A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

5. The tractable, and those of whom we have any hopes, Rehoboam would deal roughly, and so lost ten tribes. Tertullian was even forced into the tents of the Montanists, by the indiscreet zeal of some who were too forward with censures, and still men are lost that otherwise would be reclaimed; differences are made irreconcilable by the imperious sourness and bitterness of those that manage them, dashing storms wash away the seed, whereas gentle showers refresh the earth, men left without hope grow desperate.

5. The tractable, and those of whom we have any hopes, Rehoboam would deal roughly, and so lost ten tribes. Tertullian was even forced into the tents of the Montanists, by the indiscreet zeal of some who were too forward with censures, and still men are lost that otherwise would be reclaimed; differences are made irreconcileable by the imperious sowreness and bitterness of those that manage them, dashing storms wash away the seed, whereas gentle showers refresh the earth, men left without hope grow desperate.

From that [putting a difference] In all censures and punishments there must be choice used and discretion. Prudence is the Queen of graces, different tempers require different remedies; ^*the Prophet saith, in Husbandry the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the Cummin, but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the Cummin with a rod; so all tempers do not need a like dispensation, God himself putteth a difference, some are brought in with violence, others gently, grace forceth open the door of the heart sometimes, and cometh in like a mighty rushing wind at other times, it breatheth upon the Soul with a gentler blast, some are caught with guile, 2 Cor. 12. 16. Others directly knocked down, this showeth,

From that [putting a difference] In all censures and punishments there must be choise used and discretion. Prudence is the Queen of graces, different tempers require different remedies;