Miscellanea philo-theologica, or, God, & man A treatise compendiously describing the nature of God in his attributes, with a lively pourtraiture of his wisedome in ordering, and disposing of the celestiall, and terrestriall bodies. Containing much variety of matter ... and apt applications singular for brevity, and perspicuity. By Henry Church.

Of the Raine.

1. Of the naturall cause of the raine.

2. God doth dispose of the raine.

3. Why raine is kept from us.

4. Meanes to obtaine raine.

5. The benefit of raine.

6. Resolves concerning the Raine.

[Sect. 1] First, of the naturall cause of raine.

THe naturall cause is thus: the Sunne exhales moyst vapours up into the aire.

The Aire hath three Regions: the first is very hot neare the element of fire: the second is very cold, because the Sunne-beames gliding and piercing through it, they have not a reflexion so farre backe againe; the lower re∣gion more warme, by reason of the Sun, hath reflexion from the earth: Now in the middle region are degrees of coldnesse; the most extreame sends haile, the next snow, the next most temperate raine.

Let me from this naturall cause looke higher to that God which orders nature,* 1.1 and gives power and vertue to the creatures, it i•• hee that covers the heavens with clouds,(a) 1.2 and causes them to drop downe fatnesse:(b) 1.3 the earth is as Gods garden, the sea his Cesterne, the clouds his water-pots, exhalations raise them up; so with sweete showers he waters the earth.

[Sect. 2] Secondly, God doth dispose of the raine, which appeares by these five arguments.

1. IF he pleases, he can keepe backe the raine, cohibui a vobis imbrem,* 1.4 I have kept the showres from you, saith God: it is he that doth make the heaven as brasse, and the earth as iron. In Elias dayes God kept away the raine three yeares and sixe moneths. Iames 5.17.

2. If God pleaseth, he sendeth the raine: Deut. 11.1•• I will give you the raine of your land in due season. Zach. 10.1. Aske of the Lord, and he will give you rain. Psal. 147.8. He prepareth raine for the earth.

3. He sends raine in his mercy and favour, when his sweet showers doe soften the earth, Psal. 65.12. that food is brought forth for the beasts. Psal. 147.8, 9.

4. He sends raine in Justice, as in Noah's time hee opened the windowes of heaven in his wrath. Gen. 7.11. This way he both giveth meate aboundantly, and also this way he judgeth the Nations. Iob 36.29, 30, 31.

5. None other can give raine: not the heavens them∣selves of their owne accord, not the Idols of the hea∣then; it is Gods prerogative royall. Ier. 14.22.

[Sect. 3] Thirdly, why raine is kept from us.

1. BAcke-slidig binders raine: the Prophet doth con∣fesse it in time of great drought. Ier. 14.7.

2. Flattering preachers, that cry peace, and sooth up the people in their sinnes, and tell them all shall be well Ier. 14 13.

3. The love of sinne. Ier. 14.10. They loved to wan∣der, therefore came a drought.

4. Not harkning to the word of God, when men have no list, no obedient eares to heare: this restraines the raine. Deut. 28.15. with 23. verse.

5. The sinne may be i•• ••he Magistrates, when as justice is not executed. 2. Sam. 2•••••• 6.10. verses.

6. Notorious wickedn••sse, when men out-stripp their fore-fathers; especi•••••• in unlawfull marriages, and Idolatry; this restraines t•••• raine. 1. Kings 16.30, 31, 32, 33. compared with 1. King. 17.1.

[Sect. 4] Fourthly, the meanes to obtaine raine.

1. Confession of sinnes and humiliation: this course Ieremiah tooke. Ier. 14.7.

2. Prayer; this way Elias prevailed. Iames 5. so in Zach. 10.1. Aske of the Lord raine.

Arguments in prayer.

• 1. He is a God hearing prayers. Psalme 65.2.
• 2. He hath heard others heretofore. Psal. 22.6.
• 3. He is a Saviour in trouble. Ier. 14.8.
• 4. Begge for his owne sake. Jer. 14.7.
• 5. He is a God in covenant. Ier. 14.21.
• 6. Because it is for his owne glory. Ier. 14.21, 22.

