Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. The Goodness of God appears in shortening Temptations. None of them can go beyond their appointed times: ^*The strong blast Satan breaths, cannot blow, nor the Waves he raises, rage one minute beyond the time God allows them; when they have done their work, and come to the period of their time, God speaks the word, and the Wind and Sea of Hell must obey him, and retire into their Dens. The more violent Temptations are, the shorter time doth God allot them. The assaults Christ had at the time of his Death, were of the most pressing and urging nature: The Powers of Darkness were all in Arms against him; the Reproaches and scorns put upon him, questioning his Sonship, were very sharp; yet a little before his Suffering he calls it but an hour,^* This is your hour and the Power of Darkness. A short time that Men and Devils were combined against him; and the time of Temptation that is to come upon all the World for their trial, is called but an hour^*. In all such attempts, the greatness of the rage is a certain Prognostic of the shortness of the Season, Revel. 12.12.

1. The Goodness of God appears in shortening Temptations. None of them can go beyond their appointed times: ^*The strong blast Satan breaths, cannot blow, nor the Waves he raises, rage one minute beyond the time God allows them; when they have done their work, and come to the period of their time, God speaks the word, and the Wind and Sea of Hell must obey him, and retire into their Dens. The more violent Temptations are, the shorter time doth God allot them. The assaults Christ had at the time of his Death, were of the most pressing and urging nature: The Powers of Darkness were all in Arms against him; the Reproaches and scorns put upon him, questioning his Sonship, were very sharp; yet a little before his Suffering he calls it but an hour,^* This is your hour and the Power of Darkness. A short time that Men and Devils were combin'd against him; and the time of Temptation that is to come upon all the World for their trial, is call'd but an hour