Meekness and Quietness of Spirit, Chapter 3 · Section 2
SECT. II.
Some Scripture Patterns of Meekness and Quietness of Spirit.
Good Examples help very much to illustrate and enforce good Rules, bringing them closer to particular Cases, and shewing them to be practicable. Precedents are of great use in the Law. If we would be found walking in the same Spirit, and walking in the same Steps, with those that are gone before us to Glory, this is the Spirit we must be acted by, and these are the Steps we must walk in: This is the Way of good Men for wise Men to walk in. Let us go forth then by the Footsteps of the Flock, and set our selves to follow them, who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises. We are compassed about with a great Cloud of Witnesses, that will bear their Testimony to the Comfort of Meekness, and upon trial recommend it to us; but we shall single out only some few out of the Scripture.
1. Abraham was a Pattern of Meekness, and he was the Father of the Faithful. The Apostle here in the verse but one before the Text, proposeth Sarah for an Example to Women, particularly an Example of Meekness in an inferior Relation; she obeyed Abraham, and (in token of the respect due to a Husband) she called him Lord. Now Abraham is a Pattern of the same Grace in a Superior. He that was famous for Faith, was famous for Meekness; for the more we have of Faith towards God, the more we shall have of Meekness towards all Men.—How meek was Abraham, when there happened a strife betwixt his Herdsmen and Lot's, which, had it proceeded, might have been of ill Consequence, for the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the Land, but it was seasonably taken up by the Prudence of Abraham, Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife, I pray thee: Tho' he might command the Peace, yet for Love's sake he rather beseecheth. Every word hath an air of Meekness, and a tendency to keep the Peace. And when the Expedient, pitch'd upon for the prevention of Strife, was their parting from each other, tho' Let was the Iunior, yet Abraham, for Peace-sake quitted his right, and gave Lot the choice, ver. 9. and the gracious visit which God gave him thereupon, v. 14. was an abundant recompence for his mildness and condescension. Another instance of Abraham's Meekness, we have in his Carriage towards Sarah, when she quarrel'd with him so unreasonably about her Maid, angry at that which she her self had the doing of, Gen. 16. 5, 6. My wrong be upon thee;—The Lord judge between me and thee. Abraham might soon have replied, You may e'ne thank your self, it was your own Contrivance; but laying aside the present Provocation, he abides by one of the Original Rules of the Relation, Behold thy Maid is in thy Hand. He did not answer Passion with Passion, that would have put all into a flame presently; but he answered Passion with Meekness, and so all was quiet. Another instance of Abraham's Meekness, we have in the Transactions between Him and Abimelech his Neighbour, Gen. 21. 24, 25. He first enters into a Covenant of Friendship with him, which was confirm'd by an Oath, and then (not reproacheth him, but) reproveth him for a wrong that his Servants had done him about a Well of Water, which gives us this Rule of Meekness, Not to break Friendship for a small matter of difference: Such and such occasions there are, which they that are disposed to it, might quarrel about, but what is that between me and thee? If Meekness Rule, matters in Variance may be fairly reasoned and adjusted without Violation or Infringment of Friendship. This is the Example of that great Patriarch. The future Happiness of the Saints is represented as the Bosom of Abraham, Luke 16. 23. a quiet State. Those that hope to lye in the Bosom of Abraham shortly, must tread in the steps of Abraham now, whose Children we are, as long as we thus do well, and who (as Maimonides expresseth it) is the Father of all that are gathered under the Wings of the Divine Majesty.
2. Moses was a Pattern of Meekness, it was his Master Grace,Iosephus Antiq. l. 4. c. 8. gives this character of M…ses, Affectus it… semper in p…testate habuit, ut omnino illis carere videretur, et nomina tantum eorum ex his quae in aliis hominibus conspiceret, cognita habere. that in which, more than in any other, he excell'd. This Testimony the Holy Ghost gives of him, Numb. 12. 3. That the Man Moses was very meek, above all the Men which were upon the face of the Earth.
