A65276:115
The Art of Divine Contentment
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.
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.