A65276:260
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.
1. To rejoice in God. How can he rejoice that is discontented? he is sitter for Repining then Rejoicing.
1. To rejoyce in God. How can he rejoyce that is discontented? he is sitter for Repining then Rejoyceing.
2. To be thankful for mercy. Can a discontented person be thankful? he can be fretful, not thankful.
2. To be thankful for mercie. Can a discontented person be thankfull? he can be fretful, not thankful.
3. To justify God in his proceedings*. How can he do this who is discontented with his condition? He will sooner censure Gods wisdom, then ⟨p. 127⟩clear his justice. Oh then how excellent is Contentation which doth prepare, and as it were string the heart for duty? Indeed Contentment doth not only make our duties lively and agile, but acceptable. 'Tis this that puts beauty and worth into them; for Contentment settles the soul: Now as it is with milk, when it is always stirring, you can make nothing of it, but let it settle a while and then it turns to cream: When the heart is overmuch stirred with disquiet and discontent, you can make nothing of those duties; how thin, how fletten, and jejune are they? But when the heart is once settled by holy Contentment, now there is some worth in our duties, now they turn to cream.
3. To justifie God in his proceedings*. How can he doe this who is discontented with his condition? He will sooner censure Gods wisdome, then