This Character of him comes in there in a Parenthesis, (probably inserted by the same inspired Pen, that wrote the last Chapter of Deuteronomy) upon occasion of an Affront he receiv'd from those of his own House; which intimates, that his quiet and patient bearing of that, was, of all other, the greatest Proof and Instance of his Meekness. Those can bear any Provocation, that can bear it from their near Relations. The Meekness of Moses, as the Patience of Iob, was try'd on all hands. Armour of Proof shall be sure to be shot at. It should seem that his Wife was none of the best humour'd Women; for what a Passion was she in, about the circumcising of her Son, when she reproach'd him as a bloody Husband, and we do not read of one word that he reply'd, but let her have her saying, Exod. 4. 25, 26. When God was angry, and Zipporah angry, it was best for him to be quiet. The Lot of his Publick Work, was cast in the Provocation, in the day of Temptation in the Wilderness, Psa. 95. 8. But, as if all the Mutinies of Murmuring Israel, were too little to try the Meekness of Moses, his own Brother and Sister (and those of no lessa Figure than Miriam the Prophetess, and Aaron the Saint of the Lord) pick a quarrel with him, speak against him, envy his Honour, reproach his Marriage, and are ready to head a Rebellion against him, Num. 12. 1, 2. God heard this, v. 2. and was angry, v. 9. But Moses, tho' he had reason enough to resent it heinously, was not at all moved by it, took no notice of it, made no complaint to God, no answer to them, and was so little interested in the matter, that we don't find one word he said, till we find him, v. 13. praying so heartily for his provoking Sister, who was then under the Tokens of God's Displeasure for the affront she gave him. The less a Man strives for himself, the more is God engaged in Honour and Faithfulness to appear for him. When Christ said, I seek not mine own Glory, he presently added, but there is one that seeketh and judgeth. And it was upon this occasion that Moses obtain'd this good Report, That he was the me…kest of all the Men on the Earth.—No Man could have given greater proofs of Courage, than Moses (saith the Learned Bishop Hall's Remark. Contemp. l. 6.) He slew the Aegyptain, beat the Midianite Shepherds, confronted Pharaoh in his own Court, not fearing the Wrath of the King; he durst look God in the Face amidst all the Terrors of Mount Sinai, and draw near to the thick Darkness where God was, and yet that Spirit which made and knew his Heart, saith, He was the Meekest, Mildest Man upon the Earth. Mildness and Fortitude may well lodge together in the same Breast, which corrects the Mistake of those that will allow none Valiant but the Fierce.
The Meekness of Moses qualified him to be a Magistrate, especially to be King in Ieshurun, among a People so very provoking, that they gave him occasion to use all the Meekness he had, and all little enough to bear their Manners in the Wilderness. When they murmured against him, quarrel'd with him, arraigned his Authority, and were sometimes ready to stone him; he resented these Provocations with very little of personal Application or Concern, but instead of using his Interest in Heaven, to summon Plagues upon them, he made it his Business to stand in the Gap, and by his Intercession for them, to turn away the Wrath of God from them, and this not once nor twice, but many times.
And yet we must observe, that tho' Moses was the meekest Man in the World, yet when God's Honour & Glory were concern'd, none more warm and zealous; witness his resentment of the golden Calf, when in a Holy Indignation at that abominable Iniquity, he deliberately broke the Tables. And when Korah and his Crew invaded the Priests Office, Moses, in a pious Wrath, said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their Offering, Numb. 16. 15. He that was a Lamb in his own Cause, was a Lion in the Cause of God; Anger at Sin, as Sin, is very well consistent with Reigning Meekness. Nor can it be forgotten, that tho' Moses was so eminent for Meekness, yet he once transgress'd the Laws of it; when he was old, and his Spirit was provok'd, he spake unadvisedly with his Lips, and it went ill with him for it, Psal. 106. 32, 33. which is written, not for Imitation, but for Admonition, not to justifie our rash Anger, but to engage us to stand upon our Guard at all times against it, that he who thinks he stands may take heed lest he fall, and that he who hath thus fallen may not wonder if he come under the Rebukes of Divine Providence for it in this World, as Moses did, and yet may not despair of being pardoned upon Repentance.
