The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

First, To help against this temptation that thou mayest not murmur against this condition, Do but consider though thy condition be low and mean, yet thou art in the Body, thou art a member of the Body though thou beest but a mean member, the toe and the finger hath it's use in the body, though it be not the eye, though it be not the head, or the heart yet it hath it's use in the body. And it is an excellent expression that I remember Austin hath about this, (saith he) It is better to be the meanest member in the Body, than to be the highest member and more excellent and cut off from the Body, it is better to be a little sprig in the tree joined to the Root, than to be an arm cut off from the Root. Now other men that have but common gifts in the world, that are not members of Jesus Christ, (indeed) they seem to have more excellency than those that are godly, that are in a mean condition, mean parts, mean callings, but they are not of the Body, they are not joined to the Root, and therefore their condition is worse. As a great arm of a tree when it is cut off it hath a great many leaves upon it, and it seems a great deal more glorious than those little sprigs that are upon the tree, but that little sprig is in a better condition, why? Because joined to the tree and hath sap from the Root and flourisheth, but the other will wither and die within a while: So it is with the men of the world, they be but like great boughs cut off from the tree, though they have excellent parts, and have great estates and pomp and glory in the world, they have no union with Jesus Christ the Root: But now others that live in a poor condition, a poor tradesman, a poor servant, a poor labouring-man that labours for his family everyday, yet he being godly, (saith he) though I have but little for the present, little glory, little credit, little comfort yet I am joined to the Body, and there I have supply and that that will feed me with comfort, blessing, and mercy to all eternity: So all that are in a poor condition in this world if they be godly, do but think of that;

First, To help against this temptation that thou mayest not murmur against this condition, Do but consider though thy condition be low and mean, yet thou art in the Body, thou art a member of the Body though thou beest but a mean member, the toe and the finger hath it's use in the body, though it be not the eye, though it be not the head, or the heart yet it hath it's use in the body. And it is an excellent expression that I remember Austin hath about this, (saith he) It is better to be the meanest member in the Body, than to be the highest member and more excellent and cut off from the Body, it is better to be a little sprig in the tree joyned to the Root, than to be an arme cut off from the Root. Now other men that have but common gifts in the world, that are not members of Jesus Christ, (indeed) they seem to have more excellency than those that are godly, that are in a mean condition, mean parts, mean callings, but they are not of the Body, they are not joyn'd to the Root, and therefore their condition is worse. As a great arme of a tree when it is cut off it hath a great many leaves upon it, and it seems a great deal more glorious than those little sprigs that are upon the tree, but that little sprig is in a better condition, why? Because joyned to the tree and hath sap from the Root and flourisheth, but the other will wither and die within a while: So it is with the men of the world, they be but like great boughs cut off from the tree, though they have excellent parts, and have great estates and pomp and glory in the world, they have no union with Jesus Christ the Root: But now others that live in a poor condition, a poor tradesman, a poor servant, a poor labouring-man that labours for his family everyday, yet he being godly, (saith he) though I have but little for the present, little glory, little credit, little comfort yet I am joyned to the Body, and there I have supply and that that will feed me with comfort, blessing, and mercy to all eternity: So all that are in a poor condition in this world if they be godly, do but think of that;