Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

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 a notorious 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-days was afraid to go to Church before his shop door. Lo, these are parts of his ways, but how small a portion is known of him?

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.