Who are the meek
But who are the meek? Not those who grieve at nothing because they know nothing, who are not disturbed by the evils that occur because they cannot tell evil from good. Not those who are sheltered from the shocks of life by a stupid insensibility, who have, either by nature or by art, the virtue of stocks and stones, and resent nothing because they feel nothing. Brute philosophers have nothing to do with this. Apathy is as far from meekness as it is from humanity. So one would not easily conceive how any Christians of the purer ages, especially any of the fathers of the church, could confuse these, and mistake one of the foulest errors of heathenism for a branch of true Christianity.
Nor does Christian meekness mean being without zeal for God, any more than it means ignorance or insensibility. No. It keeps clear of every extreme, whether too much or too little. It does not destroy the affections. It balances them. The God of nature never meant that grace should root them out, but only that they should be brought and kept under due regulation. It sets the mind right. It holds an even scale with regard to anger, and sorrow, and fear, keeping the mean in every circumstance of life, and not leaning either to the right hand or to the left.
1771 text
2. But who are the meek? Not those who grieve at nothing, because they know nothing; who are not discomposed at the evils that occur, because they discern not evil from good. Not those who are sheltered from the shocks of life, by a stupid insensibility; who have either by nature or art, the virtue of stocks and stones, and resent nothing, because they feel nothing. Brute philosophers are wholly unconcerned in this matter. Apathy is as far from meekness as from humanity. So that one would not easily conceive, how any Christians of the purer ages, especially any of the fathers of the church, could confound these, and mistake one of the foulest errors of Heathenism, for a branch of true Christianity.
3. Nor does Christian meekness imply, the being without zeal for God, any more than it does ignorance or insensibility. No; it keeps clear of every extreme, whether in excess or defect. It does not destroy but balance the affections, which the God of nature never designed should be rooted out by grace, but only brought and kept under due regulations. It poises the mind aright. It holds an even scale, with regard to anger and sorrow and fear: preserving the mean in every circumstance of life, and not declining either to the right-hand or the left.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 22 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:5-7.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.