Exposition of Job 35-37, Exposition on Job · Chapter 36 · Verses 27-28
JOB, Chap. 36. Verſ. 27, 28.
27. For he maketh ſmall the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof;
28. Which the clouds do drop, and diſtill upon man abundantly.
ELlihu having ſhewed the greatneſs of God himſelf, in the former verſe, proceeds to ſhew the greatneſs of his wo ks; he had done it before as to Civil Adminiſtrations, and the ordering of humane affaires, in caſting down and lifting up the ſons of men; he doth it now in natural things, or in ordering the motions of nature, ſtill in reference unto man. He deſcribes the greatneſs of the works of God aloft or above in the Aire and in the Clouds, as he had before deſcribed the greatneſs of his works here below on the Earth.
The whole remainder of Elihu's ſpeech in this Chapter and to the end of the 37th, is ſpent in a philoſophical diſcourſe about the Meteors, and thoſe various operations and changes that are wrought in the Aire; he diſcourſeth of Rain, of Thunder and Lightning, of Snow and Winds; from all which works of God in Nature, Elihu would convince Job of the Juſtice and Righteouſneſs of God (as well as of his power) which was his chief purpoſe. He begins this philoſophical Lecture or Lecture of divine Philoſophy with the Rain, in the two verſes now read; and he mingles much of that matter in this and the following Chapter. He ſpeaks here, I ſay, of the Rain, which is a diſpenſation of God uſually both very profitable & comfortable; what more profitable or more comfortable than the rain? It is alſo a diſpenſation of God ſometimes very dreadfull and hurtfull: The Lord ſends the very ſame Creature upon contrary ſervices, ſometimes for good, ſometimes for evill; a… one time as a bleſſing, and at another as a curſe, to the inhabitants of the earth.
What Elihu ſpeaks of the Rain in this Chapter, may be reduced to five heads.
Firſt, He ſheweth the manner of it's formation and generation, v. 27, 28.
Secondly, The vaſtneſs or huge extent of the veſſels containing it, which are the clouds of the aire, ſpreading themſelves all the Heavens over, v. 29.
Thirdly, He tells us of the ſudden changes and ſucceſſions of rain and faire weather, of a cloudy and ſerene sky, v. 30.
Fourthly, He ſets forth the different purpoſes of God in diſpenſing the rain, which are ſometimes for judgement, ſome…imes for mercy, v. 31, 32.
Fifthly, He intimates the Prognoſticks of it, or what are the ſignes and fore…unners or foretellers of it, v. 33.
The two verſes under-hand, hold out the firſt poynt, the formation and generation of the rain.
Verſ. 27. He maketh ſmall the drops of water.
That is, God (as it were) coynes and mints out the water into drops of rain: As a mighty maſſe of gold or ſilver is minted out into ſmall pieces, ſo a huge body of water is minted out into ſmall drops; that's the ſum of theſe words according to our rendring. The Hebrew word rendred, He maketh ſmall, hath a two-fold ſignification, and that hath cauſed a three-fold tranſlation of theſe words.
Firſt, It ſignifieth to take away, o…, to withdraw; according to this ſignification of the word,foreignademit, ſubſtraxit. a two-fold power of God is held forth about the drops of water.
Firſt,Subſtraxit de…u ſtillas aqu… rum, ſc… ex mari, flumini…us … loc is humidis, quae fundunt pluviam ad nubeni ejus. Hauſtus vapor ex aqua cogitur in nubem, quae dainde ſundit pluviam. Merl: Qui auſert ſtillas pluviae. Vulg. The power of God in drawing the water up from the Earth to make rain, for that in Nature (as we ſhall ſee afterwards) is the cauſe of …ain; God draws up the water from the Earth, which he ſends down upon the Earth: he draws up the vapours, and the vapours become a Cloud, and the Cloud is diſſolved into rain.
