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

Take the Rainbow as to its mystical use, so I grant, it was not before the Flood; till then God had never caused the light of his Cloud to shine as a Covenant-token. The Rainbow, had always a natural signification in it, but that is not all, it hath now also a Theological, divine and mystical signification, and is become as the Seal of that Covenant with mankind; for God instituted the Rainbow as a Sacramental sign (so we may express it for our better understanding) both between himself and the whole World in general, and in special between himself & his Covenant people (Gen. 9. v. 12, 13, 14, 15.) It was given (I say) on purpose to Seal the truth of the Promise, that the whole Earth should no more be overwhelmed with a Deluge or Flood of water: Which though it be such a promise as the whole Creation hath the benefit of, yet the faithful only understand the mystery of it, and have their faith exercised upon it, and strengthened by it. So that while the Rainbow is the sign of a temporal Covenant to all creatures, the godly may look upon it, with reference to all spiritual and eternal mercies by Christ, in whom all the promises of mercy are Yea and Amen, (2 Cor. 1.20.) And there is a great fitness in it to hold forth mercy both temporal and spiritual, in several particulars.

Take the Rainbow as to its mystical use, so I grant, it was not before the Flood; till then God had never caused the light of his Cloud to shine as a Covenant-token. The Rainbow, had alwayes a natural signification in it, but that is not all, it hath now also a Theological, divine and mystical signification, and is become as the Seal of that Covenant with mankind; for God instituted the Rainbow as a Sacramental sign (so we may expresse it for our better understanding) both between himself and the whole World in general, and in special between himself & his Covenant people (Gen. 9. v. 12, 13, 14, 15.) It was given (I say) on purpose to Seal the truth of the Promise, that the whole Earth should no more be overwhelm'd with a Deluge or Flood of water: Which though it be such a promise as the whole Creation hath the benefit of, yet the faithfull only understand the mysterie of it, and have their faith exercised upon it, and strengthened by it. So that while the Rainbow is the sign of a temporal Covenant to all creatures, the godly may look upon it, with reference to all spiritual and eternal mercies by Christ, in whom all the promises of mercy are Yea and Amen, (