The Art of Divine Contentment

1. It is for want of faith. Faith gives a right notion of God; it is an intelligent grace; it believes that Gods wisdom tempers, and his love sweetens all ingredients; this works patience; Shall I not drink the cup which my Father hath given me? Impatience is the daughter of infidelity. If a patient hath an ill opinion of the Physician, and conceits that he comes to poison him, he will take none of his Receipts. When we have a prejudice against God, and conceit that he comes to kill us, and undo us, then we storm, and cry out through Impatience. We are like a foolish ⟨p. 132⟩man ('tis Chrysostoms simile) that cries out, Away with the plaster, though it be in order to a cure; is it not better that the plaster smart a little, then the wound fester and rankle?

1. It is for want of faith. Faith gives a right notion of God; it is an intelligent grace; it beleeves that Gods wisdome tempers, and his love sweetens all ingredents; this workes patience; Shall I not drinke the cup which my Father hath given me? Impatience is the daughter of infidelity. If a patient hath an ill opinion of the Physician, and conceits that he comes to poison him, he will take none of his Receits. When we have a prejudice against God, and conceit that he comes to kill us, and undo us, then we storme, and cry out through Impatience. We are like a foolish ⟨p. 132⟩man ('tis Chrysostoms simile) that cries out, Away with the plaister, though it be in order to a cure; is it not better that the plaister smart a little, then the wound fester and rankle?

2. Impatience is for want of love to God. We will bear his reproofs whom we love, not only patiently, but thankfully. Love thinks no evil^*. It puts the fairest and most candid gloss upon the actions of a friend; Love covers evil. If it were possible for God in the least manner to err, (which were blasphemy to think) love would cover that error; love takes every thing in the best sense; it makes us bear any stroke, It endureth all things