A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 3 · Part 4 · Subpart 15 – Subpart 16
The Word of God compared to Rain.
Deut. 32.2.
My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain, &c.
Simile.
RAin is the immediate and proper Work of God; He gives us Rain from Heaven, and fruitful Seasons. Are there among the Vanities of the Gentiles they that can cause Rain? Jer. 14 22.Or can the Heavens give Showers? art not thou he, O Lord?
II. Rain falls by divine Direction and Appointment; God causes it to rain upon one City, Amos 4.7.and not upon another. You often see a Cloud dissolve and spend it self upon one place, when there is not a drop within a few Miles of it; one Land may have Rain and a fruitful Season, when another may have none.
III. There is a great deal of difference in the Showers of Rain that fall upon the Earth, sometimes you have it in small Drops; a drisling Rain which comes gently, but continuing long, it waters the Earth and the Fruits thereof throughly, going to the very Root; at other times it comes down in a hasty and violent manner, causing the Streams to run, but it is gone presently, and doth but little good.
IV. Some People in the World have no Rain, as the Egyptians, for it is said, that it seldom or never rains there.
V. Rain comes down successively and gradually, now a little and then a little; it doth not fall all at one time, before it gives over, but it comes now a Shower and then a Shower, as the Earth and Fruits thereof need it.
VI. The Rain comes down (as is noted of Dew) irresistibly; when God doth by his Word of Command, speak to the Clouds to distil it down upon the Earth, it is not in the power of all Creatures to hinder its falling.
VII. Rain is most beneficial to the Earth, when there comes sweet, warm Rays of the Sun with it, or as clear shining after it, then Herbs, Flowers, and Corn, as also other Fruits, grow abundantly.
VIII. Rain is necessary at Seed-time, to make the Earth ready and fit to receive the Seed; Thou visitest the Earth, and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the River of God, Isa. 30.23.which is full of Water: Thou preparest them Corn. Thou waterest the Ridges abundantly, thou setlest the Furrows thereof; Psal. 65.9, 10.thou makest it soft with Showers, thou blessest the springing thereof, thy Paths drop Fatness. This is called the former Rain, and as it is necessary at or about Seed-time, so also it is needful at earing-time, to ripen the Corn, and to bring it to Perfection; both these are needful to produce a good Harvest, both the former and latter Rain.
IX. Rain makes the Earth soft and tender, which otherwise would be very hard and dry, and unfruitful, as we see in time, of great Drought.
X. After much Rain, sometimes comes a great Drought.
XI. Clouds let down the Rain upon the Earth; God makes use of them as Vessels to retain the Water, and that also at his Pleasure, they may let it out, and distil it down upon the Earth.
XII. Rain hath been sent down from Heaven as the Answer of Prayer; Prayer hath as it were opened the Windows of Heaven, that it might rain upon the Earth.
XIII. Rain cometh down from Heaven, and returneth not thither, without answering the end for which it is sent.
Parallel.
THe Word of God, and the Blessings that attend it, are all from God, 'tis he that makes the Divine Rain to fall upon Men's Souls; you are not to look upon those Truths that Ministers dispense as the meet Effects, and Fruits of their Inventions and Parts: He is the Minister of God, &c. the Office is from Heaven, the Doctrine he preaches is from Heaven, the Efficacy and Success of it is from Heaven: What I received of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11.23.I delivered also unto you.
II. So the Word of God is sent to one People and not to another, to one Kingdom and not to another: what glorious Influences of the Gospel hath God sent to this Land; and what a Drought and Scarcity it is there of it in many others not far off? and what precious Showers have some Places had in England beyond what others injoy? To you is the Word of this Salvation sent: Act. 13.26it comes not by chance, but by Commission and the special Command of God.
III. The Word of God in like manner sometimes comes down moderately, yet continuing long before God takes it away from a People or Soul, at length it proves effectual, and throughly waters and soaks their barren Hearts, and makes them fruitful; but at another time, the Word in a Sermon, comes like a sudden Spout of Rain, seeming to carry all before it, and startles the Sinner, but 'tis soon over, and doth but little good, it abiding not upon the Conscience.
