The Art of Divine Contentment

4. Contentment is the spiritual Arch, ¹or pillar of the soul; it fits a man to bear burdens; he whose heart is ready to sink under the least sin, by virtue of this hath a spirit invincible ⟨p. 128⟩under sufferings. A contented Christian is like the Camomile, the more it is trodden upon, the more it grows; as Physic works diseases out of the body, so doth Contentment work trouble out of the heart. Thus it argues; If I am under reproach, God can vindicate me; If I am in want, God can relieve me. Ye shall not see wind, nor rain; yet the valley shall be filled with water^*. Thus holy Contentment keeps the heart from fainting; in the Autumn when the fruit and leaves are blown off, still there is sap in the root: When there is an autumn upon our external felicity, the leaves of our estate drop off, still there is the sap of Contentment in the heart; and a Christian hath life inwardly, when his outward comforts do not blossom. The contented heart is never out of heart. Contentation is a golden shield, that doth beat back discouragement. Humility is like the lead ⟨p. 129⟩to the net, which keeps the soul down when it is rising through passion; and Contentment is like the cork which keeps the heart up when it is sinking through discouragement. Contentment is the great underpropper; it is like the Beam which bears whatever weight is laid upon it; nay, it is like a Rock that breaks the waves.

4. Contentment is the spirituall Arch, ¹or pillar of the soule; it fits a man to bear burdens; he whose heart is ready to sinke under the least sin, by vertue of this hath a spirit invincible ⟨p. 128⟩under sufferings. A contented Christian is like the Camomile, the more it is troden upon, the more it growes; as Physick works diseases out of the body, so doth Contentment work trouble out of the heart. Thus it argues; If I am under reproach, God can vindicate me; If I am in want, God can relieve me. Ye shall not see wind, nor raine; yet the valley shall be filled with water