Divine Conduct, Head 2 · Performance 4
The Fourth Performance of Providence.
IV.
THe next remarkable performance of Providence for the People of God in which I will instance,Providential performances about ou… Conversion to God. shall be with respect to its ordering the Occasions, Instruments and Means of their Conversion.
In nothing doth Providence shine forth more gloriously in this world, than it doth in this performance for the people of God. How curiously soever its hand had moulded your bodies, how tenderly soever it had preserved them, and how bountifully soever it had provided for them; if it had hot also ordered some means or other for your Conversion, all the former favours and benefits it had done for you, had signified little. This, O this is the most excellent benefit you ever received from its hand. You are more beholden to it for this, than for all your other mercies. And in opening this performance of Providence, I cannot but think your hearts must be deeply affected. This is a subject which every gracious heart loves to steep its thoughts in. It's certainly the sweetest History that ever they repeated: they love to think and talk of it. The Places where, and Instruments by whom this work was wrought, are exceedingly endeared to them for the works sake: yea, endeared to that degree, that for many years after their hearts have melted, when they have but passed occasionally by those places, or but seen the faces of those persons, that were used as Instruments in the hand of Providence for their good. As no doubt, but * Jacob's Beth-el was ever after that night sweet to his thoughts:Gen. 48. 3. so other Saints have had their Bethels as well as he. O blessed Places, Times and Instrurments! O the deep, the sweet impressions, never to be razed out of the memory or heart, that this Providence hath made upon those on whom it wrought this blessed Effect at years of discretion, and in a more sensible way!
But lest any poor soul should be discouraged under the display of this Providence, because he cannot remember the Time, Place, Instruments and Manner wherein, and by which Conversion-work was wrought; I will therefore premise this necessary distinction, to prevent injury to some, whilst I design benefit to others.
Conversion, as to the subjects of it, may be considered two wayes; either as it is more sensibly wrought in persons of riper years, who in their youthful daies were more prophane and vile; or upon persons in their tender years, into whose hearts Grace was more insensibly, and undiscernably instilled by Gods blessing upon pious Education. In the former sort, the distinct acts of the Spirit, as illuminating, convincing, humbling, drawing them to Christ, and sealing them are more evident and discernable: in the latter, more obscure and confused; they can remember, that God gave them an Esteem and liking of godly persons, Care of duty, and Conscience of sin; but as to the Time, Place, Instruments and Manner of the work, they can give but a slender account of them: however, if the work be savingly wrought in them, there is no reason they should be troubled, because the Circumstances of it are not so evident to them, as they are to others. Let the substance and reality of the work appear, and there is no reason to afflict your selves, because of the inevidence of such Circumstances.
But yet where the Circumstances as well as Substance are clear to a man: when we can call to remembrance, the Time when, the Place where, the Instrument by whom that work was wrought, it must needs be exceeding sweet: and they cannot but yield a fresh delight to the soul every time they are reflected upon.
There are many of the following occasions, which it may be, we took for straglers when they first befell us: but they proved scouts sent out from the main body of Providence, which they make way for.
Now there be divers things in those Providences, that are versant about this work, which are exceeding sweet, and taking; as namely,
The wonderful strangeness and unaccountableness of this work of Providence, in casting us into the way, and ordering the occasions, yea, the minu…est Circumstances about this work. Thus you find in Acts 8. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, &c. the Eunuch at that very instant when he was reading the Prophet Esay, hath an Interpreter, one among a thousand, that joins his CharJot, just as his mind was by a fit occasion prepared to receive the first light of the knowledge of Christ.
And how strange was that Change (how far soever it went) upon Naaman the SyrJan? recorded 2 Kings 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. That the SyrJans in their incursion should bring away this girl, (likely her beauty was the inducement,) and shel must be presented to Naaman's Wife, and relate to her the power of God that accompanied the Prophet; though you find in that particular case there had never been an instance given before, Luke 4. 27. Doubtless, the whole of this affair was guided by the signal direction of Providence.
So for the Conversion of the Samaritans, it's observed John 4. 4. Christ must needs go that way, (i. e.) it lay just in the road betwixt Judea and Galilee, and at the sixth hour (i. e.) high noon, he rests himself upon Jacob's Well, still seeming to have no other design, but his own refreshment, by sitting and drinking there: but O what a train of blessed Providences follow this, which seemed but an accidental thing! first the Woman of SamarJa, and then many more in that City are brought to believe in Christ, as you find Verse 29. and 41.
