M iw^"' p / ^ A DISCOtJRSE mmm^^^^a CtUIKTNKSS OF SPIKIT. * A meok and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great pricew" 1 P-pter, 3:4. 4 ^ O ^ BV REV. THEW HENHY. PUBLISHED : AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETT; 150 NISSAU-STRBET, NEW-TORK. D. Fft&Abaw Printer. In this edition a few passages are omitted, and the phraseology in some instances modernized. >'^T COXTTSXTTS. Page. Chap. I. The Nature of Meekness, 5 Cluietness of Spirit, 32 Chap. II. The Excellency of Meekness, 40 <Chap. III. Want of Meekness lamented, 78 Chap. IV: ENCOURAGEMENTS TO MEEKNESS — Scripture Precepts, 88 Chap. V. Scripture Patterns, 99 Chap. VI. When Meekness is specially required, 118 Chap. VII. Arguments for Meekness, 133 Chap. VIII. Some Rules of Direction, . 145 Digitized by tine Internet Archive in 2008 witii funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.arcliive.org/details/discourseonmeeknOOhenrricli O N MmrKN ESS. CHAPTER T. THE NATURE OF MEEKNESS AND QUIETNESS OF SPIRIT. Meekness is easiness of spirit ; not a sinful easi- ness to be debauched, as Ephraim's, who willingly walked after the commandment of the idolatrous princes ; nor a simple easiness to be imposed upon and deceived, as Rehoboam's, who, when he was forty years old, is said to be young and tender- hearted ; but a gracious easiness to be wrought upon by that which is good, as theirs whose heart of stone is taken away, and to whom a heart of flesh is given. Meekness accommodates the soul to every occurrence, and so makes a man easy to himself, and to all about him. The Latins call a meek man ■mansuetus, which alludes to the taming and reclaim- ing of creatures wild by nature, and bringing them to be tractabl'e and familiar. James, 3: 7, 8. Man's corrupt nature has made him like the wild ass used I* HENRY ON MEEKNESS. to the wilderness, or the swift dromedary traversing her ways. Jer. 2 : 23, 24. But the grace of meek- ness, when that gets dominion in the soul, alters the temper of it, submits it to management ; and now the wolf dwells with the lamb, and the leopard lies down with the kid, and a little child may lead them ; for enmities are laid aside, and there is nothing to hurt or destroy. Isa. 1 1 : 6, 9. Meekness may be considered with respect both io God and to our brethren ; it belongs to both the ta- bles of the law, and attends upon the first great com- mandment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God ; as well as the second, which is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; though its especial re- ference is to the latter. I. There is meekness toward God, and it is the easy and quiet submission of the soul to his whole will, according as he is pleased to make it known, whether by. his word or by his providence. 1. It is the silent submission of the soul io the word of God : the understanding bowed to every divine truth, and the will to every divine precept; and both without murmuring or disputing. The word is then an " engrafted word," when it is received with meek- ness, that is, with a sincere willingness to be taught, and desire to learn. Meekness is a grace that cleaves the stock, and holds it open, that the word, as a shoot, may be grafted in ; it breaks up the fallow ground, and makes it fit to receive the seed ; captivates the ITS NATURE. * / high thoughts, and lays the soul like white paper under God's pen. When the day-spring takes hold of the ends of the earth, it is said to be turned as clay to the seal. Job, 38 : 14. Meekness does, in like manner, dispose the soul to admit the rays of divine light, which before it rebelled against ; it opens the heart, as Lydia's was opened ; and sets us down with Mary at the feet of Christ, the learner's place and posture. The promise of teaching is made to the meek, be- cause they are disposed to learn : " the meek will he teach his way." The word of God is gospel indeed, " good tidings to the meek ;" they will entertain it and bid it welcome. The " poor in spirit " are evan gelized ; and Wisdom's alms are given to those that Avith meekness wait daily at her gates, and like beg- gars wait at the posts of her doors. Prov. 8 : 34. The language of this meekness is that of the child Samuel, ♦' Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth ;" and that of Joshua, who, when he was in that high post of honor, giving command to Israel, and bid- ding defiance to all their enemies, (his breast filled with great and bold thoughts,) yet, upon the intima- tion of a message from heaven, thus submits himself to it : " What saith my Lord unto his servant ?" and that of Paul, (and it was the first breath of the new man,) " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?" and that of Cornelius, ♦' And now we are all here present before God, to bear all things that are commanded Q HENRY ON MEEKNESS. thee of God;" and that of the good man I have read of, who, when he was going to hear the w^ord, used to say, " Now let the word of the Lord come ; and if I had six hundred necks, I would bow them all to the authority of it." To receive the w^ord with meekness, is to be delivered into it, as into a mould : this seems to be Paul's metaphor, Rom. 6:17, that " form of doctrine which was delivered you." Meek- ness softens the wax, that it may receive the impres- sion of the seal, whether it be for doctrine or reproof, for correction or instruction in righteousness. It opens the ear to discipline, silences objections, and suppresses the risings of the carnal mind against the word ; consenting to the law that it is good,* and es- teeming all the precepts concerning all things to be right, even when they give the greatest check to flesh and blood. 2. It is the silent submission of the soul to the 'providence of God, for that also is the will of God concerning us. (1.) When the events of Providence are grievous and afflictive, displeasing to sense and crossing our secular interests, meekness not only quiets us under them, but reconciles us to them ; and enables us not * True meekness will prevent ns from opposing either the obvious parts of Scripture, severely as they may task, our vices, or the mysterious parts, in reading which, vanity may suggest that we could have dictated what is more pro- (fitable. — Avgusline. ITS NATURE. only to bear, but to receive evil as well as good at the hand of the Lord ; which is the excellent frame that Job argues himself into: it is to kiss the rod, and even to accept of the punishment of our iniquity, taking all in good part that God does ; not daring to strive with our Maker, no, nor desiring to pre- scribe to him, but being dumb, and not opening the mouth, because God does it. How meek was Aaron under the severe dispensation which took away his sons with a particular mark of divine wrath ! He '• held his peace." God was sanctified, and there- fore Aaron was satisfied, and had not a word to say against it. Unlike to this was the temper, or rather the distemper of David, who was not like a man af- ter God's own heart, when he was displeased be- cause the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah, as if God must have asked David leave thus to assert the honor of his ark. When God's anger is kindled, ours must be stifled ; such is the law of meekness, that whatsoever pleases God must not displease us. David was in a better frame when he penned the 56th Psalm, the title of which, some think, bespeaks the calmness and submissiveness of his spirit when the Philistines took him in Gath. It is entitled. The silent dove afar off. It was his calamity that he was afar off, but* he was then as a silent dove ; (mourning perhaps, Isa. 38 : 14 ;) but not murmuring, not strug- gling, not resisting, when seized by the birds of prey; and the Psalm he penned in this frame was 10 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. Michtam, a golden Psalm. The language of this meekness is that of Eli, " It is the Lord ;" and that of David to the same purport, " Here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.'' Not only, He can do what he will, subscribing to his power, for who can stay his hand ? or, He may do what he will, subscribing to his sovereignty, for he gives not account of any of his matters ; or, He will do what he will, subscribing to his unchangeableness, for he is in one mind, and who can turn him ? — -but, Let him do what he will, subscribing to his wisdom and goodness, as Hezekiah, *' Good is the word of the Lord, w^hich thou hast spoken." Let him do what he will, for he will do what is best ; and there- fore if God should refer the matter to me, says the meek and quiet soul, being well assiwred that he knows what is good for me better than I do for my- self, I would refer it to him again ; " he shall choose our inhcri:ance for us." (2.) When the methods of Providence are dark and intricate, and we are quite at a loss what God is about to do with us — his way is in the sea, and his path in the great Avaters, and his footsteps are not known, clouds and darkness are round about him — a meek and quiet spirit acquiesces in an as- surance that all things shall work together for good to us, if we love God, though we cannot apprehend how or which way. It teaches us to follow God v/ith an implicit iaith, as Abraham did when he ITS NATURE. 11 went out, not knowing whither he went, hut knowing very well whom he followed. It quiets us with this, that though what he doeth we know not now, yet we shall know hereafter. John, 13:7. When poor Job was brought to that dismal plunge, that he could no way trace the footsteps of Divine Provi- dence, but was almost lost in the labyrinth, Job, 23 : 8, 9, how quietly does he sit down with this thought, *' But He knows the way that I take ; when he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold." , II. There is meekness toward our breth-I^ REN, toward "all men." Tit. 3:2. Meekness isr especially conversant about the affection of anger, not wholly to extirpate and eradicate from the soul the holy indignation of which the Scriptures speak, for that were to quench a coal which sometimes there is occasion for, even at God's altar, and to blunt the edge even of the spiritual weapons with which w^e are to carry on our spiritual warfare ; but its office is to direct and govern this affection, that we may be angry and not sin. Eph. 4 : 26. Meekness, in the school of the philosophers, is a virtue consisting in a mean between the extremes ot rash excessive anger on the one hand, and a defect of anger on the other ; a mean which Aristotle con- fesses it very hard exactly to gain. Meekness, in the school of Christ, is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Gal. 5 : 22, 23 ; it is a grace wrought by the Holy Ghost both as a sanctifier and 12 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. as a comforter in the hearts of all true believers, teaching and enabling them at all times to keep their passions under the conduct and government of reli- gion and right reason. I observe that it is wrought in the hearts of all true believers, because, though there are some whose natural temper is unhappily sour and harsh, yet wheresoever there is true grace, there is a disposition to strive against, and strength in some measure to conquer such a disposition. And though in this, as in other graces, an absolute sinless perfection cannot be expected in this present state, yet we are to labor after it, and press towards it. More particularly: the work and office of meek- ness is to enable us prudently to govern our own anger when at any time we are provoked, and pa- tiently to bear the anger of others, that it may not be a provocation to us. The former is its office espe- cially in superiors, the latter in inferiors, and both in equals. ^ 1. Meekness teaches us prudently to govern our i own anger, whenever any thing occurs that is pro- I^Hoking. As it is the work of temperance to mode- /j\t^L rate our natural appetites in things that are pleasing 'p^Xto sense, so it is the work of meekness to moderate ' ^ our natural passions against those things that are displeasing to sense, and to guide and govern our resentments. Anger in the soul is like mettle in a horse, good if it be w^ell managed. Now meekness is the bridle, as wisdom is the hand that giv-es law to ^ ITS NATURE. 13 it, puts it into the right way, and keeps it in an even, steady, and regular pace ; reducing it when it turns aside, preserving it in a due decorum, and restrain- ing it and giving it check when at any time it grows headstrong and outrageous, and threatens mischief to ourselves or others. It must thus be held in, like the horse and mule, with bit and bridle, lest it break the hedge, run over those that stand in its way, or throw the rider himself headlong. It is true of anger, as we say of fire ; that it is a " good servant," but 'a "bad master;" it is good on the hearth, but bad in the hangings. Meekness keeps it in its place, sets banks to this sea, and says, Hi- therto thou shalt come, and no further ; here shall thy proud waves be stayed. In reference to our own anger, when at any time we meet with the excitements of it, the work of meekness is to do these four things : (1.) To consider the circumstances of that which we apprehend to be a provocation, so as at no time to express our displeasure but upon due and ma- ture deliberation. The office of meekness is to keep reason upon the throne in the soul as it ought to be ; to preserve the understanding clear and unclouded, the judgment untainted and unbiassed in the midst of the greatest provocations, so as to be able to set every thing in its true light, and to see it in its own color, and to determine accordingly; as also to keep silence in the court, that the ♦* still small voice " in 2 / 14 ^ HENRY ON MEEKNESS. which the Lord is, as he was with Elijah at Mount Horeb, may not be drowned by the noise of the tu- mult of the passions. A meek man will never be angry at a child, at a servant, at a friend, till he has first seriously weighed the cause in just and even balances, while a steady and impartial hand holds the scales, and a free and unprejudiced thought ad- judges it necessary. It is said of our Lord Jesus, John, 11:33, he troubled himself; which denotes it to be a considerate act, and what he saw reason for. Things go right in the soul, when no resent- ments are admitted into the affections but what have first undergone the scrutiny of the understanding, and thence received their pass. That passion which comes not in by this door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber, against which we should guard. In a time of war, (and such a time it is in every sanctified soul, in a constant war between grace and corruption,) due care must be taken to examine all travelers, especially those that come armed : whence they came, whither they go, whom they are for, and what they would have '? Thus should it be in the well-governed, well-disci- plined soul. Let meekness stand sentinel ; and upon the advance of a provocation let us examine who it is that we are about to be angry with, and for what ? What are the merits of the cause, where- in lay the offence, what was the nature and tenden- cy of it ? What are likely to be the consequences ITS NATURE. 15 of our resentments, and what harm will it be if we stifle them, and let them go no further? Such as these are the interrogatories which meekness would put to the soul ; and in answer to them it would abstract all which passion is apt to suggest, and hear reason only as it becomes rational crea- tures to do. Three great dictates of meekness we find put to- gether in one scripture : •' Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath ;" which some observe to be couched in three proper names of Ishmael's son,; Gen. 25: 14. I Chr. 1: 30, (which Bishop Pri-' deaux, in the beginning of the wars, recommended to a gentleman that had been his pupil, as the sum- mary of his advice,) Mishma, Dumah, Massa; the signiiication of which is, hear, keep silence, bear. Hear reason, keep passion silent, and then you will not find it difficult to bear the provocation. It is said of the Holy One of Israel, when the Egyptians provoked him, he weighed a path to his anger; so the margin reads it from the Hebrew, Psalm 78 : 50. Justice first poised the cause, and then anger poured out the vials. Thus the Lord came down to see the pride of the Babel-builders before he scattered them ; and to see the wickedness of Sodom before he overthrew it — though both were, obvious and barefaced — to teach us to consider be- fore we are angry, and to judge before we pass sen- tence, that herein we may be followers of God as 16 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. dear children, and be merciful, as our Father which is in heaven is merciful. We read of "the meekness of wisdom ;'* for where there is not wisdom, (that wisdom which is profita- ble to direct, that wisdom of the prudent which is to understand his way,) meekness will not long be pre- served. It is our rashness and inconsideration that betray us to all the mischiefs of an ungoverned pas- sion, on the neck of which the reins are laid which should be kept in the hand of reason, and so we are hurried upon a thousand precipices. Nehemiah is a remarkable instance of prudence presiding in just resentments ; he owns, " I was very angry when I heard their cry ;" but that anger did not at all trans- gress the laws of meekness, for it follows, *' then I consulted with myself," or as the Hebrew has it, my heart consulted in me. Before he expressed his dis- pleasure he retired into his own bosom, took time for sober thought upon the case, and then he rebuk- ed the nobles in a very solid, rational discourse, and the success was good. In every cause when pas- sion demands immediate judgment, meekness mov< s for further time, and will have the matter fairly ar- gued, and counsel heard on both sides. When Job had any quarrel with his servants, he was willing to admit a rational debate of the matter, and to hear what they had to say for themselves ; for, says he, "what shall I do when God riseth up ?" And withal, " did not He that made me in the ITS NATURE. 17 womb, make him ?" When our hearts are at any time hot within us, we should do well to put that question to ourselves which God put to Cain, Gen. 4 : 6. Why am I wroth ? Why am I angry at all ? Why so soon angry ? Why so very angry ? Why so far transported and dispossessed of myself by my anger 1 What reason is there for all this ? Do I well to be angry for a gourd, that came up in a night and perished in a night ? Jonah, 4 : 9. Should I be touched to the quick by such a sudden and tran- sient provocation? Will not my cooler thoughts correct these hasty resentments, and therefore were it not better to check them now ? Such are the rea- sonings of the meekness of wisdom. (2.) The work of meekness is to calm the spiriU_ so as that the inward peace may not be disturbed bj' any outward provocation. No doubt a man may ex- press his displeasure against the miscarriages of an- other, as much as at any time there is occasion for, without suffering his resentments to recoil upon him- self, and throw his own soul into a fury. What need is there for a man to tear himself (his soul, as it is in the Hebrew) in his anger? Job, 18 : 4. Cannot we charge home upon our enemy's camp, without the willful disordering of our own troops ? Doubt- less we may, if meekness have the command ; for that is a grace which preserves a man master of himself while he contends to be master of another, and fortifies the heart against the assaults of provo- cation that do us no great harm, while they do not 18 • HENRY ON MKEKNESS. rob us ot our peace, nor disturb the rest of our souls. As patience in case of sorrow, so meekness in case of anger, keeps possession of the soul, as the expres- sion is, Luke, 21 : 19, that we be not dispossessed of that freehold. The drift of Christ's farewell-sermon to his disciples we have in the first words of it, John, 16: J, " Let not your hearts be troubled." It is the duly and interest of all good people, whatever hap- pens, to keep trouble from their hearts, and to have them even and sedate, though the eye, as Job ex- presses it, should *' continue " unavoidably " in the provocation" of this world. "The wicked (the tur- bulent and unquiet, as the word primarily signifies) are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest;-' but that peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keeps the hearts and m.inds of all the meek of the earth. Meekness preserves the mind from being ruffled and discomposed, and the spirit from being unhinged by the vanities and vexations of this lower world. It stills the noise of the sea, the noise of her waves, and the tumult of the soul ; it permits not the passions to crowd out in a disorderly manner, like a confused ungoverned rabble: but draws them out like the trained bands, every one in his own order, as wisdom and grace give the word of command. (3.) Meekness will curb the tongue, and "keep the mouth as vi^ith a bridle" when the heart is hot. Even when there may be occasion for a keenness of expression, and we are called to rebuke sharply, (cuttingly, Tit. 1 : 13,) yet meekness forbids all fury ITS NATURft. 19 and indecency of language, and every thing that sounds like clamor and evil-speaking. The meek- ness of Moses was not at hand when he spake that unadvised word, " rebels," for which he was shut out of Canaan, though rebels they were, and at that time very provoking. Men in a passion are apt to give reviling language, to call names, and those most senseless and ridiculous : to take the blessed name of God in vain, and so profane it. It is a wretclied w-ay by which the children of hell vent their passion at their beasts, their servants, any per- son, or any thing that provokes them — to swear at I hem. Men in a passion are apt to reveal secrets, to make ra«h vows and resolutions, which after- wards prove a snare, and sometimes to slander and belie their brethren, and bring railing accusations, and so do the devil's work ; and to speak that " in iheir haste" concerning others, Ps. 116:11, of which they afterwards see cause to repent. How brutishly did Saul, in his passion, call his own son, the heir-apparent to the crown, the " son of the per- verse rebellious woman !" " Raca " and " Thou fool" are specified by our Savior as breaches of the law of the sixth commandment ; and the passion in the heart is so far from excusing such opprobrious speeches, (for which purpose it is commonly alledg- ed,) that really it is that w^hich gives them their ma- lignity : they are the smoke from that fire, the gall and wormw^ood springing from that root of bitterness ; and if for " every idle word that men speak," much 20 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. more for such wicked words as these, must they give an account at the day of judgment. And as it is a reflection upon God to kill, so it is to curse men that are made after the image of God, though even so much our inferiors; that is, to speak ill of them, or to wish ill to them. This is the disease Avhich meekness prevents, and is in the tongue a " law of kindness." It is to the tongue as the helm is to the ship, Jam. 3 : 4, not to silence it, but to guide it, to steer it wisely, espe- cially when the wind is high. If at any time we have conceived passion and thought evil, meekness will lay the hand upon the mouth, (as the wise man's ad- vice is, Prov. 30 : 32,) to keep that evil thought from venting itself in any evil word reflecting upon God or our brother. It will reason a disputed point with- out noise, give a reproof without a reproach, con- vince a man of his folly without calling him a fool, will teach superiors either to forbear threatening, Eph. 6 : 9, or, as the margin reads it, to moderate it ; and will look diligently lest any root of bitterness, springing up, trouble us, and thereby we and many others be defiled. (4.) Meekness will cool the heat of passion quick- ly, and not sufler it to continue. As it keeps us from being soon angry, so it teaches us, when we are angry, to be soon pacified. The anger of a meek man is like fire struck out of steel, hard to be got out, and when it is, soon gone. The wisdom that is from above, as it is *' gentle," and so not apt to ITS NATURB. 21 provoke, so it is " easy to be entreated " when any provocation is given ; and has the ear always open 10 the first proposals and overtures of satisfaction, submission, and reconciliation ; and thus the anger is turned away. He that is of a meek spirit will be forward to forgive injuries and affronts, and has some excuse or other ready wherewith to extenuate and qualify the provocation, which an angry man, for the exasperating and justifjang of his own resent- ments, will industriously aggravate. It is but to say, " There is no great harm done, or, if there be, there was none intended, and peradventure it was an oversight ;" and so the offence, being looked at through that end of the perspective which diminish- es, is easily past by, and the distemper being taken in time, goes off quickly, the fire is quenched before it gets head, and by a speedy interposal the plague is stayed. While the world is so full of the sparks of provocation, and there is so much tinder in the hearts of the best, no marvel if anger come some- limes into the bosom of a wise man; but it rests only in the bosom of fools. Eccl. 7 : 9. Angry thoughts, as other vain thoughts, ma}'- crowd into the heart upon a sudden surprise, but meekness will |\ not suffer them to lodge there, nor let the sun go "^ down upon the wrath ; Eph. 4 : 26, for if it do, there is danger lest it rise bloody the next morning. Anger concocted becomes malice ; it is the wisdom of meek- ness, by proper applications, to disperse the humor before it comes to a head. One would have thought, 22 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. when David so deeply resented Nabal's abuse, that nothing less than the blood of Nabal and all his house could have quenched his rage ; but it was done at a cheaper rate ; and he showed his meek- t ness by yielding to the diversion that Abigail's pre- sent and speech gave him, and that with satisfaction and thankfulness. He was not only soon pacified, but blessed her. and blessed God for her that paci- fied him. God does not contend for ever, neither is he always Avroth ; " his anger endures but a mo- ment." How unlike him are those whose sword devours for ever, and whose anger burns like the coals of juniper? But the grace of meekness, if it fail of keeping the peace of the soul from being bro- ken, yet fails not to recover it presently, and make up the breach ; and, upon the least transport, brings help in time of need, restores the soul, puts it in frame again, and no great harm is done. Such as these are the achievements of meekness in govern- ing our own anger. k!^> 2. Meekness teaches and enables us patiently to \Siar the anger of others, which property of meek* ness we have especially occasion for in reference to our superiors and equals. Commonly that which provokes anger is anger, as fire kindles fire ; now meekness prevents that violent collision which for- ces out these sparks, and softens at least one side, and so puts a stop to a great deal of mischief; for it is the second blow that makes the quarrel. Our first care should be to prevent the anger of others, ITS NATURE. 