When Meekness is Especially Required
When Meekness is Especially Required.
WE must make profession of the hope that is in us with meekness. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that (soberly not scoffingly and in derision) asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, that is of the hope you profess, which you hope to be saved by, with meekness and fear. Observe it is very well consistent with Christian quietness to appear in defense of truth, and to avow our Christian profession when at any time we are duly called to it. That is not meekness but base cowardice, that tamely betrays and delivers up any of Christ's truths or institutions by silence, as if we were ashamed or afraid to confess our Master. But the office of meekness at such a time is to direct us in what manner to bear our testimony, not with pride and passion, but with humility and mildness. Those who would successfully confess the truth, must first learn to deny themselves; and we must give an account of our hope with a holy fear of missing it in such a critical juncture. When we give a reason for our religion, we must not boast of ourselves or our attainments, nor reflect contempt or wrath upon our persecutors but remember that the present truth, the truth that is now to be asserted, is the word that is to be suffered for patiently, according to the example of him, who with invincible meekness before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. A great abasement and diffidence of ourselves may well consist with a firm assurance of the truth, and a profound veneration for it. We must not be angry that our hope is inquired into; even such a trial of it, if we approve ourselves well in it, may be found to praise, and honor, and glory; to which our meekness will very much contribute, as it puts a luster upon, and a convincing power into the testimony we bear. We then walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, when we walk in all lowliness and meekness. We must bear reproaches with meekness. Reproach is a branch of that persecution which all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must expect; and we must submit to it, behaving ourselves quietly and with due decorum, not only when princes sit and speak against us, but even when the abjects gather themselves together against us, and when we become the song of the drunkard. Sometimes we find it easier to keep calm in a solemn and expected engagement, than in a sudden skirmish or a hasty rencounter; and therefore even against those slight attacks, it is requisite that meekness be set upon the guard. If we be slandered, and have all manner of evil said against us falsely, our rule is not to be disturbed at it, not to render railing for railing; but though we may deny the charge as Hannah did, when Eli hastily censured her as drunken,—No, my lord, I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink; yet, when that is done we must without meditating revenge, quietly commit our cause to God, who will sooner or later, clear up our innocency as the light, which is promised; Psa. xxxvii, 5, 6; and therefore fret not thyself, but wait patiently; cease from anger and forsake wrath. We do but gratify our great adversary, and do his work for him, when we suffer the peace of our minds to be broken in upon by the reproaches of the world. For me to disquiet myself, and put myself into a passion, because another abuses me, is as if I should scratch up the skin of my face to fetch off the dirt which my adversary throws upon it. When reproaches provoke our passions, which excite us to render bitterness for bitterness, we thereby lose the comfort and forfeit the honor and reward which God's promise has annexed to the reproach of Christ; and shall we suffer so many things in vain? We likewise thereby give occasion to those who had spoken evil of us falsely, to speak evil of us truly; and perhaps our religion suffers more by our impatience under the reproach, than by the reproach itself. For what have we the law, and pattern and promise of Christ, but to calm our spirits under reproach by well-doing? Truly, those can bear but little for Christ, who cannot bear a hard or unkind word for him. If we either faint or fret in such a day of adversity, it is a sign our strength is small indeed. May it not satisfy us, that by our meekness and quietness under reproaches we engage God for us, who has promised that he will with righteousness judge the poor, the poor in spirit, and will reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; He that bid us open our mouths for the dumb, will not himself be silent. And shall we not learn at last, instead of fretting and being exceeding angry, to rejoice and be exceeding glad when we suffer for righteousness' sake? May we not put such reproaches as pearls in our crown, and be assured they will pass well in the account another day, when there will be an advantageous resurrection of names as well as bodies, in the prospect of which we have reason to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for his name, that we are honored to be dishonored for him, who for our sakes endured the cross and despised the shame? It is one of the laws of meekness to despise being despised.