N00151:46
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.
2. Hence they are in the best hand that possibly can be. You can not wish your times or concernments in a better hand, they are in a wise hand, he is the only wise God. They are in a Faithful hand. It was Dr Prestons expression, that if the case were so with him that he might speak but three words before he went out of the world, these should be the words, GOD IS FAITHFUL. And in an able, yea in an All sufficient hand, John. 10.29. My Father is greater then all, no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand. This is a great comfort to them that have faith to improve it. If a man be sick is it not a comfort to him to be in the hand of a skilful, faithful, compassionate, Physician, So it is here.
2. Hence they are in the best hand that possibly can be. You can not wish your times or concernments in a better hand, they are in a wise hand, he is the only wise God. They are in a Faithfull hand. It was Dr Prestons expression, that if the case were so with him that he might speak but three words before he went out of the world, these should be the words, GOD IS FAITHFULL. And in an able, yea in an All sufficient hand, John. 10.29. My Father is greater then all, no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand. This is a great comfort to them that have faith to improve it. If a man be sick is it not a comfort to him to be in the hand of a skilfull, faithfull, compassionate, Physitian, So it is here.
3. Here is ground of Comfort against all the designs of Satan, and his Instruments Our times are not in Satan's hand, the Lord said to him concerning Job, Touch not his life. The Devil would fain have taken Jobs life from him, but he could not do it, because it was not in his hand. It is true, that it is said of the Devil that he hath the power of Death, Hebr. 2.14. Because he is employed in great and signal Judgments, to inflict death upon men,