3. A third meanes is, that justice be executed, to cut off those which trouble Jsrael, and punishes when man is too remisse: Judgement executed on earth, brings downe raine from heaven. 2. Sam. 21.6.

4. A fourth meanes is to be dilligent hearers and lo∣vers of Gods word, and to become obedient in sinceri∣ty; then God will give raine. Deut. 11.13, 14. Deut. 28.1. compared with the twelfth verse. By the drought God intends our conversion and reformation, Amos 4.7, 8. that being wrought, we are capable of raine, and all blessings.

[Sect. 5] Fifthly, the benefit of raine.

1. THe Raine softens the earth: Psal. 65.12. then the husband-man sets his plough to worke.

2. The Raine makes the corne, and grasse, and hearbs,

and plants to budde and grow, to blossome and beare fruit.

3. It refresheth the earth, as drinke doth him that is thirsty: yea the wildernesse where man doth not in∣habit.

4. In Citties the Raine washes our tiles, and clean∣ses and sweetens our streetes. The Dutch-men use raine∣water to dresse meat: it doth so much good, and is so welcome, that it makes men sing for joy. Psalme 65.13.

[Sect. 6] Sixthly, resolves concerning the raine.

[Quest. 1] WHat are the uses we may make when we see the raine to fall?

[Answ.] 1. To acknowledge God that doth send it.

2. If we have prayed for the raine, then

1. We should observe the Lord is a God hearing prai∣ers. Psal. 65.2.

2. To love the Lord for hearing us. Psal. 116.1.

3. To render humble praises to the Lord.

4. To take encouragement to pray at other times, and for other things.

3. If the raine fall unseasonable and immoderate,

1. We should humble our selves before God.

2. Intreat the Lord to shut the windowes of heaven.

3. Renew our repentance, and forsake our sinnes.

4. Covenant with God, not to abuse the fruites of the earth by excesse and wantonnesse.

4. When we see the raine to fall on the earth, we may fruitfully remember the word is like the raine, which we hearing often,* 1.5 according to our obedience we shall be blessed, and for disobedience accursed.

[Quest. 2] How may the raine and Gods word be compared?

[Answ.] 1. The raine softens the earth: Psal. 65.10. so the word of God doth soften the heart. 2. King. 22.19.

2. The raine causes gladnesse: Psal. 65.12, 13. so the word brings great joy. Psal. 119.162. Jer. 15.16.

3. Raine makes fruitfull: Psal. 147.8. so doth the word of God, falling on an honest heart. Matth. 13.23. Heb. 6.7.

4. Raine falling on a lumpe of earth, discovers which is earth, and which is pibble stones: so the word disco∣vers and manifests what we are. Heb. 4.13.

5. Raine washes and cleanses when it comes: so doth the word, it sanctifies and cleanses. John 17.17.

6. Raine cooles us when it comes; so doth the word; our hot lusts by it are asswaged, our hot afflictions allaied, our hot tentations quenched: Thus the word and raine are fitly compared together.

[Quest. 6] How were the hearbes, and grasse, and trees flourishing without the raine?

[Answ.] 1. God is not tyed to secondary meanes, he can give light without the Sunne, and cause grasse and the hearbs to flourish without the raine.

2. There was that which was equivalant to the raine, Gen. 2.6. vapor ascenderat •• terra; a mist* 1.6 ascended from the earth: but some read there was not a man to till the earth, nor a mist had ascended from the earth, then the first answer serves.

3. The waters lately had covered the earth, and it might yet be without raine.

[Quest. 4] What be the fruits a Christian brings forth, on whose heart God hath rained gratiously?

[Answ.] 1. To God he beares the fruits of prayer, confidence, remembrance, love, feare, and subjection.

2. To men he brings forth the fruits of justice, and mer∣cy, and peace.

3. To superiours he beares the fruits of reverence, obe∣dience, and faithfulnesse.

4. To his family, his fruit is example, and instruction, and provision.

5. To the godly a desire of them, a delight in them, a studying their good, pleading for them.

6. To the poore compassion, counsell reliefe.

7. To enemies meeknesse, forgivenesse praier for them.

8. To neighbours, like affection, kindnes,† 1.7 sociablenes.

9. To friends faithfulnesse, gratitude, requitall of fa∣vours, regard to their posterity.

10. The fruits concerning our owne good is.

• 1. To be sound in faith and repentance.
• 2. To increase in heavenly mindednesse.
• 3. To get more assurance, peace and joy:

In outward things.

