Sermon XIII - A Rebuke of Believers Lacking Meekness - Matthew 5:5
wrought his judgments; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." You may wonder,
"Through God's mercy, I find that I have some control over my anger. But am I meek?" If you seek the Lord, seek meekness as well.
It may be that you will be hidden on the day of the Lord's anger. It is as if the Holy Spirit is saying, "If anyone in the world is hidden, it could be you." Oh, these are the individuals who are blessings to the public in the places they reside. The prayers of the meek prevail with God, unlike the prayers of the froward. When you, who are froward, come to seek God, you cannot do so without wrath and doubt. But seek the Lord, all ye meek of the earth. Oh, the promises God has made to those who are meek on this earth. All these promises strengthen the great promise stated here: the meek shall inherit the earth.
Now, the main point discussed thus far has been an explanation to demonstrate how this promise, that the meek shall inherit the earth, is fulfilled. Now we shall turn to its application. Meekness is like salt; we need it in every aspect of our lives. The lives of men and women lack flavor in the places God has put them because of the absence of this grace of meekness.
SERMON XIII
OR A Rebuke of believers lacking meekness
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." -
MATTHEW 5:5
Now we shall move on to the Application, which I will address in two specific aspects. Firstly, the Rebuke of those who profess to be disciples of Christ, yet we cannot see the mark of the Spirit of Christ upon them, especially in regard to meekness. This is something we should lament and, if possible, extinguish the fire of their passionate spirits with tears. The ones I will direct my words to are those who claim to be willing to be Christ's disciples, to hear Christ. After all, this is Christ's sermon, and He directed it to His disciples. It is not surprising to see those who are worldly, led by earthly spirits, exhibiting frowardness, passion, and pride. However, it is a matter that deeply concerns the Spirit of God when those who are godly display such behavior. It is a direct contradiction to true grace. It is considered a special offense against passion and frowardness, and likewise for meekness. Otherwise, the Spirit of Christ would be grieved, as stated in Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." But what actions grieve the Spirit of God? What should we avoid to prevent grieving the Spirit of God? In verse 31, it is written, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you. Giving in to passion and frowardness will indeed grieve the Spirit of God. Those of you who have experienced the goodness of the Spirit of God in your hearts should be cautious of frowardness. Strive for meekness and kindness, so that the Spirit of God may delight in you, as it is very much aligned with the nature of the Spirit of God, which is gentle as a dove. I confess that I had considered discussing the futile justifications that many provide for their passion and frowardness. However, I have decided to leave that
topic for later, as I plan to address it in verse 22 of this chapter, if God grants me life and freedom to continue with the sermon. But for now, in this use of rebuke, I will focus on conveying to those who profess to be saints that frowardness and a lack of meekness are as contrary to true grace as any other corruption one can think of. They may believe that their angry and passionate natures exempt them from the other corruptions that people indulge in. However, it is important to realize that a hasty and froward spirit, a spirit not governed by the grace of meekness, is, to a large extent, as opposed to true grace as anything imaginable. In fact, the absence of meekness and the presence of passion and frowardness should raise suspicions about the existence of true grace in those individuals.
Rather than meekness, they exhibit passion and frowardness.
Consider the following points:
First, frowardness and anger are contrary to true grace. What does grace do when it enters the heart? The first thing it does is reveal to the soul its own vileness, wretchedness, and baseness due to sin, as well as the danger it faces because of sin. How contrary it is, then, for a froward and passionate heart to react against the recognition of its own vileness and baseness! Do you not realize that you are a sinful worm, utterly vile and base? Yet you cannot tolerate anything that goes against you, and your heart immediately bursts into flames at the slightest opposition. Surely, you do not know yourself.
Second, the initial lesson that Christ imparts to anyone who enters His School is that of self-denial. This is the ABC of a Christian.
