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

He hath vessels plentifully filled for the watering of the Earth; and, The Lord is so free in his dispensation of the rain, that as he gives it to many in number, so to many in kind, he maketh his rain to fall, (as well as his Sun to shine) upon the just, and on the unjust, (Math. 5.45.) It shows the exceeding goodness, as well as the bounty of God, that the evil partake of his benefits as well as the good.

He hath vessels plentifully filled for the watering of the Earth; and, The Lord is so free in his dispensation of the rain, that as he gives it to many in number, so to many in kind, he maketh his rain to fall, (as well as his Sun to shine) upon the just, and on the unjust, (Math. 5.45.) It shews the exceeding goodness, as well as the bounty of God, that the evill partake of his benefits as well as the good.

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, (