A44439:317
A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures
A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures by Ezekiel Hopkins ...
London: printed by E.H. for Nathanael Ranew, 1693
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 4: The Nature, Danger, Aggravations, and Cure of Presumptuous Sinning, &c. ON
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1Fourthly, Sometimes Providence casts in some seasonable diversion that turns them off from the Commission of that Sin that they intended. When they are hotly pursuing their wickedness, Providence starts some other Game for them, and sets them upon some other Work. Thus it fared with Antiochus, in Dan. 11.30. He sets himself against the Holy Covenant; but for all his Rage against it, he shall return into his own Land, says God; for the Ships of Shittim shall come against him, and the Ships of the Romans; and instead of invading others Dominions, ⟨p. 275⟩he must return to defend his own; thus God diverted him from his Design of ruining the Jews. And sometimes where God doth not dry up the Spring of Corruption, yet he turns the streams of it which way he pleaseth: As a skilful Physician, when one part of the Body is oppressed with ill humours, he draws it to another part that is less dangerous; so God, by his Providence, turns men from the commission of a greater to a lesser Sin. Thus he over-ruled Joseph's Brethren; they consulted to cast him into a Pit, and there to let him starve, unless he could feed upon his Dream of Wheat-sheaves; but God by his Providence, so orders it, that Merchants pass by that way, and to them they sell him. There are, I believe, but few men, who if they will examine back their Lives, cannot produce many Instances both of the Devil's Policy, in fitting them with occasions and opportunities of Sin, and of God's Providence, causing some emergent Affairs, some unexpected Action to interpose, and hinder them from those Sins that they purposed.
- 1Providence sometimes prevents Sin by some seasonable diversion.
1Lastly, God sometimes keeps men from Sin, by removing the Object against which they intended to commit it. Thus, when Herod intended to put Peter to death the next morning that very night God sends an Angel, and makes his escape, and so prevents that Sin, and so truly in all Aes God hides away his Children from the fury of ungodly men.