Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

if you will take the interpretation of an Angel, Waters and Floods in the Prophetic stile signify the inconstant and mutable people. Revel. 17.1.5. The Waters where the whore sits, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. So the Angel expounds to John the Vision, which he saw ver. 1. The Heathens acknowledged this part of Gods sovereignty in the inward restraints of Men. Those Apparitions of the Gods, and Goddesses in Homer to several of the great men, when they were in a Fury, were nothing else in the Judgment of the wisest Philosophers, than an exercise of Gods sovereignty in quelling their passions, checking their uncomely intentions, and controlling them in that which their rage prompted them to. And indeed did not God set bounds to the storms in mens hearts, we should soon see the Funeral not only of Religion, but Civility; the one would be blown out, and the other torn up by the Roots.

if you will take the interpretation of an Angel, Waters and Flouds in the Prophetick stile signifie the inconstant and mutable people. Revel. 17.1.5. The Waters where the whore sits, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. So the Angel expounds to John the Vision, which he saw ver. 1. The Heathens acknowledg'd this part of Gods soveraignty in the inward restraints of Men. Those Apparitions of the Gods, and Goddesses in Homer to several of the great men, when they were in a Fury, were nothing else in the Judgment of the wisest Philosophers, than an exercise of Gods soveraignty in quelling their passions, checking their uncomely intentions, and controuling them in that which their rage prompted them to. And indeed did not God set bounds to the storms in mens hearts, we should soon see the Funeral not only of Religion, but Civility; the one would be blown out, and the other torn up by the Roots.

4. The Dominion of God is manifest in defeating the purposes and devices of men. God often makes a mock of humane projects, and doth as well accomplish that which they never dreamt of, as disappoint that which they confidently designed. He is present at all Cabals, laughs at mens formal and studied Counsels, bears a hand over every Egg they hatch, thwarts their best compacted designs, supplants their contrivances, breaks the Engines they have been many years rearing, diverts the intentions of men, as a mighty Wind blows an arrow from the mark, which the Archer intended.