Secondly, The word may very well expreſſe, according to other texts of Sc ipture, the putting forth of the power of God in ſtopping, ſtaying keeping back and with-holding rain from the ea…h, when …od hath drawn water from the earth, he can hold it fr…m the ea…h as long as he pleaſeth. The Chaldee Pa aphraſe ſaith, He forbids the drops to water the earth, or he ſends forth a proh bition to the clouds that they give no water. The vulgar Latine ſpeaks to the ſame ſence, who takes away drops of rain, that is, from the earth. Mr. Broughton renders, he withdraws dropping of water. In this ſence I find the word rendred expreſly (Numb. 9.7.) where certain perſons are brought in by Moſes thus complaining, Wherefore are we kept back that we may not offer an offering to the Lord with the children of Iſrael? It is a caſe; there were ſome, it ſeems, ſuſpended from bringing their offerings to the Lord, and they demand a reaſon of it; to give which, Moſes ſaith, ſtand ſtill, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you. But I quote that ſcripture only for the force of the word, wherefore are we kept back, or with held, which was for ſome uncleanneſs. Thus you have the firſt ſignification of the word, and a double tranſlation upon it, both very pertinent to the nature of the rain, and the Lords dealing with man in it, which is the ſubject Elihu is inſiſting upon.
foreign M…nuit, diminuis.Secondly, The original word ſignifies to diminiſh, or leſſen, or make a thing ſmall, ſo 'tis rendred (Exod. 5.8.) when the children of Iſrael complained that they were oppreſſed in making brick. This commandement came from Pharaoh, The tale of bricks which they did make heretofore, you ſhall lay upon them, you ſhall not diminiſh ought of it. It is this word. Again (Deut. 4.2.) Ye ſhall not add to the word which I command you, neither ſhall you diminiſh ought from it. Man muſt not make the word of God ſmaller or greater than it is. 'Tis high preſumption to uſe either ſubtraction from, or addition to the word of God. Thus alſo the word is uſed in the caſe of ſecond or double marriages (Exod. 21.10.) If he take him another wife, her food (that is the food of the firſt wife) her raiment, and her duty of marriage ſhall he not diminiſh.
Our tranſlators take up this ſenſe of the word as noting the diminiſhing of a thing in the quantity of it. He maketh ſmall the drops of water, or, he makes the water fall in ſmall drops; whereas if the water were left to it ſelf, it would poure down like a ſea, or like a flood to ſweep all away. This is the work of God, and though it be a common, yet it is a wonderful work; He maketh ſmall the drops of rain. A drop is a ſmall thing, and therefore the Prophet when he would ſhew what a ſmall thing, or indeed, what a nothing man is, yea, all the nations of the earth are to God, ſaith (Iſa. 40.15.) The nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the ſmall duſt of the ballance. Behold, he taketh up the Iſles as a very little thing. The Spirit of God pi…cheth upon this compariſon, when he would ſet forth that great diſtance between God and man. Man is but a drop to God.
But are not all drops ſmall? why then doth he ſay, He maketh ſmall the drops? The reaſon is becauſe, though all drops are ſm…ll, yet ſome drops are ſmaller than others, and we read of great drops in the Goſpel Hiſtory of Chriſts agony in the Garden, which was an immediate ſuffering in his ſoul, from the hand of his Father, preſſing him with that weight of wrath, which was due for our ſins (Luke 22.44.) He ſweat, as it were, great drops of blood. As God made Chriſt ſweat great drops of blood for our ſins, ſo he makes the Clouds to ſweat ſmall drops of water for our comfort. He maketh ſmall The drops of rain.foreign Guttavit, guttatim fluxit.
The Verb of this Subſtantive is uſed (Joel 3.18.) In thoſe dayes it ſhall come to paſs, that the mountaines ſhall drop down new wine; by which we are to underſtand, the plentiful effuſion of the Spi…it promiſed in the latter dayes. David deſcribing the Lords glorious march thorow the wilderneſs, ſaith (Pſal. 68.8, 9.) The earth ſh…ok, the heavens alſo dropped at the preſence of the Lord; thou, O God, didst ſend a plentiful rain, whereby thou didſt confirm thine inheritance when it was weary. Which Scripture principally intends the ſpiri…ual rain, which drops down upon believers, and refreſheth their wearied ſouls: And therefore by a Metaphor, this phraſe, to drop, ſignifies, to propheſie or preach the word of God; becauſe that, like rain, falls ſilently,—S…binde Praeceptuci auri…ulis hoc inſtillare memento. Horat. Lib. 1. lip. 8. and as it were in drops upon the hearers, it falls in at the ear, and ſoaks down to the heart, it ſoaks quite thorow, as Moſes ſpake (Deut. 32.2.) My d…ctrine ſhall drop as the rain, and my ſpeech ſhall deſtil as the dew. And as the word is uſed in Propheſies of mercy and inſtruction, ſo of judgment and deſolation. Thus the Lord charged his Prophet (Ezek. 20.46.) Son of man, ſet thy face towards the ſouth, and drop thy words towards the ſouth, and prophe…e againſt the foreſt of the ſouth field. Again (Ezek. 21.2.) Son of man, ſet thy face towards Jeruſalem, and d…op thy words towards the hol… place, and propheſie aga…nſt the land of Iſrael. Once more (Amos 7.16.) Drop no… thy word againſt the houſe of Iſaac. So tha…, I ſay, this dropping is uſ…d frequently, as in a natural, ſo in a ſpiritual ſence. He maketh ſmall the drops Of water.
