A30598:580
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
THE SAINTS DUTY IN TIMES OF EXTREMITY.THE SAINTS DVTY IN TIMES OF EXTREMITY.
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.
2. Rea. This shows the beauty and excellency of Faith, as David said, Thou shalt see what thy servant can do: So now, there is a great deal of talk of faith in the world, let us see now what it can do; the truth of love is, when I can love God for himself without his gifts; so when I can believe in God without experience, I show the excellency of my faith, when I can trust in God merely upon his word; as I love God merely for himself, when my faith takes Gods single bond without any security, that is the excellency of Faith; when I would have outward helps and assurances, there I call for sureties: So Christians when they must needs have outward helps, and former experiences, they call to God for sureties, as if they would not trust God upon his simple bond; that's the excellency of faith to trust God upon his single bond.
2. Rea. This shews the beauty and excellency of Faith, as David said, Thou shalt see what thy servant can do: So now, there is a great deal of talk of faith in the world, let us see now what it can do; the truth of love is, when I can love God for himself without his gifts; so when I can beleeve in God without experience, I shew the excellency of my faith, when I can trust in God meerly upon his word; as I love God meerly for himself, when my faith taks Gods single bond without any security, that is the excellency of Faith; when I would have outward helps and assurances, there I call for sureties: So Christians when they must needs have outward helps, and former experiences, they call to God for sureties, as if they would not trust God upon his simple bond; that's the excellency of faith to trust God upon his single bond.
3. Rea. When we look up to God for salvation, we engage God in our cause; God owns not the cause till then, and then he owns it: Now how happy were we, if thus we could do in all our particular and private straights, stand still and look up to God for help and for salvation: It's true, you cry out and complain, I have lost a dear husband, and a dear friend, never man lost such a friend, and these great straights I am brought into; but lose not the quiet of thy heart too, take heed of that, that is a greater loss than any loss thou canst have in this world. I remember I have read of a Philosopher that had this expression, (saith he) If the gods would grant to me my desire, and bid me ask what I would have, I would ask of them this thing, that I might have the composed spirit of Socrates, that I might have such a spirit as Socrates had; for it is observed of him, that he did scarce change his countenance upon any thing that befell him, he was always in a quiet composed frame, (and yet a Heathen;) How much more should a Christian say; If God would give me my asking, I would ask nothing but that; for indeed there is a great deal of glory and excellency in a composed spirit: this is worthy of the Gospel; therefore mark what the Apostle saith,