A20559:520
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The thing commanded is generally to love our neighbours soul and body as our own. And the particular duties that in it are given in charge are either inward or outward. The inward are two, Meekness, and Compassion. Meekness that is a mild and quiet and loving disposition of the heart, and a kind and courteous affection to our neighbours. This is commanded Ephes. 4. 32, Be ye courteous one to an other and tender hearted. This courtesy he opposeth to anger and bitterness of heart, which he had named in the former verse as breaches of this commandment: And reasons why one should carry a tender and meek affection towards his neighbour: one may be that which is said in Is. Wilt thou be cruel to thy own flesh? we have one God, one father, and be as it were one body, and must therefore be like affected one to an other as members of one body. And an other reason is 1. Pet. 3. A woman of a meek spirit is much set by of God, and that which is particularly applied to the woman is true. Of the man that whosoever hath a meek and quiet spirit, he is in high account and favour with God and his Angels; as contrary a froward and contentious person, be he as conceited of himself as he will, is base and contemptible in the eyes of God, and of all Gods children. And as Christ saith. Matt. 5. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth. Now the branches and parts of this meekness are, First to forgive one an other. As in the place of the Ephes. before be ye courteous forgiving one an other as God for Christs sake forgave you. Meeting with an objection that might have been made, why I meek? I am as gentle affable and quiet as any man in the world can be, so long ⟨image 143⟩as you do not cross me, nor wrong me, nor disgrace me but indeed if you will do me any injury, or cross me of my will a little then you must pardon me, I am something passionate I cannot endure it. Can you not endure it? What can you endure then? Surely no more then a Bear or a Lion or a beast can. But a christian meekness will forgive and forget injuries and wrongs, it will not only be kind to the kind and show courtesy for courtesy, for this the veriest reprobate, and deepest dissembler in the world may do; but it will overcome evil with good, it will be kind to the unkind, and put up wrongs and offences.