Four useful discourses viz. ... /Four usefull discourses viz. ... /

Secondly, We gave several Directions what to do, that we might have the exercise of the Grace of Christian Contentment:

And among all others, that's one special thing that then I commended, and still would but pick out, To name that concerns the power of God; and that is, The making of a good interpretation of Gods mercies and dealings towards them. Have good thoughts of God, and make good interpretations of what the dealings of God are towards you. It's very hard to live comfortably and cheerfully among friends, when one makes hard interpretations of the words and actions of another: The only way to keep ⟨p. 2⟩sweet contentment and comfort in Christian Societies, and to make the best interpretation of things as we can. And so, a chief way and help to keep comfort and contentment in our hearts, is to make good interpretations of Gods dealing towards us.

And among all others, that's one special thing that then I commended, and still would but pick out, To name that concerns the power of God; and that is, The making of a good interpretation of Gods mercies and dealings towards them. Have good thoughts of God, and make good interpretations of what the dealings of God are towards you. It's very hard to live comfortably and cheerfully among friends, when one makes hard interpretations of the words and actions of another: The onely way to keep ⟨p. 2⟩sweet contentment and comfort in Christian Societies, and to make the best interpretation of things as we can. And so, a chief way and help to keep comfort and contentment in our hearts, is to make good interpretations of Gods dealing towards us.

But I would not look back to any thing that I have spoken concerning that Argument, but leave those things that have been delivered, to the blessing of God upon you; hoping that when any Temptation arises for Discontentment, that some truths that have been delivered, may come into your Minds: and that some of you may be able, when you see others discontented, as the Wife with the Husband, the Husband with the Wife, or one Brother or Friend with another, to make use of something out of the Text for this Grace of Contentment. For though we have been preaching a long time of it, yet it is longer a learning then it is a teaching; you need be longer time to learn it than I have been a preaching of it. It is not a few weeks that will learn it, we had need be years a learning this great Lesson.