IV. So there are some People, nay, many in the World, that never had the Gospel preached as yet to them.
V. So the Word drops and distils like Rain and Showers that water the Earth, now a little and then a little, as the Condition of the Soul requires; a drop in this Sermon, and a drop in another Sermon; Precept must be upon Precept, Line upon Line, here a little and there a little: Isa. 28.10.now one comforting Influence and then another; now one quickning Impulsion and then another, now one Promise is rained down and then another. 1. Christ would that his People have a constant Dependance on himself. 2. He would have them wait upon every Sermon, upon every Ordinance and Opportunity. 3. He would not have them surfeit upon his Word, therefore he observes a successive Distillation of the Blessings thereof upon them. 4. He would have every Doctrine, and Precepts, and Promises soak into their Hearts. 5. Christ would indear every drop of his Grace, and morsel of his Word to his People; he would have them lose nothing he bestows, and therefore gives it them as they are able to receive it. 6. The Souls of Believers are like narrow-mouth'd Vessels, they cannot receive much at a time without spilling. 7. We are such bad Husbands, Christ will not trust us with all at once.
VI. The Word falls upon Sinners. When God gives Command with mighty Power, the Influences of the Word and Spirit work with mighty Efficacy upon the Heart; the Word is quick and powerful, it breaks the Heart in pieces; in Conviction it causes the Sinner to cry out, Lord, what wilt thou have me do? it shall accomplish that for which 'twas sent. See Light.
VII. So it is in respect of the Gospel, when the Sun of Righteousness shines upon the Soul, under the Word and blessed Doctrin thereof, O this makes a Believer, and all his Graces to flourish exceedingly!
VIII. The Gospel hath a twofold Use and Benefit, it is necessary as the former Rain at the beginning or first working of Grace upon the Heart; so 'tis needful afterwards, to ripen and prepare the Soul for Heaven. Be glad then ye Children of Zion, and rejoyce in the Lord your God, for he hath given you the former Rain moderately; and he will cause the Rain to come down, the former Rain and latter Rain, &c. We cannot be without either; we shall soon decay in our Spirits, if we have not spiritual Moisture of the Grace and Word of God upon our Souls: the Ministry of the Word is not only appointed to implant Grace in us, but also to perfect Grace so rooted and implanted.
IX. So the Word of God makes the hard and flinty Hearts of Sinners very soft and tender; it is of a mollifying, fructifying Nature, it makes the Saints fruitful in Grace and Good-works.
X. So after great plenty of divine and spiritual Rain, when People are glutted with a Fulness of Gospel-Mercies, God sometimes sends a Drought, shuts up Heaven. Ministers are like Clouds without Rain.
XI. Ministers are the spiritual Clouds that God hath appointed to retain the Word and saving Knowledg of divine Things, so that they may also at his Command let the Water of Life down, or distil it upon Men's Souls. See Clouds.
XII. Divine Rain hath been sent down as the Answer of fervent Prayer; The Prayer of the Godly hath prevailed with the Almighty, for sending of the Word and Spirit down upon the World, and Church of God: hence Paul earnestly begs the Saints Prayers, That he might open his Mouth boldly, Eph. 6.19. 2 Thes. 3.1.to make known the Mystery of the Gospel.
XIII. So, saith the Lord, shall my Word be that goeth out of my Mouth, it shall not return unto me void, Isa. 55.10, 11.but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Simile.
RAin is not necessary at all times; there are Seasons when the Husbandman craves none: he is sometimes afraid of a Shower, and prays for fair Weather; Rain in Harvest is not welcome.
II. Rain is no distinguishing Argument between good and bad Men; it falls promiscuously upon the Righteous and the Wicked; for tho it doth not fall every where, in every City and Place, yet where it comes, it usually falls alike.
Disparity.
