The good Lord humble his own people for nourishing such a viper in their breast, as doth not only eat out the bowels of their comfort, but spits venom in the face of God himself. O Christian, who art over spread with this fretting leprosy, thou carriest the man of sin about thee; for thou settest thy self above God, as if thou wert wiser then he, wouldst saucily prescribe him what condition is best for thee. O this Devil of discontent, *which whomsoever it possesseth, it makes his heart a little hell. I know there will not be perfect contentment here in this life*, [Greek or Hebrew]. ⟨image 4⟩Perfect pleasure is only at Gods right hand*; yet we may begin here to tune our instrument before we play the sweet lesson of Contentment exactly in heaven. I should be glad if this little piece might be like Moses his casting the tree into the waters*, to make the uncouth, bitter condition of life, more sweet and pleasant to drink of. I have once more adventured into the public; this I acknowledge to be ruddy Minervâ, home-spun; some better hand might have made a more curious draught: but having preached upon the subject, I was earnestly solicited by some of my Hearers to publish it; and although it is not dressed in that rich attire of eloquence, as it might; yet I am not about Poetry, or Oratory, but Divinity; nor is this intended ⟨image 5⟩for fancy, but practice. If I may herein do any service, or cast but a mite into the treasury of the Churches grace, I have my desire. The end of our living is to live to God, & to lift up his Name in the world*. The Lord add an effectual blessing to this work, and fasten it as a nail in a sure place; He of his mercy make it as spiritual physic to purge the ill humour of Discontent out of our hearts, that so a crown of honour may be set upon the head of Religion, and the crystal streams of joy and peace may ever run in our souls: which is the prayer of him who is desirous to be a faithful Orator for thee at the throne of grace,
The good Lord humble his own people for nourishing such a viper in their brest, as doth not only eat out the bowels of their comfort, but spits venome in the face of God himself. O Christian, who art over spread with this fretting leprosie, thou carriest the man of sin about thee; for thou settest thy felf above God, as if thou wert wiser then he, would'st saucily prescribe hun what condition is best for thee. O this Divel of discontent, *which whomsoever it possesseth, it makes his heart a little hel. I know there wil not be perfect contentment here in this life*, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. ⟨image 4⟩Perfect pleasure is only at Gods right hand*; yet we may begin here to tune our instrument before we play the sweet lesson of Contentment exactly in heaven. I should be glad if this little piece might be like Moses his casting the tree into the waters*, to make the uncouth, bitter condition of life, more sweet and pleasant to drink of. I have once more adventured into the publick; this I acknowledg to be rudi Minervâ, home-spun; some better hand might have made a more curious draught: but having preached upon the subject, I was earnestly sollicited by some of my Hearers to publish it; and although it is not drest in that rich attire of eloquence, as it might; yet I am not about Poetry, or Oratory, but Divinity; nor is this intended ⟨image 5⟩for fancy, but practice. If I may herein do any service, or cast but a mite into the treasury of the Churches grace, I have my desire. The end of our living is to live to God, & to lift up his Name in the world*. The Lord adde an effectual blessing to this work, and fasten it as a nail in a sure place; He of his mercy make it as spiritual physick to purge the ill humour of Discontent out of our hearts, that so a crown of honor may be set upon the head of Religion, and the crystal streams of joy and peace may ever run in our souls: which is the prayer of him who is desirous to be a faithful Orator for thee at the throne of grace,
- *[Greek or Hebrew], exinde [Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉, exinde 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- *Amplissie mâ quâque laetitia subsit quaepiam vel parva quarimonia. Lucius Apul. Florid. l. 2
- *Ps. 16. 11
- *Ex. 15. 25
- *Nihil turpius est quam grandis natu senex, qui nullum aliud habet argumentum quo probet se diù vixisse prater atatem. Seneca. de Tranquil.
