(1.) When the Events of Providence are grievous and afflictive, displeasing to sense, and crossing our secular interests; meekness doth not only quiet us under them, but reconcile us to them; and enable us not only to bear, but to receive evil as well as good at the hand of the Lord; which is the excellent frame that Job argues himself into, Job. 2. 10. 'Tis to kiss the Rod, and even to accept of the punishment of our iniquity; taking all in good part that God doth: Not daring to strive with our Maker, no, nor desiring to prescribe to him, but Dumb and not opening the Mouth because God doth it. How meek was Aaron under the severe dispensation which took away his Sons with a particular mark of Divine Wrath, he held his peace, Levit, 10. 3. God was Sanctified, and therefore Aaron was Satisfied, and had not a word to say against it. Unlike to this was the Temper, or rather the Distemper of David, who then was not like a Man after Gods own Heart, when he was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza, 2 Sam. 6. 8. as if God must have asked David leave thus to assert the Honour of his Ark. When Gods Anger is kindled, ours must be stifled; such is the Law of Meekness, that whatsoever pleaseth God must not displease us: David was ⟨p. 12⟩in a better frame when he Penned the 56 Psalm, the Title of which, some think, speaks the calmness and submissiveness of his Spirit when the Philistines took him in Gath: It is upon Jonathelem-reckokim, the silent Dove afar off: It was his calamity that he was afar off, but he was then as a silent Dove; (mourning perhaps, Isa. 38. 14.) but not murmuring, not struggling, not resisting, when seized by the Birds of Prey; and the Psalm he Penned in this frame was Michtam, a Golden Psalm. The Language of this meekness is that of Eli, 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord; and that of David to the same purpose, 2 Sam. 15. 25, 26. Here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. Not only, he can do what he will, subscribing to his Power, for who can stay his Hand: Or, He may do what he will, subscribing to his Sovereignty, for he giveth not account of any of his matters: Or, He will do what he will, subscribing to his Unchangeableness, for he is in one mind, and who can turn him? But let him do what he will, subscribing to his Wisdom and Goodness, as Hezekiah, Isa. 39. 8. Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken.
(1.) When the Events of Providence are grievous and afflictive, displeasing to sense, and crossing our secular interests; meekness doth not only quiet us under them, but reconcile us to them; and inable us not only to bear, but to receive evil as well as good at the hand of the Lord; which is the excellent frame that Iob argues himself into, Iob. 2. 10. 'Tis to kiss the Rod, and even to accept of the punishment of our iniquity; taking all in good part that God doth: Not daring to strive with our Maker, no, nor desiring to prescribe to him, but Dumb and not opening the Mouth because God doth it. How meek was Aaron under the severe dispensation which took away his Sons with a particular mark of Divine Wrath, he held his peace, Levit, 10. 3. God was Sanctified, and therefore Aaron was Satisfied, and had not a word to say against it. Unlike to this was the Temper, or rather the Distemper of David, who then was not like a Man after Gods own Heart, when he was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza, 2 Sam. 6. 8. as if God must have ask'd David leave thus to assert the Honour of his Ark. When Gods Anger is kindled, ours must be stifled; such is the Law of Meekness, that whatsoever pleaseth God must not displease us: David was ⟨p. 12⟩in a better frame when he Penn'd the 56 Psalm, the Title of which, some think, speaks the calmness and submissiveness of his Spirit when the Philistines took him in Gath: It is upon Ionathelem-reckokim, the silent Dove afar off: It was his calamity that he was afar off, but he was then as a silent Dove; (mourning perhaps, Isa. 38. 14.) but not murmuring, not strugling, not resisting, when seized by the Birds of Prey; and the Psalm he Pen'd in this frame was Michtam, a Golden Psalm. The Language of this meekness is that of Eli, 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord; and that of David to the same purpose, 2 Sam. 15. 25, 26. Here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. Not only, he can do what he will, subscribing to his Power, for who can stay his Hand: Or, He may do what he will, subscribing to his Soveraignty, for he giveth not account of any of his matters: Or, He will do what he will, subscribing to his Unchangableness, for he is in one mind, and who can turn him? But let him do what he will, subscribing to his Wisdom and Goodness, as Hezekiah,
