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

Meekness and Quietness seem to import much the same thing, but the latter having something of Metaphor in it, will illustrate the former, and therefore we shall speak of them distinctly.

MEekness and Quietness seem to import much the same thing, but the latter having something of Metaphor in it, will illustrate the former, and therefore we shall speak of them distinctly.

[1.] We must be of a meek Spirit.—[Greek or Hebrew] qu. [Greek or Hebrew] facilis: So the Critics. Meekness is easiness of Spirit; not a sinful easiness to be debauched, as Ephraim's that willingly walked after the Commandment of the idolatrous Princes, Hos. 5. 11. Nor a simple easiness to be imposed upon and deceived, as Rehoboam's, who when he was forty Years old is said to be young and tender-hearted, 2 Chron. 13. 7. but a gracious easiness to be wrought upon by that which is good, as their's whose Heart of Stone is taken away, and to whom a Heart of Flesh is given. Meekness is easiness, for it accommodates the Soul to every Occurrence, and so makes a Man easy to himself and to all about him. The Latins call a meek Man mansuetus: qu. manu assuetus; used to the Hand, which alludes to the taming and reclaiming of Creatures wild by Nature,¹ and bringing them to be tractable and familiar. Man's corrupt Nature hath made him like the wild Ass used to the Wilderness, or the swift Dromedary traversing her ways, Jer. 2. 23, 24. But the Grace of Meekness, when that gets Dominion in the Soul, alters the temper of it, brings it to hand, submits it to management, and now the Wolf dwells with the Lamb, and the Leopard lies down with ⟨p. 9⟩the Kid and a little Child may lead them; for Enemies are laid aside, and there's nothing to hurt or destroy, Isa, 11. 6, 9.