2S by giving no offence to any, but becoming all things to all men, every one studying to please his neigh- bor for good to edification, Rom. 15:2, and endea- voring as much as lies in us to accommodate our- selves to the temper of all with whom we have to do, and to make ourselves acceptable and agreeable to them. How easy and comfortable should we make every relation, and all our intercourse, if we were but better acquainted with this art of obliging. Nap- thali's tribe that was famous for giving goodly words. Gen. 49 : 21, had the happiness of being satisfied with favor, Deut. 33 : 23, for " every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer." In the conju- gal relation it is taken for granted, 1 Cor. 7 : 33, 34, that the care of the husband is to please his wife, and the care of the wife is to please her husband ; and where there is that mutual care, enjoyment cannot be wanting. Some people love to be unkind, and take a pleasure in displeasing, and especially contrive to provoke those they find passionate and easily pro- voked, that (as he that giveth his neighbor drink, and putteth his bottle to him, Hab. 2 : 15, 16,) they may look upon his shame, to which, in his passion, he ex- poses himself; and so they make a mock at sin, and become like the madman that casts firebrands, ar- rows, and death, and says, *' Am not I in sport?" But the law of Christ forbids us to provoke one an- other, unless it be " to love and good works ;" and en- joins us to " bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." H HENRY ON MEEKNESS. But because they must rise betimes who will please every body ; and carry their cup even indeed who will give no offence; our next care must be so to behave ourselves when others are angry, that we may not make bad worse. And this is one princi- " pal thing in which the younger must submit them- selves to the elder; nay, in w^hich all of us must be " subject one to another," as our rule is, 1 Pet. 5 : 5. And here meekness is of use, either to enjoin silence or indite a soft answer. (1.) To enjoin silence. It is prescribed to ser- vants to please their masters well in all things, " not answering again," for that must needs be displeas- ing: better say nothing than say that which is pro- voking. When our hearts are hot within us, it is good for us to keep silence, and hold our peace : so David did ; and when he did speak, it was in prayer to God, and not in reply to the wicked that w^ere before him. If the heart be angry, angry words will but inflame it the more, as wheels are heated by a rapid motion. One reflection and repartee be- gets another, and the beginning of the debate is like the letting forth of \vater, w^hich is with difficulty stopt when the least breach is made in the bank ; and therefore meekness says, " By all means keep silence, and leave it off before it be meddled with.'' When a fire is begun, it is good, if possible, to smother it, and so prevent its spreading. Let us deal wisely, and stifle it in the birth, lest afterward it prove too strong to be dealt with. Anger in the ITS NATURE. 2S^ heart is like the books stowed in cellars in the con- flagration of London, which, though they were ex- tremely heated, never took fire till they took air many days after, which giving vent to the heat put them into a flame. When the spirits are in a fer- ment, though it may be some present pain to check and suppress them, and the headstrong passions hardly admit the bridle, yet afterward it will be no grief of heart to us. Those who find themselves wronged and aggriev- ed, think they may have leave to speak ; but it is bet- ter to be silent than to speak amiss, and make work for iiepentance. At such a time he that holds his tongue, holds his peace; and if we soberly reflect, we shall find we have been often the worse for our speaking, hut seldom the worse for our silence. This must be especially remembered and observed by as many as are under the yoke, who will certainly have most comfort in meekness, and patience, and silent submission, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. It is good in such cases to remember our place, and (if the spirit of a ruler rise up against us) not to leave it, that is, not to do any thing unbecoming, for yielding pacifieth great offences. Eccl. 10: 4. We have a common proverb that teaches us this, " When thou art the hammer, knock thy fill ; but when thou art the anvil, lie thou still :" for it is the posture thou art cut out fori and which best becomes thee. 3 26 H£NRV OK MEEKNE86. If Others be angry at us without cause, and wc have ever so much reason on our side, yet often- times it is best to adjourn our own vindication, though we think it necessary, till the passion be over ; for there is nothing said or done in passion, but it may be better said and better done afterwards. When we are calm, we shall be likely to say it and do it in a better manner; and when our brother is calm, we shall be likely to say it and do it to a bet- ter purpose. A needful truth spoken in anger may do more hurt than good, and offend rather than sa- tisfy. The prophet himself forbore even a message from God, when he saw Amaziah in a passion. Sometimes it may be advisable to get some one else to say that for us which is to be said, rather than say it ourselves. However, we have a righteous God, to whom, if in a meek silence we suffer ourselves to be injured, we may commit our cause, and having his promise that he will *' bring forth our righteousness as the light, and our judgment as the noon-day," we had better leave it in his hands than undertake to manage it ourselves, lest that which we call clearing ourselves, God should call quarreling with our breth- ren. David was greatly provoked by those that sought his hurt, and spake mischievous things against him ; and yet, says he, " I as a deaf man, heard not ; I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth." And why so 1 It was not because he had nothing to say, or knew not how to say it; but because **in thee, O ITS NATURE. 27 Lord, do I hope : thou wilt hear, O Lord my God." If God hear, what need have I to hear ? His con- cerning himself in the matter supersedes ours, and he is not only engaged, in justice, to own every righteous cause that is injured, but he is further en- gaged, in honor, to appear for those who, in obe- dience to the law of meekness, commit their cause to him. If there be any vindication or avenging necessary, (which infinite Wisdom is the best judge of,) he can do it better than we can ; therefore " give place unto wrath," that is, to the judgment of God, which is according to truth and equity ; make room f<5r him to take the seat, and do not you step in be- fore him. It is fit that our wrath should stand by to give way to his, for the wrath of man engages not the righteousness of God for him. Even just appeals made to him, if they be made in passion, are not admitted into the court of heaven, being not duly presented; that one thing, error, is sufficient to overrule them. Let not therefore those that do well and suffer for it, spoil their own vindication by mis- timing and mismanaging it ; but tread in the steps of the Lord Jesus, who, when he was reviled, re- viled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but was as a lamb dumb before the shearers, and so committed himself to Him that judges right- eously. It is indeed a principal part of self-denial to be silent when we have enough to say, and pro- vocation to say it ; but if we do thus control our 28 HENK¥ ON MEEKNESS. tongues out of a pure regard to peace and love, it will turn to a good account, and will be an evi- dence for us that we are Christ's disciples, having learned to deny ourselves. It is better by silence to yield to our brother, who is, or has been, or may be our friend, than by angry speaking to yield to the devil, who has been, and is, and ever will be our sworn enemy. (2.) To indite a soft answer. This Solomon com- mends as a proper expedient to turn away wrath, while grievous words do but stir up anger. When any speak angrily to us, we must pause a while and study an answer, which, both for the matter and man- ner of it, may be mild and gentle. This brings wa- ter, while peevishness and provocation would but bring oil to the flame. Thus is death and life in the power of the tongue : it is either healing or kill- ing, an antidote or a poison, according as it is used. When the waves of the sea beat on a rock, they bat- ter and make a noise ; but a soft sand receives them silently, and returns them without damage. A soft tongue is a wonderful specific, and has a very strange virtue in it. Solomon says, " it breaks the bone," that is, it qualifies those that were provoked, and makes them pliable ; it " heaps coals of fire upon the head" of an enemy, not to burn him, but to melt him. "Hard words," we say, " break no bones ;" but it seems soft ones do, and yet do no harm, as they calm an angry spirit and prevent its progress. A ITS NATURE, 29 Stone that falls on a wool-pack rests there, and re- bounds not to do any further mischief; such is a meek answer to an angry question. The good effects of a soft answer, and the ill con- sequences of a peevish one, are observable in the stories of Gideon and Jephthah : both of them, in the day of their triumphs over the enemies of Israel, were quarreled with by the Ephraimites, when the danger was past and the victory won, because they had not been called upon to engage in the battle. Gideon pacified them with a soft answer, -"What have I done now in comparison of you ?" magnify- ing'their achievements and lessening his own, speak- ing honorably of them and meanly of himself: " Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer ?" In which reply it is hard to say whether there was more of wit or wis- dom ; and the effect was very good ; the Ephraimites were pleased, their anger turned away, a civil war prevented, and nobody could think the worse of Gi- deon for his mildness and self denial. On the con- trary, he won more true honor by his victory over his own passion, than he did by his victory overall the host of Midian ; for he that hath rule over his own spirit is better than the mighty. The angel of the Lord has pronounced him a " mighty man of valor ;" and this his tame submission did not at all derogate from that part of his character. But Jeph- thah, who by many instances appears to be a man of 3* 30 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. a rough and hasty spirit, though enrolled among the eminent believers, Heb. 11 : 32, (for all good people are not alike happy in their temper,) when the Ephraimites in like manner quarrel with him, rallies them, upbraids them with their cowardice, boasts of his ow^n courage, and challenges them to make good their cause. Judg. 12:2. They retort :i scurrilous reflection upon Jephthah's country, as it is usual w^ith passion to taunt and jeer : *' Ye Gileadites are fugitives." From words they go to blows, and so great a matter does this little fire kin- dle, that there goes no less to quench the flame than the blood of two and forty thousand Ephraimites. All which had been happily prevented, if Jephthah had had but half as much meekness in his heart as he had reason on his side. A soft answer is the dictate and dialect of that wisdom which is from above, which is peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated: and to recommend jt to us, we have the pattern of good men, as that of Jacob's conduct to Esau. Though none is so hard to be won as a brother ofl!ended, yet, as he had pre- vailed with God by faith and prayer, so he prevailed with his brother by meekness and humility. We have also the pattern of angels, who, even when a rebuke was needful, durst not turn it into a railing accusation, durst not give any reviling language, not to the devil himself, but referred the matter to God — " The Lord rebuke thee ;" as that passage, ITS NATURE. 31 Judo, 5 : 9, is commonly imderstood. Nay, we have the pattern of a good God, who, though he could plead against us with his great power, yet gives soft answers : witness his dealing Avith Cain when he was wroth and his countenance fallen, reasoning the case with him, " Why art thou wroth ? If thou doest well, shalt not thou be accepted ?" With Jonah like- wise when he Avas so discontented, " Doest thou well to be angry ?" This is represented, in the pa- rable of the prodigal son, by the conduct of the fli- ther towards the elder brother, who was so angry that he would not come in. The father did not sa)% " Let him stay out then ;" but he came himself and entreated him, when he might have interposed his authority and commanded him, saying, " Son, thou art ever with me." When a passionate contest is begun, there is a plague broke out: the meek man, like Aaron, takes his censer with the incense of a soft answer, steps in seasonably, and stays it. This soft answer, in case we have committed a fault, though perhaps not culpable to the degree that we are charged with, must be penitent, humble, and submissive ; and we must be ready to acknowledge our error, and not stand in it, or insist upon our own vindication ; but rather aggravate than excuse it, ra- ther condemn than justify ourselves. It will be a good evidence of our repentance towards God, to humble ourselves to our brethren whom we have offended ; as it will be also a good evidence of our S2 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. being forgiven of God, if we be ready to forgive those that have offended us : and such yielding pa- cifies great offences. Meekness teaches us, as often as we trespass against our brother, to "turn again and say, I repent." An acknowledgment, in case of a willful affront, is perhaps as necessary to pardon, OS (we commonly say) restitution is in case of wrong. So much for the opening of the nature of meekness, w^hich yet will receive further light from consider- ing more particularly what is implied in QUIETNESS OF SPIRIT. Quietness is the evenness, the composure, and the rest of the soul, which speaks both the nature and the excellency of the grace of meekness. The great- est comfort and happiness of man is sometimes set forth by quietness. That peace of conscience which Christ has left for a legacy to his disciples, that pre- sent sabbatism of the soul, which is an earnest of the rest that remains for the people of God, is called " quietness and assurance for ever," and is promised as the efiect of righteousness. So graciously has God been pleased to intwine interests with us, as to en- join the same thing as a duty, which he proposes and promises as a privilege. Justly may we say that we serve a good Master, whose '* yoke is easy :" it is not only easy, but sweet and gracious, so the word signifies; not only tolerable, but amiable and aceep- ITS NATURE. 33 table. Wisdom's waj's are not only pleasant, but pleasantness itself, and all her paths are peace. It is the character of the Lord's people, both in respect to holiness and happiness, that, however they be brand- ed as the troublers of Israel, they are "the quiet in the land," If every saint be made a spiritual prince, Rev. 1 : 6, having a dignity above others, and a do- minion over himself, surely he is like Seraiah, "a quiet prince." It is a reign with Christ, the tran- scendent Solomon, under the influence of whose golden sceptre there is " abundance of peace as long as the moon endures," yea, and longer, for "of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." Quietness is recommended to us in the Scriptures as a grace which we should be endued with, and a duty which we should practice. In the midst of all the affronts and injuries that are or can be ofl?ered us, we must keep our spirits sedate and undisturbed, and evidence, by a calm, and even, nnd regular behavior, that they are so. This is quiet- ness. Our Savior has pronounced the blessing of adoption upon the peace-makers. Matt. 5:9; those that are for peace, as David professes himself to be, Psalm 120: 7, in opposition to those that delight in war. Now, if charity be for peace-making, surely this "charity begins at home," and is for making peace there in the first place. Peace in our own souls is some conformity to the example of the God of peace, who, though he does not always give peace 34 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. on this earth, yet evermore "makes peace in his own high-places." This some think is the primary in- tention of that peace-making on which Christ com- mands the blessing : it is to have strong and hearty affections to peace, to be peaceably-minded. In a word, quietness of spirit is the soul's stillness and silence from intending provocation to any, or resent- ing provocation from any with whom we have to do. The word has something in it of metaphor, which admirably illustrates the grace of meekness. 1. We must be quiet as the air is quiet from wi7ids. Disorderly passions are like stormy winds in the soul, they toss and hurry it, and often strand or overset it ; they move it •' as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind ;" it is the prophet's com- parison, and is an apt emblem of a man in passion. Now meekness restrains these winds, says to them, Peace, be still, and so preserves a calm in the soul, and makes it conformable to Him who has the winds in his hands, and is herein to be praised that even the stormy winds fulfill his word. A brisk gale is often useful, especially to the ships of desire, (as the Hebrew phrase is, Job, 9 : 26 ;) so there should be in the soul such a warmth and vigor as will help to speed us to the desired harbor. It is not well to lie wind-bound in dullness and indifference ; but tem- pests are perilous, yea, though the wind be in the right point. So are strong passions, even in good men ; they both hinder the voyage and hazard the ITS NATURE. Z5 ship. Such a quickness as consists with quietness is what we should all labor after, and meekness will contribute very much toward it ; it will silence the noise, control the force, moderate the impetus, and correct all undue and disorderly transports. What manner of grace is this, that even the winds and the sea obey it ! If we will but use the authority God has given us over our own hearts, we may keep the winds of passion under the command of religion and reason; and then the soul is quiet, the sun shines, all is pleasant, serene and smiling, and the man sleeps sweetly and safely on the lee-side. We make our voyage among rocks and quicksands, but if the weather be calm, we can the better steer so as to avoid them, and by a due care and temper strike the mean between extremes ; whereas he that suffers these winds of passion to get head, and spreads a large sail before them, while he shuns one rock, splits upon another, and is in danger of being drown- ed in destruction and perdition by many foolish and hurtful lusts, especially those whence wars and fight- ings come. 2. We must be quiet as the sea is quiet from waves. The wicked, whose sin and punishment both lie in the unruliness of their own souls, and the vio- lence and disorder of their own passions, which per- haps will not be the least of their eternal torments, are compared to " the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt;" that is. 36 HENRV ON MEEKNESS. they are uneasy to themselves and to all about them, *' raging waves of the sea, foaming out their ovirn shame;" their hard speeches which they speak against God, and dignities, and things which they know not, their great swelling words and mockings ; Jude, 13 : 18 ; these are the shame they foam out Now meekness is a grace of the Spirit, that moves upon the face of the waters, and quiets them, smooths the ruffled sea, and stills the noise of it ; it casts forth none of the mire and dirt of passion. The waves mount not up to heaven in proud and vain-glorious boastings ; they go not dovvn to the depths to scrape up vile and scurrilous language; there is no reeling to and fro, as men overcome with drink or with their own passion ; there is none of that transport which brings them to their wits' end ; but " they are glad because they are quiet, so he bringeth them to their desired haven." This calmness and evenness of spirit makes our passage over the sea of this world safe and pleasant, quick and speedy towards, the desired harbor, and is amiable and exemplary in the eyes of others. 3. We must be quiet as the land is quiet from war. It was the observable felicity of Asa's reign, that " in his days the land was quiet." In the pre- ceding reigns there was no peace to him that went out, or to him that came in ; but now the rumors and alarms of war were stilled, and the people delivered from the noise of archers at the place of drawing ITS NATURE. 37 waters, as when the land had rest in Deborah's time. Such a quietness there should be in the soul, and such a quietness there will be where meekness sways the sceptre. A soul inflamed with wrath and passion upon all occasions, is like a kingdom em- broiled in war, in a civil war, subject to continual frights^ and losses, and perils ; deaths and terrors, in their most horrid shapes, walk triumphantly, sleep is disturbed) families broken, friends suspected, ene- mies feared) laws silenced, commerce ruined, busi- ness neglected, cities wasted ; such heaps upon heaps does ungoverned anger lay, when it is let loose in the souL But meekness makes these wars to cease, breaks the bow, cuts the spear, sheaths the sword, and in the midst of a contentious world preserves the soul from being the seat of war, and makes peace in her borders. The rest of the soul is not disturbed, its comforts not plundered, its government not dis- ordered, the laws of religion and reason rule, and not the sword : neither its communion wnth God nor with the saints interrupted ; no breaking in of temptation, no going out of corruption, no complain- ing in the streets ; no occasion given, no occasion taken, to complain. Happy is the soul that is in such a case. The words of such wise men are heard in quiet, more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools, and this " wnsdom is better than weapons of war." This is the quietness we should every one of us labor after ; and it is what we rujght attain to, if 4 dd HENRY ON M££KN£S£. T/e would but more support and exercise the autho- rity of our graces, and guide and control the power of our passions. 4. We must be quiet as the child is quiet after weaning. It is the Psalmist's comparison, " I have behaved," or rather, I have composed, "and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother, my soul is even as a weaned child." A child, while it is in the v/eaning, perhaps is a little cross, and froward, and troublesome for a time; but when it is perfectly weaned, how quickly does it accommodate itself to its new way of feeding ! Thus a quiet soul, if pro- voked by the denial or loss of some earthly comfort or delight, quiets itself, and does not fret at it, nor perplex itself with anxious cares how to live without it, but composes itself to make the best of that which is. And this holy indifference to the delights of sense is (like the weaning of a child) a good step taken towards the perfect man, "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." A child newly weaned is free from all the uneasiness and disquietude of care, and fear, and envy, and anger, and revenge : how undisturbed are its sleeps, and even in its dreams it looks pleasant and smiling ! How easy its days ! How quiet its nights ! If put into a little pet now and then, how soon it is over, the provocation for- given, the sense of it forgotten, and both buried in an innocent kiss ! Thus, if ever we would enter into the kingdom of heaven, we must be converted from ITS NATURE. 39 pride, envy, ambition, and strife for precedency, and must become like little children. So our Savior has told us, who, even after his resurrection, is called •' the holy child Jesus." And even when we have put away other childish things, yet still " in malice " we must be children. And as for the quarrels of others, a meek and quiet Christian endeavors to be as disinterested and as little engaged as a weaned child in the mother's arms, that is not capable of such angry resentments. This is that meekness and quietness of spirit which is recommended to us : such a command and composure of the soul that it be not unhinged by any provocation whatsoever, but all its powers and faculties preserved in due temper for the just dis- charge of their respective offices. In a word, put off all wrath, and anger, and malice, those corrupted limbs of the old man ; pluck up and cast away those roots of bitterness, and stand upon a constant guard against all the exorbitances of your own passion : then you will soon know, to your comfort, better than I can tell you, what it is to be of a meek and quiet spirit. 40 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. CHAPTER II. THE EXCELLENCY OF MEEKNESS. The very opening of this cause, one would think, were enough to carry it; and the explaining of the nature of meekness and quietness should suffice to recommend it to us. Such an amiable sweetness does there appear in it, upon the very first view, that if we look upon its beauty, we cannot but be enamored with it. But because of the opposition of our corrupt hearts to this, as well as the other graces of the Holy Spirit, I shall endeavor more particu- larly to show the excellency of it, that we may be brought, if possible, to be in love with it, and to sub- mit our souls to its charming power. It is said, Prov. 17 : 27, that a man of understand- ing is of an excellent spirit. Tremellius translates it, he is of a cool spirit ; put them together and they teach us that a cool spirit is an excellent spirit, and that he is a man of understanding who is governed by such a spirit. The Scriptures tell us (what need we more?) that it is in the sight of God of great price, and we may be sure that is precious indeed which is so in God's sight : that is good, very good, which he pronounces so ; for his judgment is accord- ing to truth, and sooner or later he will bring all the world to be of his mind ; for as he has decided it, so ITS exce: shall our doom he, and he ^i\\ be " justified when he speaketh, and clear when he judgeth." The excellency of a meek and quiet spirit will appear, if we consider the credit ol it, and the com- fort of it — the present profit there is by it, and the preparedness there is in it for future blessings. I. ConsideiJigi\r qBj^DiTAjBJLK a meek and quiet spirit is. Credit or reputation all desire, though few consider aright either what it is, or what is the right way of obtaining it ; and particularly it is little be- lieved what a great deal of true honor there is in the grace of meekness, and what a sure and ready way mild and quiet souls take to gain the approval of their Master, and of all their fellow- servants who love him, and are like him. 1. There is in it the credit of a victory. What a gteat figure do the names of high and mighty con- querors make in the records of fame ! How are their conduct, their valor and success cried up and cele- brated ! But if we will believe the word of truth, and pass a judgment upon things according to it^ " He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty ; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." Behold, a greater than Alexander or Cassar is here ; the former of whom (some think) lost more true honor by yielding to his own ungoverned anger, than he got by all his conquests. No triumphant chariot so easy, so safe, so truly glorious, as that in which the meek and quiet soul rides over all the 4* 42 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. provocations of an injurious world with a gracious unconcernedness ; no train so splendid, so noble, as that train of comforts and graces which attend this chariot. The conquest of an unruly passion is more honorable than that of an unruly people, for it re- quires more true courage. It is easier to kill an enemy without, which may be done at a blow, than to chain up and govern an enemy within, which re- quires a constant, even, steady hand, and a long and regular management. It was more to the honor of David to yield himself conquered by Abigail's per- suasions, than to have made himself a conqueror over Nabal and all his house. A rational victory must needs be allowed more honorable to a rational creature than a brutal one. This is a cheap, safe, and unbloody conquest that does nobody any harm, no lives, no treasures are sacrificed to it, the glory of these triumphs are not stained as others generally are, with funerals. Every battle of the warrior, says the prophet, " is with confused noise, and garments roiled in blood ;" but this victory shall be obtained by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. Nay, in meek and quiet suffering we are " more than conquerors," through Christ that loved us ; conquerors with little loss, we lose nothing but the gratifying of abase lust ; conquerors with great gain, the spoils we divide are very rich — the favor of God, the comforts of the Spirit, the foretastes of everlasting pleasures ; these are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey ITS EXCELLENCY. 