The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

1 Those are fitted to receive mercy from the Lord that are contented: As now, if you would have a vessel to take in any liquor, you must hold the vessel still, if the vessel stir and shake up and down you cannot pour in any thing, but you will bid hold still that you may pour it in and not loose any; so if we would be the vessels to receive Gods mercy, and would have the Lord pour in his mercy to us, we must have quiet still hearts, we must not have hearts hurrying up and down in trouble discontent and vexing, but we must have still and quiet hearts if we would receive mercy from the Lord: If a child throws and flings up and down for a thing, you will not give it him then when he cries so, but first you will have the child quiet, though perhaps you do intend the child shall have the thing he cries for, but you will not give it him till he is quiet and comes and stands still before you and is contented without it and then you will give it him: and truly so doth the Lord deal with us, (for our dealing, with him are just as your froward children's are with you) as soon as you would have a thing from God if you have it not you are disquieted presently and all in an uproar (as it were) ⟨p. 107⟩in your spirits: God intends mercy to you, but saith God you shall not have it yet, I will see you quiet first, and then in the quietness of your hearts come to me and see what I will do with you. I appeal to you, you that are any way acquainted with the ways of God, have you not found this to be the way of God towards you, when you have been troubled for want perhaps of some spiritual comfort, and your hearts were vexed at it, you get nothing from God all that while; but now if you have got your heart into a quiet frame, and can say, well, it's fit the Lord should do with his poor creatures what he will, I am under his feet, and am resolved to do what I can to honour him; and let him do with me what he will I will seek him as long as I live, I will be content with what God gives; and whether he gives or no I will be content; yea, are you in this frame (saith God) now you shall have comfort, now I will give you the mercy.

1 Those are fitted to receive mercy from the Lord that are contented: As now, if you would have a vessel to take in any licquor, you must hold the vessel still, if the vessel stir and shake up and down you cannot powre in any thing, but you will bid hold stil that you may powre it in and not loose any; so if we would be the vessels to receive Gods mercy, and would have the Lord powr in his mercy to us, we must have quiet still hearts, we must not have hearts hurrying up and down in trouble discontent and vexing, but we must have still and quiet hearts if we would receive mercy from the Lord: If a child throws and flings up and down for a thing, you will not give it him then when he cries so, but first you will have the child quiet, though perhaps you do intend the child shall have the thing he cries for, but you will not give it him till he is quiet and comes and stands still before you and is contented without it and then you will give it him: and truly so doth the Lord deal with us, (for our dealing, with him are just as your froward childrens are with you) as soon as you would have a thing from God if you have it not you are disquieted presently and all in an upprore (as it were)