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

And therefore here we may take notice, that whereas the Rainbow is naturally a sign of Rain, for it is always accompanied with Clouds, or at least with a Cloud ready to dissolve and melt into Rain, and is therefore called by the Poet (Nuncia Junonis, Virg. Aeneid. 4.) the Harbingresse of Juno: yet on the contrary God appoints it as a sign of fair weather. And indeed God often works by contrary means, lest we should stick in means, and ascribe the effect, more than is due, to them. So then the Rainbow hath two different significations, the first natural, of Rain, nor doth God promise to hinder or alter this course of nature. Secondly, preternatural or instituted, of fair weather; which Philosophy, and the world, is altogether ignorant of; only the Church and people of God understand it by faith upon the testimony or revealed will of God, that as often as the Bow appeareth in the Cloud, they have a renewed assurance that God will remember the Earth, and moderate the Rain: nor doth this depend upon the nature of, or various colours appearing in the Rainbow, but purely upon the will and institution of God. And therefore we ought by a firm faith to embrace the word of promise, to which this sign is annexed; without that, the Rainbow is nothing else to us, but the image or representation of the rays of the Sun or Moon, impressed upon the Clouds.

And therefore here we may take notice, that whereas the Rainbow is naturally a sign of Rain, for it is alwayes accompanied with Clouds, or at least with a Cloud ready to dissolve and melt into Rain, and is therefore called by the Poet (Nuncia Junonis, Virg. Aeneid. 4.) the Harbingresse of Juno: yet on the contrary God appoynts it as a sign of faire weather. And indeed God often works by contrary means, lest we should stick in means, and ascribe the effect, more than is due, to them. So then the Rainbow hath two different significations, the first natural, of Rain, nor doth God promise to hinder or alter this course of nature. Secondly, preternatural or instituted, of faire weather; which Philosophy, and the world, is altogether ignorant of; only the Chu•ch and people of God understand it by faith upon the testimony or revealed will of God, that as often as the Bow appeareth in the Cloud, they have a renewed assurance that God will remember the Earth, and moderate the Rain: nor doth this depend upon the nature of, or various colours appearing in the Rainbow, but purely upon the will and institution of God. And the•efore we ought by a firme faith to embrace the word of promise, to which this sign is annexed; without that, the Rainbow is nothing else to us, but the image or representation of the rayes of the Sun or Moon, impressed upon the Clouds.