But then Secondly, There are some that God doth graciously single out to service, or to suffer for him; this honour all the Saints have not, but some God doth graciously single out not only to service, but to suffer for him. Now there is a providential service, and there is a mercenary service; there is a judicious service, and a gracious service; some that God doth single out graciously: possibly a man may be providentially used in the service of God; thus Naaman had a servant in his house, that was providentially made use of for his Conversion. So I say, a man may be made use of providentially, and also mercenarily and judiciously: so the Devils have been; Whom shall I send to be a lying Spirit in the mouth of the Prophets? Send me, and he went. This is a judicious service: and thus the Devils do serve for wages; and them also that are the Instruments of the Devil: Persecutors are judicious servers; they are them that make clean the dishes: so that I say, there are them that may serve God providentially, mercenarily and judiciously. Providentially, and so all the creatures serve him. Mercenarily, so they served ⟨p. 10⟩him that said, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wondrous works, yet Christ says he never knew them, depart from me. And then there is a Judicious Service, as when God gave licence and power to destroy the ten Tribes: but then, as there is a Providential service, a Mercenary service, and a Judicial service; so there is also a Gracious service; There are some that God doth graciously single out to serve him, and to serve him in suffering for him. Did not God graciously single out Caleb to serve him? For it is said, he followed God fully: and did not God in the New Testament single out Paul? Go thy way to Ananias, Acts 9.6. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said, arise, go into the City, and it shall be told thee what thou shalt do. So I say, God doth graciously single out some, not only to serve him, but to suffer for him.
But then Secondly, There are some that God doth graciously single out to service, or to suffer for him; this honour all the Saints have not, but some God doth graciously single out not only to service, but to suffer for him. Now there is a providential service, and there is a mercenary service; there is a judicious service, and a gracious service; some that God doth single out graciously: possibly a man may be providentially used in the service of God; thus Naaman had a servant in his house, that was providentially made use of for his Conversion. So I say, a man may be made use of providentially, and also mercinarily and judiciously: so the Devils have been; Whom shall I send to be a lying Spirit in the mouth of the Prophets? Send me, and he went. This is a judicious service: and thus the Devils do serve for wages; and them also that are the Instruments of the Devil: Persecutors are judicious servers; they are them that make clean the dishes: so that I say, there are them that may serve God providentially, mercenarily and judiciously. Providentially, and so all the creatures serve him. Mercenarily, so they served ⟨p. 10⟩him that said, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wondrous works, yet Christ sayes he never knew them, depart from me. And then there is a Judicious Service, as when God gave licence and power to destroy the ten Tribes: but then, as there is a Providential service, a Mercenary service, and a Judicial service; so there is also a Gracious service; There are some that God doth graciously single out to serve him, and to serve him in suffering for him. Did not God graciously single out Caleb to serve him? For it is said, he followed God fully: and did not God in the New Testament single out Paul? Go thy way to Ananias, Acts 9.6. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said, arise, go into the City, and it shall be told thee what thou shalt do. So I say, God doth graciously single out some, not only to serve him, but to suffer for him.
