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

The Quietness of the Spirit will help to cool distempering Heats, to suppress Melancholy Vapours; and this, as other of Wisdom's Precepts, will be Health to the Navel, and Marrow to the Bones; Length of Days, and long Life, and Peace shall they add unto thee, but Wrath kills the foolish Man, Job 5. 2.

2. It hath a good influence upon our Wealth, the preservation and increase of it. As in Kingdoms, so in Families and Neighbourhoods; War begets Poverty. Many a one hath brought a fair Estate to ruin, by giving way to the Efforts of an ungoverned Anger, that barbarous Idol to which even the Children's Portions, and the Families Maintenance are oftentimes sacrificed. Contention will as soon clothe a Man with Rags as Slothfulness; that therefore which keeps the Peace doth not a little befriend the plenty. It was Abraham's meek Management of his Quarrel with Lot, that secured both his own and his Kinsman's Possessions, which otherwise would have been an easy Prey to the Canaanite and the Perizzite that dwelt then in the Land, Gen. 13. 7, 8. 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, Gen. 26. 13. he grew till he became very great: And his Son Jacob lost nothing at long run, by his meek and quiet Carriage towards his Uncle Laban. Revenge is costly; Haman bid largely for it, no less than ten thousand Talents of Silver, Esth. 3. 9. it's better to forgive, and save the Charges. Mr. Dod used to say, Love is better than Law, for Love is cheap, but Law is chargeable. Those Tradesmen are commonly observed to thrive most, that make the least noise, that with quietness Work, and mind their own Business, 2 Thes. 3. 12.