43 We are more than conquerors ; that is, triumphers ; we live a life of victory ; every day is a day of tri- umph to the meek and quiet soul. Meekness is a victory over ourselves and the re- bellious lusts in our own bosoms ; it is the quieting of intestine broils*, the stilling of an insurrection at home, which is often harder than to resist a foreign invasion. It is an effectual victory over those that injure us, and make themselves enemies to us, and is often a means of winning their hearts. The law of meekness is, " If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, not only give him drink, (which is an act of charity,) but drink to him, in token of friendship, and true love, and reconciliation ; and in so doing thou shalt " heap coals of fire upon his head," not to donsume him, but to melt and soften him, that he may be cast into a new mould ; and thus while the angry and revengeful man, that will bear down all before him with a high hand, is overcome of evil, the patient and forgiving overcome evil with good ; and forasmuch as their '* ways please the Lord, he makes even their enemies to be at peace with them." Nay, meekness is a victory over Satan, the greatest enemy of all ; and what conquest can be more ho- norable than this ? It is written for caution to us all, and it reflects honor on those who through grace overcome, that " we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world." The magni- 44 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. fying of the adversary, magnifies the victory over him ; such as these are the meek man's vanquished enemies ; the spoils of these are the trophies of his victory. It is the design of the devil, that great de- ceiver and destroyer of souls, that is baffled ; it is his attempt that is defeated, his assault that is repulsed by our meekness and quietness. Our Lord Jesus was more admired for controlling and commanding the unclean spirits, than for any other cures which he wrought. Unruly passions are unclean spirits, legions of which some souls are possessed with, and desperate, outrageous work they make ; the soul be- comes like that miserable creature, Mark, 5 : 3, that cried and cut himself; or that, Mark, 9 : 22, who was so often cast into the fire, and into the waters. The meek and quiet soul is, through grace, a con- queror over these enemies, their fiery darts are quenched by the shield of faith, Satan is in some measure trodden under his feet, and the victory will be complete shortly, when "he that overcometh" shall sit down with Christ upon his throne, even as he overcame and is set down with the Father upon his throne, where he still appears in the emblem of his meekness, " a lamb as it had been slain." And upon Mount Zion, at the head of his heavenly hosts, he appears also as a lamb. Rev. 14 : 1. Such is the honor meekness has in those higher regions. 2. There is in it the credit of beauty. The beauty of a thing consists in the symmetry, harmony, and ITS EXCELLENCY. 45 agreeableness of all the parts : now what is meek- ness but the soul's agreement with itself? It is the joint concurrence of all the affections to the univer- sal peace and quiet of the soul, every one regularly acting in its own place and order, and so contribu- ting to the common good. Nextjq the beauty of ho- liness, j^ich is the soul's agreement with God, is the beauty of meekness, which is the soul's agree- m'enf with itself. " Behold how good and how plea- sant a thing it is " for the powers of the soul thus to " dwell together in unity," the reason knowing how to rule, and the affections at the same time knov/ing how to obey. Exorbitant passion is a discord in the soul ; it is like a tumor in the face, which spoils the beauty of it : meekness scatters the humor, binds down the swelling, and so prevents the deformity, "and preserves the beauty. This is one instance of the comeliness of grace, *' through my comeliness," says God to Israel, " which I had put upon thee." It puts a charming loveliness and amiableness.upon the soul, which renders it acceptable to all who know what true worth and beauty is. He that in righte- ousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, that is, in Christian meekness and quietness of spirit, *' serveth Christ, is acceptable to God and approved of men." And to whom else can we wish to recom- mend ourselves ? Solomon, a very competent judge of beauty, has determined that it is *' a man's wisdom " that *' makes 46 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. his face to shine ;" and doubtless the meekness of wisdom contributes as much as any one branch of it to this lustre. We read in Scripture of three whose faces shone remarkably, and they were all eminent for meekness. The face of Moses shone, and be was the meekest of ail the men on earth. The face of Stephen shone, and he it was, who, in the midst of a shower of stones, so meekly submitted, and prayed for his persecutors. The face of our Lord Jesus shone in his transfiguration, and he was the great pattern of meekness. It is a sweet and pleas- ing air which this grace puts upon the countenance, while it keeps the soul in tune, and frees it from those jarring discords wbich are the certain effect of an ungoverned passion. 3. There is in it the credit of an ornament. The Apostle speaks of it as " an adorning " much more excellent and valuable than gold, pearls, or the most costly array. It is an adorning to the soul, the prin- cipal, the immortal part of the man. That outward adorning does but deck and beautify the body, which at the best is but a sister to the worms, and will ere long be a feast for them ; but this is the ornament of the soul, by which we are allied to the invisible world : it is an adorning that recommends us to God, which is in his sight " of great price." Or- naments go by estimation : now we may be sure the judgment of God is right and unerring. Every thing is indeed as it is with God : those are right- ITS EXCELLENCY. 47 eous indeed, that are righteous before God ; and that is an ornament indeed which he calls and counts so. It is an ornament of God's own making. Is the soul thus decked ? It is he that has decked it* By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens, and by the same Spirit has he garnished the meek and quiet souL It is an ornament of his accepting; it must needs be so if it be of his own working ; for to him who has this ornament, more adorning shall be given. He has promised that he will " beautify the meek with salvation;" and if the garments of salva- tion will not beautify, what will ? The robes of glo- ry will be the everlasting ornaments of meek and (juiet spirits. This meekness is an ornament that, like the Israelites' clothes in the wilderness, never waxes old, nor will ever go out of fashion while right reason and religion have place in the world : all the wise and good will reckon those best drest that put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and walk with him in the white of meekness and innocency. Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these lilies of the valleys, though lilies among thorns. The same ornament which is recommended to wives, is by the same apostle recommended to us all. ** Yea, all of you be subject one to another :" that explains what meekness is ; it is that mutual yielding which we owe one to another, for edifica- tion and in the fear of God. This seems to be a 48 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. hard saying, how shall we digest it ? an impractf* cable duty, how shall we conquer it ? Why, it fol* lows, " Be clothed with humility." Which implies, (1.) i\iQ fixedness of this grace : we must gird it fast to us, and not leave it to hang loose, so as to be snatched away by every temptation : watchfulness and resolution in the strength of Christ must tie the knot upon our graces, and make them as the girdle that cleaves to a man's loins. (2.) The comeliness and ornament of it ; put it on as a knot of ribbons, as an ornament to the soul : such is the meekness of wisdom, it gives to the head an ornament of grace, and (which is more) a crown of glory. Prov. 1 : 9, and 4 : 9. 4. There is in it the credit of true courage. Meek- ness is commonly despised by the grandees of the age as cowardice and meanness, and the evidence of a little soul, and is posted accordingly ; while the most furious and angry revenge is celebrated and applauded under the pompous names of valor, ho- nor, and greatness of spirit. This arises from a mistaken notion of courage, the true nature where- of is thus stated by a very ingenious pen, " It is a resolution never to decline any evil of pain, when the choosing of it, and the exposing of ourselves to it, is the only remedy against a greater evil." And therefore he that accepts a challenge, and so runs himself upon the evil of sin, which is the greater evil, only for fear of shame and reproach, which is ITS EXCELLENCY* 49 the less evil, is the coward ; while he that refuses the challenge, and so exposes himself to reproach, for fear of sin,* he is the valiant man. True courage is such a presence of mind as enables a man rather to suffer than to sin, to choose affliction rather than iniquity, to pass by an affront though he lose by it, and be hissed as a fool and a coward, rather than engage in a sinful quarrel. He that can deny the brutal lust of anger and revenge, rather than violate the royal law of love and charity, (however contrary the sentiments of the world may be,) is truly reso- lute and courageous ; the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor. Fretting and vexing is the fruit of the weakness of wom.en and children, but much below the strength of a man, especially of the .new man ihat is born from abo\^e. When our Lord Jesus is described in his majesty, riding prosperous- ly, the glory in which he appears is " truth, and meekness, and righteousness." The courage of those who overcoine this great red dragon of wrath and revenge, by meek and patient suffering, and by not loving " theif lives unto the death," will turn to the best and most honorable account on the other side the grave, and will be crowned with glory, and ho- nor, and immortality; when those that caused their terror in the land of the living fall ingloriously, and * Paul showed more true valor when he said, I can do nothing against the irnfh, than Goliath did when he defied all the hobt of Israel. — Ward. 5 50 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. bear their shame with them that go down to the pit. Ezek. 32 : 24. It has the credit of a conformity to the best pat' terns. The resemblance of those that are confess- edly excellent and glorious, has in it an excellence and glory. To be meek is to be like the greatest saints, the elders that obtained a good report, and were of renown in their generation. It is to be like the angels, whose meekness in their converse with, and ministration to the saints, is very observable in the Scriptures ; nay, it is to be like the great God himself, whose goodness is his glor}*", who is " slow to anger,*' and in whom *' fury is not." We are then followers of God, as dear children, when we " walk in love," and are kind one to another, tender-heart- ed, forgiving one another. The more quiet and se- date we are, the more like we are to that God who, though he be nearly concerned in all the affairs of this lower Avorld, is far from being moved by its con- vulsions and revolutions ; but as he was from eterni- ty, so he is, and will be to eternity, infinitely happy in the enjoyment of himself It is spoken to his praise and glory, The Lord sits upon the floods, even when the floods have lifted up their voices, have lifted up their waves. Such is the rest of the eternal mind, that he sits as firm and undisturbed upon the mov- able flood as upon the immovable rock, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever ; and the meek and quiet soul that preserves its peace and evenness ITS EXCELLENCY. 51 against all the ruffling insults of passion and provo- cation, does thereby somewhat participate of a divine nature. 2 Pet. 1 : 4. Let the true honor that attends this grace of meek- ness recommend it to us : it is one of those things that are honest, and pure, and lovely, and of good report : a virtue that has a praise attending it — a praise, not perhaps of men, but of God. It is the certain v^^ay to get and keep, if not a great name, yet a good name ; such as is better than precious ointment. Though there be those that trample upon the meek of the earth, and look upon them as Mi- chal upon David, despising them in their hearts; yet if this is to be vile, let us be yet more vile and base in our own sight, and we shall find (as David argues) that there are those of whom we shall be " had in honor ;" for the word of Christ shall not fall to the ground, that they " who humble them- selves shall be exahed." II. Consider how comfortable a meek and quiet spirit is. What is true comfort and pleasure but a quietness in our own bosom ? Those are most easy to themselves who are so to all about them ; while they that are a burden and a terror to others will not be much otherwise to themselves. He that would lead a quiet, must lead " a peaceable life." The surest way to find rest to our souls is to " learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart." Let but our moderation be known unto all men, and " the 52 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep our hearts and minds.'' Quietness is the thing which even the busy, noisy part of the world pre- tend to desire and pursue: they will be quiet, (this is their claim,) yea, that they will, or they will know why : they will not endure the least disturbance of their quietness. But verily they go a mad way to work in pursuit of quietness ; greatly to disquiet themselves inwardly, and put their souls into a con- tinual tumult, only to prevent or remedy some small outward disquietude from others. But he that is meek finds a sweeter, safer quietness, and much greater comfort than that which they in vain pursue. " Great peace have they " that love this law of love, for *' nothing shall offend them." Whatever offence is intended, it is not so interpreted, and by that means peace is preserved. If there be a heaven anywhere upon earth, it is in the meek and quiet soul that acts and breathes above that lower religion which is in- fested with storms and tempests, the harmony of whose faculties is like the famed "music of the spheres " — a perpetual melody. •' Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kiss- ed each other." A meek and quiet Christian must needs live very comfortably, for he enjoys himself, — he enjoys his friends, — he enjoys his God, — and he puts it out of the reach of his enemies to disturb him in these en- joyments. ITS EXCEL1?ENCY. 53 I. He er.joys himself. Meekness is very nearly allied to that "patisnce" which our Lord J»^sus pre- scribes to us a^ necessary to the keeping* possession 0^ our own souis. How calm are the thoughts, how serene are the rffections, how rational the pros- pects, and how even and composed are all the re- solves of the meek and quiet soul ! How free from the pains and tortures of an angry man, who is dis- seized and dispossessed even of himself, and while he toils and vexes to make other things his own, makes his own sou4 not so : his reason is in a mist ; confounded and bewildered, it cannot argue, infer, or foresee with any certainty. His affections are on the full speed, hurried on with an impetus which is as uneasy as it is hazardous. Who is that " good man who is satisfied from himself?" Who but the quiet man that needs not go abroad for satisfaction, but having Christ dwelling in his heart by faith, has in him that peace which the world can neither give nor take away. While those, that are fretful and pas- sionate rise up early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of sorrow in pursuit of revengeful projects, the God of peace gives to " his beloved sleep." The sleep of the .neek is quiet, and sweet, and undisturb- ed ; those that by innocency and mildness are the sheep of Christ, shall be made to " lie down in green pastures." That which would break an an- gry man's heart, will not break a meek man's sleep. It is promised that '* the meek shall eat and be sat- 54 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. .isfied." He has what sweetness is to be had in his common comforts, while the angry man either cannot eat, his stomach is too full and too high, (as A hab, I Kings, 21 : 4;) or eats and is not satisfied, unless he can be revenged, as Haman : " All this avails me nothing,*' (though it was a banquet of wine with the king and queen,) as long as Mordecai is unhanged. It is spoken of as the happiness of the meek, that they " delight themselves in the abundance of peace ;" others may delight themselves in the abundance ot u^alth — a poor delight that is interwoven with so much trouble and disquietude ; but the meek, though they have but a little wealth, have peace, abundance of peace, peace like a river, and this such as they have a heart to enjoy. They have light within : as GEcolampadius said, Their souls are a Goshen in the midst of the Egypt of this world ; they have a light in their dwelling, when clouds and darkness are round about them : this is the joy with which a stranger doth not intermeddle. We may certainly have (and we should do well to consider it) less in- ward disturbance, and more true ease and satisfac- tion in forgiving twenty injuries, than in avenging one. No doubt Abigail intended more than she ex- pressed, when, to persuade David to pass by the af- front which Nabal had given him, she prudently suggested, that hereafter " this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart — not only so, but it would be very sweet and easy, and comfortable in the re- ITS EXCELLENCY. 55 flection. Such a rejoicing is it, especially in a suf- fering day, to have the testimony of conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, particularly the grace of meekness, we have had our conversation in the world, and so have pleased God, and done our duty. He did not speak the sense, no not of the so- ber heathen, that said — Revenge is sweeter than life ; for it often proves more bitter than death. 2. He enjoys his friends ; and that is a thing in which lies much of the comfort of human life. Man was intended to be a sociable creature, and a Chris- tian much more so. But the angry man is unfit to be so, that takes fire at every provocation ; fitter to be abandoned to the lions' dens, and the mountains of the leopards, than to go forth by the footsteps of the flock. He that has his hand against every man, cannot but have, with Ishmael's character, Ishmael's fate, "every man's hand against him," and so he lives in a state of war ; but meekness is the cement of society, the bond of Christian communion ; it planes and polishes the materials of that beautiful fabric, and makes them lie close and tight, and the living stones which are built up a spiritual house, to be like the stones of the temple that Herod built, all as one stone, whereas, " Hard upon hard " (as the Spaniard's proverb is) " will never make a wall." Meekness preserves among brethren that unity, which is like the ointment upon the holy head, and 56 HENRY ON MEEKNESS the dew upon the holy hill. Psalm 133 : 1, 2. In our present state of imperfection there can be no friendship, correspondence, or conversation main- tained without mutual allowances; we do not yet dwell with angels or spirits of just men made ^r^ feet, but with men subject to like passions. Now, msekness teaches us to consider this, and to allow accordingly ; and so di-stance and strangeness, feuds and quarrels are happily prevented, and the begin- nings of them crushed by a timely care. How ne- cessary to true friendship it is to surrender our pas- sions, and to subject them all to the laws of it, was, perhaps, intimated by Jonathan's delivering to David his sword, and his bow, and his girdle, all his mili- Y tary habiliments, when he entered into a covenant K-. of friendship with him. ^1 ^. 3. He enjoys his God; and that is most comfort- / . ^ able of all. It is thfi quintessence of all happiness, and that without which all our other enjoyments are insipid; for this, none are better qualified than those Avho are arrayed with the ornament of a m^eek and ^^"'^' quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great T > price. It was when the psalmist had newly con- H' ^ quered an unruly passion, and composed himself) that he lifted up his soul to God in that pious and * pathetic breathing, " Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee?" We enjoy God when we have the evidences and the assurances of his favor, the ITS EXCELLENCY. 57 tastes and tokens of his love ; when we experience in ourselves the communication of his grace, and the continued instances of his image stamped upon us ; and this, those that are most meek and quiet have usually in the greatest degree. In our wrath and passion we give place to thjB devil, and so provoke God to withdraw from us. Nothing grieves the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we have fellowship with the Father, more than " bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking." But to this man does the God of heaven look with a pecu- liar regard, even to him that is poor, poor in spirit, Isa. 66 : 2, — to him that is quiet, so the Syriac ; to him that is meek, so the Chaldee. The great God overlooks heaven and earth, to give a favorable look to the meek and quiet soul. Nay, he not only looks at such, but he " dwells " with them ; noting a con- stant intercourse and communion between God and humble souls. His secret is with them ; he gives them more grace ; and they that thus dwell in love, dwell in God, and God in them. The waters were dark indeed, but they were quiet, when the Spirit of God moved upon them, and out of them produced a beautiful world. This calm and sedate frame very much qualifies and disposes us for the reception and entertainment of divine visits ; sets bounds to the mountain on which God is to descend, Ex. 19 : 12, that no interruption may break in ; and charges the daughters of Jerusa- 68 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. lem, by the roes and the hinds of the field, (those sweet, and gentle, and peaceable creatures,) not to stir up or awake our love till he please. Cant. 2 : 7. Some think it was for the quieting and composing of his spirit, which seems to haiie been a little ruffled, that Elisha called for the "minstrel," and then *• the hand of the Lord came upon him." Never was God more intimate with any mere man than he was with Moses, the meekest of all the men on the earth ; and it was required as a needful qualification of the high priest, who was to draw near to minister, that he should have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way. " The meek will He guide in judgment " with a still small voice, w^hich cannot be heard when the passions are loud and tu- multuous. The angry man, when he awakes, is still with the devil, contriving some malicious project ; the meek and quiet man, when he awakes, is still with God, solacing himself in his favor. " Return unto thy rest, O my soul," says David, when he had reckoned himself among the simple, that is, the mild, innocent, and inoffensive people. Return to thy Noah, so the word is, (for Noah had his name from rest,) perhaps alluding to the rest which the dove found with Noah in the ark, when she could find none any where else. Those that are harmless, and simple as doves, can with comfort return to God as to their rest. It is excellently paraphrased by Mr. Patrick, " God and thyself" (my soul) "enjoy; in ITS EXCELLENCY. 59 quiet rest, freed from thy fears." It is said that *' the Lord lifted up the meek ;" as far as their meekness reigns, they are lifted up above the stormy region, and fixed in a sphere perpetually calm and serene. They are advanced indeed that are at home in God, and live a life of communion with him, not only in solemn ordinances, but even in the common acci- dents and occurrences of the world. Every day is a Sabbath-day, a day of holy rest with the meek and quiet soul, as one of the days of heaven. As this grace gets ground, the comforts of the Holy Ghost grow stronger and stronger, according to that pre- cious promise, *' the meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall re- joice in the Holy One of Israel." 4. It is not in the power of his enemies to disturb and interrupt him in these enjoyments. His peace is not only sweet, but safe and secure ; as far as he acts under the law of meekness, it is above the reach of the assaults of those that wish ill to it. He that abides quietly under " the shadow of the Almighty," shall surely be delivered " from the snare of the fowl- er." The greatest provocations that men can give would not hurt us, if we did not, by our inordinate and foolish concern, come too near them. We may therefore thank ourselves if we be damaged. He that has learned with meekness and quietness to for- give injuries and pass them by, has found the best and surest way of baffling and defeating them ; nay, 60 HJENRV ON ME£KMESS. it is a kind of innocent revenge. It was an evidence that Saul was actuated by another spirit, in that, when the children of Belial despised him, and brought him no presents, (hoping by that contempt to give a shock to his infant government,) he *' held his peace," and so neither his soul nor his crown re- ceived any disturbance. Shimei, when he cursed David, intended thereby to pour vinegar into his wounds, and to add affliction to the afflicted ; but David, by his meekness, preserved his peace, and Shimei's design was frustrated. ** So let him curse ;" alas, poor creature ! he hurts himself more than David, who, while he keeps his heart from being tinder to those sparks, is no more prejudiced by them than the moon is by the foolish cur that barks at it. The meek man's prayer is that of David, Ps. 61 : 2, *' Lead me to the rock that is higher than I ;" and there I can (as Mr. Norris expresses it) -Smile to see The shafts of fortune all <irop short of me. The meek man is like a ship that rides at anchor — is moved, but not removed ; the storm moves it, (the meek man is not a stock or stone under provo- cation,) but does not remove it from its port. It is a grace that, in reference to the temptations of af- front and injury, (as faith in reference to temptation in general,) quenches the fiery darts of the wicked: ITS EXCELLENCY. 61 it is armor of proof against the spiteful and enven- omed arrows of provocation, and is an impregnable v^all to secure the peace of the soul, where no thief can break through to steal ; while the angry man lays all his comforts at the mercy of every wasp that will strike at him. So that, upon the whole, it appears that the orna- ment of a meek and quiet spirit is as easy as it is comely. III. Consider how profitable a meek and quiet spirit is. All are intent on gain. It is for this that they break their sleep and spend their spirits. Now, it will be hard to convince such, that really there is more to be obtained by meekness and quietness of spirit, than by all this tumult and confusion. They readily believe that " in all labor there is profit :" but let God himself tell them, •* In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength ;" they Avill not take his word for it, but they say, *' No, for we will flee upon horses, and we will ride upon the swift." He that came from heaven to bless us, has entailed a special blessing upon the grace of meekness : " Blessed are the meek;" and his saying they are blessed makes them so ; for those whom he blesses, are blessed in- deed : blessed, and they shall be blessed. Meekness is gainful and profitable, as it is, 1. The condition of the promise : the meek *' shall inherit the earth :" it is quoted from Ps. 37 : 11, and 6 62 HENRY ON MEEKNESS* is almost the only express promise of temporal good things in all the New Testament. Not that the meek shall be put off with the earth only, then they would not be truly blessed ; but they shall have that as an earnest of something more. Some read it. They shall inherit the land, that is, the land of Ca- naan, which was not only a type and figure, but to them that believed, a token and pledge of the hea- venly inheritance. So that " a double Canaan " (as Dr. Hammond observes) "is thought little enough for the meek man ; the same felicity in a manner at- tending him which we believe of Adam, if he had not fallen — a life in paradise, and thence a trans- plantation to heaven." Meekness is a branch of god- liness, which has, more than other branches of it, *' the promise of the life that now is." They shall inherit the earth ; the sweetest and surest tenure is that by inheritance, which is founded in sonship : that which comes by descent to the heir, the law at- tributes to the act of God, who has a special hand in providing for the meek. They are his children, and if children, then heirs. It is not always the largest proportion of this world's goods that falls to the meek man's share ; but whether he has more or less, he has it by the best title, not by a common, but a covenant- right: he holds in Capite* — in Christ, our head, an honorable tenure. ♦ They inhabit the earth which they know to be theirs by the divine allotment, and they are safe beneath the divine ITS EXCELLENCY. 