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

3. It hath 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. ⟨p. 66⟩If any be, you shall, you stand fairest for special Protections. Meekness approacheth 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 Honour, it is confessedly a piece of Cowardice to set upon an unarmed unresisting Man, that resents not Provocation, and is ready to yield to every demand. Who is he that will harm you, if you be followers [Greek or Hebrew], of him that is Good, in his Goodness, 1 Pet. 3. 13. Who draws his Swor• or cocks his Pistol at the harmless silent Lamb, while every one is ready to do it, at the furious barking Dog? thus doth the meek Man escape many of those perplexing Troubles, those Woes, and Sorrows, and Wounds without cause, which he that is Passionate, Provoking and Revengeful, pulls upon his own Head. Wise Men turn away Wrath, but a Fool's Lips enter into Contention, and his Mouth calleth for Strokes. It is an Honour 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, which was this, That 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 like manner, he drew his Sword and demanded Satisfaction, and Mischief was done. He that would sleep both in a whole Skin, and in a whole Conscience, must learn rather to forgive Injuries, 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, ⟨p. 67⟩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 melted by David's Mildness and Meekness, Is this thy voice, my Son David? saith he,