The Art of Divine Contentment

'Tis strange to observe the same affliction lying upon two men, how differently they carry themselves under it. The contented Christian is like Samson, that carried away the gates of the City upon his back^*; he can go away with his cross cheerfully, and makes nothing of it; the other is like Issachar couching down under his burden^*: the reason is, the one is content, and that breeds courage; the other discontented, and that breeds fainting. Discontent swells the grief, and grief breaks the heart. When this sacred sinew of ⟨p. 130⟩Contentment begins to shrink, we go limping under our afflictions. We know not what burdens God may exercise us with, let us therefore preserve Contentment; as is our Contentment, such will be our courage. David with his five stones and his sling, defied Goliath, and overcame him. Get but Contentment into the sling of your heart, and with this sacred stone you may both defy the world and conquer it; you may break those afflictions which else will break you.

'Tis strange to observe the same affliction lying upon two men, how differently they carry themselves under it. The contented Christian is like Samson, that carried away the gates of the City upon his back^*; he can go away with his cross chearfully, and makes nothing of it; the other is like Issachar couching down under his burden^*: the reason is, the one is content, and that breeds courage; the other discontented, and that breeds fainting. Discontent swells the grief, and grief breaks the heart. When this sacred sinew of ⟨p. 130⟩Contentment begins to shrink, we go limping under our afflictions. We know not what burdens God may exercise us with, let us therefore preserve Contentment; as is our Contentment, such will be our courage. David with his five stones and his sling, defied Goliah, and overcame him. Get but Contentment into the sling of your heart, and with this sacred stone you may both defie the world and conquer it; you may break those afflictions which else wil break you.