63 If he has but a little, he has it ff om God's love and with his blessing, and behold all things are clean and comfortable to him. The wise man has deter- mined it, *• Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a houseful of sacrifices with strife. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." Be the fare ever so scanty, he that has rule over his own spirit knows how to make the best of it, and how to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock. Bless- ed are the meek, for they shall wield the earth ; so old Wickliff's translation reads it, (as I remember it is quoted in the Book of Martyrs,) and very signifi- cantly. Good management contributes more to our comfort than great possessions. Whatever a meek man has of this earth, he knows how to wield it, to make a right and good use of it ; that is all in all. ^ Q,uiet souls so far inherit the earth, that they are sure to have as much of it as is good for them, as much as will serve to bear their charges through this world to a better ; and who would covet more ? The promise of God without present possession, is better than possession of the world without an inte- rest in the promise. 2. Meekness has in its own nature a direct ten- dency to our present benefit and advantage. He that protection ; this suffices them, till, in the last day, they ar- rive at the full possession of their inheritance. The furious, on the contrary, by grasping at all, lose every thing. Calv. inMatt. 5; 5. 64 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. is thus wise, is wise for himself, even in this world, and effectually consults his own interest. Meekness has a good influence upon our health. If envy be " the rottenness of the bones," meekness is the preservation of therr.. The excesses and ex- orbitances of anger stir up those bad humors in the body which kindle and increase wasting and killing diseases; but meekness governs those humors, and so contributes very much to the good temper and constitution of the body. When Ahab was sick for Naboth's vineyard, meekness would soon have cured him. Moses, the meekest of men, not only lived to be old, but was then free from the infirmities of age ; " his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated," which may be very much imputed to his meekness, as a means. The days of old age would not be such evil days, if old people did not, by their own frowardness and unquietness, make them worse than . otherwise they would be. Ungoverned anger in- flames the natural heat, and so begets acute diseas- es ; dries up the radical moisture, and so hastens chronical decays. The body is called the sheath or scabbard of the soul. Dan. 7:15, marg. How often does an envious fretful soul, like a sharp knife, cut its own sheath, and, as they say of the viper's brood, eat its own way out ; all which meekness happily prevents. The quietness of the spirit will help to suppress melancholy ; and this, as other of wisdom's precepts, ITS EXCELLENCY. 65 will be health to the body and marrow to the bones ; length of days, and long life, and peace they shall add unto thee; but wrath kills the foolish man. Job, 5 : 2. It has a good influence upon our tvealth, the pre- servation and increase of it. As in kingdoms, so in families and neighborhoods, war begets poverty. Many a one has brought a fair estate co ruin by giving way to the efforts of an ungoverned anger, that barbarous idol, to which even the children's por- tions and the family's maintenance are oftentimes sacrificed. Contention will as soon clothe a man with rags as slothfulness ; that, therefore, which keeps peace, does not a little befriend plenty. It was Abraham's meek management of his quarrel with Lot that secured both his own and his kins- man's possessions, which otherwise would have been an easy prey to the Canaanite and the Periz- zite that dwelt then in the land. And Isaac, whom I have sometimes thought to be the most quiet and calm of all the patriarchs, and that passed the days of his pilgrimage most silently, raised the greatest estate of any of them ; he " grew until he became very great;" and his son Jacob lost nothing in the end by his meek and quiet carriage toward his uncle Laban. Revenge is costly ; Haman bid largely for it, no less than ten thousand talents of silver. It is better to forgive, and save the charges. Mr. Dod used to say, " Love is better than law ; for 6* 66 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. love is cheap, but law is chargeable." Those trades- men are commonly observed to thrive most, that make the least noise, that " with quietness work," and mind their own business. It has a good influence upon our safety. In the day of the Lord's anger, the meek of the earth are most likely to be secured. It may be you shall be hid ; (so runs the promise, Zeph. 2:3;) if any be, you shall ; you stand fairest for special protection. Meekness approaches to that innocence which is commonly an effectual security against wrongs and injuries. However some base and servile spirits may insult over the tame and humble ; yet, with all persons of honor, it is confessedly a piece of coward- ice to attack an unarmed, unresisting man, that re- sents not provocation.- '* And who is he that will harm you if you be followers of that which is good ?" Who draws his sword or cocks his pistol at the harmless silent lamb, while every one is ready to do it at the furious barking dog? Thus does the meek man escape many of those perplexing troubles, those woes, and sorrows, and wounds without cause, which he that is passionate, provoking, and revenge- ful pulls upon his own head. Wise men turn away wrath, but a fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes. It is an honor to a man to cease from strife, but every fool will be meddling to his own hurt. An instance of this I remember Mr. Baxter gives in his book of " Obedient Patience:" ITS EXCELLENCY. 67 ** Once going along London streets, a hectoring, rude fellow jostled him ; he went on his way, and took no notice of it: but the same man affronting the next he met in Jike manner, he drew his sword and de- manded satisfaction, and mischief was done." He that would sleep, both in a whole skin and in a whole conscience, must learn rather to forgive inju- ries than to revenge them. The two goats that met upon the narrow bridge (as it is in Luther's fable) were both in danger, should they quarrel ; but were both preserved by the condescension of one that lay down and let the other go over him. It is the evil of passion, that it turns our friends into enemies ; but it is the excellency of meekness, that it turns our enemies into friends, which is an effectual way of conquering them. Saul, as inveterate an enemy as could be, was more than once meUed by David's mildness and meekness. " Is this thy voice, my son David?" said he : "I have sinned ; return, my son David." And after that Saul persecuted him no more. 1 Sam. 27 : 4. The change that Jacob's meekness made in Esau is no less observable. In the ordinary dispensations of Providence some tell us that they have found it remarkably true in times of public trouble and calamity, that it has common- ly fared best with the meek and quiet ; their lot has been safe and easy, especially if compared with the contrary fate of the turbulent and seditious. Whoso is wise and observes these things will understand 68 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. the loving-kindness cf the Lord to the quiet in the land, against whom we read indeed of plots laid and deceitful matters devised; Ps. 35 : 20 ; 37 : 12, 14; but those by a kind and overruling Providence are ordinarily baffled and made successless. Thus does this grace of meekness carry its own recompense alon^ with it, and in keeping this commandment, as well as after keeping it, " there is a great reward." IV. Consider what a preparative it is for something further. It is a very desirable thing to stand complete in all the will of God, Gol. 4 : 12, to be fitted and furnished for every good work, to be made ready, a people prepared for the Lord. A liv- ing principle of grace is the best preparation for the whole will of God. Grace is establishing to the heart, it is the root of the matter, and a good founda- tion for the time to come. This grace of meekness is particularly a good preparation for what lies be- fore us in this world. L It makes us fit for any duty. It puts the soul in frame, and keeps it so for all religious exercises. There was no noise of axes and hammers in the building of the temple : tkose are most fit for temple service that are most quiet and composed. The work of God is best done when it is done without noise. Meekness qualifief; and disposes us to hear an(? receive the word : when malice and envy are Jaid aside, and we are like new-born babes for innocence ITS EXCELLENCY. 69 and inoffensiveness, then we are most fit to receive the sincere milk of the word, and are most likely to grow thereby. Meekness prepares the soil of the heart for the seed of the word, as the husbandman opens and breaks the clods of his ground, and makes plain the face thereof, and then casts in " the princi- pal wheat and the appointed barley." Christ's mi- nisters are fishers of men, but we seldom fish suc- cessfully in these troubled waters. The voice that Eliphaz heard, was ushered in with a profound si- lence, and in slumberings upon the bed — a quiet place and posture. God " opens the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction." Prayer is another duty which meekness disposes us rightly and acceptably to perform. We do not lift up pure hands in prayer, if they be not *' without wrath." Prayers made in wrath are written in gall, and can never be pleasing to, or prevailing with the God of love and peace. Our rule is, " First go and be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and ofl^er thy gift." And if w^e do not take this method, though we seek God in a due ordinance, we do not seek him in the due order. The Lord's day is a day of rest, and none are fit for it but those who are in a quiet frame, whose souls have entered into that present sabbatism which the Gospel has provided for the people of God. The Lord's Supper is the Gospel-feast of unleavened bread, which must be kept, not with the old leaven 70 HENRY ON MBEKNEgS. of wrath, and malice, and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.* God made a gracious visit to Abraham, and after that the strife betwixt him and Lot was over, in which he had discovered so much mildness and hu- mility. The more carefully we preserve the com- munion of saints, the fitter we are for communion with God. It is observable, that the sacrifices which God appointed under the law, were not ravenous beasts and birds of prey, but calves, and kids, and lambs, and turtle-doves, and young pigeons, all of them emblems of meekness, and gentleness, and in- offensiveness ; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. This quietness of spirit contributes very much to the constant steadiness and regularity of a religious conversation. Hot and eager spirits, that are ready to take fire at every thing, are usually very inconstant in their profession, and of great in- consistency with themselves ; like a man in an ague- fit, sometimes burning with heat, and sometimes shivering for cold ; or like those that gallop in the beginning of their journey, and tire before the end of it; whereas the meek and quiet Christian is still the same ; and, by keeping to a constant rate, makes * How can we attain the peace of God without peace 1 How can we attain the remission of our sins without remit- ting the sins of others 1 How can he that is angry with his brother, pacify his Father, who, from the first, forbids us to be angry 1 Terltd. de Orat. c. 10. ITS EXCELLENCY. 71 progress. If you would have one foot of the com- pass go even round the circumference, you must be sure to keep the other fixed and quiet in the centre, for your strength is to sit still. 2. It makes us fit for any relation into which God in his providence may call us. Those who are quiet themselves, cannot but be easy to all that are about them ; and the nearer any are to us in relation and converse, the more desirable it is that we should be easy to them. Relations are various, as superiors, inferiors, and equals ; he that is of a meek and quiet spirit is fitted for any of them. Moses was forty years a courtier in Egypt, forty years a servant in Midian, and forty years a king in Jeshurun; and his meek- ness qualified him for each of these posts, and still he held fast his integrity. There are various duties requisite, according as the relation is, and various graces to be exercised ; but this of meekness is the golden thread that must run through all. If man be a sociable creature, the more he has of humanity the more fit he is for society. Meekness would great- ly help to preserve the wisdom and due authority of superiors, the obedience and due subjection of infe- riors, and the love and mutual kindness of equals. A calm and quiet spirit receives the comfort of the re- lation most thankfully, studies the duty of the rela- tion most carefully, and bears the inconvenience of the relation (for there is no unmixed comfort under the sun) most cheerfully and easily. I have heard 72 HENRY ON MEEKNESS, of a married couple, who, though they were both naturally of a hasty temper, yet lived very comfort- ably in that i^elation, by observing an agreement made between themselves, *' Never both to be angry together :" an excellent law of meekness, which, if faithfully obeyed, would prevent many of those breaches among relations which occas/on so much guilt and grief, and are seldom healed without a scar. It wr;.s part of the good advice given by a pious and ingenious father to his children newly entered into the conjugal relation: Doth one speak lare 1 t'other with water come, Is one provok'd 1 be t'other soft or dumb. And thus one wise, both ha;^ py. But where wrath and anger are indulged, all relations are embittered, those that should be helps become as thorns in our eyes and goads in our sides. Two indeed are bet- ter than one, and yet it is better to dwell alone in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry relation, who is like " a continual dropping in a very rainy day." 3. It makes us fit for any condition, according as the vwse God shall please to dispose of us. Those who, through grace, are enabled to compose and quiet themselves, are fit to live in this world, where we meet with so much every day to discompose and disquiet us. In general, whether the outward con- dition be prosperous or adverse, whether the world ITS EXCELLENCY. 73 smile or frown upon us, a meek and quiet spirit is neither lifted up with the one nor cast down with the other, but is still in the same poise : in prosperi- ty humble and condescending, the estate rising, but the mind not rising with it ; in adversity encouraged and cheered — cast dovvH, but not in despair. St. Paul, who had learned in every estate " to be content, knew how to be abased, and knew how to abound ; every where, and in all things, he was instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suf- fer need." Changes without, made none within. It is a temper Avhich, as far as it has the ascendant in the soul, makes every burden light, by bringing the mind to the condition, when the condition is not in every thing brought to the mind. Prosperity and adversity have each of them their particular tempta- tion to peevishness and frowardness ; the former by making men imperious, the latter by making them impatient. Against the assaults of each of these temptations the grace of meekness will stand upon the guard. Being to pass through this world " by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report," that is, through a great variety of conditions and of treatment, we have need of that long-suffering and kindness, and love unfeigned, which will be " tho armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." Meekness and quietness will fortify the soul on each hand, and suit it to the several entertainments which the world gives us ; like a skillful pilot that, 7 74 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. from which point of the compass soever the wind blows, will shift his sails accordingly; and knows either how to get forward, and weather his point with it, or to lie by without damage. It is the conti- nual happiness of a quiet temper to make the best of that which is.* 4. It makes us fit for a day o( per stent ion. If tribulation and affliction arise because of the word, (which is no foreign supposition,) the meek and quiet spirit is armed for it, so as to preserve its peace and purity at such a time, which are our two great concerns, that we may neither torment ourselves with a base fear, nor pollute ourselves with a base compliance. We are accustomed to say, we "will give any thing for a quiet life ;" I say, any thing for a quiet conscience, which will be best secured under the shield of a meek and quiet spirit, which doth not *' render railing for railing," nor aggravate the threatened trouble, nor represent it to itself in its most formidable colors, but has learned to put a but \ipon the power of the most enraged enemies ; they can but kill the body ; and to witness the most righte- ous testimony with nieekness and fear, like our Master, who, " when he sufiered, threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously." Suffering saints (as the suffering Jesus) are com- ♦ Seek not to adjust events to your will so much as to ad- just your will to events ; thus you will act a becoming part. Epkt. c. 13. ITS EXCELLENCY. 75 pared to sheep, dumb before the shearer, nay, dumb before the butcher. The meek and quiet Christian, if 'duly called to it, can tamely part, not only with the wool, but with the blood; not only with the estate, but with the life, and even then rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Angry, froward people, in a day of rebuke, are apt to pull crosses upon themselves by needless provocations; or to murmur, and complain, and fly in the face of instru- ments, and give unbecoming language, contrary to the laws of our holy religion and the example of our Master, and so get more hurt than good by their suffering. Whenever we have the honor to be per- secuted for righteousness' sake, our great care must be to glorify God and to adorn our profession, which is done most efliectually by meekness and mildness, under the hardest censures and the most cruel usage ; so manifesting that we are indeed under the power and influence of that holy religion for which we think it worth our while to suffer. 5. It makes us fit for death and eternity. The grave is a quiet place ; " there the wicked cease from troubling." Those that were most troublesome are there bound to the peace ; and " their hatred and envy " are there •* perished." Whether we will or no, in the grave we shall lie still and be quiet. Job, 3:13. What a great change then must it needs be to the unquiet, the angry, and litigious I and what a mighty shock will that sudden, forced rest give 76 HENRY ON »MEEKNBSS. them, after such a violent, rapid motion ! It is there- fore our wisdom to compose ourselves for the grave ; to prepare ourselves for it, by adapting and accom- modating ourselves to that which is likely to be our long home. This is dymg daily, quieting ourselves. for death will shortly quiet us. The meek and quiet soul is, at death, let into that rest which it has been so much laboring after ; and how welcome must that needs be ! Thoughts of death and the grave are very agreeable to those who love to be quiet ; for then and there " they shall enter into peace," and " rest in their beds." After death we expect the judgment, than which nothing is more dreadful to them that are " conten- tious." The coming of the master brings terror along with it to those who "smite their fellow-servants;" but those that are meek and quiet are likely to have their plea ready, their accounts stated, and when- ever it comes, it will be no surprise to them : to those whose " moderation is known to all men," it will be no ungrateful news to hear that " the Lord is at hand." It is therefore prescribed as that which ought to be our constant care, that Vv^henever our Master comes, we may "be found of him in peace," that is, in a peaceable temper. Blessed is that ser- vant whom his Lord when he comes shall iind in such a frame. " A good man," says the l-.;te excel- lent archbishop Tillotson, in his preface to his book of Family Religion, " would be loth to be taken out ITS EXCELLENCY. Iff of the world reeking hot from a sharp contention with a perverse adversary ; and not a little out of countenance to find himself in this temper translated into the calm and peaceable regions of the blessed, where nothing but perfect charity and good-will reigns for ever." Heaven is a quiet place, and none are fit for it but quiet people. The heavenly Canaan; that land of peace, would be no heaven to those that delight in war. The turbulent and unquiet would be out of their element, like a fish upon dry ground, iit those calm regions. They are the sheep of Christ, (such as are pa- tient and inofl^ensive,) that are called to inherit the kingdom; without are dogs that bite and devour. Rev. 22: 15. They are the wings of a dove, not those of a hawk' or eagle, that David would fly upon to his desired rest. Psalm 55 : 6. Now lay all this together, and then consider whe- ther there be not a real excellency in this meekness and quietness of spirit, which highly recommends it to all that love either God or themselves, or have any sensible regard to their own comfort, either in this world or in that which is to come* ►■ ?• 78 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. CHAPTER III. WANT OF MEEKNESS LAMENTED. ' And now, have we not reason to lament the want- ol the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit among those that profess religion, and especially in our own bosoms 7 If this be Christianity, how little is there of the thing, even among those that make great pre- tensions to the name ! Surely, (as one said in ano- ther case,) either this is not Gospel, or these are not gospel-professors. And O how bare and uncomely does profession appear for want of this adorning ! When the Israelites had stripped themselves of their ornaments to furnish up a golden calf, it is said they were " made naked to their shame." How naked are we (like Adam when he had sinned) for want of this ornament. It is well if it be to the shame of true repentance. I am not teaching you to judge and censure others m this patter, there is too much of that to be found among us; we are quick-sighted enough to spy faults in others, the transports of whose passions we should interpret favorably. But we have all cause, more or less, to condemn ourselves, and confess guilt in this matter. In many things we all offend, and perhaps in this as much as in any, coming short of the law of meekness and quietness. WANT OF IT LAMENTED. 79 We are called Christians, and it is our privilege and honor that we are so : we name the name of the meek and lowly Jesus, but how few are actuated by his spirit, or conform to his example ! It is a shame that any occasion should be given to charge it upon professors, who, in other things, are most strict and sober, that in this they are most faulty ; and that many who pretend to conscience and devotion, should indulge themselves in a peevish, froward, and morose temper and conversation, to the great reproach of that worthy name by which we are called. May we not say, as that Mahommedan did when a Christian prince had perfidiously broke his league wuh him, " O Jesus ! are these thy Chris- tians !" It is the manifest design of our holy and excel- lent religion to smooth, and soften, and sweeten our temper ; and is it not a wretched thing that any who profess it should be soured, and embittered, and less conversible and fit for human society than others? He was looked upon as a very good man in his day, (and not without cause,) who yet had such an unhappy temper, and was sometimes so transported with passion that his friend would say of him, " He had grace enough for ten men, and yet not enough for himself" The disciples of Jesus Christ did not know " what manner of spirit they were of," — so apt are we to deceive ourselves, espe- cially when these extravagances shroud therrjselves 80 HENRY ON MEEKNESS, under the specious and plausible pretence of zeal for God and religion. But yet the fault is not to be laid upon the profession, or the strictness and sin- gularity of it in other things which are praisewor- thy ; nor may we think the worse of Christianity for any such blemish : we know very well that the wisdom that is from above is peaceable and gen- tle, and easy to be entreated, and all that is sweet, and amiable, and endearing, though she is not here- in justified of all who call themselves her children. But the blame must be laid upon the corruption and folly of the professors themselves, who are not so per- fectly delivered into the mould of Christianity as they should be; but neglect their ornament, and pros- titute their honor, and suffer the authority of their graces to be trampled upon. They let *' fire go out of the rod of their branches, which devour their fruit;" so that there is no meekness as a strong rod, to be a sceptre to rule in the soul, w*hich is "a la- mentation, and shall be for a lamentation." And yet, blessed be God, even in this corrupt and degenerate world there are many \vho appear in the excellent ornament of a meek and quiet spirit ; and some, w^hose natural temper is hasty and choleric, yet have been enabled, by the power of divine grace, to show in a good conversation their works with meekness and wisdom. It is not so impracticable as some imagine to subdue these passions, and to preserve the peace of the soul, even in a stormy day. WANT OF IT LAMENTED. 81 But that we may each of us judge ourselves, and find matter for repentance herein, I shall only men- tion those instances of irregular deportment towards our particular relations which evidence the want of meekness and quietness of spirit. 1. Superiors are commonly very apt to chide, and that is for want of meekness. It is spoken to the praise of Him who is the great ruler of this per- verse and rebellious 'vorld, that he "will not al- ways chide." But how many little rulers are there of families and petty societies that herein are very unlike him, for they are always chiding! Upon every little default they are put into a flame, and transported beyond due bounds : easily provoked, either for no cause at all, or for very small cause ; greatly provoked, and very outrageous and unrea- sonable when they are provoked. Their carriage is fiery and hasty, their language is scurrilous and indecent ; they care not Avhat ihey say, nor what they do, nor whom they insult; they are "such sons of Belial that a man cannot speak to them.'