Meekness and Quietness of Spirit, Chapter 3 · Section 1
SECT. I.
Some Scripture Precepts of Meekness.
If we lay the Word of God before us for our Rule, and will be rul'd by it, we shall find the command of God making Meekness and Quietness to be as much our Duty, as it is our Ornament. We are there told it as the Will of God;
1. That we must seek Meekness. This Command we have, Zeph. 2. 3. and (which is especially observable) it is directed to the Meek of the Earth: Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the Earth:—Seek Meekness. Tho' they were Meek, and were pronounced so by him that searcheth the heart, yet they must seek Meekness, which teacheth us, That those who have much of this Grace,Putomultos potuisse ad sapientiam pervenire, nisi putassent se pervenisse. Sen. de tranqu. have still need of more, and must desire and endeavour after more; Si dixisti, sufficit, periisti. He that sits down content with the Grace he hath, and is not pressing forwards towards Perfection, and striving to grow in Grace, to get the Habits of it more strengthened and confirm'd, and the Actings of it more quickned and invigorated, it is to be fear'd hath no true Grace at all; but tho' he sit never so high, and never so easie in his own opinion, yet sits down short of Heaven. Where there's Life, one way or other there will be Growth, till we come to the perfect Man. Job 17. 9. He that hath clean hands will be stronger and stronger. Paul was a Man of great attainments in Grace, and yet we find him forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth to those that are before, Phi. 3. 13, 14. Those who took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods, are yet told that they had need of Patience, Heb. 10. 34, 36. Thus the meek of the Earth (who being on the Earth, are in a state of Infirmity and Imperfection, of Trial and Temptation) have still need of Meekness, that is, they must learn to be yet more calm and compos'd, more steddy, and even, and regular in the Government of their Passions, and in the managery of their whole Conversation. They who have silenc'd all angry Words, must learn to suppress the very first Risings and Motions of angry Thoughts.
It is observable, When the meek of the Earth, are especially concern'd to seek Meekness, even then when the Decree is ready to bring forth, v. 2. when the day of the Lord's Anger hastens on, when the Times are bad, and desolating Judgments are breaking in, then we have occasion for all the Meekness we have, and all we can get, and all little enough. Meekness towards God, the Author, and towards Men, the Instruments of our Trouble: Meekness to bear the Trial, and to bear our Testimony in the Trial. There is sometimes an Hour of Temptation, Rev. 3. 10. a Critical Day, when the exercise of Meekness is the Work of the Day; Sometimes the Children of Men are more than ordinary provoking, and then the Children of God have more than ordinary need of Meekness. When God is justly angry, and Men are unjustly angry, when our Mothers Children are angry with us, and our Father angry too, there's anger enough stirring, and then, Blessed are the Meek, that are careful to keep possession of their Souls, when they can keep possession of nothing else; whose Hearts are fixed, and quiet in shaking and unquiet Times.
Now the way prescribed for the attainment of Meekness is to seek it. Ask it of God, pray for it, 'tis a fruit of the Spirit, 'tis given by the God of all Grace, and to him we must go for it. It is a Branch of that Wisdom, which he that lacketh must ask of God, and it shall be given him, Jam. 1. 5. The God we address to is call'd, The God of Patience and Consolation, Rom. 15. 5. and he is therefore the God of Consolation, because the God of Patience (for the more patient we are, the more we are comforted under our Afflictions) and as such we must eye him, when we come to him for Grace to make us likeminded, that is, meek and loving one towards another, which is the Errand the Apostle there comes upon, to the Throne of Grace. God's People are, and should be a Generation of Seekers, that covet the best Gifts, and make their Court to the best Giver; who never said to the wrestling Seed of Iacob, Seek in vain, but hath given us an assurance firm enough for us to build upon, and rich enough for us to encourage our selves with, Seek and ye shall find. What would we more? Seek Meekness, and ye shall find it.
The Promise annexed is very encouraging to the meek of the Earth, that seek Meekess; It may be you shall be hid in the day of the Lord's Anger. Tho' it be but a Promise with an [it may be,] yet it ministers abundance of Comfort: God's Probabilities, are better than the Worlds Certainties: And the meek ones of the Earth, that hope in his Mercy, and can venture their All upon an intimation of his Good-will, shall find to their comfort, that when God brings a Flood upon the World of the Ungodly, he hath an Ark for all his Noahs, his resting quiet People, in which they shall be hid, it may be from the C…lamity it self, however from the sting and malignity of it, hid (as Luther said) either in Heaven or under Heaven, either in the Possession, or under the Protection of Heaven. See Psal. 91. 1, 2.
