for the publick fervice, the good order and government of focieties, that under them the community may be safe and flourishing, and live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honefty; and not focieties erected purely to ferve the pride, and power, and grandeur of the magiftrate. The humility therefore which becomes those who are in pofts of authority, confifts in this, that they fhould not fcornfully defpife the fociety (or any member of it) which they govern; they fhould not be difficult of accefs, or take upon them unneceffary degrees of ftate and reservedness; but with a fair and condescending temper refpect the perfons, encourage and reward the fervices, and meet half way the affections of their fubjects, as those who bear the fame image and character of manhood and Christianity with themselves; and also apply themfelves with a chearful diligence to do juftice to the meaneft, as well as the greatest among them, and to answer the ends of their inftitution for the good and benefit of mankind, purfuing it with a tender and paternal care.

(2.) THE like humility is to be expreffed by the governors of the Church towards all fuch as are under their charge. St. Peter, *requiring the bishops and elders to feed the flock, puts in this caution, that they should not do it as being lords over God's heritage, but being enfamples of meeknefs, and other virtues, to them. For fays another Apoftle, We preach not our felves, but Chrift Jefus the Lord, and our felves your fervants for Fefus fake. So far, indeed, as these governors may be ftamp'd with any civil character of honour or authority, they may juftly challenge and expect the rights of it; the management of all things under their care and charge, ought to be with much con defcention and lowlinefs,

I Pet. v. 3.

† 2 Cor. iv. 5.

(3.) THE

(3.) THE third order is that of parents, whom it concerns to ufe that kind of humility towards their children, which fhews it felf in condescention and decent familiarity; confidering that their children are a part of themselves, whom, as the Apoftle takes notice, no man hates, fo alfo no man defpifes. It is not unbecoming this relation, fometimes to defire, where it may command; for love, that great precept of the law of nature, muft needs fo far fupprefs and level the fuperiority, as to make the relation fweet and pleafant. In regard to which, though it may well enough become parents to require the fubjection of their children, yet not, to use them merely as fervants. And then,

(4.) THOUGH the practice of the world has made the inferiority of servants the vileft and most contemptible, especially in thofe places where it was their custom to buy and fell them for their lives, upon which score they were esteemed no better than their goods and chattels, and thought to be fo abfolutely in their difpofal, that they might do fo or with them as they pleased; yet by the chriftian law it will appear that even fervants are a branch of thofe inferiors to whom humility and condefcen tion is to be used; and therefore, though their fervile rank obliges them to an abfolute fubjection, their masters ought to treat them, nevertheless, according to the rules of meekness and charity. As they are fellow Chriftians, admitted to the fame glorious hopes, entituled to the fame inheritance and reward; this relation of brotherhood ought fo to moderate the ftile, as to prevent all unreasonable and scornful neglects, and take away the marks of villany and contempt. This I forbid to be underftood to any evil purposes, as if the state of Christianity took away all fuperiority: no, it was not intended to alter the ftate of things fo far; but as it finds men mafters and fervants, fo it leaves

them,

them, only it has the force and power to bridle the extravagancies of men, and that excefs of dominion which was the common practice of the Gentiles.

(.) THIS humility is also to be exercised by bufbands to their wives, whom they are fo to treat, even as their own flesh. For this is a relation of that ftrict unity and endearment, that height and distance cannot but be a great wrong to it. And if hufbands love their wives, even as themfelves, with that entire and abfolute affection which becomes them, there cannot poffibly be much of fuperiority discovered; for love, I told you, was of that nature, that it equals thofe betwixt whom there might be otherwise some disparity.

(6.) ALL others, whoever they be, that are below us, though we have no authority or dominion over them, have a right to the good offices of humility and condescention from us; even those who beg at our doors, are still to be treated as men, and fellow. Chriftians; not with that contempt and pride which too many affect to fhew towards them.

I fhall only fay in general, upon this head, that we should defpife no body, for whofo mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker.

2. THE fecond inftance or expreffion of meeknefs towards inferiors, is gentleness, which is likewife to run through the feveral relations abovemention'd.

(1.) IN the prince, or magiftrates governing un der him, (who, according to St. Paul, are the minifters of God to every one for good, and therefore ought to deal with those under their jurifdiction, fo as it may appear they have no defign, but for their good, or of that of the community by them) this gentleness is to exprefs it felf, in the

*Prov, xvii. 5...

wife and charitable moderation of penalties and executions, fo far as may not too much flacken the reins of government, and teach offenders infolence by impunity; in punishing (when they are oblig'd to do it) with regret and uneafinefs, in imitation of Almighty God, whofe officers and commiffioners they are, and who has no pleasure in the death or punishment of the wicked, and does not willingly afflict the children of men; in avoiding all tyranny and oppreffion; in giving a ready ear to the complaints of the injur'd, and the requests of all who fue for juftice, compaffionating their loffes and fufferings, and being always forward to employ the power they have for their relief.

(2.) THE governors of the Church are to use a fair, gentle, and moderate behaviour to the people committed to their charge. The fervant of the Lord, fays St. Paul, (directing himself to Timothy, Bishop of Ephefus) must not ftrive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meeknefs inftructing those that oppose themfelves. And though there often is occafion for ecclefiaftical cenfures and inflictions for the reduction of finners, and preferving good order and obedience, yet in the common practice of life, there is nothing more an ornament to the fathers of the Church, than a benign and gentle ufage of the flock entrusted

with them.

(3.) THIS gentleness is alfo to be exercised to children by their parents. St. Paul is very exprefs to this purpose, Ye fathers, provoke not your chil dren to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And elsewhere, almoft in the fame words; Fathers, provoke not your children, left they be difcouraged. By the former text it appears, that there is a nurture and admonition,

or a discipline, which parents are to ufe, in reftraining them from all manner of vicious practices; but the exercise of it is not to be fo fevere and fharp, as to provoke them to impatient and difobedient anger, nor fo as to difcourage and difhearten them. For too much difcipline may have an ill ef fect, as well as too little; and all tempers are not able to bear the feverity of it. This, therefore, fhould be wifely obferved by parents, that they neither be too remifs, fo as to lose their authority, and neglect the government of their children; nor yet fo fevere and tyrannical, as if they were practising their beafts of labour.

upon

(4.) THIS gentleness is still farther to be expressed mafters towards their fervants. The Apostle requires it of them, that they should forbear threatning, as knowing that their Mafter is in heaven, and there is no refpect of perfons with God. Chriftian mafters are to be as parents to their fervants, and ought not to provoke them by paffionate chiding and fevere corrections, by evil and imperious ufage, but referving their anger and their discipline to proper times and provocations, and confining it within due bounds; they are in general to behave themfelves moderately and charitably to them, laying reasonable and favourable burdens upon them, allowing them convenient time for reft or recreation, encouraging their honeft labours, and in their whole conduct towards them, remcmbring themfelves to be the fervants of the great Lord and Governor of heaven and earth, to whom they muft give account, as of other things, so also of their behaviour towards thefe dependants.

(5.) THE hufband is obliged in the fame law of gentleness to his wife; for thus runs the command, Hufbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them; treat them not with a morofe and unkind peevishness, a furly or a boisterous carriage, but