The Art of Divine Contentment

TO THE Christian Reader.

A Word spoken in due season, how good is it? ^*As God giveth to his creatures their meat in season^*; so his faithful stewards provide for his household their portion of meat in due season^*. And as it is with corporal food, the season addeth much both to the value and usefulness thereof; in like manner it is with food spiritual. In this regard, the brokenness of these times (wherein the bosoms of most people are filled with disquiets, and their mouths with murmurings) may well render this Treatise the more acceptable. The seas are not so stormy (though never more troublesome then at this day) as mens spirits are tempestuous, tossed to and fro with discontents. And now the Lord (who maketh every thing beautiful in his time^*) hath most opportunely put into thy hand a profitable discourse to calm unquiet hearts. Adam in Paradise dashed ⟨image 6⟩upon the rock of discontent (which some Divines conceive was his first sin.) This with many instances more in Scripture, together with our own sad experience, doth both speak our danger and call for caution. Now godliness is the only sovereign Antidote against this spreading disease; and Gods grace alone (being settled and exercised in the heart) can cause steadiness in stormy times^*. Whereas, Contentation ariseth either from the fruition of all comforts, or from a not desiring of some which we have not^*. True piety doth put a Christian into such a condition: Hereby we both possess God, and are taught how to improve him who is the only satisfying, everlasting portion of his people