134 EXCITEMENT TO SEEK [Chap. 9. make a cold oration on the nature and danger of fire, but will run and cry, Fire ! fire ! To tell a man of his sins as softly as Eli did his sons; or to reprove him as gently as Jehoshaphat did Ahab, " Let not the king say so ;" usually doth as much harm as good. Loathness to displease men makes us undo them. Yet, lest you run into extremes, I advise you to do it with prudence and discretion. Choose the fittest season. Deal not with men when they are in a passion, or where they will take it for a disgrace. When the earth is soft, the plough will enter. Take a man when he is under affliction, or newly impressed under a sermon. Christian faithfulness requires us, not only to do good when it falls in our way, but to watch for opportunities. Suit yourself also to the quality and temper of the person. You must deal with the ingenious more by argument than persuasion. There is need of both to the ignorant. The affections of the convinced should be chiefly excited. The obstinate must be sharply reproved. The timorous must be dealt with tenderly. Love, and plainness, and seriousness, take with all; but words of terror some can scarce bear. Use also the aptest expressions. Unseeming language makes the hearers loathe the food they should live by ; especially if they be men of curious ears, and carnal hearts. Let all your reproofs and exhortations be backed with the au- thority of God. Let sinners be convinced that you speak not of your own head. Turn them to the very chapter and verse where their sin is condemned, and their duty commanded. The voice of man is contemptible, but the voice of God is awful and terrible. They may reject your words, who dare not reject the words of the Almighty. Be frequent with men in this duty of exhortation. If we are " always to pray, and not to faint," because God will have us importunate with himself; the same course, no doubt, will be most prevailing with men. Therefore we are commanded " to exhort one another daily," and "with all Long-suffering." The fire is not always brought out ofthe flint at one stroke; nor men's affections kindled at the first exhortation : and if they were, yet if they be not followed, they will soon grow cold again. Follow sinners with your loving and earnest entreaties, and give them no rest in their sin. This is true charity, the way
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