foreign Forma duali, ſignificantur aquae duplices.The word is of the Dual Number in the Hebrew, and ſo it ſignifies both ſorts of water; the waters of heaven, and the waters of the earth, the upper and the nether waters, the …pper waters in the Clouds, and the nether waters in the Springs. We find them ſpoken of together in the firſt of Geneſis at the 7th verſe; God divided the waters which were under the firmament, from the waters which were above the firmament. We find the upper waters ſpoken of ſingly (Pſal. 104.3.) Who layeſt the beams of the chambers in the waters; Chambers are above. And in the firſt of Geneſis at the 9th verſe, we find the lower waters alone; Let the waters be gathered together under the heavens. Rabbi Selo. exponit. foreign per foreign multiplicat, quia dum ita guttatim aquae decidunt multiplicantur. Merc.Under-heaven waters are the lower waters. One of the Rabbies renders the words thus; He multiplieth the drops of rain; and the reaſon of it is (which falls in with our tranſlation) becauſe the leſs any one thing is made, the more is the general maſs, out of which it is made, multiplied.
From the words thus far opened, we may note ſomewhat for our inſtruction.
Taking the former ſignification of the words, He draweth up the drops of water,
Obſerve; The ordinary rain which watereth the earth, is firſt fetched from the earth.
Plavia eſt vapor calidus & humidus ex aquis & locis humidis virtute Solis & Stellarum, uſque ad m…diam aeris regionem elevatus, & ibi propte… loci frigiditatem in nubem condenſatus, &c. Garc. de Meteorol. part 2. cap. 25.God raiſeth vapours from the earth, and then watereth the earth with them. All the rain which falls upon the earth was raiſed from the earth. If I were to anſwer that queſtion in nature, What is Rain? I might reſolve it thus; Rain is the moiſture of the earth, drawn up by the heat of the Sun, into the middle Region of the Air, which being there condenſed into clouds, is afterwards at the will of God, diſſolved, and dropt down again in ſhowers. The Clouds, at the command of God, hold faſt, and at his command they break and let out their waters upon the earth. This is, as was toucht before, a very ordinary, yet a very admirable work of God. As in ſpirituals, all thoſe acts of grace in faith, and love, and joy, &c. by which our hearts and ſouls are carried up to heaven, come firſt from heaven; ſo that rain which comes down upon us from heaven, was firſt fetched from among us by the mighty power of God. Rain, according to natural Philoſophy, is thus generated: The water and moiſture of the earth being attenuated by the heat of the Sun-beams, become vapours, which being ſo rarified and reſolved into an airy ſubſtance, are by the ſame heat of the Sun drawn up to the middle region of the air, where being again condenſed or thickened into water, they melt down into rain, at the appointment of God.
We may conſider rain briefly in all the cauſes of it; Thus:
Firſt, The efficient cauſe of rain is God.
Secondly, The inſtrumental cauſe is the heat of the Sun.
Thirdly, The material cauſe is the moiſture of the Sea and watery Land.
Fourthly, The final cauſe of it, is, 1. Supream; the glory of God. 2. Subordinate; and that threefold. Firſt, the benefit. Secondly, the puniſhment. Thirdly, the inſtruction of man.
Secondly, From that other ſignification of the word, as it notes withdrawing or keeping back, upon which ſome inſiſt much,
Obſerve; God when he pleaſeth can with-hold the water or the rain.
