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

Snow is a moist vapour, drawn up from the earth, to, or near, ¹the middle region of the Air, where it is condensed or thickened into a Cloud, and falls down again l•ke carded wool, sometimes in greater, sometimes in lesser flakes.

Snow is a moist vapour, drawn up from the earth, to, or neer, ¹the middle region of the Air, where it is condensed or th•ckned into a Cloud, and falls down again l•ke carded wool, sometimes in greater, sometimes in lesser flakes.

1. 1Nix est v• or humidus in mediam aeris regionem subvectu•, ubi in nub•m condensatur & cong•latus, instar lanae carmin•tae des•e•dit te• parts, •te•dum magnas, int•rdum exiguas, antequam in guttas resol•atur. Garcae. Meteor. c. 29.Nix est v• or humidus in mediam aeris regionem subvectu•, ubi in nub•m condensatur & cong•latus, instar lanae carmin•tae des•e•dit te• partes, •te•dum magnas, int•rdum exiguas, antequam in guttas resol•atur. Garcae. Meteor. c. 29.

Snow and Rain, are made of the same matter, and have their breeding in the same place, only they differ in thei• outward fo•m, as is obvious to the eye, and their season; Rain falleth in the warmer seasons, the Clouds being dissolved into Rain by heat, or when the cold is more remiss; Snow falleth in the sharper seasons, the Cloud being thickened by the cold. Hence Solomons comparison (Prov. 26.1.) As Snow in Summer, so honour is not co•ely for a fool. Snow is a goodly white robe upon the Winter-body of the earth, or upon the body of the earth in Winter; yet how unseemly is it upon the body of the earth in Summe•, hiding and ⟨p. 470⟩obscuring, as well as hurting, that which is the natural beauty and ornament of it; Thus honour is a precious robe, yet no way fitting the back of a foolish or undeserving person. Snow is very improper and unnatural in Summer, because the coldness of it hinders the ripening of t•e corn, and other fruits of the earth: And therefore when Solomon saith (Chap. 25.13.) As the cold of snow in the time of Summer, so is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him. His meaning is no•, that the falling of •now is either comfortable or seasonable in the time of Summer, but that snow gathered in Winter, and reserved (as the custom is in hot countries) till Summer, being put into drink doth exceedingly cool it, and so refresheth those who are ready to faint wi•h heat.

Snow and Rain, are made of the same matter, and have their breeding in the same place, only they differ in thei• outward fo•m, as is obvious to the eye, and their season; Rain falleth in the warmer seasons, the Clouds being dissolved into Rain by heat, or when the cold is more remiss; Snow falleth in the sha•per seasons, the Cloud being •hickned by the cold. Hence Solomons com•a•ison (Prov. 26.1.) As Snow in Summer, so honour is not co•ely for a fool. Snow is a goodly white robe upon the Winter-body of the earth, or upon the body of the earth in Winter; yet how unseemly is it upon the body of the ear•h in Summe•, hiding and ⟨p. 470⟩obscuring, as well as hurting, that which is the natural beauty and ornament of it; Thus honour is a precious robe, yet no way fitting the back of a foolish or undeserving person. Snow is very improper and unnatu••l in Summer, because the coldness of it hinders the ripening of t•e corn, and other fruits of the earth: And therefore when Solomon saith (Chap. 25.13.) As the cold of snow in the time of Summer, so is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him. His meaning is no•, that the falling of •now is either com•ortable or seasonable in the time of Summer, but that snow gathered in Winter, and reserved (as the custome is in hot countries) till Summer, being put into drink do•h exceedingly cool it, and so refresheth those who are ready to faint wi•h heat.

But not to go further from the Text in hand; we see that Snow and rain have the same original, both being formed out of vapours. As in mans body (who is a little world) from the Stomach there ri•e up vapours to the Head, which by the coldness of the brain are changed into, and sent back again in Rheums and Catarrhs: So vapours drawn up from the Earth into the Air, are sent back in Snow and Rain. Solomon describing the infirmities of old age, alludes to this, while he warns the young man, that thus the Clouds will return after the Rain (Eccl. 12.2.) which may be understood either more generally of that succession of troubles to which old age is subject, or more particularly of Rheum and Flegm wherewith old age is molested; the defluxion of the Rheum being as the Rain, and the gathering of new matter, which continually distilleth from the Head upon the Lungs, being as the returning of the Clouds after the Rain. He saith to the Snow Be thou on the earth.

