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

The showing of our Meekness will beautify our Profession, and will adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour, and may have a very good influence upon others, who cannot but be in Love with such an excellent Grace, when thus, like the Ointment of the right Hand, it betrayeth it self, and the House is filled with the Odour of it. Again, This Meekness must be thus showed unto all Men, Foes as well as Friends, those without, as those within, all that we have any thing to do with. We must show our Meekness not only to those above us, that we stand in awe of, but to those below us, that we have an Authority over. The Poor ⟨p. 94⟩indeed useth Entreaties, but whatever is the Practice, it is not the Privilege of the rich to answer roughly, Prov. 18. 23. We must show our Meekness not only to the Good and Gentle, but also to the Froward, for this is thank-worthy, 1 Pet. 2. 18, 19. Our Meekness must be as extensive as our Love, so exceeding broad is this Commandment, All Meekness to all Men. We must show this Meekness most, to those with whom we do most converse. There are some, that when they are in Company with Strangers, appear very mild and good humoured, their Behaviour is plausible enough, and complaisant, but in their Families they are peevish, and froward, and ill-natured, and those about them scarce know how to speak to them;¹ This shows that the fear of Man gives greater check to their Passions, than the fear of God. Our Rule is to be meek towards all, even to the Brute Creatures, over whom we are Lords, but must no• be Tyrants; A good Man is merciful to his Beast.

The shewing of our Meekness will beautifie our P•ofession, and will adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour, and may have a very good influence upon others, who cannot but be in Love with such an excellent Grace, when thus, like the Ointment of the right Hand, it betrayeth it self, and the House is filled with the Odor of it. Again, This Meekness must be thus shew'd unto all Men, Foes as well as Friends, those without, as those within, all that we have any thing to do with. We must shew our Meekness not only to those above us, that we stand in awe of, but to those below us, that we have an Authority over. The Poor