A30598:65
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.
First, That it is a grace that spreads it self through the whole Soul: as thus, It is in the judgment, that is, The judgment of the soul of a man or woman tends to quiet the heart: In my judgment I am satisfied, that is one thing to be satisfied in ones understanding and judgment, as thus, This is the hand of God; and this is that that is suitable to my condition, or best for me; although I do not see the reason of the thing, yet I am satisfied in my judgment about it.
First, That it is a grace that spreads it self through the whol Soul: as thus, It is in the judgment, that is, The judgment of the soul of a man or woman tends to quiet the heart: In my judgment I am satisfied, that is one thing to be satisfied in ones understanding and judgment, as thus, This is the hand of God; and this is that that is sutable to my condition, or best for me; although I do not see the reason of the thing, yet I am satisfied in my judgment about it.
And then it is in the thoughts of a man or woman: As my judgement is satisfied, so my thoughts are kept in order.
And then it comes to the will, My will yields and submits to it, my affections are all likewise kept in order, so that it goes through the whole soul. There is in some a partial Contentment, and so 'tis not the frame of the soul, but some part of the soul hath some Contentment, as thus, Many a man may be satisfied in his judgment about a thing, and yet cannot for his life rule his affections, nor his thoughts, cannot rule his thoughts, nor the will, nor the affections though the judgments be satisfied: I make no question but many of you may know this by your own experience, if you do but observe the workings of your own hearts. Cannot you say when such an affliction befalls you, I can bless God I am satisfied in my judgment about it, I have nothing in the world to say in respect of my judgment against it, I see the hand of God and I should be content: yea I am satisfied in my judgment, that my condition is a good condition in which I am; but I cannot for my life rule my thoughts, and will, and my affections, me thinks I feel my heart heavy, and sad, and troubled more than it should be, and yet my judgment is satisfied. This seemed to be the case of David,