Divine Conduct, or The Mystery of Providence

What a distinguishing and seasonable mercy §2was ushered in by Providence in that day. It brought you to the means of salvation in a good hour. At that very nick of time, when the Angel troubled the Waters, you were brought to the Pool; to allude to that, John 5. 4. Now the accepted day was come, the Spirit was in the Ordinance, or Providence that converted you, and you were set in the way of it. It may be, you had heard many hundred Sermons before, but nothing would stick till now, because the hour was not come. The Lord did, as it were, call in the Word for such a man, such a woman; and Providence said, Lord, here he is, I have brought him before thee. There were many others under that Sermon, that received no such mercy. ⟨p. 76⟩You your selves had heard many before, but not to that advantage, as it is said, Luke 4. 27. There were many Lepers in Israel in the days of Elisha, but to none of them was the Prophet sent, save unto Naaman the SyrJan. So there were many poor unconverted souls beside you under the Word that day, and it may be, to none of them was salvation sent that day, but to you. O blessed Providence, that set you in the way of mercy at that time!

What a distinguishing and seasonable mercy §2was usher'd in by Providence in that day. It brought you to the means of salvation in a good hour. At that very nick of time, when the Angel troubled the Waters, you were brought to the Pool; to allude to that, John 5. 4. Now the accepted day was come, the Spirit was in the Ordinance, or Providence that converted you, and you were set in the way of it. It may be, you had heard many hundred Sermons before, but nothing would stick till now, because the hour was not come. The Lord did, as it were, call in the Word for such a man, such a woman; and Providence said, Lord, here he is, I have brought him before thee. There were many others under that Sermon, that received no such mercy. ⟨p. 76⟩