He can give a ſtop to the rain, and then the clouds yeeld us no more water than a ſtone; He with-holds the drops of water. The Lord threateneth the Vineyard with this ſtop (Iſa. 5.6.) I will command the clouds, that they rain no rain upon it; which is true of a natural and proper Vineyard, and of proper natural rain, though it be meant there of the people of God, whom he metaphorically, or improperly, calleth his Vineyard; and the rain there intended, is the rain of inſtruction uſually falling upon them. Now as God doth often forbid the ſhowers of the word, that they fall no more upon a people, as he ſends forth a prohibition to ſtop the ſpiritual rain; ſo he alſo ſtops and prohibits the natural rain (Amos 4.7, 8.) I have with-holden the rain from you, when there was yet three moneths to the harveſt; and I cauſed it to rain upon one city, and cauſed it not to rain upon another city; one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered: ſo two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, but were not ſatisfied. Thus in caſe of diſobedience to his divine Law, the Lord threatened to ſtop the common Law of nature, and to make the heavens braſs, and the earth iron (Deut. 28.23.) And when the heavens are braſs, that is, when they yeeld no more moiſture than braſs, then the earth is as iron, that is, it yeelds no more food for the ſuſtentation of man or beaſt, than a bar of iron doth. Such ſtops the Lord hath often put upon the courſes of nature, and can do again when he pleaſeth; though I believe he never did, nor ever will do ſo, but when highly diſpleaſed and provoked by the ſin of man.
Take two or three inferences from it.
Firſt, If the rain or drops of water come not in their ſeaſon, let us acknowledge the hand of God. It is God that hath lockt up the clouds when-ever they are lockt up; God hath forbidden the clouds to let down their rain when-ever they with-hold it. Men and Devils can no more ſtop the rain than make it.
Secondly, When we want rain, let us go to God for it. 'Tis the prerogative of God alone to help us in that ſtreight; and therefore the holy prophet ſends a chalenge to all other powers, or declares them diſabled for this help (Jer. 14.22.) Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cauſe rain, or can the heavens give ſhowers? neither the one nor the other can. The heavens cannot diſpoſe of a drop, though they poſſeſſe a ſea of water. God muſt hear the heaven, before the heavens can hear the earth, that is, anſwer the neceſſities of the earth. And as the heavens cannot give man rain, ſo neither can the gods of mans making and placing there, ſuch are all the vanities or vain Idols of the Gentiles. The prophet having ſhewed us that theſe cannot, ſheweth us who can give rain in the next words, Art not thou he, O Lord, our God (ſurely thou art he) therefore we will wait upon thee, for thou haſt made all theſe things. Solomon, at the dedication of the Temple, puts this as one ſpecial caſe wherein they were to apply to God by prayer (1 Kings 8.35.) When heaven is ſhut up and there is no rain, becauſe they have ſinned againſt thee, If they pray, &c. then hear thou in heaven. The prophet ſends the people in that exigent to God (Zec. 10 1.) Ask ye of the Lord rain, in the time of the later rain. As if he had ſaid, if ye would have rain you muſt ask for i…, and be ſure ye ask it of none but him; ask of the Lord. As it is God that gives out or with-holds the rain, ſo he gives it our or with-holds it at the voice of prayer. The Apoſtle ſaith of Elias (Jam. 5.17.) he was a man ſubject to the like paſſions that we are, and he prayed earneſtly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth, by the ſpace of three years and ſix months; and he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain. At hi… word the Lord ſtopt rain, and at his word he gave rain. Let us therefore confeſs that God is the author or father of the rain; He cauſeth vapours to aſcend from the ends of the earth, he maketh lightnings for the rain (Pſ. 135.7.) He covereth the heaven with clouds, he prepareth rain for the earth (Pſ. 147.8.) God covereth the heaven with clouds, by drawing up vapours from the earth, which are the matter of theſe clouds, and in thoſe clouds he prepares the rain, & by the rain ſent down makes the graſs to grow upon the mountains. The encreaſe of vegetables is the effect of rain; God hath the rain in his power, and to acknowledge him in it is our duty.Deus ſibi Soli clavem pluvtae refervat Targ. Hieroſol. in cap. 3. Gen. 'Tis a great part of our ſpiritualneſs to acknowledge God in naturals as well as ſpirituals; or, …hat the key of the clouds, as well as the key of the heart, is in the hand of God, and in his only. One of the Antients ſpeaking to this point, ſaid, Let us not aſcribe rain to the Saints, much leſs to Witches. Papiſts have their Saints to whom they pray for rain, and Atheiſts go to Witches for rain. The modeſt and moderate Heathen will …iſe up againſt ſuch in judgement; they aſcribed rain to their gods though falſe gods; they had Epethites or Titles of Honour for their Idols,Imbriferi, ſerenatores. teſtifying their faith in them and dependance upon them for the ſhowers of heaven, they called them ſhower-bringing gods, and fair-weather-making gods. If heathens would yet aſc…ibe the rain to their gods, not to men, not to any inferiour powers, how abominable are they, who profeſſing the knowledge of Jehovah, the only true God, do not acknowledg him alone in this! In times of drought many will ſay, We hope we ſhall have rain when the Moon changeth, or, when the Wind turns; now though there be ſomewhat in natu…e, both in the change of the Moon and turn of the Winds, as to the change of weather, yet to ſpeak much of, or expect any thing from either, argues ſome withdrawing of the heart from God; and God to ſhew the folly of ſuch, hath often with-held the rain, though the Moon hath changed more than once, and the Wind turned to all quarters, and paſſed through all poynts of the Compaſs.
