The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 53
CHAP. LIII.
HE was alſo according to the ſame rule, and quality of the ſame wiſdome,Gentle. Gentle, that is, of a moderate, calme, and quiet temper, meeke in ſpirit, and mild in ſpeech. This was a more ſpeciall work of God in him, and a remarkable fruit of this wiſdome and grace which the Lord had given him from above.Not by nature. For by his naturall conſtitution, and in his naturall eſtate and condition, he was of a paſſionate diſpoſition, ſomewhat froward and fierce, angry and haſty: but now having received not onelyonly pardon for ſinne, in the value of the death of Chriſt,1 Ioh. 1.7 1 Cor. 6.11. Rom. 6.17, 18, 19 But by grace. but power againſt ſinne, in the vertue of it, he found his nature healed, his paſſions ſubdued, his frowardneſſe changed into mildneſſe, his fierceneſſe into meekneſſe, and his roughneſſe into gentleneſſe. The power of grace had now abated much of the violence of his paſſions, and the ſweet influence of Gods Spirit had taken away the bitterneſſe and virulency of them; ſo that now they were of a better temper, ordered by a better rule, and directed to a better end; and were made as it were hewers of wood, and drawers of water, as Ioſhua made the Gibeonites, Ioſh. 9.23.for the uſe of the Tabernacle: That is, They became more ſerviceable unto God, and more profitable unto men.
Paul when hee was a Saul, was as cruell and fierce as a Lion,Aug. Conf. l. 8. c. 4. Aug. Conf. l. 9. c. 9. but being a converted Paul, he became as mild and meek as a lamb.
So it is recorded of Patricius Auſtins father, as alſo Calvin, that holy man of God, that he was in his naturall diſpoſitionforeign, haſty and angry,…afervidus. Beza in vit. Calv. p. 109. which yet the Spirit of God taught him ſo to moderate, that there was never any word heard from him, which might ſeeme unbeſeeming a good man. And yet of this paſſion ſo ſubdued and ſeaſoned, the Lord gave him (as he did alſo this Gentleman) ſome good uſe, when he dealt in the cauſe of God, and of Religion, and againſt refractory and obſtinate offenders, turning his naturall anger into ſpirituall zeale againſt them.
Many of the ancient Fathers were of violent and fierce ſpirits,Many of the Fathers very paſſionate Vid. August. Epiſt. 14, 15. &, Ep. 19. ſavouring much of pride and paſſion, as they were men: but being called, and converted, and become holy men of God, were great Inſtruments of Gods glory, the Lord making uſe of their naturall affections, for ſpirituall ſervices, to give them thereby, courage and boldneſſe, conſtancy and confidence to ſtand out againſt all ſuch affronts and aſſaults of impieties and hereſies, as in their times did riſe up and make head againſt them. He that ſhall read ſome of their writings, as of Hierome againſt Ruffinus, Vigilantius, Jovinian, and againſt Auſtin himſelfe; of Auſtin alſo againſt the Pelagians and Donatiſts; |of Hilary againſt Auxentius and Conſtantius; Socrat. Eccleſ. Hist. l. 6. c. 16. Sozom. Eccleſ. hiſt. l. 7, c. 24. Yet well accepted of God and good men.and of Chryſoſtomes ſharpe invectives againſt Endoxia the Empreſſe; and of Ambroſe his ſevere dealing with Theodoſius the Emperour, may eaſily ſee as much as I ſay, That as they were men ſubject to like paſſions, as this Gentleman was, and we are, (having ſome wilde fire mixed with holy fire in ſome of their beſt ſervices) ſo were they accounted, and accepted, as holy men of God, both for their perſons and imployments, notwithſtanding all their frailties and infirmities.
But to returne to this grace of Gentleneſſe in this Gentleman,Phil. 4.5. It is that which the Apoſtle Paul calsforeign, orforeign, a moderate and meeke both bearing and forbearing, when indignities and injuries, either in word or deed are offered unto us, or intended againſt us.His bearing and forbearing Thus did he make his patient minde knowne unto all men, taking nothing (that could poſſibly be well taken) in ill part, but interpreting all to the beſt, would make the beſt of the worſt,In meekneſſe like Moſes. Num. 12.1, 2, 3. and ſo abate the edge of mens frowardneſſe and fierceneſſe, with words of meekneſſe and gentleneſſe; imitating herein the meekneſſe of Moſes, againſt the bitter and inſolent ſpeeches of Aaron and Miriam, when they roſe up againſt him:Iud. 8.1, 2. And following the good example of Gideon, who, when the Ephraemites were very angry with him, and did chide him moſt ſharply, did anſwer them againe with meeke and gentle words, moſt courteouſly and wiſely; and ſo mitigated and aſſwaged the rage of their paſſions preſently.In mildneſſe like his Maſter Chriſt Iohn 18.2…, 23. But above all, remembring and expreſſing the mildneſſe and meekneſſe of his Maſter Chriſt, who being checked, and ſmitten on the face by an officer of the High Prieſt, as having anſwered him otherwiſe than was meet; never revenged the wrong, but anſwered the party in great meekneſſe of ſpirit, and mildneſſe of ſpeech; If I have ſpoken evill, heare witneſſe of the evill, but if well, why ſmiteſt thou me?
Many of a cruell and bloody diſpoſtion.O how farre ſhort are all they of this his ſweet behaviour and gentle carriage and converſation, which uſually carry with them and about them warre in their hearts, ſtrife in their tongues, ſwords in their lips, and blood in their hands,1 Ioh. 3.12. Gen. 4.23, 24. Gen 49.7. Pro. 15.1, 2 being as cruell as Cain, as proud and fierce as Lamech, as violent and raging as Simeon and Levi, as churliſh and fooliſh as Nabal, who was ſo wicked, that a man could not ſpeak unto him, 1 Sam. 25.17. A ſoft anſwer, ſaith Solomon, turneth away wrath, but grievous words ſtirre up anger. The tongue of the wiſe &c. uſeth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fooles powreth out fooliſhneſſe.