1. For the Description of it, as it relates to this Subject; It is a cheerful Satisfaction in the Place and Calling, wherein God hath set us. There is a natural Stupidity in some Persons, and a moral Obstinacy in others; and there is a merely Rational Contentment in others; but this which I am speaking of, is a work of God's Spirit; a Mystery which is learned only in the School of true Religion, whereby the Soul, the whole Soul ⟨p. 160⟩is inwardly satisfied with God's wise and holy Will, whereby he hath chosen a Man's Profession for him; his Satisfaction doth not so much proceed from the Excellency of his Calling, as from the declared Will of his heavenly Father, who hath placed him therein. He is at rest in his Mind, as far as it fit to be at rest, in this sinful and miserable World. This is that hard Lesson which the Apostle Paul had learned, Phil. 4. 11. For I have learned in whatsoever State I am, therewith to be content: And an hard Lesson it is to Flesh and Blood, and rarely learned. Ever since our Father Adam was unsatisfied with all the Delicacies of Paradise, none of his Posterity could be well content with their Condition; unless God by his Grace renew their Nature, and limit their Desires. Men may think, and many have imagined, that if they were in another Estate, in another Condition, they should be well, and never desire more: but they have found, that the Heart of Man is herein, like a Bladder, which the more it's filled, the more it stretches. And you will scarce find an individual Person, unless truly mortified, that is at full ease in his present State; but hankering after some absent Enjoyments. The Child in love with the Liberty of the Parent, weary of his Restraint; the Parent's weary of his Cares and Labours; the Unmarried not content with their Condition, and the Married less with theirs; the Poor envies the Plenty of the Rich, and the Rich admire the Ease and Quiet of the Poor; and so it is among all other sorts, and amongst the rest, our Tradesman is not free. He is prone to prefer not only the Gown ⟨p. 161⟩or the Sword before the Apron; but this and that Trade before his own. So that it is evident, that Contentedness is an hard Lesson, and not to be learned but from the holy Spirit of God; and that there is some need to assist the Tradesman in this difficult Point: We shall therefore demonstrate the great Reasonableness and Necessity of it.
1. For the Description of it, as it relates to this Subject; It is a chearful Satisfaction in the Place and Calling, wherein God hath set us. There is a natural Stupidity in some Persons, and a moral Obstinacy in others; and there is a meerly Rational Contentment in others; but this which I am speaking of, is a work of God's Spirit; a Mystery which is learned only in the School of true Religion, whereby the Soul, the whole Soul ⟨p. 160⟩is inwardly satisfied with God's wise and holy Will, whereby he hath chosen a Man's Profession for him; his Satisfaction doth not so much proceed from the Excellency of his Calling, as from the declared Will of his heavenly Father, who hath placed him therein. He is at rest in his Mind, as far as it fit to be at rest, in this sinful and miserable World. This is that hard Lesson which the Apostle Paul had learn'd, Phil. 4. 11. For I have learned in whatsoever State I am, therewith to be content: And an hard Lesson it is to Flesh and Blood, and rarely learn'd. Ever since our Father Adam was unsatisfied with all the Delicacies of Paradise, none of his Posterity could be well content with their Condition; unless God by his Grace renew their Nature, and limit their Desires. Men may think, and many have imagined, that if they were in another Estate, in another Condition, they should be well, and never desire more: but they have found, that the Heart of Man is herein, like a Bladder, which the more it's filled, the more it stretches. And you will scarce find an individual Person, unless truly mortified, that is at full ease in his present State; but hankering after some absent Injoyments. The Child in love with the Liberty of the Parent, weary of his Restraint; the Parent's weary of his Cares and Labours; the Ʋnmarried not content with their Condition, and the Married less with theirs; the Poor envies the Plenty of the Rich, and the Rich admire the Ease and Quiet of the Poor; and so it is among all other sorts, and amongst the rest, our Tradesman is not free. He is prone to prefer not only the Gown ⟨p. 161⟩or the Sword before the Apron; but this and that Trade before his own. So that it is evident, that Contentedness is an hard Lesson, and not to be learn'd but from the holy Spirit of God; and that there is some need to assist the Tradesman in this difficult Point: We shall therefore demonstrate the great Reasonableness and Necessity of it.