THe Word of God is necessary at all times: Preach the Word, be instant in Season and out of Season: There is indeed no time, but this divine Rain is needful, and we cannot say we want it not, for we cannot be without it one day.
II. But the Word of God and Blessings thereof, are a distinguishing sign of God's special Favour: the peculiar drops of divine Grace are not communicated to all alike, tho all may have the Word preached to them: My Word (saith Christ) hath no abiding in you.
Inferences.
PRay that the Divine Clouds may be filled with Spiritual Rain.
2. And know from hence the necessity of the Word, that there is as much need of the Word, for the Growth and Comfort of the Soul, as there is of Rain for the Growth of the Fruits of the Earth.
3. How blind are they who are offended at the Doctrine of the Gospel?
4. Hath the Word, like Rain or Dew fallen upon your Souls? Consider the Effects of Rain, and examine your selves thereby.
5. When ye see it rain upon the Earth, think upon the Word and Doctrine of the Gospel with secret Groans and Desires of Heart, that your Souls may be made fruitful by it.
6. And lastly, Take heed you do not provoke God to shut up Heaven, that there be no more Rain. God can make spiritual Clouds empty, or scatter them in a way of Judgment; now your Eyes behold your Teachers,2 Chron. 7▪ and they seem like Clouds filled with Water; but he can soon cause them to be driven into Corners, as a Punishment of your Sins, or make them like Clouds without Rain, that so you may know what it is to abuse the spiritual Plenty you have so long injoyed, by feeling Want and Scarcity, that may be over all the Land: Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will send a Famine in the Land; not a Famine of Bread, nor a thirst for Water, Amos 8.11.but of hearing the Word of the Lord.
The Word of God compared to the Dew of Heaven.
Deut. 32.2.
My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain, my Speech shall distil as Dew, &c.
METAPHOR.
DEw falls insensibly and invisibly; you may be in the Field all night, and not perceive the Dew fall, and yet find great Dew upon the Grass.
II. As Dew comes down undiscernibly, and invisibly, so also very sweetly, and in a mild manner.
III. Dew is of a fructifying Nature; for falling especially on Herbs and tender Plants, it soaks into the Roots of them, and makes them fruitful.
IV. Dew comes down irresistibly; who can stop or hinder the Dew from falling on the Earth?
V. Dew doth usually fall in the Night.
Parallel.
SO the Operations and Blessings of the Word, and Graces thereof, are invisible; we feel the Work, but the manner of the working thereof is unknown to us. No Man can see the Conversion of of another, (saith an eminent Minister) nor can well discern his own.Dr. Sibha. The Word works by little, and little like as the Dew falls.
II. So the Gospel comes upon some Men in a sweet and mild manner; it distils as it were upon them like Dew, altho on others ('tis true) the Word comes like a mighty and fierce Rain.See Rain.
III. So the Word of God causes the Soul to grow in Grace, it makes the precious Plants of God's Vineyard to be green, and flourish in all the Fruits of the Spirit. The Saints at Thessalonica, after they received the Word,2 Thess. 1.3. Hos. 14.5. their Faith grew exceedingly. I will be as the Dew unto Israel, and he shall grow as the Lilly.
IV. Who can hinder or stop the Word from operating upon the Sinner's Heart? If God will work, who shall let? My Word shall not return to me in vain, it shall accomplish that for which I sent it.Isa. 55.11.
V. So the VVord only comes upon Mens Hearts like Dew, whilst the Night of this VVorld continues. In the State of Glory, the perfect Day, this Dew will fall no more; no more Preaching, nor Means of Grace will then be afforded to Sinners, neither will Saints have need of it: For when that which is perfect is come, then (and not till then) will that which is in part be done away.Rom. 13.
METAPHOR.
DEw is not sufficient to water some Ground, nor to make the new-mown Grass to spring and grow; that needs a plentiful Rain.
Disparity.
THe VVord of God is not only a Dew, that sweetly waters and refreshes the tender Herbs; but also 'tis sufficient to soak and well water the driest Ground: hence it is compared to Rain, as you heard before.