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"To cultivate in themselves, and promote in others, quietness"

From Richard Warner's  The Sermon on the mount; in five discourses (1840) - five sermons preached "on several successive Sunday afternoons" - an example of how Warner applies the Beatitudes to the ordinary duties and relationships of his parishioners:

"Blessed are the meek" - those who control and extinguish the fierce passions, and unchristian dispositions of a fallen nature; who regulate their tempers; and bridle their tongues, from uttering irritating; abusive; censorious; unkind; false; or profane language - "for they shall inherit the earth" - for such mild and peaceable Christians, "shall see good days", even in this world of sin and sorrow: they shall find protectors and friends: enjoy tranquillity and peace: and either escape from those evils, in which the violent, and passionate, quarrelsome, malicious, and envious, are constantly involving themselves and others; or, shall at least, be supported under such evils; by the solid comfort, resulting from a patient, resigned, charitable and religious spirit: for, saith inspiration, "thou shall keep him in perfect Peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" ...

"Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God" ... Christ came into the world to be a peace-maker to reconcile our fallen race to an insulted God, and to obtain for us, his mercy, pardon, acceptance, and approbation: and, in the next place, to spread peace and good-will amongst men: and he has declared, in the Beatitude which I have just read to you, that, the most glorious title which can be conferred on man: that of being "called the Sons of God", shall not be given to the disturbers or destroyers of mankind; but, to the "Peace-makers": to those who study and endeavour to heal dissension: to "set at one" those who contend: to reconcile angry disputants: to cultivate in themselves, and to promote in others, quietness; concord; friendship; benevolence; orderly behaviour; and obedience to "the powers that are ordained of God".

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