They can see evil and suffer it
Those who are truly meek can clearly see what is evil, and they can also suffer it. They feel everything of this kind, but still meekness holds the reins. They are exceedingly zealous for the Lord of hosts, but their zeal is always guided by knowledge, and tempered, in every thought and word and work, with the love of man as well as the love of God. They do not desire to put out any of the passions which God has, for wise ends, planted in their nature. But they have the mastery of them all. They hold them all in subjection, and use them only in service of those ends. And so even the harsher and more unpleasant passions are fit for the noblest purposes. Even hate, and anger, and fear, when engaged against sin, and regulated by faith and love, are like walls and bulwarks to the soul, so that the wicked one cannot come near to hurt it.
1771 text
5. They who are truly meek, can clearly discern what is evil; and they can also suffer it. They are sensible of every thing of this kind; but still meekness holds the reins. They are exceeding zealous for the Lord of Hosts; but their zeal is always guided by knowledge, and tempered in every thought and word and work, with the love of man as well as the love of God. They do not desire to extinguish any of the passions, which God has for wise ends implanted in their nature. But they have the mastery of all; they hold them all in subjection, and employ them only in subservience to those ends. And thus even the harsher and more unpleasing passions, are applicable to the noblest purposes. Even hate and anger and fear, when engaged against sin, and regulated by faith and love, are as walls and bulwarks to the soul, so that the wicked one cannot approach to hurt it.
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.