The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

In the Eleventh place, there is yet a further mystery (for this I hope you will find a very useful point unto you) and you will see what a plain way there is, (before we have done) for one that is skilled in Religion to get Contentment, though it's hard for one that is carnal. I say the Eleventh mystery in contentment is this, A gracious heart hath contentment by fetching strength from Jesus Christ, he is able to bear his burden by fetching strength from another: now this is a riddle indeed, and it would be a ridiculous thing to be spoken of in the schools of Philosophers, to say, if there be a burden upon you, you must fetch strength from another; indeed to have another to come and stand under the burden, that way they would know, but that you shall be strengthened by another's strength, that is not near you to your outward view, that they would think ridiculous: but now a Christian finds satisfaction in every condition by getting strength from another, by going out of it's self to Jesus Christ, and by faith acting upon Christ, and bringing the strength of Jesus Christ into it's own soul, and thereby is enabled to bear whatsoever God lays upon him, by the strength that he finds from Jesus Christ, of his fullness do we receive grace for grace, there is strength in Christ not only to sanctify and save us, but strength to support us under all our burdens and afflictions, and Christ expects that when we are under any burden that we should act our faith upon him to draw virtue and strength from him, the acting of faith that's the great grace that is to be acted under afflictions, it's true, other graces should be acted, but the grace of faith it draws strength from Christ, in looking upon him that hath the fullness of all strength to be conveyed into the hearts of all believers. Now ⟨p. 48⟩if a man hath a burden upon him, yet if he can have strength added to him, if the burden be doubled, yet if he can have his strength to be trebled, the burden will not be heavier but lighter than it was before to our natural strength. Indeed our afflictions may be heavy, and we cry out, oh we cannot bear them, we cannot bear such an affliction: Though thou canst not tell how to bear it with thine own strength, yet what canst thou tell what thou shalt do with the strength of Jesus Christ? Thou sayest thou canst not bear it, why doest thou think that Christ could not bear it?

In the Eleventh place, there is yet a further mystery (for this I hope you will find a very useful point unto you) and you will see what a plaine way there is, (before we have done) for one that is skil'd in Religion to get Contentment, though it's hard for one that is carnal. I say the Eleventh mystery in contentment is this, A gracious heart hath contentment by fetching strength from Jesus Christ, he is able to beare his burden by fetching strength from another: now this is a riddle indeed, and it would be a rediculous thing to be spoken of in the schools of Philosophers, to say, if there be a burden upon you, you must fetch strength from another; indeed to have another to come and stand under the burden, that way they would know, but that you shall be strengthened by anothers strength, that is not neer you to your outward view, that they would think rediculous: but now a Christian finds satisfaction in every condition by getting strength from another, by going out of it's self to Jesus Christ, and by faith acting upon Christ, and bringing the strength of Jesus Christ into it's own soul, and thereby is inabled to bear whatsoever God laies upon him, by the strength that he finds from Jesus Christ, of his fulnesse do we receive grace for grace, there is strength in Christ not only to sanctifie and save us, but strength to support us under all our burdens and afflictions, and Christ expects that when we are under any burden that we should act our faith upon him to draw vertue and strength from him, the acting of faith that's the great grace that is to be acted under afflictions, it's true, other graces should be acted, but the grace of faith it draws strength from Christ, in looking upon him that hath the fulnesse of all strength to be convayed into the hearts of all beleevers. Now