A65276:247
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.
SECT. I.
The first Argument to Contentation.
1. Consider the Excellency of it. Contentment is a flower that doth not grow in every Garden;1 it teacheth a man how in the midst of want to abound. You would think it were excellent, if I could prescribe a receipt, or antidote against poverty; ⟨p. 119⟩but behold, here is that which is more excellent; for a man to want, and yet have enough, this alone contentment of spirit brings. Contentatio is [Greek or Hebrew], a remedy against all our troubles, a levamen to all our burdens, it is the cure of care. Contentation, though it be not properly a Grace, it is rather a disposition of mind; yet in it there is optimum temperamentum, an happy temperature and mixture of all the graces: It is a most precious compound which is made up of Faith, Patience, Meekness, &c. which are the ingredients put into it. Now there are in specie these seven rare excellencies in Contentment.
1. Consider the Excellency of it. Contentment is a flower that doth not grow in every Garden;1 it teacheth a man how in the midst of want to abound. You would think it were excellent, if I could prescribe a receit, or antidote against poverty;