N00151:47
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.
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,1 and the Jews of old had an opinion that great and sudden destructions were all wrought by him; but then he must have a commission from a higher hand, or he can do nothing. And the like must be said concerning his Instruments in the world. We see in this context there were those that designed to take away Davids life, verse, 13. against me they devised to ⟨p. 13⟩take away my life, but they could never do it, because his times were in Gods hand and not in theirs. So Herod sought Christs life, and after that the Jews would have killed him, and had many a fair opportunity so to do, and yet it was not at those times accomplished when it was easy to have been done, forasmuch as the Lords time was not yet come, John. 7.30.
3. Here is ground of Comfort against all the designs of Satan, and his Instruments Our times are not in Satans hand, the Lord said to him concerning Job, Touch not his life. The Devill would fain have taken Jobs life from him, but he could not doe it, because it was not in his hand. It is true, that it is said of the Devill that he hath the power of Death, Hebr. 2.14. Because he is employed in great and signall Judgments, to inflict death upon men,1 and the Jews of old had an opinion that great and sudden destructions were all wrought by him; but then he must have a commission from a higher hand, or he can doe nothing. And the like must be said concerning his Instruments in the world. Wee see in this context there were those that designed to take away Davids life, verse, 13. against me they devised to