* One had as good meet a bear robbed of her whelps as meet them. These require meekness. Hus- bands should not be bitter against their Avives. Pa- rents should not provoke their children. Masters must forbear threatening. These are the rules, but how few are ruled by them ! The undue and intem- perate passion of superiors goes under the excuse ot necessary strictness, and the maintaining of autho- 82 , HENRY ON MEEKNESS. rity, and the education and control of children and servants. But surely every little failure needs not be animadverted upon, but rather should be passed by; or if the fault must be reproved and corrected, luay it not be done without so much noise and cla- mor? Is this the product of a meek and quiet spi. rit ? Is this the best badge of your authority you have to put on ? And are these the ensigns of your honor ? Is there no other way of making your in- feriors know their place but by putting them among the dogs of your flock, and threatening them as such? Not that I am against government and good order in families, and such reproofs as are necessary to the support and preservation of it, and those so sharpened as some tempers require and call for. But while you are governing others, pray learn to govern yourselves, and do not disorder your own souls under pretence of keeping order in your fa- milies; for though you yourselves may not be aware of it, yet it is certain that by those indications of vour displeasure which transgress the laws of meekness, you do but render yourselves contempti- ble and ridiculous, and rather prostitute than pre- serve your authority. Though your children dare not tell you so, yet perhaps they cannot but think that you arc very unfit to command yourselves.* Time was w^hen you w^ere yourselves children, and ♦ No one is fit to rule, except he is willing to be govern- ed.— Sencca» WANT OF IT LAMENTED. 83 scholars, and perhaps servants and apprentices ; and so, if you will but allow yourselves the liberty of reflection, you cannot but know the heart of an inferior, Exod. 23 : 9, and should therefore treat those that are now under you as you yourselves then wished to be treated. A due expression of displeasure, so much as is necessary to the amend- ment of what is amiss, will very well consist with meekness and quietness. And your gravity and awful composedness therein will contribute very much to the preserving of your authority, and will command respect abundantly more than your noise and chiding. Masters of families and masters of schools too, have need, in this matter, to behave themselves wisely, so as to avoid the two extremes, that of Eli's foolish indulgence on the one hand, and that of Saul's brutish rage on the other ; and for at- taining this golden mean, wisdom is profitable to direct. 2. Inferiors are commonly very apt to complain. If every thing be not just to their mind, they are fretting and vexing, and their hearts are hot within them : they are uneasy in their place and station, finding fault with every thing that is said or done to them. Here is wanting a quiet spirit, which would reconcile us to the post we are in, and to all the difficulties of it, and would make the best of the present state, though it be attended with many in- conveniences. Those unquiet people, whom the 84 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. apostle Jude in his epistle compares to raging;' waves of the sea, and Avandering stars, were mur-* murers and complainers — blamers of their lot — so the word signifies. It is an instance of unquiet- ness, to be ever and anon quarreling with our allot- ment. Those wives wanted a meek and quiet spi- rit, who " covered the altar of the Lord with tears ;" not tears of repentance for sin, but tears of vexation at the disappointments they met in their outward condition. Hannah's meekness and quietness was in some degree wanting, when she fretted, and wept, and would not eat ; but prayer composed her spirit ; her countenance was no more sad. It was the un- quietness of the spirit of the elder brother in the pa- rable, that quarreled so unreasonably with his fa- ther for receiving and entertaining the penitent pro- digal. Those that are given to be uneasy, will ne- ver want something or other to complain of It is true, though not so readily apprehended, that the sullenness, and murmuring, and silent frets of chil- dren and servants, are as great a transgression of the law of meekness, as the more open, noisy, and avowed passions of their parents and masters. We find the king's chamberlains wroth with the king. And Cain's quarrel with God himself for accepting Abel, was interpreted as anger by God. *' Why art thou wroth, and why is thy countenance fallen ?" The sour looks of inferiors are as certain an indi- cation of anger resting in the bosom, as the disdain- WANT OF IT LAMKXTED. 85 ful looks of superiors; and how many such in- stances of discontent there have been, especially under a continual cross, our own consciences may perhaps tell us. It is the want of meekness only that makes those whom Divine Providence has put under the yoke, children of Belial, that is, impatient of the yoke. 3. Equals are commonly very apt to clash and contend. It is for want of meekness that there are in the church so many pulpit and paper-quarrels, such strifes of words and perverse disputings ; that there are in the state such factions and parties, and between them such animosities and heart-burnings ; that there are in neighborhoods such strifes and brawls, and vexatious law-suits, or such distances, and estrangements, and shyness one of another ; thai there are in families envies and quarrels among the children and servants, crossing, thwarting, and finding fault one with another ; and that brethren, that dwell together, do not, as they should, dwell to- gether in unity. It is for want of meekness that we are so impatient of contradiction in our opinions, desires, and designs, that we must have our own saying, right or wrong, and every thing our own way ; that we are so impatient of competitors, not enduring that any should stand in our light, or share in that work of honor which we would en- gross to ourselves ; that we are so impatient of con- tempt, so quick in our apprehension and resentment 8 86 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. of the least slight or affront ; and so pregnant in our fancy of injuries, where really there are none, or none intended. They are not only loud and pro- iessed contentions that evidence a want of meek- ness, but also those silent alienations in affection and conversation which make a less noise; little piques and prejudices conceived, which men are themselves so ashamed of that they w^ill not own them: these show the spirit disturbed, and wanting the ornament of meekn<.ss. In a vvoid, willfully do- ing any thing to disquiet others; slandering, back- biting, whispering, tale-bearing, or the like, is too plain an evidence that we are not ourselves rightly disposed to be quiet. And now, may we not all remember our faults this day ? and, instead of condemning others, though ever so faulty, should we not each of us bewail be- fore the Lord that we have been so little actuated by this excellent spirit, and repent of all we have at any time said or done contrary to the law of meekness ? Instead of going about to extenuate and excuse our &;inful passions, let us rather aggravate them, and lay a load upon ourselves lor them: "So foolish h".^e i been and ignorant, and so like a beast before f lod." Think how often we have appeared before God and the world without our ornament, without our livery, to our shame. God kept account of the particular instances of the unquietness of Israel: ** They have tempted me (says he) now these ten WANT OF IT LAMENTED. 87 times.'* Conscience is God's register, that recor^p all our miscarriages: even what we say and do in our haste is not so quick as to escape its observation. Let us, therefore, be often opening that book now, for our conviction and humiliation, or else il will be opened shortly to our confusion and condemnation. But if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged of the Lord. May we not all say, as Jo- seph's brethren did, (and perhaps some are, as they were, in a special manner called to say it by hum- bling providences,) '' We are verily guilty concern- ing our brother." Such a time, in such a com- pany, upon such an occasion, I wanted meekness ; my spirit was provoked, and I spake unadvisedly with my lips, and now I remember it against my- self. Nay, have not 1 lived a life of unquietness in the family, in the neighborhood, always in the fire of contention, as in my element, and breathing threatenings? And by so doing have not I disho- nored my God, discredited my profession, disturbed ray soul, grieved the blessed Spirit, and been to many an occasion of sin ? And for all this ought not I to be greatly humbled and ashamed ? Before we can put on the ornament of a meek nnd quiet spirit, we must wash in the laver of true repentance, not only for our gross and open extravagances of passion, but for all our neglects and omissions of the duties of meekness. S8 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. % CHAPTER IV. ENCOURAGEMENTS TO MEEKNESS SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS. Have we not reason to labor and endeavor, since there is such a virtue, and such a praise to attain these things ? Should we not lay out ourselves to the utmost for this ornament of a me^k and quiet spirit ? For your direction in this endeavor, if you be indeed willing to be directed, I shall briefly lay before you some Scrijjture prr.cepts concerning meekness : some patterns of it ; some particular in- stances in which we have special need of it ; some good principles that we should abide by ; and some good practices that we should abound in, in order to our growth in this grace. In opening thesu things, we will endeavor to keep close to the law, and to the testimony. If we lay the word of God before us for our rule, and wall be ruled by it, Ave shall find tho command of God making meekness and quietness as much our duty as they are our ornament. W(j are there told, as the will of God, that we must seek meekness. 1. This command we have Zeph. 2:3; and it ia especially directed to the meek : " Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth : — seek meekness." Though SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS. W they were meek, and were pronounced so by Him that searches the heart, yet they must seek meekness; which teaches us that those who have much of this grace, have still need of more, and must desire and en- deavor after more. He that sits down content with the grace he has, and is not pressing forward towards perfection, and striving to grow in grace, to get the habit of it more strengthened and confirmed, and the operation of it more quickened and invigorated, it is to be feared has no true grace at all ; and that, though he sit ever so high and ever so easy in his own opinion, he u^ill yet sit down short of heaven. Where there is life, one way or other there will be growth, till we come to the perfect man. "He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." Paul was a man of great attainments in grace, and yet we find him "forgetting the things that are be- hind, and reaching forth to those that are before." Those who took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, are yet told that they " have need of patience." Thus the meek of the earth (who being on the earth, are in a state of infirmity and imperfection, of trial and temptation) have still need of meekness; that is, they must learn to be yet more calm and composed, more steady, and even, and regular in the government of their passions, and in the man- agement of their whole conversation. They who have silenced all angry words, must learn to sup- press the first risings and motions of angry thoughts. 8* 90 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. It is observable that when the meek of the earth are especially concerned to seek meekness, when the day of the Lord's anger hastens on, when the times are bad, and desolating judgments are break- ing in, then we have occasion for all the meekness Ave have, and all we can get, and all is little enough ; meekness toward God the author, and towards men the instruments of our trouble ; meekness to bear the trial, and to bear our testimony in the trial. There is sometimes an "hour of temptation," a cri- tical day, when the exercise of meekness is the work of the day : sometimes the children of men are more than ordinarily provoking, and then the children of God have more than commonly need of meekness. When God is justly angry, and men are unjustly angry, when our mother's children are angry with us, and our father angry too, there is anger enough stirring, and then " Blessed are the meek," that are careful to keep possession of their souls when they can keep possession of nothing else. Now the way prescribed for the attainment of meekness is to seek it. Ask it of God, pray for it : it is a fruit of the Spirit, it is given by the God of all grace, and to him we must go for it. It is a brancli of that Avisdom which he that lacketh must ask of God, and it shall be given him. The God we ad- dress is called "the God of patience and consola- tion;" and he is the God of consolation, because the God of patience, (for the more patient we are, the SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS. 91 more we are comforted under our afflictions,) and ag such we must look to him, when we come to him for grace to make us " like-minded," that is, meek and loving one towards another, which is the apos- tle's errand at the throne of grace. God's people are, and should be, a generation that " covet the best gifts," and make their court to the best Giver, who never said to the wrestling seed of Jacob, Seek in vain; but has given us an assurance firm enough for us to build upon, and rich enough for us to en- courage ourselves with — Seek and ye shall find. What would we more? Seek meekness, and ye shall find it. The promise annexed is very encouraging to the meek of the earth that seek meekness : " it may be you shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Though it be but a promise Avith an " it may be," yet it ministers abundance of comfort : God's pro- babilities are better than the world's certainties ; and the meek ones of the earth that hope in his merc)^ and can venture their all upon an intimation of his good-will, shall find to their comfort, that when God brings a flood upon the world of the ungodly, he has an ark for all his Noahs, his resting, quiet peo- ple, in which they shall be hid, it may be, from the calamity itself, at least from the sting and malignity of it; " HID," (as Luther said,) " either in heaven or under heaven, either in the possession or under th* protection of heaven." 92 HENRY OX meekness; 2. We must jput on meekness. *' Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) — meekness." It is one of the members of the new man, which we must put on. Put it on as armor, to keep provoca- tions from the heart, and so to defend the vitals. They that have tried it will say it is "armor ot proof" When you are putting on " the whole armor of God," do not forget this. Put it on as attire, as your necessary clothing, which you cannot go with- out ; look upon yourselves as ungirt, undrest, un- blest without it. Put it on as a livery garment, by which you may be known to be the disciples of the meek, and humble, and patient Jesus, and to belong to that peaceable family. Put it on as an ornament, as a robe and a diadem, by which you may be both beautified and dignified in the e3'es of others. Put it on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, because you are so in profession ; and that you may approve yourselves so in truth and reality, be clothed Avith meekness as the elect of God, a choice people, a chosen people, whom God has set apart for himself from the rest of the world, as holy, sanctified to God, sanctified by him : study these graces, which put such a lustre upon holiness, and recommend it to tho.se that are without, as beloved, beloved of God, beloved of man, beloved of your ministers : for love's sake put on meekness. What winning, persuasive rhetoric is here ! enough, one would think, to smooth the rouo-hest soul, and to soften and sweeten the SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS. 93 most obstinate heart ! Meekness is a grace of the Spirit's working, a garment of his preparing ; but we must put it on, that is, Ave must lay our souls un- der the commanding power and influence of it. Put it on, not as a loose outer garment, to be put ofi^in hot weather, but let it cleave to us, as the girdle cleaves to a man's loins ; so put it on as to reckon ourselves naked to our shame without it. 3. We must follow after meekness. — This pre- cept Ave haA^e 1 Tim. 6:11. Meekness is there put in opposition to those foolish and hurtful lusts that Timothy must flee from : " Thou, O man of God, flee these things, and folloAV ^Iter righteousness, godliness, faith, loA^e, patience, meekness." See Avhat good company it is ranked Avith. Every Christian is in a sense a man of God, (though Timothy is called so as a minister,) and those that belong to God are concerned to be and do so as to recommend themseh^es to him, and his religion to the world ; therefore let the men of God folloAv after meekness. The occasions and proA'ocations of anger often set our meekness at a distance from us, and aa^o have it to seek Avhen aa^c have most need of it ; but Ave must foUoAv after it, and not be taken off from the pursuit by any diversion AvhatsoeA^er. While others are in- genious and industrious enough in folloAving after malice and revenge, projecting and prosecuting an- gry designs, be you Avise and dilig'ent to preserA^e the peace, both Avithin doors and Avithout. Follow- 94 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. ing meekness bespeaks a sincere desire and a seri- ous endeavor to get the mastery of our passion, and to check, govern, and moderate all the motions of it. Though we cannot fully attain this mastery, yet we must follow after it, and aim at it. Follow meek- ness, that is, as much as in you lies live peaceably with all men, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit : we can but make one side of the bargain ; if others will quarrel, yet let us be peaceable; if others will strike fire, that is their fault; let not us be as tinder to it. 4. We must show all meekness unto all men. — This is one of the subjects which Paul directs a young minister to preach upon. *' Put them in mind to show all meekness." It is that which we have need to be often reminded of. Meekness is there op- posed to brawling and clamor, which is the fruit and product of our own anger, and the cause and provocation of the anger of others. Observe, it is " all meekness " that is here recommended to us, all kinds of meekness — bearing meekness, and forbear- ing meekness; qualifying meekness, and conde- scending meekness ; forgiving meekness ; the meek- ness that endears our friends, and that which recon- ciles our enemies; the meekness of authority over inferiors; the meekness of obedience to superiors; and the meekness of wisdom towards all. *' All meekness," is meekness in all relations, in reference to all injuries, all sorts of provocation, meekness iu SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS. 9$ all the branches and instances of it: in this piece of our obedience we must be universal. Observe fur- ther, we must not only have meekness, all meekness, but we must show it, by drawing out this grace into exercise as there is occasion : in our words, in our looks, in our actions, in every thing that falls under the observation of men, we must manifest that we have indeed a regard to the law of meekness, and that we make conscience of what we say and do, when we are provoked. We must not only have the law of love written in our hearts, but in our tongues too we must have *'the law of kindness." And thus the tree is known by its fruit. This light must shine, that others may see the good works of it, and hear the good words of it too, not to glorify us, but to glorify our Father ; we should study to ap- pear, in all our converse, so mild, and gentle, and peaceable, that all who see us may witness for us that we are of the meek of the earth. We must not only be moderate, but " let our moderation be known." . He that is in this respect a wise man, let him show it in the " meekness of wisdom." What are good clothes worth if they be not worn ? Why has the gervant a fine livery given him, but to show it for the honor of his master, and of the family he belongs to? How can we say we are meek, if we do not show it ? The showing of our meekness will beau- tify our profession, and will adorn the doctrines of God our Savior, and may have a very good influence 96 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. upon others, who cannot but be in love with such an excellent grace, when thus, like the oinlment of the right hand, it betrayeth itself, and the house is filled w^th the odor of it. Again, this meekness must be thus showed wito all vieii — foes as well as friends, those without as well as those within, all that we have any thing to do with. We must show our meekness not only to those above us, of whom we stand in awe, but to those below us, over whom we have authority. The poor indeed use entreaties, but Avhatever is the practice, it is not the privilege of the rich to " answer rough- ly." We must show our meekness " not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward, for this is thankworthy." Our meekness must be as extensive as our love, so exceeding broad is this command- ment, *' all meekness to all men." We must show this meekness most to those with whom we most converse. There are some, that, when they are in company with strangers, appear very mild and good- humored, their behavior is plausible enough and complaisant ; but in their families they are peevish, and froward, and ill-natured, and those about theni scarce know how to speak to them : this shows that the fear of man gives greater check to their passions than the fear of God. Our rule is to be meek toward all, even to the brute creation, over whom we are lords, but must not be tyrants. Observe the reason which the apostle gives why SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS. 97 we should show all meekness toward all men ; " for we ourselves also were sometime foolish." Time was, when perhaps we were as bad as the worst of those we are now angry at ; and if now it be better with us, we are purely beholden to the free grace of God in Christ that made the difference ; and shall we be harsh to our brethren, who have found God so kind to us? Has God forgiven us our great debt, and passed by so many willful provocations; and shall we be extreme to mark what is done amiss against us, and make the worst of every slip and oversight ? The great Gospel argument for mutual forbearance and forgiveness is, that " God for Christ's sake has forgiv-en us." It may be of use also for the qualifying of our an- ger at inferiors, to remember not only our former sinfulness against God in our unconverted state, but our former infirmities in the age and state of infe- riors : were not Ave ourselves sometimes foolish 1 Our children are careless, and playful, andfroward, and scarcely governable ; and were not we ourselves so when we were of their age? And if we have now put away childish things, yet they have not. Chil- dren may be brought up in the nurture and admo- nition of the Lord, without being provoked to wrath. 5. We I'.ust '* study to be quiet," that is, study not to disturb others, nor to be ourselves disturbed by others : be ambitious of this, as the greatest honor ; so the word signifies. The most of men are ambi- 9 98 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. tious of the honor of great business, and power, and preferment; they covet it, they court it, they com- pass sea and land to obtain it ; but the ambition of a Christian should be carried out towards quietness: we should reckon that the happiest post, and desire it accordingly, which lies most out of the road of provocation '* Let him that will, ascend the tottering seat ** Of courtly grandeur, and become as great "As are his mounting wishes : as for me, "Let sweet repose and rest my portion be. •" Let my age " Slide gently by, not overthwart the stage " Of public action, unheard, unseen, " And unconcern'd, as if I ne'er had been." This is studying to be quiet. Subdue and keep under all those disorderly passions which tend to the disturbing and clouding of the soul. Compose yourselves to this holy rest ; put yourselves in a pos- ture to invite this blessed sleep which God gives to his beloved. Take pains, as students in arts and sciences do, to understand the mystery of this grace. I. call it a mystery, because St. Paul, who was so well versed in the deep things of God, speaks of this as a mystery. " I am instructed," as in a mj^stery, " both to be full and to be hungry, bo^h to abound and to suffer need :" that is, in one word, to be quiet. To study the art of quietness is to take pains with ourselves, to have in our own hearts the principles, SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. 99 rules, and laws of meekness; and to furnish our- selves with such considerations as tend to thequit^t- ing of the spirit in the midst of the greatest provoca- tions. Others are studying to disquiet us ; the more need we have to study how to quiet ourselves, by a careful watching against all that which is ruffling and discomposing. Christians should, above all stu- dies, study to be quiet, and labor to be actuated by an even spirit under all the unevenness of Provi- dence, and remember that one good word which Sir William Temple tells us the prince of Orange said he learnt from the master of his ship, who, in a storm, was calling to the steersman, " Steady, steady." Let but the hand be steady and the heart quiet, and though our passage be rough, we may weather the point, and get safe to the harbor. CHAPTER V. SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. Good examples help very much to illustrate and enforce good rules, bringing them closer to particu- lar cases, and showing them to be practicable. Pre- cedents are of great use in the law. If w^e would be 100 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. found wallang in the same spirit, and walking in the same steps with those that are gone before us to glory, this is the spirit by which we must be actua- ted, and these the steps in which we must walk : this is the way of good men, for wise men to walk in. Let us go forth then "by the footsteps of the flock," and set ourselves to follow them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. We are compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses, who will bear their testimony to the comfort of meekness, and upon trial recommend it to us ; but we shall single out only some few from the Scripture. 1. Abraham was a pattern of meekness, and he was the father of the faithful. As he was famous for faith, so was he for meekness ; for the more we have of faith toward God, the more we shall have of meek- ness toward all men. How meek was Abraham, when there happened a strife betwixt his herdsmen and Lot's, which, had it proceeded, might have been of ill consequence, for " the Canaanite and the Pe- rizzite dwelled then in the land;" but it was season- ably overruled by the prudence of Abraham. " Let there be no strife, I pray thee :" though he might command peace, yet for love's sake he rather be- seeches. Every word has an air of meekness, and a tendency to peace. And when the expedient for the . prevention of strife was their parting from each other, though Lot was the junior, yet Abraham, for peace- sake, quitted his right, and gave Lot the choice; and SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. 