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself." How contrary is a froward and passionate spirit to the grace of self-denial, which is the very foundation of a Christian's journey! The first lesson that Christ teaches His students is to deny themselves, not to be fixated on their own minds, wills, and thoughts as they used to be. However,
a froward heart is the epitome of self-centeredness. What causes passion to flare up? It is the feeling of being crossed, thwarted in our own will. Yet if self-denial were present, meekness would naturally follow.
Third, when grace enters the heart, does it not reveal to the heart its infinite need for mercy? It brings the heart to the feet of mercy, acknowledging that without divine intervention, it is eternally lost.
How does this reconcile with your sight or sense of need for mercy when you possess a froward disposition and cannot tolerate anything in others? Yet you confess that you are in desperate need of mercy yourself.
Fourth, when grace enters the heart, it brings the heart into submission to God, subjecting it to a different rule than it followed before. Subduing the heart of a sinner to God is a primary work of grace. Sinful hearts are naturally rebellious and stubborn in their relationship with God. But this is completely contrary to frowardness and passion. A froward heart desires to be above God and any rule. It cannot keep itself in check and subject to authority. Hence, froward and passionate people often use expressions like "I will" and "I don't care." Their hearts are not subdued to God's authority. On the other hand, a heart that is submissive to the Lord and His authority immediately yields to Scripture. But a froward spirit does not. How contrary frowardness is to true grace.
Fifth, as soon as grace enters, the Spirit of Jesus Christ also enters the soul, making it, to some extent, like Jesus Christ. As I mentioned in my previous sermon when discussing the excellence of meekness, the Spirit of Christ is characterized by meekness. "Learn of me; for I am meek." Thus, your frowardness, which is so opposed to the Spirit of Jesus Christ, contradicts the work of grace.
Sixth, when grace comes, it brings light and wisdom to the soul.
Naturally, we are foolish and disobedient, encompassed by darkness.
However, no disposition of the soul is in greater darkness than that of froward and passionate people. Passion heightens folly, and such souls are not guided by wisdom. Thus, frowardness is very contrary to the work of grace.
Lastly, you are aware of the promise of the Gospel that it will make spirits meek. When the Gospel comes, the wolf and the lamb lie down together, those who had wolfish spirits. The lion and the ox eat together, signifying peace, love, and tranquility where the Gospel is present. Now, anything contrary to the work of the Gospel is also contrary to the work of grace in the heart. You, who profess godliness, should be aware that there is more danger in a froward and passionate spirit than you realize. Though you may think that because you make a profession, attend sermons, spend much time in prayer, fasting, and longing for ordinances, you surely possess grace.
However, you may be mistaken. The frowardness of your hearts may be your eternal ruin. Consider the gravity of your situation. You strongly condemn those who are drunkards, and rightly so, as they are shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven. But is there not as much danger in a drunken passion as there is in drunkenness induced by alcohol? Indeed, the passion that arises from anger often leads to as many and as grave sins as drunkenness caused by beer or wine. You would find it repugnant if someone were to say that you became intoxicated once a year. But how often have you been intoxicated by passion? Such drunkenness can be as offensive to the Spirit of God as being drunk on beer or wine. Therefore, consider it a greater evil than you realize.
But let us move on to the Exhortation.
Blessed are the meek. Let us all learn to cultivate meek and gentle spirits. I recall in Numbers 6 it is said of the Nazirites that, just as they were not to drink wine, they were also not to drink vinegar. The Nazirites were a people consecrated to God, separated from others.
All the saints of God are like Nazirites. Like Christ, all who belong to Him are set apart for God's purposes. Now, here is the requirement for all Nazirites: they must not possess vinegar spirits, sour and bitter dispositions. Instead, they should have quiet and meek spirits.
This applies to all of us, especially those in subordinate positions.
They should display meekness towards their superiors, and those undergoing bodily or spiritual afflictions should exhibit meek and quiet spirits. It is unbecoming for anyone to possess a froward and passionate heart, but particularly those who are facing trials. The Lord sends afflictions to humble and meek them. If they are not meek now, when will they be? We ought to be meek towards our brethren, towards one another, and towards our neighbors. Many people are so accustomed to displaying frowardness and passion towards their servants, children, or spouses that even when dealing with God Himself, they reveal their froward and passionate nature.