It is noted by MelchJor Adams in the Life of JunJus, Melch. Adams Vit Theol. par 2. p. 194.how very an Atheist he was grown in his younger years; but in order to his Conversion to God, first, a wonderful preservation of his life in a publick tumult at Lyons in France must make way, which forces from him the acknowlegement of a Deity. Then his Father sends for him home, and with much gentleness perswades him to read the Scriptures; he lights upon the first of John, and with it he sensibly feels a Divine Supernatural Majesty and Power seizing his soul, which brought him over by a compleat Conversion to Jesus Christ. Thus, as the Woman of Tekoa told David, doth God devise means to bring back his banished.
Lavater tells us, that many Spanish Souldiers, going into the Wars of Germany, were there converted to Christ, by falling into the CitJes and Towns, where godly Ministers and Christians were.
Mr. Robert Bolton, though an excellent Scholar, yet in his younger years he was a very irreligious person, and a jeerer of holy men; but being cast into the company of godly Mr. Peacock, was by him brought to repentance, and proved a famous Instrument in the Church of Christ.
A scrap of paper accidentally coming to view, hath been used as an occasion of Conversion. This was the case of a Minister of Wales, See Firmin's … Christia… p. 119.who had two Livings, but took little care of either. He being at a Fair, bought something at a Pedlers Standing, and rent off a leaf of Mr. Perkin's Catechism to wrapt it in, and reading a line or two in it, God set it home, so as it did the work.
The Marriage of a Godly Man into a Carnal Family, hath been ordered by Providence, for the Conversion and Salvation of many therein. Thus we read, in the Life of that renowned English Worthy Mr. John Bruen, that in his second Match it was agreed, that he should have one years diet in his Mother-in-laws house: During his abode there that year (saith Mr. Clark) the Lord was pleased by his means, graciously to work upon her Soul, as also upon his Wises Sister, and half Sister, their Brothers Mr. WillJam and Thomas Fox, with one or two of the servants in that Family.
The reading of a good Book, hath been the means of bringing others to Christ. And thus we find many of the German Divines converted, by reading Luther's Books: yea, and what is more strange,…l…yden's …omment. …. 475. Mr. Sleyden in his Commentary tells us, that VergerJus, though he were present an eye and ear-witness to that doleful case of Spira, which one would think should move a stone, yet still continued so firm to the Popes Interest, that when he fell into some suspicion among the Cardinals, he resolved to purge himself, by writing a Book against the German Apostates: but whilst he read the Protestant Books, out of no other design, but to con…ute them; whilst he is weighing the Arguments, is himself convinced and brought to Christ. He finding himself thus overcome by the truth, imparts his conviction to his Brother, a zealous Papist also: this Brother deplores the misery of his case, and seeks to reclaim him; but VergerJus entreating him to weigh well the Protestant Arguments, he also yields; and so both immediately betook themselves to preach Justification by the free grace of God through the blood of Christ.
Yea, not only the reading of a Book, or hearing a Minister, but (which is most remarkable) the very mistake or forgetfulness of a Minister,… cap. 15. hath been improv'd by Providence for this end and purpose. Augustine once preaching to his Congregation, forgot the Argument which first he propos'd, and fell upon the Error of the Manichees beside his first intention: by which discourse, he converted one Firmus his Auditor; who fell down at his feet weeping, and confessing he had lived a Manichee many years. Another I knew, who going to preach, took up another Bible than that he design'd, in which, not only missing his No…es, but the Chapter also in which his Text lay, was put to some loss thereby: but after a short pause, he resolv'd to speak to any other Scripture that might be presented to him, and accordingly read that Text, 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise, &c. And though he had nothing prepar'd; yet the Lord helpt him to speak both methodically and pertinently from it: by which discourse, a gracious change was wrought upon one in the Congregation, who hath since given good Evidence of a sound Conversion, and acknowledged this Sermon to be the first and only Means thereof.
The accompanying of others in a Neighbourly civil Visit, hath been over-rul'd to the same end. Thus many of the Jews accompanied Mary unto Bethany, (designing only to manifest their civil respect) but there they met Christ, saw the things which he did, and believed on him, John 11. 45.
