A35537:1486
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of the book of Job being the substance of thirty-five lectures / by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1664
AN EXPOSITION WITH Practical Observations UPON The Thirty-fifth, Th… › Chapter 36 › Verses 29-31
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Lord could give us abundance, if he pleased, without rain, but he rarely gives abundance but by rain; he sends rain out of the Clouds to water the earth, and make it fruitful. The Lord could make our souls fruitful in every good work, without the preaching of the word, but he seldom doth it (I believe never when the word may be had) without the preaching of the word. And therefore the Lord by his Prophet makes a comparison between, or a parallel of these two (Isa. 55.10, 11.) 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 seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be, that goeth out of my mouth, &c. The Lord useth rain and snow, yea, wind and thunder, to fit the earth, as he useth his Word and holy Ordinances to fit the soul, to bring forth fruit to himself. He could do both alone, but he improveth that order of nature and grace which himself at first set up and instituted to b•ing about these excellent ends.1 By them he giveth meat in abundance.
The Lord could give us abundance, if he pleased, without rain, but he rarely gives abundance but by rain; he sends rain out of the Clouds to water the earth, and make it fruitful. The Lord could make our souls fruitful in every good work, without the preaching of the word, but he seldom doth it (I believe never when the word may be had) without the preaching of the word. And therefore the Lord by his Prophet makes a comparison between, or a paralel of these two (Isa. 55.10, 11.) 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 seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be, that goeth out of my mouth, &c. The Lord useth rain and snow, yea, wind and thunder, to fit the earth, as he useth his Word and holy Ordinances to fit the soul, to bring forth fruit to himself. He could do both alone, but he improveth that order of nature and grace which himself at first set up and instituted to b•ing about these excellent ends.1