My brethren, let us learn to appreciate this lovely and admirable grace of meekness. Therefore, in this section, I will present various ways or aids to help you develop a habit of meekness, to conduct yourselves meekly and gently in your respective spheres, so that you may claim the blessing of being the chosen ones of Christ and inherit the earth.
Firstly, if you desire meek spirits, learn to value the peace and sweetness of your spirits. Consider it a precious jewel of great worth, as we previously discussed how God esteemed meekness. To acquire it, you must have a genuine appreciation for the tranquility and peace that meekness brings to the soul. We can say, just as Tertullus the Orator said to Felix, "By thee we enjoy much peace." By
meekness, much peace is experienced in the heart. Therefore, Christ says, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." There is rest. So, place a high value on the rest and peace of your spirits. Consider the following: if a temptation arises that stirs your passion, should you forfeit the sweetness you have experienced in your spirits just to have your way in that matter?
Through God's mercy, I have discovered that when I overcome my passion, I experience the sweetest moments of my life. When I deny myself and practice meekness, oh, the peace in my heart is priceless.
Should I lose it for a trivial matter, for a mere trifle? Oh, the poor trifles and toys for which men and women cast aside the peace of their spirits, as if they were worthless! If a person held a golden ball in their hand and someone in the street threw dirt at them, wouldn't it be considered foolish for them to retaliate by throwing their golden ball back at the person, seeking revenge? That is precisely what you do. You possess the grace of meekness in your hearts and have experienced the peace it brings. Yet, when a temptation arises, someone does something displeasing to you and opposes your will, how do you retaliate? You throw away this golden ball, which represents the peace and meekness of your spirits. Do not lose it for something insignificant. That is the first principle.
Secondly, to help us overcome passion and cultivate meekness and tranquility, it is beneficial to make a covenant with God (in the strength of Christ), even if it is for a short period of time. You may consider making this covenant when you wake up in the morning.
Think to yourself, "Today, there may be circumstances that could stir my passion and rob me of the comfort of meekness. Well, I will covenant (enabled by God) that, from this day forward, whatever befalls me, I will maintain my composure until night. At least, I will bear it until then. And I will do so for this reason: if there is a valid reason for me to be stirred and angry, I can reserve my anger and
deal with it later. I can address it afterward, just as well as I can do it today. But for today, I am resolved to restrain my passion and my will. Even if you think a whole day is too long, commit to it until noon. Resolve that from now until noon, regardless of what happens, you will not exhibit any signs of passion. Instead, you will consider addressing the issue after noon or the next day. One would think this is not an impossible task, even for someone with a quick temper, to be resolved for one day, to endure whatever comes their way. But you may say, "This will not mortify the corruption of passion." Although it may not completely mortify it, you cannot fathom the power of restraining your passion even for a short while. Just as fire can be extinguished by suffocating it, a person who can overcome themselves for one day will experience such sweetness that they will begin to think, "Why not make the same covenant for tomorrow?"
And then, after experiencing the sweetness of that day, they will contemplate resolving the same for the following day. Oh, if you could only overcome yourself for a day, you would discover so much good that it would greatly assist you in facing another day.
Thirdly, this covenant alone will not be sufficient unless there is humility for the past. Those who only resolve to undertake a duty without humbling themselves for their previous failings are unlikely to make much progress through their resolutions. Therefore, if you want to overcome yourself and undertake what God requires of you, you must humble yourself for your past failures. Physicians use bitter substances to purge bile, and those who wish to tame wild creatures do so by keeping them in the dark. Likewise, humility for the disorders of passion is a special means of purging out passion and calming and quieting the spirits of men and women. Many of you have been overcome by froward fits, and you have recognized the inconvenience they cause. Perhaps you have thought, "This is not good," and you hope to never do it again. But unless you humble
yourself for what you have done, you will fall back into it. This rule applies to all areas of life. Those who resolve to change in a particular aspect, but do not humble themselves for their past actions, will return to their sin. We have a notable example in the people of Israel.
