The Art of Divine Contentment

Lean not upon sandy pillars; we oft build our comfort upon such a friend or estate, and when that prop is removed, all our joy is gone, and our hearts begin either to fail or fret. A lame man leans on his crutches, and if they break he is undone: let not thy contentment go upon crutches, which may soon fail; the ground of contentment must be within thy self. The word [Greek or Hebrew], which is used for contentment, signifies self-sufficiency; a Christian hath that from within that is able to support him; that strength of faith and good hope through grace, as bears up his heart in the deficiency of outward ⟨p. 254⟩comforts. The Philosophers of old, when their estates were gone, yet could take contentment in the goods of the mind, their learning and virtue; and shall not a believer much more in the grace of the Spirit, that rich enamel and embroidery of the soul? Say with thy self, If friends leave me, if riches take wings, yet I have that within comforts me, viz. an heavenly treasure, Omnia mea mecum porto; when the blossoms of my estate are blown off, still there is the sap of contentment in the root of my heart, I have still an interest in God, and that interest cannot be broken off. Oh never place your felicity in these dull and beggarly things here below.

Leane not upon sandy pillars; wee oft build our comfort upon such a friend or estate, and when that prop is removed, all our joy is gone, and our hearts begin either to faile or fret. A lame man leanes on his crutches, and if they break he is undone: let not thy contentment goe upon crutches, which may soon faile; the ground of contentment must be within thy selfe. The word , which is used for contentment, signifies selfe-sufficiency; a Christian hath that from within that is able to support him; that strength of faith and good hope through grace, as bears up his heart in the deficiency of outward