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

The second interpretation I judge most congruous to the scope of the text, which saith clearly, Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud.

Whence note; Those creatures which have greatest stores to give, may quickly have none left to give.

Here is a cloud and a thick cloud (Elihu doth not speak of an ordinary, but of a thick cloud) yet upon the Lords command to give showers the cloud is quite spent and wearied. Though men have the greatest affluence, the largest stores and stock•, of wealth or riches, yea of gifts and graces, yet they may be wearied, and even drawn dry. The thickest clouds, that is, they who have the greatest treasures of strength, of wit, of learning and knowledge, are soon wearied, exhausted and emptied, unless they live in dependence ⟨p. 501⟩upon God; Only, God himself can never be wearied by watering. How much soever God giveth out to us, he is not at all emptied, but remains everlastingly equally full. And if God will speak to the meanest creature, even to that which seemeth most empty, it shall water others and not be wearied. The thick clouds, they who have much, may be spent, while he that hath but a little shall not be spent. The Prophet said to the poor woman (1 King. 17.14.) The oil in the cruse, and the meal in the barrel shall not waste. The woman might draw out of the oil as long as she would, and still there would be a supply of oil, nor would the barrel be weary in yielding meal. The Lord can make the creature unwearied, and establish it to us for good. A full cloud will soon drop away, if the Lord forbear supplies; and a few drops shall be as an everlasting spring where the Lord gives out supplies. We may alo allude to that (