If you read the second and third chapters of Exodus, you will find that the people quarreled with Moses because the water was bitter.
However, they were not humbled for this. In the sixteenth chapter, they were at it again. Though God showed mercy to them then, when they encountered another difficulty, they became froward and angry once more. And when God delivered them on that occasion, you will find them quarreling again in Exodus 17:2. Therefore, every time a new situation arose, they fell back into their old patterns. Why?
Because there is no record of them humbling themselves for their past disturbances. Therefore, you who have froward dispositions, seek solitude and apply the salt tears of humility to your anger.
Observe the transformation it brings. Humility for the past is a valuable aid for the future.
Fourthly, if you desire meek and tranquil spirits, beware of the initial stages of passion. When a fire begins, we do not wait until the whole house is ablaze to extinguish it. If a small fire or even smoke is detected in any part of the house, one immediately investigates its source. Likewise, when passion begins to arise, your house, your soul, begins to catch fire. At the first sign, you should be just as committed to extinguishing it as you would be if you saw flames erupting in your house. Perhaps a small amount of water can put out the fire now, but if you wait half an hour, several buckets of water will not suffice. Therefore, treat passion as you would treat poison.
Administer a remedy immediately. Do not allow your passion to persist. Consider it a fever, and seize it at its onset. There have been dreadful outbursts of passion that originated from small beginnings and escalated into acts of great violence. I recall reading in the
history of Venice about two sons of the Duke of Florence. After a hunting trip, they argued about which of their dogs killed a hare. One claimed, "My dog caught it first," while the other asserted, "No, it was mine." Their argument persisted until one drew his sword and killed his brother. Witnessing his master's murder, the brother's servant drew his own sword and killed the remaining brother. As a result, the Duke lost two sons in one incident.
How often does it happen in your families that a small spark ignites a fire? At first, there may be just a word spoken improperly, which could have easily been overlooked. But no, that word begets another, and that word begets another, and so on, until it grows into a dreadful flame. Beware of the beginning of anger. Whenever anger starts to arise in the family or in your souls, it is time for you to take a look at yourselves. Sometimes you may have friends whose fallingouts begin merely with a change in their countenance. One person thinks, "Surely such a one does not look at me with the same pleasant countenance as before." And from there, suspicions and misinterpretations arise. Then comes distance, followed by listening to tales carried by others, believing and exaggerating them. Then hard words are spoken against one another, followed by ill treatment, leading to violent and intense conflicts and actions against one another. All this could have been prevented if care had been taken from the beginning. Proverbs 14:14 says, "The beginning of strife is like releasing water, so stop contention before it starts." Be cautious of the beginnings of sin if you want to maintain a meek and quiet disposition.
Now, a fifth rule is this: if you want to keep your spirits calm, anticipate that you will encounter things that will go against your will. This helps to prevent anger and quiet our hearts. Just as Anaxagoras said when he heard of his deceased son, "I know that I
fathered a mortal." Similarly, when you hire a servant, anticipate their weaknesses beforehand. Certainly, there will be many things done by them that will displease you. When you marry, anticipate that there will be disagreements and displeasure between you and your spouse. Likewise, when you make a friend, anticipate that they have their own flaws and weaknesses. If we anticipate that we will not have all our desires satisfied in this world, it will be a means to calm our hearts. It is no more than what I expected. A soldier going into battle finds peace when facing hardships by thinking, "This is nothing more than what I anticipated." Similarly, when sailors encounter storms at sea, it would be unseemly for them to fret and worry because they knew they were likely to face storms. So, whenever something happens that opposes you, remember that if you had wisdom beforehand, you would think that there would be various things that would go against your will. Now, God is testing me to see whether I will bear these crosses that befall me.
