An Excerpt
From a Discourse on Meekness
By Matthew
Henry (Edited by R.P. Woitowitz Sr.)
Withdraw
your affections From This World and Every Thing in it.
The
more the world is crucified to
us, the more our corrupt passions will be
crucified in us. If we
would keep calm and quiet, we must by faith live above the stormy
region. It is certain those that have any thing to
do in the world cannot but meet with that every day from those with
whom they deal, which will cross and
provoke them; and if the affections be set upon these things, and we
be filled with a prevailing concern about them as the principal
things, those crosses must needs pierce to the quick and inflame the
soul, and that which touches us in these things, touches us in the
apple of our eye. If the appetites be indulged inordinately in things
that are pleasing to sense, the passions will to the very same degree
be roused against those that are displeasing. And therefore,
Christians, whatever you have of the world in your hands, be it more
or less, as you value the peace as well as the purity of your souls,
keep it out of your hearts; and evermore indulge your affections
towards your possessions, enjoyments, and delights in the world, with
a due consideration of the disappointment and provocation which they
will probably occasion you.
It is the excellent advice of Epictetus, whatever we take a pleasure
in, to consider its nature, and to
proportion our complacency accordingly. Those that idolize any thing
in this world will be greatly discomposed if they be crossed in it.
"The money which Michah's mother had," says Bishop Hall,
"was her god before it had the shape either of a graven or a
molten image, else the loss of it would not have set her a cursing,
as it seems it did." Those that are "greedy of gain"
trouble their own hearts as well as their own houses. They are a
burden to themselves, and a terror to all about them. "They who
will be rich," who are resolved upon it, come what will, cannot
but fall into these "foolish and hurtful lusts." And those
also who serve their own bellies, who are pleased with nothing unless
it be wound up to the height of pleasure, who are like the "tender
and delicate woman, that would not set so much as the sole of her
foot to the ground for tenderness and delicacy," lie very open
to that which is disquieting, and cannot, without a great disturbance
to themselves, bear a disappointment; and therefore Plutarch, a great
moralist, prescribes it for the preservation of our meekness, "not
to be curious in diet or clothes or attendance; for," says he,
"they who need but few things are not liable to anger if they be
disappointed of many."
Would we but learn in these things to cross ourselves, we should not
be so apt to take it unkind if another
crosses us. And therefore the method of the lessons in Christ's
school is, first to "deny ourselves," and then to "take
up our cross." We must also mortify the desire of the applause
of men, as altogether inconsistent with our true happiness. If we
have learned not to value ourselves by their good word, we shall not
much disturb ourselves for their ill word. St. Paul bore reproaches
with much meekness, because he did not build upon the opinion of man,
reckoning it "a small thing to be judged of man's judgment."
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