A30598:39
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.
But hath Paul a self-sufficiency you will say? How are we sufficient of our selves? Our Apostle affirms in another case, That we are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves? 2 Cor. 3.5. His meaning therefore must be, I find a sufficiency ⟨p. 3⟩of satisfaction in my own heart, through the grace of Christ that is in me; though I have not outward comforts and worldly accommodations to supply my necessities, yet I enjoy portion enough betwixt Christ and my own soul abundantly to satisfy me in every condition. And this interpretation is suitable to that place, Pro. 14.1•. A good man is satisfied from himself; and agreeable to what he verifies of himself in another place; that though he had nothing yet he possessed all things; because he had right to the covenant and promise, which virtually contains all, and an interest in Christ the fountain and good of all, and having that, no marvel he saith that in whatsoever state he was in, he was content. Thus you have the genuine interpretation of the text. I shall not make any division of the words, because I take them only to prosecute that one duty most necessary, viz. The quieting and comforting the hearts of Gods people under the troubles and changes they meet withal, in these heart-shaking times, And the doctrinal conclusion is in brief this.
But hath Paul a self-sufficiency you will say? How are we sufficient of our selves? Our Apostle affirms in another case, That we are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves? 2 Cor. 3.5. His meaning therefore must be, I find a sufficiency ⟨p. 3⟩of satisfaction in my own heart, through the grace of Christ that is in me; though I have not outward comforts and worldly accommodations to supply my necessities, yet I enjoy portion enough betwixt Christ and my own soul abundantly to satisfie me in every condition. And this interpretation is sutable to that place, Pro. 14.1