The voice of God, in stormy winds. Considered, in two sermons, occasioned by the…

2. Second Causes are Overruled by Him who is the First Cause of all things. God ••n by His Word make Stormy winds, without making use of Natural Causes, were that His pleasure; As by His Word He Created the world out of nothing. But He makes Natural Causes to serve ⟨p. 17⟩His Providence in raising the Stormy wind. As Rain proceeds from Natural Causes: the Vapour which ariseth out of the Earth by the influence the Sun hath upon it, produces Rain. Job 36.27. He maketh the Drops of water according to the Vapour thereof. The Rain is more or less according to the quantity of the Vapour. These Vapours rise out of the Earth, and especially out of the Sea. Amos 9.6. The waters of the Sea He pours them on the Earth. The Rain is generated out of the waters of the Sea, and so poured on the Earth. And therefore when the Prophet Elijah had it revealed unto him that there should be a mighty Rain, he sent his Servant to look towards the Sea. 1 King. 18.43. There appeared rising out of the Sea, a little Cloud like to a m•ns hand, and presently the Heavens were black with Wind and Clouds, and a mighty Rain followed. The Prophet knew that in the course of Nature, Rain did arise out of the Vapours that were from the Sea, and so from the moist Earth. Now it is God that makes these Vapours to ascend. Thus the Prophet Jeremiah, Jer. 51.16. He causeth the Vapours to ascend from the ends of the Earth • ⟨p. 18⟩that is, from the Sea; for the Earth ends at the Sea. Again, The Sun, Moon, & Stars have a Natural influence in causing Storms on the Earth. Amos 5.8. S••k Him that maketh the Seven Stars and Orion. That is in other words, seek Him that does make both Benign and Tempestuous seasons. The Seven Stars are attended with sweet influences. The Scripture speaks of the sweet influences of te Pleiades, which are the same with the Seven Stars. When the Sun enters into that Constellation (which it doth on this Month, yea on this very day of the Month) where the Seven Stars are, there are those kind influences which cause the Grass to spring, and the Trees to bud and blossom. But then, Orion is a Tempestuous Constellation: it has been called Nimbosus Orion, Stormy Orion; it is a Constellation that appears in the Month of November, and as many times attended with great Storms. That the Stars of Heaven have a Natural influence on stormy tempestuous ssns, we learn from that Scriptur