N00989:47
The voice of God, in stormy winds. Considered, in two sermons, occasioned by the…
The voice of God, in stormy winds. Considered, in two sermons, occasioned by the dreadful and unparalleled storm, in the European nations. Novemb. 27th. 1703. / By Increase Mather. ; [Five lines of quotations]The voice of God, in stormy winds. Considered, in two sermons, occasioned by the dreadful and unparallel'd storm, in the European nations. Novemb. 27th. 1703. / By Increase Mather. ; [Five lines of quotations]
printed by T. Green for Nicholas Buttolph, 1704
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The Voice of GOD IN Stormy Winds. › SERMON II. › Application 1: USE I.
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 for men not to Acknowledge God in such Dispensations is a great Evil. When Stormy Winds happen, men are apt to impute it to Second Causes only, to the Disposition of the Air, the Season of the Year, or the Influence of the Constellations in Heaven, but we should look higher than the Stars when such things come to pass. Our thoughts should be on Him who Rules in the Armies of Heaven. When Devastations are made by a Stormy Wind, People are apt to say, the Storm has shattered so many Houses, sunk so many Vessels, taken away the Lives of so many Men: But still we must remember, that it was the Word of the Lord that did it. Whatever Storms of one kind or another, whatever Afflictions do befall men, they ought to take notice of God therein; As David did, Psal. 39.9. I was silent because thou didst it. The Philisti•s when they were smitten with • deadly Destruction, were willing to make a Question of it, whether it were the Hand of God or no? Therefore […] ⟨p. 43⟩wou•d make an Experiment for their satisfaction in it, saying, If so, then we shall know that His hand hath smitten us, but if otherwise, we shall know it was not His Hand, only a Chance that happened to us. 1 Sam 6.9. For men not to see the hand of God in awful Judgments that comes on the world, and especially on themselves, argues great Atheism and hardness of Heart. Yet such Stupidity were the Lords Professing People guilty of. Isa. 42.25. When God poured on them the Fury of His Anger, & the Strength of Battle, they knew it not, they laid it not to Heart. Truly, not to acknowledge God in any Judgment, is to be more Irreligious than the Magicians of Egypt were. When a prodigious Judgment came on them, they could confess, Exod. 8.19. This is the Finger of God. Wherefore for men not at all to observe the Finger of God in His Judgments, is to be more Irreligious than those wicked men were. And it provokes the Holy. God to send greater Judgments, when Men don't own His Hand therein. Isa. 26.11