Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

The Providence of God is the great Obex and hinderance to a world of sin, which else would break forth like an overflowing flood from our corrupt natures. It prevents abundance of sin, which else wicked men would commit, Gen. 19. 11. The Sodomites were greedily pursuing their lusts: God providentially hinders it, by smiting them blind. Jeroboam intends to smite the Prophet; Providence interposed, and withered his arm, 1 Kings 13. 4. Thus you see, when wicked men have contrived, and are ready to execute their wickedness, Providence claps on its manacles, that their hands cannot perform their enterprises, as it is Job 5. 12.

The Providence of God is the great Obex and hinderance to a world of sin, which else would break forth like an overflowing flood from our corrupt natures. It prevents abundance of sin, which else wicked men would commit, Gen. 19. 11. The Sodomites were greedily pursuing their lusts: God providentially hinders it, by smiting them blind. Jeroboam intends to smite the Prophet; Providence interpos'd, and wither'd his arm, 1 Kings 13. 4. Thus you see, when wicked men have contrived, and are ready to execute their wickedness, Providence claps on its manacles, that their hands cannot perform their enterprises, as it is Job 5. 12.

And so much corruption there remains in good men, that they would certainly plunge themselves under much more guilt than they do, if Providence did not take greater care of them than they do of themselves: for though they make conscience of keeping themselves, and daily watch their hearts and ways, yet such is the deceitfulness of sin, that if Providence did not lay blocks in their way, it would (more frequently than it doth) entangle and defile them. And this it doth divers ways.