Canr'.3.2. 584 haueGod to deale in iu(lice withme , and (ha11I (lard altogether vpon iu(liceand lawe with another ? And thoualto that takefl thy brother by the throat, and catle(l him into prifon, and there detainefl him for fome debt,vnco whichheis altogether infuf icient; here is lawealfo, and iu_ (lice: and I thinke it mcete that fuch fhould be punifhed , whether for their ouerfijht, or yet much more for their craftie orvniull dealing:but yet mercieandequinemull at length take place, where there is extream infvfficiencie efpecially. Confider how infufficiene thou wert if the Lord (hould exaelall thy debt ; how hecontenceth hiinfelfe to corre& thee with the roddes of men, in mercie, and not with fcorpions, nor in wrath, abone that thou art able tobeare: he might by his covenant re- quire totall obedience ofhis whole law, but feeling thy Rate to be bro- ken,he is contented to take as thou art abïe,euen adebt of ten thonfand pound, as it were by a penny ayeere; goe thou now anddo the like, be merciful! euen as thine heavenly father is merciful!. EHe[hewing 411 meekenefJ' to allmen,] Yn this precept three things naafi be confidered. i. The vertue pre- fcribed,meekeneffe. 2. The manner how it mull be exercifed, it mutt be [hewedopenly. 3. The perlons to whom, to admen. The nature of this grace will appeare in thedefcription of it. A1eek- neffe is a grace of God , whereby the heart and affedlions are enclined, voto amild and louing, akind and curteous cariage towards our neigh- Del-captionof bour euen then when they miglit be provoked to anger. Where three mreknes ot. pim. things are laid do-woe to be further opened, to thebetter knowledge of I this verrue. i. That it is agraceof God, for the next verlewill reach vs, that we are borne as rough as Elan in our corrupted nature:and therfore this (lripperh and goeth beyond the bell nature, bceing a fruit ofthefi- Ghsa3 & 62 ,rit, ano is called thefpirit ofmeekeneffe, becauíe it is fuch a peculiar work of the fpirit; andproceedeth not of the flefh. a. The worke of it is pro- perly to prelerue Chriflian affeo`lion, in moderating all rerseagfbll paffions, not fuffering the heart tobe eafilyouercome with bitterncflé , but is as awall or fence ofthe foule,receiuing all the lhot of iniutiousand hollile ad6ions and fpeaches,and yet keeping all fafe within,not permitting the poffeffor haftily or violently either tooffer to another,or remooue from himfelfe loch injuries. -The mother of is is humilitie, thz daughter is loner (offering, and thereforewe read it fec between chele two indiaerfe 4h.4.2, places : The next attendants or handmaids of it, are inwardly a quiet & co!,;.,z, peaceable fpirit, for there bath the Apoll le combined as infepatable , i. Pet. 3. o. otetwardy, i. fort anfwers, fuch as that of Abigail which broke the wrathof David. z, compafflon or aH9i6tion of fpirit in fight and fence of the afiliiled. 3. readineffe to forgjue offences..:. I fay L1Corannentarde pon nthe it
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