Thirdly, Let us take heed of provoking the Lord; he can quickly ſt…p our Comforts, thoſe common outward comforts, the rain and ſhowrs of heaven, and then (as to this Life) in how ſad a caſe are we! As the Lord hath not left himſelf without witneſs (namely of his goodneſs) in ſending rain and fruitful ſeaſons, ſo he can quickly leave a witneſs of his Juſtice, and diſpleaſure, or of his juſt diſpleaſure, by with-holding rain and (as a conſequent of that) fruitful ſeaſons from us. Were it only to have rain and fruitful ſeaſons, we ſhould take heed of diſpleaſing God. If a man had ſuch power as to with-hold rain from your land, you would take heed of di…pleaſing him. How dangerous then is it to provoke God, who cannot only with-hold the rain from your land, but can, as the Scripture ſaith, make the rain of your land to be powder and duſt (Deut. 28.24.) that is, give you powder and duſt inſtead of rain! When the rain is long with-holden the earth grows hard, and being much trodden or traveled on, duſty; this duſt being raiſed up by the wind, ſhall come down inſtead of rain, or that's all the rain which I will give you. The Lord hath our natural comforts in his hand, as well as our ſpiritual and eternal.
Further, As this with-holding of the rain ſometimes, ſo the holding up of the rain at any time, ſhews the great power of God; to hold the water in the aire is the work of God as much as to with-hold it from the earth. The water is a heavy body, and all heavy things tend downward; is it not a wonder that ſuch a mighty weight of water ſhould hang in the aire, and be there held up? if it were not held there, it would not ſtay there, but come down and drown all. What holds it up? the Cloud is a thin ſubſtance, yet it holds the water as well as the ſtrongeſt veſſel bound with hoopes of iron; But by what power? doubtleſs by the power of God. The water hath no conſiſtence in it ſelf, it is a fluid ſlippery body, now what can hold the water that none of it leakes out, but the power of God? There are many millions of drops in one little cloud, and every drop is of it ſelf ready to ſlip away, yet the whole cloud yeelds no more water then a rock till God orders it. Let us contemplate the Almightineſs of God, who can hold ſuch a mighty body of water in the aire, or who (as Job ſpake, Chap. 26.8.) b…deth up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent under them.
Theſe notes ariſe from that tranſlation, which imports the Lords power in drawing the water f…om the earth, as alſo in with-holding it from the earth when there is need, and in holding it when there is no need.
We tranſlate, He maketh ſmall the drops of …ater. Not only hath God made the body of the water, which is one of the four general Elements, of which all bodies are compounded and made, but he makes the water into ſmall drops, or maketh ſmall the drops of water.
Hence note; That the water falls from heaven by drop…, comes to paſs by the eſpecial power, wiſdom and goodneſs of God.
