An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

The increase of vegetables is the effect of rain; God hath the rain in his power, and to acknowledge him in it is our duty.¹ 'Tis a great part of our spiritualness to acknowledge God in naturals as well as spirituals; or, •hat the key of the clouds, as well as the key of the heart, is in the hand of God, and in his only. One of the Ancients speaking to this point, said, Let us not ascribe rain to the Saints, much less to Witches. Papists have their Saints to whom they pray for rain, and Atheists go to Witches for rain. The modest and moderate Heathen will •ise up against such in judgement; they ascribed rain to their gods though false gods; they had Epithets or Titles of Honour for their Idols,² testifying their faith in them and dependence upon them for the showers of heaven, they called them shower-bringing gods, and fair-weather-making gods. If heathens would yet ascribe the rain to their gods, not to men, not to any inferior powers, how abominable are they, who professing the knowledge of Jehovah, the only true God, do not acknowledge him alone in this! In times of drought many will say, We hope we shall have rain when the Moon changeth, or, when the Wind turns; now though there be somewhat in nature, both in the change of the Moon and turn of the Winds, as to the change of weather, yet to speak much of, or expect any thing from either, argues some withdrawing of the heart from God; and God to show the folly of such, hath often with-held the rain, though the Moon hath changed more than once, and the Wind turned to all quarters, and passed through all points of the Compass.

The encrease of vegetables is the effect of rain; God hath the rain in his power, and to acknowledge him in it is our duty.¹ 'Tis a great part of our spiritualness to acknowledge God in naturals as well as spirituals; or, •hat the key of the clouds, as well as the key of the heart, is in the hand of God, and in his only. One of the Antients speaking to this point, said, Let us not ascribe rain to the Saints, much less to Witches. Papists have their Saints to whom they pray for rain, and Atheists go to Witches for rain. The modest and moderate Heathen will ise up against such in judgement; they ascribed rain to their gods though false gods; they had Epethites or Titles of Honour for their Idols,