A30598:230
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
The rare jewel of Christian contentment wherein is showed, I. What contentment is, II. The holy art or mystery of it, III. Several lessons that Christ teacheth, to work the heart to contentment, IV. The excellencies of it, V. The evils of murmuring, VII. The aggravations of the sin of murmuring / by Jeremiah Burroughs.The rare jewel of Christian contentment wherein is shewed, I. What contentment is, II. The holy art or mystery of it, III. Several lessons that Christ teacheth, to work the heart to contentment, IV. The excellencies of it, V. The evils of murmuring, VII. The aggravations of the sin of murmuring / by Jeremiah Burroughs.
London: printed for Peter Cole, 1649
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4 Christ teaches them the knowledge of providence, that is, The knowledge of Gods usual way in his dealings with his people more particularly. The other is, the knowledge of God in his providence in general: But the right understanding of the way of God in his providence towards his people and Saints, is a notable lesson to help us in the Art of Contentment. If we come once to know a mans way and course we may better suit and be contented to live with him, than before we come to know his way and course: as when a man comes to live in a society with men and women, it may be the men and women may be good, but till a man comes to know their way and course and disposition, many things may fall very cross, and we think they are very hard, but when we come to be acquainted with their way and spirit, then we can suit and cotton with them very well; and the reason of our trouble is, because we do not understand their way. So it is with you, those that are but as strangers to God, and do not understand the way of God, they are troubled with the providences of God, and they think them very strange and cannot tell what to make of them, because they understand not the ordinary course and way of ⟨p. 98⟩God towards his people. If a stranger sometimes comes into a family and sees such and such things done, he wonders what the matter is, but those that are acquainted with it, it troubles them not at all. So servants, when they come first together and know not one another, it may be they are froward and discontented, but when they come to be acquainted with one another's ways, then they are more contented: just so it is when we come first to understand Gods ways.
4 Christ teaches them the knowledge of providence, that is, The knowledge of Gods usual way in his dealings with his people more particularly. The other is, the knowledge of God in his providence in general: But the right understanding of the way of God in his providence towards his people and Saints, is a notable lesson to help us in the Art of Contentment. If we come once to know a mans way and course we may better sute and be contented to live with him, than before we come to know his way and course: as when a man comes to live in a society with men and women, it may be the men and women may be good, but till a man comes to know their way and course and disposition, many things may fall very crosse, and we think they are very hard, but when we come to be acquainted with their way and spirit, then we can sute and cotten with them very well; and the reason of our trouble is, because we do not understand their way. So it is with you, those that are but as strangers to God, and do not understand the way of God, they are troubled with the providences of God, and they think them very strange and cannot tell what to make of them, because they understand not the ordinary course and way of