A65276:269
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.
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*; had we love to God, we should have patience.
2. Impatience is for want of love to God. Wee will bear his reproofs whom wee love, not onely patiently, but thankfully. Love thinks no evill*. It puts the fairest and most candid glosse upon the actions of a friend; Love covers evill. If it were possible for God in the least manner to erre, (which were blasphemy to think) love would cover that errour; love takes every thing in the best sense; it makes us bear any stroke, It endureth all things*; had wee love to God, we should have patience.
3. Impatience is for want of Humility. The impatient man was never humbled under the burden of sin; he that studies his sins, the numberless number of them, how ⟨p. 133⟩they are twisted together, and sadly accented, is patient, and saith, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him