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

Seventhly, The Natu all Historian assureth us, that where the Rainbow at any time toucheth the Earth (as we may often observe it doth) it leaveth a fragrant smell upon the grass, shrubs and ⟨p. 547⟩bushes. Thus you see how properly and fitly the Rainbow is called The shining of the light of his Cloud, as also what significations of favour are discernible in it. From this explication of the words, we may note; Fi•st, After troubles and storms, God will give his people comforts and calms.

Seventhly, The Natu al Historian assureth us, that where the Rainbow at any time toucheth the Earth (as we may often observe it doth) it leaveth a fragrant smell upon the grass, shrubs and ⟨p. 547⟩bushes. Thus you see how properly and fitly the Rainbow is called The shining of the light of his Cloud, as also what significations of favour are discernable in it. From this explication of the words, we may note; Fi•st, After troubles and stormes, God will give his people comforts and calmes.

He causeth the light of his Cloud to shine. Clouds are dark things, but while the Cloud shows Rain, Gods light in the Cloud shows fair weather. That's matter of rejoicing to all that fear God, as with respect unto that particular Judgment of the Deluge, so of all evils and troubles which fall upon them in this wo•ld. This light shining in the Cloud may comfort and refresh us in the darkest night of sorrow. It is said (Psal. 97.11.) Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart: And in the 4th of the Revelations (which is as it were a Prologue or Preface to all the Prophesies of the dark times that should come upon the world, and over the Church of God in this world) we find Jesus Christ is represented with a Rainb bout him (vers. 3.) I was in the spirit, and behold a Throne se eaven, and one sat on the Throne, and he that sat was to look upon like a Jasper and Sardix stone, and there was a Rainbow round about the Throne, in sight like to an Emrald. From this Throne it is that Jesus Christ doth, as I may say, dispense all the affairs of his Churches and people. Now though Jesus Christ in the providential or mediatorial government of his Churches, doth often send Clouds upon them, and though Clouds and darkness are round about him, yet the Throne hath a Rainbow about it: And why a Rainbow? to show that Jesus Christ is mindful of his Churches and people, to save them when the Serpent casts out Floods to drown them. 'Tis said (Rev: 12.15.) The Serpent cast out of his mouth water as a Flood after the Woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the Flood; but Jesus Christ that sitteth upon the Throne, hath a Rainbow about h, which gives assurance that the Floods shall not quite overwhelm the Church, she shall be delivered, though it be in a Wilderness, from those mighty water-floods of persecution raised and caused by the Serpent and his seed against the seed of the Woman, or against the Woman and her seed. Though Christ may suffer great Floods of sorrow and tribulation to be poured