Fourthly, What a trange Providence was it, and as strangely managed by God, that Onefimus when he was run away from his Mafter, thould be taken, and, as I think, caft into that very Prifon, where Paul lay bound for the Word of the Gospel, that he might there be by him converted, and then fent home again to his Mafter Philemon! "Behold all Things work together for Good, to them that love God; to them who are the Called according to his Purpefe," Rom. 8.

Nay, I have myself known fome that have been made to go to hear the Word preached againit their Wills; others have gone not to hear, but to fee and to be feen, nay, to jeer and flout others; as alio to catch and carp at Things. Some alfo to feed their adulterous Eyes with the Sight of beautiful Objects, and yet God hath made Ufe of even thefe Things, and even of the wicked and finful Propofas of Sinners, to bring them under the Grace that might fave their Souls.

Seventhly, Doth no, Man come to Jefus Chrift, but by the drawing, &c. of the Father? Then let me here caution thofe poor Sinners, that are Spectators of the Change that God hath wrought in them, that are coming to Jefus Chrift, not to attribute this Work and Change to other Things and Caufes... Eur

There are fome poor Sinners in the World, that plainly fee a Change, a mighty Change in their Neighbours and Relations that are coming to, frfus Chrift: But as I faid, they being ignorant, and not knowing whence it comes, and whither it goes, for fo is every one that is born of the Spirit," John 3. 8.

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Therefore,

Therefore, they attribute this Change to other

aufes: As,

1. Melancholy,

2. To fitting alone.

3. To overmuch reading.

4. To their going to too many Sermons. 5. To too much ftudying, and mufing onwhat they hear.

Alfo, they conclude on the other Side:

First, That it is for Want of merry Company.

Secondly, For Want of Phyfick, and therefore they advise them to leave of reading, going o Sermons, the Company of fober People, and to be merry, to go a goffiping, to bufy themfelves in the Things of this World; not to fit mufing alone, & mid 22601

1

But come, poor ignorant Sinner, let me deaf with thee, it feems thou art turned Counfellor for Satan: I tell thee, thou knoweft not what thou doeft. Take Heed of fpending thy Judgment after this Manner; thou judgeft foolishly, and fayeft in this, to every one that pafleth by, thou art a Fool.

What! Count Convictions for Sin, mourning for Sin, and Repentance for Sin, Melancholy this is like thofe that on the other Side faid, Thefe Men are drunk with new Wine, &c. Or, as he that faid, Paul was mad, Acts 2. 23. chap.

26. 24.

Poor ignorant Sinner, canft thou judge no better? What Is fitting alone, penfive under God's Hand; reading the Scriptures, and hearing of Sermons, & the Way to be undone? The Lord open thine Eyes, and make thee to fee

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thine

thine Error: Thou haft fet thyfelf against God, thou haft defpifed the Operation of his Hands, chou attempteft to murder Souls. What! Canft thou give no better Counsel touching thofe whom God hath wounded, than to fend them to the Ordinances of Hell for Help? Thou bidit them be merry and lightfome; but doft thou not know that, The Heart of Fools is in the House of LaughEcclef. 7.

ter,

4. Thou biddeft them fhun the hearing of thundering Preachers; But is it not better to bear the Rebuke of the Wife, than for a Man to hear the Song of Fools, ver 5 Thou biddeft them bufy themselves in the Things of this World; but doft thou not know that the Lord bids, First seek the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof, Mat. 3. 36.

Poor ignorant Sinner, hear the Counsel of God to fuch, and learn thyself to be wifer, "Is any afflicted? let him pray: Is any merry? let kim fing Pfalms. Bleed is he that heareth me; and hear for Time to come. Save yourselves from this untoward Generation. Search the Scriptures, give Attendance to reading. It is better to go to the House of Mourning," James 5. 13. Prov. 8. 32, 33. Acts 2. 40. John 5. 39. 1 Tim. 5. 13. Ecclef. 7. 1, 2, 3.

And wilt thou judge him that doth thus? Art thou almost like Elimas, the Sorcerer, that fought to turn the Deputy from the Faith? Thou feekeft to pervert the right Ways of the Lord; take Heed left fome heavy Judgment overtake thee, Acts 13. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

What! Teach Men to quench Convictions, take Men off from a serious Confideration of the Evil of Sin, of the Terrors of the World to come, and how they fhall efcape the fame.

What!

What! Teach Men to put God and his Word out of their Minds, by running to merry Company, by running to the World, by goffiping,

.This is as much as to bid them fay, to God, Depart from us, for we defire not the Knowledge of thy Ways; or, what's the Almighty, that we should ferve him? or, what Profit have we if we keep his Ways? Here is a Devil in Grain! What! Bid Man walk according to the Course of this World, according to the Prince of the Power of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Difobedience, Ephef. 2.

Objection.

But we do not know that fuch are coming to Jefus Chrift, truly we wonder at them, and think they are Fools.

Anfw. Firft, Do you not know that they are coming to Jefus Chrift? Then they may be coming to him, for aught you know; and why will you be worse than the Brute, to fpeak evil of the Things you know not? What! Are ye made to be taken and destroyed, must ye utterly perish in your own Corruptions? 2 Pet. 2. 12.

Secondly, Do you not know them? Let them alone then. If you cannot speak good of them, speak not bad: Refrain from thefe Men, and let them alone; for if this Counsel, or this Work, be of Men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, left haply ye be found even to fight against God, Acts 5. 38, 39.

Thirdly, But why do you wonder at a Work of Conviction and Converfion? Know you now that this is the Judgment of God upon you? Ye Defpifers, To behold, and wander, and perish, A&s 13. 40, 41.

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Fourthly,