'If Christ be a lion, he is a
lion resting—the devil is a lion roaring. But the
adorations given to Christ by the heavenly hosts
speak of him as the Lamb. " Blessing and glory to
;iim that sits upon the throne ;" they do not say, and
to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but to " the Lamb."
Though he has a name given him above every name,
yet he will be known by that name which denotes
his meekness, as if this were to be his name for ever,
and this his memorial to all generations. As he
that rides upon the heavens, by his name Jah, is the
Father of the fatherless and the Judge of the widows
; so Christ rides " prosperously, because of
meekness."'
'Meekness suffers the word of admonition, and takes
it patiently and thankfully, not only from the hand
of God that sends it, but from the hand of our friend
that brings it. We must not be like the reprobat -
Sodomites, or that pert Hebrew, Exod. 2:14, that
flew in the face of their reprovers (though really
they were the best friends they had) with •* Who
WHEN SPECIALLY REQUIRED. 123
made thee a judge?'' but like David, who, when
Abigail so prudently scotched the wheels of his passion,
not onl)'- blest God that sent her, and blest her
advice, but blest her: not only hearkened to her
Toice, but accepted her person. Though, perhaps,
the reprover supposes the fault greater than really
it was, and though the reproof be not given with all
the prudence in the world ; yet meekness will teach
us to accept it quietly, and to make the best use we
can of it. Nay, if indeed we be altogether innocent
of that for which we are reproved, yet the meekness
of wisdom would teach us to apply the reproof to
some other fault of which our own consciences convict
us : we would not quarrel with a real intended
kindness, though not done with ceremon)% and
though in some circumstances mistaken or misplaced.'
'It is one of the laws of meekness, to despise being despised.'
(Henry on meekness and quietness of spirit)