The sixth rule is this: consider your own frailty. Others may provoke and stir up your anger, but you should follow the rule of seeking and granting forgiveness. If you encounter certain things in others that may offend you, it may not be long before they encounter things amiss in you. This is a marvelous help in calming the spirits of those who are truly gracious. In Galatians 6, observe the Apostle's argument: "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore them gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ." Bear one another's burdens.
Consider that you may also be tempted, and therefore bear one another's burdens. The burden is likely to be mutual. I bear my brother's burden, and my brother is likely to bear my burden. I have a burden that may test his patience as much as his tests mine. So let us bear one another's burdens. It is ordinary for those with the
greatest weaknesses to bear with the weaknesses of others, lest they become like a gouty leg that requires constant attention but is useful for nothing. Many proud and haughty individuals expect others to please them, but they seek to please no one. Remember your own frailty.
If any of you say, "But I am not as burdensome to others as they are to me, so there is no equality in bearing his burden because he is likely to bear mine," I beseech you to consider the answer to that.
First, everyone tends to think that they are not as burdensome to others as others are to them. Granted, but then observe that it appears you are stronger than your brother. If the heavier end of the burden is upon your shoulder, then you should bear it quietly, for it seems God has made your shoulder more capable of carrying it. It is not more difficult for a person to bear others' offenses against them than it is for them not to be offensive to others. Therefore, bless God when you think that your brother's burden is greater than yours, for it is God's mercy that He has made your strength greater than his.
Thus, considering one another's burdens, let us strive to bear them meekly and quietly.
Furthermore, as the seventh rule to help you, strive to maintain peace with God. There is no better way to keep your heart calm than to have peace with God. When all is well between God and your soul, external storms and tempests will not shake it. What disquiets people's hearts is the corruption within, rather than the temptations without. However, the peace that comes from being at peace with God is a topic we may delve into further when we discuss the blessedness of being peacemakers. So, I will not dwell on it now.
The eighth rule is this: convince yourself that nothing done in anger cannot be done better without it. The Apostle says, "The wrath of
man does not produce the righteousness of God." For instance, if you want to reprove someone, the best way is to do it with meekness.
When restoring those who have fallen, do it with meekness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Then it follows, "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Bear one another's burdens. Consider that you may be tempted, and then bear one another's burdens. The burden is likely to be mutual. I bear my brother's burden, and my brother is likely to bear my burden. I have a burden that may test his patience as much as his tests mine.
Therefore, let us bear one another's burdens. As for correcting your children or servants, do not think that if you do it without passion, you must not do it at all. That is foolish. You can do it better without passion than with passion. Therefore, some pagans would not correct their servants merely because they were angry. If you need to give an answer to someone who has spoken amiss to you, you can convince them better if you can overcome your passion. You can reason with your brother much more effectively without your passion than with it. The truth is, those who have control over their passion have a great advantage over those they contend with. Consider this: when your heart is full of anger, it wants to act immediately. But suppress your passion, and call upon the grace of meekness. Consider that you want to act, but why can't you act as well without passion as with it?
Yes, you can do it better, and therefore, you will.
In the ninth place, when you feel your anger starting to rise, strive to redirect it towards another object. Instead of anger, exercise mourning. If someone has displeased you, whether it be your wife, child, or servant, before giving in to anger, find a solitary place and lament their sin. They have done wrong, not only against you but against God as well. If that is the case, mourn for their sin against God before displaying any anger. Then see how your passion will work after mourning for their sin. You will find this rule to be of
great use. Husbands and wives who have not lived peacefully or masters in their households should observe this. When something is done amiss, if it is not a sin against God, then it is not a significant matter to provoke your anger. But if it involves sin, then be sure to mourn for it before God. Then, display your passion. Physicians aim to stop excessive bleeding from one vein by redirecting it to another.
Likewise, we should redirect our affections. A Christian displays wisdom, strength, and skill in being able to turn their affections this way and that. They can exercise anger, love, sorrow, joy, and hope. If a person cannot redirect their affections, there is likely a disturbance.
