N00151:16
The times of men are in the hand of God. Or A sermon occasioned…
The times of men are in the hand of God. Or A sermon occasioned by that awful providence which happened in Boston in New-England, the 4th day of the 3d month 1675. (when part of a vessel was blown up in the harbour, and nine men hurt, and three mortally wounded) wherein is showed how we should sanctify the dreadful name of God under such awful dispensations. / By Increase Mather, teacher to a Church of Christ. ; [Nine lines of Scripture texts]The times of men are in the hand of God. Or A sermon occasioned by that awfull providence which hapned in Boston in New-England, the 4th day of the 3d moneth 1675. (when part of a vessel was blown up in the harbour, and nine men hurt, and three mortally wounded) wherein is shewed how we should sanctifie the dreadfull name of God under such awfull dispensations. / By Increase Mather, teacher to a Church of Christ. ; [Nine lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by John Foster, 1675
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.
Psal. 31.15. My Times are in thy Hand—
The Pen-man of this Psalm was David as we may see by the Title of it, where it is said to be a Psalm of David. Concerning the time and occasion of the penning of it, there are various Conjectures.1 Some think that it was occasioned by Sauls Persecution. Others conceive that David wrote this Psalm in the time when he was persecuted by Absalom. And this latter seems to be the more probable Conjecture. For there are divers passages therein which suit with the state and condition that David was in when pursued by Absalom. e. g. Those expressions in the 9th and in the latter part of the 10th verses,2 Mine eye is consumed with grief, my life is spent with grief, and my years with Sighing. Those expressions seem to intimate, that David was at this time come to the close of his days, and that he was in extremity of grief and sorrow. Now the greatest sorrows that ever came upon David, were those that happened to him in the days of Absalom; then also was he near unto his end. Again, in the latter part of the 10th verse he saith My Strength faileth because of mine iniquity ▪ when as the afflictions which came upon him under Saul, were not because of any special iniquity which he had been guilty of, but for trial, and that so he might thereby be fitted to do greater Service for God in his Generation; but the afflictions which came upon him in Absaloms days, were the fruit of his sin and back-sliding from God. Likewise that passage in the 21 verse where he saith the Lord hath showed me his marvellous kindness as in a strong City, was literally fulfilled in Absaloms time: for then David was at Mahanaim, and much kindness was showed unto him therein. However certain it is that David was at this time in great distress and, ⟨p. 2⟩therefore his scope in this Psalm is to pray for deliverance out of trouble. There are in this Context divers arguments to strengthen his faith in prayer, in that he had put his trust in God verse 14· I trusted in thee O Lord. That's a great argument to be used in prayer, a man would be loth to fl another that confideth in him, much less will the Holy blessed God disappoint those that do indeed put their trust in him. 2. From the consideration of that Covenant Interest which he had in God, ibid. Thou art my God. That is a mighty argument.