2. We must put on Meekness. This precept we have, Col. 3. 12. Put on therefore (as the Elect of God, Holy and Beloved)—Meekness. It is one of the Members of the new Man, which, according to the Obligations we lye under from our Baptism, we must put on. Put it on as Armour, to keep Provocations from the Heart, and so to defend the Vitals. They that have try'd it will say, it is Armour of Proof; when you are putting on the whole Armour of God, do not forget this. Put it on as Attire, as your necessary Cloathing, which you cannot go without; look upon your selves as Ungirt, Undrest, Unblest without it. Put it on as a Livery-Garment, by which you may be known to be the Disciples of the Meek, and Humble, and Patient Jesus, and to belong to that Peaceable Family. Put it on as an Ornament, as a Robe, and a Diadem, by which you may be both beautified and dignified in the Eyes of others. Put it on as the Elect of God, Aliter induuntur milites, aliter sacerdotes, …rgoinduite vobis convenientia vestimenta. Aquin. in loc.Holy and Beloved, because you are so in Profession; and that you may approve yourselves so in Truth and Reality, be cloath'd with Meekness. As the Elect of God, a choice People, a chosen People, whom God hath set apart for himself, from the rest of the World; as holy, fanctified to God, sanctified by him; study these Graces, which put such a Lustre upon Holiness, and recommend it to those that are without. As beloved, beloved of God, beloved of Man, beloved of your Ministers; for Loves sake put on Meekness. What winning perswasive Rhetorick is here? enough (one would think) to smooth the roughest Soul, and to soften and sweeten the most obstinate Heart! Meekness is a Grace of the Spirits working, a Garment of his preparing, but we must put it on, i. e. must lay our Souls under the commanding Power and Influence of it. Put it on, not as a loose outer Garment, to be p…t off in hot Weather, but let it cleave to us, as the Girdle cleaves to a Man's Loyns; so put it on, as to reckon our selves naked, to our shame, without it.
3. We must follow after Meekness.—This Precept we have, 1 Tim. 6. 11. Meekness is there put in opposition to those foolish and hurts… Lusts, which Timothy must flee from. Thou, O Man of God, flee these things, and follow after Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Patience, Meekness: See what good Company it is rank'd with. Every Christian is in a sense a Man of God, (tho' Timothy is call'd so as a Minister) and those that belong to God are concern'd to be and do so, as to recommend themselves to him, and his Religion to the World, therefore let the Men of God follow after Meekness. The Occasions and Provocations of Anger often set our Meekness at a distance from us, and we have it to seek then when we have most need of it; But we must follow after it, and not be taken off from the pursuit, by any Diversion whatsoever. While others are Ingenious and Industrious enough in following after Malice and Revenge, projecting and prosecuting angry Designs, be you as wise and diligent to preserve the Peace, both within doors and without.—Following Meekness, bespeaks a sincere Desire, and a serious Endeavour to get the Mastery of our Passion, and to check, and govern, and moderate all the Motions of it. Tho' we cannot fully attain this Mastery, yet we must follow after it and aim at it. Follow Meekness, that is, as much as in you lies live peaceably with all Men, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit; we can but make one side of the Bargain, if others will quarrel, yet let us be peaceable; if others will strike the Fire, that's their fault, let not us be as Tinder to it.
4. We must shew all Meekness unto all Men. This is one of the Subjects which Paul directs a young Minister to preach upon, Tit. 3. 2. Put them in mind to shew all Meekness.—It is that which we have need to be often minded of. Meekness is there opposed to Brawling and Clamour, which is the Fruit and Product of our own Anger, and the Cause and Provocation of the Anger of others. Observe, it is all Meekness, that is here recommended to us foreign—all kinds of Meekness, bearing Meekness, and forbearing Meekness, qualifying Meekness, condescending Meekness, forgiving Meekness; the Meekness that endears our Friends, and that which reconcil…s our Enemies; the Meekness of Authority over Inferiors; the Meekness of Obedience to Superiors, and the Meekness of Wisdom towards all. All Meekness is Meekness in all Relations, in reference to all Injuries, all sorts of Provocation, Meekness in all the Branches and Instances of it: In this piece of our Obedience, we must be Universal. Observe further, we must not only have Meekness, all Meekness, but we must shew it, by drawing out this Grace into Exercise, as there is occasion: In our Words, in our Looks, in our Actions, in every thing that falls under the Observation of Men, we must manifest that we have indeed a regard to the Law of Meekness, and that we make Conscience what we say and do, when we are provok'd. We must not only have the Law of Love written in our Hearts, but in our Tongues too, we must have the Law of Kindness, Pro. 31. 26. And thus the Tree is known by its Fruits. This Light must shine, that others may see the good Works of it, and hear the good Words of it too, not to glorifie us, but to glorifie our Father, Mat. 15. 16. we should study to appear in all our Converse, so mild, and gentle, and peaceable, that all that see us may witness for us, that we are of the Meek of the Earth. We must not only be moderate, but let our Moderation be known, Phil. 4. 5. He that is in this respect a wise Man, let him shew it in the Meekness of Wisdom, Iam. 3. 13. What are good Cloaths worth, if they be not worn? Why hath the Servant a fine Livery given him, but to shew it for the honour of his Master, and of the Family he belongs to? How can we say we are meek, if we do not shew it? The shewing of our Meekness will beautifie our P…ofession, and will adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour, and may have a very good influence upon others, who cannot but be in Love with such an excellent Grace, when thus, like the Ointment of the right Hand, it betrayeth it self, and the House is filled with the Odor of it. Again, This Meekness must be thus shew'd unto all Men, Foes as well as Friends, those without, as those within, all that we have any thing to do with. We must shew our Meekness not only to those above us, that we stand in awe of, but to those below us, that we have an Authority over. The Poor indeed useth Intreaties, but whatever is the Practice, it is not the Priviledge of the rich to answer roughly, Prov. 18. 23. We must shew our Meekness not only to the Good and Gentle, but also to the Froward, for this is thank-worthy, 1 Pet. 2. 18, 19. Our Meekness must be as extensive as our Love, so exceeding broad is this Commandment, All Meekness to all Men. We must shew this Meekness most, to those with whom we do most converse. There are some, that when they are in Company with Strangers, appear very mild and good humored, their Behaviour is plausible enough, and complaisant, but in their Families they are peevish, and froward, and ill-natured, and those about them scarce know how to speak to them;Habet ubi se etiam in privato lare explicet magnus Animus. Sen. This shews that the fear of Man gives greater check to their Passions, than the fear of God. Our Rule is to be meek towards all, even to the Brute Creatures, over whom we are Lords, but must no… be Tyrants; A good Man is merciful to his Beast.