But this is the excellence of a Christian—they have command over their affections and can turn them in various directions. It is good when dealing with children, who may be stubborn or sulky, not to confront them with rage. Instead, if you can redirect their thoughts to something else, you can bring them out of their sullen mood sooner than by opposing it. The same applies to ourselves; sometimes there is a sullen, froward disposition in our hearts. The remedy may not be to directly oppose it, but to have another object before us to redirect the current of our hearts.
Tenthly, another rule to help against anger is this: do not engage in lengthy discourse. Be cautious during moments of stubborn passion not to let words multiply. Proverbs 8:13 and Matthew 5:22, among other Scriptures, highlight the danger of excessive words during moments of anger, particularly when it leads to vile speech. Words are like wind, but they are the wind that fans the flames of anger to a blazing heat. Proverbs 7:11 describes the loudness of a harlot—a most unbecoming trait for women, even when provoked by anger. They should refrain from being loud in speech, from multiplying words.
The whorish woman is characterized by her loudness. Therefore, those who wish to conduct themselves with matronly sobriety and modesty should be cautious of using loud speech. Moreover, when it
comes to adding word upon word, it is better to be silent. Consider David's response when dealing with his froward brethren in 1 Samuel
17—he turned away from them and would no longer respond. I confess that turning away in a sulky manner is not good either.
Instead, offer a few gentle words and then turn away. Turning away without any response can be just as provoking. Thus, give a gentle answer first and then turn away, resolving not to multiply words at such times. That's another rule.
Eleventhly, if you desire to be free from anger and possess a meek and calm spirit, be cautious of involving yourself in excessive busyness that God has not called you to. The reason for this is that every task will have some aspect that goes against your desires.
Therefore, make sure you are only engaged in what God calls you to do, and there you will find God's blessing. When individuals take on more than what God has called them to, it's no wonder their fingers get burnt. It is observed that those who are excessively busy are often irritable. However, when you know that your tasks are aligned with God's calling, and you do them in obedience to God, you can expect
God's blessing to bring you peace. Otherwise, there will be many temptations involved.
Twelfthly, be cautious of excessive curiosity. In a household, if a person insists on prying into every aspect of family life, checking every room and monitoring every occurrence, there is a high chance that many things will disturb their peace. You should not take note of every minor fault in a servant or every small offense committed by your spouse or children. You must see without seeing, if you wish to maintain a meek spirit. Foolish and excessive curiosity in scrutinizing every detail of family matters, especially those that do not concern you, is unbecoming. It not only goes against one's dignity but also causes great disturbance within the family.
Thirteenthly, another helpful strategy is to consider whether the current situation is a temptation from the Devil. The Devil holds a grudge against me, and who knows what mischief the Devil is trying to cause me now. If you have enough control over your heart to think in this manner whenever you are in a fit of anger, it is an excellent approach. Recognize that this might be a temptation, and the Devil intends to lead you into sin. Augustine provides a wonderful analogy:
Just as a fowler sets his net near a hedge where birds gather and throws stones and sticks into the hedge to scare them, not with the intention of killing the birds but to drive them out of the hedge so they will fly into the net, so it is with the Devil. When the Devil intends to lure you into sin, he says, "I cannot tempt them to commit such sins unless I stir their passion. Let me provoke their anger, and then I can lead them into sin." The Devil's aim is to make you fall into sin. When the Devil stirs up anger (like a fowler throwing stones into the hedge), he cares not so much for your anger but for the evil he wants to bring upon you through your anger. Therefore, simply having the thought that this might be a temptation, and if it turns out to be a temptation to some wicked sin, what would become of me? I would rather sit still and do nothing than allow the Devil to manipulate me.
