A65276:102
Autarkeia, or, The art of divine contentment by Thomas Watson.
London: printed by T.M. for Ralph Smith, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
This disease is almost Epidemical.* Some are not content with their callings which God hath set them in; they must be a step higher, from the Shop to the Pulpit*; they would be in the Temple of Honour, before they are in the Temple of Vertue; who step into Moses ⟨p. 53⟩chaire, without Aaron's Bells and Pomegranates; like Apes, which do most shew their deformitie when they are climbing. Is it not enough that God hath bestowed gifts upon men, in private to edifie, that he hath enriched them with many mercies; but, seek they the Priest-hood also*? What is this but discontent arising from high-flown pride? These do secretly taxe the Wisdome of God, that hee hath not screwed them up in their condition a peg higher. Tentat Superbia, 4ut frangat. Every man is complaining that his estate is no better, though hee seldome complains that his heart is no better. Suae quemque conditionis poenitet: one man commends this kind of life, another commends that*; one man thinks a Country-life best, another a City-life, as the Poet elegantly expresseth it.
O fortun ati mercatores, gravis annis
Miles ait, multo jam fractus membra labour;
Miles ait, multo jam fractus membra labore;
Contrà Mercator navim jactantibus austris,
Militia est potior, quid enim concurritur horae
Momento? cita mors venit, aut victoria laeta. Horat.
The •••ldier thinks it best to be a Merchant, and the Merchant to be a Soldier. Men can be content to be any thing but what God will have them. We may cry out with the same Poet,
The •••ldier thinks it best to be a Merchant, and the Merchant to be a Souldier. Men can be content to be any thing but what God will have them. Wee may cry out with the same Poet,
Qui fit, Maecenas, ut nemo quam sibi sortem
Seu ratio dederit, seu fors objecerit, illâ
Contentus vivat? laudet diversa sequentes? Hor. 1. Satyr.
How is it that no man is contented? Very few Christians have learned ⟨p. 55⟩Saint Paul's lesson; neither poor nor rich know how to be content, they can learn any thing but this.
1. If men are poor, they learn to be, 1. Envious: they malign those that are above them. Another's Prosperity is an eye-sore; when Gods candle shines upon their neighbours Tabernacle, this light offends them. In the midst of […] men can (in this sense) abound▪ viz. in envy and malice: An envious eye is an evil eye. 2. They learn to be querulous, still complaining, as if God had dealt hardly with them; they are ever telling of their wants, they want this and that comfort; whereas their greatest want is a contented spirit. Those that are well enough content with their sins, yet are not content with their condition.
1. If men are poor, they learne to be, 1. Envious: they maligne those that are above them. Anothers Prosperity is an ey-sore; when Gods candle shines upon their neighbours Tabernacle, this light offends them. In the midst of 〈…〉 men can (in this sense) abound▪ viz. in envie and malice: An envious eye is an evill eye. 2. They learn to be querulous, still complaining, as if God had dealt hardly with them; they are ever telling of their wants, they want this and that comfort; whereas their greatest want is a contented spirit. Those that are well enough content with their sinnes, yet are not content with their condition.
