Ministers. | Parallel.
Clouds are fit Receptacles for the Water, they receive their Water, as it is drawn up out of the Fountain of the great Deep: For God hath made the Clouds as useful as so many Buckets, to draw up Water out of the Sea; and the Wind is made use of as an Hand, to carry these Buckets or Clouds whithersoever the great Creator pleaseth, to distil it down upon the Earth, that the Earth might be replenished, and made fruitful by it. | SO Ministers receive all their spiritual Rain out of the great Fountain of all Fullness: Of his Fullness have we all received, &c. and that by the Spirit; that so their Doctrine might drop as the Rain upon the tender Herbs,1 and as Showers upon the Grass. 'Tis according to the Gifts and Operations of the Spirit, be it more or less, that these spiritual Clouds are filled; and as God is pleased to distil and bless the Word, it becomes profitable, and makes this or that Man fruitful in Grace and Holiness. What abundance of Fruit have the Saints brought forth under the dropping of these Clouds!
⟨p. 270⟩II. Clouds are prepared by the wise God, as fit Mediums to let Rain down, that so it might fall gradually, as the Earth is able to take it in, to the benefit of all things that grow thereon, and not to its detriment, as possibly it would, were it not that God made use of the Clouds. | II. Ministers are appointed by the Lord as Instruments, to communicate of his Grace and Divine Goodness to the Children of Men. If he should make use of other Mediums, it might be to our hurt; should he speak to us himself, we could not ('tis possible) be able to bear the hearing of his Words. The poor Israelites desired Moses to speak to them, would not that God should speak to them any more, lest they died.
III. Clouds let down their Water more freely at one Time than at another; now and then it falls down wonderfully. | III. So the spiritual Clouds sometimes pour down, or rather out, the Divine Rain in a plentiful manner; at other times they seem much straitened in their own Spirits.
IV. Clouds let down their Water at God's Command, and they obey his Voice. | IV. So Ministers preach at God's Command; 'tis He that openeth their Mouths; 'tis as the Spirit gives them utterance.
V. 'Tis a great Judgment upon a People, when God commands or restrains the Clouds from raining upon the Earth, or upon this or that particular Nation, Field, or Vineyard.
Ministers. | Parallel.
CLouds are fit Receptacles for the Water, they receive their Water, as it is drawn up out of the Fountain of the great Deep: For God hath made the Clouds as useful as so many Buckets, to draw up Water out of the Sea; and the Wind is made use of as an Hand, to carry these Buckets or Clouds whithersoever the great Creator pleaseth, to distill it down upon the Earth, that the Earth might be replenished, and made fruitful by it. | SO Ministers receive all their spiritual Rain out of the great Fountain of all Fulness: Of his Fulness have we all received, &c. and that by the Spirit; that so their Doctrine might drop as the Rain upon the tender Herbs,1 and as Showers upon the Grass. 'Tis according to the Gifts and Operations of the Spirit, be it more or less, that these spiritual Clouds are filled; and as God is pleased to distil and bless the Word, it becomes profitable, and makes this or that Man fruitful in Grace and Holiness. What abundance of Fruit have the Saints brought forth under the dropping of these Clouds!
⟨p. 270⟩II. Clouds are prepared by the wise God, as fit Mediums to let Rain down, that so it might fall gradually, as the Earth is able to take it in, to the benefit of all things that grow thereon, and not to its detriment, as possibly it would, were it not that God made use of the Clouds. | II. Ministers are appointed by the Lord as Instruments, to communicate of his Grace and Divine Goodness to the Children of Men. If he should make use of other Mediums, it might be to our hurt; should he speak to us himself, we could not ('tis possible) be able to bear the hearing of his Words. The poor Israelites desired Moses to speak to them, would not that God should speak to them any more, lest they died.
III. Clouds let down their Water more freely at one Time than at another; now and then it falls down wonderfully. | III. So the spiritual Clouds sometimes pour down, or rather out, the Divine Rain in a plentiful manner; at other times they seem much straitned in their own Spirits.
IV. Clouds let down their Water at God's Command, and they obey his Voice. | IV. So Ministers preach at God's Command; 'tis He that openeth their Mouths; 'tis as the Spirit gives them utterance.
V. 'Tis a great Judgment upon a People, when God commands or restrains the Clouds from raining upon the Earth, or upon this or that particular Nation, Field, or Vineyard.
- 1Deu•. 32.•