101 the gracious visit which God gave him thereupon, was an abundant recompense for his mildness and condescension. Another instance of Abraham's meekness we have when Sarah quarreled with him so unreasonably about her maid, angry at that which she herself had done. " My wrong be upon thee : — the Lord judge between thee and me." Abraham might soon have replied, You may thank yourself, it was your own contrivance ; but, laying aside the present provoca- tion, he abides by one of the original rules of the re- lation, *' Behold, thy maid is in thy hand." He did not answer passion with passion, that would have put all into a flame ; but he answered passion with meekness, and so all was quiet. Another instance of Abraham's meekness we have in the transactions between him and Abimelech his neighbor. He first enters into a covenant of friendship with him, which w^as confirmed by an oath, and then (not reproaches him, but) reproves him for a wrong that his servants had done him about a Well of water ; which gives us this rule of meekness, " Not to break friendship for a small mat- ter of difference :" such and such occasions there are, which they that are disposed to it might quarrel about ; but " what is that between me and thee ?" If meekness rule, matters in variance may be fair- ly reasoned and adjusted, without violation or in- fringement of friendship. This is the example of H. M. 9* 102 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. that great patriarch. The future happiness of the saints is represented as the bosom of Abraham — a quiet state. Those who hope to lie in the bosom of Abraham shortly, must tread in the steps of Abra- ham now, whose children we are as long as we thus do well, " and who " (as Maimonides expresses it) ** is the father of all who are gathered under the wings of the Divine Majesty." 2. Moses was a pattern of meekness, it was his master-grace, that in which, more than in any other, he excelled. This testimony the Holy Ghost gives of him, that " the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." This character of him is given upon occasion of an affront he received from those of his own house ; which intimates that his quiet and patient bearing it was the greatest proof and instance of his meekness. Those can bear any provocation, that can bear it from their near relations. The meekness of Moses, as the patience of Job, was tried on all hands. Ar- mor of proof shall be sure to be shot at. It should seem that his wife was none of the best humored women ; for what a passion was she in about the cir- cumcising of her son, when she reproached him as a bloody husband ; and we do not read of one word that he replied, but let her have her saying. When God was angry, and Zipporah angry, it was best for him to be quiet. The lot of his public work was cast " in the provocation, in the day of temptation in- SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. 103 the wilderness ;" but as if all the mutinies of mur- muring Israel were too little to try the meekness of Moses, his own brother and sister, and those of no less a figure than Miriam the prophetess, and Aaron the saint of the Lord, quarrel with him, speak against him, envy his honor, reproach his marriage, and are ready to head a rebellion against him. God heard this, and was angry; Num. 12 : 2, 9; but Moses, though he had reason enough to resent it wrathful ly, was not at all moved by it, took no notice of it, made no complaint to God, no answer to them, and we do not find one word that he said, till we find him pray- ing heartily for his provoking sister, who was then under the tokens of God's displeasure for the afl[ront she gave him. The less a man strives for himself, the more is God engaged in honor and faithfulness to appear for him. When Christ said, " I seek not mine own glory," he presently added, *' but there is one that seeketh and judgeth." And it Avas upon this occasion that Moses obtained this good report, ** He was the meekest of all the men on the earth/' *' No man," says bishop Hall, " could have given greater proofs of courage than Moses. He slew the Egyptian, beat the Midianite shepherds, confronted Pharaoh in his own court, not fearing the wrath of the king ; he durst look God in the face amidst all the terrors of mount Sinai, and draw near to the thick darkness where God was ; and yet that Spirit which made and knew his heart, saith he was the 104' HENRY ON MEEKNESS. meekest, mildest man upon the earth. Mildness and fortitude maj?- well lodge together in the same breast, which corrects the mistake of those that will allow none valiant but the fierce." The meekness of Moses qualified him to be a magistrate, especially to be king in Jeshurun, among a people so very provoking that they gave him oc- casion to use all the meekness he had, and all little enough to bear their manners in the wilderness. When they murmured against him, quarreled with him, arraigned his authorit}'-, and were sometimes ready to stone him, he resented these provocations with very little of personal application or concern ; but instead of using his interest in heaven to sum- mon plagues upon them, he made it his business to stand in the gap, and, by his intercession for them, to turn away the wrath of God from them ; and this not once or twice only, but many times. And yet we must observe that, though Moses was the meekest man in the world, yet, when God's hon- or and glory were concerned, no one was more warm and zealous: witness his resentment of the golden calf, when, in a holy indignation at that abominable iniquity, he deliberately broke the tables. And when Korah and his cmv invaded the priest's office, Moses, in a pious wrath, said unto the Lord, *' Respect not thou their offering." He that was a iamb in his own cause, was a lion in the cause of God : anger at sin, as sin, is very well consistent SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. T 105* i\'ith reigning meekness. Nor can it be forgotten, that though Moses was eminent for meekness, yet, he once transgressed the laws of it ; when he was old, and his spirit was provoked, he spake unadvi- sedly with his lips, and it went ill with him lor it ; Psalm 106 : 32; which is written not for imitation, but for admonition ; not to justify our rash anger, but to engage us to stand upon our guard at all times against it, that he who thinks he stands may take heed lest he fall, and that he who has thus fallen may not wonder if he come under the rebukes of Divine Providence for it in this world, as Moses did, and yet may not despair of being pardoned upon repentance. 3. David was a pattern of meekness, and it is promised that " the feeble shall be as David." In this, as in other instances, he was a man after God's own heart. When his own brother was so rough upon him without reason, " Why camest thou down hither ?" how mild was his answer ! *' What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" When his enemies reproached him, he was not at all disturbed at it. "I, as a deaf man, heard not." When Saul persecuted him with such an unwearied malice, he did not take the advantage which Providence seemed to offer him, more than once, to revenge himself, but left it to God. David's meek spirit concurred with the proverb of the ancients ; " wickedness proceed- eth from the wicked, but my hand shall not be upon 106 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. thee." When Nabal's churlishness provoked him, yet Abigail's prudence soon pacified him, and it pleased him to be pacified. When Shimei cursed him with a bitter curse in the day of his calamity, he resented not the offence, nor would hear any talk of punishing the offender: *' So let him curse ; let him alone, for the Lord hath bidden him :" quietly committing his cause to God, who judges righteously. And other instances there are in his story, which <*vidence the truth of what he said ; *' My soul is even like a weaned child." And yet David was a great soldier, a man of celebrated courage, that slew a lion, and a bear, and a Philistine, (as much a ra- venous beast as either of them,) which shows that it was his wisdom and grace, and not his cowardice, that at other times made him so quiet. David was a man that met with very many disquieting and disturb- ing events in the several scenes of his life, through which, though they sometimes ruffled him a little, yet» for the main, he preserved an admirable temper, and an evenness and composedness of mind which was very exemplary. When, upon the surprise of a fright, he changed his behavior before Abimelech, and coun- terfeited that madness which angry people realize, yet his mind was so very quiet and undisturbed that, lit that time, he penned the 34th Psalm, in which not only the excellency of the matter, and the calmness of the expression, but the composing of it alphabeti- cally, (in the Hebrew,) speaks him to be, even then, SCRIPTURE PATT£RNg. IQT in a sedate frame, and to have very much the com- mand of his own thoughts. As, at another time, when his own followers spake of stoning him, though he could not still the tumult of his troops, he could -those of his spirit, for then he ** encouraged himself in the Lord his God." As to those prayers against his enemies, which we find in some of his psalms, surely they did not proceed from any such irregular passion as did in the least clash even with the evan- gelical laws of meekness. We cannot imagine that one who was so piously calm in his common conver- sation, should be sinfully hot in his devotion ; nor are they to be looked upon as the private expressions of his own angry resentments, but as inspired pre- dictions of God's judgments upon the public and ob- stinate enemies of Christ and his kingdom, as ap- pears by comparing Psalm 69 : 22, 23, Math Rom. 11 : 9, 10; and Psalm 109 : 8, with Acts, 1 : 20. Nor are they any more opposite to the spirit of the Gospel than the cries of the souls under the altar, or the triumphs of heaven and earth in the destruction of Babylon. Rev. 6 : 10; 19 : 1. 4. Paul was a pattern of meekness. Though his natural temper seems to have been warm and eager, which made him eminently active and zealous, yet that temper was so rectified and sanctified that he was no less eminently m^ek : he became all things to all men. He studied to please all with whom he had to do, and to render himself engaging to them 108 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. for their good to edification. How patiently did he bear the greatest injuries and indignities, not only from Jews and heathens, but from false brethren, that were so very industrious to abuse and undermine him ! How glad was he that Christ was preached, though out of envy and ill-will, by those that studied to add affliction to his bonds ! In governing the church, he was not led by the sudden resolves ot passion, but always deliberated calmly concerning the use of the rod of discipline when there was oc- casion for it. *' Shall I come to you with a rod, or in the spirit of meekness?" — that is. Shall I proceed immediately to censures, or shall I not rather con- tinue the same gentle usage as hitherto, waiting still for your reformation ? Herein the spirit of meek- ness appears more open and legible than in the use of the rod, though that also is very well consistent with it. Many other examples of meekness might be ad- duced, but the time would fail me to tell of Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, and Joshua ; of Samuel also, and Job, and Jeremiah, and all the prophets and apostles, martyrs and confessors, and eminent saints, who by meekness subdued (not kingdoms, but) their own spirits; slopt the mouths (not of lions, but) of more fierce and formidable enemies ; quenched the violence (not of fire, but) of intemperate and more ungovernable passions ; and so \^rought righteous- ness, obtained promises, escaped the edge of the SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. 109 sword, and out of weakness were made strong; and by all this obtained a good report. Heb. 1 1 : 32, 33, 34.^ — But, after all, 5. Our Lord Jesus was the great pattern of meek- ness and quietness of spirit ; all the rest had their spots, but here is a copy without a blot. We must fol- low the rest no further than they were conformable to this great original: •' Be ye followers of me," says Paul, "as I am of Christ." He fulfilled all rights eousness, and was a complete exemplar of all that is holy, just, and good; but I think, in most, if not all those places of Scripture where he is particularly and expressly propounded to us for an example, it is to recommend to us some or other of the duties of Christianity ; those I mean which tend to the sweet- ening of our converse one with another. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, that he might teach us how to dwell together in unity. We must walk in love, as Christ loved us; forgive, as Christ forgave us ; please one another, for Christ pleased not himself; be charitable to the poor, for we know the grace of our Lord Jesus; wash one another's feet, that is, stoop to the meanest offices of love, for Christ did so ; doing all with lowliness of mind, for it is the same mind that was in Christ Jesus ; but above all, our Lord Jesus was an example of meek- ness. Moses had this grace as a servant, but Christ as a son ; he was anointed with it above measure. He is called the " Lamb of God," for his meekness, H. M. 10 110 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. and patience, and inoffensiveness, and even in his exaltation he retains the same character. One of the elders told John, that *' the Lion of the tribe of Judah " would open the sealed book ; " and I be- held," says John, ''and lo! a Lamb." He that was a lion for strength and courage, was a lamb for mild- ness and gentleness ; and if a lion, yet " the Lion of the tribe of Judah," which the dying patriarch de- scribes to be a lion gone up from the prey, and that is stooped down and couched, and not to be roused up; Gen. 49:9; indicating the quietness and re- pose even of this lion. If Christ be a lion, he is a lion resting — the devil is a lion roaring. But the adorations given to Christ by the heavenly hosts speak of him as the Lamb. " Blessing and glory to him that sits upon the throne ;" they do not say, and to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but to " the Lamb." Though he has a name given him above every name, yet he will be known by that name which denotes his meekness, as if this were to be his name for ever, and this his memorial to all generations. As he that rides upon the heavens, by his name Jah, is the Father of the fatherless and the Judge of the wi- dows ; so Christ rides " prosperously, because of meekness." Now it is the character of all the saints that they follow the Lamb : as a lamb they follow him in his meekness, and are therefore so often called the sheep of Christ. This is that part of his copy which he SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. Ill expressly calls us to write after : " Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." If the master be mild, it ill becomes the servant to be froward. The apostle is speaking of Christ's meekness under his sufferings, when he says that he " left us an exam- ple that we should follow his steps." Let us observe particularly the meekness of our Lord Jesus towards his Father, and towards his friends, and towards his foes ; in each of which he is an example to us. 1. He was very meek towards God his Father, cheerfully submitting to his whole will, and standing complete in it. In his commanding will, *' Lo, I come," says he, *' I delight to do thy will ;" though it enjoined him a very hard service, yet it w^as '• his meat and drink ;" and he always did those things that pleased his Father. So, likewise, in his dispos- ing will he acquiesced from first to last. When he was entering on that sharp encounter, though sense startled at it, and said, " Father, if it be possible, let the cup pass from me ;" yet he soon submitted with a great deal of meekness ; " Not as I will, but as thou wilt." Though it was a very bitter cup, yet his Fa- ther put it into his hand, and therefore he drank it : " The cup that my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ?" 2. He was very meek towards his friends that loved and followed him. With what remarkable instances of mildness, gentleness, and tenderness did 112 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. he train up his disciples ! though from first to last he was " a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Where nature is corrupt, such are apt to be peevish and froward with those about them ; yet how meekly and calmly did he bear with their weaknesses and infirmities ! After they had been long under the in- spection and influence of such a teacher, and had all the advantages that men could have for acquaintance with the things of God, yet how weak and defective were they in knowledge, and gifts, and graces 1 How ignorant and forgetful were they ! How slow of heart to understand and believe ! And what blun- ders did they make ! Dull scholars it should seem they were, and bad proficients. But their hearts be- ing upright with him, he did not cast them off, nor turn them out of his school, but rectified their mis- takes, instructed them in their duty, and the doctrine they were to preach, by precept upon precept, and line upon line ; and taught them, as they were able to bear it, as one that considered their frame, and could " have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." As long as he was with them, so long he suffered them. Mark, 9 : 19. This, as it is a great encouragement to Christian learners, so it is a great example toChristian teachers. Also Christ was meek, in his forgiving and pass- ing by their unkindness and disrespect to himself. He was not extreme to mark what they did amiss of this kind. When they murmured at the cost that / SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. 113 was bestowed upon him, and called it waste, and had indignation at it, he did not resent it as he might have done, nor seem to observe how much what they said reflected upon him : nor did he condemn them any other way than by commending the wo- man. When Peter, and James, and John, the first three of his disciples, were with him in the garden, and very unseasonably slept while he was in his agony praying, so little concerned did they seem to be for him, yet observe how meekly he spoke to them: " Could ye not watch with me one hour?" And when they had not a word to say for themselves, so inexcusable was their fault, he had something to say for them, and instead of accusing them, he apo- logizes for them : " The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." When Peter had denied him, and had cursed and sworn he did not know him, than which (besides the falsehood and perfidiousness of it) nothing could be more unkind ; with what meekness did he bear it ! It is not said, the Lord turned and frowned upon Peter, though he deserved to be frowned into hell, but, " the Lord turned and looked upon Peter," and that look recovered him into the way to heaven ; it was a kind look, and not an angry one. Some days after, when Christ and Peter met in Galilee, and had dined together as a token of reconciliation, and some discourse passed between them, not a word was said of this matter ; Christ did not upbraid him with his fault, nor chide 10* 114 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. him for it, nor did there appear any other fruit of the falling out of these lovers, but only the renew- ing of thdf love with greater endearments ; which teaches us to forgive and forget the unkindness of those that are for the main our true friends, and if any occasion of difference happens, to turn it into an occasion of confirming our love to them. 3. He was very meek toward his enemies, that hated and persecuted him. The whole story of his life is filled with instances of invincible meekness. While he " endured the contradiction of smners against himself," he had a perpetual serenity and harmony within, and was never in the least discom- posed by it. When his preaching and miracles were cavilled at and reproached, and he himself repre- sented uijder the blackest characters, not only as the drunkard's companion, but as the devil's confederate, with what a wonderful calmness did he bear it! How mildly did he answer with reason and tender- ness, when he could have replied in thunder and lightning ! How well satisfied, under all such invi- dious reflections, with this, that " wisdom is justified of all her children !" When some of his disciples would have had fire from heaven upon those rude people that refused him entertainment in their town, he was so far from complying with the motion, that he rebuked it : " Ye know not what manner of spiri ye are of." " This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you." The design of Christ and of his SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. 115 holy religion is to sh^pe men into a mild and mer- r.iial temper, and to make them sensibly tender of the lives and comfort even of their worst enemies. Christianity was intended to revive humanity, and to make those men, who had made themselves beasts. J3ut our Lord Jesus did in a more especial manner evidence his meekness when he was in his last suf- ferings— that awful scene. Though he was the most innocent and the most excellent person that ever was, who, by the doctrine he had preached and the mira- cles he had wrought, had richly deserved all the ho- nors and respect that the world could pay him, and infinitely more; and though the injuries he received were ingeniously and industriously contrived to the highest degree of affront and provocation ; yet he bore all with an undisturbed meekness, and with that shield quenched all the fiery darts which his malicious enemies shot at him. His meekness toward his enemies appeared in what he said to them — not one angry word, in the midst of all the indignities they offered him. '* When he was reviled, he reviled not again." When he was buffeted, and spit upon, and abused, he took it all patiently ; one would wonder at the gracious words which even then proceeded out of his mouth ; wit- ness that mild reply to him that smote him : " If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil ; but if well, why smitest thou me?" Also his meekness towards his enemies appeared 116 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. in what he said to God for them : " Father, forgive them ;" so giving an example to his own rule : " Pray for them which despitefully use you." Though he was then deeply engaged in the most solemn trans- action that ever passed between heaven and earth, though he had so much to do with God for himself and his friends, yet he did not forget to offer this prayer for his enemies. The mercy he begged of God for them was the greatest mercy, (that which he was then dying to purchase and procure,) the pardon of their sins ; not only, Father, spare them, or reprieve them, but, Father, forgive them ; the ex- cuse he pleaded for them was the best their crime was capable of: " They know not what they do." Now in all these things our Master has left us an example. What is the practice of religion ftut the imitation of God endeavored by us ? And what the principle of it, but the image of God renewed in us ? We are bid to be followers of God, as dear children. But this sets the copy we are to write after at a mighty distance, for God is in heaven, and we are upon earth ; and therefore in the Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate, God in our nature, the copy is brought among us, and the transcribing of it in some mea- sure appears more practicable. " He that hath seen me," savs Christ, "hath seen the Father ;" and so he that imitates Christ, imitates the Father. The re- ligion which our Lord Jesus came into the world to establish, being every way so well calculated for SCRIPTURE PATTERNS. 117 the peace and order of the world, and being desig^ned to recover the lapsed souls of men from their dege- nerate state, and to sweeten their spirits and temper, and so to befriend human society, and to make it some way conformable to the blessed society above ; he not only gave such precepts as were wonderfully fitted to this great end, but recommended them to the world by the loveliness and amiablenessofhis own example. Are we not called Christians from Christ, whom we call Master and Lord, and shall we not endeavor to accommodate ourselves to him ? We prot fess to rejoice in him as our forerunner, and shall we not run after him ? To what purpose were we listed under his banner, but that we might follow him as our leader ? We have all of us reason to say that Jesus Christ is very meek, or else we that have provoked him so much and so often had been in hell long ago ; we owe it to his meekness, to whom all judgment is committed, that we have not ere this been carried away with a swdft destruction, and dealt with according to the desert of our sins, which, if duly considered, one would think should tend great- ly to soften us. The apostle draws an argument from that kindness and love to us which we ourselves have experienced, who were foolish and disobedient, to persuade us to be " gentle, showing all meekness ;'' and he beseeches the Corinthians " by the meek- ness and gentleness of Christ," as a thing very win- ning, and of dear and precious account. Let " the 118 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. same mind" therefore be in us, not only which was, but which, as we find to our comfort, still is in Christ Jesus. That we may not forfeit our interest in his meekness, let us tread in the steps of it; and as ever we hope to be like him in glory hereafter, let us study to be like him in grace, in this grace now. It is a certain rule, by which we must all be tried shortly, that "if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ," (that is, if his spirit be not in some mea- sure like Christ's,) " he is none of his." Rom. 8 : 9. And if we be not owned as his, we are undone for CHAPTER VI. WHEN MEEKNESS IS SPECIALLY REQUIRED. The rule is general ; Ave must show " all meek- ness ;" but it will be of use to observe some special cases to which the Scripture applies this rule. 1. We must give reproofs with meekness. It is the apostle's direction, " If a man be overtaken in a fault," (that is, if he be surprised by a temptation and overcome, as the best may be, if God leave them to themselves,) " ye which are spiritual, restore such WHEN SPECIALLY REQtTlREU. 119 a one in the spirit of meekness." By the spiritual man, to whom he gives this rule, he means not mi- nisters only 5 doubtless it is a rule to private Chris- tians; all that have opportunity must reprove, and all that reprove must do it with meekness. Ye that are spiritual, if you would approve yourselves so indeed, actuated by the Holy Spirit, and minding the things of the Spirit, be careful in this matter. Especially let those that are Christians of the high- est form, that excel in grace, and holiness, and the best gifts, (such are called spiritual in distinction from babes in Christ, 1 Cor. 3 : 1,) let them look upon themselves as obliged, in a more peculiar manner, to help others ; for where God gives five talents, he expects the improvement of five ; the strong must bear the infirmities of the weak. The setting of a dislocated joint or a broken bone is, for the present, painful to the patient ; but it must be done, and it is in order to the making of broken bones to rejoice. Now this you must do with the spirit of meekness, with all the candor, and gentle- ness, and convincing evidences of love and kindness that can be. The three qualifications of a good sur- geon are very requisite in a reprover, namely, to have an eagle's eye, a lion's heart, and a lady's hand ; that is, to be endued with a great deal of wis- dom, and courage, and meekness. Though some- times it is needful to reprove with warmth, yet we must never reprove with wrath, " for the wrath 120 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. of man vvorketh not the righteousness of God." There is an observable difference, but no contra- diction betwixt the directions Paul gives to Timo- thy, and those he gives to Titus in this matter. To Titus he writes to •' reprove sharply," and to " re- buke with all authority." To Timothy he writes " not to strive, but to be gentle ;" to reprove •' with all long-suffering." The reason of this difference may be found in the different temper of those they had to deal with. Timothy was among the Ephe- sians, a tractable, complaisant people, that would be easily managed, and with them he must always deal gently. Titus was among the Cretians, that were headstrong, and not to be wTought upon but by sharper methods. Thus, in reproving, a difference must be made : of some we must " have compassion, and others save with fear," but never with anger, " pulling them out of the fire." Or, the reason of the different instructions they received may be found (as Gregory, one of the ancients, assigns it) in the different temper of Timothy and Titus. " Ti- tus was a man of a very soft and mild temper, and he had need of a spur to quicken him to a needful acrimony in his reproofs ; but Timothy was a man of a more warm and sanguine temper, and he had need of a bridle to keep him from an intemperate heat in his reproofs ;" and then it teaches us, that those who are naturally keen and fervent should double their guard upon their own spirits when WHEN SPECIALLY RECiUIRKD. 