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

3. He was very meek towards his Enemies, that hated and persecuted him. The whole Story of his Life is filled with instances of invincible Meekness; while he endured the Contradiction of Sinners against himself, which was a constant Jar, yet he had a perpetual Serenity and Harmony within himself, and was never in the least discomposed by it. When his Preaching and Miracles were cavilled at and reproached, and he himself represented under the blackest Characters, not only as the Drunkard's Companion, but as the Devil's Confederate, with what a wonderful calmness did he bear it? How mildly did he answer, with Reason and Tenderness, when he could have replied in Thunder and Lightning? How well satisfied under all such invidious Reflections with this, that Wisdom is however justified of all her Children? Mat 11. 19. When some of his Disciples would have had Fire from Heaven upon those rude People that refused him Entertainment in their Town, he was so far from complying with the Motion, that he rebuked it, Luke 9. 55. Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of. This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you, Gal. 5. 8. The design of Christ and of his Holy Religion is to shape Men into a mild and merciful Temper, and to make them sensibly tender of the Lives and Comforts even of their worst Enemies. Christianity was ⟨p. 112⟩intended to revive Humanity, and to make those Men, who had made themselves Beasts. But our Lord Jesus did in a more especial manner evidence his Meekness when he was in his last sufferings, that awful Scene. Tho' he was the most innocent and the most excellent Person that ever was, who by the Doctrine he had preached, and the Miracles he had wrought, had richly deserved all the Honours and Respects that the World could pay him, and infinitely more, and tho' the Injuries he received were ingeniously and industriously contrived to the highest degree of Affront and Provocation, yet he bore all with an undisturbed Meekness, and with that Shield quenched all the fiery Darts, which his malicious Enemies shot at him.

3. He was very meek towards his Enemies, that hated and persecuted him. The whole Story of his Life is fill'd with instances of invincible Meekness; while he endur'd the Contradiction of Sinners against himself, which was a constant Jarr, yet he had a perpetual Serenity and Harmony within himself, and was never in the least discomposed by it. When his Preaching and Miracles were cavill'd at and reproached, and he himself represented under the blackest Characters, not only as the Drunkard's Companion, but as the Devil's Confederate, with what a wonderful calmness did he bear it? How mildly did he answer, with Reason and Tenderness, when he could have replyed in Thunder and Lightning? How well satisfied under all such invidious Reflections with this, that Wisdom is however justified of all her Children? Mat 11. 19. When some of his Disciples would have had Fire from Heaven upon those rude People that refused him Entertainment in their Town, he was so far from complying with the Motion, that he rebuked it,