Mr. Firmin in his Real ChristJan, pag. 97, 98. tells us of one, who had liv'd many years in a Town where Christ had been as clearly, and as long preached, as in any Town in England. This man when he was about seventy six years of age, went to visit a sick Neighbour. A Christian friend of mine (saith mine Author) came to see him also, and finding this old man there; whom he judged, to be one that lived upon his own stock: Civility, good Works, &c. he purposely fell into that discourse, to shew how many persons lived upon their duties, but never came to Christ. The old man sitting by the bed side, heard him; and God was pleased to convince him, that he was such a person, who had lived upon himself without Christ to that day; and would say afterwards, had I dyed before threescore and sixteen, I had perisht, for I knew not Christ.
The committing of a godly man to Prison, hath been the method of Providence, to save the soul of a poor Keeper. So Paul, Acts 16. 27. was made a Prisoner, to make his Keeper a spiritual Free-man. The like success had Dr. Barnes in Queen Mary's dayes, who afterwards celebrated the Lords Supper in Prison with his converted Keeper.
The scattering of Ministers and ChristJans by Persecution from CitJes and Towns, into the ignorant and barbarous parts of the Countrey, hath been the way of Providence, to find out, and bring home some lost sheep that were found there, to Jesus Christ, Acts 8. 1. 4. The like signal Event hath since followed upon the like scattering of godly Ministers, whereof are many …
A. Servant running away from his Master, (likely upon no other design but to live an idle life) yet falling into such places and companies, as Providence ordered (in a design to him unknown) hath thereby been brought to be the servant of Christ. This was the very case of Onesimus, who run away from his Master Philemon, to Rome; where by a strange Providence (possibly a meer curiosity to see the Prisoners) he there falls into Paul's hands, who begat him to Christ in his bonds, Philemon, Ver. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
Going to hear a Sermon in jest, hath proved some mens Conversion in earnest. The above named Mr. Firmin in the fore-cited Book, tells us of anotorious drunkard, whom the drunkards called Father, that one day would needs go to hear what Wilson said, out of no other design it seems, but to scoff at that holy man: but in the prayer before Sermon, his heart began to thaw; and when he read his Text, which was John 5. 14. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee: he could not contain; and in that Sermon the Lord changed his heart, though so bitter an Enemy, that the Minister on Lecture-dayes was afraid to go to Church before his shopdoor. Lo, these are parts of his wayes, but how small a portJon is known of him?
The dropping of some grave and weighty word accidentally in the presence of vain carnal persons, the death of an Husband, Wife or Child, a fit of sickness, with a thousand other such like occasions, have been thus improved by Providence to the Conversion of souls.
And no less remarkable and wonderful are the designs of Providence in ordering the removes, and governing the motJons of Ministers, from place to place in order unto the Conversion of souls. Thus oftentimes it carries them to places where they intended not to go; God having (unknown to them) some Elect Vessels there, who must be Called by the Gospel.
Thus Paul and Timothy (a sweet and lovely pair) when they were travelling through PhrygJa and GalatJa, were forbid to preach the Word in AsJa, to which probably their minds inclined, Acts 16. 6. and when they essayed to go into BythinJa, the Spirit suffered them not, Ver. 7. But a man of MacedonJa (i. e. an Angel in the shape or habit of a man of that Countrey) appeared to Paul in a Vision, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us, Ver. 9. and there did God open the heart of LydJa.
I knew a pious Minister now with God, who falling in his Study upon a very rouzing subject, intended for his own Congregation, was strongly moved, when he had finished it, to go to a rude, vile, prophane people, about five miles off, and first preach it to them; after many wrestlings with himself, not being willing to quench any motion that might be supposed to come from the Spirit of God, he obeyed, and went to this people, who had then no Minister of their own, and few durst come among them. And there did the Lord, beyond all expectation, open a door, and several prophane ones received Christ in that place, and engaged this Minister to a Weekly Lecture among them, in which many souls were won to ….
