A43344:79
A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon…
A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon on Acts 28. 22, showing that the Christian religion is not a sect, and yet that it is every where spoken against / by Matthew Henry ...A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon on Acts 28. 22, shewing that the Christian religion is not a sect, and yet that it is every where spoken against / by Matthew Henry ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1699
A Discourse concerning MEEKNESS. › Chapter 1: The Nature of Meekness and Quietness of Spirit.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A soft Answer is the Dictate and Dialect of that Wisdom which is from above, which is peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated: And to recommend it to us, we have the pattern of good men, as that of Jacob's Carriage to Esau, tho' a Brother offended, who is so hard to be won, yet as he had prevailed with God by Faith and Prayer, so he prevailed with his Brother by Meekness and Humility: We have also the Pattern of good Angels, who even then when a rebuke was needful, yet durst not turn it into a railing Accusation, durst not give any reviling Language, no not to the Devil himself, but referred the matter to God, The Lord rebuke thee, as that passage, Jude ver. 9. is commonly understood. Nay, we have the Pattern of a good God, who tho' he could plead against us with his great Power, yet gives soft Answers: witness his dealing with Cain, when he was wroth and his countenance fallen, reasoning the case with him, Gen. 4. 6, 7. Why art thou wroth—If thou dost well, shalt not thou be accepted? With Jonah likewise, when he was so discontented, Jon. 4. 4, 9. Dost thou well to be angry? This is represented in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, by the carriage of the Father towards the Elder Brother that was so high, and humorsome, so angry that he would not come in. The Father did not say, Let him stay out then, but he came himself and entreated him, (when he might have interposed his Authority and commanded him) and said, Son, thou art ever with me, Luke 15. 28, 31. When a passionate ⟨p. 33⟩Parley is begun, there is a Plague broke out, the meek Man like Aaron takes his Censer with the Incense of a soft Answer, steps in seasonably and stays the Plague.
A soft Answer is the Dictate and Dialect of that Wisdom which is from above, which is peaceable, gentle, and easie to be intreated: And to recommend it to us, we have the pattern of good men, as that of Iacob's Carriage to Esau, tho' a Brother offended, who is so hard to be won, yet as he had prevail'd with God by Faith and Prayer, so he prevail'd with his Brother by Meekness and Humility: We have also the Pattern of good Angels, who even then when a rebuke was needful, yet durst not turn it into a railing Accusation, durst not give any reviling Language, no not to the Devil himself, but refer'd the matter to God, The Lord rebuke thee, as that passage,