Fourteenthly, consider the example of God, Jesus Christ, and His saints. It is a powerful method to combat anger and passion—reflect on how meek the Lord is. When God had to deal with Cain, He approached him with gentleness and meekness, asking, "Where is your brother?" Even when Cain responded rudely, God continued in a meek manner, saying, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?" Similarly, when God dealt with Jonah—a froward and pettish prophet—He asked him, "Is it right for you to be angry?" when He saw Jonah in a fit of anger. This is a good example for us to follow when dealing with others who have angry spirits. We can ask,
"Is it right for you to be angry?" God did not confront Jonah forcefully but approached him gently and meekly. Consider how God deals with His poor creatures. It is no disgrace for you to deal with your servants and children in the same manner they are less injurious to you than you are to God. I could also present to you the example of Jesus Christ. I recall reading about someone who, when asked how they could overcome themselves when faced with wrongs and injuries, replied, "I meditate on the sufferings of Jesus Christ. I reflect on the injustices He endured, yet how He remained as gentle as a lamb and did not open His mouth. I continue meditating until my spirit is quieted. The meditation on the sufferings of Jesus Christ,
His wounds, and how He bore them meekly and gently is a special means." I remember Camerarius recounting how some individuals, when consumed by rage, would place a sheep or lamb before them as a means of calming themselves. Similarly, when we are in a fit of anger or a mad rage, let us place before us that meek Lamb, the Lord
Jesus, and it will help to calm us. In 1 Peter 2, the Apostle uses the example of Christ to encourage us to maintain a quiet and meek spirit. He reminds us that we are called to patiently endure the wrongs done to us because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example to follow in His footsteps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. Simply read this passage and consider the example of Jesus Christ, and it will be a special means to quiet your spirit.
And so, I should have presented the examples of the saints— Abraham, David, Stephen, Paul, and others. But I'll mention just one or two more. I recall the famous example of Calvin's attitude towards
Luther, which is particularly relevant to ministers. Despite their differences in judgment and approaches, Luther being of a hot and
fiery temperament, and Calvin being more tender, Calvin had this to say about Luther: "Even if Luther were to call me a devil, insult me in any way, I will still acknowledge Luther as the servant of Jesus
Christ, and one whom Christ uses as an instrument for much good."
Calvin exhibited a sweet and gentle spirit, considering Luther, a man instrumental for God, with such kindness. There is no better way to heap coals of fire upon the heads of those who oppose us than to demonstrate meekness and gentleness towards them.
Therefore, as a conclusion, I urge you to treasure these rules that you have heard. And let me add one more—fifteenthly, be cautious of the next temptation if you desire to exercise the grace of meekness. Even if you forget other rules, remember this one: be wary of the next temptation. Leave with the resolution that you have heard about the excellence of the grace of meekness, how Christ commends it and the wonderful promises attached to it. You have also gained insight into the evil of a froward spirit, which is contrary to meekness, and have received many rules to help you live more peacefully in your family.
Now, as you depart, be aware that a temptation may arise tonight.
This is the way of the Devil—to tempt you just when you have heard against a particular sin. And when you have been called to a specific duty, a temptation will arise to distract you from that duty. If the Devil can prevail over you after a sermon, he considers that the sermon has been wasted and will not benefit you. So now, after hearing all this about meekness, it is possible that tonight or tomorrow morning, a temptation to frowardness and anger may come your way. There's a high chance you will encounter something that provokes you. If you have the presence of mind to think, "This is the Devil's attempt to nullify the profit of those sermons I heard on meekness," and through God's grace, resolve to resist that temptation, you cannot fathom the amount of good that can come from overcoming the next temptation. However, if the very first
temptation overwhelms you and prevails against you, bidding farewell to these sermons, then my efforts on your behalf will have been in vain. I cannot guarantee that you will have the opportunity to hear sermons on this topic again, so take heed and ensure that you do not lose the impact of the word. Leave with the resolve, through God's grace, to apply these truths in the management of your heart and your family life. Let your actions bear witness to the fact that you have heard sermons on meekness. For you women who may have lived in strife with your husbands, and you husbands who may have been harsh towards your wives, may it be evident that you have encountered the blessedness of meekness. Let both husbands and wives incorporate this into their prayers, thanking God for the revelation of this scripture to them.