3. David was a Pattern of Meekness, and it is promised, Zach. 12. 8. That the Feeble shall be as David. In this, as in other instances, he was a Man after God's own Heart. When his own Brother was so rough upon him without Reason, 1 Sam. 17. 28. Why camest thou down hither, &c? how mild was his Answer? What have I now done? Is there not a Cause? ver. 29. When his Enemies reproached him, he was not at all disturbed at it, Psal. 38. 13. I, as a deaf Man, heard not. When Saul persecuted him with such an unwearied Malice, he did not take the advantage which Providence seem'd to offer him, more than once, to revenge and right himself, but left it to God to do it for him. David's meek Spirit concurr'd with the Proverb of the Antients, Wickedness proceedeth from the Wicked; but my Hand shall not be upon him, 1 Sam. 24. 13. When Nabal's Churlishness provok'd him, yet Abigail's Prudence soon pacified him, and it pleased him to be pacified. When Shimei cursed him,Non ergo movebatur c…nvici's David, cui abundabat bonorum operum conscientia ita que is qui citò injuria movetur facit se dignum contumelia videri. Ambr. De Offic. Lib. 1. Cap. 6. with a bitter Curse, in the day of his Calamity, he resented not the Offence, nor would hear any talk of punishing the Offender: So let him curse; let him alone, for the Lord hath bidden him, 2 Sam. 16. 10, 12. quietly committing his Cause to God, who judgeth righteously, verse 12. And other instances there are in his Story, which evidence the Truth of what he said, Psal. 131. 2. My Soul is even like a weaned Child. David fuit fortis in praelio, mansuetus in imperio, patiens in convitio, ferre magis promptu… quam referre injurias. Ambr. l. 2. c. 17.And yet David, a great Soldier, a Man of celebrated Courage, that slew a Lion, and a Bear, and a Philistine, as much a ravenous Beast as either of them, which shews that it was his Wisdom and Grace, and not his Cowardise, that at other times made him so quiet. David was a Man that met with very many disquieting and disturbing Events in the several Scenes of his Life, through which (tho' sometimes they ruffled him a little, yet) for the main he preserv'd an admirable Temper, and an evenness and composedness of Mind, which was very exemplary. When upon the surprize of a fright, he changed his Behaviour before Abimelech, and counterfeited that madness, which angry People realize; yet his Mind was so very quiet and undisturbed, that at that time he penn'd the 34th Psalm, in which not only the excellency of the Matter, and the calmness of the Expression, but the composure of it Alphabetically (in the Hebrew) speaks him to be even then in a sedate frame, and to have very much the command of his own Thoughts. As at another time, when his own Followers spake of stoning him, tho' he could not still the Tumult of his Troops, he could those of his Spirits, for then he encouraged himself in the Lord his God, 1 Sam. 30. 6. As to those Prayers against his Enemies, which we find in some of his Psalms, and which sometimes sound a little harsh, surely they did not proceed from any such irregular Passion, as did in the least clash even with the Evangelical Laws of Meekness: We ca…not imagine, that one who was so piously calm in his common Conversation, should be sinfully hot in his Devotion; Nor are they to be look'd upon as the private Expressions of his own angry Resentments, but as inspired Predictions of God's Judgments upon the Publick and Obstinate Enemies of Christ and his Kingdom, as appears by comparing Ps. 69. 22, 23. with Ro. 11. 9, 10. and Psa. 109. 8. with Act. 1. 20. Nor are they any more opposite to the Spirit of the Gospel, than the cries of the Souls under the Altar, Rev. 6. 10. or the Triumphs of Heaven and Earth in the destruction of Babylon, Rev. 19. 1, 2.
4. Saint Paul was a Pattern of Meekness. Tho' his natural Temper seems to have been warm and eager, which made him eminently Active and Zealous, yet that Temper was so rectified and sanctified, that he was no less eminently meek. He became all things to all Men, 1 Cor. 9. 19, &c. He studied to please all with whom he had to do, and to render himself easie to them, for their good to Edification. How patiently did he bear the greatest Injuries and Indignities, not only from Jews and Heathen, but from false Brethren, that were so very industrious to abuse and undermine him? How glad was he that Christ was preached, tho' out of Envy, and Ill-will by those that studied to add Affliction to his Bonds? In governing the Church, he was not led by the sudden Resolves of Passion, but always deliberated calmly concerning the use of the Rod of Discipline, when there was occasion for it, 1 Cor. 4. 21. Shall I come to you with a Rod, or in the Spirit of Meekness? That is, shall I proceed immediately to Censures, or shall I not rather continue the same gentle Usage I have hitherto treated you with, waiting still for your Reformation? wherein the Spirit of Meekness appears more open and legible, than in the use of the Rod, tho' that also is very well consistent with it.
