N00151:32
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.
First it is evident in that God hath decreed and determined whatever cometh to pass in the world. The Lords will, his eternal purpose and decree is sometimes expressed by his Hand Acts. 4.28. for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. For as men do work and accomplish their designs by their hands, so doth the Lord accomplish all his works by the power of of his own will Ephe. 1.11. He worketh all things after the Counsel of his own will. The will of God is a working will, therefore it is set forth by that of his hand. Two things are certain, first that whatever God doth will (that is decree) shall surely come to pass Job. 42.2. No thought can be withholden from thee. If God have a thought in his heart to do this or that, none can hinder him from performing the thoughts and intents of his heart, He is of one mind and who can turn him? Isai. 14.27. For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out and who shall turn it back? Hence the will of God is said to be Irresistible Rom. 9.19. who hath resisted his will? No one can hinder him from having his holy will in whatever he hath a mind to accomplish. Again, it is as true that what doth come to pass was first determined by the Lord. Therefore James when he was speaking in the Synod at Jerusalem had this saying, known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Acts. 15.18, If God doth fore-know whatever things shall come to pass, he must needs will them or will them, but they do not come to pass against the Lords will, or whether he will or no. Certainly it Is in his hand to prevent any thing that cometh to pass in the world. There is no prosperous or comfortable event at any time happeneth, but it was before appointed by the Lord; nor is there any evil happeneth but according to the determination of the only wise God. The most dismal Providence when once it is accomplished, we may know that this was decreed before the world began, yea from Eternity. When Jesus Christ the ⟨p. 8⟩