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

4. Meekness will cool the Heat of Passion quickly, and not suffer it to continue. As it keeps us from being soon angry, so it teaches us when we are angry, to be soon pacified. The Anger of a meek man is like fire struck out of Steel, hard to be got out, but when it is out, soon gone. The wisdom that is from above, as it is gentle, and so not apt to provoke; so it is easy to be entreated when any provocation is given, James 3. 17. and hath the ear always open to the first proposals and overtures of satisfaction, submission, and reconciliation, and so the anger is turned away. He that is of a meek spirit will be forward to forgive injuries, and to put up affronts, and hath some excuse or other ready wherewith to extenuate and qualify the provocation, which an angry man, for the exasperating and justifying of his own resentments will industriously aggravate. It is but saying, there's no great harm done,¹ or if there be, there was none intended, and peradventure it was an oversight, and so the offence being looked at through that end of the Perspective which diminisheth, 'tis easily past by, and the Distemper being taken in time goes off quickly, the Fire is quenched before it gets head, and by a speedy interposal the Plague is stayed. While the world is so full of the sparks of Provocation, and there is so much tinder in the hearts of the best, no marvel if anger come sometimes into the bosom of a wise man, but it rests only in the bosom of Fools, Eccl. 7. 9. Angry thoughts, as other vain thoughts, may crowd into the heart upon a sudden surprise, but meekness will not suffer them to Jodge there, (Jer. 4. 14.) nor let the Sun go down upon the wrath, (Eph. 4. 26.) for if it do, there's danger ⟨p. 24⟩lest it rise bloody the next morning. Anger concocted becomes Malice; 'tis the wisdom of meekness by proper applications to discuss the humour before it comes to a head. One would have thought when David so heinously resented Nabal's abuse, that nothing less than the blood of Nabal and all his house could have quenched his Heat, but it was done at a cheaper rate, and he showed his Meekness, by yielding to the diversion that Abigail's Present and Speech gave him, and that with satisfaction and thankfulness; He was not only soon pacified, but blessed her, and blessed God for her that pacified him. God doth not contend for ever, neither is he always wroth;