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

The good effect of a soft Answer, and the ill consequents of a peevish one, are observable in the Stories of Gideon and Jephthah: Both of them in the day of their Triumphs over the Enemies of Israel, were causelessly quarrelled with by the Ephraimites (an angry sort of People it seems^*) who took it very heinously when the danger was past, and the Victory was won, that they had not been called upon to engage in the ⟨p. 31⟩Battle; Gideon pacified them with a soft Answer, Judg. 8. 2. What have I done now in comparison of you? magnifying their Achievements, and lessening his own, speaking honourably of them, and meanly of himself; Is not the gleaning of the Grapes of Ephraim, better than the Vintage of Abiezar? In which Reply it's hard to say whether there was more of Wit or Wisdom; And the effect was very good; the Ephraimites were pleased, their Anger turned away, a Civil War prevented; and no Body could think the worse of Gideon for his Mildness and Self-denial; but on the contrary, that he won more true Honour, by this Victory over his own Passion, than he did by his Victory over all the Host of Midian; for he that hath Rule over his own Spirit, is better than the Mighty, Pro. 16. 32. The Angel of the Lord had pronounced him a mighty Man of Valour, Judg. 6. 12. and this his tame submission did not at all derogate from that part of his Character. But Jephthah (who by many instances appears to be a Man of a rough and hasty Spirit, tho' enrolled among the eminent Believers, Heb. 11. 32. for all good People are not alike happy in their Temper.) When the Ephraimites in like manner pick a Quarrel with him, he rallies them, upbraids them with their Cowardice, boasts of his own Courage, challenges them to make good their Cause, Jud. 12▪ 2, 3. they retort a scurrilous Reflection upon Jephthah's Country (as it's usual with Men in Passion to taunt and jeer one another) Ye Gileadites are Fugitives, verse 4. From Words they go to Blows, and so great a matter doth this little Fire kindle, that there goes no less to quench the Flame, than the Blood of two and forty