Thirdly, God, when he goes to call a sinner to conversion, he looks upon the temper of those that are to be called; and God sees some men of a rugged Temper, that their Tempers will not be won, but by wrath, and by fire, and by hell, and by Judgement. And so it's like Felix was, his Temper was such that nothing could convert him, but wrath and Judgement to come, Terrible Doctrines. Some are of this Temper, that nothing but wrath and hell-fire can work upon them. As children, there are some that are of such soft, and tender Tempers, that the shaking of a rod may do them good; there are other children, if a man should whip them every day, they would never leave their childish tricks: It is so with sinners, God sees some ⟨p. 112⟩of a more tender and soft Temper that love will gain upon them; others are of a rugged disposition, that nothing but wrath can affright them; Now God in the dispensations of his grace, he observes their Temper, and if he seeth love will gain more upon them, then wrath will do, he will take that course; but if God see nothing but wrath, and fire, and horror will do it, then he will work that way. This you read in the Epistle of Jude, ver. 22, 23. On some, saith the holy Ghost, have compassion, making a difference; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. The meaning is this, There are some that you must show tenderness and compassion to, in calling and working upon them, they are of a tender Temper; but others there are that you must save with fear, that is, preach terrible Sermons to them, and fright them with hell-fire and Judgement to come. For God doth observe the different Tempers in men, and hereupon doth proceed in different ways of Administration in working upon them. Now it may be, thou that dost thus complain, thou never hadst these Terrors in thy soul, and yet art effectually called, it may be God saw thy Temper more to be won by kindness, and more gained upon in a way of love, therefore wrought upon thee this way; God is not bound to one way: And therefore we may justly count them blame-worthy who preach only free grace, and Gods love, and so tie God to one Method; and they are to blame on the other side likewise (if there be any such) that preach only Terror and wrath; for God observes the Temper of mens dispositions, some to be knotty, and some soft, and accordingly proceeds in his way of working with them.
Thirdly, God, when he goes to call a sinner to conversion, he looks upon the temper of those that are to be called; and God sees some men of a rugged Temper, that their Tempers will not be won, but by wrath, and by fire, and by hell, and by Judgement. And so it's like Felix was, his Temper was such that nothing could convert him, but wrath and Judgement to come, Terrible Doctrines. Some are of this Temper, that nothing but wrath and hel-fire can work upon them. As children, there are some that are of such soft, and tender Tempers, that the shaking of a rod may do them good; there are other children, if a man should whip them every day, they would never leave their childish tricks: It is so with sinners, God sees some ⟨p. 112⟩of a more tender and soft Temper that love will gain upon them; others are of a rugged disposition, that nothing but wrath can affright them; Now God in the dispensations of his grace, he observes their Temper, and if he seeth love will gaine more upon them, then wrath will do, he will take that course; but if God see nothing but wrath, and fire, and horrour will do it, then he will work that way. This you read in the Epistle of Jude, ver. 22, 23. On some, saith the holy Ghost, have compassion, making a difference; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. The meaning is this, There are some that you must shew tendernesse and compassion to, in calling and working upon them, they are of a tender Temper; but others there are that you must save with feare, that is, preach terrible Sermons to them, and fright them with hel-fire and Judgement to come. For God doth observe the different Tempers in men, and hereupon doth proceed in different wayes of Administration in working upon them. Now it may be, thou that dost thus complaine, thou never hadst these Terrors in thy soul, and yet art effectually called, it may be God saw thy Temper more to be won by kindnesse, and more gained upon in a way of love, therefore wrought upon thee this way; God is not bound to one way: And therefore we may justly count them blame-worthy who preach onely free grace, and Gods love, and so tie God to one Method; and they are to blame on the other side likewise (if there be any such) that preach onely Terror and wrath; for God observes the Temper of mens dispositions, some to be knotty, and some soft, and accordingly proceeds in his way of working with them.
