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

2. It makes us fit for any Relation, which God in his Providence may call us into. Those that 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 cut out for any of them. Moses was forty Years a Courtier in Egypt, forty Years a Servant in Midian, and forty Years a King in Jeshrun, and his Meekness 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' ⟨p. 71⟩all. If Man be a sociable Creature, the more he hath of Humanity, the more fit he is for Society. Meekness would greatly help to preserve the Wisdom and due Authority of Superiors, the Obedience and due Subjection of Inferiors, and the Love and mutual Kindness and Serviceableness of Equals. A calm and quiet Spirit receives the comfort of the Relation most thankfully, studies the Duty of the Relation 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 of a Married Couple, who, tho' they were both naturally of a hot and hasty Temper, yet lived very comfortably in that Relation by observing an Agreement made between themselves, Never to be both angry together; an excellent law of Meekness it is, which if faithfully lived up to, would prevent many of those Breaches among Relations, which occasion so much Guilt and Grief, and are seldom healed without a Scar. 'Twas part of the good Advice given by a Pious and Ingenious Father, to his Children newly entered into the Conjugal Relation, Doth one speak Fire? 'tother with Water come; Is one provoked? be 'tother soft or dumb.

2. It makes us fit for any Relation, which God in his Providence may call us into. Those that are quiet themselves, cannot but be easie 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 easie to them. Relations are various, as Superiors, Inferiors and Equals; he that is of a meek and quiet Spirit, is cut out for any of them. Moses was forty Years a Courtier in Aegypt, forty Years a Servant in Midian, and forty Years a King in Ieshrun, and his Meekness 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 thro'