But not to go further from the Text in hand; we see that Snow and rain have the same original, both being formed out of vapours. As in mans body (who is a little world) from the Stomack there ri•e up vapours to the Head, which by the coldness of the brain are changed into, and sent back again in Rheumes and Catarrs: So vapours drawn up from the Earth into the Air, are sent back in Snow and Rain. Solomon desc•ibing the infirmities of old age, alludes to this, while he warnes the young man, that thus the Cl•uds will return after the Rain (Eccl. 12.2.) which may be understood either more generally of that succession of troubles to which old age is subject, or more particularly of Rheum and Flegm wherewith old age is molested; the defluxion of the Rheum being as the Rain, and the gathering of new matter, which continually distilleth from the Head upon the Lungs, being as the returning of the Clouds after the Rain. He saith to the Snow Be thou on the earth.

That is, he saith to the small Rain, do thou descend upon the earth. By small Rain is meant any gentle Rain, softly and sweetly dropping and de•tilling out of the Clouds. Now as God orders this small Rain, so likewise, as it followeth, The great Rain of his strength.

The whole O iginal Text,¹ which we render the small Rain and the great Rain of •is strength, hath a great Elegance in it, word for word thus, He saith to the shower of Rain, and to the shower of Rains of his strength. The word Rain in both is the same, only the former is in the singular, and the latter in the plural number, which heightens or increaseth the sense, as Critics and Grammarians tell us, and therefore we render small Rain and great Rain; to which Elihu gives this further addition in the clo•e of the verse, The great Rain Of his strength.

The whole O iginal Text,¹ which we render the small Rain and the great Rain of •is strength, hath a great Elegancy in it, word for word t•us, He saith to the showre of Rain, and to the showre of Rains of his strength. The word Rain in both is the same, only the former is in the singula•, and the latter in the plural number, which hightens or encreaseth the sence, as Criticks and Grammarians tell us, and therefore we render small Rain and great Rain; to which Elihu gives this further addition in the clo•e of the verse, The great Rain Of his strength.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew] Et imbri pluviae & imbri pluviarum potentiae ejus. Heb. Imber est agmen coelestium aquarum & pluviarum. Nonius. Coacervatio haec nominum et genitivus i••e pluralis vehementissimum & proc•llosum imbrem, guisicat. Merc. Cum du• nomia copulantur idem fere signific•ntia quorum p••••ius ponitur lo o adjectivi alterum determin•ntu, si fuerit pluralis numeri erit superlativae significationis. Bold. Imber pluviarum, quasi ox multis pluvi•• const•ns. Drus.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Et imbri pluviae & imbri pluviarum potentiae ejus. Heb. Imber est agmen coelestium aquarum & pluviarum. Nonius. Coacervatio haec nominum et genitivus i••e pluralis vehementissimum & proc•llosum imbrem, guisicat. Merc. Cum du• nomia copulantur idem fere signific•ntia quorum p••••ius ponitur lo o adjectivi alterum determin•ntu, si fuerit pluralis numeri erit superlativae significationis. Bold. Imber pluviarum, quasi ox multis pluvi•• const•ns. Drus.

Of whose strength? surely of the strength of God; as if God did in some Rain put forth his mighty strength, and make bare his own Arm in the showers which he sends upon the earth. The great Rain of his strength is that violent Rain which comes forth from God and shows forth to us the great strength of God: For neither of those two Epithets sm••• and great are expressly in the Text, yet b•th the scope and Grammatical construction of the words justify that Translation, A shower of Rain in th• singular number implying a mild gent Rain, or, as we call it, a small Rain; and a shower of Rains in the plural number implying a continued, vehement, fierce Rain, or as well call it, a great Rain, especially having that remarkable adjunct following, of his strength. When the Lord p omised to give showers of Rain for the a king (Zach. 10.1.) he meant a plentiful strong Rain; by which also he intended to signify the abundance of spiritual gifts and graces, which he would pour down upon the Church. So much for the opening of this verse, For he saith to the Snow, be thou on the Earth, likewise to the small Rain, and to the great Rain of his strength.

Of whose strength? surely of the strength of God; as if God did in som• Rain put forth his mighty st•ength, and make bare his own Arm in the showrs which he sends upon the earth. The great Rain of his strength is that violent Rain which comes forth from God and shews forth to us the great strength of God: For neither of those two Epithetes sm••• and great are expresly in the Tex•, yet b•th the scope and Grammatical const•uction of the words justifie that Translation, A showre of Rain in th• singular number implying a mild gente Rain, or, as we call it, a small Rain; and a showre of Rains in the plural number implying a continued, vehement, fierce Rain, or as well call it, a great Rain, especially having that remarkable adjunct following, of his strength. When the Lord p omised to give showres of Rain for the a king (Zach. 10.1.) he meant a plentiful strong Rain; by which also he intended to signifie the abundance of spiritual gifts and graces, which he would pour down upon the Church. So much for the opening of this verse, For he saith to the Snow, be thou on the Earth, likewise to the small Rain, and to the great Rain of his strength.

