An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Rain is the special gift of God. Special, not in that sense as grace is a special gift, for rain is a common gift: but special, because it is that, of which and about which, God takes special notice, as we read, Amos 4. 8. I caused it to rain (saith God) upon one place, or upon one City, and not upon another: There is a special discriminating work about the rain; it rains by appointment, not accident, upon one place, rather then another. And Isa. 5. 6. when God expresses displeasure against his vineyard (he saith) I will command the clouds, that they shall rain upon it: The clouds are as vast bottles full of rain, but they cannot unstop themselves, or let out one drop, until God himself commands them; He melteth the clouds (as it is in Job) and then the rain falleth down. Thou O God didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance when it was weary, Psal. 68. 9. ⟨p. 262⟩How weary or dry soever the Earth is, unless God by a word broach those vessels of rain, the very inheritance of God cannot have a draught, no nor a drop, to quench its thirst.

Raine is the speciall gift of God. Speciall, not in that sense as grace is a speciall gift, for raine is a common gift: but speciall, because it is that, of which and about which, God takes speciall notice, as we reade, Amos 4. 8. I caused it to raine (saith God) upon one place, or upon one City, and not upon another: There is a speciall discriminating worke about the raine; it raines by appointment, not accident, upon one place, rather then another. And Isa. 5. 6. when God expresses displeasure against his vineyard (he saith) I will command the clouds, that they shall raine upon it: The clouds are as vast bottles full of raine, but they cannot unstop themselves, or let out one drop, untill God himselfe commands them; He melteth the clouds (as it is in Job) and then the raine falleth downe. Thou O God didst send a plentifull raine, whereby thou didst confirme thine inheritance when it was weary,