A30598:581
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.
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, Phil. 1.27. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ, that ⟨p. 326⟩whether I come to see you, or be absent from you, I may hear of your affairs and that you stand fast in one spirit: This is to walk worthy of the Gospel, to stand fast in one spirit: and observe this, that except we do stand fast, and quiet our hearts, we lose every thing that should help us: when we are in a hurly-burly in our spirits to get some help, alas, we lose all our help: Therefore in Phil. 4. Let the peace of God keep your hearts, the word in the Original is, Guard your hearts; The peace of God in your hearts, must be the best guard of your hearts in the time of danger, now because you would avoid trouble, you put away your guard, what a madness is this? the casting away the peace of God, is the casting away of your guard, therefore keep that in your hearts, whatsoever you lose; yea, it's our Arms, mark, Ephes. 6. what is the Arms of a Christian? first, The girdle of truth, fear dissolves the heart, and makes a man he cannot gird himself: