Excerpts
From a Discourse on Meekness
By
Matthew Henry; Edited by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades
Conclusion
and Closing Statement
I
know no errand that I can come upon of this kind to you, in which
methinks I should be more likely to prevail than in this; so much
does meekness conduce to the
comfort and repose of our own souls, and the making of our lives
sweet and pleasant. If
thou be wise herein, thou shalt be wise for thyself. That which I
have been so intent upon in this discourse, is only to persuade you
not to be your own tormentors, but to govern your own passions so
that they may not be furies to yourselves. The ornament I have been
recommending to you is confessedly excellent and lovely; will you put
it on and wear it, that by this all men may know you are Christ's
disciples? and you may be found among the sheep on the right hand, at
the great day, when Christ's angels shall gather out of his kingdom
every thing that offends. Every one will give meekness a good word;
but in this, as in other instances, honesty is applauded,
yet
neglected.Love
is commended by all, and yet the love of many waxeth cold; but let
all that would not be self-condemned, practise what they praise. And
as there is nothing in which I should more expect to prevail, so
there is nothing in which it will easier appear whether I have
prevailed or no: this tree will soon be known by its fruits; so many
are the circumstances of almost every day which call for the exercise
of this grace, that our profiting therein will quickly appear to
ourselves, and to all with whom we converse. Our meekness and
quietness is more obvious, and falls more directly under a trial and
observation, than our love to God and our faith in Christ, and other
graces, the exercise whereof lies more immediately between God and
our own souls. Shall we therefore set ourselves to manifest, in all
our converse, that we have indeed received good by this plain
discourse? that our relations and neighbors, and all that we have
dealings with, may observe a change in us for the better, and may
take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus. And let not the
impressions of it ever wear off, but, living and dying, let us be
found among the quiet in the land: we all wish to see quiet families,
and quiet churches, and quiet neighborhoods, and quiet nations; and
it will be so if there be quiet hearts, and not otherwise.
No comments:
Post a Comment