… …ame holy Man, at another time, being … a Journey, passed by a company of vain persons, who were wrestling upon a Green near the road: and just as he came against the place, one of them had thrown his Antagonist, and stood triumphing in his strength and activity. This good man rode up to them, and turning his speech to this person; told him, Friend, I see you are a strong man; but yet let not the strong man glory in his strength: You must know, that you are not to wrestle with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, and spiritual wickednes…es: how sad will it be, that Satan should at last trip up the heels of your hope, and give you an eternal overthrow? And after about a quarter of an hours serious discourse upon this subject, he left them, and went on his Journey; but this discourse made such an imperssion, that the person had no rest, till he opened his trouble to a godly Minister, who wisely following the work upon his soul, saw at last the blessed issue thereof in the gracious change of the person, whereof he afterwards gave the Minister a joyful account. O how unsearchable are the Methods of Providence in this matter?
Nay, what is yet more wonderful, the Providence of God hath sometimes ordered the very malice of Satan, and wickedness of men, as an occasion of Eternal good to their souls. A very memorable Example whereof▪ I shall here give the Reader, faithfully re…ing what not many years past …ell out in my own observation in this place, to the astonishment of many spectators.
In the year 1673. there came into this Port a Ship of Poole, in her return from Virgini…; in which Ship was one of that place, a lusty young man of twenty three years of age, who was Chirurgeon in the Ship. This person in the voyage fell into a deep melancholy, which the Devil greatly improved to serve his own design for the ruine of this poor man; however, it pleased the Lord to restrain him from any attempts upon his own life, until he arrived here. But shortly after his arrival, upon the Lords Day early in the morning (being in bed with his Brother) he took a knife prepared for that purpose, and cut his own throat, and withal leapt out of the bed, and though the wound was deep and large, yet thinking it might not soon enough dispatch his wretched life, desperately thrust it into his st.|mach, and so lay wallowing in his own blood, till his Brother awaking, made a cry for help: hereupon a PhysicJan and a Chirurgeon coming in, found the wound in his Throat mortal; and all they could do at present, was only to stitch it and apply a plaister, with design, rather to enable him to speak for a little while, than with any expectation of cure; for before that, he breathed through the wound, and his voice was inarticulate.
In this condition I found him that morning, and apprehending him to be within a few minutes of Eterity, I laboured to work upon his heart the sense of his condition, telling him, I had but little him to do any thing for him, and therefore desired him to let me know, what his own apprehensions of his present Condition were: He told me, he hoped in God for Eternal Life; I replyed, that I feared his hopes were ungrounded, for that the Scripture tells us, No Murderer hath eternal life abiding in him, but this was self-murther, the grossest of all Murthers: and insisting upon the aggravation and heinousness of the fact, I perceived his vain confidence began to fall, and some meltings of heart appeared in him. He then began to lament with many tears his sin and misery, and asked me, if there might yet be hope for one that had destroyed himself, and shed his own blood. I replyed, the sin indeed is great, but not unpardonable; and if the Lord gave him repentancae unto life, and …aith to apply Jesus Christ, it should be certainly pardoned to him: and finding him unacquainted with these things, I opened to him the nature and necessity of faith and repentance, which he greedily suckt in, and with great vehemency cryed to God, that he would work them upon his soul, and intreated me also to pray with him and for him, that it might be so. I prayed with him, and the Lord thawed his heart exceedingly in that duty: loth he was to part with me; but the duties of the day necessitating me to leave him, I briefly summed up what was most necessary in my parting counsel to him, and took my leave, never expecting to see him more in this world. But beyond my own and all mens expectation, he continued all that day, and panted most ardently after Jesus Christ: no discourses pleased him, but Christ and faith; and in this frame I found him in the evening. He rejoiced greatly to see me again, and entreated me to continue my discourses upon these subjects; and after all told me, Sir, the Lord hath given me repentance for this sin▪ yea, and for every other sin. I see the Evil of sin now, so as I never saw it before. O I loath my self: I am a vile creature in my own eyes. I do also believe; Lord help my unbelJef. I am heartily willing to take Christ upon his own terms. One thing only troubles me, I doubt this bloody sin will not be pardoned. Will Jesus Christ (said he) apply his blood to me, that have shed my own blood? I told him, Christ shed his blood even for them that with wicked hands had shed the blood of Christ; and that was a sin of deeper guilt than his. Well, (said he) I will cast my self upon Christ; let him do by me what he will. And so I parted with him that night.
Next morning the wounds were to be opened; and then, the opinion of the Chirurgeons was, he would immediately expire.