Many other Patterns of Meekness might be instanc'd in, but the time would fail me to tell of Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, and Joshua, of Samuel also, and Job, and Jeremiah, and all the Prophets and Apostles, Martyrs and Confessors, and eminent Saints; who, by Meekness, subdued (not Kingdoms, but) their own Spirits; stopped the Mouths (not of Lions, but) of more fierce and formidable Enemies; quenched the violence (not of Fire, but) of intemperate and more ungovernable Passions; and so wrought Righteousness, obtained Promises, escaped the edge of the Sword, and out of weakness were made strong; and by all this obtained a good Report, Heb. 11. 32, 33, 34.—But after all,
5. Our Lord Iesus was the great Pattern of Meekness and Quietness of Spirit. All the rest had their Spots, the fairest Marbles had their Flaws, but here is a Copy without a blot. We must follow the rest no further than they were conformable to this great Original: Be followers of me (saith Paul, 1 Cor. 11. 1.) as I am of Christ. He fulfilled all Righteousness, and was a compleat Exemplar of all that's Holy, Just and Good, but I think in most, if not all, those places of Scripture where he is particularly and expresly propounded to us for an example, 'tis to recommend to us some or other of the Homiletical Graces of Christianity, those I mean which tend to the sweetning of our Converse one with another: And therefore the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us, that he might teach us how to dwell together in Unity. We must walk in love, as Christ loved us, Eph. 5. 2. Forgive, as Christ forgave us, Col. 3. 13. Please one another, for Christ pleased not himself, Rom. 15. 2, 3. Be Charitable to the poor, for we know the Grace of our Lord Iesus, 2 Cor. 8. 9. Wash one anothers feet, i. e. stoop to the meanest Offices of Love, for Christ did so, John 13. 14. Mat. 20. 27, 28. Doing all with lowliness of Mind, for it is the same Mind that was in Christ Iesus, Phil. 2. 3, 5. and many other the like: But above all our Lord Jesus was an Example of Meekness. Moses had this Grace as a Servant, but Christ as a Son, he was anointed with it above measure. He is therefore call'd the Lamb of God, for his Meekness, and Patience, and Inoffensiveness, and even in his Exaltation, he retains the same Character. One of the Elders told Iohn, (Rev. 5. 5.) That the Lion of the Tribe of Judah would open the Sealed Book; And I beheld (saith Iohn, v. 6.) and lo a Lamb. He that was a Lion for Strength and Courage, was a Lamb for Mildness and Gentleness: And if a Lion, yet the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah, which the dying Patriarch describes to be a Lion gone up from the Prey, and that is stooped down, and couched, not to be roused up, Gen. 49. 9. which speaks the Quietness and Repose even of this Lion. If Christ be a Lion, he is a Lion resting, the Devil is a Lion roaring, (1 Pet. 5. 8.) But the Adorations given to Christ by the Heavenly Hosts speak of him as the Lamb, Rev. 5. 8, 12, 13. Blessing and Glory—to him that sis upon the Throne; they do not say, and to the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah, but to the Lamb; tho' he hath a Name given him above every Name, yet he will be known by that Name, which speaks his Meekness, as if this were to be his Name for ever, and this his Memorial to all Generations: As he that rides upon the Heavens, by his Name Iah, is the Father of the Fatherless, and the Iudge of the Widows, The Heathen by mistake, call'd Christ Chrestus, Gracious, and the Christians Chrestiani: So Sueton. vit. Claud. c. 25. Impulsore Chresto. Lactantius takes notice of this, Instit. l. 4. c. 7. So doth Tertullian, Apol. c. 3. and thence calls the Christian Name Nomen Innocuum.Psa. 68. 4, 5. Some make his Name foreign to have anallusion to foreign, which signifies Kind, and Gentle, and Gracious. Christ rides prosperously, because of Meekness, Psal. 45. 4.
Now 'tis the character of all the Saints, that they follow the Lamb, Rev. 14. 4. as a Lamb, they follow him in his Meekness, and are therefore so oft called the Sheep of Christ. This is that part of his Copy which he expresly calls us to write after, Mat. 11. 29. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in Heart. If the Master be mild, it ill becomes the Servant to be froward. The Apostle is speaking of Christ's Meekness under his Sufferings, when he saith, That he left us an example, that we should follow his Steps, 1 Pet. 3. 21.
Let us observe particularly the Meekness of our Lord Jesus, both towards his Father, and towards his Friends, and towards his Foes, in each of which he is an Example to us.
1. He was very meek toward God, his Father, chearfully submitting to his whole Will, and standing compleat in it. In his Commanding-will, Lo I come, (saith he) I delight to do thy Will, tho' it enjoyn'd him a very hard piece of Service, yet it was his Meat and Drink, Joh. 4. 34. and he always did those things that pleased his Father, Joh. 8. 29. So likewise in his Disposing-will, h… acquiesced from first to last. When he was entring upon that sharp encounter, tho' Sense startled at it, and said Father if it be possible let the Cup pass from me, yet he soon submitted with a great deal of Meek, ness, Not as I will, but as thou wilt, Mat. 26. 39, 42. Tho' it was a very bitter Cup, yet his Father put it into his Hand, and therefore he drank it without any struggle or reluctance, when it came to the setting to, reasoning himself from that Topick into this Compliance, Iohn 18. 11. The Cup that my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? And it comes in there as a reason, why he would not have a Sword drawn in his defence.
