Meekness
Humility and lowliness of mind, of which Christ is an eminent
example and pattern; and which the Holy Spirit from him
transcribes into the heart of a regenerate person; and lies in
having mean thoughts of himself, in walking humbly with God,
acknowledging every favour, being thankful for every blessing,
and depending on his grace, and in behaving with modesty and
humility among men. The last of the fruits of the Spirit
mentioned is
temperance,
or "continence"; and designs both chastity and sobriety, and
particularly moderation in eating and drinking. It may be
observed, that these fruits of the Spirit are opposed to the
works of the flesh. So love is opposed to hatred; joy to
emulations and envying; peace to variance, strife, and seditions;
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and meekness, to wrath and
murders; faith to idolatry, witchcraft, and heresies; and
temperance to adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
drunkenness, and revellings.
Against such there is no law;
meaning, against such fruits, graces, and good things; these
being perfectly agreeable to the law of God, which is holy, just,
and good, and spiritual; and are so far from being forbidden by
it, that they are highly esteemed and approved of by it: or
against persons that are possessed of such fruits; for these
appear to be in the spirit, and to be led by the Spirit; and
therefore are not under the law, and have nothing to fear from
it, as a terrifying, accusing, cursing, and condemning law. The
works of the flesh, and they that are of the flesh, are such that
come under the notice and lash of the law; and not the fruits of
the Spirit, and they that are after the Spirit, as such are who
partake of his fruit.