An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eleventh, twelfth, & thirteenth chapters of…

Secondly, Seeing that these are the Cords of men [Gentleness] ¹we should use them to draw those on to goodness that we do desire. Ministers, Parents, Governors, Neighbours, observe the dispositions of those you have to deal with, sure your selves to them, labour to gain their hearts that way if possibly you can, that they may have good thoughts of the ways of Godliness, do not put them on by bitterness and sourness. Did not God gain upon your ²hearts in a gentle way? however, if God did come in a harsh way to your apprehensions at first, yet know, there is no such distance between you and your neighbours, those that are under you, your children, or servants, as there is between God and you; therefore it is for you to deal with your fellow Creatures in a gentle, fair way. If a Hunter would get his Game, he doth not make a houting and noise, but he goeth gently without any noise: ³And so it is not through violence, noise, and horror; if you would get people but in a gentle way, hire children and servants to that which is good. Learn that way you that are of harsh tempers, to entice your children and ⁴your servants to good: You do nothing but threaten ⟨p. 55⟩them to good, and say, If you will not do thus and thus I'll deal with you thus and thus, by way of threatening: Oh! try what an enticing way will do; do not you so domineer over others as to think that it is for you to satisfy your wills upon them, but labour to suit your selves to them.

Secondly, Seeing that these are the Cords of men [Gentleness] ¹we should use them to draw those on to goodness that we do desire. Ministers, Parents, Governors, Neighbors, observe the dispositions of those you have to deal with, sure your selves to them, labor to gain their hearts that way if possibly you can, that they may have good thoughts of the waies of Godliness, do not put them on by bitterness and sowrness. Did not God gain upon your