A divine herbal together with a forrest of thorns In five sermons. ... By…A divine herball together with a forrest of thornes In five sermons. ... By…

4. Rain hath a powerful efficacy to cleanse the air. When infectious fogs, and contagious vapours have filled it full of corruption, the distilling showers wash away the noisome putrefaction. We know, that too often filthy fumes of errors and heresies surge up in a land, that the soul of faith is almost stifled, and the uncleanness of corrupt doctrine gets a predominant place: the Lord then drops his word from heaven: the pure Rain of his holy Gospel cleanseth away this putrefaction, and gives new life to the almost smothered truth. Woe to them then that would deprive mens souls of the Gospel, and with-hold the Truth in unrighteousness. When they lock up the gates of grace (as Christ reproved the Lawyers) and labour to make the heavens brass, they must needs also make the Earth iron. How should the earth of mans heart bring forth fruits, when the rain is with-held from it? No marvel, if their air be poisoned.

4. Raine hath a powerfull efficacy to cleanse the ayre. When infectious fogges, and contagious vapours haue filled it full of corruption, the distilling showres wash away the noysome putrifaction. We know, that too often filthy fumes of errors and heresies surge vp in a land, that the soule of faith is almost stifled, and the vncleannesse of corrupt doctrine gets a predominant place: the Lord then droppes his word from heauen: the pure Raine of his holy Gospell cleanseth away this putrifaction, and giues new life to the almost smothered truth. Wo to them then that would depriue mens soules of the Gospell, and with-hold the Truth in vnrighteousnesse. When they locke vp the gates of grace (as Christ reproued the Lawyers) and labour to make the heauens brasse, they must needes also make the Earth iron. How should the earth of mans heart bring forth fruits, when the raine is with-held from it? No maruell, if their ayre be poyson'd.

5. Rain hath yet another working; to mollify a hard matter. The parched and heat-hardened earth is made soft by the dews of heaven. O how hard and obdurate is the heart of man, till this raine•falls on it. Is the heart covetous? no tears from distressed eyes can melt a penny out of ⟨p. 16⟩