A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Secondly, This should teach us to adore and magnify this Sin-preventing Providence of God. Our Lives, our Estates, yea, whatever is dear & precious to us hitherto, have been secured to us only by his powerful hand, which hath curbed in the unruly Lusts of men, and kept them from breaking forth into violence, and blood, and rapine. Should God slack the Reins, should he throw them upon the necks of ungodly men, how would Uproars, and Confusions, Murders, and Slaughters overspread the face of the whole Earth, and make the World a Hell above ground. Redemption and Providence are two wonderful Works of God; by the one he pardons Sin that is committed, and by the other, he prevents Sin, lest it be committed; both of them are Contrivances of infinite Wisdom, and both of them are unsearchable, and past finding out; and therefore we ⟨p. 279⟩ought to ascribe the Glory of both unto God, that hath laid both the Design of Redemption and of Providence for Man's Good, and for Man's Salvation.

Secondly, This should teach us to adore and magnnfie this Sin-preventing Providence of God. Our Lives, our Estates, yea, whatever is dear & precious to us hitherto, have been secured to us only by his powerful hand, which hath curb'd in the unruly Lusts of men, and kept them from breaking forth into violence, and blood, and rapine. Should God slack the Reins, should he throw them upon the necks of ungodly men, how would Uproars, and Confusions, Murders, and Slaughters overspread the face of the whole Earth, and make the World a Hell above ground. Redemption and Providence are two wonderful Works of God; by the one he pardons Sin that is committed, and by the other, he prevents Sin, lest it be committed; both of them are Contrivances of infinite Wisdom, and both of them are unsearchable, and past finding out; and therefore we ⟨p. 279⟩ought to ascribe the Glory of both unto God, that hath laid both the Design of Redemption and of Providence for Man's Good, and for Man's Salvation.

Thirdly, If at any time we can recall to mind, as indeed who is there that cannot, that God hath thus by his Providence prevented us from the commission of Sin, how should this oblige us thankfully to own this Mercy of God to us? May not all of us say, had not God taken away our power, had he not taken away the Objects of our Lusts, had he not diverted us some other way, we had now been deeply engaged in those Sins that the merciful Providence of God hath diverted us from? He it was that hedged up the broad way with Thorns, that so he might turn us into the narrow way that leads unto eternal Life and Happiness.