121 they are reproving, that they may do it with all meekness. Christ's ministers must be careful, while they display God's wrath, to conceal their own ; and be very jealous over themselves, lest sinful anger shel- ter itself under the cloak of zeal against sin. When reproving (whoever be the reprover) degenerates into railing, and reviling, and opprobrious language, how can we expect the desired success ? It may pro- voke to contention and every evil work, but it will never provoke to love and to good Avorks. The work of heaven is not likely to be done by a tongue set on fire of hell. Has Christ need of mad men ? or will you talk deceitfully and passionately for him? A potion given too hot, scalds the patient, and does more hurt than good ; and so many a reproof, good for the matter of it, has been spoiled by an irregular management. Meekness hides the lancet, orijds the pill, and makes it passable ; dips the nail in oil, and then it drives the better. Twice w^e find Jonathan reproving his father for his rage against David; once he did it with meekness, " Let not the king sin against his servant;" (against David ;) and it is said, *' Saul hearkened to him." But another time his spirit was provoked, ♦' Wherefore shall he be slain ?" and the issue of it was ill. Saul was not only impa- tient of the reproof, but enraged at the reprover, and cast a javelin at him. Reproofs are likely to an- swer the intention when they manifestly evidence H. M. 11 122 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. the good will of the reprover, and are made up of soft words and hard arguments : this is to " re- store with the spirit of meekness," and there is a good reason added, " considering thyself;" he may fall to^lay, I may to-morrow. Those who think they stand fast, know not how soon they may be shaken and overthrown, and therefore we must treat those that are overtaken in a fault, with the same tenderness and compassion that we would wish to find if it were our own case. 2. We must receive reproofs with meekness. If we do that which deserves rebuke, and meet with those that are so just and kind as to give it us, we must be quiet under it, not quarreling with the re- prover, nor objecting to the reproof, nor fretting that we are touched in a sore place ; but submitting to it, and laying our souls under the conviction of it. If reproofs be physic, it becomes us to be patient. '* Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness," and an excellent oil, healing to the wounds of sin, and making the face to shine ; and let us never reckon that it breaks the head, if it do but help to break the heart. Meekness suffers the word of admonition, and takes it patiently and thankfully, not only from the hand of God that sends it, but from the hand of our friend that brings it. We must not be like the reprobate Sodomites, or that pert Hebrew, Exod. 2:14, that flew in the face of their reprovers (though really they were the best friends they had) with *• Who WHEN SPECIALLY REQUIRED. 123 made thee a judge?" but like David, who, when Abigail so prudently scotched the wheels of his pas- sion, not only blest God that sent her, and blest her advice, but blest her: not only hearkened to her voice, but accepted her person. Though, perhaps, the reprover supposes the fault greater than really it was, and though the reproof be not given with all the prudence in the world ; yet meekness will teach us to accept it quietly, and to make the best use we can of it. Nay, if indeed we be altogether innocent of that for which we are reproved, yet the meekness of wisdom would teach us to apply the reproof to some other fault of which our own consciences con- vict us : we would not quarrel with a real intended kindness, though not done with ceremony, and though in some circumstances mistaken or mis- placed. You that are in inferior relations — children, ser- vants, scholars, must, with all meekness and submis- sion, receive the reproofs of your parents, masters, and teachers ; their age supposes them to have more understanding than you, and their place gives them an authority over you to which you are to pay a deference, and in which you are to acquiesce, else farewell all order and peace. The angel rebuked Hagar for flying from her mistress, though she dealt hardly with her, and obliged her to return and sub- mit herself under her hands. *' If the spirit of a ruler rise up against thee," and thou be chidden for 124 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. a fault, " leave not thy place," as an inferior, for " yielding pacifieth great oifences." " If thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy mouth " to keep that evil thought from breaking out in any undue and unbecoming language. Reproofs are like'ly to do us good when we meekly submit to them ; they are " as an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold," when ** an obedient ear " is given to a wise reprover. Nay, even superiors are to receive re- proofs from their inferiors with meekness, as they would any other token of kindness and good will. Naaman, who turned away from the prophet in a rage, yet hearkened to the reproof his own servants gave him, and was overruled by the reason of it ; which was no more a disparagement to him than it was to receive instruction from his wife's maid to whom to go for a cure of his leprosy. Meekness teaches us, when a just reproof is given, to regard " not so much who speaks, as what is spoken. 3. We must instruct gainsayers with meekness ; 2 Tim. 2 : 24, 25. It is prescribed to ministers that they " must not strive, but be gentle to all men," in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. They serve the Prince of Peace ; they preach the Gospel of peace ; they are the ambassadors of peace; and therefore must be sure to keep the peace. The apostles, those prime ministers of state in Christ's kingdom, were not military men, or men of strife and noise, but fishermen that followed their employ- WHEN SPECIALLY REQUIRED. 125 ment with quietness and silence. It is highly ne- cessary that the guides of the church be strict gov- ernors of their own passions. " Learn of me," says Christ, " for I am meek and lowly," and therefore fit to teach you. We must " contend earnestly," but not angrily and passionately — no, not for " the faith once delivered to the saints." When we have ever so great an assurance that it is the cause of truth we ' are pleading, yet wo must so manage our defence against those who gainsay, as to make it appear that it is not the confusion of the erroneous, but the con- futation of the error that we intend. This meekness would teach us not to prejudge a cause, nor to con- demn an adversary unheard, but calmly to state mat- ters in difference, as knowing that a truth well open- ed is half confirmed. It would teach us not to ag- gravate matters in dispute, nor to father upon an ad- versary all the absurd consequences which we think may be inferred from his opinion : it would teach us to judge charitably of those that difl!er from us, and to forbear all personal reflections in arguing with them. God's cause needs not the patronage of our sinful passions, which often give a mighty shock even to the truth for which we plead. Meekness would prevent and cure that bigotry which has been so long the bane of the church, and contribute a great deal towards the advancement of that happy state in which, notwithstanding little diflferences of appre- hension and opinion, the Lord shall be one, and his 126 HENRY ON MEEKNiSSS. name one. Public reformations are carried on with most credit and comfort, and are most likely to settle on lasting fomidations, when meekness sits at the stern and guides the motions of them. When Christ was purging the temple, though he was therein ac- tuated by a zeal for God's hou-se that even ate him up. yet he did it with meekness and prudence, which ap- peared in this instance, that w.hen he drove out th»^ sheep and oxen, which would easily be caught again, he said to them that sold doves, " Take these thing.^ hence." He did not let loose the doves and send them flying, for that would have been to the loss and prejudice of the owners. Angry, noisy, bitter ar- guings ill become the assertors of that truth which is great and will prevail. Our Lord Jesus lived in a very froward and perverse generation, yet it is said, " He shall not strive nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the street." Though he could break them as easily as a bruised reed, and exlin- guish them as soon as one could quench the wick of a candle newly lighted, yet he will not do it till the day comes when "he shall bring forth judgment unto victory." Moses dealt with a very obstinate and stifT- necked people, and yet " My doctrine," says he, " shall drop as the rain, my speech distil as the dewy. It was not the wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire, that brought Elijah into temper, (for the Lord was not in them,) but " the still small voice ;" when he heard that, he wrapt his face in his mantle. In deal- WHEN SPECIALLY REQUIRED. 127 ing with gainsayers, a spirit of meekness will teach us to consider their temper, education, custom, the power of prejudice they labor under, the influence of others upon them, and to make allowances ac- cordingly, and not to call (as passionate contenders are apt to do) every false step an apostacy ; every error and mistake, nay, every misconstrued, mispla- ced word, a heresy ; and every misdemeanor, no less than treason and rebellion ; methods of proceeding more likely to irritate and harden, than to convince and reduce gainsayers. I have heard it observed long since, " that the scourge of the tongue has dri- ven many out of the temple, but never drove any into it." 4. We must make profession of the hope that is in us with meekness. " Be ready always to give an answer," (to make your defence or apology, so the word is,) whether judicially or extra-judicially, as there is occasion, " to every man that (soberly, not scoffingly and in derision) asks you a reason of the hope that is in you," that is, of the hope you profess, which you hope to be saved by, " with meekness and fear." Observe, it is very well consistent with Chris- tian quietness to appear in the defence of truth, and to avow our Christian profession when at any time we are duly called to it. That is not meekness, but base cowardice, that tamely betrays and delivers up any of Christ's tru-ths or institutions by silence, as if we were ashamed or afraid to confess our Master. 128 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. But the office of meekness at such a time is to direct us how and in what manner to bear our testimony, not with pride and passion, but with humility and mildness. Those that would successfully confess the truth, must first learn to deny themselves ; and we must give an account of our hope with a holy fear of missing it in such a critical juncture. When Ave give a reason for our religion, we must not boast of ourselves, or of our own attainments, nor reflect contempt and wrath upon our persecutors, but re- member that " the present truth," (so it is called, 2 Pet. 1 : 12j) the truth which is now to be asserted, is the same with the word of Christ's patience ; Rev. 3 : 10 ; that is, the word which must be patiently sufl^ered for, according to the example of Him,who, with invin- cible meekness, (before Pontius Pilate,) "witnessed a good confession." A great abasement and diffidence of ourselves may very well consist with a firm assur- ance of the truth, and a profound veneration for it. In lesser things, wherein wise and good men are not all of a mind, meekness teaches us not to be too confident that we are in the right, nor to censure and condemn those that differ from us, as if we were the people, and wisdom should die with us ; but quietly to walk according to the light that God has given us, and charitably to believe that others do so too, waiting till God shall reveal either this to them, Phil. 3 : 15, or that to us. Let it in such cases suf- fice to vindicate ourselves, which every man has a WHEN SPECIALLY REQUIRED. 129 right to do, without a magisterial sentencing of others. Why should we be many masters, when we are all offenders, James, 3 : 1,2, and the bar is our place, not the bench 7 Meekness will likewise teach lis to manage a singular opinion, wherein we differ from others, with all possible deference to them and suspicion of ourselves, not resenting it as an affront to be contradicted, but taking it as a kindness to be better informed. Nor must we be angry that our hope is inquired into : even such a trial of it, if we approve ourselves well in it, may be found to praise, and honor, and glory; to which our meekness will very much contribute, as it puts a lustre upon, and a convincing power into the testimony we bear. We then "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called," when wc walk " in all lowliness and meekness." 5. We must bear reproaches with meekness. Re- proach is a branch of that persecution which all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must expect : and we must submit to it, behaving ourselves quietly and with a due decorum, not only when " princes sit and speak against us," but even when "the abjects gather themselves together against us," and we become "the song of the drunkard." Sometimes we find it easier to keep calm in a solemn and expected en- gagement, than in a sudden skirmish or a hasty ren- counter ; and therefore, even against those slight at- tacks, it is requisite that meekness be set upon the 130 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. guard. If we be slandered, and have all manner of evil said against us falsely, our rule is, not to be disturbed at it, not to render " railing for railing ;" but though we may, as we have opportunity, with meek- ness deny the charge, as Hannah did, when Eli overhastily censured her as drunken — " No, my Lord, I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink ;" yet, when that is done, we must, without meditating any revenge, quietly commit our cause tq God, who will, sooner or later, clear up our innocency as the light, which is promised. Psalm 37 : 5, 6 ; and there- fore " fret not thyself," but wait patiently ; " cease from anger, and forsake wrath." Mr. Dod w^as wont to charm his friends into silence under re- proaches with this, "that if a dog bark at a sheep, the sheep will not bark at the dog again." We do but gratify our great adversary, and do his work for him, when we suffer the peace and serenity of our minds to be broken in upon by the reproaches of the world. For me to disquiet myself, and put myself into a passion, because another abuses me, is as if I should scratch up the skin of my face to fetch off the dirt which my adversary throws on it. When reproaches provoke our passions, which excite us to render bitterness for bitterness, we thereby lose the comfort and forfeit the honor and reward which the divine promise has annexed to the reproach of Christ ; and shall we suffer so many things in vain ? We likewise thereby give occasion to those who had spo- WHEN SPECIALLY REQtTlRBD. 131 ken evil of us falsely, to speak evil of us truly ; and perhaps our religion suffers more by our impatience under the reproach, than by the reproach itself. For what have we the law, and pattern, and promise of Christ, but to calm our spirits under reproaches for welUdoing ? Truly, those can bear but a little for Christ, who cannot bear a hard or an unkind word for him. If we either faint or fret in such a day of adversity, it is a sign our strength is small indeed. May it not satisfy us, that by our meekness and quietness under reproaches we engage God for us, who has promised that he will " with righteousness judge the poor," the poor in spirit, and will " reprove with equity for the meek of the earth." He that has bid us to " open our mouth for the dumb," will not himself be silent. And shall we not learn at last, instead of fretting and being exceeding angry, to re- joice and be exceeding glad, when •* we suffer this for righteousness' sake ?" May we not put such re- proaches as pearls in our crown, and be assured that they will pass well in the account another day, when there will be an advantageous resurrection of names as well as bodies, in the prospect of which we have reason to " rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for his name ;" that we are honored to be dishonored for Him, who for our sakes endured the cross and despised the shame. It is one of the laws of meekness, to despise being despise<i. 132 HENRY ON MEfiKNESft, CHAPTER VII. ARGUMENTS FOR MEEKNESS. In order to the well-governing of the soul, the judgment must be furnished with proper dictates, else it will never be able to keep peace in the affec- tions ; the emotions of the soul are then likely to be even, and regular, and constant, when we have fixed to ourselves good principles by which we are gov- erned, and under the influence of which we act. We shall select a few truths, out of many which might be mentioned, proper for use as there is occasion. I. He has the sweetest and surest peace, who is the most master of his own passions. The comfort that a man has in governing himself, is much great- er than he could have in having people to serve him, and nations to bow down to him. It is certain, the worst enemies we have, if ever they break loose and get head, are in our own bosoms. Enemies with- out threaten only the evil of pain ; they can but kill the body, and no great hurt in that to a child of God, if they do not provoke the enemies within, our own irregular passions, which, if they be not kept under, plunge us in the evil of sin. An invasion from abroad does not so much disturb the peace of a king- dom as an insurrection at home ; and therefore it concerns us to double our guard where our danger ARGUMENTS FOR MEEKNBSS. 133 is greatest ; and above all keepings, to keep our hearts, that no passion be allowed to stir, without a good reason to be given for it, and a good use to be made of it ; and then if we be troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; perplexed, yet not in despair; 2 Cor. 4 : 8, 9 ; offended by our fellow-servants, but not offending our Master ; reproached by our neigh- bors, but not by our own consciences ; this is like Zion's peace, peace within the walls. We have need to pray as one did — Lord, deliver me from that ill man, mine own self, and then I am safe enough. The lusts that " war in our members," are the ene- mies that " war against the soul." If tbis war be brought to a good issue, and those enemies suppress- ed, whatever other disturbances are given, peace is in the soul, with grace and mercy from God, and from the Lord Jesus. Nehemiah was aware of this, as the design of his enemies, when they hired a pre- tended prophet to give an alarm, and to advise him meanly to shift for himself; it was, says he, "that I should be afraid and do so, and sin." Whatever we lose, we shall not lose our peace, if we do but keep our integrity ; therefore, instead of being solicitous to subdue our enemies that lay siege to us, let us double our watch against the traitors within the garrison, from whom, especially, our danger is : since we can- not prevent the shooting of the fiery darts, let us have our shield ready, wherewith to quench them. If we would not hurt ourselves, blessed be God, no enemy H. M. 12 134 HENRY ON MC£KN£8S« in the world can hurt us. Let us but keep the peace within, by the governing of our own passions, and then, whatever assaults may be made upon us, we may therein, with the daughter of Zion, despise them, and laugh them to scorn, and shake our head at them. Isa. 37 : 22. Let us believe that in times of agitation and alarm our strength is to sit still, in a holy quietness and composure of mind : " This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest ; and this is the refreshing ;" and it is enough. 2. In many things wt all offend. This truth we have, Jajn. 3:2, as a reason why we must not be many masters. It would help to subdue and mode- rate our anger at the offences of others, if Ave con- sidered, ( L) That it is incident to human nature to offend. While we are in this world, we must not expect to converse with angels, or the spirits of just men made perfect ; no, we are obliged to have a communication with creatures that are foolish and corrupt, peevish and provoking, and who are all subject to like pas- sions : such as these we must live among, else must we needs go out of the world. And have we not reason then to count upon something or other un- easy and displeasing in all relations and conditions ? The best men have their defects in this imperfect state; those who are savingly enlightened, yet know- ing but in part, have their blind side ; the harmony, even of the communion of saints, will sometimes be ARGUMENTS FOR MEEKNESS. 185 disturbed with jarring strings ; why then should we be surprised into passion and disquiet, when that which gives us the disturbance is no more than what we looked for ? Instead of being angry, we should think with ourselves thus : Alas ! what could I expect but provocation from corrupt and fallen man ? Among such foolish creatures as we are, it must needs be that offences will come, and why should not I have my share of them? The God of heaven gives this as a reason of his patience towards a provoking world, that it is in their nature to be provoking : " I. will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth," and therefore better is not to be expected from him. And upon this account he had compassion on Israel. Ps. 78 : 39. " He re- membered that they were but flesh ;" not only frail creatures, but sinful, and bent to backslide. Do men gather grapes of thorns ? " I knew that thou wouldst deal treacherously, for thou wast called a trans- gressor from the womb." And should not we, much more, be governed by the same consideration? "If thou seest the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province," remember what a provoking creature smful man is, and then thou wilt not marvel at the matter. The consideration of the common in- firmity and corruption of mankind should be made use of, not to excuse our own faults to ourselves, which does but take off the edge of our repentance, 136 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. and is the poor subterfuge of a deceived heart ; but to excuse the faults of others, and so take offthe edge of bur passion and displeasure, and preserve the meekness and quietness of our own spirits. (2.) It is incident to ourselves among the rest to offend. The apostle puts himself into the number — 1 We all offend. We offend God; if we say we do * not, we deceive ourselves ; and yet he bears with us from day to day, and is not extreme to mark what we do amiss. Our debts to him are talents, our brethren's to us but pence. Think then, if God should be as angry with me for every provocation, as I am with those about me, what would become of me ? They are careless in their observance, and per- haps willful in their offence, and am not I so to God ? yea, am not I a thousand times worse? Job said, when his servants were provoking, and he was tempted to be harsh with them, " What then shall I do when God riseth up ? and when he visiteth, what shall 1 answer him ?" And are we not apt enough likewise to offend our brethren? Either we have offended, or may offend; so that we have need that others should bear with us, and why should we not bear with them ? Our rule is. What we would that men should do to us when we offend them, the same we should do to them when they offend us ; for this is the law and the prophets. Matt. 7: 12. Solomon appeals to our consciences therein : " For oftentimes also thine own heart (which ARGUMENTS FOR MEEKNESS. 137 is instead of a thousand witnesses) knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others." The penitent remembrance of former guilt would greatly help to curb the passionate resentment of present trouble. When the undutiful, rebellious son, (in a story that I once read,) dragged his father by the hair of the head to the house door, it appeased the anger of the old man to remember, that just so far he had dragged his father ; and it seems to have silenced Adonibe- zek, that he was now treated no otherwise than he had treated others. Judges, 1 : 7. 3. Men are God's hand : so it is said, Ps. 17 : 14 ; " From men which are thy hand, O Lord !" or rather tools in thy hand ; which are *' thy sword." We must abide by this principle, that whatever it is that crosses us, or is displeasing to us at any time, God has an overruling hand in it. David was governed by this principle when he bore Shimei's spiteful re- proaches with such invincible patience : " So let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David." Let him alone, for the Lord hath bidden him. This consideration will not only silence our murmurings against God, the author, but all our quarrelings with men, the instruments of our trouble and vexation. Men's reproaches are God's rebukes ; and whoever he be who affronts me, I must see, and say, that therein my Father corrects me. This quiet- ed the spirit of Job, in reference to the injuries of the Chaldeans and Sabeans, though he dwelt as a king, 12* 138 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. in the army ; and his power and interest seem to have been sustained when those intruders first mad?e that inroad upon him, and so he could not but see his help in the gate ; yet we find him not meditating any revenge, but calming the disturbances of his own soul with the consideration of God's sovereign dis- posal, overlooking all the instruments of his trouble, thoughts of which would but have mingled anger (the more disquieting passion) with his sorrow ; this, therefore, suffices to still the storm. " The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." When his brethren stood aloof from him, his kindred and his friends looked scornfully upon him as an alien ; and instead of oil, poured vinegar into his wounds, so that his eye continued in this provocation ; yet even in that part of his trouble he owns the hand of God: ''He hath put my brethren far from me." It is a very quieting truth, (the Lord help us to mix faith with it,} thai every creature is that to us, and no more, that God make^ it to be; and that while many seek the ru ler's favor, and more perhaps fear the ruler's dis pleasure, every man's judgment proceedeth from the Lord. Would we but more closely observe, and readily own the hand of God in that which disquiets and provokes us, surely, though we regarded not man, yet if we had any fear of God before our eyes, that would reconcile us better to it, and suppress all intemperate and undue resentments. In murmuring ARGUMENTS FOR MEEKNESS. 