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

3. David was a Pattern of Meekness, and it is promised, Zach. 12. 8. That the Feeble shall be as David. In this, as in other instances, he was a Man after God's own Heart. When his own Brother was so rough upon him without Reason, 1 Sam. 17. 28. Why camest thou down hither, &c? how mild was his Answer? What have I now done? Is there not a Cause? ver. 29. When ⟨p. 103⟩his Enemies reproached him, he was not at all disturbed at it, Psal. 38. 13. I, as a deaf Man, heard not. When Saul persecuted him with such an unwearied Malice, he did not take the advantage which Providence seemed to offer him, more than once, to revenge and right himself, but left it to God to do it for him. David's meek Spirit concurred with the Proverb of the Ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the Wicked; but my Hand shall not be upon him, 1 Sam. 24. 13. When Nabal's Churlishness provoked him, yet Abigail's Prudence soon pacified him, and it pleased him to be pacified. When Shimei cursed him,¹ with a bitter Curse, in the day of his Calamity, he resented not the Offence, nor would hear any talk of punishing the Offender: So let him curse; let him alone, for the Lord hath bidden him, 2 Sam. 16. 10, 12. quietly committing his Cause to God, who judgeth righteously, verse 12. And other instances there are in his Story, which evidence the Truth of what he said, Psal. 131. 2. My Soul is even like a weaned Child. ²And yet David, a great Soldier, a Man of celebrated Courage, that slew a Lion, and a Bear, and a Philistine, as much a ravenous Beast as either of them, which shows that it was his Wisdom and Grace, and not his Cowardice, that at other times made him so quiet. David was a Man that met with very many disquieting and disturbing Events in the several Scenes of his Life, through which (tho' sometimes they ruffled him a little, yet) for the