N00431:182
The wonderful works of God commemorated. Praises bespoke for the God in heaven in…
The wonderful works of God commemorated. Praises bespoke for the God in heaven in a thanksgiving sermon; delivered on Decemb. 19. 1689. Containing just reflections upon the excellent things done by the great God, more generally in creation and redemption, and in the government of the world; but more particularly in the remarkable revolutions of providence which are every where the matter of present observation. With a postscript giving an account of some very stupendous accidents, which have lately happened in France. / By Cotton Mather. ; To which is added a sermon preached unto the convention of the Massachuset-Colony in New-England, with a short narrative of several prodigies, which New-England hath of late had the alarms of heaven in.
Boston: printed by S. Green & sold by Joseph Browning, 1690
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.
To particularize,
First, God is with a people by Directing ⟨p. 7⟩of them. When Israel was to pass through' the Wilderness, they had that encouragement, in Exod. 22. 15. The presence of God going with them. What was that? Why, They had a cloudy fiery Pillar miraculously Leading of them every step of the way; There was a wonderful Pillar which was a Cloud by day, and a Fire by night; the Lower part of which rested on the Tabernacle, while the Upper part was to be seen by the whole Congregation: the Motions of this being managed by the Ministry of Angels, now God was with them, and He led them forth by the right way. A people are often brought into a Wilderness of Difficulties and Emergencies: but if God be with them, He guides them to a good Issue of them all. The Presence of God appears in His Directing and Inclining of a people to such Actions, as may be for His Honour and their Safety, and such Methods, as may extricate them out of all Distresses. When God is with a people, He shapes their Counsels for them, and he disposes them to the Things that should be done. He supplies them with Apprehensions beyond the Reach and Verge of their own Wisdom, and He •ayes before them Invitations, and Provocations, which as it were push them into the way wherein they should go. When the Jews were upon a Re-Assumption of the desirable things ⟨p. 8⟩which the Babylonians had deprived 'em of' they took a Right Way to disappoint all that were desirous to interrupt them in it. We find in Neh. 4. 13. That while those Exercises continued, they waited in a posture agreeable thereunto; and when the danger was over, then they returned every one to his work. How came this to pass? 'Twas because GOD was with them.
First, God is with a people by Directing