The water, if left to it ſelf, would …all whole like a ſea upon us, or like a mighty floud, in ſuch quantities as would, inſtead of refreſhing, overwhelm the earth. When God drowned the world, it is ſaid (Gen. 7.11.) The ſame day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows (or flood-gates) of heaven were opened. We are not to imagine that heaven hath windows o… flood-gates; but God did not put forth his mighty power to make ſmall the drops of rain, but let it come all at once: thoſe waters which were before bound up in the clouds, by the decree of God, were now, by his decree, let looſe in a wonderful manner and meaſure, and came down, not in drops, but in ſtreames and ſpouts; the clouds did not (as formerly) deſtil their burden,Pluvia in nubibus, velut in linteo continetur, atque in illis velut compreſſa guttatim diſtill… tur. but eaſe themſelves of it at once, or altogether. Rain ordinarily (as ſweat through the Pores of the skin) paſſeth by degrees through the Pores of the Clouds, yet God can let it out all at once. Sea-men, who take long Voyages, tell us, they meet with ſpouts of wate…, endangering great ſhips. So then, this making ſmall the drops of water, is to be aſcribed to a threefold Attribute of God.
Fi…ſt, It is a wo…k of his power, nor is it done without a kind of Miracle, that the water comes down, as it were, through a ſive, or watering-pot.
Secondly, It is a work of divine wiſdom. The Lord knowing that the earth cannot digeſt huge portions of water at once, divides it into little po tions, that the earth may gradually receive and let it ſoak into i…s boſom, for the feeding of Plants, and the ſupply of all c…eatu…es that live upon it.
Thirdly, 'Tis a work alſo of divine Goodneſs; for if God did not make ſmall the drops of water, if it ſhould come down whole it would drown the earth, inſtead of comforting and fattening it. Behold then, the Power, Wiſdom and Goodneſs of God in making ſmall the drops of water!
Though Philoſophers have attempted to find out and aſſigne a reaſon in Nature, about this falling of the rain in drops, yet they have not fully attained the reaſon why, nor the manner how, God doth this; we muſt aſcribe it chiefly to the power, wiſdome, and goodneſs of God, in ordering it for the benefit of man, yea of all living creatures.Plane admirabilem et tremendum in illu et per illa fefe exhibet deus. Merc: And ſurely Elihu leads us to conſider the wonders of thoſe things which are common and naturall, to convince us, that foraſmuch as we cannot clearly ſee the reaſon of thoſe leſſer things, we ſhould take heed of prying into greater and remoter ſecrets; and he would have Job particularly know, that ſeeing he could not find out the way of God in theſe natural things, much leſs could he find out the way and whole deſigne of God in thoſe his providential dealings with him: He maketh ſmall the drops of water; and then as it followeth in this verſe, They pour down rain according to the vapour thereof.
Though the water be made into ſmall drops, yet he doth not ſay, they drop down, but they pour down rain; that is, the drops fall plentifully; that frequent expreſſion, in Scripture, of pouring down, every where implyeth plenty or abundance. The promiſe of pouring out the Spirit in the latter dayes, foreign fundit, fundendo purgaovit active, item percolatus ex…olatus, de faecatus ſuit. Imber, nimbus plu …a.notes the abundance of the Spirit that ſhall then be given. The word ſignifies alſo to ſtraine, implying that the rain is contained in the Clouds, as it were in a linnen cloath, which being preſſed, diſtills the water in ſmall ſtreams or drops, as it were through a ſtrainer. They pour down Rain.
There are three words in the Latine, the firſt of which notes a ſhowre or gentle rain;foreign pluvia, hi… foreign verbum tranſitivum in Hiphil ſignificat, fe…it …luere, quo certe innuitur deum eſſe Authorem pluviae. Fagius in Gen▪ the ſecond, a ſtormy or fierce rain; the third, rain in generall. Rain, in this place, may be taken in all or either of theſe notions, for at one time or other the Clouds pour down drops into all ſorts of rain Rain (as I ſaid) is made of vapours drawn up, and here he ſaith, They pour down rain According to the vapour thereof.
There are two ſorts of vapours; there are dry vapours, and moiſt vapours; dry vapours (ſay Naturaliſts) are the matter of the wind, and the moiſt are the matter of the rain; Now ſaith Elihu, they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof; that is,Pluviae quaſi fluviae, eo q òd fluant. Iſidor. Quae fundunt pluviam poſt nebulam …jus. Piſc: foreign ſignificat v…porem et nubem, ſignific…t etiam calamitatem; hinc verſus ita vertitur, nam ſubtrahit ſtillas aquarum, quae fundebant pluviam ad calamitatem ejus. Jun: look in what proportion the Sun draweth the vapours into the Aire, in that proportion doth the rain fall upon the Earth; or, in the ſam… proportion that the vapour is drawn up, in that proportion is the rain let down.
