A30598:583
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.
and if your prayers be right, they will be to you, as Luther saith, they were the leeches of his cares; Luther had a great many corrupt cares, (as in a corrupt body, there is much corrupt blood) but now his prayers were the leeches to suck out his cares: when you are distempered, go to prayer, and then examine what a deal of corrupt blood hath my prayers sucked out of my heart? As Hannah, when she had been at prayer, she looked no more sad. There are many things I thought to have given you, to slay your hearts in time of extremities: Peace shall be to that man, that hath his heart stayed on God, and blessed is that man that stayeth his heart upon God: and if ever people had cause to stay their hearts upon God, certainly we have at this day, for we have God with us; Therefore it's unworthy of a Christian to have a distempered spirit. I remember I have read of the Romans, that when Hannibal was just before them, yet they bought and sold their ground as they did at other times; they were so quiet in their hearts. It was a speech that Antigonor had, when some were afraid of the multitude that came against him, (say they) So many are coming against us, saith he, How many do you reckon me for? So may we say, we hear of so many thousands coming against us; But how many do you reckon Jesus Christ for? How many reckon you him for, that is the Captain of all our Hosts: Have not prayers been sent up to God? Why despise you the prayers of the Saints of God, as if there were nothing in their ⟨p. 328⟩prayers? Is not Gods Name engaged in all this business? Oh therefore stand still and be not afraid: And especially let me speak a word to you, that are of timorous and fearful spirits, Isa. 35.4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Fear not: Do not excuse your selves in this, that you are of a timorous nature; (saith God) Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Fear not: And especially mark what the holy Ghost speaks to women, In 1 Pet. 3. Women they must clothe themselves with a meek and quiet spirit, (that is in the 4. verse) which is in the sight of God of great price, and in the 6. verse, And as Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him Lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid of any amazement: What should be the meaning of that, that woman must be the daughters of Sarah upon these terms?