2. He was very meek towards his Friends that lov'd and follow'd him. With what remarkable Instances of Mildness, and Gentleness, and Tenderness did he train up his Disciples; tho' from first to last, he was a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief, and where the Nature is corrupt, such are apt to be peevish and froward with those about them, yet how meek and calm his carriage was towards them all along, we may see,
(1.) In his bearing with their Weaknesses and Infirmities. After they had been long under the Inspection and Influence of such a Teacher, and had all the Advantages that Men could have for getting acquaintance with the things of God, yet how weak and defective were they in Knowledge, and Gifts, and Graces? How ignorant and forgetful were they? How slow of Heart to understand and believe? And what Blunders did they make? Dull Scholars it should seem they were, and very bad Proficients. But their Hearts being upright with him, he did not cast them off, nor turn them out of his School, but made the best of them, rectified their Mistakes, instructed them in their Duty, and the Doctrine they were to preach, by Precept upon Precept, and Line upon Line, and taught them as they were able to bear it, as one that considered their Frame, and could have Compassion on the Ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, Heb. 5. 2. As long as he was with them, so long he suffered them, Mark 9. 19. This, as it is a great Encouragement to Christian Learners, so it is a great Example to Christian Teachers.
(2.) In his forgiving and passing by their Unkindnesses and Disrespects to himself. He was not extream to mark, no not what they did amiss of this kind. When they murmured at the cost that was bestowed upon him, and call'd it wast, and had indignation at it, he did not resent it as he might have done, nor seem to observe how much what they said, reflected upon him, nor did he condemn them any other way, than by commending the Woman, Mat. 26. 8, 11. When Peter, and Iames, and Iohn, the first three of his Disciples, were with him in the Garden, and very unseasonably slept, while he was in his Agony praying, so little concern'd did they seem to be for him, and such a grievous slight did they put upon him; yet observe how meekly he spoke to them, did not give them any hard Language, but, Could ye not watch with me one hour? And when they had not a word to say for themselves, so inexcusable was their fault, he had something to say for them, and instead of accusing them, he Apologizeth for them, The Spirit indeed is willing, but the Flesh is weak, Mat. 26. 40, 41. When Peter had denied him, and had cursed and sworn he did not know him, than which (besides the falshood and perfidiousness of it) nothing could be more unkind, with what Meekness did he bear it? It is not said, the Lord turn'd and frown'd upon Peter, tho' he deserv'd to be frown'd into Hell, but the Lord turn'd and looked upon Peter, Luke 22. 61. and that Look recovered him into the way to Heaven; it was a kind Look, and not an angry one. Some days after when Christ and Peter met in Galilee, and had Dined together in token of Reconciliation, and some Discourse past between them, not a word was said of this matter; Christ did not upbraid him with his fault, nor chide him for it, nor did there appear any other Fruit of the falling out of these Lovers, but only the renewing of their Love with greater Endearments, Iohn 21. 15, 16, 17. which teacheth us to forgive and forget the Unkindnesses of those that (we are satisfied) are for the main our true Friends, and if any occasion of Difference happen, to turn it into an occasion of confirming our love to them, as the Apostle expresseth it, 2 Cor. 2. 8.
