A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon…

It is spoken of as the Happiness of the Meek, that they delight themselves in the abundance of Peace, Psal. 37. 11. others may delight themselves in the abundance of Wealth; a poor delight that is interwoven with so much Trouble and Disquietment; but the meek, tho' they have but a ⟨p. 55⟩little Wealth, have Peace, abundance of Peace, Peace like a River, and this such as they have a Heart to delight themselves in, sat lucis intus, as Oecolumpadius said, their Souls are a Goshen in the midst of the Egypt of this World, they have Light in their Dwelling, when Clouds and Darkness are round about them: This is the joy which a stranger doth not intermeddle with. We may certainly have (and we would do well to consider it) less inward disturbance, and more true ease and satisfaction in forgiving twenty injuries, than in avenging one. No doubt Abigail intended more than she expressed, when to qualify David, and to persuade him to pass by the Affront which Nabal had given him, she prudently suggested, that hereafter this shall be no grief unto thee, ¹nor offence of Heart.—Not only so, but it would be very sweet, and easy, and comfortable in the reflection. Such a rejoicing is it, especially in a Suffering-day, to have the Testimony of Conscience that in simplicity, and godly sincerity, ²not 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 sober Heathen, that said, Est vindicta bonum, vitâ jucundius ipsâ: Revenge is sweeter than Life, for it often proves more bitter than Death.

It is spoken of as the Happiness of the Meek, that they delight themselves in the abundance of Peace, Psal. 37. 11. others may delight themselves in the abundance of Wea•th; a poor delight that is interwoven with so much Trouble and Disquietment; but the meek, tho' they have but a ⟨p. 55⟩