As first of all Rain, which is nothing else but Water by the heat of the Sun divided into very small invisible Parts, ascending in the Air, till encountring the Cold, it be by degrees condensed into Clouds and descends in Drops; this though it be exhaled from the Salt Sea, yet by this Natural Destillation is rendred Fresh and Potable, which our Artificial Destillations have hitherto been hardly able to effect; notwithstanding the eminent use it would be of to Navigators, and the rewards promised to those that should resolve that Problem of destilling Fresh Water out of Salt. That the Clouds should be so carried about by the Winds, as to be almost equally dispersed and distributed, no part of the Earth wanting convenient Showers, unless when it pleaseth God for the punishment of a Nation to withhold Rain by a special interposition of his Providence; or if any Land wants Rain, they have a supply some other way, as the Land of Egypt, though there seldom falls any Rain there, yet hath abundant recompence made it by the annual overflowing of the River. This Distribution of the Clouds and Rain is to me (I say) a great Argument of Providence and divine Disposition; for else I do not see but why there might be in some Lands continual successive Droughts for many Years, till they were quite depopulated; in others as lasting Rains, till they were overflown and drowned; and these, if the Clouds moved casually, often happening; whereas since the ancientest Records of History we do not read or hear of any such droughts or inundations, unless perhaps that of Cyprus, wherein there fell no Rain there for Thirty Six Years, till the Island was almost quite deserted, in the Reign of Constantine.
Again, if we consider the manner of the Rains descent, destilling down gradually and by drops, which is most convenient for the watering of the Earth, whereas if it should fall down in a continued Stream like a River, it would gall the Ground, wash away Plants by the Roots, overthrow Houses, and greatly incommode, if not suffocate Animals; if, I say, we consider these things and many more that might be added, we might in this respect also cry out with the Apostle, O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God!
Secondly, Another Meteor is the Wind; which how many Uses it doth serve to is not easie to enumerate, but many it doth: viz. To ventilate and break the Air, and dissipate noysom and contagious Vapors, which otherwise stagnating might occasion many Diseases in Animals; and therefore it is an Observation concerning our Native Country, Anglia ventosa, si non ventosa venenosa: To transfer the Clouds from place to place, for the more commodious watering of the Earth. To temper the excesses of the Heat, as they find, who in Brasil, New Spain, the Neighbouring Islands, and other the like Countries near the Equator reap the Benefit of the Breezes. To fill the Sails of Ships, and carry them on their Voyages to remote Countries; which of what eminent advantage it is to Mankind, for the procuring and continuing of Trade and mutual Commerce between the most distant Nations, the illustrating every corner of the Earth, and the perfecting Geography and natural History, is apparent to every Man. To this may be added the driving about of Windmills for grinding of Corn, making of Oyl, draining of Pools, &c. That it should seldom or never be so violent and boisterous, as to overturn Houses; yea whole Cities; to tear up Trees by the Roots, and prostrate Woods; to drive the Sea over the lower Countries; as were it the effect of Chance, or meer natural Causes not moderated by a superiour Power, it would in all likelihood often do. All these things declare the Wisdom and Goodness of Him who bringeth the Winds out of his Treasures.
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