CONVERSATION IX.

"Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest." Jer. v. 24.

"THE shower comes down in his season." "As the dew of Hermon, that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded his blessing, even life for evermore." Serle gives a beautiful explanation of this verse in his Hora Solitariæ: " Mount Hermon is one of the highest mountains in the Holy Land, and though in a region so near the tropic, is always covered with snow; the clouds which lie upon the summit, being brought by the north winds to Jerusalem, cause the dews to fall plentifully upon the hills of Sion. A beautiful illustration this of

the grace of Christ, who is as the dew unto Israel; and who, like the lofty mount of Hermon, collects the heavenly rains which replenish his people with moisture, as that does the hills beneath."

The weary pilgrim is strengthened and refreshed as he journies through the wilderness of this world. "Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance when it was weary." The command is issued, Drop down ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteous

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"By watering he wearieth the thick cloud; he scattereth his bright cloud." God "causeth the light of his cloud to shine." When it seems to threaten most, it is ready to burst in mercies upon the head of his redeemed. And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth and cleanseth them." Job xxvii. 21.

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To the natural man, darkness can alone

S

be discerned in the thick cloud, but the wind passes over it, the wafting of the Spirit of grace, and the darkness passes away, and the bright light is discovered. The Sun of righteousness arises, and the mourning soul is at rest.

"How sweetly parts the Christian sun,
Just like the summer monarch set,
'Midst cloudless skies his journey done,
To rise in brighter regions yet.

"Oh! where the Christian ends his days,
Lingers a lovely line of rays,

That speaks his calm departure blest,
And promises to those who gaze,

The same beatitude of rest."

"It is He that buildeth his stories (or spheres) in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them upon the face of the earth." Amos "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 his field."

out

ix. 6.

Rain, papa, enlivens the whole face

of nature, the Lord promised it should descend upon the country to which he was leading his people. "The land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and vallies, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. And it shall come to

pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto

my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land, in his due season, the first rain, and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full." The prophet Joel rejoices in the plenty produced by the rain. "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your

God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil." "The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."

When rain is withheld, Georgiana, the land mourns; it is a judgment from the Lord. "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside and serve other gods, and worship them; and then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit." Again it is said, "When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee." By the great power of God, that which afterwards descended in showers of blessing, rushed forwards in