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

When Christ was purging the Temple, tho' he was therein acted by a Zeal for God's House that even eat him up, yet he did it with Meekness and Prudence, which appeared in this instance, that when he drove out the Sheep and Oxen, which would easily be caught again, he said to them that sold Doves, Take these things hence, Joh. 2. 16. He did not let loose the Doves, and send them flying, for that would have been to the loss and prejudice of the Owners. Angry, noisy, bitter ⟨p. 122⟩Arguings, ill become the Asserters of that Truth, which is great and will prevail, without all that ado. It was a very froward and perverse Generation that our Lord Jesus lived in, and yet it is said, Mat. 12. 19. He shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any Man hear his Voice in the Street, tho' he could have broke them as easily as a bruised Reed, and extinguished them as soon as one could quench the wick of a Candle newly lighted, yet he will not do it, till the day comes when he shall bring forth Judgment unto Victory. Moses dealt with a very obstinate and stiff-necked People, And yet my Doctrine (saith he) shall drop as the Dew, and distil as the small Rain, Deut. 32. 2. 'Twas not the Wind, nor the Earthquake, nor the Fire that brought Elijah into Temper, (for the Lord was not in them) but the still small Voice did it, when he heard that, he wrapped his Face in his Mantle, 1 Kin. 19. 11, 12, 13. In dealing with Gain-sayers, a Spirit of Meekness will teach us to consider their Temper, Education, Custom, the Power of Prejudice they Labour under, the Influence of others upon them, and to make Allowances accordingly, and not to call (as passionate Contenders are apt to do) every false Step, an Apostasy, every Error and Mistake, nay, every Misconstrued Misplaced Word, a Heresy, and every Misdemeanour, no less than Treason and Rebellion; Methods of Proceeding, more likely to irritate and harden, than to convince and reduce Gain-sayers. I have heard it observed long since, That the Scourge of the Tongue hath driven many out of the Temple, but never drove any into it.

When Christ was purging the Temple, tho' he was therein acted by a Zeal for God's House that even eat him up, yet he did it with Meekness and Prudence, which appear'd in this instance, that when he drove out the Sheep and Oxen, which would easily be caught again, he said to them that sold Doves, Take these things hence,