thing wit fJom lt4bour,and an o'bftinate pAtience: ''Ifee the feed muft be hidden in the fNrrows,rotten and cnrrupted, ,., e•re it can[pringforth 'With any incre~tfe; o~tr hopes are hidden, . . . "rand light is[ownfor tke right.eom; all our comforts are buried[Pfal 1 11 ;; under the clods, and after all thi> there muft 6e long 'Wi:liting; · 9 ' 'We cannot(ow,andreap in aday; effects cannotfollow,tilhlfl ne– '' ceffarie caufes ha'&e ftrft wt'ought: tis n~t in the power ofthehuf– '' bandmaN, to ripen fruits.at pleafure; onr times are in the hands ''ofGod; therefore tis good to w;ut ~ a ~o14g fujfering patierJce wilt ~'reap the defiredfrllits~ &c. . .: Aaaa Verr.
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