Excerpts
From a Discourse on Meekness
By Matthew
Henry; Edited by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades
That
is Truly Best for us Which is Most Pleasing and Acceptable to God
What
else could it be other than a meek
and quiet spirit is so. No principle has such a commanding influence
upon the soul as that which has a regard to God, and wherein we
approve ourselves to him. It was a good hint which the woman of
Tekoah gave to David, when she was suing for a merciful sentence: "I
pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God;" nor could
any thought be more appeasing than that. Remember how gracious and
merciful and patient God is; how slow to anger, how read forgive,
and how well pleased he is to see his people like him: remember the
eye of thy God upon thee, the love of thy God towards thee, and the
glory of thy God set before thee. Remember how much it is thy concern
to be accepted of God, and to walk worthy of thy relation to him,
unto all well-pleasing; and how much meekness and quietness of spirit
contributes to this, as it is consonant to that excellent religion
which our Lord Jesus has established, and as it renders the heart a
fit habitation for the blessed Spirit: "This is good an
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour," to lead a "quiet
and peaceable life." It is a good evidence of our reconciliation
to God, if we be cordially reconciled to every trying providence,
which necessarily includes a meek behavior towards those who are any
way instrumental in it. Very excellently does St. Austin remark on
Psalm 122: Those please God who are pleased with him, and with all he
does, whether immediately by his own hand, or mediately by the agency
of provoking, injurious men. This is standing complete in all the
will of God, not only his commanding, but his disposing will, saying
without reluctance, The will of the Lord be done. He that acts from
an honest principle of respect to God, and sincerely desires to be
accepted of him, cannot but be in some measure adorned with that meek
and quiet spirit which he knows to be in the sight of God of great
price. Such as these are softening principles, and as many as walk
according to these rules, peace shall be upon them, and mercy; and no
doubt it shall be upon the Israel of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment