The Art of Divine Contentment

3. Rich men, if we may suppose them to be content with their honour, and magnificent titles, yet they have not always Contentment in their relations. She that lies in the bosom, may sometimes blow the ⟨p. 26⟩coals; as Jobs wife, who in a pet would have him fall out with God himself, Curse God and die. Sometimes children cause discontent; how oft is it seen that the mothers milk doth nourish a Viper? and he that once sucked her breast, goes about to suck her blood? Parents do often of Grapes gather thorns, and of Figs thistles; Children are Sweet-briar. Like the Rose, which is a fragrant flower; but, as Basil saith, it hath its prickles. Our relative comforts are not all pure wine, but mixed; they have in them more dregs then spirits, and are like that River Plutarch speaks of^*, where the waters in the morning run sweet, but in the evening run bitter. We have no charter of exemption granted us in this life; therefore rich men had need be called upon to be contented.

3. Rich men, if we may suppose them to be content with their honour, and magnificent titles, yet they have not alwayes Contentment in their relations. She that lies in the bosome, may sometimes blow the ⟨p. 26⟩coales; as Iobs wife, who in a pet would have him fall out with God himself, Curse God and die. Sometimes children cause discontent; how oft is it seen that the mothers milke doth nourish a Viper? and he that once sucked her brest, goes about to suck her blood? Parents doe often of Grapes gather thornes, and of Figs thistles; Children are Sweet-briar. Like the Rose, which is a fragrant flower; but, as Basil saith, it hath its prickles. Our relative comforts are not all pure wine, but mixed; they have in them more dregs then spirits, and are like that River Plutarch speaks of^*, where the waters in the morning runne sweet, but in the evening run bitter. We have no charter of exemption granted us in this life; therefore rich men had need be called upon to be contented.

1. *[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.

2. The Doctrine of Contentment concerns poor men. You that do not suck so liberally from the ⟨p. 27⟩breasts of Providence, be content; it is an hard Lesson, therefore it had need be set upon the sooner. How hard is it when the livelihood is even gone, a great estate boiled away almost to nothing, then to be content? The means of subsistence, is in Scripture called our life, because it is the very sinews of life. The woman in the Gospel spent all her living upon the Physicians^*, in the Greek it is, [Greek or Hebrew], She spent her whole life upon the Physicians, because she spent her means by which she should live. 'Tis much when poverty hath clipped our wings, then to be content: but, difficilia pulchra; though hard, it is excellent; and the Apostle here had learned in every state to be content.

2. The Doctrine of Contentment concernes poore men. You that do not suck so liberally from the ⟨p. 27⟩brests of Providence, be content; it is an hard Lesson, therefore it had need be set upon the sooner. How hard is it when the livelihood is even gone, a great estate boyled away almost to nothing, then to be content? The means of subsistance, is in Scripture called our life, because it is the very sinewes of life. The woman in the Gospel spent all her living upon the Physicians^*, in the Greek it is, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, She spent her whole life upon the Physicians, because she spent her means by which she should live. 'Tis much when poverty hath clipped our wings, then to be content: but, difficilia pulchra; though hard, it is excellent; and the Apostle here had learned in every state to be content.

1. *Luk 8. 43.

God had brought Saint Paul into as great a variety of condition, as ever we read of any man, and yet he was content, else sure he could never have gone through it with so much ⟨p. 28⟩cheerfulness, See into what vicissitudes this blessed Apostle was cast. We are troubled on every side^*, there was the sadness of his condition; but not distressed, there was his content in that condition; We are perplexed, there is his affliction; but not in despair, there is his contentation. And if we read a little further, In afflictions^*, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, &c. there is his trouble, and behold his content;^* As having nothing, yet possessing all things. When the Apostle was driven out of all, yet in regard of that sweet Contentment of mind (which was like music in his soul,) he possessed all. We read a short Map or History of his sufferings, In prisons more frequent^*, in deaths oft, &c. Yet behold the blessed frame and temper of his spirit, I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

God had brought Saint Paul into as great a variety of condition, as ever we read of any man, and yet he was content, else sure he could never have gone through it with so much ⟨p. 28⟩chearfulnesse, See into what vicissitudes this blessed Apostle was cast. We are troubled on every side^*, there was the sadnesse of his condition; but not distressed, there was his content in that condition; We are perplexed, there is his affliction; but not in despaire, there is his contentation. And if we read a little further, In afflictions^*, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, &c. there is his trouble, and behold his content;^* As having nothing, yet possessing all things. When the Apostle was driven out of all, yet in regard of that sweet Contentment of minde (which was like musick in his soul,) he possessed all. We read a short Map or History of his sufferings, In prisons more frequent^*, in deaths oft, &c. Yet behold the blessed frame and temper of his spirit, I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

1. *2 Cor. 4. 8.
2. *2 Cor. 6. 4•
3. *vers. 10.
4. *2 Cor. 11, 23, 24, 25.

1. 1Homo quadratus Erasm.

This is a rare Art: Paul did not learn it at the feet of Gamaliel; I am instructed: [Greek or Hebrew]^*, ver. 12. I am initiated into this holy^* mystery; as if he had said, I have gotten the divine Art, ³I have the knack of it; God must make us right Artists. If we should put some men to an Art that they were not skilled in, how unfit would they be for it? put an husband-man to Limning or drawing Pictures, what strange work would he make? this is out of his sphere. Take a Limner that is exact in laying of colours, and put him to plough, or set him to planting and grafting of trees, this is not his Art, he is not skilled in it: Bid a natural man live by Faith, and when all things go cross, Be contented; you bid him do that he hath no skill in, you may as well bid a child guide the the stern of a Ship; To live contented upon God in the deficiency of outward comforts, is an Art which flesh and ⟨p. 32⟩blood hath not revealed; nay, many of Gods own children, who excel in some duties of Religion, when they come to this of Contentment, how do they bungle? they have not yet commenced Masters of this Art.

This is a rare Art: Paul did not learn it at the feet of Gamaliel; I am instructed: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉^*, ver. 12. I am initiated into this holy^* mystery; as if he had said, I have gotten the divine Art, ³I have the knack of it; God must make us right Artists. If wee should put some men to an Art that they were not skill'd in, how unfit would they be for it? put an husband-man to Limning or drawing Pictures, what strange work would hee make? this is out of his sphere. Take a Limner that is exact in laying of colours, and put him to plough, or set him to planting and graffing of trees, this is not his Art, hee is not skill'd in it: Bid a naturall man live by Faith, and when all things go crosse, Be contented; you bid him do that he hath no skill in, you may as well bid a child guide the the stern of a Ship; To live contented upon God in the deficiency of outward comforts, is an Art which flesh and ⟨p. 32⟩blood hath not revealed; nay, many of Gods own children, who excell in some duties of Religion, when they come to this of Contentment, how do they bungle? they have not yet commenced Masters of this Art.

1. *[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
2. *Mysteriis initiatus sum.
3. 3Zanchy. Sacrit imbutu• sum• Ambros.

CHAP. V.

The resolving some Questions.

For the illustration of this Doctrine, I shall propound these Questions.

FOr the illustration of this Doctrine, I shall propound these Questions.

Quest. 1.¹ Whether a Christian may not be sensible of his condition, and yet be contented?

1. 1Quest.

Answ. Yes;¹ For else he is not a Saint, but a Stoic. Rachel did well to weep for her children, (there was nature;) but her fault was, she refused to be comforted, (there was discontent.) ⟨p. 33⟩Christ himself was sensible when he sweat great drops of blood, and said, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me^*: yet he was contented, he did martyr and crucify his own will: Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. The Apostle bids us humble our selves under the mighty hand of God^*, which we cannot do unless we are sensible of it.

