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

For tho' you your selves may not be aware of it, yet it is certain, that by those Indications of your displeasure, which transgress the Laws of Meekness, you do but render your selves Contemptible, and Ridiculous, and rather prostitute than preserve your Authority. Tho' your Children dare not tell you so, yet perhaps they cannot but think that you are […] very unfit to command them who are so very unable to command your selves.¹ Time was when you were your selves Children, and Scholars, and perhaps Servants and Apprentices, and so (if you will but allow your selves the liberty of Reflection) you cannot but know the Heart of an Inferior, (Exod. 23. 9.) and should therefore treat those that are now under you, as you your selves then wished to be treated. A due expression of Displeasure, so much as is ⟨p. 82⟩necessary to the amendment of what is amiss, will very well consist with Meekness and Quietness. And your Gravity and Awful Composedness therein will contribute very much to the preserving of your Authority, and will command respect abundantly more than your Noise and Chiding. Masters of Families (and Masters of Schools too) have need, in this matter, to behave themselves wisely, Psal. 101. 2. so as to avoid the two Extremes, that of Eli's foolish Indulgence on the one hand, 1 Sam. 2. 23, 24. and that of Saul's brutish Rage, on the other Hand, 1 Sam. 20. 30, 33. and for the hitting of this Golden Mean, Wisdom is profitable to direct.

For tho' you your selves may not be aware of it, yet it is certain, that by those Indications of your displeasure, which transgress the Laws of Meekness, you do but render your selves Contemptible, and Ridiculous, and rather prostitute than preserve your Authority. Tho' your Children dare not tell you so, yet perhaps they cannot but think that you are 〈…〉 very unfit to command them who are so very unable to command your selves.