To this I answer; It is true, that God does ordinarily call men effectually by his Ministers, who are the servants he sends forth; but remember also it is said, He sent forth other servants to tell them which were bidden, all things are ready, Come to the marriage, Mat. 22.4. Christ ha's other servants then these his Ministers; though ordinarily those he truly and effectually calls, it is by these. But he sends other servants too; He can give commission to an affliction to bring home souls to himself. What think you of the Prodigal? Luke 15. Was not he brought home to his Father by an affliction? Was not Naaman brought home to ⟨p. 197⟩God by his Leprosy? You will say perhaps, these were providentially, occasionally. But what say you then to Zacheus? Was it not a kind of accidental providential Call that he had? And that Christ should call Matthew as he passed by, and saw him sit at the Receipt of Custom? Waldus the Father of the Waldenses, he and a company of his friends had supped together, and been merry; and as they were returning home, one of them fell down dead in the street. This was an occasional means of his Conversion; who was so famous a man, and an Instrument of converting so many Thousands to the true Religion. But shall the Prodigal say, I fear my Conversion is not right, because affliction led me first home to my Father? Shall Zacheus say, It was but an accidental thing that I ran up into the Sycamore-tree, being low of stature, and so could not else have seen Jesus for the press, whom I desired only out of curiosity to see? And therefore I fear my Call was not right. God knows how to make use of Contingencies, occasional Providences, and of your Afflictions, to bring you home to himself. And if you be brought home to God by the hand and ministry of affliction, that you can say as one did, If my Parents had not been undone, I had been undone for ever. Be content then with affliction, and love it the better. Usually persons have the greatest love for that Minister that was the first instrument of their Conversion.
To this I answer; It is true, that God does ordinarily call men effectually by his Ministers, who are the servants he sends forth; but remember also it is said, He sent forth other servants to tell them which were bidden, all things are ready, Come to the marriage, Mat. 22.4. Christ ha's other servants then these his Ministers; though ordinarily those he truly and effectually calls, it is by these. But he sends other servants too; He can give commission to an affliction to bring home souls to himself. VVhat think you of the Prodigal? Luke 15. VVas not he brought home to his Father by an affliction? Was not Naaman brought home to ⟨p. 197⟩God by his Leprosie? You will say perhaps, these were providentially, occasionally. But what say you then to Zacheus? VVas it not a kind of accidental providential Call that he had? And that Christ should call Matthew as he passed by, and saw him sit at the Receipt of Custom? Waldus the Father of the Waldenses, he and a company of his friends had supped together, and been merry; and as they were returning home, one of them fell down dead in the street. This was an occasional means of his Conversion; who was so famous a man, and an Instrument of converting so many Thousands to the true Religion. But shall the Prodigal say, I fear my Conversion is not right, because affliction led me first home to my Father? Shall Zacheus say, It was but an accidental thing that I ran up into the Sycamore-tree, being low of stature, and so could not else have seen Jesus for the press, whom I desired onely out of curiosity to see? And therefore I fear my Call was not right. God knows how to make use of Contingencies, occasional Providences, and of your Afflictions, to bring you home to himself. And if you be brought home to God by the hand and ministry of affliction, that you can say as one did, If my Parents had not been undone, I had been undone for ever. Be content then with affliction, and love it the better. Usually persons have the greatest love for that Minister that was the first instrument of their Conversion.
