A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

when he doth not subdue their Wills, yet he oftentimes subdues their power of sinning; yea, and possibly, although we have not such frequent instances of it, God may deal thus sometimes with his own Children: Thus he hath threatened, or promised rather to his Church, that he will hedge up her way with Thorns, that she should not be able to break through to her Idols, as formerly she had done; so you have it in Hos. 2.6. And indeed it is a great Mercy that God doth take away that power from men that he sees they will only abuse to their own destruction: It is not Cruelty, but Compassion, that chains up mad-men, and takes from them those Swords, Arrows and Fire-brands, that else they would hurl up and down abroad, both to their own and others Mischiefs; and so it is God's common ⟨p. 273⟩pity to Sinners, that are very Mad-men, that fetters and chains them up, and lays such a powerful restraint upon them by his Providence, that where their wills are not defective, yet their power to execute Sin, should be. What would wicked men think, if God should now suddenly strike them dumb, or blind, or lame, or impotent? would they not judge this a heavy Judgment inflicted upon them? they would so; and yet believe it, it were better for them that God should strike them dumb upon the place, than that they should ever open their Mouths more to blaspheme and rail at God and his People; better they were struck blind, than that the Devil and vile Lusts should enter into the Soul by those Casements; better that God should maim them, than that they should have strength to commit those Sins, that if but willed, will damn them; but if executed, will sink their Souls seven-fold deeper into condemnation. Now the Providence of God by taking away there power, prevents their wickedness, and so mercifully mitigates their condemnation.

when he doth not subdue their Wills, yet he oftentimes subdues their power of sinning; yea, and possibly, although we have not such frequent instances of it, God may deal thus sometimes with his own Children: Thus he hath threatned, or promised rather to his Church, that he will hedge up her way with Thorns, that she should not be able to break through to her Idols, as formerly she had done; so you have it in Hos. 2.6. And indeed it is a great Mercy that God doth take away that power from men that he sees they will only abuse to their own destruction: It is not Cruelty, but Compassion, that chains up mad-men, and takes from them those Swords, Arrows and Fire-brands, that else they would hurl up and down abroad, both to their own and others Mischiefs; and so it is God's common