1. To use them as things which have no sufficiency eternity.

2. To be diligent in the particular calling. sufficiency eternity.

* 1.83. Out of earthly objects still to be winding the minde to holy things.

[Quest. 5] Is there any countrey where it raines not at all?

[Answ.] The land of Egypt being under Zona Torrida, hath no raine; unlesse in the Northerne parts some small showers, yet the Lord affoords them the river Nilus, which waters their Land by the flowing thereof: Ae∣gyptus sola inter regiones hyemem ignorat: Egypt alone of the regions knowes no winter: there Israel sowed their seed, and to water it with their feet,* 1.9 (Sicut h••rtum olitorium:) as a garden of hearbes, Deut. 11.10.

[Quest. 6] What is the hoarie frost?

[Answ.] It is the dew that falls in the night, so being frozen, it is called Canities for whitenesse, pruina for coldnesse, a hoary frost, Psalm. 147.16. compared to ashes for likenesse.

[Quest. 7] What is the cause of the haile?

[Answ.] The vapour is carried to the highest place of the aire, where the most extreme cold is; the drops frozen, fall in little round stones.

[Quest. 8] Seing there is no raine in Egypt, how could it haile so much there? Exod. 9.23.

[Answ.] It was supernaturall and miraculous.

1. It was over all the land, whereas it never rained over all the land before* 1.10

2. It was deadly to them in the field.

3. It was mixt with fire, yet the fire did not melt the haile-stones, nor the hailestones quench the fire; three elements were against the Egyptians, the fire in the Lightning, the thunder in the Aire, the water in the Haile.

[Quest. 9] What is the naturall cause of the Snow?

[Answ.] The vapour is exhaled in the lower part of the middle region of the aire, not so high as the place of haile; and having some heate blended with it, that makes it spread, so that it is too cold for raine, and not high enough nor cold enough for haile: it is more hard and dry then wa∣ter, and it falls downe without noyse: if it come before a frost, it preserves the blade from nipping off, and nouri∣sheth the hearbes, and by heate it doth melt and descend to the rootes: the Snow water is of a binding nature, bad to drinke usually, for it will cause a botch under the chin, and benumbe the members and farther the stone in the bladder.

[Quest. 10] What is the commodity of the frost?

[Answ.] 1. It striketh and forceth the Naturall heate to de∣scend to the rootes.

2. It kills the wormes which hurt the earth.

3. It brings us store of wild fowle.

[Quest. 11] What is the reason such great drops of raine do some∣times fall?

[Answ.] Then they are from the cloudes neere us, the vapour is hot and moist, and dissolved before the ascent be farre from us; so it falles in some countries in great plashes, with us in great drops: The clouds doe part that were gathered together, so are quickly dissolved; usually it is heate comes with these great drops.

[Quest. 12] How are waters and afflictions alike, the stormes and

raine waters I meane.

1. Waters come not out of the dust, but from above, so afflictions come out of the dust, Iob 5.6.

2. Waters fall on all alike, Mat. 5.45. so afflictions come alike to all, Ecles. 9.2.

3. Stormes for the present are grievous; so are afflicti∣ons for the present, Heb. 12.11.

4. The showers doe wash, not wound us, so afflictions doe clense us, not hurt us.

5. When the storme is past the sunne-shine is wel∣come, so is prosperity after afflictions: so much of the Raine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An ascent.
• (a) 1.2

  Ps. 147.8.
• (b) 1.3

  Ps. 65.11.
• * 1.4

  Amos 4.7. Deut. 28.23.
• * 1.5

  Isai. 55.10, 11 Heb. 6.7, 8.
• * 1.6

  had not
• † 1.7

  If it may be without sin.
• * 1.8

  This is a high poynt.
• * 1.9

  That is with their labour as Gen. 30.30
• * 1.10

  Since Noah's flood.