The Restraining Hand of God

I am currently working on my reading assignments for a course: Christian Spirituality: A History. Reading the Memoirs of Rev. Samuel Pearce compiled by Andrew Fuller, I came across the following quote (p. 369, emphasis mine):

When a child, he [Pearce] lived with his grandfather, who was very fond of him, and endeavoured to impress his mind with the principles of religion. At about eight or nine years of age he came home to his father with a view of learning his business. As he advanced in life, his evil propensities, as he has said, began to ripen; and forming connexions with several vicious schoolfellows, he became more and more corrupted. So greatly was his heart at this time set in him to do evil, that had it no been for the restraining goodness of God, which somehow, he knew not how, preserved him in most instances from carrying his wicked inclinations into practice, he supposed he should have been utterly ruined.

O that we would see the hand of God in our lives! That the reason behind our lack of sinful behaviour is due to the restraining goodness of almighty God. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!