N00151:28
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.
5, The time of Deliverance out of trouble is in Gods hand. Thus the Chaldee Paraphrast understands these words, my times are in thy hand viz, the time of my Redemption, but though the words must not be so confined, yet that is implied in them. God hath determined the time when, as well as the means whereby, he will save his people out of trouble Psal. 102.13. The time to save Zion, yea the set time is come. Deliverance out of trouble will not arise until the Lords time be come. David hoped for Deliverance in the days of Saul even till his eyes failed with looking for Salvation, but it came not as soon as he looked for it, because the Lords time was not yet. Great have been the expectations of these days that Rome should fall, and that the Churches final Deliverance from the Persecution of Anti-Christ should be accomplished at such a time and at such a time. Many have been looking for light, but behold darkness. Is it because the thing is uncertain? No; but the reason of these disappointments is, in that men have been expecting these things before the Lords time be fulfilled, Deliverance then will not come before the set time, nor stay one day longer than that time. Hence is that observable place of Scripture Exo. 12.41. And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years even the self same day it came to pass, that all the Hosts of the Lord went out of Egypt. God had promised Abraham that it should be so four hundred and thirty years before, and we see that he kept his word even to a day. And it is said concerning Joseph Psal. 105.18, 19. whose feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in iron, until the time that his word came, that is, was fulfilled: for ⟨p. 6⟩coming in the Scripture often noteth fulfilling. 1God had long before showed Joseph in a dream, that he should be advanced highly, and when the time for accomplishing that word was fulfilled, Joseph was made to forget all his troubles.
5, The time of Deliverance out of trouble is in Gods hand. Thus the Chaldee Paraphrast understands these words, my times are in thy hand viz, the time of my Redemption, but though the words must not be so confined, yet that is implyed in them. God hath determined the time when, as well as the meanes whereby, he will save his people out of trouble