God's Word compared to Rain

LOrd 'tis a droughty time we see
With us, alas, within,
Our moysture seems all dried up
By Lust, that fire of sin.

O thou who dost command the Clouds,
Shall now thy Showers fall?
Shall Rain pour out on barren Hearts?
And Dews distill as small

Upon the sweet and tender Herb,
That so the one may be
Made soft with Rain, and th' other
Refreshed be by thee?

The Rain falls at thy dread Command
A Shower here and there;
'Tis as thou dost, O Lord, appoint
That we of Blessings share;

That we enjoy thy precious Word,
Whilst other barren lye,
Who hardly have one drop of Rain
Their wants for to supply.

The former Rain was poured out,
It was a mighty shower;
So shall the latter Rain come down
Before this day is o'er.

A little at one time, again
We have a little more;
Thus doth thy Word like unto Rain
Refresh thy blessed Poor.

Rain makes the Earth both fresh & green,
And ev'ry thing to grow;
Tis by thy Word and Spirit; Lord,
We thrive and flourish do.

There's none can stop the Rain that falls,
If thou Commission give,
Thy Word shall come upon us all,
Thy Grace shall make us live.

Let sin and Devil do their worst,
Thy Word shall not return
Unto thee empty, it prosper shall,
For thy Will must be done.

The Third Part.

Thy Ministers are like to Clouds
Who do the Rain retain;
Of them thou dost make equal use
To pour it out again.

O let us then cry unto God
His Clouds may all be full,
Not empty ones which hold no Rain,
But do deceive the Soul,

And pray that we may always have
Rain as we do it need,
That Grace may grow, and in us all
Spring up like to choice Seed,

And praise the glorious God above
Who doth such Blessings send;
If we his Mercies do improve,
Our days will joyful end.

'Tis a sore Judgment when the Lord
Doth stop the Bottles of Heav'n,
But O 'tis worse when God's good Word
And Blessings are with helden.

We wisk away, our glory fades
When God his Word denies,
Or doth with-hold his Blessings from't,
Both Faith and Hope then dies.

O look to God, remember him
From whom your Fruit doth flow!
If you are fruitful, sing his praise,
And live unto him too.