A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit - Tapa blanda

“Disorderly passions," says Mr. Henry in his interesting Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit, " are like stormy winds in the soul; they toss and hurry it, and often strand or overset it. They move it, ' as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind;' it is the Prophet's comparison, and is an apt emblem of a man in passion. Now Meekness restrains these winds, says to them, Peace, Be Still, and so preserves a calm in the soul and makes it conformable to Him, who has the winds in his hand, and is herein to be praised, that even the stormy winds fulfill his word." -Thomas Cogswell Upham, “The Life of Faith”

“We must be of a MEEK spirit. Meekness is easiness of spirit: not a sinful easiness to be debauched. The Latins call a meek man mansuetus, which refers to the taming and reclaiming of creatures wild by nature, and bringing them to be tractable and familiar. Meekness may be considered with respect both to God and to our brethren; it belongs to both the tables of the law, and attends upon the first great commandment, You shall love the Lord your God; as well as the second, which is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself; though its special reference is to the latter. It is the silent submission of the soul to the word of God: the understanding bowed to every divine truth, and the will to every divine precept; and both without murmuring or arguing. The word is then an "engrafted word," when it is received with meekness, that is, with a sincere willingness to be taught, and desire to learn. Meekness is a grace that cuts the stock, and holds it open, that the word, as a shoot, may be grafted in; it breaks up the fallow ground, and makes it fit to receive the seed; captivates the high thoughts, and lays the soul like white paper under God's pen.” -Matthew Henry