Answ. Yes;¹ For else he is not a Saint, but a Stoick. Rachel did well to weep for her children, (there was nature;) but her fault was, she refused to be comforted, (there was discontent.) ⟨p. 33⟩Christ himself was sensible when hee sweat great drops of blood, and said, Father, if it be possible, let this cup passe from me^*: yet he was contented, he did martyr and crucifie his own will: Neverthelesse, not as I will, but as thou wilt. The Apostle bids us humble our selves under the mighty hand of God^*, which we cannot do unlesse wee are sensible of it.

1. 1Ans.
2. *Matt. 26. 39
3. *2 Pet. 5. 6

Qu. 2.¹ Whether a Christian may not lay open his grievances to God, and yet be contented?

1. 1Quest.

Ans. Yes:¹ Unto thee have I opened my cause, Jer. 20. 12.^* and David poured out his complaint before the Lord^*. We may cry to God, and desire him to write down all our injuries; Shall not the child complain to his Father? When any burden is upon the spirit, Prayer gives vent, it easeth the heart: Hannah's spirit was burdened, I am (says she) a woman of a troubled spirit^*. ⟨p. 34⟩Now, having prayed and wept, she went away, and was no more sad; only, here is the difference between an holy complaint and a discontented complaint; in the one we complain to God, in the other we complain of God.

Ans. Yes:¹ Unto thee have I opened my cause, Jer. 20. 12.^* and David poured out his complaint before the Lord^*. Wee may cry to God, and desire him to write down all our injuries; Shall not the childe complaine to his Father? When any burden is upon the spirit, Prayer gives vent, it easeth the heart: Hannah's spirit was burdened, I am (says shee) a woman of a troubled spirit^*. ⟨p. 34⟩Now, having prayed and wept, she went away, and was no more sad; onely, here is the difference between an holy complaint and a discontented complaint; in the one we complaine to God, in the other wee complaine of God.

1. 1Answ.
2. *Jer. 20. 12
3. *Ps. 142. 2
4. *1 Sam. 1. 18

Quest. 3.¹ What is it properly that Contentment doth exclude?

1. 1Quest.

Answ. ¹There are three things which Contentment doth banish out of its Diocese, and can by no means consist with it.

Answ. ¹There are three things which Contentment doth banish out of its Diocesse, and can by no means consist with it.

1. 1Answ.

1. It excludes a vexatious repining, ¹this is properly the daughter of Discontent. I mourn in my complaint^*: he doth not say, I murmur in my complaint. Murmuring is no better then mutiny in the heart; it is a rising up against God. When the Sea is rough and unquiet, it casts forth nothing but foam; when the heart is discontented, it casts forth the foam of anger, impatience, and sometimes little better then blasphemy. ⟨p. 35⟩Murmuring is nothing else but the scum which boils off from a discontented heart.

1. It excludes a vexatious repining, ¹this is properly the daughter of Discontent. I mourne in my complaint^*: he doth not say, I murmur in my complaint. Murmuring is no better then mutinie in the heart; it is a rising up against God. When the Sea is rough and unquiet, it casts forth nothing but foame; when the heart is discontented, it casts forth the foam of anger, impatience, and sometimes little better then blasphemie. ⟨p. 35⟩Murmuring is nothing else but the scum which boils off from a discontented heart.

1. 1What contentment excludes.
2. *Psa. 55. 2

2. It excludes an uneven discomposure. When a man saith, I am in such straits, that I know not how to evolve or get out, I shall be undone. Head and heart are so taken up, that a man is not fit to pray, or meditate, &c. he is not himself: just as when an Army is routed, one man runs this way, and another that, the Army is put into a disorder: So a mans thoughts run up and down distracted. Discontent doth dislocate and unjoint the soul, it pulls off the wheels.

2. It excludes an uneven discomposure. When a man saith, I am in such straits, that I know not how to evolve or get out, I shall be undone. Head and heart are so taken up, that a man is not fit to pray, or meditate, &c. he is not himself: just as when an Army is routed, one man runs this way, and another that, the Army is put into a disorder: So a mans thoughts runne up and down distracted. Discontent doth dislocate and unjoynt the soul, it puls off the wheels.