Some render the word which we tranſlate vapour, a cloud, that is, after the water is drawn up into a Cloud, it pours down rain proportionably. Another tranſlation renders it, Affliction or trouble, and give the whole verſe thus; He draweth up the drops of water, which poured down rain to their Calamity. This the lea ned Author applyeth particularly to the Flood in N…ahs time; but I ſhall not ſtay upon that. Our reading is clear; They pour down rain according to the vapour thereof; that is, in the ſame proportion that vapours come up, the rain falls down.
Firſt, In that, as the rain is made of the vapour, ſo according to the vapour, or in proportion to the vapour, ſuch are the ſhowres of rain; Note; According to what is naturally received, returns are naturally made.
And if the Clouds of Heaven return to man naturally according to that they receive from the Earth; how is man on earth bound morally, or in duty, to return according to what he receives from Heaven. Let us mind our accordings and proportions to the dealings and diſpenſations of God. The Clouds of the aire will condemn us, at leaſt witneſs againſt us, if we receive much, and return little. I paſſe this. Only here we may take notice of ſix things in Concatination one with another: Firſt, vapours are drawn up from the Earth: Secondly, they are made into watery Clouds: Thirdly, from thence they are ſent back to moiſten the Earth: Fourthly, the rain ſent down is proportionable to the vapour that went up: Fifthly, according to that proportion, the Earth is made more or leſſe fruitfull; plentifull rains cauſe or produce plentifull fruits ordinarily from the Earth, and little rains little fruits: Sixthly, and laſtly, man is nouriſhed and hath his outward Comforts encreaſed or leſſened in proportion to the fruits which the Earth bringeth forth, or to the fruitfulneſs of the Earth. All theſe things attend and depend upon one another. They pour down according to the vapour thereof, and God draws up in proportion to what himſelf purpoſeth they ſhall pour down. Thus we ſee, how God by the Sun draws out the moiſture and ſap of the Earth, to return it back with advantage. Drawing up the moiſture makes the Earth languiſh, and her fruits wither; ſending it down again, makes the Earth green, flouriſhing and fruitful. They pour down rain, &c. And what more? Elihu anſwers Verſ. 28. Which the Clouds do drop.
foreign nunc Coelum, nunc nubes denot…t, a tenuiſſim… earum Subſtantia. Druſ:Here he ſpeaks more expreſly, and tells us more clearly than before, what the vapours are made up into, According to the vapour thereof, which the Clouds do drop. As Clouds are made of vapours, ſo they are the receptacles or veſſels of rain, which they hold (as was ſhewed before) as long as God pleaſeth, and when he gives the word, then they drop And diſtill upon man abundantly.
That's another elegant word, implying the manner in which the rain comes or falls, it is as by a diſtillation. Here alſo 'tis expreſſed for whoſe uſe or ſake principally the rain is ſent. The Clouds (ſaith the Text) drop and diſtill upon man, yet we know men get themſelves out of the rain as ſoon and as faſt as they can. The rain falls upon the earth, and abides there; yet 'tis ſaid to diſtil upon man, becauſe the rain diſtils at mans requeſt, and for mans ſake: That other creatures are cheriſhed by the rain, is not for themſelves, but for man, as man is not cheriſhed and maintained by thoſe creatures for himſelf, but for God. As the rain diſtills chiefly for the glory of God, ſo nextly for the relief and comfort of man; and for man it diſtills Abundantly.
foreign Super hominem multum, vel ſuper homines affluentèr, ut foreign ſit adverbium, quod eù minùs ſe proba… mihi, quia Rab. hic ſcrilitur eum Cametz. Druſ:There is a double reading of this word. Some take it as an Adjective to the Subſtan…ive man, rendring thus, it diſtills upon many men; we take it adverbially, Which diſtill, upon man plentifully, that is, in great plenty upon man. We may take in both readings without ſtrain to the Text, or departure from the matter in hand. For as the rain alls or diſtills upon man abundantly, ſo upon abundance of men; the rain, we know, falls ſometimes very plentifully, and at times, or one time or other all the world over, watering every mans ground, and ſerving every mans turn or occaſions. Therefore Elihu expreſſeth the bleſſing fully when he ſaith, The Clouds diſtill upon man abundantly, or upon abundance of men.
