This is the Direction which our GOD has given us; Zech. X. 1. Ask ye of the Lord Rain in the time of the latter Rain; so the Lord shall make bright Clouds, and give them Showers of Rain, to every one Grass in the Field. And in pursuance of this Direction, there is a Notable Thing, which I am to mind you of. In the Covenant which our Gracious GOD, after the Flood, made with our Patriarch Noah, who was to Comfort us concerning our Toil, and the Work of our Hands, because of the Ground which the Lord had cursed; there is a Promise of Regular Seasons, [Perhaps better than what were before the Flood;] wherein Seasonable Rains are comprehended. It may be partly with relation to that Covenant, that we read; Psal. XXXVI. 5. Thy Mercy, O Lord, is in the Heavens; they Faithfulness reacheth to the CLOUDS. When we want Rain, we should do well in our Supplications to plead that COVENANT of our GOD. It may be, if it were more in Use with us, to plead that COVENANT, the Faithfulness of our GOD, would being the CLOUDS more displayed before us. My Friends, Our Invitations and our Excitations, to ⟨p. 129⟩our Supplications, are Numberless. Among these, we have what is very cogent and pungent, when it pleases the Holy One, to send a severe Drought upon us. How Wicked, and how Woeful, are the Prayerless, at such a Time, when our GOD exhibits Himself as a Consuming Fire unto us! O Prayerless ones, what a Share have you in procuring the Desolation, which we are in danger of, while you will do nothing for the preventing of it? Our Business at such a Time, is, To look above the Clouds, unto a Merciful GOD, who Numbers the Clouds in Wisdom, and who can stay the Bottles of Heaven. Of this GOD, we are told; He is One, whose Faithfulness reacheth to the Clouds. It may be, a GOD of such Faithfulness, will deal with us, according to the Word on which he has caused us to hope; Even, that Word; If I shut up Heaven, that there be no Rain, and my People humble themselves, and pray and seek my Face, and turn from their wicked Ways, Then will I hear from Heaven, and heal their Land. We must come this Day to that Resolution; Jer. XIV. 22. Are there any among the Vanities of the Gentiles, that can cause Rain? Or can the Heavens give Showers? Art not thou He, O Lord our GOD? Therefore we will wait upon thee: For thou hast made all these things.
This is the Direction which our GOD has given us; Zech. X. 1. Ask ye of the Lord Rain in the time of the latter Rain; so the Lord shall make bright Clouds, and give them Showers of Rain, to every one Grass in the Field. And in pursuance of this Direction, there is a Notable Thing, which I am to mind you of. In the Covenant which our Gracious GOD, after the Flood, made with our Patriarch Noah, who was to Comfort us concerning our Toil, and the Work of our Hands, because of the Ground which the Lord had cursed; there is a Promise of Regular Seasons, [Perhaps better than what were before the Flood;] wherein Seasonable Rains are comprehended. It may be partly with relation to that Covenant, that we read; Psal. XXXVI. 5. Thy Mercy, O Lord, is in the Heavens; they Faithfulness reacheth to the CLOUDS. When we want Rain, we should do well in our Supplications to plead that COVENANT of our GOD. It may be, if it were more in Use with us, to plead that COVENANT, the Faithfulness of our GOD, would bei•n the CLOUDS more display'd before us. My Friends, Our Invitations and our Excitations, to ⟨p. 129⟩our Supplications, are Numberless. Among these, we have what is very cogent and pungent, when it pleases the Holy One, to send a severe Drought upon us. How Wicked, and how Woful, are the Prayerless, at such a Time, when our GOD exhibits Himself as a Consuming Fire unto us! O Prayerless ones, what a Share have you in procuring the Desolation, whibh we are in danger of, while you will do nothing for the preventing of it? Our Business at such a Time, is, To look above the Clouds, unto a Merciful GOD, who Numbers the Clouds in Wisdom, and who can stay the Bottles of Heaven. Of this GOD, we are told; He is One, whose Faithfulness reacheth to the Clouds. It may be, a GOD of such Faithfulness, will deal with us, according to the Word on which he has caused us to hope; Even, that Word; If I shut up Heaven, that there be no Rain, and my People humble themselves, and pray and seek my Face, and turn from their wicked Ways, Then will I hear from Heaven, and heal their Land. We must come this Day to that Resolution; Jer. XIV. 22. Are there any among the Vanities of the Gentiles, that can cause Rain? Or can the Heavens give Showers? Art not thou He, O Lord our GOD? Therefore we will wait upon thee: For thou hast made all these things.
