A65276:435
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.
8. Rule. Consider in what a posture we stand here in the world.
1. We are in a military condition, we are soldiers*; now a soldier is content with any thing, what though he hath not his stately house, his rich furniture, his soft bed, his full table? yet doth not complain; he can lie in straw as well as down; he minds not his lodging, but his thoughts run upon dividing the spoil, and the garland of honour that shall be set ⟨p. 251⟩upon his head; and for hope of this, is content to run any hazard, endure any hardship. Were it not absurd to hear him complain that he wants such provision, and is fain to lie out in the fields? a Christian is a military person, he fights the Lords battles, he is Christs, Ensign-bearer. Now, what though he endures hard fare, and the bullets fly about, he fights for a Crown, and therefore must be content.
1. We are in a military condition, we are souldiers*; now a souldier is content with any thing, what though he hath not his stately house, his rich furniture, his soft bed, his full table? yet doth not complaine; he can lie in straw as well as doune; he mindes not his lodging, but his thoughts run upon dividing the spoile, and the garland of honour that shall bee set ⟨p. 251⟩upon his head; and for hope of this, is content to runne any hazard, endure any hardship. Were it not absurd to hear him complaine that he wants such provision, and is faine to lie out in the fields? a Christian is a military person, he fights the Lords battels, he is Christs, Ensigne-bearer. Now, what though hee endures hard fare, and the bullets flie about, he fights for a Crowne, and therefore must be content.
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