Means are diverfe; fometimes this, fometime that; for God is at Liberty to work, by which, and when, and how he will: but let the Means be what they will, and as contemptible as may be; yet God that commanded the Light to fhine out of Darkness, and that out of Weakness can make Arong, can, nay doth oft-times make Ufe of very unlikely Means to bring about the Converfion and Salvation of his People. Therefore, you that are come to Chrift (and that by unlikely Means) ftay yourselves; and wonder, and wondering, magnify almighty Power, by the Work of which, the Means hath been made effectual to bring you to Jefus Chrift.

What was the Providence that God made use of as a Means either more remote, or more near, to bring thee to Jefus Chrift? Was it the removing of thy Habitation, the Change of thy Condition, the Lofs of Relations, Eftate, or the like? Was it the cafting of thine Eye upon fome good Book, the hearing of thy Neighbours talk of heavenly Things, the beholding of God's Judg¡ments as executed upon others, or thine ownDeliverance from them; or thy being strangely caft under the Miniftry of fome godly Man? O take Notice of fuch Providence or Providences! They were fent and managed by mighty Power to do thee Good. God himself, I fay, hath joined himself to this Chariot: yea, and fo bluffed it, that it failed not to accomplish the Thing for which he fent it.

God bleffeth not to every one his Providences in this Manner: How many Thousands are there in this World, that pafs every Day under the fame Providences; but God is not in them, to do that Work by them, as he hath done for thy poor Soul, by his effectually working with them. O! That Jefus Chrift should meet thee in this Providence,

Providence, that Difpenfation, or the other Ordmance! This is Grace indeed! At this therefore, it will be thy Wisdom to admire, and for this to blefs God.

Give me Leave to give you a Taste of some of thofe Providences that have been effectual, thro' the Management of God, to bring Salvation to the Souls of his People.

First, The firft shall be that of the Woman of Samaria. It must happen, that the mult needs go out of the City to draw Water (not before nor after, but) juft when Jefus Christ her Saviour was come from far, and fet to rest him (being weary) upon the Well: What a bleffed Providence was this! Even a Providence managed by the almighty Wifdom, and almighty Power, to the Converfion and Salvation of this poor Creature: For by this Providence was this poor Creature, and her Saviour brought together; that a bleffed Work might be fulfilled upon the Woman, according to the Purpofe before determined by the Father, John 4

Secondly, What Providence was it, that there fhould be a Tree in the Way for Zaccheus to climb, thereby to give Jefus Opportunity to call that Chief of the Publicans home to himfelf, even before he came down therefrom, Luke 19.

A

Thirdly, Was it not alfo wonderful, that the Thief, which you read of in the Gofpel, fhould by the Providence of God be caft into Prifon, to be condemned, even at that Seffions that Chrift himself was to die'; nay,' and that it fhould happen too, that they must be hanged together, that the Thief might be in hearing and obferving of Jefus in his last Words, that he might be con verted by him before his Death? Luke 23.

G 3

Fourthly,

2.

Fourthly, What a ftrange Providence was it, T and as strangely managed by God, that Onefimust when he was run away from his Mafter, thould 1. be taken, and, as I think, caft into that very Prifon, where Paul lay bound for the Word of the Gofpel; that he might there be by him converted, and then fent home again to his Mafter Philemon!" Behold all Things work together for Good, to them that love God; to them who are the Called according to his Purpofe," Rom. 8,

Nay, I have myfelf known fome that have been made to go to hear the Word preached againit their Wills; others have gone not to hear, but to fee and to be feen; nay, to jeer and flout others; as alio to catch and carp at Things. Some alfo to feed their adulterous Eyes with the Sight of beautiful Objects, and yet God hath made Ufe of even thefe Things, and even of the wicked and finful Propofas of Sinners, to bring them under the Grace that might fave their Souls.

સ

E

Seventhly, Doth no Man come to Jefus Chrift, but by the drawing, &c. of the Father? Then let me here caution thofe poor Sinners, that are Spectators of the Change that God hath wrought in them that are coming to Jefus Chrift, not to attribute this Work and Change to other Things and Caufes.bur a d

There are fome poor Sinners in the World, that plainly fee a Change, a mighty Change in their Neighbours and Relations that are coming torfus Chrift: But as I faid, they being ignorant, and not knowing whence it comes, and whither it goes, for fo is every one that is born of the Spirit," John 3. 8.

66

Therefore,

Therefore, they attribute this Change to other aufes: As,

1. Melancholy,

2. To fitting alone.

3. To overmuch reading.

4. To their going to too many Sermons. 5. To too much ftudying, and mufing on vhat they hear."

Also, they conclude on the other Side:

Firft, That it is for Want of merry Company.

Secondly, For Want of Phyfick, and therefore they advise them to leave of reading, going, to Sermons, the Company of fober People, and to be merry, to go a goffiping, to bufy themfelves in the Things of this World," not to fit mufing alone, 201

But come, 'poor ignorant Sinner, let me deaf with thee, it feems thou art turned Counfellor for Satan: I tell thee, thou knoweft not what thou doeft. Take Heed of fpending thy Judgment after this Manner; thou judgeft foolishly, and fayeft in this, to every one that pafleth by,

thou art a Fool.

What! Count Convictions for Sin, mourning for Sin, and Repentance for Sin, Melancholy this is like thofe that on the other Side faid, Thefe Men are drunk with new Wine, &c. Or, as he that faid, Paul was mad, Acts 2. 23. chap. 26. 24.

Poor ignorant Sinner, canft thou judge no better? What Is fitting alone, penfive under God's Hand; reading the Scriptures, and hearing of Sermons, &c. the Way to be undone? The Lord open thine Eyes, and make thee to fee

G4

thine

First, Thou shalt be judghated, maligned, and repr to whom this poor Sinner is

Secondly, Thou, fhalt be that hath hated the Father, drawing the Sinner doth con

Thirdly, Thou shalt bet for one that has done Defpi Grace in him, that is by it Jefus Chrift. What fay't t ftand by thy Doings? Wilt th temn and reproach the livi thou that thou shalt weather at the Day of Judgment? ( dure, or can thine Hands that I fhall deal with th 15, 18 to 27. Jude 12.

20. 14