An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

'As tis a great part of the wisdom of the Ministers of the word, to divide the word aright, that is, to give every one a portion suitable to his condition (they must speak to some, as it were, in a whirlwind, in the whirlwind of the Law; they must speak to others in a still voice, that of the Gospel; they must threaten and terrify some, comfort and refresh others) So the Lord himself deals; he hath many ways of humbling the creature, and as many ways of comforting the creature; he speaks in a whirlwind (as I may say) when he threatens in the Law, he speaks dreadfully, sometimes by his providences and judgements (there's a voice in them) he speaks terribly to us in our own personal afflictions, and when under sad dispensations: All this is, as it were, a speaking in the whirlwind. And he speaks graciously, winningly and comfortably, or to the hearts of his people, even when he leads them into the wilderness (Hos. 2.14.) The Apostle saith, Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men; that is, we persuade men by the terror of the Lord: and so, knowing the goodness and the mercy of the Lord, we persuade men; that is, we persuade them by the goodness & the mercy of the Lord. I (saith the Apostle, Rom, 12.1.) beseech you by the mercies of God, present your bodies, &c. Of some we must have compassion, making a difference; & others save with fear (Jude vers. 22.23.) that is, we must put them in fear, that they may be saved, or (as I may say) scare and fright them to heaven.

'As tis a great part of the wisdom of the Ministers of the word, to divide the word aright, that is, to give every one a portion sutable to his condition (they must speak to some, as it were, in a whirlwind, in the whirlwind of the Law; they must speak to others in a still voice, that of the Gospel; they must threaten and terrifie some, comfort and refresh others) So the Lord himself deals; he hath many wayes of humbling the creature, and as many wayes of comforting the creature; he speaks in a whirlwind (as I may say) when he threatens in the Law, he speaks dreadfully, sometimes by his providences and judgements (there's a voice in them) he speaks terribly to us in our own personal afflictions, and when under sad dispensations: All this is, as it were, a speaking in the whirlwind. And he speaks graciously, winningly and comfortably, or to the hearts of his people, even when he leads them into the wilderness (