Observe the Reason which the Apostle there gives, why we should shew all Meekness towards all Men, for we our selves also were sometime foolish, verse 3. Time was when perhaps we were as bad as the worst of those we are now angry at,Haec & nos risimus aliquando, Fiunt, non nascuntur Christiani. Tertul. and if now it be better with us, we are purely beholden to the free Grace of God in Christ, that made the difference: And shall we be harsh to our Brethren, who have found God so kind to us? Hath God forgiven us that great Debt, and pass'd by so many wilful Provocations, and shall we be extream to mark what is done amiss against us, and make the worst of every slip and oversight? The great Gospel Argument for mutual forbearance and forgiveness is, that God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us, Col. 3. 13.
It may be of use also for the qualifying of our Anger at our Inferiors, to remember not only our former sinfulness against God in our Unconverted State, but our former Infirmities in the Age and State of Inferiors; were not we our selves sometimes foolish? Our Children are careless, and playful, and froward, and scarce governable, and were not we our selves so when we were of their Age? And if we have now put away childish Things, yet they have not.—, Children may be brought up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, without being provoked to wrath.
5. We must study to be quiet, 1 Thes. 4. 11. that is, study not to disturb others, nor to be your selves disturbed by others; those are quiet that are not apt either to give or take offence, foreign, be ambitious of this, as the greatest Honour, to be quiet: So the word signifies. The most of Men are ambitious of the Honour of great Business, and Power, and Preferment; they Covet it, they Court it, they compass Sea and Land to obtain it; but the ambition of a Christian should be carryed out towards Quietness, we should reckon that the happiest Post, and desire it accordingly, which lies most out of the Road of Provocation. I cannot avoid mentioning, for the illustration of this, that most excellent Poem of my Lord Hale, (the Sense of which is borrowed from a Heathen.)
Let him that will ascend the toterring Seat
Of Courtly Grandeur, and become as Great,
As are his mounting Wishes, as for me
Let sweet Repose and Rest my Portion be.
—Let my Age,
Slide gently by, not over…hwart the Stage
Of Publick Action, unheard, unseen,
And unconcern'd as if I ne're had been.
This is studying to be quiet. Subdue and keep under all those disorderly Passions, which tend to the muddying and clouding of the Soul. Compose your selves to this holy Rest; put your selves in a posture to invite this blessed Sleep, which God gives to his beloved. Take pains as Students in Arts and Sciences do, to understand the Mystery of this Grace. I call it a Mystery, because St. Paul, who was so well versed in the deep things of God, speaks of this as a Mystery, Phil. 4. 12. foreign, I am instructed as in a Mystery, both to be …ull and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need, that is, in one word, to be quiet:—To study the Art of Quietness, is to take pains with our selves, to work upon our own Hearts, the Principles, Rules and Laws of Meekness; and to furnish our selves with such Considerations as tend to the quieting of the Spirit, in the midst of the greatest Provocations. Others are studying to disquiet us, the more need we have to study how to quiet our selves, by a careful watching against all that which is ruffling and discomposing. Christians should above all Studies, study to be quiet, and labour to be acted by an even Spirit, under all the unevennesses of Providence, and remember that one good Word, which Sir William Temple tells us the then Prince of Orange (now K. William) said he learnt from the Master of his Ship, who in a Storm was calling to the Steersman with this Word, Steddy, Steddy; Let but the hand be steddy, and the heart quiet, and then, though our Passage be rough, we may make a shift to weather the Point, and get safe to the Harbour.