Meekness and Quietness of Spirit, Title page – Errata 1
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, Minister of the Gospel.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chappel, 1699.
TO THE READER.
I Do not think it at all needful to tell the World, what it was which led me to the Writing of this Discourse concerning Meekness, the substance of which was preached several years ago; Nor am I concern'd to Apologize for the Publication of it; If I thought it needed an Apology, I would not consent to it. That Temper of Mind which it endeavours to promote, and to charm Men into, every one will own to be highly conducive to the Comfort of Humane Life, the Honour of our Holy Religion, and the Welfare and Happiness of all Societies, Civil and Sacred: And therefore, while the Design cannot be dislik'd, I hope what is weak and defective in the Management will be excus'd. Some useful Discourses have been of late published against Rash Anger, and an excellent Disswasive from Revenge by the present Bishop of Chester, wherein those brutish Vices are justly expos'd to our Loathing; It is the same Design I am driving, while I recommend the contrary Virtues to the Love and Practice of all that profess Relation to the Holy Jesus: And if this Es…ay have that good Effect upon those into whose Hands it shall at any time fall, I have my End.
As to the Sermon annexed, it is published (with some Enlargements) at the Request of a very …orthy …riend who heard it preach'd i… London, last Summer: And since, blessed be God, there are a great many Testimonies born at this day, against the avowed Infidelity, and Impiety of the Age, I hope this may be accepted as a Mite cast into that Treasury by a Cordial Friend to …cace and Holiness,
Chester. Nov. 21. 1698. M. HENRY.
To the READER.
IT was with real difficulty, through the not easily vincible Aversion of the Reverend Author, that these two Discourses are now at length brought together▪ into publick view. Nor, were that more distinctly known, would they be the less acceptable to the more Iudicious part of the World.
Through the Humility and Self-depressing thoughts that are wont to accompany true Worth, the best Men are not always the most equal Iudges of their own Performances.
The Reason which Socrates is reported to have given, why he made nothing publick, *Apud Stob., that the Paper was dearer, and of more value than what he had to write, we can easily apprehend satisfy'd no body but himself.
Indeed, if many, that more truly might, had made that judgment, more Mercy had been us'd towards that perishable Commodity without Injustice, or Infelicity to the World.
But in reference to what hath true value in it, and so real usefulness unto common Good, as appears in this little Volume; a s…rt of extortion was not unduly us'd, to draw it forth, and wrest it out of the hands that Penn'd it, in the first intention, for a few, that it might serve a further end; and, as it was equally capable, do good to many.
It hath, indeed, been so ancient, and so common a wont, to let things that tend, tho' never so directly, to the bettering of Mens Minds, stand to be gaz'd at in Books, or obtain at the most (as hath long ago been noted) somewhat of cold praise, without any thought of ever being possest of the things themselves, that Men easily agree, because it is a fashion, to pardon to one another this absurd neglect, seldom knowing shame for it, or taking notice of the incongruity, that it should be thus in reference to things of this most excellent kind; when in things that apparently serve to bodily, or secular advantage, there is so observable a difference!
Otherwise, for the former of these Discourses concerning Christian Meekness, were it a Common Design to have Minds habited and cloath'd, according to it, what a blessed calm would it introduce into our World! How serene and peaceful a Region would it make every Man's Soul to himself, and to all about him! It would then be truly said of the Christian Church, This is the House of God, this is the Gate of Heaven.
How near an Alliance this Complexion of Soul hath with the Heavenly Regions, the Ingenious Moralist*Sen. de irâ aptly represents, taking notice, That the upper and better order'd part of the World, next the Stars, is driven together into no …loud, hurried into no Tempest, never tost about in any Whirlwind, is ever free from any thing of Tumult, only the inferior Regions throw about Thunders and Lightnings. So is the sublime Mind always quiet, placed in a station of undisturb…d Tranquility, sober, venerable, and compos'd, &c.
And nothing is more plain, than that the higher and greater things our Minds are exercis'd and taken up with, the more sedate they are, and less liable to unbeseeming Commotion; And hereto the scope and design of the annexed Discourse most aptly agrees.
Christianity is too high and too great a thing to be a SECT; of too near affinity to Heaven, the common term of all our pursuits and hopes. That Holy Religion, by its direct and steady tendency thitherward, abstracts our Minds from low and little Arts and Aims. All Parties terminate in the Earth, there can be no room for them above; the will be buried in the dust. Christian Religion is debased and abused, when it is made subservient to so mean purposes. It is treated Ignominiously, when Men so represent it, or concern themselves about the Affairs of it, as if it were a Sect: Or, as if to be a Christian, and to be a Sectary, were terms of the same signif…cation; or its Cause were accordingly to be managed, wrathfully, and with fury, with calumny and slander, of such as in every arbitrary mode of Speech and Practice agree not with us. So the little Interests are w…nt to be served, and contended for, that belong only to this present World, and will end with it.
Too many, God knows, treat the Noble Cause of Religion at this rate, at least what they pretend to be it. Religion it self, indeed, disdains to be so served; nor, where Minds are once deeply … with the spirit of it, can admit or endare …: B…t it is dishonoured beyond all that can be expres'd, by having any thing of this kind made so m…ch as seem to belong to it.
I shall not offer at describing them who do it this wrong, it being so fully done by the worthy Auth…rs own words, p. 8. of this Sermon.
May the Blessing of Heaven succeed all such great, worthy, pacifick Designs, as are here pursu'd! Amen.
IOHN HOWE.
ERRATA.
PAge 1. line ult. for, no such possibility is suppos'd, read, it is suppos'd …. p. 16. l. 18, 19. for in a stri…t, r. constant. p. 20. l. …7. r. foreign p. 21. l. 15. r. the Rebels. p. 26. Marg. r. T…rtu…. de Patientia. p, 54. l. 34. for Wrath, r. Wealth. p. 59. l. 5. r. thy self. p. 73. l. 9. dele you. p. 74. l. 2. for new, r. most. p. 75. l. 15. for unwel. come, r. …. p. 79. l. 17 d…e you. p. 81. l. 27. r. are very un…it. p. 101. l, 11 12. r. 'tis the learned Bishop Hall's Remark. p. 107. l. 28. r. all…sion. p. 127. Marg. for p. … ▪ r. Dict. Pub. Mini. p. 118. l. 20. r. lay. p. 121. l. 1…. r. give. p. 141. …arg r. … p. 145. l. 30. r. at any time p. 148. l. 9, 10. for Unrighteou…n…ss, r. Uprightness. p. 151. l. 20. r. Farie…. p 152. l. 15. d…e Courage, and. Besides many literal mistakes, as p. 32. l. 2. haply for happily. p. 35. l. 10. place for places. p. 44. l. 1…. hungry for h…ng… p. 106. …. 18. r. …. And in the Latin, as p. 51. …arg. r. desideras. p. 54. Marg. r. quaesiveris. p. 77. l. 9. r. Evan…lium. &c And in the Greek, as, p. 79. l. 20. r. foreign. p. 131. Marg. r. foreign And several others.