Accordingly, at his desire, I came that morning and found him in a most serious frame. I prayed with him, and then the wound in his stomach was opened, but by this time the Ventricle it self was swoln out of the orifice of the wound, and lay like a livid discoloured Tripe upon his body, and was also cut through; so that all concluded, it was impossible for him to live; however they stitcht the wound in the stomach, enlarged th… Orifice, and somented it, and wrought it again into his body, and so stitching up the skin, left him to the dispose of Providence.
But so it was, that both the deep wound in his throat, and this in his stomach healed: and the more dangerous wound sin had made upon his soul, was, I trust, effectually healed also. I spent many hours with him in that sickness; and after his return home, received this account from Mr. Samuel Hardy, a Minister in that Town. Part whereof I shall transcribe.
Dear Sir,
I Was much troubled at the sad Providence in your Town; but did much rejoice, that he fell into such hands for his body and soul. You have taken much pains with him, and I hope to good purpose. I think, if ever a great and through work were done such a way, it is now; and if never the like, I am perswaded now it is. Never grow weary of such good works. One such Instance is (methinks) enough to make you to abound in the work of the Lord all your dayes, &c.
O how unsearchable are the wayes of Providence, in leading men to Christ! Let none be encouraged by this to sin, that grace may abound. These are rare and singular Instances of the mercy of God, and such as no presumptuous sinner can expect to find. It's only recited here, to the honour of Providence, which works for the recovery of sinners in wayes that we understand not. O what a fetch hath Providence beyond our Understandings!
And as it orders very strange occasions to awaken and rouse souls at first, so it works no less wonderfully in carrying on the work to perfection; and this it doth two wayes.
(1.) By quickning and reviving dying convictions and troubles for sin. Souls after their first awakening, are apt to lose the sense and impression of their first troubles for sin; but Providence is vigilant to prevent it; and doth effectually prevent it sometimes, by directing the Minister to some discourse or passage, that shall fall as pat, as if the case of such a person had been studied by him, and designedly spoken to. How often have I found this in the cases of many souls, who have professed they have stood amazed, to hear the very thoughts of their hearts discovered by the Preacher, who knew nothing of them! Sometimes by directing them to some proper rousing Scripture, that suites their present case. And sometimes by suffering them to fall into some new sin, which shall awaken all their former troubles again, and put a new efficacy and activity into the Conscience. The world is full of Instances in all these cases, and because most Christians have experience of these things in themselves, it will be needless to recite them here. Search but a few years back, and you may remember, that according to this Account (at least, in some particulars) Providence ordered the matter with you. Have you not found some rod or other prepared by Providence, to rouze you out of your security? Why, this is so common a thing with Christians, that they many times presage an affliction coming from the frames they find their own hearts in.
(2.) It gives also great assistance to the work of the Spirit upon the soul, by ordering, supporting, relieving and cheering means, to prop up and comfort the soul, when it is over-burthened, and ready to sink in the deeps of troubles. I remember Mr. Bolton gives us one Instance, which fits both these cases, the reviving of convictJons, and seasonable supports in the deeps of troubles. And it is of a person that by convictions had been fetcht off from his wicked companions, and entered into a reformed course of life; but after this, through the inticement of his old companions, the subtilty of Satan, and corruption of his own heart, did again relapse into the wayes of sin. Then was Providentially brought to his view that Scripture, Prov. 1. 24, 25, 26, &c. this renewed his trouble; yea, aggravated it to a greater height than ever; insomuch that he could scarcely think (as it seems by the relation) his sin could be pardoned. But in this plunge, that Text Luke 17. 4. was presented to him, which sweetly setled him in a sure and glorious peace.
Nor can we here forget that miraculous work of Providence, in a time of great extremity, which was wrought for that good Gentlewoman Mrs. Honeywood, (and is somewhere mentioned by the same Author) who under a deep and sad desertion, refused and put off all comfort, seeming to despair utterly of the grace and mercy of God. A worthy Minister being one day with her, and reasoning against her desperate conclusions, she took a Venice-glass from the Table, and said, Sir, I am as sure to be damned, as this glass is to be broken; and therewith threw it forcibly to the ground; but to the astonishment of both▪ the glass remained whole and sound, which the Minister taking up with admiration, rebuked her presumption, and shewed her what a wonder Providence had wrought for her satisfaction, and it greatly altered the temper of her mind. O how unsearchable are his wayes! and his paths past finding out! Lo, these are part of his wayes; but how small a portion do we know of him?
