my bow] The rain-bow was now first made, as some affirme; others (and that more commonly and more probably) conceive, that from the beginning it was in its causes, which are clouds and the shining of the Sunne; and those causes did sometimes produce that effect before this time, and so it is like the rain-bow was often seene before the flood; but now God made choice of it for a signe of his covenant with the world, that there should be no more an universall flood as before there was: this was no naturall but an instituted signe, and therefore it may seale the assurance of the promise, though there were no correspondency betwixt it and the thing signified; and yet it was the fitter to be a signe of securitie from a future flood, First, because of the place, which is in the clouds of heaven, whence came the raine that drowned the world before. Scondly, because the bow is bended upward towards God, not towards the creature below; as when it is taken in hand to shoot at a marke; nor is there in the bow any arrow which is said to be made ready upon the string when hurt is intended, Psalms 11:2. Thirdly, because the Rain-bow appeareth commonly with rain, and so where men might begin to feare the Judgement, there they may take comfort against it in that it is a signe of his Covenant for safetie. Fourthly, because the Rain-bow appeares not but when there is a clearnesse and brightnesse in some part of the skie, but at the generall flood it was all black with raine: see the Annot. on Chap. 8. vers. 22. To which some adde a fift reason, which is, that in the Rain-bow consisting of divers colours (to the admiration of some of the wisest Heathens) by the water colour is represented the overwhelming raine past and not to returne, and by the fiery colour is prefigured the destruction of the world by the element of fire, as it is foretold by Saint Peter, 2 Peter 3:10. And some by these colours make a mysticall intimation of the two Sacraments of the New Testament, with reference to that of, 1 John 5:6. And, lastly, a sixt reason, because the Rain-bow where it toucheth upon any shubs leaveth a very sweet and fragrant smell behind, Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 12. cap. 24. which answereth to that pleasant acceptation of God observed before. See Annot. on Chap. 4. 5: 21. Lastly, though this Rain-bow here be a signe of a temporall covenant, in the generall extent of it to all creatures, yet the godly may looke upon it with reference to Christ in whom all promises of what sort soever are yea and amen, and who is represented sitting in his Throne compassed with a Rain-bow in sight like unto an Emerauld, Revel. 4. vers. 3. see also Revel. 10. vers. 1.