139 at the stone, we reflect upon the hand that throws it and lay ourselves under the wo pronounced against him that strives with his Maker. We know it is interpreted, a taking up arms against the king, if we take up arms against any that are commis- sioned by him. 4. There is no provocation given us at any time, but, if it be skillfully and graciously improved, good may be gotten by it. If we have but that wisdom of the prudent, which is to understand his way, and all the advantages and opportunities of it, doubtlestj" we may, quite contrary to the intention of those who trespass against us, gain some spiritual, that is, some real benefit to our souls, by the injuries and offen- ces that are done to us : for even these are made to work together for good to them that love God. This is a holy and a happy way of opposing our adver- saries, and resisting evil. It is an ill weed indeed out of which the spiritual bee cannot extract some- thing profitable, and for its purpose. Whatever lion roars against us, let us but go on in the strength and spirit of the Lord, as Samson did, and we may not only rend it as a kid, so that it shall do us QO real harm, but we may withal get meat out of the cater, and sweetness out of the strong. As it turns to the unspeakable prejudice of many, that they look upon reproofs as reproaches, and treat them accord- ingly with anger and displeasure ; so it would turn to our unspeakable advantage if we could but learn 140 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. to call reproaches reproofs^, and make use of them as such for our conviction and humiliation — and thus the reproach of Christ may become true riches to us, greater than the treasures of Egypt. We are told of an imposthume that was cured with the thrust of an enemy's sword ; and of one that was happily converted from drunkenness by being called, in reproach, " a tippler." It is very possible that we may be enlightened, or humbled, or reformed; may be brought nearer to God, or weaned from the world ; may be furnished with mat- ter for repentance, or prayer, or praise, by the inju- ries that are done us, and may be much furthered in our way to heaven by that which was intended for an affront or provocation. This principle would put another aspect upon injuries and unkindness, and would quite change their character, and teach us to call them by another name ; whatever the subordi- nate instrument intended, God designed it, as our other afflictions, to yield the peaceable fruit of righte- ousness ; so that, instead of being angry at the man that meant us ill, we should rather be thankful to the God that intended us good, and study to answer his intention. This kept Joseph in good temper to- wards his brethren, though he had occasion enough to quarrel with them: "You thought evil against me, but God meant it unto goo^." This satisfied Paul — in reference to the thorn in the flesh, that is, the calamities and oppositions of the false apostles, ARGUMENTS FOR MEEKNESS. ill which touched hi->n more sensibly than all the efforts of persecuting rage — that it was intended to hide pride from him, lest he should be " exalted above measure with the abundance of revelations ;" and there seems to be an instance of the good effect it iirad upon him immediately upon the mention of it, for within a few lines after he lets fall that humble word, " I am nothing." We should be apt to think too highly of ourselves, and too kindly of the world, if we did not meet with some injuries and contempt, by which we are taught to cease from man. Did we but more carefully study the improvement of an injury^ we should no; be so apt to desire to re- venge it. 5. What is said and done in haste, is likely to he matter for deliberate repentance. "Vve find David often remembering with regret what he said in haste, particularly one angry word he had said in the day of his distress and trouble, which seemed to reflect upon Samuel, and indeed upon all that had given him any encouragement to hope for the king- dom ; " I said in my haste. All men are liars ;" and this hasty word was a grief to him long after. " He that hasteth with his feet sinneth." When a man is transported by passion into any impropriety, we coriinonly qualify it with this, "that he is a little hasty," as if there were no harm in that ; but we see there is harm in it ; he that is in haste may contract much guilt in a little thne. What we say or do un- 142 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. advisedly when we are hot, we must unsay or undo again when we are cool, or do worse. Now, who would willfully do that which, sooner or later, he must repent of? A heathen that was tempted to a chargeable sin, could resist the temptation with this consideration, " that he would not buy repent- ance so dear." Is repentance such a pleasant work that we should so industriously " treasure up unto ourselves wrath against the day of Avrath,'' either the day of God's w^rath against us, or our own against ourselves I You little think what a torrent of self- affliction you let in, when you let the reins loose to an immoderate ungoverned passion. You are angry at others, and reproach them, and are ready to abhor them, and to revenge yourselves upon them, and your corrupt nature takes a strange kind of pleas- ure in this. But do you know that all this will at last rebound upon yourselves, and return into your own bosom ? Either here or in a worse place you must repent of all this ; that is, you must turn all these passions upon yourselves ; you must be angry at yourselves, and reproach yourselves, and call yourselves fools, and abhor yourselves, and smite upon your own breasts ; nay, and if God give you grace, take a holy revenge upon yourselves, (which is reckoned among the products of godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7 : 11;) and what can be more uneasy than all this ? You take great liberty in chiding those that you have under your power, and uttering perhaps ARQt7M£NTS FOR MBEKNESS. 143 cibusive language, because you know they dare not chide you again ; but dare not your own hearts smite you, and your consciences chide you ? And is it not easier to bear the chidings of any man in the world (which may either be avoided, or answered, or slighted) than to bear the reproaches of our own consciences, which, as we cannot avoid hearing, so we cannot trifle with ; for when conscience is awake, it will be heard, and will tell us home, wherein '* we are very guilty concerning our brother." Let this thought, therefore, quiet our spirits when they be- gin to be tumultuous, that hereby we shall but make work for repentance ; whereas, on the contrary, as Abigail suggested to David, the bearing and forgiv- ing of an injury will be no trouble or grief of mind afterwards. Let wisdom and grace therefore do what time will do ; that is, cool our heat, and take off the edge of our resentment. 6. That is truly best for us which is most pleas- ing and acc^ptabh to God, and a meek and quiet spirit is so. No principle has such a commanding influence upon the soul as that which has a regard to God, and wherein we approve ourselves to him. It was a good hint which the woman of Tekoah gave to David, when she was suing for a merciful sentence: " I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God ;" nor could any thought be more ap- peasing than that. Remember how gracious, and merciful, and patient God is ; how slow to anger, 144 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. how ready to forgiye, and how well pleased he is to see his people like him: remember the eye of thy God upon thee, the love of thy God towards thee, and the glory of thy God set before thee. Remember how much it is thy concern to be accepted of God, and to walk worthy of thy relation to him, unto all well-pleasing ; and how much meekness and quiet- ness of spirit contributes to this, as it is consonant to that excellent religion which our Lord Jesus has established, and as it renders the heart a fit habita- tion for the blessed Spirit : " this is good and accept- able in the sight of God our Savior," to lead a " quiet and peaceable life." It is a good evidence of our re- conciliation to God, if we be cordially reconciled to every trying providence, which necessarily includes a meek behavior towards those who are any way in- strumental in it. Very excellently does St. Austin re- mark on Psalm 122 : Those please God who are pleased with him, and with all he does, whether im- mediately by his own hand, or mediately by the agency of provoking, injurious men. This is stand- ing complete in all the will of God, not only his com- manding, but his disposing will, saying without re- luctance, The will of the Lord be done. He that acts from an honest principle of respect to God, and sincerely desires to be accepted of him, cannot but be in some measure adorned with that meek and quiet spirit which he knows to be in the sight of God of great price. RULi:s OF DIRECTION. 145 Such as these are soilening principles, and as many as walk according to these rules, peace shall be upon them, and mercy, and no doubt it shall be upon the Israel of God. CHAPTER VIII. ^OME RULES OF DIKKCTIOX. The laws of our iioly religion are so fur from clashing and interfering, that one Christian duty very much furthers and promotes another. The fruits of the Spirit are like links in a chain, one draws on another ; and it is so in this ; many other graces con- tribute to the ornament of a meek and quiet spirh. You see how desirable the attainment is, will you . therefore, through desire, separate your si4ves to the pursuit of it, and '* seek and intermeddle with all wisdom," and all little enougii, that you may roach to the meekness of wisdom. I. Withdraio your affections from this worUl^ and every thing in it. The more the world is cru- cified to us, the more our corrupt passions will be crucified in us. If we would keep calm and quiet, we must by faith live above the stormy region. It 13 146 ilENfeV UN' ME1:KNKSS. is certain, those that Have any thing to do in the Avorld) cannot but meet with that every day, from those Avith whom they deal, which will cross and provoke them; and if the affections be set upon these things, and we be filled with a prevailing concern, about them as the principal things, those crosses must needs pierce to the quick and inflame the soul, and that which touches us in these things, touches us in the apple of our eye. If the appetites be indulged inordinately in things that are pleasing to sense, the passions will to the very same degree be roused against those that are displeasing. And therefore. Christians, whatever you have of the world in your hands, be it more or less, as you value the peace as well as the purity of your souls, keep it out of your hearts ; and evermore indulge your affections towards your possessions, enjoyments, and delights in the world, with a due consideration of the disap- pointment and provocation which they will probably occasion you. It is th^ excellent advice of Epictetus, whatever we tak^ a plmsure in, to consider its nature, and to proportion otir complacency accordingly. Those that idolize any thing in this world, will be greatly discomposed if they be crossed in it. " The money which Micah's mother had," says bishop Hall, " was her god before it had the shape either of a graven or a moken image, else the loss of it would not have set her k cursings as iteeem* it did." Those that are , , , . .. I??TVB11SITT *' greedy oi gain, troTOle ^leir own hearts as well as their own houses, ^fc^y are a burden to them- selves, and a terror to all about them. ** They who will be rich," who are resolved upon it, come what will, cannot but fall into these " foolish and hurtful lusts." And those also who serve their own bellies, who are pleased with nothing unless it be wound up to the height of pleasure, who are like the " tender and delicate woman, that would not set so much as the sole of her foot to the ground for tc;nderness and delicacy," lie very open to that which is disquieting, and cannot, without ? great disturbance to them- selves, bear a disappointment ; and therefore Plu- tarch, a great moralist, prescribes it for the preser- vation of our meekness, " not to be curious in diet, or clothes, or attendance ; for," says he, " they who need but few things, are not liable to anger, if they be disappointed of many." Would we but learn in these things to cross our- selves, we should not be so apt to take it unkind if another crosses us. And therefore the method of the lessons in Christ's school is, first to '* deny our- selves," and then to "take up our cross." We must also mortify the desire of the applause of men, as al- together inconsistent with our true happiness. If we have learnt not to value ourselves by their good word, we shall not much disturb ourselves for their ill word. St. Paul bore reproaches with mucli meekness, because he did not build upon the opi- 118 HKXRV ON MEEKNESS. riiori of man, reckoninof it *' a small thing to be judg- ed of man's judgment." 2. Be often repenting of v our sinful passio?is, and reiuicrng yovr corcnanh against it. If our rash anger were more bitter to ns in the reflection after- wards, we .^should not be so apt to relapse into it. Repentance in general, if it be sound and deep, and grounded in true contrition and humiliation, dis- ])oses the soul to bear injuries Avith abundance oi patience. Those who live a life of repentance (as we have every one of us reason to do) cannot but live a quiet life, for nobody can lightly say worse of the true penitent than he says of himself Call him a fool, (an affront which many think deserve: a challenge,) the humble soul can bear it patiently •with this thought, " Yea, a fool I am," and I have called myself so many a time ; " more brutish than any man ; I have not the understanding of a man." But repentance in a special manner disposes us to meekness, when it fastens upon any irregular inor- dinate passion with which we have been transport- ed. Godly sorrow for our former transgressions in this matter, will work a carefulness in us not again to transgress. If others be causelessly or excessive- ly angry with me, am not I justly requited for the like or more indecent passions ? Charge it home, therefore, with sorrow and shame upon your con- sciences, aggravating the sin, and lajnng a load upon yourselves for it, and you will find that " the burnt RULES OF DIRECTIOX. 149 child," especially while the burn is smarting, •' will dread the fire." See Job, 42 : 6. With our repentance for our former unquietness, we must engage ourselves by a firm resolution, in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, to be more mild and gentle for the future. Say you will " take heed to your ways," that you offend not, as you have done, " with your tongue ;" and, like David, be often remembering that you said so. Resolution would do much towards the conquering of the most rugged nature, and the quiet bearing of the gireatest provocation* it would be like the bit and bridle to the horse and mule, that have no understanding. It may be of good use every morning to renew a charge upon our affections to keep the peace, and having welcomed Christ in faith and meditation, let no rude unruly passion stir up or awake our love. 3. Ktej) Old ^f the w^y ef jrrxivocation, and stand upon your guard against it. While w^e are so very apt to offend in this matter, we have need to pray, and to practice accordingly, "Lord, lead us not into temptation," Those are enemies to themselves and to their own peace, as well as to human society, who seek occasion of quarrel, who fish for provoca- tions and dig up mischief; but meek and quiet peo- ple will, on the contrary, studiously avoid even that which is justly provoking, and will see it as if they saw it not. Those that would not be angry must wink at that which would stir wp finger, or piU a fa* 13* loO HENRY ON MEEKNESS, vorable consiruclion upon it. The advice of the wise man is very good to the purpose : "Also take no heed to all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee ;" and it is better for thee not to hear it, unless thou canst hear it patientl}^ and not be provoked to sin. It is a common story oi Cotys, that, being presented with a cupboard of cu- rious glasses, he returned his thanks to his friend that had sent them, and gratified the messenger that brought them, and then deliberately broke them all, lest, by the casual breaking of them severally, he should be provoked to passion. And Dion relates it, to the honor of Julius Caesar, that Pompey's ca- binet of letters coming to his hand, he Avould not read them because he was his enemy, and he would be likely to find in them that which would increase the quarrel ; " and therefore," as Dr. Reynolds eX' presses it, "he chose rather to make a fire on his hearth than in his heart." But seeing "briers and thorns are with us," and Ave " dwell among scorpions," and " it must needs be that offences come," let us be so much the more careful, as we are when we go with a candle among powder, and exercise ourselves to have consciences void of offence, nor apt to offend others, nor to re* sent the offences of others. When we are at any time engaged in business or company where we foresee provocation, we must double our watch, and be more than ordinarily circumspect. " I will keep RITLES OF DIRECTION. 151 my mouth with a bridle," (says David,) that is, with a particular actual care and diligence while the wicked is before me, and frequent acts will confirm the good disposition and bring it to a habit. Plu- tarch advises "to set some time to ourselves for special strictness; so many days or weeks, in which, whatever provocations do occur, we will not suffer ourselves to be disturbed hy them." And thus he supposes, by degrees, the habit of vicious anger may be conquered and subdued. But, after all, the grace of faith has the surest influence upon the establish- ment and quietness of the spirit : faith establishes the mercy of God, the meekness of Christ, the love of the Spirit, the commands of the word, the prom- ises of the covenant, and the peace and quietness of the upper world ; this is the approved shield, with Avhich we may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, and all his wicked instruments. 4. Learn to jmuse. It is a good rule, as in our communion with God, so in our converse with men, *' Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing." When at any time we are provoked, delays may be as advantageous as in other cases they are dangerous. *' The discretion of a man deferreth his anger." " I would beat thee," said Socrates to his servant, •' if I were not angry;" but "he that is hast}" of spirit," that joins in with his anger upon the first rise of it, "exalteth folly." The office of reason is to govern the passions, but then 152 HEXRY ON MEEKNESS. we must give time to act, and not suffer the tongue to overrun it. Some have advised, when Ave are provoked to anger, to take at least so much time to deliberate as while we repeat the alphabet; and others have thought it more proper to repeat the Lord's Prayer, and perhaps by the time we are pai5t the fifth petition, " forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us," w^e may be reduced into temper. It is a good rule, '* to think twice before we speak once ;" for he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. It was the noted saying of a great statesman in queen Elizabeth's court, " Take time, and we shall have done the sooner." Nor can there be any thing lost by deferring our anger ; for there is nothing said or done in our wrath, but it might be better said and better done in meekness. 5. Pray to God hy his Spirit to work in you this e.xcdlerU grace of meekness and quietness of spirit. It is a part of that comeliness which he puts upon the soul, and he must be sought unto for it. If any man lack this meekness of v^^isdom, let him ask it of God, who gives liberally, and does not upbraid us with our folly. When we begin at any time to be froward and unquiet, w^e must lift a prayer to Him who stills the noise of the sea, for that grace Avhich establishes the heart. When David's heart was hot within him, the first word that broke out w^as a prayer. Psalm 39 : 3, 4. When we are sur- prised wMth a provocation, and begin to be in a fer- RULES OF DIRECTION. 153 ment upon it, it will not only be a present diversion, but a sovereign cure to lift up an ejaculation to God for grace and strength to resist and overcome the temptation : " Lord, keep me quiet now !" Let your requests in this matter be made known to God ; and " the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds." You are ready enough to complain of un- quiet people about you; but you have more reason to complain of unquiet passions within you; the other are but thorns in the hedge, these are thorns in the flesh, against w^hich, if you beseech the Lord, as Paul did, with faith, and fervency, and constancy, you shall receive grace sufficient. 6. Be often examinmg your growth and profi- ciency in this grace. Inquire what command you have gained over your passions, and what improve- ments you have made in meekness. Provocations recur every day, such as have been wont perhaps to throw you into a passion ; these give you an oppor- tunity to make the trial. Do you And that you are less subject to anger ; and when angry, that you are less transported by it than formerly ; that your ap- prehension of injuries is less quick, and that your resentments are less keen than usual ? Is the little kingdom of your mind more quiet than it has been, and the discontented party weakened and kept under? It is well if it be so, and a good sign that the soul prospers and is in health. We should examine every night whether we have been quiet all day. We shall 154 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. sleep the better if we find we have. Let conscience keep up a grand inquest in the soul, under a charge from the Judge of heaven and earth to inquire, and due presentment make, of all riots, routs, and breach- es of the peace within us ; and let nothing be left unpresented for favor, affection, or self-love ; nor let any thing presented be left unprosecuted according to law. Those whose natural temper, or their age, or diseases, lead them to be hasty, have an opportu- nity, by their meekness and gentleness, to discover both the truth and strength of grace in general ; for it is the surest mark of uprightness, to " keep our- selves from our own iniquity." And yet, if the children of God bring forth these fruits of the spi- rit in old age, when commonly men are most fro- ward and peevish, it shows not only that they are upright, but rather that " the Lord is upright," in whose strength they stand; that "he is their rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him." 7. Delight in the company of meek and quiet per- sons. Solomon prescribes it as a preservative against foolish passion, to "make no friendship with an an- gry man lest thou learn his w^ays." When thy neighbor's house is on fire, it is time to look to thy own. But man is a sociable creature, and made for converse; let us therefore, since we must have some company, choose to have fellowship with those who are meek and quiei, that we may learn their way, for it is a good way. The wolf is no companion for RULES OF DIRECTIOJr.. 155 the lamb, nor the leopard for the kid, till they have forgot to *' hurt and destroy." Company is assimi- lating-, and we are apt insensibly to grow like those with whom we ordinarily converse, especially with whom we delight to converse ; therefore let the quiet in the land be the men of our choice, especially into standing relations and bosom friendship. Observe in others how sweet and amiable meekness is, and what a heaven upon earth those enjoy who have the command of their own passions, and study to tran- scribe such copies. There are those who take a pleasure in riotous company, and are never well but when they are in the midst of noise and clamor. Surely heaven would not be heaven to such, for that is a calm and quiet region : no noise there but what is sweet and harmonious. 8. Sindy the cross of our Lord Jesus. Did we but know more of Jesus Christ and him crucified, we should experience more of the fellowship of his sufferings. Think often how and in what manner he suffered : see him led as a lamb to the slaughter, and arm yourselves with the same mind. Think also why and for what end he suffered, that you may not in any thing contradict the design of your dying Savior, nor receive his grace in vain. Christ died as the great peace-maker, to take down all partition- walls, to quench all threatening flames, and to re- concile his followers, not only to God, but one to another, by the slaying of all enmities. Eph. 2 ; 14, 16. The apostle often prescribes a believing re- 156 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. gard to the sufferings of Christ as a powerful allay to all sinful and intemperate heats, as Eph. 5 ; 2 ; Phil. 2 : 5, &c. Those who would show forth tho meek and humble life of Christ in their mortal bo- dies, must bear about with them continually " the (lying of the Lord Jesus." The ordinance of the Lord's Supper, in which we show forth the Lord's death, and the new testament in his blood, must therefore be improved by us for this blessed end, as a love-feast, at which all our sinful passions must be laid aside; and a marriage-feast, where the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is a considerable part of the wedding-garment. The forgiving of injuries, and a reconciliation to our brother, is both a necessary branch of our preparation for that ordinance, and a good evidence and instance of our profiting by it. 9. Converse much in your thoughts toith the dark and silent grave. You meet Avith many things now that disturb and disquiet you, and much ado yon have to bear them : think how quiet death Avill make you, and how incapable of resenting or resisting injuries, and what an easy prey this fiesli, for which you are so jealous, will shortly be to the worm that shall feed sweetly on it. You will, ere long, be out of the reach of provocation, " where the >vicked cease from troubling," and where their envy and their hatred is for ever perished. And is not a quiet spirit the best preparative for that quiet state ? Think how all these things, which now disquiet us, will appear when we come to look death in the face ; RULES OF Dli.ECTIOX. 157 how small and inconsiderable they seem to one that is stepping" into eternity. Think, " what need is there that I should so resent an affront or injury, that am but a worm to-day, and may be the food of worms to-morrow?" A liitle sprinkling of the dust of the grave, upon the brink of which we stand, would do much toward.^ quieting our spirits and ending our quarrels. Death will quiet us shortly : jet grace quiet us now. When David's heart was hot within him, he prayed, " Lord, make me to know my end." To conclude — I know no errand that I can come upon of this kind to you, in which methinks I should be more likely to prevail than in this ; so much does meekness conduce to the comfort and repose of our oion souls, and the making of our lives sweet and pleasant. If thou be wise herein, thou shalt be wise for thyself. That which I have been so intent upon in this discourse, is only to persuade you not to be your own tormentors, but to govern your own pas- sions so that they may not be furies to yourselves. The ornament I have been recommending to you is confessedly excellent and lovely ; will you put it on and wear it, that by this all men may know that you are Christ's disciples, and you may be found among the sheep on the right hand, at the great day, when Christ's angels shall gather out of his kingdom every thing that offends ? Every one will give meekness a good word ; but in this, as in H. M. 14 158 HENRY ON MEEKNESS. Other instances, honesty is applauded, yet neglected. Love is commended by all, and yet the love of many waxeth cold ; but let all that would not be self- condemned practice what they praise. And as there ii; nothing in which I should more expect to prevail, so there is nothing in which it will easier appear whether I have prevailed or no ; this tree will soon be known by its fruits ; so many are the circum- stances of almost every day A^hich call for the exer- cise of this grace, that our profiting therein will quickly appear to ourselves, and to all with whom we converse. Our meekness and quietness is more obvious, and falls more directly under a trial and ob- servation than our love to God and our faith in Christ, and other graces, the exercise whereof lies more immediately between God and our own souls, Shall we therefore set ourselves to manifest, in all our converse, that we have indeed received good by this plain discourse ? that our relations and neigh- bors, and all that we have dealings with, may ob- serve a change in us for the better, and may take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus. And let not the impressions of it ever wear off, but, ^living and dying, let us be found among the quiet in the land : we all wish to see quiet families, and quiet churches, and quiet neighborhoods, and quiet na- tions ; and it will be so if there be quiet hearts, and not otherwise. THE END. 14 DAY USE ««™N TO DKK PROM WHICH BORKOWBD lOAN DEPT. ■^M^v^ /% '-muiz4w-J iJ^'ner-im- ^BCO 1-^-^^^2^-^SL^Af^ U ! I S:;4ct'l^ J UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY r: