The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit

by Matthew Henry

While the world knows Matthew Henry best for his time-enduring Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, the cultivation of personal piety in himself and others was the great business of his practical life; and his treatises on the godly life, while little known today, are among the finest ever written. Rich in and alert to the things of the spirit, they reveal, as so impressively shown in this volume, a spiritual mind of preeminent degree in the full and deliberate worship of God. The author here pleads with us to avail ourselves of the "ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" and to apply this precious and comely grace in all our contacts in everyday living. No message could be more practical or fitting for this age, when the world, more than ever, is too much with us. This is a deep and tender, altogether winsome plea. Would you know the nature, excellence, and application of this meekness and quietness? Come then with the author to Him who said " . . . learn of me, for I am meek and lowly" And all the world will see and know that we have been with Jesus. Living and dying, let us be found among the "quiet in the land" We all wish to see quiet families, and quiet churches, and quiet neighborhoods, and quiet nations; and it will be so if there be quiet hearts; and not otherwise.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Theology, Spirituality, Christianity, Religion, Faith

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

About the author

Matthew Henry was an English non-conformist clergyman. Henry's well-known Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708–1710) is a commentary of a practical and devotional rather than of a critical kind, covering the whole of the Old Testament, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament.

Reviews

[Becky Pliego]

2023: 🔥🔥

2020: Read this with the ladies at the Puritan Authors Book Club and again, it was a blessing.

Always timely.

Absolutely a favorite of mine.

[Natalie Weber]

The title of this book immediately appealed to me. Who doesn’t want to embody a meek and quiet spirit? In case the desire is not already present, Matthew Henry spends the first half of the book painting an image of the nature and excellency of meekness and quietness of spirit. The more I read, the more eager I was to get to the application part where I was hoping the author will show me exactly how to attain these qualities in my own life. Even the style of writing itself seems to carry an aura of the meekness and quietness of spirit that is being discussed. It reminded me in some ways of John Bunyan’s much-loved “Pilgrim’s Progress” with the effortless and insightful interweaving of Scripture after Scripture to construct each point.

As one can imagine, the practical application didn’t consist of a neat “5-Step Approach to Meekness.” Instead, Henry exposed attitudes and behaviors that reveal a lack of meekness, challenging the reader to repent and seek meekness. Indeed, that is perhaps the thing that was most impressed upon my heart. Meekness is not something to be attained, but something to be sought. “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth; Seek meekness” (Zephaniah 2:3). The author comments, “Though they were meek, and were pronounced so by him that searches the heart, yet they must seek meekness.” There were many other nuggets of wisdom to be gleaned from the pages of this book and I find myself already turning back through the pages for reflection and assimilation into my own life.

[Christina]

"We all wish to see quiet families, and quiet churches, and quiet neighborhoods, and quiet nations; and it will be so if there be quiet hearts; and not otherwise."

This was a fitting closing sentence for the entire book. I underlined so much of this book and plan to study it several times over. It was great encouragement. I highly recommend it, even if you don't consider yourself as someone who struggles to maintain a calm spirit.

[Kara]

This book was one I read very slowly, a couple of pages at a time. It’s incredibly pragmatic. Henry also presents meekness as a virtue for all believers and uses multiple biblical examples. Here are a few of my commonplace quotes:

“Next to the beauty of holiness, which is the soul’s agreement with God, is the beauty of meekness, which is the soul’s agreement with itself.”

“A meek and quiet Christian must needs live very comfortably, for he enjoys himself, he enjoys his friends, he enjoys his God, and he puts it out of the reach of his enemies to disturb him in these enjoyments.”

“In dealing with gainsayers, a spirit of meekness will teach us to consider their temper, education, customs, the power of prejudice they labor under, the influence of others upon them, and to make allowances accordingly and not to call, as passionate contenders are apt to do, every false step an apostasy, every error a mistake; nay, every misconstrued misplaced word a heresy, and every misdemeanor no less than treason and rebellion. Such methods of proceeding are more likely to irritate and harden than to convince and reduce gainsayers. I have heard it observed long since than the ‘scourge of the tongue has driven many out of the temple, but never drove any into it.’”

[Brooke Chessum]

The title alone was enough to pique my interest. This is such wonderful treasure that I wanted to start again as soon as I finished it. This focused work is extremely practical and convicting. Meekness is not a topic I have heard many sermons on, but Henry makes it clear this is a priority in scripture for all believers - for we are all called to imitate Christ in his meekness and deal with others accordingly. I have so much to meditate on and have seen how deeply meekness is to infiltrate our hearts. The last section is filled with practical encouragements regarding meekness I know I will come back to often.

[Sara]

“Meekness is a grace that cleaves the stock, and holds it open, that the word, as a shoot, may be grafted in; it breaks up the fallow ground, and makes it fit to receive the seed; captivates the high thoughts, and lays the soul like white paper under God's pen.”

[David Sharp]

Jesus said "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Matthew Henry has helped me see how necessary, and impossible in my own strength, a calling it is. Puritan writing is a challenging but worthwhile read (I could spend as much time with Webster as with Henry, but I just can't stop to look up every word.) The wisdom and fruit of a meek spirit is so attractive. Yet the older I get the more distant I see myself from imaging what Christ has set forth. There are way too many eye-opening quotes to list many. But here are a few that fed my soul and gave me a desire to pray for grace to grow in meekness:
> "The surest way to find rest in our souls is to learn of him who is meek and lowly of heart."
> "True courage is such a presence of mind as enables a man rather to suffer than to sin, to choose affliction rather than iniquity, to pass by an affront though he lose by it, and be hissed at for a fool and a sneak rather than to engage in a sinful quarrel."
> "Next to the beauty of holiness, which is the soul's agreement with God, is the beauty of meekness, which is the soul's agreement with itself."
> "The soft answer, in case we have committed a fault (though perhaps not culpable to that degree that we are charged with), must be penitent, humble, and submissive, and we must be ready to acknowledge our error, and not stand in it, or insist upon our own vindication, but rather aggravate than excuse it, rather condemn than justify ourselves."
> "Meekness preserves the mind from being ruffled and discomposed, and the spirit from being unhinged by the vanities and vexations of this lower world."
> "A quiet spirit would reconcile us to the post we are in and to all the difficulties of it and would make the best of the present state though it is attended with many inconveniences."
> "In general, whether the outward condition be prosperous or adverse, whether the world smile or frown upon us, a meek and quiet spirit is neither lifted up with one, nor cast down with the other, but still in the same poise."

I have family and friends who live out such meekness. I can only hope to learn from them.

[Trish]

Although he gets a bit morbid at times - 'Converse much in your thoughts with the dark and silent grave....think I am but a worm today and may be worm's meat tomorrow...' - he has so many great things to say that you can take these things with a grain of salt....

'The three qualifications of a good surgeon are requisite in a reprover: he should have an eagle's eye, a lion's heart and a lady's hand; in short he should be endued with wisdom and courage and meekness."

"The work of heaven is not likely to be done by a tongue set on fire by hell."

"Meekness teaches us not to be too confident that we are in the right, nor to censure and condemn those that differ from us, as if we were the people and wisdom should die with us."

"A meek and quiet Christian must needs live very comfortably, for he enjoys himself, he enjoys his friends, he enjoys his God, and he puts it out of the reach of his enemies to disturb him in these enjoyments."

[Kevin]

Phenomenal book. There’s just too much I could quote. Matthew Henry does the church a favor by drilling into the redeemed that we must not be governed by inordinate passions but by meekness. Meekness is not weakness but power under control, control of the Holy Spirit, and evidence of grace within. This should be required reading in a age of rage, and all times. After all it was anger that crouched at the door of Cain. It’s long been man’s battle against the flesh.

[Kaitlyn Wright]

Lord, I pray this settles in to my mind and heart and is true of me as I grow in maturity and Christ- likeness:
-to not respond with high emotion when provoked
-to be rightly gracious with the sins of others as God is gracious toward mine
-to be even and steady emotionally
-to speak truth in humility and patience
-to have more patience with others (sanctification is a process!)
-to be constant in prayer both when I'm doing well and when I fall short

[Samantha Wright]

I found The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit to be a deeply rich and spiritually stretching read. It took me quite a while to work through, not because it was difficult in a negative sense, but because of the depth and weight of what was being said. I often found myself needing to pause, reflect, and sit with the truths presented.

I don’t feel like I grasped everything on this first read, which honestly speaks to how layered and meaningful it is. It’s the kind of book I hope to return to in the future, trusting that it will continue to teach and refine me in new ways as I grow in sanctification. It is a bit repetitive in the sense that every chapter is on meekness and quietness of spirit but that did not take away from the growth I gathered when going through it at a slower pace.

It was both convicting and encouraging, gently urging the Christian heart towards a quieter, more humble spirit rooted in Christ. The writing is filled with Scripture references which grounds every point in truth and gives it lasting weight.

Overall, this was not a light or quick read for myself, but one that was worthwhile.

[Cheyenne Brunet]

It was everything I hoped it would be.

[Lauren Rust]

This book humbled & left a mark on me like few others have. How does one summarize such a work? Read it and you will see. It is what can only be described as true gold for the Christian.

[Allyson Smith]

Excellent and much needed.

[Josh Anders]

Really thankful for this one. Henry had the right words for me at the right time. A must read for young men

[Tatum Cooley]

Very good- will need to read 100 more times

[Will Beams]

Reviewing this book as I go along so I can put my favorite quotes in here

“There is meekness toward God, and it is the easy and quiet submission of the soul to his whole will, according as he is pleased to make it known whether by his word or by his providence.” (18)

“Meekness is especially conversant about the affection of anger, not wholly to extirpate and eradicate it out of the soul (that were to quench a coal which sometimes there is occasion for, even at God's altar, and to blunt the edge even of our spiritual weapons, with which we are to carry on our spiritual warfare), but its office is to direct and govern this affection that we may “be angry and not sin.” (21-22)

“It is true of anger, as it is true of fire, that it is a “good servant,” but a “bad master”; it is good on the earth, but bad in the hangings. Now meekness keeps it in its place, sets banks to the sea, and says, “Hither-to thou shalt come, and no further; here shall thy proud waves be stayed.” (23)

“A meek man will never be angry at a child, at a servant, at a friend till he has first seriously weighed the cause in just and even balances, while a steady and impartial hand holds the scales, and a free and unprejudiced thought judges it necessary.” (23-24)

“It [meekness] will reason a disputed point without noise, give a reproof without a reproach, convincing a man of his folly without calling him a fool.” (29).

“When our hearts are hot within us it is good for us to keep silence and hold our peace; so David did (Psalm 39:3) and when he did speak it was in prayer to God and not in reply to the wicked that were before him. If the heart be angry, angry worlds will but inflame it the more, as wheels are heated by a rapid motion.” (33)

“It is better by silence to yield to our brother, who is, or has been, or may be, our friend, than by angry speaking to yield to the devil, who has been, and six and ever will be, our sworn enemy.” (35)

“The law of meekness is ‘if thine enemy hunger feed him; if he thirst propina illi, not only give him drink, which is an act of charity, but drink with him in token of friendship and true love and reconciliation;” (51)

“Meekness is commonly despised and run down by the grandess of the age as a piece of cowardice and mean-spiritedness, and the evidence of a little soul, and is posted accordingly, while the most furious and angry revenges are celebrated and applauded under the pompous names of valor, honor, greatness. This error arises from a mistaken notion of courage…True courage is such a presence of mind as enables a man rather to suffer than to sin, to choose affliction rather than iniquity, to pass by an affront though he lose by it and be hissed at for a fool and a sneak rather than engage in a sinful quarrel. He that can deny the brutal lust of anger and revenge, rather than violate the royal law of love and charity, however contrary the sentiments of the world may be, is truly resolute and courageous;” (55-56)

[Kyle]

This is one of my now favorite books. I have not read much on the virtue of meekness, however I have read a book in building a Christian and biblically masculine character that went over meekness. This was a beautifully written book, it spoke volumes and also showed me quite bluntly how far I've come, but also how far I have to go. Without going into the full "science" of male and female behaviour, this book is for everyone, but I would recommend every man who was converted in adulthood add this to their list as a must read. Before I was saved I was a bull in a china shop if you will, basically a John the Baptist, loud, combative, alone in rags eating locusts and always had to win any debate even if it landed be in jail (so to speak). Those who knew me when I was unsaved know, and also see where the Lord has sifted and refined not only my heart, but my mind, and my character. Masculine males tend to separate feelings from reasoning, that leads to combativeness and generally a cluelessness to others feelings and the gravitas of our words. We must study the nature of meekness, the evenness "Quietness of the Spirit, and strive for meekness and delight in it! This book not only shows newly converted men what meekness is, it stresses why you must pray for it, practice it, be it, teach it, be the light. I loved it and I hope it can help. Matthew Henry and his father are two of my favourite Puritan preachers and theologians also recommend is old and new testament commentary. "We must be as quiet as the sea is quiet from waves." "We must be as quiet as the land is quiet from war."

"True meekness will prevent us from opposing either the obvious parts of scripture, severely as they may task our vices, or the mysterious parts, in reading which vanity may suggest that we could have dictated what is more profitable." - Augustine

[Joshua Reitano]

This is not a book to read quickly. Each section is well deserving of some reflection and meditation. I benefited from reading this on sabbatical with extra long mornings to read slowly and journal in response. This could be a good study for groups, especially those looking to create a more peaceful culture in their homes or churches.

[Ryan Watkins]

This is an amazing and convicting book about striving for meekness by submitting to God’s word, providence, and avoiding anger when interacting with others. Very much the book I needed to read at this point in my life. Very thankful for the man who recommended it to me when visiting an RPCNA church.

[Emily K]

I was trying to understand 1 Peter 3:4, "gentle and quiet spirit" and this book helped me to do that. It is short but packed full of wisdom. I definitely recommend even if meekness isn't something you struggle with, it is a good and helpful resource.