3. He was very meek towards his Enemies, that hated and persecuted him. The whole Story of his Life is fill'd with instances of invincible Meekness; while he endur'd the Contradiction of Sinners against himself, which was a constant Jarr, yet he had a perpetual Serenity and Harmony within himself, and was never in the least discomposed by it. When his Preaching and Miracles were cavill'd at and reproached, and he himself represented under the blackest Characters, not only as the Drunkard's Companion, but as the Devil's Confederate, with what a wonderful calmness did he bear it? How mildly did he answer, with Reason and Tenderness, when he could have replyed in Thunder and Lightning? How well satisfied under all such invidious Reflections with this, that Wisdom is however justified of all her Children? Mat 11. 19. When some of his Disciples would have had Fire from Heaven upon those rude People that refused him Entertainment in their Town, he was so far from complying with the Motion, that he rebuked it, Luke 9. 55. Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of. This perswasion cometh not of him that calleth you, Gal. 5. 8. The design of Christ and of his Holy Religion is to shape Men into a mild and merciful Temper, and to make them sensibly tender of the Lives and Comforts even of their worst Enemies. Christianity was intended to revive Humanity, and to make those Men, who had made themselves Beasts. But our Lord Jesus did in a more especial manner evidence his Meekness when he was in his last sufferings, that awful Scene. Tho' he was the most innocent and the most excellent Person that ever was, who by the Doctrine he had preach'd, and the Miracles he had wrought, had richly deserved all the Honours and Respects that the World could pay him, and infinitely more, and tho' the Injuries he received were ingeniously and industriously contrived to the highest degree of Affront and Provocation, yet he bore all with an undisturbed Meekness, and with that Shield quench'd all the fiery Darts, which his malicious Enemies shot at him.
His Meekness towards his Enemies appear'd,
(1.) In what he said to them, not one angry word, in the midst of all the Indignities they offer'd him. When he was reviled, he reviled not again, 1 Pet. 2. 23. When he was buffeted and spit upon, and abused, he took it all patiently; one would wonder at the gracious words which even then proceeded out of his Mouth, witness that mild reply to him that smote him, Ioh. 18. 23. If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but i… well, why smitest thou me?
(2.) In what he said to God for them; Father forgive them,—so giving an Example to his own Rule, Mat. 5. 44. Pray for them which despitefully use you. Though he was then deeply engaged in the most solemn Transaction that ever pass'd between Heaven and Earth; tho' he had so much to do with God for himself and his Friends, yet he did not forget to put up this Prayer for his Enemies. The mercy he begg'd of God for them, was the greatest Mercy, that which he was then dying to purchase and procure, the pardon of their sins; not only, Father spare them, or reprieve them, but, Father forgive them; the Excuse he pleaded for them, was the best their Crime was capable of; They know not what they do. They did it ignorantly, Acts 3. 27. 1 Cor. 2. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 17.
Now in all these things our Master hath left us an Example. What is the Practice of Religion, but the Imitation of God endeavour'd by us? And what the Principle of it, but the Image of God renewed in us. We are bid to be followers of God, as dear Children. But this sets the Copy we are to write after, at a mighty distance, for God is in Heaven, and we are upon Earth, and therefore in the Lord Iesus Christ, God incarnate, God in our Nature, the Copy is brought among us, and the transcribing of it, in some measure, appears more practicable: He that hath seen me, (saith Christ) hath seen the Father, John 14. 9. and so he that imitates Christ, imitates the Father. The Religion which our Lord Jesus came into the World to establish, being every way so well calculated for the Peace and Order of the World, and being design'd to recover the lapsed Souls of Men from their degenerate State, and to sweeten their Spirits and Temper, and so to befriend humane Society, and to make it some way conformable to the blessed Society above, he not only gave such Precepts as were wonderfully fitted to this great end, but recommended them to the World, by the loveliness and amiableness of his own Example. Are we not called Christians from Christ, whom we call Master and Lord, and shall we not endeavour to accommodate our selves to him? We profess to rejoyce in him, as our Fore-runner, and shall we not run after him? To what purpose were we listed under his Banner, but that we might follow him as our Leader? We have all of us reason to say, that Jesus Christ is very meek, or else we that have provok'd him so much and so often, had been in Hell long ago: We owe it to his Meekness to whom all Judgment is committed, that we have not e're this been carryed away with a swift Destruction, and dealt with according to the desert of our sins, which, if duly considered, one would think should tend greatly to the mollifying of us. The Apostle fetcheth an Argument from that Kindness and Love to us, which we our selves have experienced, who were Foolish and Disobedient, to perswade us to be gentle, and to shew all Meekness, Tit. 3. 2, 3, 4. and he beseecheth the Corinthians by the Meekness and Gentleness of Christ, as a thing very winning and of dear and precious account, 2 Cor. 10. 1. Let the same mind therefore be in us, not only which was, but which, as we find to our comfort, still is in Christ Iesus, Phil. 2. 5. That we may not forfeit our Interest in his Meekness, let us tread in the steps of it; and as ever we hope to be like him in Glory hereafter, let us study to be like him in Grace, in this Grace now. It is a certain Rule, by which we must all be tried shortly, That if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ, (that is, if he be not Spirited, in some measure, as Christ was spirited) he is none of his, Rom. 8. 9. And if we be not own'd as his, we are undone for ever.