The godly man hath found that which all the world doth seek, that is, enough. Every word ⟨p. 224⟩may be defined, and every thing may be measured, but enough cannot be measured, nor defined, it changeth every year: when we had nothing, we thought it enough if we might obtain less than we have: when we came to more, we thought of another enough: now we have more, we dream of another enough: so enough is always to come, though too much be there already. For as oil kindleth the fire which it seems to quench, so riches come as though they would make a man contented, and make a man more covetous. Therefore seeing Contentation was never found in riches, the Apostle reacheth to seek it in godliness, saying; Godliness is riches: as though it did not only make a man contented, but make a man contented with it self. He speaks as though he had found a new kind of riches, which the world never thought of, that are of such a nature, that they will satisfy a man like the water that Christ spake of,1 He that drinks of this water shall thirst no more: so they that taste of these riches shall covet no more:2 but as the holy Ghost filled all the house, so the grace, and peace, and joy of the holy Ghost filleth all the heart, that as Joseph had no need of Astronomy,3 because he had the Spirit of prophecy; so he which hath Contentation, hath little need of riches, ⟨p. 225⟩he thinks not of the Philosophers Stone, nor the gold of Ophir,4 nor the mines of India; but he hath his quietus est, without suite of law, for he retaineth a peace-maker within, which would make all lawyers preachers, if men were so wise to take counsel of it. When the law is ended, if the man be not content, he is in trouble still; when his disease is cured, if he be not content, he is sick still; when his want is supplied, if he be not content, he is in want still; when bondage is turned into liberty, if he be not content, he is in bondage still; but though he be in law, and sickness, and poverty, and bondage, yet if he be content, he is free, and rich, and merry,5 and quiet: even as Adam was warm, though he had no clothes. Such a commander is Contentation, that wheresoever she setteth foot, an hundred blessings wait upon her: in every disease she is a Physician, in every strife she is a Lawyer, in every doubt she is a Preacher, in every grief she is a comforter:
The godly man hath foūd that which al the world doth seeke, that is, inough. Euery word ⟨p. 224⟩may bee defined, and euerie thing may bee measured, but inough cannot bee measured, nor defined, it changeth euerie yeare: when we had nothing, we thought it inough if we might obtaine lesse than wee haue: when we came to more, we thought of another inough: now we haue more, we dreame of another inough: so inough is alwaies to come, though too much be there alreadie. For as oyle kindleth the fire which it seemes to quench, so riches come as though they would make a man contented, and make a man more couetous. Therefore seeing Contentation was neuer found in riches, the Apostle reacheth to seeke it in godlinesse, saying; Godlinesse is riches: as though it did not onely make a man contented, but make a man contented with it selfe. Hee speakes as though hee had found a newe kinde of riches, which the world neuer thoght of, that are of such a nature, that they will satisfie a man like the water that Christ spake of,1 Hee that drinkes of this water shall thirst no more: so they that tast of these riches shal couet no more:2 but as the holie Ghost filled all the house, so the grace, and peace, and ioy of the holie Ghost filleth all the heart, that as Ioseph had no neede of Astronomie,3 because he had the Spirite of prophecie; so he which hath Contentation, hath litle neede of riches, ⟨p. 225⟩hee thinkes not of the Philosophers Stone, nor the golde of Ophyr,4 nor the mynes of India; but he hath his quietus est, without suite of law, for hee retaineth a peace-maker within, which would make all lawyers preachers, if men were so wise to take counsell of it. When the lawe is ended, if the man be not content, hee is in trouble still; when his disease is cured, if hee be not content, hee is sicke still; when his want is supplied, if he be not content, he is in want still; when bondage is turned into libertie, if hee be not content, hee is in bondage still; but though hee be in law, and sicknesse, and pouertie, and bondage, yet if he be content, he is free, and rich, and merrie,5 and quiet: euen as Adam was warme, though he had no cloathes. Such a commander is Contentation, that wheresoeuer she setteth foote, an hundred blessings waite vpon her: in euerie disease she is a Phisition, in euerie strife shee is a Lawyer, in euerie doubt she is a Preacher, in euerie griefe she is a comforter:
- 1Joh. 4. 13.Ioh. 4. 13.
- 2Act. 2. 2.
- 3Gen. 44. 15.
- 41. King. 28.
- 5Gen. 2. 25.
