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

First, That Thunder and Lightning are a kind of Word of God to us, they tell us (though confusedly, yet plainly enough, for the conviction and condemnation of gainsayers) there is a God; the greatest Princes of the world have taken notice of Thunder and Tempest that there is a God over all, governing all; nor needs there any more teaching than that to condemn Atheists and Mockers at Religion. We say proverbially of some men, who make a rude noise, they are so loud that we cannot hear God Thunder for them; yet know there's no noise can so drown the voice of Gods Thunder in the Clouds, but it will condemn all that hear it not, so as to acknowledge God in it.

First, That Thunder and Lightning are a kind of Word of God to us, they tell us (though confusedly, yet plainly enough, for the conviction and condemnation of gainsayers) there is a God; the greatest Princes of the world have taken notice of Thunder and Tempest that there is a God over all, governing all; nor needs there any more teaching than that to condemne Athiests and Mockers at Religion. We say proverbially of some men, who make a rude noise, they are so loud that we cannot hear God Thunder for them; yet know there's no noise can so drown the voice of Gods Thunder in the Clouds, but it will condemn all that hear it not, so as to acknowledg God in it.

Secondly, We should mark, that as Thunder and Lightning are a kind of Voice or Word of God to us, so the Word of God, or the Voice of God, speaking in his Word, is a kind of Thunder and Lightning to us, very mighty, very powerful, even clothed with an irresistible power and might. And therefore if we take the Prophet David in 29th Psalm before mentioned, speaking, in the former part of it, of the effects of Natural Thunder only; yet toward the close of the Psalm, he applieth it to the Word of God, while he saith (v. 9.) And in his Temple doth every one speak of his glory; that is, the Word and Ordinances of God, ministered in his Church, or Temple, will put every one to acknowledge and speak of the glorious Power of God, even much more than the mighty Thunder which soundeth in our ears, or the subtle Lightning which flasheth in our eyes. There is a far more royal power in the Thunder of the Word, than in the word of Thunder; This terrifieth only to Conviction, but that terrifieth to Salvation; for after God speaks terror there in his Threatenings, he speaks comfort in the Promises; and when he