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

2. Inferiors are commonly very apt to complain. If every thing be not just to their Mind, they are fretting, and vexing, and their Hearts are hot within them; they are uneasy in their Place and Station, finding fault with every thing that is said or done to them. Here wants a quiet Spirit, which would reconcile us to the Post we are in, and to all the difficulties of it, and would make the best of the present state, tho' it be attended with many Inconveniences. Those unquiet People, whom the Apostle Jude in his Epistle compares to raging Waves of the Sea, and wandering Stars, ver. 13. were Murmurers and Complainers, ver. 16. [Greek or Hebrew], Blamers of their Lot.—So the Word signifies. 'Tis an instance of Unquietness to be ever and anon quarrelling with our Allotment. Those Wives wanted a meek and quiet Spirit, that covered the Altar of the Lord with Tears, Mal. 2. 13. Not Tears of Repentance for Sin, but Tears of Vexation, at the Disappointments they met with in their ⟨p. 83⟩outward Condition. Hannah's Meekness and Quietness was in some degree wanting, when she fretted, and wept, and would not eat, 1 Sam. 1. 7. but Prayer composed her Spirit, and set here to rights, v. 18. Her Countenance was no more sad. It was the unquietness of the Spirit of the Elder Brother, in the Parable, that quarrelled so unreasonably with the Father for receiving and entertaining the Penitent Prodigal, Luke 15. 19. For those that are given to be uneasy, will never want something or other to complain of. It is true (tho' not so readily apprehended) that the sullenness, and murmuring, and silent frets of Children and Servants is as great a Transgression of the Law of Meekness, as the more open, noisy and avowed Passions of their Parents and Masters. We find the King's Chamberlains wroth with the King, Esth. 2. 21. and Cain's quarrel with God himself, for accepting of Abel, was interpreted Anger at God, Gen. 4. 6. Why art thou wroth, and why is thy Countenance fallen? The Sour Looks of Inferiors, are as certain an indication of Anger resting in the Bosom, as the Big Looks of Superiors; and how many such instances of Discontent there have been, especially under a continual Cross, our own Consciences may perhaps tell us. It is the want of Meekness only, that makes those whom Divine Providence hath put under the Yoke, Children of Belial, that is, impatient of the Yoke.