[Brice Karickhoff]

I read most books and pay a lot of attention. I listened to this on double speed on a 2 hour bike ride. I think it rocked. Not tons of thoughts other than than I hadn’t thought much about the internal realities that lead to external meekness. I’ve often sought to be meeker by basically trying to choose fewer and kinder words. That’s good and all, but this book reminded me that a person usually overflows with meekness from having a quiet and trusting spirit.

[Meredith Beam]

my favorite non-fiction book of all time. there are so many layers of wisdom & scripture. I discover new treasures each time.

[Natalie Nimmers]

“Matthew Henry possessed the desirable disposition and power of looking on the bright side of everything…There was a loveliness in his spirit, and a gladness in his heart, which caused others to feel ‘how happy a thing it must be to be a Christian.’” - Charles Chapman

To read Matthew Henry’s exposition of meekness while also learning that his life mirrored his exhortation, was incredibly convicting. I hope to read this work many times and I cannot recommend it enough.

“Meekness is easiness for it accommodates the soul to every occurrence, and so makes a man easy to himself and to all about him.”

[Whitney Winslow]

In a world and culture that incites anger, encourages wrath, finds offense easily, requires justice come from individual human hands, and loves zealous unfiltered passion, Henry poetically persuades the reader with constant scriptural references and beautiful insights from the Bible the advantages of a meek and quiet spirit which enable us to be slow to speak, slow to find offense, quick to forgive and maintain unity, with a high trust in God to judge that which we in our own depravity are unable to.

The understanding and definition of meekness and quietness today has evolved from historic definitions Henry utilizes in his writing—I mean he is from the 1600s after all. This was a beneficial recentering on the principles of meekness with original intent.

I will reread this book and highly recommend. 110% the best read of 2024.

[Carlos Pellot]

I began reading this little book right after Ash Wednesday as my Lenten devotional reading. Just finished it today. It would have taken me much less time to finish, but it's a book you will want to read little by little because there's so much in it. I have never read anything on meekness as profound and practical as this book by Matthew Henry. It made me realize how far I am from the grace and virtue and fruit of the Spirit that is meekness, but Henry encourages the reader on its pursuit through a wealth of very practical advise. The teaching and reflective writing style of this Puritan scholar and pastor are top notch. Anyone on the path of Christian spiritual formation must read this book. It should be required reading for any student of Christianity.

[Alexis Neal]

I am so grateful for this book. Modern authors addressing this topic are necessarily affected--one way or another--by issues of feminism and gender roles. Matthew Henry interprets the admonition of I Peter 3:4 as applying to both sexes, and as a result we get the benefit of a gender-neutral 17th century perspective of meekness and quietness of spirit. I will most definitely be purchasing this book and re-reading it often.

[Carol Larson]

Wonderful book I want to reread frequently

[Stephanie Ngo]

The absolute highlight of my whole year was this book. It took me over a year to finish because there is so much goodness. Each time I came to it - it quieted my heart, brought me to my knees, comforted sore places within me, helped me grow immensely, it taught me so much. I think I highlighted almost every word of this 144 page book. Thank you Lord.

“In conclusion I wish to say that I know of no errand that I can come upon of this kind to you in which I should be more likely to prevail than in this: so much does meekness conduce to the comfort and repose of our own souls, and the making of our lives sweet and pleasant to us. "If thou be wise herein, thou shalt be wise for thyself." That which I have been so intent upon in this discourse, is only to persuade you not to be your own tormentors, but to govern your passions so that they may not be furies to yourselves.”

“Shall we therefore set ourselves to manifest, in all our converse, that we have indeed received good by this plain discourse; that our relations and neighbors, and all with whom we have dealings, may observe a change in us for the better, and may take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus?
And let not the impressions of it ever wear off, but living and dying, let us be found among the "quiet in the land."

[Saron Girma]

One of the greatest books I’ve read in a while! It’s quite old & uses some outdated english so it may be a bit challenging to read but besides that it is clear, convicting & practical. This book should ESPECIALLY be essential reading for every Christian leader!

The “excellencies of a meek & quiet spirit” are of utmost importance despite it being neglected in our culture & society. Here are a few quotes that really got me! Can’t recommend this book enough!!

——-

“Next to the beauty of holiness, which is the souls agreement with God, is the beauty of meekness, which is the souls agreement with itself”

“All meekness is meekness in all relations in reference to all injuries, all sorts of provocation, meekness in all branches and instances of it; in this piece of our obedience we must be universal (Titus 3:2)”

“Those who find themselves wronged and aggrieved think they may have permission to speak, but it is better to be silent than to speak amiss and make work for repentance. At such a time, he that holds his tongue holds his peace.”

“We enjoy God when we have the evidences and assurances of his favor, the tastes and tokens of his love, when we experience in ourselves the communication of his grace, and the continued instances of his image stamped upon us, and those that are most meek and quiet have usually the greatest degree of this.”