A43344:134
A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon…
A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon on Acts 28. 22, showing that the Christian religion is not a sect, and yet that it is every where spoken against / by Matthew Henry ...A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon on Acts 28. 22, shewing that the Christian religion is not a sect, and yet that it is every where spoken against / by Matthew Henry ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1699
A Discourse concerning MEEKNESS. › Chapter 2: The Excellency of Meekness and Quietness of Spirit.
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.
4. It makes us fit for a Day of Persecution. If Tribulation and Affliction arise because of the word (which is no foreign Supposition) the meek and quiet Spirit is armed for it, so as to preserve its Peace and Purity at such a time, which are our two great Concernments, that we may neither torment our selves with a base fear, nor pollute our selves with a base compliance. We use to say, We will give any thing for a quiet Life, I say, any thing but a quiet Conscience, which will be best secured under the Shield of a meek and quiet Spirit, which doth not render railing for railing, 1 Pet. 3. 9. nor aggravate the threatened Trouble, or represent it to it self in ⟨p. 74⟩its most formidable Colours, but has learned to put a but upon the power of the* new enraged Enemies; they can but kill the Body, and to witness the most righteous Testimony with Meekness and Fear, 1 Pet. 3. 15. like our Master, who when he suffered, threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously, 1 Pet. 2. 23. Suffering-Saints, (as the Suffering-Jesus) are compared to Sheep, Isa. 53. 7. Rom. 8. 36.) as Sheep dumb before the Shearer, nay, dumb before the Butcher. The meek and quiet Christian, if duly called do it, can tamely part, not only with the Wool, but with the Blood; not only with the Estate, but with the Life, and even then rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of Glory. Angry froward. People in a day of Rebuke, are apt to pull Crosses upon themselves by needless Provocations, or to murmur, and complain, and fly in the face of Instruments, and give unbecoming Language, contrary to the Laws of our Holy Religion, and the Example of our Master, and so do more hurt than good by their suffering. Whenever we have the honour to be persecuted for righteousness-sake, our great care must be to glorify God, and to adorn our Profession (which is done most effectually by Meekness and Mildness under the hardest Censures, and the most cruel Usage.) So manifesting that we are indeed under the power and influence of that Holy Religion, which we think it worth our while to suffer for.