And, for our further improvement of this bounty of God, remember, that if God be so abundant and liberal in blessings to us, we ought in proportion to abound in duty towards him, or (as the Apostle exhorts, 1 Cor. 15.58.) we should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Some do only a little, (I may say) only here a stitch and there a stitch of work for God, but we should abound in it; and that not only now and then by fits, but be always fixed in it, especially we should do so, with respect to that, which the rain is a Symbol of, the word of God. When God drops and distils the rain of Gospel truths and holy soul-saving instructions abundantly upon us, how should we abound in every good word and work! It was prophesied of Christ (Psal. 72.6.) He shall come down as rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. Some of the Ancients expound that place of the coming down of Christ in his Incarnation; then indeed he came down like rain upon the mown grass, he came down sweetly and powerfully. 'Tis true also that Christ, who is God, the Word, the substantial Word, comes down as rain in and with the declarative word of God preached and faithfully dispensed to the souls of men: and when Christ comes down thus to us, we should rise up to him, and return fruits of grace, according to the showers of grace, which we have received. The Prophet gives us an elegant comparison of the natural and spiritual rain in their effects and issues, (Isa. 55.10, 11.) For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give feed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so ⟨p. 398⟩shall my word be, that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it. Now what is the pleasure of God in giving his Word? what is the errand upon which he sends it? 'Tis I grant, sometimes to harden, deafen and blind a people, (Isa. 6.9, 10.) 'tis sometimes to be a savour of death unto death, (2 Cor. 2.16.) These are dreadful judiciary purposes of God in sending his Word; nor doth it ever please the Lord to send his Word upon this errand, but when he is sorely displeased by a peoples slighting and contempt of his Word.
And, for our further improvement of this bounty of God, remember, that if God be so abundant and liberall in blessings to us, we ought in proportion to abound in duty towards him, or (as the Apostle exhorts, 1 Cor. 15.58.) we should be stedfast and immoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Some do only a little, (I may say) only here a stitch and there a stitch of work for God, but we should abound in it; and that not only now and then by fits, but be alwayes fixed in it, especially we should do so, with respect to that, which the rain is a Symbol of, the word of God. When God drops and distills the rain of Gospel t•uths and holy soul-saving instructions abundantly upon us, how should we abound in every good word and work! It was prophesied of Christ (Psal. 72.6.) He shall come down as rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. Some of the Ancients expound that place of the coming down of Christ in his Incarnation; then indeed he came down like rain upon the mown grass, he came down sweetly and powerfully. 'Tis true also that Christ, who is God, the Word, the substantial Word, comes down as rain in and with the declarative word of God preached and faithfully dispenced to the souls of men: and when Christ comes down thus to us, we should rise up to him, and return fruits of grace, according to the showres of grace, which we have received. The Prophet gives us an elegant comparison of the natural and spiritual rain in their effects and issues, (Isa. 55.10, 11.) For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give feed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so ⟨p. 398⟩shall my word be, that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me voyd, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it. Now what is the pleasure of God in giving his Word? what is the arrand upon which he sends it? 'Tis I grant, sometimes to harden, deafen and blind a people, (Isa. 6.9, 10.) 'tis sometimes to be a savour of death unto death, (2 Cor. 2.16.) These are dreadfull judiciary purposes of God in sending his Word; nor doth it ever please the Lord to send his Word upon this arrand, but when he is sorely displeased by a peoples slighting and contempt of his Word.
