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

Changes in the air, as well as changes in the estates, lives, or hearts of men, are from the Lord (Psal. 147.17.) He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes: He casteth forth his ice like morsels; who can stand before his cold? It is Gods ice and his cold as well as his rain or his Sun-shine. When the Psalmist saith, He scattereth the frost, he casteth forth his ice, he saith the same thing in substance which Elihu doth here, By the breath of the Lord frost is given: There is a continual dependence of all creatures in their motions and operations, as well as in their beings, upon the will of God, 'tis by his word that frost is given. Some deny the working of the first cause with the second cause•, any otherwise than as God once gave them a working power, and conserveth that power once given them. Whereas indeed God hath not only given a general power to the creature, not only hath he said, There shall be frost sometimes, and heat sometimes, and fair weather sometimes, but when-ever the heat or cold or frost come, they come by a particular order from him. As all things, men especially, have their being in him, so their working and moving from him; and that not only because he makes us in general, working, moving creatures, but as to every special work and motion. This the Prophet asserts, while he puts those reproving questions (Isa. 10.15.) Shall the axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify it self against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake it self against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up it self, as if it were no wood. Living and natural creatures move no more without God, th•n artificial and lifeless instruments (such as the axe and saw, the rod and staff) can move themselves without the hand or help of man. By the breath of the Lord frost is given, And the breath of the water is straitened.

Changes in the air, as well as changes in the estates, lives, or hearts of men, are from the Lord (Psal. 147.17.) He giveth snow like wooll: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes: He casteth forth his ice like morsels; who can stand before his cold? It is Gods ice and his cold as well as his rain or his Sun-shine. When the Psalmist saith, He scattereth the frost, he casteth forth his ice, he saith the same thing in substance which Elihu doth here, By the breath of the Lord frost is given: There is a continuall dependance of all creatures in their motions and operations, as well as in their beings, upon the will of God, 'tis by his word that frost is given. Some deny the working of the first cause with the second cause, any otherwise than as God once gave them a working power, and conserveth that power once given them. Whereas indeed God hath not only given a general power to the creature, not only hath he said, There shall be frost somtimes, and heat somtimes, and fair weather somtimes, but when-ever the heat or cold or frost come, they come by a particular order from him. As all things, men especially, have their being in him, so their working and moving from him; and that not only because he makes us in general, working, moving creatures, but as to every special work and motion. This the Prophet asserts, while he puts those reproving questions (