“Meditate upon these arguments and allow them to have effect upon your heart in order that from henceforth you would endeavor to attain a meek disposition of heart.
Be assured that you are neither born with it, will not receive it by wishing for it, nor will readily acquire it. Effort is required for it. Therefore, engage yourself in this duty.
(1) To that end you must continually take notice of those occasions when you lose your meek disposition; that is, when impatience and anger arise in you, and manifest themselves unto others. Reflect upon this for some time until it grieves you and you see your foolishness, sinfulness, and offensive behavior, and make renewed resolutions to correct this.
(2) Flee the company of impatient and angry people, for this is as infectious as the plague. “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul” (Prov. 22:24–25).
When you observe such and their behavior, take note of their foolishness so that you may develop an aversion for it, and, by way of a vivid example, may learn that “anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Eccl. 7:9).
(3) Seek the company of the meek and carefully observe their conduct. Observe in them how desirable meekness is. “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Prov. 16:19).
(4) Always hold before you the example of the meek Jesus. To that end read the gospels frequently, continually taking note of the manner in which the Lord Jesus manifested His meekness. Impress this upon your heart in such a manner, so that, so to speak, the very nature of it is transferred unto you.
And if something occurs which is unsettling, allow your thoughts to turn to the gospels to ascertain whether or not the Lord Jesus has been in such a situation and how He conducted Himself under those circumstances, or how He would have conducted Himself in such a situation— and then follow His example.
(5) When you (either within or outside of your home) come into the company of people, arm yourself with meekness, conducting yourself as if you are entering into battle. Make the express resolution that you will be meek and ask the Lord for strength for the moment.
If the occasion arises, see to it that the enemy gain not the advantage, and when you are again alone, reflect upon how you have fared. If all went well, thank the Lord and keep this peaceful disposition of heart in remembrance, in order that you may thus be stirred up to conduct yourself again in this manner.
If you fell into sin, grieve over this; however, do not become discouraged, for one cannot learn to practice this glorious virtue that quickly. Instead, take new courage so that you may fare that much better in the future.”
–Wilhelmus à Brakel, The Christian’s Reasonable Service, ed. Joel R. Beeke, trans. Bartel Elshout, vol. 4: Ethics and Eschatology (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 1995), 4: 89-90.
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