Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

and as a further motive hereunto, Faith looks unto Christ, in whom Meekness is exemplified in our own Nature, that we may not say, flesh and blood cannot be so, under reproaches, injuries contradictions, bloody sufferings. He was as a lamb, not opening his mouth, when he was reviled be reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, 1 Pet. 2.23. And the Believer must follow him, and the rather because he hath a spirit of Meekness from him to do so. Such a spirit showed it self in Beza who, when in a Dispute about the Eucharist, the Jesuits called him and his Colleagues Foxes and Serpents, only replied, Nos non magis credimns quàm Transubstantiationem; We believe it as much as we do Transubstantiation. Again, this Grace is much advanced by Reflections: without Faith a man is a stranger at home, and knows every thing better than his own Heart, as St. Bernard faith of Petrus Abailardus, He knew every thing better than himself; but where Faith is, there is the true [Greek or Hebrew], then a Man looks inwardly into his own Heart, and there finds such a black nest of Corruptions, that upon reproaches and injuries offered he is ready to commune with himself and say, Are not such Sins with me, even with me, at least seminally, if not actually? ⟨p. 313⟩Have not I done worse to God, and may I not do so to Men? Aut sumus aut fuimus aut possumus esse quod hic est; such Reflections wonderfully meeken us. Hence St. Bernard saith, That he never saw another man sin, but he was jealous of his own Heart: Ille heri, & tu hodie, & ego cras, he did it yesterday, and thou to day, and I to morrow. St. Paul exhorts the Galatians in the Plural number to restore the lapsed in the spirit of Meekness, and adds the reason in the singular, considering thy self, Gal. 6.1. He changes the number, as the Judicious Interpreter observes, That every one in particular may descend into himself, and there find an Argument for Meekness towards others. Moreover Faith promotes this Grace by viewing the Promises made thereunto, which are as large as heart can wish: Would we have the things of the World? The meek shall inherit the earth; and to sweeten it, They shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace, Psal. 37.11. Would we have the things of God? The meek shall be beautified with salvation,