The Art of Divine Contentment

Discontent doth disjoint the soul, and it is impossible now that a Christian should go so steadily, and cheerfully in Gods service. O how lame is his devotion! The discontented person gives God but half a duty, his Religion is nothing but bodily exercise, it wants a soul to animate it. David would not offer that to God which cost him nothing^*; where there is too much worldly care, there is too little spiritual cost in a duty. The discontented person doth his duties by halves; he is just like Ephraim, a cake not turned^*; he is a cake baked on one side; he gives God the outside, but not the spiritual part, his heart is not in duty; he is baked on one side, but the other side dough; ⟨p. 126⟩and what profit is there of such raw, indigested services? He that gives God only the skin of worship, what can he expect more then the shell of comfort? Contentation brings the heart into frame; and then only do we give God the flower and spirits of a duty; when the soul is composed; now a Christian doth rem • gear, his heart is intense and serious. There are some duties which we cannot perform as we ought without Contentment; As,

Discontent doth disjoynt the soul, and it is impossible now that a Christian should go so steadily, and chearfully in Gods service. O how lame is his devotion! The discontented person gives God but halfe a duty, his Religion is nothing but bodily exercise, it wants a soul to animate it. David would not offer that to God which cost him nothing^*; where there is too much worldly care, there is too little spiritual cost in a duty. The discontented person doth his duties by halves; he is just like Ephraim, a cake not turned^*; he is a cake baked on one side; he gives God the outside, but not the spirituall part, his heart is not in duty; he is baked on one side, but the other side dough; ⟨p. 126⟩and what profit is there of such raw, indigested services? He that gives God only the skin of worship, what can he expect more then the shell of comfort? Contentation brings the heart into frame; and then only do we give God the flower and spirits of a duty; when the soule is composed; now a Christian doth rem gere, his heart is intense and serious. There are some duties which we cannot performe as we ought without Contentment; As,