September 3 — On Meekness

Consider, first, that, after poverty of spirit, in the next place meekness is recommended to us, as the true road to everlasting happiness: Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. These two virtues of poverty of spirit and meekness are nearly allied to each other; they go hand in hand. Our Lord joins them both together, and expects we should learn them both from him, (Matt, xi,) when he calls upon us all, to take up his yoke upon us, and to learn of him, because he is meek and humble of heart. But what will he give us, do you think, if we learn to imitate his meekness? O, he assures us, that we shall find, in the exercise of this virtue, refreshment, rest, and peace for our souls here; and shall inherit the land of the living hereafter. Happy portion of meek souls, even the possession of the Lord of life himself, in the land of the living! Christians, who would not embrace this lovely virtue, which bakings with it a calm serenity and tranquillity of soul, even during our pilgrimage through this region of the dying, and secures to us, in our true country, the eternal repose and life of the saints I

Consider, secondly, what this meekness is, which is entitled to this beatitude. Meekness is a virtue which restrains all anger and passion, which suppresses the swelling of the heart under real or imaginary provocations or injuries; which stills the tumults of the soul on all these occasions, keeps in all heat or violence of words, and allows no thoughts to the soul of any other than that truly Christian revenge of overcoming evil with good. Such was the practice of the Lamb of God„ both in life and death, of wlmm it was written, (Isai xlii. and Matt, xii,) He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets: the bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not extinguish, Spc. He shall not be sad nor troublesome, c. And n Pet. ii. 23,) When he was reviled, he did not revile, when he suffered, he threatened not; but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly. Now, it is this meekness, this sweet, mild, gentle behaviour, this evenness of soul, joined with courtesy in words, and affability to the little and to the poor as much as to the great and to the rich, when joined with true humility of heart, makes up the proper and distinctive livery of tlie true servants and followers of Jesus Christ, which if we do not all endeavour to put on, he will not own us for his. It was this made up the amiable character of the primitive Christians. The sweet odour of these truly Christian virtues attracted thousands in those days to the faith of Jesus Christ, and will be found, at all times, more effectual, in order to the conversion of souls, than the strongest arguments, or even miracles, if not recommended by meekness and humility. O, let us embrace these lovely virtues. My son, says the Spirit of God, do thy works in meekness, and thou sheilt bis beloved above the glory of men, Ecclus. iii. 19.

Consider, thirdly, what we must do, that we may effectually learn to be meek, and may obtain a complete victory over anger and passion, and all that train of evils which are the usual attendants or consequences of anger and passion. First, we must watch; secondly, we must pray; thirdly, we mustA#. We must watch over our own hearts, that we may not be surprised by the sudden motions of anger, and hurried away before we are aware; we must forecast the occasions in which we may meet with temptations or provocations, that we may be prepared for them, and armed against them. We must, upon all occasions, pray, with ah the fervour of our souls, for the divine assistance against so dangerous an evil as passion, as being a capital enemy of charity, the queen of virtues; we must often lament our misery in this kind, at the feet of the Lamb of God, and sue for redress, by the intercession of the blessed virgin and of all the saints; we must, for this purpose, frequent the sacraments, the sources of heavenly grace. We must fight, by diligently suppressing the first motions of wrath: we must be convinced that no man upon earth, nor all the men upon earth, no, nor all the devils in bell, with all their malice, can do os half so much harm as we do ourselves by venting our passion, and seeking revenge; and therefore we must resolve Xo fight till death, with the lst arms we are able, against this wicked passion, as an enemy which is continually seeking to betray our souls to Satan.

Conclude to spare no pains, that thou mayest effectually learn of Jesus Christ to be meek and humble of heart; there is no other way to peace here, nor to heaven hereafter