First, From the cau•al particle, for, which referreth to the former words, God doth marvellous things which we cannot comprehend, ⟨p. 472⟩for, he saith to the Snow, and to the small Rain, &c.

First, From the cau•al pa•ticle, for, which referreth to the former words, God doth marveilous things which we cannot comprehend, ⟨p. 472⟩for, he saith to the Snow, and to the small Rain, &c.

Observe; The Snow and Rain are to be written in the Catalogue of Gods wonderful works.

W•a• more common than Snow and Rain? and yet, as common as they are, they have wonders in them. Some of the Ancients h•ve observed many Wonders in the Snow, such as these.

W•a• more common than Snow and Rain? and yet, as common as they are, they have wonders in them. Some of the Ancients h•ve observed many VVonders in the Snow, such as these.

Fi••t, That being in its own na•u•e so extremely cold, yet it is formed in that p•rt o• the Air which is comparatively near the ea••h, and so hath mo•e hea• in it.

Fi••t, That being in its own na•u•e so extreamly cold, yet it is formed in that p•rt o• the Air which is comparatively near the ea••h, and so hath mo•e hea• in it.

Secondly, That Snow being so exceeding cold, doth yet by Gods Command fall in some very h•t Countries, even in the hottest of Summer. Geographers tell us of Snow in many places of Tartary, which are extremely hot.

Secondly, That Snow being so exceeding cold, do•h yet by Gods Command fall in some very h•t Countries, even in the hottest of Sommer. Geog•aphers tell us of Snow in many places of Tartary, which are extreamly hot.

Thirdly, they give this as a Wonder, That whereas it never Snows at all upon the Main Ocean, yet there is an Island spoken of by Pliny, ¹called (Nivaria from Nix) the Snow Isle, which, though compassed with the Sea, is always covered with Snow.

Thirdly, they give this as a VVonder, That whereas it never Snows at all upon the Main Ocean, yet there is an Island spoken of by Pliny, ¹called (Nivaria from Nix) the Snow Isle, which, though compassed with the Sea, is alwayes covered with Snow.

1. 1Plin. lib. 6. cap. 32. Nat. Histor.

Fourthly, this is given as a Wonder, That Snow being so apt to melt by heat, yet Mount Aetna, which is full of Sulphur, and casts out flames of fire continually, hath the Head of it hidden continually under or covered with a Cap of •now.

Fifthly, That in some places Worms are bred and live in the Snow of a fiery colour.

Fifthly, That in some places VVorms are bred and live in the Snow of a fiery colour.

Sixthly, That the Snow, though it be very cold and chilling, hath in it a fecundating or fattening power, as to the earth, is also wonderful. Snow is a great cherisher and nourisher of Plants and Trees, of Corn and G•ass; and therefore David saith (Psal. 147.15, 16.) He giveth Snow like Wool, and hoary Frost like ashes. There are three things considerable in Snow, for which it is compared to Wool. First, for the whiteness of it. Snow is white as Wool; Snow is so exceeding white, that the whiteness of a Soul cleansed by pardoning Grace, in the blood of Christ, is likened to it (Isa. 1.18.) and the latter part of the same verse intimates, that the whiteness of Snow bears resemblance to that of Wool. The whiteness of Snow is caused by the abundance of ⟨p. 463⟩Air and spirits that are in that pellucid Body,¹ as the Naturalists speak: Any thing that is of a watery substance being frozen or much wrought upon by cold, appears more white. And hence it is that all persons inhabiting cold Climates or Countries, are of a whiter complexion than they who inhabit hot.

Sixthly, That the Snow, though it be very cold and chilling, hath in it a fecundating or fatning power, as to the earth, is also wonde•ful. Snow is a great cherisher and nourisher of Plants and Trees, of Corn and G•ass; and therefore David saith (Psal. 147.15, 16.) He giveth Snow like Wool, and hoary Frost like ashes. There are three things considerable in Snow, for which it is compared to VVool. First, for the whiteness of it. Snow is white as VVool; Snow is so exceeding white, that the whiteness of a Soul cleansed by pardoning Grace, in the blood of Christ, is likened to it (Isa. 1.18.) and the latter part of the same verse intimates, that the whiteness of Snow bears resemblance to that of VVool. The whiteness of Snow is caused by the abundance of ⟨p. 463⟩Air and spirits that are in that pelluvid Body,¹ as the Naturalists speak: Any thing that is of a watery substance being frozen or much wrought upon by cold, appears more white. And hence it is that all persons inhabiting cold Climates or Countries, are of a whiter complexion than they who inhabite hot.

1. 1Causa albedinis est Spiritus aerisque copia in corpore diaphano. Arist. lib. 2. de Mundo.