ANd now suffer me to expostulate a little with thy soul Reader, hast thou been duly sensible of thy obligation to Providence, for this inestimable favour? O what hath it done for thee! there are divers kinds of mercies conveyed to men by the hand of Providence, but none like this: in all the Treasury of its benefits, none is found like this. Did it cast thee into the way of Conversion, and order the means and occasions of it for thee, when thou little thoughtest of any such thing? How dear and sweet, should the remembrance of it be to thy soul! Methinks it should astonish and melt you every time you reflect upon it. Such Mercies should never grow stale, or look like common things to you: for do but seriously consider the following particulars.
How surprizing the mercy was, which it performed for you in that day. Providence had a design upon you, for your eternal good, which you understood not. The time of mercy was now fully come; the Decree was now ready to bring forth that mercy, with which it had gone big from Eternity, and its gracious design must be executed by the hand of Providence, so far as concerned the external means and instruments: and how aptly did it cause all things to fall in with that design, though you knew not the meaning of it? Look over all the before mentioned Examples, and you shall see the blessed work of Conversion begun upon those souls, when they minded it no more, than Saul did a Kingdom, that morning he went out to seek his Fathers Asses, 1 Sam 9. 3, 20. Providence might truly have said to you in that day, as Christ said to Peter, John 13. 7. What I do thou knowest not now, but hereafter thou shalt know it. Gods thoughts are not as our thoughts; but as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are his thoughts higher than ours, and his wayes than our wayes. Little did Zacheus think, when he climbed up into the Sycamore-tree, to see Christ as he passed that way, what a design of mercy Christ had upon him, who took thence the occasion of becoming both his Guest and SavJour, Luke 19. 5, 6, 7, 8. And as little did some of you think, what the aim of Providence was, when you went (some out of custom, others out of curiosity, if not worse ends) to hear such a Sermon. O how stupendious are the wayes of God!
What a distinguishing and seasonable mercy was usher'd in by Providence in that day. It brought you to the means of salvation in a good hour. At that very nick of time, when the Angel troubled the Waters, you were brought to the Pool; to allude to that, John 5. 4. Now the accepted day was come, the Spirit was in the Ordinance, or Providence that converted you, and you were set in the way of it. It may be, you had heard many hundred Sermons before, but nothing would stick till now, because the hour was not come. The Lord did, as it were, call in the Word for such a man, such a woman; and Providence said, Lord, here he is, I have brought him before thee. There were many others under that Sermon, that received no such mercy. You your selves had heard many before, but not to that advantage, as it is said, Luke 4. 27. There were many Lepers in Israel in the days of Elizeus, but to none of them was the Prophet sent, save unto Naaman the SyrJan. So there were many poor unconverted souls beside you under the Word that day, and it may be, to none of them was salvation sent that day, but to you. O blessed Providence, that set you in the way of mercy at that time!
What a weighty and important mercy was Providentially directed to your souls that day. There are mercies of all sizes and kinds in the hands of Providence to dispense to the sons of men: its left hand is full of blessings, as well as its right. It hath health and riches, honours and pleasures, as well as Christ and Salvation to dispense. The world is full of its left hand favours; but the blessings of its right hand are invaluably precious, and few there be that receive them. It doth thousands of kind offices for men; but among them all, this is the chiefest, to lead and direct them to Christ. For consider,
(1.) Of all mercies, this comes through most and greatest difficulties, Eph. 1. 19, 20.
(2.) This is a spiritual mercy, excelling in dignity of nature all others, more than gold excels the dirt under your feet, Rev. 3. 18. One such gift, is worth thousands of other mercies.
(3.) This is a mercy immediately slowing out of the fountain of Gods electing love, a mercy never dropt into any, but an Elect Vessel, 1 Thess. 1. 4, 5.
(4.) This is a mercy, that infallibly secures Calvation; for as we may argue from Conversion to Election, looking back, so from Conversion to Salvation, looking forward, Heb. 6. 9.
(5.) Lastly, This is an Eternal mercy, that which will stick by you, when Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Estate, Honours, Health and Life shall fail thee, John 4. 14.
O therefore set a special Mark upon that Providence, that set you in the way of this mercy. It hath performed that for thee, which all the Ministers on Earth, and Angels in Heaven could never have performed. This is a Mercy, that puts weight and value into the smallest Circumstance that relates to it.