Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

I knew a pious Minister now with God, who falling in his Study upon a very rousing subject, intended for his own Congregation, was strongly moved, when he had finished it, to go to a rude, vile, profane 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 profane ones received Christ in that place, and engaged this Minister to a Weekly Lecture among them, in which many souls were won to […].

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 ⟨p. 67⟩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 wickednesses: 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 impression, 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?