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

1. Superiors are commonly very apt to chide, and that's for want of Meekness. It's spoken to the praise of him, who is the Great Ruler of this perverse and rebellious World, that he will not always chide, Psa. 103. 9: But how many Little Rulers are there of Families and petty Societies, that herein are very unlike him, for they are always chiding? Upon every little Default they are put into a flame, and transported beyond due Bounds: Easily provoked, either for no cause at all, or for very small cause; greatly provoked, and very outrageous, and unreasonable when they are provoked. Their Carriage fiery and hasty; their Language scurrilous and undecent; they care not what they say, nor what they do, nor who they fall foul upon, such Sons of Belial, that a Man cannot speak to them, 1 Sam. 25. 17. one had as good meet a Bear robbed of her Whelps, as meet Them. Here wants Meekness. Husbands should not be bitter against their Wives, Col. 3. 19. Parents should not provoke their Children, Eph. 6. 4. Masters must forbear threatening, Eph. 6. 9. These are the Rules, but how few are ruled by them? The undue and intemperate Passion of Superiors, goes under the umbrage and excuse of necessary strictness, and the maintaining of Authority, and the Education and Control of Children and Servants: But surely every little failure needs ⟨p. 81⟩not be animadverted upon, but rather should be passed by; or if the fault must needs be reproved and corrected, may it not be done without such a Heat? What needs so much noise and clamour, and all this ado? Is this the product of a meek and quiet Spirit? Is this the best Badge of your Authority you have to put on? And are these the Ensigns of your Honour? Is there no other way of making your Inferiors know their place, but by putting them among the Dogs of your Flock, and threatening them as such? Not that I am against Government and good Order in Families, and such Reproofs as are necessary to the support and preservation of that, and those so sharpened, as some Tempers require and call for. But while you are governing others, pray learn to govern your selves, and do not disorder your own Souls under pretence of keeping Order in your Families: