Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

3. The Dominion of God is manifest in restraining the furious passions of men, and putting a block in their way. Sometimes God doth it by a remarkable hand, as the Babel builders were diverted from their proud design by a sudden confusion of their Language, and rendering it unintelligible to one another; sometimes by ordinary, though unexpected, means; as when Saul like a Hawk was ready to prey upon David, whom he had hunted as a Partridge upon the Mountains, he had another object presented for his arms and fury by the Philistines sudden invasion of a part of his Territory, 1 Sam. 23.26, 27, 28. But it is chiefly seen by an inward curbing mutinous affections, when there is no visible Cause. What reason but this can be rendered, why the Nations bordering on Canaan, who bore no good will to the Jews, but rather wished the whole race of them rooted out from the face of the Earth, should not invade their Country, pillage their Houses, and plunder their Cattle, while they were left naked of any humane defence, the Males being annually employed at one time at Jerusalem in Worship; what reason can be rendered, but an invisible curb God put into their Spirits? What was the reason not a man of all the Buyers and Sellers in the Temple should rise against our Saviour, when with a high hand he began to whip them out; but a Divine bridle upon them? though it appears by the questioning his Authority, that there were Jews enough to have chased out him, and his Company. John 2 15.18. What was the reason that at the publishing the Gospel by the Apostles at the first descent of the spirit, those that had used the Master so barbarously a few days before, were not all in a foam against the Servants, that by preaching that Doctrine upbraided them with the late Murder? Had they better sentiments of the Lord, whom they had put to death? Were their natures grown tamer, and their malignity expelled? No, but that sovereign who had loosed the Reins of their malicious corruption, to execute the Master for the purchase of Redemption, curbed it from breaking out against the servants, to further the propagation of the Doctrine of Redemption. He that restrains the roaring Lyon of Hell, restrains also his Whelps on Earth; he, and they must have a Commission, before they can put forth a finger, to hurt, how malicious soever their nature and Will be.

3. The Dominion of God is manifest in restraining the furious passions of men, and putting a block in their way. Sometimes God doth it by a remarkable hand, as the Babel builders were diverted from their proud design by a sudden confusion of their Language, and rendring it unintelligible to one another; sometimes by ordinary, though unexpected, means; as when Saul like a Hawk was ready to prey upon David, whom he had hunted as a Patridge upon the Mountains, he had another object presented for his arms and fury by the Philistines suddain invasion of a part of his Territory,