The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

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, Psal. 43. O my Soul why art thou disquieted? David as far as his judgment went, there was a contentedness, that is, His judgment was satisfied in the work of God upon him; and he was troubled, but he knew not wherefore, O my soul why art thou east down within me? That Psalm is a very good Psalm for those that feel a fretting, discontented ⟨p. 11⟩distemper in their hearts at any time, for them to be reading or singing: he hath it once or twice in that Psalm, Why art thou cast down O my soul? In vers. 5. And why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him, for the help of his countenance. David had enough to quiet him, and that that he had had prevailed with his judgement, but after it had prevailed with his judgement he could not get it further. He could not get this grace of Contentment to go through the whole frame of the Soul. There is a great deal of stir sometimes to get Contentment into their judgments, that is, To satisfy their judgment about their condition: Come to many, that the hand of God is upon perhaps in a grievous manner, and seek to satisfy them, and tell them that there is no such cause to be disquieted, O not such cause saith the troubled spirit!

And then it comes to the will, My will yeilds and submits to it, my affections are all likewise kept in order, so that it goes through the whol soul. There is in some a partiall 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 wil, 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 befals you, I can blesse 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 seem'd to be the case of David,