The works of George Swinnock, M.A

O speak but as powerfully to thy poor creature, and he will as readily obey thy pleasure!

If we look a little lower, to the clouds, and meditate on them in their natural cause; thin vapours exhaled by the Sun, in their principal use, to drop fatness on the earth, in the tenuity and smallness of their bodies, the weight and greatness of their burdens, the waters in them being like lusty children, encompassed only with a tender film; how they are tossed too and fro, hurried hither and thither with tempestuous winds, and yet burst not in pieces through lack of vent, nor sink under the heaviness of their load, nor leak out one drop, till the hand of their Master ⟨p. 378⟩unstop their bottles; may well admire that infinite invisible power that upholds and governs them, and say as Eliphaz of their author; He doth great things, and unsearchable, marvellous things without number; for he giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth water upon the fields, Job 5. 9, 10. What excellent water may I distil with the limbecks of the clouds! If the favour of a Prince, be as a cloud of the latter rain (Prov. 16. 15.) so refreshing and comforting, what is the favour of the King of Kings! As the clouds mask the Sun from the •ight of Mortals, so doth sin hide the smiling countenance of my God from the view of my poor soul. As the Cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave, shall come-up no more; If showers from above make the earth soft and fruitful; surely the showers of heavens grace would make my hard and barren heart both tender and abundant in holiness; Lord, whilst I am in my journey towards my heavenly Canaan, let thy good spirit be my pillar of cloud to direct me; Suffer me not to be as a cloud without water; Do but say unto me, I have blotted out thy transgressions as a thick cloud, and I will bless thee for ever.

If we look a little lower, to the clouds, and meditate on them in their natural cause; thin vapours exhaled by the Sun, in their principal use, to drop fatness on the earth, in the tenuity and smalness of their bodies, the weight and greatness of their burdens, the waters in them being like lusty children, encompassed onely with a tender film; how they are tossed too and fro, hurried hither and thither with tempestuous winds, and yet burst not in pieces through lack of vent, nor sink under the heaviness of their load, nor leak out one drop, till the hand of their Master