A43344:158
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
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.
1. That we must seek Meekness. This Command we have, Zeph. 2. 3. and (which is especially observable) it is directed to the Meek of the Earth: Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the Earth:—Seek Meekness. Tho' they were Meek, and were pronounced so by him that searcheth the heart, yet they must seek Meekness, which teacheth us, That those who have much of this Grace,1 have still need of more, and must desire and endeavour after more; Si dixisti, sufficit, periisti. He that sits down content with the Grace he hath, and is not pressing forwards towards Perfection, and striving to grow in Grace, to get the Habits of it more strengthened and confirmed, and the Actings of it more quickened and invigorated, it is to be feared hath no true Grace at all; but tho' he sit never so high, and never so easy in his own opinion, yet sits down short of Heaven. Where there's Life, one way or other there will be Growth, till we come to the perfect Man. Job 17. 9. He that hath clean hands will be stronger and stronger. Paul was a Man of great attainments in Grace, and yet we find him forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth to those that are before, Phi. 3. 13, 14. Those who took joyfully the spoiling of their ⟨p. 88⟩Goods, are yet told that they had need of Patience, Heb. 10. 34, 36. Thus the meek of the Earth (who being on the Earth, are in a state of Infirmity and Imperfection, of Trial and Temptation) have still need of Meekness, that is, they must learn to be yet more calm and composed, more steady, and even, and regular in the Government of their Passions, and in the managery of their whole Conversation. They who have silenced all angry Words, must learn to suppress the very first Risings and Motions of angry Thoughts.
1. That we must seek Meekness. This Command we have, Zeph. 2. 3. and (which is especially observable) it is directed to the Meek of the Earth: Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the Earth:—Seek Meekness. Tho' they were Meek, and were pronounced so by him that searcheth the heart, yet they must seek Meekness, which teacheth us, That those who have much of this Grace,