N00151:65
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.
1. Take notice of the hand of God in this that is come to pass. Do not think that this is a mere accident or chance; the Philistines were willing to think so when the hand of the Lord was upon them, 1. Sam. 6.9. Then (say they) we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us, it was a chance that happened to us. Christians should know and speak otherwise, it is not a Chance that hath happened to us, but assuredly it is the hand of the Lord that hath smitten us: therefore eye his holy hand, especially you that were any way related to those that are now dead, you should eye the hand of the Lord, that so you may be Patient ⟨p. 18⟩and Humble under his Dispensations toward you. Thus it was with that godly woman Naomi, when most bitter bereavements came upon her, when her husband and other near and dean Relations were snatched from her, she considered that the hand of the Almighty was in those Killing Strokes. The hand of the Lord is gone out against me, the Almighty hath dealt ••ry bitterly with me; the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me, Ruth. 1.13, 20, 21. And thus it was with David when those Calamities which the Text seemeth to have respect unto, did befall him, Psal. 39.9, 10. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth because thou didst it, remove thy stroke away from me, I am consumed by the Blow of thine hand. Believe it, this stroke is the Lords stroke, this blow is the blow of Gods hand, the Lord himself hath done it. Think of that, that so you may sit down in Silence before the Lord. If a man did see the hand of the Almighty giving the blow, would he? durst he find fault?
1. Take notice of the hand of God in this that is come to pass. Doe not think that this is a meer accident or chance; the Philistines were willing to think so when the hand of the Lord was upon them, 1. Sam. 6.9. Then (say they) wee shall know that it is not his hand that smote us, it was a chance that hapned to us. Christians should know and speak otherwise, it is not a Chance that hath hapned to us, but assuredly it is the hand of the Lord that hath smitten us: therefore eye his holy hand, especially you that were any way related to those that are now dead, you should eye the hand of the Lord, that so you may be Patient