Hence Note, Firſt; The Lord haih rain enough in ſtore;
He hath veſſels plentifully filled for the watering of the Earth; and, The Lord is ſo free in his diſpenſation of the rain, that as he gives it to many in number, ſo to many in kind, he maketh his rain to fall, (as well as his Sun to ſhine) upon the juſt, and on the unjuſt, (Math. 5.45.) It ſhews the exceeding goodneſs, as well as the bounty of God, that the evill partake of his benefits as well as the good.
And, for our further improvement of this bounty of God, remember, that if God be ſo abundant and liberall in bleſſings to us, we ought in proportion to abound in duty towards him, or (as the Apoſtle exhorts, 1 Cor. 15.58.) we ſhould be ſtedfaſt and immoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Some do only a little, (I may ſay) only here a ſtitch and there a ſtitch of work for God, but we ſhould abound in it; and that not only now and then by fits, but be alwayes fixed in it, eſpecially we ſhould do ſo, with reſpect to that, which the rain is a Symbol of, the word of God. When God drops and diſtills the rain of Goſpel t…uths and holy ſoul-ſaving inſtructions abundantly upon us, how ſhould we abound in every good word and work! It was propheſied of Chriſt (Pſal. 72.6.) He ſhall come down as rain upon the mown graſs, as ſhowers that water the earth. Some of the Ancients expound that place of the coming down of Chriſt in his Incarnation; then indeed he came down like rain upon the mown graſs, he came down ſweetly and powerfully. 'Tis true alſo that Chriſt, who is God, the Word, the ſubſtantial Word, comes down as rain in and with the declarative word of God preached and faithfully diſpenced to the ſouls of men: and when Chriſt comes down thus to us, we ſhould riſe up to him, and return fruits of grace, according to the ſhowres of grace, which we have received. The Prophet gives us an elegant compariſon of the natural and ſpiritual rain in their effects and iſſues, (Iſa. 55.10, 11.) For as the rain cometh down and the ſnow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give feed to the ſower, and bread to the eater; ſo ſhall my word be, that goeth forth out of my mouth; it ſhall not return unto me voyd, but it ſhall accompliſh that which I pleaſe, and it ſhall proſper in the thing whereto I ſend it. Now what is the pleaſure of God in giving his Word? what is the arrand upon which he ſends it? 'Tis I grant, ſometimes to harden, deafen and blind a people, (Iſa. 6.9, 10.) 'tis ſometimes to be a ſavour of death unto death, (2 Cor. 2.16.) Theſe are dreadfull judiciary purpoſes of God in ſending his Word; nor doth it ever pleaſe the Lord to ſend his Word upon this arrand, but when he is ſorely diſpleaſed by a peoples ſlighting and contempt of his Word. The thing which prima…ily pleaſeth him, the purpoſe which he chiefly pu…ſueth in ſending his Word, is, that his people may have (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) Their fruit unto holineſs in this life, and in the end everlaſting life. For theſe ends, the Lord is daily diſtilling upon us the rain of his Word, both in commands and promiſes, and in both abundantly. Therefore let us labour to abound in returns of faith, of love, of hope, of ſelf-deniall, of zeal for God, and of fruit-bearing unto God. If when God diſtills the natural rain, that ſhould provoke us to fruitfulneſs in ſpiritualls, how much more when he pours down ſo much ſpiritual rain upon us! For the cloſe of this meditation, conſider, That
As the natural rain, Firſt, ſoftens the earth, and mollifies it; Secondly, cleanſeth the earth, and waſheth it; Thirdly, enricheth the earth, and makes it fruitfull; Fourthly, comforts the earth, and makes every thing that moves upon it, and grows out of it, to rejoyce; Fifthly, ſometimes drowns the earth, and deſtroys the Inhabitants of it: As I ſay, the natural rain doth all theſe things, ſo alſo doth the ſpiritual rain, the word of God. That, Firſt, mollifieth; Secondly, cleanſeth; Thirdly, fructifieth; Fourthly, comforteth the hearts of all thoſe that receive it; and Fifthly, The rain of the word drowns and deſtroys all thoſe that riſe up againſt it, or will not receive it.