The Art of Divine Contentment

1. It is an hard Lesson. The Angels in heaven had not learned it; they were not contented. Though their estate was very glorious, yet ⟨p. 23⟩they were still soaring aloft, and aimed at something higher. Jude ver. 6. The Angels which kept not their first estate. They kept not their estate, because they were not contented with their estate. Our first Parents clothed with the white robe of innocency in Paradise, had not learned to be content; they had aspiring hearts, and thinking their humane nature too low and home-spun, would be crowned with the Deity, and be as gods^*; Though they had the choice of all the trees in the Garden, yet none would content them but the tree of Knowledge, which they supposed would have been as eyesalve to have made them omniscient. Oh then, if this Lesson were so hard to learn in innocency, how hard shall we find it^*, who are clogged with corruption?

1. It is an hard Lesson. The Angels in heaven had not learned it; they were not contented. Though their estate was very glorious, yet ⟨p. 23⟩they were still soaring aloft, and aimed at something higher. Iude ver. 6. The Angels which kept not their first estate. They kept not their estate, because they were not contented with their estate. Our first Parents cloath'd with the white robe of innocency in Paradise, had not learned to be content; they had aspiring hearts, and thinking their humane nature too low and home-spun, would be crowned with the Deity, and be as gods^*; Though they had the choice of all the trees in the Garden, yet none would content them but the tree of Knowledge, which they supposed would have been as eyesalve to have made them omniscient. Oh then, if this Lesson were so hard to learne in innocency, how hard shall we finde it