The Family Pastor; Or, Short Sermons for Family Reading, by a Clergyman of the Church of England (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 25 SERMON III. St. Matt. v. 5. " Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." There are few subjects more calculated than that now before us to show the opposition between the maxims of the world and those of Christ. In so strong a light, indeed, does this here appear, that at first sight, we are almost ready to say that experience contradicts our Lord's assertion. The most celebrated characters in history, the great men and conquerors of the world, were certainly of a very different temper; and these are the men to whom the world bows and whom it teaches us to admire. Meekness and gentleness, on the contrary, we are disposed to look upon as mean and contemptible qualities, which will not promote our advancement in life. The opinion of the Jews at the time of the Messiah was similar; and his meekness and lowliness were the great causes of their rejecting him. We may remark, however, that although this opinion was entertained by the Jews, yet it was expressly condemned by their own scriptures, for the Old Testament not only holds the same language as the New, but even employs almost the very words. The Psalmist says, " The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." In considering the words before us, it is necessary to begin by inquiring whether we fully understand, what is the true nature of this christian temper. There is a twofold meekness, one which is displayed towards God, and the other towards man. Meekness towards Godconsists in submission to his will, without repining or murmuring at his dispensations. "It is the Lord, let him do as seemeth him good," was the language of Eli of old; and in like manner a Christian will say, " Let God mark out my path. He knoweth what is best, and he will also do wh...