Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

(5.) Or suppose our Lot had fallen in those later miserable days, in which Queen Mary sent so many hundreds to Heaven in a fiery Chariot▪ and the poor Protestants skulked up and down in ⟨p. 45⟩holes and woods, to preserve them from Popish Inquisitors, who like Blood-hounds, hunted up and down through all the Cities, Towns and Villages of the Nation, to seek out the poor sheep of Christ for a prey.

(5.) Or suppose our Lot had fallen in those later miserable dayes, in which Queen Mary sent so many hundreds to Heaven in a fiery Chariot▪ and the poor Protestants sk•lked up and down in ⟨p. 45⟩holes and woods, to preserve them from Popish Inquisitors, who like Blood-hounds, hunted up and down through all the Cities, Towns and Villages of the Nat•on, to seek out the poor sheep of Christ for a prey.

But such hath the special care of Providence towards us been, that our turn to be brought upon the stage of this World was graciously reserved for better days: so that if we had had our own option, we could not have chosen for our selves, as Providence hath. We are not only furnished with the best room in this great ho•se; but before we were put into it, it was swept with the besom of National Reformation, from Idolatry, yea, and washed by the blood of Martyrs from Popish filthiness; and adorned with Gospel lights, shining in as great lustre in our days, as ever they did since the Apostles days. You might have been born in England for many Ages, and not have found a Christian in it: yea, and since Christianity was here owned, and not have met a Protestant in it. Oh what an Obligation hath Providence laid you under, by such a merciful performance as this for you?